Syracuse University - Onondagan Yearbook (Syracuse, NY)

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wisely guided the young college but the time for material development had not yet come. The Rev. E. C. Curtis did heroic service in a financial way in those days, as Dr. Phelps is doing in these days. The era of building began under Chancellor Sims (1881-93). The Holden observatory was completed in 1887, the Library building in 1889, the John Grouse college, the same year, and the gymnasium in 1892. Growing pains had possessed the institution which had, however, the utmost difficulty in satisfying an appetite which increased as it was fed. The beginning of the Sims administration was a time of doubt and fear. The trustees and faculty had become conscious as never before of the insatiate demands of a growing university, while the times were not propitious for securing the generous financial aid so imperatively called for. It certainly seemed at one time as if the very necessities for continuing existence would fail. The indomi- FINE ARTS COLLEGE table perseverance of Chancellor Sims, his tireless industry, his undying faith in the college and its future saved the plant, and an upward progress was slowly begun. Four buildings, one of them the John Crouse college, among the very finest in America, stand as a monument to immortalize this noble man. The era of hitherto unexperienced prosperity came with the administration of Chancellor Day (1894), although at its inauguration the country was suffering serious financial depression. A large portion of the funds of the university was invested in western securities which were just then unproductive. Mortgages were foreclosed and the university found itself in the possession of much undesired property. But by careful management losses were arrested and the endowment recovered. The upward progress was not only not hindered but accelerated. It has often been said of late that the university during the last fifteen years has been in the material stage of progress. That is true, unless it be meant to limit the 15

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Awaiting the completion of the Hall of Languages a city block did duty as a university building, and on September 1st, 187.1, forty-one students assembled m the chapel, the top floor of the Myers block, while five professors sat upon the platform. These men were Daniel Steele, president of the college, and Professors French, Coddington, Brown and Bennett, who had been formally inaugurated the previous day in Shakspere hall. It was the beginning in Syracuse of an en- terprise destined to be in a comparatively brief time the largest and leading in- dustry of the city. The dedication of the first building, May 8th, 1873, was the beginning of the occupation of the campus. Bishop Peck, one of the greatest of the founders, presided. Those dedicatory services were impressive and his- torical. The principal speakers were Presidents Barnard of Columbia university and White of Cornell, Bishop Janes and Chief Justice Church. President White was eloquent, as always. He uttered unconsciously a prophecy. He said: You ought to have a chime of bells to scatter melody over these hills and through these verdant vales. John Grouse later fulfilled the prophecy. The Hall of Languages was the center of activity. In this ' commodious building for twenty-five years practically all the college work, except that of medicine, was done. In 1898 the Steele hall gave more adequate quarters and facilities to the departments of physics and biology as in 1889 the John Crouse college had accommodated the College of Fine Arts. No additional buildings were erected during the administrations of Chancellors Winchell (1873-4) and Haven (1874-80). Dr. Winchell could not easily be beguiled from his beloved studies to the thankless work of the executive. Dr. Haven, rich in every virtue, ' 4

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progress to material, development. It would not be difficult to point to note- worthy progress in internal development. The pace of colleges has been fast during the last quarter of a century. It would almost startle any reader famil- iar with such matters to make a comparison of present conditions in any Amer- ican college with those of three decades ago. Entrance requirements have been greatly advanced as the High schools have become more proficient and capable of meeting them. Courses in every department of learning have been multi- plied in number, varied in character and bettered in quality, graduate work has immensely increased, the range of individual teaching has necessarily been re- stricted and narrowed, and in consequence the teaching force has been enlarged; endowments have mounted into millions. Syracuse university has kept pace fairly well with these changes and steps of progress. A study of the catalogues COLLE GE OF MEDICINE alone would reveal this, but it is most fully realized by one who has been in con- tinuous service during the evolutionary period. Fortunately for Syracuse, Chancellor Day not only entered on his work with words of sincere praise for his predecessors, but also with a quick apprehension of the needs of the institution, an earnest sympathy with the inspirations of the various departments, a determined purpose to supply every facility to put the university afront with the best, a fertility of resources, and a faith and opti- mism that wrought miracles. Dr. Day found three colleges in operation, Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, and Medi- cine, lie has added three, Law, Applied Science and Teachers, and all six have been equally the object of his anxious solicitude. All have been pushed forward to a condition of the utmost efficiency. All are open to men and women on equal terms. He has made Syracuse university the talk and wonder of the nation. 1 6