Because of its distinguished history, Emory & Henry is designated as a “historic district” on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register. Emory & Henry was granted the honor for having pioneered in efforts to establish higher education in rural Southwest Virginia.

Four individuals were instrumental in founding Emory & Henry by raising funds and locating a site for the campus: Tobias Smyth, a local farmer and enthusiastic Methodist lay person; the Reverend Creed Fulton, a Methodist minister; Colonel William Byars, a distinguished Presbyterian and political leader; and Alexander Findlay, an Abingdon businessman. As a tribute to these founders, Tobias Smyth’s log house, dating to about 1770, has been preserved on the campus for use as a museum and meeting place. Emory & Henry’s first president, the Reverend Charles Collins, and the first three faculty members were graduates of Wesleyan University in Connecticut, a Methodist school with a reputation for academic excellence. That legacy has shaped the character and history of Emory & Henry.

From its founding until the outbreak of the Civil War, Emory & Henry enjoyed growth in enrollment, expansion of course offerings, and additions to the facilities. When the war came to Southwest Virginia, the college temporarily suspended classes, although the faculty remained on duty; the administration building was used as a Confederate hospital. Immediately after the Civil War, classes resumed, but the political and economic instability of that era made the late 1800’s a time of struggle for the college. With the inauguration of Richard G. Waterhouse as president in 1893 and an improvement in the regional economy, enrollment stabilized and the college began an ambitious building program.

Women first enrolled at Emory & Henry in 1899, and true coeducation was implemented gradually over the next three decades. In 1918, the administration of Emory & Henry was merged with that of Martha Washington College, a Methodist-affiliated, all-female school in Abingdon. When Martha Washington College closed in 1931, many of the students transferred to Emory & Henry.

A new era of construction and renovation began in the 1990s. Weaver and Carriger residence halls were thoroughly renovated, and Martin-Brock Gymnasium was transformed into the Student Activities Center. A new Physical Plant Building was constructed. The train depot was converted to an arts complex, with two renovated galleries. In 2000 a new academic center, McGlothlin-Street Hall, was completed, housing a number of academic programs. Also in 2000, the college completed a major expansion and renovation of the King Athletic Center, including the new Robert Gibson III Fitness Center, and a new dome and telescope were added to the Fulton Observatory. For a number of years, alumni giving has been at record levels, and the college’s endowment holdings have experienced dramatic growth.

Currently, Emory & Henry enrolls just under 1,000 students, almost equally divided between men and women. These students join with a dynamic faculty and staff to pursue the college’s motto: Macte virtute, “Increase in Excellence.” The academic program described in this catalog reflects some of the same ideals set forth by the founding fathers in 1836: commitment to the concept of liberal arts education, a desire for education of high quality, and a concern for spiritual and ethical issues. At the same time, the academic program reflects an appreciation for the special needs of current students: preparing for vocations, understanding complex social and political issues, and interpreting contemporary ethical issues. Members of the college community are proud of its past and excited about the future.