Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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This land the trustees sold for $212,000, which sum has since been increased to $350,000. In 1867, John Purdue, a wealthy citizen of Lafayette, Indiana, donated 8150,000 to the prospective university. In honor of the donor of this gift, the institution was named Purdue University, and was to be located in the village of Ghauucy, one mile west of the city of Lafayette. Since that time gifts and endowments have been added to the original fund until the University has now an annual income of $05,000. Richard Owen was elected to be first President of the college, but resigned before it was opened. Professor A. C. Shortridge succeeded him, and the Uni versify was formally opened in September, 1874. Professor Shortridge resigned in December, 1875, and Professor E. E. White, of Ohio, was chosen as his successor. Under his guidance a new impetus was given the college affairs, and from that time on the success of Purdue University was an established fact. Professor White resigned his position in 1883, and was succeeded bv Professor James D. Smart, ex-State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Since Dr. Smart began the directing of affairs at Purdue, it has acquired a reputation second to none among the industrial institutions of the land. The nine college buildings, the beautiful campus, the equipments of the Chemical, Physical, Electrical, Mechanical, Pharmaceutical, and Biological, Laboratories are equal to any in the State. The enrollment of students this year will exceed half a thousand. Every week sees some valuable additions to the different departments. Purdue University is an industrial institution in the fullest sense of the term. The founders of the college believed that much which is termed education unfits rather than fits men and women for the practical affairs of life. That far too much valuable time is minted in studying languages which centuries ago were dead, and histories containing far more fancies than facts. That the object of an education should fit a man to tight life’s battle successfully, come what

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ue Clr)i ?epsil • FI RST commencement of Purdue I nivcrsily was hold hut fifteen short years ago. At that time Purdue was an insignificant institution scarcely deserving to be called a college. Two small buildings were all that had been erected, students were few, and professors were discouraged. The long-prevailing idea that a classical education was the education, and all others useless—that artisans and mechanics need know little else than that which practice taught them was difficult to overthrow. Industrial schools were an experiment which the great majority of educators said must fail. Time has proven these to be erroneous, and though but few years have intervened since Purdue had its existence, they have been sufficient to see it develop into one of the leading colleges in the West. The National Congress passed an act in 1862 donating certain public lands to such States as would establish colleges for the development of agriculture, science, and art. At this time the Rebellion was the all-absorbing theme, and legislators and educators had little time to devote to anything save the safety of the Nation. Thus, nothing was done by her State regarding the donation until 1865, when the Indiana Legislature accepted I he national grant and appointed a board of trustees, to take charge of the lands, amounting to 390000 acres.

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may—to increase his usefulness to himself and others. That his first duty is to take care of himself-—1 he self-respecting, and, therefore, self-supporting. That every one should he instructed in some useful art. “ Educate his hands, ns well as his head,” “ Teach him to deal with things as they are—life as it is,” “ The more real education, the less crime, the purer homes, the truer men ” are the foundation principles upon which Purdue University is reared. Time has proven that her benefactors, “ Budded wisely and well.” 1 he high and responsible positions which her graduates are filling all over onr land prove the success of the experiment. Purdue stands to-day a living monument to her own usefulness. Judging her future by the past, it seems brigl,l» indeed.