Wilmington College - Wilmingtonian Yearbook (Wilmington, OH)

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THE WILMINGTONIAN Chapfer I. : THE HISTORY

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THE WILMINGTONIAN PART I. THE PAST 1870-1948

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HISTORY OF WILMINGTON COLLEGE By O. F. Boyd (Written February, 1949) So that students and friends of Wilmington College may know more about the background of the institution, this history is being written. The administration of each of the twelve presidents who have served the college is written separately, giving the important events and achieve- ments of each period. The writer has been privileged to work under eight of the twelve men who have headed the school, five of whom are now living. Wilmington College has had a period of steady growth since its be- ginning in 1870. Like some other privately endowed colleges, it has had many periods of stress but it has always been able to move forward through the efforts and sacrifices of interested friends. Throughout most of its existence, it has been a small liberal arts college. Only within the past three years has the enrollment numbered more than 400 regular students. “Non Saltu sed Multis Gradibus” The motto of the college, “Not by a leap but by many steps,” tells definitely the history and development of Wilmington College. In writ- ing this sketch, the author is deeply impressed and moved by the labors and sacrifices of those who have gone before and made it possible for us to have a Wilmington College. The united support of the faculty, stu- dents, and friends of the college is vitally needed to carry the college forward. The banner of the college is floating high and co-ordination of all available forces is needed to carry it to a higher plane. Franklin College A brief history of Franklin College is necessary to enable one to un- derstand how Wilmington College came into existence. Franklin College was founded in 1863 at New Albany in Athens County, Ohio, by the Gar- vin brothers, Thomas, James, and Hugh. As Ohio University was already a thriving school in that region, it was decided to move Franklin College to a more open territory. The Church of Christ was represented in Wil- mington and Clinton County by a strong group of Christian leaders. The Garvin brothers, after looking over the territory, decided to move the college to Wilmington in the fall of 1865. Classes were held in the county probate building at the corner of South and Main Streets and in the Christian Church located on the site of the present Nellie Moore Memorial. All of the Board of Trustees and the leaders who sponsored Franklin Col- lege are not known by the writer. It is known, however, that the follow- ing men from Wilmington were members of the first Board of Directors, viz: C. M. Bosworth, L. B. Welch, R. E. Doan, R. Wickersham and A. C. My fe