University of Richmond - Web Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

Page 11 text:

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Page 10 text:

DEDI ATI BECAUSE we refpect, aa'rnire, ana' love thenz for their anfweroing loyalty ana' sincere dedica- tion of their lizfef to the U nizferfityg BECAUSE of the infpiration ana' zeal they have inytillea' in n5,' BECAUSE they 1'6ll'71'6567ll the trite spirit of tolerance, growth, ana' intelligenceg BECAUSE they are living exarnlDle5 of the Jpirit of the U nioerfity, we, the Jtaj of the 1940 Web feeling that we expreys the elefirex of the Jtaajent hotly, feel honorea' in a'ea'ieating thif oolanre to: DR. WILLIAM ASBURY HARRIS DR. ROBERT EDWIN GAINES DR. FREDERIC WILLIAM BOATWRIGHT DR. SAMUEL CHILES MITCHELL

Page 12 text:

Robert Ryland , rrederic W. Boafwrfi S40 1840 WAS A GREAT YEAR in the history of the Univer- sity of Richmond, for it was at that time that the Vir- ginia General Assembly chartered Richmond College to replace the Virginia Baptist Seminary. Thus it was that the institution cast aside the clothing of the infant Seminary and emerged into the full estate of manhood. The Seminary, located at what is now the corner of Lombardy and Grace Streets, however, continued to function while the plans for the opening of the College were being made. Finally, in january, 1845, grounds and buildings, valued at 3520,000.00g a library of seven hundred volumes, seven teachers, and sixty-eight stu- dents of which twenty-one were ministerial beneficiaries were transferred to the control of the Trustees of Rich- mond College. At this time only freshman and sophomore courses were in the curriculum, but in 1845 a junior year was added and in 1848 the senior year. In 1849 the first de- grees were conferred. At that time the degree of Bache- lor of Arts was conferred upon Poindexter Smith Hen- son, the eloquent and inimitable gift of Virginia to the leading pulpits of Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, and Boston, and on Josiah Ryland, teacher, soldier, merchant and for years senior member of the Board of Trustees. From 1850 to 1860 the College grew steadily, not only in size but also in the quality of its teaching and in public esteem. The average enrollment of students Eigfu' ght 1940 was approximately 121, the total graduates for this period sixty-eight. The endowment grew to seventy-five thousand dollars and thus made possible the erection of the north wing of the main building. Thus it was that the buildings, grounds, endowment, faculty, and scien- tific equipment, while seeming puny in the present day, compared very favorably with the other Virginia col- leges of that period. No sketch of the history of the University of Rich- mond would be complete without mention of Dr. Robert Ryland. It was he who in 1832 as the only teacher in the Seminary and as its president in the formative years that followed, formulated the policies and ideals that are still a part of the University. His great strength of character, high ideals, resoluteness of purpose and absolute un- selfishness cause his rugged figure to stand out as a great educator and teacher. His influence abides. The Civil War struck the College with devastating effect. Many of her most promising alumni and students were lost on the battlefields. Study was completely sus- pended, and when the tide of battle had surged past, all that was left of the school were a few defaced buildings, stripped of their contents. The library, endowments, and scientific equipment had all been swept ruthlessly away. To those who had nurtured the College this must have seemed to be the end of all their dreams, hopes, and ideals. However, the spirit of the College was too strong to