Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I, Part 40

Author: Baker, Joseph Eugene, 1847-1914
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 542


USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 40


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This latter legislative provision was re-enforced in 1879 by the express Consti- tution declaration that "no person shall be debarred admission to any of the col- legiate departments of the university on account of sex."


President Gilman resigned in 1875 to accept the presidency of the new Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He was followed by John Le Conte, who served until 1881, when William T. Reid was elected to the position and served until 1885. Edward S. Holden was then elected, with the understanding that he was to fill the presidency only until the completion of the Lick Observatory, when he was to assume the position of its director. Accordingly he retired in 1888 and was succeeded by Horace Davis, who served for two years. There- after Martin Kellogg was acting president until, in 1893, he was formally appointed to the office. Upon his resignation in 1899 he was succeeded by President Ben- jamin Ide Wheeler.


Prior to 1887 the university depended for its revenue upon the income from its invested funds and upon biennial appropriations by the Legislature. Its invested capital consisted of money derived from the sale of seventy-two sections of land for a seminary of learning and ten sections for public buildings, both granted by Congress in 1853; from the sale of 150,000 acres granted under the Morrill Act of 1862; from the sale of salt and marsh lands granted by the Legislature; and from the sale of the College of California property in Oakland. In 1887 the state Legislature rendered the income of the university more secure and permanent by providing for the annual levy of an ad valorem tax of one cent on each $100 of the taxable property of the state. In 1897 the resources were further enlarged by a second act of the Legislature, providing for the levy of an additional one cent on each $100, and in 1909, a "three cent tax" was established by the Legislature. In 1911, as an incident of an amendment to the Constitution, which reorganized the tax system of the state, the Legislature substituted for the "three cent tax" a bill appropriating for university support the sum of $760,770 for the year ending June 30, 1912, with provision for a regular increase of 7 per cent, per annum in this appropriation for three years thereafter, or until June 30, 1915.


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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY


In the early years of its history many attempts were made to segregate the departments of the university, especially to set the college of agriculture off by itself, and many efforts were made to change the character of the governing body. In 1879 this agitation was put to rest by the Constitutional convention, which inserted in the fundamental law of the state the declaration that "the University of California shall constitute a public trust, and its organization and government shall be perpetually continued in the form and character prescribed in the organic act creating the same, passed March 23, 1868, and the several acts amendatory thereof, subject only to such legislative control as may be necessary to insure compliance with the terms of its endowments and the proper investment of its funds."


In 1896 a proposition looking to a general building scheme was made by B. R. Maybeck, instructor in architectural drawing, and was introduced in the board of regents and fostered there by Regent J. B. Reinstein. The board voted to have prepared a program "for a permanent and comprehensive plan to be open to general competition for a system of buildings to be erected on the grounds of the University of California at Berkeley." Before this resolve had been put into effective operation it came to the notice of Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst, who was then considering the erection of a building at the university in memory of her husband, the late Senator George Hearst. Accordingly, Mrs. Hearst at once wrote to the board expressing her desire to promote the proposed competition and to defray all the expenses thereof. This offer was gratefully accepted.


Two competitions were held, a preliminary one at Antwerp, and a final one at San Francisco. The preliminary competition opened January 15th and closed July 1, 1898. Of 105 plans presented eleven were selected by the jury for the final contest. The second contest, in San Francisco, resulted in the award of first prize to M. Emile Benard of Paris; second prize, Messrs. Howells, Stokes and Hornbostel of New York; third prize, Messrs. D. Despradelle and Stephen Codman of Boston ; fourth prize, Messrs. Howard and Cauldwell of New York; fifth prize, Messrs. Lord, Hewlett and Hull of New York.


To adapt and carry out the Benard plan the board of regents appointed John Galen Howard supervising architect of the university. The first structure com- pleted in execution of this plan was the Greek theater, the gift of Mr. William Randolph Hearst. The Greek theater is an open-air auditorium of unique beauty, lying in the hollow of the hills and surrounded by trees. It is used for great university occasions, and for musical and dramatic representations. The second building to be completed in accordance with the Hearst plans was California hall, a solid granite structure, erected through appropriations made by the State Legis- lature. The third building in this scheme is the Hearst Memorial Mining building, the cornerstone of which was laid on November 19, 1902, and the formal opening celebrated on August 25, 1907. A fourth building, the University Library, pro- vision for which was made in the will of the late Charles Franklin Doe of San Francisco, was first occupied in June, 1911. The Boalt Memorial Hall of Law, the fifth building of the series was formally opened on April 28, 1911. This building is the gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Boalt, in memory of her husband, the late John H. Boalt of San Francisco. The Hall of Agriculture, the sixth building of the series, was dedicated in November, 1912. The Sather gate and bridge at the Telegraph avenue entrance to the campus, provided by the generosity of Mrs. Jane


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K. Sather, as a memorial to her husband, Peder Sather, was completed in 1910. As a memorial to Mrs. Sather, herself, the Jane K. Sather Campanile, a bell tower of white granite and marble, 300 feet in height, is being erected. The cost, $200.000, together with $25,000 for "the Sather bells," was provided for by Mrs. Sather. A president's house and central heating station have likewise been erected.


