The Harlem News

State University Passes
Fortieth Birthday Feb. 17

Missoula, Feb. 22 (U.P.)—The state University of Montana celebrated its 40th birthday February 17.

The state legislature granted the university a charter Feb. 17, 1893. Before that date the legislature had set aside 72 sections of land, most of it located in the Bitter Root and Flathead districts, for maintenance of the new school.

Classes started in the university Sept. 11, 1895, and were held in the Willard Building, donated by citizens of Missoula. Fifty students enrolled for the first quarter, and by the end of the year there were 135 registered.

Professor F. S. Schouch, now a vice president of the university and chairman of the foreign languages department, has served the school since its beginnings. During the first year of the school's existence he was a professor of modern languages, at the same time acting as temporary chairman of the department of mechanical engineering.

Other members of the first faculty were Oscar J. Craig, president; Stephen A. Morritt, professor of mathematics; William A. Abern, professor of Greek and Latin; Mary Oliver Gray, instructor of music, and Mary A. Craig, librarian.

Dr. M. J. Elrod, head of the department of biology, came to the university in 1897 to organize that department. J. P. Rowe came to the school in 1900 to accept chairmanship of the department of Physics and Geology. He now is head of the geology department.

The legislature appropriated $35,000 for the university in 1897, and also authorized a $100,000 bond issue secured by state university lands. With this money the university and science halls were erected. The buildings were completed in 1899.

The present campus site was donated by Frances G. Higgins and Edward L. Bonner of Missoula.

In 1901 another bond issue provided funds for erection of Craig Hall, a dormitory for women, and the women's gymnasium. The present law building was completed in 1907, at first being used for a library.

Clyde A. Duniway of Stanford University became president in 1908. During his administration a school of law was established, and a summer session included in the school's curriculum. In 1912 Edwin B. Craighead became president, and in the next few years courses in business administration, journalism, pharmacy, home economics and forestry were added.

Professor Scheuch was appointed acting president in 1915, serving until Edward O. Sisson assumed the presidency in 1917. Charles H. Clapp, now president, was appointed in 1921. Since 1915 eight new buildings have been constructed on the campus, and the enrollment and faculty have grown up by leaps and bounds in size.

The first football game at the university was played on a "flat" north of the campus, along the banks of the Missoula river. The major games were played with a college at Deer Lodge, long since abandoned.