Universities
Universities names 6 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Universities In many works on the occult sciences allusions are
An Encyclopaedia of Occultism (1920)
In many works on the occult sciences allusions are made to schools and universities for the instruction of those who were drawn to them. Thus we are told that Salamanca abounded in such schools; that Jechiel, a Jewish Rabbi of mediæval France , kept such a seminary; and there is reason to believe that in all ages such institutions were by no means uncommon. Balzac alludes to one of them in a well-known novel The Secret of Ruggier, which he places at the time of Catherine de Medici. He says, "At this epoch the occult sciences were cultivated with an ardour which put to shame the incredulous spirit of our century.... The universal protection accorded to these sciences by the ruling sovereigns of the times was quite remarkable." He goes on to say that at the commencement of the sixteenth century Ruggier was the member of a secret university for the study of the occult sciences, where astrologers, alchemists, and others, studied several branches of hidden knowledge; but he gives no details as to its locality, or as to the exact nature of its curriculum. There is no doubt that during the Middle Ages many extramural lecturers taught alchemy and kindred subjects at the Urim and Thummim horsemen, and to prevent them wearying. It moves itself when any danger threatens its possessor. Typtology: The science of communicating with the spirits by means of rapping, various codes being arranged for the purpose. Thus the sitters may read the alphabet aloud, or slowly pass a pencil down a printed alphabet, the rappings indicating the correct letters which, on being joined together, form a message or an answer to some question propounded. One rap may be made to mean "yes," two "no," and so on. (See Rappings.) great universities. Thus Paracelsus lectured on alchemy at the University of Basel, and he was preceded and followed there and elsewhere by many illustrious professors of that and other occult arts. M. Figuier in his work Alchemy and the Alchemists (See Alchemy ), alludes to a school in Paris frequented by alchemists, which he himself attended in the middle of the last century. The school-an ordinary chemical laboratory through the day-became in the evening a centre of the most elaborate alchemical study, where Figuier met many alchemical students, visionary and practical, with one of whom he had a prolonged argument, which we have outlined at considerable length in the article Alchemy." Many professors of the occult sciences in early and later times drew around them considerable bands of students and assistants and formed distinct schools for the practice of magic and alchemy, principally the latter. The College of Augurs in Rome and the Calmecac of Ancient Mexico are distinct examples of institutions for the study of at least one branch of occult science, and in this connection the House of Wisdom of the Ismaelite sect at Cairo may be mentioned. It is likely that in ancient Egypt and Babylonia, institutions of the kind flourished more or less in secret. Mme. Blavatsky insisted to the last that a great "school" of illuminated occult adepts flourished in Tibet; but as nobody except herself and her immediate friends ever saw them, or had any dealings with them; and as all proof is against the existence of such a semi-divine brotherhood, her statements must be taken as being somewhat open to question. There is, however, no reason to doubt that bodies of men who study the higher occultism do exist in various Asiatic centres, whatever the nature of their powers, supernormal or otherwise, may be. Vague rumours reach students of occultism every now and again of schools or colleges on the continent of Europe, the purpose of which is to train aspirants in the occult arts; but as definite information is seldom forthcoming regarding these, they can only be merely alluded to here. The "School for the Discovery of the Lost Secrets of Antiquity," which flourishes at Lotus-land, California, was founded by Catherine Tingley late in the nineteenth century, and is under theosophical régime. Numerous small bodies for the study of occultism exist in every town of considerable size in Europe and America; but these cannot be dignified even by the name of "schools," as they are for the most part private affairs, the occultism of which is of an extremely amateurish and innocent character.
Universities AMERICAN tunities for study in the broadest fields
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
AMERICAN tunities for study in the broadest fields. im- They have thousands of students, taxamense resources, provided either by buildings and tion or endowment, many Even the college extensive grounds. course in such an institution represents the the extreme movement for widening curriculum. Admission is on liberal of terms, and the widest possible choice In the subjects is afterward allowed. same spirit professional schools are a its part of the university and share care and its fortunes. The tendency in recent years has been to bring schools of medicine and law into close affiliation with great universities. This result has increased recome about in part from quirements in these schools. Universities have likewise developed schools of parallel applied science or technology with the college course or supplementary thereto. Year by year vocational work is elevated and elaborated into degree courses. Thus we find not only new courses in engineering, but also in architecture, industrial art, forestry, commerce, journalism etc. In connection with this expansion of the the curriculum might be mentioned American universistrong tendency of facilities to the larger ties to extend their public outside their walls. (See article on University Extension.) Types of American Universities. The name "university" was originally preferred college institutions founded directly by the States, and tomost day the State universities form the indistinctive type of higher educational of the Middle stitutions. The territory field for this de- West afforded the best velopment. Some of the strongest of or these institutions owe their origin Act their rapid growth to the Morrill passed by Congress in 1862 for the prothe mechanical motion of agriculture and of arts. These great State universities the Middle West and California answer in every way the tests laid down above. They are liberally supported by the States, a number of them having an annual appropriation of more than one million dollars for expenses. They have a large and rapidly growing student are doing an increasing ng probody and work of the portion of the educational country. While they do not at present unisurpass several of the strongest versities on private foundation in number of higher degrees given, they show service, in unusual eminence in public contributions to the material welfare of the States, in the utilization of knowl- , for edge, especially scientific knowledge social and economic the improvement of conditions. These words of praise do not apply to all State universities. Many
Universities AMERICAN is the development of these three characteristics that
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
