From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 220-223
 
CHARLES KENDALL ADAMS, A. M., LL. D., President of the University of Wisconsin, was born 
at Derby, Vt., on the 24th of January, 1835.  The first ten years of his life were spent in a village, 
but from the time he was ten until he was twenty years of age, he lived upon a farm, attending a 
district school during the winter months.  In the course of these years, however, he showed 
considerable aptitude as a student of mathematics, mastering Davies' algebra, geometry, 
trigonometry and surveying before he as eighteen.  From 1852 to 1855 he taught school during 
the winter months.  In the fall of 1855 he migrated to Iowa, whither he was followed the next 
spring by his parents.  It was not until he had passed his twenty-first birthday that he decided  to 
fit himself for college by taking a complete course in Latin and Greek.  Though his parents 
earnestly sympathized with him in his desire for a collegiate education, it was impossible for them 
to render him any financial assistance.  His preparation was completed at the end of one year by 
arduous study in the Denmark Academy, Iowa, and he entered the University of Michigan in the 
fall of 1857, where, after supporting himself four years by manual labor, by teaching and by 
assisting in the administration of the library, he graduated in 1861.  Remaining for a graduate 
course of study, he took the Master's degree in 1862, and immediately thereafter was appointed 
instructor in Latin and History.  In 1863 he was made assistant professor, a position which he 
held until 1867, when he was advanced to a full professorship with the privilege of spending a 
year and a half in Europe.  After studying in several of the universities of Germany and France, 
and spending about two months in Italy, he entered upon his work as professor in the autumn of 
1868.  Soon after his return to the university, he established a historical seminary, modeled after 
the methods pursued in Germany.  On the establishment of a school of political science at the 
University of Michigan, Prof. ADAMS was appointed its dean, and, at the same time, he was 
made non-resident lecturer in history at Cornell University.  These positions he continued to hold 
until 1885, when he was called to the presidency of Cornell University, a position which he 
occupied until the summer of 1892.  During the seven years of his incumbency of that position, 
the number of students was increased from five hundred and sixty to more than one thousand 
five hundred; and the endowment of the university was increased by nearly $2,000,000.  The 
courses of study were multiplied and all branches of the university were reorganized.  Successful 
efforts were made to improve and increase the facilities for graduate work, and the number of 
graduate students in consequence was increased from about forty to nearly two hundred.  During 
his administration he was also specially desirous of making the institution as strong it its literary 
side as it had been on the side of natural and applied science  To this end the instructional force 
was remodeled and increased, and the result made the literary work of the university one of the 
strongest features of the institution.  Immediately after his acceptance of the presidency, he 
prepared and submitted an elaborate report on the advisability of establishing a college of law.  
Though the trustees of the university were inclined to doubt the practicability of establishing a 
school of law at that time in the center of the State, yet they were finally persuaded to adopt the 
recommendation of the president, and the school was accordingly established.  From the first it 
had expected prosperity, and within five years became one of the prominent schools of the 
country.  At the time of his resignation, the following resolutions were unanimously passed by the 
board of trustees:
    "It is in obedience both to a sense of duty and to a feeling of strong personal respect and 
attachment that the trustees of Cornell University place upon their minutes this formal 
_expression of their cordial appreciation of the services of Dr. Charles Kendall ADAMS as their 
chief executive officer during the past seven years.
    "He came into the presidency at a time when a great addition to the material resources of the 
institution demanded commensurate effort.  New departments were to be created, old 
departments enlarged and reorganized; large additions were to be made to the faculty and great 
extension given to the equipment.
    "It is not too much to say that President ADAMS distinguished himself by the fidelity with which 
his multifarious duties were discharged.  The formation of his plans was marked by wisdom, and 
their execution by unwearied labor and care.  In the choice of professors he showed remarkable 
sagacity; rarely in the history of any institution has such a series of eminent professors been 
brought into any faculty as that which has been introduced under his administration into Cornell 
University.  A very striking testimony to the wisdom of his nominations is seen in the efforts which 
other leading institutions have made to attract into their own faculties the men he had thus 
selected.
    "In the relations between the university and the National and State governments, and 
especially with the department of public instruction in the State of New York, President ADAMS 
has also shown his ability to deal with men in the conduct of large public affairs.
    "As regards the influence of the university on the public and wide discussion of the leading 
educational topics of the time, President ADAMS by his writings and speeches has materially 
influenced the most enlightened public opinion of his country, and as a writer upon historical 
subjects he has done work which has elicited praise from the highest sources on both sides of the 
Atlantic.
    "His administration will be remembered in the history of Cornell University as equally important 
to the interests of the institution and creditable to himself, and we tender to him as a scholar, as 
an educator and as a man, the assurance of our sincere respect and regard, with our best wishes 
for his future success and happiness.
    "Resolved, That President ADAMS be requested to sit for a portrait to be placed in the 
university, and that the chairman of this Board be empowered to carry out this resolution.
    "Resolved, That $6,000 he appropriated, to be paid quarterly, in the usual manner, to President 
C. K. ADAMS during the ensuing year."
    The following statement was made by the general faculty:
    "Whereas, President Charles Kendall ADAMS has severed his connection with this university, 
we, the faculty, desire to express our sincere regret that he has found such action necessary, and 
our appreciation of the zeal and efficiency of the administration of his office.
    "Since his accession the growth of the university has been marvelous; large sums of money 
have been expended in increasing material facilities; departments already in existence have been 
enlarged, and new ones have been created; a flourishing school of law has been developed; the 
requirements for admission to the university have been raised; a more liberal policy with respect 
to elective work has been inaugurated; the courses of instruction have been expanded and 
brought into a more orderly arrangement; the standard of scholarship has been greatly advanced, 
and graduate work has been effectively promoted in all departments; a closer connection 
between the university and the public-school system of the State has been brought about, 
unfriendly movements in the legislature have been warded off, and friendly advances from other 
quarters have been happily met and reciprocated.
    "In all these activates the president of the university must of necessity take a leading part; and 
we recognize his careful and successful guidance through it all.
    "We bespeak for him a like measure of success in future fields of usefulness to which he may 
be called, and assure him of our high regard and hearty good wishes that will follow him wherever 
he may go."
 
In 1892 President ADAMS resigned the presidency of Cornell University with the purpose of 
devoting his life henceforth to the writing of history; but in the course of the summer he received 
several invitations to resume educational work, and a few months later he accepted the 
presidency of the University of Wisconsin.  He entered upon the duties of the office at the opening 
of the college year in September on January 17, 1893, was duly inducted into office.  His 
acceptance of the presidency of the University of Wisconsin gave an immediate impulse to the 
work of the institution.  The number of students during the first year of his administration rose 
from 1,092 to 1,289.  In the collegiate year 1894-95 the number in attendance is about 1,500.
 
In 1872 President ADAMS published "Democracy and Monarchy in France," a volume which 
soon went into a third edition, and was translated into German and published at Stuttgart in 
1873.  A few years later he published the most important of his works, the "Manual of Historical 
Literature," designed for students, librarians and general readers  A third edition, much revised 
and enlarged, was published in 1888.  He also edited, with historical and critical notes, three 
volumes of "British Orations," designed to show the characteristics and importance of the greatest 
English orators.  In the summer of 1892 he published the "Life and Work of Christopher 
Columbus."  He is at present editor-in-chief of "Johnson's Universal Cyclopedia," having as his 
associate editors thirty-five of the most prominent scholars in the country.  The degree of Doctor 
of Laws was conferred upon President ADAMS by Harvard University in 1886.  He is a member 
of many learned societies, and in 1890 was president of the American Historical Association.
 
Submitted by Carol