History Upsala College

1 history

1.1 history (1893–1924)
1.2 east orange campus (1924–1995)
1.3 wirths campus in wantage (1978–1992)
1.4 decline , aftermath

history
early history (1893–1924)

in years, upsala college invited build campus in kenilworth, new jersey (seen here, circa 1906) operated 25 years before moving east orange in 1924.

upsala college founded @ 1893 annual meeting of swedish evangelical lutheran augustana synod in north america, known augustana synod—a lutheran church body roots in amongst swedish immigrant community. augustana synod placed emphasis on mission, ecumenism, , social service. meeting @ augustana college in rock island, illinois, polity decided open college in brooklyn, new york, in october 1893. synod chose young minister, rev. lars herman beck (1859–1935), college s first president. beck, swedish immigrant united states, had received ph.d. yale university in previous year , turned down teaching position @ yale assume post @ upsala.

the name upsala chosen honor both historic uppsala university in sweden , meeting of uppsala. 1593 meeting—exactly 300 years before founding of upsala college—firmly established lutheran orthodoxy in sweden after attempts king john iii reintroduce roman catholic liturgy.

on 3 october 1893, upsala college opened in swedish evangelical lutheran bethlehem church in brooklyn. first day, beck began instruction 16 students. end of year, upsala had 75 students. instruction had been in swedish student body largely consisted of scandinavian immigrants. in 1897, college moved kenilworth, new jersey (formerly new orange, new jersey ) when new orange industrial association offered young school fourteen acres of land. upsala erected first building on kenilworth campus in 1899. college granted first bachelor of arts (b.a.) degrees in 1905 4 students. 1910, upsala offered bachelor of arts in modern , classical languages, , bachelor of science (b.s.) degrees in mathematics , sciences, while offering three-year college preparatory program, instruction in music preparing teachers of music, organist , choir leaders, , in general afford students musical education , instruction in commerce , business train young men , women business career , in stenography students seeking fill positions stenographers , private secretaries. while college identified connexion swedish lutheran community, upsala first college in new jersey admit women, , student body welcomed students many other nationalities , religions. in 1908, student body consisted of 79 swedes, 2 finns, 1 jew, 1 american , 1 chinese, 1 korean, , 1 persian

east orange campus (1924–1995)

the college moved east orange in 1924 after purchasing 45-acre site in city in previous year.

after passage of title ix, audrey donnelly became school s women s tennis coach.

in 1989, upsala hosted national forensics association national collegiate speech championship, featured on 1,100 competitors on 5 days of competition.

however, surrounding community s crime rate increased, , student enrollment declined throughout late 1970s , 1980s.

upsala s men basketball team made 1980 ncaa men s division iii basketball championship, losing north park university, 83 76.

wirths campus in wantage (1978–1992)

during tenure of upsala s sixth president, rodney o. felder, upsala sought expand , acquired 245 acres (99 ha) tract of land in rural wantage township in sussex county in northwestern new jersey construction of second campus called wirths campus. in 1978, land large family farm had been donated wallace wally wirths (1921–2002), former westinghouse corporation executive, author, local newspaper columnist , radio commentator.

upsala did not erect academic buildings on property, , in these formative years held classes in existing buildings. few graduates studied @ campus until 1992 when classes ceased , trustees chose remain committed east orange. when school closed down in 1995 , school s assets dissolved, wirths family bought farm in wantage college $75,000.

decline , aftermath

throughout 1970s , 1980s, upsala suffered severe financial problems , declining enrollment. financial issues exacerbated students unable pay tuition. demographics of east orange had changed in aftermath of newark riots in 1960s, , upsala began enroll larger numbers of minority students—a move thought have upset older caucasian alumni , donors. east orange s tax base , socio-economic conditions continued deteriorate increase in crime statistics made college unattractive setting prospective students. 1990s, student body had decreased approximately 1,500 435 when school closed in 1995. middle states association of colleges , schools announced result of decline in academic standards , school s ongoing financial problems, not renewing upsala college s accreditation. on 1 may 1995, college s board of trustees voted close school when accreditation expired on 31 may 1995. school closed approximately us$12,500,000 in debt. school s ninth , last president, paul v. delomba, partner , project manager financial services , accountancy firm price waterhouse, hired board of trustees close college , dissolve assets.

after closing in 1995, college s east orange campus sold city use of east orange school district build new high school on half of site constituting college s east campus. several of college buildings (including beck hall, puder hall, viking memorial hall (gymnasium) , college center) incorporated new public secondary school, east orange campus high school. during time, west campus deteriorated , became blighted , buildings looted, vandalized , 1 building lost arson. section of campus slated residential redevelopment city government, , demolished in 2006. demolition of west campus featured in coal miner episode in season 2 of discovery channel television program dirty jobs aired on 8 august 2006.

upsala s campus radio station, wfmu, remains in operation; nonprofit company known auricle communications purchased wfmu s license shortly before upsala closed.

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