The Organization Of The University

The organization or foundation oí the University of Michigan ia of such general interest, and besides so little familiar to the present generation, as to warrant us in giving place to the foUovring leaf from its hiitory. At a meeting of the Board of Regente, held in Detroit, on the 22d day of July 1841,- noarly 32 years ago, - there being present Messrs. Duftield, Draper, Farnsworth, Fletcher, Kearslcy, Kundig-, Morell Pitcher, Owen, Trowbridge and Wilkins, the following resolution was offcired by Chancellor Fabxswoeth and adopted : Réiolved, That the resolution of the Board of Regents adopted ou the 8th inst., in reference to th( -i oí a hraucb-jof tbe Uuivcrsity ai Ami Arljor, 1)6 so fnr innilüieil aa to authorize tl rganization of the University at Ann Arbor, by the ajrooindaDent of a Professor of tfret, WhO sndl perfona the dutiu. prein the resotution hereby modified. In pursuance of thé resolution, and on further motion of Chancellor Faunswobth, the Board proceeded to tho election of the professor provided for, and Mr. Geoeoe P. Williams of the Oakland Branch (located at Pontiac), was appointed such Professor oL Lnngunges. On the 13th of August in the same year (1811), as the record shows, the following resolutions were adopted by the Eegents : Resolved, That Geo. P. "Williams, A. M., lio erred (at his own request), and he is hereby appointed Professor of Mathematics in nireraity of Michigan. Resolved, That the Eev. Joseph Whitin, A. M., be and hereby is íippointed Professor of Lnngiiages in the University of Michigan. As this record shows, the University of Miohgaa - beforo cxisting in name and throtigh certain branches - took up its present location here in July, 1841, with Dr. Williams sole professor, thoiuih the triennial catalogue shows Asa Gbay Professor of Botany from 1811 to 1842, having been on duty, we suppose, in ono of tlio "branches," Dr. A. Saoer succeeding him iu 1842. Prof. Ghay was certainly never on duty here, and camiot divido the honor of being tlie üniversity with Dr. Williams. Douglass HotTOHTCW, awordiiig to the same triennial catalogue, was Professor of Chemistry and Minerology from 1838 to 1845, but ever on duty at the l'niversity it was not untü affer tli appointment of Dr. Williams, whicli appointraent gave body or organization to what liad before only existed in visión or name. Prof. Whitinü (TM appointed at the request of Dr. Williams at tho timo of the "transfer" provided for by the resolution above quoted. Dr. Williams held the second professorehip to which he was ajipuinted ('Mathematics) until 1863, when he was again transferred to the chair of Physics, which profeasorship he now holda, adjunct basen Mebiiiíiax taking the laboring oar. Dr. Williams has seen tho oak grow from the acorn, the University mature into its present broad and liberal jiroportions. May lie long live, esteemed and revered, the connecting link between the present and the past.