Harry Burns Hutchins (April 8, 1847 – January 25, 1930)
was the fourth president of the
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
(1909–1920).
Biography
On April 8, 1847, Harry B. Hutchins was born in
Lisbon, New Hampshire
Lisbon is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,621 at the 2020 census. Lisbon hosts an annual lilac festival on Memorial Day weekend.
The main village, where 965 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined ...
. Hutchins got his education at New Hampshire Conference Seminary, now known as
Tilton School
Tilton School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory school in Tilton, New Hampshire, serving students from 9th to 12th grade and postgraduate students. Founded in 1845, Tilton's student body in the 2021-22 academic year consisted ...
, as well as the Vermont Conference Seminary. Hutchins, at the age of nineteen, entered
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the auspices of the Methodist Epis ...
in
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
. Hutchins, unfortunately, was not able to complete his first year however due to falling ill. Subsequently, Hutchins graduated from the
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
in 1871.
While at the University of Michigan, he was a member of the
Alpha Delta Phi
Alpha Delta Phi (), commonly known as Alpha Delt, ADPhi, A-Delt, or ADP, is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity. Alpha Delta Phi was originally founded as a literary society by Samuel Eells in 1832 at Hamilton College in Cli ...
fraternity. After graduation he became the superintendent of schools in
Owosso, Michigan
Owosso is the largest city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,194 at the 2010 census. The city is mostly surrounded by Owosso Township on its west, but the two are administered autonomously. The city wa ...
and then was appointed instructor in rhetoric and history at Michigan for three years.
While teaching, he simultaneously studied law. Though he never received a degree in law he took and passed the law bar and was certified to practice law in 1876. After practicing law in Mt. Clemens, Michigan with his father-in-law for eight years, he returned to Ann Arbor to teach law as the Jay Professor of Law.
December 28, 1872 Hutchins married Mary Louise Crocker, together they would adopt one son, Harry C. Hutchins.
Death
Hutchins suddenly become ill on January 22, 1930, and died three days later at his home in Ann Arbor at the age of 82.
Dean of Law at University of Michigan
Hutchins served as Dean of the
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School (Michigan Law) is the law school of the University of Michigan, a Public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1859, the school offers Master of Laws (LLM), Master of C ...
from 1895 to 1910. Hutchins Hall, the main classroom and administrative building of the law school, is named after him.
During Hutchins time as the Dean, he raised the entrance requirements to the law school, as well the adoption of a complete three-year course in Law. Dean Hutchins believed the standards set by a law school should be rigorous.
President of the University of Michigan
Acting President
Hutchins twice served as acting president of the University of Michigan. His first appointment as acting president came in 1897 when current President Angell left to be Minister of Turkey. The second stint as acting president for Hutchins came in 1909 when President Angell resigned. Hutchins was to serve until a new permanent president was found. After a year long search which included the courtship of
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
, the Regents at the University of Michigan decided to offer Hutchins the full-time appointment of President of the University of Michigan. The regents offered 3 years, but Hutchins wanted a 5-year appointment, so after a stormy meeting they agreed on a five-year appointment. However, after 5 years, Hutchins would stay on another five years bringing his time as president to a full ten years.
Alumni Association
Hutchins was very instrumental in strengthening the university's alumni association. As the first Michigan alumnus to serve as president of the university, Hutchins "wanted to reclaim them (alumni) by organization, to persuade them to maintain a continuing interest in the welfare of their university, to advertise in their communities so as to attract the best new students, and to contribute financially toward the University development"
[Peckham, H. H., & Steneck, M. L. (1994). ''The making of the University of Michigan: 1817 - 1992 ; 175th anniversaty edition''. Ann Arbor, MI: Univ. of Michigan Press. p. 129 http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015041316780;view=1up;seq=145]
Campus growth
![Helen newberry house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Helen_newberry_house.JPG)
The University saw great growth in his tenure as the student body grew from less than 5,000 to more than 9,000, the Alumni Association grew leaps and bounds, the faculty grew from 427 to 618, the formation of the graduate school, and with the help of the newly organized Alumni Association and their many wealthy donors, there was the addition of many new buildings.
[Hutchins, Harry C. Harry Hutchins Biography page 36 ,box 19 Bentley Library] The most prized addition in Hutchins' eyes was that of the
Michigan Union
The Michigan Union is a student union at the University of Michigan. It is located at the intersection of South State Street and South University Avenue in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The building was built in 1917 and is one of several unions at the U ...
