Virginia Polytechnic Institute - Bugle Yearbook (Blacksburg, VA)

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Yisitors. General Loinax tendered his resignation in April, 1891. From this time until june, Professor li. Christian, of the chair of mathematics and civil engineering, was the acting president. On the seventh of May, 1891, the Board of Visitors elected as president of the College and director of the Experiment Station Ur. john M. Mcllryde, a native of South Carolina and recent president of the L'nix'crsity of that State. ln june, Dr. McBryde made an able report to the lloard setting forth his ideas as to the needs of the College, and in July he assumed full charge of his duties as president. Wlieii the session of 1891-92 opened, the outlook was anything but promising. The number of students in actual attendance was hardly more than eighty, the buildings were few in num- ber, and the equipment was meagre and inadequate. Through the nine years of the present administratio-n the College has undergone a complete transforma- tion. To Dr. McBryde,s superior executive skill and ability, to his wisdom, foresight, untiring efforts, and sincere devotion to the interests of education, is due the honor of having lifted the College from a. low plane to a position of pre-eminence among the technical schools of the South. No sooner had Dr. McBryde accepted the presidency than he began to push forward vigorously the work of increasing the efficiency and power of the Institution. Such a work demanded constant attention and unrelenting effort. The reward has come. The era of expansion has manifested itself in manifold ways. The grounds of the College have been greatly extended and cover now more than four hundred acres. The beautiful campus alone consists of sixty- three acres. New buildings have gone up in rapid succession. Those that now adorn the campus are the two large academic buildings, containing library, lecture-rooms, laboratories, etc., two commodious dormitories, with steam heat and electric light, nine professors, houses, including residence of president, shops, a spacious dining hall and commencement hall, the agricultural experi- ment station, a creamery, and cheese factory, and cannery. The handsome Young Menls Christian Association building, recently begun, is now nearing completion. It will be noted that this College is the first in the State to erect a building of this kind. , The prosperity of the Institute continues. The one hundred thousand dollars appropriated by the Legislature of Virginia in IQOO, is being most wisely used in the erection of required new buildings and in increasing the general equipment of the College. Already a large and costly barn on the farm has been completed. A machinery barn, pig barn and an abattoir are soon to be added. There are now in course of erection the president's new residence, which will adorn the beautiful College grove, and on the campus, a large science hall, a new dormitory, a central power plant, and a much needed infirmary. The shops have received recent additions. The Faculty has been largely increased and now numbers thirty or more professors and instructors, and still there is a demand for a more enlarged teach- ing force. 13 ...- , .,,,,',,' v

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It was at this meeting that the Board purchased from Colonel Robert T. S l'tude',-now occupied by Preston his beautiful home estate known as . oi Professor D. O. Nourse. According to resolution, the Board held their next meeting at the Yellow Sulphur Springs on the fourteenth of August. The purpose of this meeting was to elect a Faculty of the College. The first catalogue C1872-73a gives the following Faculty and officers: Charles L. C. Minor, A. M., president, james l 'l l 'eneral chemistry, and military H. Lane, A. M., professor of natural p ii osop iy, g tactics' Gray Carroll, M. A., professor of mathematics and modern languages: Charles Martin, M. A., professor of English language and literature, and ot ancient languages, john XV. C. Davis, B. S., C. and M. B., professor of agricul- ture and mechanics, M. G. Ellzey, M. D., professor of natural history and analytical chemistry, V. F.. Shepherd, treasurer, secretary of the faculty, and librarian 3 J. Seddon Harvie, farm manager. A The Faculty soon became divided on questions of policy and management of the Institution. The Bo-ard of Visitors then removed President Minor, elect- ing in his stead, on the tenth of December, I87Q, Dr. .lohn L. Buchanan. His term of office lasted only about six months. A new Board of Visitors niet in Blacksburg in 1880 and effected a reorganization of the Faculty. Colonel Scott Shipp, now Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, was made presi- dent. He remained as such only one day, then tendered his resignation which was duly accepted. The president's place for the session of 1880-81 was filled by Mr. john Hart, who was then the professor of English. The Board in a meeting held in June, 1881, again elected Dr. Buchanan. president. Soon Governor Cameron appointed an entirelv new lioard which met in Richmond in january, 1882. This brought about an-other reorganization which resulted in the election of a new Faculty with Captain Thomas X. Com-,nl as president. Wfhen Fitzhugh Lee was elected Governor another Board of Yisitors was appointed which effected important changes. General L. L. Lomax. an officer of distinction in the Confederacy, was elected president. In the year 1888, the Agricultural F.xperiment Station became a ilep-11-1- ment of the College. i From the above sketch it will be noted that the progress ul. the tlillt---tr for the first nineteen o-r twenty years of its existence was on the MMI, RIT indeed. The unsettled co-ndition of affairs brought about bv fret X -if N 1 ii. . . I lntnl tliani-ts in the Board and Faculty-due sometimes to u1ml't'--1 T rather to retrogression than to advancement. in 1 ua iiieastires--t-rim1-il,m,,1 . 1' . . XX ith the approach of the nineties, however, a new epot-li lm.-.m ,U KM I. Q the College. 5' ' if ll 1 The year 1891 ushered in the new era-ont. ,Mt hw hum Chnl l li l I ' - ' ' - - 1 L' U' 7 - i rapid growth and continuous development. The nniq W.m.l,iu, m I H U ' ' A ' - Q I 1 lUl'UllQl reorganization in the his - - . s' .. ' - toly Ol lhf' Qfollcml WHS Olleelenl lux' the lloaiwl of I2

