Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 153

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 153

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The first principal was Horace Goodrich, who was succeeded by Edwin James, and then, in 1815, by Lebbeus Booth, who remained until 1824, when Frederick Matthews came in charge. Alonzo Crittenden succeeded Mr. Matthews in 1826, and remained as principal until 1845, during which period the success of the Academy was remarkable. He was a pioneer in advanced female education in America. L. Sprague Parsons was Mr. Critten- den's successor, remaining at the head of the school until his resignation in 1854, when he was suc- ceeded by Eben S. Stearns, who resigned in 1868. Miss Caroline G. Greeley became, for a brief term, his successor. Miss Louisa Ostrom soon after be- came principal, and remained as such until 1879, since which time, with a short intermission, it has been under the management of Miss Lucy A. Plympton, who has advanced its high character.

The Academy is now in a flourishing condition. The corps of professors and teachers is full and efficient. The course of study extends from the kindergarten through a post-graduate course, in- clusive of elocution, music, drawing and painting.

It is the oldest institution in the world devoted ex- clusively to the higher education of women. The Presidents of the Board of Trustees have been James Kent, John Chester, Isaac Ferris, Greene C. Bronson, John Ludlow, John W. Campbell, Will- iam L. Marcy, Amasa J. Parker, and William L. Learned. Miss Lucy A. Plympton, the present judicious and energetic principal since 1879, is a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of a leading female college in New Hampshire.

CONVENT AND ACADEMY OF THE SA- CRED HEART.

The Right Rev. John McCloskey, Bishop of Al- bany, desirous of procuring the advantages of high- er education for the Catholic young ladies of his diocese, made application for religieuse, in 1853, to the Mother House of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, at Paris, France. These religieuse had a high reputation for learning and refined culture.

His request was granted, and the Rev. Mother Hardy, the Provincial for the United States, by the direction of the Mother-General, sent Mothers Jennings and Dunn, with several companions, from the convent at Manhattanville to found an Acad- emy and School at Albany.

Upon their arrival in the city, they opened a boarding and day school in the Westerlo Mansion at No. 41 North Pearl street. The pupils increased so rapidly that it was found necessary to provide more ample accommodation for them; and, for this purpose, the extensive and beautiful grounds of Thomas Hillhouse, on the Troy road, were pur- chased.

The building was altered and fitted up for an academy, and the pupils and the religieuse took possession of their new home.

In 1858, the magnificent residence of Joel Rath- bone, situated on the Bethlehem Turnpike, near the village of Kenwood, was offered for sale.

The house, which had been lately erected, was elegant and commodious, and attached to it were forty acres of land, laid out in gardens, groves and flower-beds.

The Ladies of the Sacred Heart, deeming the site very desirable for an academy, on account of its situation, commanding, as it does, for several miles a charming landscape of the Hudson and its valley, by the permission of Bishop McCloskey, requested the Very Rev. J. J. Conroy and Mr. John Tracey to purchase it for them.

The purchase was accordingly made for the sum of $45,000.

The property on the Troy road was sold, and the academy and school were removed to Ken- wood.

The house of Mr. Rathbone, though large, soon became inadequate for the daily increasing num- ber of applicants for admission to the academy. In 1856, a large building was erected, affording accommodation for about two hundred pupils.

On account of the retired and quiet situation of the convent at Kenwood, Rev. Mother Hardy con- sidered it particularly adapted to the training and

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SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

formation of novices and young religieuses. She therefore resolved to remove the novitiate from Manhattanville to Albany.

The original dwelling of Mr. Rathbone was taken down, and the materials incorporated into a large wing to serve as the novitiate and training academy for those young ladies who wished to consecrate themselves to God as religieuses of the Sacred Heart.

There are usually in this building about fifty novices.

To provide chapel room for the sisters and pu- pils, Mother Hardy erected a large and beautiful chapel. It is situated in the center of the building between the academy and novitiate. It is of Goth- ic architecture, and the interior is elegantly carved and decorated. There are three beautiful marble altars, the gifts of friends to the academy.

The convent is situated on the brow of a hill, and presents a river front of three hundred and ten feet. It is heated by steam and has all the modern im- provements for cooking, laundry purposes, etc. The convent and the grounds around it are laid out with great taste. The buildings are estimated to have cost over $200,000.

