History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc, Part 7

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Baltimore City > History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc > Part 7

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and advanced work, lecture rooms and rooms for special chemical operations are contained within the building.

At the southeast corner of Eutaw and Little Ross streets stands the biological laboratory, a well-lighted brick structure harmonizing in style and symmetry with the chemical laboratory. It is supplied with lecture rooms and laboratories and is provided with the necessary equipment for practical biological work.

The largest of the scientific laboratories is the physical laboratory, on Monument street. It is a fine structure of sand brick laid in black mortar and trimmed with sand- stone, with a broad flight of stone steps to a large vestibule, the opening of which is finely arched. In addition to ordinary laboratory facilities, the building especially fitted for advanced research in physical and electrical science. Motive power is generated in an opposite building and conveyed to the engines in the base- ment of the laboratory.

The humanities are centered in McCoy Hall, the largest and most prominent of the university buildings. Its name com- memorates the generosity of John W. Mc- Coy, of whose estate the university was the residuary legatee. The first floor contains a large and a small lecture room and a series of administration offices. The second and third floors are devoted to the libraries, class rooms, seminary rooms and pro- fessors' studies of the departments of an- cient and modern languages and of history, politics and economics. The general li- brary of the university is located on the fourth floor.

At the northeast corner of Eutaw and Little Ross streets, and directly connected

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

with McCoy Hall, stands Levering Hall, the home of the Johns Hopkins Y. M. C. A. It was given by Mr. Eugene Levering, and is the centre of much of the social life of the university. The lower floor is de- voted to a pleasantly appointed library and reading room, a chapel room and a com- mittee room. The second floor contains the main hall of the building.

A new gymnasium has been erected, fac- ing upon Garden street and extending east to Howard street. It contains in addition to the gymnasium proper, dressing rooms, baths, etc., a spacious "cage" for indoor practice of outdoor sports.

The educational plant of the medical school is located in immediate proximity to the Johns Hopkins Hospital in East Baltimore.

One of the most important scientific ac- tivities of the Johns Hopkins University and the agency through which its largest clientele is reached is the publication of sci- entific journals and monographs. For a term of years serials devoted to mathemat- ics, chemistry, philology, biology, history and assyriology have been published under the editorial guidance of members of the academic staff and with the financial sup- port of the university. Special scientific monographs have been issued from time to time by the John Hopkins Press, and in the office of President Gilman is to be found a remarkable collection of many hundred volumes and brochures representing the scientific contributions made to almost every department of learning by persons at some time or other connected with the university.

The library of the university includes some 84,000 well-selected volumes, incor-

porating certain valuable special collections such as the "McCoy library," rich in works relating to the history of art; the "Bluntschli library," in historical and po- litical science, and "the Dillman library," in Semitic philology and literature. The choice collections of the Peabody Institute, numbering 130,000 volumes, admirably supplement the university library and place a rich bibliographical apparatus at the disposition of the student and investigator.

To the ordinary visitor one of the most interesting portions of the university is the department of History, Politics and Economics, occupying a series of seven rooms on the third floor of the McCoy Hall. The largest room contains the Bluntschli library and is used as a general seminary room. Here are preserved the Bluntschli MSS. and certain papers of his friend Lieber and Laboulaye. Adjoining are smaller rooms devoted to European history and politics. Across the corridor are a large department lecture room, the office of the director of the department, and rooms de- voted to jurisprudence and to Southern his- tory. The end of the corridor is pleasantly fitted with chairs and carpet and serves for conversation and social intercourse in the intervals between formal academic appoint- ments. The walls of the several rooms are adorned with portraits and prints, and mu- seum cases contain interesting collections which at various times have been presented to the department.

