Crozer Theological Seminary
Encyclopedia
The Crozer Theological Seminary was a multi-denominational religious institution located in Upland, Pennsylvania
. The school succeeded a Normal School established at the site and the building's use as a hospital during the American Civil War
. The seminary mostly served as an American Baptist Church school, training seminarians for the entry into the Baptist
ministry
.
After 1970, when the seminary merged with institutions in Rochester, New York
, the building was used for Crozer Hospital (now part of Crozer-Chester Medical Center.) Most recently, it is used for medical offices associated with the center. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
of Upland, established and built by wealthy textile manufacturer John Price Crozer. Crozer allowed the Union
to use the building as a hospital during the American Civil War
.
After Crozer's death in 1866, his family converted the school to another purpose, endowing it as the Crozer Theological Seminary in his honor. His son recruited faculty for the new mission.
The most famous student of Crozer Seminary was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
. He enrolled on September 14, 1948 and graduated on May 8, 1951 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He then studied and earned his doctorate at Boston University
.
Another Crozer student was Dr. Monroe E. Dodd
, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana
from 1912–1950, founder of the Dodd College for Girls, and a pioneer radio
minister.
In 1970 the school moved to Rochester, New York
, in a merger that formed the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
. The old seminary building was used as the former Crozer Hospital (now the Crozer-Chester Medical Center). Now the building is used for medical offices on the grounds of the Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
Upland, Pennsylvania
Upland is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Upland is governed by an elected seven member borough council. The population was 2,977 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Upland is located at ....
. The school succeeded a Normal School established at the site and the building's use as a hospital during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The seminary mostly served as an American Baptist Church school, training seminarians for the entry into the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
ministry
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
.
After 1970, when the seminary merged with institutions in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, the building was used for Crozer Hospital (now part of Crozer-Chester Medical Center.) Most recently, it is used for medical offices associated with the center. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The Seminary began as the Normal SchoolNormal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
of Upland, established and built by wealthy textile manufacturer John Price Crozer. Crozer allowed the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
to use the building as a hospital during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
After Crozer's death in 1866, his family converted the school to another purpose, endowing it as the Crozer Theological Seminary in his honor. His son recruited faculty for the new mission.
The most famous student of Crozer Seminary was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
. He enrolled on September 14, 1948 and graduated on May 8, 1951 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He then studied and earned his doctorate at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
.
Another Crozer student was Dr. Monroe E. Dodd
Monroe E. Dodd
Monroe Elmon Dodd, Sr. was an American Southern Baptist clergyman who was a pioneer radio preacher, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana, the founder of the former Dodd College for Girls, and served as the Southern Baptist Convention President from 1934-1935...
, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
from 1912–1950, founder of the Dodd College for Girls, and a pioneer radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
minister.
In 1970 the school moved to Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, in a merger that formed the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School is a theological college of Baptist origins. The present day school, which sits on the top of a hill in the beautiful setting of Highland Park in Rochester, New York is a product of several mergers....
. The old seminary building was used as the former Crozer Hospital (now the Crozer-Chester Medical Center). Now the building is used for medical offices on the grounds of the Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
| Name | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Harry G. Weston | 1869–1909 |
| Milton G. Evans | 1909–1934 |
| James H. Franklin | 1934–1944 |
| Edwin E. Aubrey | 1944–1949 |
| Sankey Lee Blanton | 1950–1962 |
| Ronald V. Wells | 1962–1970 |
Notable faculty
- James B. PritchardJames B. PritchardJames Bennett Pritchard was an American archeologist whose work explicated the interrelationships of the religions of ancient Israel, Canaan, Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon...
, taught in the chair of Old Testament History and Exegesis - Henry Clay VedderHenry Clay VedderHenry Clay Vedder, D.D. was an American Baptist church historian.-Biography:He was born in De Ruyter, New York.He graduated at the University of Rochester in 1873 and at Rochester Theological Seminary in 1876...
, professor of Church history - John Warren DavisJohn Warren DavisJohn Warren Davis was a New Jersey politician and federal judge.-Early life and education:...
, taught Hebrew and Greek for three years