The southern argus., 1891-06-18
HISTORY OF A SCHOOL.
How the University of Kansas
Was Established.
Its Struggles and Final Success The Men
Who Conceived the Idea and Nurtured
the Enterprise-Tnteresting
Sketches.

On the occasion of the celebrat' on OF
the quarter centennial of the state uni
versity an interesting little volume was
issued entitled Quarter Centennial
History of the University of Kansas,
1866-1891, =" which contains many inter
esting sketches written by persons con.
nected with the institution Prof Will
son Sterling, assistant professor OF
Greek and a graduate of the university,
contributes the opening article, which
is 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.. Lawrence's desire at that
time is thus expressed in private let
ter:
You shall have a college which shall be a
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 extineuished 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. G. Pomeroy were made by Mr.. Law
renee trustees of securities worth some
thing more than $4,000, 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
Presbyterians took steps toward the
foundation of school of high grade.
Subscriptions were asked for in the cast
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
cluded. The city of Lawrence is
sued deed for the land, but funds
for the institution came slowly.
So about this time the Congrega-
tional church of Kansas decided to
establish college. At a 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
hn - he
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 $4,000. The
money did not materialize and the plan
was dropped
The movement of the Congregations
Alists spurred on the Presbyterians,
who went to work on foundation. Or
October Is, 1859, they laid the corner
stone with the usual ceremonies. They
became involved in debt and were
obliged to abandon their work.
Here a new party took hold of the
project and obtained 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 a stop to further pro
ceedings and just as another plan was
being developed the Quantrell 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 sharp contest
by several towns for the location
Lawrence finally secured it. Charles
Robinson furnished forty acres o.
ground, donation fund of S., 600 was
raised by the citizens and Amos
Lawrence gave $1,000 in cash. Money
was raised from other sources an6
enough was thus secured to erect a
building. This building-now known
as North college-was completed in
September, 1866, at a cost of about $20,-
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
$4,000 for teachers and $4,000 for furni
ture and apparatus.
On the lJIn OF July, looO, inc 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; Z, j. Rice,
Methodist, was made acting president
and professor of bellies lettres anC
mental and moral science; d. H. Rob
inson, Baptist, was elected professor o
languages, and T. III. Snow, professor o
mathematics and natural sciences
Thus after ten years, the university
finally opened September u, 1866, will
twenty-six young ladies and twenty
nine young gentlemen, all in the pre-
paratory department. The secont
year there were 125 students and sew
eral additions had been made to tn,
faculty. Chancellor Oliver resigned il
l. l.