Barnard College - Mortarboard Yearbook (New York, NY)

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I THEN.. • the Space Age challenged the meaning and purpose of college education. As traditional views of man ' s capabilities have been re-evaluated, new impetus has been given to his desire to find order in the environment. The search for a meaningful pattern has been extended to cover the newly accessible realms of space. NOW... • we at Barnard have gained a widened perspective. The College, while itself preparing to meet increasing demands, has helped to prepare us to accept our positions in the vanguard of the new era. D • • • • the Space Age has effected in us a grow- ing awareness of our potential and our duty to actual- ize it. Our generation must supply not only the science and technology, but also the philosophy which must necessarily accompany discoveries, in order to explain to man the meaning of his progress. 7

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Where Barnard was born — in a brownstone On October 7, 1889, fourteen freshmen mounted the steps at 343 Madison Avenue, a high-stooped brownstone, the headquarters of the newly-established women ' s college of Columbia University. Frederick A. P. Barnard, President of Columbia University, said of the downtown location: . . . the temptations of the City although different in character, are no more cor- rupting than . . . (those) of the country, and whatever advantage there may be in a country place is dearly purchased ... at the cost of sacrificing the convenience, the intellectual stimulus, the opportunities of observa- tion, and the many other advantages which students . . . enjoy in great cities. It is my well-settled belief that in the selection of a site for a college, the most populous town should be preferred to any location in the country, however apparently tempting. President Barnard un- fortunately did not live to see the opening of the college which bears his name. The physical facilities were poor. Two rooms were fitted as classrooms, and the butler ' s pantry served as a locker room. Six subjects were offered to the first fresh- man class: Mathematics, Greek, Latin, and English, all required, and a choice of either French or German. With these limited facilities and a total budget of $7,500, which exceeded the expected income, Barnard College began to develop the spirit and tradition which we have inherited. Botany Lab — note the shoulder puffs Reading Room — Jim, tell my date to wait. 10