University of Cincinnati - Cincinnatian Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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1 ' i I' 'ai' I '1 '- -U . f- nl iplmn G 0 1-4: , ' 1 ei 5 eip 3 wi Q Facts Hbout Us Q - - ' ! 'I nit IIW- X? A-if -A. 'f HL f l - inIl.1IL. , it , ,n,, .eX'ifE ee-sn HE University of Cincinnati is in the Q in a will probated April Io, 1858, bequeathed a midst of a period of prosperity and ac- sum of money for the establishing of a Univer- V , Kiii tivity that has not been hitherto equaled sity. His. purpose-and desires, as expressed in in hei- history, The development, which A' this will, are as follows: 1 ln - had been sIoW and gradual, has, fer the Having long cherished the desire to found 5 I Past few years, been aeeelerated by new an institution where white boys and girls 'might endowments and new buildings, and be taught not only a knowledge of their dgzties - rnere is every reason to believe that this to their Creator and their fellow-men, but also interest on the part of our citizens will continue. receive the benent of a Sound, thorough, and In-ae, It may be Well at this rnne to look back to the tical English education, and such as might fit beginning of our nrsrorl' and see Wnenee We have them for the active duties of life, as well as in- sbrnngi Wnar Were rne ideals and aims of our struction in the higher branches of knowledge, progenitors, and how and in what measure these exoent denominational theology, to the extent have been aeeonlbnened- that the same are now or may hereafter L- taught The ,nan Who first appreciated the ngcgssity in any of the secular colleges or universities of of providing facilities for a higher education the highest grade in the country, I feel grateful within the city was Charles MeMieken, In his to God that, through His kind providence, I have day the youth of Cincitlnati Who Could hot go been sufficiently favored to gratify the wish of away to college were denied the advantages of n'1Y neert-U college training. Realizing that this was a mis- A Board of Directors was established by an fortune, not only to a comparatively small num- ordinance in 1859 to administer the estate, which ber of individuals who would be directly produced the money provided by Charles Mc- benefited by a college, but also a misfortune to Micken. Nothing more was done until 1870, the community as a whole, Charles McMicken, 9 when an act was passed by the General Assembly 28 - J

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of Ohio, which directed that the existing Board of Directors turn over the estate to a board elected by tl1e Common Council, six of the Di- rectors being appointed from persins nominated by the Board of Education, and twelve from persons nominated by the Superior Court. ln 1892 the power to appoint the Directors was vested in the Superior Court, but in IQO2 a new municipal code was adopted, providing for their appointment by tl1e Mayor of the city. The act of 1870 was for tl1e purpose of en- abling 'fcities of the Hrst class to aid and promote education 3 so, hnding the income from the Me- Micken estate insufficient to build a college, in 1873 the Directors arranged to have instruction given by the teachers of Vxfoodward High School, and the next year three professors and two in- structors were appointed, who held classes at Woodward in the afternoons. Tn the meantime, the General Assembly au- thorized an issue of bonds 'Ito provide for tl1e buildings and apparatus necessary for such a uni- versityf! and tl1e building now occupied by the Medical Department was erected on the Mc- Micken property. The site is a steep hillside, and although a good one for a single building, it does not admit of additions. Thus, when, after Fifteen or sixteen years, it became evident that more room was needed, a new site l1ad to be obtained. To meet this requirement about forty-five acres at the south end of Burnet VVoods Park was appropriated by the city. Here the principal building, lXflclVlicken Hall, was located, on a high ridge, commanding a splendid view of the sur- rounding country. As regards the city as a whole, the situation is as central as possible without being in the city proper, and tl1ere is room enough to allow for all necessary expansion. This ex- pansion began immediately. The 11ew McMicken Hall is much larger than the old one, but, never- theless. during the lirst year that it was occupied by the Academic Department-1895-Henry Hanna gave to the University 369,009 to build the north wing, and Ht a11d furnish it for the Departments of Chemistry and Civil Engineering. Three years after Hanna Hall was built, Briggs S. Cunningham added the south wing. Cunning- ham Hall is used for the Physics and Biology Departments. lt was also in 1898 that Asa Van VV'ormer gave the Van VVormer Library Building, and since its erection several large private libraries have been given to the University. Still other new buildings will undoubtedly be added in the near future, as the citizens of Cincinnati be- come more and more alive to the value of the University and to its needs. For many years there was no President of the University, tl1e government being entirely in the hands of the Dean of the Faculty, but, in 1899. the office of President was created, and Dr. How- ard Ayers appointed to nll it. He has been emi- nently successful in his administration, and has done much to give the University its present high standing. He will be succeeded, July 1, 1904. by Dr. Charles XV. Dabney, now President of the University of Tennessee, and one of the foremost educators of the country. VVe feel surre that by him the work so well begun will be continued and perfected, so far as anything that must grow con- tinuously may be perfected.