USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume III > Part 2
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The transfer of property from one school district to another, the altering of the boundaries of school districts and the form- ing of new school districts are regulated under the Act of 1898, by the County School Commissions. Under this Act it is made the duty of every teacher in the free public schools of the State to make a report to the commissioners of the dis- trict at the end of each quarter, setting forth the number of pupils in attendance during the quarter, giving an inventory of the books in the school belonging to the district, and
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furnishing such other information as may tend to the welfare of the schools. The law of 1898 gives the general supervision and control of the public schools in the state to a Board of Education, composed of the Governor, the Secretary of State, the president of Delaware College, the State Auditor, and the senior member of each County School Commission. This Board is vested with full authority to make laws requisite for its own government, and to prescribe and enforce all regula- tions necessary for the execution of its duties and tending to the advancement of the free schools throughout the State. The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt a list of text-books, to make contracts for the rates at which such books shall be furnished, which list shall be the same throughout the State, to issue a uniform series of blanks for the reports of teachers and school officers and the Board is required to make a report to each General Assembly of the work done, and sug- gest any alterations or amendments in existing school laws.
State Superintendents of Free Schools.
James H. Groves from April 13, 1875, to April 13, 1883.
Thomas N. Williams from April 13, 1883, to April 13, 1887.
Assistant State Superintendent.
Henry C. Carpenter from April 13, 1881, to April 13, 1887.
County Superintendents for New Castle County.
Herman Bessey
1887-1891 David B. Jones
1901-1903
Hiram D. Griffin
1891-1895
Arthur R. Spaid
1903-
Willard T. Smith 1895-1901
County Superintendente for Kent County.
L. Irving Handy
1887-1890 Caleb C. Tindal
1891-1901
Peter L. Cooper, Jr. 1890-1891 James E. Carroll 1901-
County Superintendents for Sussex County.
James H. Ward
1887-1890 Roman Tammany
1897-1899
John G. Gray
1890-1893 John H. Willey
1899-1901
Roman Tammany
1893-1894 Leon A. Davis
1901-1903
William W. Knowles
1894-1897
John D. Brooks
1903-
County School Commissioners under General Law of 1898 for New Castle County.
Elias N. Moore
1898-
Benjamin A. Groves 1901-1907
Andrew S. Eliason
1898-
L. Scott Townsend
1907-
Arnold Naudain, Jr.
1898-1901
DELAWARE COLLEGE AT NEWARK
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Kent County.
James F. Anderson
1898-1901
Theodore Townsend 1901-
Henry Ridgely, Jr.
1898-1902
Thomas C. Roe
1902-
Herman P. Hazel
1898-
Sussex County.
Robert H. Richards
1898-1898
James B. Gilchrist
1898-
Woodburn Martin
1898-1901
Joseph: L. Cahali
1901-
Henry A. Houston
1898-1903 Everett Hickman
1903-
DELAWARE COLLEGE.
This institution of learning was established in the village of Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, May S, 1834. As early as 1821 the General Assembly had passed an Act to found a college at Newark, for the education of youths in the languages, and in the arts and sciences. This Act provided for the appointment of not more than thirty trustees, to be ap- pointed by the General Assembly who should have the super- vision of "Newark College ;" but the provisions of the Act were not carried into effect, and it was not until 1833 that a charter was granted under which Newark College was estab- lished, and buildings erected. The same Act provided that a college fund which had been theretofore created should be paid over to the trustees, who were made the authorized cus- todians of the college fund.
During the latter part of 1833, the necessary arrangements were made for opening the institution for students. It was not considered expedient at this time to elect a president of the college, and in lieu thereof, Nathan Monroe, and John Holmes Agnew, having been elected to professorships in the new institution, were authorized to formally open the college, Mr. Monroe acting as principal. The inaugural ceremonies were held on May 8, 1834, and collegiate duties commenced. It soon became apparent that two men could not conduct an institution which proposed to combine academic with col- legiate work, and that the success of the college depended upon the employment of more instructors. This question caused a spirited fight in the Board of Trustees, but resulted
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in the triumph of progressive ideas. A third professor, N. Z. Graves, was added to the faculty. In the meantime a presi- dent of the college had been elected, Rev. Eliphalet Wheeler Gilbert, D. D., and preparations were made for a full reorgan- ization of the institution at the beginning of the fall term. In September, 1834, the college was opened with its first President and Faculty.
