USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 2 > Part 14
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At the annual meeting of the ,college alumni held July 8, 1868, reso- lutions were adopted requesting the trustees to make arrangements for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the college, in 1871, and also requesting Prof. William S. Tyler to prepare a history of the college to be ready at commencement-time that year. The alumni chose as a committee of arrangements Prof. R. D. Hitchcock, W. A. Dickinson. Esq. and Prof. R. H. Mather, to whom were added at the annual meeting
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of the alumni in June, 1870, Profs. Edward Hitchcock and Julius H. Seelye. At the annual meeting of the trustees, July 13, 1870, a special committee was appointed, consisting of the president and Drs. Paine, Sabin and Storrs, to act with the committee of the alumni in making arrangements for the celebration. Professor Tyler's history was written, and from it has been gathered much of interest concerning the college which appears in the pages of this volume. The celebration was held during commencement week in 1871, the special exercises occurring on Wednesday. Nearly 700, or almost one-half the number of living grad- uates, were present on this interesting occasion. Every class was repre- sented. The exercises were held beneath a spacious tent spread under the trees in the college grove. At the morning exercises Hon. Samuel Williston presided ; an address of welcome was delivered by President Stearns and an historical discourse by Prof. W. S. Tyler. In the after- noon, Hon. A. H. Bullock of the class of '36 presided, and addresses were made by Prof. E. S. Snell, '22, Dr. Edward P. Humphrey, '28, Rev. H. N. Barnum, '52, Rev. H. W. Beecher, '34, Prof. E. A. Park, Prof. R. D. Hitchcock, '36, and Waldo Hutchins, Esq.,"'42. As one result of this celebration, many scholarships were endowed by the several classes.
June 8, 1876, President Stearns died while in office. He had officiated that morning at prayers in chapel, suffered no illness but passed peacefully into the higher life. He had written his resignation of the presidency of the college, intending to present it to the trustees at the college commence- ment, near at hand. He had also prepared his baccalaureate sermon, which was read on Sunday of commencement week by President Seelye of Smith College. On June 13, funeral services, simple but impressive, were held in College church. The college and community were saddened by his death. His was a lofty type of Christian manhood, and while his loss fell heaviest upon the college he had loved so well and served so faith- fully, the town could ill afford to spare one who had been so faithful to the duties of citizenship.
At the annual meeting of the college trustees, June 27, 1876, a com- mittee was appointed to consider the vacancy in the presidential office, with instructions to report at a meeting to be held in Boston not later than the first week in August. This committee opened a correspondence with Julius H. Seelye, then a representative in Congress, and offered him a nomination to the college presidency, under certain conditions. He refused to consider the proposition in the form presented, and at a meeting of the board held in Boston, July 28, he was by unanimous vote elected president, and professor of mental and moral philosophy in Amherst College. Julius Hawley Seelye was born in Bethel, Conn., Sept. 14. 1824. He was graduated from Amherst College in the class of '49 and from
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GIFTS TO THE COLLEGE.
Auburn Theological Seminary in 1852. Ordained by the classis of Schenectady, N. Y., in 1853, he served as pastor of the First Reformed Dutch church of Schenectady until 1858, when he accepted a call to the professorship of mental and moral philosophy at Amherst College. In 1874, he was elected a member of the United States Congress, on an inde- pendent nomination. President Seelye entered upon the duties of his office in September, 1876, but in accordance with an understanding with the trustees, he completed his service' in Congress, Prof. W. S. Tyler serving as acting president. The formal inauguration ceremonies took place June 27. 1877.
The events of President Seelye's administration are of such recent occurrence that nothing but an outline sketch will be attempted in this work. The first graduate of the college to be elected to the high office of the presidency, its growth and development during his term of office were along the lines that had been marked out by the founders of the institution. The highest ideal of education as viewed by him consisted in the inculcation of those principles that lead to the broadest development of Christian manhood. Mind culture and soul culture were inseparably linked in the system of instruction which reached its highest development under his administration.
