Gettysburg College - Spectrum Yearbook (Gettysburg, PA)

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DR. BICKLE Pearson Professorship of the Latin Language and A Literature The College started with five professorships, one of these being the Professorship of the Latin Language and German. Dr. Hazelius of the Seminary consented to take temporary charge of this department until the chair could be filled, and in 1834 the Rev, Wifi. M. Reynolds was elected to this position. After is faithful service of sixteen years, Professor. Reynolds resigned to become president of Capital University, at Columbus, Ohio. Pro- fessor Stoever was appointed to fill the vacancy, and held this position until his death, in 1869. At this time Professor Jacobs had been elected to the Franklin Professorship, and to this chair the course in Latin was transferred. ln 1881 the Board made a general readjustment of the various departments, and the Latin chair became the Pearson Professorship of the Latin Language and Literature. Dr. Bikle, who had been head of the department of Physics and Astronomy, was elected to the Latin Professor- ship, and has held that position ever since. The Rev. Philip Melanchthon Bikle, A. M., Ph. D., was graduated from Gettysburg in 1866, as Salntatorian of his class, and three years later he was graduated from the Theological Seminary. After a great deal of experience in teaching he was called to be Professor of Physics at Gettysburg College in 1874, and in 1881 was chosen Pearson Professor of Latin. Three years later, Dr. Bikle received his degree of Ph. D. from -Roanoke Col- lege. In 1889 he was made Dean of the Faculty, and has been serving in that capacity since that time. Under his influence the Latin department has become one of the best conducted depart- ments in the institution. Dr. Bikle is a member of the American Philological Association, the E X Fraternity, the 111 B K Society, and the Phrenakosmian Society. Pnor. IQLINGER Franklin Professorship of the Greek Language and Literature The chair of the Greek Language was one of the first pro- fessorships established by the Board, and the Rev. H. L. Baugher was elected as the First professor. He vacated the chair in 1850 to become President of the College, and in his stead the Board appointed Prof. F. A. Muhlenberg, of Franklin College. Lancas- ter, which was about to be dissolved. One-third interest in Franklin College was transferred to Gettysburg in 1853, thus founding the Franklin Professorship of the Ancient Languages. On the founding of Muhlenberg College, Professor Muhlenberg was chosen as its first president, and resigned his professorship at Gettysburg. Prof. H. Louis Baugher was then Greek Profes- sor until ISSO. when he resigned. In 1881 the chair became the Franklin Professorship of the Greek Language and Literature, with Dr. Jacobs as its first incumbent. In 1883 Dr. Jacobs was succeeded by Dr. H. L. Baugher. who resigned in 1896, when Professor Klinger was elected to the position of Greek Professor, and has held it ever since then. The Rev. Oscar Godfrey Klinger, A. M., was graduated from Gettysburg in 1886. After completing his course in the Theo- logical Seminary, he went to Cincinnati as city missionary, and two years later he became Principal of the Kee Mar College for Womeii. In ISQZ he was elected Principal of Stevens Hall, and four years later he was advanced to the Greek Professorship in Gettysburg College. Professor Klinger is a member of the Phil- omathean and Pen and Sword Societies, and of the db 1' A Fra- ternity.

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MR. STOVER DR. BREIDENBAUGH - 3 4. ,v.V',1g'-1 .x' 1 MR. D1CKs0N Ockerhausen Professorship of Chemistry and Mineralogy The Ockerhausen Professorship of Natural Sciences was established in 1864. Among the five original professorships of Pennsylvania College were the Professorship of Natural Phil- osophy, Chemistry, and Mathematics and the Professorship of Mineralogy and Botany. The incumbent of the former Professor- ship was Rev. M. Jacobs, who formerly had charge of the scien- tiiic department of the Gettysburg Gymnasium. Rev. I. M. Mars- den, of the Female Seminary, held the latter professorship. The creation of the Ockerhausen Professorship brought about a re- arrangement of courses. Chemistry and Physics were then united, forming a new chair, which was occupied by Prof. A. N. Mayer. On his resignation in 1867, Rev. V. S. Conrad was elected his successor. Rev. Conrad, serving only three years, was succeeded by S. P. Sadtler, Ph. D., who at the time of his election, was pursuing special courses in Germany and could not at once fill the position. After his resignation, three years later, it was decided to divide the department of Natural Sciences. The Ockerhausen Professorship then became the chair' of Physics and Astronomy, and the Conrad Professorship- of Chemistry and Mineralogy was established as a new department in charge of Prof. E. S. Breidenbaugh, A. M. In 1881, Physics was trans- ferred to this department, which has since then been called the Ockerhausen Professorship. It continued unchanged until 1907, when a separate Professorship of Physics was established. Over- coming many difficulties by untiring efforts, Dr. Breidenbaugh has made this one of the strongest departments in the institu- tion. Two assistants, Mr. C. B. Stover, A. M., and Mr. J. A. Dickson, A. B., now assist him in his work.

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l DR. N1xoN MR. TROXIQLL Alumni Professorship of Mathematics and Astronomy The' first teacher of Mathematics in Pennsylvania College was Rev. M. Jacobs, who occupied tl1e chair of Natural Philoso- phy. Chemistry and Mathematics. This work under his direction so progressed that in 1845 it became necessary to divide it. Prof. H. Haunt, A. M., was elected as adjunct Professor of Mathe- matics, Drawing and French. The new Professorship of Natural Sciences was established in 1865. By this readjustment of courses only Mathematics and Astronomy were left to Dr. Jacobs' de- partment. Shortly afterwards, however, Dr. Iacobs' health began to fail and he was compelled to give up teaching after a long and very active career of thirty-four years. In appreciation of his valuable services, he was awarded the nosition of Professor Emeritus. Prof. Luther H. Croll succeeded him, occupying this position until 1888, when on account of ill health he was com- pelled to withdraw from his duties. A year later Professor Croll died and Dr. H. B. Nixon, Ph. D., who had been conducting the work during Professor Croll's illness, was elected to the profes- sorship. The Alllllllll Professorship of Mathematics and Astronomy was endowed in 1904 on funds raised by the Alumni of the Col- lege. In IQO7, Mr. H. S. Dornberger, A. M., was elected as the first assistant in this department, which has grown greatly during Dr. Nixon's incumbency. The following year. the present assist- ant, Mr. F. G. Troxell, A. B., succeeded Mr. Dornberger.