The Chandler scientific department was established in 1851, by a resolution of the trustees, in acceptance of a sum bequeathed to them in trust by Abiel Chandler, esq., late of 'Walpole and formerly of Boston, Mass., " for the establishment and support of a permanent department or school of instruction in the college, in the practical and use ful arts of life, comprised chiefly in the branches of mechanics and civil engineering, the invention and manufacture of machinery, carpentry, masonry, architecture an% drawing, the investigation of the properties and uses of the materials employed in the arts, the modern languages and English literature, together with book-keeping and such other branches of knowledge as may best qualify young persons for the duties and employments of active life." Students who complete the regular course of four years receive the degree of bachelor of science. The degree of master of science is conferred in course, on bachelors of three years' standing.
At the session of the legislature of New Hampshire in 1806, an act was passed estab lishing the "New Hampshire college of agriculture and the mechanic arts," on the basis of tl:e congressional land grant, and authorizing its location at Hanover and its connec tion with Dartmouth college. The course of Rudy includes the English portion of a regular college course, together with such studies as meet the necessities of the intelli gent farmer. Students who complete the course and prepare theses on subjects relating to agriculture or the mechanic arts receive the degree of bachelor of agricultural science. A state museum of general and applied science has been established, and receives the specimens accruing from the state geological survey. A valuable tract of land of 300
acres in the immediate vicinity of Culver hall is used for the purposes of agricultural experiment, and furnishes opportunity to the students for remunerative labor.
The medical departnixit was founded, in 1797; there or two terms of 14 weeks each, begining in Dec. and in Mar.; students, '21 years of age, who have devoted three years to the study of medicine, and during that time have attended two courses of medical lectures, including one at Dartmouth, receive the degree of doctor of medicine. A museum of pathological anatomy has been recently added to this department.
The Thayer school of civil engineering aims to provide an exclusively professional training for young men who may desire instruction of an advanced character. The course is essentially " post-graduate," limited in range, and fundamental in its scope.
The general faculty comprises, besides the president, 25 professors, 5 other instructors, and a librarian. In 1879-80, the number of students was 396, including 228 in the academical, 49 in the scientific, 31 in the agricultural, 84 in the medical, and 4 in the civil-engineering department. The number of alumni is 4,400, of whom 2,000 are living. The number of volumes in the several libraries is as follows: United libraries (exclusive of pamphlets) 50,291 Christian fraternity's library 300 Astronomical library .... 1,100 Medical school library 1,600 Thayer school library 2,000 Agricultural school library 1,435