The first meeting of this board, the governing body of the university, took place on the first Monday in October, 1839, at the site selected for the university by the commissioners. This site was then literally in the wild woods. This meeting resolved to proceed as soon as practicable with the erection of the main university building, and appointed Messrs. Hart, T. M. Allen, Henderson, Lowry, Wells, and Scott a committee to procure a plan for the same; it also appointed a committee to draw up a code of by-laws for the government of the board and to procure a university seal.

THE BUILDING.

An adjourned meeting, 28th of same month, transacted much important business, viz: Plans for the main edifice of the university were submitted; that of H. S. Hills, the architect of the State capitol, then in process of erection at Jefferson City, was adopted, and $75,000 was appropriated for the erection and completion of the building. The vexed question of the precise spot for the building was settled. A committee-T. M. Allen, Eli E. Bass, William Lientz, and Warren Woodson-was empowered to contract for and superintend the erection of the main university edifice; Warren Woodson, for the committee, superintended the erection of the building. The property and building of "Columbia College" were formally delivered over for use of the university. This college became the property of the university as part of the locating subscription. R. S. Thomas, A. M., then a professor in this college, was elected a professor in the State University, in which capacity he served till June 30, 1853, when he resigned to accept the presidency of William Jewell College. He was one of the most distinguished educators and faithful teachers in Missouri.

It was also resolved to enter into correspondence with distinguished literary men, with the view of securing a suitable candidate for president of the university, and on Dr. Lowry's motion the president's term was fixed at six years, the longest period permitted by law, and his salary at $3,000.

At a meeting on March 31, 1840, the erection of the main university edifice was awarded to Judson Clement, Phineas Kennon, George D. Foote, and Elliott P. Cunningham, the lowest competing bidders, for $74,494.

The first report of the board of curators to the legislature says:

The main building of the university, a splendid edifice, will be prepared for the use of this State institution without touching a cent of the "seminary fund" or drawing a dollar out of the State treasury; and when paid for, there will be $8,000 or $10,000 of the locating subscription unexpended, which sum it is contemplated to expend in erecting professors' houses, dormitories, beautifying the grounds, etc. This sum is all the curators will have, by authority of law, to so expend, unless the legislature would authorize the sale of the real estate conveyed by citizens of Boone County to the university and the proceeds applied in aid of the above-specified objects.

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Accordingly, the legislature did, February 24, 1843, authorize the curators to sell for use of the university all this real estate, except 20 acres for a university site.

An immense concourse of reverent Missourians, with loving hands, laid the northeast corner stone of the original main building of the university with great pomp and ceremony July 4, 1840. With that stone were deposited a copy of the university charter, names of the curators, United States coins, etc. Judge David Todd presided on that great occasion, Rev. Robert L. McAfee led in prayer, Prof. John Roche read the Declaration of Independence, and Hon. James L. Minor, of Jefferson City, delivered the address, at once masterly, impressive, eloquent.

Laying the corner stone of the university, July 4, 1840; dedicating the university, July 4, 1843; laying the corner stone of the building for "the College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts," June 28, 1871, and rededicating the university, as enlarged and improved, June 4, 1885-these are the red-letter days in the history of the University of Missouri.

SCHOLASTIC ORGANIZATION.

PRELIMINARY ORGANIZATION.

On July 3, 1840, John C. Young, D. D., president of Centre College, Kentucky, was unanimously elected president of the university, but declined.

Prof. John H. Lathrop, LL. D., of Hamilton College, New York, who had already a high reputation as an accomplished college officer, was, October 29, 1840, elected president of the university. November 16, following, he accepted in these words: "I accept, gentlemen, the place offered me, with a mind open to the greatness of the trust I thereby assume and with the full determination to pursue with zeal, fidelity, and the ability God has given me, the high and valuable end for the accomplishment of which the appointment has been made." His presidency began on December 1, 1840. He arrived at the university January, 1841, and on March 1, by request of the board, delivered a public address on "University education," which was at once able, scholarly, finished, impressive. President Lathrop entered on the active duties of his office March 1, 1841, and in accordance with his views the curators gave the university a preliminary organization. Courses of instruction were opened on Wednesday, April 14, 1841, in the old Columbia College building, with John H. Lathrop, president, and W. W. Hudson, George Hadley, and William Van Doran, professors.

In his report, September 30, 1842, the president gives 74 as the whole number of students to whom instruction had been given up to date. Of this number 2 had been prepared for the senior class, 4 for the junior, 8 for the sophomore, and 18 for the freshman.

The university's first commencement occurred November 28, 1843, with 2 graduates-Robert L. Todd,* A. B., and Robert B. Todd, A. B. the former now a banker in Columbia, Mo., the latter now a judge of the supreme court of Louisiana.

DEDICATING THE UNIVERSITY BUILDING.

July 4, 1843, prompted by President Lathrop, an immense concourse of the university community, citizens, visitors, and strangers, assembled to perform a high, patriotic, loving duty-the dedication of the University of the State to the cause of higher education. The sun shone from a cloudless sky. Under the direction of the grand marshal of the day, Nathaniel W. Wilson, the procession formed in front of the court-house and marched to the university chapel. Elder T. M. Allen led in prayer. William G. Minor, of Jefferson City, on behalf of the curators, delivered the key of the university to the president, accompanying the duty with a brief, eloquent, appropriate address; whereupon President Lathrop arose and addressed the vast audience for upward of an hour in "a most able and eloquent inaugural."

COMPLETED ORGANIZATION.

