Current Archives Exhibits include:
The Spirit of Barrington: A Celebrated Legacy - located in the Jenks Library Reference Room (3rd floor)
Shipping Up to Princemere: 70 Years of Gordon in Wenham - located in the Jenks Library Mezzanine (4th floor)
Privateers, Pirates, and the Perils of the Sea: A Glimpse into 17th and 18th Century Maritime Culture - located outside of the Archives (Jenks 217)
The Spirit of Barrington
A Celebrated Legacy
Founded by Essek Kenyon, an evangelist and pastor, Barrington College first began when Kenyon invited young Christians to live at his home in Spencer, MA, where they were provided with Bible instruction. Then, in 1900, Mr. and Mrs. John Marble gifted Kenyon a seventy-acre farm in Spencer, MA that would help facilitate his vision of communal living, shared work, and biblical teaching. The school was named Bethel Bible Training School and, in 1906 when the school received state incorporation, the name changed to Bethel Bible Institute.
Joining Kenyon at the school was Mrs. Hannah Scheuller (matron) and Miss Amy Ridge (resident superintendent). In 1908, Thomas P. Fletcher was hired as music teacher and Dean Lydia Rebecca Smith arrived. During this time, classes were held on Tuesday through Friday mornings with afternoons and Mondays reserved for communal work.
Image: Essek Kenyon
As enrollment continued to grow before and after World War I, a change of venue was needed. In 1923, the school moved to Dudley, MA where it assumed use of Budleigh Hall Mansion and the gymnasium, hall, and classrooms of the then-vacant Nichols Academy. The school changed its name to Dudley Bible Institute and Nichols Junior Academy.
In 1924, Kenyon resigned as President of the school to pursue ministry work in California and was replaced by Reverend C. C. Swett, who was president for about a year. In 1925, then 26-year old Howard Ferrin became President and the school entered its era of greatest expansion and growth. Ferrin would serve as President for the next 40 years.
Ferrin initiated an evangelistic radio program in 1926 called the "Dudley Radio Carollers" that featured Ferrin preaching as well as students singing. This would later become "The Mountain Top Hour."
Image: Budleigh Hall
In favor of an advantageous, urban location, the school moved in 1929 to Providence, RI and became the Providence Bible Institute (PBI). This location provided new opportunities for student employment and ministries. New faculty, who were appointed before and after the move, provided fresh leadership.
Richard W. Oliver, a gifted pianist, became dean of men in 1927. In addition to his administrative duties, he played a large role in building the music program at the school. His absence, though, was soon felt when he died in a car accident in 1930.
Musician F. Carlton Booth joined the school in 1930 and became the head of the music department, and also directed the radio programming. Booth, building on the musical excellence of the school dating back to Spencer, developed the only nationally accredited school of music in Rhode Island.
Terrelle Crum, who joined the faculty in 1932, played a large role in the expansion and growth of the school. Not only did he eventually become dean, but he organized and expanded the curriculum to include pastoral studies, Christian education, liberal arts, and music. He also led the Evening School, which began in 1929.
Following World War II, the school expanded from its three-year Bible curriculum to a full-fledged, four-year Bachelor of Arts program and a five-year Bachelor of Theology program. The school's radio ministry was now reaching from southern California to the middle Atlantic, and its success led to the school founding the first noncommercial FM station in Rhode Island, called WPTL. As the first Bachelor of Arts degree was awarded in 1950, it was clear that the school was beginning to outgrow its home in Providence.
Image: Undated aerial view of Providence Campus
Image: Undated black and white photo of a snowball fight between F. Carlton Booth, Terrelle Crum, Howard Ferrin, and Charlie Woodbridge on the Providence Bible Institute campus in Providence, RI.
