Gettysburg College - Spectrum Yearbook (Gettysburg, PA)

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WILLIAM ANTHONY GRANVILLE Sixth President of Gettysburg College, 1910- . R. GRANVILLE was born of Lutheran parents on the home farm near gli White Rock, Minn., on December I6, IS63. He was the only son. gli but has four sisters. His parents were born in Sweden, but they first fy 1 I: met in Galesburg, Ill., where they were married by Rev. Dr. T. N. Hasselquist, the first minister of the Swedish Augustana Synod in the United States. The devoutly religious atmosphere, the healthful coun- try surroundings, and the obligations to industry and frugality which were Dr. Gran- ville's daily privilege and experience as a child, developed in him the stirring spirituality, the exceptional physique, the habits of earnest work, and the power for special achievement that have made him one ot our greatest American personalities. Dr. Granville is a typically self-made man. During his early boyhood he made himself useful about the farm and attended the neighboring country school. Subsequently, he .went to a village school of higher grade during the winters,and worked daily on the farm during the sum- mers. From the age of I4 he did a man's work. He had entire charge of the home farm until he was Zl. By that time he succeeded in paying oft the heavy mortgage on the farm and thus placing his parents in comfortable circumstances. What a story of devotion, industry, sacri- fice and soul is indicated by this simple recital of his boy- hood deeds. 1870 In IS82, as soon as his home duties permitted, Dr. Granville entered Gustavus Adolphus College, a Lutheran institution at St. Peter, Minn.. where, for a period of two years, he pursued his studies with great diligence and success. He devoted one of his summer vacations to teaching the first term in a new school house on the northern Minnesota frontier near St. Hilaire-a trading post for the Indian reser- vation in the Red River valley. The sessions of his school were frequently interrupted by Indians who, to the discomhture of the scholars, at such times peered through the windows and intently observed the proceedings. The athletic figure and courageous car- riage of the young school master were doubtless impressive suggestions to any such In- dians Uhunting trouble that they would promptly be accommodated if any of them started something . Dr. Granville had learned how to master himself. He learned at St. Hilaire how to win and to hold the esteem of the aborigines. Yale tradition has it that Granville learned at Sl. Hilaire how to t ame the wild men of Yale +Gettysburg Freshmen and Sophomores take notice! Dr. Granvillels academic career has been a very striking and instructive one. He worked his way along, from be- ginning to end, without gratuitous financial assistance of any Page Six 's

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EUIEEIUDI1 1 1' SlIL1l Dm lms Noum Ol IHI SPLC 1RUM 1 DIZ didillllanl Qlntbunp Qbrunmlle lpb ED -Ks 111 exldeuce of the low md dexotxon which he h lS won hom us hx the splenchd the xxo1ds oi LHCOLII wcmcnt hc h IS spoken to us md hx the lox xl md duoted 1101 fox the Q olleoe sshlch we hold so dp u W? I I XV 41 T111-1 CLASS mf .912 Ria' 1 -1 l,'l.I.Y 4, J1cAx'1'1s Y Y ' Y N ' I Y 11 W 4W YV X Y vt, ' . . 2 ' J L 0 Q D 0 ' I Y' h h . ' 1 1 ' . v ' . tl, v '. lv lv ' example of munliness he has given us. hy V r v S D Au I 'Z AA J A V' 'J 3:2 if ja 1 ' hl ' i u Y 5 v A , wJ , ji 1' lu 1'-' xg--., v.

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EV-T' ta M get r rsrrcrrrrit 1 lund Self respect self reliance self help and withal unsclnsliness were predominant forces rn the progress that made him a self made man Alter leaving Gustavus Adolphus College Dr Granville became a member of the faculty of Bethany College where for Hxe years he taught the theory of accounts and mathematrcs frequently serving besides as acting president during the periods of Presr dent Swenson s numerous absences and also occupying the positron of treasurer l the latter capacity he untangled a difficult financial situation which had been specially rnvestrgatecl l 3 the college trustees and by capable management changed a large annual deficit to an annual sur plus a remarkable achrexement considering the place and period Q 'E ln l89O Dr Crranrrlle began a long cours of special training in mathematical studies l the fall of 1891 he entered the unror class ol the Yale Scientific School He graduated there rn H593 at the head of hrs class with the de gree of PhB He continued graduat studies rn mathematrcs at Yale untrl 1897 when he re ceived the degree of Ph.D. ln l893 Dr. Gran- ville became a member of the faculty of the Yal r Scientific School where he remained an influentifl 1886 execrgive as well as a distinguished and beloved A teacher of mathematics until he resigned to accept the Gettysburg Presidency. During his undergraduate days at Yale, Dr. Granville s capacity to work his way along without materially interrupting his studies was taxed to the utmost. Y his in- genuity and fortitude were equal to the task. Thus he serxed for a time as a public A expert accountant and in that capacity cleared up the confused affairs of several New Haven corporations. Ar another time during a vacation he toolc the position of lliirzi assistant engineer with a corporation engaged in constructing an electric railway to a suburban terminus. l-le began work in this capacity at a dollar' a day . ln less than three months his exceptional ability carried him forward to the position of chief engineer in charge of the entire plant-and to a salary commensurate with the responsi- bilities of that position. lncidents of this kind might be multiplied. They rexealed to his Yale associates his versatility his resourcefulness his firm purposes and his strength of character. One is not surprised, with such facts in mind, to learn that for years Dr. Granville was annually voted by the Yale seniors as their most popular' professor. T e boys admired him for what he did but they also loved him for what he was. So, too, Page Seven . I ix