Dr. Bonbright's attention was more particularly given to the Evanston departments of the University. The city departments were effectively administered by their deans in close relation with the acting president and with the business office of the University. Prominent among Dr. Bonbright's recommendations to the trustees at the annual meeting in June, 1901, were the establishment of more intimate relations with other nonstate colleges, and with academies and high schools that might become feeders to the University. A system of scholarships in the Freshman class of the college available for students of highest standing in graduating classes of high schools and academies was recommended to the trustees and adopted by them. More scholarships for upper classmen in the college were advised. A suitable dining hall for the men was mentioned as one of the most necessary factors in college life. Dr. Bonbright raised the question also whether the University had not come to the point where it was expedient to limit the number of women students to those who could find residence within the halls provided for them. By advocacy or suggestion advances in development were proposed which proved to be initial steps in progress afterwards accomplished. Among these were the unification of the courses of study in the college curriculum, with corresponding limitation in the forms of degrees at graduation; the restoration of courses in engineering, discontinued in 1876 for lack of adequate means; and the more liberal support of the existing chairs of instruction. The period of Dr. Bonbright's administration was momentous for the University. The Tremont House property was acquired for the professional schools; Grand Prairie Seminary at Onarga, Illinois, became the property of the University; new deans were appointed in both medical schools and in the law schools; the first Founders' Day banquet was held at the Auditorium in Chicago; Chapin Hall was added to the halls for residence of women. Probably no executive officer of the University ever surrendered his administrative functions with an intenser desire to be free from them than Dr. Bonbright. They were alien to his nature and had been accepted only from a high sense of duty. The election of President James early in the year 1902 permitted his predecessor to retire to the quieter and more congenial service of the class-room. A second time the trustees honored Dr. Bonbright with their confidence in inviting him to serve as executive officer of the University after the resignation of President James. But this time, though he was appreciative of the trust reposed in him, his judgment compelled him to decline the honor. The Executive Committee entered in its minutes an expression of profound regret that Dr. Bonbright could not accept the task committed to him. Yet they are assured that in him they have a power that is always making for the nobler ambitions of the University and none the less potently because it is not moving within the limitations of an administrative office. EDMUND JANES JAMES AND THOMAS FRANKLIN HOL GATE AND THEIR ADMINISTRATIONS THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT JAMES WILLIAM ANDREW DYCHE |