Swarthmore College

A history of the college:[bib]703[/bib]

This admirable and extensive educational institution, conceived and carried on by the Friends for the co-education of the sexes, had its inception in a meeting held in Baltimore, Oct. 2, 1860. It was there proposed to erect a new institution of learning, under the care of Friends, designed to equal the best colleges in the land. With this object in view the society purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on Crum Creek, in this township, and distant about eleven miles from Philadelphia, via the central division of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. Swarthmore College was incorporated by act of the Legislature, passed April 1, 1864. By this act James Martin, John M. Ogden, Ezra Michener, Mahlon K. Taylor, Thomas Ridgway, James Mott, Dillwyn Parrish, William W. Longstreth, William Dorsey, Edward Hoopes, William C. Biddle, Joseph Powell, Joseph Wharton, John Sellers, Clement Biddle, P. P. Sharpless, Edward Parrish, Levi K. Brown, Hugh Mcllvain, Franklin Shoemaker, and their associates and sucessors were constituted the body corporate. The capital stock consisted of fifty thousand dollars, but an act approved April 14, 1870, granted authority to increase it to five hundred thousand dollars.

On May 10, 1866, the corner-stone of the college building was laid, and three and one-half years later (on Nov. 10, 1869) the college was inaugurated in its new home. The work was carried forward in spite of many disadvantageous circumstances, but brought to a very satisfactory conclusion a few days prior to the date we have mentioned. The buildings, of which the entire length was three hundred and forty-eight feet, with return wings of ninety-two feet each, consisted of a central structure, sixty feet wide by one hundred and ten feet deep, on either side of which were fire-proof alcoves containing iron stairs and wings, extending from these each one hundred feet long, by forty feet wide. The building was constructed of stone with inside walls of brick, was designed to be practically fire-proof, and was admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was built. Besides the necessary " collecting" and school-rooms, it contained a library, museum, and chemical laboratory, parlors, dining-room, kitchen, dormitories, bathrooms, and every convenience for the comfort and health of a large number of resident pupils. The great structure was reared under the management of a building committee, of which Hugh Mcllvain was chairman, and Elwood Burdsall, Edward Hoopes, Gerard H. Eeese, and S. B. Worth were members.

On the occasion of the inauguration, Nov. 10, 1869, about eight hundred friends of the college were present. The exercises were quite interesting. The company assembled at an elevated spot east of the building which had been selected for the planting of trees to commemorate the event. There the venerable Lucretia Mott, assisted by her son, Thomas, placed in the ground two oaks which had been raised from acorns by the late James, " contributed for the purpose and to serve as fitting memorials of his interest in the cause of education and the erection of this college." The other exercises were conducted in the hall of the college and presided over by Samuel Willets, of New York. Hugh Mcllvain, chairman of the building committee, laid the key of the front-door of the college upon the desk, thus formally handing the structure over to the corporation. He stated that though not in all respects completed, the building was fit for occupation, and that the sum expended upon it had been two hundred and five thousand four hundred and eighty dollars. Edward Parrish, who had been chosen as president of the college, then delivered the inaugural address. Other speakers were John D. Hicks, of New York ; William Dorsey, of Philadelphia; and Lucretia Mott.

The college opened with an attendance of one hundred and seventy students of both sexes, and the whole number in attendance during the year 1869-70 was one hundred and ninety-nine. The faculty consisted of Edward Parrish, president ; Helen G. Longstreth, matron; Edward H. Magill, principal; and Clement L. Smith, secretary. The resident instructors were Edward Parrish, professor of Ethics and of Chemistry and Natural Science ; Edward H. Magill, professor of the Latin and French Languages and Literature ; Clement L. Smith, professor of Greek and German Languages and Literatures, and acting professor of Mathematics ; Emily Hallowell, teacher of English branches; Susan J. Cunningham, teacher of Mathematics ; Susan W. Janney, teacher of Penmanship and Botany ; Maria L. Sandford, teacher of the English Language and Literature; Elizabeth G. Macy, teacher of Vocal Culture and Reading ; Elizabeth W. Caheen, teacher of French and English Branches; Virginia L. Dolby and Annie C. Green, assistant teachers. The non-resident instructors were Ann Preston, M.D., lecturer on Physiology and Hygiene; Adrian G. Ebell, Ph.B., M.D., lecturer on Natural History ; J. A. Congdon, professor of Penmanship.

The board of managers during the first year consisted of William Dorsey, Isaac Stephens, Joseph Powell, Edward Hoopes, Hugh Mcllvain, Clement M. Biddle, S. B. Worth, Samuel Willets, Daniel Underbill, Edward Meritt, Elwood Burdsall, John D. Hicks, Charles T. Bunting, William H. Macy, B. Rush Roberts, Gerard H. Reese, Deborah F. Wharton, Rachel T. Jackson, Letitia S. Cadwallader, Martha G. Mcllvain, Anna M. Hopper, Elizabeth Dorsey, Elizabeth S. Worth, Jane P. Downing, Elizabeth M. Booth, Hannah W. Haydock, Lydia A. Lockwood, Caroline Underbill, Eliza H. Bell, Margaret G. Corlies, Ellen Riley, Elizabeth B. Smith ; Treasurer, Henry M. Laing ; Clerks, Clement M. Biddle, Edith W. Atlee.

