Goucher College - History

History

In 1881, the Baltimore Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church passed a resolution to found a conference Seminary. This momentum went largely unquestioned with the first recorded objection being in 1884, when Bishop Andrews stated, "I would not give a fig for a weakling little thing of a seminary. We want such a school, so ample in its provisions, of such dignity in its buildings, so fully provided with the best apparatus, that it shall draw to itself the eyes of the community and that young people shall feel it an honor to be enrolled among its students." Methodist ministers Dr. John Goucher and John B. Van Meter fought hard in favor of founding a college rather than a seminary, eventually winning unanimous agreement at a later conference. The school was founded as "Women's College of Baltimore City" on January 26, 1885. Though students of all religious backgrounds were accepted, as founders, the Methodist Episcopal Church had a large impact on the campus.

The school was renamed in 1910 to Goucher College in honor of its founding members and benefactors. It was one of only six "Class I" women's colleges in the US.

The original campus was in the southern part of what is now the Charles Village neighborhood in Baltimore City. Goucher moved to its present suburban location in 1953. The college has been co-educational since 1986. Its former home, known as the Old Goucher College Historic District, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

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