St. John's College (Arkansas)

St. John's College was a masonic college in Little Rock, Arkansas. ^[a] It was conceived in 1850 by Grand Master Elbert H. English and received a state charter the same year. Classes were first held in 1859. ^[1] It was used as a Confederate and then Union Army hospital during the American Civil War until 1867 when it returned to scholastic use. In 1873 a law department was added. It closed in 1882. The campus was sold in 1889 and its buildings burned in 1890. ^[1] The college was located where MacArthur Park is now located. ^[2]

It was established by the Masonic Fraternity of Arkansas and supported by the Grand Lodge. ^[3] Buildings for it were begun in 1857 and completed 1859. ^[4] It closed during the Civil War and was used by both sides of the Civil War as a hospital. ^[3] In the 1875-76 school year it had 3 instructors and 55 students. Tuition was $50 per year and free for the sons of Masons. R. H. Parham Jr. A.M. was its president. ^[3]

E. H. English's address at the cornerstone laying in 1857 is extant. ^[5]

Alumni

• Fay Hempstead, lawyer and writer

Notes

1. Not to be confused with St. John's Seminary in Little Rock

References

1. "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
2. "History Minute: The rise and fall of St. Johns' College | Eldorado News". www.eldoradonews.com. March 15, 2023.
3. Kiddle, Henry; Schem, Alexander Jacob (June 30, 1876). "The Cyclopædia of Education: A Dictionary of Information for the Use of Teachers, School Officers, Parents, and Others". E. Steiger – via Google Books.
4. Shinn, Josiah Hazen (June 30, 1900). "History of Education in Arkansas". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
5. "E.H. English address at St. John's College corner stone ceremony SMC.091.027". Arkansas State Archives. Retrieved July 3, 2024.^{[ dead link ]}