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'''Hurst Robins Anderson''' (September 16, 1904 – April 19, 1989) was president of [[American University]] from 1952 until 1968, during which he oversaw one of the institution's most important periods of growth and development. He was previously a faculty member of [[Allegheny College]] and president of [[Hamline University]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]. He received a BA from [[Ohio Wesleyan University]], a law degree from the [[University of Michigan]] and master's degrees from [[Northwestern University]] and the [[University of Chicago]].<ref>"Hurst R. Anderson, 84; Leader of American University.", ''New York Times''m April 21, 1989</ref>
{{Short description|American educator and academic administrator}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Hurst Robins Anderson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1904|09|16}}
| birth_place = [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1989|04|19|1904|09|16}}
| death_place = {{nowrap|[[St. Petersburg, Florida]], U.S.}}
| office = 8th President of [[American University]]
| termstart = September 1, 1952
| termend = 1968
| predecessor = [[Paul Douglass]]
| successor = [[George H. Williams (educator)|George H. Williams]]
| office1 = 11th President of [[Hamline University]]{{efn|At the time of his inauguration, Anderson was considered Hamline's 10th president.<ref>{{cite news |last=James |first=Jean |title=Hamline 'U' seats prexy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/175237930/ |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=[[Minnesota Star Tribune|Star Tribune]] |date=October 24, 1948 |location=[[Minneapolis|Minneapolis, Minnesota]] |page=25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Because the school now counts interim and acting presidents in the count, modern sources published by Hamline consider [[Henry Leslie Osborn]], acting president from 1932 to 1933, to be their "8th president". Therefore, Anderson is now counted 11th.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the president's office: Hamline's past presidents |url=https://www.hamline.edu/about/university-leadership/presidents-office/history |publisher=[[Hamline University]] |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>}}
| termstart1 = July 1, 1948
| termend1 = September 1, 1952
| predecessor1 = [[Charles Nelson Pace]]
| successor1 = [[Walter Castella Coffey]]
| office2 = 7th President of [[Centenary University|Centenary Junior College]]
| termstart2 = August 15, 1943
| termend2 = July 1, 1948
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = [[Edward W. Seay]]
| education = {{ubl|
*[[Ohio Wesleyan University]]
*[[Northwestern University]]
}}
| spouse = {{Marriage|Marian Powell|August 24, 1932}}
}}
'''Hurst Robins Anderson''' (September 16, 1904 – April 19, 1989) was an American educator and academic administrator. He was president of Centenary Junior College (now [[Centenary University]]), [[Hamline University]], and [[American University]], for various periods between 1943 to 1968.
 
==Early life and education==
Hurst Robins Anderson was born on September 16, 1904, in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].<ref name="au-papers"/> He was named for [[John Fletcher Hurst]].<ref name="au52"/> He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[political science]] from [[Ohio Wesleyan University]] (OWU) in 1926.<ref name="au-papers"/><ref name="au52"/> There, he was a member of the [[Sigma Alpha Epsilon]] fraternity.<ref name="wedding"/> After leaving OWU, he began law school at the [[University of Michigan Law School]], but he did not complete his degree due to lack of funds. After leaving Michigan, he enrolled at [[Northwestern University]] and graduated with a [[Master of Arts]] degree in speech in 1928.<ref name="au-papers">{{cite web |title=Hurst R. Anderson Papers |url=https://www.american.edu/library/archives/finding_aids/anderson_fa.cfm |publisher=[[American University]] |access-date=23 June 2025}}</ref>


