Stetson
University was founded as DeLand Academy
in 1883 by New York entrepreneur Henry DeLand.
Mr. DeLand believed that the town could be better
promoted as a settlement if it boasted an educational
institution. In November 1883, thirteen students
were enrolled in classed in the reading room
of the First Baptist church. The following year
Henry DeLand built DeLand Hall; that year there
were 80 + students enrolled at the DeLand Academy.
Henry
DeLand experienced financial difficulties in
the middle 1880's as the result of a freeze
and found it impossible to continue support
for the university. He turned to his friend,
John Batterson Stetson a wealthy hat manufacturer
and philanthropist, who made his first trip
to DeLand in 1886 at the invitation of Henry
DeLand. Through his friendship with DeLand,
Stetson had become interested in the school.
In 1887 Stetson was elected to the university
board of trustees, and in 1889, with the encouragement
of Henry DeLand the name of the university was
changed to John B. Stetson University.
John
Batterson Stetson
I will hew to the line though The chips fly
in my face.
-Anonymous
