Rose Hulman Institute of Technology - Modulus Yearbook (Terre Haute, IN)

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Chauncey Rose A Brief History of Rose On this fiftieth year of Rose Polytechnic Institute it is only proper that a brief resume be made of the history of the school. ' Chauncey Rose, founder of the school which bears his name received only the limited education which a Connecticut village school afforded. Beyond that he was self taught in thd practical school of experience. At an early age he came to the Wfabash Valley and acquired a considerable fortune through aggressive and enterprising undertakings. When he began late in life to think of the question of most helpfully disposing of his property, it was altogether natural that he should conceive the idea of founding a school where young men should be taught those things that had cost him and his associates so much to learn. After thinking over the idea of founding a scientihc school he called a few of his friends and associates into conference for repeated discussions. As a result the articles of incorporation were adopted for the establishment of an institution for the intellectual and practical education of young men , to be known as the Terre Haute School of Industrial Science , on the 10th of September, 1874. On October 10 the board of managers was organized with Chauncey Rose, President, Demas Deming, Treasurer, and Williaimm K. Edwards, Secretary. January 11, 1875, the cornerstone of the main building was laid and the name of the school changed by the managers, over the protest of Mr. Rose, to The Rose Polytechnic Institute. June 13 he resigned the presidency on account of age and infirmities, and died the next August. The 1933 Page Tru

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LOST CREEK AND THE BRIDGE TO THE ATHLETIC FIELD THE LARE XVITH THE DORMITOR1' IN THE BACKGROUND X Iyaagigj ,I A Q f Page N im' t-T'A .ThiQi '....' ' -A.,fLflI,

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Mr. Rose's bequests to the school included the grounds, the main building, the shop building, sums for equipment and maintenance and a productive capital of Hve hundred thousand dollars. A bequest was received from the will of Josephus Collet, who was Mr. R0se's successor as President, of Hfty thousand dollars. Rose Polytechnic Institute was formally opened for instructon at Thirteenth and Locust streets March 7, 1883, at which time President Charles O. Thompson made the inaugural address. President Thompson had been principal of the Free Institute of Technology of Worcester, Massachusetts, and had toured abroad studying European schools of technology. He embodied the results of his experience in the plan of instruc- tion that he formulated for the new school, and which is still substantially followed. Unfortunately, President Thompson lived only long enough to see his work started. July, 1886, Dr. T. C. Mendenhall was elected his successor and served until 1890, when he took charge of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Dr. H. T. Eddy filled the presidency until the election of Dr. Carl L. Mees in 1895. Dr. Mees served the school efficiently until his retirement in 1919. During his administration the Institute rose to a high position in the engineering world, and to him a great deal of credit for the development of the school must be given. Due to the increasing popularity of Rose, need of more room was felt and plans were made for a new location. One hundred and twenty-three acres of land upon which the Institute now stands were given by Anton and Herman Hulman. The War delayed the con- struction of the new buildings and the present building was finished and opened in 1922. The presidency was occupied by Dr. H. C. Woodruff until the election of Dr. Frank C. Wagner in 1924. Dr. Wagner served capably as president until his tragic death in 1928 and Dr. Prentice was chosen president in 1932. Other donors of the school include Susan K. QHeminwayj Francis, William S. Rea, James McGregor, Demas Deming, and the alumni and citizens of Terre Haute. To all these men we owe a great amount of respect for ther efforts and assistance in placing Rose Polytechnic Institute on its present level in the field of engineering education. The 1933 . Mooutus