University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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TilK PROI-OSKn CKOIT The first permanent endowment of the University amounting to $loojOOO came from William Tltaw in t8;i. the pc pic of Pittsburgh contributing a like sum. During the next year tlte Legislature enlarge ! the |x wer of the University. The mayors of Pittsburgh an l Allegheny Itecame ex-officio niemliers of the Ixxard. and the presi ling officer was changed from Principal to Chancellor. The right to take and administer projierty was now enjoyed by the University. A prcjiaratorv de] artment was forme ! in iHf© and con-tinued till i88y. when it became a separate institution. Instruction in military tactics was carried on for a time under the direction of Major I C. Chalfant. Kmincnt men. such as Rohrbacher in (lemian; Langley and Phillips in Chemistry: Jillson in P.iology and C»off in Mathematics. U-came inemlwrs i the Faculty. Karh year added something in the way of growth, until in the spring of 1880 Chancellor Woods resigned from office. Rev. Henry M. Mac- 9 Crackm. I).l .. 1.I..I).. succeeded Chancellor Woods. ami continued in office till 1884. when he resisted to accept the Chancellorship of tile I'niversitv of Xew York. These three years were full of discouraging conditions. In 1882. the I'niversitv buildings were sold to Allegheny County for use as a Court I louse during the erection of the new edifice, and the work of the University was transferred to Allegheny and carried on. amid many difficulties and disadvantages. in rented quarters on North avenue. It was during this administration that Professor Daniel Carhart. the dis- The OWL 1910 mayor c.t TiiKit: sri: Ki ; at ckoim iikkakim:

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The OWL mo TIIK I'NIVKRSITY BUILDING. I«M IM2 scliool west of the Al-1 c g li c n -ics, s o m e of t li c 111 assisted in the early growth of the Washington and J efferson and the Mcadville Academics. My 1819 The Pitts-h u r g li Academy had grown in such a way as to justify the request for a new charter. This time, its curriculum was to l c — enlarged, and the name changed to The Western University of Pennsylvania. The men who petitioned and to whom the charter was granted were those whose names arc still familiar to us today. Almost all of them were identified in city or national affairs. Men who later liecamc Jurists. Congressmen. Cabinet Members, or Foreign Ministers, were mimliered among them. The first faculty was very catliolic in regard to its member —Romanist, Presbyterian. Reformed, and Associate Presbyterian worked together at a time when denominational rivalry was so keen. That these men were well chosen and were qualified to give instruction in the •“higher learning”, is best demonstrated by a glance at the character of the graduates of the first few years: Rev. Dr. Thomas C. Guthrie, ’23. of the United Presbyterian Church; Hon. W. W. Irwin, '24. Mayor of Pittsburgh. I nitial Stales Congressman, aiul Minister to Denmark: lion. Daniel Agnew. '25. Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Twice In-tween 1X4.1 ami 1849 the I Diversity sustained the complete loss of its buildings, and as a result, the regular work was discontinued till 1855. In 1854. a new building was erected at the corner of Ross and Diamond streets, and instruction was resumed in the following year. The University prospered during the following three years, especially with regard to the student ltody. The coming of Dr. George Woods in 1858 as Principal, marked the beginning of a time of material expansion. In the same year a valuable collection of geological specimens was bequeathed to the University, and money was secured to furnish a Chemical l.alx ratorv. I.atcr. endowments f »r a Chair of Natural Sciences and a Chair of strophy ic were given by a number of I’ittshurg-crs. many of whom were alumni.

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The OWL 1910 Tin: «;K rsn ukiakixu tinguished author of well-known works on Civil Kngineering. became a memlier of the Faculty, lie broadened the mathematical course and reorganized ami greatly enlarged the courses in engineering. Chancellor Milton It. Goff succeeded l)r. MacCracken in 1SX4. Three events specially marked this administration: First, new buildings were erected on Ibservatory Hill. Sec-ond. a new and advanced curriculum was adopte«l. Thiol, the apparently irreparable loss by death of William Thaw. August 17th. i88t To him. |K-rhaps more than any other individual, the University owes its present prosperity anrt standing. At the death of Chancellor Goff. Rev. Win. J. Holland. I).!).. was elected as his successor. I p until this time, while provision was made in the charter for full University work, and while it was called a University. it continued to Ik- a College only. Under the direction and wise guidance of Chancellor Holland the expansion into a University in fact rapid I) took place. lX-|»rtmciits in Klcctricilv ami Mining were added to the Knginccring School, and courses in graduate study in various branches were laid out. I-argc additions were made to the instrumental equipment of the various laboratories of the institution. In the Western Pennsylvania Medical College was amalgamated with the I'niversity as its Medical Department. In 1895.3 Department of Ix-gal Instruction was added, and the Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy was united with the I 'niversity. In iK jf the I c] artment of Dentistry was established. Now with seven departments, the I'Diversity became in fact, what it had been only in name. During Dr. Holland's administration, prosperity attended the I’niversity. Various gifts in money, apparatus, and specimens were received. Scholarships amounting to $31,000 were given, and within the next two years funds were secured to establish a Department of Mining Knginccring and to rebuild the Allegheny Jbservatorv. Two ImiUlings were given to the Medical Department: one for use as a Maternity I lospital: the other for clinical purposes. MAKt III N«. I I' TO Till: 4 OK i:a STllXK I.WIN'i;