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 VII. HE destruction and reconstruction of the College in its thirteenth year (1881-82), having been considered in the last chapter, we now proceed with the work as continued in the new building, after the return from its temporary quarters in Media, in the autumn of 1882. Fourteenth Year; 1882-83. — The regular time for the re-opening was on the 12th of Ninth month, but two weeks more were found necessary to complete the building and equip it for the reception of the students. The time was therefore fixed on the 25th, that being the anniversary of the dismissal of the students on the morning of the destruction of the fire. The number of students who entered the College classes this year was 82: Seniors, 18; Sophomores, 15, and Freshmen, 36. The mmiber in tlie Preparatory School was 192, distributed as follows: College Preparatory Class, 56; Class A, 63; Class B, 38; and Class C, 35. The only changes in the Faculty for this year were the appointment of Anna W. Frost Clapp, Matron, in place of Caroline S. Wood, resigned, and the resignation of George L. Maris, Professor of Theory and Practice of Teaching. Professot Wm. H. Appleton returned at this time, after a year ' s absence for study and travel abroad, and resumed the duties of his professorship. The average age of the new students admitted this year was one year greater than heretofore, and the hope of many was renewed that the time was gradually approaching when Swarth- 12 building by Juniors, 13

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SWARTHMORE COLLEGE, SWARTHMORE, PA. INCORPORATED BY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 1 864. First Class Graduated 1873. COLOR— GARNET. YELL : ' Rah, ' rah! ' Rah, ' rah, ' rah! ' Rah, ' rah! ' Rah, ' rah, ' rah! Swarthmore! II

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more would become a College only, without the addition of a Preparatory School, but time proved that this was to be a matter of slow development. It was about this time that the principle of admitting students without examination, on presenting certificates of qualification from the principals of certain schools, to be named bv vote of the Faculty, with the approval of the Committee on Instruction, was introduced. Five schools were admitted to the list to which this principle was extended. The new College building being now completed and equipped for its work, and the expenses of recon- struction and equipment, amounting to about $270,000, having been fully paid, the friends of the College were invited to the inauguration of the restored College building on Fifth-day evening. First month 18th, 1883. Free tickets on the railroad were sent to the friends of the College, a lunch was provided, and all of the rooms were opened for the inspection of visitors, and it was an occasion of great rejoicing that the disaster of the fire had been so promptly met by the energy of the Building Committee, supported Ijy lib- eral subscriptions, and all of the indebtedness incurred fully paid. It was during this year, for the first time, that a special room in the College was set apart to be called The Alumni Room, also for the use, if desired, of the Somerville Literary Society. The new Science Building was completed this year, and opened to students in the departments of Chemistry, Physics, and Civil and Mechanical Engineering, making our College compare favorably with other colleges in this country ni these departments, being equalled by few, and surpassed by none except some universities and special schools of science. A new schedule of prices of tuition was now adopted, making the charge $300 a year in Class C ; $350 in the other classes of the Preparatory School, and $450 in the College classes ; with a re- duction of $100 a year in all of these classes to children of members of our Religious Society. Fifteenth Year; 1883-84. — The year 1883-84 was opened with eleven members of the Faculty; Joseph W. Teets, Professor of Elocution, and Elizabeth C. M iller, Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, having been added to the Faculty of the previous year. During the year just passed the Board of Managers met with the loss of two of its most active and valuable members since the opening of the College, Samuel Willets and Rachel T. Jackson. It is well known that but for the liberal financial aid of Samuel Willets, seconded by the unwearying efforts of Edward Parrish, the first President, Swarthmore College would hardly have become a reality, at least for many years ; and from the first inception of the work no manager had been more earnest or more deeply interested in the establishment of a Friends ' college than Rachel T. Jackson. Through her long experience in educational 13