Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-02
NEXT COMMENCEMENT
TO Be NOTABLE ONE
Will Include Memorial Service
For Former Students Who
i Have Given Lives in War and
! Mark Dean Perkins 50th An
u. niversary with University

not only because IL 1S tne nTSC oI1e utter
the close of the great world war. but
also because of two special events which
are to take place. These will be a me-
mortal service for the men of the uni
versity who have given their lives in
the war just ended. and the observance
Of the completion of Dean g. H. Per-
kins' 5Oth year Of continuous service for
! the University.
The plans for the latter have been left
/ in the hand Of Dean Perkins associates
on the council of the university; that is,
Dean J. w. Votey. Dean H. C. Tinkham,
Dean ]. L. Hills and Comptroller @. w.
Bailey. A feature Of the celebration will
! be the presentation Of a portrait Of Dean
! Perkins, which will hang in the Billings
! library. A special portrait committee
has been appointed, which consists of
: the following members, representing the
/ trustees and the University Senate: The
| Hon. Darwin p. Kingsley Of New York.
! Elias Lyman. Judge G. NJ. Powers. Prof.
! Samuel E. Bassett, Dean J. L. Hills. DR..
! Lyman Allen, Comptroller Guy w. Bal
ley and w. H. Crockett; representing the
alumni: Judge A. c. Barnes Of Chicago,
George B. Lane Of Minneapolis. Mimi,
the Hon. Henry w. Hill Of Buffalo, N. Y.
! George p. Anderson Of Boston. Leon r.
| whitcomb Of New York and DR.. Thomas
w. Huntington of San Francisco. Mr..
+! Kingsley is chairman Of the committee
and w. H. Crockett. editor Of the uni
versity publications.. Is the secretary
The plan is to eecure some capable
; artist who will paint a good portrait
7 OF Dean Perkins some time during the
I winter in order that 1t may be unveiled
! at commencement. Letters are being
! sent out to the alumni by the committee
! asking for modest contributions to the
portrait fund.
Practically all Of the alumni Of the
university now living have como into
personal contact with Dean Perkins dur
ing his work here for the Institution,
ana all feel not only an admiration for
his teaching ability and scholarly attain
u1ents, but also a real feeling Of affection
for him.
THE MAN TO BE HONORED
Dean George Henry Perkins was born
In Cambridge. Mass, September Is, 1874,
| the son Of the Rev. Frederick T. and Har-
Tiet (Olmstead) Perkins. His father was
Congregational clergyman, we'll known
as one of the best informed and most
open-minded of his denomination. He
was exceptionally well read, and kept
MP with the thought Of the times in all
later years.
| Dean Perkins prepared for college at
Knox Academy, Galesburg, Ill. and en-
| tered Yale in the class Of 1867. gradual
ing with Phi Beta Kappa rank After
! his graduation he remained for two years
Of post graduate work. and received the
degree of Phi. d. in 1869. The same year
be came to Burlington as professor of
soology, botany and geology. at the Uni
versity of Vermont the scene Of his
future life work. In 1881 he was made
Howard professor Of natural history. in
1893 dean of the department Of natural
science and in 1907 dean Of the depart
|, nent of arts and sciences.
4 Aside from his activities in the univer-
sity, Dean Perkins has held the position
Of State entomologist from 1880 to 1895
and Of State geologist from 1895 until
the present date. He also Is curator OF
the State Museum. He has often beer
called upon to speak in different parts
Of the State on matters relating to hi:
special branches Of work. and has always
J been ready to respond. In connection
With his position as State geologist hi
also has been frequently consulted in re-
gard to opening new quarries and mines
and his reports on these subjects hav'
been of much advantage to the granite
and marble interests of the State.
Besides these reports he Is the author
Of "Flora Of Vermont" published II
1888; several reports of injurious insects
about 100 titles in various scientific
periodicals; and he has been a con
tributor to the Encyclopedia Britannica
and other encyclopedias. He Is Fellow
OF the Geological Society Of America, tn
American Anthropoiogical association. tn
M
American Association for the Advance
ment of Science.
He has made several trips abroad
chiefly in the interest Of his work Il
{ anthropology and geology. These hav
included voyages to Europe. Alaska, tn
Sandwich Islands. and recently a tri
around the world, in which he visited
. Namong other countries, China, Japan
IHyafH, Ceylon and Egypt From thes
! Journeys he has always brought back rar
i and important specimens to add to tn
collections Of the university
He married August 16. 1870. Miss Mar
J. Farnham of Galesburg, ILL.,. who die
May 4, 1904. His son. Henry Farnhar
Perkins, is now professor of zoology a
/ the university.
Dean Perkins has always been an activ
member Of the College Street Church
FOf a lOnR Time ne WAS
OF the Sunday school, and he has serve
as teacher for many years.
It Is noteworthy that during the fit
, years of his service in the university. hi
work has never been interrupted by sick
ness, nor has any other cause ever bee
allowed to interfere with his duties. HI
life here has been a constant effort
advance the interests of his departmer
and of the university as whole. At tn
time of his coming, the special provisio
for pursuing scientific work was shocl
ingly Inadequate, IL judged by present da
standards, but he has seen most graf
fying transformation Of the condition
under which he began his labors. A
needed facilities for laboratory and r.
search work have been provided durir
the later years of his 'professorship al
the sphere of his activities Ia constant
~ widening At the time OF the inaugur
ZION of President Benton In 1912, the un
versity very properly bestowed upon nj
4 tha honorary degree of doctor OF laws
MANY CHANGES AROUND CAMPt
Since Dean Perkins came here he hi
seen many changes about the campus,
1898 he saw the men OF the faculty al
student body go forth to service In t
war with Spain. In 1916 he saw ten
pitched on the back campus when Z
men were waiting to be sent to the Me
lean border and In 1917 he saw nearly
of the student body and many OF the IA
| vity 20 forth to serve in the great wor