Beginning in 1891 the university has constantly aimed to extend the benefits of its instruction in agriculture farther and farther beyond its own confines. In the year named the custom of holding farmers' institutes throughout the state was begun. So important had this work become that, in 1897, a new department was created, a department of university extension in agriculture. Through these institutes, through bulletins, and through professional visits to farm, garden, orchard, and vineyard, the university constantly stands ready to render aid, advice and instruction to relieve agricultural emergencies and solve agricultural problems in the state. The acquisition of the farm of 779 acres at Davis, Yolo county, has greatly enlarged the scope of the university's work in agriculture.


The project of accrediting high schools to the university was put into operation in 1884. The main purpose of this movement was, from the first, to aid in unify- ing the whole system of secondary and higher education throughout the state. Success has in large measure been achieved in this direction, and the work of more thorough coordination has penetrated into the elementary schools. From the small number of three accredited high schools in 1884 the list has grown until in 1912 the number was 203, including 172 public and 31 private schools.


Connected with this accrediting system is the university's work as a training school for prospective teachers. By a law of the state, boards of education and examination have authority to issue teachers' certificates of high school grade to graduates of the university who are recommended by the faculty. Within the past few years the standard of preparation of graduate instruction, partly of classroom work and partly of practice teaching, is exacted before a certificate is issued.


University extension lectures were begun in 1891 and continued through suc- ceeding years with increasing encouragement until 1902, when a department of university extension was expressly organized. This department has established centers of extension work in various parts of the state. A corps of instructors has been appointed, whose duties are entirely or mainly devoted to the extension field. Summer schools in several departments were annually held for a number of years up to 1899, when the work was systematically organized and a summer school of general scope was for the first time held. It has met a great public demand and has been largely attended, not only by teachers of California, but by special students from all parts of the country. A marked feature of the summer sessions at Berkeley, and an important element of the university's policy in that regard, is the presence as lecturers of leading men from the eastern and European universities.


The University of California is an integral part of the public educational system of the state. As such it completes the work begun in the public schools. Through aid from the state and the United States, and by private gifts, it furnishes facilities for instruction in literature and in science, and in the professions of art, law, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. In the colleges of letters, social


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sciences, natural sciences, commerce, agriculture, mechanics, mining, civil engi- neering and chemistry, these privileges are offered without charge for tuition, to all residents of California who are qualified for admission. Non-residents of California are charged a tuition fee of $10 each half year. In the professional colleges, except that of law, tuition fees are charged. The constitu- tion of the state provides for the perpetuation of the university, with all its departments. The government of the University of California is intrusted to a corporation styled The Regents of the University of California, consisting of the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the president of the State Board of Agriculure, the president of the Mechanics' Institute of San Francisco, and the president of the university, as members ex-officio, and sixteen other regents appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. To this corporation the state has committed the administration of the university, including manage- ment of the finances, care of property, appointment of teachers, and determina- tion of the internal organization in all particulars not fixed by law.


The instruction and government of the students are intrusted to the faculties of the several colleges and to the academic senate. The faculty of each college con- sists of the president of the university and those professors and instructors, and only those, whose departments are represented in it by required or elective studies. The academic senate consists of the members of the faculties and the instructors of the university, the president and professors alone having the right to vote in its transactions. It has created certain standing committees, among which are: (1) the academic council, composed of the president and the professors, lecturers and instructors in the academic colleges; (2) the university council, composed of the president of the university, five members of the joint faculties of letters, social sciences and natural sciences, one member from each of the faculties of commerce, agriculture, chemistry, mining, civil engineering, mechanics, one mem- ber of the Lick astronomical department, two members of each of the faculties of law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and art, the dean of the faculties, and the dean of the graduate school.


The endowments on which the academic colleges and the Lick Observatory have been founded and maintained are the following: 1. The seminary fund and public building fund, granted to the state by Congress. 2. The property received from the College of California, including the site at Berkeley. 3. The fund derived from the Congressional land grant of July 2, 1862. 4. The tideland fund, appropriated by the state. 5. Various appropriations by the state legislature for specified purposes. 6. The state university fund, which is a temporary sub- stitute for a tax of three cents on each $100 of assessed valuation, to yield $760,770 for the year ending June 30, 1912, with provision for an increase of 7 per cent each year until the year ending June 30, 1915, for which year the income will be $931,974. 7. The endowment fund of the Lick astronomical department. 8. The United States experiment station (Hatch) fund of $15,000 a year. 9. The United States experiment station (Adams) fund of $15,000 a year. 10. The Morrill College aid fund of $50,000 a year. 11. The gifts of individuals. The total endowment of the University of California at June 30, 1912, was $4.353,574.43, the income earned by this endowment for the year 1911-12, $237,975.71. The San Francisco Institute of Art and the California College of Pharmacy are sup-


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ported by fees from students. The Hastings College of the Law has a separate endowment.


