Eastern Kentucky University - Milestone Yearbook (Richmond, KY)

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irth Operating Room tislry rel leges of dentistry and med The Reverend R. L. Breck was versify, servir itto.

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Eastern ' s Roots Grow In Civil War ' s Ashes HE HISTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION on c. the Eastern Kentucky University campus has its roots deep in the epic of American history. The wounds that remained following the American Civil War were not always quick to heal. The bitter polarization that had gripped the nation could not be immediately remedied when the hostilities ended and differences continued to split and faciionalize families and institutions while the nation tried to mend itself. It was one of these schisms that one hundred years ago. in 1874. led to the founding of Central University and the beginning of higher edu- cation on the campus in Richmond that 33 years later would house the fledgling Eastern Kentucky State Normal School. Kentucky had been one of the so-called border states during the Civil War, with vested interests branching both North and South. A slave-holding state with enough Union sentiment to prevent seces- sion, Kentucky was nonetheless deeply embroiled in the war. Both sides in the conflict courted Kentucky vigorously, in fact, since Kentucky was not in a state of rebellion slaves in Kentucky and other border states were not automatically freed by the Emancipa- tion Proclamation. The Commonwealth had powerful ties with both North and South. Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were both Kentucky-born, as was Davis ' vice-president. John Breckinridge. And. there was certainly no more outspoken abolitionist than the Lion of White Hall, the indomitable Cassius Clay, whose home stands now as a state shrine only seven miles from the EKU campus. It was to be expected that divisions of opinion which after the Civil War could bring violent argu- ments over whether the struggle was the war be- tween the states or the war of the rebellion would lead to splits in social institutions. The Presbyterian Church of Kentucky was not exempt from these di- visive forces and found itself with two separate sy- nods. The church had a college in Kentucky — Centre at Danville — and its control rested in the hands of the Presbyterians ' iVorthern Assembly. Many Kentucky Presbyterians found fault with the Northern Assembly ' s four-part resolution for re- construction of the church. Basically, the resolution called for close scrutiny of Southern ministers espe- cially in regard to participation in the rebellion, and their views on slavery; and before admission (to the ministry), to confess their sin and forsake their error, if their action and views did not accord with the assembly ' s testimony. It was this resolution, termed erroneous and heretical by the Kentucky Presbyterians who refused to abide that led to the split of the church in the Commonwealth and the for- mation of the Southern Synod of Kentucky. The older church establishment won control of Centre College through the courts and Smith ' s History of Kentucky reports that the new synod set immedi- ately to assume independent denominational exis- tence. Chief among these wants, says Smith, was felt the need of an institution of learning. This then, is the backdrop against which higher education came to Richmond, and to the campus that was eventually to serve Eastern Kentucky University; A group of Centre College alumni and friends of learning of the Church meeting in Lexington May 7. 1872 organized what they called the Alumni Associa- tion of Central University and sought the cooperation of the Southern Synod in establishing the new school. The offer was accepted and a charter was drawn up placing the operation of the University in the hands of a seven-member Board of Curators and its finances under the supervision of five trustees. Thus, the seed was planted. villi brick fired

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C.U. Curators Pick Richmond As Site ENTRAL UNIVERSITY was incorporated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky March 3, 1873, and in the months ahead the founders of Central University, including the Reverend Stuart Robinson, Robert L. Breck, Josephy Chambers, Ben- nett H. Young and J. V. Logan, set out to secure a cam- pus, a faculty and set an opening date for the new university. Meeting in Richmond December 31, 1873, these men, who were members of the first Board of Cura- tors of the university, voted to open the University September 1, 1874; to proceed with the purchase of ground for the campus and to construct, for S30.000, a budding to serve the College of Arts, and to visit and inspect sites for the campus. The Curators took note at that meeting that a paper had been presented by citizens of Madison County relinquishing the con- dition of location at Richmond from subscriptions for the University, to an amount sufficient to compJete the sum of 5150,000 required for the endowment. Accepting the paper as an act of good will by the Madison Countians. The Curators nevertheless, chose to locate the school at Richmond. They were no doubt influenced by the fact that the leading contributor to the institution was SingJeton P. Walters, an influential member of the local gentry, whose initial contribution of $17,500 later grew to 525,000. He was also a trustee of the University. In fact, Walters actually made land available to the new university ' . Forty acres from the north-west corn- er of 249 acres of land he purchased in January, 1874, became the Central University campus. Walters kept legal possession of the campus tract until 1882 when he sold it to Central for $9,325. When Central had sought to buy the land from its original owner the price had been $12,000. Work had already begun on Central University ' s physical plant at the time Walters purchased the property for the campus. Brick for the Main Build- ing were made in a kiln located about sixty yards west of where the building stands. The Reverend Robinson had been elected as the first Chancellor, but resigned in April, 1874, before the University opened. In that same month, the Rev- erend R. L. Breck was elected Chancellor, at an an- nual salary of $2,500. Dr. Breck was a prestigious ad- dition to the Chancellor ' s Office. The son of a U. S. Congressman, he was married to a niece of Mary Todd Lincoln, the President ' s wife. The Curators established tuition for the new uni- versity at 560 per year, and in June, voted to form a medical college in Louisville. Central University actually began its first term September 22, 1874, and on June 17, 1875, the new institution granted the first collegiate degree ever awarded in Richmond — the Bachelor of Laws — to M. French Tipton. Central University was not long in operation before notes of financial concern began to creep into the minutes of its Board of Curators. On June 14. 1876, the Chancellor was directed to once again canvass the state for money and in March of 1879 the Curators voted to agree on a plan by which only five professors could conduct the academic program of the Univer- sity. In May of the same year Jonathan W. Pratt re- signed as President of the College of Philosophy, Let- ters and Science. The Board noted his resignation with a flowery letter that hinted he had resigned for the good of the institution ... so that his $2,500 annual salarv would be saved.