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Transcription
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
To the honor of Nebraska, at the very beginning of its life, its citizens were ready to act in full harmony with the rising tide of higher education. The Hon. Augustus F. Harvey, who drafted the University Charter, was interested in a university rather than a college, and with a chancellor rather than a president as its head. His aim was to combine in one organization all lines of higher education, and he planned to include in the University of Nebraska, located at Lincoln, advanced work in the fields of language and literature, law, medicine, art, science, manual training, and agriculture. By this unity he hoped that the educational expenses of the state would be lessened, and that the opportunity for all students to find the fields in which they had the greatest interest and ability would be increased.
The act as it was passed in 1869 provided for six colleges, which indicated the fields of education in mind at that time: "first, a college of ancient and modern literature, mathematics, and the natural sciences; second, a college of agriculture; third, a college of law; fourth, a college of medicine; fifth, a college of practical science, civil engineering, and mechanics; and sixth a college of fine arts." Naturally it took many years to work out the very extensive and complex plans of the charter of 1869. One smiles now as he looks back on the simplicity of the first years of the new institution, but he soon sees in those simple beginnings the promise of greater things.
University Hall, the first building erected, and the only one on the campus until 1886, was practically completed by September, 1871. On Thursday, September 7th, of that year, the University and its preparatory or "Latin" school held their inaugural meetings, and the life of the University of Nebraska began. Only one college—not six—was opened, "the college of ancient and modern literature, mathematics, and natural sciences." The Chancellor and six professors had been selected, but only five of the seven were present during the year 1871-72. The courses of study of-
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