Vassar

Vassar

His dream was realized, but he wasn’t there to see it.

MILO P. JEWETT was born in Vermont on April 27, 1808. He graduated from Dartmouth College, planning to become an attorney. However, after two years he abandoned law and entered Andover Theological Seminary. He had a great interest in education and during his vacations from Andover achieved prominence lecturing on the value of “common-school” systems. He was one of the first proponents of quality public school education for all.

Deciding that God intended him to be a teacher rather than a preacher, after seminary he took a teaching position at Marietta College in Ohio. While there, he was influential in developing Ohio’s public school system.

In addition to public schooling, Jewett was interested in education for girls, which he felt was neglected. In 1839 he changed his view of baptism and became a Baptist, leading him to resign from Marietta College. He then moved to Alabama, where he founded Judson Female Institute, which became the South’s most successful school for women.

In 1856 Jewett met the wealthy Matthew Vassar at the Baptist Church of Poughkeepsie, New York, and the two men became friends. As their friendship deepened, Jewett talked to his friend about a rich man’s duty “to use his property for the glory of God.” In response, Vassar excitedly told Jewett of his plan to will his significant estate for the formation of a hospital after his death. Much to Vassar’s disappointment, Jewett did not share his excitement. Instead, Jewett shared his dream that Vassar would help him build and endow a Christian college for young women, that would be for them what Yale and Harvard were for young men.

Jewett campaigned hard, appealing to Vassar’s interest in Sunday schools and missions. He appealed to his Christian duty to found a Christian school. He also appealed to his pride in Poughkeepsie, New York, and the opportunity to name the college after himself.

Jewett succeeded in convincing Vassar to change his plans and his will. Vassar decided to use his wealth to found a women’s college in his name in Poughkeepsie during his lifetime. He abandoned his plans for the hospital and instead gave $400,000 to start Vassar Female College.

Jewett and Vassar worked together for the next few years planning the school, with Jewett as chief adviser in every area. There were some disagreements. Jewett wanted at least eight of the thirteen trustees to be Baptists. Although Vassar wanted an evangelical school, he did not want it to be sectarian. In the end he created a board of trustees from various denominations but made it self-perpetuating so that it would remain true to its evangelical purpose. In 1861 Vassar’s charter was granted, and Jewett was named Vassar Female College’s first president.

The school had six areas of emphasis that the founders felt were lacking in current women’s education. One of them was moral and religious education. Vassar was to have ethics classes, two chapels daily, Sunday services, Bible classes, and social-religious organizations.

Unfortunately tension arose between the visionary and the benefactor. In 1864 Jewett resigned as president before the school even enrolled its first students. After years of work Jewett walked away from the school that had been his dream from the beginning.

After Vassar, Jewett moved to Milwaukee, eventually becoming the commissioner of public schools. His only other known contact with Vassar College was a gracious letter he wrote in 1873 to a Vassar trustee approving the course the college had taken. He expressed happiness in “the humble part I was permitted to bear in laying the foundations and building the rough scaffolding of the grand temple. I never could have overcome the obstacles you have vanquished in rearing the superstructure. Being advised of these from year to year, I have long been persuaded that it was best for myself, as well as for the college, that I left in 1864.”

Reflection

Milo Jewett was not able to see his vision for Vassar College through to completion. Have you experienced not realizing some of your dreams? In hindsight have you been able to see the reasons why they weren’t fulfilled? In some cases we’ll only understand in the next life.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Proverbs 16:9