College of Emporia

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The College of Emporia was established in 1882 in Emporia, Kansas, and was associated with the Presbyterian church. The college officially closed in 1974.^[1] The college campus was purchased by The Way International and was operated as the Way College of Emporia from 1975 until 1989.

[edit] History

Founded in 1882, the College of Emporia was one of two higher education institutes in Emporia. The other institute at the time was what later became Emporia State University. Because Emporia had these two colleges before 1900 it was sometimes called the "Athens of Kansas." In March 1909, the Lewis Academy, a Presbyterian school in Wichita, consolidated with the College of Emporia.

In 1884 William Allen White enrolled at the College of Emporia. Colonel John Byars Anderson of Manhattan, Kansas, donated his personal library to the college in 1888. Twelve years later, a Carnegie grant provided the funds for the college to build the Anderson Memorial Library. The library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 1987.

[edit] Athletics

Presbie Pete, the mascot for the College of Emporia^[2]

Main article: College of Emporia Football

Football was established in the late 1890s and existed until the college closed its doors in 1974. The team known as the red and white "Fighting Presbies" had a proud tradition--over 70 years of football the college won 14 conference football championships, including an undefeated, untied, and unscored on season in 1928.

In 1955, alumnus Lem Harkey was drafted in th sixth round by the Pittsburg Steelers.^[3] Perhaps the college's most famous coach was Homer Woodson Hargiss.