Millersville University - Touchstone Yearbook (Millersville, PA)

Page 7 text:

ln the spring of 1872, he entered Penn Hall Academy and prepared for college. Between his academic course and his college course, he again taught school-this time a graded school. ln the fall of 1873, he entered the Freshman Class of Franklin and Marshall College, and so ardently did he apply himself that he graduated with first honors in the Class of 1877. After graduation, Dr. Bitner read law in the office of .ludge Hoy, at liellefonte, Pennsylvania, but gave that up in a year and taught at Penn Hall Academy, his old preparatory school, and at Center Hall, as principal of an academy named Penn's Valley Institute. .ln the fall of 1888, he was called to Kutztown, to become Professor of English and Mental Science. He taught there five years. Dr. Shaeffer was principal of Iiutztown at this time. In 1880, Dr. Shauh, then Principal ofthe Millersville State Normal School, asked Dr. liitner to come to Mil- lersville, as .Professor of Natural Science. lle has held this position ever since. .Besides being Professor of Natural Science, he has taught lCthics and Logic since 1890, and Psychology since 1905. Dr. Bitner has been honored hy several educational institutions and hy various learned societies. ln 1880, he received the degree of A.M. from Franklin and Marshall College, and, after a three-years' course in Chemistry, he received the degree of Ph.lJ. from Wooster University. Besides his course at Wooster, he has also taken a short course in Chemistry at Martha's Vineyard, under the noted chemist, l . P. Venahle. , Dr. Bitner has served six years as President of the llinnaean Society, and in that capacity has done much for the advancement of science. He had charge of the Natural Science work in the Pennsylvania Chautauqua,at Mt. Gretna, during the years 1903, 1904 and 1905. Mfg..

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l'lenry Franklin Bitner, A.lVl., l3h.D. R. BITNICR, the subject of our sketch, was horn at Center Hall, Center County, Pemisylvania, JIIIIC S, 1853. His father was a Pennsylvania German, who, in.l844, moved from Cornwall, Lebanon County, to Center Hall, Center County. He was an intelligent farmer, whose great aim in life was to give mgzzgw! his children a good education. His mother also was of fiCl'lll11I1 descent, her grandfather having come from Germany. Although far advanced in years, she still maintains a home for her children, in Center County. Each year a family reunion is held there, and even now, the chief delight of Dr. Bitner and his brothers and sisters is to go home to mother. Dr. Bitner began his career as a teacher at the early age of sixteen, in an ungraded school. So successful was he in his first venture, that the next year he was asked to teach his home school. l'ennsylvania grew too dull for the future doctor, so, in company with another young man, he decided to go west. This was in the fall of 1871. As the schools were not then in session, he and his companion husked corn until the term opened. He then taught for a period of four months in the schools of Wisconsin. Having seen enough of the West, he came back to Pennsylvania to complete his education. -5-

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There is a warm corner in the heart of every Normal School student for Dr. Bitner. Although not it graduate of this school, his long term of service here has brought him into such close contact with every one connected with it that he has become a part of Millersville. His frank :ind open mamner, his good cheer and his willingness to recognize the needs of the humblest student have appealed to us, and we will ever remember Dr. Bitner as the students' friend. is Q a '5 Q 41 -X , 'Gap 4 ' 9 5