St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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basis than it has hitherto enjoyed. Two new buildings have been erected,-Woodward Hall, named for Mr. James T. Woodward, through whose aid the building was made possible, and the new dining-hall which was built in 1903 with the money appropriated by the Legislature of 1902. A more prosperous era seems to have dawned upon St. J ohn's, and she bids fair to assume that high position among colleges of the United States which she so well deserves. , 24

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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

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