Dickinson College - Microcosm Yearbook (Carlisle, PA)

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John Price Durbin 1832-1845 ql9ISTINGUISHED 01'11,t01', 0211571-cnt p 1' lf Il c l1, e 1' . 11cl1ninist1'ative genius,-lcmler of the renais- sance of flze Collcge. ,Hy N YQ Eg P ii ll l wg 1 I ll I w i 1 H E ll 1 5 K - .' l XX . li E 1 ' ' ' ' il ' j ei: ja- c if l ,,, ,,,- ,-1 .. l 'Q ry gg-an F377 rw H1111 , n 1 lug' f n , H - 'f , I A-,,,..-,, . -6 ..,, ,,,Wf---: '-'T X I 1 X 1 jg! N wie J il l 1 ' 'ff 3 l a 3 H Q X East College, 1836 x I 13 s I MOLD EAST, built on Z S l 5 l ilze accepted plan, of , l modern college dorm.ito1'ics, .I 1 marked the second luzlf cen- 1 V T fury of Dickim-on's history. , 6 V Y 'l 53: i w 5 k Sl , 0 we D e ii s V L 1, f-. Lefls era:-rgfwggf C' We , e ,JJ

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. . entered on the century that was to show uninterrupted progress. A spirit of liberal education, born at the hour of the birth of the spirit of American democracy and drawing strength from the common ancestry, can stand the test of time. And so Dickinson survived her growing pains. The VVar of 1812 intruded on the movement of progress. A duel with a disastrous ending, in 1815, had a depressing effect. After causing one period of suspension, internal difficulties between faculty and trustees were threatening the life of the institution as Dickin- son passed the half-century mark of her career. 1Vith the 'flll'l1 of this first century came reorganization under the control of the Nlethodist Episcopal Church. The enlightened educa- tional activity of this libe1'al sectarian control fanned anew the spark of the Dickinson genius and pointed the way down the next hundred years. The man under whom the renaissance took place has had few peers as a college administrator. Dr. John P. Durbin brought to Dickinson a superlative reputation as scholar, executive, and orator. His varied interests and talents placed him in harmony with all branches of human learning. Under his leadership the College gained new impetus with its rebirth: from its leaderis attention to revised statutes, new courses of study, new buildings, endowment, and increase of students. In 1835, South College was acquired for grammar school facilities. Burned and rebuilt, it later served as scientific department and library. The following year saw the erection of East College on the accepted plan of college dormitories. Fortified with a strong constitutional background and well nurtured by administration, faculty, student body, and public confidence, Dickinson thus entered on the century that was destined to show uninterrupted progress. Situated midway between the North and South, drawing life and inter- est from both, Dickinson moved on to play a colorful role in another national epoch that was to mark so signally the pass- ing of the midpoint in the first century and a half of Dickinson and identify her again with the spirit of the nation.

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. her centennial was indeed the sign of an epoch. The destructive hand of civil war, bearing disintegration and bitterness, dealt kindly with Dickinson, and the experiences of the College in this trying period of our national history only add to the richness of her heritage. Up the brownstone steps, through the ivy-encircled portal were carried wounded soldiers from Gettysburg, in these halls of learning to be brought back to life. Wfearers of the Gray, in their occupancy of Carlisle and quartering ill lvest College, were careful to preserve from damage the buildings and other property of Dickinson, as well as the campus, for many of them loyalty to their Alma hlater coming out of the past to be a more unchange- able passion than devotion to a new cause. It was under the guidance of a man of wide learning and progressive industry that Dickinson passed the century mark of her career. Dr. James A. McCauley so directed the affairs of the College that her centennial was indeed the sign of an epoch, celebrated by renovation and expansion that brought Dickinson into step with the pace of the years that were hurrying the nineteenth century to its close and heralding the dawn of the modern era. In 18841, the Jacob Tome Scientific Building was erected, making available new accommodations for the rapidly growing science department of the College. In the museum of this building have been brought together many interesting scientific specimens and much historical apparatus, including a valu- able portion of Joseph Priestley,s laboratory equipment. In 1885, arose Bosler llflemorial Hall, combining a chapel auditorium and library, thus bringing together two important centers of college activity. Dr. lVIcCauley,s administration saw also the construction of a gymnasium to provide physical education and recreation facilities. This building served faithfully until the coming of a new building many years later gave it the title of The Old G3'Ill.,, The College inaugurated education for women in 188-L, and so with co-education as with other phases of educational policy identified herself with the movement of the times. YVith more than a hundred years behind her, Dickinson found herself well prepared for continued advance as she stood on the threshold of the twentieth century.