The school of medicine was organized under the university charter in July, 1894, and began work in the succeeding October, in temporary quarters provided for it on the campus. In 1896 the medical faculty became possessed of a fine building at the corner of Rusk and Seventh streets. This was put in order and equipped for the medical school, which resumed work in its new quarters September 30, 1896. The building and equipment cost $30,000. At present the university offers collegiate courses in arts and sciences. leading to the degrees of A. B. and B. S., corresponding preparatory courses, a normal course, an elementary preparatory course, and a commercial course; also a course in law leading to the degree of LL.B., and in medicine to the degree of M. D. Instruction is also provided in modern languages, instrumental and vocal music, drawing and painting, elocution, and military tactics. Postgraduate instruction is offered in mathematics, Latin, Greek, chemistry, biology, and astronomy. Four buildings have been erected on the campus-University Hall, Cadet Hall, Science Hall, and the dining hall. These are plainly and solidly built, and are commodious and well planned for their special purposes. Ample quarters also are provided in the center of the city for the schools of commerce and medicine. University Hall is 85 feet front, 84 feet deep, and three stories high. On the first floor are the chapel, study hall, president's office, recitation and toilet rooms. On the second floor are the reception rooms, apartments for the president's family, library, reading room, art studio, and dormitories occupied by students and members of the faculty. On the third floor are dormitories, music rooms, and hall for societies and for physical culture. The building is well arranged for ventilation, and all sanitary conditions are good. Young women can be accommodated here with comfortable rooms, well furnished, and presided over by a competent and cultured preceptress. Efficient janitor service is furnished. Cadet Hall is devoted to the use of the young men only. The commandant's office, study hall, and professors' rooms are on the first floor. The second and third stories contain the young men's dormitories. Corridors run the entire length of the building on each floor, with fire escapes at each end. The cadets are subject to military discipline. Science Hall is provided with chemical, physical, and biological laboratories of exceptionally full equipment, a museum, and an astronomical observatory containing the Chamberlin telescope. The dining hall has dining room, serving room, and kitchen on the lower floor, and dormitories above. The dining room seats 150. Military drill is required of each young man unless disqualified by physical conditions, and must be regarded as a part of regular work. The net enrollment of students of the university last session was 468, including 168 medical students. There were 460 students in the commercial school. The president of the university since 1891 is Rev. Oscar L. Fisher, who was preceded by Rev. P. M. White, and he by Rev. A. A. Johnson. President Johnson and W. H. Connor were the chief promoters of the establishment of the university. A splendid 6-inch equatorial refracting telescope was presented by Mr. H. B. Chamberlin. The institution has no endowment. Its property in grounds, buildings, and equipments is worth $155,000. NORTH TEXAS FEMALE COLLEGE. This institution, which has attained great success under its present management, was begun by the citizens of Sherman in 1866, thirtythree years ago. Like many other schools, its beginning was unpretentious, giving little promise of success. It was originally only a high school, intended to supply a local demand. Prof. J. C. Parks, its first president, continued at its head for twelve years. In 1878 the trustees determined to organize the institution and have it chartered as a college under its present style and title, and Col. J. R. Cole became its president. In 1880 Prof. W. C. Parham, from Arkansas, became president, and continued only one year. In 1881 Rev. E. D. Pitts, D. D., took charge as president, but remained only two years, and in 1883 Judge J. M. Onins was elected to the presidency. During all these years the institution was embarrassed with debts and struggled against poverty and other difficulties incident to new enterprises. The citizens of Sherman, supposing the church would be a better guardian than themselves, tendered the school to the North Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and for years the church endeavored to keep it alive, often coming to the point of despair and then rallying, only to make another disappointing effort. Finally, after many alternatives, the board of trustees found themselves overwhelmed with its indebtedness, and closed the school in 1886. It remained in this condition for one year, when Mrs. L. A. Kidd, now the wife of Bishop Joseph S. Key, was induced to undertake its rescue and establishment. At once hope revived and the friends of the college rallied to it with enthusiasm. Rev. J. M. Binkley was put in the field as agent, and was followed next year by Rev. T. J. Milam and Rev. J. C. Weaver, who canvassed for several years. Under all these efforts the debts were paid and money raised to enlarge the buildings and improve the grounds. Much money was given in small sums, but the largest contributor was Mrs. Julia Halsell, of Decatur, Tex., who gave at one time $5,000, which paid off the final mortgage and liberated the college. Rev. J. M. Binkley gave at one time $1,000, besides smaller sums at different times, and has from the beginning been a steadfast and helpful friend. But the greatest |