F OU N DE D 18 8 5 Fiat Lux
F OU N DE D 18 8 5 Fiat Lux
Scott Morris Desig ned by Amanda Bardwell
Winter Park I Miami I Santa Barbara
Rollins: Fiat Lux © 2015 Rollins College www.rollins.edu
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be copied or distributed without express written permission of Rollins College and Story Farm. Published in the United States by Story Farm. www.story-farm.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request. ISBN 978-0-9905205-5-9 Printed in China Editorial director: Ashley Fraxedas Art director: Amanda Bardwell Rollins College chief photographer: Scott Cook Photo research: Christy Marks Editorial advisors: Julian Chambliss, Hoyt Edge, Lorrie Kyle ’70, Jack Lane ‘06H, Maurice O’Sullivan, Thaddeus Seymour ’90H Copy editors: Eva Dougherty, Mick Lochridge Indexing: Amy Hall Production management: Tina Dahl Editorial assistant: Marcela Oliveira Rollins College Marketing & Communications Tom Hope, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications Laura Cole ’04 ’08MLS, editorial director Meredith Wellmeier, assistant editorial director Tom May, creative director Rollins College Archives and Special Collections Wenxian Zhang, Head of Archives and Special Collections Darla Moore ’09MLS, archival specialist
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition, March 2015
WELCOME TO ROLLINS COLLEGE. In 2015, I was given the honor of being named the 15th president of Rollins College. Before accepting this position, my wife Peg and I visited Rollins to get a feel of the place. Of course, any first-time visitor can’t help but be struck by the spectacular beauty of the campus. But on subsequent visits what struck me even more was the community’s passion for the College and desire to see it thrive and succeed. That energy is palpable. I’ve spent my career, over 30 years, in traditional liberal arts colleges. I’m very proud of that work and will always be a champion of that style of education. But what we understand to be liberal education is a much more dynamic and globally engaged project than it has been in the past. Now we must focus on preparing students for lives of responsible leadership in a diverse and interdependent world. One of the things that attracted me to Rollins is that it has that broader base, a broader platform as a foundation. In the following pages, you will be introduced to the people, ideas, and achievements of a remarkable institution. But while Rollins honors the past, it is not stuck in it. It challenges itself to build on the foundation of those who have come before us while recognizing, as they did, the continuingly evolving nature of higher education. Rollins is ideally situated to be a global liberal arts college in the 21st century. We bring faculty, students, and staff together from diverse backgrounds and points of view, providing a rich learning environment that promotes sharing varied perspectives and ideas. The campus, situated as it is in Central Florida, makes the task of building this kind of diversity, this kind of campus community, highly achievable. We are rightly proud of our past, yet the more I get to know the students, alumni, faculty, and staff of Rollins, the more confident I am that our best years are ahead of us, that we are committed to being as good a steward of our time as our predecessors were of theirs, and that when the next chapter of our history is written, the new generation will look back with the same pride we feel and say “Fiat Lux”—the light continues to be shared.
GRANT CORNWELL President
F iat L u x 7
64
96
36 190
8 F iat L u x
262
Table
of
Contents 156
232
10 36 82 96 130 158 190 232 260 275
Chapter One
LET THERE BE LIFE : IN THE BEGINNING
Chapter Two
THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE : A LIBERAL ARTS TRADITION
Chapter Three
THE LIGHT OF LEARNING : ACHIEVEMENT IN ACADEMICS
Chapter Four
THE LIGHT OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE : A STORIED PROMINENCE IN THE ARTS
Chapter Five
THE LUMINOUS CAMPUS : POSTCARD PERFECTION
Chapter Six
LEADING LIGHTS : ROLLINS’ STARS
Chapter Seven
CAMPUS LIGHTS : LIVING THE ROLLINS LIFE
Chapter Eight
SHARING THE LIGHT: SERVING OTHERS
Chapter Nine
CIT Y LIGHTS : TOWN AND GOWN
Photography Credits AND INDEX
F iat L u x 9
10 F iat L u x
There Light Let
be
IN THE BEGINNING
“My desire is to found ... a college thorough and complete in its courses of study and illustrate by practice the doctrine of ‘the Education of the South at the South.’ I ask you, gentlemen, to discuss thoroughly the question. ‘Shall an effort be made to found a college in Florida’?”
LUCY CROSS The mother of Rollins College had a dream and tenacity.
F iat L u x 11
R
ollins College began as a vision
To some that may sound quaint or
to bring the light of education to
old-fashioned, but that vision built an
a place where there was no such
institution that changed tens of thousands
light. That vision was pursued with fierce
of lives, helped found a town, played a role in
determination. It wasn’t easy—it hasn’t been
the growth of a major city and has affected
easy at many junctures in Rollins’ history—but
people across the globe.
all obstacles paled in comparison to the importance of the mission.
