The Duke University in Durham is one of the oldest universities in the world. In this article we will review a brief history of the institution, why it is so famous and some important happenings. So, without any further ado, let’s begin!
The Seeds
It all started in 1838 when Methodist and Quaker families called Brantley York to play a role as a permanent teacher in their rural Randolph County subscription school. York brought a long-awaited revolution, under his leadership, this Brown’s School became a Union Institute. Lately, Quaker support routed towards its own school which was located in Guilford County.
Braxton Craven who was York’s successor in 1842 reached the state for further assistance to Quaker.
Who would have known that Braxton would win the North Carolina legislature to recharter the Academy as Normal College in 1851 and granting degrees in 1853?
Parting of ways
To keep the State’s public school system up and running, a licensed preacher showed up to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Later in 1859, the college was named Trinity College and trustees agreed on providing free education to Methodist preachers. College’s enrollment increased and it started to attract students from out of the state. Furthermore, Trinity College also survived the Civil War and Reconstruction.
The era of change
Craven died in 1882 but Trinity College survived under the Presidentship of Marquis L. Wood. It was all smooth until 1887 when Northern-born, Yale-trained President John F. Crowell took over the president seat. He brought the German university model plan that prioritizes research over recitation, Crowell took a major step in revising the curriculum. Furthermore, Crowell persuaded trustees that the college’s future is dependent on the urban setting to bring in more students, financial support, and faculty.
Expansion of Trinity College
In 1892, after spiritual competitions among cities, Trinity College opened in Durham. The main reason behind this was Washington Duke’s and Julian S. Carr’s generosity. They were a respected Methodists model in the tobacco industry.
Duke family’s interest built up in Trinity College when John C. Kilgo who was a Methodist preacher became president in 1894. Washington Duke offered three gifts of $100,000 each for endowment, one of which admitting women “on equal footing with men”.
Further Development
Great support from the Dukes enabled young graduates from new schools to get recruited that further developed the Trinity College into one of the leading liberal arts colleges in South. Furthermore, the college became a founding member of the Association of Colleges and Preparatory Schools of the Southern States.
University Plans
Although the plans for a university around Trinity College were roaming around since Crowell’s presidency, William P. Few brought the change.
William shared his dreams with James B. Duke who was the richest person of the Duke family. In December 1924, James established the Duke Endowment, a $40 million trust fund to built hospitals, three colleges and university around the Trinity College. $19 million was allocated to rebuild the old campus and create a new one. President William urges to name the school Duke University as Trinity College wasn’t a unique label. James agreed on this as it would be a memorable to his father and family.
Getting To Duke Universite
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