A Brief History of Church Relations at Warren Wilson College
THE ASHEVILLE FARM SCHOOL opened its doors November 21, 1894, with 25 young men in attendance (more than 140 had sought admission!). Many were in their teens and twenties. The school was founded by the Women's Board of Home Missions, an affiliate of the Home Missions Board of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The school at first had only three grades; by the early 1900s eight grades were offered. Mr. Samuel Jeffrey, a Pennsylvanian and recent agricultural studies graduate of Cornell, was the first Superintendent.
Following Mr. Jeffrey six superintendents led the school: Reverend George S. Baskerville (1900-1906); John P. Roger, MD (1906-1917); Dr. John P. Chalfee, Interim Superintendent (1917-1925); J. Charles Walker (1925-1927); Reverend Dr. Henry S. Randolph (1927-1938); and Dr. Arthur Bannerman (1938-1942).
In 1942, three important events took place:
The Board of National Missions closed two of its schools: the Dorland-Bell School for Girls in Hot Springs, North Carolina; and the Mossop Schools in Harriman, Tennessee. Many students from these schools transferred to the Farm School.
The Board of National Missions began a vocational junior college at the Farm School and gave the school a new name: THE WARREN H. WILSON VOCATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE AND ASSOCIATED SCHOOLS. The school was named in honor of the Reverend Dr. Warren Hugh Wilson, who, until his death in 1938, served the Board of National Missions as Superintendent of the Department of Church and Country Life.
Dr. Arthur M. Bannerman was named the first President of the college. He served until 1971. Dr. Bannerman was born of missionary parents in Juneau, Alaska, and was baptized by the Reverend Sheldon Jackson. He graduated in 1922 from Lafayette College and came to teach at the Farm School in 1928.
With the enrollment of Alma Shippy of Swannanoa in 1952, Warren Wilson College became the first college within the Old South to permanently integrate, two years before the landmark decision Brown v. Board of Education.
In 1962 two important events took place:
The Board of National Missions authorized President Bannerman to incorporate the college and form a Board of Trustees.
A plan for a four-year college was approved. The first four-year graduates received their degrees in 1969, the college's 75th Anniversary Year.
Following Dr. Bannerman, five Presidents have led the college: Reuben A. Holden (1971-1986); John J. Carey (1986-1988); Alfred O. Canon (1988-1991); Douglas M. Orr, Jr., (1991-2006); and William S. Pfeiffer (2006-present).
In 1973 the college was officially separated from the Presbyterian Board of National Missions, with a loss of funding of approximately $300,000 a year. A covenant was adopted in the same year with the Synod of the South of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Synod began supporting the college with approximately $5,000 a year.
Warren Wilson is currently related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through covenants with four presbyteries in North Carolina: Charlotte, New Hope, Salem and Western North Carolina. The college also maintains relationships with many local congregations.
Warren Wilson College
Office of Church Relations
PO Box 9000
Asheville, NC 28815-9000
(828) 771-2038
