University Presidents

The President is the chief administrator of Ohio Wesleyan University ^[1]. Ex officio the chairman of the Board of Trustees, he is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him the day-to-day running of the university ^[1]. Since Wesleyan's beginning, just 15 men have held the title of Ohio Wesleyan University president, while a few have served as interim president. Those who have held the office include lawyers, literary scholars, politicians, businessmen and clergymen.

The famous Dartmouth College case ^[2] had opened a wide range of freedom for the establishment of private or denominational schools, and the charter was issued by special legislative act. Just like many other institutions of higher learning, especially so in Ohio ^[3], Wesleyan was originally founded for the training of protestant clergy ^[4], and even though its mission was soon broadened, nearly all presidents through the end of the 19th century were in holy orders. Despite the inception idea prospective ministers were in a decided minority among the school's graduates even in its early days ^[5]. Only three of the past presidents are actually graduates of the college.

During the period of the school's origins accounts on the school's first president Edward Thomson focus on flowing eloquence, interest in literature and philosophy. He helped to give the campus a certain abolitionist tinge of reform, as was the case with Oberlin, along these lines by stating that the school would not obey the fugitive slave law and would be willing to suffer the extreme penalty in case of need ^[6].

Under Frederick Merrick's presidency ( 1860- 1873), the school focused as much on curriculum expansion as it did on money-raising. Less teacher than some of the others, Merrick's zeal significantly increased the schools coffers, but disappointment followed at the failure of his attempt to abolish fraternities in 1870- 1872 and anxiety during the years of the construction of Merrick Hall ^[7]. During Charles Payne's presidency ( 1876- 1888), enrollment in the college increased three times and music education experienced a decided renaissance ^[8]. Payne was a 1956 graduate of Wesleyan University and, while no major buildings were built during his time, his fame was strongly related to his reputation of being a disciplinarian ^[9].

The Payne age of transition, was followed by Bashford's era of transformation during 1889- 1904. The need of new departments and the value of specialized instruction were recognized. Bashford's aim was to improve the plant and offerings of the college; to make the schools curriculum and buildings on par with its new academic position ^[10]. The building history during that period included Monnett extensions, University Hall and Slocum Library. Athletics and physical education facilities were established and a start was made for a new gymnasium ^[11]. Development during the Bashford years meant establishments of departments for natural science ( physics, zoology, geology), and new departments of speech, history, French, English and economics ^[12]. The new ideal of specialization brought an emphasis on professional preparation on the Doctor of Philosophy degree and on travel and study in Europe. Three professional schools were established during his presidency (of Law, of Medicine and of Theology) and the Doric Front was demolished ^[13].

During the 1920s, under Herbert George Welch's and John W. Hoffman's presidencies chapel service was dropped, sororities came in ^[14]. Edgar Hall came into use and Selby Stadium was built; Austin Manor and Perkins Observatory was constructed and Stuyvesant Hall was planned ^[15].

The 1930s were marked by an echo effect of The Great Depression years: even before 1929 there had been a shrinkage of enrollment, alumni giving decreased, faculty size remained the same resulting in the Soper ( 1928- 1938) and Burgstahler's ( 1939- 1947) administration battling mainly financial problems of survival ^[16].