VII The Presidency of Paul Haynes Bowman 1919-1946 The Choice of a New College Head After President John S. Flory informed the college's trustees, in April, 1918, of his desire to be relieved of the responsibilities of his office, the trustees appointed a committee (Hiram G. Miller, Sidney L. Bowman, and John C. Myers) "to seek out and recommend a suitable man" for the presidency of the college, and asked President Flory to work with the committee.1That committee recommended, in June, 1918, Charles Calvert Ellis, vice president of Juniata College and the head of its Department of Education, and the trustees instructed the committee to ascertain whether Dr. Ellis was available for the position.2 Because Dr. Ellis was not available, the committee, on November 12, 1918, recommended, as President Flory's successor, Paul Haynes Bowman,3a Bridgewater College faculty member, professor of Biblical literature and theology since August 1, 1918. In response to being approached on the matter, Professor Bowman stated that he was "in no sense a candidate" for the presidency, but that the position held for him "a tremendous appeal," since it offered "a large opportunity for service." He said he would consider the offer on condition that he first be elected acting president of the college "for a period of one year, more or less," before being considered for the presidency. The college's trustees agreed to that proposition and elected him acting president on November 19, 1918, "he to assume active duties at the end of the present session," and fixed his salary at $1,800 a year.4 Election to the presidency by the college's board of trustees, however, was not enough for Professor Bowman. "I am not quite satisfied to accept the office merely on the basis of a legal election," he wrote to John D. Miller, president of the board of directors of the college's alumni association. "The confidence and support of your Board is very precious to me. If you are in accord with the action of the Trustees ..., it would be a great personal satisfaction [to me] to ITrM, April 5, 1918. 2TrM, June 18, 1918. 3TrM, Nov. 12, 1918. 4rHB, Southeast, pp. 145, 146; TrM, Nov. 19, 1918. 261 262 The Presidency of Paul Haynes Bowman, 1919-1946 be elected also by your Board. If, on the other hand, you are not in accord with their action, I would appreciate a free and frank statement to that effect."5 In his reply, Dr. Miller stated that the alumni association's directors endorsed the action of the college's trustees, and were "willing to cooperate with you in any plan for the growth and development of the College and her constituency."6 After "prolonged and careful consideration," Professor Bowman, on February 17, 1919, informed the trustees of his acceptance of their offer of the college's presidency.7 In accepting the office, he pledged to subordinate "all personal and individual interests" to the interests of the college and the church, and he besought "the fullest cooperation" of the trustees. "I am not perfect in disposition nor infallible in judgment, as you shall learn, and consequently, I crave the wisest counsel and the frankest criticism of the Trustees at all times."8 "Dr. Bowman will bring to the presidency of the college abilities of a high order," declared the outgoing president, John S. Flory. "Richly endowed by nature, his splendid powers have been developed by careful and systematic training and by diligent application."9 "Dr. Bowman is a young man, but eminently qualified for this responsible office."10 The Philomathean Monthly predicted that "The choice of Dr. Bowman as Dr. Flory's successor will be received by all friends of the college with decided favor. Among the present student body, he has won the esteem and confidence by his personality and efficiency."11 It stated that the president-elect was "well known among the alumni of the college, and to a great extent by the [college's] entire constituency."12 Dr. Bowman's term as acting president of the college was terminated on February 18, 1921, when Bridgewater's trustees unanimously elected him president of the school "for an indefinite period of years."13 The New Leader Paul Haynes Bowman (1887-1964), the son of Dr. Samuel J. Bowman and Susan V. (Bowman) Bowman, was a native of Jonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee. He was educated at Bridgewater College (B. A., 1910), at Crozer Theological Seminary (B. D., 1913), and at the University of Pennsylvania (M.A., 1913), where he satisfied the residence requirements for the doctorate in sociology. He served as student pastor (1910-13) and as full- time pastor (1913-15) of the Bethany Church of the Brethren, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the president of Blue Ridge College, New Windsor, Maryland, 1915-17, and professor of Biblical literature and sociology there until 1918, in which year that college conferred upon him an honorary degree, D. D. In August, 1918, he became professor of Biblical literature and theology at Bridgewater College, and in November of the same year was elected president of the college.14 5PHB to John D. Miller, Dec. 28, 1918, in AlurnM. 