Greensboro College - Echo Yearbook (Greensboro, NC)

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m Historical Sketck REENSRORO COLLECjE for Women, located at Ckeensboro, N. C, has a history reaching far back into the period of ante-bellum life. It was chartered in 1838 as Greensboro Female College and is the second oldest chartered institution for women in the South. The corner stone of the first building was not laid until 1843, and it was not until 1846 that the school opened its doors for students. The first president was the Rev. Solomon Lea, who was rated as a capable and well-cquippcd teacher, and he was a.ssistcd by an able faculty. At once the college drew to its halls many students from the far Southern states. Dr. Lea was succeeded in the presidency by Dr. A. M. Shipp, a man whose record as an educator is written high in the years of his service. He administered the affairs of the college for three years, after which he resigned to accept a professorship in the University of North Carolina. His successor was Dr. Charles F. Deems, afterwards widely known as the pastor of the Church of the Strangers, in New ' ork City. Under the presidency of Dr. Deems the college enjoyed an era of great prosperity. The fourth president of the college, the successor of Dr. Deems, was Dr. T. l. Jones, whose memory hundreds of noble women afterwards rose up to call blessed. During the presidency of Dr. Jones, the main building of the college was destroyed by fire. This calamity, joined with the misfortunes brought by war, necessitated the closing of the school for a period of ten years. The corner stone of a new building was laid in 1 871; and in August, 1873, the school again opened its doors for t he reception of students. Dr. Jones continued at the head of the institution until his death, in i8go, greatly lamented by the church and the constituency he had served so well. Dr. B. F. Dixon was his succe.ssor. His presidency extended over a period of three years, when he was succeeded by Dr. Frank L. Reid, who was, at the time of his election, editor of The Rdleiyh ( ' .hr ' ntiim Advocate. He had fairly begun what prom- ised to be a great and successful experience in the discharge of his duties when he was suddenly called from his earthly activities by the messenger of death. Dr. Dred Peacock, who had been a useful member of the faculty, was elected to the presidency on the death of Dr. Reid. On account of ill health. Dr. Peacock resigned his post in 1902, when Mrs. Lucy H. Robertson was selected as his successor. She had been for a number of years connected with the school as a member of its faculty, and th; success which attended her admiiiistration was no surprise. Between igo2 and 1904 untoward conditions came upon the college. First, its Board of Trustees was greatly discouraged on account of stringent financial condi- tions and decided to put the property in process of liquidation. Later the main building of the college was destroyed by fire. The end of the institution now seemed to have come; but, through the almost superhuman elTorts of the alumnae and the co-operation of the Annual Conferences, a new and splendid building was erected in Greensboro ro College The Echo m