Faculty and students in the early years at the U

Only two of the faculty were identified in the picture above: President Leonard J. Powell, center and Professor O.B. Johnson, right. In the academic year 1882-83, two of the subjects listed in the catalog were: Rhetoric, which included "conversational reading, so valuable in the everyday course of life" and Voice Culture, "calculated to bring about a healthy action and the development of muscles, which would otherwise be unused." (Gates, p. 44) No entrance exam was required, but students must have a good moral character, be able to read through the fourth reader, and exhibit proficiency in spelling, geography, and fractions.

The student body grew to 43 in 1877, 126 in 1878, and stayed around 140-160 for the next several years. At first, there were actually only about 35-40 students who were taking college level courses. The rest were taking college preparatory classes or elocution instruction. Tuition in 1880 was amazingly low, but commensurate with teachers' salaries. In the 1890's, the growth in the number of students necessitated the building of a larger campus. President George Whitworth said that the aim of the University was to "enable the youth of the Territory, of both sexes, to obtain a thorough education, which shall prepare them for the duties of an active life." (Gates, p. 36)

Whitworth, who was president from 1874-1876, went on to found a Presbyterian college in Spokane. The students in the picture above show the fairly equal mix of men and women in attendance at that time. They are sitting on the steps around one of the columns which are all that remain of the old Territorial University.

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