Eastern Kentucky University - Milestone Yearbook (Richmond, KY)

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The Central University of Kentucky, I. H. BL ANTON, Ti. D.. Chancellor. COLLEGES: COLLEGE OF PHILOSOPHY, LETTERS AND SCIENCE Richmond, Ky. J. V. LOGAN, D. D., LL. D., President. HOSPITAL COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Louisville, Ky. J. A. L.A.RRABEE, M. D., President. LOUISVILLE COLLEGE OF DEx TlSTRY Loiiisvillt. Ky. HENRY B. TILESTOX, D. D. S , President. COLLEGE OF LAW Richmond, Ky. VM. CHENAULT, LL. D., President. i V UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOLS. RICHMOND PREPARATORY Richmond. Ky, J. H. CHANDLER, B. L., Principal S. P. LEES COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE Jackson. Ky. J. MARION MOORE, M. A., President. HARDIX COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE Elizabethtown. Ky. RICE MILLER. B. A., President. MIDDLESBOROUGH UNR ' IvRSlTY SCHOOL Middlesborough, Ky. J. R. STERRETT. B. S., President.

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LINDSAY HUGHES BLANTON, D. D., CHcANCELLOR. ji Dr. Blanton, to whose efficient management and indefatigable labors as Chancellor the University owes so much, was born in Cumberland county, ' a., July 29th, 1832, and was graduated at Hampden-Sidney College ; also at Danville Theological Seminary, Danville. Ky. His first ministerial service was with the Presbyterian Church, at ' ersailles, Ky. , then at Salem, Va., then as Chaplain in the Confederate Army. In 1S6S he became pastor of the church at Paris, Ky. Here he was not only instrumental in building up the church to greatly increased strength and efficiency, but threw himself with all his energy and rare executive ability into the work of building up the educational interests of the community. Local institutions of learning took, under the stimulus of his enthusiasm, new life and energy. His ripe scholarship, rare executive ability, and indomitable energy soon led to his recognition as one peculiarly fitted for leadership in the great work of public education. When the chancellorship of Central University became vacant it was natural, therefore, that, young, comparatively, as he was, he should be called to that important post. One of less courage might have shrunk from the position tendered him, encompassed as the institution was with financial problems of the gravest and most ominous character. Not at all discouraged by difficulties, he threw himself into the work of es- tablishing the credit, consolidating the finances, and broadening the range of scholarship and the sphere of patronage of the institution. As another has truly said, His wise methods and cheerful words soon restored the fullest confidence in the future of the University. Generous contributions to the endowment again began to flow in, and the institution has gone steadilj- forward, increasing every j-ear in patronage, lifting higher every year the standard of instruction and scholarship, until now it stands abreast of any similar institution in the country, and is regarded as one of the chief ornaments of the commonwealth. Dr. Blanton, while devoting his chief energies to the development of Cen- tral University, has been intimately and honorably associated with every great movement of the church in Kentucky As a director in th e Theological Semi- nary at Louisville, he has rendered invaluable service. He has been from the beginning a warm supporter and a wise counsellor in the great work of Synodi- cal evangelization. He is recognized as one of our strongest and most scholarly preachers, as one of our most profound and erudite thinkers, as one of our soundest and best-equipped theologians. His influence is perhaps second to that of no member of the Synod of Kentucky, to which he has devoted so assid- uously and untiringly his service.

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- Sc I5T0RICAL SKETCH or THE Uril ' EP5ITV Central Universit} ' , now among the leading institutions of learning in the state and the South, had its origin in the Southern Synod of Kentucky-, and the Memorial Educational Convention, held at Lexington, K. -., on the 7th and Sth of May, 1872, which was composed of a number of friends of learning in the Southern Presbyterian Church. The members of this convention, whose purpose it was to take steps toward establishing a Christian institution of the highest order, and under the auspices of the Synod of Kentucky, organized themselves into a permanent association and offered to the Synod their co-operation for founding such an institution. Thus the movement was inaugurated which resulted in the establishment of the University. The sum of $220,000 was subscribed as a beginning, which was thought sufficient to open an institution. The most sanguine friends of this enterprise could scarcelv have believed, when the doors of this institution were thrown open in 1874 for the first time, that within fifteen years, most of which were years of financial depression, the University would weather a most trying ordeal of adversity, and 3-et so improve and commend itself to its supporters that they should ralh and subscribe three successive additions to the endowment — the first of $60,000 and the other two of $100,000 each. Yet such is the case. Every dollar was raised in the state of Ken- tucky, and almost entirely among the Alumni Association and the Southern Pre.sbyterian Churches. This speaks volumes for the liberality of Kentucky people. After the fund was raised, sufficient for opening the institution, several towns became warm competitors for the location of the University — chiefly Bardstown, Anchorage, Danville, Paris, and Richmond. The wisdom of selecting the last named as the seat of the University has been amply vindicated bj- experience. The new institution was opened in September, 1874. At first there were only two col- leges, the Hospital College of Medicine, located at Louisville, Ky., and the College of Phi- losophj ' . Letters and Science located at Richmond, Ky. Recently the College of Dentistry was established at Louisville. Rev. J. W. Pratt, D. D., was elected President of the II