:

D., J.

Professors: J. Tingley, A. M., W. H. Barnes, A. M., G. H. Hartupee, A. M., E. J. Cutler, M. D., W. C. Pierce, S. T. D., A. Schuyler, LL. D., Roth weiler, D.D., R. B. Pope, A. M., B. J. Hoadley, A. M., P. W. Mosblech, PH. D., M. J. Flannery, A. M., J. W. White, A. M., Ellen H. Warner, A. M., A. D. Knapp, A. M., E. Thompson, A. M., Maggie P. Safford, A. M., A. S. B. Newton, A. M., Clara E. Schuyler, A. B., C. Riemenschneider, PH. D., D. Torbet. A. M., V. Wilker, A. M.

The university possesses a very small library, the number of volumes being about 2,000, while the German Wallace College has about 5,000 in its library. Laboratory work on the part of students is as yet confined to chemistry, for which science a good experimental laboratory has been provided.

[AUTHORITIES: This sketch is mainly furnished by Prof. Wm. G. Ward, of Baldwin University. Some material has been obtained from recent catalogues of the university and of German Wallace College.]

XVII.-HIRAM COLLEGE.

(HIRAM, PORTAGE COUNTY.)

THE ECLECTIC INSTITUTE.

This institution, like so many other educational foundations, had its origin in a religious movement. Between 1820 and 1830 the body of Christians called the Disciples, sometimes simply Christians, had its rise. From the first this movement took a strong hold of the Western Reserve, where its following soon became large. As early as 1844–45, some of the Disciples of the Reserve began to feel that they needed an institution of learning under their immediate control. Nothing, however, was done to supply the want until the year 1849, but in the intervening years there had been a thorough discussion of the subject, and a substantial unanimity had been reached. At an informal meeting of representative men from several churches, held in Russell, Geauga County, June 12, 1849, the proposition to establish a school was unanimously approved, and at a convention of church delegates the propo sition was again approved, and aims and plans were discussed. Some were in favor of establishing a college, others favored a school of high, but not of collegiate, rank. After discussion, the latter view prevailed. It was decided to locate the school at Hiram, in Portage County. The legislature, by special act, March 1, 1850, granted a charter. By this charter a body corporate and politic was created under the name of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute. The corporation, while not organized for profit, was a stock company, with a capital stock of $50,000, divided into shares of $25. The trustees, who were to have full management of the institution, were to be elected, one-third annually, by the share-holders, with the following provision as to voting: "No stockholder shall have more than four votes for $100, six votes for $200, seven votes for $300, and eight votes for $400 or more." This departure from the usual rule of voting in stock companies was made by the desire of the corporators who drew up the charter, and its object was doubtless in order to prevent the voice of one man or a clique from controlling the fortunes of the college. As the methods of choosing boards of trustees for colleges are exceedingly numerous and often unfortunate in their workings, it is interesting to note that Dr. B. A. Hinsdale, for many years president of Hiram College, testifies that the stockholder plan has always worked well for the interest of the college. May 7, 1850, the board of trustees organized. The same summer, near

the crest of the watershed dividing the waters of the lake from those of the Ohio, in the middle of an 8-acre inclosure that has since become one of the most beautiful campuses in the State, a substantial and commodious building, three stories high, with a front of 84 feet and a depth of 64, was erected, at a cost of about $7,000. The leading promoters of the enterprise were nearly all members of the Disciple Church, fully one-half being ministers. Funds to purchase the ground and build the building were obtained by individual and church subscription. There were no donors to the funds in such amounts as to entitle them to particular mention. The healthfulness of the locality, the morality and liberality of the community, and the existence there of a flourishing church, appear to have been the decisive considerations in locating the school at Hiram.

The school was opened for pupils November 27, 1850. The aims of the school were both general and special; more narrowly they were these: (1) To provide a sound scientific and literary education.

(2) To temper and sweeten such education with moral and scriptural knowledge.

(3) To educate young men for the ministry.

One peculiar tenet of the religious movement in which it originated was impressed upon the Eclectic Institute at its organization. The Disciples in all their educational institutions have emphasized the Bible and relative branches of knowledge. The charter of the Eclectic Institute therefore declared the purpose of the institution to be: "The instruction of youth of both sexes in the various branches of literature and science, especially of moral science as based on the facts and precepts of the Holy Scriptures."

The board of trustees, July 17, 1850, chose Rev. A. S. Hayden, a preacher of culture, who had been connected with the preliminary movements, principal of the institute. In 1857 Mr. Hayden resigned the principalship and was succeeded by J. A. Garfield. The institution, which had been very prosperous under Mr. Hayden's administration, now reached a still higher degree of prosperity. Mr. Garfield won a wide popularity as a teacher, manager, and lecturer on general and scientific topics. His active connection with the school ceased in 1861, though his name remained on the catalogue as acting or advising principal three or four years longer. From 1861 to the organization of the college there were frequent changes of principal of the school. After the school was fairly under way, most of the teachers were chosen from among those who had studied within its walls. The tuition receipts were the only funds available to pay instructors. As might be supposed, salaries were so small as to be almost insignificant, and teaching was a labor of love. This fact goes a good way toward explaining the frequent changes.

