University of Kentucky - Kentuckian Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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 xn-n-i-i rm , Ynt iktiT-n:»■ K E N T U C K a psi isi NETEEN EE 1— EEL EL IM History of The University IN September, 1801, James K. Patterson, then a young man of twenty-eight years, was plaecd in charge of what remained of Tran- sylvania University. In 1805 Tran- sylvania University was consolidated by Act of the Legislature with Ken- tucky University, which had up to that time Irecn established at Har- rodsburg. Three years prior to the consolidation. Congress had given to each State in the Union 30,000 acres of land for each Representative in Congress, for the pur| osc of estab- lishing and endowing agricultural and mechanical colleges. Kentucky received 800,000 acres under that allotment, a magnificent domain equal to more than 1.500 square miles, and which, if it had l ccn judicially and economically administered, would by this time have produced an income of more than $400,000 a year. It was so managed, however, that a net income of but $9,000 accrues from the original magnificent endowment. The State established an Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1805, but made it one of the colleges of Ken- tucky University, instead of establishing it u|w n an independent footing. Professor James K. Patterson was elected Professor of History and Metaphysics in the new organization. In 1809 he Itccame its president. In 1878 the Agricultural and Mechanical College was detached from its former connection with Ken- tucky University, and by Act and placed ti| on an independ- ent basis. The City of Lexington gave the city |Nirk as a site for the college, and the president obtained from the city and county $.54.1 25 for the erection of buildings. It was thencefor- ward known as the State Col- lege. until 1908. when it was made a University by the Lcgis- lature. taking thenceforward the name of State University. In 1880 President Patterson ob- tained from the State the pro- ceeds of a tax of one twentieth of a mill for the further endowment of the college. Two years there- after the denominational col- leges of Kentucky memorialized Prnldrni Pattcruon

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 K. ENTUCKIAN NINETEEN IE L El El N the legislature to repeal the tax levied for its benefit upon the ground that they would in the future be unable to compete with a college organized, administered and sustained by liberal appropriations from the State. President Patterson fought, single-handed, and de- feated the effort to repeal the tax. and when its constitutionality was tested in the courts, fought and won the case in the Chancellors Court in Ixniisville ami in the Court of Appeals of the Common- wealth. having as his opponents Judge Lindsay. Judge Humphrey aud Colonel Bennett Young, who represented the denominational colleges. During the contest the building fund became exhausted through the negligence of the architect. The college was $85,000 in debt. The effort to negotiate a loan failed. The president bor- rowed the money on his own securities, placed it in the hands of the Executive Committee and thus enabled them to complete the building. In 1887 he assisted materially in the passage of the Match Act through Congress, which stablished ami endowed Experiment Sta- tions asdepartments of Agriculture and Mechanical Colleges,created under the Act of 1863. The annual appropriation for this purpose was $15,000. subsequently increased by the Adams Act to $80,000 |ht annum. In 1800 he assisted in obtaining from Congress $35,000 per annum for further endowment of Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, and in 1900-02 induced the legislature of Kentucky to make an appropriation of $90,000 for a gymnasium and a college home Patterson Hall—for young women. In 1904 he obtained from the Legislature a further annual appropriation of $15.000 for additional income. The constitutionality of this Act was also tested in the lower courts ami in the Court of Appeals, in l oth of which he won. In 1900 lie assisted in procuring the passage of the Nelson Bill through Congress, making an additional appropriation of $25,000 annually for colleges established under the Act of 1802. In 1008 the legislature changed the name of the Institution to State University. President Patterson resigned the presidency in 1910 after a service of forty-one years. He hands over to his successor an Insti- tution with an annual income of $150,000. grounds, buildings and equipment valued at $980.000. colleges of Agriculture, Mechanical Engineering. Civil Engineering. Mining Engineering, Electrical Engineering. Science and Arts and Education. Its engineering schools are the best in the south and rank with the best in America. President Patterson retires with the title of President Emeritus, retains a seat in the Faculty and was appointed by the Governor a member of the Board of Trustees. He received the degree of Ph. I)., in 1875. from Hanover College. Indiana, from which he graduated in 1850; LL. I)., in 1890, from La Fayette College. Pennsylvania, and LL. I)., in 1910. from the University of Vermont. In 18S0 he was elected a Fellow of the Boyal Historical Society of Great Britain and of the Society of Antiquaries of Edinburgh. Scotland. In recent years lie has been elected a Member of the American Historical Association, the Ameri- can Academy of Social and Political Science, and the National Geographic Society. He is likewise a trustee of the American Civic Alliance. iCf-t-i. luUUuULgPL’! EZC i-i.t.r rnmii 3