William Oxley Thompson
Encyclopedia
William Oxley Thompson, D.D. (November 5, 1855 – December 9, 1933), born in Cambridge, Ohio
, was the fifth President of The Ohio State University
. Thompson was educated at Muskingum College
and Western Theological Seminary
. An ordained minister, Thompson spent the first half of his career in Presbyterian ministry. Upon his first wife's death in 1886 he turned to higher education and became the first president of the Longmont Presbyterian College founded by the Presbyterian Synod of Colorado. He was appointed president of Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
in 1891 and served until 1899 when he resigned to become president of Ohio State.
His extensive service at Ohio State University (26 years) is honored with a larger-than-life bronze statue of President Thompson in academic dress
, positioned in front of the eponymous William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library
on "The Oval" (the central green space on the Ohio State University campus). He is known for being involved in students education and social lives, presiding over the Ohio State win over Oxford University on October 10, 1924 in intercollegiate debate. Thompson's tenure at Ohio State was marked by two seminal events. The first occurred in 1906 with the passage by the Ohio Legislature of the Eagleson Bill, which formalized and legally locked in Ohio State's flagship role in the state's public system of higher education. The Eagleson law mandated that only Ohio State, among Ohio's public universities, would be allowed to offer doctoral education or conduct basic research. The second event, and the culmination of both the raison d'être for Ohio State's founding in 1870 and the aim of the Eagleson Bill in 1906, occurred in 1916 with Ohio State's election into the Association of American Universities
.
| last = Pollard
| first = James
| title = William Oxley Thompson, Evangel of Education
| publisher = Ohio State University Press
| year = 1955
| location = Columbus, Ohio
| oclc = 758810}}
Cambridge, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,520 people, 4,924 households, and 2,954 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,055.1 people per square mile . There were 5,585 housing units of an average density of 996.3 per square mile...
, was the fifth President of The Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Thompson was educated at Muskingum College
Muskingum College
Muskingum University is a private four-year comprehensive college with a strong liberal arts tradition located in New Concord, Ohio, approximately sixty miles east of the state capital of Columbus. Founded in 1837, Muskingum University is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church , although since the...
and Western Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, founded in 1794, is a graduate theological institution associated with the Presbyterian Church USA. It is located in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and houses one of the largest theological libraries in the nation...
. An ordained minister, Thompson spent the first half of his career in Presbyterian ministry. Upon his first wife's death in 1886 he turned to higher education and became the first president of the Longmont Presbyterian College founded by the Presbyterian Synod of Colorado. He was appointed president of Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
in 1891 and served until 1899 when he resigned to become president of Ohio State.
His extensive service at Ohio State University (26 years) is honored with a larger-than-life bronze statue of President Thompson in academic dress
Academic dress
Academic dress or academical dress is a traditional form of clothing for academic settings, primarily tertiary education, worn mainly by those that have been admitted to a university degree or hold a status that entitles them to assume them...
, positioned in front of the eponymous William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library
William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library
The William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library is the main library at Ohio State University's Columbus campus. The library was closed for renovation in July 2006, but it reopened its doors to students and patrons on August 3, 2009 after an extensive, multi-year renovation project...
on "The Oval" (the central green space on the Ohio State University campus). He is known for being involved in students education and social lives, presiding over the Ohio State win over Oxford University on October 10, 1924 in intercollegiate debate. Thompson's tenure at Ohio State was marked by two seminal events. The first occurred in 1906 with the passage by the Ohio Legislature of the Eagleson Bill, which formalized and legally locked in Ohio State's flagship role in the state's public system of higher education. The Eagleson law mandated that only Ohio State, among Ohio's public universities, would be allowed to offer doctoral education or conduct basic research. The second event, and the culmination of both the raison d'être for Ohio State's founding in 1870 and the aim of the Eagleson Bill in 1906, occurred in 1916 with Ohio State's election into the Association of American Universities
Association of American Universities
The Association of American Universities is an organization of leading research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education...
.
Further reading
- Bio from Muskingum College
- Bio with photo from Ohio History Central
- Past Presidents of The Ohio State University
- Proceedings of Thompson's Inauguration as president of Miami University
- William Oxley Thompson Library renovation
| last = Pollard
| first = James
| title = William Oxley Thompson, Evangel of Education
| publisher = Ohio State University Press
| year = 1955
| location = Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
| oclc = 758810}}