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During President Seelye's term of office the college received donations and bequests amounting in the aggregate to over $826,000. The most notable of these were the D. Willis James fund of $100,000, the Seelye fund of $100.000, also donated by D. Willis James, the legacy of $80,000 by Henry T. Morgan, used in enlarging the college library, the bequest of $50,000 by Joel Giles of Boston, as a permanent fund for the increase of the library, the three professorship endowments of $50,000 each by Mrs. V. G. Stone, Henry Winkley and Frederick Billings, the $50,000 bequest by Mrs. Chester W. Chapin, the $35,000 donated by C. M. Pratt toward building the gymnasium, the Winkley legacy of $30,000, the Williston legacy of over $28,000, the Asa Otis legacy of $25.000, the donation by F. B. Pratt of over $25,000 for the Pratt athletic field, and over $65,000 for the establishment of scholarships. The principal building erected during his administration was the Pratt gymnasium, costing $70,000, while Walker hall was rebuilt, at a cost of $90,000.
Of the members added to the 'college faculty during President Seelye's ministration the following are now in office : Anson D. Morse, professor of history: Henry B. Richardson, professor of German; John M. Tyler, professor of biology : Charles F. Garman, professor of mental and moral philosophy ; David P. Todd, professor of astronomy; John F. Genung, professor of rhetoric; Henry A. Frink, professor of oratory; William L.
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Cowles, professor of Latin. During his term of office the college lost, by death, the services of one of its most distinguished scholars and teachers, Professor Richard H. Mather. Although a member of the faculty during the administration of President Stearns, his best work was accomplished during the term of office of President Seelye, with whom he was intimately associated in social as well as college life. Richard Henry Mather was born in Binghamton, N. Y., Feb. 12, 1835. He was graduated with honor at Amherst College in 1857 and afterwards studied philology at Berlin University, Germany. He was instructor in Greek at Amherst College from 1859 to 1861, assistant professor of Greek from 1861 to 1864, professor of Greek from 1864 until his death in 1890. He raised the money and made all the purchases for the Mather art collection, which is at once his gift and his monument. During President Seelye's administration the college was deprived by death of the services of two other distinguished professors, Ebenezer S. Snell and Elihu. Root. A brief biographical sketch of Professor Snell appears in another chapter of this volume. Elihu Root was a native of Belchertown and was born Sept. 14, 1845. He was grad- uated from Amherst College in the class of 1867, and received the degree of Ph. D. from the University of Berlin in 1876. From 1877 until his death in 18So he was Walker professor of mathematics and natural philos- ophy at Amherst College.
It was during President Seelye's administration that the college library received an impetus for growth and development which has brought it to the front rank among institutions of its kind in America. When the first college building was erected, the library, contained in a single case, was placed in the north entry. Additions were made to the library from time to time, but it was not until 1850 that an urgent effort was made to so enlarge and strengthen it that it might correspond in dignity with the insti- tution. At the annual meeting of the trustees in 1850, it was voted to take measures to procure funds for erecting a library building and for increasing the number of volumes owned by the college. Upwards of $15,000 was raised by subscription, of which $10,000 was devoted to a building which was begun in 1852 and finished in 1853. In 1888, the building was remod- eled and greatly enlarged, and is to-day one of the handsomest structures on the college grounds. The appointment of W. I. Fletcher as college librarian secured to the college the services of a master of the art of library economy, who has in countless ways made the library of greatest value in supplementing the work of other departments of the college.
Reference has been made to the department of physical education and hygiene. The work in the department is a requirement of the college course, but interest in it has been greatly stimulated by the non-required
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"THE AMHERST SYSTEM."
work and training of the athletic field. Amherst, in common with nearly all colleges throughout the land, has been and is a candidate for compet- itive athletic honors. Its base-ball and foot-ball and track athletics teams have won and lost championships, and, incidentally, have advertised the college and its system of physical culture. Any extended sketch of Amherst College athletics would be out of place in this volume, but mention should be made of Pratt-field, the fine athletic grounds devoted to college sports, the gift of Frederick B. Pratt, a graduate of the college in the class of 1887. The Amherst Musical association has also borne an honorable part in adding to the knowledge and fame of Amherst College throughout the land.
