Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/18



8 HENRY L. BATES

gift was that of more than 400 volumes by Sidney E. Morse, the son of a famous geographer and brother of the renowned inventor, S. F. B. Morse. One of the most valuable books in the library is a copy of Ptolemy's Universal Geography printed at Basle in 1542 on the title page of which is inscribed, "Sidney E. Morse from his affectionate brother, S. F. B. Morse, Rome, June, 1830."

A more recent addition of great value was the gift of over 200 old and rare books from the library of D. W. Craig, a pioneer journalist of Oregon. One book printed in 1482 is one of the two or three oldest books west of the Rocky Moun- tains.

Another book of unique interest and value is a copy of a primer printed in the Spokane dialect, on the Lapwai press in 1842, said to be the only perfect copy in existence.

Today the library numbers about 20,000 volumes housed in a modern brick structure, the gift of Andrew Carnegie.

There was early organized as an important department of the University a Conservatory of Music which is today giving instruction in piano, pipe organ, violin, voice training and musi- cal history and theory of a character equal to any similar instruction given in the state.

Grandma Brown left to the college at her death, or rather gave before her death, a lot in the village and a log house which was afterwards sold for $506.60 this sum was invested and reinvested until today it has reached something like $5,000.

President Marsh was able thus to realize in some degree the dream of the founders. He found a "small and weak academy and left it well organized, fairly well equipped and with a character established for all time for sound learning and thor- ough instruction" and worthy ideals.

After 25 years of strenuous toil he laid down his task with his life in 1879.

Those who succeeded him in the presidential chair have been Rev. John R. Herrick, Rev. J. T. Ellis, Rev. Thomas McClel-