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

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The beginning of a real Ilniversity took form on the Iowa campus during the able administration of the Reverend James Black. Coming to the chair in l868, IoWa's fifth President Was experienced in the field of higher education, having served as vice-president of Washington and Jefferson college in Pennsylvania. In his two years here, the departments of law and medicine Were inaugurated. Blany young men were now attending school, and in l869 the total attendance was 434. President Black Was an excellent speaker and popular with the stu- dents, but his health Was poor and he resigned at the end of the l869-70 term. ng-Erodelphian hall, located in Old South Hall 5 The Mechanics' Academy in its dormitory days is? VAN Soiirn IIALI, was from l865 to l90l the home of IoWa's six main literary so- cieties: Zetagathian, Cice- ronean, lirodelphian, Hes- perian, Philomathian, and Irving Institute. 'llhese so- cieties, especially the Zeta- gathians, were influential leaders in early campus affairs. Page 15

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The early campus in win- ter, showing Old South Hall, left, Old Capitol, and Old North Hall, right Page l4 4525523 -e 'MS Y 4 Nunn ' ' -b-fr T -' , - - -1-5' 1 ,.' 2-2-r'.- ig: A4 s 1-. 3 r ff w Q 1 t ' -sggff' ',Ql.1: -E., , ,A 4 'lv , f F F if x ' ,,Q,f,3s,,.f .gl L. , mm ' aff To - 'j.-v.39s , Sl- f L- gigs-1 fu.. M' . ., 4 aa?-Pqgjzpzfr g I ff gh-sl A a- it , ' .,.,gjf,'- fi . it A '95 al. Q V fsfaii-2 5 Q . 2 E1iS:'f ' jg figs' ,far- - use t ?xQsXX ee X -. Q: A of -K A F NX x -12: -e -v , Az -f , fag' A se--'?NS'Q::--'.i xv- ' OW F omffh reyidem' Prof. Nathan R. Leonard of the chair of mathematics served as Vice-President during Spencer's leave, and became acting President in 1867. During his short administration, special activities were instituted in be- half of the students. The Universityls building com- mittee Was given authority to buy certain buildings that could be removed to lots owned by the University and rented to students who desired to board themselves. The Mechanics' Academy came into state possession as a student dormitory. Leonard stepped down from the presidency in IS68 when a successor to Spencer was found, but he was appointed acting President again in l87O when Black resigned, and served as head of SFI for another year. 3 E. ' t it Q-

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18711111877 The University of Iowa's sixth President, George Thacher, came to his high position directly from the pulpit With little administrative experience, but his term brought advances in the instructional program, especially in expansion of the college curriculum. The normal department was abandoned, and a chair of didactics was set up for teachers' training, starting the first permanent teacher education on a college level in this country. The whole academic period was extended to six years, two to be sub-freshman. Three majors, classical, philosophical and scientific, were outlined. In H373 the chair of linglish language and literature and a course in civil engineering were established. During the school year of N373-7-l, l6l women were enrolled, the figure dropping in l87Jf-75 to l22. George Thacher left thc presidency in june, l877, after making marked advances in SlfI's growth. 'Pride of the Campus', a giant tree standing east of Old South Hall Page 15 as-c f,.. wx, V fgvw 22535. ' ef - ' hevivfgsss, .-cf gQasftm1'fweazm'izyeiw