ADRIAN COLLEGE.

Sketch furnished December, 1889, by G. B. MCELROY, D. D., Ph. D.

Adrian College was organized March 22, 1859, in accordance with the provisions of an act passed by the legislature of the State of Michigan entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation of institutions of learning."

This institution comprises several distinct schools, each having its own faculty of instructors and distinct course of study, leading to appropriate degrees. These several schools, while individual in their functions, are under the common management of the trustees of Adrian College. Students in any one of these schools may, under certain conditions, enjoy the advantages of the other schools.

At present six schools are included under the government of Adrian College: The college of literature and arts, the school of music, the school of theology, the normal school, the preparatory school, the school of commerce. A full description of each of these schools, with course of study, conditions for entrance, etc., may be found in the college catalogues, under appropriate headings.

The associated schools of the college are under the control of a board of 30 trustees, 24 of whom are elected by the general conference of the Methodist Protestant Church and 6 by the Alumni Association of the college.

The assets of the institution, including endowment, grounds, buildings, furniture, apparatus, musical instruments, outlying lands, etc., amount to more than $300,000.

The principal donors to the endowment fund are Joseph J. Amos, of Rushville, Ind.; William M. Hamilton, of Wenona, Ill., and Calvin Tomkins, of Tomkins Cove, N. Y. The first has endowed the chair of systematic theology in the sum of $20,000, the second has given $11,236 toward the endowment of another chair, and the third has contributed $10,000 to the general fund. These sums, as well as a portion of the endowment fund obtained by general subscription, are now invested in real-estate securities and yielding income.

The institution is slowly but steadily growing in the number of stu dents and in its denominational influence,

Its appliances for teaching are very full and good, and its faculty, consisting for the most part of young men, are earnest and enthusiastic. The library contains about 4,000 volumes and the reading-room is well supplied with papers and magazines.

[Added by Prof. A. C. MCLAUGHLIN.]

In 1890-'91 there were some 75 students in the college of literature. Joseph F. McCulloch, M. A., is at present president of the college. The library now contains some 6,000 volumes. It has been greatly enriched recently by addition of works in philosophy. Several thousand dollars have been added to the endowment fund in 1890-'91. An examination of the college course and the requirements for admission shows a curriculum much the same as that of the University of Michigan. The requirements for admission to the A. B. course are almost identical.

THE MUSEUM.

The collection illustrative of Zoology, Geology, Mineralogy, Archæology, and nearly all departments of Natural History, is a very large one, numbering many thousand specimens. Besides numerous purchases, it includes valuable donations from Dr. John Kost, Rev. I. Dunham, of Massachusetts, Maj. J. H. Cole, of Adrian, and Rev. I. C. Billman.

I. The zoological collection is quite large, comprising animals and birds from all parts of the world. A large number of these specimens was included in the cabinet purchased from Dr. John Kost. Among several thousand specimens may be mentioned an African lion, an elk from the Rocky Mountains, a gorilla from Africa, an eland, a zebra, a crocodile from the Nile, a polar bear, a black bear, an African antelope, a cassowary, etc. Rev. Mr. Billman has donated a collection of birds, including nearly all that visit Michigan and Ohio. Fourteen large cases of birds and smaller animals, grouped according to the localities they inhabit, are to be found in the gallery. Among these the arctic and tropical cases are especially attractive.

II. The mineralogical collection includes a very complete list of ores and minerals. A great variety of copper, iron, silver, gold, zinc, and other ores, may be found in the museum. A valuable collection of precious stones, and specimens of a great variety of minerals, from different parts of the world, are in the possessio of the college. A large section from one of the basaltic columns of Giant's Causeway, in Ireland, and a very great variety of silicified wood and other petrifactions, are interesting specimens for the student.

III. The geological collection comprehends specimens from nearly all the more important formations. A large collection of fossils from the Lower Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary formations are arranged in cases in the order of their de

posit. Several valuable casts of extinct animals are in the possession of the college; among these, a large Icthyosaur, purchased from Professor Ward, New York, and a cast of a Plesiosaur, about 20 feet in length, made by Dr. Kost. The skeleton of a large mastodon found in Lenawee County, Mich., has been mounted and is nearly complete. A very comprehensive collection of corals and sponges has been recently donated to the college by Dr. John Kost. These specimens have been handsomely mounted by him, and placed in the new cases provided for the purpose. This addition gives an unusual completeness to the collection in this direction.

IV. The archæological department includes various articles used by the North American Indians and mound-builders, among which are pottery, hatchets, flint arrowheads, etc., with domestic utensils and articles of war, clothing, etc., from other parts of the world.

V. Miscellaneous collections include a collection of skulls for the study of comparative anatomy; a collection of fishes; a collection of marine and fresh-water shells; a collection of models illustrating the various parts of the eye, ear, heart, lungs, etc.; a human skeleton; a manikin; charts, etc.