The recent years of the university have been characterized by anxiety regarding its financial position. The difficulties in which the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad has become involved, deprivethe university of an annual income of $150,000, enjoyed in the early

Engraved by d K.Campbell, New York,

Daniel Calmay

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

years of the institution. Citizens of Balti- more and other persons interested in the progress of higher education have upon two successive occasions came forward and provided by generous subscriptions consid- erable "emergency funds" for the prosecu- tion of the university work. This support has made it possible for the university to continue its work without contraction. But, on the other hand, diminished re- sources have made impossible the expan- sion and development necessary to a great university. In a recent public statement President Gilman, referring to the shrink- age in income, said: "It is easy to see what might be done if such a sum could now be added to our income-how many improve- ments might be made, what enlarged op- portunities could be here afforded for the advancement of knowledge and the educa- tion of youth." It is earnestly to be hoped that the possibility thus suggested may be speedily realized, and the recent action of the State of Maryland in granting $100,000 in aid of the university be supplemented by individual gifts.

THE WOMAN'S COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE.

An enduring memorial of the centennial anniversary of the Methodist Episcopal Church is the Woman's College of Balti- more. The institution was projected by the Baltimore Annual Conference at the ses- sion of 1884 held in Washington. Incor- poration was effected on January 26, 1885. Instruction was actually begun on Septem- ber 17, 1888. On April 3, 1890, a special act of the Maryland Legislature amended and enlarged the original charter and con- ferred upon the institution its present name. In September, 1890, the Girls' Latin School

was organized for the purpose of preparing candidates for collegiate matriculation.

The remarkable growth and expansion of the college since its foundation have largely been made possible by a series of generous gifts from persons interested in the col- legiate education of women. The most noteworthy contributions of this character have been made by Dr. John F. Goucher, the present executive head of the college; Mr. Henry Shirk, Sr., Mr. B. F. Bennett, Mr. Alcaeus Hooper, Mr. Francis A. Crook and Mr. William E. Hooper. The endow- ment and plant of the college are valued at the present time at about one and a quarter million dollars.

The buildings of the college form a group of imposing structures in the northern sec- tion of the city, centering about the fine First Methodist Episcopal Church and its stately campanile of granite capped with dark red tiles, at the northwest corner of St. Paul and Twenty-second streets. Im- mediately adjoining the church and occupy- ing the remainder of the block is Goucher Hall, the most important building of the college. Directly opposite on the north side of Twenty-third street is Bennett Hall, the college gymnasium. Immediately be- hind Bennett Hall and connected therewith is Bennett Hall Annex. The three "college homes" for resident students are situated in close proximity on Twenty-third street. At the northeast corner of St. Paul and Twenty-fourth street is the Girls' Latin School. Goucher Hall, Bennett Hall and Bennett Hall Annex are fine granite struc- tures of the Romanesque types. The "homes" are pleasing brick buildings.

Goucher Hall has been named by request of the trustees of the college after its donor,

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

President John F. Goucher. It is a massive granite building, four stories in heighth, of Romanesque architecture, one hundred and sixty-five feet long and ninety feet deep. It is arranged in three pavilions, which are connected by corridors. A large galleried hall open to the roof constitutes the middle pavilion, while those at either end are di- vided into lecture rooms. The administra- tion rooms are arranged upon each side of the connecting corridors. In the construc- tion of the building special attention has been paid to secure the best results in light- ing, heating and ventilation.

Bennett Hall, the college gymnasium, and the gift of Mr. B. F. Bennett, is a massive granite structure, two stories in heighth, harmonizing with the group of buildings of which it forms a feature. It contains a swimming pool, a walking track, bowling alley, baths of various kinds, and is provided with a complete equipment for general and special gymnastic exercise. From the foundation of the college, the physical cul- ture of students has been made an import- ant feature of its activity. It has throughout been represented upon the faculty of the college, and every effort is made by sys- tematic and carefully supervised exercises, both indoor and outdoor, to attain the end in view.

Bennett Hall Annex is united by an en- closed archway from the second floor with Bennett Hall, with which it harmonizes in architectural style. It was also the gift of Mr. Bennett, who presented it to the college in November, 1893. The upper floor is available for gymnastic exercise, while the lower floor is employed as a scientific labor- atory.

