Antebellum Colleges

Emergent Nation Era

1790 1869

US Population 3.9 M 38 M

Students in HE 1,050 61,000

HE Faculty 141 5,450

Number of Colleges 11 240

Average Enrollment/College 95 240

Number of degrees Conferred

240 9,200

Nation has three regionsNorth: Urban; early industrialization; manufacturing; trade; political influence; wealthSouth: Agrarian; export cotton/tobacco; anti-intellectual; little social mobility; wealth tied to slaves and land (25% owned slaves, less than 10% owned 20, minimum needed to run plantation) Approx 2.5% of population controls region.West: W of Mississippi River--generally opposed to slavery; ties were to north for trade

Antebellum Colleges

England: 23 million population, 4 colleges Ohio: 3 million population, 37 colleges Female Seminaries increasing Not “true colleges”-very low admissions standards, little preparatory training Education of Blacks 1st degree 1826, 27 before Civil War Avery College (PA) – first HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) Miner Academy (DC)-1851 1856 - Wilberforce (OH): oldest private Black University in U.S 1854 – Lincoln (PA): Langston Hughes and Thurgood Marshall alumni

During the first one hundred years of its existence, Lincoln graduated 20% percent of Black physicians and more than 10 % of Black attorneys in the US

Antebellum Colleges

Blacks at University of Virginia 1821-University hires 32 slaves to level campus land, slave owners paid $60 per

slave per year 1828 faculty senate “resolved that the President be informed that the faculty

disapproves of free Negroes being located w/in the university.” 1832 University purchases a slave, Lewis Commodore, for $580 to be a janitor 1842: Faculty senate approves 13 duties for student owned slaves: bring water,

clean rooms, shine shoes, provide firewood, etc. 1955 Blacks permitted to enroll (Wow, this was after my folks were born, not that

long ago) 1959: Robert Bland first to graduate –Currently Dept. Manager for Missiles and

Launching Systems for the Navy in CA 2007 Bill before VA legislature to apologize for slavery

Antebellum Colleges

Jacksonian democrats Call for expansion of Higher Ed, excluding women, Blacks, Native Americans,

and other minorities. Opposition to Education for all: Raleigh NC newspaper editorial (1829) – “…

children should pass their days in the cotton patch, or at the plow, or in the cornfield, instead of being mewed up in a school house, where they learn nothing…I hope you do not conceive of it at necessary that everyone should be able to read, write and cipher…”

Beginning of the growth of wealth for some and the American myth of the self made man; education not necessary

Wealth resulted in symbol of achievement and distrust of privilege and social inequity

Antebellum Colleges

Literary Societies Societies-challenged the curriculum

in educational importance Capstone Moral Philosophy-

Amherst “Character is of more consequence than intellect”

Students formed literary societies to change the moral philosophy

Invite speakers, produce journals, deal w/controversial topics

Yale (1753)-literary club: spread ideas, debates, competitions, discuss relevant topics

Princeton – “Ought freedom of thought be granted to all men?”

Fraternities/Secret Organizations Intent-bring together small groups to

fill gaps from removal of family and home community

Beginnings in 1820s Union-Kappa Alpha (1825) 1840- Spread throughout New

England and then into Ohio and Michigan

High level of loyalty created Led to the decline of literary

societies Built better library collections,

expanded sciences, improve course offerings

Escape dreary days of college-smoking, drinking, etc.

Antebellum Colleges

Athletics 1787 – Princeton forbade students to play hockey on the grounds that it is “…

unbecoming of gentleman and scholars, and is attended with great danger to the health.”

1820 – Rensselaer official position regarding athletics “such exercise as running, jumping, climbing, scuffling, and the like are calculated to detract from the dignity of deportment which becomes a man of science.”

