# data[].attributes.body
Annie Tribble joins the staff as Intramural Director and Instructor of Physical Education

# data[].attributes.body
The Honors Program is renamed as "The Honors College"

The Office of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion is renamed as "One Anderson: the Center for Community, Dignity, and Inclusive Campus Family" due to President Trump's executive order outlawing DEI initiatives

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Furman University awards Annie Dove Denmark with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree

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News releases and newspaper clippings related to honorary degree recipients in the late 20th and early 21st centuries are available in the University Archives, RG 30/005 News and Media Relations.

1850-1859

1859, J. J. Brantley, Divinity
1859, Richard Furman, Divinity
1859, J. E. Ryerson, Divinity

1860-1869

1860, A. M. Poindexter, Divinity
1860, E. T. Winkler, Divinity
1866, J. O. B. Dargan, Divinity
1866, G. B Bealer, Divinity
1866, D. Shaver, Divinity
1866, T. E. Skinner, Divinity
1868, William Royall, Divinity

1870-1879

1872, C. C. Bitting, Divinity

1873, W.B. Carson, Divinity
1876, J. B. Hartwell, Divinity (B.A. 1855)

1880-1889

1884, W. J. Alexander, Divinity
1885, Pitman P. Bishop, Laws
1887, R. H. Griffith, Divinity

1890-1899

1900-1909

1910-1919

1920-1929

1930-1939

1940-1949

1950-1959

1960-1969

1970-1979

1980-1989

1990-1999

2000-2009

2000, Keith Lockhart '81, Humanities
2000, Irwin Belk, Humanities
2000, Ralph S. Hendricks, Humanities
2000, Joab Mauldin Lesesne, Laws
2001, William Levy Carpenter, Humanities
2001, Marshall Clement Sanford Jr. '83, Laws
2001, Sarah Weaver Herring '66, Humanities
2001, Mary Patterson McPherson, Humanities
2001, Donald T. Regan, Laws
2002, Betsy McDavid Campbell '38, Humanities
2002, James Milton Dunn, Divinity
2002, Peter John Gomes, Divinity
2002, Mary Peace Sterling, Humanities
2002, Werner Kratschell, Humanities
2002, Inez Moore Tenenbaum, Humanities
2002, Darla D. Moore, Humanities
2003, Karen E. Foreman, Humanities
2003, Archie Vernon Huff Jr., Humanities
2004, Beatrice D. Plyler, Humanities
2004, Elizabeth H. Locke, Humanities
2004, Leighan R. Rinker, Humanities
2006, Minor Mickel Shaw, Humanities
2006, Bradford W. Wyche, Humanities
2006, Arthur M. Blank, Humanities
2007, Mary Simms (Oliphant) Furman '64, Humanities
2007, Adam Lewis, Humanities
2007, Elizabeth P. Stall, Humanities
2008, Rubye Hopkins Jones, Humanities
2009, John A. Floyd, Humanities
2009, Carl F. Kohrt '65, Science
2009, David W. Orr, Science
2009, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Humanities
2009, Irvine "Buck" Welling, Jr., Humanities

2010-2019

2010, Roger Stevenson '62, Science
2010, Juan Johnson, Humanities
2011, Maime Bruce, Humanities
2011, Dr. Susan T. Shi '71, Humanities
2011, Gillaine Warne, Humanities
2012, Charles Brewer, Humanities
2013, Margaret Ann O'Neill, Humanities
2013, Peter Wexler, Humanities
2014, Lillian Brock Fleming '71, Humanities
2014, Sarah Reese '71, Humanities
2015, Dr. Jerry R. Thomas '63, Science
2016, Harold C. Warlick, Jr. '68, Humanities
2017, Alexander Stubb '93, Laws
2018, Frances Ligler '72, Science
2019, Eleanor Beardsley '86, Humanities

2020-2029

2021, Rev. Deb Richardson-Moore, Divinity
2021, Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D. '81, Laws
2022, Pearlie Harris '83, Humanities
2022, Cynthia L. Davis '84, Laws
2023, Tomiko Brown-Nagin '92, Doctor of Humane Letters
2024, Thomas Cullen '00, Laws

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LibGuides: Furman History and Traditions: Honorary Degree Recipients

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Please e-mail specialcollections@furman.edu with comments & questions.

