University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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Millington. M. D.. was elected professor of natural philosophy and chemistry: Albert Taylor Bledsoe, LL. D., was elected professor of mathematics and astronomy 1 john Newton lYaddel, D. D., was elected professor of languages. This original faculty was small in num- bers, but the eminent positions afterward occupied in educational work by each of the gentlemen named indicate the wisdom of the trustees in their election. ' The First session opened November 6th, 1848, with about eighty students in attendance.all of whom were classed as Freshmen or Sopho- mores. The records of that period show the difficulties under which the University began its work in what was then a pioneer settlement remotely situated. Probably one month was lost, as far as scholastic work was concerned. in classifying students and in securing text-books. This time appears to have been diligently improved by that large pro- portion of the student body who looked upon college life as an oppor- tunity for fun and frolic. Disorders of various kinds characterized most of the session. The president seems to have found the management of the institution too serious a matter, and returned to the more congenial atmosphere of Virginia. The remaining three members of the faculty, with Dr. Bledsoe, acting as president, continued the work of the ses- sion. The First commencement exercises, held in 1849, consisted of declamation and composition by the students, an address by Hon..-X. M. Clayton. of the board of trustees, and an address by Acting- President Bledsoe, in which, after congratulating the community upon the fact that comparative good order had prevailed for two months, he proceeded to discuss the doctrine of total depravity from an educa- tional standpoint. ' The second session of the University opened most auspiciously under the presidency of Dr. A. B. Longstreet, the celebrated Judge Longstreet, of Georgia, and with several additions to the faculty. Vliithin two years, the enrollment of students had largely increased, and there was a corresponding increase in the corps of instructors. The University immediately took high rank among the institutions of the country, both on account of the ability of the men connected with it, and the character of the work accomplished. This rank has been fully maintained in all its history. Its trustees have been selected from the most distinguished and intelligent citizens of the Stateg the faculty 8

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HISTQIQICIKL SKETCH OI: THE UNI- VEIQSITY OI: MISSISSIPPI. HE UNIVERSITY QF MISSISSIPPI owes its origin to that wise provision contained in the celebrated ordinance of 1787 for the government of the Northwest Territory, which declared that religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good govern- ment and the happiness of mankind. schools and the means of educa- tion shall forever be encouraged. Every State in the Union formed out of the public domain has received by act of Congress. as an endow- ment for a State university. the grant of two or more townships of pub- lic land. Mississippi received its first township soon after its admis- sion into the Union, and has recently come into the possession of the second township granted by Congress. In 1833, the first University lands were sold by order of the Legislature, and the money placed in the State treasury. In 1840, it was declared by the Legislature that a State university should be established. and the proceeds of the lands previously granted by Congress were set apart for the use and benefit of the State university. In 1841, the present location was fixed by the Legislature. Qn the twenty-third of February, 1844, the University of Mississippi was duly chartered by act of Legislature, and its first board of trustees named. During the four following years the first buildings were planned and their erection begun. In July. 1848. the first faculty was elected. Dr. George Frederick Holmes, who afterwards served the University of Virginia for many years until the time of his death in 1898, was elected president of the University of Mississippi. John 7 v

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has always been composed of men eminent in their profession, many of whom have been called from this institution to places of more promi- nence, and whose promotions were based largely upon their work accomplished here. In this list maybe named such men as Dr. John N. VVaddel, Dr. F. A. P. Barnard, Gen. Alexander P. Stewart, Dr. Edward Mayes, each of whom served as Chancellor of the University: and Dr. Landon C. Garland, Dr. Albert Taylor llledsoe, Dr. lf. XY. Hilgard, Dr. Henry X'Yllll1Cl1OI'llC, and many others who served in var- ious chairs. Wfhen the Civil Wiar came on, the University exercises were sus- pended for four years, and probably every student who had been con- nected with the University from 1858 to 186i saw service in the Con- federate army. The institution was reorganized in 1865, and at once entered upon a renewed career of prosperity and usefulness. The number of students taking work in the University classes has steadily increased. This is markedly true in recent years since the preparatory department was abolished. Under the present management many more students have been enrolled in the university classes than during any corresponding period in the history of the institution. The author- ities recognize that the University belongs to the State of Mississippi, and every effort is made to accomplish such work in all its depart- ments, as the people of the State have a right to expect. In recent years it has enjoyed a large share of public favor, and it enters upon the second half century of its work with the brightest prospects for continued and rapid growth in strength and usefulness in every direc- tion. The pride of the University is in the men who have studied here. The fact that such a very large number of these have risen to places of prominence in this and other States shows that the University has ever been a power in the development of scholarship and manly character. 9