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11 Chancellors Served University
Benton Headed -First
University
Administration
Nebraska Helmed by Many
Famed Educators in 67
Year History.
By Charle Q. Dc France.
The office of chancellor of a
state university is dignified ami
honorable, but not a very lucrative,
occupation. In addition to being
a man of higher education with
suggestive initials following his
full name, he must be a man of
courage, tact, diplomacy, in fact,
a host of those qualities which
endear him to the teaching staff
and the students, and which enablo
him to wrangle the greatest pos
sible appropriations from the state
legislature, and at the same time
manage" the board of regents
into requiring those things done
which he desires to be done.
Government Liberal.
The federal government in the
"sixties," with an empire in what
bad been widely known as "The
Great American IVsert," was very
liberal in granting gifts for educa
tion, government sections 16 and
SG in e.ich township of Nebraska
having been granted for the com
mon scnools; and a liberal grant ot
public, lands anil gifts of money
were made to colleges of agricul
ture and the mechanic arts. This
is not the place to discuss this
matter, our story having to do
with the 11 men who in the past 67
years have held the office of chan
cellor of the University of Ne
ll aska.
Allen Richardson Eenton, LL. D.
(resigned I, enjoyed the distinction
1 being the first chancellor of the
university. Allen Richardson Een
ton, after his graduation in 1847,
pened an academy in Fairvicw,
Rush county, Indiana, where ne
was located for six years. He was
later elected to the chair of ancient
languages in the Northwestern
Christian university in Indianap
olis, Ind. In 1SH1 he was appointed
professor of Latin in the univer
sity at Alliance, Ohio. He suc
ceeded to the presidency in 169
but in the spring of 1871 accepted
a call to organize the University
Nebraska.
University Introduced by
Cunningham.
The bill making possit thr
University of Nebraska, was intro
duced into the legislature by Ebe
itezcr K. Cunningham of Richard
srm countv. who was born Anril
ti 18G9. near Mark Twain's birth
place close to Hannibal, Mo., and 1
passed noin mancnes oi me icgis-
lature on Feb. 15. 1869, and Cover-
nor David Butler, who was elected
to three terms as governor, imme
diately affixed his signature mak
ing it a law. The contract was let
by the regents to Silver A; Son on
Aug. 18. 1869. Building activities
began at oner and the cornerstone
was laid S;-pl. 2.1. 18fi9. with I.la-
i:iic ceremonies, i Governor David
Butler died on his farm near Paw
nee City. May 25, 1901.1 The
building was dedicated Sept. 5.
3871. D'. Eenton opened the uru
vcrsily Sept. 7, ana was inducted
into office by acting Governor
James. Activities began in the
r. hool on that date with less than
3 mi students. This was a mem
orable day to the business men
.Mid the citizens in general.
The first chancellor was born in
Cayuga county, New York, Oct. 1.
3822. and died Jan. 1. 1914. Dr.
I'.enton Ix gan his duties while Ulys
ses Simpson Grant was president
'f the United States, and the
"panic" (now "depression" or "re
cession"! of 1873 was developing
ftid ended in 187(1, the vcai of the
1 iri 1 iiuvu in inni, mi- -fii u lilt
Philadelphia centennial 'celebration
nal the vear that Kutlierford D.
Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden ran
almost a dead heat for the presi
clency, with Haves the ultimate
winner "by a nose." Much praise
litis been given to the first chan
cellor for the milliner in which he
conducted the school.
FairTicId At Chancellor.
Edmund Burke Fairfield. Ph. D.,
was the university's second chan
c" . llor. He wus horn Aug. 7, 1821.
in the Buckeye state, Ohio, and
' ed Nov. 17, 1904, in Oberlin, O.
Ho served as chuncellor from 1870, cause of the outrageous whisper
T11K DAILY NKHUASKAN, TUESDAY, MAY 10. V)'M
Lincoln Politician Elected
To Governorship for
Three Terms.
Lincoln's distinguished states
man and politician, Chailes W.
Bryan, has served his state three
times as governor and has been
mayor of the city of Lincoln sev
eral times.
Prominent always in politics,
Mr. Bryan was honored with the
nomination for vice president on
the democratic ticket, July 10,
1924. The convention nominating
Charles W. Bryan for vice presi
dent, convened in New York City
June 24, and continued in session
until July 10. His nomination came Jan. 1, 1884 and served until Dec.
thru at 2:10 on the morning of 31, 1888, a period covering Presi
July 10. He was nominated on the i dent Arthur s term, the exciting
same ticket for John W. Davis for j election campaign of Cleveland
president. Official notification of , and Hendricks against James G.
his nomination for vice president
was held in Lincoln, Aug. IS. 1924,
where thousands of people at
tended from other states.
Charles Bryan is a brother oi
V
t.
l.titcnln Journnl.
