The University of North Georgia Begins Sesquicentennial Celebration

 

The University of North Georgia (UNG) began its yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration in mid-August. 

The 150th Anniversary web pages offer a schedule of events, historical timeline, digital exhibits, and much more.

A short YouTube video, "Sesquicentennial at UNG," provides an overview of the history.

The institution was founded as North Georgia Agricultural College in 1873. The name changed to North Georgia College in 1929, then to North Georgia College and Sate University in 1996. It become the University of North Georgia in 2012 after a merger with Gainesville State College. 

UNG is one of only six federally designated senior military colleges, which also include The Citadel, Norwich University, Texas A&M University, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Military Institute.

John Brown University 100th Anniversary

John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding as Southwestern Collegiate Institute in 1919. It was renamed John E. Brown College in 1920 honoring John E. Brown Sr., a traveling preacher who founded a school. It later joined Siloam School of the Bible and John E. Brown Vocational College to become John Brown University in 1934.

The 100th anniversary web pages include a timeline, events, memories, photographs, and publications. Ordering information is offered for a centennial commemorative photo book, John Brown University: A Century of Christ Over All, and Christ Over All: A History of John Brown University.

There is a fascinating entrepreneurial thread running through the history of John Brown University. In addition to educational endeavors in Arkansas, it also operated a military preparatory school that was originally named San Diego Army and Navy Academy by founder Colonel Thomas A. Davis. The academy opened its doors Nov. 23, 1910 in Pacific Beach, CA. 

Brown purchased the school for $600,000 in 1937 after a foreclosure the preceding year and renamed it as Brown Military Academy. There was also a branch operating initially at Sulpher Springs, AR and later moved to Siloam Springs that was known as the Brown Military Academy of the Ozarks.

The California institution was moved from Pacific Beach to Glendora in 1958 and ultimately closed in 1968.

You can check out the John Brown University Archives web pages for access to digital collections and more information on the institution's history.

Norwich University Celebrates Bicentennial in 2019

Norwich University in Northfield, VT is beginning a celebration of the 200th anniversary of its founding as American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy in 1819. The name later changed to Norwich University in 1834.

The bicentennial web pages include more information on scheduled events, commemorative items, and a new history of the institution, Citizens & Soldiers: The First 200 Years of Norwich University, written by Alex Kershaw.

You can also learn more about Norwich by visiting the institutional history page or the web pages of the Sullivan Museum and History Center that is located on the campus.

Wentworth Military Academy Alumni Open Museum

Interesting article in the Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune, "Alumni salute fallen military school at museum dedication," with Tess Vrbin reporting on the opening of a museum in Lexington, MO devoted to the history of Wentworth Military Academy.  While Vrbin focused on WMA alumni and their activities after the school closed, she also incorporated details of history of Kemper Military School that was located in Boonville, MO and the Missouri Military Academy that is still operating successfully in Mexico, MO.  I enjoyed reading this context and particularly appreciated Vrbin's comments on what WMA alumni learned from the experiences of KMA alumni.

The Wentworth Military Academy Museum maintains a website where you can sign up for updates and learn more about their exhibits and the history of the institution.

You can read more about the WMA closing in another College History Garden post from April 8, 2017, Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO will Close.  The comments below the post include links to additional media coverage of the closure.

Another College History Garden post from December 11, 2011 focuses on Kemper Military School and College (MO)

The Citadel Commemorates Its 175th Anniversary

The Post and Courier of Charleston, SC published several interesting historical sketches of The Citadel corresponding with the 175th anniversary of the institution's founding in 1842.  Links to the articles follow later in this post.  

You can also visit an anniversary page on The Citadel's web site for a timeline of key dates, vintage photographs, upcoming events, and other resources.

An excellent short YouTube video is also available, "Commemorating The Citadel's 175th Anniversary."

Articles from The Post and Courier:

 "After the Civil War and Reconstruction, The Citadel reboots and version 2.0 takes shape," by Robert Behre

"From the Mexican-American War to the War on Terror, Citadel alumni have fought and died in every U.S. conflict," by Paul Bowers

"Citadel ranks emptied during World War II for sacrifices overseas," by Schuyler Kropf

"Military history shaped The Citadel and vice versa: 'When Country Calls, The Citadel answers," by Paul Bowers

Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO will Close

The Kansas City Star reported that Wentworth Military Academy and College will be closing at the end of the current spring semester.  Steve Vockrodt reported in "After 137 years, military academy in Missouri to close," that the institution enrolled roughly 480 students in collegiate programs and 55 high school cadets.  Wentworth is located in Lexington, MO and was initially founded in 1880 as Wentworth Male Academy.  The name was changed to Wentworth Military Academy in 1890. 

WDAF-TV in Kansas City also has a post, "Missouri military academy dating to 1880 will close."

If you are interested in recent trends for closures, access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page.  There are separate tabs for non-profit and for-profit closures.  Each tab includes basic information for each institution, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

New Mexico Military Institute featured as it celebrates 125th anniversary

The November 2016 issue of New Mexico Magazine features an article on New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM.  NMMI is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding in 1891.   The institution was founded as Gross Military Academy. It became a territorial institution in 1893 and the name changed to New Mexico Military Institute. A junior college program was added in 1915 that continues. A baccalaureate program was offered from 1948-1956.

The NMMI alumni organization maintains a website that includes an extensive gallery with more than 35 postcard images as part of a larger virtual museum. Other pages include photographs, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, and other items.

Kemper Military School and College (MO)

Kemper Military School initially opened in 1844 and closed in 2002.  It was known over time by a variety of names [the Boonville Boarding School, Male Collegiate Institute, Kemper Family School, Kemper & Taylor Institute, and the Kemper School].  The institution closed briefly from 1856-1861 when Frederick Kemper taught at Westminster College in Fulton, MO.  Following the death of Kemper in 1881, Thomas A. Johnston, a former student, was named as the president.  In 1899 the name was changed to Kemper Military School and a junior college was added in 1923.  The Kemper Miliary School page on Wikipedia offers a more detailed history and includes lists of presidents and well known alumni.

A 6 1/2 minute video on YouTube includes many historical images of cadets, alums, and postcards of the institution and the community of Boonville.

  

Eric Berger authored an article in the Boonville Daily News coving dedication of plaque on June 11, 2011 commerating the institution.