Members of the Class of 1881 pose on the lawn with Dr. T. L. Jones, President. Click here for a list of past Columbia College presidents.

On February 8, 1854, representatives of the South Carolina Methodist Conference voted to establish Columbia Female College in Columbia, S.C.’, whose mission would be "to educate young women for fruitful service to church, state and nation."

The decision to establish the College was a bold and progressive move by the Church in an era in which the subject of female education was being hotly debated. Attendees at a Phi Beta Kappa address in 1853 were told, "The best diploma for a woman is a large family and a happy husband." An article in the Southern Christian Advocate the same year pointed out that both sons and daughters must be well educated because "the yoke matrimonial sits heavily upon those between whom there exists a marked intellectual disparity."

The College officially opened on Plain Street (now Hampton Street) in downtown Columbia in 1859 with a student body of 121 and a faculty of 16. Courses leading to a diploma included grammar, composition, arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, geography, history, botany, Latin, philosophy, religion, physiology and astronomy. For additional fees, students could also take French, music, drawing, painting, and ornamental work.

The College continued to grow until it was forced to close its doors in 1865 when General Sherman's Union troops marched on Columbia. It was saved from being torched only because Professor of Music W.H. Orchard, having heard that all unoccupied buildings would be burned by a certain hour, left his home to stand in the doorway of the College where he could be seen by the infantry.

In 1873, the College reopened; and, over the next two decades, the faculty and enrollment increased in size and the curriculum was expanded. An alumnae association was organized in 1882—the fifth of its kind in the nation—preceded only by Elmira, Vassar, Wellesley and Smith.

During the 1880s, tuition, room and board was $100 per year. For an extra one dollar per month, laundry services could be procured. Students were required to wear black during the winter and plain white muslin during the spring and summer, with ankle length dresses being the period style. Color garments could be worn during night exhibitions and other occasions, unless they were in mourning. Room inspections were held daily at 7:30 a.m., followed by breakfast and mandatory chapel services. Evening prayers were recited after supper, and the "retiring bell" rang at 9:30 p.m.

A popular extracurricular activity for students in the early 1900s was membership in the College's Chafing Dish Club. Our History

The College was first damaged by fire in 1895, though the damage was not extensive. It was moved to its present site in North Columbia in 1904 as the result of a generous gift of land from F.H. Hyatt and other contributions from the community. In 1905, the word "female" was dropped from the name.

Swept by a second fire in 1909, the College operated out of its former Plain Street facilities until the North Columbia campus could be reoccupied in 1910. Although the World War I years were difficult, the institution weathered the storm; and, it is significant that during this bleak period, Professor J. M. Ariail wrote the inspiring words which became the College's alma mater.

In 1938, Columbia College was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In the late 1940s, the South Carolina Conference brought Wofford College and Columbia College under one president and one board of trustees, but the action was reversed in 1951.

In the 1950s, under the leadership of President R. Wright Spears, who served for 26 years, the College began a dramatic upturn. Enrollment increased, and new facilities appeared on campus one after another.

In 1964, a tragic third fire ravaged the campus and destroyed Old Main, the central landmark building which included student housing and classrooms.  Frightened and disheartened students, huddled in the middle of the night in College Place United Methodist Church, were told by President Spears, "Nothing has been destroyed that cannot be rebuilt." The tragedy inspired new support for the College among loyal alumnae and the community and ground was soon broken for new residence halls and classroom buildings. The columns of Old Main, which had been the only thing left standing in the ashes when the fire was over, became a symbol of Columbia College's strength and endurance. During this tumultuous period of the national Civil Rights Movement, the College was integrated without incident under Spears leadership, with the first African American student admitted in 1966.   

As president from 1977 to 1988, Dr. Ralph T. Mirse brought to the College significant increases in enrollment, a new evening program, additional graduate programs, and financial stability. The College library saw considerable growth during Mirse’s tenure as holdings nearly tripled to over 165,000 volumes by 1985. In addition, a computer science center, music/art center, and learning resource center were established on campus to meet the demands of increased program developments.

Dr. Peter T. Mitchell, president from 1988 to 1997, brought a nationally recognized focus on collaborative learning and leadership studies, reflected in a ranking by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top ten regional liberal arts colleges in the South and the receipt in 1996 of a prestigious Theodore M. Hesburgh award. Under Dr. Mitchell's tenure, entrepreneur and philanthropist Johnnie Cordell Breed contributed $1 million to build the Breed Leadership Center for Women and launched the Leadership Institute at Columbia College. In addition, the Barbara Bush Center for Science and Technology was made possible by a major gift from Janice McNair '59 and Robert C. McNair of Houston, Texas. At their request, the building was named in honor of former first lady, Barbara Bush.

On July l, 1997, Phyllis O. Bonanno became the College's 15th and first woman president. With a background in business, government and international trade, she placed an emphasis on the impact of globalization and technology and the preparation of young women for their roles in a global economy.

Bonanno was succeeded in the spring of 2000 by transitional president, Dr. James H. Rex, who spearheaded the College's involvement in the revitalization of the surrounding historic Eau Claire neighborhood, including the establishment of an innovative arts scholar program at Eau Claire High School.

Dr. Caroline Whitson became the 17th president of Columbia College in July 2001. A native of Atlanta, her background includes experience as a professor of English, a vice president for advancement, and a provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. Her initial focus was to strengthen the College's financial standing, increase student engagement, and launch new scholarship programs to increase the College's appeal to top-tier scholars. In 2004, Whitson spearheaded a public-private partnership with the South Carolina Commission on Women to form The Alliance for Women at Columbia College dedicated to working with statewide partners to improve women’s economic autonomy, political participation and health and well-being for the benefit of all citizens of the State. In 2006, Whitson unveiled her "Imagine" leadership vision which, with support from the Board of Trustees and the faculty, infused leadership development across the 4-year curriculum in every academic major. The "4Cs," courage, commitment, confidence and competence are now a fundamental part of the Columbia College experience. In both the 2004 and 2007 National Study of Student Engagement, measuring the overall effectiveness of the College experience, Columbia College ranked among the top-performing institutions in the country.

Click here to read the history of our Seal and Mace.