Furman University - Bonhomie Yearbook (Greenville, SC)

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OF FURMAN Coming into being at a time when women were noted principally for their skill in manipulating embroidery needles and masculine hearts, G. W. C., with its belief in higher education for females was a pioneer in the educational field. It was chartered as a college in 1854, but its educational foundation goes back to 1819, the year in which both a Male and Female Academy were built on the site of the present college campus. The two academies were erected side by side, being incorporated under one charter, and having a joint board of trustees—but a high fence was erected between the two schools, probably to prevent any further coordination of the two student bodies. Although the first principal of the Female Academy, Mr. D. D. Hollonquist, had an uncanny ability for getting himself in trouble with the trustees, who regarded his advanced course of study for females as both foolish and pernicious, he remained at the head of the academy for fifteen years, during which time he strengthened the curriculum and greatly enlarged the enrollment. Baptists of South Carolina, realizing the necessity for a female college of high order, and attracted by the prestige that the school had, procured the Academy in the year 1854, and reestablished it as the Greenville Baptist Female College. A strong faculty and an extensive course of study caused the college to enjoy a period of prosperity until the time of the Civil War. Tlie college was revived from its post-war dejection by the wisdom and courage of VIRGINIA EVELYN THOMAS MA. 01 AN 6r » lll« Womw'i Co' 3« Miss Mary Judson, who became Lady Principal in 1874. She reorganized the curriculum, introducing a course in calisthenics, and aiding Prof. A. S. Townes, president of the college at that time, in organizing the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Art, and the School of Music in separate units. Not content with these accomplishments, she began the first library at the college, and supervised the organization of the first extra-curricula activities. In a predicament similar to that of many of the colleges of its time, G. F. C. was, for the decade following Miss Judson's administration, struggling with financial difficulties. Dr. David M. Ramsay became president of the college in 1911, and he not only improved its financial plight, but also raised its standards. In 1933, Dr. B. E. Geer was elected the first president of the newly coordinated G. W. C.-Furman University; and under his leadership G. W. C. has sought new heights.

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ROBERT NORMAN DANIEL M-A-. PH.M. DEAN U«lr«riit| The history’ of Furman is based, not upon the customary legal documents, dates, and similar data, but upon the lives of those men whose wisdom and self-sacrifice made the present college possible. Dr. Richard Furman, who gave most of his life to the promotion of education for Baptist ministerial students, is rightly called the ’'founder and father” of Furman. For it was through his unceasing efforts that the convention of the South Carolina Baptists opened, in 1827, the institution which was ultimately to grow into Furman University. The first location of the school was in Edgefield, but it was removed to High Hills in the year 1829. Mr. Jesse Hartwell, who was in charge of the institution, struggled to alleviate financial conditions, but his resignation and that of Dr. S. Furman at the same time, left the school without faculty or friends; and in 1834 it closed. In 1836 it was again removed, this time to Winnsboro. Here it was called the Furman Institution, and again had THE STORY two departments of study. At first, the students were compelled to do two and one-half hours of faculty-supervised labor on the farm each working day, but after they began to object so strenuously the requirement was withdrawn. In the year 1850, Furman Theological Seminary, a leader in the field of theological education at that period, was removed from Winnsboro to Greenville and established as Furman University. The first president of the new University was Dr. James C. Furman. The students enjoyed a great deal of freedom in the choice of their studies, but their moral life was carefully supervised. During the presidency of Dr. Furman the enrollment more than doubled, Furman Hall was erected, a large endowment was pledged; but at this time the Civil War broke out, and again the college was forced to close. After the war, Dr. Furman was a guiding spirit in the reorganization of Furman, but it was Dr. Charles Manly who won the favor of the Baptists and balanced the budget for Furman, when he became president in 1881. Dr. Montague’s presidency, in 1897 and the following four years, was noted for the erection of four new buildings, and for the introduction of new courses of study. Dr. E. M. Poteat, Furman’s fourth president, strengthened the science department. Furman was included in the Duke Trust Fund during the presidency of Dr. W. J. McGlothlin. Since 1933, Dr. B. E. Geer has been leading onward the co-ordinate Furm3n-G. w.c. « 2k

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FACULTY Fred W. Alexander, M.A.. LL.D .In title Professor of Education Edward Hutch isos Anderson , B.S., M.S. Assistant Professor of Economics Linton Lomas Barrett, B.A., I.A. A Mutant I'reftnor of Modern Languages Reece Croxton Blackwell, B.A., M.A. A si it tan t Professor of Mathematics I.awrksce Henry Bowes, M.A. Associate Professor of Mathematics John Fali.aw Bozard. B.A., M.A. Assbtanl Professor of English Dean of Sophomores Sidney Ernest Bradshaw, M.A., Ph.L). Professor of Modern languages Ida Robbins Buist Professor of Expression Charles Watson Bi rts, B.A.. B.D. Instructor in Psychology Dean of freshmen Ethel Dunn Carlisle, B.A. Librarian and I ns true tor in Library Methods Henry Van Zanut Cobb, B.A. Acting Professor of Psychology i II