University of Wisconsin Madison - Badger Yearbook (Madison, WI)

Page 27 text:

HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY. 17 M IST0RY ©F THE UNIVERSITY. The very wise and liberal effort of the United States government to promote by land grants higher education in the states did not at lirst meet with the success that might justly have been expected from it. The people were accustomed to rely on private and religious effort for this class of instruction, and they responded but slowly to the new method and the new incentives. The motley population of the northwestern states, and the very rapid growth of these states, have made this public aid exceedingly necessary, Without it, higher education would have been very partial and limited. The last twenty years have very much altered the popular appreciation of state universities. These institutions have come forward rapidly in this period, and are now entering vigorously on a very important work. In no portion of the country is this assertion more true than in the northwestern states. Among these universities that of Wisconsin stands foremost. The University of Michigan, won the lead by the early adoption of the state, by large professional schools, and by securing the patronage from abroad that naturally falls to the university that first achieves marked excellence. Conceding these advantages to the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin is not inferior to it or to any of the universities of the (2)

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THE TROCHOS. 16 A. L. SANBORN, LL., B., Professor of Pleadings and Practice. JOHN M. OLIN, LL., B., Professor of Federal Jurisprudence Frauds and Voluntary Assignments. CLARK GAPEN, M. D. Professor of Medical Jurisprudence. INSTRUCTORS AND-ASSISTANTS. VICKERS T. ATKINSON, V. S., State Veterinarian, Lecturer on Veterinary Science. SUSAN ADELAIDE STERLING, B. L. German. LUCY MARIA GAY, B. L., French. GRACE CLARK, B. L. French. CHARLES ISAAC KING, Superintendent of the Department of Mechanic Arts. JULIUS EMIL OLSON, B. L., Scandinavian Languages and German. HOMER WINTHROP HILLYER, Pu. D., Chemistry. LEANDER MILLER HOSKINS, B. C. E., M. S., Civil Engineering. FRED JACKSON TURNER, A. B., Rhetoric and Oratory. FREDERICK LEROY SARGENT, Botany. EDWARD KREMERS Pn. G., Pharmacy. CHARLES SUMNER SLICHTER, B. S., Mathematics. WILBUR Sr TUPPER, A. B., B. L., .....Elocution'. MILTON UPDEGRAFF, B. C. E., B, S,, A»Bi8tant Astronoroer? ■

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18 THE TROCHOS. west in the character of its work, or in its command of the educational interests of the state to which it belongs. The University of Wisconsin has had two very distinct periods in its history; one of adversity and one of prosperity. The first period extends from its organization in 1849, to reor ganization in 1866; the second extends from 1866 to the present time. The first portion of its history was one of many embarrassments and of feeble attainments. It had graduated in its college course in—'66 but fifty-eight students, not so many as now compose a single class. Though its numbers at times were very considerable, the collegiate work was overwhelmed by preparatory work,' normal work, and various forms of subsidiary instruction. It can hardly be said that in this period a university life had emerged in distinct and visible form. The corps of instructors was weak in numbers, burdened with work, and exposed to arbitrary changes. The lands and finances of the institution were badly managed, and but little over half a million was secured from resources that should have yielded several millions. Much hostility was manifested toward the university by various educational interests in the state, and rival institutions at one time came quite near capturing the university and dividing its spoils among themselves. The largest class in this period of its history was that of —'6i, made up at graduation of nine members. Even the small number of collegiate students previously secured was much reduced during the war, and not till— 68, did so many as nine again appear on commencement day. The university was reorganized in —'66, and in —'67, placed under the direction of Dr. Chadbourne. From that