University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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SNAP SHOTS. '

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'Alf conf from the 'lpast school. was engaged in the summer preceding. At the appointed time-they werein their places, and without demonstration began their work. A freshman class was organized mostly from students who had come up from the preparatory department. The faculty cheerfully undertook the instruction of the preparatory classes, and a visitor might have witnessed the unique specta- cle ofa major general of the U. S-.army teaching arithmetic, an ex-college president drilling in Greek etymology. and a college executive doing his best to instruct in geometry, elocution and English grammar. Now came a steady grind of hard work for many years by the faculty on meagre salaries and uncertain tenure with the slenderest possible appliances. In the first years the total yearly income of the institution was Sl5,000. A most noteworthy step in the development of the University was the organization, in 1872, of the Geological and Natural llistory Survey of Minnesota as a part of the scientific work of the institution. This great enterprise ls still in progress and has contributed not only to the economic prosperity of the state but to general science. June 19, 1878, was a landmark in our history. On that day came the first commencement at which were graduated Messrs. NVarren C. Eustis and Henry N. Williamson. The exercises were held in the old Academy of Music, on the site of Temple Court, corner of llennepin and XVashington avenues, in the presence of a great audience. An address was made by l-'resident Welch of the Iowa State Agricultural college, and a grand dinner was served at the Nicollet House, at which the Honorable Eugene N. NVilson, DI. C., presided. Judge I. Atwater, who had been a member of the first board of regents, made an able and inspiring speech. The first regular catalogue appeared at this time, a variety of announcements having been hitherto issued. The next event of historical interest was the completion of the main part ofthe present academic building and of the former agricultural college building, whicl1 stood on the site now occupied by the physics and chemistry building. Numbers had increased and full college work was carried on: thanks to increased appropriations, the library contained a few thousand books, and the laboratory appliances were sutiicient for instruction: but the preparatory depart ment was a heavy burden which could not be dispensed with. Some trifling elimination was made, but the main body Of the preparatory instruction could not be dropped. The suflicient reason for this was the lack of preparatory schools in the state. Academies were very fcw and mostly atiiliated with denominational colleges. The city high schools, still in the period ot development, could not undertake college preparatory work in any systematic way. llow to enlist the high schools in this indispensible work was u problem which for years hung heavy on the minds of regents and faculty. At length a bill was framed by a member ofthe University to establish a lligh School Board which should be charged with the distribution of a state fund to such high schools as would undertake the preparation of students for the University and admit outside students, of both sexes, free of tuition. This bill became a law in 1878 and, with some amendment, is still in opera- tion and has brought a great reform in public education, in that it has had the effect, virtually, to give Minnesota what no other state possesses-a complete system of public instruction. In the summer of 1880 considerable changes took place in the personnel of the faculty, the vacancies. by great good fortune, being filled by able and enthusiastic teachers who did much to advance the already respectable grade of scholarship. Some of these are still in service. By this time the University had passed out of its period of infancy and entered upon the career of pros- perity, which she has since steadily pursued. The legislature of 1881 appropriated 51804100 to come in in six annual installments for new buildings. It is this fund which, increased by subsequent appropriations, has provided the extensive range of buildings now seated on the campus and sup- plled some of them with appliances rivalling those of many older colleges. In 1882 the number of graduates in the college of science, literature and the arts was thirty-three. The opening of the year 1881-5 was signalized by the accession of President Northrop to the presidency of the University. The high reputation he brought with him as a college professor has been almost eclipsed by his conspicuous success as an executive. Under his administration the history of the institution has been that of continuous advance and development. Among his early measures was the discontinuance of the sub-freshman class and a demand upon the high schools of the state to assume the whole work of preparing their students for college. In this de- mand he has not been disappointed and the result has been a cordial aliiliation of these schools with the University. In the year 1882 the new experimental farm at St. Anthony Park had been acquired, and extensive improvements were later begun. Experience having shown the impracticability of inducing many farmers' sons to pursue the long collegiate courses in agriculture and horticulture .17. if

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Qif caf from the flpasi which had been otlered since the institution was opened, the regents were'at length moved to make an experiment ofa new kind. Accordingly, in October. 1888, a school of agriculture was opened in a building erected for the purpose on the farm, adapted to the needs of actual young farmers, desir- ing to acquire science for the purpose of reducing it to practice, This school has continued to flourish and has been a means of much usefulness. The first of the professional departments to be opened was that of medicine and surgery. As early as 1883 a medical faculty had been organ- ized in the University as an examining body, whose diploma was made by statute necessary to entrance upon medical practice in the state. Later, in 1S88,the franchise of the Minnesota llospltal College of Minneapolis was acquired by the University, and its faculty mostly retained in service. Since that time instruction has been regularly given in the various colleges of the department, and large classes have been graduated. The law department was first opened at the beginning ot the same year 08887, in a modest way, in the basement room of the main building. Two years later the tasteful building now occupied was built. In a brief account. which necessarily excludes personal mention, it must still be in fairness said, that the prosperity of this department is chiefly owing to the unremitting zeal and labors of Dean Pattee, who is not only a lawyer of learning and ability, but an expert in teaching and a skillful executive. The late reorganization ofthe college of mechanic arts and the addition of new departments of electrical engineering, mining and metallurgy are steps of importance in the development of the scientific side of the University. The graduate department, with its enrollment of eighty-eight in the past year, ought to give evidence that it is not the intention of the faculty to allow the University to hold an interior rank. The degrees of master and doctor hang high it is true, but they can be reached by such as love high scholarship well enough tolundergo the labor by which alone it can be attained. It would be impossible in this place even to enumerate the various societies, whether formed for social or scholastic ends, which flourish under the sheltering auspices of Alma Mater, but mention may properly be made of one, the most comprehensive in character perhaps of all -the Students Christian Association. .lts generous charter, for it is a regular incorporation, invites all and excludes none who desire to live or to promote the Christian life. 'l'h rough the efforts of members, the aid of faculty and regents, and gifts of generous citizens the tasteful and substantial building, which forms the home of the association, was erected in 1887 at a cost of 511000. The University of Minnesota is now in the 25th year of her existence as a college. All the departments named in her charter have been opened, and are in beneficent operation. The monthly pay roll almost equals the annual income iu the early '70's. The total personnel: regents, teachers, ofiicials, employes and students of 1,876 persons would form a village of respectable size. A large body of alunmi are illustrating in their lives and labors the benefit of University training. The people of the state generally regard with pride an institution of their creation, already ln its youth, admitted to a place among the greater colleges of the land. All this is for you, my dear student friends. Take it with gratitude. Keep the fair name of Alma Mater forever free from stain, and unite your labors to give her an ever increasing usefulness. XVILLIAM XVA'I l'S FOI.ll'EL1'.. I -lil-