Swarthmore College - Halcyon Yearbook (Swarthmore, PA)

Page 32 text:

atic training in a well-arranged course of study. In the report for this year the hope was expressed that the lowest class (C) of the Preparatory School could soon be dropped entirely, and that then but two years would be required for preparation for entering the Freshman Class. Thus early in the history of the college was the desire felt to advance toward the con- dition of a fully developed college without an attached Preparatory School, a hope, however, which was not realized until about the close of the second decade. Even Class C itself was not dispensed with until after the expira- tion of more than the first decade. But the growth though slow was sure, and it is a great satisfaction now, at the close of the first quarter of a cen-- tury of our existence, to feel that the Institution is a college on a sure foundation, and taking an honorable rank among the colleges of our country. The growing need of additional accommodations for both the College and Preparatory School led at this time to the serious consideration of providing homes for those of the professors who had families by erecting separate residences for them upon the college grounds. This was partially effected two years later by erecting near the college a house for the Presi- dent and his family, and later a house in connection with the observatory by the Professor of Mathematics. But with these two exceptions no addi- tional homes have been built for the professors on the college grounds since the opening of the college. It may well be questioned whether great advantage would not ultimately arise to the college from the construction of a sufficient number of homes upon our own grounds for all of our professors who may desire to occupy them. Under careful management the money thus securely invested could be made to produce a considerable income to the college and furnish desirable homes near at hand for the professors and their families. Our ample and well situated grounds are admirably adapted to this end. The experience of Cornell University and other insti- tutions which have adopted this course may well serve us as a profitable example. It was during this fifth year of the college that the new winding walk from the college to the station was completed (replaced some years later by lo

Page 31 text:

Swarthmore College. its orign and some notes upon its early history. By Edward H. Magill. CHAPTER III. HE fifth year of the college opened in the autumn of 1873, the seven members of the Faculty of the previous year remain- ing unchanged. Four of the graduates of the first class con- tinued this year as resident graduates, and three of these acted as assistant instructors in French, German, English, and Mathe- matics. The number of undergraduates during this year was 89, of whom 79 pursued regular courses of study and 10 irregular or partial courses. Of the 79 regular students 46 pursued the Classical, and ; the Scientific Course. The number of preparatory students during the year was 176. It was in the opening of this year that the complete organization of the classes into regular Classical and Scientific Sections was fully effected. While the system of electives was still encouraged, under proper restrictions, the pursuit of one of the regular courses was earnestly recommended ; the regular and elective systems being so combined that the number of elec- tives increased as the students advanced, and in the Junior and Senior Classes the studies were largely elective. The feeling that too many of the younger students in the opening years of the college pursued irregular and elective courses to their disadvantage began now to prevail, and in the annual report for the year under consideration, this language occurs : It is a serious error to suppose that the pursuit of a select course is adapted to immature minds which especially need the advantages of system- 9

Page 33 text:

the broad, prospectively well-shaded asphaltum walk) ; additional heating of the rooms was introduced ; the painting and varnishing of many of the rooms and halls was accomplished, new water works were completed, fur- nishing a much-needed additional supply of water from a fine spring south of the college, and the erection of a new farm-house was begun. Much of the money needed for these various improvements was furnished as usual by the liberal contributions of the Managers and other friends of the college. At the close of the year the first steps were taken toward the purchase of the property known as the West Farm, adjoining the college grounds, by giving the necessary notice to the stockholders. Seven students were graduated at the close of this year, of whom five were in the Classical and two in the Science course. The fifth year of the college having closed with continually improving prospects, the sixth was opened in Ninth month, 1874, under the same bright auspices, but its early days were darkened by the loss, within a brief period, of three friends whose services had long been invaluable in the management of the college, Anna M. Hopper and William Dorse) ' , of Philadelphia, and S. B. Worth, of Coatesville, Pa This is not the place (even if space would permit) to dwell upon the individual value of these friends of the college whose interests were so dear to them, but it should be said here that, by the united labors of these three friends, who were thus called away so near together, the educational, religious and material interests of the college were guarded with watchful and jealous eyes. At the opening of this sixth year to the seven members of the Faculty who had remained unchanged for the past two years, the name of Susan J. Cunningham was now added, and she was advanced from the nominal Assistant Professorship to the full Professorship of Mathematics. Dr. Jcs. Thomas was first appointed this year as non-resident Professor of English Literature. It will be observed that the prospective stability of the college was already indicated in the very slight changes in its Professorial Staff, even in these earlier years, and one-half of the members of the Faculty for this sixth year are still members of that body at the end of a quarter of a century. During this year the college numbered 99 students, being an increase of 10 II