There are established at Berkeley nine colleges, in each of which there is an undergraduate curriculum of four years, leading directly to a corresponding degree, namely: The college of letters; the college of social sciences; the college of natural sciences ; the college of commerce; the college of agriculture; the college of mechanics-(1) in mechanical engineering, or (2) in electrical engineering ; the college of mining ; the college of civil engineering-( I) in railroad engineering, or (2) in sanitary engineering, or (3) in irrigation engineering; the college of chemistry. In the colleges of mechanics, mining, civil engineering and chemistry there are also courses of five years, leading, as do the four-year courses, to the degree of Bachelor of Science, but providing a broader cultural and professional training than is possible in the four-year courses.


In the five-year course in mining, provision is made for specialization, either in (1) mining engineering, or (2) metallurgy, or (3) geology.


At Berkeley are the schools of architecture, education and jurisprudence. The work of the first two years of the college of medicine is given at Berkeley ; the work of the last two years is given at the San Francisco department of the college of medicine, in San Francisco, or at the Los Angeles department in Los Angeles. There are permitted, in addition, courses at large and practical courses, not leading directly to any degree, but through each of which, by compliance with the condi- tions upon which it is conferred, a degree is possibly obtainable.


Higher instruction, leading to the degree of Master of Arts (with the cor- responding degrees in letters, sciences and engineering, doctor of philosophy, juris doctor, mechanical engineer, civil engineer, mining engineer, etc.) is offered by the University of California to graduates of any recognized college or uni- versity. If the preliminary training of such students has not been sufficient to qualify them for strictly graduate work, they will be admitted to such under- graduate courses, in the department in which they expect to study, as may be suited to their needs. The university library contains about two hundred and sixty-five thousand volumes, not including the material contained in the Bancroft collection. The library is admirably adapted, so far as its extent allows, for purposes of advanced study and research. The laboratories are extensive and well-equipped, and every facility is afforded for work in the higher lines of pure and applied science. Professional training for students who desire to teach is offered by the university through the department of education and other depart- ments that offer special teachers' courses.


The department of university extension was organized during the year 1902-03 to carry on, as the work of a separate department of the university, extension courses in different parts of the State of California. Courses of university extension lectures with classes for study in connection with the lectures, were given wherever university extension centers were organized, and the control and selection of such courses were left entirely to the committees of the various local centers. Each course consisted of twelve lectures delivered at fortnightly intervals on days and in places chosen by the local committees, and university credit was given for regular examinations for work done in the university extension classes. University extension traveling libraries, containing several copies of the books needed for study in connection with the lectures and classes, were sent to the


NEWMAN HALL. BERKELEY


LIBRARY BUILDING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY


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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY


local centers, and for courses in which they were needed lantern slides and other illustrative material were supplied. Under this plan several university extension centers were organized and successfully maintained.


In 1913 the department of university extension was reorganized under the name of the university extension division, which includes a department of instruc- tion and a department of public service. In the department of instruction uni- versity extension lectures are delivered upon the same plan as that previously followed, with the exception that lecture courses are also formed for regular class instruction. Special attention is devoted to correspondence instruction.


The general library, housed in the newly completed building made possible by the bequest of the late Charles F. Doe, now contains about two hundred and sixty-five thousand volumes. It is constantly augmented by donations and exchange, and by large purchases of books with the income from the Michael Reese, Jane K. Sather, E. A. Denicke and other funds. The extensive Bancroft collection of manuscripts and books relating to Pacific Coast history is in process of arrangement for use by historical students. The major portion of the manu- scripts has been calendared. The resources of the library are supplemented by borrowings from other libraries; and, similarly, the library lends its books, under proper regulations, to other institutions. The various departments of instruction have separately kept collections of books, useful for ready reference and classroom work. The library and reading room of the department of agri- culture, situated in Agriculture hall, receives the publications of the experiment stations of the United States and other countries, as well as pamphlets on agri- cultural subjects published by various governments and commissions. About one hundred and forty dailies, weeklies and monthlies are regularly received.


In the growth of the university during recent years, the space requirements of the various departments have made it impossible to keep in one building the collections which were originally designed to serve as the basis for a university museum. Excepting the museum of anthropology and the California museum of vertebrate zoology, the collections of the various departments have been dis- tributed among the buildings in which these departments are now situated. The museum of anthropology and the California museum of vertebrate zoology are segregated in buildings which, though of temporary character, are specially con- structed for museum purposes.


