Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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The university was formally opened September 17, 1874, with the following faculty: A. C. Shortridge, president, John S. Hougham, professor of physics and industrial inechanicsg W. B. Morgan, professor of mathematics and engineering, John Hussey, professor of botany and horti- cultureg H. XV. lViley, professor of chemistry and Eli F. Brown, professor of English literature and drawing. By an act of the legislature, which went into force August 24, 1875, the governor of the state was authorized to appoint six trustees, two of whom to be nominated by the state board of agriculture, one by the state board of horticulture, and three selected by the governor himself. The trustees are to represent different congressional districts, except that two may come from the district in which the university is located, and their term of service was fixed at three years. The board of county commissioners in each county was authorized to appoint, in such manner as it may choose, 4' two students or scholars to Purdue University, who shall be entitled to enter, remain and receive instruction in the same, upon the same conditions, qualifications, and regulations prescribed for other applicants, room rent and tuition freed, VVe have thus briefly concluded the legal history of Purdue University, except on points where the legislation of the state touched its financial management in the line of carrying out those provisions of its foundation which we have fully enough desc1'ibed. The plan of organization adopted by the board of trustees was based on the theory of special education, and the instruction of the University was distributed among the following special schools : l. School of natural science, including- ffrj Physics and industrial mechanics. thy Chemistry. tw J Natural history. ll. School of engineering, including- qfrj Civil engineering. thi Mining engineering. frj Architecture. IH. School of agriculture, including- faj Theoretical and practical agriculture. tbj Horticulture. trj Veterinary science. IV. School of military science. P Detailed courses of study, however, were only adopted and announced in agriculture, chemis- try, engineering, and physics. For two years the University was conducted on this plan of special education, but there seemed little demand for the special courses of instruction provided. The only special students received entered the school of chemistry, and most of these were in

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at tl1is time accepted a donation of one hundred acres of la.nd adjoining the proposed site of the institution from the citizens of VVest La Fayette, a donation of 9,250,000 from Tippecanoe county, and some other minor and contingent donations. The act located the institution in Tippecanoe county, at such point as the trustees might subsequently decide, gave it the name of Purdue University, and provided for its organization. Prior to this time the trust funds arising from the sale of the land scrip, amounting to S340,000, had been managed by a board of trustees with the corporate name 'iThe Trustees of the Indiana Agriculture College. This board consisted of Governor Morton far fjgffit-fb president1, Alfred Pollard, of Gibson, Smith Vayvter, of Jennings, Henry Taylor, of Tippecanoe and Lewis Burke, of VVayne. Prior to the lirst meeting of the board, held October 20, 1865, Mr. Pollard removed from the state, and Isaac Jenkinson, of Allen, was elected his successor. John J. Hay- den, of Marion, Was elected secretary of the board, and James E. Reeves, of IVayne, treasurer. Mr. Reeves resigned May 1, 1806, and was succeeded by E. B. Martindale, of Indianapolis. The board so constituted remained without a change in membership until March 7, 1870. It Was this board Which located the University deiinitely December 22, 1869, and it xvas this board Which, by careful and yvise management, increased the endowment fund from 34211238 fthe amount received from the sale of the land scripj to f143el0,000. This sum yvas invested in a non-negotiable Indiana state bond, bearing five per cent. inte1'est, payable quarterly. In 1870 the board was reorganized to meet the new conditions. An act passed January 31, 1871, increased the number of trustees from five to nine, including the governor and provided that three of the trustees should be members of the state board of agriculture, to be appointed by the governor, on the recommendation of the state board. This boardpurchased the site of the University, constructed the buildings immediately needed, and made provisions for the opening of the institution. The first buildings to appear yvere the Ladies' Hall, Pharmacy Laboratory, Men's Dormitory, Boiler House, Military Hall and barn. These were erected during the years 1872 and 1873. A portion of the present farm-house was also erected during this time. This original group of buildings stood in the bare lield yvithout trees or other ornamentation such as We see now on our beautiful campus. Contrasting the condition then with our present condition We are compelled to conclude that the greatest enterprises may have a mffjvf humble beginning. It Was expected that it Would be possible to open the university in 1873, and in August, 1872, Professor Richard Oyven, of the department of natural science in the state university, was elected p1'esident and Professor John S. Hougham was appointed to a professorship. The hope of open- ing the university in 1873 Was not realized, and in March, 1874, President Oyven resigned his position. To comply with the act of congress, which required the institution to be opened as early as July, 1874, Professor Hougham took charge of a class March 2, 1874, and gave instruc- tion until June.

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preparatory branches in other studies. Nearly all the students entered the preparatory classes. The records of 1875-76 show 1 student in the senior class of the college, 1 in the junior class, G in the sophomore class and 8 in the freshman class, 4 of Whom were not up with the class in all the prescribed studies. On the other hand there were 13 in the senior preparatory class, 22 in the second preparatory class, and 14 in the third preparatory class, President Shortridge resigned November 5, 1875, and after a brief interregnum, E. E. lVhite, LL.D., was elected presi- duties May 1, 1876. In the board of trustees, the to three departments : I. my. Il. The College of Special Schools of Sci- The Academy had paring students for ad- General Science, and of struction in the sciences a more extended course. through the Academy, if in the branches of study General Science aimed to education, first, as a gen- industrial pursuits and and secondly, as an ade- Special Schools of Sci- The Special Schools ogy embraced : I. A and Horticulture. II. A ing. III. A School of A School of Physics and of Chemistry and Metal- -, I-'RICHARD OWEN W- lQ7Z5'74 dent, entering upon his June, 1876, by action of university was divided in- The University Acade- General Science. III. ence and Technology. the twofold object of pre- mission to the College of providing elementary in- forthosc who can not take It took two years to pass the student had no credits taught. The College of give a thorough scientific eral preparation for all the duties of citizenship, quate preparation for the ence and Technology. ot' Science and Technol- School of Agriculture School of Civil Engineer- Industrial Design. IV. Mechanics. V. A School lurgy. VI. A School of Natural History. Students who had completed the iirst three years of the course in the College of General Science were permitted to enter any one of the Special Schools, but those who were candidates for the degree of bachelor of science, had to devote one-half of the senior year to other branches of study, selected from the general course. VVe see in the courses as laid clown at this period of Purdue's history a gradual enlargement of the work. It was especially desired by the president, at this time, to strengthen the Work along the lines of applied science. In President