New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-28
A SCHOOL or AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS
LARGE REQUESTS FOR A NEW DEPARTMENT OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LARGE REQUESTS FOR NEW DEPARTMENT OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Chautauqua. July 81 specan.-Tbe University Of
Pennsylvania has Just come into the possession OF
several handsome requests through the untirng in-
dnstry Of Professor Francis n. Thorpe. who Is now
lecturlng at Chautauqua Professor Thorpe received
advices from the benefactors to-day which make IL
possible to give detailed account OF the new school,
the success of which is now assured. The new In
sttuton is to be known the School OF American
History and Institutions Everything that pekains
to America in the way Of history literature, law and
lore of any kind is TO be studied Professor Thorpe
Is to be The dean Of the new school, and he has spent
over five years In perfectng his plans and celebrating
his IDEAS one bequest Of half million slipped
through the Professors hands account Of the I'M
fortunate failure in business OF the intended donor
The requests referred to from several prominent
men in Philadelphia and New York, whose names are
withheld for the present The amount subscribed will
be several hundred thousand dollars. But the I'M
portant thing to be noted Is that new school, dis
tnctively American, is 10 be organized, equipped, ana
administered in such way 10 emphasize the place
that American institutions should hold In the present
history OF the worlds progress 1t will be made up
of different departments, with special courses as fol
lows: The history of American legislation in ell the
States and in Congress this will be for the
benefit Of lawyers; second, State constitutional his
tory third, the history of the great movements in
education (ths Is for the 100000 schoolteachers In
the land fourth, tie history of the church, fifth the
history OF diplomacy sixth, the history Of municipal
affairs and the growth Of cities seventh, the history of
political parties school Of Journalism will also be
started. Among the professors who win be connected
with the new school the dean of the Law School,
c. Stuart Patterson Professor T. j. James Professor
Thompson and others. Professor Thorpe has his eye
several other prominent men, but until they
engaged names Ire given out. The library will
he CT the finest on this continent containing
$4,000 volumes 1t will be complete I'm every Line bear
ing on American history, literature and law. 1t will
contain complete and official record of the National
Government, as well complete selection of the
laws of every State in the Union. The celebrated
library Of Mr.. Jameson, of Chicago, will form part Of
1t. In the study of municipal affairs and the growth
Of cities, etc. much attention will be given TO e. "
possible improvement. The library already has the
ordinances OF 100 cities in America. This number will
be increased as rapidly possible The school at
present will occupy part OF the Library Building and
part OF the College CT Arts but new building will be
constructed as early as possible.
Professor Thorpe will take swing around the circle
within the next six weeks and visit several of the bene
factors referred TO- when the and amount Of the
subscriptions will be definitely announced. The new
school will be started on October I. and Professor
Thorpe has already received over 500 applications from
wOud-be students.