The college homes are essentially alike

and are designed to accommodate about seventy persons each. Each home is in charge of a matron and is devoted exclu- sively to the purpose of residence. The buildings are fitted throughout in hard- wood, are well heated and lighted, and are made conveniently accessible by elevator service.

The primary purpose of the institution is the collegiate training of young women. The studies necessary for this degree are distributed over a four years' course, cul- minating in a baccalaureate degree, al- though under special circumstances stu- dents are permitted or encouraged to devote a longer or shorter period of time thereto. The entire collegiate course combines re- quired and elective studies in nearly equal proportion. This freedom is however sub- ject to important modification. The elec- tive studies must harmonize both with one another and with the required courses, and the required studies must ordinarily be taken at a definite stage of the course.

The tendency of the college has been de- Scribed by the dean of the faculty, Rev. John B. VanMeter, as follows: "This col- lege is denominational, planted, fostered, maintained and governed by the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. It is not, in any narrow sense, sectarian. It may be per- mitted to define a sectarian institution as one that seeks through educational influ- ences to determine the minds of its students in favor of the tenets or methods of some one religious organization. This is no part of the idea which lies at the foundation of this college. Its projectors recognized the obligations of the Methodist Episcopal Church to do its part in the general work of education, and felt especially its responsi-

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

bility to provide ample educational facilities for the young women of its communion."

ST. MARY'S SEMINARY OF ST. SULPICE.

At the corner of Paca and St. Mary's streets, occupying a series of brick build- ings enclosed by a high wall, is located the oldest Roman Catholic theological semi- nary in the United States, St. Mary's Semi- nary of St. Sulpice. The history of the in- stitution is most interesting. To save his society from the destruction to all religious orders, threatened by the French Revolu- tion, the Rev. André Emery, Superior Gen- eral of the Society of St. Sulpice, conceived the idea of promoting the specific object of his order, the training of candidates for the priesthood, in the New World. He con- sulted in England, Rev. John Carroll, who had just been appointed in Baltimore to the first episcopal see in the United States. The newly consecrated bishop urged that a new home for the Sulpicians should be founded in Maryland, and in 1791 a little body of four Sulpicians and five seminarians crossed over from Paris and began their labors upon the very site now occupied by the institu- tion.

The number of young men presenting themselves for theological training was at first limited. Accordingly the faculty en- larged the scope of their activity and founded St. Mary's College for the secular education of young men. At first the stu- dents were limited to Spaniards and French; but in 1803 this qualification was removed and the college was open to all young men, without distinction of birth or even religion. In January, 1805, St. Mary's College was raised to the rank of university by the Mary- land Legislature, and vested with power to admit its graduates to any of the degrees

ordinarily conferred by European or Ameri- can higher institutions of learning. Acad- emic degrees were for the first time con- ferred in August, 1806. Thus auspiciously launched, the college continued for many years in successful activity, enjoying a dis- tinguished reputation . in the educational world and exercising an important influence upon the community. Many of the figures most prominent in Maryland public life dur- ing the first half of the century received some part of their intellectual training from this institution.

But the original purpose of the founda- tion was never forgotten and in 1852, much to the regret of a large element in the com- munity, St. Mary's College and its work of secular education was discontinued. This action was nastened by the success attend- ing the operations of St. Charles College, an institution designed for preparatory clerical training, and founded on lands in Howard county donated by Charles Car- roll, of Carrollton, the venerable signer of the Declaration of Independence. It was also understood that the Jesuit fathers would speedily fill the vacant place. This was actually done by the foundation of Loyola College. Something of the educa- tional influence of St. Mary's College upon the city of Baltimore and the State of Mary- land will be realized when it is understood that among the graduates of the college during the half century of its activity were included William Howard, Charles H. Car- roll, Frederick Pinckney, John H. B. La- trobe, Ferdinand E. Chatard, Courtney Jenkins, S. Teackle Wallis, Clement C. Bid- dle, Reverdy Johnson, Jr., Oden Bowie, A. Leo Knott, E. Edward Hambleton and many other distinguished citizens.

