Tag Archives: Melbourne S. Read

Dana Arts Center, Cutten Hall, Bryan Hall, and O’Connor Campus Center built (p. 336)

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also established a scholarship program for five years with an initial grant of $130,000 with the possibility of extending it for a second five-year period.

The expansion of Colgate’s physical facilities, an important feature of the Case presidency, continued during his successor’s. Four new buildings were erected and others modified or renovated. With the destruction of the Administration Building by fire in October, 1963, the old library, then serving as a Foreign Language Center, became the new Administration Building after extensive alterations and the transfer of the language center to Lawrence Hall. The Reid Athletic Center, in use since 1959, was completed in 1966 with the dedication of the basketball court to the memory of Wesley M. Cotterell, ’19, Trustee, 1961-65; the hockey rink in 1965 had been named for J. Howard Starr, Professor of Physical Education Emeritus, and former hockey coach. Alumni Hall was completely remodeled in 1965 and occupied by the Division of the Social Sciences, except for the Education Department which was located in Lawrence Hall; Arthur A. Meggett, ’36, was the architect. The Arts Center, named for Charles A. Dana whose foundation had provided a challenge grant as the basis of the funds raised for the building, was completed in 1966. A striking example of modern architecture, it was designed by Paul Rudolph, and provided classroom, office, studio and performing space for courses and activities in the fine arts, music and drama, and also housed a theater and an art gallery. Two residence complexes, Cutten and Bryan Halls, were completed in 1966 and 1967; the architects were Perkins and Will. The first was named for Colgate’s eighth president and comprised four houses commemorating faculty members active during his term-Albert P. Brigham (geology); Frank L. Shepardson (Greek and University Treasurer); Harold O. Whitnall (Geology) and Melbourne S. Read, (Philosophy, Psychology, Education, Vice President, 1912-21, and President pro tem, 1921-22). The second building perpetuates the memory of Colgate’s seventh president and also consists of four houses named for Dean William H. Crawshaw, ’87; George W. Cobb, ’94, Trustee (1907-45) and donor of the Cobb Awards; William M. Parke, ’00, Trustee (1926-61; President, 1937-48); and Norman F. S. Russell, ’01, Trustee (1928-54; President, 1948-52). The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O’Connor Campus Center, designed by Arthur A. Meggett, ’36, and opened in 1967, provided facilities for the

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Posted in Chapter 16, p. 336, The Barnett Period 1962-1969, timeline

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p. 283 – The Bryan Period, 1908-1922

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Centennial celebration. Over 1,200 alumni returned for the festivities held October 9-12. Since the University was in session the problems of feeding and housing were of major proportions but accommodations were found in the village and cots set up in campus buildings and large tents erected near the Administration Building for serving meals. The program included: Dean Crawshaw’s Centennial Ode, Dr. Lawrence’s Historical Address, Harry Emerson Fosdick’s tribute to the memory of the Gold Star servicemen, an alumni dinner, an academic convocation addressed by the New York State Commissioner of Education, John H. Finley; a football game with Brown University which Colgate won; and a concluding chapel service.

The most epoch-making feature of the Centennial was the founding of the Colgate University Alumni Corporation to supersede the old Alumni Association. It was designed as an efficient, permanently-staffed organization to keep in close touch with the graduates and to give them an opportunity to take a mote active part in University affairs. Twelve directors were immediately elected and they later chose George W. Cobb, ’94, who had been one of the corporation’s chief builders, President; Raymond E. Brooks, ’06, Vice-president; Professor Alfred E. Alton, B.D., ’02, Secretary; and Professor Harold O. Whitnall, ’00, Treasurer. Soon the corporation had an office on campus with Professor Alton in charge. Within a brief period he perfected class organization among the alumni; established and edited the Colgate Alumni Maroon (Colgate Alumni News) which replaced the sporadic Alumni Quarterly; opened a large correspondence with alumni; and helped to collect over $19,000 in support of the organization and the University. Encouraged by the success of the first few months the Directors in 1920 took the lead in launching the campaign for $1,000,000 and a new gym, in which Dr. Alton played a large role.

Before the campaign had concluded Dr. Bryan resigned effective June 30, 1921, to become President of Ohio University at Athens. He had led Colgate in one of its most notable periods 6f expansion-in size, buildings, faculty, and resources. His wisdom, genial friendship and personal interest won him lasting appreciation.

Responsibility for carrying on the affairs of the University fell on Vice President Read, now made President pro tem. The confusion of the post-war years added to his burdens which he shouldered with distinction. He drew together “the threads of cooperation” and kept up the general morale in a difficult transition period.

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p. 272 – The Bryan Period, 1908-1922

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1911 indicates something of a vocational approach to the subject and it may be noted that a significant number of majors went into industry on graduating. Geology, too, under Professors Brigham and Whitnall won many devotees. Eugene P. Sisson and William F. Langworthy, both formerly of the Colgate Academy faculty, joined the College faculty in 1912, the first to teach mathematics and the second, biology.