To President Seelye the college is indebted for the system of " student self-government " which, originating at Amherst, has been adopted in modified form by many institutions for higher education. The " Amherst College Senate," established in 18So, consisted of four seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and one freshman, with the president of the college serving as presiding officer and possessing also the veto power over the doings of the body. To the senate questions of college order and decorum were referred, its decisions, if confirmed by the president, being binding upon the college. The granting of this measure of self-government to the student body met with excellent results, and friends of the college learned with regret that it had practically terminated by the resignation of the members of the senate in 1894.
The Greek letter fraternities have for many years exercised a potent influence upon student life at Amherst. Between the years 1837 and 1894, no less than eleven of these fraternities have been established at Amherst, all of them yet remaining in prosperous existence. A large percentage of the student body is enrolled in their membership and social life at the college is largely under their direction. In the earlier years the fraternities were quartered in private residences, but to-day nearly every one has its chapter house, comprising some of the most desirable pieces of property in the village. Many members of the college faculty are members of the fraternities as well.
Julius H. Seelye resigned the presidency of Amherst College in 1890. The trustees accepted his resignation with deep regret, but physical infirm- ities compelled him to relinquish an office he had filled with honor to him- self and to the lasting gain of the college. Pres't Seelye died in Amherst, May 12, 1895. At the college commencement in 1891, Merrill Edwards Gates was inaugurated as the sixth president of Amherst College, a worthy successor to great men, gone before.
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CHAPTER LIX.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE .- CAUSES LEADING TO ITS ESTABLISHMENT. HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER'S ADDRESS .- THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE COMMISSION .- PRESIDENT HITCHCOCK'S REPORT .- PLANS FOR A COLLEGE .-- THE " SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE."- THE MORRILL LAND GRANT ACT .- ITS PROVISIONS .-- MASSA- CHUSETTS ACCEPTS THE GRANT .--- THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE TRUSTEES INCORPORATED .- THEIR FIRST REPORT .-- SECURING A LOCATION .- AMHERST'S SUBSCRIPTION TO THE FUND .-- THE LANDS PURCHASED. - AMHERST'S PETITION.
The history of the Massachusetts Agricultural College is unwritten, save in the annual reports of its trustees, the Acts and Resolves of the Massachusetts Legislature, and a mass of documents which, interesting in themselves, have yet to be arranged in suitable form for reference. From this material the college historian of the future will be enabled to prepare a history full of interest and value. The scope of this work will permit little more than an outline sketch of the leading events connected with the establishment and maintenance of an institution in which the town has taken an active interest from the beginning, in whose behalf it added largely to its indebtedness, and from which it has received generous returns in many ways.
Agriculture in New England, from the earliest days of its settlement by Europeans, was regarded as manual labor pure and simple, a hand-to- hand struggle to wring the means of a subsistence from a not-too-fertile soil. Strength and endurance were regarded as the main requisites for success in wielding the rude instruments of soil-culture. Brawn, not brain, cultivated the most acres and raised the largest crops. The germs of agri- cultural education were first developed by the agricultural societies established in Massachusetts early in the Nineteenth century. The farmers of Berkshire, Hampshire. Franklin and Hampden. when gathered together at the annual .cattle-shows, exchanged valuable information on the breeding of cattle and the raising of farm crops. It was not until 1848 that Massa- chusetts as a state recognized a movement looking toward scientific instruc- tion in agriculture. The incorporation that year by the General Court of the " Massachusetts Agricultural Institute, " a private institution, was a pre- liminary step looking toward the establishment by the state of an agricul-
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tural college. The " institute " was never founded, but seed had been sown that was in time to yield a generous harvest.