Fiat Lux, Rollins’ motto, taken from the first chapter of Genesis, proved accurate.
Fiat Lux, Rollins’ motto, taken from the first chapter of Genesis, proved accurate. The idea was simple yet profound. Education
Rollins has come a long way while remaining
illuminates the path to the good life. A good
faithful to its vision, and it continues to carry
life in every regard—intellectually, civically,
that vision of light into the future. There is
morally and spiritually. And every human
an impressive list of “firsts” associated with
being deserves the chance to attain this under-
Rollins. Topping that list: Rollins was the first
standing of the good life.
recognized college in Florida.
12 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
F iat L u x 13
“In 1885, Florida represented America’s last frontier ... Central Florida was sparsely settled, dotted here and there with small villages. People the local inhabitants called ‘crackers’ worked pioneer farms.”
JACK LANE ’06 H Rollins College: A Centennial History, former Weddell Professor Emeritus of American History and college historian
“In 1884, Florida possessed only eight county high schools. These schools operated from two to five months a year.” 14 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
It is hard to be in Winter Park, or anywhere
of the students attending them could not
in Central Florida for that matter, and
read. One observer at the time concluded
grasp just how rural and isolated it was at
that 45 of every 100 voters were illiterate.
the time of Rollins’ founding. But that was
Several private academies were scattered
precisely the reason Lucy Cross, who came
throughout the state, but Florida could
to be known as “The Mother of Rollins,”
claim no colleges. This was “just the kind
believed the area was the perfect location for
of virgin educational field that had been
a college.
historically so appealing to the Congrega-
In 1884, Florida possessed only eight
tionalists’ sense of mission,” Professor Jack
county high schools. Elementary and high
Lane explains. “These conditions served as a
schools operated from two to five months a
magnet that attracted such lay missionaries
year with wholly inadequate facilities. Most
as Lucy Cross.”
THOUGH PRIMITIVE, the area was full of undeniable beauty, reminding naturalists like William Bartram of a kind of paradise. Nestled among five pristine lakes, Winter Park was a gem.
F iat L u x 15
Lucy CROSS
was comfortably teaching at Wellesley College when she felt called to share the light of education in the hinterlands. She headed south to Daytona Beach to found an elementary school.
While she tended her rose garden one afternoon, something on a much larger scale seized her imagination.
16 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
MOTHER OF ROLLINS “Lucy Cross provided the spark. As it turned out, the time was right and the right people were on hand to kindle it.”
1925
“Hope sprang in my heart and an idea in my mind,” Lucy Cross wrote. The idea was Rollins College, and Lucy Cross was not one to take no for an answer where duty was involved.
F iat L u x 17
“I DO NOT DARE TO GO HOME AND FACE MISS CROSS IF I DO NOT READ THIS PAPER.” Those were the words that
creating a college was not
C.M. Bingham, Cross’ pastor,
even on the official agenda.
spoke to the first Florida
But Bingham, who was the
Congregational Association
moderator, knew Lucy Cross
meeting that was held in
well, and he read the paper
Winter Park. Discussion of
she had prepared anyway.
Ladies DORMITORY
Cloverleaf Cottage opened for residency in 1891. It had cost $19,577 to construct.
It had fifty-six rooms, thirteen of which were not furnished or occupied until 1904.
Edward
HOOKER & FAMILY
Based on Bingham’s reading of Cross’ paper, it was decided a committee should be appointed to study the prospect of establishing a college. 18 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
The task of building a college
the circumstances were
in a state that had no colleges
discouraging, the group of
and very little in the way of
people who got Rollins off the
education at any level was
ground, with their tenacity
daunting, to say the least,
and passion, turned out to be
but the idea caught fire. If
more than a match for them.
C.M.
BINGHAM
F iat L u x 19
1893
STUDENTS BOAT across Lake Virginia. In the background are the few buildings comprising the Rollins campus.
One of those captivated by Lucy Cross’
store, Ergood’s, and no church. While
vision was Edward P. Hooker, descen-
plans were made to build a church,
dant of the famous Thomas Hooker,
Hooker held services in White’s
who was considered the “Father of
Hall, which occupied the top floor of
Connecticut” and one of the leading
Ergood’s. Hooker was a formidable
Puritan founders of the United States.
man, the man needed to make Rollins
Edward Hooker and his family had
a reality. The committee to explore
moved to Winter Park in 1883. Winter
the possibility of establishing a college
Park could barely be considered a
asked Hooker to write up a paper on
hamlet at that time—there was one
the topic.