The gymnasium, presented to the university by A. K. P. Harmon, is well equipped, and provides all the students with opportunities for physical culture. Besides the main hall, rowing room, and athletic quarters, there are 165 shower baths, and 2,000 lockers. Hearst Hall was presented to the university by Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst for a women's gymnasium. It contains the very best of modern equipment. In a separate building, and connected with the gymnasium, are 100 shower baths, with hot and cold water. There are 200 dressing rooms and 900 lockers. The lower hall is used as a general gathering place for the women of the university. Connected with the gymnasium is an enclosed court, 150 feet long and 80 feet wide, with a seating capacity of 1,000, also the gift of Mrs. Hearst. It is used as an outdoor gymnasium, as well as for basketball and other games suitable for women. The recent construction of an open-air swimming pool in Strawberry canyon has furnished an opportunity for water sports.


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This pool is 232 feet long, 76 feet wide and 10 feet in the deepest parts, holds a half million gallons of water, and by a constant flow of filtered water is kept in admirable condition. In return for the infirmary fee, each student is entitled to consultation and medical and hospital care at the infirmary, on the campus. The daily average of dispensary consultations and treatments exceeds a hundred. Full hospital care is given in care of serious illness. There is no charge, beyond the infirmary fee, for ordinary medical or hospital service. If an operation becomes necessary, a moderate charge is made, the funds received from such operations being used for the benefit of the infirmary. The total number of students in the university in 1912-13 was 6,852.


CHAPTER XVII


RELIGION


Religious services were first held in this county at Mission San Jose in 1797 and thereafter as long as the old order continued. No doubt the early Spanish and Mexican settlers of what is now Alameda county went to the mission to participate in the services. The first organized religious bodies of the Americans, so far as known, were located at Oakland. In June, 1852, St. John's Episcopal church was organized and is the oldest religious foundation in the city with the exception of the Roman Catholics. In the same year, when Oakland had but about half a dozen houses, two Episcopalian families met and worshipped unitedly in their homes. In March of the next year Rev. Dr. Ver Mehr, then rector of Grace church, San Francisco, visited the place and called together a meeting of about twelve persons. About the same time an Episcopal clergyman, Rev. Mr. Morgan, appeared and read the prayers under the branches of an oak tree. The next Sunday the little flock determined to have a covered church of some kind ready for the minister when he should next appear. Accordingly, a large tent, 25 by 70 feet, was erected, a communion rail was put in place, a temporary pulpit was built, and a few benches were secured for the body of the tent. A cross erected outside indicated the object of the building. Rev. Mr. Walworth, after- ward the head of the Pacific Female College, preached the sermon and a collection of $19 was taken up. Next day the tent and all the seats were bought by the Presbyterians. This was the origin of that branch of Christ's church in Oakland, of which Rev. Samuel B. Bell became pastor. He bought the first bell from the owner of an old ferry boat no longer used and at first hung it from a rail laid across a fence at the corner on Broadway, and with it called the people together. Later the congregation used the little schoolhouse on the west side of Broadway and there worshipped until the new church was built. Mr. Bell was the first minister of the gospel to be settled in Oakland. He was sent out by the Home Missionary Society of New York to look after the spiritual wants of the new state. Messrs. Adams, Moon and Carpentier contributed liberally to the construction of the first building and Mr. Bell preached through the mining camps to raise funds. For a final site they selected a lot on Harrison street near Seventh, facing the plaza. The lumber was obtained from the redwood forest on the slopes back of the city. Mr. Adams used to put a $5 gold piece in the plate regularly every Sunday and bore the whole expense of lath and plaster. At this time there were about twenty families in the community and enough extra single men to bring the population up to an equivalent of fifty families. At first there were less than a dozen families enrolled in the church. Mr. Bell con- tinued as pastor until 1863, and during this period helped to found the College of California.


Another Episcopal minister, Rev. Mr. Reynolds, preached to a small congre- gation for three Sundays in 1853. In November, 1854, Bishop Kip celebrated


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divine service in a room provided for the purpose. As missionary to the Chinese, Rev. E. W. Sayle arrived in January, 1855, and at the request of the residents and upon the recommendation of the bishop, became acting rector of the embryo parish, in combination with his special mission. At the regular service on Sunday morning, January 7, 1855, fourteen persons were present. The first communion was celebrated on Sunday, February 4th, when eleven persons partook of the sacred rite with the rector. At the diocesan convention, held in San Francisco in May, 1855, the parish was represented by Dr. Carter and Andrew Williams. In November, 1854, the foundation of a Baptist church was laid in Oakland under charge and ministerial care of the Rev. Mr. Willis, a highly finished scholar and accomplished gentleman.




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