History
The college was founded on October 13, 1849 in Huntsville, Texas by Princeton-educated missionary Dr. Daniel Baker.
The college moved to Sherman in 1876 and became co-educational in 1918, merging in 1930 with the all female Texas Presbyterian College.
Baker named the school after Texas historical figure Stephen F. Austin. Another important figure in Texas history, Sam Houston, served on the original board of trustees for the school, and the former site in Huntsville later became today's Sam Houston State University.
On September 20, 1973, musician Jim Croce died in a plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana on his way to perform the next night at Austin College. Six people perished in the crash.
Read more about this topic: Austin College
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