That the affairs of the college progressed smoothly may be inferred from the statement that in the second year, 1870-71, the number of pupils was two hundred and sixty-one, an increase of sixty-two over the attendance of the previous year. Of these, fifty-one were in the collegiate department and two hundred and ten in the preparatory department. Edward H. Magill succeeded Edward Parrish ' as president of the institution, in 1871, and was duly inaugurated. Concerning the experiment of the co-education of the sexes tried by this college, we cannot do better than to quote from President Magill's inaugural address. He says that " it has been eminently successful here so far," and " not one of those connected with the management of this institution would for a moment entertain the idea of a change. Good, and only good, has resulted from this feature of our organization ; nor has the salutary influence been felt by one sex more than the other, but both have been mutually benefited even beyond the expectations of those who were most sanguine when we opened three years ago. That we have escaped censure or unfriendly criticism during these opening years we do not pretend ; but it has been a source of great satisfaction that this censure comes invariably from those whose views have been formed on theoretical grounds, and who have never witnessed the practical workings of our system for themselves. That the public generally is becoming convinced that we are right we have gratifying proofs on every side, — the various colleges are gradually opening their doors for the admission of women."

The affairs of Swarthnwore were uniformly prosperous, and no disaster of any kind occurred to interfere with the usefulness of the institution until the fall of 1881, when a great loss was sustained and a temporary derangement of the school effected by a great fire. A few minutes before eleven o'clock on the night of September 25th an explosion occurred in the upper story of the main building, then used as a geological museum, and in a few minutes the roof of that portion of the college was in flames. The authorities were quickly on hand, and with the aid of the students, efforts were made to confine the fire to the centre building ; but the wind from the west soon drove it to the east wing, and then the attention of all was diverted from the building and devoted to the imperiled inmates of the dormitories in that wing. Very quickly all of the rooms were visited and their occupants aroused to their danger. There was no panic and little confusion, and the excellently arranged stairways allowed a speedy exit of the suddenly awakened sleepers. The safety of the students being assured, efforts were made to save as much of the contents of the college as possible. As the fire broke out in the museum, nothing in it was saved. The library, which was also inaccessible because of the intense heat, was also destroyed. In the west wing much of the property of the students was saved, as well as some belonging to the college ; but from the east wing, where the fire spread more rapidly, little could be removed. By four o'clock the building and its contents were destroyed. The gymnasium, the meeting-house, and the houses of the president and professors were saved. The neighbors came from miles around and offered their homes as places of shelter to those who were suddenly turned out of their quarters. Among others who performed kindly offices was Theodore Hyatt, of the Military Academy at Chester, who at seven o'clock in the morning served a breakfast to the large college family upon the lawn in front of the smoking ruins.

The managers were summoned by telegraph, and an informal meeting was held in the meeting-house before noon, at which it was resolved to continue the operation of the college with as little interruption as possible. A committee proceeded to Media and made arrangements to secure the Chestnut Grove House. The Gayley House was also secured as a lodging-place for the boys and young men, and in less than two weeks from the time of the fire the classes were assembled at Media, at their regular work. Of the two hundred and eighteen students at the college on the night of the fire, two hundred and fifteen returned and there were a few admissions, making the number larger than before. The loss on the building and contents was not less than one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. It was fully insured.

Preparations for rebuilding were almost immediately begun. The walls of the old building were for the most part in excellent condition, and the work of reconstructing the destroyed portions, the interior and the roof, was pushed rapidly ahead. About two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars was required, and of this sum sixty-five thousand dollars had to be raised by subscription. This was easily accomplished, however, and at the meeting of the managers on Feb. 18. 1883, the Rebuilding Committee transferred the new building to them free from debt.

The new building was an improvement upon the old in appearance, and in many other ways. Architecturally it is quite imposing. It is three hundred and forty-eight feet long. The centre building is four and the wings three stories high. The arrangement is similar to that of the old building, which has been described. In addition there was erected a scientific building, which alone cost twenty-five thousand dollars or thereabouts. Of this it is not out of place to give a more extended notice. It is a two-story building, constructed of granite, trimmed with Leiperville granite, and was planned with particular reference to the scientific department of the college. The basement contains a blacksmith-shop, boiler-room, grinding- and polishing-room, brass foundry, store-room, laboratory for beginners, a metallurgical laboratory, and electric battery room. The elevator connects the basement with the other floors. The first floor contains in the front part of the central projection a physical laboratory for experimentation, and is furnished, as well as all the other departments in the building, with a full supply of the best instruments and appliances. In the rear of this room are several smaller apartments, — one for quantitative analysis, a private laboratory for the professor of chemistry, and a chemical library. The western wing contains the large general or qualitative laboratory, and the eastern a complete mechanical laboratory and machine-shop, with power obtained by an engine driven by steam, either from the main college boilers or from the shop boiler, at pleasure. The second floor has an excellently constructed drawing-room, a lecture-room supplied with water, gas, electricity, oxygen, and hydrogen, and the attic contains a photographic room, with north skylight and dark-room.

