Due West Female College - Arrow Yearbook (Due West, SC)

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J-L .4 fa 5 Z: - S fi -9 1 ,2 The Arrow, Nmeteen Twenty-Seven 4:7 - r'+ .MQ , , ,:1' ' Em wfX4T'k:. E KE-Iggy lllrvll ll xnzul llllllHmIllllI lllllll I1 ulrlll HTVTTIT llllll lll 1IlllllIllllllnfl'l'IWl7nnlmrrlr::wQil -N, .-,Al-.-...-I -,. Page twenty-ive DR. F. Y. PRESSLY, Chairman of the Board of Trustees

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fx l l' M KX-L The Arrow, Nineteen Twenty-.Seven FEV ' 1 13 x '?' ... 4 g' m' .+'1 ' -gl' F ,.Qa Mm Lf-fiiqq ,A +1 - , ,-rn.. . um.............,..................... .............-1-1-n... H. .H .............. ' -T QSIILL-:m ' ' ' Q 1 'El MRS. I. H. HUNT, President of the Alumnae Page tfwenty-four

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,J The Arrow, Nineteen Twenty-.Seven '--- ' 1 W ,-N 1 i Qin l Si X Q' Msgs.. Eh. , , fj9XX :'t'- -vm !,ffZ, 'rNQ 7 ' T rn-rn-rm. .... ................... mu...---4-'v-1-1-im. .im ... .. .iiimmi-.. .....----mm-r-111-1-I-'n-n-... .1 I- in mu.-mi ...ui-.....,E-I 3 . QSfff5f ' 'T '-'LJ ' Womanis College of Due West HISTORICAL SKETCH ' HE Woman's College of Due West bears not the name of an individual philanthropist nor of a religious denomination, but of the town in which it is located. This fact is significant. From its early years, Due West was the home of liberal-minded men, not a few of whom were college graduates. The Woman's College of Due West was an outgrowth of the same enthusiasms for education which influenced these men in establishing Erskine College in Due West in 1839. They desired for their daughters the same educational advantages which they desired for their sons. However, it was not until 1859 that their desires began to take dennite shape. In November of that year Rev. John Irwin Bonner succeeded in interesting people in Due West and in the community in the establishment of a college for women. A Board was chosen and a plan approved for raising the McQuerns Academy to college rank. The building contained only three rooms, but the Board formally authorized instruction to begin January, 1860, with three teachers in charge. In .luly,'1861, the first class, six in number, received diplomas, the exercises of grad- uation being held in the church. But the Board and citizens of the town were not content to remain in these cramped quarters. A site of seven acres, a part of the present campus, was purchased, and funds for the erection of a building suitable for the purpose were contributed. On August 7, 1860, although the building was only partially completed, exercises of dedication were held, and Due West Female College, as it was then called, was set apart for its honorable service to the community, the state, and the world. On January 28, 1861, a charter was granted by the State of South Carolina. The charter members of the corporation included both clergy and laity, the majority being members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. It was a rule, or order of the Board then, and is still, to welcome all, whatever their denomination, to the benefits and privileges of a liberal education. Until 1904 the Board of Trustees was self-perpetuating, with entire freedom of election. In that year the Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was offered and took over the property, with the privilege of appointing the Trustees. On February 24,,191o, the charter was amended to allow additional Trustees and addi- tional powers. By the same amendment, the name of the college was changed to the Woman's College of Due West. In order to fulfill the obligations of the amended charter and to meet new educa- tional standards, measures were taken to increase the material equipment. In 1903 Main Building, which was erected for class and administration purposes was remodeled and refurnished. In 1904, Carnegie Hall, which was erected with a gift of Mr. Andrew Carnegie of New York, supplemented with a corresponding amount contrib- uted by the friends of the College, was opened for residence. In 1912, the Library was greatly enlarged and refurnished. Many new books were added, among them a collection in memory of Mrs. Kate Patton Kennedy, made possible by the zeal and Ji y V cg, 1 5 ,I asa,l?2r-'e. Page twenty .ur