1851-1934: The Holland Pioneer School Becomes Hope College
Only two years after establishing the town of Holland, Michigan in 1847, Rev. Albertus C. VanRaalte donated land to be used as an orphanage and school. The "Pioneer School" was founded in 1851 on that land (now the site of Western Theological Seminary). It was renamed the "Holland Academy" in 1855. After Van Vleck Hall was built in 1857, the Academy moved to that building, which still stands at the center of the Hope College campus. The engraving above shows Van Vleck in 1860.
The Pioneer School/Holland Academy operated as a secondary school during its first decade, and then evolved into Hope College. Under the leadership of its first president, Rev. Philip Phelps, Jr., Hope enrolled its first freshman class in 1862. Eight of the ten original college students graduated in 1866, a few months after Hope College received its official charter from the State of Michigan. Originally planned as an all-male institution, Hope College admitted its first female students in 1878.
During these early decades, Hope students learned about human nature and human behavior through courses in philosophy, religion, ethics, biology, and education. It appears that the first Hope faculty member to hold an appointment in the new discipline of psychology was Adoniram J. Ladd, who spent one year (1898-1899) as Professor of Psychology and Pedagogy. He was followed by John M. Van der Meulen, who also served as Professor of Psychology and Pedagogy from 1902-1909.
Earnest C. Brooks served as Instructor of Social Science from 1925-1931, and again in 1934-35. The Rev. Edwin Paul McLean was appointed as Instructor in English in 1927 and Professor of Religious Education in 1929, and was responsible for most of the courses in education and human behavior. He was formally appointed at Professor of Religious Education and Psychology in 1944, near the end of his service to the College.
For more information about the early years of Hope College, see www.hope.edu/about/history.html.