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Annie Dove Denmark helps the college to pay off the longstanding debt of $60,000

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Annie Dove Denmark published White Echoes, a book based on her sermon notes from former Anderson College president, Dr. John Ellington White

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White Echoes is a novel written by Annie Dove Denmark. It is a story about a woman named Abby who is struggling to come to terms with the death of her husband, Jack. Abby is a successful businesswoman who has always been in control of her life, but the loss of her husband has left her feeling lost and alone.As she tries to navigate her grief, Abby begins to experience strange occurrences that she cannot explain. She hears whispers and sees shadows in her home, and she starts to wonder if Jack is trying to communicate with her from beyond the grave.Abby's journey to discover the truth about Jack's death and the mysterious happenings in her home takes her on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Along the way, she meets new friends and learns to let go of her need for control.White Echoes is a poignant and emotional novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. It is a must-read for anyone who has experienced the pain of losing a loved one and is searching for hope and healing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

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White Echoes is a novel written by Annie Dove Denmark. It is a story about a woman named Abby who is struggling to come to terms with the death of her husband, Jack. Abby is a successful businesswoman who has always been in control of her life, but the loss of her husband has left her feeling los...

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The Curriculum Lab is opened as a school library example for the new Elementary Education program

# data[].attributes.body
Anderson College employs their first full-time librarian

# data[].attributes.body
Anderson becomes an incorporated city

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City of Anderson, SC, is founded

# data[].attributes.body
Coach Annie Tribble (Women's Basketball) is inducted to Anderson College Hall of Fame

Ruth Lee, first African American female to play for an Anderson College sports team, is inducted to Anderson College Hall of Fame

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Women's basketball wins second national crown for AIAW

# data[].attributes.body
The school mascot is changes from the "Rebels" to the "Trojans"

Confederate flag is removed from sports games

# data[].attributes.body
The AC Ensemble begins as the Inspirational Choir

Wanda Staggers, the first Black professor at Anderson College, is hired

# data[].attributes.body
Campus radio broadcasting begins from student station, WAIM

Annie Dove Denmark serves as president of the Southern Association of Colleges for Women

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Columns receives the SC Collegiate Press Award

# data[].attributes.body
The Keller Home is acquired as part of campus to house the Office of Admission

# data[].attributes.body
Thrift Plaza fountain is donated by the Stringer-Rainey foundation

First graduating class of graduate students receives their degrees

The Graduate School of Christian Ministry is formed

# data[].attributes.body
WWII ends

# data[].attributes.body
WWII begins; women are needed in the workforce to an even stronger degree than before, and curricular advancements will begin taking place to prepare women for their professional roles

Over the decade of the 1930s, the named archway was added to campus

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Hubert Inman Hester writes and publishes They That Wait: A History of Anderson College

The current home of the president is purchased for its present use

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Joyce Wood writes and publishes Anderson University: The Campus History Series

Materials from the university's history are published online at the Internet Archive, such as handbooks, yearbooks, literary journals and more

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This library catalog is part of PASCAL Connects, a shared system supporting South Carolina academic library services. Funding for PASCAL Connects has been provided by the South Carolina General Assembly and PASCAL member institutions.

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The first graduate program begins at Anderson College

# data[].attributes.body
Gate Lodge is constructed as an office space (as of 2025, it houses the Campus Safety Office)

# data[].attributes.body
The college is added to the National Register of Historic Places

The chapel in the Sullivan building is named LaVern Raines Hunt Chapel

# data[].attributes.body
First baccalaureate class graduates

# data[].attributes.body
The National Bicentennial fosters student trip to Washington, D.C.

Anderson College "Colonials" receive recognition from President Gerald Ford for participation in Bicentennial celebration

Women's basketball wins third national crown for AIAW in Annie Tribble's last season before she left for Clemson University's women's basketball team

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Tradition of the Crook Hunt begins

Grace Cronkhite begins as dean of the department of music

Annie Dove Denmark begins as instructor of piano and harmony

Immigration Club is established for international students

$10,000 is authorized for the building of new dorms

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The Whyte House is constructed and opened as additional housing for students

Mrs. Charles S. Sullivan, Sr., writes the Anderson College Alma Mater

Flu epidemic hits; Olga Pruitt helps the college remain open without losing the lives of any students

WWI ends

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Buildings of Johnson Female Seminary used for other educational uses, both for the Carolina Collegiate Institute and for the Patrick Military Academy

# data[].attributes.body
Union troops destroy Confederate printing presses and used Johnson Female Seminary buildings as headquarters for First Maine Infantry

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Anderson County Confederate Monument, a War Memorial

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(A war memorial located in Anderson in Anderson County, South Carolina.)

