The history of Carson-Newman University, the development of rural
Appalachia in the nineteenth century, and the rise of the Baptist
faith in the South are all inextricably linked. The 120-acre
university known today for its high-value liberal arts education
and Christian-focused student life, originally founded as Mossy
Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary in 1851, is situated in Jefferson
County, Tennessee, amidst the foothills of the Great Smoky
Mountains. Baptist leaders sought to develop the rechristened Mossy
Creek Baptist College to cater to the growing population of East
Tennessee. In 1880, the college was renamed again for James Harvey
Carson who left his estate to the institution that would become
Carson College. Newman College, a separate facility for women’s
education operating alongside the all-male Carson, would merge with
the latter in 1889 creating, under a new moniker, one of the first
coeducational institutions in the South: Carson-Newman. In this
expertly told history, Melody Marion and Amanda Ford trace the
school’s humble beginnings through two dozen presidents; the
turmoil of the American Civil War, Reconstruction, and two world
wars; and the contemporary scandals that have plagued the Southern
Baptist Convention. Carson-Newman’s history is filled with
important players, both courageous and corrupt. Many such players
fought tirelessly to grow the campus and maintain a level of
excellence at Carson-Newman, but the university’s history is
dotted with conflict concerning women’s rights, civil rights,
presidents whose questionable actions created firestorms of protest
and led to their exits, and modern questions related to its Baptist
affiliation. Additionally, Carson-Newman University owes much to
its Appalachian heritage, and in an excellent final chapter the
authors unpack Carson-Newman’s regional identity past and
present. Education in Appalachia historically has fallen behind
national standards, but from its start as a seminary through its
gender-segregated college days to the integrated orange-and-blue
Eagles we know today, the university, with its presidents and
academic body has been an agent of demonstrable gain for its
students and the region. Today, as new chapters in
Carson-Newman’s history are being opened, this text will serve as
a record of tradition, world-class education, and lifelong learning
within a Christian setting.
General
Imprint: |
University of Tennessee Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
August 2023 |
Authors: |
Melody Marion
• Amanda Ford
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152mm (L x W) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
428 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-62190-816-6 |
Categories: |
Books
Promotions
|
LSN: |
1-62190-816-X |
Barcode: |
9781621908166 |
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