Eleutherian College facts for kids
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Eleutherian College Classroom and Chapel Building
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Eleutherian College and Chapel Building
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lancaster, Indiana |
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| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001410 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 15, 1993 |
| Designated NHL | February 18, 1997 |
Eleutherian College was a special school founded in 1848. It was started by a group of Baptists in Lancaster, Indiana, who were against slavery. The school's name comes from the Greek word eleutheros, which means "freedom and equality."
What made Eleutherian College so unique? It welcomed students of all races and genders. This included people who had been enslaved but were now free, and even those who were escaping slavery. Its first classes began on November 27, 1848, teaching high school subjects. In 1854, it became Eleutherian College and started offering college-level classes.
This college was very important because it was the second school west of the Allegheny Mountains and the first in Indiana to offer education to students of different races together. The main building, a three-story stone chapel and classroom, was built between 1853 and 1856. Today, this restored building is a local history museum.
Before the American Civil War, about one-fourth to one-third of the students were African-American. The school was busiest between 1855 and 1861, with up to 150 students. After 1861, no black students attended. During the Civil War, the college grounds were used for military training. The main building also hosted meetings and concerts.
The college closed in 1874. However, the main building was later used as a private high school and a teacher training school until 1887. Then, the local government bought it for a public school, which closed in 1938. In 1973, a group called Historic Madison received the building. They sold it in 1990 to new owners who formed a non-profit group called Historic Eleutherian College Inc. in 1996. The main building has been carefully restored to look like it did in the 1850s.
Contents
How Eleutherian College Started
The idea for Eleutherian College came from Reverend Thomas Craven. He was a Baptist minister and strongly against slavery. He believed that all people, no matter their race, should be educated together. Following his advice, members of the Neil's Creek Abolitionist Baptist Church started the Eleutherian Institute in 1848. The Hoyt-Whipple family also played a big part in setting up the school.
A Community for Freedom
From the 1830s to the 1860s, the area around Lancaster was known for its strong anti-slavery feelings. The Neil's Creek Anti-Slavery Society was formed in 1839, and the Neil's Creek Abolitionist Baptist Church in 1846. Lancaster was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped people escaping slavery travel north to freedom. Many families involved with the school were also part of the Underground Railroad. Because of these strong beliefs, Lancaster was a perfect place for a school that welcomed all races.
First Classes and Teachers
Eleutherian Institute welcomed students regardless of their race or gender. This included people who had been freed from slavery and those who were escaping it. The name eleutheros means "freedom and equality." The first classes started on November 27, 1848, with fifteen students in an old meetinghouse.
Reverend John G. Craven, son of Thomas Craven, was the school's first teacher. John C. Thompson, Thomas Craven's son-in-law, also taught for the first year. Reverend John Craven was the school's principal until 1861.
Growing the Campus
Reverend Thomas Craven gave the land for the school in Lancaster. Two new buildings were built on College Hill in the 1850s. One was a dormitory (a place for students to live), built around 1854. The other was the stone chapel and classroom building, built between 1854 and 1856.
Becoming a College
In 1854, the institute was renamed Eleutherian College. It started offering college-level courses. This made it the second college west of the Allegheny Mountains (after Oberlin College) and the first in Indiana to offer education to students of different races together.
Before the Civil War, about one-fourth to one-third of the students were African-American. Some came from as far away as New Orleans and Jackson, Mississippi, but most were from Kentucky. The school was most popular between 1855 and 1861, with up to 150 students. By 1860, there were 200 students, including 50 African Americans. However, after 1861, no black students were enrolled.
During the Civil War, the college grounds were used for military training. Some former students who joined the army trained there. The college buildings were also used for meetings and concerts.
After John Craven left in 1861, William Brand became principal. The college closed in 1874. However, John Craven returned in 1878 to help reopen it as a private high school and teacher training school. He stayed until 1887. In 1888, the local government bought the main building for a public school. It closed for good in 1938.
Saving and Restoring the College
Work to restore the college's main building began in the 1960s. Historic Madison, a group that saves old buildings, received the school as a gift in 1973. They sold it in 1990. The new owners formed Historic Eleutherian College Incorporated in 1996. The chapel and classroom building has been restored to look like it did in the 1850s. Today, Historic Eleutherian College runs the building as a local history museum.
What the College Looks Like
Reverend Thomas Craven donated the land for the school. Two new buildings were built on College Hill in the 1850s. These were made from rough-cut limestone from nearby quarries. The main building had a chapel and classrooms. The other building was a dormitory.
The main building is three stories tall and was finished in 1856. It has a chapel and seven other rooms. It is about 65 feet (20 m) long and 42 feet (13 m) wide. Its classrooms could hold 200 to 300 students. The dormitory was two stories tall with fifteen rooms.
Outside the Building
The main building was built between 1854 and 1856 in the Greek Revival style. It has a rectangular shape with a square bell tower in the middle, above the main entrance. The roof has a triangular-shaped wood section above the third-floor windows. The window sills, tops of windows, and corner stones are smooth limestone, which stands out against the rough stone walls. The front of the building has three sections, with two wooden doors and one window on the ground floor. The sides of the building have four tall windows on the first two floors and four more on the third floor.
Inside the Building
The main building has a small entrance area that leads to a two-story chapel. The chapel has tall windows and a balcony on the north side. The chapel ceiling is covered in wood panels. Stairs at each end of the entrance hall lead to the upper floors. The second floor has two classrooms. The third floor has five more rooms. Stairs in one of the third-floor rooms lead to an unfinished attic. A ladder in the attic goes up to the bell tower. The bell was made by J.A. Kelley of Franklin Brass Bell Factory in Madison, Indiana.
Why Eleutherian College is Important
The restored main building, which is now a public museum, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. It was also named a National Historic Landmark on February 18, 1997. The National Park Service also lists the building as a Network to Freedom Site, recognizing its connection to the Underground Railroad. In 2004, the Indiana Historical Bureau placed a historical marker at the college. This marker honors its role as one of the first schools in Indiana to welcome students of all races and genders.
Famous Students
Some notable African-American students attended Eleutherian College. One was Moses Broyles, who became a pastor at the Second Baptist Church in Indianapolis. He also helped start the Indiana Association of Black Baptists Churches in 1858. Broyles had been enslaved in Kentucky but bought his freedom as an adult.
Notable female students included Sarah B. Hoyt, who also studied at Oberlin College. She became a teacher and later a high school principal in Newport, Kentucky. Rebecca J. Thompson was another important student. She became the head of the mathematics department at Franklin College (Indiana) for 38 years, retiring in 1910.
Gallery
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Old NPS picture of the school
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Distant view
