Northwestern University - Syllabus Yearbook (Evanston, IL)

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MANY FAMOUS TRAVELERS stopped at passenger station of Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railway with most of the Evanston holdings. Sale of land, leases, and solicitation and sale of scholarships made possible a favorable balance on paper of over 850,000 in the University's accounts in 1854, enough to erect a building and begin teaching. Struggle of lhe College, 1855-1869 On June 15, 1855, the University really began its existence when the cornerstone of Old College at the northwest corner of Davis Street and Hinman Avenue was laid with much ceremony. The building was opened on November Hfth in the presence of the faculty of two QProfessor Henry S. Noyes acting as Presidentl, trustees, townspeople and the four students. The press described the struc- ture as a superb building of three stories having ten large airy rooms besides the chapel. Although Qld College has since served as a college, preparatory school and School of Education, and has undergone two transplantings, it still retains something ofthe atmosphere of 1855. It may be of inte- rest to record that the early trustees of 1855 considered Old College as merely a temporary structure and not, as has sometimes been rumored, as a perpetual monument to the founding of the University. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, north shore land- mark builtin 1856, was Evanston's First house ofworship 17

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By 1853, the University had a president, a curriculum and two professorsgl-lenry S. Noyes and Wlilliam D. Godman. Its financial resources, while not approaching Dr. Hin- man's proposed mark, were suliicient to enable the new institution to plan for its opening. It was now time to find a site and build some tangible proof of the University's existence. A committee, including Lunt and Evans, had been searching for a site for the past year. Dr. Hinman had persuaded the trustees not to build theUniversity in Chicago, and various suburban locations, among them Jefferson, near the present Uak Park, were considered. One August day in 1853, however, Orrington Lunt went for a drive with a friend Clark Titus Hin man President 1853 -185-1 along the North Shore. The high sandy bluffs and oak forests along the lake east of Ridge- ville fascinated him, and he persuaded the trustees to come out and see them. VVe were delighted-some of the brethren threw up their hats. We had found the place. Three hundred seventy-nine acres were purchased for J5'25,000. The purchase was made by Dr. John Evans, who personally paid 81,000 in cash and became responsible for a mortgage on the balance. This price represented a 5,000 per cent profit for Dr. John Foster, the re- luctant seller. Nevertheless the purchase of the land proved a profitable investment for the Uni- versity. Some of it was sold in lots at a three hundred per cent advance on cost price by 16 Philo Judson, the University's business agent. A community, named Evanston in 1854, was planned to sustain the University, and civiliza- tion marched in from Chicago almost over- night. Streets were laid out and a hotel was built. The University practiced far-sighted generosity in its donation of land to the city for parks and public schools and to churches for building sites. A community church was organized and grog shops were invited to leave town by an amendment to the Uni- versity charter in 1855, which forbade the sale of liquor within four miles of the Uni- versity campus. Simultaneously another amendment provided that all University property, up to the extent of 2,000 acres, Philo Judson Business Manager 1853 - 1887 could be held forever tax-free. The Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad came to town from Chicago in 1854 and land values rose. Drink- ing water had to be taken from the lake and the butcher called twice a week from Chicago as Evanston passed through its boom town stage into quiet respectability. The revenue of the University increased- steadily with thedevelopment of Evanston. The property at the corner of La Salle and Jackson Streets in Chicago, which was pur- chased in 1851 as a possible site for a pre- paratory school, was held for investment purposes on the insistence of Dr. Evans, and today is one of the most profitable investments of the University. On the initiative of Dr. Evans a similar policy of leasing was adopted

