Leander Clark College
Encyclopedia
Leander Clark College, originally named Western College, was a college
in Iowa
. It operated from 1857 to 1919, when it was absorbed into Coe College
.
at a location north of Shueyville
in Linn County, Iowa
. It was named "Western" because it was the denomination's first college located west of the Mississippi River
.
In 1881 the college, which was facing financial difficulties, moved to Toledo, Iowa
, because of a pledge of $20,000 in financial support from that community's residents. Enrollment grew rapidly in Toledo, whose residents' religious values were more compatible with the college's values than had been the case in Linn County. Enrollment grew from 80 students when Western College started operations in Toledo, to 196 students by the end of that school year, and an eventual total of more than 400.
On December 26, 1889, the college experienced a major fire that destroyed much of its property, but the facilities were later rebuilt. The campus
eventually grew to occupy 16 acres (6.5 ha) in Toledo.
In 1906 Western College changed its name to Leander Clark College in honor of local benefactor Major Leander Clark
, a United Brethren member who donated $50,000. The college had made an announcement in 1902 promising to change its name in honor of anyone who would donate $50,000 to start an endowment fund to help the school resolve its financial troubles. In 1903, Clark responded to this announcement with a promise to donate that amount if the college could raise an additional $100,000 for its permanent endowment before January 1, 1906. The college met Clark's challenge in 1905, largely because of a $50,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie
. In spite of that assistance, the college went bankrupt and merged with Coe College in 1919, bringing a $200,000 endowment
to the merger along with its faculty and students. The Leander Clark campus became a state juvenile home
.
After the merger, an heir
of Leander Clark filed a lawsuit
asking for return of the funds that Clark had provided to the college. The lawsuit asserted that the college had agreed to operate as an educational institution named for Leander Clark, and that it breached its contract
with Clark when it ceased to exist under his name, In 1922, the Supreme Court of Iowa
decided the case in favor of the college, finding that the primary purpose of Clark's gift was not to perpetuate his name, but to support education.
al from its founding. In 1910 Leander Clark College officials told a researcher that the college had enrolled "a number of" African American
students, but none had ever graduated.
, baseball
, and basketball
teams. The football team had overall records of 2-6 against Grinnell College
and 0-3 against Cornell College
.
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. It operated from 1857 to 1919, when it was absorbed into Coe College
Coe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
.
History
Western College was established in 1857 by the United Brethren in ChristChurch of the United Brethren in Christ
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Huntington, Indiana. It is a Protestant denomination of episcopal structure, Arminian theology, with roots in the Mennonite and German Reformed communities of 18th century Pennsylvania, as well as close...
at a location north of Shueyville
Shueyville, Iowa
Shueyville is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 250 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Shueyville is located at ....
in Linn County, Iowa
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. It was named "Western" because it was the denomination's first college located west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
In 1881 the college, which was facing financial difficulties, moved to Toledo, Iowa
Toledo, Iowa
Toledo is a city in and the county seat of Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,539 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Toledo is located at ....
, because of a pledge of $20,000 in financial support from that community's residents. Enrollment grew rapidly in Toledo, whose residents' religious values were more compatible with the college's values than had been the case in Linn County. Enrollment grew from 80 students when Western College started operations in Toledo, to 196 students by the end of that school year, and an eventual total of more than 400.
On December 26, 1889, the college experienced a major fire that destroyed much of its property, but the facilities were later rebuilt. The campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
eventually grew to occupy 16 acres (6.5 ha) in Toledo.
In 1906 Western College changed its name to Leander Clark College in honor of local benefactor Major Leander Clark
Leander Clark
Leander Clark was an American businessman, Iowa state legislator, Union Army officer during the Civil War, and Indian agent who was the namesake for Leander Clark College....
, a United Brethren member who donated $50,000. The college had made an announcement in 1902 promising to change its name in honor of anyone who would donate $50,000 to start an endowment fund to help the school resolve its financial troubles. In 1903, Clark responded to this announcement with a promise to donate that amount if the college could raise an additional $100,000 for its permanent endowment before January 1, 1906. The college met Clark's challenge in 1905, largely because of a $50,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
. In spite of that assistance, the college went bankrupt and merged with Coe College in 1919, bringing a $200,000 endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
to the merger along with its faculty and students. The Leander Clark campus became a state juvenile home
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
.
After the merger, an heir
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
of Leander Clark filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
asking for return of the funds that Clark had provided to the college. The lawsuit asserted that the college had agreed to operate as an educational institution named for Leander Clark, and that it breached its contract
Breach of contract
Breach of contract is a legal cause of action in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party's performance....
with Clark when it ceased to exist under his name, In 1922, the Supreme Court of Iowa
Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....
decided the case in favor of the college, finding that the primary purpose of Clark's gift was not to perpetuate his name, but to support education.
Student body
Western College was coeducationCoeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al from its founding. In 1910 Leander Clark College officials told a researcher that the college had enrolled "a number of" African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
students, but none had ever graduated.
Athletics
Leander Clark College fielded intercollegiate footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams. The football team had overall records of 2-6 against Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
and 0-3 against Cornell College
Cornell College
Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Originally called the Iowa Conference Seminary, the school was founded in 1853 by Reverend Samuel M. Fellows...
.
Notable alumni
- John Ward StudebakerJohn Ward StudebakerJohn Ward Studebaker served as U.S. Commissioner of Education from 1934 to 1948. He was also Chairman of the U.S. Radio Education Committee. His was the longest tenure of any education commissioner, and he devoted much of his time to children's literacy and arithmetic.Studebaker was born in Iowa...
, U.S. Commissioner of EducationCommissioner of EducationThe Commissioner of Education was the title given to the head of the National Bureau of Education, a former unit within the Department of the Interior in the United States...
from 1934 to 1948
Further reading
- Henry W. Ward (1911), Western, Leander-Clark College, 1856-1911, Otterbein Press, Dayton, Ohio.