University of Iowa - Hawkeye Yearbook (Iowa City, IA)

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management. The Board held regular meetings, but did nothing of importance until 1854, when the Mechanics Academy was leased for a time and two professors were appointed, but since these professors declined to act, the organization was abandoned. In March, 1855, the University was again opened with better success. Three professors were selected at first, but the number was increased to five before the end of the term. Amos Dean was then selected as Chancellor and acted as such for four years. During the same year the first catalogue was issued and a course of study laid out. According to the catalogue there were to be nine departments: I. Ancient Language. II. Modern Language. III. Intellectual Philosophy. IV. Moral Philosophy. V. History. VI. Natural History. VII. Mathematics. VIII. Natural Philosophy. IX. Chemistry, Normal and Preparatory. The idea was to supply a professor for each department, but it was not fully carried out and but little work was done until 1860, owing to the extremely meager support. In 1857 the Capitol building was vacated and the University took possession, but the poor condition of the building and the lack of any means of repairing it rendered much work impossible. From April, 1858, to tember, 1860, all departments excepting the Normal were closed, and all professors excepting the Chancellor were discharged. The first class ated from the Normal Department in June, 1858. The opening of the University in 1860, under eight departments, marks a new era in its history, the first class graduating three years later. In 1864 the South Building was finally completed, and in the same year the ture made the necessary appropriation for the Chapel Building, which was completed during the following year. At the Board meeting in June, 1865, the old organization was abolished and the University divided into the Collegiate, Normal and Preparatory Departments, the former comprising the Classical and Scientific courses. The Law Department was established in 1868, and the Medical Depart- ment in 1870. During the year 1868 the Preparatory Department was abolished, but one year added to the four years required to graduate from the Collegiate Department, and changes were also made to give the student a general idea of engineering. This was, perhaps, the beginning of the engineering course, although no chair was established. In 1872 the Philosophical and ing courses were added to the two courses already in existence in the ate Department, and in the year following the Normal Department was merged into the Collegiate, leaving only the Collegiate, Law, and Medical. Three other departments have since been added—Homoeopathic Medical in 1877, Dental in 1882, and Department of Pharmacy in 1885. The original land grant has not done what it should for the support of the University, owing to forced and unfortunate sales, and not to agement. The University is not well endowed by any means, only receiving about $15,000 annually from the endowment fund and must rely upon the liberality of the State for its support. Until recent years the above tioned liberality has been nothing astonishing, and the institution has not grown as fast as desirable. It was cramped for room and funds, but matters have been improved lately. Prior to 1865 it was practically an academy. 15

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jf-ie ti9iversity. BY PROF. A. N. CURRIER. HE first Legislative Assembly of Iowa, held during the latter part of 1838, asked Congress to donate four sections of land upon which a permanent seat of government might be established and appointed Chauncy Swan, John Ronolds and Robert Ralston to select the most suitable point in Johnson county for this capitol. Congress passed a bill on March 3, 1839, donating one section instead of four, as asked. As previously arranged, the three commissioners met at Napoleon, and after thorough examination selected Section 10, Township 79, north of Range 6, West 5th P. M. The Capitol was located on a hill overlooking the Iowa river, and in a square of ten acres. The town, which was called Iowa City, was laid off from this square as a basis in regular blocks and the proceeds from the sale of the lots went toward building the Capitol. The corner stone of this building was laid July 4, 1840. At about the same time Congress made a grant of two entire townships for the use and support of a University when the Territory of Iowa should become a State. This was accomplished on December 28, 1846, and in adopting the Constitution, the people of Iowa accepted the offer of the Government. This made the existence of the University a settled fact, so the next thing to be done was to locate it, and to this end the Iowa Legislature passed a bill locating the University in Iowa City, the public buildings and grounds to be turned over to it as soon as vacated. A little later it was decided to establish branches at Fairfield Dubuque on an equal footing in respect to funds and all other with the parent institution. Thus we see that three universities 1 while there was not enough support for even one, but unfortunate arrangement was soon done away with. The University Fairfield severed its connection with the State in 1853, and owing to fact that a law was passed to the effect that no branch of the University t was to receive funds until the revenue of the parent institution should exceed $3,000 per year, the University at Dubuque was never organized. The new Constitution, adopted September 3, 1857, restricts the University to one place without branches at any other place. The direct management of the University was vested in a Board of Trustees, the Legislature ing entire control and being directly responsible for the support and proper 14

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True, there was the Collegiate Department, but only about one-sixth of the total number attended this and the standard of work required then is nothing like that required now. The attendance has been constantly increasing, however, and there are now enrolled over 900 students in the various departments. On the campus there are five principal buildings besides several smaller ones, all heated by steam from a central plant. Beside these there are buildings locate d outside the campus including a large Hospital, the Observatory and the Homoeopathic Medical Building. Through the generosity of the city, the public square, situated one block east of the University campus, was given to the state for University purposes. The last legislature made an appropriation for the fine new Chemical Building which now occupies the southwest corner of the square. At the present time the control of the University is entrusted to a Board of Regents. consisting of the Governor of the State and the Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, ex-officiis, and one member from each gressional District, who are elected by the General Assembly for a term of six years. The President of the University was formerly a member of the Board, but this plan has been recently abolished with very satisfactory results. The following is a list of the presidents and the time for which they have served: From To Amos Dean, LL.D 1855 1858 Silas Totten, D.D., LL.D 1860 1862 Oliver M. Spencer, D.D 1862 1867 Nathan R. Leonard, A.M. (acting) 1867 1868 James Black, D.D 1868 1870 George Thacher, 1).1) 1871 1877 Christian W. Slagle, A.M 1877 1878 Josiah L. Pickard, LL.D 1878 1887 Charles A. Schaeffer, A.M., Ph.D 1887 16 1