Tarkio College

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Image of Tarkio College, circa 1910
Image of Tarkio College, circa 1910

Tarkio College was a college that operated in Tarkio, Missouri from 1883 to 1992. The institution was supported by the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America[1]. It closed after filing for bankruptcy protection in 1991[2].

Samuel C. Marshall was the first president and William E. Walker served as the last president[2].

The Tarkio College mascot, used by their basketball, football and track teams, was the owl. The school colors were purple and white, and the college's motto, often attributed to its first president, was "Set Fire, Tarkio!" [2]

Tarkio College won the 1940 NAIA Division I Men's basketball championship, defeating San Diego State 52-31[2].

Brewer and Shipley named their most famous album, Tarkio (album) after this college in 1970 featuring the song One toke over the line.

Contents

[edit] Educational Records

After the college closed, student transcript records were transferred to Northwest Missouri State University, where they can be requested through the Registrar's Office at 800 University Drive, Maryville, MO 64468[citation needed].

[edit] Notable Alumni

Tarkio College alumnus, Wallace Hume Carothers (1896–1937), obtained his four year degree at Tarkio College. He later taught at Harvard University, and is credited with the discovery of the man-made polymers nylon and neoprene[3].

Anthropologist Edgar Lee Hewett (1865-1946) received his degree in pedagogy from Tarkio College. He is remembered for helping to bring about the Antiquities Act that enabled preservation of archaeological sites as United States national monuments. He was also the first president of the New Mexico Normal School, now known as New Mexico Highlands University[4].

Tarkio College alumnus, Dr. Phillip D. Creighton became president of Pacific University in 2003.

[edit] The Future

After Tarkio College closed, the library books were purchased by, and moved to Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA. There were also several attempts to find alternative uses for the property, including early discussions about the possible founding of a new institution, Tarkio Valley College. Initially, Youth Services International, Inc. operated Tarkio Academy, a residential and community-based educational program for juveniles from 1995-2004[5]. North Central Missouri College and Linn State College then announced an exploration of options for a new jointly operated technical college in early 2006. This was soon followed by reports that the property would become Midwest Institute of Energy, a private college[6].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Williams, Walter (1901). The State of Missouri, pp. 197-210. 
  2. ^ a b c d Craig, Cathryn (1992). Tarkio College, 1883-1992: "An Illustrated History of the Crown of the Hill". Family First Publications. 
  3. ^ Hermes, Matthew (1996). Enough for One Lifetime, Wallace Carothers the Inventor of Nylon. Chemical Heritage Foundation. ISBN 0-8412-3331-4. 
  4. ^ Fisher, Reginald (July). "Edgar Lee Hewett". American Antiquity 13 (1): pp. 78–79. 
  5. ^ Belleville News-Democrat. "Old Tarkio College library considered for possible tech college", February 13, 2006. 
  6. ^ St. Joseph News-Press & Gazette Company. "Former Tarkio College will become energy institute", July 18, 2006. 

[edit] External links