- Eleutherian College
Infobox_nrhp | name =Eleutherian College Classroom and Chapel Building
nrhp_type = nhl
caption = Eleutherian College and Chapel Building
location=Lancaster, Indiana
lat_degrees = 38
lat_minutes = 49
lat_seconds = 51
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 85
long_minutes = 30
long_seconds = 59
long_direction = W
locmapin = Indiana
area =
architect= Unknown
architecture= Greek Revival
designated=February 18 ,1997 cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2201&ResourceType=Building
title=Eleutherian College Classroom and Chapel Building|accessdate=2008-07-23|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added =December 15 ,1993
governing_body = Private
refnum=93001410cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]A U.S. National Historic Landmark, Eleutherian College, founded in
1848 as Eleutherian Institute, was the first college inIndiana to admit students without regard to race or sex.Its name comes from the Greek word "eleutheros" which means "free". It is located in the unincorporated town of Lancaster in Jefferson County.
History
The college was founded by members of the Neil’s Creek Abolitionist Baptist Church, with much of the organizing done by the extended Hoyt-Whipple family.
Lyman Hoyt was married to Aseneth Whipple Hoyt, the niece ofWilliam Whipple , one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Aseneth’s sister, Lucy Whipple Nelson, was a strong abolitionist and encouraged Lyman and Aseneth to move to Lancaster, Indiana. Walter Hoyt and his brother Benajah soon followed. In the 1830s-1860s, Lancaster was the center of a burgeoning abolitionist community, largely centered around the Neil’s Creek Abolitionist Baptist Church. The Hoyts soon became involved in the Neil’s Creek Church. Lyman Hoyt became a well-known “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, and provided shelter and supplies to runaway slaves. The Hoyts helped to establish the Eleutherian College in 1848, following the advice of The Rev. Thomas Craven of Oxford, Ohio, an early advocate of an integrated educational system. In 1856 the college built a stone school house which still stands on a hill in Lancaster. [ W. Thompson, History of Eleutherian College (Lancaster, Indiana, 1923)]Some of the Eleutherian College's trustees were active in the
Underground Railroad and made Lancaster an important stop for fugitive slaves traveling from Madison on theOhio River to Indianapolis. In1856 , the college had 18 African-American students, 10 of whom were born slaves. In1860 , two hundred students were enrolled, 50 of them African-American. This was at a time when the Indianaconstitution prohibited African-American immigration into the state.The college and chapel building, constructed between
1854 and 1856, became a public school in1888 and remained in use until1938 .Eleutherian Connections to Iowa and John Brown
There are interesting connections between Eleutherian College, Iowa, and John Brown. Walter Hoyt later moved to Iowa City, purchasing Plum Grove from Robert Lucas, the former governor of Ohio and territorial governor of Iowa. Lucas was familiar with John Brown and his father as early as the
War of 1812 , when Owen and John Brown ran supplies to Lucas' troops [John Brown's autobiography, "The life, Trial, and Execution of Captain John Brown" (1859) describes his work as a supplier forWilliam Hull , Lucas was Hull's aide] . Walter Hoyt was close neighbor and associate ofSamuel Kirkwood in Iowa. Kirkwood served as the governor of Iowa, and was famous for protectingBarclay Coppock , one of John Brown's fighters atHarper's Ferry . Brown and his father commonly stayed in the Cincinnati area among anti-slavery supporters, and Brown lived for a time near Iowa City atSpringdale, Iowa .Walter Hoyt's daughter was the well-known author
Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd , who discussed a bit of her father's past in her novel, "Our Little Old Lady", although this book does not include a discussion of the Eleutherian College.Gallery
References
External links
* [http://www.eleutherian.us Historic Eleutherian College]
* [http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/markers/3920043.html Eleutherian College Historical Marker]
* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/ National Park Service: Aboard the Underground Railroad]
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