Hooker was the man needed to make Rollins a reality. 20 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
“The outlook is grand and glorious. ... We love the state to which we have come; these genial skies, these clear, sparkling lakes, the souls of the people who dwell among the forests. We rejoice at the arrival of those who crowd the steamboats and cars. We are a little before them and we bid them welcome. We rejoice in the privilege of laying foundations for the future.”
EDWARD P. HOOKER One of Rollins’ key founders and its first president F iat L u x 21
Oliver E.
CHAPMAN
Frederick W. LYMAN
Hooker wanted Rollins in Winter Park,
As a newspaper reported, they believed
and one of his parishioners, a remarkable
they could create “a first-class resort for
entrepreneur named Frederick W. Lyman,
Northern and Southern men of wealth,
joined him in the effort. This fortuitous
where, amidst orange groves and beautiful
pairing made all the difference.
lakes and luxuries,” there would arise “a
Lyman had recently gone into business with two real estate promoters, Loring
community of grand winter homes. ...” Lyman understood that one way to
Chase and Oliver E. Chapman, to form
ensure this would happen would be to bring
the Winter Park Land Company. They
a college to Winter Park. He presented his
purchased some 600 acres between
view to Chase and Chapman, as well as to
Maitland and Orlando and bordering Lake
Francis B. Knowles, who would become one
Virginia and Lake Osceola.
of Rollins’ most generous benefactors.
22 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
Early HOUSE
Oliver Everett Chapman built this house overlooking Lake Osceola in 1882. It was later called Twitchell House and was located at the rear of Interlachen and Canton avenues.
Tireless in his efforts, Lyman reported on how a town that was still in its earliest planning stages won out over larger, more prominent competitors. “Everyone was expected to give,” Lyman
$13,000. Mount Dora came in with $35,000
stated. “No sum was too large to ask for and
and 10 acres on Lake Dora, but nothing
none too small to receive. Every loyal Winter
approached the commitment from Winter
Parkite felt that no place in the state could
Park. In addition to funding, there were
offer natural advantages comparable to hers;
generous donations of land. The Winter Park
Providence had done its part with lavish
Land Company provided a campus site on the
hand, and they must do theirs no less freely.”
bucolic shore of Lake Virginia. Alonzo Rollins
They did. The men collected a total of
donated two large orange groves, along with
$114,180, while Jacksonville offered a meager
his initial gift of $50,000.
F iat L u x 23
1888 24 F iat L u x
ROLLINS CAMPUS One of the earliest photos taken: The main buildings (from left) are Knowles Hall, Pinehurst Cottage and the dining hall. The fence around the campus was constructed to keep grazing cows out—or so the legend says.
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
On April 28, 1885, at nine o’clock in the morning, Rollins College was incorporated at Lyman’s bank in Sanford. Lyman was elected president of the corporation, while Hooker was elected president of the faculty.
F iat L u x 25
WITH THE AMBITIOUS GOAL OF STARTING CLASSES IN THE COMING FALL, Winter Park prevailed,
did not pan out, but Knowles
and Hooker immediately
added $5,000 to his pledge.
prepared to go to New
With that gift, there was
England to find teachers
a total of $10,000 for the
and funding.
purpose of building a class-
Francis B. Knowles gave
room, which would be named
Hooker introductions to his
in honor of the donor. Hooker
friends in Massachusetts
then collected enough
in order to raise money.
pledges to begin construction
Funding from these friends
of a dormitory.
1886
KNOWLES HALL Knowles Hall was just one example of Francis B. Knowles’ generosity. Frederick W. Lyman carefully courted and assembled a team of benefactors that came through each time it was necessary. Knowles was ever dependable.
26 F iat L u x
Francis B.
KNOWLES
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
DR. BARROWS’ SURVEY CLASS Rex Beach (kneeling at left) helps his classmates in Nathan Barrows’ survey class in 1894. Barrows was a professor of mathematics and also a charter trustee. From left: Rex Beach, Fred Ensminger, Ruth Ford, Albert Barrows, Fitz Frank, unidentified man, Barrows, Walter Fairchild and unidentified man.
Alonzo ROLLINS
While Hooker and Lyman
Nathan Barrows, professor
continued seeking funds,
of mathematics and physics;
Loring Chase, a charter
Annie Morton, instructor in
trustee, oversaw construction.
history and later principal
George Rand, a Boston archi-
of the training department;
tect residing in Winter Park,
William W. Lloyd, professor
Although Alonzo Rollins died in 1887 and only saw Rollins in its infancy, his backing led to the college being named after him. drew up plans, and George
of ancient languages and
Rollins, brother of Alonzo,
principal of the preparatory
supervised the project.
school; and Louise Abbott,
By August, Hooker had
assistant principal of the
assembled Rollins’ faculty:
training department. F iat L u x 27
Ergood’s STORE AND HALL Ergood’s Store and Hall was built in 1886. One of the town’s earliest buildings, it stood near the corner of Park Avenue and Lincoln Street. The second floor, White’s Hall, was planned to be Rollins’ first classroom.
