Dr. Thomas Waverly Palmer
Dublin Core
Title
Dr. Thomas Waverly Palmer
Date
Unknown
Creator
Unknown
Description
Dr. Thomas Waverly Palmer (1860-1926) was the third president of the University of Montevallo, and one of its most influential. Having previously served as a Dean and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Alabama, he became president of the University of Montevallo (then known as the Alabama Girls' Industrial School) in 1907. He served almost 19 years as president -- the longest tenure of any president in the school's history -- until his death in 1926.
As president, Palmer was instrumental in the expansion of the school's facilities. He became president when the school was frequently overcrowded, so during his tenure, he oversaw the construction of many new buildings. These new buildings included Bloch Hall (the first building dedicated entirely to academics), Ramsay Hall, the president's house at Flower Hill (after the original president's home had burnt down in 1921), the Tower (which served as the school's main water supply until 1962), a dairy, and, of course, Palmer Hall. Palmer also purchased King House, one of the oldest buildings in Montevallo, for the school.
Palmer also greatly expanded the school's academic focus. In 1911, the Alabama Girls' Industrial School was renamed to the Alabama Girls' Technical Institute, with the phrase "and College for Women" later added in 1919, due to the addition of liberal arts courses to the curriculum. In 1923, the school was renamed yet again to Alabama College, State College for Women. This signaled a shift from the previous focus on technical training and high-school level education, to a degree-granting, college level institution - a shift that was cemented when Palmer got the schools accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1925.
As president, Palmer was instrumental in the expansion of the school's facilities. He became president when the school was frequently overcrowded, so during his tenure, he oversaw the construction of many new buildings. These new buildings included Bloch Hall (the first building dedicated entirely to academics), Ramsay Hall, the president's house at Flower Hill (after the original president's home had burnt down in 1921), the Tower (which served as the school's main water supply until 1962), a dairy, and, of course, Palmer Hall. Palmer also purchased King House, one of the oldest buildings in Montevallo, for the school.
Palmer also greatly expanded the school's academic focus. In 1911, the Alabama Girls' Industrial School was renamed to the Alabama Girls' Technical Institute, with the phrase "and College for Women" later added in 1919, due to the addition of liberal arts courses to the curriculum. In 1923, the school was renamed yet again to Alabama College, State College for Women. This signaled a shift from the previous focus on technical training and high-school level education, to a degree-granting, college level institution - a shift that was cemented when Palmer got the schools accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1925.
Language
En-US
Coverage
1907-1926
Rights
University of Montevallo
Source
Annie Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, Carmichael Library, University of Montevallo
Contributor
Christopher Heck
Format
.jpeg
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Photograph
Files
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “Dr. Thomas Waverly Palmer,” Archiving Montevallo, accessed May 16, 2024, https://carmichaeldigitalprojects.org/archivingmontevallo/items/show/112.