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ff 1 even of four years each leading The courses of instruction o erec are S , . p ' fl to the B S degree: Agriculture, horticulture, applied chemistry, gellefd science civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering! 7 , - ' A ' and two shorter courses in practical mechanics and practical agriculture U1 which only certificates are given. Post-graduate courses leading to the M..S., C. E., M. E., and E. E. degrees are likewise offered. This being a technical College, it is but natural that the department of science should.be most .strongly emphasized, yet with the scientific branches there are happily combined the more liberal and literary courses of instruction in English, History, Pohtlcal. Economy, Latin, German, French, and Spanish. i lt is interesting indeed to note the gradual increase in student attendance since the complete reorganization in 1891. The number of students enrolled for the successive sessions is as follows: 1891-92, II6, 1892-93, 1775 189394- 2365 1864-95,325a 1395-96, 336s 1396-971 3363 1867-98, 3335 1393-99, 363s 1899-19oo, 343, 19oo-o1, 386. The reduced attendance in session 1898-99 is to be explained by the abolishment of the sub-freshman department. The present enrollment far exceeds that of any other schoo-l or college in the State, except- ing of course the University. The thoroughness and efficiency of the work done at the College. are best evidenced by the remarkable success of the gra.duate students who cognnand remunerative and responsible positions as instructors in colleges and universi- ties, mechanics, chemists, agriculturists, engineers in the United States Rcvcnnc Cutter Service, etc.,.etc. During the present session eleven out of the iiftccn attending post-graduates have received lucrative employment in New York. Pennsylvania, Wfashington, and other States. The religious interests of the student body are sedulously attcndcd to. Every effort is made to inculcate in the students principles of gcntlcinanly conduct and right living, and to advance their moral and spiritual wclfarc. 'lihc village churches, the Young Menls Christian Association Cstrongcr non' than ever beforeb, the numerous Sunday-school and Bible classcs, many of which arc conducted by members of the Faculty, all throw about the students an inllncncc of refinement and culture, and surround them with an atmosphere of nnwrzilitx and Christian activity. ' ' The complete isolation of the College, inviting quict study and stndions and exemplary habits, the careful and thorough work donc in catch dcpartincnt the success of her students, all combine to render thc Yii-Q-inigi lkilvtccliiiic Institute a college of great po-wer and inllucncc, commanding thc low, iwspcct and Dgfarm support of the State, and the admiration of thc cntirc South. lit1Yk'l'- norl - .. .. H It Y S6111 1115 116C611t message speaks thcsc words of prznsc lor thc lnstitntnwn 1 s re 1r1n -' 6 ' . . ,-. . It 1 g ant beautiful location commends it as a. lnnnc lin' students, and is amp e equipment under its ablc management is fast placinn- it in Hu. fm-Us front f X ' t 3 ' , 6 .77 ' 5 o .f mericas technical schools. 14