Northwestern University - Syllabus Yearbook (Evanston, IL)

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i Y -'W-ii, -ll?-qw 2 , L.-Ylllii 1860'S were years of expansion. Heck Hall was built in 1867. University Hall was completed in 1869. between the two institutions has always been very close. The year 1857 was an eventful one for the University. President Foster was inaugu- rated and james G. Blaney became Pro- fessor of Natural Science. Talented Robert lxennicott, later founder of the Chicago Academy of Arts and Sciences, began the Museum on the third floor of Old College, and was a founder of scientific research in the University. The Hinman Society debated the respective merits of Lincoln and Douglas as political leaders of lllinois. Such matters were pushed into the back- ground, however, when the expanding frontier overreached itself and the Panic of 1857 cast its long shadow over the University. ln an atmosphere of lagging business, tightened credit and threatened bankruptcy, North- western's trustees instituted a regime of rigid economy. lfaculty salaries went into 57 arrears and even the more pressing expend- itures were cancelled. Despite these measures there was a deficit of 83,0011 on an expend- iture of 915,000 in 1858, and faculty members were asked to take part of their arrears of salary in unproductive University real estate. Meanwhile, the trustees were soliciting con- tributions for a new permanent building in order to restore confidence in the future of the University. Donors of 81,000 or more were to have fellowships named for them and those who contributed 195,000 or more could endow a chair. Despite these induce- ments, however, the trustees failed to achieve their goal of Jf'30,000 and the subscriptions lapsed. lt was only gradually that the Uni- versity recovered from the setbacks of this year. ln June of 1859 the long-awaited first commencement was held. After the ordeal of three days of public examination, four sur-

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,PN : . -X 3.- ,fx ' Lf' 5' 1: --Q are X, g .ji A S10 DONATION TO GARRETT entitled donor to copy of this picture of Mrs. Garrett, early benefactress. the school-a good many to be sure, but I guess we shall be able to keep them. The relations of the College with the Uni- versity were stormy. The trustees of the Uni- versity, already distrustful of such an institu- tion as a college for women, were naturally annoyed when the name Northwestern was usurped. Furthermore, the problem of dis- cipline among the University students was increased by the proximity of the two institu- tions. Professor Jones certainly agreed with the trustees on this last point. His life was embittered with foiling attempts of students of both institutions to thwart the rather rigid demands of nineteenth century pro- priety. It proved impossible to prevent oc- casional unchaperoned moonlight walks, going to church in couples and other such offenses. On the other hand, attempts by the ladies to invade male spheres of activity, such as debating and essay-writing, caused consider- able resentment on the part of the men, although they invited the girls to attend the debates of the Hinman Society when the subject of debate was: The Rights of VVomen to the Suffrage. It was more than a decade before the union of the two institutions was achieved, and the steps by which this was accomplished were many and complicated. In 1869 the board of trustees of the University voted to admit women to the University. In the same year Professor Jones retired and the facilities of the Northwestern Female College were taken over by the Ladies' Educational Association which founded the Evanston College for Ladies in its place. A new building, the present home of the School of Music, was begun in 1871, but the Chicago Fire of that year de- layed its construction and made unification with the University more than ever necessary. It was not until 1873, however, that, after long negotiation, the Evanston College for Ladies became at last the YYomen's College of Northwestern University, and FrancesXVil- lard, its former president, became North- western's first dean of women. Across the Rubicon ditch on the north campus, Garrett Biblical Institute was rapidly developing as the Methodist seminary of the Middlewest under the presidencyof Dr.John Dempster. It was named for the shrewd and colorful Chicago auctioneer, Augustus Gar- rett, and was financed by his pious wife, Eliza. In 1855 the first frame structure, Dempster Hall, was built on land donated by the University. By the terms of its charter the Institute was to remain forever inde- pendent,but a few of the same men served on both boards of trustees and the association GARRETT ROUND HOUSE, built of driftwood found by students, served as dormitory in early Garrett days. '21

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vivors of the original class of ten freshmen were awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and one later entrant the degree ofBachelor of Philosophy. An address was delivered by Dr. Evans in which the past of the University was proudly reviewed and its future confidently predicted. In the course of his remarks Dr. Evans appeased the dissatisfaction of persons whose sons had not been admitted to pre- paratory instruction on scholarships. The difhculty was removed and he hoped that the self-sacrificing and laborious gentlemen of the faculty would be sustained in this and the preparatory department crowded. Slowly the University recovered from the damage of 1857. Seven students were gradu- ated in the class of 1860 and an enrollment of 600 was predicted for the near future. Dr. Foster left to take up a pastorate in New York, and after the refusal of Dr. Erastus O. Haven, editor of the Methodist weekly Ziofzlv Herald and formerProfessor of History and English Literature at the University of Michigan, to take his place, Professor Noyes again be- came Acting President. One September night in 1860 the steamer Lzmfv Elgin sank off Wlinnetka. Next morning HOUSE ON THE SNYDER FARM, which the Uni- versity purchased for land, was an early Ridgeville home. 1 LQWLTL mg. ,.-..,.:'.. ., 'g.i. ZLgfLL.'...... S. . .., . . the full horror of the situation was revealed to the helpless watchers lining the shore, as Edward Spencer, a student who was also an IN 1898 the University dedicated this plaque to Edward Spencer, who saved seventeen from drown- ing in the Lady Elgin disaster. LADY ELGIN, excursion steamer, collided on Lake Mich- igan with schooner Augusta on September 8, 1860,during storm. The tragedy occurred two days after this picture was made. Z3