EGINNINGS

became the first president of the Board of Trustees, served for 18 years as Otterbein’s president, and was honored as the father of higher education in the United Brethren Church.”

Kathy Krendl H’18, president emerita, excerpted from her inauguration address, 2009

“At the General Conference of the United Brethren in Christ Church in 1845, William Hanby was elected 15th bishop of the church. Church and Otterbein leaders faced opposition to the plan of making education available to all genders and races. Bishop Hanby persevered in advancing his ideas. The fall 1847 student body was composed of four males and four females. The first graduating class in 1857 was two women.

Hanby survived the bondage of indentured servitude — an experience that fired his hatred of bondage and slavery. This same boy was denied an education, and later taught himself to read and write to such a skill level as to enable him to write sermons and to write and edit articles for the church newspaper.

Otterbein continues to resist injustices, promote learning for all, and to reach out and welcome diverse students to the benefit of all. Bishop Hanby had three main focuses in his life: his faith, his love of education, and his hatred of the injustice of slavery.”

Pam Allen ’96, former manager of the historic slaves

Saum Hall, the first building constructed by the University, is completed. It remained in use until 1969.