Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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The Present President. James H. Smart. Dr. James Henry Smart was boru January 30, 1 84 1 , in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. This beautiful little place is situated at the foot of the White Hills, and is one of the most attractive summer resorts in New England. At the early age of seventeen he began his career as an educator. For three years he taught in the high schools at Concord, N. H., and other cities in New England. A little later he was connected with The New Hampshire Journal of Education as an editor. A few years after- wards he became connected with the Toledo High School, where he remained until elected superintendent of schools in Fort Wayne, in 1865. Thrice he was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In 1883 he became President of Purdue University, and the same year was chosen a Trustee of the State University, and served in a like capacity for the State Normal School. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College, and Doctor of Laws from Indiana University. Dr. Smart was appointed Assistant Commissioner of the State of Indiana at the Vienna Exposition, and was one of the United States Commissioners to the Paris Exposition, in 1878. He was elected President of the Indiana Teachers ' Association in 1 87 1, and of the National Educational Association, in 1880. In 1890 he was President of the American Association of Experimental Stations. Coming to Purdue he found little that would justify the name of a university and that at a time when technical education was not appre- ciated. His object was to make it one of the foremost technical schools. Perhaps nothing has shown the skillful management of President Smart better than the exactness with which his plans have been carried out. Even such a great misfortune as the burning of our finest build- ing did not make him falter. With increased diligence, funds were collected, and the legislature persuaded to do the best by Purdue. Now the laboratories are better arranged and equipped than ever before. Each course is being expanded and strengthened, new schools established and improvements being made in everything connected with the University. For all these good things. President Smart is largely responsible. 15

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Prof. W. K. Hatt, A. B., C. E. William Kendrick Hatt, A. B., C. E., Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, was born at Frederickton, New Brunswick, October lo, 1868. He graduated from University of New Brunswick at nineteen, having won scholarships in English Literature and Mathematics. After leaving the university he was employed for a year and a half on the engineering staff of the Intercolonial Railway of Canada. He then entered Cornell as a resident graduate in civil engineering, and in 1891 received the degree of Civil Engineer. He has since held positions as draughtsman for Berlin Iron Bridge Company, Professor of Civil En- gineering at University of New Brunswick, Instructor of Civil Engineer- ing at Cornell, and in 1893 he accepted his present position at Purdue. Professor Hatt has had quite a varied field experience, having been resident engineer of Grafton and Upton Railwa} ' , Mass., and Engineer of Eand Claims of Windsor Branch Railway. Since being at Purdue, associated with Prof. Phillips in the drainage problem of the Kankakee marshes, and at present is town engineer of West EaFayette. Prof. Hatt has now been with us for two years ; during this time he has had studies in all the engineering schools, so the larger part of our upper classmen have come in contact with him in the class room. No other professor has made a better impression or been more universally popular with his students. He is always earnest and enthusiastic, quick to recognize and encourage merit. He has seldom had occasion for reproof, but when it is required the warning has so mingled severity with gentlemanly consideration that it has been remembered while no ill-feeling was cherished. It would be hard to find a better combination of talents in a pro- fessor. He is industrious, well informed, courteous, inspiring — a model professor and an accomplished gentleman. Walter Jones, A. B., Ph. D. In the fall of 1892, upon the election of Dr. W. E. Stone to the Vice-Presidency of the University, it became necessary to add a new member to the corps of instructors in chemistry. To fill the position. 17