Westminster College - Argo Yearbook (New Wilmington, PA)

Page 13 text:

1 IUUYEARSU1' EDUSATION 1852+-1952 7

Page 12 text:

It is the duty of the yearbook to depict the life of a college during the year. In this, the Centennial Argo, we have also looked into the years which have gone before us. Our work has not been complete, because we have been hampered by barriers of both time and money. The casual reader will quickly notice that we have deleted material which is usually found in annuals. He will also notice that we have included material which is not conventional. We have made these alterations in order to present what we believe is a clearer picture of college life. ' We hope that you will enioy this book, and that the hours spent with it will recall fond memories of your college. , 6

Page 14 text:

fl' 9 4 'A G, ,Y.. Q. A' t . i i'iT'Q2 2 , is 5 . Y ,f,f -' , .Q 'U i ' Q Q 4 5 A s o 5 1 A 2 ,ig 1 A 1 ' L 1 7 34 . K ' ed- ' ,,,' 'A - ciiffilliikitiiuilltgg , ,M '1 5 iyjifi M A 1 QW' V 3 pw In fi' . . ---- H ' :..:2'.,:tL'.5:1..f A' 1 A i 5 i ,,..,. . . .,k., w x ' Z l l - 21? ' '- 1 ' - a., , N 1 ' gy V, V 4 A 0 A ggi? , are s . 1 1 - .1 l . 8 'fiifr 'P A T, I gl X fl 1855 x X 1861 8 .U A Founded by the Associate, now the United Presbyterian Church. Char- tered 1852. One of the first two colleges in Pennsylvania to grant degrees to women, and the first to grant them the A. B. degree, in 1857. These few words on a signpost in the square of New Wilmington give the passer-by some knowledge of the tradi- tions and history that are Westminster's. Westminster was founded in 1852. The establishment of such a college was first discussed in 1851 by members of the Associate Church who lived in the Lawrence county area. ln January of 1852 the forming of a church school was discussed by members of both the Shenango and Ohio Presbyteries meet- ing in New Wilmington. ln April of that year the first session opened with women being admitted on an equal basis with men. In 1858 the Associate Church and the Associate Reformed Church ioined to form the United Presbyterian Church, under whose care the college was placed, making Westminster the first United Presbyterian college. Twenty students were enrolled in that first session, and classes were held in a small, two-story house. This tiny building housed two class rooms upstairs and an assembly room downstairs. To- day Westminster has more than a thous- and students, including a graduate de- partment in education, 20 buildings, and a centennial program aiming at further college expansion.