Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-18
HISTORY OF A SCHOOL.
How the University Of Kansas
Was Established.
It's Struggles and Final Success-The Men
Who Conceived the Idea and Nurtured
tho Observation-Disclosures
Sketches.

the quarter centennial of the state uni
versity an interesting little volume was
issued entitled sQuarter Centennial
History of the University of Kansas,
1S66-1s91," which contains many inter
esting sketches written by persons con-
nected with the institution. Prof Will
son Sterling, assistant professor of
Greek and graduate of the university,
is a historical sketch of the school from
pioneer days to the present time. A
Kansas City Star correspondent COM
piles an interesting article from it.
From this sketch it appears that the
university was thought of as early as
1856 by Amos Lawrence, who at that
time requested Gov. Robinson to spend
some money for him in laying the
foundation of school building on the
northern part Of Mt. Oread-where the
| first university building was finally
erected. Mr.. Lawrences desire at that
time is thus expressed in a private let
ter:
You shall have college which shall be q
school of learning and at the same time a
monument to perpetuate the memory of
those martyrs of liberty who fell during the
recent struggles Beneath it their dust shall
rest In it shall burn the light of liberty,
which shall never be extnguished until It
illumines the whole continent 1t shall be
called the Free State College, and all the
friends of freedom shall be invited to lend it
| helping hand.
The next year Charles Robinson and
s. C. Pomeroy were made by Mr.. Law
| renee trustees of securities worth some
thing more than S12, 900, the income
from which was to be used for the edu-
| cation OF the young in the new terri
tory. But the original Free State col
lege" project could not be carried out,
| owing to lack of funds; so in 1858 the
Presbyterlans took steps toward the
foundation of school of high grade
Subscriptions were asked for in the east
and at home.
A charter for Lawrence university
was obtained from the legislature and
an organization effected, chairs estab-
lished and professors named Even a
complete medical department was in
Guided. The city of Lawrence is
| sued a deed for the land, but funds
for the institution came slowly.
So about this time the Congrega-
tional church of Kansas decided to
tablfsh college. At meeting in
June, 1859, it was arranged to establish
| Monumental college" in Lawrence.
to commemorate the triumph of liberty
| over slavery in Kansas. This was to be
under the control of the Congregations
! al church. The Amos Lawrence fund
was secured for the new project, and
land and promises of money were sub
scribed to the amount of $50. 900. The
money did not materialize and the plan
| was dropped
The movement of the Congregation
| alists spurred on the Presbyterians,
| who went to work on a foundation. On
October 10, 1859. they laid the corner
stone with the usual ceremonies. They
became involved in debt and were
| obliged to abandon their work.
Here new party took hold of the
project and obtained a charter in 1861
This was under the auspices of the
Episcopal church. But the Episco-
palians succeeded no better than their
| predecessors.
The war put stop to further pro-
ceedings and just as another plan was
being developed the Quantrel raid re-
tarded the movement for year, when
it was revived in the name of the state
| Various attempts had been made by
the legislature to establish state uni
| versity and there was a sharp contest
| by several towns for the location.
| Lawrence finally secured it Charles
Robinson furnished forty acres of
ground, a donation fund of SIS, ZOO was
raised by the citizens and Amos
| Lawrence gave $40, 900 in cash Money
enough was thus secured to erect a
| h,,f1
| as North college-was completed in
| September, 1866, at cost of about $2e,
| 600. Seventy-two sections of govern
| ment land had been set apart for the
| support of a state university, but there
was no cash on hand. The first ap-
preparation from the state was in 1866
8, 900 for teachers and S., 600 for furni-
ture and apparatus
On the 10th of July, 1886. the regents
elected the first faculty of the univer-
| sity. In order to keep the control of
the institution out of the hands of any
one denomination, it was understood
that two professors should not be
chosen from the same denomination
| until all the leading denominations
should have at least one representative
in the faculty. r w. Oliver, rector of
Trinity Episcopal church, Lawrence,
| was chosen chancellor; E J.. Rice,
Methodist, was made acting president
and professor of bellies lettres and
mental and moral science; D. H. Rob
inson, Baptist, was elected professor of
languages, and F. 81. Snow, professor of
mathematics and natural sciences
Thus, after ten years, the university
finally opened September 12, 1866. with
twenty-six young ladies and twenty
nine young gentlemen, all in the pre-
paratory department The second
year there were 125 students and sew
eral additions had been made to the
faculty. Chancellor Oliver resigned in
1867 and Gen. John Fraser, president of
the agricultural college of Pennsyl-
vania, was elected in his place. The in
stitution grew rapidly and its building
became too crowded.. In 1870 the city
Of Lawrence voted S1OO, 900 in bonds for
the erection of a new building. which
was opened in December, 1872 The
university suffered from grasshoppers
and the financial depression of the time.
and it was not until a year after the adj
vent of Chancellor James Marvin, in
November, 1874, that prosperity shone