President James K. Patterson
AMES KENNEDY PATTERSON was bora in Glasgow, Scotland, mi the 26th day of March, 1833. With his parents he came to America when he was but 9 years of age and settled in the southeastern pari of Indiana, which was sparsely inhabited and where school facilities at that time were very meagre, lie had no educational opportunities until 1 S4!t, when For two years he attended a school in Madison, Ind. During 1850-'51 he taught school near this place, and in the latter year, entered the preparatory department of Hanover College. The four years following he taught school and attended college alternately, and in 1856 graduated.
For three years after his gradual ion from college he held the position of Principal of the Greenville Presbyterial Academy at Greenville, Ky.. hut in 1859 accepted the chair of Latin and Greek in Stewart College, Clarksville, Tenn. In 1861 he was called to Lexington to accept the principalship of the Transylvania High School, which be held for four years. He was also Professor of Latin in Morrison College from '06-'69 and of History and Metaphysics in the Agricultural College of Kentucky University from '66-'69. From 1869 until 1878 we find him President of the Agricultural College of Kentucky I'niversity, and in 1878 he became President of the State College of Kentucky, which position he has so ably filled to the present time. From the year 1878 dates the existence of Kentucky's only TJniversitv. and the history of its grand old President's life is the history of its evolution into the position is so justly occupies at the present time. Its ever eloquent supporter in lime of peace ami prosperity, ns ever ready defender in times of attack from its enemies, President Patterson, by his interest in this his life's work, by his unlimited energy in making his school whal he had so long dreamed it should be, has won a place in the heart of every student in the college, of every graduate who knows the history of his Alma Mater, and of every true citizen of the grand old Commonwealth who can appreciate the effort and energy of a greai man in attempting to attain his ideal.
President Patterson received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Hanover College, Indiana, in 1875, and that of Doctor of Laws from Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, in 1896.
Governor Leslie, in 1875, in canvassing the state to find the man who would best represent Kentucky at the International Congress of Geographical Sciences, held in Paris. France, naturally selected President Patterson, as did also Governor Buckner in 1890, when he must select a man to best voice the grand old commonwealth's representation at the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Other distinguished honors which have fallen to President Patterson are: Fellow of Royal Historical Society of (Ireat Britain . 1879: Fellow of Society of Antiquaries in Scotland, 1880: Member and President of American Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities, 1903.
A few words here concerning the birth and perpetuation of State College would not be out of place, for it was the success of President Patterson's efforts in this direction that stamped him as a man of ability, of undeviating tenacity and one whose conviction was not to be shaken by the many obstacles that beset his path.
In 1880 he obtained appropriations from the city of Lexington and Fayette County for the erection of buildings upon the College grounds: was principally instrumental in retaining the Agricultural and Mechanical College, which has subsequently developed into the State College of Kentucky, at Lexington in 1880. and in obtaining from the Legislature a perpetual appropriation for the proceedings of