University of Missouri - Savitar Yearbook (Columbia, MO)

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DERBY HAT Anus DASH-GUIDING PRECEPT EOE TODAYlS ENGINEERS. Hudson died in 1859 and left a University restored to at least the level of Lathr9p's day, but the factional fight for control was still bitter. With stormy competition from private schools, at- tempts were made to reorganize the University. Controversies over this struggle have become interwoven in a confusing man- ner. Back of this movement were animosity and personal ambition, but there was also a sincere effort for the betterment of the in- stitution. A new Board of Curators, elected in 1860, was the strongest and most representative thus far in the history of the University. They evolved a new faculty plan, and placed Benjamin G. Minor in the presidency. The curriculum was broadened, but all the rapid changes in organization 'made what little progress there was vague. Through the early months of 1861 classes went on despite the imminent war. Sixty students enrolled for the fall term, and the University continued to operate, but not for long. Enrollment dropped to 36, classrooms became barracks, the University closed after 21 years. The ground was too hard for Mo to make even a dent with his shovel. Although the University did reopen partially in 1862, there fole lowed five years of desperate struggle for survival. Lathrop be- came president again. He was faced with a debt and 300 soldiers monopolizing the grounds. 16

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.Y nm, 2 T, X ' Q , u gd 515 1 ' A A AND THEY GOT READY, AIIXIED, AND FIRED-VVITH SOIVIE DIFFICULTY. X ' ' .J 1 X K YS f K ,4. -,M X . A x 4 P ff ? ' D f D x 'J 1, I tl Vf Q - - QV 'f V A ff A 3 J ': , D fl - I LIBRARY CATALOGING UNDER EARLY OPEN LIGHT K X px,-0' K,

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i l l l Damage was done to all of the rooms and equipmentg 467 volumes disappeared from the librarv. Total damage was heavy, not including the Worst illjllry of partially closing the University. But due to the courage of Lathrop, the Board actually made plans to return to normalcy. This was not an easy task. Mo Pioneerls early efforts had been torn down, but not completely. Mo got his building permit renewed through Lathrop, rolled up his sleeves, and started again. There was a new founding. This assured the successful development of the college when the Assembly approved for the state a College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts provided for by the Morrill Act of 1862, establishing land-grant colleges. Daniel Read, sixth President, wanted the benefits of this act for the University. Read came to Columbia and started to soften the ground for Mo to build again. He went to the Board and demanded that the Legislature give financial aid for a land-grant school. The appeal received notice and an appropriation of 310,000 was made. This is the dividing point -the beginning of real progress-and Mo started to dig. The dirt wasn't flying too fast, however. The shovel kept getting stuck in the ground. f L L ' ,Lg ' W2-:ff Qsk A 'L -, .f'Ql. sa- i ' 'fi wfifw M i I' 1,50 lf .- Eb ut rt. 5 r ', 7 T vi' 'f X A 1 ' ,ap I ' sb x i I . N pw ' Ixs T i f 1 J A, i f I X X . XX W 2' .-11 DIGGING LEADS TO A DEDICATION-BIOLDING OF A IXLODERN UNIXVERSITY.