University of Oregon - Oregana Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

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John W. Johnson he irst coadministration When John W. Johnson came to the Univer- sity of Oregon as its first president, in 1876, there was but one building on the campus. Some forty students were registered on October 16, when the University first opened its doors. There were three members of the faculty. John W. Johnson was born in Westport, Mis- souri, now a part of Kansas City. When he was fourteen years old his parents moved to Oregon, and the boy drove an ox team across the plains. Eight years later he journeyed down the coast of California and Mexico, crossed the isthmus of Panama, and then took a ship to New York on the way to New Haven, where he entered Yale. On his return to Oregon in 1862, he became principal of a little Baptist College at McMinnville. Later he served as superintendent of schools in Portland, and organized the first high school in the Northwest while there. He was principal of this high school when he was invited to become He was president of the University for seventeen head of the University of Oregon years. He demanded of his classes work and thoroughness and was satisfied with nothing else. It was said that his aptness at learning the untoward doings of students was un- canny ; and yet without exception he was fair in his methods of learning, and the dis- cipline imposed, though sometimes severe, was always just. Said Judge Lawrence T. Harris, ' 93, in his address on John W. Johnson, the Founder, Howsoever much the future growth of this University may be, and whether it be great or small, the stability of that growth is assured; for John W. Johnson laid a founda- tion broad enough and deep enough to sustain any superstructure. 11 f ' :. FLiciilty about 1880 . S .. Vii -:rr :; ' ■ ' ■ 20 1

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Dr. F. L. Paxson Dr. Joseph Schafer Dr. Henry Suzzallo Symposium cS ddresses Today the lure of the border has still its charm for the multitudes, though forty years or more American society has been without direct contact with what used to be its chief environment, said Dr. F. L. Paxson, professor of history in the University of Wisconsin, in his address on the Trail of Our Border. He spoke chiefly of the by-pro- ducts of the frontier and illustrated the broad trail that the border has left on modern life and thought. The ruts of the border are our realities, he declared, and the road has worn a deep channel into our life. He who would appraise the meaning of our national life must continue his studies of our behaviour and its origins. The century of the act- ual frontier is still so near us that the impression made by his experiences is still dom- inant in shaping the aspect of our ideals and policy. Dr. Joseph Schafer, superintendent of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and form- erly head of the University of Oregon history department, spoke on the Fruition period in the University ' s History. He based his discussion on the constructive administra- tions of the past presidents of the University. Recent Tendencies in Adult Education was the topic of Dr. Henry Suzzallo, for- mer president of the University of Washington, and an expert on adult education. The next great call upon our organizing ability as a democratic people is for the development of a system of varied facilities for the education of adults during the leisure hours left after economic service is rendered, he stated. Dr. E. T. Williams, professor of Oriental languages and literature at the University of California, addressed the symposium on art and aesthetics, taking as his topic Char- acteristics of Oriental Art, and discussing the symbolism, foreign influences, sculp- ture, wood carving and painting of the Orient. The Role of Art in Civilization and Education was the subject of an address by Dr. George Rebec, dean of the graduate school and head of the department of philosophy of the University. Dr. Willem von Hoogstraten, director of the Portland symphony orchestra, spoke on Music, an Expression of Life. fimrr . ' JTT , ' v W 19

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Early ays At Oregon Dr. Charles H. Chapman was the first man to build upon the foundations laid by John W. John- son. He was born in Portage City, Wisconsin, and received his university training at Johns Hopkins. He was a member of the faculty of the state normal school at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when he was called to the presidency of the University of Oregon. Dr. Chapman was president of the University from 1893 to 1899. During his administration a change in the type of courses offered at the Uni- versity was evident. He lectured on constitutional law, economics and international law. In his first year the gymnasium, erected under the Johnson regime, was made ready for use, and systematic drills and instruction in hygiene were given. An- other departure was a course of public lectures given to the student body by prominent men of Oregon. Citizens of Eugene paid for these lectures. Chapman ' s influence on the methodology of the institution was decisive, said Dr. Joseph Schafer, in his address on the Fruition Period in the University ' s History. He championed the scientific method and laboratory work was increased. He also stimulated the adoption of the lecture method wherever practicable and per- formed valuable service towards getting the University into organic relations with the school system of the state. He endeavored to get the various localities to add grades above the eighth, hoping that full fledged high schools would be added in time. In Wisconsin he had served as an institute conductor attached to the Milwaukee Normal faculty, for some time. When he came to Oregon he began a vigorous educational campaign and participated in the management of institutes. Charles H. Chapman Gymnasium and Campus ahout 1S93 21