On the grounds, at some distance from the acad- emy, is a large and commodious school-house, in which one hundred and sixty children receive a

gratuitous education in all branches usually taught in the common schools.

In the academy the young lady pupils are in- structed in all branches of higher and refined mod- ern education.

Numbered among its Superiors are the Rev. Mothers Hardy, Jones, Thompson, Peacock, Hen- ratty, Dunn, Fowler, Hogan and O'Rorke.

For several years the Ladies of the Sacred Heart conducted a day school in the city. Their first day academy was opened corner of Broadway and Wilson street. They afterwards removed to 766 Broadway, and in 1868 purchased the mansion of the late Thurlow Weed, on Beaver street. They had a daily attendance of one hun- dred scholars.

In 1871, to the great regret of the Catholics of Albany, their day school was closed, and was merged into the academy at Kenwood.

ST. AGNES' SCHOOL.

This school was founded in 1870 by the Right Rev. William Croswell Doane, Bishop of Albany, for the education of Christian women. The Corn- ing Foundation for Christian Work was incorpo- rated March 14, 1871; the ground for the building erected on this foundation was broken May 8th,

ST. AGNES' SCHOOL

and the corner-stone laid June 19, 1871. It was modeled after St. Mary's Hall, Burlington, N. J.

The school was opened Hallowe'en, 1872. The financial basis of this worthy institution was laid by the Hon Erastus Corning, Sr. In all its appointments this worthy institution is success- fully carrying out its noble purpose, the training of our girls into the learning and character de- manded in an intelligent, Christian womanhood in this age. Its situation is admirable; its guardian- ship and teaching judicious. The building accom- modates 110 with board and lodging; its gradu- ates number over 225; its annual attendance is about 200 pupils. Its trustees are Rt. Rev. Bishop

William C. Doane, S.T. D., LL. D., Erastus Corn- ing, Walter A. Wood, Thomas Hun, James G. Averill, Selden E. Marvin, Amos P. Palmer, Abra- ham Van Vechten and Erastus Corning, Jr.

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' ACADEMY,

132 State street, was founded in 1864, and incor- porated by the University Regents of New York, August 3, 1869. The object of the institution is to train young men for business or college life. Besides the ordinary training, it offers a purely moral and religious education to its students. Though attended mainly by Catholics, yet no ob-

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

jection is made to the reception of students of other denominations, who are, however, obliged to as- sist at the religious instructions given.

The course of studies in the academic depart- ment embraces rhetoric, essay-writing, literature, debate, extempore speaking, oratory, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, surveying, navigation, cal- culus, Latin, German or French, architectural and ornamental design, and the duties of a Christian.

The commercial course, specially adapted to prepare young men for mercantile pursuits, em- braces arithmetic, penmanship, reading, grammar, composition, phonography, book-keeping, German and plan-drawing.

Many of its former students at present rank high in the ecclesiastical and legal professions, both in this city and elsewhere.

The staff consists of six members of the order of Christian Brothers, and several secular professors.

ALBANY BUSINESS COLLEGE

is located at 51 and 53 North Pearl street, Car- nell & Carhart, proprietors. C. E. Carhart, Pres- ident, J. R. Carnell, Business Manager. Fac- ulty, C. E. Carhart, J. R. Carnell, E. G. Folsom, B. H. Spencer, C. H. Gorsline, B. S. Hoit, O. Hazelton.

This institution is devoted to the practical educa- tion of young men and women, and was establish- ed by Bryant & Stratton, January 1, 1857, as one of their system of business colleges then and now located in every important city in the Union. No change of location has occurred in the his- tory of the college, and but few in its management,

Prof. E. G. Folsom, who may be said to be the father of the present system of business colleges, after several years' experience in teaching book- keeping and penmanship at Cleveland, Ohio, came to Albany in 1862, where he remained as an earnest and successful commercial teacher until 1884. He was the first to introduce commercial law in the curriculum of business studies; the first to add political cconomy and business ethics; among the first, if not the first, to introduce the modern system of actual practice into the course of instruction. As an author, Mr. Folsom is wide- ly known. His "Logic of Accounts" is a work of recognized merit among business educators. Mr. Folsom was born May 1, 1821, in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and graduated from Oberlin College in 1847. Bryant and Stratton were Prof. Folsom's pupils in his Mercantile College at Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Folsom was associated as proprietor. with Bryant & Stratton until 1866, and from 1878 to 1884 with C. E. Carhart, at which time he dis- posed of his interest to J. R. Carnell, who was, for ten years, proprietor of the Troy Business College, the two gentlemen last mentioned being now the college proprietors.