The institution rose at once to a high degree of popularity. On the opening day, 84 students were in attendance, and soon the number rose

o 200 or 300 per term. Students came from a wide region of country and differed widely in age, ability, culture, and wants. Some received grammar school instruction; others high school instruction, while others still pushed on far into the regular college course. Classes were organized and taught in the collegiate studies as they were called for. No degrees were conferred, and no students were graduated. After they had mastered the English studies, students were allowed a wide range of choice. The principle of election had free course. A course of study was published in the catalogue after the first year or two, but it was rather a list of studies taught as they were called for than a curriculum that students pretended closely to follow. The Eclectic Institute soon won and for many years held a first place among Ohio schools of similar rank.

HIRAM COLLEGE.

ORGANIZATION.

It has already been stated that some of the founders of the institution were in favor of establishing a college in the beginning. The proposi tion to reorganize it as a college was considered from time to time, until the board decided to take that step. The board, February 20, 1867, acting under a general statute authorizing such procedure, changed the name of the Eclectic Institute, and clothed it with collegiate powers and responsibilities. As Hiram had become widely and favorably known as the seat of the institute, the name now chosen was Hiram College. It was believed that this action would add to the usefulness and influence of the school, and that a stronger financial basis could be secured thereby. Both of these expectations have been met. June 19, 1872, the board, in pursuance of the statute for such cases made and provided, increased the number of trustees to 24. The college began its work August 31, 1867.

The change in the name and rank of the institution did not essentially change its aim and spirit. It was the addition of a college to an academical and preparatory school. The announcement put forth in 1867 declared the aim of the college to be "to furnish a course of training as thorough as any in the country;""to bestow careful attention upon the classical languages," and especially "to give a fuller course than is common in those branches which are modern and national."

PRESIDENTS.

The first president of the college was Dr. Silas E. Shepard, A. M., now deceased. He resigned at the close of one year, and was succeeded by J. M. Atwater, A. M. President Atwater resigned after two years' service, and B. A. Hinsdale, A. M., was elected to the position in 1870. He had previously been a teacher in the Eclectic Institute, and had served one year in the college as professor of history, literature, and political science. Mr. Hinsdale continued to discharge the duties of

president until the close of the college year 1882, and retained his nomi nal connection with the college until June, 1883. At the beginning of the college year 1882, B. S. Dean, pastor of the church at Hiram, was elected vice-president of the college, and empowered to act as president for the year. At the annual meeting of the board in June, 1883, G. H. Laughlin, A. M., who for some years previous had been president of Oskaloosa College, Iowa, was called to the presidency of Hiram. He resigned at the close of the year 1887 and was succeeded in January, 1888, by Ely V. Zollars, A. M., who entered upon his duties in September, 1888.

The faculty at present includes the president, 6 professors, and 2 assistants. Like many Ohio colleges, Hiram has prepared most of her◄ candidates for admission to her regular classes, maintaining for that purpose a preparatory department with a 2-years' course leading to each of the 3 collegiate courses.

The collegiate courses have from time to time been modified and improved, especially since the year 1882, when several important changes were made. At a meeting of the State College Association held at▾ Denison University, Granville, Ohio, in the last week of December, 1881, a resolution was adopted requiring all colleges that wished to retain membership in the association to make their courses of study equal in point of time and amount of work done. As a consequence of this action the scientific course was made a philosophical, and studies enough added to it and the classical to bring both up to the required level. In 1885 the scientific course was reëstablished. Its requirements were made the same in point of time and amount of work as for each of the other two. In 1883 the board established the department of Biblical literature. The course of study for this department first appears in the catalogue of 1884. This ministerial course is equal to the classical in the amount of time and work required, and leads to the same degree. In 1882 the department of art, which had been a feature of the institution in an earlier day, was revived.

PROPERTY-ENDOWMENTS.

Until 1878 the original building erected in 1850 answered the demands of the college. In 1878 a building known as the Tabernacle was erected to meet the needs of the commencement period and other occasions of public gathering.

In 1879 a substantial brick building was erected, known as Ladies Hall, as a dormitory for women students. In 1881 the necessity for more commodious quarters for the various departments of instruction was felt, and urged, by the president. In 1884 active steps were begun to solicit funds for a new building, and in 1886 work was commenced, resulting in the entire remodeling and enlarging of the original building and more than doubling its capacity.

The college has three endowed chairs, that of the president (endowed

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