University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

Page 26 text:

ores of the Pacific Coast, up to September, ' 94, were placed there by the hands of the first curator, hi ' 94 Prof. O. P. Philhps was choijen curator and brought many of his own specimens, consisting of marine vertebrates and invertebrates, corals from the Bahamas and from the Atlantic coast, fossils, minerals, and botan- ical specimens. Besides these, the Bovvers collections in ethnology, architology, and conchology add not a little to the attractiveness and value of the museum. Our library also dates back to 1880. A number ot volumes were donated by Rev. Alfred Higbie and a few other friends. Prof. Dickinson was also our first librarian, and solicited subscriptions from the business men of the city amounting to two hundred and fifty dollars to open a reading room in connection with the library. Prof. Elmer T. Merril assisted him largely in organizing the library on the plan promulgated by the American Library Association. Many volumes have been added from time to time, among them the Bowers library; but the most lib- eral gift is that of A. M. Peck of Compton, who has given a ten thousand-dollar endowment which yields four hundred dollars annually to be used for books only. Our library, under the care of Mrs. M. G. Parsons, contains 4000 volumes, besides files of many periodicals. It was in 1887 that our Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A., two important factors of student life, were organized. They do much to aid in the spiritual and social life of our school. Among the interesting features of our history is the account of our literary societies. In the beginning [1880] was created a co-educational society called the Union, it lived unto the second year and begat the Platonian [1881.] The Pla- tonian begat the Aristotelian and the Athena [1882]. The Aristotelian has sur- vived its offspring, the Irving [ ' 88-91] and the Philophronean [ ' 93-96-] Besides this line of societies, the Athanasian was organized in ' 95. We have also some Greek letter fraternities. Last, but not least, we would remember our ever-increasing Alumni association, which now numbers over sev- enty, comprising men of every rank in life. Let us turn from the past one moment to the future. From the struggles be- hind we see triumphs ahead, with those grand old soldiers of the past now as conquerors crowned with laurel ! Amidst the great throng of students passing through our halls we see many faces filled with noble purpose paying homage to our Alma Mater. Long li ' e U. S. C.!