University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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MR. WIU.1AM TIIAW UR. J A BRASH FAR The 1911 Owl Point which was yesterday invisible is to-I day its starting point and to-morrow will be A its goal. This statement was made in regard to the philosophy of I-ord Bacon: apply it to the educational facilities of the University of Pittsburgh and one is enlightened with the versification of a conclusive principle. Front a small, inadequate building, situated on the corner of Third street and Cherry alley, the progress of the embryo institution was marked by prodigious leaps ami bounds until to-day it stands as the conceptive monument of the educational advantages of the city of Pittsburgh. What indefatigable efforts those made to promulgate the establishment of the germ! Bair, Finley. Powers. Steele. Swift. Stockton, men whose active energy and predominant wills overcame the apparently insurmountable objects barring their path. Bewildered by litigation, confused by pecuniary difficulties, they sustained the last remnants until under the able leadership of Mr. Hopkins, of Princeton, a reaction was effected. Under this energetic man the institution assumed a new lease of life and attained an unexpected and gratifying efficiency. Closely seconding his efforts came Rev. Stockton, who placed the Academy in a higher state of efficiency than Mr. Hopkins. He was a man of great Thirltn

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The 1911 Owl learning and strength of mind, not Puritanic in tendencies. but eminently practical and conservative in educational ability and morals. In 1818 the institution became the Western University of Pennsylvania. Under such men as Black, Bruce. Swift and Maguire the scope of learning enlarged and embraced a more extensive field. As men of stable character. of firm, enduring purpose, they are to be commended for their earnest and painstaking endeavors in building the University up from such a basis. The narrow tendencies of our forefathers held no sway with them, and their successful efforts are the result of dear experience. Prior to the change the school had flourished as the Pittsburgh Academy. Later some inconsistent litigation concerning the location of the buildings involved a change of situation. With the decision of the Supreme Court an appropriation of $2400 per year for five years was granted, conditional upon the surrender to the State of the original grant. This was done, and with the $12.000 received from the State, the first University building. located at the corner of Third ami Cherry, was erected. letter it was consumed in the great fire” of 1845. The presidency of the institution was held by I)r. Bruce from 1822 to 1835. when he was succeeded by Rev. Gilbert Morgan, who resigned after one year, and was succeeded by I)r. Bruce, who resumed charge and remained until 1842. when lie was succeeded by the Rev. Herman Dyer. These rapid and radical changes gave the institution a necessary experience. The best men were retained, and through their earnest work a foundation of solidity and progressive education was effected. A succession of disheartening misfortunes so discouraged these hardy educational pioneers that the faculty was disbanded. Through the efforts of John Harper. a man of indefatigable courage and will power, a new building was erected at the corner of Ross and Diamond streets. In 1855 Dr. J. !•'. Macl.arcn was elected, only to resign three years later, after an indifferent administration. He was succeeded by Dr. George Woods, who was the first to be accorded the title of Chancellor. For twenty-one years he remained at the head of the institution. Shortly after his arrival in Pittsburgh he became persuaded that the effort to secure an endowment would not be fruitless, and in his enthusiastic way he set about accomplishing his task. With the aid of a promise made by Mr. William Thaw, the sum of $20,000 was secured. It is to this man chiefly that the pioneer efforts of the University were successfully handled. Imbued with the idea that a great University was needed, he gave freely toward the accomplishment of its establishment. In 1880 Dr. H. M. McCracken was elected Chancellor. It was during his officiation that the engineering course was established, with Prof. Daniel Carhart at its head. Milton B. Goff became head of the institution at the resignation of Dr. McCracken. After six years of very efficient service, mainly in the establishment of an effective system, he died as the result of an accident, and his place was taken by Dr. W. J. Holland, under whom the University prospered to a marked degree. Dr. Holland is not only locally known, but his scientific reputation is world-wide, lie being a member of the Queen’s Society and several other impor- F+artrm