Franklin College
Encyclopedia
Franklin College is a private liberal arts college in Franklin, Indiana
, located about 20 minutes south of Indianapolis
. Its enrollment of 1047 students enables individual attention and discussions with senior professors. Founded in 1834, it was the first college in Indiana and third college in the United States
to admit women (1842).
for biology study.
The school has a voluntary association with the Baptist Church.
, Phi Delta Theta
, Kappa Delta Rho
, Tau Kappa Epsilon
and Lambda Chi Alpha
are the fraternities who currently hold charters at Franklin College. The sororities are Zeta Tau Alpha
, Delta Delta Delta
and Pi Beta Phi
.
The college offers opportunities for international study, as well as hosting students from other nations.
.
During the 1920s, Franklin College gained national fame when a basketball team called the Franklin Wonder Five
, since winning three state high school championships in succession, became national college champions in 1923. The team turned down an offer to play the professional New York Celtics
. The fitness center was built in the 1920s specifically to accommodate the large crowds attracted to watch the team.
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
, located about 20 minutes south of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. Its enrollment of 1047 students enables individual attention and discussions with senior professors. Founded in 1834, it was the first college in Indiana and third college in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to admit women (1842).
Campus
Located in Franklin, Indiana, the college's 187 acre (0.75676282 km²) campus includes its athletic fields and a 31 acres (125,452.7 m²) woodlandWoodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
for biology study.
The school has a voluntary association with the Baptist Church.
Greek life
Franklin College is home to five fraternities and three sororities. Sigma Alpha EpsilonSigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South...
, Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
, Kappa Delta Rho
Kappa Delta Rho
Kappa Delta Rho is an American college social fraternity, with 77 chapters spread out over the United States, primarily in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions...
, Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
and Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
are the fraternities who currently hold charters at Franklin College. The sororities are Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, Delta Delta Delta
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Delta Delta , also known as Tri Delta, is an international sorority founded on November 27, 1888, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. With over 200,000 initiates, Tri Delta is one of the world's largest NPC sororities.-History:...
and Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
.
Academics
The school offers 36 major topics of study, including Journalism, Education, Art, Political Science, Theatre and Music. Courses include 35 minors.The college offers opportunities for international study, as well as hosting students from other nations.
Athletics
Known as the Grizzlies, Franklin's athletic teams participate in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic ConferenceHeartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio...
.
During the 1920s, Franklin College gained national fame when a basketball team called the Franklin Wonder Five
Franklin Wonder Five
The Franklin Wonder Five was a 1920s basketball team from Indiana's "Hoosier Hysteria" era. With basketball king in Indiana, the team from Franklin was dubbed the “Wonder Five”. This small town about 20 miles south of Indianapolis produced a team that captured the Indiana State Basketball...
, since winning three state high school championships in succession, became national college champions in 1923. The team turned down an offer to play the professional New York Celtics
Original Celtics
The Original Celtics were a barnstorming professional basketball team in the 1920s. There is no relation to the modern Boston Celtics. The Original Celtics are often credited with extending the reach of basketball across America and for establishing the importance of aggressive defensive play...
. The fitness center was built in the 1920s specifically to accommodate the large crowds attracted to watch the team.
Notable alumni
- Joseph F. BeamJoseph F. BeamJoseph F. Beam was an African-American gay rights activist and author who worked to foster greater acceptance of gay life in the black community by relating the gay experience with the struggle for civil rights in the United States.-Family:His father Sun Beam worked as a bank security guard in...
, noted African-American author - Joe BenignoJoe BenignoJoseph S. Benigno is an American sports radio personality. He co-hosts the 10am-1pm weekday show on WFAN in New York City.-Early Years:...
, sports radio personality - Roger D. BraniginRoger D. BraniginRoger Douglas Branigin was the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from January 11, 1965 to January 13, 1969...
, Governor of Indiana - Elmer DavisElmer DavisElmer Davis was a well-known news reporter, author, the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II and a Peabody Award recipient.-Education and early career:...
, New York Times editorial writer, CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
radio newscaster, director of the United States Office of War InformationUnited States Office of War InformationThe United States Office of War Information was a U.S. government agency created during World War II to consolidate government information services. It operated from June 1942 until September 1945...
, and Peabody AwardPeabody AwardThe George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
recipient - Jack EverlyJack EverlyJack Everly is an American conductor and music arranger who serves as Principal Pops Conductor with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and National Arts Centre Orchestra as well as Music Director for the Symphonic Pops Consortium.Born...
(Hon.), Pops conductor - Terry HoeppnerTerry HoeppnerTerry Hoeppner was an American college football coach who served as head coach of the Miami RedHawks from 1999 to 2004 and the Indiana Hoosiers from 2005 to 2006...
, head football coach at Indiana University and Miami University. - Marjorie MainMarjorie MainMarjorie Main was an American character actress, mainly at MGM, perhaps best known for her role as Ma Kettle in a series of ten Ma and Pa Kettle movies.-Early life and career:...
, actress - Edna ParkerEdna ParkerEdna Ruth Parker was an American supercentenarian and, until her death, was recognized as the oldest person in the world following the death of Yone Minagawa of Japan on August 13, 2007. She assumed the title at age 114 years 115 days...
, for a year the world's oldest person (since Aug 13, 2007) (1893-2008) - Fuzzy VandivierFuzzy VandivierRobert P. "Fuzzy" Vandivier was a well-known high school and collegiate basketball player during the 1920s...
, Hall of FameBasketball Hall of FameThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
basketball player. - Arch WestArch WestArchibald Clark "Arch" West was an American marketing executive credited with the development of Doritos, a brand of seasoned tortilla chips. The successful snack food was marketed as an alternative to the more traditional potato chips. Doritos are now Frito-Lay's second best-selling item, bested...
, marketing executive who developed DoritosDoritosDoritos is a brand of seasoned tortilla chips created by Arch West and produced since 1964 by the American food company Frito-Lay ....
. - Robert WiseRobert WiseRobert Earl Wise was an American sound effects editor, film editor, film producer and director...
, Academy AwardAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
-winning director and producer
Notable faculty
- John S. HoughamJohn S. HoughamJohn Scherer Hougham , was Purdue University’s first appointed professor, and acting President between the administrations of Abraham C. Shortridge and Emerson E...
, professor, President of the Board, abolitionist, developer of the solar compass.