University of Alabama - Corolla Yearbook (Tuscaloosa, AL)

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' i flK By Dr. Albb Juhw THE ROUND HOUSE HE University of Alabama is almost as old as the state of Alabama. Just three days after the state was ad- mitted to the Union the Legislature passed an act providing for the incorporation of a seminary of learning to be known as the University of Alabama. The state constitution made it a duty of the Legislature to establish a State Uni- versity for the promotion of the arts, literature and sciences out of the proceeds derived from 46,080 acres of land donated to the state by the United States Government for the foundation of a seminary of learning. For ten years, while funds were being col- lected, the University existed only on paper. It was located at Tus- caloosa, and on April 2, 1831, Dr. Alva Woods and his little staff of three professors and one tutor opened its doors to the young men of the state. Fifty-two students enrolled the first day, and the enrollment for the two reached ninety-four. Under the presidency of Dr. Manly, who succeeded Woods in 1837, the University was firmly established. But in the early forties it fell upon evil days owing to the failure of the state bank. The state had unfortunately invested the funds derived from the sale of University lands in the state bank, and when this institution failed the youthful University was left in distress. With the meager means at hand Dr. Manly and his successor, Dr. Landon C. Garland, kept the University in operation down to 1860. Dr. Manly managed to surround himself with an able if small corps of instructors. Among them were Dr. Frederick A. P. Barnard, Dr. Landon C. Garland, and Professor Michael Tuomey were especially notable. Dr. Barnard was one of the foremost educators in America. The student body was small, usually numbering less than 100 and never more than 140 stu- dents. But scholastic standards were high. A splendid library was accumulated and the professional chairs were sufficiently at- tractive to draw reputable scholars from the North. sail

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I-H I Q 3 I OO F= 0 L-L- sr Summer School The Summer School was first established as a part of the University of Alabama in 1903 by a special enactment of the legislature of Alabama, and the first session was held in 1904. At the beginning the Summer School was attended by students and public school teachers who were planning to take the State examinations to secure teaching certificates. In the twenty-six years which have intervened, such progress has been made that the original purpose has been broadened. Various courses are offered now which lead to degrees in the College of Educa- tion, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Commerce, School of Chemistry, School of Engineering, and School of Law. The success and growth of the Summer School is responsible in a large measure to the unceasing efforts of Dr. John R. McLure and Mr. C. E. Williams, who have devoted their time to making this Summer School the best in the South. Dr. McLure The ' Dean of Women There is no possible higher tribute we can pay to Dean Agnes Ellen Harris than to mention the outstanding advancement made by the women students since she came to the University, for with her came the era of expansion and development for the women students on the campus. During the three years that Dean Harris has served in the capacity of Dean of Women and Head of the Home Economics Department the enrollment of the women students has climbed from four hundred seventy-six (1926-27) beyond the eight hun- dred mark. No single personality has played so great a part in bringing Mortar Board, Alpha Lambda Delta, American Association Uni- versity Women, Zeta Phi Eta, as has Dean Harris. While in outlining the progress made by the Home Economics Department, new national sororities, gym, Doster Hall, the beautiful arts building, we are only adding again to the name of Dean Harris, for each of these has known her influence. Dean Harris Treasurer of the University The office of treasurer is a very important one among the administrative offices of the University. It is a responsibility of no small proportion to receive, disburse and properly account for all the monies necessary to the maintenance of a great uni- versity. The treasurer also lets the contracts for all new build- ings and has the duty of supervising their construction. One of the reasons for the remarkable growth of the University is the thoroughly efficient and capable way in which its finances have been administered. Prof. Houser 27

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0 ■ K r ' ' f W ' - N m , • tl f rsi ' -- 1 rij m HH HPtt R M ilkr M Bi ' ' ' ' - :M ■ ' M CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL a0;« J It is a notable fact also that the second chapter in the South of Phi Beta Kappa Society, which, as Lord Balfour has recently said is the world ' s leading scholastic society, was founded at the University of Alabama in 1851. The institution made a great contribution to the enrichment of the lives of the people and made it without one penny of cost to the state. In 1864 the University was reduced to ashes by Federal troops and under the awful conditions of reconstruction it was impossible to rebuild and operate the University. Little was done to- ward rehabilitation. During the eighties a beautiful quadrangle of buildings and several laboratories were erected with funds derived from a grant of 46,080 acres of public lands by Congress as com- pensation for the destruction wrought by the Federal troops. The state had some years before loaned the University 70,000 to assist in the rebuilding of its plant. During the past twenty years the University has had a mar- velous growth. The scope of its work has been broadened so as to meet the multitudinous demands of modern society upon a state university; the teaching staff has been enlarged and the stu- dent body has increased from a few hundred persons to more than 4,000 in the regular session, 3,500 in the extension school and approximately 2,000 in the summer school. The physical plant has been greatly expanded and improved. The progress of the University has resulted largely from the fact that it has integrated itself with the life of the people of the state. At the turn of the century a new conception of the function of a university should not only give academic training, but should also help the people in the solution of the problems of a worka- day life and should train its young men and women to that end. The conviction grew that the University of Alabama must be an active agency in the upbuilding of the state and in the enrichment of the lives of the people; that is, it must be a university of the masses to which they could look for training and guidance. ■ = vS