GIRARD COLLEGE. An institution for the education of orphans, founded in 1832 at Phil adelphia, Pa., under the will of Stephen Girard (q.v.). Mr. Girard died in 1831, bequeathing the residue of his estate, valued at $5,260,000, in trust to the Mayor, aldermen, and citizens of Philadelphia for the establishment of an in stitution for the education and maintenance of `poor white male orphans.' The age of admission was fixed by Mr. Girard at between six and ten, and the age of leaving at between fourteen and eighteen, at which time students were to be bound out in the arts and trades. Applicants for admis sion were to be preferred, first as coming from Philadelphia, second from Pennsylvania, third from New York, and fourth from New Orleans. The courses of study were to be in the main practical; insistence being laid upon `facts and things rather than words or signs.' The prin ciples of `pure morality' were to be taught, but the inculcation of religious doctrine in a de nominational sense was forbidden, and—most famous clause of a famous will—ministers and ecclesiastics of every sect were prohibited from holding office in the college or from entering its premises upon any pretext whatsoever. Prelim inary action looking to the due execution of Mr. Girard's will was taken by the Philadelphia City Councils in 1832, a board of trustees was elected in 1833, and in the same year the corner-stone of the main building was laid. This building, erected in the form of a Greek temple, was com pleted in 1847, at a cost of nearly $2,000,000. In the meantime suit had been brought by Mr. Girard's heirs to have his will set aside, and the case was not decided until 1844, when the United States Supreme Court, notwithstanding the pleading of Daniel Webster for the plaintiffs, held the will to he valid. In 1848 the college was
formally organized with 100 pupils and 17 in structors and officers, the income at that time being about $118,000 annually.
The management of the institution was then vested in a board of trustees elected by the City Councils. But the frequent political changes in the Councils and the consequent changes made in the board of directors produced results so unsatisfactory that by legislative act of 1869 the appointment of the directors was given to the judiciary. Under the new board the funds of the college increased 100 per cent. and the income 200 per cent.; eight buildings were added to the six existing, and the number of pupils increased from 550 in 1875 to over 1500 in 1900. Co incidently, the courses of study, at first element ary, were greatly extended to meet new academic and industrial conditions. They now comprise on the one hand preparation for the leading Ameri can colleges, and on the other thorough training in the leading industrial arts. Military drill under the supervision of an army officer, manual training, and summer encampments have also been introduced. The institution has met with marked success in placing the majority of its pupils in permanent and often valuable commer cial positions. The total value of the property under the control of the institution is about $16,000,000, and the annual income is $1,000,000.