botanic garden, and all was promise when the college met with this first great loss. On the 7th of August, prior to the opening of the college, Prof. Clark was elected president, Henry H. Goodell professor of modern languages, and Ebenezer S. Snell of mathematics. On the 2d of October following, the college was opened to students, of whom forty-seven were admitted before the close of the term. The college was at last fairly launched, and the prayers of the trustees, who since their incorporation had held thirty-five meetings on as many days, were about to be answered. President Clark was peculiarly fitted after these great discouragements, by his energy, enthusiasm and hopefulness, to encourage his fellow laborers, and to excite enthusiasm in others. He was the man of all others to start a college, if not to run one. I shall not dwell upon his character or his work, inasmuch as at the last dinner of the alumni a year ago a full and eloquent eulogy was presented by President Goodell, which is still fresh in the minds of those who heard or read it; as also the tribute to his memory in the last report of the college. During his administration in 1867 the Washington Irving Literary Society was founded. Mr. Wilder gave 1300 specimens of choice plants to the plant house. In 1868 the Legislature authorized the governor to issue arms and equipments to the college, and Congress had passed the act annexed.* In 1868 the Legislature allowed $50,000 for the further erection of buildings. In 1868 President Clark also procured a meeting of the New England Agricultural Society for a trial of plows on the farm, and a country meeting of the State Board of Agriculture; the north dormitory, north boarding house, botanic museum and Durfee plant house were completed. The same year Charles A. Goessmann, the modest, industrious, learned and faithful professor of chemistry was *OFFICERS DETAILED FOR COLLEGES. SEC. 1225. The President may, upon the application of any established college or uni versity within the United States, having capacity to educate, at the same time, not less than one hundred and fifty male students, detail an officer of the Army to act as president, superintendent, or professor thereof; but the number of officers so detailed shall not exceed thirty at any time, and they shall be apportioned throughout the United States, as nearly as may be practicable, according to population. Officers so detailed shall be gov erned by general rules prescribed from time to time by the President. The Secretary of War is authorized to issue at his discretion and under proper regulations to be prescribed by him, out of any small arms or pieces of field artillery belonging to the Government and which can be spared for that purpose, such number of the same as may appear to be required for military instruction and practice by the students of any college or university under the provisions of this section; and the Secretary shall require a bond in each case, in double the value of the property, for the care and safe keeping thereof, aud for the return of the same when required. appointed, and Samuel F. Miller was elected professor of mathematics, physics, and civil engineering. He died much lamented, Oct. 28, 1870. In 1869, $50,000 was appropriated by the state for the further erection of buildings. Henry E. Alvord, U. S. Army, now professor of agriculture, was detailed for duty as professor of military science and tactics; the college hall, farm house and barns were built; Hon. William Knowlton, of Upton, afterwards in 1870 elected trustee, and who was otherwise a frequent donor to the college, and who died last year, gave $2000 for the purchase of the herbarium collected by W. W. Denslow; and in the same year the first Index, a college paper, was issued. In 1870 the state further appropriated $25,000 for the payment of debts. In 1870 also the first serious attack upon the integrity of the college, as a state college, was made by the passage of a resolve "That the Secretary of the Board of Education, and the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture be directed to devise a plan, if practicable, by which the college may, without expense to the Commonwealth, be recognized as an independent institution in analogy with other colleges in the Commonwealth, and that they inquire whether the term of study in said college should not be reduced, and report to the next General Court." Rev. Henry W. Parker was chosen professor of mental, moral and social science, and college preacher. In 1871 a legislative resolve allowed $50,000 for payment of debts and current expenses; added $141.535.35 to the perpetual fund of the college; and ordered 10,000 extra copies of the college report to be printed. The first class numbering 27 was graduated this year on the 19th of July, and two days after, the Agricultural College crew, the Aggies" won in the intercollegiate regatta in 16 min. 46 1-2 Selim H. Peabody was elected professor of mathematics, physics, and civil engineering. Henry J. Clark was elected professor of comparative anatomy and veterinary science, and died July 1, 1873. Miss Mary Robinson presented $1000 for the endowment of a scholarship. In 1872 Prof. Stockbridge was elected full professor of agriculture. Abner H. Merrill. U. S. A., was detailed professor of military science and tactics in place of Prof. Alvord. In 1873 Noah Cressy was elected professor of veterinary science. Isaac D. Farnsworth donated rhetorical prizes. Hon. William Claflin gave an agricultural prize fund, known as the Grinnell agricultural prizes. The Hills botanical prizes, and Prof. Peabody's entomological prize, were given. In 1874 the legislature granted $10,000. Prof. Peabody resigned. Samuel T. Maynard was elected gardener and assistant sec. 66 professor of horticulture, and William B. Graves professor of mathematics, physics, and civil engineering. In 1874 also, three years after the first class was graduated, the "Associate Alumni of the Massachusetts Agriculturai College" were organized, an early and striking proof of the interest maintained in the coll ge by its graduates, which from your numbers here to-day you bid fair to retain. In 1875, the college entered into an agreement to represent the agricultural department of Boston University. Charles A. L. Totten was detailed as professor of military science and tactics, and Prof. Charles S. Sargent made a gift of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. In April, 1876, Dr. Nathan Durfee, treasurer, died and the state appropriated $5000 for current expenses. Prof. Cressy resigned. A military prize and diploma were first given by Prof. Totten. In 1877, the state appropriated $5000, one-half for payment of manual labor by students from within the state. Hon. William Knowlton built a new green-house. On the 20th of May, 1876, President Clark left the country to organize an agricultural college in Japan, leaving