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Henri Hermann Liotard emigrated to America in 1864. He taught French and German in private schools in New York City, Shippan Point (Conn.) and Pittsfield (Mass) before being appointed professor of Modern Languages at St. Lawrence University in Canton (NY) in 1882 where he taught for 19 years before retiring in 1901. The Liotards spent many years in Pittsfield, where Henri taught at Miss Salisbury School for Young Ladies.
He probably convinced his friend James Vaucher to join him with his new wife and their baby in 1876.
More information can be found in his daughter Marie's lengthy Obituary, Plaindealer (1932)
He was patient with his students, and inclined to a charitable view of their shortcomings. It was understood that he computed his grades to a minute decimal; it was a flagrant case, however, when his system of mathematics gave a result below the passing grade. On one occasion, with the grieved air with which he administered any necessary reproof, he said to a student whose work was notoriously poor, "Mr. X, when you try to recite, I mark you ten; when you do not try, I mark you zero; your grade is two." The election of Professor Liotard as Professor Emeritus, on his retirement in 1901, attests the personal regard in which he is held.
From "Sixty years of St.Lawrence" published by class of 1916, p. 75. Tantae Molis Erat.
Collection Jean Vaucher
Evergreen Cemetery, Canton, NY
The book "Sixty years of Saint Lawrence" also mentions Miss Marguerite Liotard, '98 who was a soloist in the St. Cecilia Musical Club. She also sang the title role in the opera "Ermine" in 1902. The retrospective yearbook also mentions that Liotard was an organizer of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Prof Liotard's House on Church Street had been secured as a chapter house. As testimonial to his influence, the 1904 issue of the Gridiron publication was dedicated to him. Lastly the book mentions that Mrs Liotard lent a period gown for the production of a translation of a Schiller play "Der Neffe also Onkel"
In 1890 there were 8 faculty members, 120 undergraduates and 11 graduates.
In 1882-83: 66 students and 9 graduates