Charles W. Bryan.
the famous William Jennings Ery-
an. who was nominated three times
for president of the United States'
on the democratic ticket and called ;p 'pQ PROYIDK
me Silver longueu rmoi oi me
Platte. William Jennings Bryan's
last ease was the Scopes trial in
Davton, Term. His opponent was
the famous Chicago lawyer, Clar-
ence narrow, vwinam jciimim
William
died short lv after the trial on July
25, 3925, at Dayton, Tenn.
to 1882. during the term of Ruth
erford B. Hayes, the brief term of
the martyred president, James
Abram Garfield, who was shot
July 2. 1881, and part of the term
of Chester A. Arthur. Fairfield
seired in 1he Michigan state sen
ate. In 1856 he was elected lieu
tenant governor. During the Civil
war he Took an s,-tive part in every
republican campaign and was a
zealous worker for the overthrow
' of slavery. During his incumbanry
'as chancellor of the University of
j Nebraska he was an indefatigable
worker and fostered rvcry propo
sition for the rood of the school
Henrv Ethan Hitchcock, Ph. D.,
1 was acting chancellor, the third ml Mns week which courses
1 charge, from 1882 to 1884 or seem- ; through part of the campus; laying
iii"ly to Dec. SI, 1883, for bis suc-l1 000 feet of sanitary sewer, and
eessor lieean the next (lav. Hitch-
' r----- -
'coek showed aptitude and was on
the alert at all times and end ared
himself to the students. As an'"r(,u,h-
educator he was a success an 1 1 " , , .
enjoyed the co-operation of the ' Kl AB iONDl "7FS !l AN
faculty and students. He held the
chair of mathematics in Knox col
lege in Galestmrg. 111., for 22 years
and resigned in 1872 to accept the
same position in the University of
Nebraska. This public spirited
1 citizen and educator was born in
crgcnnes, Addison county, t,
Muy 3. 1822. During Hitchcock's
incumbency President Arthur was
unhappy in the white house be-
ing campaign connecting him with
the assassination of rresidenl
James Abram Garfield, who was
shot July 2, 1881 but did not snc
cinnh to his Injuries until Sept. 19
--pp
V:i- )if'
Ulncnln Journal.
A. Burnett.
Chancellor E.
There are a few of the students
living in Lincoln, who vividly recall
the third chancellor's administra
tion. Manatt Fourth Head.
J. Irving Manatt, LL. D., served
as the fourth chancellor. This
professor and Chancellor was born
in Millsburg, O., Feb. 17, 1845, and
died Feb. 14, 1915. He assumed
the responsibilities of the office
Blain and Logan, and during the
first term of C.rover Cleveland the
ultimate victory of Benjamin Har
rison in 1888. It is said by those
who knew him that this chancellor
j possessed a penchant for the recol
lection ol names and coum can
the faculty all by name as well as
many students. He was a success
as an educator.
Bessey Acted Fifth.
Charles Edwin Bessey, LL. D.,
acting chancellor, the fifth in line,
was born at Milton, O., in 1845
and died in 1915. He was educated
at Michigan agricultural college in
18fi9 and at Harvard, 1872-75. He
was professor of botany at the
University of Nebraska and head
dean in 1909. His term as actintr
! chancellor was from 18S8 to 1891.
Doctor Bessey was one of the
ablest investigators and teachers
of botany of his time, introducing
present laboratory methods of
teaching that science: edited Bes
sey's textbooks, a standard for
modern work. He was elected
president of the American Associ
ation for the Advancement of Sci
ence. Without doubt it was Doctor
Bessey's profound knowledge f
botany which inspired Roseo.
round, a master of law and juris
prudence, to take up botany as an
avocation.
$200,112 Fl M)
FOR l .M WORK
(Continued from Page 1.)
ne fflVlr jn(.h pipe 8nd 3 000 feet
' ong.
Other improvements made pos
sible by the giant will be the ex
tension of the university steam
tunnel for 220 feet to the new Stu
dent Union building. A three-phase
power line from the city campus
plant to the fig college will be re
moved and rebuilt.
On the campus of the College of
Agriculture projects include the
construction or a strip of pave-
m'nl "',w'''n th fall'e and da,r'
. rn: paiming four classrooms at
i tho . r'u,a heonomic. bmkhng;
painting 14 classrooms in the Ac
tivities building, remodeling the
Animal Husbandry building to pro
vide for three additional offices
and enlarging four classrooms fcnd
! Pointing them; straightening Dead
i lanuscap.ng ren acres 01 grounds.
t
The project a so provides for re
; moving 350 trees destroyed by
ON STKKET IMJOGK AM,
FINGEK I'KINT DK1VK
A man on the street program to
ascertain the attitude of the uni-
, versitv student unon the finrer
I printing campaign which will be
conducted May 11 to 14, on the
campus will be given bv Jack
1 Hansen of KFAB at the Student
Union building Wednesday inorn-
- ! Ing from 8:55 to 10:10.
