Anatolia College in Merzifon - College

College

See also: Anatolia College

In 1886, as more and more young people wanted a general education, the program at the theological seminary in Merzifon was expanded to include a four-year liberal arts college. The institution was named Anatolia College, and Charles Tracy became the first president, who served until 1912. The college's motto adopted was "The Morning Cometh" in reference to the ancient Greek word meaning the dawn for the name of the school "Anatolia". The college seal showed the view from the campus of the sun rising over lofty Akdağ at the eastern end of the Merzifon Plain. The over 100 students, principally Greek and Armenian, came most from outside of Merzifon and boarded at the school. The faculty was Greek, Armenian, and American.

When Armenian activists posted broadsides in 1893, Ottoman troops jailed many Armenians and damanges some buildings of the college as the Armenian students and teachers were accused of being in contact with the rebels. The damaged parts were rebuilt later with compensation paid by the Ottoman Government. The college was incorporated under the laws of the State of Massachusetts in 1894.


After the end of the WWI, the facilities of the college at the campus consisted of a kindergarten, a school for the Deaf, a college-level program, one of the largest hospitals in Asia Minor, and an orphanage for 2,000 orphans in addition to the theological seminary and high schools for boys and girls, all housed in more than 40 buildings of New England style. The activities of the American missionaries came de facto to an end with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918.

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