Back L-R: F. Carlton Booth, Howard Ferrin, Charlie Woodbridge
Front: Terrelle Crum
As the Providence campus was reaching its limits, the opportunity to purchase the 110-acre Edgewood Junior College property, formerly the Frederick S. Peck estate, in Barrington, RI presented itself in the 1950s. The school offered a bid that was matched by another institution looking to purchase the estate. Both institutions were given the chance to put in a second bid that would determine to whom the Peck Estate would go. After much fundraising, a bid of $331,000 was placed. However, after much prayer, President Ferrin decided to increase the bid by $1, making the final bid $331,001. The school won the bid by that $1 and the event became known as the "Miracle Dollar."
On January 22, 1951, papers were signed and the title to the property was secured. According to Howard Ferrin, two years later, on May 30, 1953, "this magnificent 110-acre campus became ‘Wholly the Lord's’ as the mortgage was burned...."
Image: Peck Estate c. 1950s
The Peck Estate with its magnificent home, named Belton Court (pictured above), was owned by Frederick S. Peck. Peck, a Rhode Island businessman and political figure. He worked in the family business, Asa Peck & Company, as an assistant to his father, then as secretary and assistant treasurer. Upon his father's death, he became president of the company. He also held vice-president positions at the National Exchange Bank of Providence, Lawton Spinning Company, and Eastern Coal Company as well as other leadership roles for a variety of other companies and industries. In 1909, Peck gained a seat on the Barrington Town Council. Two years later, he ascended to the Rhode Island House of Representatives serving there from 1911-1926. He also served roles as Chairman of the Committee of Finance in 1915, as a member of the Republican National Committee from 1918-1932, and was even appointed to the position of Commissioner of Finance, a role created for him. He was the only person to hold the position of Commissioner of Finance as it was cut in 1932.
Belton Court mansion, which Peck lived in from 1905 to 1947, was a 72,000 square foot gothic-inspired mansion on the 800-acre Peck Estate. It was built 1905-1906 and then expanded 1927-1928. In 1944, the estate became the home of the Homeopathic Hospital of Providence then sold to Edgewood Junior School before being sold to Providence Bible Institute in 1950.
Image: Interior view of the Entrance Foyer of Belton Court before Barrington College moved in.
Image: Main Entrance Hall of Belton Court
After the Miracle Dollar, the college created a short film titled Miracle of Providence in 1950. It tells the story of the Miracle Dollar from the point of view of the administration, under Howard Ferrin, and a student who questions whether a new space will ever be found. It tells the story of faith and trust in God's greater plan for the school.
Image: It Was a Miracle pamphlet
Image: Close up of the mortgage for then Providence Bible Institute
A newspaper clipping from May 31, 1953. It reads,
Burns Mortgage At Barrington
Bible Institute Marks Ownership of 'Miracle Campus' With Songfest
The mortgage on the Providence Bible Institute's "Miracle Dollar Campus," the former million-dollar Barrington estate of Frederick S. Peck, went up in a brief burst of smoke and flame yesterday.
Appropriately, the institute marked the momentous occasion with a "festival of song" in conjunction with Memorial Day services. More than 4000 attended.
Burning of the $150,000 mortgage was a quick and easy act when viewed in the light of the facts that gave the campus it title. Taking part were Dr. Howard W. Ferrin, president of the institute, and Roscoe W. Phillips, John Bolton, John W. Woodward and Phillip B. Walker, trustees.
Hymn Sung Three Times
As the paper was reduced to ashes in a glass contained, Carlton Booth, head of the school of music, led in singing of the Doxology. The hymn was sung three times.
Well it might be.
For the audience was told that up until Thursday $2400 was still needed to complete the mortgage payment. Gifts amounting to $2700 were received Friday and the final note was paid.
No less fitting an ending would have been seemly for the story of the institute's acquisition of the property.
The story's climax occurred on Oct. 25, 1950, in Providence County Superior Court when the late Presiding Justice Charles A. Walsh looked up startled from two bids made on the property to satisfy receivership claims upon the Edgewood Secretarial School, former occupants.
