Marshall College (Mercersburg, PA)

Collection

Identifier: Institutional RG 039

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Marshall College collection consists of a typed manuscript history of the libraries, 1820-1871 by Aimee K. Kulp. History, Alumni Association Addresses, Catalogs 1840-1852. Diagnothian and Goethean Literary Society, Catalogs and Addresses 1835-1852. Commencement Addresses 1838-1849

Dates

Creation: 1835 - 1871

Biographical / Historical

On March 31, 1836, the Pennsylvania General Assembly granted a charter to Marshall College to be located in Mercersburg. Dr. Frederick Augustus Rauch came from Switzerland to be the first president of the college under the sponsorship of the Reformed Church in the United States. Dr. Rauch served as president from 1836 until 1841. His successor in the position was John Williamson Nevin who served until 1853, when Marshall College joined with Franklin College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to become Franklin & Marshall College. At this time, the preparatory department of Marshall College became known as Marshall Academy. The name was changed to Marshall Collegiate Institute in 1854. It was a privately owned school, but in 1857 the property was bought by some of the citizens. In 1865, the Classis of Mercersburg bought the property and the name was again changed to Mercersburg College, under whose charter the school continues to operate. The historic tie to the church continues through Mercersburg's membership in the Council for Higher Education of the United Church of Christ.