University of the South - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Sewanee, TN)

Page 9 text:

' x c PEPICATII©!! TO 1, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH AT SEWANEE, TENNESSEE The First Founders, Bishop Otey, Bishop Polk, and Bishop Elliot had a high Vision of a UniVersit) in which education should be united v ith christian principles. When they built this University it v7as significant that they built it upon a mountain — as if it v9ould give out light to the surrounding Valleys and lov lands. These men began a noble v7ork and the University today stands as a monument to their Vision and zeal. ' .v H. l V

Page 11 text:

James Hervey Otey was the first of the Founders to give definite thought to a University in the South formed by a united action of the states. His first action was the recording in the Diocesan Convention of resolutions con- cerning a theological and classical school. The next year, 1833, he was elected Bishop of Tennessee, and was con- ' secrated in 1834. In 1833 he met Leonidas Polk and com- municated his ideal to him. From that time on Polk car- ried the burden of founding the University. Leonidas Polk was a graduate of West Point with honors. Even in the years he was in the Military Acad- emy he was interested in education in the country. When he graduated from West Point he was oflFered a professor- ship in Amherst College. He almost accepted, but did not, and remained with the army. In 1827 he resigned his com- mission and entered the Seminary at Alexandria, Virginia. During the years his interest in education did not die, and in 1852 he began to study European institutions; the result of this study was his letter to the Southern Dioceses about a university. Stephen Elliot was a graduate in law before he be- came a minister. Later he studied for the ministry, be- came a priest and at the age of 33 was first Bishop of Georgia. He became interested in Polk ' s proposal, and in the early days of the University he was instrumental in raising money to build the foundations of Sewanee. f ' A '