Hanover College facts for kids
Seal: Philosophia pietati ancillans (Latin)
"Knowledge in service of piety" |
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Former name
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Hanover Academy (1827–1833) |
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| Type | Private college |
| Established | January 1, 1827 |
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Religious affiliation
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Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| Endowment | $142.8 million (2020) |
| President | Lake Lambert III |
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Academic staff
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89 Full-time & 7 Part-time |
| Undergraduates | 1,070 |
| Location |
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U.S.
38°42′44″N 85°27′39″W / 38.71222°N 85.46083°W |
| Campus | Rural 650 acres (260 ha) |
| Colors | Red and blue |
| Nickname | Panthers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference |
| Mascot | Panther |
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Hanover College is a private college located in Hanover, Indiana. It is connected with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Reverend John Finley Crowe started the college in 1827. This makes it the oldest private college in Indiana.
Hanover's sports teams are called the Panthers. They compete in the NCAA Division III. They are part of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Students who graduate from Hanover are known as Hanoverians.
Contents
History of Hanover College
How Hanover College Started
In the early 1800s, missionaries came to Hanover. Reverend John Finley Crowe was the pastor of the Hanover Presbyterian Church. On January 1, 1827, he opened the Hanover Academy in a small log cabin.
Two years later, the state of Indiana officially approved the Academy. In 1829, the Presbyterian Synod of Indiana agreed to support the school. They wanted a special department for studying religion.
A new brick building was built for both the Academy and the Indiana Seminary. On January 1, 1833, the state gave the Academy a new charter. This officially created Hanover College. The college still keeps its connection with the Presbyterian Church today.
By 1834, the college was growing fast. The Hanover Preparatory School had 119 students. Hanover College had 101 students. This was a big jump from only six students seven years earlier.
In 1843, there was a plan to move Hanover College to Madison. The college's leaders agreed to this. But Reverend Crowe bought the college property back. He started the Hanover Classical and Mathematical School. Soon, students and teachers from the new Madison University returned to Crowe's school.
Hanover College was officially brought back on Christmas Day, 1844. The state of Indiana gave it a new charter. John Finley Crowe is often called "twice the founder of Hanover College." He taught at the college for over 30 years.
In 1849, the college bought a 200-acre farm. This land overlooked the Ohio River. Today, this land is the main part of the campus. By the mid-1850s, Classic Hall was built on a bluff. This building became Hanover's most famous building for over 90 years.
During the American Civil War, Confederate troops came close to the campus. This event was part of Morgan's Raid. Students and teachers were worried that Classic Hall might be burned.
In 1870, there was a suggestion to combine Hanover College with another school. The idea was for Hanover to become a women's school. But the college leaders said no. In 1880, Hanover College began to accept women students.
Hanover College in the 20th Century
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Thomas A. Hendricks Library
Hendricks Hall |
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Hendricks Hall front entrance
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| Location | College Dr. (Campus Rd.) Jefferson County Hanover, Indiana |
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| Area | < 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | Patton & Miller |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000043 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1982 |
For its first 50 years, Hanover College had many presidents. None of them stayed for very long. But then, things became more stable. Daniel Fisher led Hanover from 1879 to 1907. During his time, five new buildings were built. One of these was the Thomas A. Hendricks Library. It was named after Thomas Hendricks, a former U.S. vice president who went to Hanover. Today, this building is called Hendricks Hall. It is the oldest classroom building on campus.
Albert G. Parker Jr. became president in 1929. This was right after the stock market crash that started the Great Depression. Money was tight, but the college found ways to manage.
On December 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor happened. This brought the United States into World War II. Hanover's student numbers dropped a lot. In 1941, a big fire destroyed most of Classic Hall. But by 1946, after the war, student numbers grew quickly. The college began a major building period.
In 1947, Long College for Women was started. For a while, women graduating from Hanover received their degrees from Long College. In 1978, the two colleges fully joined. Hanover officially became a co-ed school for both men and women.
