William Penn University

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William Penn University
Former names
Penn College (1873–1933)
William Penn College (1933–2000)
Type Private university
Established1873
Religious affiliation
 Quakers [1]
President John E.E. Ottosson
Students1,050
Location
Oskaloosa, Iowa
,
U.S.

41°18′32″N92°38′53″W / 41.3090°N 92.6481°W / 41.3090; -92.6481
CampusRural
Colors   
Navy Blue & Gold
Nickname Statesmen
Sporting affiliations
 NAIA – Heart of America Conference
MascotStatesmen
Website www.wmpenn.edu
Penn College Historic District
The Spencer Chapel.jpeg
Spencer Memorial Chapel (1923)
Area13.75 acres (5.56 ha)
Architect A. T. Simmons
Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson
Architectural style Prairie School
Colonial Revival
MPS Quaker Testimony in Oskaloosa MPS
NRHP reference No. 96000391 [2]
Added to NRHPApril 4, 1996

William Penn University is a private university in Oskaloosa, Iowa. It was founded by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1873 as Penn College. In 1933, the name was changed to William Penn College, and finally to William Penn University in 2000.

Contents

History

Penn College opened September 24, 1873. [3] The college's name was changed from Penn College to William Penn College in 1933, sparking a controversy whether or not the institution had ceased to exist as an educational institution. That matter was settled once and for all by the Iowa Supreme Court which ruled that Penn College had not ceased to exist as an educational institution. [4] In 2000, the name was changed again from William Penn College to William Penn University.

In 1916, fire destroyed the original campus and Penn's business manager Robert Williams and freshman student Harry Oakley were killed when the four-ton college bell crashed through the main building and buried them beneath it.

In 1995, William Penn's 'College for Working Adults' was founded, which enrolls non-traditional students in an evening program of accelerated study. In January 2000 the college returned to the NAIA Division II. William Penn is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. [5]

In 2007, Musco Lighting, also in Oskaloosa, donated $12 million to the school for various projects—the biggest single gift in the school's history. The money was to be used for 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2) of new structures including student recreation, classrooms, laboratories, and a stand-alone Industrial Technology Center building called the Musco Technology Center (MTC), which is home for the expanding Digital Communication Program. [6]

Historic district

Part of the campus has been set aside as a nationally recognized historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. [2] At the time of its nomination it contained ten resources, which included one contributing site, four contributing buildings, two contributing structures, two non-contributing buildings, and one non-contributing structure. [7] The focus of the district is the Quadrangle, which is the contributing site. Penn Hall (1917), Lewis Hall (1917), the Central Heating Plant (1917), and Spencer Memorial Chapel (1923) are the historic buildings. The historic structures are two Memorial Gates (c. 1918). The Southeast Memorial Gate is located at the intersection of North Market Street and Trueblood Avenue. The Southwest Memorial Gate is located at the entrance to a vehicular drive off of Trueblood Avenue. They were gifts of the classes of 1918–1920 to honor their classmates who died in World War I. Bloomington, Illinois architect A. T. Simmons designed the conceptual plan for the campus and the plans for individual buildings. He also designed the memorial gates; which were erected on May 20, 1918. The use of Prairie School architecture is an unusual choice for a collegiate setting, and it exemplifies how its influence grew beyond Illinois. [7] The Spencer Memorial Chapel is an exception. It was designed by the prominent Des Moines architectural firm of Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson in the Colonial Revival style.

Campus ministries

Per the school's website: "At William Penn University, students are encouraged, but not required, to participate in religious life programming. Programming sponsored by Campus Ministries is Christian in orientation and interdenominational in nature. Campus Ministry assists students to explore questions of faith in a nurturing environment and discover spiritual resources to face life's challenges." [8]

Athletics

The William Penn athletic teams are called the Statesmen. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (The Heart) since the 2015–16 academic year. The Statesmen previously competed in the defunct Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) from 2001–02 to 2014–15 (when the conference dissolved); as well as in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC; now known as the American Rivers Conference since the 2018–19 academic year) of the NCAA Division III ranks from 1962–63 to 2000–01 (which they were a member on a previous stint from 1922–23 to 1953–54).

William Penn competes in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include cheer & dance and shotgun sports.

Men's basketball

The men's basketball teams have had significant success, finishing as the runner-up in the 2013 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament. In 2014 William Penn set a record for points scored in the NAIA National Basketball Tournament. [9]

