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Collections >> The First Century of the First State University >>
Primary document
Title: Letter from Henry Harrisse to the Executive Committee of the Board of
Trustees, September 27, 1856: Electronic Edition.
Author: Harrisse, Henry, 1829-1910
Funding from the University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
supported the electronic publication of this title.
Text transcribed by
Bari Helms
Images scanned by
Bari Helms
Text encoded by
Brian Dietz
First Edition, 2005
Size of electronic edition: ca. 12K
Publisher: The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005
© This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may
be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this
statement of availability is included in the text
The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
digital library, Documenting the American South.
Languages used in the text:
English
Revision history:
2005-07-06, Brian Dietz finished TEI/XML encoding.
Source(s):
Title of collection: University of North Carolina Papers (#40005), University Archives,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Title of document: Letter from Henry Harrisse to the Executive Committee of the Board of
Trustees, September 27, 1856
Author: Henri Herrisse, A.M.
Description: 4 pages, 4 page images
Note:
Call number 40005 (University Archives, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Editorial practices
The text has been encoded using the recommendations for Level 5 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Originals are in the University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
Page images can be viewed and compared in parallel with the text.
Any hyphens occurring in line breaks have been removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to the preceding line.
All quotation marks, em dashes and ampersand have been transcribed as entity references.
All double right and left quotation marks are encoded as ".
All single right and left quotation marks are encoded as '.
All em dashes are encoded as —.
Indentation in lines has not been preserved.
For more information about transcription and other editorial decisions, see the section Editorial Practices.
The text has been encoded using the recommendations for Level 5 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Originals are in the University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
Page images can be viewed and compared in parallel with the text.
Any hyphens occurring in line breaks have been removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to the preceding line.
All quotation marks, em dashes and ampersand have been transcribed as entity references.
All double right and left quotation marks are encoded as ".
All single right and left quotation marks are encoded as '.
All em dashes are encoded as —.
Indentation in lines has not been preserved.
For more information about transcription and other editorial decisions, see the section Editorial Practices.
Page 1
To the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina
Gentlemen:
It is a difficult matter at all times to command the attention and respect of a large
class of College Students; but when the discipline is lax, and impunity an occurrence of
every day life, the task of the instructor becomes altogether impossible. If to his
manifold tribulations, we add a disposition on the part of his colleagues to drive him to
a resignation, or if such a belief is current among the students, a due sense of
self-respect makes it incumbent on him to apply for redress to those to whom the
individual welfare of the members of the Faculty is entrusted.
Without referring to the difficulties which of late have been a cause of great annoyance
and mortification to me, I shall limit myself to the case which today, and for the last
time, brings me before you.
Mr. William Whitaker
of the Junior Class had often been guilty of
disorder and impropriety in my recitation room. I was at last compelled to resort to
stringent measures, and on the 4th of October last, summoned him to appear
Page 2
before the Faculty. There, in the presence of all the officers of the
Institution, he grossly insulted me. An explanation was demanded of him; and here are
almost the very words of his communication:
of the Junior Class had often been guilty of
disorder and impropriety in my recitation room. I was at last compelled to resort to
stringent measures, and on the 4th of October last, summoned him to appearPage 2
Strange as it may appear to those who are not familiar with the proceedings of this Faculty, such a letter was accepted."I have been told by Dr. MitchellI therefore retract."
A few weeks afterwards, Mr. Whitaker's
improprieties of conduct became again so intolerable
that I had to reiterate my summons.
improprieties of conduct became again so intolerable
that I had to reiterate my summons.
Mr. Whitaker
was heard, and the Faculty decided that if he ever was
guilty of such an offence again, he would be dismissed.
was heard, and the Faculty decided that if he ever was
guilty of such an offence again, he would be dismissed.He kept on! The whole section became very difficult to manage; several members of the
same class had to be admonished for disobedience to me, but finding that I could no longer
command the respect of the students if Mr. Whitaker's
conduct was tolerated, I ordered him to come before
the Faculty.
conduct was tolerated, I ordered him to come before
the Faculty.No notice was taken of the determination of the 13th of November, although it was of record and stood unrepealed.
