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McPherson College was chartered in 1887 by the leaders of the Church of the Brethren. The college provides a career-oriented liberal arts education. It is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.

History[link]

During their 1887 Annual Meeting, Church of the Brethren leaders recognized the need for a college west of the Mississippi River to serve the educational needs of families moving westward. These leaders decided to investigate potential sites. In August 1887 McPherson, Kansas, in McPherson County was chosen and McPherson College and Institute was founded.

The first academic semester opened on September 5, 1888, with 60 students and a faculty of seven. The Dormitory, a single building which served as residence hall, college, and library had been constructed before the semester began. By the end of the first school year nearly 200 students had enrolled and the foundation had been laid for the main building. In 1898, Sharp Hall was completed, though it had been used for school purposes for some time while still incomplete. On February 12, 1898, the school was officially christened "McPherson College."

A Carnegie Library was added to the campus in 1906, supported by an endowment. In 1909, the college purchased a 150-acre (0.61 km²) farm for the agricultural department. At this time other academic departments included education, fine arts, Bible, and business, as well as pre-medical and pre-engineering courses. Bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees were conferred on students who completed the classical or the scientific collegiate course of study, respectively. Other buildings added in the early years included the Alumni Gymnasium (1911); Arnold Hall (1915); Kline Hall (1919); and Harnly Hall (1922). In 1938 the old Alumni Gymnasium was torn down and replaced by the new Gymnasium.

One clause from the Corporation Charter for McPherson College states, It is the purpose of this Corporation to do any and all things necessary and expedient to be done for the advancement of higher Christian education. To fulfill this purpose, McPherson College applied for accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and in 1921 it was one of the first colleges in Kansas to receive it.

In 1926, J Willard Hershey synthesized one of the world's earliest synthetic (man-made) diamonds on the McPherson College campus.^[2][3] Nevertheless, Hershey's experiments lacked outside verification, and some academics have questioned the veracity of his claims.^[4] Hershey's microscopic diamond is on display at the McPherson Museum in McPherson, Kansas.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, McPherson College underwent financial difficulties. The college president, Vernon F. Schwalm, provided the leadership to maintain all the academic majors and preserve the faculty intact.

In 1962, McPherson College became a charter member of Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA).

In 1976, local entrepreneur Gaines H. “Smokey” Billue, provided funds for the construction of Templeton Hall along with additional operating capital through the donation of a portion of his classic and antique car collection. This donation provided the spark to launch the Automotive Restoration Technology program at McPherson College. The Tonight Show host Jay Leno has been a financial supporter of the Automotive Restoration Technology program since 1997 and a member of the program's National Advisory Board since 1998.

By the fall of 2010, McPherson College had the highest student fall enrollment in over 40 years.^[5]

McPherson College Today[link]

McPherson College operates on a 4-1-4 (four month semester- January Session- four month semester) academic calendar. The present campus has sixteen major buildings on twenty-three acres of land.

Nearly four out of five of the faculty hold terminal degrees and nearly half hold university conferred doctorates. The remainder hold non-terminal degrees. McPherson College has a 17/1 student-faculty ratio.

Major fields of academic study[link]

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees are offered in 18 majors.^[6]

Athletics[link]

For more information see McPherson College Bulldogs

Athletic team colors are red and white, with black being used as a complementary color in logos and uniforms. They participate in the NAIA and in the KCAC Conference. Sports include football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, cross country, track & field, soccer, softball, tennis, and cheerleading.

McPherson College Presidents[link]

McPherson College has been led by thirteen presidents and four interim presidents.

Notable alumni[link]

• Jonathan Coachman - former World Wrestling Entertainment and current ESPN personality
• Duane Earl Pope -- convicted bank robber and murderer. Briefly on the FBI 10 Most Wanted List

References[link]

• Craik, E. L. History of the Church of the Brethren in Kansas. McPherson, KS: E. L. Craik, 1922.

• Mines, Cynthia. McPherson College: The First Century. McPherson, KS: McPherson College, 1987.

• McPherson College 2006-07 College Catalog.

External links[link]

• McPherson College official web site
• New York Times on Automobile Restoration at McPherson College

This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Discussion about the problems with the sole source used may be found on the talk page. (April 2008)

Aaron Andre Frazier is an American actor who is best known for playing Old Weird Harold in Fat Albert.

External links[link]

• Aaron Frazier at the Internet Movie Database

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