# data[].attributes.body
Johnson Female Seminary closes due to the Civil War, when the Confederate army used the facilities as a treasury and location of their printing press

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Johnson Female Seminary (or Johnson Female University) established to provide Southern Baptist education to women of Anderson, named after the first president of the Southern Baptist Convention: William B. Johnson

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Stringer Commons is constructed and opened

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Find your perfect upperclassmen housing at Stringer Commons. Cozy apartment-style suites with shared common areas and a beautiful backyard await you.

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The Rice Building is constructed and opened

The Whyte house undergoes further renovations and expansion to accommodate for classroom space

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Watkins Teaching Center is constructed and opened

Annie Tribble becomes the coach of women's basketball

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Lawton is constructed and opened

Anderson College sports teams, the "Rebels" fly Confederate flag during games

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Explore Lawton Hall, a beloved residence for male students offering suite-style rooms and convenient amenities.

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Kingsley is constructed and opened

The first phase of the Rainey Fine Arts Center is constructed

U.S. President Ronald Reagan honors college President Mark Hopkins for "Study Now, Pay Later" plan established to address national unemployment crisis

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Johnston Memorial is constructed and opened as a library

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Johnston Hall The College of Education is located in Johnston Hall, a 14,000-square-foot, three-story building. Standing in close proximity to the university’s entrance, the multi-columned edifice rises as a stately […]

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A chapel is added to the Sullivan building

West Dormitory is named Denmark Hall in honor of Dr. Annie Dove Denmark

East Dormitory is named Pratt Hall in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Robert N. Pratt; the pair were former professors, Dr. Pratt teaching Old Testament and Mrs. Pratt teaching expression and speech before serving as dean of women

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Royce and Gaston are constructed and opened

Village Basement is added onto the construction of Village Hall

Online curriculum is provided

# data[].attributes.body
College Parke is fully acquired by AU as a location for upperclassmen student housing, and new homes are constructed

Two of the classrooms in the basement of Watkins Teaching Center are converted into a digital media lab with computers, cameras, and relevant equipment for media production

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Living in a College Parke Double this year? Here’s a tour to give you a good idea of where you’ll be living—and we can’t wait to see you in just a few short days! 🏡 #college #university #movein #andersonuniversity #welcomeweek #truetoau 

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@andersonunivsc
Living in a College Parke Double this year? Here’s a tour to give you a good idea of where you’ll be living—and we can’t wait to see you in just a few short days! 🏡 #college #university #movein #andersonuniversity #welcomeweek #truetoau
♬ Happy, summer, ukulele(852618) - Eternal Waves

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The Chiquola Hotel is acquired downtown as a building owned by Anderson University for classes

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Thrift Library is constructed and opened

Johnston Memorial becomes classrooms and office space for College of Education and School of Interior Design

Clamp Hall is constructed and opened as the first of the Boulevard dormitories

A gas station across from Stringer Commons is purchased to house the Office of Graduate and Evening Admissions

The West African Ensemble is started by Dr. David L. Perry

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The G. Ross Anderson Student Center is constructed and opened

Two more dormitories are constructed and opened on Boulevard, later to be named Whitaker and Greylyn Hall

The Heritage Townhomes are acquired for student housing

A Shepherd's Crook is brought to the campus safety office, reigniting the mystery of the crook

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Abney building is constructed and opened

The college relinquishes ownership of the married student housing at Bailey Court in some time during the 1970s

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Football begins

The Springdale Building is acquired as a building for the College of Engineering

AU Alumna Alexy Mollenhauer to compete in Olympic Women's Basketball

The Honors Commons relocates from the office at the base of Denmark Hall to the Keller Home

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion changes its name to the Office of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion

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The official Football page for the Anderson University

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Women's lacrosse begins

Thrift Library officially establishes the university's archive

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Football coach hired

Men's lacrosse begins

Brashier Glade is acquired as part of the campus

The Diane Whitaker Admissions Center is constructed at the rear portion of the Merritt Administration building

The Center for Career Development moves into the Keller Home

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COVID-19 pandemic hits

"I Am" Mentoring program and scholarship begins for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion when the campus reopens in the fall

As a result of the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion develops the university's official statement on racism: "We acknowledge and reaffirm our strong opposition to racial injustice, ethnic oppression, acts of hate, discrimination, and prejudice. Racism in all its forms is a sin and an affront to the Christian values of the Holy Bible. We affirm our deep Christian commitment to uphold God’s Word concerning racism..."

