C o l l e g e  o f   M i n i n g

	In 1863 a resolution was passed by both houses of the state legislature appointing a commission to frame a report on the establishment of a university "to embrace an agricultural college, a mining college, and a museum." Under the administration of Governor Low, on March 31,1866, an act was passed in accordance with the recommendations of this commission.
Bejamin Ide Wheeler Hall, University of California at Berkeley, 1929

    On March 23, 1868, California achieved her intellectual emancipation by the union of two opposing educational factions, the state endowed College of Agriculture, Mining and Manual Arts, and the privately supported College of California. In the charter creating the University of California it is written:

"The board of regents shall always bear in mind that the College of Agriculture, of Mining and Mechanical Arts are an especial object of their care and superintendence and that they shall be considered and treated as entity primarily to the use of the funds donated for their establishment."

    The definite organization of the several colleges was a slow process, although recognition of the College of Mining as an entity dates from the appointment of Professor Fisher in 1871. Prof. W. B. Rising was elected professor of mining and metallurgy in 1872, which year he also organized the College of Chemistry. At the close of 1874 serious thought was given to the curriculum, which was molded by Prof. William Ashburner, then professor of mining, and Dr. Geo. F. Becker, lecturer in metallurgy. Dr. Becker continued in office until 1879, when he was succeeded by a recruit from the alumni body, Mr. Samuel Benedict Christy, Cal. 1874. Mr. Christy was an instructor until 1885, when he was appointed professor of mining and metallurgy, and later dean of the college. To him is due the credit for the high standing of the College of Mining among the technical schools of the world. His wisdom, painstaking energy, indomitable spirit, and rare qualities guided the growth and destiny of men who have played a large part in world progress. He built wisely and well, better than he knew.

From July 1929 article by Dean Frank H. Probert, The Mining Congress Journal