Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/132

126 126 JAMES R. ROBERTSON. commences its formal and public organization, accepts publicly and solemnly its responsibilities, and assumes a position from which there can be no honorable retreat. After five years of preparation, of painful and strenuous effort, this institution takes a step in advance. The idea of education has taken a higher form of development the academy has become the college." Upon President Marsh personally fell most of the work. He had to outline the policies for the future, to map out the courses of study, set the proper standards for a college education, educate public opinion to appreciate and accept such standards, provide funds for an enlarged work, and do most of the advanced teaching himself. That was a program of work that would make an educator of the present time wince. The difficulties were further increased by a defective ad- justment between college and academy and the impossi- bility of keeping the latter in its position of subordination when it was by far the larger part of the institution. The presidency of Doctor Marsh from 1854 to 1879 may properly be called the formative period of the institution. The college became more than an idea ; it became a fact. With a rare skill Doctor Marsh, supported and aided by those who had already done so much, brought every influ- ence to bear upon the work to which he had set himself. Following Mr. Keeler in 1855 as colleague of President Marsh in the academy, Erastus D. Shattuck came as principal. Mr. Shattuck was of Belgian descent, born in Vermont, a graduate of the University of Vermont, a man of fine education and abilities. Before coming to Oregon he had been admitted to the bar of New York state. He was engaged as teacher of ancient languages and was thorough in his work. Between Mr. Shattuck and President Marsh there were many bonds of sympathy. Destined, however, for a larger place in the history of Oregon he left educational work and entered the practice