Pennsylvania, a state central to the founding of the United States, is also home to some of the nation's most historic institutions of higher learning. When it comes to the title of the oldest college in the Keystone State, the honor belongs to the University of Pennsylvania, which traces its origins back to 1740. However, the story of its founding, along with the establishment of other pioneering colleges in the state, reveals a rich and complex educational history.
The University of Pennsylvania (1740)
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) officially dates its founding to 1740. This was the year a group of Philadelphians organized a plan to build a charity school that would also serve as a house of worship for the traveling evangelist George Whitefield. While the building was being erected, a lack of funds caused the project to stall for nearly a decade.
The institution's story truly began to take shape in 1749, when Benjamin Franklin published his influential essay, "Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth," and organized a board of trustees to create an institution of higher education. Franklin's group purchased the unused building and, in 1751, opened the Academy and Charitable School in the Province of Pennsylvania.
Interesting Facts:
- America's First University: In 1779, Penn became the first institution of higher learning in the United States to be officially designated a "university."
- First Medical School: Penn established the first medical school in the American colonies in 1765.
- A New Kind of Curriculum: Benjamin Franklin's vision was innovative for its time. While other colonial colleges focused on educating men for the ministry, Franklin proposed a more modern, liberal arts curriculum designed to train leaders for business, government, and public service.
Other Historic Pennsylvania Colleges
While Penn is the oldest, several other Pennsylvania colleges have their own historic claims and pioneering legacies.
- Moravian University (1742): Located in Bethlehem, Moravian was founded just two years after the founding of Pennsylvania. It holds the groundbreaking distinction of being the first school in the American colonies to open its doors to women.
- Washington & Jefferson College (1781): Founded shortly after the American Revolution began, W&J traces its origins to three "log cabin" colleges on the frontier, making it one of the oldest colleges west of the Allegheny Mountains.
- Dickinson College (1783): Chartered in Carlisle on September 9, 1783, just days after the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War, Dickinson College holds the unique title of being the first college founded in the newly independent United States of America.
While the University of Pennsylvania stands as the oldest college in the state, the rich history of institutions like Moravian, Washington & Jefferson, and Dickinson showcases Pennsylvania's long and pioneering role in American higher education.
Sources:
- University of Pennsylvania, "Penn's History"
- Moravian University, "About Moravian University"
- Washington & Jefferson College, "History of Washington & Jefferson College"
- Dickinson College, "The Dickinson Story"
- Wikipedia
