PRES. ELIOT IS EIGHTY ONE

Today is President Eliot's eighty-first birthday, but, like any other day, he will continue his regular work. A few hours study, the completion of his series of articles on the present European war for the New York Times, and his usual constitutional will fill out the day's program.

President Eliot was born in Boston, March 20, 1934. He acquired his early education at the Boston Latin School from which he entered the University when 16 years of age, receiving his A.B. in 1853 and A.M. in 1857. Since then he has received the honorary degree of LL.D. from six colleges and both LL.D. and M.D. from Harvard in 1909. During his first years in College President Eliot was a student in chemistry. Appointed assistant professor of mathematics and chemistry, he later devoted two years to the study of chemistry and educational methods in Europe. Exactly half of Dr. Eliot's life has been spent in the Office of President of the University, for he was elected on May 19, 1869 and retired on the same date in 1909. Practically his whole life since he entered the University has been devoted to it, the only period when he was associated elsewhere being four years spent in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as professor of analytical chemistry.

Among President Eliot's best known contributions to the University are his reorganization of the professional schools, his anticipation and preparation of the three-year course, and the institution of the free elective system.