USA > Ohio > Ross County > Chillicothe > Ohio centennial anniversary celebration at Chillicothe, May 20-21, 1903 : under the auspices of the Ohio State Archaelogical and Historical Society : complete proceedings > Part 39
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In the struggle of the years past as we have journeyed from simplicity to complexity of organization and equipment, the con- servatives and the aggressives have had their battles, and the vic- tory has not always been with the men of progress. Undoubtedly, much remains to be done. The school system is not perfect. Its benign influences are not everywhere or always accepted. At the very heart and core the system is truly American. It is for all. It is adjustable. Its keynote is spontaneity. The people in the beginning were its responsible authors ; they are now responsible, they ever will be. As a great social power the public schools of Ohio stand unrivalled and unequalled; so, am I persuaded, will they ever continue to stand so long as the Ordinance is remem- bered and the plain commands of the Constitution are respected and obeyed. My earnest hope is that in the years to come the system may, in a larger and broader way, become even more effi- cient and purposeful, the teachers become more skillful, and the children be better taught.
UNIVERSITIES OF OHIO.
W. O. THOMPSON.
The history of Ohio's colleges and universities is a record of sacrifice, of devotion and of achievement. The results of this work are known only in part but to a much less degree even are we acquainted with the trials and sacrifices that mark the early history of nearly every college in the state. It is possible that mistakes were made in those pioneer days; the judgment given was not always unerring but we must recognize now that there was a lofty patriotism in those early founders and that their motives were as pure as their deeds were unselfish.
These colleges reflect the spirit of the state in its development. They have always lacked uniformity and have been the outgrowth of an at- W. O. THOMPSON. tempt to meet local needs. Accord- ingly the spirit of individualism and of self-government is every- where manifest. Ohio has furnished a sample of nearly every variety of college known to the American people. As her citi- zenship has been of the greatest variety yet withal sturdy, patri- otic and genuinely American, so her colleges have kept the Ohio idea in a state of vigorous activity.
The space alloted will permit but brief mention of the most characteristic features of these institutions. In order that we may discover their foundation and mode of government the fol- lowing classification is made :- I. Colleges founded on Congres- sional reservations. 2. Colleges incorporated by private individ- uals with power to elect their own successors and control the
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property and funds. 3. The denominational college. 4. The City University. 5. The State University founded on the Morrill act in Congress and the statutes of Ohio.
I. COLLEGES FOUNDED ON CONGRESSIONAL RESERVA- TIONS. OF THESE THERE ARE TWO: THE OHIO UNI- VERSITY AT ATHENS AND MIAMI UNIVERSITY AT OX- FORD.
I. OHIO UNIVERSITY, ATHENS, ATHENS COUNTY, FOUNDED IN 1804.
To Ohio University belongs the double distinction of being the oldest college in the state and of being the first institution west of the Alleghany mountains supported by a public land en- dowment. In 1787 Dr. Manasseh Cutler with the approval and authority of the Ohio Company proceeded to New York where Congress was in session and largely through his influence an ordinance providing for the purchase of public lands was passed. He succeeded in having Congress insert, among other provisions, that two townships should be reserved for the support of a liter- ary institution. Although this idea of reserving a portion of the public domain for the support of higher education had been made public prior to this time, it is due to the efforts of Dr. Cutler that it became a part of public law and policy.
In 1795 the two townships of Athens and Alexander in Athens County were selected and in 1799 the territorial legis- lature took steps toward locating the proposed institution. This work was approved by the legislature in 1800. The first charter proposed to create a corporation to be known as "The Board of Trustees of the American University." In 1802 the legisla- ture passed an act chartering "The American Western Univer- sity" and locating it in Athens. In 1804 after the admission of Ohio into the Union the legislature passed an act superseding the above and gave the institution the name it now has, viz : Ohio University.
After some delay the erection of the first building was begun in 1808 and in June of the following year the University was opened with one professor-Rev. Jacob Lindley-and three stu- dents. The first class was graduated in 1815 and contained as
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bright a star as ever graduated from an Ohio college, viz., Thomas Ewing-whose public career forms an inspiring chapter in the history of Ohio's sons.
From 1815 the life and work of the University was on the usual plan of colleges of that day. The classical and literary predominated and was the standard of excellence. Occasionally something was said or done concerning a scientific course or a normal course but these were regarded as inferior and were so treated. The science course in all colleges a generation ago rep- resented less discipline, less work, less culture and was inferior in contents. Men of high ideals took the best offered. Ohio University like other colleges in those days made its reputation upon its classical and literary work. The progress of the institu- tion was limited by two factors, the demand for higher education and the lack of funds. In the first particular it grew with the country. In the second it was hindered by unfortunate legis- lation. The two townships held in trust were leased at a rental of six per centum on a valuation of one dollar and seventy-five cents an acre. The original plan provided for a revaluation of the lands at periods of thirty-five, sixty and ninety years. At the first opportunity the lessees contested the revaluation and after troublesome litigation that took the University into the courts, the legislature repealed the provision for revaluation and thereby forever limited the income possible from the lands. It is not the province of this paper to discuss the motives that led to this action but attention may well be called to the disastrous results flowing from such a failure to foresee the future in dealing with trust funds.