AU's largest residence hall is named after Anderson.
==Career==
Anderson's career in academia began in 1929,<ref name="plumville">{{cite news |title=Commencement at Plumville; 14 to graduate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indiana-gazette/175123385/ |access-date=23 June 2025 |work=[[The Indiana Gazette]] |date=May 18, 1932 |location=[[Indiana, Pennsylvania]] |page=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> when he took a position as a professor at [[Allegheny College]], in [[Meadville, Pennsylvania]], teaching debate and English.<ref name="au-papers"/> He was also the college [[registrar (education)|registrar]] during part of his time at Allegheny.<ref>{{cite news |title=Record summer enrollment at Allegheny |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-conneautville-courier/175123062/ |access-date=23 June 2025 |work=[[The Conneautville Courier]] |date=July 1, 1942 |location=[[Conneautville, Pennsylvania]] |page=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> In May 1932, he was the [[commencement address|commencement speaker]] at Plumville High School in Pennsylvania.<ref name="plumville"/> He accepted the presidency of Centenary Junior College (now [[Centenary University]]) in [[Hackettstown, New Jersey]], on June 29, 1943, and he assumed office on August 15 of that year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Institute president |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-herald/175218972/ |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=[[The Morning Herald (Uniontown, Pennsylvania)|The Morning Herald]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=June 30, 1943 |location=[[Uniontown, Pennsylvania]] |page=7 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Early into his term, he appointed Margaret Hight to be the school's new dean; she had previously been assistant dean.<ref>{{cite news |title=Miss Margaret E. Hight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun/175219096/ |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=[[The Herald-Sun]] |date=October 10, 1943 |location=[[Durham, North Carolina]] |page=19 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> On October 24, 1945, Anderson participated in the inauguration ceremony for his brother, [[Paul R. Anderson]], as the new president of the Pennsylvania College for Women (now [[Chatham University]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=Brother to inaugurate brother as P. C. W. head |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press/174699530/ |access-date=June 17, 2025 |work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]] |date=October 14, 1945 |location=[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] |page=43 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Anderson's administration announced an $800,000 fundraiser in April 1946, with funds primarily to be used in improving existing campus facilities and constructing several new buildings, including a [[gym]] and [[dormitory]].<ref name="fund-1">{{cite news |title=Rev. Mr. Sorenson will be secretary of church council |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call/175221292/ |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=[[Herald News|The Morning Call]] |date=April 26, 1946 |location=[[Paterson, New Jersey]] |page=26 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Of the amount sought by the fundraiser, the school aimed to raise $300,000 by July 1947;<ref name="fund-1"/> Anderson announced that this mark had been exceeded in late December 1946.<ref>{{cite news |title=Centenary College plans anniversary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news/175221303/ |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=[[Herald News|The News]] |date=December 30, 1946 |location=[[Paterson, New Jersey]] |page=29 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Earlier that year, he had been elected president of the [[New Jersey Association of Colleges]] for a two-year term.<ref>{{cite news |title=Elect Anderson; Centenary official heads N. J. Association of Colleges |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/175221261/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]] |date=May 2, 1946 |location=[[Hackensack, New Jersey]] |page=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>
 
Anderson accepted the presidency of [[Hamline University]], in [[St. Paul, Minnesota]], in May 1948, effective July 1, 1948.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Hamline head to take over in July |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/175223403/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[Minnesota Star Tribune|The Minneapolis Star]] |date=May 26, 1948 |location=[[Minneapolis|Minneapolis, Minnesota]] |page=19 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> His successor at Centenary was [[Edward W. Seay]], elected by the trustees late that July.<ref>{{cite news |title=College head inducted; E. W. Seay becomes the 8th president of Centenary Junior |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1948/10/31/archives/college-head-inducted-ew-seay-becomes-the-8th-president-of.html |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 31, 1948 |location=[[New York City|New York, New York]] |page=72}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Centenary head appointed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news/175223928/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[The Herald-News|Herald News]] |date=July 23, 1948 |location=[[Passaic, New Jersey]] |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Anderson's formal inauguration at Hamline was held October 23, 1948.<ref>{{cite news |title=2-day Hamline fete to precede inauguration |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/175224019/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[Minnesota Star Tribune|The Minneapolis Star]] |date=October 15, 1948 |location=[[Minneapolis|Minneapolis, Minnesota]] |page=27 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> At Ohio Wesleyan's 1949 [[commencement]] ceremonies, Anderson and his brother, also an alumnus of the school, were awarded honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] degrees.<ref>{{cite news |title=455 seniors to be graduated at Ohio Wesleyan exercises |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-herald/175238459/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[The Journal Herald]] |date=June 13, 1949 |location=[[Dayton, Ohio]] |page=3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Several months earlier, Anderson announced plans to spend $2&nbsp;million to renovate multiple buildings on Hamline's campus and built numerous others, including science, arts, and recreational facilities, and a women's dormitory. The plans were timed to coincide with the university's 100th anniversary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hamline to spend $2,000,000 on expansion plans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/175238658/ |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=[[Minnesota Star Tribune|The Minneapolis Star]] |date=March 17, 1949 |location=[[Minneapolis|Minneapolis, Minnesota]] |page=27 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The school received a $515,000 donation in December 1949; Anderson announced the money would go towards new classroom and laboratory spaces.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hamline to receive half million gift |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald/175238973/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[Grand Forks Herald]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=December 11, 1949 |location=[[Grand Forks, North Dakota]] |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>
 
