
The History Of
Lawrence University

Founded in 1849
Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Founded by Milwaukeeans back when it was just an agricultural town with dreams for industrialization - Lawrence's first classes were held on November 12th, 1849! Lawrence University was the second coeducational institution ever established under American Rule, this school has educated many famous people including Dalai Lama whose teachings net him international attention. At Lawrence University, you'll find opportunities to pursue your passions and discover new ways that they can be put into practice.
A Brief History
When the first president of Lawrence went to found it, he had two important mentors. The first was Henry R Colman who provided funds for this school with just $10K and matched by his own money as well; then there's Amos Adams Lawrence-a philanthropist Episcopalian temple forefather that gave all he could give back then when no one else would take care or recognize what kids needed most: an education past high school level so they might better themselves someday too. When the school was originally named Lawrence Institute of Wisconsin in its 1847 charter from the Territorial Legislature, it had only males enrolled. However, by November 1850 there were several hundred female students at this college, and they too could study all subjects under one roof. This is why we call it a coeducational University - because both men AND women studied here. Between 1894 and 1924, Lawrence's student population quadrupled from 200 to 800. This period of growth was led by alumnus Samuel G Plantz as president who instituted many changes for the school during his thirty-year tenure including creating new departments within journalism or business administration. From 1913-1964, the college had a small and liberal arts education focus. This changed after mergers with other schools that allowed for more space on campus as well an opportunity to offer courses outside of just literature or mathematics; these innovations helped shape what we know today about higher-level learning. During World War II, Lawrence College was one of 131 colleges and universities in the nation that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, which offered students a path to a Navy commission. Undergraduate studies at Lawrence is a mandatory two-term class, in which all students study the same selected 11 classic works of literature and music. The list varies from year to year but always contains key texts by philosophers like Montaigne or Beethoven's 7th Symphony (among others). President Nathan M Pusey began this program for himself after World War II had ended; however Professor Waples headed up what would become known as "freshmen" Studies committee - responsible not only implementing its ideas into practice throughout campus life but also designing an altogether new system where each undergraduate student could find his/her own special niche while learning more about themselves along the way.
History Of Lawrence University's Presidents
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1849–1853 William Harkness Sampson, principal
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1853–1859 Edward Cooke, president
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1859–1865 Russell Zelotes Mason, president
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1865–1879 George McKendree Steele, president
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1879–1889 Elias DeWitt Huntley, president
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1883–1889 Bradford Paul Raymond, president
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1889–1893 Charles Wesley Gallagher, president
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1893–1894 L. Wesley Underwood, acting president
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1894–1924 Samuel G. Plantz, president
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1925–1937 Henry Merritt Wriston, president
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1937–1943 Thomas Nichols Barrows, president
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1944–1953 Nathan Marsh Pusey, president
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1954–1963 Douglas Maitland Knight, president
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1963–1969 Curtis William Tarr, president
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1969–1979 Thomas S. Smith, president
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1979–2004 Richard Warch, president
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2004–2013 Jill Beck, president
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2013–2021 Mark Burstein, president
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2021-Current Laurie Carter, president
Lawrence University Academics
Lawrence University is a top-tier institution that offers an impressive range of educational opportunities. The school has one the lowest student/faculty ratios in North America, with 9 graduating seniors per class at Lawrance! Students can also pursue double degrees through their programs such as engineering or health sciences while still being able to maintain balance between coursework needed for graduation and life outside academia by attending classes only three days each week during term time periods spanning September - June. There are many cooperative ventures available too including environmental studies which will help prepare you well should your career path involve working internationally someday. The college offers a diverse range of majors in most areas, with the option to design your own. All students must take First-Year Studies during their first two trimesters which provides an initial academic experience for everyone at this institution that ranges from broad topics across many disciplines or concentration specific courses depending on what you're interested into studying more deeply than others. The school allows student's free reign when choosing how they would like to be educated as long it falls within certain boundaries set forth by curriculum requirements. The First-Year Studies program at Lawrence has been a consistent fixture of the school's curriculum since it was established in1945. The course focuses on both contemporary and classic works, with an emphasis towards books that are less than 20 years old or important to modern culture. The list of books that make up this great library is changing all the time. Every few years, a new entry will be added to replace an old one and there are some really important classics here-like Plato's Republic which has been included since 1945. Lawrence Academy offers an independent study program that gives students the freedom to explore their academic interests and strengths in depth. Over 90% of those who take advantage choose this option, which has been found by many as one way for a student's true potentials - neglected or otherwise-to come out!
Lawrence University Campus Development
The campus is divided into two parts by the Fox River, with academic buildings on one side and athletic facilities elsewhere. A third area contains Bjorklunden - a Swedish-themed estate used for seminars, concerts or theater performances that was once owned by Appleton's founder George Foxloniking. The Boynton family was a very influential group in Door County's history. Donating property to Lawrence, they helped establish the town as an important destination for weddings and other events
The Memorial chapel is where you'll find many happy couples getting married over decades-long periods with plenty more left ahead.
In the late 1980s, a small laser lab was built by Physics Department for $330 thousand. The project included 800 5 mW lasers and more than 500 mirrors to form an impressive structure that is now known as 'The Laser Palace.'
In 2009, the Richard and Margot Warch Campus Center opened its doors to students on campus. The building was created as a venue for everyone in our community that has something else going at once - from faculty members working late hours into early morning classes; staff workers juggling multiple deadlines with ease each day--to alumni looking back proudly over their time here but also eager about what's ahead!
The Warch Campus Center is a spectacular building on the banks of beautiful Fox River. This 9,900 square meter complex has everything you need for your academic needs with dining services and mailboxes available too. The building has earned a LEED Gold certification for achieving sustainability goals in energy conservation, environmental friendliness and green building. The college has a long history of tearing down buildings on its campus, because they're running out space. Many structures are built from what was once another one gone up in flames - not exactly environmentally friendly or sustainable but it makes for some interesting architecture none-the wiser.
Some buildings they have removed include:
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Peabody Hall of Music (20th century)
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Hamar Union (1960)
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Underwood Observatory (1962)
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Alexander Gym I (1962)
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Carnegie Library (1964)
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Worcester Art Center (1987)
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Stephenson Hall of Science (1998)
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Hulbert House (2006) (new construction: Warch Campus Center, 2009)