atherton

It happens to every Penn State freshman. You’re on your way to your first class of the fall semester, walking along Pollock Road, desperately trying to find the Willard Building, when… you pass a dude’s gravesite? With his name written in spooky Harry Potter font?

Who is this Atherton guy? you wonder as you hurry past his grave. And why is he so important?

Tell me this isn’t just a little creepy! I dare you!!!

Image via WikiMedia

We hear so many different names in Happy Valley. Who are these people? What impact did they have on our university?

 

In this blog, I am going to put a story behind the Penn Staters who still live on through the names of our streets, dorms, and buildings.

 

Atherton Hall. Atherton Street. Atherton Hotel. For goodness’ sakes, the man is buried on our campus!

 

Clearly Atherton is a somebody in Penn State history. But just who is he?

 

George Washington Atherton was born in Massachusetts in 1837. Call me crazy, but I have a hunch that he was named after our first president.

 

When Atherton was 12 years old, his father passed away. He took jobs on a cotton mill and a farm to support his family after the death of his father.

 

Atherton fought for the Union in the Civil War. After being released from the war due to health problems, Atherton attended Yale University (smarty!).

Atherton during the Civil War, partying it up in the USA.

Image via IMDb

 

Atherton taught at several colleges across the U.S., including Rutgers (I would say ‘boo,’ but let’s face it, they aren’t much competition).

 

Atherton then ran for Congress in New Jersey. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it in.

Congress to Atherton.

Image via Daily Mail

Of course, there is a silver lining to everything; a few years later, at age 45, he became the seventh president of Penn State.

 

Atherton served as president from 1882 until his death in 1906.

Atherton with his fellow faculty members in 1887. They all wore the same hat… I’m surprised a few of them didn’t go home to change.

Image via Penn State School of Music

 

So, what exactly did Atherton do as president to garner such respect one hundred years later?

 

The Penn State that Atherton left was very different than the Penn State that he initially met in 1882. As you probably know, Penn State was primarily an agricultural school when it was first founded in 1855. After Atherton became president, he pushed for growth in other areas of knowledge.

 

Seven schools– Agriculture, Natural Science, Engineering, Mines, Language and Literature, Mathematics and Physics, and History, Political Science, and Philosophy– were all formed under Atherton’s presidency.

 

Enrollment also increased under Atherton. When he began his presidency, 87 students called Penn State their home. By 1906, 800 students were enrolled.

Penn State in 1882 (the gang’s all here!).

Image via SpongeBuddy Mania

 

Strangely enough, many of the buildings we pass everyday were built when Atherton was president. It’s rather odd to think that Atherton once passed by the Old Botany Building as we do today.

 

We can also thank Atherton’s presidency for the skyrocketing presence of student life on campus. Iconic characteristics of Penn State– such as the Daily Collegian (then called The Free Lance), the Blue Band, and Beaver Stadium–were all created under Atherton’s presidency. Atherton also approved the formation of fraternities at Penn State.

Sorry for making this a bit emotional but… I bet Atherton would have loved to see this.

Image via Penn State Athletics

 

On paper, it looks like Atherton was a great guy. But was he liked by the students?

 

No, they all hated him.

 

Just kidding!

 

Atherton apparently was popular among Penn State students, who appreciated that he listened to their voices.

 

So, next time you pass by Atherton’s grave, remember how much Atherton really did contribute to our school. He deserves the street names and dorm names (and even more).

Image via Penn State Historical Markers