During the twenty-nine years of its existence, the Albany Business College has had upon its rolls the names of some five thousand pupils; and to- day its representatives may be found in every line of honorable occupation. The branches taught

embrace book-keeping by single and double entry, arithmetic, penmanship, correspondence, bus- iness practice, spelling, reading, grammar, ste- nography, type-writing, telegraphy and commer- cial law. Mr. Carhart's text-book on "Business Law " has long been recognized as a standard work on that subject.

The annual attendance at the day and evening sessions of the college now averages three hundred pupils.

CHAUTAUQUA LITERARY AND SCIEN- TIFIC CIRCLE.

There is a branch of the Chautauqua Lite- rary and Scientific Circle in Albany, formed in 1880 by Mrs. J. B. Jump, and Misses Gussie Lord, Anna K. Staats, Ada Viele and Eva Ken- nedy. During the first year, and since, lectures have been given by Rev. Dr. J. H. Vincent, the founder of the institution, and others. Regular meetings are held at which literary subjects are discussed. It now numbers about seventy-five members. Its exercises are of great literary ad- vantage to its members. It includes a course of study, which contemplates a graduating diploma when completed.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

The Industrial School, on Beaver street, near Dan- iel, is under the care of the Children's Friend Soci- ety, which was organized in 1856, and incorporated April 7, 1863. The managers seek to gather into the school, vagrant children who, from poverty or vice of parents, are unable to attend the public schools, and to instruct them in morals, industry and the elements of learning. Girls are received between the ages of four and fifteen; boys, four to fourteen. The school is supported by individual and church contributions and sales of articles. Number of scholars, 160. The new building cost, including ground, $15,500; was completed and dedicated in the spring of 1884; and is free from debt.

NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY.

The New York State Library was founded by act of the Legislature, passed April 21, 1818. The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Chancellor, and Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court for the time being, were constituted a Board of Trustees, who were directed to cause to be fitted up some proper room in the Capitol, for the purpose of keeping therein a public library for the use of the government and the people of the State. The Trustees of this period had mainly in view the col- lection of an extensive library of law books, and a great proportion of the appropriations were ex- pended for this department. The Legislature, how- ever, needed for consultation works on political economy, and books on such other subjects that touched upon their legislative labor, and thus the field for collection was gradually enlarged. For

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SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

thirty years the library continued under the con- trol of the officers above mentioned as Trustees (to whom, in 1824, were added the Secretary of State, Attorney-General, and Comptroller), and its mag- nitude and importance then made it necessary that a more permanent Board of Trustees should be in- trusted with its management. Accordingly, on the 4th of May, 1844, the Legislature enacted that the Regents of the University should be the Trustees of this library. Upon assuming this trust they caused an inventory of the library to be taken, and its whole arrangement was reconstructed. One result of the inventory was the discovery that three hundred and eleven volumes were missing, some of which, however, were recovered by advertising. It was determined to be important to secure for the State every historical work illustrating Ameri- can history, and especially the history of New York. The growth of the library has been a steady one, depending on a moderate annual appropria- tion, which has heen increased some years for the special purpose of large collections. Among such notably was the Warden collection in 1843, made by David B. Warden in Europe, numbering over two thousand volumes relating to American history.

In 1853, the Legislature authorized the purchase of the correspondence and other papers of George Clinton, the first Governor of the State. These manuscripts are of the highest importance, cover- ing the period of the Revolutionary War, and illustrating the part taken by New York in the struggle for independence. They have been bound in twenty-three folio volumes, and a calendar since added. A copious index to all names mentioned in these papers is now in preparation. Enough of other Clinton manuscripts have since been pro- cured to fill ten similar volumes. The papers found on the person of Major Andre by his captors at Tarrytown, were among the Clinton manuscripts, and have been framed and put under glass. The papers of Sir William Johnson, covering a period of the history of Central New York from 1738 to 1774, were also purchased and arranged, and bound in twenty-two folio volumes.

