University of Kentucky - Kentuckian Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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ciation of American State Universities. Its standard of admission conforms to that adopted by the Association of State Universities at its recent session in Washington, namely, fifteen units, covering a period of four years in an accredited high school. Its courses of instruction embrace a college of Science and Liberal Arts, a college of Education for the preparation of teachers for high schools and colleges, four engineering courses, namely, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, and Alining, College of Agriculture and College of Law. It is the only institution in Kentucky which is doing University work. Last year, its matriculation roll numbered 1064. During a period of thirty years, it; has lost but few of the prominent members of its educational staff. Dr. Robert Peter in 1804, Prof. E. M. Helved the same year, Milford White in 1908, and Prof. John H. Neville in 1908—these were all eminent in their respective lines of work. Dr. Robert Peter became Professor of Chemistry in 1832, in Transylvania University, and for years was recognized as one of the foremost chemists in America. Prof. F. M. ITelvcti was a man of rare attainments in ancient and modern languages, in French and German and English literature, in history and in music. Prof. Milford White, though comparatively young, had already impressed himself strongly upon the young teachers of Kentucky as a man of marked ability. Prof. John H. Neville was recognized as facile princeps the best classical scholar within the limits of the Commonyealth. It is somewhat remarkable that in a period covering thirty years, the necrology of the institution lias been so small. It is now manned bv an educational staff which compares favorably in point of ability and attainments with that of any other institution in America. Its success may be measured by its high standing among the institutions forming the Association of American Universities, and by the further fact that of nil the alumni whom it has graduated since 1871, there is not more than one-half of one per cent of failures. Tts graduates are in demand everywhere and the demand far exceeds the ability of the institution. Alma Mater eslo perpchia. 1909

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it could, within ton years after the allotment, have been sold for twenty times t.ia amount. Tn 1882, the denominational colleges made a united effort :o procure the repeal of the half-cent tax. The President defended the institution before the Legislature and succeeded, after a contest which lasted for three months, in having the measure to repeal laid upon the table of the House of Representatives. The constitutionality of the act was then assailed by the aggrieved colleges. This also was argued before the General Assembly, was tried in the Chancellors Court in T misville and in the Magoffin Circuit Court, and carried thence into the Court of Appeals, and ultimately divided in favor of the Slate College. The President l ;ho College argued the cause? Indore the joint committees of the Senate and House. He also mainained the constitutionality of the act against some of the ablest members of the bar. namely. Judge Lindsay, Bennett Young, Alexander II. Humphrey, and James Trabue. and was victorious along the whole line. In 1887, he was largely instrumental in procuring the passage of the Hatch Act by Congress, which provided an annual income of $15,000 per annum for the maintenance of the Experiment Stations established in connection with these land grant institutions. In 1890, he rendered like service in procuring an additional $25,000 per annum of endowment from Congress for the College. In 1893, the revised charter, which was mainly his work, made liberal provision for the appointment of county representatives in whom is given exemption from all fees and traveling expenses once coming and once returning to the institution each year. In 1900 and 1902, he obtained $90,000 from Hie Legislature for the erection of the Gymnasium and of Patterson Hail, the latter a home for young ladies. In 1904, he secured from the Legislature an annual additional income of $15,000 per annum. The constitutionaliiv of this was also questioned and his argument before the Court of Appeals was mainly instrumental in determining a decision in the affirmative. In 1908, the Legislature made an appropriation of $20,000 per annum for increased income. In 1900, Congress passed at Ad. known as the Xelson Bill, giving an additional $25,000 per annum for the further endowment of the institutions established under the Act of 1802. Within the last twenty-nine years, the institution has increased its matriculation of college and university students ten-fold. It has now, instead of six professors as then, more Hum fifty professors, assistant professors and instructors. Tn 1882 it had but two buildings, namely, the Main Building and the Old Dormitory. .1 here are now on the College grounds and on grounds immediately adjacent fourteen or fifteen buildings. Its income lias grown from $10,000, in 1880, to $125,000, in 1909. This income represents at four per cent a capitalized endowment of over three million dollars. Its buildings and grounds, including the College Farm, are worth about $800,000. The Legislature of 1908 changed the style and title of the institution from State College to State 1’nivcrsitv. In this capacity it has membership in the Asso-

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LIFE OF PRESIDENT PATTERSON James Kennedy Patterson was born in Glasgow. Scotland, March 26th, 1833. In 1842, the President’s father and family sailed for America, and settled in the thinly populated district of southern Indiana. There were no educational facilities nearer than Madison, distant forty miles, whose schools he attended during the term of 1849 and 1850. After a year ajient in teaching in the common schools, he resumed his studies in Hanover Academy. Attending college and teaching, alternately, he graduated from Hanover College in 1856, the leader of his class during his undergraduate course. Immediately after obtaining his degree, he became principal of Greenville Prosbytorial Academy, Muhlenbtirg County, Kv., which position he held for three vears, when lie became principal of the Preparatory Department, and afterward Professor of Katin and Greek, in Stewart College, now Southwestern University, Clarksville. Temi. At the beginning of the Civil War, lie left his southern position and became principal of the Transylvania High School. liCxingion. Kv.. and, in I8G5-69, held the Professorship of Latin and Civil History in Kentucky University. At the latter date, he began, as President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky, an administration so eventful, so stormy, and so replete with monumental results! From a condition of bankruptcy, he has created a constantly increasing income: from a rude and imperfect organization, he has educed a modem 12