C. Hanford Henderson

[Philadelphia Manual Traing School]

Assistant of Dr. Persifor Frazer, taking part in his geological field work, and having entire charge of his chemical laboratory. I was on the editorial staff of “The scientific American” for a period of more than a year, resigning my position in tne summer of 1886 in order to accept my present professorship of Physics and Chemistry in the Philadelphia Manual Training School. I have under my instruction about three hundred students varying in age from fourteen to perhaps twenty-five years. Our work covers an advanced grade of high school study. The School is believed to be one of the best in Philadelphia. Its Graduates in many instances taking positions of equal rank with

students from colleges and universities. The experience gained here together with my previous training would I believe enable one to handle successfully the under-graduate classes of a university. To prepare myself still further for such duties and to enable me to properly organize a post-graduare course for advanced work in physics, when the occasion arises, I expect to go abroad this present summer, and shall study at a German univer sity (probably Gottengen or Leipsic) for a year, or if possible a little longer.

The motive in presenting my candidature at the present time is a double one. Should I retain my present professorship and go abroad or leave of absence, I would naturally feel under obligation to return and

continue my work here. I could, further, be of material service to the university while abroad, I think in securing suitable equipment for the physical laboratory.

I submit with these notes, letters from the Provost of the University of Pennsylvania and from members of the science faculty (Dr. George F. Barker, the professor of Physics, permits me to say that he would be glad to respond to any inquiries concerning the appointment under consideration); also from the Principal of any of my own institution and from those with whom I have been associated in literary and scientific work.

Respectfully submitted,

C. Hanford Henderson

Prof. in Charge

[Office of Popular Science Monthly]

New York, 9 March 1889

Hon. Leland Standord:

Dear Sir,

I have just learned that my friend, Prof. C. Hanford Henderson, of the Philadelphis Manual Reauning School, is a candidate for the chair of Physics in the University which you have so munificently endowed on the Pacific Coast. Partly from my regard for the man, + not less from my interest in the cause of liberal education, I venture to commend his application to your thoughtful attention.

For proof of Prof. Henderson’s ability as an instructir, one only needs to meet his class in the school already named, as I have

had the pleasure of doing, + that he has in a rare degree the faculty of making the dryest subjects attractive, without sacrifice of accuracy, his public lectures + public writing will show. But the scientific teacher of the present day has a still higher function. He is a rapidly growing power in educational affairs. His influence is already distinctly manifest in the changes going on in our methods of instruction, in the new estimate conceening the relative importance of different subjects of study, + in the introduction of better tests for truth.

In this way, through our higher institutions of learning, he is profoundly affecting the education of the present time, + is likely to have more and more to do with shaping that of the future.

For this field of work and influence I can think of no one better fitted than Prof. Henderson. Conservative by nature he could not readily break with established views while an earnest and abiding devotion to the truth would equally secure him against the opposite danger of resisting scientific progress.

Trusting that my interest in this matter may excuse the liberty which I take in addressing you.

I am

Very truly yours,

W. J. [ ? Coumans]