Ralph Cooper Hutchison | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 7th President of Jefferson College | |
| In office 1931–1945 | |
| President of Lafayette College | |
| In office 1945–1957 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 27, 1898 Colorado |
| Died | March 15, 1966 (aged 68) Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania |
| Education | Lafayette College Harvard University University of Pennsylvania Princeton Theological Seminary |
Ralph Cooper Hutchison (February 27, 1898 – March 15, 1966) was president of Washington & Jefferson College and Lafayette College.[1]
Hutchison was born in Colorado on February 27, 1898.[3] He attended Lafayette College, graduating in 1918.[3] He served in the United States Naval Aviation Corps from May to November 1918.[3] In 1919, following his service, Hutchison earned a master's degree from Harvard University.[3] He attended Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained as a preacher in the Presbyterian Church on April 21, 1922.[3] He earned a PhD degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1925.[3] In 1930, Lafayette College conferred the Doctor of Divinity degree on Dr. Hutchison.[3] He also worked for the Presbyterian Board of Christian Education and was a missionary in Persia.[4] He served as Dean of the American University at Teheran, Iran, which he grew from a small high school to an institution of over 800.[3][4] He returned to the United States when his wife contracted an "Asiatic malady."[4]
Following the resignation of President Baker, Hutchison was unanimously elected the seventh president of Washington & Jefferson College on November 13, 1931; he was inaugurated on April 2, 1932, making him at 34 years old one of the youngest college presidents in the county.[3][4] Following the contentious tenure of President Baker, Time Magazine noted that Hutchison "pleased nearly everyone."[4] Hutchison, in his inaugural address, spoke out against the "false, materialistic doctrine" of going to college "because it pays."[4] Instead, he encouraged students to appreciate the oldtime college education, which was "inviting only to those who did not set profit or wealth as their main objectives in life."[4]
In an effort to strengthen the college's science department, Hutchison extended and expanded the southern portion of the campus, between East Wheeling and East Maiden Street.[3] This included the construction of the Jesse W. Lazear Chemistry Building and the final absorption of The Seminary.[3] The main seminary building was purchased, renovated, and re-dedicated as McIlvaine Hall.[3] The John L. Stewart Memorial bell tower was added to McIlvaine Hall.[3] The Reed residence on Maiden Street was purchased for use as a dormitory.[3] The old Seminary dormitory facing East Maiden Street was razed to make more open space.[3] Finally, the campus was re-oriented so the main entrance faced East Maiden Street, to allow tourists on U.S. Route 40 to see the college. The expanded campus was dedicated on October 26, 1940.[3] In 1943, Hutchison was appointed Director of Civilian Defense for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a cabinet-level position, by Governor Edward Martin for the duration of the war.[3] He also served as director of the Pennsylvania United War Fund Program.[3] President Hutchison resigned May 7, 1945.[3]
Hutchison served as president of Lafayette College, his alma mater from 1945 to 1957.[5]
President of Lafayette College since 1945, Hutchison had conferred an honorary degree on Eisenhower after World War II and maintained a friendship with the General (Galambos, Chief of Staff, nos. 722, 1179). In 1949 Eisenhower had recommended him as a civilian member of the U.S. Air Force Academy planning board (Galambos, Columbia University, no. 322). He had visited Eisenhower the morning of February 26.[6]
At the time of his death on March 15, 1966, he was president and executive director of Studies in Higher Education, a Philadelphia-based colleges and universities research firm.[1][3]
