Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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Y, -ff, TAQQT-4N?Y'F'w' :- ' Q' -3-f which department Professor Francis H. Smith was the head. Thus the young man had the privilege of close contact with that remarkable man who so long was an outstanding figure of the faculty of that irstitution. In june. 1892, the Board of Trustees of Hampden-Sidney College chose this gifted and thoroughly trained young scientist to be the head of the Department of Physical Science here-a department which then embraced Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, and Physiologyg and most, if not all, of this work devolved upon the head of the department. VVhile discharging the duties of his chair with distinguished ability and marked success, Professor Bagby was able to do privately the remaining work re- quired for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and this degree was awarded him by the L'niversity of Virginia in 1894. The subject of his thesis for the Doctorate was: O11 Cares of Dfzfiflfzl Cirruits of Liner in Il illagrzetic Field. From the time of his coming to Hampden-Sidney, the story of the professor's life, like that of so many of his fellow-craftsmen in Pedagogy, consists of short and simple annals of the poor. The daily routine of the class-room, experimental work in the laboratory, private research and study have resulted in rich accomplishments which yield dividends not to be credited on journal or ledger, b11t stamps deep and lasting impres- sions on the characters and minds of men. In all these years, Dr. Bagby has found time for much not included in his departmental schedule. For a time, before the presidency of Dr. -I. G. hIcAllister, he was acting president of the Collegeg for years, 1905-1919, he was vice-president, and, as such, was often entirely responsible for the management of the oHice and for the maintenance of discipline. He has served on most of the important committees of the faculty, and for him committee appointment means performance of its dutiesg his tireless industry, his clear thinking, and his clock-like punctuality have made him invaluable to his associates. He is clerk of the faculty, too, and to keep this work up, as he does, it involves much labor and makes heavy demands on his time. As ranking member of the Library Committee, he has practically shaped the policy of the Library, and has done most of the work connected with that most im- portant agency of the College. Among other things, he has, with his own hands, made a card catalogue containing more than thirty thousand cards. which includes all the books in the Library except the Government publications. No record of Dr. Bagby's activities would be complete which did not include that monumental work, A General Catalogue of the Alumni of the College, 1776- 1906, which contains, besides the lists of alumni, lists of the members of the Board of Trustees, of the Faculty, and other officers, and of those upon whom honorary degrees have been conferred. This has been supplemented by an additional pamphlet covering the years 1907-1916. The time required for this compilation covered four years-and it was a labor of love. Practically without assistance this busy man per- formed for the College a service of inestimable value. But for his patience and enthusiasm this work would, i11 all probability, never have been done. As this sketch is not intended as an obituary notice or a post-mortem examination, no analysis of Dr. Bagby's personality a11d character is attemptedg for those who know him, no appraisal of the man is necessary. It need only be said in conclusion that in capacity for work, in rapidity and accuracy of mental process, in keen analysis, in marvelous tenacity of memory, in precision of stateme11t, in breadth and profundity of scholarship, Zllld in loyalty to high ideals, few are the equals of the man who, for thirty-two years, has held the chair of Physical Science i11 Hampden-Sidney College. VV. H. XVI-11T1No, JR. 16 11 - f ii'-I ' 7' ii, . W - --- - L

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, 11288153-1 ,--5. .-giY f - . 'r--1'--r s. e if os' - he established and edited the Staff-a terror to evil-doers, sparing not the rod of reproof and criticism where wrong and corruption reared their heads. The young boy, now our reverend colleague, was peculiarly fortunate in having an old-fashioned homey a home of refinement and cultureg a home with a background of all that was best, intellectual, moral, socialg a home in which the fifth com- mandment was still law, and in which a sense of personal responsibility was incul- cated. He was fortunate, too, in the companionship of his father, who gave direction to his reading and molded his character and tastes. Visitors to the State Library in those days can still remember a little boy curled up in a corner, oblivious to all that was going on around him, engrossed in reading some book of travel or adventure. He was fortunate, also, in enjoying the privilege of meeting his father's friends, a group of cultured gentlemen, who were ever ready to give of their Stores of rich experience and varied knowledge. Among these was the scholarly and eloquent Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, the Right Reverend A. RI. Randolph, who recognized the boy's splendid promise and delighted to have him as a com- panion in his study. The boy was fortunate, moreover, in his school opportunities. For five years he attended a dame's school, that of bliss llflargaret H. Lee, who had a hand in training many of Richmond's young people of a generation ago. In 1881, he entered the school of IXIr. Thos. H. Norwood, a school in which superficiality and shams were not tolerated, but which stood for thorough scholarship and for the development of manly character. In this school Hampden-Sidney men for years had a monopoly of the mathematical department-Peyton H. Hoge f1876l, A. A. Little C1880j, and J. H. Davis CISSSD, being among the most successful of lllr. Norwood's assistants. In the fall of 1885, young Bagby entered the University of Virginia, then the foremost institution of learning in this country save, possibly, johns Hopkins Uni- versity in Baltimore. In june, 1888, after a brilliant career as a student, he received the llIaster's degree-in those days the coveted goal of undergraduate effort. In college, he was a marked man, not only because of his class room record, but also because of the prominent part taken in the general intellectual life of the Uni- versity. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, of the Jefferson Literary Society, and of the Eli Bananas-the leading social organization in the College. He was the first editor of Carbs and Cuffs, having associated with him in this work men since famous in various walks of life-Albert Latady, of lNIobile, Ala.g C. L. lllinor, of Asheville, N. C., one of the leading specialists in the country in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis: VV. S. Cockrell, of the Supreme Court of Florida, George Gordon Battle, prominent leader of the New York bar. Inheriting his father's literary taste and gift of expression, young Bagby took great interest in the University Illagzzzinr and was an influential member of its staff along with L. C. Baker, G. G. Battle, Alfred Byrd and others. For two sessions, 1888-89 and 1889-90, lllr. Bagby was instructor in the Uni- versity School in Nashville, Tennessee, owned and presided over by Clarence B. VVallace 08801, and, while so engaged, took work in Vanderbilt University. Re- turning to the University of Virginia for the session 1890-91, he won the degree of lwechanical Engineer in june, ISQI, at the time hoping to be able to devote himself to this branch of engineering. Later, however, this avenue seemed closed to him, and, in the fall of 1891, he accepted a position with the Life Insurance Company of Virginia and worked in the home office of that company for a few months, resigning to become assistant in the Department of Physics of the University of Virginia, of I5

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