Duke University - Chanticleer Yearbook (Durham, NC)

Page 17 text:

e Chaniicleeri ' ft i I i i I i i r. i % ' i Duke University FROM INSIGNIFICANCE TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE (Contiiuicd frnm Page ii.) new era of liberalism in teaching and learning by electing John Franklin Crowell, a North- ern man and a graduate of Vale, as its presi- dent in 1887. The new president worked many changes. He revised the curriculum, brought professional teachers to the faculty rather than men of the lirlli ' s I.rtlrrs type; but most important of all he decided that the institution must be moved from the country to the city — a decisioi that was contrary ti the estab ' ished tradition that the cities were unsafe for the morals of youth. However, the energetic president soon brought the trustees to think as he did, and bids were requested from any city that de- sired the institution to be located in th;ir midst. The offer of Raleigh, consisting of twelve acres of land and subscriptions amounting to $20,500, was accepted ; but soon that decision was reconsidered in the light of the personal influence of General Julian S. Carr, along ivith his generous offer to give Blackwell Park as a building site, and an of- fer by Mr. Washington Duke of a monetary gift of $85,000 should the college be located in Durham, North Carolina. Thereupon Ral- eigh waived her rights, and after buildings were erected. Trinity was brought to Durham in 1892. Trinity College ( evv Trinity) (1892-1925) Situated in the heart of North Carolina ' s industrialism, the new college has been com- pelled to keep step with the modern spirit of progress. Inder the administration of Presi- dent Kilgo, who succeeded Dr. Crowell in 1894, the institution was integrated in its new- environment. Additional benefactions by Washington Duke and his sons made it the largest endowed college in the South Atlantic States. With the guidance of Dr. William P. Few, President since 1910, its program of work became so varied and its patronage so large, that a new organization and new work- ing capital became essential. These were made possible by Mr. James Buchanan Duke late in 1924, on condition that the corporate name of the institution be changed to Duke I ' niversity — a condition that was accepted by the Trinity trustees on IDecember 29, 1924, the legal change of the name being effected the next day. Duke University (1924—) Mr. Duke, realizing that education, when conducted on sane and practical lines, as op- posed to dogmatic and theoretical teachings is, next to religion, the greatest civilizing in- fluence, selected the growing educational in- stitution at Durham as the principal means by which he was to administer to the social wel- fare and betterment of his native people in the two Carolinas. In his great philanthropic dream he saw Duke I ' niversity as a veritable hotbed of learning, which was to administer educational services to thousands and thou- sands of growing youths the country over. By the original indenture, by subsec|uent gifts, and by the provisions of his last will, Mr. Duke made Duke University the chief recip- ient of the eighty million dollar Duke En- dowment Fund, benefactions that have placed Duke University fourth in rank with the richest endowed institutions of the United States. Mr. Duke commended to the trustees of the Duke Endowment Fund the securities of the Southern Power system of water power de- velopments as the prime investment for the fund, stating that my ambition is that the revenues of such developments shall admin- ister to the social welfare, as the operation of such developments is now administering to the economic welfare of the communities which they serve. At present, eleven new buildings are being erected on the site of the present campus, six of which will be ready for occupancy by the opening of school in September, 1926. At the same time much work is being done towards the erection of the new unit on the four-thou- sand-acre tract, recently acquired by the au- thorities for the campus and bui ' dings of the new University. As soon as this vast pro- gram of development is completed, the present campus and buildings will be turned over as a co-ordinate school for women, which will be an integral part of the University. It seems an infinite pity that Mr. Duke could not have lived to see the consummation of his great dream of service. We greatly miss him, his guiding hand, his masterly mind, and his inspiring personal leadership; yet, his character and soul will live on through the ages in the work and service of Duke Uni- versity, the fullness and richness of whose works he alone has made possible. J 1 fe : -:- ' . :; -- y: