Northwestern University - Syllabus Yearbook (Evanston, IL)

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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

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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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l856fFlRST UNIVERSITY LIBRARY was started on a 53,000 fund voted by the Board of Trustees. Space was provided in University Hall after 1869 for study and storage of books. Cast iron stove provided localized heat. expert swimmer, rescued seventeen survivors from the pounding surf and Northwestern acquired its first hero. lt almost acquired a life-saving station as well, for public opinion demanded the construction of a station, but the XYar between the States prevented im- mediate action, and eleven years passed by before the demand was answered. That autumn there were many important things to think about. The Hinman Society and the newly-formed Adelphic Society de- bated the significance of Harper's Ferry, and Mr. Lincoln, fresh from Cooper Union, visited his friend Julius White of Evanston, and was serenaded by the students. South Carolina seceded and the new President of the United States expressed the hope in his First In- augural that: The mystic chords of memory . . . will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as they surely will be, by the better angels of our nature. Soon he was making another appeal, for twenty-live thousand volunteers, because Fort 24 Sumter had fallen and war had begun. Allen YV. Gray of the University class of '63 marched away to Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Kenesaw Mountain Ccoming back for his degree in 1912j, and William H. Raleigh of Maryland took the long Southern road that led to Appomattox. A rush ofvolunteers to the colors was temporarily delayed by the Sunday closing of the Chicago recruiting oH'ice, but soon John A. Page was on his way to Cairo and Drilll drill! drill! . . . Articles of war or regulations were a myth to us. We were obedient, and performed our allotted tasks because we had been brought up to do so. We did not have any reverence for rank, nor did we appreciate the difference between a general, colonel or captain. On the home front, the girls of the Female College prepared hospital supplies and mended an old Hag, to fly at the masthead for the inspiration of the whole town. The more belligerent men organized the Union League to defeat Copperhead machinations, and ,,