For a considerable period the University lived under this limi- tation and after repeated presentations the legislature took action to relieve the embarrassment by providing annual appropriations to meet the needs and later placed the University on a permanent basis by providing an annual levy for its support. In 1902 the legislature made additional provision by establishing one of the Normal Schools at Athens under the control of the trustees of the University and levying an additional tax amounting to substan- tially thirty-five thousand dollars. This doubled the revenue from state sources so that from all sources the University has a
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regular income of approximately seventy-five thousand dollars. State support of the University was begun in 1881. The Faculty has embraced many scholarly and distinguished men and the alumni roll has furnished some of the most prominent and useful men in the history of Ohio. The government is by a board of nineteen trustees appointed for life by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. In addition the governor of Ohio and the presi -. dent of the University are members ex-officio.
2. MIAMI UNIVERSITY, OXFORD, BUTLER COUNTY, FOUNDED IN 1809.
Ten days after the adoption of the Ordinance of 1787 Con- gress adopted the report of a committee which provided that the board of treasury should be authorized and empowered to con- tract with any person or persons for a grant of certain land lying to the north of the river Ohio. Pursuant to this John Cleves. Symmes made a petition for a grant of land between the two. Miami rivers. The grant originally for one million acres was. modified to as much as Symmes and his associates could pay for. In this grant one township was reserved for the support of an institution of learning. In the disposal of these lands it happened that the terms of the contract could not be literally fulfilled and it was agreed to by Congress in a report submitted by Hon. John Randolph that a substitute township in the Cincinnati district might be used as meeting the conditions of the grant. Lebanon, Warren County, was first selected by a committee and the report signed by Alexander Campbell and James Kilbourne. The fact that the third member had not met with the committee gave rise to a debate in the legislature and the location was finally fixed in Oxford Township, Butler County. When the title had been made secure the legislature in 1809 passed an act creating a body politic and corporate to be known as, "The president and trustees of Miami University." A board of trustees was appointed and subsequent legislation looking toward complete organization was passed. The legislature in 1809 provided for leasing the lands with a revaluation every fifteen years. The next year the pro- vision for revaluation was repealed and entailed a result similar
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to that narrated in the sketch of Ohio University. In 1818, Rev. James R. Hughes under the direction of the trustees opened a grammar school. It has been usually stated that this school was opened in 1816 but the records of the trustees do not warrant the statement. In 1820 a contract was made for the central portion of the present main building. In 1824 the University was opened and the first class, consisting of twelve men, was graduated in 1826.
The first president, Rev. Robert H. Bishop, D. D., was a sturdy Scotchman whose strong personality dominated the ideals of the new college. Associated with him were men equally at- tached to the classical education. The early curriculum shows the superiority of the men and it is doubtful whether any modern college represents a classical course superior to that offered at Miami seventy-five years ago. The college became noted for its public spirit and the record of its men brought it a national repu- tation. From time to time some enlargement was proposed but did not succeed. A law school at one time and a medical school at another were proposed but failed. A normal course was sus- tained for some time but gradually fell into disuse. The school had been built upon the classical pattern and the alumni regarded lightly any other conception. For seventy-five years it was a consistent and high grade small college of the classical type.
The institution had suffered from lack of revenues and be- came so involved that the trustees closed the doors in 1873. In 1885 the University was reopened. During this time the buildings were leased for a private school and the funds were allowed to increase. In 1885 the state made the first appropriation to repair the buildings and continued small appropriations from year to year until 1896 when a levy was provided for the permanent support of the University. In 1902 the legislature established a state normal school at Oxford under the control of the trustees of Miami University and made provision for its support by doub- ling the levy for the University. The annual income now is ap- proximately sixty-five thousand dollars. The institution is gov- erned by a board of twenty-seven trustees appointed for the term of nine years in three classes. They are appointed by the gov- ernor of Ohio subject to confirmation by the Senate. The in-
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stitution adopted coeducation in 1896 when the state levy was provided for its support. Prior to that time a limited number of young women had enrolled but the policy of coeducation was not formally adopted. This with the establishing of the normal school marks a new era in which the older customs and traditions will gradually be displaced by the more modern ideas of edu- cation.
