University of Cincinnati - Cincinnatian Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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Historical Statement THE growth of llic University of Cincinnati is closely interwoven with that of the city. As early as 1807, only four years after Ohio was admitted to the Union, an act was passed incorporating the first Cincinnati College. Lancaster Seminary in 1814, the Medical College of Ohio in 1819, the Cincinnati Law School in 1833, and the Observa- toi-y in 1842 were later efforts, all finally co-ordinated in 1858, at the death of Charles McMicken. Mr. McMicken bequeathed the greater part of his estate, valued at $1,000,000, to the city of Cincinnati, for the pur- pose of founchng two colleges for the education of white boys and girls, and under the State act of 1870, to enable cities to aid and i)romote education, the L ' uiversity of Cin- cinnati was incoi ' porated. Many such acts were passed by the (icneral Assembly of Ohio, which have develo|)ed into a Municipal University Code, and, in the Revised Statutes of Ohio 1904, a mmiicipal university is defined and provision made for its administration. Students were first received in 1873, and in 1874 the Academic Department, now the Mc- Micken College of Liberal Arts, was organized. With the growth of the community came a realization on the i)art of the citizens of Cincinnati of the necessity of pro- viding foj- the educational problem ])resented by the drift of poi)u]ation to om city. With enabling State legislation, the city began to tax herself for the support of the institu- tion, which now became an actual municipal university. In response to this call to public service the University has made consistent efforts to fulfill the obligations of its mission. Rapid progress has been made recently, and in eight years the increase in income has been 124 per cent, the instructional staff has increased 90 per cent, and the attendance 120 per cent. Training in real life for real life is the LTniversity ' s educational doctrine, and Co-operation in Service its ideal.