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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