Early history of Presbyterian College
May 2008
Archivists are always doing research and organizing our various collections, and we often discover interesting things along the way. We also, like most researchers, frequently discover interesting facts while actually looking for something entirely different. Hopefully, this little blog, which I plan to update at least once a month, will enable me to share some of this information with others of you who are interested in Presbyterian College and its history.
William Plumer Jacobs, c. 1864
So, where to begin? Perhaps the best place to start is at the beginning, with PC’s early history. The college, founded in 1880 as Clinton College, was a result of the work of Rev. William Plumer Jacobs, then the pastor of the Clinton Presbyterian Church. The first classes were held in a white frame building located near the center of town. The only existing photograph shows it in later years when a porch had been added.
Original Academy Building located near present day Clinton Post Office
The first college catalog includes an interesting description of the town:
Both men and women students were accepted at PC, although the female students were not permitted to live on campus, and were either local or made arrangements to board with local families. Although the college was largely governed by the session of the Presbyterian church, it was non-sectarian. According to the catalog, “its teachings shall be such as to build up pure religion, and to attract students of all denominations. Hence while avoiding the so-called ‘Liberalism’ of Modern Philosophy, yet this Institution shall not be exclusive or illiberal in its Christianity.”
Tuition was much less in 1880 than it is today, but it must have seemed high at the time since the catalog takes great pains to justify it.
Like many schools of the period, Clinton College also had a Preparatory Department for the education of younger students. The Preparatory Department existed until the 1920s, and many students received their entire education from Clinton College.
The college’s first class graduated in 1883. Among the three members of its graduating class was Florence Lee Jacobs, who was the eldest of William Plumer Jacobs’ five children.
If anyone has a question, or a suggestion for a future entry, please don’t hesitate to contact us in the Archives.
Nancy Griffith
Archives & Special Collections Librarian