Goucher College - Donnybrook Fair Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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foundii Dr. and Mrs. Hans Froelicher, both of whom were to play such a vital part in Goucher's history. Dr. John Blackford Van Meter resigned his Baltimore pastorate to serve as Dean. His demands for the highest possible scholastic standards were most rigid and, reflected throughout the entire faculty, laid the foundation for Goucheris future high academic rating. The formal opening and inaugural ceremonies were held November 13, 1888, with President Gilman of the Johns Hopkins University delivering the opening address. This was the occasionfifty years ago to which Gaucher owes its golden anniversary celebration of this past fall, October 14, 15, 16, 1938. In 1890 Dr. Hopkins resigned as president. He had guided the 75 1 2 m. A 11,, I h young college through all of its early dificulties and preferred to devote his eforts to the study of The toll gate at Merryman's Lane, the classics rather than to the 5 1885. e V L. 7 . , ,A . cares of the executive ofice. He ' e f: J h 151203,; s was made the chairman of the Latin Department. Dr. Gaucher succeeded him. Helping now to enable the Woman's College to obtain the highest degree of excellency in the scholastic realm were three members of the early faculty. Each is known and loved by Gaucher students the world over. It would be impossible to forget Dr. Lilian Welsh-a graduate of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania-Goucher's professor of anatomy, phy- siology, hygiene, and physical training. Under her supervision the depart- ment of physical training became so developed along the lines and ideas of the Swedish and English systems of gymnastics that it was unique among

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Dr. John F. Goucher, 1890-1908. The Governor signing the charter of the College. January 26, 1885. Dr. Gaucher ofered the present site of the College, then in Baltimore County-in fact, at that time there was a toll gate at Charles Street and University Parkway, then called Merrymants Lane-provided suficient funds for building costs were raised by the Trustees, and he planned a strong, rugged simplicity for the build- ings. He also gave Gaucher Hall, the cornerstone of which was laid October 5, 1886. Soon after this Bennett Hall, the gift of Benjamin Franklin Bennett, treasurer of the Board of Trustees, built along the same style of Romanesque architecture, was completed. The residence Halls or Homes as they were called gradually followed. To Dr. Joseph Shefloe, professor of Romance Languages, goes the credit of naming them -Glitner, Alfheim, Fensal, and Vingolf-using Norse mythology names which still remain peculiar to Gaucher. With the college a reality came the equally important problem of cur- riculum and faculty. The talented Dr. William Hersey Hopkins, professor, of Latin and Greek at St Johnhs College, Annapolis, was selected as the first president, and it was he who, while touring Europe inspecting and observing administration and curriculum in colleges and universities,

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women's colleges of that period. For thirty years her brilliant mind worked to improve Gaucher. Dr. Thaddeus P. Thomas can not be forgotten either. He was always an uncompromising advocate of womants The residence balls were named sufrage, a true pioneer in that field, from Norse mythology. and he laid much stress upon the value of service. Still another was Dr. Bacon. How- ever, they are but three of that early administration, fertile in intellect, foresight, and devotion, who created Gaucher College-hhthe other spiritual Gaucher built not of bricks and mortar btft of the human lives that have come under the influence of its teachings. In 1908 Dr. Gaucher gave up the presidency. He was given the title of President Emeritus by the Trustees, in recognition of his invaluable ser- vices. Then came the darkest days in the Collegets history. Academically the College ranked high but financially it was deeply burdened. Dr. Gaucher hadpersonally met a growing deficit each year, and Dr. Eugene Allen Noble, his successor, did his best to cope with the growing debt, but W h 44? - .. H J; e after three years he resigned, having , l a . WE??? q lh I 3 ?lypl' publicly stated Just how desperate Dr. Gilman delivered the inaugural l ' ll. h . address,November 13. 1888. e w ' IH g ' .4 the financml state Of the College 4 h Neal. 6 was. Several significant changes made during his term, however, left