Campbell College (Kansas)

Campbell College was a college in Holton, Kansas, United States named after Allen Green Campbell. It opened in 1882 and closed in 1933.

Location

Campbell College was situated in the northern part of the town of Holton, Jackson County, Kansas in northeast Kansas.

Local poet, author, journalist, librarian, and suffragist, Elizabeth Barr Arthur described the area in her 1907 publication "Business Directory and History of Jackson County" as situated "on an eminence commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. It has a beautiful campus, across the street from which is the dormitory."

Founding

Local community members became interested in "establishing an institution of higher education" and coordinated a community meeting in 1879 to evaluate the feasibility of such a venture. They elected a committee to explore funding sources and to reach out to potential benefactors.

The committee reached out to Allen Green Campbell, a wealthy Utah mine owner and a former Jackson County, Kansas, resident who was one of the earliest settlers there. Campbell agreed to match up to $20,000 and $10,000 was raised locally by generous community members.

Campbell also contributed an additional $1,100 for the purchase of eleven acres for the campus and in 1880 construction began on "a fine stone building."

The original name for the institution was Campbell Normal University and later Campbell University.

Opening

Once the construction of the main building was complete, Professor and future president of Campbell College, J. H. Miller, leased the structure and classes began in September of either 1880 or 1882.

The school began with a small staff of six teachers and thirty students. According to Barr's history, the school "was conducted as a high-class normal college, with four courses of study: classic, scientific, mathematics, and languages."

In 1883 a dormitory was built and by 1887 the school had grown to such an extent that an addition was built.

In 1892, the university received another $100,000 donation from Mr. Campbell left $100,000 in his will to Campbell College. This gift was unfortunately held up in litigation for quite some time.

1902 merger

In 1902 the United Brethren formed a committee to look into the proposed merger. Later several of their conferences gathered to discuss and vote on the matter. In one such gathering, W. R. Funk shared this report:

Northeast Kansas Conference
''This live energetic conference met in the historic town of Lecompton Kansas the seat of Lane University. Surely a more hospitable people cannot be found anywhere.''

''The question of the relocation of Lane University was taken up and discussed in a candid but Christian manner. Nothing ugly was said on either side. Nobody's motives were impugned. No hard feelings can follow the action. The vote in favor of the proposition at Holton Kansas stood thirty seven for and fifteen against. It is to be hoped there may be perfect unity of action on the part of our people in Kansas if the Holton project goes through Bishop GM Mathews DD presided with dignity and ability. The business was rapidly pushed forward yet ample time was given to every interest.''

Later in November the UB Church finalized the purchase pf Lane University in Lecompton and began the process of merging it with Campbell College in Holton. The combined institution became Campbell University.

Transcript of an article in "The Topeka State Journal" dated 27 Nov 1902:

"LANE IS ABSORBED"

Later history

— 1903 —

Relocation from Lane to Campbell reportedly happens in 1903.

— 1904 —

Operations as the new merged institution officially begin.

— 1905 —

Rev. T. D. Crites is appointed president of Campbell College, and remains at that position until 2013.

— 1906 —

1906 offers us some interesting insights into activities and life on the campus of the university.

Lawsuit

The first i
a writing by Rev. T.D. Crites (the College President) who describes an uncomfortable limbo
that the school/church has been in since the death of the school's namesake Allen Green Campbell in 1902. Rev. Crites shares:

Campbell College Wins the Suit
''The news came flashing over the wires September 24 that the decision of the court of California had been reversed by Supreme Court of that State This decision has brought great encouragement to the management and friends of Campbell College. Our people everywhere will rejoice with us that it is now decided in the last court of jurisprudence in the State California that the will of the late Allen G Campbell stands and that by the provisions of said will the college is sure beyond any doubt of an equity in the estate left by him. We are now back where we started three years ago in regard to the $100,000 endowment fund with this difference, it has now been established that the college is the legal heir to this amount in the will and that the will is valid. This does not mean that the college will realize upon the amount named in the will right away. It does mean that our right is established and that sooner or later we will be benefitted. We thank God and take courage. We now go out to press more earnestly than ever the interests of the college.''
— T.D. CRITES.

