From the diary of the founder of Presbyterian College Sept. 22, 1878- May God Speed the work Monday afternoon, the 11th was a bright day in the annals of Clinton, inasmuch as it gave to this city the beginning of a college. Prof. Lee was directed to organize the first of his college classes, ... We propose to get up a regular college charter and to start with the intention of educating our young people to the best we can do. (W.P. Jacobs had also started an orphanage at that time) ... While we want a college good enough for anybody's children, it is especially for our own that our little college is set on foot. May God speed the work. > Learn More about PC History

"Surprise at our own audacity"

By Ben Hammet
- Taken from the "Spirit of PC" 1982

The Reconstruction period had ended just a few years earlier, and the South struggled to rise from its war-inflicted devastation. Among the small beginnings of that time, Presbyterian College also would struggle mightily to endure and finally to prevail.

This chronicle deals with the brave little start, the continuing adversity and the emergence of PC among the regions excellent centers of higher learning. It stands now, after more than 100 years, as a vital monument to strong faith in God and to those devoted individuals who have served it well.

The Rev. William Plumer Jacobs, pastor of the Clinton Presbyterian Church, stood at the heart of this endeavor-just as he produced so many other worthwhile things for Clinton. He was PCs founder and directing force as board chairman for the first 25 years.

A dreamer who worked his dream with tenacious energy, he combined prayer with practicality and a genius for advancing his cause.

Dr. Jacobs had led in organizing the Clinton High School Association in 1872 as part of the general movement in the South to build a new civilization after the impoverishing blows of Civil War defeat and Reconstruction. The Association renovated the old pre-war academy building on the northern edge of town. William States Lee, a College of Charleston graduate from Edisto Island, S. C., with more than 20 years experience as an educator, was hired as principal and teacher. This action made possible, at private expense, educational opportunities for Clinton young people until the state was able to take responsibility for public schools.

Out of this enterprise was born the Clinton College Association.

By the fall of 1880, W. S. Lees high scholastic standards had included in the school program some work of college-level quality. So the High School Association changed its name and started making plans for bigger things. Almost all of the Association members being Presbyterians, they transferred their stock to the session of the Clinton Church. The first mention of the college in the session minutes of this church read simply:

"October 11, 1880: The College of Clinton, to be under Presbyterian influence and control, was organized today."

Dr. Jacobs later wrote of this development: "It was with a little degree of surprise at our own audacity and of amusement on the part of the town people that we made an announcement of what we had done upon the streets. Nevertheless, it took well from that day till this."

Lee, as head of the school, now became president of Clinton College. Primary and preparatory (high school) departments were maintained, along with the new college department. By the time a charter was granted in 1882, the Rev. Z. L. Holmes had been added as an assistant to Lee and director of the preparatory work. Mrs. M. A. Lee headed the primary department, while Miss Pattie Thornwell taught music. The entire operation had 90 students: 45 in the college department and 45 in the other two areas.

Clinton College was coeducational right from the start. And whereas the founding purpose was to care for local sons and daughters. Dr. Jacobs anticipated a broader reach. He wrote in his diary:

"Professor Lee was encouraged to organize a College family and to take boarders, which he did. A number of young men were educated in his family, these being principally the sons of personal friends of his own." PC's first residential students.

Tuition was $25 per year for freshmen and sophomores and $30 for juniors and seniors. The few young men rooming and boarding as part of Lees "family" paid $100 in total cost for the entire ten-month year, while provisions could be made to reside with local residents for a complete cost of $144.

The scholastic year then extended from the first Monday in September to the first Friday in July - broken by a short recess at Christmas and a few days off in early - May.

The early degrees were A.B. for young men and "A.M.," which was explained as "Mistress of Arts," for girls - who might substitute French for Latin in securing it. The latter degree was soon discontinued, and all students became eligible for either A.B. or B.S. degrees. (For a few years, provision also was made for post-graduate work to secure an M.A.)

Another entry in the first catalogs emphasized:

The College is a Presbyterian institution, and according to the terms of its constitution, must remain so. This simple statement is guarantee that every effort will be made to promote a pure morality, a high standard of religious culture and a faithful study of Gods word among its students. Needless to add, that the promotion of hateful sectarianism is no part of its plans. Students of all denominations are welcomed and are encouraged to vie with one another in Christian courtesy.

This statement also explained that the primary and preparatory departments, appendages of the college, were not of a denominational character but rather operated in connection with the free-school system of the state. At first, limited public funds were available to supplement private gifts in underwriting the work of these departments, but soon this help was diverted to a regular public school.

The "Scheme of Studies" included Bible, English, French, geography, Greek, history, Latin, mathematics, philosophy and science. And the 1882 catalog, under the heading "Its Peculiarity," carried this statement:

Clinton College differs from all other colleges in the state in this, that while it is specially adapted in its course of studies to young men, yet young ladies are entered in the same classes and upon the same footing, except that in their case, the classical studies are optional. The preparatory department is also a mixed school, open to boys and girls alike. Many objections might be raised to this system, but as few villages can point to a finer set of youth of both sexes, than our own village of Clinton, all of whom were trained under this system, we are willing to leave the verdict to an unbiased public opinion.

Thus, Dr. Jacobs and his board emphasized their strong support of coeducation. As a matter of fact, women composed the entire graduating class of three at Clinton Colleges first commencement exercises in 1883. Besides the founders daughter, Florence Jacobs, these graduates were Rebecca S. Boozer and Jessie L. Copeland. Col. B. W. Ball of Laurensville delivered the first commencement address.

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