James Hampton Kirkland
Encyclopedia
James Hampton Kirkland was the second chancellor of Vanderbilt University
. He was elected chancellor
at the age of 33 and remained in this function until 1937, thus becoming one of the longest-serving university administrators in U.S. history. During his administration Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee
, came to spearhead the "university movement" in the South.
, the youngest of the eight children of William Clark, who died in March 1864, and Virginia Lawson Galluchat Kirkland. Kirkland entered Wofford College
in his native Spartanburg in 1873. He encountered there two young faculty members who had recently returned from European student days: Charles Forster Smith and William Malone Baskervill
. They ultimately inspired him to embark on the European study tour. Having saved enough money as an instructor in Greek at Wofford, Kirkland traveled to Leipzig where he registered at the university for the fall semester 1883. He remained there until 1885, earning a Ph.D.
degree. His mentors at Leipzig included the Greek scholar Georg Curtius
and Richard Wülker, professor of English. Kirkland went on to study in Berlin
and eventually traveled to Geneva
in the summer of 1885, where he hoped to learn French. Yet his health broke down. Until spring 1886 he recovered, traveling also to Italy and visiting Leipzig
, Paris
, and London
.
Upon his return to the United States
, Kirkland was appointed professor of Latin at Vanderbilt University, a position which he held until his election as chancellor in 1893. His mentors and friends Smith and Baskervill had preceded him at the institutions as professors of Greek and English, respectively.
Kirkland was ambitious and focused. Already during his student days he had economized his time and money, a quality that would be a great asset as chancellor. A Methodist at a university that was denominational at the time, Kirkland fought his toughest battle as a university administrator in the first decade of the twentieth century that ultimately resulted in a break with the Methodist Church in 1914. The reason for this "battle with the Bishops" was the fact that the Methodists did not provide enough funding, while Northern philanthropists such as Carnegie refrained from giving to denominational colleges in the South. When Kirkland had to choose between running a Methodist school and developing Vanderbilt into a leading research university, Kirkland decided in favor of the latter, though he himself remained a Methodist.
Kirkland subsequently was rather successful in securing funding from the Carnegie
and Rockefeller
foundations. One of his greatest achievements was the remodeling of the Vanderbilt Medical School in the mid-1920s. His friendship with Abraham Flexner
, among others, helped in the undertaking. Both men had vacation houses near Ahmic Lake
in Canada, where they spent the summers with their families since the 1910s.
In 1895 Kirkland met Mary Henderson of Knoxville, Tennessee
, who after a brief courtship became his wife in November of that year. It was a happy marriage, as may be derived from the numerous letters which they exchanged from the first day of their acquaintance until his death. They had one daughter, Elizabeth, born in Feb. 1898. She studied at Wellesley College and married the Greek scholar Benjamin Meritt.
Kirkland was a passionate gardener who cultivated Iris
.
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. He was elected chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
at the age of 33 and remained in this function until 1937, thus becoming one of the longest-serving university administrators in U.S. history. During his administration Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, came to spearhead the "university movement" in the South.
Biography
Kirkland was born and raised in Spartanburg, South CarolinaSpartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
, the youngest of the eight children of William Clark, who died in March 1864, and Virginia Lawson Galluchat Kirkland. Kirkland entered Wofford College
Wofford College
Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
in his native Spartanburg in 1873. He encountered there two young faculty members who had recently returned from European student days: Charles Forster Smith and William Malone Baskervill
William Malone Baskervill
William Malone Baskervill was a writer and professor of the English language and literature at Vanderbilt University.Together with George Washington Cable he ran an organization known as the Open Letter Club...
. They ultimately inspired him to embark on the European study tour. Having saved enough money as an instructor in Greek at Wofford, Kirkland traveled to Leipzig where he registered at the university for the fall semester 1883. He remained there until 1885, earning a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree. His mentors at Leipzig included the Greek scholar Georg Curtius
Georg Curtius
Georg Curtius was a German philologist.-Biography:After an education at Bonn and Berlin, he was for three years a schoolmaster in Dresden, until he returned to Berlin University as privatdocent...
and Richard Wülker, professor of English. Kirkland went on to study in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and eventually traveled to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in the summer of 1885, where he hoped to learn French. Yet his health broke down. Until spring 1886 he recovered, traveling also to Italy and visiting Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Upon his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Kirkland was appointed professor of Latin at Vanderbilt University, a position which he held until his election as chancellor in 1893. His mentors and friends Smith and Baskervill had preceded him at the institutions as professors of Greek and English, respectively.
Kirkland was ambitious and focused. Already during his student days he had economized his time and money, a quality that would be a great asset as chancellor. A Methodist at a university that was denominational at the time, Kirkland fought his toughest battle as a university administrator in the first decade of the twentieth century that ultimately resulted in a break with the Methodist Church in 1914. The reason for this "battle with the Bishops" was the fact that the Methodists did not provide enough funding, while Northern philanthropists such as Carnegie refrained from giving to denominational colleges in the South. When Kirkland had to choose between running a Methodist school and developing Vanderbilt into a leading research university, Kirkland decided in favor of the latter, though he himself remained a Methodist.
Kirkland subsequently was rather successful in securing funding from the Carnegie
Carnegie Foundation
The Carnegie Foundation is an organization based in The Hague, Netherlands. It was founded in 1903 by Andrew Carnegie in order to manage his donation of US$1.5 million, which was used for the construction, management and maintenance of the Peace Palace...
and Rockefeller
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
foundations. One of his greatest achievements was the remodeling of the Vanderbilt Medical School in the mid-1920s. His friendship with Abraham Flexner
Abraham Flexner
Abraham Flexner was an American educator. His Flexner Report, published in 1910, reformed medical education in the United States...
, among others, helped in the undertaking. Both men had vacation houses near Ahmic Lake
Ahmic Lake
Ahmic Lake is part of the Magnetawan River waterway in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. It is well marked for navigation. There are many spots where rock shoals extend into the lake then plunge to depths of 20 to 25 m . Much of the lake has steep shorelines with overhanging dead wood and...
in Canada, where they spent the summers with their families since the 1910s.
In 1895 Kirkland met Mary Henderson of Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, who after a brief courtship became his wife in November of that year. It was a happy marriage, as may be derived from the numerous letters which they exchanged from the first day of their acquaintance until his death. They had one daughter, Elizabeth, born in Feb. 1898. She studied at Wellesley College and married the Greek scholar Benjamin Meritt.
Kirkland was a passionate gardener who cultivated Iris
Iris (plant)
Iris is a genus of 260-300species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species...
.
External links
- Biography of James H. Kirkland at Vanderbilt.edu
- "The Educational Values of Vanderbilt Chancellor James H. Kirkland", the 2007 Founders Day lecture by Anja Becker
- Founders Day commemorated with ceremony, lecture", Vanderbilt Register article on the 2007 Founders Day lecture