Founding the Echols Mathematics Club

Summary

It was, if I recall correctly, during my junior year (1933) at the University of Virginia that a group of us mathematics students decided we would like to establish a university mathematics club. It wasn't long before a charter was drawn up and an appropriate schedule of times of meeting decided upon. There only remained the matter of naming the club. I suggested we call it The Sylvester Mathematics Club, basing my suggestion on the following bit of early history of the university.

In 1841 J. J. Sylvester accepted an appointment of Professor of Mathematics at the University of Virginia. He accordingly came to America and entered into his new duties with all the enthusiasm and energy of his youthful twenty-seven years. But it soon became apparent that there were students who resented the presence of a foreigner and a Jew on the faculty, and Professor Sylvester began to suffer annoyances in the classroom. Finally, after three months of growing harassment, Professor Sylvester reported a case of serious disrespect accorded him in the classroom by a Mr. W. H. Ballard. Mr. Ballard was summoned to tell, in the absence of Professor Sylvester, his side of the altercation. His report, of course, was at variance with that of Professor Sylvester, and he had his view of the affair backed up by his crony Mr. W. F. Weeks. Upon hearing of the introduction of this biased witness, Professor Sylvester protested, and wondered why some more neutral student witness had not been employed instead.