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KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

Kentucky University is the name under which 7
Bacon College, the earliest institution of learning of
collegiate grade established by the Disciples of
Christ, was rechartered in 1858 and reopened in
1859, after a suspension of nine years.

Bacon College had its origin at Georgetown, Ky,
beginning its first session Nov. 14, 1836. The ens
rollment of students during the first year reached
the splendid number of 203. Walter Scott was
elected first president: he, however, soon resigned and
David S. Burnett was elected to that office, with
John T. Johnson as vice—president, and with a corps
of five professors, one assistant professor, and a
principal of the preparatory department. The
course offered in Civil Engineering was especially
strong, which fact brought Henry H. White from
New Haven, Conn., to this college. He matricu—
lated in May, 1838, and continued his connection
the institution, serving in various capacities, until
his death on Dec. 9, 1903. v

Because of special inducements offered by the
people of the county of Mercer, the Board of Trus—
ees voted on May 2, 1839, to remove Bacon College

 

     

  

to the town of Harrodsburg; the first session in its
new home began Sept. 2, 1839. David S. Burnett de-

 

cliningvto follow the college to Harrodsburg, Dr.
Samuel Hatch was elected acting president for the‘
session of 1839—40. On Nov. 13, 1840, James Shan—

non, an honorary Master of Arts of Transylvania
University, was inaugurated president of Bacon
College.

The operationof Bacon College ceased in 1850. _
In 1855, John B. Bowman, of Mercer County, con—
ceived the idea of reviving his alma mater as a uni-
versity rather than as a college. The work of solicit—
ing funds with which to endow the new institution,
which was begun by Major James Taylor, was pros—
secuted by Mr. Bowman until a fund of $150,000 was
raised in good pledges from solvent persons. At this
time it was generally agreed that the name of the in—
stitution should be changed. Kentucky University
was the emergency name given the institution by
Capt. Philip B. Thompson, when the charter of Ba—
con College was amended by the State Legislature.
This amended charter was accepted Feb. 2, 1859, by
the Board of Trustees of Bacon College and the
Board of Curators of Kentucky University. The
doors .of the Collegiate department were opened to
receive students on Sept. 19, 1859.

Kentucky University was removed to Lexington
and consolidated with Transylvania University,
under the name and charter of Kentucky University
which was authorized by legislative act approved,
Feb. 28, 1865.

Transylvania University enjoyed the distinction
of being the first institution of its class west of the
Alleghany mountains, having been opened on Jan. 1 ,
1799. The Rev. James Moore was the first president

 ident. The University enjoyed its first real pros—
perity under the administration of the Rev. Horace

Holley, LL. 1)., who was inaugurated president in
-1818. It was about this time that Lexington be-

gan to be styled the Athens of the West.

The splendid Doric edifice known as Morrison Col—
lege was dedicated on Monday, Nov. 4, 1833.

Kentucky University began its first session in
Lexington on Oct. 2, 1865, with three colleges in
operation, the College of Science, Literature and the
Arts, the College of the Bible and the College of Law.
Each college was under the direction of its own pre-
siding officer and faculty. The office of president of
the university which had been filled since 1859 by
Robert Milligan, was replaced in .1865 by that of
regent, of which the founder of the institution, John
B. Bowman, was the only incumbent. On the
abolition of the regency in 1878, Henry H. White,
was elected president of the university. This office
has since been held by Charles Louis Loos (1880—
1897), R. Lin Cave (1897—1900), Alexander R. Milli—
gan (acting president, 1900—1), and Burris A. Jenkins
(19071—6). Until the election of a new pres—
ident, Thos. B. McCartny, Jr., is serving as dean of
the University.

The College of the Bible, conducted under the
charter of Kentucky University, was abandoned
with the closing of the session June 13, 1878. The
present College of the Bible, which was chartered
Feb. 19, 1878, was opened in Lexington, Sept. 10,
1877, with Robt. Graham as president and John W.
McGarvey and I. B. Grubbs as professors. This col—
lege occupied rooms in Morrison College until its own
present commodious building was erected in 1896.
In June, 1895, John W. McGarvey succeeded to the

 

   

 

 

presidency, President Robert Graham having resign—
ed. The College of the Bible now enjoys the services
of six competent men in its own faculty, besides shar—
ing all the privileges of the class room instruction af— ’
forded by the College of Liberal Arts, desired by its
students.
()n Nov. 15, 1898, the Medical Department of
Kentucky University was revived and began a most
successful career under the presidency of Jos. B.
Marvin, LL. D., M. D., at Louisville, Ky.
In 1902, Hamilton College became a part of Ken—
tucky University, with Mrs. Luella W. St. Clair as
president. Under its present management this
college is enjoying an era of unprecedented pros«
perity.
In 1905, the College of Law wasreopened, with
Lyman Chalkley, LL. B., as dean. This college is
also meeting the most sanguine expectations of its
promoters. »