Wittenberg College - Recitation Hall photograph   Save
Ohio Guide Photographs
Description: Recitation Hall, built in 1883, was the second building constructed on campus and held classrooms, college literary societies and the campus chapel. An annex was added to the building during the 1950’s, which is the home of university police and the campus switchboard. In 1978, the function of the building changed and it is now the main administration building, with various offices and admissions. Wittenberg College was founded in 1845 by a group of pastors in the English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Ohio. Reverend Ezra Keller was the principal founder and first president of the college. Its initial focus was to train clergy. One of its main missions was to "Americanize" Lutherans by teaching courses in English instead of German, unlike Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. The first class originally consisted of eight students at the beginning of the academic year, but grew to seventy-one by the end. With a faculty of one professor and two tutors, classes were held in Springfield, Ohio in a church on land that was donated. This area was selected due to being located on the National Road, which made Springfield an agricultural and industrial center. In 1874, women were admitted, and, the following year, blacks were also admitted. The name came from Wittenberg University, located in Wittenberg, Germany, the town where Martin Luther posted his 95 theses. Wittenberg College became Wittenberg University on September 1, 1957. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B05F03_017
Subjects: Springfield (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Education; Universities and colleges; Wittenberg College--Buildings; Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio
Places: Springfield (Ohio); Clark County (Ohio)