The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-19
TO POPULARIE THE ARTS
Plan Under Discussion to Establish
College in This City.
COL. FAIRMAN THE. PROMOTER
His plan Differs Essentially from That
Followed in similar Institutions
Throughout C0untry-Fav0rs u
Compulsory Curriculum.

| A movement has for several weeks
been quietly conducted tending toward
the establishment in this city of a col
lege of arts. 1t has reached point
where a number of prominent and in
fluential men have become interested
and on Monday night of next week the
matter will assume definite shape.
The original promoter of the idea is
Colonel James Fairman, A. NJ, of New
York city, an artist of International re-
pute, who has periodically made this
city his home. 1t is a peculiar fact that
no college of fine arts. In all that the
term implies, exists i'm this or any other
country with prescribed and compul.
sorry curriculum. There are many col.
leges of music, sculpture. painting or
| oral culture combining several or all of
these branches. but none have an es-
tablished curriculum which prevents
students from coming and going at
will. The plan in view for Scranton in
wolves a combination of the four arts
mentioned.
1t is proposed to style the institution
the Pennsylvania College of Fine Arts.
Already an indefinite understanding
has been reached with the officers of the
University of Pennsylvania tending to-
ward plan whereby bachelor degrees
will be bestowed by the university, thus
giving the degrees an eclat which would
not be possible through the proposed
and newer institution.
MIKE Up OF the ROard of Regents.
Nine prominent Scranton men have
been suggested to compose board or
regents. One is from the Green Ridge
section. ore from the North End, two
from the West Side and five from the
central city They represent the Catho-
lie, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian
and Baptist beliefs and professional and
business callings, thus insuring against
a preponderance of any one sect or ele'
ment on the board. Their identity has
been made known to The Tribune, but
cannot. for obvious reasons. be dis
closed until after the project assumes
a more assured form.
In order to test the spirit Of the pub
lie. Colonel Fairman will, on Monday
night, meet and consult with the MEM
bers of the manufactures committee OF
the board of trade, when. possibly, all
or few of the men proposed for the
board of regents will be present. 1t Is
not intended to solicit the board OF
trade to wholly father the movement,
but it is fel: that the opinion of such
men as Luther Keller William Connell,
w. r. Smith, w. II. Peck. Joseph Levy,
r. w. Martin and j. A. Lansing. of the
manufactures committee, very nearly
represent the pulse of the people and
their approval or disapproval Of the
,,Io,, ,,,oy 1acida itS future.
propo c to Issue Scholarships.
IAN institution that will not be pa
tronized by it's supporters cannot hope
for support by others is fact that
is appreciated by Colonel Fairman and
his co-workers in the present instance.
So, If the project natures, 1t is intend
ed to issue scholarships for 800 each
to a list of patrons and to be bestowed
by them as they deem proper. Assum-
ing that there will be twenty-five pa
irons and patrOnesses, $1,000 would at
the start be received for nine-months
tuition to twenty-five pupils. II Scran-
ton and vicinity would supply 100 pupils
at $50 each the total tuition fees would
with the scholarships amount to $17,5 800.
In connection with the college. an art
gallery has been suggested. owners of
good paintings and who are Interested
in the college project have already ex-
pressed their willingness to contribute
to the gallery as many as thirty high
grade works of art. While the gallery
Is to be associated In name with the
college. the plan is to make 1t free to
the public.
Whatever may be the outcome OF the
idea. its promoters are sanguine of sue
cess and many believe the nucleus will
be made for fine arts institution whose
fame will soon become more than local