During the first year ninety-four students were enrolled. President Gilbert was a scholarly gentleman, a firm disiplin- arian and well fitted by nature and education to fill the re- sponsible position of president. He had been pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Wilmington. During his administration the highest degree of order and studiousness were manifested in the college. He resigned his position in 1835 and Dr. Richard S. Mason was elected to succeed him. Dr. Mason was a man of great learning but during his admin- istration, there seems to have been lack of discipline, in con- sequence of which, at the close of his term, the college had but forty-two students, of whom nineteen were in the prepara- tory department. In 1839 the trustees resolved to separate the academic students from those of the college, and to pro- cure another building for the former. Preparations were im- mediately made to that effect and a suitable edifice was built on the academy lot. President Mason resigned in 1840, and Dr. E. W. Gilbert was elected president of the institution a second time. During President Gilbert's second term of office, he was supported by a faculty of marked ability. The second term of Dr. Gilbert's presidency has been truly called the " golden age " in the history of the college, marked as it was by the excellent character of the work done, and the high tone of the students. The attendance had increased from year to year. Students began to come from other States, and in 1843 the college had representatives from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Vermont.
On April 4, 1843, the name Newark College was changed
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to Delaware College. In 1847 President Gilbert again re- signed and was succeeded by James P. Wilson who continued as president until 1850. He in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Matthew Meigs, principal of the Newark Academy, who served as President until 1851 when he was succeeded by the Rev. Walter S. F. Graham. Dr. Daniel Kirkwood followed the Rev. W. S. F. Graham, and he in turn was succeeded by the Rev. E. J. Newlin of Alexandria, Virginia. This brings the history of the college up to 1859, when on account of financial troubles, the want of funds to make effective the workings of the college, and the great Civil War that soon followed, it was deemed expedient to suspend work, and the college was closed from 1859 to 1870. At the session of the Legislature in 1869 the college was re-incorporated under a new charter, and in 1870 William H. Purnell was elected president.
President Purnell was a man of much personal magnetism, possessing a well-trained mind, and eminently fitted for the position. The college opened in 1870 with twenty-two stu- dents, and during President Purnell's administration, covering a period of fourteen years there were many changes secured through his efforts, among which were the following. An Act was passed compelling the transfer to the State Treasurer of all the funds arising from the sale of land scrip; directing the Governor to issue to the President of the College upon his demand such arms and military stores belonging to the State as might be required for instruction in military tactics; mak- ing the President of Delaware College ex-officio President of the State Board of Education; cancelling the old bonds amounting to $83,000, and issuing in their place a certificate of permanent indebtedness for that sum, bearing interest at six per cent .; appropriating $8,000 to enlarge the college ora- tory, to provide additional laboratories, and to make other necessary improvements. President Purnell favored co-edu- cation, and through his influence, in 1872, the admission of women to the college was secured.
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In 1885 Dr. Purnell tendered his resignation as president, and Rev. John H. Caldwell, D. D., was elected his successor. President Caldwell resigned in 1887, and was succeeded by Albert N. Raub, Ph. D. During Dr. Raub's administration important additions were made to the college. Departments in Agriculture, in Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering were established, and grounds for athletics and horticultural experiments purchased. President Raub resigned in 1895, and George A. Harter, M. A., Ph. D., was elected as his suc- cessor. Dr. Harter has proven an efficient head to the insti- tution, being still its president, and at no time has the college done better work than siace 1887, a steady and substantial growth being shown from year to year. Many distinguished citizens have been educated within the walls of Delaware Col- lege, and many of its graduates and former students are to-day useful, honorable and influential members of society. Tuition is free to all students from the State of Delaware, so that the college constitutes part of the State system of free public in- struction.
DELAWARE COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.
