President. John Rennie Blake Records, 1870-1884
Sub-Group
Identifier: RG02-06
Scope and Contents
The correspondence consists primarily of Blake's letters to the Board of Trustees concerning relations between the college and the Presbyteries. It also includes Blake's letter of resignation in 1884. The notebooks contains descriptions of Davidson College during the Civil War and research notes on energy, the Holtz machine, and astronomy.
Dates
- 1870-1884
Creator
- President. Blake (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
John Rennie Blake, 1825-1900, was born in Greenwood, SC. He attended the University of Georgia and Harvard's Lawrence Scientific School. Before coming to Davidson College, he taught at the Presbyterian Female School in Greensboro, GA and LaGrange Synodical College, TN. Elected professor of Natural Philosophy at Davidson in 1861, Blake remained on the faculty until 1885. After the death of President McPhail in 1871, the Board of Trustees authorized the faculty to elect a chairman. Blake was chosen and served as chair until 1877. The position of Chairman of the faculty replaced the college presidency for those years. In 1877, the Board decided to restore the office of president and elected Andrew D. Hepburn. Since Blake was not an ordained minister he was not eligible for the presidency. He remained on faculty, serving as vice-president and teaching courses in Natural Philosophy and Astronomy until 1885.
Extent
1.0 boxes (3 folders)
Language
English
Arrangement
The collection consists of correspondence, 1870-1884 and a Notebook, 1880, and an autographed copy of A Souvenir of J. R. Blake.
Physical Location
Archives Range A Section 2 Shelf 6
Immediate Source of Acquisition
2011-047
Creator
- President. Blake (Organization)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the College Archives Repository