Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

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l' ,- M 1, l I XX.

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Preface. T LAST, after many delays, the ARBUTUS,' of Indiana University makes its bow to the world. It has been published by the united classes of X' ,Q4 as a souvenir of the happy years spent within these classic walls. It is the aim of the book to exhibit to the people of the State the noblest work of their hands,-the University,- to picture her beauty, to reveal her strength, to reflect her inner life. Here many of Indiana's wisest scholars have taught, here many of her greatest statesman have studied. From this place the best thought of the century has been sent to all parts of the State, encouraging sound education, infusing true religion. Of all Indiana insti- tutions, the one most to be honored, aided, loved, is the University. It is the source of great satisfaction to the Class of '94 to be able thus to present our Alma Mater in her true light. With the characteristic modesty of ,Q4, the editors expect these pages to be more intently scanned' than those of any preceding ARBUTUS.H It fills our heart with pride in advance when we hear, in our mind's ear, all our old friends saying, It's the most' complete and artistic annual ever issued here. And Awe are not worrying ourselves because it is the hrst. ' The book, to careless observers, may bear the ear- marks of work hastily done, but we can say sincerely that we began to write it over four weeks before sending to press. As to how the product of our labors will be received by the brains of the University, we natur- ally feel a little bit dubious, but if We teach anybody something he didn't know before, or if we coax a smile into the sad face of o11e poor soul, we will feel well repaid for all our toil. We feel particularly grateful to the students and professors who, from the beginning, have given us their support, they have made it possible to publish the ARBUTUs.', For the excellency of the art work, we are indebted to Mr. Harry C. Milroy, of the New York Art League. We wish to thank the many stu- dents who have assisted us in collecting material.

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FE ltlistorical Sketch of the University, I 0 HEN Indiana was yet an almost unbroken wil- ff . V derness, and Bloomington but a frontier village i 0 of three hundred souls, Indiana University began its humble existence. Our Hoosier fathers early realized the advantages of a higher institution of learn- ing, and, in the Constitutional Convention of 1816, they declared for a system of education ascending in regular gradation from township schools to a State University. Eleven days after this declaration had been made known, President Madison designated for seminary purposes a Congressional Township, which, on the organization of Monroe County, became a part thereof, under the name of Perry Township. On the zoth of january, 1820, the Legislature of the State passed an act establishing the State Seminary, and appointing a Board of Trustees with power to select its site on the reserved township, to sell a part of the land, to erect the necessary buildings and to open the school. The site chosen was what is now known as the Old College Campus. The reason for the choice was that there was a spring of pure water near by, wells were as uncommon in those days as universities. In 1824 two buildings had been completed, the one for school purposes, the other for a professor's :3:We are indebted to the Hou. D. D. Banta for meet of this article. residenceg and on the ISI day of May, at half-past 9 o'clock, the State Seminary opened its doors for the receptionof students. Of the opening day a recent historian says: On that May morning of the last year of the first quarter of a century now-nearing its close, a nre was kindled on this altar of learning that has never been extinguished? A general misunderstanding as to the lines of study to be pursued came near extinguishing this flame, however, before it had been fairly kindled. Some thirty or forty boys came, on the first day, prepared to study readin', Writin' and spellin', while the single professor, was de- termined to teach nothing but Latin and Greek. The majority of the boys preferred manual labor to wrestling with Latin and Greek syntax, and only ten remained to begin the work. Of these ten, many afterwards held im- portant positions, one, Joseph H. Wriglit, became Gov- ernor of Indiana. L Three years after the opening, a second professor was added. In the fall of 1828 the school had taken such rank as to the general character of its work and the number of students in attendance, that the General Assembly of the State gave it a new charter under the name of The Indi- ana College.