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===Central University of Kentucky, 1904–1915=== ===Central University of Kentucky, 1904–1915===
] ]
Hinitt was offered the presidency of ], in ], on April 7, 1904.<ref name="cuk-election">{{cite news |title=Dr. Hinitt to be president of Central |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lexington-herald/161495693/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=April 8, 1904 |location=] |page=1 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref>{{efn|Previously known as Centre College, the school consolidated with Central University, located in ], to become Central University of Kentucky at the beginning of the 1901–1902 academic year during the presidency of Hinitt's predecessor, ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Central University of Kentucky, Danville, Ky. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-twice-a-week-courier-journal/159251969/ |access-date=November 17, 2024 |work=] |date=August 28, 1901 |location=] |page=3 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The school later resumed use of the Centre College name in December 1918 and maintains its use to the present day.{{sfn|''Board of Trustees Minutes''|1918|page=5}}}} He arrived in Danville, greeted by a crowd, on April 14<ref>{{cite news |title=To take presidency: Dr. Hinitt becomes head of Central University |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-owensboro-messenger/159252782/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=April 15, 1904 |location=] |page=1 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> and officially accepted the position on April 18.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hinitt accepts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/161494570/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=April 18, 1904 |location=] |page=1 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Upon his arrival, it was seen as relatively certain that he would accept the job, though this was temporarily cast into doubt as the result of a prank by Central students which involved letting loose a hog in the chapel prior to Hinitt's address.<ref>{{cite news |title=College students put hog under a rostrum |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/161494499/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=April 16, 1904 |location=] |page=1 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He chose to accept Central's offer over similar competing offers from ] and his {{lang|la|]}} of Westminster College.<ref name="cuk-election"/> Hinitt gave the commencement address at the ] on May 6, 1904,<ref>{{cite news |title=Commencement exercises close |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-owensboro-messenger/161509593/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=May 8, 1904 |location=] |page=12 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> and while he was not able to be present for Central's 1904 commencement exercises, he did travel to Danville to give the sermon at the school's ] on June 5.<ref>{{cite news |title=Centre College commencement exercises in progress this week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/161509709/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=June 7, 1904 |location=] |page=4 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Hinitt's salary as president began July 1, 1904,{{sfn|''Board of Trustees Minutes''|1904|page=45}} and he moved to Danville before the start of the 1904–1905 academic year.<ref>{{cite news |title=On dit. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/161510110/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=August 9, 1904 |location=] |page=4 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was formally inaugurated on October 20, 1904.<ref>{{cite news |title=Inauguration of new president of Central University |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hopkinsville-kentuckian/161510277/ |access-date=December 25, 2024 |work=] |date=October 25, 1904 |location=] |page=8 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was the school's first president to hold a Ph.D.{{sfn|Weston|2019|pages=59–60}} Hinitt was offered the presidency of ], in ], on April 7, 1904.<ref name="cuk-election">{{cite news |title=Dr. Hinitt to be president of Central |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lexington-herald/161495693/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=April 8, 1904 |location=] |page=1 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref>{{efn|Previously known as Centre College, the school consolidated with Central University, located in ], to become Central University of Kentucky at the beginning of the 1901–1902 academic year during the presidency of Hinitt's predecessor, ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Central University of Kentucky, Danville, Ky. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-twice-a-week-courier-journal/159251969/ |access-date=November 17, 2024 |work=] |date=August 28, 1901 |location=] |page=3 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The school later resumed use of the Centre College name in December 1918 and maintains its use to the present day.{{sfn|''Board of Trustees Minutes''|1918|page=5}}}} He arrived in Danville, greeted by a crowd, on April 14<ref>{{cite news |title=To take presidency: Dr. Hinitt becomes head of Central University |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-owensboro-messenger/159252782/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=April 15, 1904 |location=] |page=1 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> and officially accepted the position on April 18.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hinitt accepts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/161494570/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=April 18, 1904 |location=] |page=1 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Upon his arrival, it was seen as relatively certain that he would accept the job, though this was temporarily cast into doubt as the result of a prank by Central students which involved letting loose a hog in the chapel prior to Hinitt's address.<ref>{{cite news |title=College students put hog under a rostrum |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/161494499/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=April 16, 1904 |location=] |page=1 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He chose to accept Central's offer over similar competing offers from ] and his {{lang|la|]}} of Westminster College.<ref name="cuk-election"/> Hinitt gave the commencement address at the ] on May 6, 1904,<ref>{{cite news |title=Commencement exercises close |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-owensboro-messenger/161509593/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=May 8, 1904 |location=] |page=12 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> and while he was not able to be present for Central's 1904 commencement exercises, he did travel to Danville to give the sermon at the school's ] on June 5.<ref>{{cite news |title=Centre College commencement exercises in progress this week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/161509709/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=June 7, 1904 |location=] |page=4 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Hinitt's salary as president began July 1, 1904,{{sfn|''Board of Trustees Minutes''|1904|page=45}} and he moved to Danville before the start of the 1904–1905 academic year.<ref>{{cite news |title=On dit. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/161510110/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=] |date=August 9, 1904 |location=] |page=4 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was formally inaugurated on October 20, 1904.<ref>{{cite news |title=Inauguration of new president of Central University |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hopkinsville-kentuckian/161510277/ |access-date=December 25, 2024 |work=] |date=October 25, 1904 |location=] |page=8 |via=]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was the school's first president to hold a Ph.D.{{sfn|Weston|2019|pages=59–60}}


