University of Utah - Utonian Yearbook (Salt Lake City, UT)

Page 17 text:

Vo II Qlijg Ulitgnian Page II a result of all these causes, in 1851 tl1e University closed. During the inter- val of suspension, however, the Chancellor and Regents were regularly elected by the Legislature. In 1867 it wa.s re-opened as a commercial schoo-l under the direction of David C. Calder. An old Deseret News of about this time informs us that 'tThe Chancellor and Regents of the University of the State of Deseret respectfully inform the public that a school will be com- menced in that commodious and convenient building known as the Council House, in this city, on the second day of December, with Professor D. C. Cal- der as principal in the Mercantile Department, and Elder George J. Taylor as principal in Geography and Grammar. This school will form a nucleus for additional teachers and branches of education, until it shall eventually, and, we trust, at no distant day, be supplied with professors and teachers in the different branches pertaining to a University in all its completeness.

Page 16 text:

Page IO Qlfbtu Uiftlliidli Vol II ing News of November 16, 1850, says: HThe Parent School commenced on Monday at Mrs. Pac-k's house, in the Seventeenth Wa.rd, under the direction. and supervision o-f Professor Orson Spencer. The Board of Regents have employed Dr. Cyrus Collins, A. M., for the present, who will instruct in all branches taught in High Schools. Dr. Collins taught. for one term, for which he received 3200.00 At the expiration of this term, the University was moved from the old Pack house to the- State House, afterward ca.lled the Council House, on the corner of Ma.in and South Temple Streets, where the Deseret News block now stands. Orson Spencer, A. M., was made presi- dent, with W. W. Phelps and Apostle- Orson Pratt as assistants. The following yea.r, poor crops checked the financial support of the school, men and women were needed in the fields, and of those few not needed scarcely any were ready to do high school or University work. As lIH ,H

Page 18 text:

4 . Page I2 The Qlitnnian V0 H The- Legislature of this year, 1867, made an appropriation sufficient to insure a. successful run of two years. The school continued as a commercial college until 1869, when Dr. John R. Park was ma.de president. Under his management, it began upon a steady, systematic growth that has continued unchecked up to the present time. In 1884, the Legislature granted to the University the power to confer degrees, and, in 1892, changed the name from the University of Deseret to UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS FROM THE REAR the University of Utah. After twenty-three years of service, Dr. Park re- signed from the presidency in 1892, and, from that time until 1894, Dr. J. T. Kingsbury was a.cting president. In 1894, Dr. Talmage was elected to the presidency, but resigned three years later. Dr, Kingsbury was chosen to suc- ceed him. April, 1894, witnessed the iirst endowment made to the University. Dur- ing tliat year, the Salt Lake Literary and Scientiiic Associa.tion endo-wed the chair of Geology to the amount of sixty thousand dollars. The second gift came when Dr. Park willed his entire estate to the University.