St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

Page 30 text:

one United States District Attorney, one Auditor of the United States Treasury, six State Senators, fifteen members of the House of Delegates, besides foreign consuls, officers of the army and navy, physicians and surgeons, distinguished lawyers Cincluding one Chan- cellor of South Carolinab, college professors, etc., are to be found among the names in the register of the Alumni. In 1807, Rev. Dr. Bethel Judd was chosen principal, and the work, though grievously hampered by the action of the Legislature, was partially con- tinued, and in January, 1812, 31,000 of the annuity was restored. Rev. Dr. Henry Lyon Davis served as principal from 1820 to 1824, and the Rev. Dr. William Rafferty from 1824 to 1831. In 1831,Rev. Dr. Hector Humphreys was appointed principal, and by his persevering efforts and personal influence with the members of the Legislature, asum of 32,000 Was added to the annuity, provided the Board of Visitors and Governors should agree to accept it in full satisfaction of all legal or equitable claims they might have or be supposed to have against the State. k The Board consented, and the deed of release was executed and entered upon the records of the Court of Appeals. At the same time, the Governor of the State, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Judges of the Court of Appeals Wereniade ex-oflicio members of the Board, indelibly aflixing to the college the character of a State institution. In 1833, the principal was authorized by the Visitors and Governors to collect a fund of 330,000. About 311,000 was raised, and in June, 1835, the corner-stone of Humphreys Hall was laid with impressive ceremonies. Chancellor John Johnson, a distinguished Alumnus, was the Orator, Frgm this time on there are lists of graduates for each year except 1843, '45, '48, '51 and '54, until 1855 when the college was reorganized, and in the same year Pinkney Hall was 22

Page 29 text:

eriginally intended for the Governor's mansion, but described in the letter as a melan- choly and mouldering monument, was des'gnated as the proposed collegiate edifice. This building is now McDowell Hall, the central one of five buildings constituting St. John's College. The Revolution interferred with the carrying out of the plan, but in 1784 the charter of St. John's College was granted, two years after a like charter had been given for the establishment of Washington College at Chestertown, on the Eastern shore. It was intended by the terms of the charter that the two colleges thus founded should constitute one university under the name of University of Maryland. By an act of 1785, the property and funds and students of King William's School were conveyed to St. John's College. Among the chattels passed to the college were a number of quaint and curious volumes brought over by the Rev. Dr. Bray from England, and which still remain in the library of St. John's. On November 11, 1789, the college was formally opened, and the dedication per- formed with much solemnity, all the public bodies being in attendance, and forming a long procession from the State House to the college hall. Among those who were active in promoting the welfare of the college in its infancy are to be found, John Carroll, the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of America 5 the Right Rev. Thomas John Claggett, Protest- ant Episcopal Bishop of Maryland, and other eminent divines of the Roman Catholic, Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. Tradition says that the name King William's School was changed to St. John's College to suit the ideas of the patrons of that period. Among the students of that early period are to be found the names of George Washington Park Custis, a stepgrandson, and Fairfax and Lawrence Washington, nephews of George Washington, also, of Francis Scott Key, who entered St. J ohn's, November 11, 1789, and graduated in 1796. On Friday morning March 25, 1791, President Washington, attended by the Governor of Maryland and a number of citizens, visited St. John's College, and expressed much satisfaction at the appearance of this rising institution. Almost all the noted families of Maryland, and of other States, have in some way, and at some time, been connected with the college. In order to establish the college under the terms provided for in the charter, private subscriptions amounting to 810,000 were collected, and to provide a permanent fund for the further encouragement and establishment of the college, the Legislature enacted that the sum of 191750 C5B8,750D current money be annually and forever hereafter given and granted as a donation by the public to the use of the college. With this aid the college went forward under Dr. John McDowell, the first president, in its work of educating men, till January, 1806, when the Legislature, by a majority of only six, withdrew the annuity, and the visitors and governors of the college were com- pelled to announce that the college must close. Within the brief period of thirteen years, from 1793, when the first class was gradu- ated, to 1806, the names of four Governors of Maryland, six United States Senators, five members of the House of Representatives, four judges of the courts, one Attorney-General, 21

Page 31 text:

built. Two years afterward Dr. Humphreys was succeeded by Rev. Dr. C. K. Nelson. He guided the college successfully until 1861, when the college buildings were utilized as a military hospital by the United States army until -the close of the war. In 1866 the college was reopened with Dr. Henry Barnard, of Connecticut, as prin- cipal. On his resignation, the following summer, Dr. James C. Welling was chosen prin- cipal. He resigned at the close of the session, 1869-70, and Dr.'James M. Garnett was appointed in his stead. Under his administration in 1871, the first class since 1860 was graduated, and continuously thereafter classes have been duly graduated each year. After the resignation of Dr. Garnett in 1880, Rev. Dr. J. M. Leavitt was invited to under- take the administrative duties of the college. He served until 1884 when he went abroad for his health. Prof. William H. Hopkins was next installed as acting principal. He maintained control during the sessions of 1884-85 and 1885-86. During his administra- tion he worked strenuously to raise the college from the conditions to which she had fallen through lack of financial aid. His efforts, however, were not very successful. It was under his direction and personal efforts that the detail of an officer from the United States army, and also of an engineer from the United States navy, was obtained in accordance with the provisions of certain acts of Congress, with the conditions of which St. John's was able to comply. He resigned in the summer of 1886, to accept the position offered to him by the trustees of the Woman's College, Baltimore, and Dr. Thomas Fell was called to occupy the presidential chair. At the opening of the session, 1886-87, when he entered upon his duties there were but sixty students in attendance, and the general condition of the grounds had become greatly deteriorated. He at once set to work to renovate the study rooms and to promote the comfort of the students during their resi- dence at college. The old wood stoves were removed, and in their place steam-heating apparatus was introduced. Bathrooms, with hot and cold water, and other conveniences, were placed in both Humphreys and Pinkney halls. New life and vigor were also infused into the whole course of instruction, and, as a consequence, the number of stu- dents during the next year amounted to one hundred and thirty-eight, or more than double the number in attendance at the time of his appointment. On the 26th of June, 1889, the college celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of its existence under the title of St. John's College. Many of the old students returned for the occasion, and friends who had not met for years exchanged the heartiest greeting. Owing to the large assemblage of visitors a tent was erected on the campus, in the shade of the old poplar tree, where the literary features of the programme were carried out. ' Toward the close of 1891 the Board of Visitors and Governors authorized President Fell to initiate a movement for the formation of an endowment fund. In furtherance of this project open letters were sent to the alumni, inviting them to subscribe the sum of 810.000, these letters have been responded to by them in a gratifying manner. Contribu- tions have also been received from others interested in the welfare of this venerable insti- tution, so that a fair beginning has been made toward placing it upon a sounder financial 23