provided, and a choice allowed, but each student must master the branch of industry he might elect, which was to be expressed in his diploma.1

During the years 1853 and 1854, efforts were made to raise by subscription funds to procure a suitable location and for the erection of buildings, but not meeting with the anticipated success their efforts probably grew less, so that up to the year 1857, it is said that the agent had received in subscriptions and money a sum somewhere between $8,000 and $10,000. Shortly after this the Trustees by fresh efforts obtained from $40,000 to $45,000 in new subscriptions; the site of a College was selected, and building began. But on more particular examination of accounts it was found that the first subscriptions had all been used up or wasted, so that nothing was derived from that source.

The College was located at Havana, January 8, 1857, through the influence of the Hon. Charles Cook, and a brick building erected in that year, 216 by 52 feet in size, four and five stories high, with a basement and a projection in the rear from the centre, 70 feet by 64 in size, for chapel for scating 1,300 and dining-room. The cost was about $60,000.

By an act passed April 24, 1862, the sum of $10,000 a year for two years was given by the Legislature, but the Comptroller refused to pay it upon the ground that the conditions of the grant were not fulfilled."

A tract of 100 acres of land was secured, with title free so long as used for educational purposes, and a Faculty appointed. On the 15th of April, 1869, the College was opened for students, and it appears from testimony taken by a committee of the Regents, February 5, 1865, that there were then 75 girls and 73 boys in attendance in the preparatory department, the College course not having as yet commenced.❜

Upon the application of the income from the land-grant made by Congress in 1862 (more particularly noticed in our account of Cornell University), it was first given by the Legislature to the People's College, by an act passed May 14, 1863, but upon condition that its

Majority Report of committee, Assem. Doc. 42, 1853. Minority Report, Assem. Doc. 38, 1853.

*Chap. 469, Laws of 1862. Regents' Report, 1865, pp. 153-158. Minutes of Regents, 1853-59, pp. 61, 148, 397, 399, 401. Id., 1860–69, pp. 179, 193, 194, 197199. Comptroller's Report, 1864, p. 28. Regents' Report, 1865, p. 155.

Senate Doc. 45, 1865.

4 Chap. 511, Laws of 1863, p. 884.

Trustees, should within three years show to the satisfaction of the Regents that they were prepared with at least ten competent Professors to give instruction as the act of Congress required; that they had grounds and buildings for at least 250 students, with a proper library and apparatus, and a farm of at least 200 acres, with suitable farm buildings, implements and stock, and also shops, tools and machinery for teaching the Mechanic Arts. This property was to be entirely owned and free of debt, so that the grant would be an excess of this investment.

Various other conditions were stated, but it is sufficient here to state that with the war still in active operation, and especially from the declining health of Mr. Cook, who had been a leading spirit in the enterprise, the Trustees were unable to meet the requirements, and by an act of April 27, 1865, the grant was transferred to Cornell University still, however, allowing a further opportunity of three months to the People's College, but without results.'

The President of the College while it lasted was the Rev. Amos Brown, LL. D., who was especially instrumental in securing the legislation above mentioned. Mr. Charles Cook, of Havana, contributed $56,095 of the $70,236 expended in this enterprise, the next highest sum being $1,350.

The building reverted to his estate, and a plan was proposed for the establishment of a Masonic Seminary upon the premises, but not concluded. It was finally taken by the "Cook Academy" incorporated by the Regents August 10, 1872, and by this corporation it is still held and used.

The Faculty appointed at the opening of People's College consisted of, the Rev. AMOS BROWN, LL. D., President; HENRY S. RANDALL, LL. D., Professor of Scientific and Practical Agricul ture and the Care and Treatment of Domestic Animals; JOHN PHIN, C. E., Professor of Agriculture Chemistry and Chemistry applied to the Arts; JOHN H. GRISCOM, M. D., Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene; C. M. BooтH, M. D., Professor of Botany and Vegetable Physiology, in their relations to Agriculture and Horticulture; E. J. PICKETT, A. M., Professor of Geology, Mineralogy and the Art of Mining; OSCAR F. WHITFORD, C. E., Professor of Mathematics aud the Science of Mechanical Forces; Wм. W. FOLWELL, A. M., Professor of Ancient and Modern Languages; TIMOTHY H. PORTER, A. M., Professor of Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres; F. G. HIBBARD, D. D., Professor of

1 See Senate Doc. 45, 1865.

Natural and Revealed Religion; WM. H. RUSSELL, Professor of Military Science Engineering, Architecture and Drawing; F. S. HOWE, A. M., Principal of the Normal Department. Of these Messrs. BROWN, PHIN, PICKETT and WHITFORD engaged in instruction; others attended at the beginning of the session, but owing to the action of the Comptroller in withholding the appropriation, declined to serve.

ELMIRA FEMALE COLLEGE.

"Elmira Female College, chartered by the Legislature in 1855,1 claims to be the first in this country, and, so far as known, the first in the world that offered to women the same advantages, and adopted the same standard for graduation as Colleges and Universities for the other sex. It was originally intended to locate the College at Auburn, New York, and the original charter designated the intended institution as The Auburn Female University; but a donation of $5,000, made by Simeon Benjamin, of Elmira, the largest amount then subscribed by any one person for the establishment of the College, caused a change in the original plan.