Anderson was announced as the incoming president of [[American University]], in [[Washington, D.C.]], on June 7, 1952. He took office on September 1, 1952, and was the school's first [[Laity|lay]] president. Before taking office, he remarked that changes to the undergraduate [[curriculum]] and administrative reform would be priorities of his administration; his predecessor, [[Paul Douglass]], resigned after the school received criticism from an accreditation agency regarding its administrative practices.<ref name="au52">{{cite news |title=Dr. Hurst R. Anderson heads American U., plans expansion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star/175239228/ |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=[[Washington Evening Star|The Evening Star]] |date=June 8, 1952 |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |page=29 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> He also reaffirmed his opposition to the university reestablishing its [[college football|football]] program, which had been disbanded following the [[1941 college football season|1941 season]].<ref name="au52"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Morse |first1=Ben |title=Thoroughly defeated, hopelessly in debt and utterly ignored: The story of American University football |url=https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2021/12/thoroughly-defeated-hopelessly-in-debt-and-utterly-ignored-the-story-of-american-university-football |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[The Eagle (American University)|The Eagle]] |date=December 13, 2021}}</ref> He was inaugurated as American's president in February 1953; during his inaugural address, he announced a proposal for a $10&nbsp;million development plan to be completed over a 10-year period; the proposal called for half of the funds to be put towards new campus buildings—for law, [[social science]], and public affairs, among others—and half to be put towards the school's [[Financial endowment|endowment]].<ref>{{cite news |title=American U. plans $10 million program over 10-year period |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star/175248564/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[Washington Evening Star|The Evening Star]] |date=February 24, 1953 |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> That month, his administration also announced a reformation to the curriculum for new students starting with the 1953–1954 academic year.<ref name="studysched">{{cite news |title=American U. sets stuffer study schedule |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star/175249079/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=[[Washington Evening Star|The Evening Star]] |date=February 5, 1953 |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |page=23 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>
 
==Personal life and death==
Anderson married Marian Powell, a teacher from [[Norwalk, Ohio]],<ref>{{cite news |title=License issued |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mansfield-journal/175125074/ |access-date=23 June 2025 |work=[[Mansfield News Journal|The Mansfield Journal]] |date=July 23, 1932 |location=[[Mansfield, Ohio]] |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> on August 24, 1932.<ref name="wedding">{{cite news |last1=Hipp |first1=Irene |title=Former resident of Mansfield marries girl from Ashland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal/175124434/ |access-date=23 June 2025 |work=[[Mansfield News Journal|News Journal]] |date=August 25, 1932 |location=[[Mansfield, Ohio]] |page=7 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The wedding ceremony was held in [[Ashland, Ohio]].<ref name="wedding"/> He died of [[bone cancer]]<ref name="nyt-obit">{{cite news |title=Hurst R. Anderson, 84; leader of American U. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/21/obituaries/hurst-r-anderson-84-leader-of-american-u.html |access-date=23 June 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 21, 1989 |location=[[New York City|New York, New York]]}}</ref> in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]],<ref name="au-papers"/> on April 19, 1989.<ref name="wapo-obit">{{cite web |title=Hurst Anderson, former AU president, dies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/04/20/hurst-anderson-former-au-president-dies/97533661-07f5-4e21-86ce-fe2ea0cdec29/ |website=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=23 June 2025 |date=20 April 1989}}</ref>{{efn|The "Hurst R. Anderson Papers" collection housed at [[American University]] incorrectly claims that Anderson died on April 15, 1989.<ref name="au-papers"/>}}
 
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{start box}}
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  title = [[American University|President, American University]] |
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  years = 1952–1968 |
| title=President of [[Centenary University|Centenary Junior College]]
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  after = [[George H. Williams (educator)|George H. Williams]] |
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| before=[[Charles Nelson Pace]]
| title=President of [[Hamline University]]
| years=1948 &mdash; 1952
| after=[[Walter Castella Coffey]]
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| before=[[Paul Douglass]]
| title=President of [[American University]]
| years=1952 &mdash; 1968
| after=[[George H. Williams (educator)|George H. Williams]]
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| before=[[James F. Kelley]]<br>{{small|as President of [[Seton Hall University]]}}
| title=President of the [[New Jersey Association of Colleges]]
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Latest revision as of 13:26, 25 June 2025

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Hurst Robins Anderson (September 16, 1904 – April 19, 1989) was an American educator and academic administrator. He was president of Centenary Junior College (now Centenary University), Hamline University, and American University, for various periods between 1943 to 1968.

