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

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lqarrg 1511111 Zluhann A ARRY PRATT J UDSCN, the president of the University, to whom this volume of the CAP AND GOWN is dedicated, was born in Jamestown, New York, December 20, 1849. His father, Rev. Lyman Parsons Judson, was a Baptist l iii, minister, the son of Silas Judson of Connecticut, a cousin of ' W gh Adoniram Judson, the famous Baptist foreign missionary. n His mother, Abigail Cook Pratt, was the daughter of Harry Pratt of Hartford, Connecticut, who became one of the early settlers of Rochester, New York, as his ancestor, John Pratt, had been of Hartford. In the female lines the maternal ancestry leads back to Susan Cleveland of Norwich, Connecticut, who was the aunt of Grover Cleveland, Bishop Arthur Cleveland Coxe, William E. Dodge, and Edmund Clarence Stedman, and was a cousin of Gen. Moses Cleveland, the founder of Cleveland, Ohio. With such an ancestry of American pioneers, and himself born on forefathers' day, Mr. Judson could not possibly have escaped being the characteristically strong American he is. ' He was prepared for college at Lansingburg Academy, Lansingburg, New York, and then entered Williams College, from which he graduated in 1870, deliv- ering the Philosophical oration, one of the commencement honors. His high scholarship was further attested by his election to Phi Beta Kappa and by the win- ning of first prize honors in Greek and German. In 1893 his Alma Mater con- ferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. He is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After graduation he taught in the Troy, New York, high school for fifteen years, during which time he served for six years in the famous military company called the f'Troy Citizens' Corps, of which he wrote a history. He also served as commandant of cadets in the high school, these two experiences making him always interested in military affairs. During his Troy residence he was married, January 14, 1879, to Rebecca A. Gilbert, the niece and foster daughter of Hon. William Kemp, the mayor of the city. Their daughter is the wife of Gordon J. Laing, of the department of Latin in this University. In 1885 Mr. Judson resigned the principalship of the high school to accept a professorship in history in the University of Minnesota, where he served until 1892, also lecturing on pedagogy during six of the years. The institution was in a stage of rapid development and Mr. Judson became at once a leader in every field. He was in the innermost counsels of the president. His progressive policies were welcomed in the faculty meetings, where he was intrusted with impor- tant committeeships, notably those which gave attention to shaping the unfolding courses of study. His experience in secondary school work made him a power Tr' ' I

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with the representatives of that part of the educational interests of the state, so that he was able to do much in the direction of the growth of what has been called the best state public school system crowned by a state university in the Union. In connection with state inspection of public schools and through courses of Uni- versity Extension lectures, in the giving of which in America he was one of the pioneers, he won a host of friends in Minnesota, who were greatly disappointed when the new University of Chicago made him a flattering offer to cast his lot with it and he decided to accept. In 1891 he was elected professor of history and dean of the faculties of arts, literature and science in this University, beginning his work in June, 1892, when he found on the ground President Harper, Dr. T. W. Goodspeed and Professor Frank F. Abbott. During that summer the president and professors Judson and Abbott held the first faculty meeting of the new institution, which was to open its doors on October 1st. Since that day Mr. Judson has been a conspicuous leader in every feature of University life. As an administrator he worked in close harmony with President Harper, cooperating earnestly with him in determining the countless details of government whichare inwrought into the structure of the University. As a member of both University Senate and University Council he has seen the development of the University to its present strength and has con- tributed more to its administrative history than any other living man. It was a just recognition of his unquestioned leadership inthe faculties that he was chosen by the trustees of the University to take up the burden of administration where President Harper laid it down. As a teacher Mr. Judson has been preeminently successful. In the second- ary work in Troy and in university service at Minneapolis and Chicago he has been a popular, helpful and conscientious instructor, winning the friendship and esteem of his pupils and stimulating them by sympathetic interest in endeavors to find themselves and then make their powers felt. With no affectation of pro- found scholarship, he has made himself an acknowledged authority in his special field and at the same time has erected no barrier between teacher and student to prevent that warmth of personal contact which wins and holds the heart as the years pass by. This has been the secret of his success. As more and more hon- orable positions have come to him and his varied talents and accomplishments have developed, he has kept the simplicity of heart and manner which have charac- terized him always. Like his master, Mark Hopkins, Mr. Judson has been the royal friend of his pupils, a wise and willing counselor, praising in times of success, encouraging in times of failure, and always winning through a personality radiating unselfishness. FRANCIS WAYLAND SHEPARDSON. l4