II. COLLEGES FOUNDED AS CLOSE CORPORATIONS BY PRI- VATE INDIVIDUALS.
A second class of colleges may be described as institutions under private or personal control. Under the constitution of Ohio the statutes provide for the incorporation of colleges and uni- versities. It has been the custom so far to relieve property devoted to education from taxation and thus encourage such institutions by a free opportunity to carry on the work of educa- tion as the wisdom of a select body of men may desire. These institutions are what is known as close corporations in that the trustees elect their own successors and thus definitely and perma- nently fix the policy and character of the college. They are free from any ecclesiastical control although usually controlled by trustees unwilling to separate the interests of religion from those of education. In the popular mind these colleges were at first regarded as denominational colleges but as the idea of denomina- tional control and support was developed they were less closely related to the church and depended upon individuals for endow- ment. In some regards these colleges are superior to all others especially in that the management being self-perpetuating may also perpetuate the policies approved by the boards and in that they are less liable to interference by any outside influences. In the East this type of college is common. In the West sentiment has turned to the denominational and state institutions. Some of the insti- tutions of this class have prospered, notably Oberlin and Western Reserve, while others have languished. Christian people have gradually attached themselves to the denominational colleges and thus withdrawn both support and patronage. Those favorably located or having a large and wealthy alumni have usually been able to command the funds necessary to meet the demands of
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modern education. Other colleges of this class have suffered in patronage and funds owing to the fact that their natural and original constituency has been steadily drawn to colleges of an- other type. Their close though not formal relation to the church has made them highly useful to the denominations but their future growth is nevertheless threatened except in cases where the nat- ural alliance is with denominations whose form of government does not in any formal and authoritive way assume the direction and control of educational agencies. In this group of colleges under private control there are eight.
I. FRANKLIN COLLEGE, NEW ATHENS, HARRISON COUNTY, FOUNDED IN 1825.
Prior to 1825 there had been for some time a school known as Alma Academy. In 1825 the name was changed to Alma Col- lege and in 1826 to Franklin College. The founders of this college were chiefly of the Scotch-Irish stock that settled in West- ern Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. Many of the early trustees were of the Calvinistic faith and belonged to the several branches of the Presbyterian communion. The college became involved in the slavery agitation and finally divided so that New Athens had the distinction of two colleges - one proslavery and the other antislavery. Providence College which was proslavery soon lan- guished and its property was bought by the other. These stirring days with their slavery debates produced some vigorous men. Able and learned men were in the faculty. We are not surprised therefore to see in the alumni roll such names as George W. Mc- Cook, John A. Bingham, William Kennon, member of Congress, friend and adviser of Jackson, John Welch of the Supreme Court of Ohio, Joseph Ray, author of the arithmetics so long in popular use in Ohio and adjoining states, and many others of equally worthy character. The war, as in many other colleges, practically emptied the class rooms so that during one year of that period as few as twelve students were enrolled. In recent years the col- lege has lacked funds to expand in response to the demands upon higher education. This has resulted in a limited attendance and the relative decline of the college as compared to earlier days.
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The alumni have been useful citizens and many of them have risen to distinction. Its location is not liable to bring to it in the future more than a local patronage.
2. WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND, FOUNDED 1826.
Western Reserve University at present embraces six organi- zations, all under the general management and control of the Board of Trustees. It will serve our purpose best to give sepa- rate accounts of these.
Adelbert College.
This college, which in earlier days was Western Reserve College, located at Hudson, was of New England origin and type. As early as 1801 a petition by certain residents of the Reserve was presented to the. Territorial Legislature asking for a charter for a college to be located in that region. This for reasons known only to the dead, was not granted. In 1803, after the admission of Ohio into the Union, the petition was renewed, and the "Erie Literary Society," with full college powers, was organized. Accordingly a building was erected and an academy opened in 1805 at Burton. During the early years of this acad- emy the Presbyteries of Grand River and Portage had organ- ized an Educational Society for the purpose of educating young men for the ministry. They made proposals to the Erie Literary Society to establish a theological department. After a brief trial it was believed that Burton was not a suitable location in which to develop plans for education, and a request for a change of location was made.
