Swarthmore College - Halcyon Yearbook (Swarthmore, PA)

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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

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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

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over the number of any previous year. Of these, 49 were Classical students, 37 were Scientific, and 13 were irregular. Great care was taken to encourage students to pursue one of the regular courses provided, and so become can- didates for degrees. In the Preparatory School there were 162 students, of whom 151 were pursuing regular courses. This year the third or lowest section of Class C was dropped, and the hope again expressed that in a few years the students would be limited to the college and two classes (A and B) in the Preparatory School. In the Annual Report for this year Friends ' Schools throughout the country were earnestly advised to so arrange their courses of study as to prepare students for the Freshman Class, and the encouraging word went out that of the six graduates of the first year four were successful teachers in the college, and of the seven for the second year four were already engaged in teaching, and all among Friends. Regular courses of lectures in Physics and Chemistry were first opened this year, given to Class A of the Preparatory School, and an earnest appeal was made for the establishment of a fund for the supply of more ample means of illus- tration in the Department of Physics. It was during this year that a course of gymnastics for the girls was first regularly established. The attempt to provide separate o-i? i?ra study rooms for the Senior and Junior classes, under their own care, was begun also, but it was not found satisfactory, and after sufficient trial was abandoned, private study in their own rooms being con- sidered altogether preferable. In the earlier history of the college the subject of the advisability of the co-education of the sexes was more prominent than it has been in these later days, as it is now accepted as a generally established fact, having passed beyond the stage of general discussion. In the report for this sixth year, this language is used, and it may be here quoted as an interesting item in our earlier history : In every report since the opening of the college some allusion has been made to our experiment of the co-educaiion of the sexes. It would now seem to be time to pass it by as a qu estion fully settled, and no longer within the domain of controversy, and we should do so were it not for the fact that objections to the system have recently been raised anew in different 12