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

New buildings were erected from time to time, and in 1877 the first part of the pres- ent series of structures was occupied. A corresponding influx of candidates made necessary in 1886 a division of the divinity course. Some years earlier the two depart- ments of philosophy and theology had been separated, and special lines of development marked out for each. At the present time the prosperity of St. Mary's Seminary is pronounced, and the number of students- about two hundred and fifty pursuing theo- logical and philosophical studies-is pri- marily limited by the accommodations of the buildings.

After the separation of the college from the seminary the affairs of the latter institu- tion steadily grew in prosperity. The build- ings could be modified to meet the needs of students of theology and philosophy, and the seminarians were no longer diverted from their primary interests by academic duties. The number of priests in attendance in the fifty-eight years from 1791 to 1849 was only one hundred and fourteen, while in the eleven years from 1850 to 1861 there were one hundred and twelve, belonging to twenty-six dioceses, and including many ecclesiastics since distinguished among the Catholic clergy in the United States.

Within the past decade at least three events notable in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States have been celebrated within the walls of St. Mary's Seminary. In the autumn of 1885 the sessions of the Third Plenary Council were held there. In October, 1891, oc- curred the centenary of the founding of the college, and the anniversary was celebrated with imposing and prolonged ceremonies. A feature of the occasion was the reunion

of graduates of the college and the forma- tion of an alumni association "to transmit to the future generations of students the sweet memories of the centenary." A third great occasion was the celebration of the silver episcopal jubilee of the most distin- guished alumnus of the college, his Emi- nence, Cardinal Gibbons. The institution also took appropriate part in the impressive ceremonies attending the centennial anni- versary of the Baltimore Metropolitan See and the inauguration of the Catholic Uni- versity of America in Washington on No- vember 10, 1889.

Connected with St. Mary's Seminary is St. Joseph's Seminary for the education of colored priests.

MEDICAL COLLEGES.

Perhaps no city in the United States af- fords superior opportunities for instruction in medicine and surgery than is provided by Baltimore. Mention has already been made of the medical departments of the Johns Hopkins University and of the Uni- versity of Maryland. Other important in- stitutions offering medical instruction are described in the following paragraphs.

The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland is entitled to priority in this con- nection. It was incorporated in 1799 for the purpose of disseminating medical knowledge throughout the State, and is an examining rather than a teaching body. The home of the organization is on Hamil- ton Terrace, where its valuable library is preserved and where periodic meetings are held.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons is an outgrowth of the Washington Med- ical College, formed in 1872 by a dissenting

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

element of the faculty of the latter institu- tion. The institution rapidly expanded and in 1877 it absorbed the older body. The college now occupies a well appointed struc- ture at the corner of Calvert and Saratoga streets. It has control over the Baltimore City Hospital, whose building adjoins its own, and over the Maryland Lying-in Asy- lum. It has also the privileges of Bay View Asylum, Children's Nursery and Hospital and other institutions.

The Baltimore Medical College was organ- ized in 1881, and is thus the third oldest medical school in Baltimore. It occupies a fine building at the corner of Linden ave- nue and Madison street, and controls the Maryland General Hospital, whose build- ings adjoin its own.

The Baltimore University was founded in 1884 by former members of the Baltimore Medical College. Established originally as a medical school, the institution has since availed itself of the broad provisions of its charter and added dental, veterinary and law departments to the original medical school. The institution is located on Bond street.

The Woman's Medical College was organ- ized in 1882 and is located at the corner of Hoffman and McCulloh streets. It was the first institution in Baltimore to afford thor- ough medical instruction to women, and in this respect may be regarded as the forerun- ner of the Johns Hopkins Medical School, where the two sexes are now received upon the same terms.

The Baltimore College of Dental Surgery was chartered by the Legislature of Mary- land in 1839, and is thus the oldest dental college in the world. The site of the in-

stitution has changed with its growth, and is at present the southeast corner of Frank- ling and Eutaw streets, where a well equip- ped building is occupied.