(1919). The Union was something that he very much pushed for. Many other buildings were erected under Hutchins' watch and many of them are still in use today. That list includes:
Hill Auditorium
Hill Auditorium is the largest performance venue on the University of Michigan campus, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The auditorium was named in honor of Arthur Hill (1847-1909), who served as a regent of the university from 1901 to 1909. He bequeathe ...
(1913),
Martha Cook Dormitory (1915),
Helen Newberry Residence
Helen may refer to:
People
* Helen of Troy, in Greek mythology, the most beautiful woman in the world
* Helen (actress) (born 1938), Indian actress
* Helen (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
Places
* Helen, ...
(1915), the
Natural Science Building (1915), the General Library (1920), and the
Betsy Barbour House
Betsy Barbour House (Barbour) is a residence hall operated by University of Michigan Housing at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Hall Profile
Barbour houses approximately 120 occupants, 70% of which are freshmen. The residence is one ...
(1920). Though Hutchins may not have been on the forefront of the development of all the new buildings on campus, the way he was with the union and housing for women, his leadership in establishing an organized alumni organization helped to make much of the new growth possible. During Hutchins' tenure, the University received 130 private gifts, totaling $3,600,000
Graduate school
Hutchins was instrumental in the creation of a separate graduate school from the undergraduate school. He wanted it to be "tough" even if only half the students got in.
On January 19, 1910, Hutchins made a speech to the New York University of Michigan Club which was published in the New Yorker; it read, "many of these graduate schools work too hard to get students and too little for results. Some of them are not a credit to the country, and Michigan is not without fault of her own in this respect, but we are working at
Ann Arbor
Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...
to remedy this condition, and we expect soon to have a graduate school in the true sense of the word. There are men in many of the schools who ought to be pushed out into the world to do a man's work instead of hanging around the universities. A reorganization of the system is needed, and at Michigan we are trying to accomplish a renascence. I do not care if we have only thirty students in the school if we only have one real one."
Women on campus
![University of Michigan August 2013 224 (Martha Cook Building)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/University_of_Michigan_August_2013_224_%28Martha_Cook_Building%29.jpg)
The University also saw considerable growth for women on campus during Hutchins' tenure. Ruth Bordin writes in her book ''Women at Michigan: The Dangerous Experiment,'' that, "by 1920, in addition to Newberry and Martha Cook, four small dormitories in converted houses had been provided, and the Betsey Barbour dormitory opened that year. About 350 women lived in sororities, but the great majority lived in a league house." Specifically the development of the Martha Cook Building was due in large part to the great relationship Hutchins had with William W. Cook, who provided the financial contribution for this all female housing facility in honor of his mother, Martha.
[Shaw, W. B. (1941). ''The University of Michigan, an encyclopedic survey ..'' Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan. page 79 http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015046427251;view=1up;seq=97]
WWI
Much of Hutchins' tenure was during
WWI
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. There was much desire from many alumni, faculty, and students to include military drill as part of the class requirements for the male students, as possible preparation if they were called to duty in the war that was happening in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
. Hutchins felt differently and would not be stampeded into this idea. Hutchins felt at the outset that the University's unique function was to furnish trained leadership for the nation. To make the University simply another military camp for privates was in his view a gross misuse of its potentials, and he resisted it.
[Peckham, H. H., & Steneck, M. L. (1994). ''The making of the University of Michigan: 1817 - 1992 ; 175th anniversaty edition''. Ann Arbor, MI: Univ. of Michigan Press. p. 141 http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015041316780;view=1up;seq=157] Hutchins believed with an ever-changing warfare that the students would be better served in engineering to help with the modern war, "whose weapons were applications of physical, chemical, mathematical, and engineering principles."
Retirement
Hutchins retired in 1920, taking the title of President Emeritus. He would live the next ten years up to his death in 1930 in Ann Arbor.
Sources
External links
University of Michigan presidentsHutchins Hall, University of Michigan Law School
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hutchins, Harry Burns
Wesleyan University alumni
University of Michigan alumni
Presidents of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan faculty
Deans of University of Michigan Law School
1930 deaths
1847 births
People from Lisbon, New Hampshire
Tilton School alumni