In September, 1849, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder delivered an address on agricultural education before the Norfolk Agricultural society. The suggestions contained in this address were received with such favor that in 1850 a bill was introduced in the General Court providing for the estab- lishment of an agricultural college and experiment farm. This bill passed the Senate without a dissenting vote but was rejected by the House. The next step taken was the appointment by the governor of a board of commissioners whose duty it was to report to the General Court at its next session upon the expediency of establishing agricultural schools or colleges. The act providing for this commission was approved by Gov. George N. Briggs, May 3, 1850, and June 6 the following were appointed members of the commission : Marshall P. Wilder of Dorchester, Edward Hitchcock of Amherst, Thomas E. Payson of Rowley, Samuel A. Eliot of Boston, Ely Warren of Upton. Edward Hitchcock was at that time president of Amherst College and was traveling in Europe for the benefit of his health. While in London he received notice of his appointment as a member of the commission, coupled with the request that he visit as many of the agricultural institutions in Europe as would enable him to gain an idea of the system of instruction and operation of the schools. With character- istic energy he entered heartily upon the work, visiting institutions in England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland and France. As the result of his investigation, he submitted a report to the committee, which in turn presented it to the General Court.
This report presented the following general facts: Of the agricul- tural institutions visited, a few were founded and sustained by individuals or associations of gentlemen interested in agriculture, but by far the greater number were wholly sustained or assisted by the government of the country in which they were located. Some consisted of professorships at colleges or universities, some depended on colleges or universities for a part of their instructors, the greater number were independent institutions. Three or four grades of instruction were offered. In nearly all cases these institutions had large or small farms connected with them. From his observations he had arrived at the, following conclusions: That those agricultural institutions succeed best which are started and sustained by the mutual efforts and contributions of individuals or societies and of the government. That independent agricultural institutions are essential to accomplish the object aimed at. That essentially the same reasons, and of greater force, exist for the establishment of agricultural schools in this country as in Europe. That Massachusetts should lose no time in taking hold of the business of agricultural education efficiently and liberally.
PRESIDENTS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
WILLIAM S. CLARK.
PAUL A. CHADBOURNE.
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HENRY F. FRENCH.
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He outlined three plans for agricultural education in Massachusetts. The first provided for the establishment of an agricultural school or college in the state, possessed of all the means necessary to give a finished educa- tion in the principles and practice of agriculture. Such a school should give instruction in practical agriculture, chemistry, elementary and applied, natural history, especially zoology and botany, elementary and applied mineralogy and geology, anatomy and physiology, human and comparative, veterinary medicine and surgery. It should have collections of models of agricultural instruments, dried seeds, grains, etc., planed specimens of useful kinds of wood, models of varieties of fruit, small collections of simple minerals and rocks, a museum of economic geology. insects injur- ious to vegetation, stuffed specimens and drawings of species and varieties of animals used in agriculture, a museum of human and comparative anatomy, chemical and philosophical apparatus and a scientific and agricultu- ral library. It should also have a model and experiment farm of moderate size and should give instruction in practical farming. Provision should be made for instruction in ancient and modern languages, and for board on the farm of students willing to devote their time daily to labor beyond that required of all. For this extra labor compensation should be given suffic- ient at least to meet the charge for board. The smallest number of pro- fessors needed at such an institution would be six. The course of study should embrace two years, and when creditably completed the pupils should be entitled to an agricultural diploma or decree. Tuition should be made as low as possible, certainly not over $40 per annum. Several scholarships . should be founded by the state, to be given to the most diligent and suc- cessful pupils. In addition to this principal institution, agricultural depart- ments should be established in academies in the different counties. Agri- cultural manuals might be introduced into primary schools if any children desired the study. The cost of establishing such a system of agricultural education was estimated by President Hitchcock at $70,000, the annual cost of its maintenance at $9,200.