AMERICAN is the development of these three characteristics that has made the American University. Graduate Work. - The first announcement of courses leading to the degree of Ph. D. was made by Yale College in 1860. Harvard followed in 1872. The opening of Johns Hopkins University in 1876 marks an epoch in this field. In that year there were only 269 graduate students in all American institutions. Ten years later the number had increased to 1,237 and in ten years more to 5,000. The influence of this movement affected richer and older institutions so that generous provisions for graduate work were made in many of them. The degree of Ph. D. is now regularly conferred on a considerable number of candidates by twenty or twenty-five institutions which by this token may be called universities. Of course there are others doing a creditable amount of graduate work, especially for the Master's degree, but they do not compete in number and variety of courses offered with the first group. The requirements for the Doctor's degree are fairly uniform. To the ordinary college course at least three years of work is added. This work is highly specialized, and culminates in a dissertation, which is generally printed and must give evidence of ability to do independent investigation. Preliminary acquaintance with French and German is demanded, also a familiarity with the literature of the subject under investigation. An examination, oral or written, covers the whole field of study. Facilities for Research. These must necessarily accompany all graduate work. A university must therefore have well equipped laboratories and extensive libraries. Of course such facilities are demanded even for undergraduate work, but the true university provides them on a scale and to an extent that cannot be demanded even of the best college. Teachers of university students must also be left free for independent investigations. Under the influence of the National Research Council an effort is now being made to stimulate research in all American institutions of high grade, but the universities must lead the way. Connected with research work provision must also be made for publication of results. It was not accidental that Johns Hopkins University became the center from which issued important publications in so many fields. Professional Training. - Universities are not only well equipped institutions for specialized graduate study, but they are generally big institutions, with oppor-
Universities AMERICAN of them fall short of the standards laid rapidly down
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
AMERICAN of them fall short of the standards laid rapidly down, but they are improving as general as funds are provided and in more rapidly than endowed institutions. universities had The oldest American the support at various times of public taxation, of denominational patronage and of private endowment. Gradually last named they have been left to the in the source of help. Nowhere else world has private philanthropy accom- States plished so much as in the United for educational development. The number and strength of these institutions the in the Eastern States has prevented upbuilding of State universities in that too, private section. In other sections, institutions are growing in resources and power, and occasionally new ones of Chicago are founded. The University and Leland Stanford Junior University to were at their very birth dedicated great careers. Strictly denominational universities in the are less strong relatively than and depast, but are loyally supported As a rule fended by their adherents. of organizathey approach in manner the endowed tion and in temper of work . universities above described A new type of institution has recently The Urban come into notice known as " are Some of this type University." merely endowed universities which, being located in large cities, assume certain duties of local leadership, natural and real Others, however, are proper. "municipal universities" supported by the culmination city taxes and forming of the city school system. The conclusion reached from this study is that the American University somewhat has a real existence but is still nebulous. No register of names can yet , State or nabe made. No legislation U. S. tional, guards the title. The not help us Bureau of Education does , for it publishes a list of approximately col- 600 higher institutions, including leges, universities, and technological organizations do not schools. Voluntary and insolve the problem. Universities stitutions of less rank are found in the which are organvarious associations type, not standard, as ized according to for example, The National Association Association of State Universities, The Associaof American Universities, The tion of Urban Universities, or The As- And sociation of American Colleges. Uniyet through the cloud the American versity is emerging, mighty in its achievements, the hope and the prophecy UNIVERSITIES of national greatness. See , AMERICAN; TECHNICAL EDUCATION; UNI- VERSITY EXTENSION, etc.
Universities AMERICAN. There is no accepted definition of the term "university" in America
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
AMERICAN. There is no accepted definition of the term "university" in America. Our earliest colonial institutions were founded as schools or colleges. The Constitution of Massachusetts of 1780 uses this language: "Harvard College, in which University many persons" have been educated. This identification of the terms college and university is not yet obsolete. The name of Yale College was changed to Yale University in 1886. The College of New Jersey became Princeton University in 1896. The state institutions in earliest days beginning with North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina generally used the title university without any real discrimination in work. Within the past fifty years the American University has assumed a more definite form and type. This type differs essentially from that of the historic English Universities and equally so from those of Germany. The American University has in general been developed out of the American College, and it still includes the college as a part of its organization. So Harvard College is a branch or department of Harvard University. Adelbert College is a part of Western Reserve University. A university is therefore a college plus something more. This something more includes: (1) provision for graduate work leading to the Ph. D. degree; (2) extended facilities for research; (3) additional schools co-ordinate with the college or built upon the same for professional work of high character. Medicine, Law, and Engineering in its most varied forms are the professions most frequently provided for, though others are sometimes added, It
Universities AMERICAN groups of idealists
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
AMERICAN groups of idealists, however, contend that there should be a language which, if it does not quite become the native tongue of all peoples, should at least be universally taught and so widely known that intercourse between peoples would become practically as free as in any single country. To supply this want artificial languages have been created, one of the first of which was Volapük. More recently a more perfected system was created, known as Esperanto, whose vocabulary is made up of a mixture of the Latin languages, English and German. This language may be learned with greater ease than any of the national forms of speech and is now more or less fluently spoken by millions of people in all parts of the world. In 1920 it was adopted as the official international language of the Russian Soviet Government, which has made it one of the studies in the schools of Russia.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
When Collier's wrote in 1921 that American universities had "thousands of students," fewer than 600,000 Americans of any age were enrolled in higher education at all; today the figure is roughly 19 million, a shift driven above all by the GI Bill of 1944 and the spread of public community colleges. The federal research money that now underwrites the sciences barely existed then: the National Science Foundation dates only from 1950. Collier's expanding curriculum of "engineering, architecture, industrial art, forestry, commerce, journalism" has kept expanding, but its confident tone about "admission on liberal terms" predates the coeducation and desegregation that transformed who actually got in. The Encyclopaedia of Occultism's rival tradition fared less well: Katherine Tingley's theosophical school at Point Loma, California, lost its founder in 1929 and the community left the site in 1942.
Written for this edition, 2026.