540 PROCEEDINGS OP THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



Department, in charge of Professor Jeffries Wyman. About two 

 thirds of the building, however, were devoted to the Chemical 

 Department. 



In 1858-59 the first laboratory instruction in Chemistry open to 

 Harvard undergraduates, was given in Boylston Hall, and in that 

 first class I find the following names, now well known in this 

 community : — 



James A. Rumrill, 

 William Everett, 

 William R. Huntington, 

 S. W. Langmaid, 

 John Homans, Jr., 

 Henry P. Walcott, and 

 Louis Cabot. 



The number of students in this first class was twenty-three, part of 

 them graduates. 



On the completion of Boylston Hall, the Mineral Cabinet was 

 moved into it, so that all Professor Cooke's interests were concen- 

 trated in that building. The completion of Boylston Hall made it 

 possible for Professor Cooke to teach mainly by the laboratory 

 method; but recitations and problem work, not accompanied by 

 laboratory practice, lingered, nevertheless, for seventeen years ; 

 although only in required courses. There was a required course in 

 the Junior year down to 1867-68, and in the Sophomore year down 

 to 1872-73. The required work was then moved into the second term 

 of the Freshman year, whence it disappeared in 1875-76, a brilliantly 

 illustrated course of lectures, always given by Professor Cooke, being 

 thereafter the sole remnant of required work in Chemistry. The 

 expansion of the elective work after the completion of Boylston Hall 

 went on as follows : In 1868-69 a Senior elective appears, which was 

 devoted in the first term to Crystallography and the Physics of Crys- 

 tals, and in the second term to Mineralogy and the Determination of 

 Minerals. In the year 1871-72 there are electives in Chemistry for 

 the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years, and Organic Chemistry ap- 

 pears in the Senior electives. In 1873-74 the electives are: — 



1. Descriptive Chemistry. 



2. Qualitative Analysis. 



3. Mineralogy. 



4. Quantitative Analysis. 



5. Organic Chemistry. 



