Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1888 [PAGE 202]

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HISTOETCAL ADDKESS, TWENTIETH ANNIVEESAKY.

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leges and schools; the drafting of plans and courses of study; the selection of professors and teachers; the multiplicity of details which was involved in the perfecting of so large and so complicated a piece of mechanism as the University was designed to become. Time has demonstrated the excellency of the work, the far-sighted breadth of the plans, the good judgment used in the choice of men, and the wise adjustment of means to ends. The University was opened to sudents, March 2, 1868, and inaugural ceremonies were observed on Wednesday, March 11th, addresses being delivered by Dr. Gregory, and the then State Superintendent, the Hon. Newton Bateman. The number of students during the first term was 77. The subjects taught were algebra, geometry, natural philosophy, history, rhetoric, and Latin. The instructors at the time of the inauguration were the Regent, Dr. Gregory, and Professors William M. Baker and George W. Atherton. Of these the first died in 1873, while still in the service of the University; the second soon resigned, and is now the distinguished President of the Pennsylvania State College. Although the formal opening occurred in March, and a class was taught during the spring term, the actual beginning of the University work may properly be set at the opening of the succeeding fall term. By that time Professors Burrill, Shattuck, Snyder, Bliss and Stuart, had been appointed, and were on duty; the first three named have been continuously at their posts until the present day. Major Powell, the present director of the U. S. Geological Surveys, was appointed Professor of Natural History, but never did the University any service. I t will not be possible for me in the brief time allotted, to follow minutely the changes in the corps of instruction as they have occurred, or to notice other matters much in detail. Even the salient points can be only briefly touched. The utilization and division of the land for agricultural and horticultural purposes received first attention. In the season of 1869 the orchard was planted, the forest plantation stocked, and the arboretum planned. The land was otherwise suitably divided and the barns were erected. I t was in the original plan to open at once a machine shop as an adjunct to instruction in mechanical engineering. After some unavoidable delays, S. W. Bobinson was appointed professor in that department and entered upon his work at New-year's, 1870. Some machinery was at once put to work in the wooden building north of the half-way House. I t is probable that tool or machine instruction was first given in America at the Worcester Free Institute, which was formerly inaugurated in November, 1868, six months after the opening of this University. I have not been able to find that Professor Robinson's practice shop had any other predecessor in this country. I n 1871, the legislature appropriated $25,000 for erecting and equipping a machine shop and