Prof. Stockbridge in charge; but returned the next year, and resumed his duties to which he devoted himself until May 1, 1879, when he resigned. In 1879, the legislature granted $32,000 to pay the indebtedness of the college, and provided that the expenses of the institution shall be kept within the income to which it is legally entitled, and the board of trustees shall be personally liable for any debt contracted for any purpose in excess of the annual income of the college, or for the payment of which money has not been previously provided." The state perpetual fund of the college was $350,000. The trustees offered in 1880, one hundred and fifty free scholarships, and Whiting Street, Esq. made a bequest of $1000 to the general funds of the college. Prof. Levi Stockbridge gave $1000 for experimental purposes. Chas. A. Morris, U. S. A. was detailed as professor of military science and tactics. Charles L. Flint, who had been since the organization of the Board of Agriculture in 1852, secretary of that board, and since the organization of the college, clerk of the corporation, as well as ex-officio trustee, to whom the college has ever been largely indebted for advice and services, and who has shown his interest in the college by a subscription of $1000 towards a library fund, consented to temporarily fill the breach occasioned by the resignation of President Clark, and held office till March, 1880. During his term of office, Prof. Parker resigned, and Prof. Maynard was elected full professor of botany and horticulture. Prof. Stockbridge was elected president in April. In January, 1882, President Chadbourne's health had so far improved, that Mr. Stockbridge resigned, and President Chadbourne at once resumed the office. During President Stockbridge's term, Prof. Graves resigned in Aug., 1881; Charles L. Harrington was appointed professor of mathematics, physics, and civil engineering, and Victor H. Bridgman was detailed as military professor. In 1882, under the presidency of Mr. Chadbourne, $9000 was appropriated for a drill hall and repairs. An act was passed May 12th establishing the Massachusetts State Agricultural Experiment Station. Prof. Harrington resigned, and Austin B. Bassett was elected professor in his place. In January, 1883, the Durfee plant house was destroyed by fire, and on the 23d of February the college met with the final loss of President Chadbourne by death. Prof. Goodell acted as president until September, when James C. Greenough, elected in July, assumed the duties of the office. Mr. Greenough had not consented to become a candidate, but was elected by a unanimous vote, and continued president until September, 1886. In June, 1883, the legislature allowed $10,000 annually for four years (and afterwards annually), and established eighty free scholarships, two for each senatorial district, to be recommended by the senator of the district.* Manly Miles was elected professor of agriculture, the drill hall was completed, and Leander Wetherell of Boston presented 1410 bound volumes to the library. In 1884, a resolve allowed $36,000 for the erection of a chapel and library building, for the completion of the president's house, and for the repair of north college. *CONDITIONS OF AWARDING FREE SCHOLARSHIPS. The eighty free scholarships * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * to be given by appointment to persons in this Commonwealth, after a competitive exami nation, under rules prescribed by the president of the college, at such time and place as the senator then in office, from each district, shall designate; and the said scholarships shall be assigned equally to each senatorial district; but if there shall be less than two successful applicants for scholarships from any senatorial district, such scholarships may be distributed by the president of the college equally among the other districts, as nearly as possible; but no applicant shall be entitled to a scholarship unless he shall pass an examination in accordance with the rules to be established as hereinbefore provided. Approved Jan. 2, 1883. Resolved, That there shall be paid annually from the treasury of the Commonwealth to the treasurer of the Massachusetts agricultural college, at Amherst, the sum of ten thousand dollars, to enable the trustees of said college to provide for the students of said insti In 1884, Prof. Bassett resigned, and Clarence D. Warner was elected in his place. Horace E. Stockbridge was elected associate professor of chemistry. On the 4th of February, 1885, the south dormitory was destroyed by fire, and in June following, $45.000 was appropriated for rebuilding the dormitory, erecting a tower on the chapel and purchasing scientific apparatus. Prof. H. E. Stockbridge resigned, and Charles Wellington was elected associate professor in his stead. George E. Sage, U. S. A., was detailed as professor of military science and tactics. Ex-President French died Nov. 29, and Ex-President Clark on the 9th of March, 1886. In the same year the Henry James Clark prize of natural history was first given; Mr. Wilder presented several hundred volumes to the library, and $7000 for repairs and other needs of the college was granted by the state. 'Mr. Greenough's presidency is marked by the changes and additions made in the college buildings. The boarding house built in 1867 was remodeled, repaired and painted; the interior of the original chapel building remodeled; the original north dormitory renovated, and the president's house planned and built. The south dormitory was rebuilt on a much larger scale, with accommodations for the agricultural department, at a cost of about $33,000. To President Greenough also, the college is indebted for his valuable services and oversight, in the erection of this beautiful stone chapel and library building, constructed of stone (from a granite quarry in Pelham purchased by the college in 1867), built and furnished at a cost of a little over $31,000. Mr. Greenough also obtained a subscription of between seven and eight thousand dollars for a permanent library fund. At the period of the college commencement in June, 1886, Henry H. Goodell, who had been a professor in the college since the summer of 1867, and prior to the admission of its first class, and who had also held various other positions of all grades up to that of acting president, was elected president of the college, and is holding the position to the general acceptance and gratification of the trustees, the faculty, the students, and the community. The state has tution the theoretical and practical education required by its charter and the law of the United States relating thereto. (Resolves of 1886. Chap. 34). Resolved, That annually the scholarships established by chapter forty-six of the Resolves of the year eighteen hundred eighty-three be given and continued in accordance with the provisions of said chapter. Approved April 16, 1886. |