The university having been established by the Geyer act, February 11, 1839, and the act amendatory thereto, February 24, 1843, three years were consumed in the erection of the main building, upon which was expended $79,093.20. The organization of the institution was completed in accordance with President Lathrop's recommendations, by establishing, May 16, 1843, five professorships and electing thereto, September 6, 1843, five professors. The completed organization was:

1. Chair of ethics, history, civil polity, and political economy, President John H. Lathrop.

2. Chair of metaphysics, logic, rhetoric, and English literature, Prof. Robert S. Thomas.

3. Chair of ancient and modern languages and literature, Prof. George C. Pratt.

4. Chair of mathematics, natural philosophy, and astronomy, Prof. W. W. Hudson.

5. Chair of chemistry, mineralogy, geology, botany, natural history, and physiology, Prof. Edward H. Leffingwell.

The institution, under this completed organization, was opened for students on Wednesday, January 3, 1844. On that day the above professors were inaugurated and addresses delivered.

*Robert L. Todd, for twenty-five years the secretary and for thirteen years a member of the board of curators of the university, is a benefactor of the institution. He has proven himself a dutiful son, a faithful servant, a true friend of the university upon every occasion involving her interests and advancement.

The president's salary was, from October 28, 1839, to July 3, 1840, $3,000; from July 3, 1840, to July 1, 1843, $2,500 per annum without perquisites. Then, deeply sympathizing with the university in her financial embarrassments, President Lathrop, in a spirit of self-sacrifice and commendable liberality, requested the board to enact that from and after July 1, 1843, the emoluments of the president of the university be only $1,250, together with the use of the president's house and $5 per student per annum. This was the president's salary up to July, 1849.

On January 3, 1844, the salary of each professor was fixed at $500 and one-sixth part of accruing tuition fees (i. e., $5 per student per annum).

The St. Louis Medical College in St. Louis was, on motion of President Lathrop, January 26, 1846, articulated with the university as its medical department. The faculty of this department was authorized to hold their sessions and deliver their course of instruction in the city of St. Louis. The board elected the following professors in the medical department:

Joseph N. McDowell, M. D., professor of anatomy and surgery; Thomas Barbour, M. D., professor of midwifery and diseases of women and children; J. B. Johnson, M. D., professor of pathology and chemical medicine; Edward H. Leffingwell, M. D., professor of chemistry and pharmacy; Richard F. Barrett, M. D., professor of materia medica and physiology; John S. Moore, M. D., dean and professor of theory and practice of medicine.

The president of the university was made ex officio president of the medical faculty, and the professor of chemistry and pharmacy in the faculty of medicine ex officio professor of chemistry, natural history, etc., in the faculty of arts.

The St. Louis Medical College was thus connected with the university till 1856; then they were divorced.

September 21, 1846, John H. Lathrop was reelected president of the university for four years, but he was worried by politicians, and being offered the presidency of Wisconsin University at a $2,000 salary, resigned September 22, 1849; nor was he shaken in his resolution even by the unanimous vote of the curators, January 29, 1849, to increase his salary and extend his presidential term to September 21, 1854.

On November 9, 1849, Rev. James Shannon, president of Bacon College, Kentucky, was elected president of the university "during good behavior." His chair was "ethics, civil polity, constitutional and international law, and political economy." President Shannon's religious, political, personal magnetism drew an increased number of students to the university, but his continued mingling of preaching and politics caused such dissatisfaction that the general assembly, by act of December 4, 1855, declared vacant, on July 4, 1856, all the

offices held by the president, professors, and tutors of the university. The curators unanimously reelected James Shannon president of the university from July 4, 1856, to July 4, 1862. This honor he declined.

On July 4, 1856, Prof. W. W. Hudson, of the university, was elected president. He retained his chair of physics, astronomy, and engineering. Under his presidency the growth of the university was vigorous, healthy, continuous up to his death, June 14, 1859. The university, Columbia, the alumni, mourned their loss. He was a member of the first faculty (1843), with his heart in the cause and with his shoulder to the wheel continuously from the start of the university. He died with his hand upon its helm. For sixteen years of its most plastic period Professor Hudson exerted a molding influence in the development of the university. As a teacher of the applied mathematics, President Hudson was a great success. He taught till the student knew, and trained him till he could do. Having the rationale of his subject, he carried to the waiting mind a conviction of a truth, then connected that truth with the duties of life and showed its practical application in the arts and practices of everyday life.

A. T. Bledsoe, professor of mathematics in the university of Virginia, was, on August 22, 1859, elected president for six years from July 4, 1859. Salary, $3,000 per annum, with use of the president's house and grounds, and $5 per paying student for all over the number of 80. Professor Bledsoe declined to accept.

RECONSTRUCTION ON VIRGINIA PLAN.

On October 10, 1859, the board considered a memorial from the faculty proposing a reconstruction of the university on a plan substantially that of the Virginia university. The plan was to establish 7 independent departments, the professor of each department to report to the curators and be responsible to them alone; and instead of a president the curators were to appoint annually some professor as chairman of the faculty, who should be ineligible for two years in succession, the faculty to resign to enable the board to inaugurate the plan. This plan was adopted by vote of 6 to 5. Seven departments were established and officered: (1) Latin language and literature, Prof. W. C. Shields; (2) Greek language and literature, Prof. G. H. Matthews; (3) English language and literature, Prof. Sterling Price, jr.; (4) Moral philosophy and political science, Prof. J. J. Jacob (since governor of West Virginia); (5) Mathematics, Prof. B. S. Head; (6) Astronomy and natural philosophy, to be filled by resident curators; (7) Natural sciences and scientific agriculture, Prof. G. C. Swallow. Also "special courses in study," each school independent of and separate from the other, were established: (1) School of scientific