University of Rochester - Interpres Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

Page 5 text:

K 4,3 .xg 5 O QQ 19 qi 1 C Sy? 3 if tj AQ EDITORS Marie Ostendorf James Glenn BUSINESS MANAGERS Helen jean Baker Alan Miller N THE YEAR 1850, AN INSTITUTION WAS founded in the city of Rochester that was destined to become one of the most important contributors to American education a century later. It was fated to become a university with a total enrollment of more than eight thousand full-time and part-time students in its various schools and colleges, including a College of Arts and Science for men and women, an unexcelled School of Music, an equally distinguished School of Medicine and Dentistry, a Graduate School, and University School. The history of the University of Rochester is a pageant of people and progress. It bears the imprint of leaders in education, industry, and social serviceg it carries the names of men and women recognized for their fore- sight-Anderson, Hill, Morey, Rhees, Eastman, and many more. Today that university stands high in its field, proud of its attainments in both teaching and research. Its infancy is a thing of the past, and yet Rochester con- tinues to grow. Each day will see another advance, great or small, toward a goal which she ever sets just beyond her reach. And grow it must, for there are many present policies seriously questioned. Some believe that too much time has been spent teaching the superior student rather than the average undergraduate. There has perhaps been a lack of emphasis on those things outside the curricular assignment, and too small an amount of support, both financial on the part of the school and personal on the part of the students, is given to those organizations through which the university is repre- sented to the public. We have faith that the changes will be made, and we know that only through the critical attitude which the university holds toward itself can it continue to progress. The future will bring new problems-fewer large donations so necessary to a private university, nationwide attempts to socialize education as related fields, and many others. But we are confident that Rochester will gain in strength and that the next cen- tury will be marked by even greater advances.

Page 4 text:

w e an up-X ww ' ,- . ' E 1' gi, fi , L, f f A u., adams. mi-.ans-sw WWW -nw muunluhmdqnhiisffiff A 4 U 3 Q M W 'vmqg....., A me -www

Page 6 text:

, KX X Xe. X veg' 'Rs X TI? QB f sg H , u -1 -.' KN X X-1 kj? rf: f tk 'fc Q' j . lx X05 K 1 EE at Q g. w X c. ccciv' ' lt x XZ it 9 x c 3 I URING THE 1840'S, the city of Rochester was the center of a thriv- ing, prosperous farming community. The people of this area felt the need of a university of their own, and several attempts were made to establish such an institution in Rochester. How- ever, it was not until the close of the decade that a movement, sponsored by Baptists, for a Univer- sity of Rochester, was successful. The first con- crete result of these formative efforts was the granting of a provisional charter by the New York State Board of Regents on 31 january, 1850. As the year progressed, the University-to-be took shape: it would be a predominantly Baptist institution, although open to all, it would offer a sound, liberal, practical type of higher education, it would be a separate institution, independent of any connection with Madison QColgatej Univer- sity, as had been suggested. There was considerable discussion as to the school's location. A prophetic note was sounded when someone suggested the area next to Mount Hope Cemetery with these words: Mount Hope: . . . a resort of perhaps six to ten times as many strangers visiting the city as any other place or object. This cemetery ground would be nearly as valuable to the university, for the use of the students in rambling, as if they owned itg and the college ground adjoining it would be very appropriately situated .... This cemetery will forever be a point of increased attraction. . . However, the old United States Hotel was finally chosen as the University's home, and served in that capacity until 1861. A staff that included Asahel C. Kendrick, John F. Richardson, John H. Raymond, and Chester Dewey was secured, a curriculum was set up that offered both B.A. and B.S. degrees, Ira Harris, one of the University's founders, was appointed Chancellor until a president could be secured, and on 4 November, 1850, the University of Rochester ! opened its doors to its first stu- 5 dent body of eighty-two. U The University started with assets which were to prove invaluable in providing a strong and per- manent foundation. The staff was an exception- ally fine one, the United States Hotel was, for The faculty of the university in 1880 those days, an excellently-suited building for the young school, and the founders of the University, as well as the general population of Rochester, demonstrated an impressive affection for and pride in their new institution. This impressive beginning was soon recognized by the granting of a permanent Charter by the state Board of Regents on 14 February, 1851. By this time, the school boasted an endowment of S140,000, and had assumed a place among the more progressive institutions of the country by adopting the elective system for the last two years of study. At the first commencement, in july,