Muhlenberg College - Ciarla Yearbook (Allentown, PA)

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V PROP. WACKERNAGEL. MR. FRITSCH. DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES. EV. HANS N IKOLAUS RHS was born at Luegumkloster in the duchy of Schleswig, Germany,in 1822. He was a man of brilliant scholarship, having a thorough knowledge of Greek, Latin, Arabic, and Sanskrit. In 1868, he became Muhlenberg's first German Professor, but occupied this position foronly one scholastic year, preferring to return to his early home. Rev. Frederick W. A. Notz, Ph. D., a native of Wuertemberg, was chosen to succeed' him, and remained until 1872, in which year he resigned to accept the .Professorship of Greek Language and Literature at the Northwestern University, at Watertown, Wisconsin.' 'He was followed by Rev. George F. .17

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tinued with the College in this capacity until his death in 1899, when Prof. john Yetter, of the class of '96, took temporary charge of the Department. Soon thereafter, Dr. Solomon E. Ochsenford was elected Professor of the English Language and Literature and Social Science, which position Dr. Ochsenford still very ably fills. In 1908, Prof. George N. Haasz, of the University of Pennsylvania, was appointed Instructor in English, History, and Social Science. ' ' REV. SOLOMON E. OCHSENFORD, D. D., was born in Montgomery County, near F alkner Swamp, Pa., November 8, 1855. Prepared for college at Mt. Pleasant Seminary, Boyertown, Pa., entered Muhlenberg in 1873, and Was. graduated in 1876, graduated from Mt. Airy Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1879, and ordained a minister. Pas-- tor at Selinsgrove, Pa., 1879-1899. ,Since then, Professor of English Language and Literature and Social' Science at Muhlenberg College. Secretary of the Fifth Conference for tvvouyears and later President for ten years, English Secretary of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, 1895-IQOI, English 'Secretary of General Council, IQOI-05, Trustee of Muhlenberg, 1889-99, Editor of Church Almanac, 1883-1905, contributor to Appleton's Cyclopedia of Biography and Appleton's Annual Encyclopedia, I883-1904, author of Passion Story, Muhlenberg College, Quarter Cen- tennial Memorial V0lume, and many other publications of value, frequent contributor to various church period- icals. Degree of D. D., from his Alma Mater in 1896. ' ' 16

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Miller, then Principal of the Academic Department, who held the chair until he returned to active work in the min- istry in 1878. Rev. B. W. Schmauk was now elected as Acting Professor of German, and served in this capacity till 1881, in which year Rev. William Wackernagel, D. D., who had been chosen Assistant Professor of German the preceding year, -took full charge of the Department, 'which position he ,still holds. At a meeting of Trustees in january, 1908, Prof. Robert R. fFritsch, A. M., Ph. B., who was at that time Instructor in Greek, was elected to the position of Instructor in Modern Languages. Until 1904, this Department included, besides German, the following studies: Universal History, Sacred History, Church History, Catechism, and French, which last was elective. In this year, however, a separate depart- ment was formed for History, French was made a required subject, and Spanish was added asan elective. REV. WILLIANI WACKERNAGEL, A. M., D. D., Professor of the German Language and Literature, French and Span- ish,was born at Basel, on the Rhine, Switzerland, September 25, 1 838, His father, Wilh. Wackernagel, Ph. D., LL. D., a distinguished scholar, was Professor at the University of Basel. Educated at Basel. Missionary in the Holy Land, 18 59-70, assistant editor of Der Pilger, Reading Pa., 1870-763 ordained a minister of the Lutheran Church, 1876 5 pastor of St. john's Church, Mauch Chunk, 1876-81, and St. Iohnts Church, East Mauch Chunk, 1880, Professor at Muhlenberg since 1881 g pastor of St. Thomas' Church, Altoona, Pa., in connection with his duties at Muhlenberg, I884-87, German Secretary of the Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania, 1882-87. He is the author of several valuable works, notably 'fDr. Martin Luther and Hans Egedegn editor of the fugend Freund, and a frequent contributor to various church periodicals. Degrees: A. M., Muhlenberg, 1881, D. D., University of Pennsylvania, 1883. V I , ROBERT ROLAND FRITSCH, A. M., PH. B., Instructor in Modern Languages, was born at Allentown, September 10, 1879. Graduated from Allentown High School, 1896, with first honor, graduated with first honor from Muhlenberg, 1900. Degree of A. M., from Muhlenberg, 1903, Ph. B., from Post-Graduate Department of Wesleyan University, Illinois, 1904. Teacher in Department of Classics, Allentown High School, 1901-07. Instructor in Greek, Muhlenberg College, 1907-08. Instructor in Modern Languages since beginning of collegiate year, 1909-10. h 18