Classes begin at Drury University (1873)

Classes began at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, in 1873. The institution, originally founded as Springfield College by Congregationalist missionaries, held its initial classes in a single building on a campus of less than 1.5 acres. Key figures provided the initial endowment, though the school was renamed in 1874.

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Background and detail

Background. Drury University is a private university in Springfield, Missouri. It was founded as Springfield College in 1873 by Congregationalist church missionaries, modeled after other Congregationalist universities like Dartmouth and Yale. The university's mission statement describes itself as "church-related," reflecting its origins.

Founding and Endowment. Nathan Morrison, Samuel Drury, and James and Charles Harwood provided the school's initial endowment and organization. Samuel Drury's gift was the largest of the group. The school was soon renamed as Drury College in honor of Drury's recently deceased son on December 10, 1874.

Initial Campus. When classes began in 1873, they were held in a single building on a campus occupying less than 1.5 acres (0.61 ha). This small footprint marked the early physical scope of the institution in Springfield, Missouri.

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