Simpson Bible College - Gateway Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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A. B. SIMPSON HISTORY OF THE Forty years ago a new gateway - a gateway to world service - opened for the first time when Simpson Bible Institute was founded in 1921. The school was named after A. B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, who started the movement seventy-five years ago. After being converted in his teens, Simpson was impressed more and more with the need of souls without Christ. He was moved to share this vision with others who would go to the mission fields. In order to train these men and women for world service, he started the Bible school program. Under the direction of Bev. W. W. Newberry, the founder and first president of the school, Simpson Bible Institute opened its doors for classes in 1921. Earlier that year the annual Council had approved the establishment of an Alliance Bible school in the Pacific Northwest District. Located at 101 W. 58th Street in Seattle, Washing- ton, in a fourteen-room house in the Phinney Ridge District overlooking Ballard, the school enrolled twenty students the first semester. The kitchen and dining hall were in the basement of the large home, the library and classes on the ground floor, offices on the second floor, and the students' rooms on the third floor. Later this home became the administration building. The library was on the first floor ofthe house. ' A The fourteen-room house which became the Administration Building. Additional land next to the school was purchased within the next two years. A two-story structure on the property became the music building. Because of a continually increasing student body, 1923 saw the construction of a new three-story frame dormitory. Students were housed in tents pitched on the property until the dormitory was finished. WV. C. Stevens was President during this time. During these early years, the school offered a two- year course with the classes taught by pastors. The foreign mission majors were required to take an addi- tional year of training at Nyack. 1

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ALMA MATER T. I. McCrossan was President from 1927-1929, until the economic depression made necessary the closing of the school from 1929-1932. Bev. W. I. McCarvey reopened it in the fall of 1933, and Rev. I. D. Williams became president from 1934-1945. As the school grew, the need was recognized for a chapel, additional classroom space and a larger kitchen and dining area. Construction of the lower floor began in 1940. Then in 1945 the auditorium was completed, including the main chapel and classrooms. The school continued its growth through the years and with the returning G.I.'s, reached a peak enrollment of 254 in 1946, during the administration of Rev. R. L. Cramer. The dormitory fright, faced the Administration Building. Over the years various changes have been made in the curriculum. In 1947, four-year degree courses came into being. Accreditation came to Simpson in 1948 from the Accrediting Association of Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges while Bev. E. B. Dunbar was pres- ident. Although this accreditation was withdrawn in 1950, it was regained in 1953. However, the biggest change was yet to come - the relocation of the school. Jaffray Auditorium was completed in 1945. Thirty trailers, given to the school by the govern- ment, provided housing for the returning C.I.'s and married students. When these were disposed of, three one-story frame buildings were obtained from Paine Air Force Base. Two were used for classrooms and offices and one became an annex to the men's dormi- tory. The 1952 graduating class outside the Administration Building. B ul.,