Dickinson College - Microcosm Yearbook (Carlisle, PA)

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A Century and a Half . . an integral part of the saga of America. HE moving finger of Time traced the ancestry of Dick- inson in the very birth of the spirit of freedom, liberal justice, and equality that moved leaders of the past to .blaze new trails into the future i11 the New lvorld. The story of Dickinson is an integral part of the saga of America. The colonists who founded the United States were men of sturdy character and vigorous courage, in education as liberal as in politics. The leading colonies, even in their fecbleness and poverty, made sacrifices to establish the eleven colleges that contributed not a few minds to help establish a new nation, conceived in liberty. The Revolution momentarily halted the advance of higher education following in the wake of the Wave of colonization moving west of the Susquehanna River. Faced with the gigantic task of bringing political order and stability out of the chaos that followed the war and of creating far g1'0EllZC1' national self-sufliciency than dependence on the mother country had fostered, leading Pcnnsylvanians 'co-operated in urging through the Legislature a charter for an institution of higher learning to be established with face toward the new lVest and aim toward the training of men to carry on America's experiment in government into the doubtful future. And the same year that brought victory and freedom to the colonies saw the organization of the administration of Dickinson College at the home of Governor Dickinson in Philadelphia. Such is the heritage of the first-born daughter of American freedom.

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. gave to the young college an established reputation. The civilization of Pennsylvania flowed from several springs. English, lvclsh, and Scotch-Irish were joined by Europeans of the Rhine Valley from Holland to the Alps of Switzerland. This diversity in population is perpetual evidence that Pennls frame of governmentl, and 'cgreat lawn embodied the broadest conception of political and religious freedom yet given to mankind. Such is the setting in which was reared Dickinson College, placed in Carlisle, a pioneer settlement beau- tifully situated in the heart of the fertile and healthy Cumber- land Valley, surrounded by an intelligent and enterprising population of the stock that lent no little to the first regiment of the army of the united colonies to meet General George XVashington from west of the Hudson. Character came to the new College with its name. The great and important services rendered to his country by his Excellency, John Dickinson, Esquire, were recognized in the State charter when the College was named nforever hereafter,' Dickinson. Forcefnl essayist as The Farmer, staunch and active patriot, member of both Continental Congresses and of the Constitutional Convention, commander of a volunteer regiment of Pennsylvania soldiers, Governor of Pennsylvania and Delaware, John Dickinson by his name identified the new College with the highest ideals in government and learning. From Scotland came Dickinson's first direction of culture, in the presidency of Dr. Charles Nisbet, brilliant scholar and champion of America's cause. Dr. Nisbet, with his remark- able learning and unfailing energy, gave to the young College an established reputation. Wlhen fire destroyed the first building on tl1e new campus, acquired in 1799, the destruction of the College was regarded as a national calamity. Assistance for rebuilding came from all sides and from unexpected sources, seventeen !llClTlbC1'S of Congress and even the President of the country made liberal contributions. In the same year arose the new Old tVest,', designed by Latrobe, government architect at Yvashington. Old,', yet ever new, Old VVest', has brought d0Wl1 through more than a century and a quarter the spirit of America. I1 ' f iff-: .Fitzzu-'rz 5 Ffzlf' 3 Ji-F522 -:ip-1:1 fe iiiibr- 15-gf fr Q.e:s'f,r2i.5 Ji 1, -ii-:r5.:f' ,gi K s e't,'..fg'n5- Jeb, g1,',,-5-...I-A ,- 'wg-:'if '::..-1 .--.3-1.':e:'e 21:3-Q 5. .L:1q-3115 N.:-:,ff :..-,F - 3, T 1. . 1 Q: ti .. Q'-f -1 :'.,'f, ii'