First Was for $331,000
The first bid was for $331,000 and came from the Order of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
The second offer was that made by the Providence Bible Institute. It read: "331,001."
The "miracle dollar campus" had earned its title.
Fund drive followed fund drive in hard-fought efforts by the institute to hold what it had gained. International publicity given the strange $1 margin of success helped immeasurably in bringing in contributions. Within 90 days set by the court for payment, more than $180,000 in thousands of small gifts was received. The mortgage burned yesterday made up the balance.
The Barrington campus which the "miracle dollar" bought consists of 110 acres with 11 buildings. It allowed for expansion of the institute from the quarters at 100 State Street, Providence, which it still occupies.
Image: The remaining ashes of Barrington's mortgage on the Peck Estate in a small, plastic container after it was burned in 1953.
In 1951, the name of the school was changed to Providence-Barrington Bible College. During this time, Dean Crum, along with the faculty, made serious curriculum changes. These changes solidified the school as a college of the arts and sciences, and a Bible major was required in the core curriculum. In 1959, the name of the school was shortened to become Barrington College, and in 1960 the school was accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
President Ferrin, after forty years of service, left the presidency in 1965 and was made chancellor. This change in leadership marked significant changes for Barrington.
Under the leadership of Charles E. Hummel (1965-1975), the curriculum focused on an interdisciplinary concept and a 4-1-4 academic calendar, with two 4-month semesters and one 1-month term. In 1969, the music program received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). On top of the academic changes, campus social and athletics opportunities evolved, and further facilities were built to support the growing student population.
In 1975, Harold L. Fickett became president of Barrington and was followed by David G. Horner in 1979. Horner initiated special Summer Institutes and worked toward fiscal stability. However, in 1984, a merger of Barrington and Gordon College was announced at that year's homecoming celebrations. By the fall of 1985, Barrington and Gordon had merged to become the United College of Gordon and Barrington (later shortened to Gordon College).
Image: Aerial view of Barrington Campus (1963) showing Winn Hall (left), Woodward Hall (top center), Easton Dining Hall (center left), and Ferrin Hall (bottom).
List of Presidents
Essek Kenyon (1898/1900-1924)
C.C. Swett (1924-1925)
Howard E. Ferrin (1925-1965)
Charles E. Hummel (1965-1975)
Harold L. Ficket (1975-1979)
David G. Horner (1979-1985)
History of Name Changes
Bethel Bible Training School (1898/1900)
Bethel Bible Institute (1906)
Dudley Bible Institute and Nichols Junior Academy (1923)
Providence Bible Institute (1929)
Providence-Barrington Bible College (1951)
Barrington College (1959)
Image: Watercolor drawing of Ferrin Hall by Davis Gray.
Image: Watercolor drawing of Ferrin Tower in the winter by Davis Gray.
Image: black-and-white embossed tile showing a drawing of Ferrin Tower in the background, Barrington College's seal, and at the bottom Psalm 43:3 is quoted, "Send out thy light and thy truth."
Barrington College's campus, like Gordon, had a number of buildings on its property. Below is a list of notable buildings, what they were used for, and when they were built.
Ferrin Hall, named for President Ferrin, housed faculty and administrative offices, classrooms, and the main library. In the earlier years of Barrington College, the building was also used as student housing.
Hebbard Athletic Center, dedicated in April 1968, served not only as the gymnasium for sports events and physical education courses, but was also a concert hall. It was named for Harold and Alberta Hebbard who bequeathed Barrington College with its largest single gift up to that point in the 1960s. At Gordon College, Hebbard Skating Rink honored their contributions as well.
Easton Dining Hall, dedicated in April 1962, contained the school's cafeteria. It was named after the Easton family who had listed Barrington College as the beneficiary of their total estate. The College Union, dedicated in June 1966, was attached to Easton Dining Hall and housed the campus' student offices, bookstore, post office, game room, weight room with universal gym, student and commuter lounges, and snack bar.
