James Evans Rhoads (18281895) from

Marple Township, Pennsylvania Marple Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It contains the census designated place of Broomall. The population was estimated at 23,743 as of 2015. ZIP codes include mainly 19008, as well as 19064 and 19063. ...

was an American educator and administrator, president of

Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr College ( ; Welsh language, Welsh: ) is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as a ...

Biography

At the founding of Bryn Mawr College, Rhoads was named Vice-President (Frances T. King was the first President). However, Rhoads became president in 1884 before Bryn Mawr was officially inaugurated on September 23, 1885.James E. Rhoads, first president of Bryn Mawr College (1884-1894)
Bryn Mawr College Rhoads helped establish Bryn Mawr as an internationally respected, non-denominational school. It was the first higher education institution to offer graduate degrees, including

doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...

s, to women. The first class included 36 undergraduate women and eight graduate students. At the founding Rhoads gave a brief speech honoring

Joseph W. Taylor Joseph Wright Taylor (1810 – 1880) is best known for being the financial catalyst for the founding of Bryn Mawr College. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, a physician and a member of the Society of Friends (popularly known as ...

, Bryn Mawr's founder. Rhoads served until 1894. James E. Rhoads Hall was named after him. Prior to serving as President of Bryn Mawr, Rhoads was an active advocate for the social and educational rights of African Americans and Native Americans. He was a founder of the Hampton Institute (later Hampton University) in Virginia and co-founded the

Indian Rights Association The Indian Rights Association (IRA) was a social activist group dedicated to the well-being and acculturation of Native Americans in the United States. Founded by non-Indians in Philadelphia in 1882, the group was highly influential in American Ind ...

in 1882. M. Carey Thomas followed him as president of the college (prior to becoming President of Bryn Mawr College, Thomas served as the Dean of the Faculty). In 1893, Rhoads was elected to the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhoads, James Evans 1828 births 1895 deaths People from Marple Township, Pennsylvania Educators from Pennsylvania Presidents of Bryn Mawr College University of Pennsylvania alumni Union College (New York) alumni 19th-century American educators Members of the American Philosophical Society