Major priorities of Hinitt's at Central were a reorganization of the curriculum and a strengthening of the school's academic standards.{{sfn|Weston|2019|page=60}} Major priorities of Hinitt's at Central were a reorganization of the curriculum and a strengthening of the school's academic standards. The school joined the ] in his first year.{{sfn|Weston|2019|page=60}}


Hinitt worked to increase the educational standards of Centre and pushed the ] to establish public high schools in every county of the state.<ref name=cc/> He worked to distance the school from the ] and became associated with the ].<ref name=cc/> In 1913, Centre built a new library funded with a $30,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie.<ref name=cc/> Hinitt also pursued a plan for expansion, to include the remodeling of Breckinridge Hall, and building the Young Science Hall and Boyle-Humphrey Alumni Gymnasium. Hinitt worked to increase the educational standards of Centre and pushed the ] to establish public high schools in every county of the state.<ref name=cc/> He worked to distance the school from the ] and became associated with the ].<ref name=cc/> In 1913, Centre built a new library funded with a $30,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie.<ref name=cc/> Hinitt also pursued a plan for expansion, to include the remodeling of Breckinridge Hall, and building the Young Science Hall and Boyle-Humphrey Alumni Gymnasium.

Revision as of 19:34, 25 December 2024

American pastor and academic administrator

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Frederick W. Hinitt
Hinitt at Central University c. 1905
4th President of
Washington & Jefferson College
In office
January 4, 1915 – June 30, 1918
Preceded byJames D. Moffat
Succeeded bySamuel Charles Black
10th President of the
Central University of Kentucky
In office
July 1, 1904 – January 1, 1915
Preceded byWilliam C. Roberts
Succeeded byWilliam Arthur Ganfield
6th President of Parsons College
In office
July 27, 1900 – April 1904
Preceded byDaniel E. Jenkins
Succeeded byWillis E. Parsons
Personal details
BornNovember 21, 1866
Kidderminster, England
DiedOctober 25, 1928(1928-10-25) (aged 61)
Indiana, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Spouse Effie Humphreys ​ ​(m. 1892; died 1918)​
EducationWestminster College
McCormick Theological Seminary
University of Wooster
Signature

Frederick William Hinitt (November 21, 1866 – October 25, 1928) was an American Presbyterian pastor and academic administrator who was president of Parsons College, Central University of Kentucky (now Centre College), and Washington & Jefferson College for various periods between 1900 and 1918.

Early life and education

Frederick William Hinitt was born in Kidderminster, England, on November 21, 1866. He moved with his family to Missouri when he was fourteen years of age and shortly thereafter began studying architecture. He studied for the ministry at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1889. He earned another bachelor's degree from Westminster the following year and a Master of Arts degree the year after that. While at Westminster, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In May 1892, he earned a degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. Finally, he received a Doctor of Divinity degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Wooster, now known as the College of Wooster.

