John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[13] to drop the study of mathematics, taking some prescribed course of study instead thereof. On November 23d of the same year it was voted that Dana (with other sophomores) have permission to be absent during the winter for the purpose of “keeping school.” On January 13, 1841, it was “voted that Dana (with four other sophomores) be admitted to the university in full standing as a matriculated student.” On May 31st following, it was “voted that Dana, sophomore, be matriculated,” and finally, on June 2, 1841, it was “voted that Dana, sophomore, have leave of absence for the rest of the term on account of ill-health.”

While the faculty records fail to make any further explanation, it is suggested by the president's secretary that the meaning of the several matriculations mentioned above is probably, that at each of the given dates Dana had made up his back work, although it never happened to be complete at the end of any term after the end of the first of his freshman year. It is clear, however, that he completed two years of college work, resumed his connection with the college on September 6, 1841, was entered in the annual catalogue for 1841-42 as a junior, and that the honorary degree of bachelor of arts was conferred on him by the university in 1861, as of the class of 1843. So far as the records go, this is the whole story, but the gaps will be filled in with sufficient detail from other sources.

The fact is that the supply of money Dana had brought with him to college soon became exhausted, and having no one to whom he could turn for help, he was forced to find employment, and, as was the fashion, naturally took to school-teaching. His first and only engagement seems to have been at Scituate, where he boarded with the family of Captain Seth Webb. His salary was twenty-five dollars a month, including board, as was the custom of the times.