University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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46 Rock Chalk Triumphant. Far be it from the purpose of this humble volume to delve deeply into the ancient history of the Kansas University. The Board is much too busily engaged with the present and far too deeply concerned in the future to allow itself time for exhaustive reminiscence and comparison . However, when a recent arrival opened the family wallet and bought Enrollment Receipt No. 2000, it was impossible to keep from turning around for a swift backward glance. We felt, immediately, that we were entitled to a good healthy life-sized boast, and almost involuntarily began to trace the infant K. U. from the trying times of her babyhood to her present sturdy growth. Only a little over fifty-four years ago there was no such place as the City of Lawrence, Kansas. As a matter of fact, Kansas herself was not considered as being much of an asset to the Government of the United States. Her population consisted of a few scattered Indian tribes and two or three handfuls of Eastern adventurers and missionaries huddled around a few trading-posts and impoverished missions. As yet the idea of educational development was yet unborn in the minds of these hardy frontiersmen, whose main efforts were directed along the line of self-protection and the acquisition of wealth. In a short time, however, began a considerable emigration from the New England States. Lawrence was incorporated by a number of determined, ambitious, and enlightened men, who be- gan to take steps for the advancement of learning in the new territory. Amos A. Lawrence, one of the founders of the New England Emigrant Aid Society, started a definite movement by the donation of $12,696 as an endowment fund for a Free State College, which he suggested. This project, which failed of completion, no doubt sowed the seed which produced the present mag- nificent institution. In 1 86 1, when Kansas was admitted as a State, a provision was thoughtfully inserted into her constitution setting aside seventy-two sections of land for the support of a State University. The first Board of Regents was appointed March 2, 1864. In 1865 the City of Lawrence granted the ground on Mt. Oread for the site of the University, and by 1867 North College was completed and the school started. The first Faculty consisted of three members and the enrollment num- bered fifty-three students, all of whom were unprepared for a collegiate course of instruction. Thus, in a little over forty years have the people of Kansas produced the great center of learning and culture which we have attempted to set before you on these pages. The story of this development is both interesting and unusual, but the lack of time forbids us to relate it. The best suggestion to be made by us is that you compare the progress and future prospects of the Kansas University with those of the other great schools in the country. History is not nseded to define our present status in the educational world. ■ ' -■ fe