Career

Pastor and Parsons president, 1892–1904

Following his graduation from McCormick, Hinitt became pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 1895, he relocated to become pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa, Iowa, and he joined the board of trustees of Parsons College in 1896. He was elected president of Parsons by the board on July 27, 1900; he succeeded Daniel E. Jenkins, who left to take a faculty position at the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary. His inauguration was scheduled for June 1901 but ultimately delayed until October 15, 1901. The construction of a women's dormitory had been an issue at Parsons since at least 1883, when the board had determined that such a building was needed. The cornerstone was laid under Hinitt's administration on April 8, 1901, and the completed building, named Ballard Hall, opened as a women's dormitory and student union at the beginning of the 1901–1902 academic year at a total cost of over $17,500 (equivalent to $641,000 in 2023). Disaster struck on the morning of August 19, 1902, when a fire began on the second floor of Ankeny Hall and destroyed everything except the exterior walls of the building. It burned for four hours and threatened Hinitt's house, located nearby, though ultimately the house sustained damage only to its chimney. The damage to the school totaled $55,000 (equivalent to $1,937,000 in 2023), of which the school's insurance covered approximately half. Hinitt was vacationing at the time of the fire and the school did not reopen until after his return. While the fundraising and rebuilding efforts were ongoing, Hinitt traveled to meet with Andrew Carnegie in New York to ask for $15,000 (equivalent to $528,000 in 2023) to aid in the construction of a library; Carnegie agreed, provided the college matched that sum on their own. While Parsons was not initially able to satisfy this condition, Carnegie later agreed to the donation in 1905.

Central University of Kentucky, 1904–1915

refer to caption
Old Carnegie Library (pictured in 2012) was completed in 1913 during Hinitt's presidency at Central.

Hinitt was offered the presidency of Central University of Kentucky, in Danville, Kentucky, on April 7, 1904. He arrived in Danville, greeted by a crowd, on April 14 and officially accepted the position on April 18. Upon his arrival, it was seen as relatively certain that he would accept the job, though this was temporarily cast into doubt as the result of a prank by Central students which involved letting loose a hog in the chapel prior to Hinitt's address. He chose to accept Central's offer over similar competing offers from Lane Theological Seminary and his alma mater of Westminster College. Hinitt gave the commencement address at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary on May 6, 1904, and while he was not able to be present for Central's 1904 commencement exercises, he did travel to Danville to give the sermon at the school's baccalaureate service on June 5. Hinitt's salary as president began July 1, 1904, and he moved to Danville before the start of the 1904–1905 academic year. He was formally inaugurated on October 20, 1904. He was the school's first president to hold a Ph.D.

Major priorities of Hinitt's at Central were a reorganization of the curriculum and a strengthening of the school's academic standards. The school joined the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in his first year.

Hinitt worked to increase the educational standards of Centre and pushed the state legislature to establish public high schools in every county of the state. He worked to distance the school from the Presbyterian Synod and became associated with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. In 1913, Centre built a new library funded with a $30,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie. Hinitt also pursued a plan for expansion, to include the remodeling of Breckinridge Hall, and building the Young Science Hall and Boyle-Humphrey Alumni Gymnasium.

Hinitt resigned from Centre on January 1, 1915. He was succeeded by John W. Redd, dean of the college, in an interim capacity before William Arthur Ganfield was hired as Central's eleventh president later that year.

Washington & Jefferson and later career, 1918–1927

To the Class of 1918, divided on this day, with so many of your men absent in service, I have but this word to say: fear God and serve your country!

Frederick W. Hinitt, 1918 Washington & Jefferson commencement address

Hinitt was named president of Washington & Jefferson College on September 23, 1914. He assumed the duties of the presidency on January 4, 1915, and was officially inaugurated June 15, 1915. His tenure as president of W&J was dominated by the United States' entry into World War I. Total college enrollment dropped to 180, a decrease of 50%. The commencement of 1918 was held early to accommodate men who were deployed to Europe, but only 24 were able to attend.

He resigned the presidency of W&J on June 30, 1918, to accept the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of Indiana, Pennsylvania. He took a year's leave of absence to work with the YMCA in army camps in England and to serve as an army field secretary in the American Expeditionary Force.

Personal life and death

Hinitt married Effie Humphreys in 1892, and the pair remained married until Effie's death on December 23, 1918. Hinitt died on October 25, 1928, in Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Notes

