Marshall University

Marshall University is a public university based in Huntington, West Virginia. It was founded in 1837 as the private Marshall Academy, a secondary school or high school, under the control of the Southern Methodist Church. It was renamed Marshall College in 1857; however, the majority of its offerings remained below the college level. The church lost control of the college and it became a state institution in 1867. It was renamed Marshall University in 1961, although it had been acredited as a university-level institution since 1938.

History

Old Main, which now serves as the primary administrative building for the university, was built on land known as Maple Grove in what was then the state of Virginia. John Laidley, a local attorney, hosted the meeting which lead to the founding of Marshall Academy. He named the school after his friend, the eminent John Marshall, who served as the fourth Chief Justice of the United States from January 1801 until July 1835.

Related Topics:
State - Virginia - John Laidley - Attorney - John Marshall - Chief Justice - United States - January - 1801 - July - 1835

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In 1838, the Virginia General Assembly officially chartered the academy, and the school that year began its first full term. The academy was closed for several years during the American Civil War.

Related Topics:
1838 - Virginia General Assembly - Charter - American Civil War

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In 1863 the western counties of Virginia officially formed the State of West Virginia, and in the legislature of West Virginia created the State Normal School of Marshall College. The colleges today known as Concord University, Shepherd University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, and West Liberty State College were all founded as branches of the State Normal School and eventually spun off from Marshall. Southern West Virginia Community College also was once a Marshall branch.

Related Topics:
1863 - West Virginia - Concord University - Shepherd University - Fairmont State University - Glenville State College - West Liberty State College - Southern West Virginia Community College

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Forty-years later, in 1907, enrollment surpassed 1,000 students.

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In 1937, the college suffered through a devastating flooding by the Ohio River. The city of Huntington later built a floodwall to protect both the college and downtown city businesses from future flooding.

Related Topics:
1937 - Ohio River

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In 1938, the college officially began granting Master's degrees in chemistry, education, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. In that year the school was acredited as a "university level institution"; however, the renaming of the school would remain a contensious political issue for decades to come.

Related Topics:
1938 - Chemistry - Education - History - Political science - Psychology - Sociology

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In 1960, John F. Kennedy spoke at the college during his cross-country campaign for the presidency.

Related Topics:
1960 - John F. Kennedy

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In 1961, the state legislature finally created Marshall University. Governor William Wallace Barron signed the legislation at the university the day after it passed the legislature, on March 2, 1961. Interestingly, the student newspaper, the Parthenon, prepared two frontpages for the day, depending on the outcome of the legislature's vote. The renaming of the college had been biterly opposed by supporters of West Virginia University, who had blocked the measure for many years.

Related Topics:
1961 - William Wallace Barron - West Virginia University

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In 1969, the university's athletic program, facing a number of scandals, fired both its football and basketball coaches and was suspended from the Mid-American Conference and from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The university respectably rebuilt its athletic program over the next several years, and in 1977, the university joined the Southern Conference.

Related Topics:
1969 - Football - Basketball - Mid-American Conference - National Collegiate Athletic Association - 1977 - Southern Conference

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In 1970, an airplane crash claimed the lives of 75 people (including the entire coaching staff and 37 members of the Marshall football team). They were returning, on November 14, after playing East Carolina University. In 1972, the university built and named a new student union, the Memorial Student Center, in honor of the team. The plaza of the center has a fountain which is does not flow from November 14 until the first day of spring football practice the following year. Also, all flags throughout West Virginia fly at half-staff on the anniversary of the crash.

Related Topics:
1970 - East Carolina University - 1972

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In 1977 the university founded its School of Medicine, the first professional school and the first doctoral program. Over the next 20 years the school would add doctoral programs in many fields.

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In 1997, the West Virginia Graduate College became the graduate college of Marshall University. Its campus is located in South Charleston, West Virginia.

Related Topics:
1997 - West Virginia Graduate College - South Charleston, West Virginia

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In 1998, the John Deaver Drinko Library opened on campus. The center includes a 24-hour study center and a coffee shop, and has both wired and wireless networking throughout the building. John Deaver Drinko graduated from the university in 1942.

Related Topics:
1998 - John Deaver Drinko

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In 2002, Marshall became the first university to eliminate landline telephones from its dormitory rooms. Most Marshall students who live in residence halls now receive their own mobile phones.

Related Topics:
2002 - Mobile phone

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