In 1854 the library was removed to a new build- ing, west of the old Capitol, constructed by the direction of the Legislature of 1851. It was in- tended to be fire-proof, and was so considered be- fore the great fires of Chicago and Boston. It was intended to accommodate 100,000 volumes; it had, before the removal to the new Capitol, packed and padded on the shelves, over 125,000 volumes, besides scores of volumes of atlases and thousands of duplicate books for exchange. The duplicate volumes are chiefly the reports of the several de- partments of the State Government and Institutions, and books presented to the library from time to time by various persons. In order to make room for preparing the approach to the new Capitol on the east, it was decided to take down the building. The library was removed during the months of September and October, 1883, to the new Capitol, the law library occupying the well-known golden corridor and the general library the adjoining room, formerly prepared for the Court of Appeals. This

is inadequate to afford shelf-room for all the books, but nearly all are accessible to the public. Ample rooms are in process of preparation on the third floor of the west side of the Capitol.

The library of to-day represents the best thoughts of the human mind and the record of human ac- tion for the last six thousand years. While every department of letters is represented on the shelves, yet the library is by far the richest in works relating to American history. Hundreds of books have been printed in this country in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, of the editions of which not twenty copies remain undestroyed. Quiet, unre- mitting watchfulness and care for the past thirty years have succeeded in gathering in most of these publications, so that few libraries on this continent are richer in early Americana. The library does not seek literary curiosities as such; but when a book is offered which is needed to complete the set of laws, or illustrate the history of the State, it is obtained, as when, in the spring of 1880, $1,600 was paid at auction for the first book of the laws of the State, of which but two or three perfect copies are known to be in existence. The library con- tains, in addition to these rare or almost unique volumes, many illustrated volumes of travels, of natural history, and of ancient and modern art. Among these are "Kingsborough's Mexican Antiq- uities," the text of which is mainly in the Spanish and Italian languages; the great work on Egypt, in twelve folio volumes, executed under orders of Napoleon I; "Audubon's Birds of America," in four volumes, elephant folio; and twenty volumes illustrating the humming birds of Central and South America. The leading journals of France and England are represented in almost complete files of the Moniteur and London Times. Sixty thou- sand pamphlets have been preserved, to illustrate every phase of human industry, eccentricity, passion, patriotism, stupidity, or genius, The collection of American genealogies is, perhaps, unsurpassed by any other country. About three thousand vol- umes of specifications and drawings of English patents are stored on the shelves, besides those of the United States, Canada, France, and Victoria. Hardly a library day in the year passes that one or more readers do not ask to consult some of these patent volumes. The law library has but one equal in the extent and value of its collections in this country, and that is the Library of Congress at Washington. Every book and pamphlet in the library is catalogued under the author's name, in alphabetical order, and in addition to this cata- logue is a subject-index, in which, under subjects presented in alphabetical order, are given the treat- ises, in book or pamphlet form, upon that subject.

In addition to the books, other articles of value and interest have drifted in as to a safe place of de- posit for the inspection of visitors. Among these are a sword and pistol and the surveying instruments of Washington; busts of some of the eminent states- men of New York; portraits in oil of many of the Governors, and of the Regents of the University, and a numismatic collection of considerable value. It is a reference library, and only members of the

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Legislature, heads of departments of the State government, and the Trustees of the library have the privilege of taking books to their residences. There is hardly a field of human industry that is not represented in applicants for information to assist them in their several spheres of labor in office, workshop, or outdoor occupation.

The library is open daily from 9 A. M. to 5 P. M., except Sundays and holidays, and from the 5th to the 20th of August.

The new rooms now being prepared for the library consist of one large reading-room and sev- eral smaller store-rooms for the books, from which the attendants in charge will bring the volumes required by readers. The stairway leading to the library will be the most magnificent one in the Capitol.

ALBANY INSTITUTE.

The Society of the Albany Institute dates back through other organizations, of which it is the legitimate successor, to the year 1791. Its charter was granted February 27, 1829, the Society for the Pro- motion of Useful Arts and the Albany Lyceum of Natural History having consolidated under that name. Its membership has included many per- sons of distinction as scholars and in professional and civil life. Its standard publications are ten volumes of Transactions, two of Proceedings, and one entitled "Field Meetings of the Albany Insti- tute." The annual fee for resident members is $5. There are now about two hundred members. Meetings are held each alternate Tuesday evening, from October to June, in the Albany Academy.

