Judson College (Alabama)

Judson College is a private Baptist women's college in Marion, Alabama. It was founded by members of Siloam Baptist Church in 1838, making it the fifth-oldest women's college in the country. Judson was named after Ann Hasseltine Judson, the first female foreign missionary from the United States to Burma (now Myanmar). It has been affiliated with the Alabama Baptist Convention throughout its history and is funded by the convention.[5]

Not to be confused with Judson University.
This article is about the college in Alabama. For the university in Illinois, see Judson University.

Judson College
TypePrivate women's college
Established1838 (1838)
Religious affiliation
Baptist (Alabama Baptist Convention)
PresidentMark Tew[1]
Academic staff
28 full-time and 44 part-time[2]
Students250[3]
Location
Marion
,
Alabama
,
United States

32.63063°N 87.31587°W / 32.63063; -87.31587
CampusRural, 118 acres (48 ha)
Websitejudson.edu
Judson College Historic District
Jewett Hall, within the Judson College Historic District
LocationRoughly bounded by East Lafayette, Curb, Mason and Washington Streets
Coordinates32°37′49″N 87°18′52″W
Architectural styleColonial Revival, Classical Revival, Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.92001825[4]
Added to NRHPFebruary 3, 1993

Enrollment at Judson in 2019 was 268.[6] The college offers bachelor's degrees in liberal arts and pre-professional programs.

The college is experiencing severe financial challenges. In December of 2020, the college's president issued an urgent plea for $500,000 in donations to prevent the college from closing immediately.[7]

Campus

The principal building of the campus is Jewett Hall, the third of this name. The first Jewett Hall, built in 1840, was a four-story Greek revival building named after Dr. Milo P. Jewett, first president of the college. It was destroyed by fire in 1888. The rebuilding of Jewett Hall was begun that same year. In 1947 the dome was hit by a lightning strike and fire consumed the building. Rebuilding efforts began almost immediately, and funds were raised by the sale of bricks from the rubble. A third fire occurred in the attic of this building as mattresses were lit on fire, but the fire was put out without much damage to the building.

Other notable buildings on campus include A. Howard Bean Hall, a former Carnegie library which now houses the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame as well as 2 classrooms, the Alumnae Auditorium, and the Women's Missionary Union residence hall.

Student life

Judson College participates in joint social and civic events with Marion Military Institute, also located in Marion. Many of these events and traditions date as far back as the civil war and are connected culturally to that era.

Judson College students participate in big sister/little sister activities. In the spring semester of their first year, freshman students will receive a big sister from the sophomore class. Throughout the second year, students will go through several secret tradition ceremonies. The big sister leads the little sister through these ceremonies and provides for them the materials and things they need to pass on the traditions to later classes.

Every April, Judson hold its J-Day. J-Day is like a homecoming event, and alumnae come from all over the country to celebrate and hold reunions. J-Day replaced the older tradition of May Day, which involved a May Pole. J-Day has a court similar to many homecoming celebrations, but one can liken the Pageant or Hockey Day as much closer to homecoming. J-day is usually within a week of Marion Military Institute's Alumni Day and is much closer in content to that event.

Notable alumnae

Namesake colleges

References
  1. https://www.judson.edu/directory/w-mark-tew/
  2. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=judson+college&s=all&id=101541#general
  3. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=judson+college&s=all&id=101541#general
  4. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. Judson College. "Heritage".
  6. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=judson+college&s=all&id=101541
  7. Jaschik, Scott (December 18, 2020). "Judson College Will Close If It Doesn't Receive Gifts". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  8. Caroline C. Dormon, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Vol. 1 (1988), p. 251
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