The first National legislation to promote the establishment of Agricultural Experiment Stations, was had in 1862 when the Morrill bill was passed-so-called after Senator Morrill of Vermont, who has the honor of introducing what is undoubt- edly the most important piece of economic legislation ever brought before the Congress of the United States. The Morrill bill donated 30,000 acres of land to each state having or establishing a college. In 1887 the Hatch bill appropriated to each State or Territory having an agricultural college and experiment station separate therefrom, $15,000 annually, " for the purpose of acquiring and diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical information on the subjects connected with agriculture, and to promote scientific investigation and experiment respecting the principles and applications of agricultural science under the direction of the
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GEORGE A. HARTER. President Delaware College.
PUBLIC EDUCATION IN DELAWARE.
college or colleges established in each of the States and Terri- tories in accordance with the provisions of the Morrill bill."
Later, in 1890, a further Act of Congress was approved, known as the " New Morrill Bill " which appropriated to each State and Territory for these "Land Grant Colleges," $15,000 annually, with a yearly increase of $1,000 till the total annual sum should reach $25,000. Finally in 1906, by the provisions of the Adam's bill, an additional appropriation of $5,000 was made to the $15,000 named in the Hatch bill of 1887, and an annual increase of $2,000 until the total amount paid each State and Territory should equal $30,000.
Delaware College receives four-fifths of this appropriation, the other fifth being applied to the maintenance of the State College at Dover for the education of colored students. Sec- tion 2 of the Act of 1887 recites "That it shall be the object and duty of said experiment stations to conduct original researches or verify experiments on the physiology of plants and animals ; the diseases to which they are severally subject, with the remedies for the same; the chemical composition of useful plants at their different stages of growth ; the compar- ative advantages of rotative croppings as pursued under a vary- ing series of crops; the capacity of new plants or trees for acclimation ; the analysis of soils and water ; the chemical composition of manures, natural or artificial, with experiments designed to test their comparative effects on crops of different kinds ; the adaptation and value of grasses and forage plants ; the composition and digestibility of the different kinds of food for domestic animals; the scientific and economic questions involved in the production of butter and cheese ; and such other researches and experiments bearing directly on the agricultural industry of the United States as may be deemed advisable, having due regard to the varying condition and needs of the respective States or Territories."
Stimulated by the increased income provided by these Acts of Congress, Delaware College has within the past few years enlarged its corps of instructors, and greatly increased its
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equipment of apparatus and appliances, so that now it is vastly better fitted than ever before in its whole history to carry out the purposes of this highly useful national appropria- tion. The experiment station occupies a building on the col- lege grounds which contains the offices, libraries and labor- atories adjoining in the rear campus, and several buildings used for storage and other purposes in the conduct of the various lines of experimental work. Delaware's Experiment Station was opened in 1888, having been made by the Legis- lature a Department of the College under the provisions of the Acts of Congress above recited. The Trustees of Delaware College form a Board of Control with the following officers, Hon. Charles B. Lore, president ; Manlove Hayes, Esq., vice- president ; Charles B. Evans, Esq., secretary and treasurer ; and George A. Harter, A. M., Ph. D., President of Delaware College. The officers of the station are A. T. Neale, A. M., Ph. D., director and agriculturalist ; F. D. Chester, M. S., Mycologist ; C. L. Penny, A. M., Chemist ; C. P. Close, M. S., Horticulturist ; C. O. Houghton, A. B., Etymologist ; and H. S. Jackson, A. B., Assistant Mycologist. Since 1SSS quarterly bulletins for free distribution have been issued, giving in detail the results of the researches and experiments by the Delaware College Station. The mere catalogue of the subjects of these bulletins, some seventy-five in number, attests the wide field covered by these labors.
Agricultural experiment stations have been established in every State and Territory in the Union, besides those under the charge of the national government. The results of their labors in the last two decades, have already revolutionized agriculture and horticulture in many respects. The economic importance of the movement is incalculable, and it is speaking within conservative bounds to say that in a few years, thanks to this applied science in farming and kindred industries, the products of agriculture in its various forms will be multiplied many times. The most important contributions to science by agricultural chemists in recent years has been the study of the
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sources of nitrogen in plants. Experiments by Berthelot, Hebriegal and others in Europe, and Atwater in the United States have been very valuable in showing the remarkable fact that leguminous plants like peas, beans, etc., have the power of getting part of their nitrogen from the air through the operation of certain microscopic organisms present in the soil and in the plants themselves which form small tubercles upon the plant roots. These organisms, or " nitrogen fixers," are artificially produced in microbe cultures, and transferred to soils deficient in them.
