In the mid-1700s while attending the Stamp Act Congress, John Rutledge decided the only thing New York City had to offer was a college.

He returned home dreaming of founding a similar institution in South Carolina.

Thus was born the College of Charleston.

Later, Governor John Drayton decided that a second school was needed to serve people of the Upstate.

So in 1801, South Carolina College was founded, and this is now the University of South Carolina.

In the 1880s, Thomas Green Clemson, his wife Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson, and Benjamin Ryan Tillman decided that an agricultural school was needed to serve the common people, and thus was born Clemson University.

Although each of these institutions was founded upon a different dream, they all had one thing in common... the higher education of the young men of South Carolina society.

Now, in 1855, a man came here to Spartanburg, a man with very different ideas, a man who came to found a cotton manufacturing firm, and a man who firmly believed that the well-being of any country depends upon the culture of its women.

So in contrast to the prevailing ideas of the times, he firmly believed in the higher education of women, and thus was born Converse College.

♪ ♪ ♪ Having received expert training in the use of textile machinery and management in the Northern mills, Dexter Edgar Converse believed in the potential of cotton manufacturing in the Piedmont.

So in February of 1855, he came to Spartanburg.

Before that he had lived with an aunt and uncle in Three Rivers, Canada.

His uncle, Albert Brown, was a woolen manufacturer and had taught Dexter all the details of textile manufacturing.

Sometime during his 20s, Dexter moved to Cohoes, New York, where he had a job in a textile mill.

In 1854, he moved to Lincolnton, North Carolina, where he was mill superintendent.

While in Lincolnton, he heard of cotton mills at Bivingsville near Spartanburg and believing in the potential of growth of cotton manufacturing in upstate South Carolina, he was determined to move to Bivingsville and received a job as mill superintendent.

[water babbling] Dexter Converse became an employee of the mill in 1855.

A year later, he was made mill superintendent.

In 1856, the mill was sold to John Bomar.

He was very impressed with Dexter's qualifications and urged him to stay on because he felt his experience and expertise would develop the mill's potential.

Dexter as well as five other men, including Bomar, were made partners in the firm.

Dexter felt that eventually he might become head of the firm.

He wrote in a letter to his uncle, "Mr. Bomar is an old man, and he intimates "he will not want long to be troubled with the agency.

If I am smart, you can from this draw an inference."

After he became well established in the firm, Dexter married his first cousin, Helen Antoinette Twichell of Cohoes, New York, on September 17, 1856.

Helen has been described as being very beautiful and gentle mannered.

She loved reading and acquired an extensive library through the years.

During the first years of their marriage, they lived in the company boardinghouse, and they were often tempted to return to New York due to the loneliness of the small mill village.

But their support of each other lent increased determination to make the mill a success.

Indeed, the mill under Dexter's superintendency was quite successful.

Then the War Between the States broke out, and Converse enlisted as a private in the 13th Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteers.

His enlistment lasted only three months.

John Bomar and other members of the company management petitioned Governor Francis Pickens to intercede and have Dexter discharged on the grounds that he was a valuable employee wh o was irreplaceable.

The mill workers of Bivingsville also requested his return, as it was felt that he was essential to keeping the mill operating at full capacity during the war effort.

Governor Pickens approved the petition, seeing that Converse was essential to carry on a manufactory very necessary for army supplies.

Dexter returned to Bivingsville and spent the war years manufacturing bowie knives, swords, and material for military clothing, all goods that were essential for the Confederacy.

Because they were able to maintain full production during the War Between the States and due to very clever business management in the years following the war, the mills at Bivingsville became extremely prosperous, and Dexter Converse and his partners became wealthy men.

Helen Converse watched the small mill town grow to a charming, pleasant community.

She felt it deserved a more appealing name.

So at her suggestion, the town was renamed Glendale.

Glendale was a lovely place to live and work, and it was felt it was partly due to Dexter and Helen's love for the mills and for their personal concern for the mill workers and their families.

Now, in 1875, a long-awaited dream came true when a daughter, Marie Alberta Converse, was born to Dexter and to Helen.

After devoting 19 years and concentrating his life on the development of the mills, Dexter Converse now realized that it was time to turn his attention to more domestic matters.

♪ When Marie was four months old, Dexter heaped lavish praise upon her "good looks and smartness."

He went on to say, "The dear little thing is one of the best babies on record."

Like all parents, Dexter and Helen treasured their daughter.

They wanted to provide her the best things possible, and this included a thorough education.

Although higher education for women had been established in the North, particularly with Vassar College in 1865, there were few institutions for women in the South.

So when Marie became a young lady, Dexter Converse entertained very strongly the idea of leaving Glendale and moving to the North.

When people heard of Converse's decision, they were determined to keep him in South Carolina.

He and Helen were greatly loved in the community, and the mills added much to the economy of the area.

Henry Ravenel, a lawyer, began a movement for the establishment of an institution of higher learning for women in South Carolina.