1826-Outdoor gymnasium movement from Europe arrived at Harvard 1852 – 1st intercollegiate competition held b/w Harvard and Yale: boating 1859 – Amherst and Williams played the first intercollegiate baseball game

Beginning of student culturesCampus life was tough/violent

Collegians: Sports/frats/”Hail fellow, well met”; cheating common; studied only to stay in school

Outsiders: Ministers to be; supported faculty while collegians fought faculty

Rebels: Interests in politics; literary society members

Antebellum Colleges

Student Life/Discipline

Elaborate codification of rules and regulations/ Why? 1865 Harvard – 8 pages of fine print; prohibited from leaving campus w/o

permission on Sunday, rooms subject to faculty inspection at any time-even off campus!!! WTH (What the he*l) In loco parentis

Yale – loyalty oath, active disbelief in the bible was a campus crime\ Union 1802- 11 chapters in rule book; prohibited behaviors included: swearing,

drunkenness, striking instructors, card playing Princeton 1885: “That should any students continue to have their washing done

in town as heretofore, it must be done under the supervision of the college office.”

Faculty carried the responsibility of overseeing discipline- a job/chore that was often not enforced due to their hesitation with enforcement.

Antebellum Colleges

Faculty Students an important element in the power structure of the institution Early faculty were clergy Faculty taught a single subject, tutors taught entry level subjects in which the

college did not have professors Harvard was in existence for 85 years before first full time faculty member; Yale-

50 years; Princeton-20 years Union College (1795-1884): 130 faculty members, 55 clergy Princeton (1868): 7 of 10 clergy Changing times and changing status of faculty/teacher/clergy Salary: 1805-Dartmouth $600, 1865-Denison $600

Antebellum Colleges

Presidents Only mature learned man available to represent college Seldom leave Campus Tradition of strong presidents-change from England Included house, may have shared it w/students Serve as a local minister, perhaps a farmer Role as educator-taught moral philosophy as senior capstone Compensation-contracted but usually not paid

Columbia-$1,000 in 1787, $3000 in 1857

Rutgers $1,700 in 1810 (amount voted to pay but actually paid $771.86 over 2 years)

Harvard $2,235 in 1840

Antebellum Colleges

Presidents Cont. University of TN 1835 job description for president

1. “…general superintendence of the interests and reputation of the University, which he is bound to promote and maintain by every exertion of his power. 2. He is, ex officio, President of the Board of Trustees and of the faculty when present w/them and also the administrator of their decisions in cases of discipline 3. He has a right to be present at the recitation of any class in the institution 4. He will take such branches of instruction into his own hands as he may judge necessary and expedient 5. All religious exercises and studies of the university are committed to his direction, and 6. He is to preside at examinations and commencements and confer all degrees.”

Eleazar Wheelock @ Dartmouth – assisted in building college buildings, including his home, cleared 70 acres of land, planted corn and wheat, governed college, taught courses, preached on Sundays and prayed for a new job!!

1868Martin, president University of Rochester:No class passes through my hands which does not contain more or less young men who are on the eve of ruin from wayward natures, bad habits, or hereditary tendencies of evil. These men must be watched, borne with, and if possible, saved to the world and their families…This work must be done by the president. Those private and confidential reproofs, suggestions, and admonitions which do so much to form manners and character, must be attended to by the president”

Stevens at Amherst: We have no faith in the capabilities of mere intellectual training….character is of more consequence than intellect.

Antebellum Colleges

Governing Boards Trustees drawn from the privileged class Boards delegated much authority to the President and educational matters were

left to the faculty but b/c the board retained control over budget, priorities, and planning

Wayland @ Brown: “How can colleges prosper directed by men, very good men to be sure, but who know about every other thing except about education. The man who first devised the present mode of governing colleges in this country has done us more injury than Benedict Arnold.”

Clergy beginning to leave; Harvard bylaw requiring clergy on Board repealed 1851

Antebellum Colleges

Financing the Colleges Harvard and Yale: Early support from benefactors 1795- Rhode Island College becomes Brown for $5,000.00 America had more corn than cash – so colleges often got produce

instead of money State Aid

1814-1823: Harvard receives $10,000 per year1893-1921 NH give Dartmouth $200,000

Wayland at Brown: We cannot induce mean to pursue college unless we offer it below cost or give it away.

Perpetual scholarships: sell a tuition scholarship a reduced rate in advance

Save money on faculty salaries: Martyrdom on the alter of Christian learning….$600.00 U of GA, 1815; Hanover $335.00 1855