280 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



among the Lowell free courses, there were two chemical courses open 

 to both sexes, and soon afterward women were admitted to the regular 

 work of the school. The first woman to graduate was Mrs. Ellen H. 

 Richards, in 1873, and since that time forty-eight women have received 

 the degree. This number, however, is no measure of the part which 

 women have taken in the work of the school, for a large majority of 

 those who attend are special students. During the year 1899-1900, 

 there were fifty-three women studying at the school, principally in 

 the departments of chemistry, biology, geology, physics and architec- 

 ture. From the last-named course eleven young women have graduated, 

 one of whom was the designer of the Woman's Building at the Chicago 

 Exposition. 



One peculiarity of the Institute which has not been mentioned is 

 the sub-division of its libraries. Instead of having one general library, 

 each department has its special library, conveniently located with 

 reference to its rooms. This involves a slight duplication of books, 

 but is of the greatest advantage to students and teachers for consulta- 

 tion. The Institute libraries are not large, compared with the libraries 

 of many colleges and universities, but they are remarkably rich along 

 the lines of the special topics to which they are of necessity principally 

 devoted, and particularly in scientific periodicals. The total number 

 of periodicals in all languages regularly received at the Institute, 

 not including a large number of official reports, is eight hundred and 

 forty-seven. In the engineering library alone there are one hundred 

 and seventy-three. It is believed that this forms one of the largest 

 collections of scientific journals to be found anywhere. The Institute 

 publishes a scientific magazine, known as the Technology Quarterly, 

 which was established in 1887, and is the official organ for the publica- 

 tion of the results of tests in the laboratories and of special investiga- 

 tions by members of the staff and by students and alumni. The 

 Association of Class Secretaries also publishes the Technology Eeview, 

 a more popular quarterly, established only two years ago, and devoted to 

 the social and general interests of the Institute. In 1896 the Tech- 

 nology Club was started, occupying a building near the Institute and 

 affording alumni and students the social advantages of a clubhouse. 

 The alumni of the Institute now number two thousand three hundred 

 and thirty-nine; they maintain an Alumni Association which holds an- 

 nual meetings, and seven local branch associations which are scattered 

 over the country from the Connecticut Valley to Colorado. 



In reviewing the success which this school has attained, the question 

 naturally presents itself: To what is this success due? Let me here 

 record my conviction that it has been due mainly to the courage and 

 devotion of its corporation and of the presidents who have directed its 

 policy. In this respect no institution was ever more fortunate. With 



