University of Maine - Prism Yearbook (Orono, ME)

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evidence that the man of their choice was broader than his denomination, greater than any sect and a representative f the highest material interests and best good of the entire people of the State. The man selected was Rev. Charles Frederic Allen, already an eminent minister of the Methodist church. Mr. Allen was born in the old historic town of Xorridgewock, January l lfi. He came of the splendid old New England ancestry noted for its integrity, moral strength and great common sense. His father was William Allen, a native of Martha's Vineyard, who early settled in Maine—first in Industry, subsequently in Norridgewock. He was prominent in town, county and state affairs throughout his long and useful life : was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Maine; was widely known for his high business ability and integrity: published a genealogy of the Allen family, and histories of Industry and Norridgewock : was father of the Methodist church in the latter place, and died ai the advanced age of 93 years. Of his family was the eminent Dr. William Allen. President of Bowdoin College: while Rev. John Allen, widely known as Campmeeting John Allen, and during tile last years of his life chaplain of the Maine House of Representatives, was his uncle. Mr. Allen fitted for college in select schools in his own town with one term at Bloomfield Academy, and at the age of 19 entered Bowdoin College, of which I)r. William Allen was then President. At his graduation in 1.339, Mr. Allen was one of four in the first rank of scholarship in his class—and at present, Ik side himself, the only survivor of the class is Hon. John C. Tallrot of Machias. During his course at college he taught school in several towns in Maine, and after graduation was appointed instructor in Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent’s Hill, and for one year was preceptor of St. Albans Academy. In 1K43, Mr. Allen entered the ministry of the Methodist church, and lietween that date and the time of his election as President of the State College, had received appointments to eighteen different charges, including most of the larger and more important churches in the Maine Conference. It was a complete change in the whole course of his life-chosen profession—that from the work of the ministry to the presidency of a new college, the development and shaping of which, along its untried lines of education. Mr. Allen was to undertake. But it was one for which he was admirably fitted. The instruction of the class room was not new to him, but a task in which he was completely at home. Of some of the branches which came to his chair as President—English Literature and Mental and Moral Science—he was a thorough master—while of those for which no chair had been provided. like Rural Law. he very soon became master. Always a close student of human nature, he knew boys through and 18

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Charles Frederic Allen, T). D. FIRST PRESIDENT Ol- THE MAINE STATE COLLEGE. pOR three years after the opening of the Maine State College for students it was without a president. During the first two years its faculty consisted of a professor of mathematics who was “ acting presi- dent.” and a farm superintendent who was instructor in agriculture.” There were also during these two years three non-resident lecturers for portions of each term—the College year then being divided into three terms. In the third year the facultv was increased by the addition of a professor of chemistry, an instructor in botany and horticulture and an instructor in French and German. The staff of non-resident lecturers had also been increased to six. among whom were Prof. K. S. Morse on zoology: I)r. A. S. Packard. Jr., on entomology, and Mr. X. A. Willard on dairy farming—men all eminent in the lines of their specialties. Throughout these early years in the history of the College the matter of choosing a president was one which had received much attention from the trustees. It had been discussed in meetings of the board, had been left to committees of corresj ondence, and the more it was considered, apparently greater seemed the matter of choice. It was by no means an easy thing to select the man for the place. The College was new and was to he administered upon wholly new lities in the higher education. There was also much opposition to it—opposition which came from already established colleges, from public men of high influence, from legislators, and from |x-ople in nearly all sections of the State—not excepting those in the near locality of its establishment. Under such a condition of public sentiment it can at once be seen that the task of the trustees was most perplexing. As made up in 1871, the year of its choice of first president, the board of trustees consisted of two Congregationalists. one Baptist, one Friend, one Catholic, one Swedenborgian and two whose religious sentiments arc not known. That such a board should have selected a Met hot list and a clergyman is evidence of their non-sectarian control, anti also 17

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through, and knowing them so well they all loved him and he managed them in the most happy and easy way. His practical common sense, keen business ability and dignified but genial manner were strong elements in his popularity and success, and of all these qualities he had complete and harmonious control in adjusting himself to his new position and shaping the work of the College in its somewhat experimental mission. It was a most difficult work, with limited means and few assistants, to lay the foundation of a college that should afford facilities for a liberal education, especially adapted to those who were to engage in productive industry and business life. Without undervaluing the importance of classical studies for those who were to enter on a professional career, it was deemed necessary to direct the students of the State College to scientific studies and modern literature rather than to Greek and Latin—to do something more than to make successful farmers or skillful artizans—the design of the College was to make educated men. with a broad and generous culture especially fitted for those who were to engage in industrial pursuits. When President Allen came to Orono lie found the College with a total of forty students. He sent out the first class from the institution with their diplomas—that class of six which graduated in 1X72. During the eight years of his most successful administration of the College, lie sent forth to their life work in the eight classes of its graduates. 11D students, and left the institution with a total of 102 students in its four classes. Among the graduates during his term as President, who have reached high distinction as specialists in different branches of science may lx mentioned: Prof. George II. Hamlin, of the State College: Dr. W. H. Jordan. Director of the Maine Kxperiment Station; Prof. Edward H. Farrington, Chemist to the Illinois Experiment Station; Dr. Geo. P. Merrill. V. S. National Museum. Washington, I). C.; F. IS. Kidder, Architect. New York. N. Y.. and Dr. F. Lainson-Scribncr. I'. S. Botanist. Depart- ment of Agriculture. Washington, D. C The faculty of the College was increased between the years 1X71 to 1879 from four to eight professors. Among these were three of its own graduates, and of the eight associate professors during the term of President Allen, four are still members of the faculty. Dr. M. C. Fernald, who was a professor under President Allen, has retired after the long sen-ice of fourteen years as President of the College; Prof. Charles II. Fernald is now at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, and Prof. Walter Balentine. a graduate of '74. and for thirteen years the able and beloved Professor of Agricul- ture at the College, deceased in 1894. During President Allen's term ol service he was, cxojicio. a member of the State Board of Agriculture. This brought him into close and intimate relations with the people of Maine at the various farmers’ 19