Eastern Kentucky University - Milestone Yearbook (Richmond, KY)

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Eastern ' s Roots Grow In Civil War ' s Ashes HE HISTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION on c. the Eastern Kentucky University campus has its roots deep in the epic of American history. The wounds that remained following the American Civil War were not always quick to heal. The bitter polarization that had gripped the nation could not be immediately remedied when the hostilities ended and differences continued to split and faciionalize families and institutions while the nation tried to mend itself. It was one of these schisms that one hundred years ago. in 1874. led to the founding of Central University and the beginning of higher edu- cation on the campus in Richmond that 33 years later would house the fledgling Eastern Kentucky State Normal School. Kentucky had been one of the so-called border states during the Civil War, with vested interests branching both North and South. A slave-holding state with enough Union sentiment to prevent seces- sion, Kentucky was nonetheless deeply embroiled in the war. Both sides in the conflict courted Kentucky vigorously, in fact, since Kentucky was not in a state of rebellion slaves in Kentucky and other border states were not automatically freed by the Emancipa- tion Proclamation. The Commonwealth had powerful ties with both North and South. Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were both Kentucky-born, as was Davis ' vice-president. John Breckinridge. And. there was certainly no more outspoken abolitionist than the Lion of White Hall, the indomitable Cassius Clay, whose home stands now as a state shrine only seven miles from the EKU campus. It was to be expected that divisions of opinion which after the Civil War could bring violent argu- ments over whether the struggle was the war be- tween the states or the war of the rebellion would lead to splits in social institutions. The Presbyterian Church of Kentucky was not exempt from these di- visive forces and found itself with two separate sy- nods. The church had a college in Kentucky — Centre at Danville — and its control rested in the hands of the Presbyterians ' iVorthern Assembly. Many Kentucky Presbyterians found fault with the Northern Assembly ' s four-part resolution for re- construction of the church. Basically, the resolution called for close scrutiny of Southern ministers espe- cially in regard to participation in the rebellion, and their views on slavery; and before admission (to the ministry), to confess their sin and forsake their error, if their action and views did not accord with the assembly ' s testimony. It was this resolution, termed erroneous and heretical by the Kentucky Presbyterians who refused to abide that led to the split of the church in the Commonwealth and the for- mation of the Southern Synod of Kentucky. The older church establishment won control of Centre College through the courts and Smith ' s History of Kentucky reports that the new synod set immedi- ately to assume independent denominational exis- tence. Chief among these wants, says Smith, was felt the need of an institution of learning. This then, is the backdrop against which higher education came to Richmond, and to the campus that was eventually to serve Eastern Kentucky University; A group of Centre College alumni and friends of learning of the Church meeting in Lexington May 7. 1872 organized what they called the Alumni Associa- tion of Central University and sought the cooperation of the Southern Synod in establishing the new school. The offer was accepted and a charter was drawn up placing the operation of the University in the hands of a seven-member Board of Curators and its finances under the supervision of five trustees. Thus, the seed was planted. villi brick fired

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PA 1 § I I 1 I il AKE NO LITTLE PLANS. Robert Richard Martin quoted Chicago architect Daniel Burnham November 16. 1960, as he addressed East- ern Kentucky State College ' s Board of Regents and Faculty on the eve of his inauguration as Eastern ' s sixth president. They have no magic to stir men ' s biood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a nohle, logical dia- gram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with evergrowing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let our watch- word be order and our beacon beauty. Think big! The 100-year-history of higher education on the campus of Eastern Ken- tucky University is a chronicle of big thinkers. The men who, in the after- math of the Civil War, planted higher education here in the form of Central University certainly made no little plans. Neither did the men who kept high- er education alive here through Walters Collegiate Institute; nor those who fought for the creation of a normal school at Richmond. They did, as the quote says, create a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing in- sistency. This is the storv of the fruits of their labors. B B pj. Mi pj. € H B |3 m pj. B PA U PJ B 100 Years 17

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