DARTMOUTH COLLEGE 695 corporation of the college. There are two terms in each year, extending from about the first of September to the last of April, with a winter vacation of four weeks. The course of instruction extends through three years, and embraces mathematics, physics, drawing, book- keeping, botany, chemistry, physiology, zoology, mechanics, political economy, and geology. Ap- plicants for admission must be at least 16 years of age, and pass a satisfactory examination in arithmetic, English grammar, geography, and history. During the first year all students pursue the same studies ; at the beginning of the second year they are required to select either the special course of agriculture, or the course of- mechanic arts. In the immediate vicinity of the college is an experimental farm of 165 acres, which also furnishes to students opportunities for remunerative labor. A new building is soon to be erected, containing rooms for the farm superintendent and for students. It will embrace a boarding establishment, which will be supplied with the products of the farm, and where board will be furnished to students at cost. The degree of bachelor of science will be conferred upon those who have com- pleted the entire course of agriculture or me- chanic arts and have passed the final examina- tion. The cost of tuition is $15 per term. A special course of instruction in civil engineering for advanced students has been established by means of $70,000 given for that purpose by the late Gen. Sylvanus Thayer of Braintree, Mass. It is designed to extend through at least two years, a portion of each being given to out- door practice. The medical department was founded in 1797, and was formerly known as the New Hampshire medical college. There is an annual course of lectures, beginning early in August and continuing 14 weeks. Med- ical instruction is also given by means of recitations, for which purpose there are two terms of 14 weeks each, beginning in De- cember and in March. Students 21 years old and upward, who have devoted three years to the study of medicine, and during that time have attended two courses of medical lectures, including one at Dartmouth, may upon exam- ination receive the degree of doctor of medi- cine. By a recent gift of $10,000 from E. W. Stoughton of New York, a museum of path- ological anatomy has been formed. The fac- ulty of the college comprises, besides the pres- ident and librarian, 26 professors, 2 lecturers, and 7 instructors. In 1873-'4 the total number of students was 420, including 262 in the aca- demical, 79 in the scientific, 52 in the medical, 22 in the agricultural, and 5 in the civil engi- neering department. These students repre- sented 23 different states and territories, Nova Scotia, Canada, Liberia, and Japan. Accord- ing to the triennial catalogue of 1873, the whole number of alumni was 3,907, of whom 2,077 were living. The several libraries connected with the college contain 47,200 volumes. The astronomical and meteorological observatory contains, besides other valuable instruments, a new telescope of 9 T % inches aperture and 12 ft. focal length, made by Clarke of Cambridgeport, Mass. The college is provided with extensive philosophical apparatus, a museum of geology and natural history, chemical laboratory, and other valuable collections. A gymnasium has recently been erected at a cost of $24,000, the gift of George H. Bissell of New York. Dartmouth college received its charter in 1769, and went into operation in the following year under the presidency of Eleazar Wheelock, D. D. It grew out of an earlier school estab- lished by the Rev. Mr. Wheelock in Lebanon, Conn., and designed for the education of In- dian children. The idea of this school had been suggested to him by his success in edu- cating a young Mohegan Indian, Samson Oc- com, who became a remarkable preacher. Oth- er pupils from the Delaware tribe were after- ward received, and the school became an object of public attention and interest. In 1754 a farmer named Joshua Moor gave a house and two acres of land for the purposes of the insti- tution, which was from this time known as Moor's Indian charity school. Occom, accom- panied by the Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, visit- ed England to collect funds; a sum of about 10,000 was subscribed, and a board of trus- tees was there organized, of which Lord Dart- mouth, one of the subscribers, was made presi- dent. The school was so much resorted to by the native tribes, that Dr. Wheelock deter- mined to transfer it to some place nearer to them. Many proffers of situations were made ; the town of Hanover, on the Connecticut river, in the western part of New Hampshire, was- selected, and grants of about 44,000 acres of land were made. The institution was char- tered by Gov. Wentworth, under the name of a college, with all the privileges and im- munities of any university within the British realm ; and the name of Lord Dartmouth waa adopted for it. Moor's school soon afterward obtained an independent charter, and remained as an academical or preparatory department till 1849. A small fund still exists for the educa- tion of Indians. In 1770 Dr. Wheelock re- moved his family and school, consisting of 18 whites and 6 Indians, from Lebanon to the wilderness of Hanover, where they lived in log huts. In 1771 the first class of four stu- dents was graduated. President Wheelock re- tained his office till his death in 1779, and was succeeded by his son John Wheelock, who in 1782 was sent by the trustees to Europe to promote the interests of the college ; and through introductions by Gen. Washington, Dr. Franklin, and John Adams, he obtained considerable sums of money, philosophical in- struments, and other valuable donations. The prince of Orange was one of the donors. He returned in 1784, and, after a presidency of 36 years, was removed from the office by the trustees in 1815. This act, which was occa- sioned chiefly by a local religious controversy,.
Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/699
This page needs to be proofread.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/The_American_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_%281879%29_Volume_V.djvu/page699-1024px-The_American_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_%281879%29_Volume_V.djvu.jpg)