Judson College (Alabama)

Judson College
Established 1838 (1838)
Type Private
Religious affiliation Alabama Baptist Convention
President David E. Potts
Students 322[1]
Location Marion, Alabama, United States
Campus Rural, 118 acres (48 ha)
Website

Judson College

Judson College Historic District
Jewett Hall, within the Judson College Historic District
Location: Roughly bounded by East Lafayette, Curb, Mason and Washington streets
Architectural style: Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Greek Revival
Governing body: Private
NRHP Reference#: 92001825[2]
Added to NRHP: February 3, 1993

Judson College, originally named Judson Female Institute, was founded by members of the Siloam Baptist Church in 1838 in Marion, Alabama.[3][4] It is the fifth oldest women's college in the United States.[5] It was named after Ann Hasseltine Judson, the first female foreign missionary from the United States. It has been affiliated with the Alabama Baptist Convention throughout its history.[5]

Description

Current enrollment at Judson is approximately 300. The college offers Bachelor's degrees in both liberal arts and pre-professional programs.

The principal building of the campus is Jewett Hall, which exists now in its third incarnation. The first Jewett Hall, built in 1840, was a four-story Greek revival building named after Dr. Milo P. Jewett, first president of the college. It was destroyed by fire in 1888. The rebuilding of Jewett Hall was begun that same year. In 1947 the dome was hit by a lightning strike and fire again consumed the building. Again, rebuilding efforts commenced almost immediately with funds raised from the sale of bricks from the rubble.

Other notable buildings on campus include A. Howard Bean Hall, a former Carnegie library which now houses the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame as well as classrooms, Alumnae Auditorium, and the Women's Missionary Union residence hall.

Judson College participates in joint social and civic events with Marion Military Institute, also located in Marion.

Judson College students participate in big sister/little sister activities. In the Spring semester of their freshman year, freshman students will receive a big sister from the sophomore class. Throughout the sophomore year, students will go through several secret tradition ceremonies. The big sister leads the little sister through these ceremonies and provides for them the materials and things they need to pass on the traditions to later classes.

Every April, Judson hold its J-Day. J-Day is a homecoming event, and alumni come from all over the country to celebrate and hold reunions.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Best Colleges: Judson College". U.S.News & World Report. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/judson-college-1023. Retrieved November 16, 2011. 
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  3. ^ Harris, W. Stuart (1991). Heritage of Perry County. Marion, Alabama: Perry County Historical and Preservation Society. pp. 70–92. 
  4. ^ Wilson, Mabel Ponder (1973). Some Early Alabama Churches. Marion, Alabama: Alabama Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. pp. 134–144. ISBN 978-0884280293. 
  5. ^ a b "About Judson College". Judson College. http://www.judson.edu/content.asp?id=84414. Retrieved November 16, 2011.