University of Denver - Kynewisbok Yearbook (Denver, CO)

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At the first session of the Colorado Conference in 1803. held in Denver, the following was adopted: •‘Resolved. That we view with satisfaction the progress already made by the Trustees of the Denver Seminar}7: that we heartily approve of the officers selected for its management; and the steps already taken for the erection of its buildings: and the liberality of the people who have contributed to its financial stability. The next report, 1SG4. referred to the incorporation by the Legislature; the completed 814.000 building: the prospect of early opening; the appointment of Conference Visitors. The Executive Committee announced were John Evans. J. M. Chivington. Edwin Scudder, J. (i. Vawtcr and W. N. I.yers. The Prospectus for the Fall. Winter and Spring terms gave, in due form, the course of study, cost of tuition, and provisions of the Hoarding Department. A list of the first “Faculty —if the modest people who composed it would have l een willing to l e so titled—cannot he found. The first President was the Rev. (i. S. Phillips, transferred to this Conference in 1801. receiving his appointment at the session of the Conference of that year. The minutes of the next session rej ort his death, lie left us to mourn not only the loss of a choice associate in the ministry hut an educational leader of rare ability and culture, eminently fitted for the work then so much needed. A great address delivered by him in Central City on the Civil War. then on. showed his strong faith in the God of nations and convinced us who were, with him. entering upon the educational struggle, that his faith would have kept him. along with his associates of those days, in the spirit that has animated his latest successor, to continue without shrinking, looking beyond the shadows, and following the gleam. 11 is eyes, and those of the most of his associates, have been long closed to earthly sights: but may it not be that, from their heights, they join us in gratitude for what has been wrought in the half-century they so nobly begun? The Conference Report of I860 showed advance: an average attendance of 100: announcing the following Faculty: Rev. George Richardson, President: Miss Sara E. Morgan. Preceptress; Mrs. Mary R. Willard. Teacher of Music; Mrs. J. B. Richardson. Matron: and. later. Mis Rclle Morgan and Miss Hattie McCoy, instructors. Mr. Richardson brought to the work a well-trained mind, good administrative ability, great energy and strong faith. His associates were well-fitted for their work. His resignation on account of ill health is reported later, greatly to the regret of nil. Through storm and stress the Seminar}' struggled on. seeming at times to be empty of hope. But the early heroes and heroines were followed by worthy successors who pre sed “toward the mark for the prize. Large is the company of patrons, teachers, students, who now for in the honored ranks. The half-million endowment will soon succeed the half-century celebration: and. by the grace of the Great Teacher, rich will l c the fruit thereof. Snntrtn

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The Founding of Our Great University Tire infant of a day. however small, is great as the center of attention in the jubilant household that has been stirred by its first cry. and honored by its advent. Delighted and loving response greets the weird and welcome music of that cry. It is difficult to hark back from the voice of the basso-prof undo that comes in the stalwart manhood from that same throat! Iiut it is a pleasure to contrast the voices of babe and man; to trace the gradual change from the one to the other, through the prattle of childhood, the shouts of youth, the mature speech of adult wisdom, to the forceful and captivating language of culture and manly worth. I gladly comply with the request to write, in this series of papers, of the “infant” whose growth into the gigantic stature of our great University moves our admiring gratitude at this semi-centennial time. There was sent to Colorado in 1802 as Territorial Governor, an em-bodiment of educational enthusiasm, intellectual strength, administrative wisdom and Christian fervor in the person of Dr. John Evans. His experience in the founding of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, prepared him to look with ho|reful vision toward an educational institution even in this then but sparsely settled region. lie saw vast opportunity opening here, not only for stock ranges, fields for agriculture, mineral wealth: but for the increase of knowledge and mental training among the youth of the coming immigration, and the education of the children who should Ire born here; all unto the best occupancy of these fruitful regions. At the same time there came to Colorado a young minister who had lived under the educational influence of Evanston, that same center of learning. Ilis name shows the stock from which he came—Oliver A. Willard. lie was a man of fine culture and a minister of rare ability- He joined Governor Evans, those named in the accompanying Charter, and many other enterprising citizens, the names of whom the limits of this paper forbid me to mention, in the founding of the Colorado Seminary, the “infant from which has grown the University whose Jubilee Year we celebrate. Sixteen

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The Growth of the University in Fifty Years The Colorado Supreme Court, in the tax-suit case of the Colorado Seminary. by an unanimous decision, declared this institution to be the pioneer school of higher learning in this state. The charter of the Colorado Seminary was granted by the territorial legislature at Golden, on the 5th day of March in 1864. In the fall of that year the work of instruction was commenced under the direction of the Rev. George Richardson. That was ten years l efore any similar work was begun elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain region. In 1880, the Colorado Seminary developed into the University of Denver. The Colorado Seminar}- is now. and always will lie. the propertyholding corporation, for the reason that no other educational charter so liberal in its terms has ever been given in Colorado. The degrees are given by the corporation known as The University of Denver. The institution is therefore known as the University of Denver and Colorado Seminary. Dr. David II. Moore. now Bishop Moore, came out from Cincinnati to take charge of the institution when the reorganization was effected, under the chancellor bl'CHTEl name of the University of Denver. lie brought with him the young astronomer. Dean Herbert A. Howe, who has handled all the credits of the College of Liberal Arts from the first day until now. Bishop Moore was in service about nine years and then became the Editor of the Western Christian Advocate at Cincinnati. Dr. William F. McDowell, now Bishop McDowell, came out front Ohio to succeed Bishop Moore and was also in service for a period of altout nine vears. and then retired to become Secretary of the Board of Education of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The present Chancellor came from the pastorate of Calvary Church at East Orange. New Jersey, and entered upon his duties at the first of January in 1900. He is therefore now in the fifteenth year of service in the care of the University. At the ch»e of the Commencement exercise on the night of fourth June in 1914. the University will have con ferret I approximately 2.650 degrees in the Eitthtttp