Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

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COLLEGE CAMPUS

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INDIANA UNIVERSITY-WHAT IT WAS AND IS. The Board of Trustees met at Bloomington in July, 1820, to consider plans for the establishment of the Seminary. A site had first to be selected, and an elevation in the narrow plateau near the Clear Creek bottom was selected. It has been sug- gested by some one that the excellent spring at the foot of this elevation must have entered into the calculations for the selec- tion of this site, for the art of well digging was then not known. Our tenderfooted students and faculty of to-day would shudder' at taking up their abode in such a palace of Nature's art, amid the hazel bush and burdock, the sumac and elder, but would rather enjoy themselves in the soft balmy air of a gas lighted and furnace heated boudoir, undisturbed, except for the rustle of a cynic's philosophy, or the friction of the English in the theme of an English student. The plan of the building to be erected was decided by the Board at this meeting, and was copied from the historic Nassau Hall of Princeton College. The erection of a dwelling for the Professor was also decided upon. In November, 1823, about the time of the completion of the two buildings, the Board reassembled to elect a Professor. Rev. Baynard R. I-Iall, a graduate of Union College and a student of Princeton was elected for one year. He was directed to open the Seminary as early as possible in the spring of 1824, and to conduct two terms of five months each. His salary was fixed at 35250, of which 115150 was to be given in trade. On May 1, 1824, the first session of the Seminary began and among the many applicants for admission, ten were accepted. These 'ten students constitute the first student body of the Indiana institution of learning, and they waded into Latin and Greek with all the dreams and fancies that an Indiana son to-day drowns in the humiliation of an English I examination. A marked distinction between the character of the early years of the College and modern days becomes evident in a com- parison of the decision and continuity of purpose presented in the life of the young institution and the unnatural and strained attitude of these passing times. The pipe of peace and quiet had not yet become an improper spectacle, and the professor enjoyed his smoke between classes. But to-day, when all of the originality of human nature is concealed in the bosom of its possessor, the pipe becomes an indulgence of the secret precincts of the professor's study. DR. Maxw ELL. One of the members of the first student body was Joseph A. Wright, who became Governor of Indiana and served his country in a diplomatic position in a foreign land. The attendance at the beginning seems small, the first year the highest number was thirteen, the second year fifteen, and the third year twenty-one. It was a slow growth, but the cause

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INDIANA UNIVERSITY-WHAT IT WAS AND IS. is evident. The population of the State mounted up to half a million in 1825, and was still increasing, but the condition of affairs was even worse than before the increase. The survival of the fittest became a necessity and every hand had to be turned to the ax and the pick. Rev. Hall continued as the sole professor in the Seminary for three years. No catalogues of the period were printed and the records of the Board of Trustees were destroyed by iire. This misfortune limits the sources of information. A Legisla- tive Resolution of 1828 called out a report from the President of the Board, Dr. Maxwell, which has been preserved in the House Journal. This report affords the only data concerning the Seminary period. The Professor's salary was continued at 3250, and Latin and Greek were the only subjects offered dur- ing the period. In November, 1827, a Board of Visitors, of which James B. Ray, Governor, and James Scott, a Judge of the Supreme Court were members, visited the institution and examined both the students :and the Professor, a test from which students of to-day would recoil, and on which our pro- fessors would hesitate to risk the dependence of their positions. This Board of Visitors reported to the General Assembly and all concurred that the Indiana Seminary be raised to the dignity ofa College. On January 24, 1828, seven years after the charter for the Seminary had been granted, the act was passed establishing the Indiana College. During all the vicissitudes of the Seminary period, Dr. Max- well was the fostering induence that gave it life and growth. In the words of the late Judge Banta, for nearly forty years, of all men outside the circle of those engaged as teachers, he gave the most of time to its service and to its better purpose. So unremitting was he in his labors in its behalf and to such a good purpose were they directed, that it can better be said of him than of any other: 'He was the Father of Indiana Uni- versity. ' In May, 1828, the Trustees of the College met and selected Andrew Wylie, D. D., for the Presidency of the new College. At the time of his election President IVylie was President of Washington College, Pennsylvania, and he did not assume the duties of his oflice till October, 1829. In the establishment of the College, provision was made for the extension of the courses of instruction and an addition of two teachers was made. Some of the spirit of our English Department was anticipated by this creation and English Gram- mar was introduced intu the course of study. Logic, Rhetoric, Geography, Moral and Natural Philosophy, were made a part of the course at the same time. John H. Harney was elected Professor of Pure and Applied Mathematics, Natural and Me- , mifw