South Kentucky College, originally South Kentucky Institute and later renamed McLean College, was a finishing school for girls founded in 1849 that became a co-educational college before closing by 1914, located in Belmont Hill in

Hopkinsville, Kentucky Hopkinsville is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 31,577. History Early years The area of present-day Hopkinsville was initially claimed in 1796 b ...

. It was the second all-female institution of higher learning in the state, after the Kentucky Female Orphan School (now

Midway University Midway University is a private Christian university in Midway, Kentucky. Related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), it enrolls approximately 1,900 students earning two-year and four-year degrees as well as master's degrees ...

History

The South Kentucky Institute received its charter from the state legislature in February 1849, under the leadership of nine trustees. All of the trustees at the time of founding were affiliated with the

Christian Church In ecclesiology, the Christian Church is what different Christian denominations conceive of as being the true body of Christians or the original institution established by Jesus. "Christian Church" has also been used in academia as a synonym fo ...

, also known as the Church of the Disciples. John M. Barnes served as the first president. The school was established in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in autumn 1849 as a

finishing school A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the education, wit ...

for girls, located in the basement of the Christian Church in downtown. After the death of president Barnes in 1851, the second president of the school was Enos Campbell. In 1858, South Kentucky College built its first campus, designed by architect

Nathan Kelley Nathan B. Kelley (February 26, 1808 – November 20, 1871) was an American architect and builder. He was a prolific architect whose designs dominated the cityscape of Columbus, Ohio at the middle of the 19th century. Life and work Little person ...

. By 1879, the school instruction included vocal, music,

elocution Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone as well as the idea and practice of effective speech and its forms. It stems from the idea that while communication is symbolic, sounds are final and compelli ...

, and

physical education Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys Ed. or P.E., is a subject taught in schools around the world. It is usually taught during primary and secondary education, and encourages psychomotor learning by using a play and movement explorati ...

. The school began admitting men in 1880 and was officially renamed South Kentucky College by the state. From 1884 to 1891, James Edward Scobey served as president of the school. In 1908, the school was renamed to McLean College, in honor of the missionary Archibald McLean. A 1912 fire destroyed the school, and the rebuilding effort extinguished its finances. In 1913, the campus was plagued with

typhoid Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

. The school was acquired by

Transylvania University Transylvania University is a private university in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1780 and was the first university in Kentucky. It offers 46 major programs, as well as dual-degree engineering programs, and is accredited by the Southern ...

in January 1914. Transylvania University subdivided the school's land and sold it as housing lots. In 1949, the school campus property was bought by the city school system and opened as Belmont Elementary School. Sophia H. Schooler taught elocution and physical culture at the school. Elizabeth M. Herman headed the music department.

Legacy

The Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives at the Kentucky State Archives hold records of the school. A postcard of the college exists in the Special Collections, at Western Kentucky University.

Alumni

Logan Feland Major General Logan Feland (18 August 1869 – 17 July 1936) was a United States Marine Corps general who last served as commanding general of the Department of the Pacific. Feland served during the Spanish–American War (3rd Kentucky Volunte ...

References

{{Authority control Defunct private universities and colleges in Kentucky 1849 establishments in Kentucky 1914 disestablishments in Kentucky Hopkinsville, Kentucky

History

Legacy

Alumni

See also

References