The Ohio University. present name, the Ohio University, and defined its object to be "the instruction of youth in all the various branches of liberal arts and sciences, the promotion of good education, virtue, religion, and morality, and the conferring of all the degrees and literary honors granted in similar institutions." Section 2 provided for the corporate existence of a Board of Trustees. Section 2 also provided "for the subdivision of college lands into tracts of not less than eighty acres nor more than one hundred and forty acres; the valuation of them by three disinterested and judicious freeholders as in their original and unimproved state, and the leasing of the same for the term of ninety years, renewable forever, on a yearly rent of six per centum of the amount of the valuation so made by the said freeholders; and the land so leased shall be subject to a revaluation at the expiration of thirty-five years, and to another revaluation at the expiration of sixty years, from the commencement of the term of each lease, which revaluation shall be conducted and made on the principles of the first, and the lessee shall pay a yearly rent of six per centum on the amount of the valuation so to be made; and forever thereafter at a yearly rent equal to and not exceeding six per centum of the amount of a valuation, to be made as aforesaid at the expiration of the term of ninety years aforesaid. Provided, always, That the corporation shall have power to demand a further yearly rent on the said lands and tenements, not exceeding the amount of tax imposed on property of like description by the State." * * The first building was erected on the northeast side of the present campus and known as the "Academy." It was of wood and has long since been torn down. The first building for collegiate purposes proper was put up in 1817. This is therefore the oldest structure of the kind in the entire Northwest, if not west of the Alleghenies. It is three stories high above the basement, and though somewhat remodeled twenty years ago, is substantially the original building and is still in use. Twenty years later two additional buildings, also of brick, were put up. In 1881, what was for a time known as the "Chapel Building" was erected and subsequently removed to its present site to make room for Ewing Hall, one of the largest of the University buildings. The Normal College Building is located about sixty-five feet from the west side of University Terrace and faces the east. Among other things held in mind in planning this building were its fitness for the work to be done in it, its sanitary and hygienic conditions, its fire-resisting quality, its safety in construction, and its architectural design showing art, culture, and refinement. The main or central portion of the building was completed at a cost of $46,913.17, the contract price-there being no extras. The Ohio University. The new Library Building, now in course of construction, will be ready for occupancy January 1, 1905. The contract price is $32,311.17. Ample means for furnishing the building, when completed, are available. Though the University was chartered in 1804 no instruction was given until 1809. In June, 1808, the Board laid out a course of instruction which embraced "the English, Latin and Greek languages, mathematics, rhetoric, logic, geography, natural and moral philosophy." One year later when the school was formally opened but three students presented themselves. This is not surprising when we consider the sparseness of population and the poverty of the newcomers on the soil of Ohio. It seemed a paradoxical scheme to establish a university before preparatory schools had been provided, yet this has been the history of education from the remotest times-the higher has always preceded the lower, though the latter did not always appear. For some years the university had but one instructor, the Rev. Jacob Lindley, a graduate of Princeton. In 1812 Artemas Sawyer, a graduate of Harvard, was added as a second teacher, and six years later a third was added. The first graduate was Thomas Ewing, who was probably the first person to receive a college diploma in all Western America. This document was dated 1815. The distinguished subsequent career of Mr. Ewing is well known. It is identified not only with the history of Ohio but with. that of the nation. Enrollment statistics for the last six years are shown in the figures given herewith: The increase in student attendance at the Summer School has been very marked. It may be seen from the following statistical statement: The Ohio University. The revenues of the university were at first very small, but they would in time have increased to a respectable sum as the two townships above named contain nearly fifty thousand acres. Unfortunately the legislature interfered to prevent the revaluation of its lands, notwithstanding the decisions of the various courts, so that the income from the rent duplicate is and will remain at less than thirty-five hundred dollars per annum. This legislative Act of 1843 dealt the University a blow from which it has never fully recovered. The loss of revenue it caused may be estimated by the following statement: According to the decennial appraisement of 1900, the value of the land was, exclusive of improvements and inclusive of roadbeds of railroads, $1,356,615.00. Six percent of this amount would give an annual income of $81,376.90. Toward the close of the seventies the legislature began to make annual appropriations for the support of the university, and in 1896 enacted the so-called "Sleeper Bill," which gives it an annual revenue of over thirty-five thousand dollars. At the regular session of the General