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1 Henry Sanborn Noyes Acting President 185-1 - 1856 PROGRAM OF 1865 DEBATE between Hinman and Adelphic R literary societies. Exciting topics W include Spartacus to the Glad- iators and On Being Found Guilty of High Treason. V1 fa??i?iiif'7lil 'za' rr? Prlze Declamatlon 1 BINMAW .fig AQEL 'WEB SQ' lV'W'IE5 Evanston une 30th 1865 at 8 P M PROGRAMME Eavmyelr O b II R XY CROS C I OFF ELD :L u 'J '. :xslt-1' S ii 'i S o' I ie 0 ' i , 5 C. C. SNYDER. l - .7 ' . ' le vu 1 'elm y, - - - ------- Go. xv. C. CUMSTOCI . 'i .1 ., -,r 9 . , I . 1 . .,L.g,.-.gi gmusiv. ,g ,M '-' is Irish Aliens, ------- - --' 9 EU-- ts-sf' , ff- YY'-1-.-'3'a'E'vr ' . If x wgkgh . M. HIL, lr..4,.fM-. 1.. -... -a ., . . t . ...J . F. X. 'av iv . e . ' 1 -' ' Qlnttlt-aliiralerii eblitiiwtaiitg. 1 A .kg if? l-..-.?- , ' 5, 'I f n I5 fp I . . I ' 'Alf .il i .1 1 av rn W U . :L 'f Y , A 3 1 I 13,5-gh E , - 2. . .. D--L. 5 Q, L-D , . E 5157.1 V 1:11, ' j.,'jI v .l 1 1 . . I. J rl -KI ' 1 12.555 . Q . 1. I ,if ,. 1 p ' iafg? 1 E y, 1 , , .iid 3 1 .' i i-. 1 fl. n ving tbunil Guilty of - igh Treason - - ExnlE1'r. 7: Q 1 . f. . s. Qlffii' i 3 pt. Sp:n'timus to the Glzxdiaitors. ------ KEIl.DG4i-E iv' Tl: I-in WI ll! f l YV ill :V ' l ,C -A 1'l IJ tl I lt Hu A, 4: X K? i S. B. RfXX'BION'D, ' . , -. , --,Ta '. 'I'111J h-, 4 - ll M W' J. COl'PJL1kND. LL 4 7, Spartacus to tht- Romain Envuys, fi T. R. STROBRIDGE. .ni . t'c Speech, ----'---- Dlciussox. 'J' 1 R. D. SI-IIWJP.-XRD. v Qmullrtluu. , ' ' Randolph Sinks Foster -' A 1' r 'n'W'f 'f'1f'a H 1 President 1856 - 1860 The first college year was uncertain and precarious. Classes were conducted in the classical, elective and scientific departments. Une thousand dollars, appropriated for a library, was allocated to the natural science department. The year was divided into three terms of thirteen weeks each and public examinations were held at the close of each term, and at the end of the sophomore and senior years. Entrance requirements for all three departments included a rigorous drill in the classics and higher mathematics. It was soon discovered, however, that the majority of young men within the limits of our patron- age are not prepared for the college course. It was not until a preparatory depart- ment was definitely established in 1859 that this handicap was overcome. Another disadvantage to the University was the fact that most of the first class attended on scholarships. As the tuition was 5545.00 a year, the revenue of the University from fees was only 8175.00 for the first year, of which 871.75 was paid to the janitor. Dis- bursements were on a similarly modest scale, since the faculty had only two members. Pro- is , --A-,A- Wm- , M, ,i ,Qg,,,..L--,,g,..-.-4L.Aa.15:lfJ fessor Henry S. Noyes, in customary Prince Albert and silk hat, fulfilled the functions of acting president, professor of mathematics, acting professor of moral philosophy and rhetoric, treasurer, and teacher of the Sunday Bible class. Professor VVilliam D. Godman, similarly garbed, was professor of Greek, acting professor of Latin, secretary, and librarian in charge of 1,917 volumes, 21 catalogues and 16 pamphlets. ln 1856 Dr. Randolph Sinks Foster, a prominent Methodist clergyman ofNew York City, was invited to H11 the vacancy left by the death of President Hinman. After stipulat- ing a year's leave of absence, he accepted. As a scholar and clergyman, no less than in his understanding of and sympathy with youth, Foster was suitable for the post. He set and maintained high standards of teaching, and was a leader in what little social activity there was on the campus. His chief drawback in the eyes of the trustees was his complete in- ability in money matters, but fortunately these could be left to Philo Judson and Pro- fessor Noyes. In 1856 the Trustees were informed by A'