John E. Horner became president in 1958. He served for 29 years. During his time, Hanover grew a lot in its academics and student numbers. He encouraged teachers to change the school's courses. Hanover divided its school year into two main terms and a shorter Spring Term. Students took fewer classes at a time, allowing for deeper study. This system is still used today.
By the mid-1960s, the campus grew to over 500 acres. More than 1,000 students were enrolled.
On April 3, 1974, a powerful tornado hit the campus. This tornado was part of the 1974 Super Outbreak. No one was killed or seriously hurt. But 32 out of 33 college buildings were damaged. Two buildings were completely destroyed. Hundreds of trees fell, blocking all roads. Power and water were lost.
People wondered if Hanover College could recover. But the Hanoverians, led by President Horner, worked together. Students helped clear the debris. The college leaders decided to rebuild without government help. They wanted to keep Hanover financially independent.
Within a week, roads were clear and services were back. People donated money to help cover the costs. The college raised $1 million in three months. When the Spring Term started, the college had full enrollment. This was only 19 days after the tornado. By spring 1975, the campus was replanted and recovered.
When Horner retired in 1987, the college's funds were over $40 million. Russell Nichols became president in 1987. He worked to make the Hanover experience better for students. The number of full-time teachers increased. This meant smaller classes and more chances for students to do their own research. Six new academic subjects were added.
Students also got direct-dial telephones in their dorm rooms. Academic scholarships were increased for students. In 1995, the Horner Health and Recreation Center opened. It was named after President Horner and his wife.
Hanover College in the 21st Century
In 2000, a new Science Center was built. It cost $23 million. This center now holds all five of the college's natural sciences departments.
In 2006, President Nichols announced his retirement. He helped expand study abroad programs. He also started the Center for Business Preparation. This program connects a liberal arts education with business skills. In 2004, Hanover received $11.4 million to start the Rivers Institute. This center studies rivers around the world.
In 2007, Sue DeWine became the 15th president of Hanover College. Lake Lambert took over as president in 2015.
Presidents of Hanover College
- James Blythe, 1832–1836
- Duncan McAuley March – July 1838
- Erasmus D. MacMaster 1838–1843
- Sylvester Scovel 1846–1849
- Thomas E. Thomas 1849–1854
- Jonathan Edwards, 1855–1857
- James Wood 1859–1866
- George D. Archibald 1868–1870
- George C. Heckman 1870–1879
- Daniel Webster Fisher, 1879–1907
- William A. Millis, 1908–1929
- Albert Parker, 1929–1958
- John Horner, 1958–1987
- Russell Nichols, 1987–2007
- Sue DeWine, 2007–2015
- Lake Lambert, 2015–present
Hanover College Campus
Hanover College is on 650 acres of land. It overlooks the beautiful Ohio River. The campus has climbing paths and cliffs. It also offers a unique view where you can see three bends in the river. The buildings on campus are mostly in the Georgian style. Parker Auditorium is a main building on the quad. It is named after former president Albert Parker.
In the 1940s, the college decided not to build a fraternity house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This was because his design did not match the Georgian style of the other buildings.
The campus was badly damaged by the April 3, 1974, tornado. This tornado was part of the Super Outbreak. Many buildings were damaged or destroyed. Hundreds of old trees were lost. But the campus reopened in just 19 days. Roads were cleared and most buildings were made usable again.
In 2008, Hurricane Ike also affected Hanover. The campus lost electricity and water. Students had to leave for a week.
Academics at Hanover College
The college offers more than 34 different subjects for students to major in.
College Rankings
In 2022–23, U.S. News & World Report ranked Hanover College among the top National Liberal Arts Colleges. It was tied for 102nd out of 157 colleges.
Student Groups
Hanover College has eight national fraternities and sororities. These are social groups for students.
Sororities
- Chi Omega (ΧΩ)
- Alpha Delta Pi (ΑΔΠ)
- Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚΑΘ)
- Phi Mu (ΦΜ)
Fraternities
- Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ)
- Sigma Chi (ΣΧ)
- Phi Gamma Delta (ΦΓΔ/Fiji)
- Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)
Some groups that used to be at Hanover include:
- Alpha Omicron Pi (ΑΟΠ)
- Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ)
Hanover College Athletics
Hanover College sports teams are called the Panthers. They compete in NCAA Division III. They are part of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC).
Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, swimming, track & field, volleyball, and golf. Hanover added men's and women's swimming in 2018.
Football at Hanover
Hanover won its first football game in 1886. They beat Butler University 11–2. The Panthers play their home games at Alumni Stadium. The field is named after Wayne Perry, their winningest coach. Coach Perry led the Panthers from 1982 to 2007. He had four seasons where his team was undefeated.
Hanover plays an annual rivalry game against Franklin College. This game is called the Victory Bell. As of 2023, Hanover has won more games in this series.
Notable People from Hanover College
- John M. Bloss 1860, a former President of Oregon State University.
- James Graham Brown, a kind person who gave money to good causes, and a successful businessman.
- John Merle Coulter 1870, a botanist and professor. He was also President of Indiana University.
- Stanley Coulter 1870, a Dean at Purdue University.
- William A. Cullop, a member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana.
- Chris Culver, a writer of crime novels.
- Thomas Cleland Dawson 1888, a diplomat who worked with other countries.
- Brett Dietz, a football player in the Arena Football League. He is now a football coach at DePauw University.
- Bob Donewald, a basketball coach for college teams. He was an assistant coach for the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers national champions.
- William Donner 1887, a successful businessman in the steel industry.
- Denny Dorrel, a football coach at Bluffton University.
- Ebenezer Dumont 1836, a member of the United States House of Representatives. He was also a general in the Union Army during the Civil War.
- Peter Dunn 2000, a writer about money, and a radio and TV personality.
- William M. Dunn, a member of the United States House of Representatives. He was also a judge.
- Corry Stewart, 2010, a football player. He is now a head football coach at Ezell-Harding Christian School.
- Jonathan Edwards, the first President of Washington & Jefferson College.
- Harriet Elliott, an educator and community leader.
- William Hayden English, a politician who served in the United States House of Representatives.
- Walter L. Fisher, who served as the United States Secretary of the Interior.
- Woody Harrelson, a famous actor known for films and the TV show Cheers.
- Charles Sherrod Hatfield 1904, a judge.
- Philip Hedrick 1964, a scientist who studies genetics.
- Thomas Andrews Hendricks 1841, who became the 21st Vice President of the United States. He was also a Governor of Indiana and a U.S. Senator.
- Eric Holcomb 1990, the current Governor of Indiana.
- Thomas M. Honan, a former Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives.
- Peter Kassig, an aid worker.
- Walter LaFeber, a historian who taught at Cornell University.
- Bertha Lewis, a leader of a community organization.
- Colonel Leslie MacDill, an early aviation pioneer. An Air Force Base is named after him.
- John Miller, 1840–1898, a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.
- Oscar H. Montgomery, 1859–1936, a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.
- John Davis Paris 1833, who built churches in Hawaii.
- James Kennedy Patterson 1856, the first President of University of Kentucky.
- Lafe Pence 1877, a member of the United States House of Representatives from Colorado.
- Mike Pence, 1981, who became the 48th Vice President of the United States. He was also the 50th Governor of Indiana.
- Albert G. Porter, a former Governor of Indiana and member of the United States House of Representatives.
- John Resig, 2001, who helped start a media company and launched theCHIVE.
- Samuel Holmes Sheppard, a neurosurgeon.
- Carol Warner Shields, an author who won a Pulitzer Prize.
- Micah Shrewsberry, 1999, the current head coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team.
- Monica Sone, an author known for her memoir Nisei Daughter.
- Reginald H. Thomson, a civil engineer who helped design modern Seattle.
- Robert J. Tracewell, a member of the United States House of Representatives.
- Tony Vittorio, a college baseball coach.
- William Ross Wallace 1836, a poet.
- George F. Whitworth, a missionary who founded Whitworth University.
- Harvey W. Wiley, a chemist involved with creating the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
- James Wylder, a writer and founder of a publishing house.
