Presbyterian College - Pac Sac Yearbook (Clinton, SC)

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139308 A look at P.C. ' s past: the campus In 1910, the Recitation Hall and. opposite. Dr. William Plummber Jacobs. P.C. ' s founder. HlSTORY 3

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pii THE BEGINNING ' ' Why has P.C. survived one-hundred years? Be- cause its faculty and students . . . work to develop the balanced individual . . . value personal relation- ships . . . set high standards . . . and achieve high goals. Presbyterian College survives because after 100 years, it holds fast to the dream on which it was founded-to strive for the liberal arts education of young men and women in a Christian environment. In the very beginning Dr. William Plumer Jacobs lit the spark that ignited the torch of P.C. ' s history. He was pastor of Clinton ' s Presbyterian Church and founder of P.C. In 1872, Dr. Jacobs led in organizing the Clinton High School Association, as part of the southern reconstruction movement after the Civil War. Out of this small enterprise came the idea. Clinton College. By the fall of 1880, Clinton College was under Presbyterian influence. The spark was now ignited. William S. Lee became the first president of the college. In the beginning were 45 college students and 45 college prepatory students. Tuition was $25 a year for freshmen and sophmores and $30 for Juniors and seniors. Clinton College was co-educational from the start (the first graduating class in 1883 was composed of three women). School was held from September until July, and the cirriculum consisted of such studies as Bible, English, French, Latin, math, philosophy, and sciences. The spark had become a flame. During the second president ' s. Robert P. Smith ' s, term work for a new college building began. Trust- ees, M.S. Bailey and J.W. Copeland. Sr., agreed to contribute $500.00 each, providing that the town of Clinton be responsible for the remainder of the cost. Through the efforts of Dr. Jacob ' s, the money was raised and the new building was called Recitation Hall. The huge edifice was made of brick, was 3V2 stories high, and cost $7,000. The structure became the President ' s home as well as a place for class- rooms, labs, offices, and a small gym. Next was the brief but productive presidency of Joseph W. Kennedy. During his term many changes occured. Most of these changes took place in 1890. The new charter changed the name of the school from Clinton College to Presbyterian College of S.C. The curriculum was also modified and an addition of 16 acres was given to P.C. in December of 1890. This gift of land sparked the first productive action to- ward an alumn i association. This association planned to raise $2,500 for Alumni Hall Dormitory. Alumni Hall was completed October 10, 1891, during the term of J.I. Cleland. This dormitory was three stories high and accomodated 32 students. Also erected in 1891 was a small dining hall and kitchen. The dining hall accomodated 50 students and charged $6 a month for meals. In the following year a three story frame structure was built on the new campus. It was called Cottage Dormitory. It provided housing for both students and faculty. With Clelan ' s resignation. Reverend E.C. Murray became President in 1894. Presbyterian College needed new patronage and support from the Pres- bytherian Synod of South Carolina. However, the Synod refused total affiliation. The Synod authorized a Board of Directors to report annually on the col- lege ' s work. Disappointed. Murray resigned. After Murray ' s resignation. Dr. Spencer became president in 1897. Finally, in 1904, Presbyterian Syn- od of S.C. voted to bring P.C. under the Synod ' s full control and support. As P.C. grew in numbers and strength, many extra curricular activities appeared on the campus. Two literary societies-the Eukosmian and the Philomath- ian-were formed. The first yearbook was published in 1900. The yearbook was called the Garnet and Blue- the forerunner of the Pac Sac. Before 1900, there were two social fraternities on campus: Pi Kappa Alpha and Tri-Phis. The first varsity sport was base- ball and it was started around 1896. In 1904, William Neville became president of P.C. Within the next three years, three new buildings were added to the campus. President Neville was determined to secure building funds of $50,000 and to receive an endowment of $100,000. However, an- other problem developed. The problem was that as the Synod acquired control of P.C, they questioned whether or 2 HISTORY

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not Clinton was the best location for the college. To solve the matter, the board of trustees decided to submit to the entire Synod the subject of P.C. ' s fu- ture location. The trustees tried to stress that they were not selling the college to the highest bidder, but everyone felt that financial considerations would determine the new location of the college. The peo- ple of Clinton were distressed. The college they had supported might be taken from them. A special com- mitee of all denominations was founded with the job of keeping P.C. in Clinton. Finally, September 29. 1905, the board assembled to receive the proposals. Five towns offered bids for the college: Bennetsville, Chester, Clinton, Sumter, and Yorksvllle. After much discussion and deliberation, the board voted in favor of Clinton to keep her college. Finally, President Neville was able to concentrate his efforts on improving P.C. In 1906 the President ' s home was finished. Also under Neville ' s administra- tion, the cornerstone was laid for the Administration Building. This new building, with its huge Georgian columns, cost $35,000. The name was changed from the Administration Building to Neville Hall in 1944. The new building enabled P.C. to sell Recitation Hall to Thornwell Orphanage. All of the college Buildings were now on one campus. The campus bell was also brought from Recitation Hall. In the early days, the bell was used to signal the beginning of classes. After World War II, however, an electric buzzer system was installed. Today, the bell still exists in the tower next to Neville Hall. President Neville became ill at Commencement Exercises on June 8. 1907 and died. During Neville ' s tenure, many improvements were made and the stu- dent body had doubled In size. Immediately after his death, construction began on a new dining hall, Judd Refectory. Also, Laurens Hall was erected with funds from Presbyterians of Laurens. Newly elected President Robert Adams took of- fice when the cumulative debt of the college was $20,000. Under pressure Adams resigned and Dr. Spencer filled the office until a trustee committee could find a new executive leader. Even though the leadership and the direction of the college was changed several times, the faculty remained the same. P.E. was becoming more than just an academic institution. August, 1911. Reverend Davison M. Douglas was asked to serve as president. His first duty as Presi- dent was to host the Synod meeting of South Caroli- na. In his presentation. Douglas called for the college to build another dorm, a science hall, a new athletic field, to hire three new faculty members, and to raise the endowment. Douglas set forth to secure funding for these high goals. Through generous gifts. Spen- cer Dorm was built in 1912. It was completed Just In time for a record number of students. 133. Two new faculty members were added to the staff and at the same time entrance requirements were tightened. In 1915, Jacobs Hall was erected and used as a library. I hf pU a b) 1919 already showed the bencTiu of - ■ -■ ASS OF 1 00. . ■« . above left: Claa of 1900 above right Alumni Hall Dorm 4 HISTORY