New-York daily tribune., 1854-07-11
THE NEW-YORK FREE ACADEMY.

In answer raj inquiries from correspondent In
regard the above named institution, psbshed In Tai
TsbuEE Of Monday. wen for the information Of the
public abroad offer the following sketch Of the origin
and present condition Of the Free Academy:
The Board Of Education was created by act Of the
Legislature passed April H. 1892 and is composed OF
two Commissioners from each Ward Of the City. Tho
time for the election Of these Commissioners and other
school officers, the frst Monday OF June ana the
Board accordingly organized and entered upon ats duties
shortly after that date.
The need Of some institution Of higher character than
public school which should afford to all the people, with
out exception the benefits OF liberal education, was
made apparent these pcpuaryeiected officers and the
aueston became one of constantly increasing Importance,
AZ the growth of the City and the character of the pupils
in be schools came be better understood and realized
On the s7th Of July, 1916, Mr.. TOWNSEND HARRIS, ono
OF the Commissioner offered resolution in the Board Of
Education calling for the appointment of Committee to
report upon the expcdiency Of establishing such On nst
tuition After a delberaton Of six months on the 2oth Of
January lei7, the Committee submitted their report
urging the importance Of such measure and recommena
ing the adoption of to attain the object cone
plated. On the 10th Of February following, the report
made the topic Of discussion, and Conmt'ee was
appointed memoraze the Legislature 70 procure VI"
passage Of law which should authorize the Board to iouna
and orpapize the New. York Free Academy On the 'h
Of NAV in the came year. the Legislature OF inc Sae
passed the act under the provisions OF which the
was established with proviso that the queson oi
inn ,houd be submitted to the people at the next ensuing
election for school officers TO be held in june The ques
on wa. so submitted and the vote resulted in majority
ofi5so5 in favor Of the candidate for popular favor
There we're 10 votes in the affirmative, and 400 IN
the negative A. soon the verdict thus rendered became
officially known the Board proceeded to procure the plans
of distinguished architects and during the month OF No
yember following the ground broken for the new
edifce.
The lot upon which ile building stands extends 200 feet
on Twenty thir-st and 1921 feet LexngtOn-av, and
WINS purchased for the of $4,000. The edce is l25
feet ON Twenty rd-s and 30 on the Avenue, leaving
pey.cround and promenade all sides of the building
There are three stories beside the basement the street
level and the upper floor which affords ono of the largest
pul,c rooms in the City, The building, which was con-
structed to afford facilities for large number of students
was erected at an expense of about $4,000.
On the 18th of January s49, the institution opened
for the exainato. Of candidates for admission; jan
uary a. the formal dedication ceremonies and Inaugural
ton Of the Principal and Faculty took place, and the in
sution commenced its course of instruction tho 5h of
the February following.
The qualifications for admission TO the Academy
follows: No suden, be admitted unless he reside in
the City of Ncw-York be thirteen years OF age, shall
have attended the schools at least twelve months
and shall pass good examination in Spelling, Reading,
Writing English Grammar Geography, Arithmetic, Ee-
mentory Bookkeeping History of the United States, and
Algebra, as far as Simple Equations, inclusive.
There are two examinations for admission, and two for
MISUNDERSTANDING in February and July. The
student having passed his examination enters upon the
Of studies which is TO be in every respect abso
lutely free There 10 charge whatever for anything,
except penalties for wifu destruction of books any
other property OF the institution should that
All the supplies furnished by the institution even to
the slate pencils paper for literary exercises cryons and
ptnhelders-rom the Lexicon to tho copy-book every
thing furnished Free in the other schools supported
by the City under the control the Board Education
Tie Academy nshes the means and requires only that
the student shall furnish the industry, the talent and the
ambition to them to the best possible advantage.
The laboratory is filed with welsclected apparatus pro-
cured under the direction Of Professor WoLcorr GIBBS,
which guaranty that this department conducted with
view to the interests Of science while the bounty of the
peopc il not misapplicd. The remark is fitting Of
tho department Of Natural Philosophy, under the of
Professor NICHOLS which supplied with very excellent
Instruments. Both departments however, fast the
means shall be Afforded will enlarge their collections.
The Library of tho Academy contains abou; four
thousand volumes including many Of the most valuable
literary and scientific works in English French, German
Spansh, Latin and Greek. Additions to the Library
made from tho annual appropriations of the Literature
Fund Of the. State.
The Drawing School which furnishes instruction in the
Fine Arts, and in every department of mechanical and
practical drawing and descriptive Geometry, is furnished
With large number of the finest casts Of the Ecolc de
Beaux Arts at Paris and also casts of number OF the
Elgin marbes-the only copies we believe that have
been taken-snd which secured specially for the
Academy Thcso casts donated by CHARLES Nj.
Lrrrr. Esq. OF this City.
The Department Of Natural History is supplied with
collection of minerals fossils Shells Skeletons mankn,
&c. snd additions are made from time to time as they
are offered by contributors. Donations in this Depart
ment win be received and duly announced in the caa-
logucs and reports
Several Medal Funds have been established by citizens
OF New.York, as follows:
In 1850 DUNCAN C. PELL founded the annual Gold
Medal for General Studies called the PELL MEDAL.
In 1880 EDWIN BURR created similar trust fer a Gold
Medal for Mathematics, called the BtRR MkpAI.
In 1850 CHATJrs T. CROMWELL created similar trust
for Gold Medsl for History and Bellies Lercs called
the CRoxwrLL MEDAL.
In ls5s ArersTus ii. WARD created similar trust for
twenty Bronze Medals for Chemistry, Natural History,
Natural Philosophy, Moral Philosophy Law, English,
Greek, Latin French Spanish Grammar, Oratory, Com
position. Logic Geography, History, Drawing, Algebra
and Geometry, Engineering, aud Hygiene. All these
medals ere perpe,sal.
In 1889, ERAsIps c. BENEDICT, the President Of the
Beard Of Education crign ,ied Prize of tho President,
"of the Board Of Education" designed to be pcrpeua
ted by that officer for the time being annually, for the
best public exercise in Oratory This premium has been
awarded twice to Nichols H. Babcoek, Jr.
The Board Of Education is authorized TO confer degrees,
and that body has adopted the degree of Bachelor OF Art,
for the Classical course and Bachelor OF Sciences for the
Nodern course with general literature and science.