The second plan suggested was for the location of an agricultural institute so near some existing literary institution that the pupils could attend its scientific lectures and study its collections in natural history. The first cost of such an institution was estimated at $66,300, the annual expenditure after the first year at $3.Soo. The third plan was to establish a central school or college, one-half the expense to be defrayed by the government, the remainder by individuals, and also to establish agricultu- ral departments in the academies in different counties. The college should have a president, a professor of agriculture and a farm superintendent, at small salaries, and one tutor for each 30 students. The original cost of
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THE LAND GRANT ACT.
such a system was estimated at $28.300, the annual expense for maintenance at $2. 100. It is interesting to compare these plans as outlined by Presi- dent Hitchcock with those afterwards adopted and put in practice at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. Time has proven in many things the wisdom of his suggestions, and to the memory of no man, save perhaps to that of President W. S. Clark, does the college owe so great a debt of gratitude.
President Hitchcock's report was accepted by the General Court. but other matters of grave import demanding attention no action was taken looking toward the adoption of its recommendations. In 1856. several men who had been prominent in the project for establishing an agricultural college, associated together to establish a school and were incorporated under the name of the "Massachusetts School of Agriculture." No further action was taken at the time. and in 1860 the charter was trans- ferred to citizens of Springfield. who determined to raise $75,000 by sub- scription and open the school in that city. looking to the General Court for a further endowment. Dec. 14, 1857. Hon. Justin S. Morrill. a represen- tative in the national Congress from the state of Vermont, introduced in that body a bill providing for the donation of a portion of the government lands for the endowment of a college in each state, where should be taught such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts. This bill passed both branches of Congress only to be vetoed by President Buchanan. It was finally enacted July 2. 1862. receiving the signature of President Lincoln.
This act granted to each state 30,000 acres of public land for each senator and representative in Congress under the apportionment of 1860. States in which there were no public lands subject to sale at private entry should receive land scrip. to be sold by said states and the proceeds applied to the designated objects. All expenses of management of lands and the sale thereof were to be borne by the states. All moneys received from the sales of land or land scrip were to be invested in safe stocks. yielding not less than five per cent. on their par value. and the money so invested should constitute a perpetual fund. the capital to remain forever undiminished and the interest to be appropriated "to the endowment. support and maintenance of at least one college where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts." If any portion of this fund should be diminished or lost it should be replaced by the state to which it belonged. . \ sum not exceeding ten per cent. of the amount received by any state might be expended for lands for the site of
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
buildings or for an experiment farm. No portion of the fund or interest should be applied directly or indirectly, under any pretence whatever. to the purchase, erection,. preservation or repair of any building or buildings. Any state accepting the provisions of the act should provide within five years at least one college as defined above. The act must be accepted by the state within two years from the time of its passage.
In his address to the General Court, Jan. 9, 1863, Gov. John A. Andrew discussed at length the provisions of this grant. He spoke of the bequest by Benjamin Bussey to Harvard College of a large property for the establishment of an institute for agricultural education, and also of the founding of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He argued strongly in favor of uniting the institution provided for by the Morrill act with others already established. The joint special committee of the General Court to which was referred that part of the governor's address relating to agricultural colleges submitted its report March 26. A strong effort had been made to secure a part of the fund for the Institute of Technology. The suggestions made by Gov. Andrew had also met with hearty support. A committee of the State Board of Agriculture had urgently opposed locating the college near Boston or connecting it with any other institution. The trustees of Amherst and Williams colleges had expressed a desire to receive a part of the fund on condition of giving instruction in agriculture and the mechanic acts. A sub-committee having examined the Agricultural College in Pennsylvania, reported as their united opinion that an agricultural college should be established in Massachusetts similar to that in Pennsylvania ; that it should be wholly disconnected from all existing institutions, and separate from all large cities and towns ; that it should recognize the principle of daily manual labor by its students as essential to success ; that the necessary funds for founding the institution should be contributed equally by the state and by individuals. The full committee reported : That the grant of Congress should be accepted and its conditions faithfully complied with ; that one-tenth of the whole amount received from sale of the land scrip be set aside for the purchase of lands to be used in connection with the agricultural college proper : that of the remaining nine-tenths one-third be devoted to the use of the Institute of Technology, under direction of its trustees, and the remaining two-thirds to the use of an agricultural college under the control of a board of trustees.
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