  1. Reporting by the Courier Journal incorrectly gives his birthdate as November 2.
  2. Sources disagree as to when Hinitt received the D.D. and Ph.D. degrees. A 1904 article from the Courier Journal reports that he received the D.D. from Westminster College in 1893 and the Ph.D. from Wooster in 1896, while the Central University yearbook from the following year says that both degrees were earned from Wooster in 1902. Contemporary sources published by Centre agree that both degrees were earned from Wooster but differ in that the Ph.D. is listed as having been earned in 1896, with the D.D. following in 1902. Further, the 1905 Central University yearbook says that he received the Ph.D. from Wooster and two D.D. degrees, from two unnamed schools, all in 1896, and the 1908 yearbook says the two D.D. degrees were received from Wooster in 1901 and Westminster in 1903.
  3. Parsons (1925) errantly says the fire began "in the night of August 19, 1902", rather than early that morning.
  4. Previously known as Centre College, the school consolidated with Central University, located in Richmond, Kentucky, to become Central University of Kentucky at the beginning of the 1901–1902 academic year during the presidency of Hinitt's predecessor, William C. Roberts. The school later resumed use of the Centre College name in December 1918 and maintains its use to the present day.
  5. Hinitt's wife's name is occasionally given as "Elsie".
  6. Several modern sources incorrectly give Hinitt's date of death as October 25, 1927.

References

  1. ^ "Newly-elected president of Central University". Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. April 9, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "Cardinal and Blue 1905". Cardinal and Blue. Danville, Kentucky: Central University of Kentucky. 1905. p. 10. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Frederick W. Hinitt, Centre College President (1904–1915)". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  4. "Cardinal and Blue 1906". Cardinal and Blue. Danville, Kentucky: Central University of Kentucky. 1906. p. 12. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  5. "Cardinal and Blue 1908". Cardinal and Blue. Danville, Kentucky: Central University of Kentucky. 1908. p. 12. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Parsons 1925, p. 82.
  7. ^ Parsons 1925, p. 81.
  8. Parsons 1925, pp. 82–83.
  9. ^ Parsons 1925, p. 83.
  10. Marion, Doug (2011). "Remember when...with Doug Marion '70" (PDF). Parsons College E-News. Parsons College Alumni Association. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. "Parsons College is mass of ruins". Ottumwa Semi-Weekly Courier. Ottumwa, Iowa. August 21, 1902. p. 9. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. "Parsons College burned: Presbyterian school at Fairfield, Iowa, destroyed by fire early this morning". Evening Times-Republican. Marshalltown, Iowa. August 19, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. Parsons 1925, pp. 86–87.
  14. ^ "Dr. Hinitt to be president of Central". The Lexington Herald. Lexington, Kentucky. April 8, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. "Central University of Kentucky, Danville, Ky". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. August 28, 1901. p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. Board of Trustees Minutes 1918, p. 5.
  17. "To take presidency: Dr. Hinitt becomes head of Central University". The Owensboro Messenger. Owensboro, Kentucky. April 15, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. "Hinitt accepts". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. April 18, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  19. "College students put hog under a rostrum". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. April 16, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. "Commencement exercises close". The Owensboro Messenger. Owensboro, Kentucky. May 8, 1904. p. 12. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. "Centre College commencement exercises in progress this week". Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. June 7, 1904. p. 4. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  22. Board of Trustees Minutes 1904, p. 45.
  23. "On dit". Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. August 9, 1904. p. 4. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  24. "Inauguration of new president of Central University". Hopkinsville Kentuckian. Hopkinsville, Kentucky. October 25, 1904. p. 8. Retrieved December 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  25. Weston 2019, pp. 59–60.
  26. Weston 2019, p. 60.
  27. Weston 2019, pp. 64–65.
  28. ^ "Frederick W. Hinitt (Pro Tem. 1915–1918)". U. Grant Miller Library Digital Archives. Washington & Jefferson College. September 4, 2003. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  29. "Hinitt, Elsie Humphreys". The Pittsburgh Post. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. December 25, 1918. p. 12. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  30. "Mrs. Effie H. Hinitt dead: daughter of W. H. Humphrey passed away in Pittsburg, Pa., [sic] hospital Monday". Fulton Daily Sun-Gazette. Fulton, Missouri. December 28, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  31. "Former Centre president dies". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. October 26, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved December 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon

Bibliography

Media related to Frederick W. Hinitt at Wikimedia Commons

Offices and distinctions
Academic offices
Preceded byDaniel E. Jenkins President of Parsons College
1900 — 1904 		Succeeded byWillis E. Parsons
Preceded byWilliam C. Roberts President of Central University of Kentucky
1904 — 1915 		Succeeded byJohn W. Redd (interim)
William Arthur Ganfield
Preceded byJames D. Moffat President of Washington & Jefferson College
1915 — 1918 		Succeeded byWilliam E. Slemmons (interim)
Samuel Charles Black
Presidents of Washington & Jefferson College
Founding and early leadership
Jefferson College
Washington College
Washington & Jefferson College
Presidents of Centre College
Presidents of Parsons College
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