Ralph Cooper Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
Ralph Cooper Hutchison (February 27, 1898 – March 15, 1966) was president
of Washington & Jefferson College
and Lafayette College
.
, graduating in 1918. He served in the United States Naval Aviation Corps from May to November of 1918. In 1919, following his service, Hutchison earned a Master's degree from Harvard University
. He attended Princeton Theological Seminary
and was ordained as a preacher in the Presbyterian Church on April 21, 1922. He earned a PhD degree from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1925. In 1930, Lafayette College conferred the Doctor of Divinity
degree on Dr. Hutchison. He also worked for the Presbyterian Board of Christian Education and was a missionary in Persia. He served as Dean of the American University at Teheran, Iran
, which he grew from a small high school to an institution of over 800. He returned to the United States when his wife contracted an "Asiatic malady."
, Hutchison was unanimously elected the seventh president of Washington & Jefferson College
on November 13, 1931; he was inaugurated on April 2, 1932, making him at 34 years old one of the youngest college presidents in the county. Following the contentious tenure of President Baker, Time Magazine noted that Hutchinson "pleased nearly everyone." Hutchinson, in his inaugural address, spoke out against the "false, materialistic doctrine" of going to college "because it pays." Instead, he encouraged students to appreciate the oldtime college education, which was "inviting only to those who did not set profit or wealth as their main objectives in life."
In an effort to strengthen the college's science department, Hutchison extended and expanded the southern portion of the campus, between East Wheeling and East Maiden Street. This included the construction of the Jesse W. Lazear Chemistry Building and the final absorption of The Seminary. The main seminary building was purchased, renovated, and re-dedicated as McIlvaine Hall. The John L. Stewart Memorial bell tower was added to McIlvaine Hall. The Reed residence on Maiden Street was purchased for use as a dormitory. The old Seminary dormitory facing East Maiden Street was razed to make more open space. Finally, the campus was re-oriented so the main entrance faced East Maiden Street, to allow tourists on U.S. Route 40
to see the College. The expanded campus was dedicated on October 26, 1940. In 1943, Hutchison was appointed Director of Civilian Defense for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
, a cabinet-level position, by Governor Edward Martin for the duration of the war
. He also served as director of the Pennsylvania United War Fund Program. President Hutchison resigned May 7, 1945.
, his alma mater from 1945–1957.
President of Lafayette College since 1945, Hutchison had conferred an honorary degree on Eisenhower after World War II and maintained a friendship with the General (Galambos, Chief of Staff, nos. 722, 1179). In 1949 Eisenhower had recommended him as a civilian member of the U.S. Air Force Academy planning board (Galambos, Columbia University, no. 322). He had visited Eisenhower the morning of February 26.
http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/64.cfm
President of Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, which is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County established by three Presbyterian missionaries to the American frontier...
of Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
and Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
.
Personal
Hutchison was born in Colorado on February 27, 1898. He attended Lafayette CollegeLafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, graduating in 1918. He served in the United States Naval Aviation Corps from May to November of 1918. In 1919, following his service, Hutchison earned a Master's degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He attended Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
and was ordained as a preacher in the Presbyterian Church on April 21, 1922. He earned a PhD degree from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1925. In 1930, Lafayette College conferred the Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree on Dr. Hutchison. He also worked for the Presbyterian Board of Christian Education and was a missionary in Persia. He served as Dean of the American University at Teheran, Iran
American University (disambiguation)
American University is a university in Washington D.C., United States.American University may also refer to:*American University of Afghanistan*American University of Antigua College of Medicine*American University of Armenia...
, which he grew from a small high school to an institution of over 800. He returned to the United States when his wife contracted an "Asiatic malady."
Presidency of Washington & Jefferson
Following the resignation of President BakerSimon Strousse Baker
Simon Strousse Baker was the 6th president of Washington & Jefferson College.Baker, the great-great-grandson of Dr. Thaddeus Dod, the founder of Washington Academy, was born in Amwell Township, Pennsylvania on July 11, 1866. In 1892, he graduated from Washington & Jefferson College, where he played...
, Hutchison was unanimously elected the seventh president of Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
on November 13, 1931; he was inaugurated on April 2, 1932, making him at 34 years old one of the youngest college presidents in the county. Following the contentious tenure of President Baker, Time Magazine noted that Hutchinson "pleased nearly everyone." Hutchinson, in his inaugural address, spoke out against the "false, materialistic doctrine" of going to college "because it pays." Instead, he encouraged students to appreciate the oldtime college education, which was "inviting only to those who did not set profit or wealth as their main objectives in life."
In an effort to strengthen the college's science department, Hutchison extended and expanded the southern portion of the campus, between East Wheeling and East Maiden Street. This included the construction of the Jesse W. Lazear Chemistry Building and the final absorption of The Seminary. The main seminary building was purchased, renovated, and re-dedicated as McIlvaine Hall. The John L. Stewart Memorial bell tower was added to McIlvaine Hall. The Reed residence on Maiden Street was purchased for use as a dormitory. The old Seminary dormitory facing East Maiden Street was razed to make more open space. Finally, the campus was re-oriented so the main entrance faced East Maiden Street, to allow tourists on U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
to see the College. The expanded campus was dedicated on October 26, 1940. In 1943, Hutchison was appointed Director of Civilian Defense for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, a cabinet-level position, by Governor Edward Martin for the duration of the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He also served as director of the Pennsylvania United War Fund Program. President Hutchison resigned May 7, 1945.
Presidency of Lafayette College
Hutchison served as predient of Lafayette CollegeLafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, his alma mater from 1945–1957.
President of Lafayette College since 1945, Hutchison had conferred an honorary degree on Eisenhower after World War II and maintained a friendship with the General (Galambos, Chief of Staff, nos. 722, 1179). In 1949 Eisenhower had recommended him as a civilian member of the U.S. Air Force Academy planning board (Galambos, Columbia University, no. 322). He had visited Eisenhower the morning of February 26.
http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/64.cfm