Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1916-03-29
REMLSCENCES OF DELAWARE
GIVEN At CHAPEL BY PROFESSOR ROBINSON

Frederic H. Robinson, Of the en-
cheering department, last Friday
morning. Professor Robinson will
retire from the faculty in June.
His talk dealt with the growth of
Delaware College, during the
twenty-six years that the speaker
has been connected with the in
stitution. Professor Robinson
said:
when here few weeks ago l
did not expect to return so soon.
But to vary we'll known saying, a
request from our President is a
commando; so, complying with
pleasure, | will recite in the brief
time available some of the events
of the College history since 1891
which at the time of occurrence or
afterwards impressed me as in
teresting and important"
NATURALLY we are attracted by
what appeals to the eye, so think
first of the physical condition of
the College. In this period most
of our improvements in buildings
and grounds have been made. In
1891 there stood on the campus
the building, since altered, in
whihc we are now assembled, and
the old frame mechanical build
ing succeeded in 1913 by a
new frame structure. When that
was destroyed by fire in 1898 the
present brick structure took its
place, also the frame gymnasium
and drill hall and the agriculture
al experiment station
In February 1905, when we
walked out Of the gloomy recita-
ton rooms in this building and
located in Recitation Hall we felt
as if we were in palatial quarters.
Later, when we could go from
building to building without
needing to consider the loss of
overshoes, we felt as if we were
really growing. In 1913 the new
gymnasium was erected. With
the recent construction of green.
house and a fine heating plant
our campus is in fine contrast
with its condition when all these
improvements existed only II
imagination.
Men are more important thar
buildings. To recall the names Of
some, who among others, stood
by the College not only in its NOR,
prosperous days but in its day
of adversely, is a pleasure. Thei
familiar forms again greet me a
| name Lewis P. Bush, George B
Evans. Charles B. Lore, Lewis {
Vandegrift, all members of on
Board of Trustees, and the re
spected and honored membe
whose long continued devotion t
the welfare of the College entitle
him to be called Delaware
Grand Old Man." Manlove Hayes
To mention those of the presen
day is not necessary as they ar
KNOWN 10 you All.
Il suppose the large death rat
amongst the members Of tn
Board is due to the advanced ag
of many of the members. Of tn
twenty-nine who were members o
the Board of Trustees in 1891 bu
five survive. All the officers ar
included among those who hav
passed away.
THE foregoing reference to tn
Board suggest few words re
garding its history. In 1862 tn
College was designated by act o
Congress apportioning to each o
the several States large areas o
public lands as the basis of endow
ments for Colleges. In considers
ton of the establishment of Della
ware College as the institution 70
Delaware equal representation
upon the Board of Trustees wa
given to the State, the other hal
remaining from the original BoarC
80 in all. 1t thus remaining unit,
1918 it came into sole posSeSsio
of the State of Delaware, its il
terestS to be safeguarded by
Board of twenty-eight member
and four members eN-otficio.
From the Trustees the min
passes easily to the other bod
of men who direct the instructio
in the College,-the faculty. Wit
them high devotion to the inter
estS of the College has been a
most universal. 1t meant loyalt
and devotion to high ideals whe
men of ability continued in tn
work of the College at time il wa
run on only a few thousand do
lars q year.
by all who succeed to til
bounty of the College those me