Union College - Garnet Yearbook (Schenectady, NY)

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I2 THE GAARNET, 1910 r to the University in 1881 as a means of giving competent instruction along this line. Our eighth president was Dr. Harrison E. Webster, an untiring investigator, to whom Union is indebted for the collection of marine specimens that is still one of the best in the country. In January, 1894, Dr. Andrew V. V. Raymond was called to the presidency from an Albany pastorate. During his administration of thirteen years he did a great work for the college. The course in Electrical Engineering was added to the curriculum, the services of Charles Porteus Steinmetz, one of the greatest electricians in the world, were securedg and an excellently equipped 'electrical laboratory was built. Silliman Hall was also added to the college buildings, being the generous gift of Horace B. Silliman of the class of 1846 to the Young lVlen's Christian Association. Now, with an able and energetic young man just called to be the head of the college, with the assurance of a new engineering building and a new gym- nasium, Union's prospects are brighter than ever. A history of Union would be incomplete, indeed, if mention were not made of the men who have constituted her faculty, for there are many, whose memory is still cherished with affection by alumnus and student alike, such men as Tayler Lewis, the greatest student of his day, a man of feeble frame but mighty mindg William Gillespie, a leader in the world of engineering, Dr. Jackson, who bequeathed us the gardensg Dr. Whitehorne, H Uncle Billy H Wells ,and many others of such sterling talents and wonderful personality 'that their influence still lives in the lives of the men whom they raised to nobler standards of Christian character. It may be interesting to speak briefly of the history of Union's athletics. In 1874 Union had her first regular schedule of baseball games. In 1876 she had a crew that came in a close fourth in a regatta on Saratoga Lake, beaten only by Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia. In 1877 our first uniformed football team appeared on the college campus, and defeated Cornell by a score of 24 to 10. In track athletics Union has had some famous men, most conspicuous of whom is Charles l-l. Kilpatrick, ,98, who is the world's champion half-mile runner. In 1873 our present gymnasium was erected. It is difficult to realize that Our now antiquated gymnasium was at that time one of the best in the country. Wim a new, modern gymnasium and athletic field an assured reality in the Ee? future, Union will be on a stronger basis in the athletic world than ever e ore.

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TI-IE GARNET, 1910 11 well deserves the honor of the title accorded him, H The Prince of American Metaphysiciansf ' Dr. l'lickok's presidency was the period immediately following the Civil War. The war was a sad blow to Union. The Southern students, who had flocked here in great numbers because of Union's unrivalled popularity in the South, left, naturally enough. The Northern students, on the other hand, gave ready response to .their country's call to arms. On the campus the brilliant young Professor Peissner drilled a company of student soldiers, who were popu- larly known as H The College Zouavesf' So many leftwthis Union to defend the Union of the Federal States, that only a few students comparatively, were left behind. . Union's next president was Dr. Charles A. Aiken, an eminent scholar and clergyman, who was succeeded in, 1871 by Eliphalet Nott Potter, the grand- son and namesake of Dr. Nott. During his presidency Nott Memorial Hall and the Powers-Washburn Hall were built. The foundation of Nott Memorial I-lall had already been laid for someu years, this building being a part of Monsieur Rameeis plans, but the work had been given up on account of lack of funds. Work was begun on it anew during the Hrst year of Dr. Potter's administration, and the building was speedily completed. Not until about twenty-five years after its completion was it used as the college library. The expense of its final adaptation for this purpose was defrayed by a gift of Andrew Carnegie. The corner-stone of the Powers-Washburn Memorial I-lall, commonly known as H The Red Building M was laid in 1881. The central part of the I-lall was intended for the library and was used as such until it was transferred to H The Round Building. The crowning event of Dr. Potter's presidency was the development of Union College into Union University in 1873. Albany Medical College, Albany Law School, and Dudley Observatory had already been in existence several years as separate institutions. The Medical College was founded in 1839, its location at Albany offering excellent advantages in the way of hospi- tals and clispensaries, which are available to the students for clinical and surgical purposes. Albany Law School was founded in 1851, and her graduates are now found in the highest positions of trust. President McKinley is the alumnus of whom our law department is most proud. The Gbservatory was opened in 1856 for the purpose of astronomical investi- gation and student post-graduate work. The College of Pharmacy was added

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TI-IE GARNET, 1910 I3 Union has always been a pioneer college. She was the first college in America founded on a non-sectarian basis, the first college to receive a charter from the Board of Regents of New York State, the first to establish a school of science as a separate department, the first to give modern languages a place in a curriculum, the first to provide for a system elective in any degree, and the first to trust the students in matters of personal conduct. J Moreover, Union has been a pioneer in the higher education of woman, in training America,s daughters for more useful and noble service. Union gave to Elmira, the oldest women,s college in the world, its founder and Hrst pres- ident, to Rutgers Female Seminary its first president, to Vassar its first pres- ident and completer of its organizationg to Smith, the largest women's college in the world, its first and only president. Union was a pioneer in still another respect, for here in 1825 Kappa Alpha, the oldest undergraduate fraternity, was founded. Two years later Sigma Phi and Delta Phi were both born at Union. Psi Upsilon and Chi Psi were also founded at Union, the former in IS33, the latter in l84l. Five other chapters are now represented at Union,'Delta Upsilon, Alpha ,Delta Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta and Phi Gamma Delta. Truly, indeed, has Union been called H The Mother of Greek letter Fraternities, for her tolerance in the governing of students has given her the honor of being the birthplace of college fraternities and of having made possible the whole fraternity system in college life. N Splendid, indeed, is Unionls alumni roll, containing such names as John I-loward Payne, author of H Home Sweet Home H with its melodies of untold sweetness, Sheldon Jackson, known as H The Apostle of Alaska N and instru- mental in founding over twelve hundred churchesg Charles Emory Smith, journalist and diplomat of world-wide reputationg William H. Seward, a star of the first magnitude in the galaxy of our great American statesmeng Chester A. Arthur, who has been characterized as the most graceful and accomplished president of our country since the days of Madisong and a host of others who, in every walk of life, have rendered noble service tormankind. Union may not be a great college, if judged by some standards which the world sets. Cthers are greater in number of students, greater in equipment, greater in financial endowment. But Union has a rich treasure indeed, in her time-honored traditions of over a century, and an even greater possession in her college spirit,-a spirit that is known and praised throughout the college world, a spirit that is equalled in but few colleges and excelled in none.