Mention should also be made of the Maryland College of Pharmacy, at the corner of Fayette and Asquith streets, and of the Southern Homoeopathic Medical College, on Saratoga near Charles street.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

An important part of the educational work of Baltimore is performed by institu- tions which may be conveniently described as private schools. Especially notable are Calvert Hall, occupying a fine building at the corner of Mulberry and Cathedral streets, and managed by the Brothers of Christian Schools, a fraternity of the Roman Catholic Church; Bryn Mawr School, whose model building at the corner of Cathedral and Preston streets is the gift of Miss Mary Garrett; The Oliver Hibernian Free School, on North street, founded as a free school for poor children of Irish parentage; Academy of the Visitation, at the corner of Centre street and Park avenue; Loyola Col- lege, under the direction of the Jesuit Fath- ers, on Calvert and Madison streets.

THE PEABODY INSTITUTE .*

This great institution was endowed by George Peabody, an American banker, who at the time of its foundation resided in Lon- don, but who had made the first part of his great fortune in Baltimore between the years 1815 and 1836. A strong friendship for the people of this city led him to deter- mine that he would found an institution which would advance the intellectual and moral culture of the whole community. In

* Prepared by Dr. P. R. Uhler.

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

the year 1854, after consultation with friends in Baltimore as to the kind of institution which might best fulfill his purposes, he pro- ceeded to develop the scheme. With the aid of the Hon. John P. Kennedy and one or two other associates he matured a plan which he embodied in a letter, dated Feb- ruary 12, 1857, to twenty-five gentlemen of this city, whom he selected to be trustees to carry his designs into effect. At the same time he placed a fund of $300,000 at their disposal, to be expended in securing a site, erecting a building and maintaining an edu- cational establishment of the highest order, which should include a library, a school of lectures, an academy of music, a gallery of art and a system of premiums to the high schools of the city. These gentlemen ac- cepted the trust in the sprit of the founder, and immediately proceeded to secure a piece of ground for a building. A site was se- lected on Mount Vernon Place, near the Washington Monument, and a massive white marble building, one hundred and fifty feet long by seventy-five feet wide, was begun in 1858, and the cornerstone laid on the sixteenth of April, 1859. This wing was finished and ready for use in the autumn of I861.

In the meantime Mr. Peabody increased his gift to $500,000, and on the occasion of his visit to Baltimore in 1866 he raised the endowment to $1,000,000. To this .princely sum, in 1869, he added Virginia and Ten- nessee bonds, which brought the fund to a total of $1,240,000. This west wing when completed was provided with a lecture hall, occupying the entire lower floor, and above it was placed a library apartment, one hun- dred feet long by forty feet wide, separated by a longitudinal partition from a large

reading room and offices for public busi- ness. Before the building was finished the Rev. Dr. John G. Morris resigned his place in the board of trustees to take the position of librarian. The functions of this office he exercised with wonderful ability from 1860 to the summer of 1867, and he also assisted the committees in securing able lecturers and accomplished concert masters.

During the first three years the collec- tions of books grew less rapidly than later, because of the high rates of exchange and the necessity of importing books from Europe. Only books of scholarly value were to be collected, and much time was spent in preparing printed lists of such as were suitable for a library of reference. From 1861 to the month of May, 1866, about 15,000 volumes had been collected, and their titles written on cards, were placed in drawers for the use of all persons who came to read in the library. As an appro- priation of $100,000 had been made for books and maps, large orders were sent to the three agents in Europe, and great num- bers of volumes were shipped to the insti- tute before the close of the year 1866.

The library, which had been placed and arranged on the second floor of the west wing, was formally opened to the public on October 25, 1866, in the presence of the founder. On this occasion Mr. Peabody received the citizens of Baltimore at the in- stitute, and listened to an address written by the Hon. John P. Kennedy, which in his absence was delivered by Judge George W. Dobbin. To this Mr. Peabody replied in a sympathetic tone which deeply impressed the large audience that crowded the hall. The Governor of the State, Hon. Thomas

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Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1344

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344