Assembly of Ohio held in 1902 H. B. No. 369-Mr. Seese-became a law. Its provisions place upon the authorities of the Ohio University, at Athens, and the Miami University, at Oxford, the duty of organizing "at their respective institutions a normal school which shall be co-ordinate with existing courses of instruction and shall be maintained in such a state of efficiency as to provide theoretical and practical training for all students desiring to prepare themselves for the work of teaching." The act further provides for a levy upon the grand list of the taxable property of the State of one-thirtieth of one mill upon each dollar of the valuation of such taxable property. This levy produces an annual income of $65,000, which is divided between the Ohio University and the Miami University in the ratio of seven to five. Acting in conformity with statutory provisions, the board of trustees of Ohio University, on March 25, 1902, declared by resolution its purpose to establish and maintain "The Normal College of Ohio University" and to provide the necessary teaching force, buildings and equipment therefor at the earliest practicable date. With the opening of the fall term of the university, September 9, 1902, the State Normal College began its existence, with a corps of capable instructors, tentative courses of study and an encouraging student attendance. Since the date of opening not less than 1,000 persons have received some kind of instruction in the college. Surely the wisdom of the establishment of such an agency for the better training of persons for effective service in the public schools is in rapid process of vindication. The Ohio University. Though the college has been giving instruction from 1809 under the charge successively of Rev. Jacob Lindley and Rev. James Irvine, its first president, as he is usually designated, was not elected until 1824, when Robert G. Wilson, a native of North Carolina, and a graduate of Dickinson College, was chosen to fill the position. His successor was the well known Dr. William H. McGuffey. For a few years, dating from 1845, owing to financial embarrassments, the institution was closed, but in 1848 it was re-opened under the presidency of Dr. Alfred Ryors. Dating from 1852, Dr. Solomon Howard was president for twenty years, and was succeeded by Dr. W. H. Scott. From 1883 to 1901, Dr. Charles W. Super was at the head of the institution with the exception of two years, 1896-1898, when the position was held by Dr. Isaac Crook. The term of the present incumbent began July 18, 1901. R. E. Hamblin, Toledo C. C. Davidson, A. M., Alliance. Prof. A. Leue, Ph. D., Cincinnati. J. E. Benson, Cleveland E. J. Jones. Esq., Athens. J. M. Welch, Esq., Athens. J. P. Wood, Esq., Athens F. C. Whiley, Lancaster Albert Douglas, Esq., Chillicothe Hon. H. W. Coultrap. McArthur Thomas Blackstone, M. D., Circleville Israel M. Foster, Esq.. Athens T. R. Biddle, M. D.. Athens J. B. Foraker, Jr., Cincinnati Alston Ellis A. J. Frame L. M. Jewett, Esq. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. .1901 When Appointed. ..1875 .1885 .1887 1890 .1891 .1891 .1892 .1892 1893 .1895 .1896 .1896 .1897 .1897 .1898 ..1900 ..1900 .1901 ..1903 Ex-Officio Ex-Officio President Treasurer .Secretary and Auditor MIAMI UNIVERSITY. G REAT institutions grow. They are not born in a day. It is a part and a privilege of an American to feel a pride in America's historic foundations and institutions. In the document under which the great northwest territory was settled, we read: "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." This sentence is the foundation of the educational policy of the states formed out of this territory. The John Cleves Symmes purchase in southwestern Ohio, like the other grants made under this ordinance, laid permanently the foundation for higher education. Out of this land grant grew Miami University. The trust was given to the State of Ohio and accepted in 1803, and by means of legislative action buildings were erected and the school opened in 1816 as a preparatory school, and in 1824, as a college. The first class was graduated in 1826. Under the stimulus of the land grant, the spirit of the ordinance of 1787, the co-operation of the state and the rapid settlement of Miami county, the college flourished and soon became the most renowned west of the Alleghenies. The early settlers believing in the value of college education sent their sons there. These young men later became the men of affairs and took an active interest in every form of public life. During the war of the rebellion, Miami's graduates, almost to a man, were found enlisted or engaged in some form of public service. Many of these men. are still hard at work, so that it has been said that Miami has more prominent men among her alumni than any other western college. A strong American sentiment permeates the every vein of the Miami student or graduate. Miami has been pre-eminently in her history, a college of public spirit. The student catches the spirit of patriotic devotion to the public welfare as a duty, and the graduate feels that he owes something 'to his country. College spirit has always been identical with a high idea of citizenship. Associated with this patriotic ideal, is the conviction that leaders should be men of scholarship and sound character. The management has never faltered in that belief that a college faculty should be men of unquestionable character and highest ability. The college education shows itself in a patriotic citizenship, genuine manliness, sound scholarship and liberal culture. Under this ideal more than a thousand men have been graduated, and many times that number have pursued their courses in part. |