University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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TI-IE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS. ily act ot' tfongress approved january 29, 1861, seventy-two sections of land were set apart and reserved for the use and support of a State University in Kansas. The State accepted the trust, and in an art approved March 1, 1864, provided as follows: Si-Lv. 1. 'I'ln're shall be established in this State at or near the city of I.awrence, in the county ot' llouglas, on the grounds secured for that purpose, pursuant to the act entitled An Act to locate the State University, passed February 20, 1863, an institution of learning, under the name ofthe Ilniversity of Kansas. On September 6, 1865, the city of Lawrence formally transferred the campus grounds on Mount Oread to the regents of the University on condition that a building be completed and the school be in operation by the tirst of January, 1867. Tl1is first building, IIONV known as North College, was completed by the iniddle of September, 1866, at an expense of something less than 520,000 The Iirst appropriation by the State for current expenses was made by the Legisla- ture in 18663 54,000 was appropriated for the compensation of teachers, and 53,000 for the pur- chase of Scientific and l'hilosophical Apparatus, library and furniture. On july 19, 1866, the tirst faculty of the University, composed of Mr. E. J. Rice, Mr. D. H. Robinson, and Mr. F. I-I. Snow, was elected, and Professor Robinson was chosen acting presi- dent of the faculty. The first session opened at North College September 12, 1866. Twenty-six young women and twenty-nine young men were admitted to the preparatory department during the first term. In the second year I25 students were catalogued. The Chancellors of the University have been R. VV. Oliver, 1865-673 john Frazier, 1867-74, james Marvin, 1874-833 j, A. Lippincott, 1883-891 F. H. Snow, 1889- Ill an act approved lfebruary 25, 1889, the Legislature made further provision for the Uni- versity. This act, known as the Moody Bill, repealed all former legislation bearing 11po11 the same topics, and is the act under which the University is now organized and governed. The University of Kansas now consists of the following schools: School of Arts, School of Law, School of Music and Art, School of Pharmacy, and School of Engineering. The material equipment of the University comprises tive buildings, all fully occupied. In addition a large building is rented for the use of the School of Music and Art. The value of the equipment, outside of thc buildings and grounds, is estimated at S26I,OOO, This equipment includes a natural history collection of over 150,000 specimens, a good collection of plaster casts, models and photograplis for use in the study of the classic languages, instruments of precision in the School of lingineering, levels, planers, drills, milling machines, dynamos, forge tools, etc., in the elt't't1'i1'alcngniccring shops, a library of 18,000 volumes, and athletic grounds of twelve acres. I'ln- laiivvisity of Kansas, rtrcogniziiig its position as a part of the public educational sys- teiu ol the State, stands in close connection with the high schools of Kansas, admitting students upon veitnit att- of the principals of such high schools as have adopted a suitable preparatory foui-in The IIllYIlllllltQt'St1Ii the I'niversity are freely otfered to all Kansas residents. No tui- tion oi rontnigttnt let- is 1 hargetl such students. 9

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FRANCIS HUNTINGTON SNOW. FRANCIS HUNTINGTON SNOW, the honored Chancellor of the University of Kansas, was born in Fitchburg, Nlassachusetts, June 29, 1840. Chancellor Snowls college training was received at Williams College, and at Andover 'l lieologiczil Seminary. He expected to find his vocation in the ministry, but after some little experience as a teacher in Massachusetts he became, in 1866, a member of the first faculty of the University of Kansas. He was married at Andover in 1868 to Miss Jennie A. Aiken. He has tive children, the oldest of whom, a son, inherits his father's taste for natural history. Associated with Professor Snow in the hrst faculty of the University were Professor David H. Robinson, still an honored member of the faculty, and Professor E. J. Rice. Professor Snow held the Chair of Mathematics and Natural Science. In 1869 a divizion of this chair was made in accordance with the request of the incumbent, and Professor Snow's work was restricted to the natural sciences. With the steady growth of the University a continual division of labor has been made until now the field of Biologic Science in the University is represented by an instructional corps of six, not including laboratory assistants, who number as many more. Professor Snow's most conspicuous work in his chosen field of labor has been the gathering and building up of the large natural history collection belonging to the Univer- sity. These collections, now handsomely housed in Snow Hall of Natural History, include more than 150,000 specimens. ln the class Insecta alone over 10,000 species are repre- sented, among which are 200 species discovered by Professor Snow. A dozen or more insect forms have been named in his honor. In connection with the extensive collecting done by his own hands and under his direction, Professor Snow has published a large number of scientific articles. These writings include more than sixty titles. The work which has given Professor Snow the greatest prominence of late is his experiments on the artificial dissemination of a contagious disease among chinch bugs. His labors have proved, so far, highly successful. ln 1890, on the resignation of Dr. J. A. Lippincott from the Chancellorship of the University, Professor Snow was elected to this position. Under his administration most remarkable progress has been made by the institution. Chancellor Snow has but fairly reached middle age, and is in a most vigorous condi- tion ot lwtly and mind: we may anticipate his long continued and beneticent adminis- tration over the affairs of the University. With an ambitious faculty, a loyal body of alumni, a most enthusiastic student body and a Chancellor whose life work is to bless the institution with which he has been connected from its birth, the University of Kansas looks t'orward to uninterrupted prosperity. ll