Pikeville College - Highlander Yearbook (Pikeville, KY)

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Milestone 85 In 1974 Pikeville College celebrates its eighty- fifth anniversary. Looking back on the first eighty- five years one sees a steady growth brought about by the vigor and determination of people associated with the college. Now Pikeville College looks toward the next eighty-five years with this same vigor and determination that have helped to make it one of the leading private colleges in Kentucky. ■J ' ■ ' -. .. ■:. ' . j - - ■ ' - . ' ■- ' ■■■ .

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women eagerly encouraged them to come into the mountains to establish a Christian school. After many long and searching trips, they decided that the natu- ral center of the region was Pike- ville, then a village of about three hundred people. The members of the first Board of Trustees were ever alive to the interests of the school. They were Dr. Condit, the Rev. W. S. Fulton, D.D., Mr. W. M. Connolly, Mr. John Simpson, Mr. James H. Hatcher, Mr. Charles M. Parsons, and Mrs. F. B. Trusell. The records of the college reveal constantly the devotion and wisdom of the unusual body of trustees. The possibilities of the school touched their imaginations and most of them gave generously of their time and means to its sup- port. By 1889 a site had been secured in Pikeville and a school building erected. In the fall the school opened under the name of Pikeville Collegiate Institute, with the Reverend David Blyth as principal and also pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Blyth was a man of great energy, and during the three years of incumbency, the school made rapid progress and took first rank among the best schools of its grade in Eastern Kentucky. Hendricks Hall was erected dur- ing Mr. Blyth ' s time of service. Unfortunately, a severe attack of typhoid fever left him unable to continue the work. Unfavorable conditions throughout the nation slowed the progress of the institution until 1896. During the principal- ships of the Rev. Harvey Ham- mett and the Rev. T. M. Corneli- son, times were difficult and slow progress was made. The future of the institution was assured, however, as the devo- tion and personality of the Rev. James F. Record began to express themselves following his coming as principal in 1899. During the next twelve years attendance practically quadru- pled. The Derriana was given by Mr. John A. Simpson of Cin- cinnati in memory of his sister, and progress was made toward introduction of a college curricu- lum. In 1911, Dr. Record resigned and removed to Ari- zona in the hope of helping Mrs. Record recover her health. The Rev. J. P. Whitehead assumed the presidency of the college in 1911, and served until 1915, when Dr. Record returned. When Dr. Record resumed the presidency of the institution, which was now invariably spo- ken of as The College, he was beginning a term of uninter- rupted service lasting seventeen years. In 1918, one student pur- sued college courses; fourteen years later the college enroll- ment was 366. In 1925, the pre- paratory department was admit- ted to membership in the South- ern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and the jun- ior college department became a member in 1931. The Adminis- tration Building was built in 1926, with Wickham Chapel attached. Also in 1926, a young new teacher came to Pikeville College — Miss Mary Inglis Spilman, whose career of service to the college ended at her death in 1972. In 1928, Wickham Hall was added to the campus on the hill. Though Dr. Record was made president emeritus by action of the Board of Trustees in September, 1932, his counsel was not withdrawn from the col- lege until he passed away on May 25, 1935. It is difficult to estimate the influence of the gifts of the devoted friends of the college throughout Dr. Record ' s admin- istration. Mrs. Delos A. Wick- ham, of New York, presented Wickham Chapel with its fine Estey pipe organ, and Wickham Hall, a dormitory for men, to stand perpetually as a living memorial to Delos. O. Wickham, her husband, n addition to these buildings erected by her, the institution was bequeathed a considerable portion of Mrs. Wickham ' s estate at her death in 1933. Mr. William Thaw, of Pittsburgh, was another constant friend of the college, being a very generous donor to the Administration Building. The Women ' s Missionary ocie ies o enezer Presbytery greatly encouraged Pikeville College through their contributions and interest, and Dr. ona c ona , suc- cessor to Dr. Hendricks as syn- odical superintendent, was another loyal supporter and con- stant a visor o e institution. The daughters of Dr. Condit, Mrs. Oscar Henthorne, Miss Mary Ford Condit, and Mrs. Lucien Waggener, also expressed their interest and love of the college through their gifts which made possible the purchase in 1928 of the Andrew Auxier residence which was used as the President ' s home until 1955. Upon Dr.ifecorci ' s retirement, Dean Frank D. McClelland was made acting president and was elected president in October, 1933. Dr. McClelland served until October 1937, and through- out the year following, the col- lege functioned without a presi- dent. Mr. Norman A. Chrisman, treasurer of the institution, devoted much of his time to the college, serving in many capaci- ties, as acting president without the actual title. During this year, notable expansion of the library facilities was effected through the generosity of Mrs. N. A. (Lorraine Bowles) Chrisman, Mrs. Josephine Bowles Kirk, and Mr. H. C. Bowles, in mem- ory of their mother, Mrs. Nona Connoly Bowles, who was a member of the first graduating