History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

174 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
of whom Dr. Oliver Dean was president; Eev.
Tliomas Whittemore vice-president, Eev. Otis A.
Skinner secretary, Benjamin B. Mussey treas-
nrer. These offices liave subsequently been held
by Rev. Thomas Whittemore, D. D., Dr. Dean
(re-elected), and Hon. Israel Washburn, Jr.,LL.D.,
presidents; Silvanus Packard and Hon. Charles
Eobinson, Jr., vice-presidents ; Eev. A. A. Miner,
Eev. Lucius E. Paige, D. D., and Hon. Newton
Talbot, secretaries; Tliomas A. Goddard, Hon.
Eichard Frothingham, LL. D., and William H.
Finney, tre;isurers.
The presidency of the college, tliat is, of the
Board of Instruction and Government, was first
tendered to Eev. Thomas J. 8awyer, D. D., but he
declined the position, and Eev. Hosea Ballon, 2d,
D. D., was made its first president. He held the
office until his death, in 1861, and in tiie following
year Eev. A. A. Miner, D. D., LL. D., was elected
as his successor. Dr. Miner, resigning in 1875,
was succeeded by Eev. Elmer H. Capen, D. D.,
the present incumbent.
The erection of the main college building was
commenced in the spring of 1853, and the corner-
stone was laid by Dr. Ballon, president elect, in
the presence of a large gathering of people, on the
19th of July following. The address on this occa-
sion was delivered by Eev. Dr. Miner. This building
was completed in the summer of 1854. The
three dormitories have been erected later, the last
in 1871.
The college was informally open for freshmen
and sophomores in September, 1854, seven students
being in attriulnicr, ;nid instruction given by the
president am! lliiic pi-dlcssors. The formal open-
ing of tiie ciillrgc and installation of the president
took place August 22, 1855. The first class ad-
mitted after the formal opening numbered twenty-
one.
The course of instruction was, in general, the
same as that of other New England colleges, but
only the degree of A. B. was given till 1866. Since
that year the degree of B. Ph. has also been given on
the completion of a course the requirements of which
were changed from time to time, but in 1875 were
made to coincide \vith the A. B. course, with the
exception of Greek, for which additiomd French
and German and certain optional studies are sub-
stituted. A department of civil engineering was
opened in 1867, in which the degree of C. E. is
conferred on the completion of a three years' course.
The object of this department is to give professional
instruction in connection with such studies of the
regular course as can properly be pursued. The
regular course, which includes about four fifths of
the whole number of students, prescribes the stud-
ies of the first two years, but in the last two years
admits elective studies to the extent of one third
the entire requirement, with additions according to
the desire and ability of each student.
The board of instruction consists of the presi-
dent, ten professors, and one special instructor.
The physical and chemical laboratories are provided
with all that is necessary to give extensive and
thorough practical instruction in these departments.
There is also a cabinet of ample size, and admira-
bly selected, for the purpose of illustration in the
several branches of natural history, in which de-
partment practical instruction is given, as well as
in those previously named. The library contains
18,000 volumes and 5,000 pamphlets. The whole
number of students graduated from 1857 to 1879,
inclusive, is two hundred and seventy-nine.
In 1869 a divinity school was opened, which is
under the same board of trustees and the same
presidency, and at present occupies a part of one
of the college halls, but is in charge of a distinct
faculty, consisting of three professors, one in-
structor, and one non-resident lecturer. At the
head of the school is Eev. Thomas J. Sawyer, D. D.,
whose connection with the founding of Tufts Col-
lege has already been mentioned, and who after
more than half a century of active labor in behalf
of manifold denominational enterprises is still
rendering efficient and most honorable service.
The course of study in the school occupies three
years for college graduates, or four years for those
who enter without such preparation. The degree of
B. D. is conferred upon those who complete the full
course of studies. In special cases students are
also received to partial courses, and may receive
diplomas certifying to such attainments as they have
made. The degree has been conferred upon forty
graduates.