University of Nevada: Small but thriving
by Xiao Zhang, Outpost staff
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Nevada in 1900 Photo essay: Nevada at the turn of the century Links on Nevada History |
The university, called State University of Nevada at the beginning of the century, was just a small college in its 13th year of operation. Founded in 1874, it was relocated to Reno in 1887. More information on UNR's history can be found on the university's main page.
Only 25 faculty members, including a librarian, were at the university in 1900. Nine of the faculty, more than a third, were women. Most of them had bachelor's degrees. Some had master's degrees, and one had a doctoral degree. Most departments had one professor offering five to six course year round. Some engineering departments, such as the mining department, had two to three professors.
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Lincoln Hall, the men students' dormitory at the
beginning of the century, was at the northern
extreme of the campus. |
The library had 6,000 bound volumes and 5,000 pamphlets, according to The 13th Annual Register produced in 1900. The Register was the same as today's university catalog.
The old college was almost the same as today's UNR in school calendar. The bachelor's degree took four years to complete, the same as is advertised today. Each academic year extended from Sept. 1 to June 1 and was divided into two semesters.
Although the university was small, it offered courses in various majors. It was composed of six schools and five departments. The majors included mines, agriculture and mechanical arts, civil engineering, electrical and industrial arts. But the university's training extended to teaching, military, commercial (business training) and high school training. Most graduates became teachers or mining engineers.
What is different is all male students were required to have military training during their college years.
Almost all the students were from Nevada, and they were fairly young, said Jim Hulse, a professor emeritus of history who has written extensively on the history of the university. Students from Reno lived at home when they were in school. But students from out of town had to live in the dormitory on campus. Male students lived in Lincoln Hall, which could house "at least 100 young men," according to the 13th Annual Register. Female students stayed in the Cottage, today's Manzanita Hall, which could house 40 people. The president and his family also lived in the Cottage.
Students were constrained heavily by the college. For example, students were allowed to give an informal dance every four weeks, according to the 1900 Artemisia.
Various student associations existed at the
University of Nevada. In the photo is men's
football team. |
But students found social life in clubs, such as the Young Men's Christian Association of University of Nevada. Various special interest clubs could be found on campus.
The University of Nevada was founded on the Land Grant Act in 1862, which allowed each state in the Union to sell 90,000 acres of land and put the money in a trust fund to support the university. In the beginning of the century it was a free college. Students did not need to pay tuition or a special fee for living in the dorm. They were only charged of a lab fee of about $4 and a typewriting fee of $1 per semester.
"They tried to give as much free as possible," Hulse said. "They decided for many years not to charge tuition."
President Joseph Stubbs, who served from 1894 to 1914, was "a man of great vision," Hulse said. He said the president saw what the university should be for higher education and tried to hire more staff and expand the library to improve the university.
"Without that vision, the college couldn't have gone very far," Hulse said.
Despite being small, the university offered quality education in the 1900, said Hulse.
"It was very small for a college, and half of the students were in high school," Hulse said. "But a number of people who graduated 1899 had distinguished careers. The college gave them a good education."
Posted Dec. 13 , 1999
Copyright 1999 Nevada Outpost
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