Another nice description of the university
was put forth a descriptive report by Franklin E. Brooke] published in "The Religious Telescope" detailing the author's stay in town of Holton as well as the state of affairs at Campbell college. He writes:

Also in 1906, President T.D. Crites shared these updates to ''"The Religious Telescope"'':

— 1907 —

In Barr's 1907 publication, she shared a glowing review of the institution, writing:

"In the three years under the new regime the attendance has greatly increased over the combined attendance of both, the course of study enlarged and made standard, holdings added to and improved and it is now entering on a most prosperous future."

In an advertisement placed by the college in the same publication touted the "largest enrollment of any college in northeast Kansas." The university boasted "four good buildings," sixteen instructors, eight departments, and twelve courses of study including: Education, "the Academy," Music, Business, Public Speaking, Art, and the English Bible.
For the full text of the advertisement visit page 45 — There is also a nice photo of the school as well
.

— 1908 —

According to "The Standard Dictionary of Facts" an encyclopedia-type referenc
published in the year of 1908
Campbell College boasted 16 instructors and 433 students with 4,000 "volumes in library" and $200,000 in value of property (including endowment).

— 1909 —

In 1909, Rouff listed for Campbell College:
17 instructors and 450 students and still $200,000 in value of property (including endowment).

— 1910 —

By 1910 there were 500 students. '
Reverend Thomas Daniel Crites
'' was listed the president of the college.  

— 1911 —

The 1911 edition of Rouff's big book of facts offers:
President: Thomas D Crites, D.D.; with 17 instructors, 430 students, and still $200k in assets.
In 1911
we also find an alternate reference (also by Rouff—but they spelled his name wrong on the cover) and it indicates 16 instructors, 432 students, 3500 books in the library, and $120,000 listed as the value of property including endowment. This publication offers a spot to detail school colors, but none are listed for Campbell College. (No other editions of this book are available.)

Unfortunately in the years o
191019121913
1914 (link unavailable
1924
an
1927
there are unfortunately no digitized versions of Rouff's data at the time of this edit. The years of 1915, 1918, 1921–23, and 1925–26 are wholly unavailable. (1927 is the last year mentioned in this series)

— 1913 —

In 1913 there were merger talks between the United Brethren and Methodist Protestants, trustees of Campbell agreed to merge with Kansas City University (1896–1933), Kansas City University in Kansas City, Kansas.

— 1916 —

In 1916 Rouff found
10 instructors and 210 students. The date of founding is noted as 1903. There is no mention of the President or the value of property.

— 1917 —

The 1917 edition of Rouff's encyclopedia
listed 10 instructors and 210 students. Nothing else was noted.

— 1919 —

According to "The Standard Dictionary of Facts" in the years of 1919
Campbell College boasted 15 instructors and 184 students. The date of founding is noted as 1903
Rouff lists the exact same amount in 1920.

Second merger

Some sources suggest the merger occurred after 2013, but according to Rouff, the school seems to still have been in Holton in 1919.

The second and last merger of Campbell College occurred when church officials thought relocating and colocating in Kansas City would be advantageous.

Newspaper

The newspaper for the institution was called "Campbell College Charta" and was published on a monthly basis. The editor-in-chief was listed as J.C. Morgan.

Sports

The school fielded a college football team for 14 seasons from 1898 to 1915.

Closure

Kansas City University (1896–1933), Kansas City University failed in 1933 due to financial difficulties.

Presidents and staff

J. H. Miller was the first professor and the president of Campbell College. Miller oversaw operations for six years, and then he was succeeded by E. J. Hoenshal, who served for six years as well. Reverend Thomas Daniel Crites became president 1906 and served until at least 1911.

* W. S. Reese was listed as Professor, Dean, and Vice President (~1906)
* Chas Bisset, Professor(~1906)
* EB Slade, Steward (~1906)
* Miss Meta K. Legler, instructor in voice (~1906) resigned in order that she might visit Paris and come under the instruction of one of the masters of voice culture
* Prof Owen, instructor in voice (~1906) of Toledo, Iowa a graduate of the conservatory of Leander Clark College

Ella Brown, was a former faculty member at Campbell College. Brown received her law degree from K.U. and also served for two years as the city attorney of Holton from 1893-1895.

References

External links

* Holton High School, located at the site of the former main building of Campbell College.

Campbell College , Holton, Kansas , 1880-1913 on Lost Colleges (.com)

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Defunct private universities and colleges in Kansas
Education in Jackson County, Kansas
1870 establishments in Kansas
1933 disestablishments in Kansas
Universities and colleges established in 1870
Educational institutions disestablished in 1933