Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/221

 STUDENTS AND FACULTY 191 on February 3, 1891, Dr. Harper, though he had not then accepted the presidency, was authorized to confer with Frank Frost Abbott with reference to undertaking this work. Mr. Abbott was a young man, then a tutor in Yale, and his fitness for the work was therefore well known to Dr. Harper. Mr. Abbott was appointed University Examiner from July i, 1891, and began work in that position early in September, nearly thirteen months before the University was to open. On February 16, 1891, the Secretary wrote to Dr. Harper, who on that day wrote his acceptance of the presidency, "I am glad you have secured Abbott. We will turn over to him a list of three hundred or more students who will begin to need atten- tion by July i. The number grows each day." In March a new element entered into the situation. W. B. Owen, then a student hi the Theological Seminary at Morgan Park, afterward a member of the University faculties, and still later principal of the Chicago Normal School, had gathered about him ten pupils whom he was preparing for the University. He had arranged to remain the following year, 1891-92, and complete their preparation. This work of Mr. Owen's was the germ out of which the University's Academy at Morgan Park grew. In September, 1891, he was permitted to hold classes in the Seminary buildings. He engaged teachers and conducted a flourishing school. In May, 1891, Official Bulletin No. 2 was issued. Dealing with the Colleges of the University, it supplied a want that was felt more and more every day, as young people intending to enter college classes were eagerly asking questions which this bulletin answered. It was widely distributed. On June 2 the Secretary wrote, "There is no let-up in the new calls for bulletins and the reporting of new students." On returning in September, 1891, from his summer vacation he had these interesting items to report, "Professor Abbott has come and seems to be a fine fellow. The Owen Academy (Morgan Park) is flourishing. It now has, at the close of the second week, seventy students." On September 30 he wrote, "Since I returned from my vacation forty new students have reported to us." It is not improbable that these reports as to the growing number of probable students were taken with some allowance for the