Dr. Allen and Dr. Burrowes each found the college in the midst
of difficulties which sorely taxed their patience and ingenuity.
The times were not propitious and friends were few or apathetic.
Hopes and expectations had not been realized. Criticism was
rampant. Many doubted whether the strong setting tide of oppo
sition could ever be stemmed. The financial situation was weak
and unstable. It was hardly to be wondered at that., students
came slowly and unwillingly. Dr. Allen withdrew at the close
of his second year and returned to resume the presidency of
Girard College in which he had been eminently successful and
where he spent the balance of his life. Dr. Burrowes died in the
service here just as his work was beginning to show, and there
seemed promise that the reputation which he had acquired as the
head of the Common School System of the State would be of
material aid in making the Agricultural College better known
and patronized by the people at large.
Four other presidents have been, for a longer or shorter time, at
the head of the institution. No more fitting act could mark a
class graduation or reunion than the presentation at commence
ment, or other symbolic time, .of portraits of these men. They
have been in each case identified with a certain period and with
certain changes, the significance and value of which oftentimes
did not appear until later.
Of the five remaining pictures, which friends have donated, three
are of the first board of trustees: Mr. H. N. McAllister of Belle
fonte, Judge Hiester of Harrisburg and Judge Miles of Brie.
They were enthusiastic advocates of the industrial college idea,
and labored assiduously to make it a success. The first named,
partictilarly, was untiring in his efforts, and for several years
gave a large part of a busy life in personal labors toward working
out and putting into practice this idea. A week never passed in
which he was not at the college, and he often spent several con
secutive days in personally directing the details of building and
the work on the farm and grounds. It is but justice to say that
without his personal services and sacrifices during these early
days the cause would have been greatly retarded, if not perma
nently endangered. The remaining two though never members
of the governing board were active friends and advisers and asso
ciated with all the movements in the early days. Mr. ,Humes
THE CHAPEL PORTRAITS