Emerson College - Emersonian Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF EMERSON v r: : ' e AVHey Emerson, the founder of .our school, had been a dynamic preacher in his native i oi V a nt and later in Massachusetts. In the mid-1870’s, he took a number of courses at the at . routed Boston University, in the schools of Law and Oratory. , • is I . Monroe, the Dean of the B.U. school of Oratory died, Dr. Emerson created his ; v ve school at 13 Pemberton Square to carry on the Philosophy of Expression expoused by on 1882, Emerson named his school the Monroe Conservatory of Oratory. ] . Emerson developed a- system for expression and wrote several books on the varied facets of cm . p.dr. ; i. al cul hire, voice culture, and gesture.) His Evolution of Expression led students to ’ tli voice, when free from physical limitation, is at the moment of utterance a true rep the state of the soul ’ Jh . son i school was incorporated as a charitable institution in 1886 as the Monroe College of • and ir. 1890 die school was renamed the Emerson College of Oratory. 0 hen Dr Emerson retired in 1902, he was succeeded by William J. Rolfe, a nationally .1 aimed Shakespearean scholar. He was president until 1908, retiring at the age of eightv. ■ vy i aw re nee South wick succeeded Rolfe and did a great deal to raise the Emerson College of Orator to collegiate grade. L South wick, along with Dean Ross, made Emerson a fouryear college in 1913; obtained for L nt . sou i s first degree granting privileges in 1919, with the Bachelor of Literary Interpretation d« ' . ' .rce; and transferred the college from private ownership to public trust under the Board of Trustees at die Semicentennial. Southwiek’s interest in theatre lead to the creation of the Children’s Theatre in 1919, die first - a b group under the aegis of a college in America. FT ' lowing South wick’s death in 1932, Harry Seymour Ross was installed president. During his n residency, ice college made tremendous strides forward:, as it purchased its own home (130 Reaum Street), and broadened its curriculum to allow the granting of B.A. and M.A. degrees and he dropping of the words ‘‘of Oratory’’ from the institution’s title. Failing health compelled Dr. Ross’s retirement. His successors from 1945 to 1953 were Bos iston Green, Godfrey Dewey and Jonathan French, jr. WERS, in 1949, was the first educa- tion al FM station in New England run by a college. In the year 1950-51, the college became an accredited institution . Falling enrollment following the influx of veterans from World War II, combined with a heavy deficit, led to the creation of an alumni majority on the Board of Trustees and the calling of S. Justus Mekinlev to the presidency. Dr. Mcklnley, together with his able dean, Dr. Richard Pierce, saved the college from virtually certain collapse. Further degree granting was added to the college’s privileges. Two important r.e departments were created in 1953: Mass Communications, which has been tire financial backbone of the school, and Communications Disorders, which has a national and worldwide reputation for its work in speech therapy. One of Dean Pierce’s valuable contributions was the instituting of the Summer School Abroad, in 1966. Followmg Dr. Mckiuley’s resignation, Richard Chapin was brought to the college, serving as rre: ident from 1968 to 1975. His leadership lent stability to the college during the Vietnam era. The First Level Program, and interdisciplinary’ - approach to all-college requirements, was inau- gurated under his tenure. FI. P failed to achieve all the goals set for it, and was discontinued in 1975-76. Though gone, it leaves a rich legacy of innovation and vibrancy. Dr. Gus Turbeville succeeded Mr. Chapin and was soon popular with students. Dr. Turbeville bved i i - the 100 Beacon Street dormitory and customarily ate dinner at the Governor’s House. His academic vice president. Dr. Edna Ward, created the Division of Humanities and the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Turbeville stood strongly in favor of keeping Emerson College in Boston. In 1977, we held an Emer- son Night at the Boston Pops, Arthur Fiedler conducting. Dr. Turbeville resigned with much regret in the fail of 1977 and vice president Oliver Woodruff was made acting president until the selection of our new president. Dr. Allen Koenig. — by Richard Wentworth, ‘79 author with John M. Coffee, of A Century of Eloquence: The History of Emerson College