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The Journey Ahead is Anderson University's "stronger together" approach to reopening campus in August.

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Announcement of an upcoming football team

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Troy the Trojan is born as the AU mascot

Johnny Mann writes new alma mater, "The Sounds of Anderson"

# data[].attributes.body
The school changes its name to Anderson University to reflect its status of having graduate programs

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Evans P. Whitaker begins as president of the college

Village is constructed and opened

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Lee G. Royce resigns as president of the college

Dr. Graham Hatcher serves as interim president

Track & Field and Cross Country return

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The final publication of the yearbook, Columns

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Lee G. Royce begins as president of the college

The Whyte House is renamed as Vandiver Hall

The second phase of Rainey Fine Arts Center is constructed

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Mark Hopkins resigns as president of the college

Dr. Henry L. Ashmore serves as interim president

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A table tennis team was created with ties to the Olympics

Wrestling was added

Men's tennis wins national championship

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Butterfly Online | Butterfly Table Tennis & Ping Pong Equipment

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Where Are They Now? Anderson College Series
(By Steve Hopkins)
Article 1: South Carolina - A hot bed for collegiate table tennis?

In 1986, Anderson College began a collegiate table tennis program. Over the next decade, the program would grow to become the first true varsity table tennis program in the United States with campus resources, a travel budget, scholarships, and some great players from the U.S., Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. The College itself also grew - expanding its offerings and moving from a junior college to a four-year institution (Anderson University). Coaches included Jim Doney, Christian Lillieroos, Paul Normandin, and Richard McAfee. Players included Scott Butler, Derek May, Rong Li (later Lillieroos), Amanda Chai, Bobbi Walenburg, Paul Johnson, Julian Milan, Carl Ericsson, Nigel Christopher, Michael Hyatt, Greg Riley, and many more. Some would later play in the Olympics, and compete in World Championships, and represent their countries. Lillieroos and McAfee are still two of the best-known names among coaches in the United States. Christian Lillieroos went on to help start another well-known collegiate program (Texas Wesleyan), made advances coaching Paralympic athletes, was named USATT National Coach of the Year twice, and was the high performance director of the Mexican National Team. Richard McAfee has penned a successful book, was USATT Developmental Coach of the Year, and has become a regular choice for ITTF courses where he teaches other coaches how to coach better.

Before 1982, there was no table tennis in Anderson, SC. That was the year that Dr. Mark Hopkins took the job as President of Anderson College and his family moved. His 12-year old son, Steve Hopkins, had played organized table tennis where they had previously lived, in Elgin, Illinois - a suburb of Chicago. Steve began playing with college students and friends immediately and formed a juniors club in 1983 that was given college space and resources. In a very short time, the club grew to 25 to 30 regulars, a traveling team of juniors, summer camps, and was host to quarterly tournaments that were sponsored by the college and the local Buick dealership. When Jim Doney first arrived on campus as the College's first coach, he began by working with the junior players and then set out to establish a formal schedule for the first college team.

In 1988, Anderson College won the team event at the National Collegiate Championships. The college also sported singles champions: Rong Li won the Women's title in 1998, Michael Hyatt won the Men's title in 1992, Nigel Christopher won the Men's title in 1993, and Greg Riley won the Men's title in 1994.

Dr. Hopkins retired in the early 90s, and the support that had been in place at the institution faded. The program closed in 1996, a decade after it had started. The impact of the efforts of the Anderson College program continued in ripples through college table tennis through the players and coaches that participated.

Two of the first players at Anderson College were Scott Butler and Derek May. They stayed a short time and then moved to Augusta, where they (along with Derek's father Pete May) built a rival program at Augusta College. Both Butler and May won collegiate singles titles (in 89 and 91, respectively). Augusta College won the team title four consecutive years (1989-92). Rong Li left Anderson College but continued her education elsewhere - winning two additional collegiate titles at other institutions (1989 and 1991).

Christian Lillieroos was later a part of creating the program at Texas Wesleyan - a standard of excellence in collegiate table tennis for the last fifteen years. Richard McAfee went on to support and advance hundreds of other coaches. Steve Hopkins went on to produce USA Table Tennis Magazine. Michael Hyatt and Nigel Christopher both went on to compete at the World Championships for their countries. And that list does not begin to address scores of other players who improved their game, who had a taste of college athletics, and who were able to enhance their college education with something that was unique for its time.