Charles Bessey
Heads Nebraska
In Second Term
Fl
Lexington Man Graduated
From Law College
Here in 1925.
By Carroll Browning.
Frank M. Johnson, prominent
attorney from Lexington, Is a can
didate on the non-political ticket
for University of Nebraska regent,
Lincoln Journfcl.
Frank M. Johnson.
Sixth district. He is capable, pub
lic spirited, possessed of civic
pride, and known thniout the state
for his fine record of public serv
ice in Nebraska.
Born on a farm in Dawson
county, Johnson received his pre
paratory education at Cozad high
school. He matriculated in the Uni
versity of Nebraska, college of
law, where he earned his expenses
by working during the school year
and summer.
Upon his graduation in 1925, he
located in Lexington, Neb., and
was associated with E-District
Judge George C. Gillan until Jan.
1, 1927. Mr. Johnson was appointed
and served as secretary to Gover
nor Adam McMullen from 1927 to
1928.
Following the period of service
as secretary to Governor McMul
len, this statesman and politician
re-established law practice at Lex
ington and be has been located
there since that time. Prominent
in law, Johnson is a member of
the Dawson County Bar associa
tion, Western State Bar associa
tion, and a past president of the
Western Nebraska Bar associa
tion. This barrister txlongs to the
Kiwanis club and the Lexington
Chamer of Commerce.
REGENT C. Y. THOMPSON
SERVES UNI INTERESTS
Board Member Starts Many
State Improvement
Projects.
Members of Cuming county
point with pride to Regent Charles
Y. Thompson of West Point, Ne
braska. Popular and highly re
spected, Mr. Thompson has done
much to better his community and
the university.
Serving as a member on the in
dustrial education, property, and
student relations committees, Mr.
Thompson has been the instigator
of many projects which have done
much to improve conditions in end
at the university. He has the in
terests of the students very close
to heart.
No one that voted for him has
regreted it. Public spirited and
willing to aid others, Mr. Thomp
son's term does not expire until
Uan. 1, 1941.
- Jew -v
i -
4 -N
Late Samuel Avery Elected
Uni Chancellor in 1900;
Served Till 1929.
James Mulme Canfield, L. L. D.,
was the university's sixth chan
cellor. His services was from 1891
to 1695, during part of President
Harrison's administration and
most of President Cleveland's sec
ond term, when Nebraska farmers
sold corn to R, E. Moore and others
for from seven to twelve cents per
bushel. Farmers residing in the
territory contiguous to Lincoln can
testify to the foregoing facts, st
this late date. The recent visit of
Chancellor Canfield's daughter, on
Feb. 15, 1938, Dorothy Canfield
Fisher, the famous novelist, who
had been a Lincoln resident (luring
her father's incumbaeney, as
chancellor, caused a considerable
stir up of recollections of both him
and the daughter. People who at
tended the Founder's Day pro
gram of the University of Ne
braska, Feb. 15, were thrown into
a retrospective frame of mind
when she appeared on the plat
form and pleasant relations were
recalled by many. During Can
field's incumbency the Farmers
Alliance and the Populist party
were trying to get cdntrol of the
state. Dr. Canfield was born in
1847, and passed away on March
30, 1909, after an eventful and
public life that endeared him to the
faculty and students as well as
all whom he contacted in a busi
ness and educational way; "The
name Canfield will be revered for
generations to come," said Colonel
Frank D. Eager, who was a stu
dent during Canfield's adminis
tration. According to Colonel
Frank D. Eager, Chancellor Can
field sought to sustain a close and
vital relation to the high schools
and common schools and other in
stitutions of learning.
MacLean Seventh Chancellor.
George Edward MacLean, L.
L. D. ), was the university's sev
enth chancellor. This educator,
sttatesman and patriot, was bom
in Rockville, Connecticut, Aug. 31,
1850. and. now resides in Washing
ton D. C, at 1721 P. St., N. W. His
services began July 1, 1895 and
ended Aug. 31, 1899, during the
last of the president's second term,
the monumental political battle be-
George Edward MacLean.
tween William McKinley and
"sound" money against William
Jennings Eryan and "16 to 1," and
most of President- McKinley s
term. Chancellor had many friends
and many bitter enemies, and it
speaks well for his diplomacy that
he lasted four years. Somehow his
perennial smile lacked that en
dearing quality uhich character
ized that f Dr. Bessey. who suc
ceeded him for a short period. Di.
MacLean was an earnest scholar
and an nthusiaistic worker and
no labor seemed too arduous and
no research too difficult for him
to undertake. Under his adminis
tration strenuous efforts were
made to unite more closely, the
university and the schools of the
(Continued on Page 7.)