In the mental and social science departments growth was moderate. Freeman H. Allen, formerly of the Potsdam Normal School faculty, replaced Adna W. Risley, ’94, in history and politics in 1909. From 1912 to 1920, Freeman A. MacIntyre, ’12, was a member of the department. Lionel D. Edie, ’15, who earlier had taught rhetoric and public speaking returned in 1918 after a year in the Navy to instruct in history for four years. Walter 1. Lowe, a Yale alumnus and Ph.D, and for twenty years professor at Wells College, joined the department in 1920 to remain until his death nine years later. Everett W. Goodhue continued as Professor of Economics and Sociology until 1921 when he resigned to accept a similar position at his Alma Mater, Dartmouth. Roy W. Foley, A.B., Oberlin, had joined him in 1914 to teach sociology. Goodhue’s successor was J. Melbourne Shortliffe, A.B., Acadia, ’01, who had studied at Yale and Harvard and taught at Dartmouth. Concerned about the University’s policy on academic freedom, Professor Shortliffe elicited, prior to his appointment in 1921, a strong statement in its behalf from Professor Melbourne S. Read, who had become President pro tem on President Bryan’s resignation. “There is no disposition on the part of anyone in authority in this institution to determine what answers shall be found for problems investigated,” he wrote, adding that “A professor here is entirely free to state his own conclusions either in the classroom or in print, provided those conclusions are … the result of careful, honest analysis and thinking.”* In formulating this policy he had the strong backing of James C. Colgate, as President of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Read, who had been Professor of Philosophy and Education, in 1910 became Professor of Psychology and Education and turned over his courses in philosophy to Ferdinand C. French, who had rejoined the faculty as Professor of Philosophy after teaching at the University of Nebraska. Three years later the Department of Psychology and Education became indepen-

* Copy, letter, Melbourne S. Read, President pro tem, to J. Melbourne Shortliffe, July 20, 1921

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p. 265 – The Bryan Period 1908-1922

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er, were those of a university chaplain and “Director of Religious Life.” Every faculty member, as had always been the custom, was expected to maintain contact with students outside the classroom. Because he was often away from the campus lecturing and cultivating friends for the University, Dr. Bryan had the Trustees appoint Professor Melbourne S. Read Vice President to act in his absence. Frank L. Shepardson, Principal of Colgate Academy until it was discontinued in 1912, was made Treasurer of the University to succeed the late William W. West. In an attempt to get the College qualified forinclusion in the Carnegie Foundation pension plan by demonstrating that it had no denominational ties, the composition of the University Board of Trustees had been altered in 1908 by eliminating the provision of the Compact of 1893 which required the Baptist Education Society to select five members. The fact that the Trustees were none-the-less required to maintain a Baptist theological seminary re-

Dean William H. Crashaw, '87, A1016-7, Folder 283, p265

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p. 228 – Colgate in the 1890’s

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that the teacher of English literature should stress appreciation rather than scientific critical analysis and that he should not rest satisfied until his students began to love and appreciate the best the writers have to offer. Much of his approach he explained in his little book, The Interpretation of Literature (1896).

Professor Thomas had been appointed Registrar and Librarian in 1892 and continued in those positions after assuming his teaching duties a year later. An alumnus of Madison in the Class of 1883, he had taught at the Albany Academy while studying law and being admitted to the bar; subsequently he took graduate work in English at Columbia and returned to Albany as Chief Regents Examiner in English for the University of the State of New York. His instruction in public speaking was most effective and won wide commendation.

Professor Terry introduced a rich variety of offerings in history and they were continued under his successors, George W. Smith and Charles W. Spencer. Professor Spencer was in effect the spiritual ancestor of the modern Social Science Division, having taught all but one of its disciplines, i.e., education, and having instituted three: economics, political science, and sociology. By training a historian, he was a graduate of Colby College and had studied at Chicago and Columbia, where he was to take a Ph.D. in American Colonial History in 1905.

The Department of Philosophy emerges as an entity in 1890 with Professors Andrews, Beebee, and Burnham giving instruction, part of which had been in the province of the late Dr. Dodge. Two years later the first “Professor of Philosophy” was appointed, Ferdinand C. French, a Brown alumnus and a Cornell Ph. D. During his brief two-year tenure (he was to return for two subsequent periods) he introduced a course in the history of modern philosophy. French’s successor was Melbourne S. Read, a graduate of Acadia College, Nova Scotia, and also a Ph.D. from Cornell. In addition to philosophy he taught psychology and education.

With the completion of the gymnasium required academic courses in physiology and hygiene consisting of textbook reading and lectures were instituted. The instructor, George W. Banning, first Director of the Gymnasium, had studied at the YMCA College in Springfield, Mass., and had an M.D. from Columbia. His experience included appointments as director of gymnasiums and athletic programs and as baseball and football coach for city YMCAs and two large New York

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