The charter was amended, the name changed, and the institution removed to Elmira. From the outset there was financial embarrassment and disappointment in securing resources. Through the exertions and liberality of a few friends of higher education, a commodions and elegant college edifice was erected.

Rev. Augustus W. Cowles, D. D., was invited to the Presidency of the College at its opening. The year 1881 closes the twenty-fifth year of his successful administration as the first and only President of the College.

The College opened with a debt of $40,000, more than half of which was owed to Mr. Simeon Benjamin, of Elmira. After a few years Mr. Benjamin proposed to give to the College $25,000, by releasing so much of the sum due him, on condition that the College should be placed under the supervision of the Presbyterian Synod of Geneva, and that the Evangelical denominations should be represented in the board, and also that the interest of the sum so released should every year be paid into an endowment fund for the endowment first of the presidency and then of professorships, and the increase of the library. The College accepted the proposal, and has been from that time under the care of the Synod of Geneva. The chief gifts and appropriations received by the College are: From the State of New York by act of 1867, $25,000, on condition that the

Chap. 422, Laws of 1855, changing the name from "Elmira Collegiate Seminary."

The first act for the relief of Elmira Female College was passed April 9, 1856 (Chap. 150), and gave $10,000 upon condition that the Trustees should raise $40,000 more, to be expended in completing the College edifice. By an act passed

amount be left on deposit with the Comptroller and interest paid annually; from Simeon Benjamin, for building purposes, endowment fund and aid fund, $90,000; from Maxwell Brothers, of Geneva, $10,000; from Mr. Langdon, $5,000; from General Diven, $4,000, and from other sources various smaller sums. Active efforts are at

present being made to increase the College funds. *

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The College edifice is a structure of great architectural elegance, consisting of a central octagon of about seventy feet diameter, with two wings extending each about eighty feet, making a front of about two hundred and thirty feet; also, a new structure, extending fifty feet to the north, containing kitchen, dining-room and four new class-rooms, which is furnished with an elevator of the best construction. The building contains a spacious and elegant chapel, parlors, society halls, lecture and class-rooms, laboratory and apparatus rooms, music-rooms and study-rooms for about one hundred and thirty students. The whole building is warmed by steam, lighted with gas and furnished with water.

The College grounds are extensive and well-arranged. The libraries of the College and literary societies now consist of nearly four thousand volumes. A valuable and carefully chosen set of philosophical and chemical apparatus furnishes facilities for pursuing the studies which it is designed to illustrate.

A creditable beginning has also been made in collecting a cabinet of minerals, specimens of natural history and curiosities. An important addition to the cabinet has been made by the purchase of a carefully selected collection of the Ward casts of the representative fossils of each principal geological age. In the Art Department is a very superior collection of casts from classic and modern statuary, and a large number of superior photographs of works of art selected in Europe by the President.

The College embraces a Collegiate and a Preparatory Department. The regular College course is equivalent to the usual undergraduate course in other Colleges, including Latin, Greek, modern languages, sciences, mathematics, literature, Christian evidences, mental and moral science and æsthetics. These are arranged in four annual classes: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior. Students who complete this course are entitled to the degree of Baccalaureate of Arts. There is also the department of Fine Arts, embracing the school of the Arts of Design and the school of Music.

April 23, 1867 (Chap. 643), it was provided that whenever, within two years, the Trustees should raise $25,000, and pay into the State treasury, an equal sum should be given from the general fund, making "The Elmira Educational Fund of $50,000." This was invested and managed by the Comptroller, as a separate fund, and the income appropriated annually to the College, until 1884. Acts for the further management of this fund were passed May 5, 1869 (Chap. 586), and March 16, 1870 (Chap. 79). By an act passed May 31, 1884 (Chap. 443), this fund was turned over to the Trustees for management, the principal to be forever kept inviolate, and the interest only to be used. F. B. H.

The academic as well as the collegiate year is divided into two sessions each of twenty weeks. The first commences in September and the second in February.

Vacation occurs only at the end of each annual session. Examinations of all classes are held at the close of each session, and at the discretion of the Exainining Committee at any time. Written monthly examinations are required by the Faculty. All students attending the College, except those living in Elmira, or those especially excused, are expected to become members of the College family. Total expenses for board and regular studies are $300 per annum. Extra charges are made for piano or vocal culture, two lessons per week at $70 per year; oil painting, $60; drawing, $60. All bills for each semi-annual session are payable in advance.

Mr. Benjamin left a bequest of $25,000, the income of which forms an aid fund for assisting worthy and needy young women. General A. S. Diven has also given the sum of $4,000, to found a free scholarship, the income of which is accepted by the College in full payment for the annual charge for board and tuition for one student. The prizes are:

1. The Hall Prize, for the best English Essay from the Senior Class, on some topic of current interest.

2. The Scholarship Honor Prize, founded by Hon. Eaton H. Frisbie, for the best scholarship of the Senior Class, to be awarded by the President of the Faculty. This is a single prize of $50.

3. The Diven Prizes, founded by General Alexander S. Diven; the first prize, $30; the second prize, $20, for superior excellence in reading.

4. The Slee Prize, founded by J. D. F. Slee; the first of $30, for the best work of art furnished after at least one and one-half terms of instruction in the Art Department, and wholly without manual assistance; the second of $20, for the second best work of art, on the same conditions." (Public Service of New York, vol. III, pp. 340–342.)

The Regents' Report of 1884 shows the financial condition of this College as follows: