Penn State University - La Vie Yearbook (University Park, PA)

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Dr. Evan Pugh, the first president, was not to arrive until October. In Choosing Pugh, the Trustees secured a man capable of making a reality of the grand idea, to use Pughis words, of combining practical and theoretical education-then an untried experiment. Pugh accepted a job that was to try his abilities. His work included planning courses of study, teaching, handling disciplinary cases, and winning support for the school throughout the State. Financial problems were many and the Civil War and rising costs increased them. Pugh and the Trustees helped to secure Congressional passage of the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862, and with the name of the school changed to The AgriculturaI College of Pennsylvania in 1862, the school was well- qualihed to become the LandvGrant college of Pennsyl- vania. It was so designated. popular political figure, considered the founder of the common school system in the State. By speaking throughout the State and instituting a Harvest Home program to bring visitors to the college, he restored the school in popular favor and Checked the falling enroll- ment. Pneumonia, contracted while on a hunting trip with students, brought his death in 1871. The fifth president, James Calder, served from 1871 to 1880, a decade marked by changes. The name be came The Pennsylvania State College in 1874, the Board of Trustees was enlarged to include representatives of alumni and industrial societies as well as agricultural societies, the labor rule, restored by Burrowes, again was dropped, and a no-tuition policy was adopted to make educational opportunities available to 2111 people of the State. First president of Penn State was Dr. Evan Pugh. His death in 1864 was 0 serious blow to the school. VVeakened by an injury when his buggy overturned, Pugh died on April 22, 1864 at the age of 36. His hard work of Eve years had succeeded in getting this new experiment in education underway, but the next 25 years was to produce a multitude of other dithculties. After Pughis death, William H. Allen, president of Girard College, was named to the presidency. Plagued by money troubles and a declining enrollment, he re- turned to Cirard College after two years. The next president, James Fraser, was chosen From the faculty. He reorganized the academic program, planned courses in engineering, metallurgy, and mining, and dropped the labor rule, substituting practicums for it. His eHorts did not halt the falling enrollment-it fell to 30 students in 1868e-and he resigned. The appointment of Dr. George W. Atherton cs seventh president in 1882 brought on end to an era of drifting. Female students, six of them, were first admitted in 1872 and they have proven as diligent, orderly, and successful as the young men in the same Classes. Courses in modern languages, music, sewing, and the Culinary arts followed. The school made progress but criticism grew. Agri- cultural societies feared the early goals had been lost and there was condemnation because the work in me- chanic arts. added in 1865, had not been developed. Calder resigned in 1880 after an investigating com- mittee submitted an adverse report. His successor, Joseph Shortlidge, who had been head of a boys academy, lasted only nine months under growing criticism. Thomas H. Burrowes, the next president, was a The Armory, completed in 1888, for many years was a center for social activities, athletic events, and other go- therings as well as classes in military science and tactics.

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Before the first coeds arrived in 1871, Minerva Whitman, daughter of a faculty member was permitted to attend classes. Bon fires were the order of the day after 16 every major football victory and students gathered timber, including wooden sidewalks.