Temple University School of Medicine - Skull Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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. . . and oecf n, inS ivi tit . } 4 4.U (I his Hectuw? . • . an 4cred of rJ iamoncl5 It is an intriguing story of an atheistic Civil W ar captain and his heroic orderly Johnny Ring. Johnny Ring gave his life while recovering his captain s sword, lost during battle. This incident altered many things in the life of that atheistic soldier, whose name was Russell H. Conwell. He was to become known as a clergyman, teacher, lecturer, philanthropist, and president of a university lltal was his own founding. The actual story of Temple University began in 188-t when group of seven young men organized a program of night study under the tutelage of Dr. Conwell. Dour years later this small group had grown to over five hundred students, and Dr. Conwell was able to secure a charier for a liberal arts college. It was called I emple College, established for the pur-paste f providing a place where young people, who might not otherwise be able to do so. could obtain a college education. At first all classes were held at night, for most of the students worked during the day. By 1891 the Tomple College of Liberal Arts was holding day classes and had been empowered to confer degrees upon its graduates. In I90 the College became I emple I diversity with Dr. Conwell its first president. He was a truly inspired man and worked ceaselessly for the furtherance of his dreams for youth education. Money accumulated as he delivered his celebrated Acres of Diamonds' address, and this was contributed to the expansion and development of the University. Acres of Diamonds’’ is a strange tale of a rich Arabian farmer. Ali Hafed. who dreamed of increasing his wealth by discovering diamonds. His efforts carried him to the far corners of the globe, but his futile search cost him his fortune and his life. After his death a fortune in diamonds was found on the farm he had forsaken. Dr. Conwell applied the moral of the legend to his own enterprise and in time the University expanded to include undergraduate and graduate colleges in liberal arts, teaching, business, and art. The profes sional schools include the Schools of Theology. Law, Dentistry. Pharmacy. Cursing, and Medicine. 7

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In 1891. Dr. Conwell and the leaders of the Baptist I emple founded the Samaritan Hospital, at Broad and Ontario Streets. In 1901 the Temple College School of Medicine was opened, using the Samaritan Hospital as its teaching institution. At first this was a fine year evening course with classes held in the main college buildings at Broad and Berks Streets and at the Samaritan Hospital. It became necessary to abandon the night program in 1909. and the day classes which had been started in 1907 were expanded I he facilities of Garrettson Hospital, the Philadelphia Dental College, and Cjreatheart Hospital were utilized at successive periods in the growth of the medical school to pro vide room for its rapid expansion. The year 1929 was a memorable one in the history of the Medical School. The pres ent eight story building was constructed across Broad Street from the Samaritan Hospital, which then was named Temple University Hospital. Dr. William N. Parkinson became the third dean that same year, and the Medical School received a Grade A rank from the A.M.A. Council on Medical education. Under Doctor Parkinson and Dr. Robert L. Johnson, who became president of I emple I 1niversity in 1941, the Medical School has continued to grow. I his year, 1953, construction will be started on a new in-patient building to accommodate 375 patients. Plans also include an eight story out-patient department to make possible 100,000 out patient visits a year. And so the story of Johnny Ring and Russell Conwell and Acres of Diamonds' is yet being told, and this is but another chapter.