North America/United States of America/Pennsylvania/Grove City/Grove City College/

Grove City College

• Location & Contact Information
  • Address, Directions, & Map:
    • 100 Campus Drive, Grove City, Pennsylvania, United States of America
  • Telephone Numbers:
    • 724-458-2100
    • 724-458-3395 (fax)
  • Official Website:[2]
• History & Memorable Moments

Founded in 1876 by Isaac C. Ketler, the school was originally chartered as Pine Grove Normal Academy. In 1884, the trustees of Pine Grove Normal Academy in Grove City amended the academy charter to change the name to Grove City College. By charter, the doors of the College were open to qualified students "without regard to religious test or belief." The founders of Grove City College, consciously avoiding narrow sectarianism, held a vision of Christian society transcending denomination, creeds, and confessions. Isaac Ketler was a devout Presbyterian with a passion for education and a strong ambition to become an influential teacher and educator. His significance to the college was enormous. Ketler served as president until 1913 -- 37 years altogether, during a very formative period for the school.

Grove City was heavily supported by Joseph Newton Pew, founder of the Sun Oil Company. Pew was one of Ketler's grade-school teachers and a lifelong mentor and friend of the educator. Ketler and Pew would ultimately forge a remarkable relationship that would profoundly influence the purpose and character of Grove City College. Pew, like Ketler a devout Presbyterian and strong believer in the importance of good education, later accepted the presidency of the school's board of trustees. Pew and Ketler's influence continued with their sons, Weir Ketler (Grove City president from 1916 to 1956) and Joseph Howard Pew, who was graduated from the college in 1900 and like his father became trustee-board president. J. Howard Pew continued his father's legacy, richly contributing to the school's programs. A Presbyterian as devout as his father had been, and a conservative, J. Howard Pew insisted that the college operate only on what it received in tuition and fees. In the 1930's, J. Howard Pew, who became the president of Sun Oil Company, was one of the nation's most outspoken critics of the New Deal, so it also was natural that Grove City College look unfavorably upon federal aid and involvement in education and that it would strive to remain the highly independent institution it is today. Joseph Howard Pew once said that his two major philanthropic causes were GCC and The Pew Charitable Trusts. In October 2004, the college dedicated a statue to his memory outside of the college's Harbison Chapel.

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