Newark post., 1919-01-22
VALUABLE PAPERS
PRESENTED TO DELA-
WARE COLLEGE
Give Interesting Facts ReIa.
tive to its Early History

Several valuable papers pertain
ing to the early history of Della
ware College have been presented
bv the daughter of the late Rev.
Fpher Whitaker, ID, Of Southold,
Long Island. Mrs Whitaker was
born in Fairfeld,> New Jersey in
1920 and took his ALB. degree att
Delaware College in 1847. He later
received an honorary AM. degree
from Yale. He was ordained in
the Presbyterian ministry in 1851.
He was Moderator of the Senate of
New York and New Jersey in 1860.
H was deeply interested in history
and made many contributions to
the local history of Delaware and
adjacent states.
Among the papers submitted by
Miss Whitaker are two lists of
more than unusual interest, both
in her fathers own handwriting.
One of these gives the names of "a
students at Newark Academy
about the year 1912 and contains
such we'll known Delaware names
as Spruance, Wilson, Speakman,
Poulson, Latimer, Hollingsworth,
Ellis, Eastman, Fisher, Gibbs,
Martin, Lindsay, Gillett, Taylor,
Potts and Chambers. The other
list contains the names of Newark
acquaintances alphabetically ar
ranged. Among these are George
Allen, John Armstrong, Thomas,
Charles and Percy Blaudy, Jacob
B. Brown, Sanford Culver, Samuel
B. Cleaves, Charles and Victor
dupont, Robert Dashiell, Robert
Ferguson Samuel R. Graham,
James L. Miles, Chas. w. Potts,
Simon K. Wilson, James B. Wright,
Henry Latimer and James R. Lof-
land. Various receipts for expenses
during the college year make an
interesting contrast with present
prices. The book bill for one term
for example was $2.40. The col
lege diploma cost 81 according to
a receipt signed in 1847 by James
L. Miles, Treasurer.
A circular announcing the
courses of study at Delaware Col
lege issued in 1847 contains some
interesting information concern
ing subject matter and living ex-
peses. Three terms or sessions
comprised the college year, the
autumnal, winter and spring
terms. At the close of each study
or branch of study, members of the
class were examined in public and
at the close of each year, students
were examined in all of the studies
pursued by them from their adj
mission up to that time, in the
presence of a committee of Trus-
tees.
The college at that time embrac-
ed not only the college proper but
an academy held in the building
now occupied by the Newark High
School, but under the same trus-
tees and faculty as the former
Tuition, room rent, fuel and in
cidental expenses totaled S68 fol
the entire year. The catalogue
makes the startling announcement
that board may be had in respect
able families in the Village fol
S1.25 to $500 per week and wash
ing will cost from S12 to $50 {
year.
DR.. Whitaker according to the
old records bore off first honors II
his class and delivered the vale
dictory oration which is included
in this valuable collection. Writ
ten 73 years ago it contains tht
startling prophecy that the youns
America will not only establish
liberty in this country but will
spread her conquests far and wide
until the day Of Righteousness.
shall dawn. Europe will awake
The shout for Freedom will go III
as the voice of many waters from
the Mediterranean to the Baltit
and the Ural mountains will re
echo the sound.
"Wars shall cease and ancien
fraud shall fail. Returning Justic
lift aloft her scale; Peace DER tn
earth her olive wand extend An
white robed Innocence from hea
ven descend"
Under date of 1850 is a lette
from the president of Delawar
College offering DR.. Whitaker
professorship. He was, howevel
at that time student at Unio
Theological Seminary, New Yor
City, where he was ordained /
1851.
Several old letters of this perio
before envelopes came into con