Purdue News

'The Book' a living listing of faculty greats It started out as a book - a real page-turner. Download Photo Here Photo caption below How to arrange the Book of Great Teachers so everyone could see it but not have to thumb through it? The Book of Great Teachers eventually evolved into a perpetually open book, a wall display listing the select professors nominated by students, alumni and others as the best of the best. Just inside the west foyer of the Purdue Memorial Union, the spot has been the recent home of a bust of Abraham Lincoln, just across from the visage of benefactor extraordinaire David Ross. Download Photo Here Photo caption below Dedicated during Gala Weekend in April, the bronze-and-walnut display lists the 225 inaugural inductees. Their ranks will swell every five years. "The display allows the book to be viewed in its entirety, and it gives us the flexibility to add names on a regular basis," says George Van Scoyoc, associate executive vice president for academic affairs. The Book of Great Teachers is an extension of the obelisk just outside the Union in Academy Park. Engraved in the black granite are the names of the pioneers, the faculty and president who started from scratch. They signed on with a Board of Trustees that included John Purdue in the weeks before the University opened in 1874. Two are known to have built desks for students before the University opened. Download Photo Here Photo caption below In July 1874, trustees approved these duties for the original faculty: * Eli Brown, professor of English literature and drawing. * John Hougham, chair of physics and industrial mechanics. * John Hussey, chair of botany and * horticulture. * William Morgan, chair of mathematics and engineering. * Harvey Wiley, professor of chemistry. Abraham Shortridge, president for 18 months during the uncertain first and second years of Purdue history, also shares a place of honor on the Academy Park obelisk and in the Book of Great Teachers with the original faculty. Stories by Jay Cooperider Photographs by David Umberger PHOTO CAPTION 1 and 2: A companion to Academy Park, the Book of Great Teachers display in the west foyer of the Purdue Memorial Union honors faculty members nominated for inclusion in the book by alumni, students, peers and others. Every five years, new inductees will be added to the list. The display was designed by the Purdue publications office. Download Photo Here Download Photo Here PHOTO CAPTION 3: Inclusion in the Book of Great Teachers honors outstanding teaching by Purdue faculty and excellence in teaching over time. To be included, professors and former professors must have served on the Purdue faculty at least 15 years. Michael Morrison associate professor of history, will be listed in the book in seven years. He was the named the 1998 Indiana Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Download Photo Here Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page