The loss of the library, which contained three thousand six hundred volumes, and of the museum was the most difficult to replace, as the work had, from obvious reasons, to be carried on slowly, but the lapse of only a few years more will witness an improvement in these departments fully in keeping with that which has been made in the institution as a whole since the disaster of 1881. Samuel Willets, of New Vork, president of the board of managers, and one of the staunchest friends and supporters of the college, one of whose last acts had been the signing of a check for twenty-five thousand dollars to complete the subscription for the sixty-five thousand dollars needed for rebuilding, died in 1883. In his will he bequeathed to the college the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, the interest and income of which he directed should be applied " to educate in part or in whole such poor and deserving children as the committee on trusts, endowments, and scholarships . . . may from time to time judge and determine to be entitled thereto." The college has, since its splendid display of recuperative power following the fire, led a prosperous and progressive career. Material improvements have been kept apace with educational advancement, and the buildings and grounds present an aspect of attractiveness which one finds but a few times excelled in the country. The original tract of land purchased by the managers has been added to until at i^resent it contains about three hundred acres of charmingly diversified lawn and meadow and grove. About one-half of the area is set aside for farming and gardening purposes, providing milk and vegetables for the college, and the remainder is a pleasure-ground. The portion of the property along Crum Creek, which forms the western boundary, is rich in picturesque beauty, and the stream is not only an element in the landscape very pleasing to the eye, but affords facilities for boating and other aquatic sports in summer, and for skating in winter. The college has had during the present year three hundred and four pupils. The condition of the school has been satisfactory in all respects, and notably has the system of co-education of the sexes, one of its features from the first, proved successful. Great as has been the usefulness of the institution in the past, a constantly enlarging sphere of beneficence will, without doubt, be filled during each successive year.

The present faculties are composed as follows : Faculty of Government. — Edward H. Magill, president ; Anna W. Frost Capp, matron ; Professor Eugene Paulin, Professor Arthur Beardaley, Professor William Hyde Appleton, Professor Susan J. Cunningham, Professor Samuel S. Green, Professor Joseph W. Teets, Assistant Professor Mary L. Austin, Assistant Professor Elizabeth C. Miller; Thomas S. Foulke, superintendent.

Faculty of Instruction. — Edward H. Magill, A.M., president; Joseph Leidy, M.D., LL.D., Professor of Natural History ; Eugene Paulin, A.M., Professor of French and Latin, and of Mental and Moral Philosophy ; Arthur Beardsley, C.E., Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, and Librarian ; William Hyde Appleton, A.M., Professor of Greek and German ; Susan J. Cunningham, Professor of Mathematics ; Joseph Thomas, M.D., LL.D., Professor of English Literature ; Samuel S. Green, M.S., Professor of Physics and Chemistry ; Joseph W. Teets, Professor of Elocution ; Mary L. Austin, Assistant Professor of Latin ; Elizabeth Clarke Miller, A.B., Assistant Professor of Khetoric; Frederick A. Wyers, A. B., Assistant Professor of French ; Charles C. Eames, C.E., Assistant Professor of German ; Ellen E. Osgood, Instructor in History ; Ellen M. Griscom, Instructor in Free-hand Drawiiig ; Amelia P. Butler, Instructor in Theory and Practice of Teaching ; Olivia Rodham, Assistant Librarian, and Instructor in Botany.

The board of managers consists of the following gentlemen and ladies. Term expires Twelfth month, 188-1: Joseph Willets, Trenton, N. J. ; Eli M. Lamb, Baltimore, Md. ; Clement M. Biddle, Abigail M. Woodnutt, Anna M. Hunt, Philadelphia; Susan W. Lippincott, Cinnaminson, N. J. ; Sarah H. Merritt, Brooklyn, L. I. ; Herman Hoopes, Philadelphia. Term expires Twelfth month, 1885: John T. Willets, New York; Edward H. Ogden, Philadelphia; Daniel Underbill, Jericho, L. I. ; Emmor Roberts, Fellowship, N. J. ; Jane P. Downing, Philadelphia ; Mary W. Cocks, Old Westbury, L. I. ; Sarah H. Powell, New York ; Edith D. Bentley, Sandy Spring, Md. Term expires Twelfth month, 1886 : Isaac Stephens, Trenton, N. J. ; James V. Watson, Philadelphia; Clement Biddle, Chad's Ford, Pa. ; Martha G. McIlvain, Philadelphia ; Sophia U. Willets, Manhasset, L. I. ; Sallie M. Ogden, Edmund Webster, Emma McIlvain, Philadelphia. Term expires Twelfth month, 1887 : John D. Hicks, Old Westbury, L. I. ; Robert Willets, Flushing, L. I. ; Joseph Wharton, Philadelphia; M. Fisher Longstreth, Sharon Hill, Delaware Co., Pa. ; Mary Willets, Trenton, N. J. ; Anna M. Ferris, Wilmington, Del. ; Mary T. Longstreth, Sharon Hill, Delaware Co., Pa. ; Lydia H. Hall, West Chester, Pa.