 | CHAPTER XXVI Jefferson, Cabell and the University of Virginia |  |
Professional Schools.
The professional schools, named in the order of
establishment, are those of Medicine, Law and Engineering.
For two years at least the School of Medicine had
a cultural purpose only, but in 1827 it was enlarged.
Dr. Dunglison, the original head, was made professor
of physiology, theory and practice of medicine,
obstetrics and medical jurisprudence; Dr.
Emmet, chemistry and materia medica, and Dr.
Thomas Johnson, demonstrator of anatomy and
surgery. The following scheme exhibits the development
of the School of Medicine from its
foundation to the present time. The dates in parentheses
indicate the time of inaugurating the particular
arrangements to which they are attached.
Department of Medicine:
Medicine (1825)—Professors: Robley Dunglison,
1825-33; Alfred T. Magill, 1833-37; R.
Changed to—
Medicine and Obstetrics (1867)—Professor:
James F. Harrison, 1867-79. Changed to —
Medicine, Obstetrics, and Medical Jurisprudence
(1879)—Professors: James F. Harrison, 1879-86;
William C. Dabney, 1886-90. Changed to—
Obstetrics and Practice of Medicine (1890)—
Professors: William C. Dabney, 1890-94; Augustus
H. Buckmaster, acting, 1894-95, professor
1895-6. Changed to—
Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Practice of Medicine
(1896)—Professor: Augustus H. Buckmaster,
1896-99. Changed to—
Gynecology, Obstetrics, Surgical Diseases, and
Abdominal Surgery (1899)—Professor: Augustus
H. Buckmaster, 1899-1905.
Pathology and Hygiene (1893)—Instructor:
John Staige Davis, 1893-94; adjunct, 1894-99.
Changed to—
Pathology (1899)—Professor: John Staige
Davis, 1899-1900. Changed to—
Pathology and Practice of Medicine (1900)—
Professor: John Staige Davis since 1900.
Biology (1887)—Professor: Albert H. Tuttle
since 1888.
Bacteriology (1891)—Professor: Albert H.
Tuttle since 1891; J. Carroll Flippin, adjunct since
1904.
Anatomy and Surgery (1827)—Demonstrator:
Thomas Johnson, 1827-31; professor, 1831-34;
Augustus L. Warner, 1834-37; James L. Cabell,
1837-49; demonstrator, John Staige Davis [Sr.],
1845-49; lecturer and demonstrator, 1849-53; lecturer
on anatomy, materia medica, and therapeutics,
1885-86; professor, 1886-93; demonstrator,
William G. Christian, 1889-93; professor, 18931905.
Comparative Anatomy, Physiology and Surgery
(1849)—Professor: James L. Cabell, 1849-61.
Anatomy, Materia Medica, Therapeutics and
Botany (1856)—Professor: John Staige Davis,
1856-61. Changed to—
Anatomy and Materia Medica (1861)—Professors:
John Staige Davis, 1861-85; William B.
Towles, acting, 1885-86; professor, 1886-93.
Physiology and Surgery (1861)—Professors:
James L. Cabell, 1861-89; Paul B. Barringer,
1889-94. Changed to—
Physiology and Materia Medica (1894)—Paul
B. Barringer since 1894.
Hygiene—Lectureship established in 1898, William
A. Lambeth, incumbent; taught theretofore by
Dr. John Staige Davis, beginning 1893. This was
expanded in 1901 into the lectureship of hygiene and
materia medica. The following year the lecturer,
Dr. Lambeth, was made adjunct professor, and in
1903 professor.
The degree of M. D. was conferred in 1838 for
the first time; the recipients were Gessner Harrison
of Rockingham, George W. McCulloch of Albemarle,
and Thomas J. White of Florida.
Department of Law:
The frequent rearrangements of subjects in the
medical department has not entirely obliterated the
original distinction of schools. In the Department
of Law, however, the two schools, in which the
a number of classes.
John Tayloe Lomax, the first professor of law,
entered upon his duties July, 1826, and retired four
years later. John A. G. Davis, his successor, was
assassinated in 1840, and the work of the school for
that year was completed by Nathaniel Pope Howard.
Mr. Howard was killed in the capitol disaster
in Richmond, April 27, 1870.[6]
Judge Henry St. George Tucker was incumbent
from 1841 to 1845, when he resigned on account of
failing health.[7]
Then began the remarkable career
as a teacher of law of John B. Minor, which extended
to the year of his death, 1895.
