University of Kentucky - Kentuckian Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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University of Kentucky HE Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky, founded in 1865, which slowly developed into the University of Kentucky of today, owed its origin to an act of Con- gress of June 2, 1862, known as the “Morrill Land Grant Act,” under which act public lands were donated to the several states and territories which might provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and mechanical arts. Kentucky’s allotment of such lands was 300,000 acres. When the Commonwealth, however, established the Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1865 under this act, it did not make it an independent institution, but a department or college of what was then known as “Kentucky University” (now Tran- sylvania). . The Commonwealth had, in 1863-64, taken over “Bacon College,” located at Harrodsburg, and changed its name to “Kentucky University,” and in 1864-65 this new institution was transferred to Lexington and consolidated with old Transylvania University, the oldest institution west of the Alleghany Mountains. When this union of the two universities was effected, old Transylvania gave up her name and the name “Kentucky University” was given to the university, resulting from the consolidation. . It was at the time of the consolidation of “Bacon College” with “Transylvania University, under the name of “Kentucky University,” that the Agricultural and Mechanical College was established and also made a college of “Kentucky University.” This connection with Kentucky University, however, was severed in 1878, and the Agricultural and Mechanical College, more often called State College, was located in what is now Woodland Park until 1881-82, when the location was finally changed to campus on South Limestone street. The development of the University of Kentucky is shown to some degree by the changes in its official titles, which were as follows: Kentucky University, Agricultural and Mechanical De- partments, 1866-78; Agricultural and Mechanical College (State College), 1878-1908; State Uni- versity, Lexington, Ky., 1908-1916; University of Kentucky, 1916—. The presidents who have served the university are: John Augustus Williams, 1866-67; Joseph Desha Pickett, 1867-68; James Kennedy Patterson, 1868-1909; James G. White, acting president, 1909-10; Henry S. Barker, 1910-16; Paul P. Boyd, 1916-17; Frank LeRond McVey, 1917— The first graduate of the university was William Benjamin Munson, B.S., in 1869. Mr. Munson resides in Denison, Texas, and is president of the Denison Cotton Mill Company. The first degree granted to a woman was B.S. to Miss Bell C. Gunn (Mrs. Charles Kay) in 1888. John Wesley Gunn was the first graduate in civil engineering, in 1890, and Professor J. Richard Johnson was the first graduate in mechanical engineering, in 1893. The first buildings on the present campus were the Administration building, the Old Dormitory and President Patterson’s home, built in 1881-82. Other buildings have been erected from time to time as need required and funds permitted until there are now thirty-one university buildings. The latest are the men’s new dormitory, built in 1921-22; the Stadium and the men’s new gymnasium, erected by the students and Alumni Association in 1923-24. Some of the changes that may interest old students and alumni -who visit the university from time to time arc: In the administration building, the conversion of the old chapel into a library and study hall to relieve the congested condition of the Carnegie Library (the university convocations are'now held in the men’s new gymnasium) ; the giving over of the first floor to the administrative offices and basement to the university postoffice, book store and cafeteria. The old dormitory, now known as “White Hall,” and the second dormitory, now “Neville Hall,” have each been converted into offices, recitation rooms and libraries. The expansion in the engineer- ing shops and the conversion of the old quarters into a recreation and lecture hall called “Dicker Hall.” Since the completion of the men’s new gymnasium the former gymnasium has been re- constructed and is no y the alumni hall and girls’ gymnasium. Other interesting changes, too numerous to mention in the limit set for this article, must be omitted. The university has at present ten general administrative officers; 156 officers of instruction, and 89 on the staff of the Experiment Station and Agricultural Extension, with a total enrollment of 3,567 students in 1923-24.