Franklin College - Almanack Yearbook (Franklin, IN)

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Department 't 777 ' rl HE Biological Labo- vf ratory of Franklin y it 7 ' College consists of three well lighted rooms on the .7 'l if l , 1 fourth floor of the main ifg',,, t building. lt is furnished if with water, gas, micro- scopes, microtome, reag- ents, charts, etc., all the most useful appliances found today in any well arranged laboratory. The purpose of this department is to give the nature as she is, and to afford him a comprehensive knowledge of the laws which underlie all development, thus opening up before him the method by which she has in the past, is at the present, and will in the future bring about changes in organism. The department, by no means, places all the stress upon the Hhand writing upon the wallf' but is careful that the student gets some conception of the individual who does the writing. It's through nature to nature's God. The method by which these results are obtained is by daily investigation with scalpel and microscope in the laboratory, by means of a familiarity with the organism in respect to its habitat, daily recitations, lectures, quizzes, etc. The subject of geology, while not properly a department of biology, yet, because of the lack of teaching force, is under the charge of this depart- ,QV ! V , 1 ,,,. ' students a familiarity with of Biology ment. The method of bringing its facts to the mind of the student is by means of daily recitations from books of the most advanced thinkers and investiga- tors in this line of work, in connection with the well selected and classified Gorby Cabinet of more than thirty-five thousand specimens collected in America and many foreign countries. This department, under the efficient management of Prof. Owen, has done much to place Franklin College in the front among the colleges of the State. Prof. David A. Owen was born in Green County, this State, on December 11, 1852. His boyhood days were spent upon the farm, working during the summer and attending the district school during the winter. At the age of eighteen he entered Point Commerce High School, where he remained two terms. The following two terms were spent teach- ing school. ln 18733, feeling that God had something more than being a country school teacher in store for him, he entered Franklin College, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1878. In 1878-79, he was principal of Salem High School. In 1879-82, he was tutor in Franklin College. ln 1881, Prof. Owen received two honors, one from the college and the other from Johnson County. The people of the county elected him to the position of superintendent, and the college gave him the degree of M. A. He has been teaching in the college since 1879. Prof. Owen is a member of the Indiana Academy of Science, of the American Association for the advancement of Science, and of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

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PROF. R. J. THOMPSON

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Chemistry and Physics HE leading thought of this department is to give the broadest and most practical view of the field of physical science. To this end such a combination of qualitative and quantitative work is offered as will best develop skill in manipulation, accuracy of ob- servation, familiarity with funda- mental principles and their general practical applications. In a word, , it is the aim to give at once the best course for the student who goes directly into practical life, and to the one who goes to the university or technical school. Special stress is laid upon laboratory work, as there is nothing like literally ft having a hand in it to give a student the enthusiasm so indispensable to the best results. The laboratories occupy six pleasant rooms on the third floor of the central building. They are well lighted, conveniently arranged and well equipped for work in both Chemistry and Physics. Four sets of the Crowell Physical Apparatus and the well arranged chemical desks make it possible for a large number of students to do individual work. The Professor has spent about all his spare time, including his vacations, making his department more attractive and adding to it apparatus, which make it possible for the students in that line of work to have the very best opportunity possible, so far as apparatus is concerned, for doing excellent work. This de- partment is one of the most attractive in the State. The work is so thoroughly done that Franklin's students who have taken advanced work in the universities stand at the head of their classes. Melvin Elliott Crowell has been at the head of this department for the past few years, and in that time he has completely revolutionized this department, both in its appearance and the quality of work done. Never was Franklin in better shape to offer to the young people of our State the very best in Chemistry and Physics. A large part of this is due to the untiring efforts of the Professor. Professor Crowell is a graduate of University of Rochester, N. Y. In 1885-86 he was an honorary scholar of John Hopkins University. Because of high scholarship he was one of the few in his class to be elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. ' Before coming to Franklin he had taught in several institutions, among which may be men- tioned : In 1879-85 he taught Greek and Science in Cook Academy, Havana, N. Y., Latin and Chem- istry, 1887-91, Lewis Academy, 1fVichita, Kan. He has had charge of the Science departments in Indi- anapolis High School, Medical College of Indiana, and of our own college. He has mastered his sub- ject and knows how to teach it.