The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Pennsylvania, University of

Pennsylvania, University of, located at Philadelphia. In 1749 Benjamin Franklin published a pamphlet entitled 'Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania,' and shortly afterward 24 citizens of Philadelphia associated themselves for the establishing of an "academy." They joined with the new institution a charitable school which had been in existence since 1741 and the building occupied by this school became the home of the two schools so combined. The academy classes were first opened in 1751 and the free charitable part of the institution was maintained until well into the 18th century, when the charitable feature was merged into free scholarships in the college. In 1753 the treasurer obtained a charter from the proprietors of the colony of Pennsylvania in which the institution was designated as a "college and academy." In 1761 the college was in need of funds, and Dr. Smith, the provost, was sent to England to raise money for an endowment. There he met the commissioner from King's College (now Columbia) who had come on a similar errand, and they agreed to aid each other; through the influence of the archbishop of Canterbury, they obtained a circular letter from the king to all the churches, and succeeded in raising a considerable amount of money for each college. During the Revolution the college did not prosper; the attention of students was diverted by the stirring events of the time and the city was for a time occupied by British troops; hence the college was closed for over a year and a half and the buildings used for other purposes, being the meeting place of the Congress for several days in July 1778. In 1779 the legislature, on a pretext that the original plan of the college was not being carried out, seized its rights and properties and transferred them to a new organization, called the "Trustees of the University of the States of Pennsylvania"; in 1789 the property was restored, and in 1791 the old college and the university united under the corporate name of the University of Pennsylvania. For several years (1802–29) the university occupied the house which was built for the residence of the President of the United States, when it was expected that Philadelphia would become the national capital; and later new buildings were erected on the same site. In 1872, the university was moved to its present site in West Philadelphia and the original group of four buildings erected. The most marked growth has taken place since that time: the work of the old departments extended and many new buildings added.

The first professional department established was the of medicine, founded in 1765, being the first medical school in the United States. Lectures in law were given in the university as early as 1790, but the law department did not receive its present organization till 1850. The university was among the earliest to undertake systematic instruction in science, technology, and engineering. In 1852 it was resolved to establish a department of mines, arts and manufactures, and professorships in geology and mineralogy, civil engineering and mining; also two regular courses in science were offered. In 1874 John Henry Towne, a trustee, made the university the residuary legatee of his estate; whatever sum might accrue from thie bequest to form a portion of the endowment fund of the university, and the income from it to be devoted exclusively to the payment of the salaries of professors and instructors in the department of science. In recognition of this gift the department was named the "Towne Scientific School of the University of Pennsylvania." The present organization of the university includes: the College, the Graduate School, the Law School, the School of Medicine, the University Hospital, the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, the Laboratory of Hygiene, the School of Dentistry, the School of Veterinary Medicine, the Veterinary Hospital, the University Library, the University Museum, the Flower Astronomical Observatory, the Department of Physical Education, the Wharton School, the Towne Scientific School, the School of Education, the Henry Phipps Institute, the Graduate School of Medicine, the Evans Institute. The School of Arts confers the degree of A.B. Electives were first introduced to a slight extent in 1867; and the number of elective studies for the junior and senior years were increased in 1887. In 1893 the group system was established, by which privilege of election in certain subjects was carried into the first two years.

The Wharton School of Finance and Commerce is intended to give special training to students who expect to enter banking, insurance, railway service, manufacturing, law and public service, social work or accounting. Graduate courses arc also offered to advanced students in the same general fields. The object of the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology is to afford facilities to post-graduates and advanced students; it is a distinctive corporation with separate funds, hut organically united with the university so as to constitute one of its departments. The library is one of the original departments of the university, and contains many interesting historical documents; it includes several special libraries, and contained (1919) nearly 500,000 volumes. The University Museum (organized 1889) was made a department of the university in 1891; in 1902 E. W. and C. H. Clark founded, in this department, the Clark Research Chair of Assyriology. Women are admitted to a number of the courses. The present site of the university is on rising ground, half a mile west of the Schuylkill River; the buildings number 33; among them are Houston Hall, the centre of the student social life, College Hall, the library, the University Museum and the gymnasium. Among the notable new buildings arc the laboratories for engineering and medicine, which together have cost $1,500,000. Much attention is paid to systematic physical culture and to general athletics. There is an athletic field (Franklin field) which is equipped with a gymnasium and a stadium which accommodates nearly 25,000 persons. The final control of athletic sports is vested in the Council on Athletics.

The students have a number of large debating societies, dramatic societies and musical clubs. The Greek letter fraternities are well established, 43 having chapters, many of which have attractive fraternity houses. Consult Lippincott, H. M., 'The University of Pennsylvania' (1919).