On account of property limitations the request was not granted. The managers of the educational fund withdrew in 1824 and began their efforts for a new location. The Presby- tery of Huron became interested in the movement. The out- come was that twelve men representing the three Presbyteries named above became a board of trustees, held their ยท first meet- ing February 15, 1825, drew up a charter, and were incorpo- rated as Western Reserve College, February 7, 1826. Hudson had been selected as the location. The corner stone of the first
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building was laid April 26, 1826, and the building occupied in 1827, when the preparatory department was opened. The organ- ization was that of a close corporation. The trustees had full power to elect their own successors, and no restrictions what- ever were made in respect to manner of election, qualifications of members, term of service, religious creed or residence. The control of the state was limited to amending the charter with the provision that no fund or property of the college should ever by law be appropriated to any other purpose. As a matter of fact, the original trustees were either ministers or members of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches then co-operating under what was known as the "Plan of Union." At that time there was no such thing known as a denominational college or state university as we now know them. These men followed the New England model of organizing a college under Chris- tian auspices, as has been done in so many instances. The ob- jects of the founders were "to educate pious young men as pas- tors for our destitute churches," "to preserve the present liter- ary and religious character of the state and redeem it from future decline," and "to prepare competent men to fill the cabinet, the bench, the bar and the pulpit." The charter provided that the plan should include instruction in the liberal arts and sciences, and at the discretion of the trustees additional departments should be organized for the study of any or all the liberal pro- fessions. The early founders were men who had been educated in. New England -chiefly at Yale-and were guided in their work by their own education. In 1828 Rev. Charles Backus Storrs was appointed professor of Christian Theology, and be- came president in 1830. The Theological department was con- tinued until 1852. In 1876 discussion became earnest with ref- erence to removal to Cleveland. The comparative advantages and disadvantages of the two locations were freely discussed in all quarters. President Carroll Cutler became strongly in favor of re- moval. In 1880 the late Amasa Stone offered the sum of five hun- dred thousand dollars in case of removal, and the change of name to that of "Adelbert College of Western Reserve University," the location to be upon a suitable campus to be provided by the citizens of Cleveland. The trustees decided to accept the proposition of
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Mr. Stone, and in September, 1882, Adelbert College, so named in memory of an only son drowned while a student at Yale, was opened in Cleveland. The property at Hudson is now used as Western Reserve Academy. Since the removal the gift of Mr. Stone has been supplemented by many others, and the college has entered upon a new and vigorous life.
The Medical College. '
In 1843 the Cleveland Medical College was organized, and on February 23, 1844, the charter of Western Reserve College was so amended as to allow the establishment of the medical department in Cleveland. The relation was nominal for a long time, but in 1884 the medical school became an organic part of the university, and the graduates in medicine now receive their .degrees from the university. This college has graduated more than two thousand physicians, and in recent years has been greatly strengthened in equipment and endowment. Its entrance requirements and course of instruction give it rank as one of the highest grade in the country. The course covers four years.
The College for Women.
Western Reserve College without formal action one way or the other, had become coeducational. This was not the orig- inal intention or practice. Coeducation had become a fact through popular demand and the consent of the president. On December 7, 1887, the Honorable Samuel E. Williamson intro- duced a resolution which the trustees adopted providing that thereafter Adelbert College should educate men only. The reso- lution also suggested the propriety of provision by the univer- sity for the founding of a college of equal grade for women. On that same day the following resolution was adopted :
WHEREAS, The trustees of the university are strongly impressed with the necessity of providing for young women facilities for higher education equal to those now furnished to young men, and the aban- donment of co-education by Adelbert College makes this especially an opportune time for establishing here a college for women which shall offer advantages equal to those afforded by similar institutions of the first grade elsewhere; and
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WHEREAS, The president has received encouragement that, both as to instruction and funds, for the preliminary work, interested friends are ready to come to the front and generously assume responsibilities if there be hope of success in so laudable an undertaking ;
Resolved, That the president be requested to take such steps as shall seem to him expedient to establish such a college for young women, to be known for the present as The Cleveland College for Young Women, with the express understanding, however, that none of the funds of any existing department of the university shall be applied to its establishment or support.
Out of these resolutions grew the movement that resulted in the organization of what is now known as "The College for Women of the Western Reserve University." In September, 1888, the college opened in rented quarters, and for the first three years depended almost exclusively on the services of the faculty of Adelbert College gratuitously offered as a contribution to the establishment of the new movement. The college now has a . separate faculty ; has received a number of gifts ; is provided with adequate buildings in a beautiful location, and has become one of the important factors for the education of women in Ohio. The degrees are granted by the university of which the College for Women forms an integral part.
The Franklin T. Backus Law School.
The department of law here, as in most universities, has been. a growth in response to a demand for better legal training. In 1892 a school was opened in rented quarters, and in 1893, in recogni- tion of an endowment provided by Mrs. Backus, of Cleveland, and in honor of her husband, the name was changed to "The Franklin T. Backus Law School of Western Reserve University."
Candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Laws are required to have sufficient education to enter college. This rule has been. in force since 1900. As in other colleges of the University the degrees are granted by the University.
The Dental College.
This department was organized in 1892, and as a college is an integral part of the university, under full and direct control
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of the trustees. The work in the College is associated with the Medical College in that the students in dentistry are given instruc- tion in several branches of medicine. The course covers four years, and the requirements for entrance and graduation are those established by the National Association of Dental Faculties.
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