6FrankJ. Wright and John D. Miller to PHB,Jan. 7, 1919, in AlumM. 7TrM, Feb. 17, 1919. 8PHB, in B, April, 1919, p. 4. 9JSF, in B,April, 1919, pp. 3-4. 10Ibid., Dec., 1918, p. 3. 11PhM,Jan., 1919, p. 14. 12phM,June, 1919, p. 5. 13rrM, Feb. 18, 1921; PHB, Southeast, p. 155. 14ww (1922-23), p. 450. Bridgewater College: The First Hundred Years, 1880-1980 263 PAUL HAYNES BOWMAN President of the college, 1919-46 President-elect Bowman, 31 years of age and of average height and build, was a person of great dignity and poise. Among his other distinguishing characteristics, according to a biographical sketch of him when he was a college senior, were "his erect and kingly bearing, his Apollo-like visage, his lovely speaking, flexible bass voice, ... his unpretentious goodness, ... his graciousness," and "a modest unobtrusiveness."15 He was a person of strong character and strong convictions, and one motivated always by the highest principles. He was hardworking, scholarly, discerning, and innovative. His "sound judgment and Christian patience," among other qualities, impressed his faculty colleague, J. Maurice Henry.1 6 15PhM, June, 1910, p. 57. 16J. Maurice Henry to PHB, Oct. 7, 1946, PHB Papers. 264 The Presidency of Paul Haynes Bowman, 1919-1946 When he became Bridgewater's president in 1919, he and Mrs. Bowman, nee Flora E. Hoover, also a Bridgewater graduate (B. E., 1909), had two children. Their residence, which they rented from the college, was the former Yount-McCann house (no longer standing), which Mrs. McCann had sold to the college in May, 1919. It stood on the northeast side of East College Street, opposite Founders' Hall. The new president had a high aim, high aspirations, and a high sense of duty. ''We hold in our hands the future of a great college, the destiny of our church in this part of the brotherhood, as well as the destiny of thousands of young lives," he told the Bridgewater trustees. ''We can render no greater service to this and succeeding generations than to plan large for our college and give to it our best thought and fullest support."17 A number of problems, however, confronted President Bowman: the college's inadequate endowment fund, its indebtedness, recurring financial deficits, the meager salaries of faculty members, the need of more dormitory space for men and women, of a larger dining hall and more classrooms, of more books and larger quarters for the library, of better scientific laboratories, and of accreditation of the college by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. President Bowman was not only the college's administrative head. Throughout his period in office, he was listed in the Bridgewater catalogues as professor of philosophy. The class record books show that he usually taught one course along with his administrative work. During certain summers, he helped in the canvass for students and, during financial campaigns, he solicited endowment funds for the college. Other Officials The Academic Deans After Alpheus W. Dupler's appointment as academic dean of the college in February, 1919, and his resignation before assuming the duties of the office, the Bridgewater trustees, in August, 1919, offered the position to William T. Sanger, dean of the State Normal School at Harrisonburg, Virginia, and he accepted the appointment. His salary was to be "$2,250 per year, with a house provided free from rent."18 He was to serve, also, as professor of psychology and education. His catalogue title was "Dean and Chairman of the Faculty." Dr. Sanger, a Bridgewater alumnus (B. A., 1909), was Bridgewater's first academic dean in actual service, 1919-21. As a former member of the Bridgewater faculty (1910-12, 1913-16), he had "found his way into the hearts of the students in a remarkable way."19 As dean of the Harrisonburg State Normal School, he had "demonstrated executive ability of a high order."20 His appointment was gratifying to President Bowman, who had urged the establishment of the deanship and a clear definition of its duties. The Bridgewater trustees directed that the academic dean, whose duties were "to be administrative under the general supervision of the president of the college," should enroll and classify the students, and keep their academic records, "administer the schedule of 17PHB in B,Aug., 1920, p. 6. 18rrM, Aug. 18, 1919. 19cL, June, 1912, p. 6. 20B, Oct., 1919, p.