Dexter Converse and industrialist John B. Cleveland gave equal amounts for the school.

All of the men concerned were determined the school would emphasize higher learning, that it would be equal to any institution for men within the state of South Carolina.

They were not interested in producing another finishing school which taught only social graces and ignored academics.

Within a short time, Ravenel had collected donations amounting to $26,500 from over 100 citizens of Spartanburg.

A site was selected.

Construction began on the first building, and the Vassar of the South was scheduled to open October 1, 1890.

The new school was named South Atlantic University, but the board of directors soon changed it to Converse College in honor of the man who had been so instrumental in its founding and who had contributed so much to the community.

The first president was Benjamin F. Wilson, who was 28 years old and unmarried, a fact which bothered some directors.

However, shortly after his appointment he resigned as minister of First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg and married a young widow from his congregation.

It was his dedication and leadership which guided the young school through its first tremulous years.

When a disastrous fire destroyed the main building in 1892, he worked with Converse and others to rebuild and to guide the school through those troubled times.

It was Wilson who defined the goals of the college... "to provide for young ladies "who desire to obtain a thorough and liberal education "such advantages and facilities as can be obtained "only in institutions having the most complete appointments and the highest grade of instruction and culture."

He then dedicated the next decade to establishing these goals.

[no dialogue] Wilson resigned as president in 1902.

However, his strong leadership had firmly established Converse College as a leading institution for young women with very high admission standards for new students.

Dexter Edgar Converse died in 1899 at the age of 70.

His love for the people of Spartanburg and devotion to their causes not only helped his community prosper during its early years, but also brought it prominence as a center for higher education for women in the South.

He lived long enough to see his daughter Marie graduate from Converse College, with two years as a regular student and two years as a special student in piano and art.

The history of Converse College is tied to an individual who helped make Converse what it is today.

Miss Mary Wilson Gee from Union, South Carolina, came here as a student in 1890 at the age of 16.

She graduated in 1893 and after graduation received a post here at the college.

She was an instructor in Latin, a professor of classics, and later dean of the college.

She served here almost 75 years.

It's been said of her, "Miss Gee knew all five presidents of the college, "and for all, she was the repository "of wisdom and understanding in the day-to-day undertakings "of student life and academic responsibilities.

"She knew when to give praise and where to place blame.

"She was intolerant of sloth and indifference.

"She held firm to Christian principles and to moral law.

"She followed always "an unyielding belief in the founder's ideal as the foundation for women's education."

One of the first organizations founded at Converse College was the Young Women's Christian Association.

One of the ideals of the founders was that a strong religious discipline be maintained for the growth of a healthy and pure mind.

Dexter Edgar Converse said, "I believe that religion is essential "to all that is purest and best in life, here and hereafter.

"I wish the college "to be really, but liberally and tolerantly, Christian, "for I believe the revelation of God in Christ is for salvation, "and I commend and commit the college "to the love and guidance of God and to the care, sympathy, and fidelity of my fellowmen."

Students were required to attend evening devotionals followed by prayer meetings and a 15-minute devotional in the chapel 5 days a week.

Each student was required to attend church on Sunday.

Miss Gee was responsible for enforcement of these disciplines to make sure students adhered to the rules.

Possibly not all students agreed with this strong religious discipline, because as one Methodist student wrote, "Miss Gee served as chaperon of the line "for the long walk to the Methodist Church on Sunday mornings.

"I often wish I had signed up as an Episcopalian... it was a shorter walk."

Other advice to students entering Converse can be found in a student handbook from the late 1890s.

"Don't be afraid to ask advice of Miss Gee.

"She will be a big sister to you "and help you out of difficulties.

"Don't judge your roommate by first appearances.

"Don't change your music teacher the first lesson "because you're given wh at you consider primary work.

"If you're capable of more advanced work, "you'll soon convince the teacher.

"Don't cut classes unless it's absolutely necessary.

"Don't cut class meetings... they're important.

"Don't take an irregular course, "for irregular students cannot hold honors or offices.

"Don't forget to give your trunk check "to Blower's transfer man.

"Don't bring playing cards.

"They're not allowed in the college.

"Don't bring handsome jewelry.

"Don't forget that gym is compulsory.

"Don't fail to pay your debts on payday.

"Don't adopt every new fashion.

"It's not the clothes that make the girl.

"Don't do anything you would be ashamed for your mother to know.

"Don't lose this handbook, and consult it often.

"Don't sit on curbstones or walks within walking limits.

Don't forget you represent Converse on every occasion."

♪ Card playing was strictly forbidden until the late 1930s.

Faculty maintained this old rule because they felt the girls might spend too much time playing cards and not enough on their schoolwork.

Socializing with men was strictly governed.

Each gentleman caller had to be approved by the dean.

To ride in an automobile with a man, a student had to be accompanied by a chaperon.

Gee and others accompanied girls on weekly shopping trips into town, on trolley rides to events at Wofford, and on individual dates.

