19th century Tufts University

tufts college, c. 1854

in 1840s, universalist church wanted open college in new england, , charles tufts donated 20 acres church in 1852 them achieve goal. charles tufts had inherited land, barren hill 1 of highest points in boston area, called walnut hill, , when asked family member intended land, said put light on . 20-acre donation (then valued @ $20,000) still @ heart of tufts now-150 acre campus, straddling somerville , medford. in 1852 commonwealth of massachusetts chartered tufts college, noting college should promote virtue , piety , learning in such of languages , liberal , useful arts shall recommended . during tenure, ballou spent year travelling , studying in united kingdom. methods of instruction initiated based on tutorials conducted in university of oxford , university of edinburgh. more 160 years old, tufts third-oldest college in boston area.

having been 1 of biggest influences in establishment of college, hosea ballou ii became first president in 1853, , college hall, first building on campus, completed following year. building bears ballou s name. campus opened in august 1854. president ballou died in 1861 , succeeded alonzo ames miner. though not college graduate, presidency marked several advances. these include establishment of preparatory schools tufts include goddard seminary, westbrook seminary, , dean academy. during civil war college actively supported union cause. mansion of major george l. stearns stood on part of campus station on underground railroad. in addition having largest classes spring up, 63 graduates served in union army. first course of three-year program leading degree in civil engineering established in 1865, same year mit founded. 1869, crane theological school organized.

miner s successor, elmer capen first president tufts alumnus. during time, 1 of earliest innovators amos dolbear. in 1875, chair of physics department, installed working telephone connected lab in ballou hall home on professors row. 2 years later alexander graham bell receive patent. dolbear s work in tufts later continued marconi , tesla. other famous scholars include william leslie hooper in addition serving acting president, designed first slotted armature dynamos. student @ college, frederick stark pearson, become 1 of america s pioneers of electrical power industry. became responsible development of electric power , electric street car systems many cities in south america , europe used. notable figure stephen m. babcock developed first practical test determine amount of butterfat in milk. since development in college, babcock test has hardly been modified. expansion of chemistry , biology departments largely led scholars arthur michael, 1 of first organic chemists in u.s., , john sterling kingsley, 1 of first scholars of comparative anatomy.

jumbo in barnum museum of natural history

p. t. barnum 1 of earliest benefactors of tufts college, , barnum museum of natural history (barnum hall) constructed in 1884 funds donated him house collection of animal specimens , stuffed hide of jumbo elephant, become university s mascot. building stood until april 14, 1975, when fire gutted barnum hall, destroying entire collection.

on july 15, 1892, tufts board of trustees voted college opened women in undergraduate departments on same terms , conditions men . metcalf hall opened in 1893 , served dormitory women. @ same meeting, trustees voted create graduate school faculty , offer ph.d. degree in biology , chemistry. in 1893 medical school opened , in 1899 boston dental college integrated university. in 1890, department of electrical engineering created, , in 1892–1893 course of three-year program in civil engineering extended 4 years. advent of four-year program degrees granted bachelor of civil or electrical engineering. tufts college added department of mechanical engineering , department of chemical engineering in 1894 , 1898, respectively. in 1898, trustees voted formally establish undergraduate college of engineering.