The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-23
INDIANA UNIVERSITY.
Addresses by DR.. Jordan and Hon. D. D. Banta
at the Celebration of Foundation Day"
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
BLOOMINGTON, Jan 22.-Last night was
celebrated for the first time Foundation
day" of Indiana University. At meeting
of the board of trustees some time ago it
was resolved to celebrate this event in the
year 1889, making it a future feature of the
institution until the interest on this occa-
sion would only be exceeded by commence
ment exercises. Hon. ID. ID. Banta, of the
class of 1856, was invited to deliver the first
address, and he very appropriately took
for his subject the first days of
the institution-''The Seminary Period
of the University A large audience gath
cred to hear the address. After invocation
dan introduced the speaker of the evening
by brief review of the history of the in
stitution. Since the 1st of May, 1924, when
the college was opened, with varying fort
nne and varying success, learned men had
striven to make this school useful to the
State and efficient as an agency toward
rlght-thlnking and right-living. Colleges
grow slowly, especially among pioneers
and, for the whole sixty-nine years of it's
life, the University of Indiana has been
subject to those vicisitudes peculiar to in
fancy. 1t has always had the character of
a young college, and to-day, when
it has nearly reached the middle
of its second half century, we can only say
that 1T is vigorous and promising youth.
tory we feel sure of its abundant vitality
and its power of growth, it is proper for us
to look backward over its early life. No
man and no Institution can afford TO part
with his early history. The line which
joins us to the future is continuous chain
going back to the past. 1t is fitting that at
least once year, on the anniversary of the
Universitys birthday, we should take a
backward glance over the struggles and the
triumphs of the past"
Judge Banta introduced his remarks by
beginning at the inception of. the institu-
tiOn, when Congress made the land grant
and it came before the legislature as
sembled in the Capitol at Corydon; the act
providing for free schools in gradation
from the district school to the State Uni
versity was introduced; how it barely
missed passage by the deciding vote of the
President of the Senate, and then how the
bill became law by the signature of Gov
ernor Jennings. While his remarks were
filled with many interesting incidents
of a personal nature. The first president was
the first man in the New Purchase" able to
read Greek. Judge Banta denominated
David Maxwell as the father of Indiana
University, and to whom more credit was
due for its existence than any other man.
He was the original third d-hOusen man at
Corydon, and worked untiringly for the
establishment, then the permanent success
of the institution. The first enrolment
showed ten students, and tuition of SIC
per year was charged, the presidents salary
being $3.50 per annum. The address closed
with the period when Indiana Seminary de-
veloped into Indiana College, and it is prob
able that the address year hence will
deal with the events of that time.
After the address reception was ten.
dered at the residence of DIR. Maxwell. in
which only the members of the faculty and
q few special friends participated.