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    Shepherd University
    Shepherd University
    Shepherd University
    Ebook206 pages1 hour

    Shepherd University

    By Dorothy E. Hively

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    Today, Shepherd University is recognized for its outstanding programs in liberal arts, business administration, computer and natural sciences, and professional studies. In 1871, the school opened its doors to 42 students who were guided under the leadership of its first principal, Joseph McMurran. The West Virginia Legislature passed an act in February 1872 to establish a branch of the state normal school for teacher training at Shepherd. Teacher education remained the cornerstone of Shepherd University for more than a century. This pictorial history presents how academics, athletics, and student life transformed over the decades to educate a diverse student body in more than 60 undergraduate programs and five graduate programs.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateJul 29, 2013
    ISBN9781439643730
    Shepherd University
    Author

    Dorothy E. Hively

    Dorothy E. Hively, EdD, is the director of disability support services and an associate professor of special education at Shepherd University. The images in this book are collected from alumni, the archives and special collections of the Dr. Ruth Scarborough Library, and the Office of University Communications of Shepherd University.

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      Book preview

      Shepherd University - Dorothy E. Hively

      University.

      INTRODUCTION

      In the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, citizens and politicians in the young state of West Virginia recognized the need for trained teachers throughout the state. In 1870, the Democrats gained control of the state legislature, and one of their first acts was to add three teacher-training schools to areas of the state previously ignored when the first teacher training schools were established. The new schools were located in the southern region of the state at Athens, the geographic center of the state at Glenville, and in the Eastern Panhandle at Shepherdstown; all three counties at the time were known to be primarily Democratic. In September 1871, under an agreement with Shepherd Brooks, a new, private institution named Shepherd College was established. Recognizing the challenges of maintaining a private institution as well as the need for trained teachers in the region, the trustees of Shepherd College offered the building to the state under the condition that a branch of the normal school be established at the college.

      The new college began with 42 students, principal Joseph A. McMurran, two professors, and one assistant. The male and female professors were paid equal salaries of $800 annually, and assistants were paid $400. The college reserved the right to reduce salaries by $200 if the student population was insufficient to support the salaries.

      The choice of Joseph McMurran as principal was significant for the success of the new college as he was well respected in the region. McMurran established and expanded the curriculum, instituted final exams at the close of each year, and introduced student activities for men and women. When financial struggles emerged, McMurran sought contributions from the community and solicited and received donations of books and minerals from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. He paid salaries from his own personal resources and maintained positive relations with the community and politicians of the day.

      D.D. Pendleton, who had been McMurran’s assistant principal, served as the second principal of the college for three years. He did not have the political favor that McMurran had enjoyed and was unable to implement his ideas for growth. The student population reduced to only 59 students. Pendleton retired at the request of the board of trustees and returned to full-time farming. T.J. Woofter served as the third principal from 1885 to 1887. He revised the curriculum and the catalog; however, he was unable to increase student enrollment and resigned to accept a position at a college in Georgia.

      Asa B. Bush was ambitious and increased student enrollment, added a new department, and implemented entrance exams for admission. Bush worked in collaboration with the community, led by Kate Reynolds, to raise funds for the college’s second building. The only accomplishment of the fifth principal, E. Wade Vale, was the negotiation for the purchase of the land east from Reynolds Hall to the Potomac River. Vale was the second choice for principal after the selected candidate chose not to come to Shepherd at the eleventh hour. The board of trustees chose not to renew Vale’s contract, and he became the chief administrator with the shortest term in Shepherd history, having served just nine months.

      Principal A.C. Kimler was an outstanding, well-respected leader who served as the sixth principal, from 1892 to 1901. He led the drive for a new instructional building for the college. The new, state-of-the-art building tragically burned to the ground in 1901. Immediately, classes were returned to the original college building, while plans began for the construction of a new facility. Kimler actively built and maintained relationships with educators throughout the region, expanded the curriculum, added student organizations and activities, and increased the number of students and faculty. Despite his success, Kimler fell victim to politics and left Shepherd to become the superintendent of schools in Ceredo County, West Virginia.

      Although school spirit increased and the new college building was near completion, the most tumultuous administration was that of seventh principal E.F. Goodwin, from 1901 to 1903. Based on the content of an anonymous letter, Goodwin requested the resignation of a popular female faculty member falsely accused of criminal activity. The Shepherdstown and college communities supported the faculty member, and Goodwin and his family left Shepherdstown in disgrace in the middle of the night on June 16, 1903.

      Principal John G. Knutti was selected as a replacement as the college needed to heal from the Goodwin incident. Knutti was a beloved faculty member who taught Latin and Greek and was in charge of the Corps of Cadets. He was educated at Fairmont Normal School and earned his master’s degree at Stanford University. Knutti led the move to the new college building, which would be later renamed in his honor. He improved teacher training and expanded the lecture series implemented by Principal Goodwin. During his tenure, student enrollment rose from 104 to 267 in 1909.

      The ninth principal, Thomas C. Miller, was an experienced educator who was known throughout West Virginia. He served as superintendent of schools in Fairmont, professor of education at West Virginia University, and state superintendent of schools. His career with public education in West Virginia helped him build positive relations with the eight county school districts of the Eastern Panhandle. Buildings and grounds increased, and significant changes were added to the curriculum. The art, manual training, and agriculture departments opened, and faculty members were added to support instruction in those programs. World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1919 caused loss of students and faculty during that time, but student affairs and organizations thrived during the Miller administration. Miller was the first college chief administrator to be granted the title of president.

      The 10th principal/president, Dr. W.H.S. White, had the longest tenure of all, from 1920 to 1947. White served as president during a time of tremendous growth at Shepherd that included the increase of student enrollment and faculty, building acquisition and creation, significant curricular revision, and survival during the Depression and World War II. The campus celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first graduating class in 1924. The Little House and Barn were built during the

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