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

Page 19 text:

Viniversit Ebe rear Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-seven was an important year in the history of S. U. I. It was a year of steady progress, standing the fact that it witnessed the most serious disaster that ever befell a western university. The incidents which have contributed to make the year ant have not been such as to give rise to a newspaper notoriety, but ours has been a peaceful progress toward a higher standard, a greater influence, and a larger usefulness. The destruction of our general library by fire in the month of June was looked upon by many as a sure check upon our growth; but the event has proved, that not only is there no decrease in the attendance at the University as a whole, but that the Collegiate Department, which, it was supposed, would be most seriously affected, increased in numbers in about the usual ratio. A large proportion of those who have entered this year have come from other colleges. A most significant feature of our growth has been the increase. in the number of graduate students—graduates both of our own University and of other institutions. The large number seeking graduate work here has compelled the faculty to prepare tional courses for advanced degrees, including that of Doctor of Philosophy. Two new chairs have been created in the Collegiate Faculty—that of Government and Administration and that of Morphology. In the coming March the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery will be conferred for the last time upon students taking a course of three six-month years, the course having been lengthened to three nine-month years. Similarly the present Senior class in Medicine is the last of the three-year classes, the course now requiring four years ' work. These requirements materially raise the standard of the University in these two departments. In athletics the year was just fairly successful, but in debate we administered a severe defeat to both our adversaries—the versity of Chicago and the University of Minnesota. 17

Page 18 text:

ij it lVtotable 1Dates in the lbistorp of $. 1847, FEBRUARY 25, University Created 1860, SEPTEMBER, University Reorganized 1868, SEPTEMBER 17, Law Department Opened 1870, SEPTEMBER 18, Medical Department Opened 1871. SEPTEMBER, Attendance First Reaches 500 1877, OCTOBER 24, Homoeopathic Medical Department Opened 1879, JuNE 23, Academy or Sub-Freshman Class Discontinued 1880, SEPTEMBER, Attendance Again Reaches 500 1882, OCTOBER 11, Dental Department Opened 1885, OCTOBER 8, Pharmacy Department Opened 1887, SEPTEMBER, Dr. Schaeffer Assumes the Presidency 1895, MAY 25, John V. Cram Wins in the Mott Haven Games 1897, JUNE 16, Library Destroyed by Fire 16

Page 20 text:

University Ube 13ttnitng of the librarp Etten In. no It was four o ' clock, June 19, 1897. For three clays the heat been excessive. An oppressive atmosphere pervaded Toward ing it began rain and good of Iowa from sheer haustion, asleep. A faint glimmer of the coming was in the sky and the night shadows were receding when many were rudely awakened by a vivid flash of lightning anci a terrific crash of thunder. A few minutes later the odor of hot but less pine drifted over the northeastern portion of the city, giving due notice that the lightning had somewhere done its deadly work. Anxious householders searched their premises for traces of fire, the odor of pine still increasing. At last, when several minutes had elapsed, there rang out the alarm of fire. Following this came the dreadful announcement, The library is on fire. Hundreds of people rushed to the rescue, but there was no rescue. The lightning had struck the southwest corner of the building and in an incredibly short time the fire had spread under the whole roof. The building being large and tall, with low attic and self-supporting roof, the fire was difficult to reach. The pres. sure at the hydrants was low and the fire companies were weary with 18