Early life and education

Hurst Robins Anderson was born on September 16, 1904, in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] He was named for John Fletcher Hurst.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) in 1926.[1][2] There, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.[3] After leaving OWU, he began law school at the University of Michigan Law School, but he did not complete his degree due to lack of funds. After leaving Michigan, he enrolled at Northwestern University and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in speech in 1928.[1]

Career

Anderson's career in academia began in 1929,[4] when he took a position as a professor at Allegheny College, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, teaching debate and English.[1] He was also the college registrar during part of his time at Allegheny.[5] In May 1932, he was the commencement speaker at Plumville High School in Pennsylvania.[4] He accepted the presidency of Centenary Junior College (now Centenary University) in Hackettstown, New Jersey, on June 29, 1943, and he assumed office on August 15 of that year.[6] Early into his term, he appointed Margaret Hight to be the school's new dean; she had previously been assistant dean.[7] On October 24, 1945, Anderson participated in the inauguration ceremony for his brother, Paul R. Anderson, as the new president of the Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham University).[8] Anderson's administration announced an $800,000 fundraiser in April 1946, with funds primarily to be used in improving existing campus facilities and constructing several new buildings, including a gym and dormitory.[9] Of the amount sought by the fundraiser, the school aimed to raise $300,000 by July 1947;[9] Anderson announced that this mark had been exceeded in late December 1946.[10] Earlier that year, he had been elected president of the New Jersey Association of Colleges for a two-year term.[11]

Anderson accepted the presidency of Hamline University, in St. Paul, Minnesota, in May 1948, effective July 1, 1948.[12] His successor at Centenary was Edward W. Seay, elected by the trustees late that July.[13][14] Anderson's formal inauguration at Hamline was held October 23, 1948.[15] At Ohio Wesleyan's 1949 commencement ceremonies, Anderson and his brother, also an alumnus of the school, were awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degrees.[16] Several months earlier, Anderson announced plans to spend $2 million to renovate multiple buildings on Hamline's campus and built numerous others, including science, arts, and recreational facilities, and a women's dormitory. The plans were timed to coincide with the university's 100th anniversary.[17] The school received a $515,000 donation in December 1949; Anderson announced the money would go towards new classroom and laboratory spaces.[18]

Anderson was announced as the incoming president of American University, in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 1952. He took office on September 1, 1952, and was the school's first lay president. Before taking office, he remarked that changes to the undergraduate curriculum and administrative reform would be priorities of his administration; his predecessor, Paul Douglass, resigned after the school received criticism from an accreditation agency regarding its administrative practices.[2] He also reaffirmed his opposition to the university reestablishing its football program, which had been disbanded following the 1941 season.[2][19] He was inaugurated as American's president in February 1953; during his inaugural address, he announced a proposal for a $10 million development plan to be completed over a 10-year period; the proposal called for half of the funds to be put towards new campus buildings—for law, social science, and public affairs, among others—and half to be put towards the school's endowment.[20] That month, his administration also announced a reformation to the curriculum for new students starting with the 1953–1954 academic year.[21]

Personal life and death

Anderson married Marian Powell, a teacher from Norwalk, Ohio,[22] on August 24, 1932.[3] The wedding ceremony was held in Ashland, Ohio.[3] He died of bone cancer[23] in St. Petersburg, Florida,[1] on April 19, 1989.[24]Template:Efn

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Navboxes top

Template:S-acaTemplate:S-endTemplate:Navboxes bottomTemplate:American University leaders
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check President of Centenary Junior College
1943 — 1948 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check President of Hamline University
1948 — 1952 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check President of American University
1952 — 1968 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Other offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check President of the New Jersey Association of Colleges
May 1946 — May 1948 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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