Notable people

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The Dr. William E. and Ethel Rosenberger Berry House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. The Berry's were Quakers and members of the faculty of William Penn College. He taught classical languages and served as Dean, while she taught French. They were among the first to settle in the Penn College Addition. The college platted and sold these lots, which in turn helped the institution financially survive. The Berry's bought several lots, and built their house on one of them. Their Colonial Revival house was built in 1924 by P.W. Sparks, a local contractor. It is a two-story, frame, single-family dwelling that features a side-gable roof, an enclosed front porch, and a solarium. It is the Berry's association with the school in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. William H. and Mae R. Klose House</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The Dr. William H. and Mae R. Klose House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. Dr. Klose taught German at nearby William Penn College, and was one of the longer serving faculty members. His dedication to the school helped it survive through its years of turmoil. They were also among the first to settle in the Penn College Addition. The college platted and sold these lots, which in turn helped the institution financially survive. This Colonial Revival style house is a 1½-story, frame, single-family dwelling. It features a side-gable roof, a facade gambrel dormer, and a bay window to the right to the main entry. It is the Klose's association with the school in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierson–Betts House</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The Pierson–Betts House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. The house was built by Lewis B. Pierson, the long-time Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds for William Penn College. He built this modest, single-story, brick house in the 1930s as a place that he and his wife Lilly could retire. Instead of moving in, they sold the house to Laura Betts who was the librarian at Penn from 1937 to 1942. She was one of the few single females employed by the college at that time who could afford to buy a house of her own. It is believed she could do so only with financial help from her elderly mother who moved in with her. After Betts moved out, other Penn faculty lived here. It is Pierson's and Betts' association with the college in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting of Friends Parsonage</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting of Friends Parsonage is a historic building located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. Its historic significance is found in its association with nearby William Penn University in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa. The country's entry into World War I created problems for the Quaker's Peace Testimony. The Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting counseled students from the college about military conscription and pacifism. Because of this the parsonage was vandalized in 1917 with yellow crosses painted on the house. The congregation's pastor, Clarence Pickett, was tied to a spring wagon and led through town. Some vandalism also occurred during World War II, including yellow paint smeared on the parsonage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President's Cottage</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The President's Cottage is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. From 1892, when it was built, to 1918 this structure housed the president of William Penn College. It highlights the school's improved finances at the time of its construction, the importance it placed on its leadership, and its association with the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa, which makes this house historic. The placement of the house on a corner lot at the end of College Avenue gave the campus a linear feel in the "Yale Row" concept of college design.

The Oskaloosa Quakers were a minor league baseball team based in Oskaloosa, Iowa. From 1904 to 1908, the "Quakers" played as members of two Class D level leagues; the Iowa State League from 1904 to 1907 and the 1908 Central Association. The Quakers were the only minor league team hosted in Oskaloosa.

References

  1. ↑ Quaker Colleges, Universities and Study Centers
  2. 1 2 "National Register Information System – (#96000391)". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ Watson, S. Arthur (1971). William Penn College: A Product and A Producer. Oskaloosa, IA: William Penn College.
  4. ↑ "In Re Hagan's Will, 234 IOWA 1001, 14 N.W.2d 638". Westlaw. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  5. ↑ Archived May 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Schaffer, Michael. "William Penn recipient of $12 million - Oskaloosa Herald - November 16, 2007". Oskaloosa Herald. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  7. 1 2 William C. Page. "Penn College Historic District". National Park Service . Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  8. ↑ Official site
  9. ↑ "kiwaradio.com/sports/dordt-mens-season-ends-in-double-ot-at-national-tournament/". KIWA Radio. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ "2002-2003 Wrestling Roster" . Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Joseph Benavidez UFC Bio" . Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Casey Fien has been a find for the Twins - Blogs - Minnesota Twins News & Rumors Forum". twinsdaily.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Idaho Governor John Michiner Haines". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  14. ↑ Slater, Darryl (September 3, 2013). "Jets nose tackle Damon Harrison took circuitous path to possible starting role in NFL". The Star-Ledger.
  15. ↑ Cimini, Rich (September 24, 2013). "New York Jets' Damon Harrison, from water boy to starting nose tackle". ESPN.
  16. ↑ "Jerry Kutzler Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  17. ↑ McK Miller, Lawrence (1999). Witness for Humanity: A Biography of Clarence E. Pickett. Pendle Hill Pubns.
  18. ↑ "MRS. CLARENCE PICKETT". The New York Times. September 24, 1973. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  19. ↑ Miller, Lawrence McK. (1999). Witness for Humanity. Wallingford, Pennsylvania: Pendle Hill Publications. p. 28. ISBN   0-87574-934-8.
  20. ↑ DeArmond, Mike (December 6, 1972). "Polen Unnoticed in Suburban Days". The Kansas City Times . p. 34. Retrieved October 4, 2020– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  21. ↑ "Kevin Ritz Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  22. ↑ Gifford, Jody (November 7, 2012). "Rob Taylor Wins Iowa House District 44 - Government - Waukee, IA Patch". Waukee.patch.com. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  23. ↑ "2,500 give final salute to coach Ed Thomas". Des Moines Register. February 10, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Dr. D. Elton Trueblood, Quaker Scholar, Author". New York Times. December 25, 1994. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Abel Trujillo UFC Bio" . Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  26. ↑ Gray, Timothy (July 10, 2020). "Recalling Kamaru Usman's time with the UNK wrestling team ahead of his main event at UFC Fight Island". Lincoln Journal-Star . Lincoln, Nebraska. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
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