Roanoke College - Rawenoch Yearbook (Salem, VA)

Page 17 text:

1902 the Alumni Association set on foot a movement to supply this need, and as a result we have today a handsome building, containing Up-to-date physicial and chemical laboratories, commodious lecture moms and a greatly improved museum, a building of which every- one is proud. n I Last june the Semi-Centennial of the College was celebrated in an appropriate and impressive manner. On Commencement day, Dr. Dreher, having served in the- capacity of President for twenty-five years announced to the public the fact of his resignation. It was a surprise to all and in the hearts of many there was a feeling of sadness, but Dr. Dreher had performed his work nobly, had stood by the Col- lege, and had led her forward at all times, so all felt that, at his request, he should be allowed a rest from h1s duties as President. Dr. john Alfred Morehead, a graduate of Roanolfe, ofithe class of 1839, has succeeded Dr. Dreher. l'he intense devotion with which he is serving the College and students are marks of his sure success as President. ' n . i As the years wing their flight into the past, may the College prosper and accomplish even greater good for God and manif B P x. . .

Page 16 text:

by th ' adoption of the elective system, giving choice to the students among the ancient and modern languages and also many branches of science. Yet the curriculum and standard for graduation iskept high, and .3 high standard of qualification for members of the faculty is required, Five of the younger professors have had in the aggregate seventeen years of post-graduate study in the best American and Euro- pean universities. Two of the professors are authors of college text- books which have been adopted by many high schools, colleges and universities throughout our country. Students from all religious denominations attend Roanoke Col- lege. VVithin the past decade young men lrom more than twenty-Eve states and territories, and from Mexico, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Vlfest Indies, England, japan and Korea, have been enrolled. In june 0f'98, the first Korean to take the degree of A. B. in the world was graduated from Roanoke. In the session of '99, the son of I-Ion. Chin Pom Ye, the minister from Korea to the United States attended Roan- oke, and later even the Prince himself became a student. Several years ago, three japanese boys, whose fathers were members of the Imperial Privy Council for Cabinetj were students of the College. For twenty-five years the Choctaw Indians have sent students to Roanoke, some of which have graduated with honors. Many distinguished foreign visitors have been and 'Korean ofhcials having The total number of 458 are living. The most attracted to Roanoke, japanese, Chinese attended commencements here. graduates up to this date is 520, of which excellent training which the College has given them is attested by the high and responsible positions in the various professions and in general business, which they now hold. Little need be said here, for they speak for themselves. Partial train- ing has been given by the College to more than 2,500, many of whom are filling prominent and useful positions throughout the country. These are the greatest advertisements that can be given for the Col- lege. Roanoke men stand high in the various callings of life, and when they take a post-graduate course or special work at some univer- sity, they are among the foremost, as is attested by Ur. lllells in an his- torical address at a commencement several years ago: A large num- ber of these are college presidents, and professors in colleges, in semi- naries for young women, in academies and high schools of other grades. lllany have entered the Christian ministry, and are honored workers in different churches. Many have entered the professions of law, medi- cine, or journalism. Others are bankers, civil engineers, men of affairs, and successful farmers. The College through others, has had repre- sentatives on the benches of the County, State and Federal judici- aries-in the State and National legislative bodies, in the State and Federal departments, in the army and navy. ln a word, in every arena where strong men, where trained men are contending, the sons of Roanoke may be found. These representatives have gone forth from its lecture rooms to other nelds of chosen work into nearly all the states of the Union, to Mexico, to Brazil, to the llermese empire, to far off India and to the gateway of the sun, japan. For years the greatest need of the College was larger buildings and better equipment for the Scientific department. Accordingly, in

Page 18 text:

il R .,,,i1iHr correct LIBL ZXIQY. V i,i,i.- 5 . ,, . I-IEHgrowth of the Library liasfrbeenino less1'fre1na.rkable than that of f the-College., lt has loneihundred and forty vol- umes to twenty-two thousand. ' only a few shelves in what was formerly ,Dix Fox'sjMlg,fitL1'rE7.rQ,Q1ji,l,in old main building, 'ggpday iitwfjlls thegbeaiitiful Bz'f44g.,Me71zq?fz'a! 'f building. The accumulation .of boczks-, throughout these fifty-one years, has been going on steadily, until today Roanoke has the best Library of any college in the South, and is surpassed only by a few univer- sities. The aim of the' hrst president, Dr. Bittle, was to collect at Roanoke the largest Library and museum in the Southern States, and during his presidency of twenty-three years, he kept this one idea prominent in his mind. He took advantage of every opportunity to increase the Library, attending auctions in the large cities, denying him- self comforts, and often buying on credit, and afterwards soliciting money from friends to defray the expenses. lt was through his untir- ing energy and zeal that a great many books were presented to the Library, by friends of the College. h The hrst gift of any importance was the old Church library of the Lutheran congregation at Madison Court House. lt consisted of four hundred German and Latin books, which may be seen today in the main part of the Library. ln 1855 the Library had become so large that it required a separate room, and was moved into the one which was afterwards the Young Mens Christian Association Hall, that organization not being in existence at that time. XVhile located here a number of important additions were made. The most notable of these was a collection of I,OOO scientific works, purchased in 1856 from Rev. Henry S. Osborne, professor of Natural Science. Another worthy of mention was a col- lection of 3,ooo-volumes, the Schmucker library purchased in 1875. The Library was increasing so rapidly that it was now evident to all that a separate building was needed for it. In 1875, a building fund was started to which not only the citizens of the surrounding county, but also many Northern friends of the College subscribed. On the death of Dr. Bittle in 1876, the name, Bittle Memorial Hall, was given to the new library building, which was opened on the same day that Dr. Dreher was inaugurated president. October 17, 1879. lt seems especially appropriate that these two events should have taken place at the same time. This Memorial Hall, dedicated to the nrst president, is a lasting testimony to the enterprise and energy of Dr.