Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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Lindley, wlio iilade a collt ge Out of ail academy. Kev. Jaiiles Irvine was tirst called j)resident, but he was never installed. Dr. Wilson received the keys and charter, and ruled for fifteen years. The trustees had confidence in him, the patrons admired him, and the students loved him. Then there was Rev. Dr. McGuffey whose readers are still so popular with teachers; and there were Dr. Ryors and Rev. Dr. Howard. All these have passed away, yet the college tradition remembers many an incident of their days. Those were stormy times when Dr. W. H. Scott, an alumnus of the institution, became president; but he fought well, and won many battles, the benefits from which are still enjoyed. It was a propitious horoscope that heralded the advent of Presi- dent Charles W. Super. His administration has been marked by a marvelous growth — a healthy vigorous growth. There are the crowds of students, an increasing faculty, state aid. Prosperity smiles upon his labors and upon his institution. The Ohio University opened its doors as an academy in 1808. For four years there was only one teacher, then it was found necessary to increase the teaching force. The first college cur- riculum adopted was almost an exact copy of the course at Prince- ton. That was in the days when the Bachelor of Arts degree was almost the only one acknowledged by college men. As other institutions, enlivened by the spirit of progress, were forced to introduce new courses, the Ohio University was found in the front rank of the radical lines. Four courses are at present open to students, each crowning the deserving graduate with a degree. The four departments that existed when Dr. Wilson was installed President have differentiated into a dozen. The Ancient Language de| artment has become two, — Latin aud Greek, — each requiring the services of two members of the F ' aculty. The department of Natural Science has become four, — Electrical Engineering, l iolo-

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Ubc ©bio Xrinivevslt . IlIK 1 ' , ST VS. TIIK IMJKSKX ' I ' . .Inst as TiiK A ' lUKNA wiMil to ]»rt ' ;;s, one of the bovs was reiiiarkino; tliat the Ohio University was wrought under great ditfieulties. ' ' ' ' Sweet ' ' then, ' ' are tlie uses of adversity, for she is the stronger for her struggles. For nearly a centui-y the Ohio l niversity has sat u|ion liei- hills viewing her estates and hai-boi-ing her resources. Tiie bear and the wild fowl have l)een forced from their haunts in hei ' domains. The wigwam camps of Logan and Cornstalk ha e l)ee;) supplanted by her hamlets, villages, and cities. Her wild lands have been c(inverted into fruitful fields and comfoi ' table homes. Domesticated peace reigns throughout all her ten-itories. The idle llockhocking runs its useless horse-shoe course, rejoicing that the giant Steam has forever lifted the yoke from its less sinewv neck. How great has been the chaiigel Eiglity-nine years ago the ti ' ustees met in a rude log caljin to mature plans for a I ' niversitv in the wilderness ; to-day there are four large buildings crowded with apparatus. Seventy-eight years ago the first cla ' s. numbering two, graduated; this month there goes fortli a class of twenty. Si.vty- nine years ago the liev. Dr. liobert (4. Wilson wa- installed first President and had a i ' acnity of foiii ' professors ; to-. lay the teaching force numbers twenty. The Ohio University has ever sint-e been i ' oitunatc in hei ' picsidcnts. From isos to x-22 the head of the instilul ion wa-i styleil preceptctr. Still it was this same preceptor, the Kev. .lacolt 6

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y, Chemistry, and Physics. The department of Mental and Moral Science has become a school of Philosophy and Pedagogy with two fnll professors and one instructor. Nor has })rogress ceased. The department of Mathematics is attracting students of an ad- vanced grade. Ten Scholarships have been established in order to encourage post-graduate work, and several of these have been tilled during the year just past. In this line a greater future is open. In its infancy the Ohio University was guarded and guided by graduates of Harvard, Vale, Princeton, and Dartmouth. Years have not materially changed the personnel of the Faculty. Dick- inson has given the institution two presidents — her first and her last. Other new elements have been introduced. The tirst gener- ation of O. U ' s. children, coming to maturity, entered upon lier estates and became her staff and her protection. In 18.24 A. G. Brown, class of ' 22, became Principal of the Preparatory Depart- ment. Ever since the alumni have had representatives in the Fac- ulty ; to-day six membeis are graduates of the Ohio University. There is, however, a powerful leaven from other institutions. Dickinson is represented by two men; Wooster, Wesleyan, Bnchtel, Massachusetts Agricultural, McGill, and Michigan have each one such representative. Several of these ])rofessors have studied at Vale, Johns Hopkins, (. ' lark, and Boston, while five have studied abroad at Leipsic, Tuebingen, and Sarboune. Nor is the Ohio University behind in her e(iuipmcnl. The Electrical Engineering department is drawing students from other Ohio colleges, because they are given lal»oratory practice as well as theory. Twenty students may thus receive instruction at a time. The Biological department has a practical aim: it offers a Preparatory Medical Course wherel)V those students who purpose studying medicine may save one year at the medical coUege. The newly e(juip] etl lal)oratory is a model of its kind and will accom-