| Both sides previous revisionPrevious revisionNext revision | Previous revision |
| luther_flavel_sweeten [2023/05/12 16:24] – bant06 | luther_flavel_sweeten [2025/02/06 20:13] (current) – [Sources] bant05 |
|---|
| Flavel Sweeten Luther served as acting [[presidents|president]] and then president of Trinity College from 1903 to 1919. | Flavel Sweeten Luther served as acting [[presidents|president]] and then president of Trinity College from 1903 to 1919. |
| |
| Born March 26, 1850 in Brooklyn, Connecticut, Luther matriculated at Trinity College as a sophomore when he was 17. Excelling in mathematics, he took first prize in that subject during his very first year on campus. Graduating at age 19, Luther taught at a parish school before becoming a deacon in the [[episcopal|Episcopal]] Church on November 2, 1871. Two years later, he took over as rector of a church school in Wisconsin. By 1876, he was professor of mathematics at Racine College in Racine, Wisconsin. | Born March 26, 1850 in Brooklyn, Connecticut, Luther matriculated at Trinity College as a sophomore when he was 17. Excelling in mathematics, he took first prize in that subject during his very first year on campus. Graduating at age 19 in 1870, Luther taught at a parish school before becoming a deacon in the [[episcopal|Episcopal]] Church on November 2, 1871. Two years later, he took over as rector of a church school in Wisconsin. By 1876, he was professor of mathematics at Racine College in Racine, Wisconsin. |
| |
| [{{:luther_flavel_sweeten.jpg?350 |Flavel Sweeten Luther, ca. 1904. Photo credit: [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.34926820|Trinity College Archives]]}}] | [{{:luther_flavel_sweeten.jpg?350 |Flavel Sweeten Luther, ca. 1904. Photo credit: [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.34926820|Trinity College Archives]]}}] |
| In 1883, Luther returned to Trinity College to become professor of mathematics. He received a Ph.D. "in course," perhaps the only Ph.D. given by the College. At the same time, he contributed to innovations in bicycle engineering (notably the chainless bevel gear) as a consultant to the Pope Manufacturing Company, which had made its mark in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of [[hartford|Hartford]]. He sought to organize and educate craft workers through the creation of a local Workingmen's Club. A hard worker himself, Luther taught for 17 years in a row before taking a sabbatical year abroad in England in 1900. He avidly attended [[athletics|athletic]] events and was a member of the Trinity Bicycle Club. He gave [[chapel|chapel]] services at Trinity, though he never became a priest and discouraged affiliation with High Church Episcopalianism. Luther was well-known in the city of Hartford, including at his home at 1 Columbia Street. | In 1883, Luther returned to Trinity College to become professor of mathematics. He received a Ph.D. "in course," perhaps the only Ph.D. given by the College. At the same time, he contributed to innovations in bicycle engineering (notably the chainless bevel gear) as a consultant to the Pope Manufacturing Company, which had made its mark in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of [[hartford|Hartford]]. He sought to organize and educate craft workers through the creation of a local Workingmen's Club. A hard worker himself, Luther taught for 17 years in a row before taking a sabbatical year abroad in England in 1900. He avidly attended [[athletics|athletic]] events and was a member of the Trinity Bicycle Club. He gave [[chapel|chapel]] services at Trinity, though he never became a priest and discouraged affiliation with High Church Episcopalianism. Luther was well-known in the city of Hartford, including at his home at 1 Columbia Street. |
| |
| Upon the resignation of President [[smith_george_williamson|Smith]] in 1903, Luther was designated Dean of the College and then acting president by the Trinity [[trustees|Board of Trustees]], because of his seniority among the faculty. On April 30, 1904, he was elected President of Trinity College unanimously and feted with a rousing impromptu celebration and later a lengthy public inauguration on October 26, 1904. | Upon the resignation of President [[smith_george_williamson|George Smith]] in 1903, Luther was designated Dean of the College and then acting president by the Trinity [[trustees|Board of Trustees]], because of his seniority among the faculty. On April 30, 1904, he was elected President of Trinity College unanimously and feted with a rousing impromptu celebration and later a lengthy public inauguration on October 26, 1904. |
| |
| Luther was the only president of Trinity to serve in the Connecticut state legislature while serving as president. Between 1906 and 1908, he served in the Connecticut Senate as a progressive Republican. Under Luther's progressive leadership, the //Hartford Courant// editorialized that "Trinity College is better equipped than ever for the work of contributing to American citizenship well-taught, well-mannered, healthy-minded, public-spirited Christian gentleman." His continued support of Chapel services, though Sunday Evening Service more so than the daily sermons, was met with enthusiasm by many members of the student body. Luther approved of the growing presence of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) on campus, even supporting the idea of hiring of YMCA Secretary, who could conduct the religious census of the students, sponsor Bible study, connect the students with service opportunities, and help less fortunate students obtain employment to pay their tuition. Yet no Secretary was hired. Still, Luther had asserted the connection between public service and a college education received at Trinity. | Luther was the only president of Trinity to serve in the Connecticut state legislature while serving as president. Between 1906 and 1908, he served in the Connecticut Senate as a progressive Republican. Under Luther's progressive leadership, the //Hartford Courant// editorialized that "Trinity College is better equipped than ever for the work of contributing to American citizenship well-taught, well-mannered, healthy-minded, public-spirited Christian gentleman." His continued support of Chapel services, though Sunday Evening Service more so than the daily sermons, was met with enthusiasm by many members of the student body. Luther approved of the growing presence of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) on campus, even supporting the idea of hiring of YMCA Secretary, who could conduct the religious census of the students, sponsor Bible study, connect the students with service opportunities, and help less fortunate students obtain employment to pay their tuition. Yet no Secretary was hired. Still, Luther had asserted the connection between public service and a college education received at Trinity. |
| |
| In 1922, Luther was elected to the Board of Trustees and moved to California, where he died in 1928. His widow, Isabel Ely Luther, received a reduced pension, though the College Trustees still paid her $1,600 annually until her death four years later. Alumni gave annually to a Luther Fund. | In 1922, Luther was elected to the Board of Trustees and moved to California, where he died in 1928. His widow, Isabel Ely Luther, received a reduced pension, though the College Trustees still paid her $1,600 annually until her death four years later. Alumni gave annually to a Luther Fund. |
| | |
| | ===== Preceded By ===== |
| | |
| | [[smith_george_williamson|George Williamson Smith H’87]] |
| | |
| | ===== Succeeded By ===== |
| | |
| | [[perkins_henry_augustus|Henry Augustus Perkins (acting)]] |
| | |
| | [[ogilby_remsen_brinckerhoff|Remsen Brinckerhoff Ogilby]] |
| |
| ---- | ---- |
| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/4/|History of Trinity College]] (1967) by Glenn Weaver, pp. 220, 233, 253-254, 256, 264-267, 269, 271, 275-276, 279-282, 284. | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/4/|History of Trinity College]] (1967) by Glenn Weaver, pp. 220, 233, 253-254, 256, 264-267, 269, 271, 275-276, 279-282, 284. |
| |
| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3332&context=tripod|Trinity Tripod]], "Dr. Flavel S. Luther Dies in 78th Year," and "Dr. Flavel Sweeten Luther," 01/06/1928. | [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.29402266|Trinity Tripod]], "Dr. Flavel S. Luther Dies in 78th Year," and "Dr. Flavel Sweeten Luther," 01/06/1928. |
| |
| ---- | ---- |
| [<>] | [<>] |