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Where Are They Now? Anderson College Series

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Where Are They Now? Anderson College Series (By Steve Hopkins) Article 1: South Carolina - A hot bed for collegiate table tennis? In 1986, Anderson Colle

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The college decides to return to its status as a four-year institution

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Mark Hopkins begins as president of the college

Soccer becomes one of the school's official competitive sports

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Ray P. Rust resigns as president of the college

Dr. Paul Talmadge serves as interim president for another period of time

# data[].attributes.body
Track & Field and Cross Country is halted

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Cordell Maddox resigns as president of the college

Dr. Paul Talmadge serves as interim president of the college

Dr. Ray P. Rust begins as president of the college

Men's basketball makes final four in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) tournament

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In April, the tennis team has a car crash where a coach and four of the six tennis players died

$250,000 donation from the Merritt family pays for extensive renovations on the administration building

Women's basketball wins fourth consecutive AIAW national crown

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The school newspaper, The Yodler, changes its name to AC Echoes

Women's basketball wins national crown for Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW)

# data[].attributes.body
John Edward Rouse resigns as president of the college

Dr. Cordell Maddox begins as president of the college

Vietnam War ends

# data[].attributes.body
Ivy Leaves begins as the journal of arts and literature on campus

Golf begins

The South Carolina Baptist Convention votes to affirm integration, but urges colleges not to sign the Civil Rights Act; Anderson College follows those directions

# data[].attributes.body
Track & Field and Cross Country begins

Rouse is constructed and opened

# data[].attributes.body
Anderson College receives accreditations by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Men's baseball starts

The college purchases Bailey Court as married student housing

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Elmer Francis Haight resigns as president of the college

John Edward Rouse begins as president of the college

# data[].attributes.body
End of the high school department

Olga Pruitt resigns as college physician

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Annie Dove Denmark resigned as president of the college

Dr. Elmer Francis Haight begins as president of the college

# data[].attributes.body
Publication of Footnotes as the one-year edition of the journal of literature

Dr. Annie Dove Denmark serves as vice-president of the Baptist State Convention in South Carolina; she was the first woman to hold an office in that body

# data[].attributes.body
Men's basketball begins on campus

Volleyball begins on campus

# data[].attributes.body
Softball started on campus

# data[].attributes.body
Men were first invited to the college as students

# data[].attributes.body
The Sororian was no longer published after this point due to the financial hardships of the Great Depression

Anderson College is approved as a coeducational junior college

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Denmark instates the first celebration of Founders' Day

Beginning of the high school department

Becomes a junior college rather than a four-year college due to financial hardships of the Great Depression

# data[].attributes.body
Annie Dove Denmark begins as the president of the college, specifically as the first female college president in the state of South Carolina

Student International Club is established

# data[].attributes.body
The Yodler begins as the college newspaper, led by the students

Annie Dove Denmark is appointed as Dean of Women

The Orion is discontinued

# data[].attributes.body
The women's basketball team begins

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The official Women’s Basketball page for the Anderson University

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. John E. White begins as president of the college

The Orion is first published as the school's first journal of literature

The women's tennis team begins

Enrollment numbers are so high that the presidents' home is turned into the music studio

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. John F. Vines resigns as president of the college

Dr. James P. Kinard resigns as president of the college

The Sororian (school yearbook) is first published

Mr. C. S. Sullivan donates $15,500 for the construction of the first presidents' home which is then named after him

WWI begins; women are needed in the workforce

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J.A. Chambliss resigns as president of the college

John F. Vines begins as president of the college

Olga Pruitt begins as physician of Anderson College

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Olga Veleria Pruitt | 2004 Hall of Fame | Anderson County Museum

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J. A. Chambliss begins as president of the college

Classes begin in September

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Anderson College founded as a four-year college for women with an emphasis on music and liberal arts. The campus consists of three buildings: the main administration building, and two dorm buildings on either side

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Delve into the history and traditions of Anderson University, a revered institution that has shaped the lives of countless students since its founding.

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Inspired by Jonson Female Seminary, a group of Southern Baptists raise $100,000 to acquire 32 acres of land for a new institution of higher learning in Anderson, SC

Anderson College accepted by the South Carolina Baptist Convention