Bethel College (Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
Bethel College was a Baptist-affiliated college in Kentucky
founded in 1854 and closed in 1964. It was a women's college
throughout most of its history, though it became co-educational for its final years.
The institution opened as Bethel Female High School with two campuses: one in Russellville
and another in Hopkinsville
. The Russelville campus changed its name to Bethel Female College four years later in 1858, taking in students continuing with the program. The college changed its name again in 1917; the Russelville campus became Bethel Women's College, and the Hopkinsville campus Bethel Women's Jr. College. In 1951, the college became co-educational and changed its name to simply Bethel College. It closed in 1964, with the Hopkinsville campus razed in 1966.
A number of historical events have interacted with the college. During the Civil War
, the Russellville Convention, a meeting to set up a Confederate
government of Kentucky in 1861, met at Bethel Female College on its third day. The Hopkinsville campus was used as a hospital during a black measles epidemic from 1861-1862. Later, during World War II
, the Hopkinsville campus would be closed from 1942–1945 and the rooms rented to Camp Campbell army officers.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
founded in 1854 and closed in 1964. It was a women's college
Women's college
Women's colleges in higher education are undergraduate, bachelor's degree-granting institutions, often liberal arts colleges, whose student populations are composed exclusively or almost exclusively of women...
throughout most of its history, though it became co-educational for its final years.
The institution opened as Bethel Female High School with two campuses: one in Russellville
Russellville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile...
and another in Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :...
. The Russelville campus changed its name to Bethel Female College four years later in 1858, taking in students continuing with the program. The college changed its name again in 1917; the Russelville campus became Bethel Women's College, and the Hopkinsville campus Bethel Women's Jr. College. In 1951, the college became co-educational and changed its name to simply Bethel College. It closed in 1964, with the Hopkinsville campus razed in 1966.
A number of historical events have interacted with the college. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Russellville Convention, a meeting to set up a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
government of Kentucky in 1861, met at Bethel Female College on its third day. The Hopkinsville campus was used as a hospital during a black measles epidemic from 1861-1862. Later, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Hopkinsville campus would be closed from 1942–1945 and the rooms rented to Camp Campbell army officers.