The library contains about six thousand volumes, and many old newspapers, including a collection made by De Witt Clinton; but, owing to lack of proper accommodations, it is not easily accessible; hence, not very useful. The institution is respect- able, and has been very useful; but it needs among its members more vitalizing influences, and ought to command more popular sympathy.

YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION.

The Young Men's Association, rooms corner of North Pearl and Steuben streets, is the oldest in- stitution of its character in the United States. It was founded, with a membership of about 750, De- cember 10, 1833. Amos Dean was its first President, elected December 13th, and re-elected at first annual meeting, February 3, 1834. It was incorporated March 12, 1835, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a library, reading-room, literary and scientific lectures, and other means of promot- ing moral and intellectual improvement. For twenty-two years it sustained a debating society. It occupied rooms in Knickerbocker Hall, on Broad- way, where Nos. 451 and 453 now are, until 1840; in Exchange Building, where the new Government Building now stands, until 1852; in the Commer- cial Bank Building until 1870; in Music Hall Building until 1877, when it came to its present rooms, having leased the Bleecker Building, on North Pearl, Steuben and Chapel streets, for ten

years, with right to re-lease for ten years longer. It has some valuable pictures, a good variety of cur- rent magazines and newspapers, and a well-selected circulating and reference library of about seventeen thousand volumes. Its largest benefactions have been $1,000 in books from Dr. George Cooke; $10,000 in a bequest from Hon. Erastus Corning; and $1,000 from Miss Catherine Quackenbush. All real estate and vested funds are under manage- ment of a board of trustees. The ordinary affairs are managed by a board of managers, eighteen in number. Life members, of which there are over one hundred and eighty living, pay $50 at one time. Annual members, male and female, pay $2. The Association deserves, as it has, the strong- est claims upon the sympathy and support of the best men and women of Albany. A catalogue of two hundred and ninety pages, prepared by Profes- sor Jonathan Tenney, was published in 1880, and a supplement of forty-two pages in 1882. Annual election occurs fourth Thursday in March. Mem- bership about 2,000.

Presidents of the Association from its organiza- tion to the present: Amos Dean, Robert E. Ward, Charles A. Hopkins, John Davis, Robert H. Pruyn, Denison Worthington, William E. Bleecker, Charles P. Smyth, Walter R. Bush, Arthur C. Southwick, Rufus King, Charles H. Stanton, Franklin Townsend, William A. Rice, Hooper C. Van Vorst, George B. Steele, William Dey Ermand, Rufus G. Beardslee, James I. Johnson, Theodore Townsend, Gilbert L. Wilson, George C. Lee, Ralph P. Lathrop, Richard Merrifield, Clinton Cassidy, Charles T. Shepard, Robert L. Johnson, Charles P. Easton, Edmund L. Judson, John T. McKnight, John Templeton, Samuel Hand, Frank- lin Edson, William D. Morange, Edward De Forest, Frank Chamberlain, Robert Lenox Banks, Grenville Tremain, John S. Delevan, Frederick T. Martin, John Swinburne, Henry C. Littlefield, Charles A. Robertson, Amasa J. Parker, Jr., Fred. W. Brown, Jacob S. Mosher, Thurlow Weed Barnes, John M. Bigelow, William P. Rudd, George E. Oliver, Fred'k Harris, Oren E. Wilson, Eugene Burlingame, Isaac D. F. Lansing. The successive librarians of the association are as fol- lows : Robert Gray, Abraham F. Lansing, William C. Minor, Abraham F. Lansing, Joseph F. Winne, Dwight Adams, Jonathan Tenney, Cornelius H. Chase, Joshua E. Crane. It is the only popular library in the city and, by its lectures, books and periodicals, has been a great blessing to the citi- zens. In 1883 it celebrated its semi-centennial.

DANA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

This ranks among the leading literary societies of Albany. It was organized November 19, 1868, at a meeting of ladies, and named in honor of Professor James D. Dana, of Yale College. Its act- ive members are all ladies of scientific tastes and culture, who meet statedly for the study of nature, and are engaged in collecting a library and cabinet to aid in this study. At its meetings papers are read, recent scientific facts reported and principles

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 153

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452