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Page 33 text:
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Cbe lUest Uirginia Univmity. V I?f HE West Virginia University owes its existence to the Unit- ed States Government, the West Virginia Legislature and the citizens of Morgantown. Ill 1862 the United States Governujent passed an act grant- ing to the States and Territories, lands which should pro- vide schools for the promotion of Agricultural and Mech- anical Arts. The lands alloted to West Vii ' ginia were sold and the proceeds amounted to $90,000. The Legislature appreciating this gift and fully realizing the necessity of such an institution in our own Mountain State, increased the endowment to nearly !|110,000 with annual appropria- tions for current and contingent expenses. The citizens of Morgantown contributed in land, buildings and money nearly $50,000. The Governor was given the power to appoint a Board of Visitors who should establish and control the new institution. This Board held its first meeting at Morgantown on the third of April, 1867, and elected Rev. Alex- ander Martin, D. D. as president. In the following September Dr. Martin entered upon his duties with a school of 124 students and a faculty of five members. After an honest struggle of eight years he saw the number increased to 166 with a faculty of thirteen members. At first the school was held in the Monongalia Acad- emy, but on account of the increasing demands, ste as were taken towards the erection of a new building. The Academy was sold to the Board of Education of Morgantown, and soon after the corner-stone of what is now known as the Preparatory Building was laid. This building when completed cost $57,000 and contains the rooms of the Preparatory professors, the library, the two society halls, and the Y. M. C. A. hall. At at meeting in 1H71-72 the legislature appropriated $2,500 for the construction of an Armory for the use of the cadets. At a cost of about $4,000 it was completed and used as an Armory until 1888, when it was enlarged by aiipropriations from the United States Government, and is now 27
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Page 34 text:
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liiDwn by the name of the Agricultural Exi)ei ' iment Statijn. It is one of the prettiest buildings and one of the most valuable adjuncts of the University. Owing to the enlargement of various departments of instruction, an additional building soon became necessary, and on the isth of June, l ' ' 74, the corner-stone of University Hall was laid. The cost of this building without the north and south wings was about !S41,ri(.iO. After Dr. Martin ' s resignation, John Rhey ThomiDson, A. M., was chosen president of the University, and at the time of his election was the youngest college president in America. He had been in the University but a very short time before his abilities were recognized and he won and main- tained a high rank and influential position among the students. Under his administration the schools of law and medicine were established. The de- partment of medicine existed as a j rofessional school until 1«hs, when it was made one of the academic schools of the University, and is now known as the School of Biology. The Law School has continued as a professional school to the present, and is one of the most creditable departments of the institution. William L. Wilson, LU. D., was elected president in June. 1hh 2, and assumed coiitr(.)l the following September. Ashe was elected to Congress in October, he resigned his presidency of the University, but remained until the next June, l. s;5. Although his administration was a short one, the University is proud of having had such a distinguished person as one of its presidents. During the next two years the burden of the administration was cari-ied by Vice-President Dr. P. B. Reynolds. The Univer.sity under his direction continued to grow both in attendance and ability, and in IsKj E. M. Turner, LL. D. , was chosen president. His administration throughout was a suc- cessful one, and he tilled his ofUce most efticieutly until ls93. An appropriation of sii.dOO was granted by the legislature in 1HHS-R9 for the construction of an Armory and Commencement Hall. This building was finally completed in 1 9:2, but the original plan for the Armory was changed, and the basement floor intended for that })urpose was tttted for a gymnasium. The cost of it when completed was s2(),0()0. At a meeting of the Board of Regents in June, 1hk9, co-education was established and young ladies were granted the privilege of joining the col- legiate classes. The privilege was extended to the Preparatory Department in 1898, consequently, the young ladies can take the same preparatory course as the young men. At present (March lo, 1h99) the number of ladies having attended the University this year is ITH. In 1891-92 the Legislature made an appropriation of $5, 0(H) for a Mechan- ical Building, and sl. i,(toO to begin the construction of a Science Hall. An addition costing s7, )00 was added to Mechanical Hall in l«9-l-95. This- 28
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