Ohio Northern University - Northern Yearbook (Ada, OH)

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i 1 L- AY 4 Historical Sketch The Ohio Northern University had its origin as aiselect school April 9, 1866, when Henry Soloman Lehr became its only instructor of fifty-six students. The select school lasted live years, till the fall of 1871. The name was then changed to Northwestern Ohio Normal School, the first term beginning August 1-l, 1871. During the years of the select school there was only one Literary Society, organized in 1866. August 18, 1871 the Franklin and Philomathean Literary Societies were organized. Besides the regular normal and college work, penmanship, bookkeeping, Science of Government, and Parlia- mentary Law-not found in the old college-and surveying, were offered at this time. In the second year of the Normal School English was added to the course. In the third year there were ten teachers and three Literary Courses: Normal, Scientific, and Classical. In the fourth catalogue is found a new department, Telegraphy. In the school year 1876-7 the Normal School, then located at Fos- toria, Ohio, was bought by and incorporated in, the Normal at Ada. In the ninth year 1879-80, there was added a Fine Arts department. In the tenth year are found the new departments of Stenography, Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Drawing, and Elocution. The increase in enrollment over the previous year had been 45611, the result of increased facilitiesg a new building, until a few years ago known as the Administration Building, had been com- pleted. In the school year 1883-4 was started the course in Civil Engineering and Architecture. The number of teachers was twenty-six. In 1884-5 the Military department was begun, three companies were announced. Wonderftil strides were made during the school year of 1884-5. The United States Government recognized the institution and appointed Lieut. Roberts as commandant. This year also were organized the College of Law and one year's course in Medicine. I. Ross Lee, an Ann Arbor graduate, was the first Dean in the College of Law, and Dr. H. Coleman had charge of the College of Medicine. The department of Medicine continued but two years, as the facilities were inadequate. This year the name of the school was changed to Ohio Normal University. In the catalogue announcement for 1886-7 is found the announcement of the College of Pharmacyi Charles Ashbrook was the Dean. In September, 1898, the Central Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church contracted to buy the university, but the sale was not completed till in August, 1899. Lastly, in 1904, the name of the school was changed to Ohio Northern University. 12

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V .,..Z'::'- 1 J. ' ' ' H1-:NNY SULOMAN LEHR, PH. D. lJl't'.Vl-dl'lIf EllIl'7'1.f1lJ' 13