"A motion was made to dismiss him," says the journal, "in
consideration of his repeated offences of this description," and it was laid on
the table
Page 3
with the special warning, that if he ever was guilty of the same impropriety of
deportment, he would be removed from the Institution. This was also recorded.
Page 3
With due respect, I ask whether this was not carrying forbearance to the extreme, and if
perchance I submitted once more to such a course, I had not the right to expect that Mr. Whitaker
should be made to treat me with the respect due to a
gentleman and a teacher; and if he failed to do so, that the Faculty was in duty bound to
remove him? Knowing, however, how much I had at stake, and how precarious were my hopes of
redress, I took pains to avoid all further collisions with Mr. Whitaker
.
should be made to treat me with the respect due to a
gentleman and a teacher; and if he failed to do so, that the Faculty was in duty bound to
remove him? Knowing, however, how much I had at stake, and how precarious were my hopes of
redress, I took pains to avoid all further collisions with Mr. Whitaker
.To-day, when called to recite, he replies in a very impertinent manner, refuses to
comply, and by mimicking my imperfect pronunciation of English, throws the whole class
into a violent and protracted fit of laughter. In accordance with the regulations of the University which say, (Chapt. IV. 6.) that "for
gross and persevering violation of the rules of decorum, the student may be forthwith
dismissed when the instructor shall deem it necessary." I quietly tell Mr Whitaker
to retire. He ridicules me again, and peremptorily
refuses to obey. Incensed by his language and demeanor, I reiterate my summons, adding by
way of threat, that if he does not leave the room, one of us two shall have to leave the
Institution. "Then it will be you," says he," and he sinks back
into his seat.
to retire. He ridicules me again, and peremptorily
refuses to obey. Incensed by his language and demeanor, I reiterate my summons, adding by
way of threat, that if he does not leave the room, one of us two shall have to leave the
Institution. "Then it will be you," says he," and he sinks back
into his seat.Page 4
Six members of the Faculty voted that Mr. Whitaker
be dismissed; five against it, and were joined by Gov. Swain
, which caused the motion to be lost. After the vote had
been taken and result ascertained, the President, little willing, as I imagine, to bear
the responsibility of such an unjust measure, found that the motion was out of order. Dr. Phillips
was then instructed to see Mr. Whitaker's
parents. And this, in the very face of his repeated
offences, and of the two recorded resolutions of the Faculty, is the only punishment which
is to be inflicted on him!
be dismissed; five against it, and were joined by Gov. Swain
, which caused the motion to be lost. After the vote had
been taken and result ascertained, the President, little willing, as I imagine, to bear
the responsibility of such an unjust measure, found that the motion was out of order. Dr. Phillips
was then instructed to see Mr. Whitaker's
parents. And this, in the very face of his repeated
offences, and of the two recorded resolutions of the Faculty, is the only punishment which
is to be inflicted on him!P.S. Sept. 27th 1856
Mrs. Whitaker having asked time to write to her husband, in reply to Dr. Phillips'
remarks, and an answer having been received; the
letter was read, and as Mr. Whitaker showed no disposition whatever to withdraw his son
from College, the vote was again taken whether he should be dismissed. The motion was lost
by a majority of one, and none substituted in its place. The intention of this vote is so
manifest, that I shall abstain from all comments. I can only add that thereby I am left
powerless to meet two hundred and thirty students.
remarks, and an answer having been received; the
letter was read, and as Mr. Whitaker showed no disposition whatever to withdraw his son
from College, the vote was again taken whether he should be dismissed. The motion was lost
by a majority of one, and none substituted in its place. The intention of this vote is so
manifest, that I shall abstain from all comments. I can only add that thereby I am left
powerless to meet two hundred and thirty students.In the hope and sincere belief that justice will be done to me, I appeal to your
well-known impartiality.
I remain, Gentlemen, with great respect, your obedient servant.
Henri Herrisse
, A.M.