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

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Uhr 'iilvrtinn nf the Elgrvzihrnt ARRY PRATT JUDSON has earned his position as President of the Univer- sity of Chicago by faithful and constant service to the University ever since its founding and by his particularly efli- cient administration during the long illness of President Harper and during the year since the President's death. President Judson has brought the Uni- versity successfully through a trying period. Two years in this difficult position,fuliilling the duties of President of a great university under extreme disadvantages, he has shown his Worth and triumphed. During the last year of Doctor Harper's life the Presidents illness made it necessary for Doctor Judson, then Dean of the Faculties of Arts, Literature and Science, to assume intermittently the reins of administration and perform the duties of President. On the death of President Harper the work devolved entirely upon Dean Judson. His efficiency during the past year was beyond question, and accordingly, on January fifteenth, he was recommended by the Trustees' Com- mittee on Instruction and Equipment, as Acting President of the University. On the following day at a meeting of the Board of Trustees, Dean Judson was by unanimous vote elected Acting President. 15

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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

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,The problems which confronted Acting President .Judson were many and difficult. To fill the place vacated by William Rainey Harper, acknowl- edged one of the greatest educators that ever lived,was a great undertaking. As Doctor Judson was merely Acting President, he was not free to formulate his own policy, his duty was to conduct the University according to President Harper's plans, a task much more diffi- cult than carrying out one's own ideas. Added to this hindrance, the annual financial appropriation was decreased and the new executive was forced to economize in all departments. The loss of President Harper had a deadening effect on the University and placed the institution in a condition of uncertainty. Nobody knew what was to follow, the presidency and the future policy and success of the University were in doubt. The usual gifts to the University were not forthcoming, pending defi- nite action by the Board of Trustees. On every hand the administration was forced to contend with this feeling of uncertainty. It was under these circumstances that Acting President Judson had to work to prove his efficiency for the ofiice of President. As a first open recognition of his fitness for the position, Doctor Judson was elected on December first to the General Education Board to succeed President Harper. On .January second Mr. Rockefeller's gift of 953,000,000 to the University was significant of the confidence placed by the founder in Acting President Judson. On January fourteenth the Acting Presidentfs report showed that the University had been carried through a successful year. Student recognition of the successful administration was made in an enthusiastic reception to Doctor and Mrs. Judson in the Reynolds Club on February eleventh. Satisfaction with Acting President Jud- son's Work had now been expressed on all sides, by other university presidents, by the University faculty, by the University's founder and by the students. The way had been paved, and on February twentieth the Board of Trustees, by unanimous vote, made Harry Pratt Judson President of the University. Congratulations and letters and telegrams of appreciation poured in from all parts of the country expressing approval of the action of the Board. The stu- dents manifested their appreciation of the Board's choice for President by marching en masse to the President's office the next morning and giving the new executive a rousing welcome with yells and cheers. At the Senior Promenade in the gym- nasium that evening the new President was given another student ovation. As President and Mrs. Judson appeared on the balcony the dancers forgot the formal- ities of the occasion and indulged in a lusty cheering fest to show the President 16