The first term of Atlanta University began, under its charter granted in 1867, in Oct., 1869. The highest class, at that time, was the junior preparatory. By a natural and steady growth, there has come to be a regular college department, from which two classes, (nine students), have been graduated, and in which there are now twenty-four students; a scientific department, with four; a preparatory, with 37; a higher normal, from which have graduated five classes, (twenty-four students), and which numbers at present 68; and a lower normal, with 62 students. The higher normal begins with the usual high-school studies, and continues four years. The lower normal includes the grammar-school studies, and the first two years of the higher normal course. Instruction in theology was given, until the State aid was granted to the school; it has since been discontinued. The home and family feature of the school is made prominent. A lady has charge of the young men’s building, and, so far as possible, takes the place of mother, making the house a _home_, instead of a college barrack. The refining, elevating, and restraining influence of this family life is incalculable. Every effort is put forth to make the Sabbath a power. The usual church service is held in the morning, Sunday-school in the afternoon, and prayer-meeting at night. The monthly missionary concert is observed. The contributions at this meeting, for the nine school months, amount to about fifty dollars. The church prayer-meeting is held on Wednesday evening; the school prayer-meeting for all the students on Friday afternoon. At this meeting, the school makes weekly offerings, by the envelope plan, toward the payment of the debt of the American Missionary Association. The workers this year, including Pastor, Treasurer, Steward, Housekeeper and Matron, number twelve. Among them are representatives of Yale, Harvard, Amherst and Oberlin. The institution owns sixty acres of land, about one mile from the centre of the city. That part of it occupied by the buildings, commands an extended view in all directions. The buildings are two plain, four-storied, brick dormitories, one for boys, the other for girls. These also afford rooms for teachers, and the basement and first floor of the boys’ building give space for chapel, schoolrooms, library and reading-room. Many of these rooms are entirely unfit for these uses, and are much needed for sleeping rooms. By an hour’s work each day, the students care for the buildings, cultivate the grounds, cut the wood, and do the house-work, except the cooking. The Graves Library contains about four thousand volumes, and has an endowment of five thousand dollars. The library and reading-room are thoroughly used. Excepting for the library, the school has no endowment, but depends for support on the American Missionary Association, and the State of Georgia, which latter has appropriated to it $8,000 annually.