University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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1 116 t « University of Minnesota Another question had to be answered at this point in the history of the insti- tution, viz., whether co-education should be allowed. The Faculty brought the traditions of American colleges to bear. The Regents representing the Common- wealth voted the spirit of the Constitution into the University, and since that date the question of sex has never been raised except in the debating societies. The decision, which appears to have been reached before President Folwell ' s arrival, was ably supported by him in the following inaugural words : The Uni- versity . . . exists for the benefit of society, not mei ' ely for that of individuals. Whether male or female, . . . the doors of its auditoria, its laboratories, its library stand open to all worthy comers; that is, to all persons of good fame, who prove themselves competent to hear and receive its lessons. Both before and some time after this point in its history the University had been hampered by political influences; these influences grew up because there was money to be exjiended. Everywhere that such a condition exists, the politician is on hand and the early days in the historj ' of the University of Minnesota are no ex- ception to universal experience. But the Regents stood firm in their convictions thateducation should not be hampered by political orselfish desires. The constitu- tion had already declaimed it free of sectarianism or other religious interference, and it remained with the Board further to insist upon perfect freedom from ]5olitical intrigue. In this position they were supported by the educated men of the state and those were, for a young commonwealth, many and strong. So well did the Regents succeed in maintaining their position that no influence of this kind has for years been seen. A proposition practiced by Governor Pillsbury that no man should be appointed to an oifice of responsibility and trust in the State ' s affairs who had not proved his fitness therefor by the successful management of his own personal affairs, has been felt in the Capitol since Governor Pillsbnry ' s six years ' service as chief executive. A serious difficulty conti-onting the Regents was that of starting aright in entering upon their work of founding a university. The first necessity of such an enterprise was the selection for the presidency of a man of courage, persistency, caution, bright scholarship and a large view of the future. It was essential that such a man be found to serve as pilot and guide in holding the institution to a steady policy of intellectual progress. The first duty of a president thus chosen is to mark out a reasonable and fair policy, and direct the energies of the administra- tion to its proper and legitimate enforcement. In viewing the history of educational movements it is seen that all i-eforms have begxm in the higher fields — those of knowledge and research — and thence, like rays of light, have penetrated down- wards through the great mass of human society, until the plane of theevery-day in- terests of life has become illumined. The condition recpiisite of success in an educational movement is that it be ada])ted to the conceptions and judgment of the people tf) be educated. Another is that it be pushed only at such speed that the community may keep pace miderstandingly, without chafing and im- rest. The man for such a work was found in President Folwcll, and the policy upon which he settled after months of careful study and consultation with some of the foremost educators in the country, was published in its general features as the action of the Regents in the early reports of the Board.

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growth. The work ot ' construction began; so too did those financial movements which resulted indisasterand ruin not onlyto the enterprise soanspiciouslybegnn, bnt to the fortunes and prospects ot some of the Regents themselves and many steadfast friends of the University. In the wild and unreasonable effort of distress to place blame at some resijonsible door, the Kegents were charged not only with lack of judgment but even with a criminal misappro])riation of ]iul)lic funds. An investigation was demanded and made. Its result was the full exoneration ol the Board. In all these troublous times the Regents never lost sight of the purposes ot the Ihiiversity. In the spring of 1858 a second attempt to open the institution was made. Mr. Barber, a competent instrtictor, was employed to take charge of the preparatory department. At the expiration of six months the school was discontinued because the attendance was so small that tuitions would not half meet the expenses. In 1860 the institution by legislative enactment was entirely reorganized and placed tmder a new Board of Regents — Alexander Ramsey, President; William K. Marshall, Edward D. Neill, Jared Benson, John M. Berry, Edward O. Hamilton, Uriah Thomas and William M. Kimball. But the state was not readj ' to take up educational woi ' k; the War of the Rebellion and the Sioux Indian outbreak held in abe3 ' ance all considerations beyond those of immediate necessity. A heavy debt had accumulated; the rate ot interest in those days was from 12 to 24- per cent ; with no resoui ' ces save lands which could not be sold, the situation was daily more alarming. Itwas more than seven years before Minnesota, which meanwhilchad becomea state, felt ready again to resume the work of developing higher education. In the stress of events incident to the financial crash of 1857 followed by the War of the Rebellion and the Indian outbreak, the endowment of land made to the territory had been swept avi ' ay and the a])propriation due to Minnesota under the Morrill Act of 1862 was in jeopardy. In 1864 a commission was created by the Legislature. This enactment was an act of salvation. John S. Pillsbury, John M. Nicols and Orlando C. Merriman were appointed to sell lands and pav debts until the last dollar had been met. Their work was not accomplished before 1867, in which year the situation was so promising that the Legislature appropriated money for the renovation of the long unused building. Something had been saved, and on March 9, 1867, the Legislature voted its first cash appropriation for higher education — $15,000, to repair and furnish the University building, which since the 50 ' s had stood unoccupied and crumbling. In October of that year Principal W. V. Washburn and two assistants began teaching. These assistants were Gabriel Campbell and Ira Moore. A goodlv number of students, chicflyfrom the families in the neighborhood of the Thiiversitv, enrolled themselves in the new school. The work of this preparatory department was carried on for two years with such eminent siicccss and satisfaction that it was felt by the Regents that the time had come to enlarge the field of instruction and correspondingly to increase the teaching force. Among the perplexities of the Regents in early days some of the most annoy- ing were associated with their efforts to maintain their charge as an educational institution. For instance, it was through the shrewd movenients and decisive vote of one man that the state was once spared the conversion of the institution into an asylum for the insane. — 13 — The University of Minnesota

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The Greenhouses. The Growth of the Campus. It is not necessary to describe again the gilt ol ' I ' raiiUlin Steele to tlie Uni- versity. March 3d, 1854, the Rea;ents decided to |)iirchase a lot ot land owned by Messrs. George and Taylor and thereon locate the new university. Thiit lot com- prised twenty-seven acres of the present Campus. It reached from the bank ol the river to University aveinic, but imlbrtunately extended along University ave- nue less than twelve rods. The price paid for this was $0,000. On the inaugtiration of |)lans for building in the early 70 ' s, it was seen tluit a grejiter frontage was essential. (Governor Pills- bury jjurehased by his own means the thousand feet along University avenue jjlatted as Thatcher ' s Addition, and held it until the State could appro- ]5riate funds to reimburse him. This was done in February, 1877 and the most essential part of the Campus, a beautiful frontage, was secu red fi-om Twellth avenue to Seventeenth, at an expense of $18,000. Soon, even this enlargement was found to be insufficient for the prospective needs of the immediate future. Again, the phenomenal growth of the cities. Minneajiolis and Saint Paul, warned the Regents that what was done must be R?S done quickly. An- other appropria- tion for enlarging the Campus was asked and granted March 10,1879, of $20,000. The next request for more ground was re- ceived by the legis- lature and ap- proved in voting February 24, 1S8-1-, the sum of $20,- 000 in addition to the ordinary Uni- versity budget. The final addition to the grovmds was made two -ears ago by the gift of the late Hon. Richard Chute, who had served for some years and at two different times as a Regent. The gilt consists of a narrow strip extending on the south side of University avenue from Eleventh avenue southeast eastward. It has given that finish to the westward extension of the grounds, possible only when a street frontage is secured. — 15— The Plant House. The University of Minnesota ji