Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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EARL M. ROBERTS VAUGHN HAINES

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U ii II History of the Origin and Growth of tlie Uni ' ersity : HIO UNIVERSITY is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Northwest Territory. It was origi- nally planned and provided for by Manasseh Cutler as early as 1787, when he completed the contract on behalf of the Ohio Company for the purchase of a tract of land in southern Ohio. Dr. Cutler was not content with simply providing for the institution in the original contract, but was so desirous that it should not fail of its purpose that he prepared the outlines of the plan for its organization and management as well as its first curriculum. He gave the matter intensive consideration and spent much time consulting the charters of like institutions in both Europe and America, with the view of adopting one that would be as clear and as well defined as possible. What he most desired was that the college should be founded on principles of permanent value. He finally concluded that Yale and Harvard more nearly fulfilled his liberal and extensive plans and in the end he took his model largely from these early colleges. Too much credit cannot be given Dr. Cutler for the creation and successful establishment of the university, which was the first educational institution to be endowed by Congress. In justice to him and to his untiring efforts he is rightly entitled to be called the Father of the Ohio University, and his name should be forever coupled with its career and history. On account of lack of funds as well as time in which to devise and carry the plans into execution, the university was not opened to students until 1809, when it began its career with a total enrollment of three. None of these, however, remained long enough to graduate. Six years later Thomas Ewing and John Hunter received the first degrees granted in the northwest territory. Due to depressed financial support and lack of attendance, college work was suspended at Ohio University between the years 1845 and 1848. This was the first and only time in its history that the college has i I II Ii II It II 1922 11 il Ii 11 II II H Ii 11 m