So, also, studies in the chemistry of sugar cane ; beets and sorghum have developed varieties of these plants richer in sugar and poorer in non-sugars which hinder the crystalliza- tion of the sugar. Similar studies have increased the gluten content of wheat and barley, the carbohydrates and the nitro- gens of maize ; and the remarkable discoveries by Russell and Babcock of Wisconsin of certain enzymes or ferments, which, together with certain bacteria, produce the artificial curing of cheese ; also the bacteria which give the desirable flavor of gilt-edged butter which have been isolated, cultivated and placed upon the market. These and other discoveries are the results of researches in these fields. As an illustration of how it pays-this search for improved food-stuffs-it may be stated that certain Macroni wheat imported from Prussia at a yearly cost of $10,000, yields annually $10,000,000, and that from the sorghum brought from China in 1864 at a cost of $2000, the nation derives a yearly income of $40,000,000.
During this period of nearly twenty years covered by the seventy-five Bulletins, hundreds of experiments in agriculture and in horticulture, under the direction of the station officers, have been made both at the station itself and upon various farms throughout the State. These investigations and experi- ments conducted by the Delaware Station, are creditably keep- ing place with those elsewhere made.
For example, Bulletin No. 34, issued in 1896, and treating of plant diseases, showed that Hales and Early Rivers peach-
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trees, when sprayed for two seasons with the Bordeaux mix- ture, had their fruitage increased three to four fold ; and that strawberry and wine-sap apple trees similarly treated, yielded from three to thirteen baskets per tree-an increase in smooth, first-class fruit, of eighteen to eighty-nine per cent.
Many of these bulletins are illustrated, and all of them accompanied by such simple and explicit directions as to make them practically available to all persons engaged in farming, gardening, stock-raising, etc. Altogether, these bul- letins of the Delaware Station form a library of information invaluable to the farmer of this day when but for these aids agriculture would be almost impossible by reason of the mul- titudes of predatory insect, germ, and other foes which have attacked grain and fruit crops since the slaughter of the birds. The officers of this Station are using every effort to combat those serious plagues, anthrax and Texas cattle-fever, which are menacing the cattle raising interests of the state, they are also seeking a method to aid the fruit growers of that national pest from California-the San Jose scale, and have at various times suggested remedial legislation to assist in extirpating these and other costly pests.
NEWARK ACADEMY.
This institution was established at Newark, Delaware, in 1767, and is one of the oldest secondary schools in.the country. It had its origin under Presbyterian auspices. It was in 1739 that the Rev. Francis Alison, a native of Ireland, and a noted graduate of the University of Glasgow, emigrated to this country and lived in the family of Samuel Dickinson in Dela- ware, being a tutor of his son John Dickinson, who afterwards became a distinguished statesman, serving as Governor both of Delaware and Pennsylvania. Dr. Alison soon afterwards became pastor of the Presbyterian church at New London, Pennsylvania, and received at his home a number of young men as students. From this starting point the first academy of its kind originated in this country. In 1744 the Presby-
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terian Synod adopted Dr. Alison's school at New London as its own, and appointed him rector. He resigned in 1752 and the Rev. Alexander McDowell was elected principal of the academy. The latter having become pastor of the Presbyter- ian churches of " White Clay creek " and " Elk river " removed the school to Elkton, Maryland, for a short time. In the year 1769 the school was located permanently at Newark, where it has been in operation ever since with the exception of a short period during the Revolutionary War.