PROFESSOR LANE PAINTS THE HECTIC SCENE WELL: As the first day of classes approached,
middle of October the college officers
the realization dawned that nothing
still had no place to house or teach
would be ready. Hooker, therefore,
students.
delayed the opening date to November 4.
Knowles made another donation, of
On October 6, Barrows arrived to
$2,000, but the needs were far greater.
relieve Chase of the preliminary work
Without more funds, Chase reported,
of opening the college, just as students
they could not get more men to work
began registering in surprisingly large
on the building. He believed they could
numbers. Chase wrote to Lyman that
have registered 150 students, but
Orlando was sending a “big delegation
Rollins wound up with only 70, as it
almost every day.” But as late as the
simply wasn’t ready for more.
28 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
“The college had no place to
“Fairly fixed” meant that they had
accommodate even this number of
secured White’s Hall above Ergood’s—
students,” Lane points out. “Chase
one of only three buildings in Winter
later acknowledged that as the day of
Park, and the same hall where Hooker
opening drew near, he and Hooker
had started his church—for classroom
Before opening day, Chase wrote Lyman and said that things were “fairly fixed.” were at their ‘wits’ end.’ The weeks
space. The Larrabee house at Morse
before opening found Hooker and
Boulevard and New York Avenue
Chase scurrying around Winter Park,
would serve as a boys’ dormitory; the
arranging for rooms and trying to
Ward cottage on Osceola Street would
locate classrooms.”
be for the girls.
1892 FENCING CLASS
was a part of Light Gymnastics. Grace Livingston Hill was the instructor.
F iat L u x 29
CONGREGATIONAL MISSION The mission to advance education was the foundation of Rollins College. The church that Hooker pastored served as the first classroom.
Everything was set ... until it turned out that the plaster had not yet dried on the newly renovated White’s Hall. 30 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
CHASE DECLARED WHITE’S HALL UNSAFE AND SUGGESTED USING HOOKER’S STILLUNFINISHED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The church had no pews—they
were sitting in a freight car several
were using boards set on small
blocks away.
barrels—but Hooker agreed with
Lloyd commandeered a crew of
Chase it was their best option as a
young men who moved the church
temporary classroom.
pews to the sidewalls and unloaded
“Tonight as I write (10 p.m.), our whole force of carpenters is there setting up desks and partitions,” Chase wrote.
the desks in time for the arrival of the first students. At nine that morning, the Congregational Church bell in
The Orange County Reporter
Hooker’s unfinished church tolled
records that opening day,
for the start of classes. Rollins
November 4, 1885, was a “typical
College had no buildings. It had 70
Florida fall day, with sunny skies
students and a handful of profes-
and mild temperatures.”
sors. The vision that Lucy Cross
It did not seem so to William
pursued so adamantly, and that
Lloyd, one of the new professors,
Hooker, Lyman, Chase, Knowles,
who entered the Congregational
Alonzo Rollins and others fostered
Church an hour before students
with urgency, intelligence and grit,
were to arrive and discovered that
had been born.
the newly ordered school desks
1956
Fiat Lux. Let there be light.
CHAPEL BELL
On November 4, 1885, Hooker’s
Congregational Church bell rang out the news of the start of Rollins College. The bell would end up in Knowles Memorial Chapel tower to ring again. F iat L u x 31
THE GREATNESS OF SPIRIT THAT ENABLED THE FOUNDERS TO ENGENDER THAT LIGHT PERMEATES ROLLINS COLLEGE TO THIS DAY. It may be seen in the accom-
same bell that tolled for Rollins’
plishments of students, faculty
first classes from Edward Hooker’s
and alumni, and the programs
unfinished church continues to
Rollins has crafted to carry that
ring out from its new home in
light all over the world. It may
Knowles Memorial Chapel.
be witnessed in the felicitous
Every year, new students gather
relationship between Rollins and
in Knowles Chapel, where they are
Winter Park. It is even located in
commissioned to carry the light
Rollins’ architecture.
anew with these words: May the
The bond between the Rollins
aim of our learning be not only to
founding, present and future
enlighten our own lives, but also
remains vibrant.
to share this light with those who
That was the idea behind Rollins’ founding—to discover new ways
need it most. That was Lucy Cross’ vision.
of keeping faith with the mission
And it continues to be Rollins
of carrying the light. Fittingly, the
College’s vision.
32 F iat L u x
LET THERE BE LIGHT IN THE BEGINNING
F iat L u x 33
34 F iat L u x
F iat L u x 35