Arthur Louis Breslich
Encyclopedia
Arthur Louis Breslich was a professor, university administrator, and a German Methodist theologian. He was President of German Wallace College
, Berea, Ohio
; and the first president of Baldwin-Wallace College
in Berea.
in 1891. He studied at German Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, where he earned his A.B. in 1898. He then moved to Wisconsin, where he entered the ministry of the German Methodist Church. Breslich earned his Ph. D in Hebrew and Hellenistic Greek from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1904, having been a fellow and later a professor of Greek at UW.
in 1906. In 1911, Breslich was offered the presidency of his alma mater, German Wallace College. He oversaw the merger of Baldwin University and German Wallace College in 1913, and subsequently became the first president of Baldwin-Wallace College.
Breslich left the Berea campus both shamed and bewildered by the events that led to his ouster. He moved back to Wisconsin, where he began work as executive secretary for the Biblical Alliance, an organization he co-founded with UW professor W.H. Williams. It was there that Breslich spent the remainder of his career, editing and contributing to biblical definitions in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
.
Breslich died in his home in Milwaukee in 1924 at the age of 51. He had three daughters. A small plaque was placed on Baldwin- Wallace's memorial wall honoring their first, and misunderstood president.
German Wallace College
German Wallace College was a German Methodist institution of higher education in Berea, Ohio. It was organized 7 June 1864. The Rev. Jakob Rothweiler of the Central German Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was appointed 3 June 1863 to inaugurate the movement to establish this...
, Berea, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
- History :The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by one Gideon Granger, a gentleman who served as Postmaster General under President Thomas Jefferson...
; and the first president of Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
in Berea.
Early life and education
Little is known about Arthur Breslich's childhood or late career. Breslich was born in Prussia in 1873. He emigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1891. He studied at German Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, where he earned his A.B. in 1898. He then moved to Wisconsin, where he entered the ministry of the German Methodist Church. Breslich earned his Ph. D in Hebrew and Hellenistic Greek from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1904, having been a fellow and later a professor of Greek at UW.
Career
After his time as a professor, Breslich entered the ministry again, as minister of the German Methodist Church of Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
in 1906. In 1911, Breslich was offered the presidency of his alma mater, German Wallace College. He oversaw the merger of Baldwin University and German Wallace College in 1913, and subsequently became the first president of Baldwin-Wallace College.
Tenure at Baldwin-Wallace College
Breslich enjoyed a relatively calm expansion of the new college, overseeing the construction of the Music Building (now Kulas Hall). He worked hard to establish a common campus out of the predominantly German Wallace south campus and the Baldwin University north campus. His wife brought many of the campus traditions and fight songs of the University of Wisconsin–Madison to the new campus, many of which lasted until the mid 20th century.Departure and return to academia
Breslich was the victim of an anti-German witch hunt in late 1917 due to his desire to have students sing Christmas carols in German. This led to a committee being formed to decide whether or not the president could be considered 'pro-German'. Although the results were that president Breslich was not 'pro-German' he was forced to resign due to heavy pressure placed upon the committee by both students and Berea citizens.Breslich left the Berea campus both shamed and bewildered by the events that led to his ouster. He moved back to Wisconsin, where he began work as executive secretary for the Biblical Alliance, an organization he co-founded with UW professor W.H. Williams. It was there that Breslich spent the remainder of his career, editing and contributing to biblical definitions in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia is a public domain Biblical encyclopedia. This encyclopedia was published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co...
.
Breslich died in his home in Milwaukee in 1924 at the age of 51. He had three daughters. A small plaque was placed on Baldwin- Wallace's memorial wall honoring their first, and misunderstood president.