Erskine College History

Erskine College was founded by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1839. Prior to this
time the church had established in Due West, S.C., an academy for men in 1835. This academy became Erskine College, the first four-year church-related college in South Carolina.

By the time of the Civil War, Erskine had become one of the thriving colleges of the region with
more than 100 students enrolled. Following the war, loyal supporters rebuilt the endowment wiped
out by the conflict. They also financed construction of the Erskine Building and established Chairs in
Chemistry and English Literature under widely respected professors.

These professors helped Erskine establish a reputation for academic excellence as the college
moved from the classical to liberal arts curriculum.

Also enhancing this reputation were the Erskine literary societies, as old as the college, which
trained championship debaters and supplemented speech and literary training. The large auditorium
constructed in 1892 brought renowned speakers to Erskine and continued Erskine’s role as a cultural
and educational center of the South Carolina Piedmont.

Erskine also played a greater role in the education of women, admitting women first in 1894 and
becoming officially coeducational in 1899. Due West Female College, founded in 1859 by Associate
Reformed Presbyterian ministers and laymen, came under the control of the ARP Church in 1904 and
merged with Erskine College in 1927.

The planned merger had paved the way for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges
in 1925, and the combined institution continued to provide a quality education and produce
distinguished graduates over the next three decades, despite the setbacks of the Great Depression,
World War II, and the dearth of students entering higher education in the early 1950s.

Successful capital gifts campaigns beginning in 1954, 1963, 1974 and 1992 increased Erskine’s endowment to more than $40 million and provided more than $15 million in physical plant
improvements over four decades.

A new capital campaign, the Gold Campaign, was launched in 2001 and completed in December
2006. The largest capital fund-raising campaign in Erskine’s history met and surpassed its $36.8
million goal, raising more than $40 million.

Among a number of emphases in the Gold Campaign were the funding of endowed scholarships
and professorships and the renovation and expansion of Memorial Hall, including the addition of a
mathematics facility. Construction is under way at Memorial Hall, and is expected to be completed
early in 2008.

Erskine College Presidents

E. E. Pressly, D.D.	1839-1847
R. C. Grier, D.D.	1847-1859
E. L. Patton, D.D., LL.D.	1859-1861
R. C. Grier, D.D.	1865-1871
W. M. Grier, D.D., LL.D.	1871-1899
F. Y. Pressly, D.D.	1899-1907
J. S. Moffatt, D.D.	1907-1921
R. C. Grier, D.D., LL.D.,L.H.D.	1921-1954
J. M. Lesesne, Ph.D., LL.D., Litt.D., L.H.D.	1954-1966
Joseph Wightman, Ph.D.	1966-1973
M. Stanyarne Bell, M.Div.	1973-1981
William Bruce Ezell, Jr., Ph.D., D.Litt.	1981-1989
James W. Strobel, Ph.D.	1990-1998
John L. Carson, Ph.D.	1998-2005
Randall T. Ruble, Ph.D.	2006-present