Swarthmore College - Halcyon Yearbook (Swarthmore, PA)

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Swarthmore College. its origin and some notes upon its early history. By Edward H. Magill, LL. D. CHAPTER IV. I HE College entered upon its seventh year in the autumn of 1875 under most favorable auspices. The institution was charac- terized by increasing stability, its general plan of organization was followed with but slight changes, and the corps of Profes- sors and Instructors remained nearly the same as the previous year. The dropping of the third division of Class C was received with general satisfaction by the friends of the College as giving promise of the abandoning of the Preparatory School, which has now, at last, after the lapse of two more decades, been entirely accomplished. It was during this seventh year that the arrangement was completed for conferring the degree of Bachelor of Literature upon graduates of what was named the Modern Classical Section. In this course the study of the Ancient Languages might be omitted, their place being taken by a fuller course in French, German, English, and Anglo-Saxon. Cornell University and the University of Min- nesota were then quoted as examples for conferring such a degree, and, as is well known, the practice is now widely extended among the colleges of the country. It was at this time that Anson Lapham, of New York, pur- II

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Calendar 1896=97. First Semester. 1896. Ninth Month i6th. Examinations for Admission. Ninth Month i8th. Regular Exercises Begin, Eleventh Month 25th-3oth. Thanksgiving Recess. Tv ELFTH Month 23d. Winter Recess Begins. 1N97, First Month 4th. Students Return. First Month 30th. First Semester Ends. Second Semester. Second Month ist. Second Month i6th. Third Month 2d. Third Month 27111. Fourth Month 5th. Fourth Month 13th. Fifth Month 17th. Fifth Month 24th. Fifth Month 31st. Sixth Month 7th. Sixth Month Sih. Second Semester Begins. College Oratorical Contest. Senior Declamations for Prof. Furman ' s Prize. Spring Recess Begins. Students Return. Freshman-Sophomore Ora- torical Contest. Senior Examinations Begin. Senior Examinations Com- pleted and the Results Announced. Final Examinations Begin. Class Day Exercises. Commencement.

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chased two perpetual scholarships for the sum of 10,000, and Deborah F. Wharton contributed $5,000 toward a fund for the education of those in reduced circumstances, especially those intending to teach in Friends ' schools. It was during this year that cases were furnished for the Students ' Library, belonging to the different literary societies, thus furnishing a nucleus for a valuable collection of books, the importance of which increases year by year. Again, in the autumn of 1876, the College opened its eighth year with its corps of Instructors but slightly changed. It was during this year that the degree of Bachelor of Science in Physics and Chemistry was first opened to students in Science, and a course in Medical Chemistry was established for the benefit of those intending later to pursue the study of medicine. Chem- istry was also now introduced as a required study in both sections. Classical and Scientific, of Class A of the Preparatory School. The facilities for in- struction in Mechanics and Engineering were considerably increased at this time, and our students took advantage, during this centennial year, of the display in this department in the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The general library of the College, now numbering nearly 3,000 volumes, was furnished with additional cases, and a Library Fund under the care of a committee of the Library, was called for in the Managers ' Report. A course of lectures, free to all friends of the College, was opened the present year, and a fund of $500 a year, to be set apart for this purpose, was reported among the needs of the College. The Managers close their report for this centennial year by a paragraph which may well be reproduced at this time. Its suggestions as to the need of a large permanent endow- ment fund are appropriate here and now, because they are never out of place. The report thus concludes : In the conclusion of last year ' s report an appeal was made for the 12