Of course, rules changed with the years, but in the early 20th century, such a disciplinary code was felt essential for the education and well-being of a proper young lady.

♪ In 1927, the students of Converse College were present at a very memorable occasion.

Charles Lindbergh landed at the airport in Spartanburg.

He was flying "The Spirit of Saint Louis" through 75 United States cities in order to promote commercial aviation.

He was met by cheering crowds.

There was a large parade through town.

Then he addressed crowds at Duncan Field.

There was a dinner in his honor he re at Converse College.

The governor and other notables attended.

The girls were allowed to line up on the porch and in the hall so they could meet the aviator and national hero.

Miss Gee said, "Never before had one visitor been more thrilling to the girls."

[fountain babbling] In 1929, recognition again came to Converse College when one of its graduates won the Pulitzer prize for literature.

Julia Mood Peterkin graduated from Converse in 1897.

After that, she assumed the duties of mistress of Lang Syne Plantation in Fort Motte, South Carolina.

While there, she wrote "Scarlet Sister Mary," which depicted the life and customs of Gullah people.

She drew her characters from black people working on the plantation and drew real-life situations as related to blacks.

For this novel, she received great criticism from her neighbors and prominent South Carolinians.

As Julia wrote to a friend, "I said things no nice South Carolina lady ever says."

But evidently her words were the right ones, because Julia Peterkin, Converse graduate, received a place of great distinction in the annals of American literature.

♪ There is tradition here that spans a century.

One can feel it as one walks through the grounds.

It's in the buildings, faculty, and students.

There is pride in being part of an institution that was one of the first dedicated to the liberal education of women.

Although times have changed and curriculum and social life with it, there's a strong sense of identity of being a graduate of Converse College that has not changed.

An alumna of 1938 said, "My mother was a Converse lady in the 1890s.

"My generation members were Converse girls.

"Today's generation is spoken of as Converse women.

I know that down deep they are much the same."

♪ There are many interesting and distinguished alumna of Converse College.

Among them in the early part of the 20th century was Lily Strickland, an internationally known composer, artist, and author.

She attended Converse from 1901 to 1904, and then she continued her education at the Institute of Musical Art in New York City, now known as the Juilliard School of Music.

She composed cantatas, oratorios, sacred songs, ballads, and throughout all her compositions was the strong thread of Southern heritage.

We know her mainly by a delightful song, "Mah Lindy Lou."

While living with her husband in India, she captured most Indian folk songs so we can have them today and composed original music with the Indian beat.

Due to her many efforts and her international acclaim, she was given the honorary doctorate of music by Converse College in 1924.

Indeed the School of Music at Converse has always been a very, very important part of the curriculum from its beginning.

Throughout the years graduates have accomplished many things, including festivals and concerts for the college and for the community.

One such early festival was the May Festival, originating in 1895.

Through the '30s, the concerts and the festivals were delightful for the community.

Finally, they were revived in 1939 under Ernst Bacon, the director of the School of Music, and they began to incorporate theatrical productions as well as musical.

Today concerts by the faculty and the students of Converse are most interesting and rewarding for the student body as well as the community in Spartanburg.

They are leaders in fine arts in this area.

Other graduates have taken performing arts and their teaching abilities of music back to their own communities, thereby broadening not only their own life, but the life of the area in which they live.

Music has indeed been Converse College.

♪ Converse has changed.

From the dreams of Dexter Edgar Converse, Henry Ravenel, Benjamin F. Wilson has grown a prominent institution of higher education.

But the founders' dreams still remain as expressed by the man who gave his name to the college.

"It is my conviction that the well-being of any country "depends much upon the culture of her women, "and I have done what I could "to found a college that would provide for women "a thorough and liberal education "so that for them the highest motives "may become clear purposes and fixed habits of life, "and I desire that the instruction and influence "of Converse College be always such "that the students may be enabled "to see clearly, decide wisely, and to act justly, "and that they may learn to love God and humanity "and be faithful to truth and duty "so that their influence may be characterized by purity and power."

As one walks the campus today, one can't help but feel that Dexter Edgar Converse would be very satisfied with what his dream has become.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The dream has been a reality for 100 years.

Perhaps the heritage of Converse College is best expressed through the words of her students.

From the class of 1939... "The Converse girl "is a gentlewoman of charm and gentility.

"In her manner is clothed a will of iron.

"She is supported by God, friends, and family, who see in her the epitome of all that is good."

From the class of 1970... "She embodies the dream D. E. Converse had for all of us.

She sees clearly, decides wisely, and acts justly."

And from the class of 1984... "Converse College produces women "who are independent in their thinking, "innovative and creative in their ways, "and secure in their femininity.

"The Converse woman "represents the best of both worlds... 1889 and 1989."

The years to come will also be very, very fruitful.

They will be filled with productivity, creativity, scholarship, and advancement in the liberal arts.

One feels that here... because there are still dreams at Converse College.

♪ ♪ Program captioned by: CompuScripts Captioning, Inc. 803.988.8438 ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