Bucknell University - L Agenda Yearbook (Lewisburg, PA)

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rial Gymnasium. In Januar3% 1889, theofficeof Agent (now Regis- trar) was revived, and a suitable person elected to fill it. The search for a new President followed. After carefully looking over the field, in April, 1889, the trustees elected John Howard Harris, Ph. D., (now LL- D.,) Principal of Keystone Academy. This gave new hope. The University now had a fixed executive head. Principal William E. Martin, chairman of the Alumni Gymnasium Committee, inspired by the placed confidence in the new President, began on the walls of the Tustin Gymnasium. There was not enough money in sight to mark the final completion of this building, but all knew that President Harris would meet the day and hour when it came. It came, and out of it grew a tall, substantial, brick building, which now adorns the athletic field. The students now began to feel that the institution would advance. Almost simultaneouslj the walls of the Bucknell Chemical and Physical Laboratory rose among the stately trees, whose tops now swayed even more majestically than before. At the Commencement of 1889 the new President was inaugu- rated, and at once took hold with a strong hand. Soon the re-classifi- cation of the Institute and Academ} classes was announced ; fol- lowed by a re-arrangement of the studies in these departments. A new department in College, the Scientific course appeared in the next catalogue. Metamorphos began its work among the require- ments for admission to College, until the} ' were increased, and more rigidly enforced. The task of arranging the books in the Library was begun, and is now going on. The Philosophical alcove was enlarged and new books were added to meet the requirements of that department. The Library soon became better appreciated and its capacit} ' so taxed, that an adjoining room had to be pressed into service, which is now being fitted out for general library purposes. Changes everj-where. The new administration made itself felt in the lowest as well as the highest department. The scope of the

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,ucl i]cll i]iv i §itg fTpom 1888 to 1892. It is the province of the college annual to record college life during the year of publication. L ' Agenda first saw the light of da} ' in May, 1888 ; in 1892 it appears again, hence, in order that there may be no break in student history, this sketch will cover that period. It is in these few years that the University, thus far, has seen its days of greatest prosperity. From 1846, when the institution was but a germ, it gradually grew, step by step, through a long series of sacrifices, until now it is a stately being worthy the confi- dence of the people. Viewed from the student side, the advance of the institution from 1888 to 1892 was full of surprises and changes, each of which was applauded by the student body. The Com- mencement of 1888 came, and with it the resignation of our dis- tinguished President, David Jayne Hill, hh. D., who resigned to become the executive head of the University of Rochester. This resignation was accepted with regret, and on its heels followed the selection of George G. Groff, M. D., LL. D., as Acting President. A marked increase of attendance at the opening of the schools in September became apparent in the Academy and Institute. The number of students in College remained the same. During this year came the announcement that Mr. William Bucknell, now deceased, would build the Chemical Laboratory. Then the students were told that the Alumni had again actively taken hold of theTustin Memo-

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School of Music was increased, a four-years ' graduating course was mapped out, upon completion of which a diploma and gold medal is granted. It soon became apparent that the endowment must be increased ; the class rooms now began to fill up in all departments, particu- larly in the College. In this department alone the attendance rose, as if by magic, from 71 in 1888 to 128 in 1892. The Professors had to divide their classes in order to give proper attention to individual instruction. Then followed the proposition of the American Baptist Education Society to give $10,000 toward $100,000, provided $90,000 be raised by popular subscription before July i, 1892. This propo- sition was accepted by the Trustees, and a special endowment com- mittee was appointed, with President Harris and Rev. James W. Putnam, of Philadelphia, as financial agents. The canvass is now on actively. When this amount is raised and added to the present endowment, the productive funds of the in.stilution will amount to over $400,000. This will make the University worth in all up- wards of $800,000, including fixed and other capital. The University one year ago decided to carry on the work of University extension through prepara tor} ' schools. As a result Key- stone Academy, Mt. Pleasant Institute and Hall Institute are affiliated with the Universit3 The President of the University and the Col- lege Professors lecture from time to time in these schools. The future of the institution is now fixed, and the next annual will record even areater achievements.