University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Yackety Yack Yearbook (Chapel Hill, NC)

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The first president of the University was Joseph Caldwell, of New Jersey, elected in 1804, on motion of Judge William Gaston. Prior to that date the chief executive officer was called ' Presiding Professor. The first was David Kerr, D. D. He was succeeded by Charles W. Harris, of Caborrus, and he by James S. Gillespie. In 181 2 Dr. Caldwell gave place for four years to Robert H. Chapman, D. D., and then Dr. Caldwell held the position until his death in 1835. Then David Lowry Swain, late governor, was chosen president and held the office until 1868. From 1868 to 1875 Solomon Pool, D. D., was president, but exer- cises were suspended in 1870. The doors were opened again in 1875 with Charles Phillips, D. D., LL. D., as chairman of the Faculty. In June, 1876, Kemp P. Battle, LL- D. , was elected president, and resigned in 1891, in order to take charge of the Chair of History, George T.Winston, LL. D., the present incumbent, being elected to succeed him. The largest number of students before the civil war was 461, of whom 178 were from other .states than North Carolina. The number this year, 1895-6, in- cluding students attending the summer school of 1895, is 534- Summer Normal Schools were held from 1877 to 1885, under the conduct of the Universit}-. They were largely attended and contributed much to the inaugu- ration of graded and other schools in the state. In 1894 was begun the University Summer School, for the benefit of teachers, under the charge of the Profes- .sor of Pedagogics. The Law School was inaugurated in 1845, but was not subjected to the government of the University till some time later on. The Medical School was inaugurated in 1878, but was discontinued in 1885, then revived and placed on its present firm footing in 1890. 3

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RRIIzr HISTORY Univepsitn or Nopth Carolina. The University of North Carolina is founded on the Constitution of 1776. Owing to the vicissitudes of war and the impoverishment of the country, the charter was not granted until 1789. The meeting of the trus- tees for organization was on December iS, 1789, or the anniversary of the adopting of the constitution. Chas. Johnson, of Edentou, was chairman. General Benjamin Smith made a donation of twenty thousand acres of land in Obion County, Tennessee. Some years afterward sold for $14,000. General Wm. Lenoir was the first formally elected president of the Board of Trustees, the next being Governor Alexander Martin. The University was located at Chapel Hill in 1792 by Frederick Hargett, senator from Jones ; Alexander Mebane, of Orange, a congressman ; James Hogg, a merchant, of Fayetteville; Wm. H. Hill, of Wilming- ton, a congressman ; David Stone, of Bertie, afterward governor and Federal senator; and Willie Jones, a commoner, from Halifax. It is said that they agreed on the site while eating their dinner under the Davie Poplar. The citizens around Chapel Hill donated about thirteen hundred acres of land, which probably influenced the commissioners more than the cold din- ner under the poplar. The Old East was the first building. The corner- stone was laid on October 12, 1793, University Day, by Gen. W. K. Davie, Samuel E. McCorkle, D. D., of Rowan, preaching the dedicatory sermon. By the time it was finished, the President ' s house, now Pro- fessor Gore ' s, was ready for occupancy. Person Hall (the Chemical Building), The South, Old West and Gerrard Hall, the last finished in 1837, followed in the order named. In 1852 Smith Hall (the Library), in 1859 the New East and New West, in 1885 Memorial Hall and the Gymnasium, in 1894 the Infirmary, were erected. Besides these others there was once a Steward ' s Hall in the middle of Cameron Avenue, east of the Library, torn down about 1846.

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fALENDAR. 1895. September 2 to 7, Monday to Saturday, inclusive . . Examinations for the removal of conditions. September 4, 5, 6, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday . . Examinations for admission into the College. September 5, 6, Thursday, Friday Registration. September 7, Saturday Assignment of rooms. September 9, Monday Lectures begin. October 12, Saturday University Day. October 12, Saturday President ' s reception. November 28, Thursday Thanksgiving Day. Recess from December 21, 1895, to January 2, 1896, inclusive. 1896. January 2, 3, Thursday, Friday Examinations for admission into the College January 3, 4, Friday, Saturday Registration. January 4, Saturday Assignment of rooms. January 6, Monday Lectures begin. February 22, Saturday Washington ' s Birthday. May I , Friday Senior orations. May 31, Sunday Baccalaureate sermon. June 2, Tuesday Meeting of the Board of Trustees. June 2, Tuesday Anniversary of the Alumni. June 2, Tuesday Orations by representatives from the Dialectic and Philanthropic Literary Societies. June 2, Tuesday Senior class day. June 3, Wednesday Commencement. 14