Johns Hopkins University - Hullabaloo Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. The johns Hopkins University owes its foundation to the liber- ality of the Baltimore merchant whose name it bears. He died on the twenty-fourth of December, 1873, nearly eighty years of age, leaving a large fortune, most of which he gave in two nearly equal amounts for the endowment of a University and for the en- dowment of a Hospital. He directed that, when the Hospital was completed, it should become a part of the Medical School of the University. Many years before his death he began to cherish the idea of establishing these two institutions, and the letter of instruc- tions signed by him shows the broad and enlightened views which he held with respect to the welfare of mankind. At the same time his specific bequests were very simple, and he left to his Trustees the decision of all details. The University was incorporated under the general .laws of the State of Maryland before the death of the founder, and soon after his death the Trustees held their first business meeting, on the 6th of February, 1874. The first President of the University, who is still in ofhce, was elected in December of that year, and entered upon his duties in the following May. The instruction of the University began in the autumn of 1876, and has been gradually extended and improved since that time. The University Buildings are placed in the heart of the city, within sight of the Washington Monument, and near to a large number of literary and educational establishments. They include a central building, in which are the offices of administration and the class-rooms for the ancient languages. Directly west of this building are the Library of the University and the largest lecture- room, known as Hopkins Hall. Beyond this, to the west, stands the Chemical Laboratory, a very convenient and well-equipped establishment, and still further to the west is the Biological Labo- ratory, likewise a three-story building, in which all the best modern appliances are found for the study of the biological sciences. North of the main group of buildings stands the Gymnasium, with its accessory bath-rooms, lunch-rooms, and study-rooms. Still further north is the largest and best of all the buildings yet 5

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BUILDINGS ON HOWARD STREET.

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constructed, the Physical Laboratory. Several dwelling-houses in the neighborhood are also used for class-rooms. The University is organized upon the principle that a university is a body of teachers and scholars, mzz't'ersz'z'as magzkirorzzm ei fizlvcyzf- forum,-a corporation maintained for the conservation and advance- ment of knowledge, in which those who have been thoroughly pre- pared for higher stgdies are encouraged to continue, under compe- tent professors, their intellectual advancement in many branches of science and literature. In this society we recognize two important grades, the collegiate students, who are aspirants for the diploma of Bachelor of Arts, to which they look forward as a certificate that they havecompleted a liberal course of preliminary study,-and fbj the university students, including the few who may-be candidates for a higher diploma, that of Doctor or Master fa certificate that they have made special attainments in certain branches of knowledgej, and a larger number who, without any reference to a degree, are simply continuing their studies for varying periods. Corresponding to the wants of these two classes of students, we have two methods of instruction-the rule of the college, which provides discipline, drill, training in appointed tasks, for definite periods 3 and the rule of the university, the note of which is opportunity, freedom, encour- agement, and guidance in more difficult studies, inquiries, and pur- suits. Thus far our organization has maintained but one faculty, that of philosophy or the liberal arts, although there is an important nucleus of a department of medicine. The academic staff included during the year 1888-89 fifty-five teachers. The number of students enrolled was three hundred and ninety-one, of whom one hundred and ninety-one were residents of Maryland, one hundred and eighty came here from thirty-four other States of the Union and twenty-one from foreign countries. Among the students were two hundred and thirteen already gradua- ted, coming from ninety-seven colleges and universities, there were one hundred and twenty-nine matriculates for candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Artsjg and there were forty nine admitted as special students, to pursue courses of study for which they seemed htted, without reference to graduation. The degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred in 1888 upon thirty-four candidates, and twenty- seven candidates were promoted to the degree of Doctor of Phi- losophy. 6