In 1769 the academy was chartered by Richard and Thomas Penn, proprietaries of Pennsylvania and the " Lower Counties." In 1773 Dr. John Ewing and Dr. Hugh Williamson were sent to England and Scotland to secure funds for the school. Their mission proved to be a most successful one, and by means of the money thus secured, with the liberal assistance of the Penns and others, a building was erected and the basis of the present endowment was established. In 1834 Newark Academy was merged into Newark College (Delaware College after 1843), the buildings and grounds being conveyed by the trustees of the academy to the trustees of the college in 1847, and, until 1869, the two institutions were virtually one. In 1869 the trustees of Delaware College deeded back to the trustees of the academy the property conveyed to them in 1847, and by a provision of the Act of the General Assembly passed in 1835, elected a board of trustees for the academy, the only two surviving members of the old board at that time being Willard Hall and William T. Read. In 1869 Professor Edward D. Porter was elected principal, and conducted the academy for several years with fair success. In 1873 Miss Hannah Chamberlain was elected principal, and during her administration girls were admitted as pupils. Miss Chamber- lain resigned in 1877 and was succeeded by Rev. J. L. Polk as principal, who resigned in 1885, and the academy was placed under the management of Dr. Albert N. Raub.
Following is a list of the principals from the opening of the school in New London in 1741 until the present time.
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Francis Allison, D. D., Rev. Alexander McDowell, William Thompson, Mr. Johnstone, Rev. John Waugh, Rev. Francis Hindinan, Rev. A. K. Russell, Thomas Madden, N. Z. Graves, W. S. F. Graham, W. W. Ferris, Rev. Matthew Meigs, J. W. Weston, Rev. Whiteman Peck, Professor Edward D. Porter, Miss Hannah Chamberlain, Rev. Joseph L. Polk, Albert N. Raub, L. Irving Handy, Rev. J. Dixon Shanks, D. D., and David J. Jacquette.
Some of the most eminent men of Deleware, many of whom have won national reputations, were students at the Newark Academy. About the year 1898, it ceased to be operated as an Academy and since that time the building has been used as part of the public school system of the town of Newark.
THE COLORED SCHOOLS.
At the close of the Civil War, the question of the education of the colored people presented itself. The fact that a popu- lation of three millions of people, who had been slaves from the organization of this government, was suddenly eman- cipated, suggested the deepest thought on the part of the government, and the several states, of devising means for their education. The General Government endeavored to start the good work through an organization called the " Freedmen's Bureau." By persevering efforts school-houses were built, and the primary steps taken towards the elevation of the colored people in the States lately in rebellion.
The roots of bitterness that had sprung up and the preju- dices engendered by the government growing out of the re- construction acts had a baneful effect upon the education of the colored race, and were for a long time barriers to the successful progress of the work. The strong pro-slavery senti- ment that prevailed in the middle states was also a serious hindrance to the progress of the work, and Delaware was not exempt from the same prejudicial feeling. The colored people gained friends however, and to the untiring zeal and efforts of these friends, must be given the credit for the foundation of a system of education for colored people in Delaware.
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In December, 1866, a meeting of philanthropic friends was held at the home of William S. Hilles, in Wilmington, and as the outcome of that meeting there was organized "The Delaware Association for the Moral Improvement and Educa- tion of the Colored People." Its real work began in 1867 and at the close of the first six months the contributions received had enabled the association to organize fifteen schools, seven in New Castle, four in Kent and four in Sussex County. From this date, the work of the Association was continued in the same way from year to year, until 1875. The number of schools had increased in that time to twenty-eight, and were supported entirely by the money donated by the Delaware Association, and the tuition paid by the pupils.
In 1875 an Act was passed by the General Assembly which provided for the taxing of colored people for the support of their own schools. The Delaware Association was the dis- tributor of this fund through its agent called the " Actuary." The amount raised by taxation was entirely inadequate to meet the expenses of the schools, in fact it proved only suffi- cient to meet about one-third of the expenses and so it became necessary for the colored people to raise the other two-thirds among themselves. The first actuary of the Delaware Associa- tion was the Rev. J. G. Furey, who rendered efficient service. He was succeeded by Samuel Woolman whose labors were likewise faithful. Abbie C. Peckham was actuary from 1868 to 1874. She was succeeded by Mary S. Casperson, who was followed by Mrs. Kate Irvine. In 1876, Henry C. Conrad was elected actuary and had charge of the work about sixteen years.
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