University of Chicago - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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ILLIAM RAINEY HARPER was born in the little Ohio towm of New Concord, Muskingum County, July 26, 1856, the son t of Samuel and Ellen Elizabeth tnee RaineyJ Harper. He was a precocious student and after hurrying through the grade and high schools of his native town entered Muskingum College. He was graduated at the age of 14 and celebrated his commencement day by an oration in Hebrew. In these early student days he was remarked for three well developed Characteristics: A love of philology, a passion for details and a passion for music. His musical bent was strong, and a tradition exists that for a time he wavered in his choice of a prefession between music and teaching. During the next three years he clerked in his fathers store, studied ian- guages with a tutor and conducted the village band. Finally the desire for scholarship overmastered his artistic yearning and he departed; for graduate study in Yale University. Heispent two years at Yaie, and took the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the institution at the age of 19, his speciaity having been philology and the Semitic languages. In the same year he mar- ried Miss Ellen Paul of New Concord, Ohio. The year fahowing this doubly decisive step in lifeegraduation and marriage-he spent as principal of the Masonic College at Macon, Tenn. After one coliege year in the South he accepted a position as tutor in Dennison University. Three years of earnest werk in this capacity brought him promotion to the principalship of the prepar- atory department of that institution. in 1880, at the close of his fourth year With Dennison, he accepted an offer of a professorship of Hebrew and Semitic languages in the Baptist Union Theological Seminary at Morgan Park. In 1886? When just 30 years old, Dr. Harper received a flattering offer from his alma mater, Yale University, and went there to occupy the chair of Semitic languages and Biblical literature. After five years Of continued success as a teacher he in 1891 was chosen president of the new University of Chicagoy to be founded the following year. Two years before, When a group of prominent Baptists of Chicago and the middte West had begun the movement to establish a new Baptist institus tion to replace the 01d University of Chicago, Dr. Harper? recognized as a reseureefui man by those with whom he was associated in the theological seminary at Morgan Park, was called into consultation. He immrdiately became the prime mover and fertile leader of the project, and the first board of trustees accordingly elected him president of the new university, President Harpefs many original contributions to the science of educa- tion, technically exemplified by his correspondence system of study, his inductive method of teaching ancient languages and his famous quarterly system of instruction, added to the fame he gained as an educator by raising the requirements and ideals for university work as a whole.

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E112 Emit; nf the meathmt t HE UNIVERSITY OF' CHICAGO sustained the greatest loss in its history in the death of President Harper on Wednesday, January 10th, at 2220 RM. Although the bulletins of the attending physicians had 6 announced that Doctor Harper could not survive the week, the end was unexpectedly sudden to most of the University public, and came as a . great shock. In February, 1904, the President was stricken with a sudden illness, which his physicians diagnosed as appendicitis. An operation was decided on as the only hope, and to this Dr. Harper submitted on March 1. He surprised his friends by making a speedy convalescence, and for several months seemed to have regained his former health. However, he was gradually being overcome by the progress of his malady. The next February Dr. Harperts sturdy will, which had kept him silent during his sufferings, bent under protracted pain, and he was forced to give himself up to medical care. Five of Chicagois foremost physicians were called in consultation. The nature of the ailment baffled them. and they declared he was the victim of some mysterious intestinal disease which they were unable to diagnose. A distinguished surgeon, Dr. Charles McBurney of New York, was called to Chicago and a second operation performed at the Presbyterian Hospital, February 22. 1905, revealed the fact that President Harper was in the power of an intestinal cancer, so far advanced on its destructive work that attempts to remove it would be useless, and probably fatal. In his fight he was aided by X-rays and the Hartificial florescenceii treatment, a new discovery of Dr. William J. Morton of New York. The combined treatments seemed about to work a medical miracle. Less than a month after the operation had been performed Dr. Harper having reached a safe stage in his convalescence went to Lakewood, N. J., where he spent almost a month resting and enjoying the company of the many friends who journeyed to the eastern resort to see him. When he returned, April 1 1, he declared himself almost fully recovered. On August 8 Dr. Harper left his home, accompanied by Mrs. Harper, for a two weeks Visitwith Mr. Rockefeller at his Forest Hill home, Cleveland. He declared his condition improved after his return to the university, but his friends noted a pallor and languor in his actions which were significant of his growing weakness and the gradual march of his disease. President Harperis last public appearance was one of tragic signifcance. He underv took to peesideiat the fifty-sixth university convocation. held in Mandel Hall, Sept. 1, 1905. His appearance was a shock to the audience, for in spite of the reports that he was progressing favorably, he seemed seriously ill. He began his quarterly report as if still in the flush of health, but broke down'and almost collapsed at the close. He con- cluded with a few simple remarks that were in reality the farewell of a man who already stood among the shadows. This was his last public message: 7