In 1851 James P. Holcombe entered the service of
the School of Law as adjunct, and in 1854 became
professor. At that time he was one of the most distinguished
men in the faculty. He rightly interpreted
the signs of the times as portending a terrible
civil conflict, and became a leader of the thought
that solidified the South. As an orator at once persuasive
and passionate, he swayed the opinions of
all who heard him, and not only almost but fully
convinced them that there was but one side to the
tremendous controversy. His connection with the
University ended in 1861, in which year he was a
claimed his service in Congress and in confidential
relations until its collapse in 1865.
Holcombe was succeeded by Stephen O. Southall,
1866-84; and he by James H. Gilmore, 1885-96.
William Minor Lile entered the faculty in 1893,
becoming the colleague of Professors Minor and
Gilmore. Upon the death of Mr. Minor in 1895,
Walter D. Dabney succeeded him, but death claimed
him after three years of service (1899), and Charles
A. Graves has filled the chair since that year. There
have been two assistants or instructors—John B.
Minor, Jr., 1890-93; Raleigh C. Minor, 1893-95.
The latter was made adjunct 1895-99, and professor
since the last named date.
The degree of Bachelor of Law was conferred for
the first time in July, 1829, on Charles L. Mosby of
Powhatan and Nathaniel Wolfe of Charlottesville.
Outside influences which affected the graduate
have forced the element of time into the conditions
precedent to the conferring of the degrees in Law
and Medicine. Two years are required in residence
for the degree of Bachelor of Law, and four for
that of Doctor of Medicine.
A footnote to the Richmond Mayoralty Case (Grattan,
xix, 673) tells the story of the collapse of the floors of the
building and the ensuing horror, and says of Howard that he
was of "extensive and varied learning which he as anxiously
concealed as others seek to make theirs known; accurate in
all things to a proverb, with the unswerving integrity and the
purity of life which secured to him the confidence and regard
of all who knew him."
John M. Patton was appointed professor of law July 4,
1845. He seems to have declined, although there is no record.
Mr. Minor was unanimously elected July 28.
Department of Engineering:
The present School of Engineering had its beginning
in a small way in 1867, doubtless through the
efforts of Professor Leopold J. Boeck,[8]
whose connection
year.
At first the chair in Professor Boeck's charge was
called the School of Applied Mathematics, Engineering,
and Architecture. The entire work of the
school from 1867 to 1875 was done by the professor
with assistants during two of the eight years. In
1875 the school was known as the department of
Applied Mathematics and Civil Engineering, William
M. Thornton succeeding Boeck as its head in
the grade of adjunct professor.
In 1882 the Department of Engineering was established
with this faculty:
Natural Philosophy, Professor Francis H. Smith;
Mathematics, Professor Charles S. Venable;
General and Applied Chemistry, Professor John
W. Mallet;
Natural History and Geology, Professor William
M. Fontaine;
Analytical and Agricultural Chemistry, Professor
F. P. Dunnington;
Mathematics applied to Engineering, Adjunct
Professor William M. Thornton.
The constitution of this department has not been
changed since 1882, but its scope has been greatly
has been appointed in the School of Pure
Mathematics, the adjunct in Applied Mathematics
advanced to full professorship, and three adjunct
professors attached to the Department of Engineering,
who have charge of the purely technical
courses respectively in civil, mechanical and electrical
engineering, the professor of Applied Mathematics
having temporary charge of the course in
Mining Engineering. From the beginning of Mr.
Thornton's connection with the University in 1875
he has been in a large sense the School of Engineering,
and its remarkable growth and success would
seem to approve his policies.
The degrees conferred in this department are
those of Civil Engineering, instituted in 1868, and
Mining Engineering 1868, Mechanical Engineering,
1892, and Electrical Engineering, 1893. The
degree of Civil and Mining Engineering was conferred
from 1868 to 1879.
Leopold Jules Boeck was a native of Culm, Poland, and
was forty-four years of age when he reached the University
in 1866 after an adventurous career. The University of Berlin
conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy,
immediately after which he became involved in the Polish
Revolution of 1849. Its failure made him a fugitive from his
own country, and he took part in the revolution and uprising
in Hungary. He soon won the confidence of Kossuth and the
General sent him as envoy from Hungary to Turkey to ask
assistance. Instead of being aided he was imprisoned, but
after two years he was placed on the United States steam
frigate Mississippi and sent to Paris. There he fell in with
Victor Hugo and Victor Cousin. His anti-Napoleon sentiments
and his penchant for revolutions put him under suspicion,
and when Hugo was thrown into prison Boeck was
ordered to leave France. Reaching New York he established
a school in that city, which was broken up by the civil war.
Eventually he came to the University, where his early labors
resulted in one of the first cases of technical and industrial
education in universities. He died in Philadelphia in 1896.
| CHAPTER XXVI Jefferson, Cabell and the University of Virginia | |