Woodward Hall, dedicated in May 1961, was used as a dormitory. In the 1970s, it was a residence for men and also held the infirmary. By 1985, it was housing for upperclassmen and married couples. Woodward contained recreational rooms and lounges. It was named for John H. Woodward who served as Secretary for the Board of Trustees.
Booth Music Building, a renovated barn, was dedicated in May 1962 and named after F. Carlton Booth who was the first director of the music department. In the 1970s, it contained music studios, a practice room, a classroom, and the Oliver Recital Hall, named for Richard W. Oliver. The Erickson Fine Arts Building was also completed and in the 1970s housed an art studio, rehearsal hall, instrument room and studio. By 1985, the buildings boasted practice rooms, a piano laboratory, a sheet music & record library, a listening laboratory with recording equipment, and the Oliver Recital Hall.
Winn Hall, completed in 1964, was initially used as housing for women and also contained two classrooms in its basement. By 1966, Walker Hall was constructed adjoining Winn Hall. In the beginning, Walker Hall was also used for housing for women. By 1985, both dorms were residences for underclassmen students with recreational rooms and lounges. The Health Center was also located in Winn Hall at this time. Both Walker and Winn Halls were named for members of the Board of Trustees. Arthur L. Winn, a former graduate of Boston Missionary Training School (later Gordon) also served on the Gordon College Board of Trustees. The original Winn Library at Gordon was named after him.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for Griswold Science Laboratory in 1971 and fully completed in 1974. It was used as the main science building on campus and housed labs with instruments and equipment for chemistry, biology, and marine biology and was connected to an older structure that had been used as lab space. In an article from Providence Evening Bulletin dated January 16, 1974, Dr. Harold Snyder, head of the division of natural science and mathematics, said the building would also "contain a darkroom, a growing room, a small research area, a terminal for the college's computer, a classroom, a storage area..."
White Hall, later known as White Hall Annex, housed the campus computer system. This included a computer learning center, mini-computers for independent study, and faculty offices. In the 1970s, the building housed the IBM installation as well as Admissions and Student Affairs Offices.
Image: c. 1970s Barrington Campus Map
Ray “Pop” Crowell arrived at Barrington in 1941 and retired in 1974. During his tenure at Barrington, he served as an Instructor in Singing, Athletics Sports Information Director, Assistant Dean of Students, and Cross-Country Coach. Crowell founded the Cross-Country team in 1962 and, seven seasons later, had led them to an undefeated (17-0) season. It was the first undefeated season by any athletic team, at that point, in Barrington’s history. The 1969 team went on to place 4th at the New England Championships.
On October 23, 1971, Barrington hosted its 1st Annual Pop Crowell Cross-Country Invitational. When Gordon and Barrington merged, Gordon kept on the tradition of hosting this invitational. On September 13, 2025, Gordon hosted the 54th Annual Pop Crowell Cross-Country Invitational.
Pop Crowell, called the “Minister of Helps” by President Howard Ferrin, continued to coach until the age of 80. He was inducted into the Gordon College Athletics’ Hall of Honor in 2021.
Image: Sketch of Ray "Pop" Crowell done in a cartoon/caricature style. Donated by Mark Ferrin ('72B).
Image: Photo of the 1969 cross country team.
Back L-R: Pop Crowell, Tom Ferrin, Vernon Hurlburt, Bill Kirkpatrick, John Long, Bill Clute, David Crist
Front L-R: Rick Helgren, Cal Hopkinson, Mike Wildeman, Mike Roca, Ben Komisarjevsky
Not pictured: David Dryer
Mike Wildeman was not only a member of the cross country team from 1968-1971, but also served as head coach for the team from 1974-1977. He was an assistant coach before his time as head coach and continued to help the cross country team after leaving coaching. During his time as a student, Wildeman held the title of #1 cross country runner in BC history. After returning to Barrington College as a staff member, Wildeman also held roles as an Instructor of Physical Education, softball coach, Admissions Counselor, and Director of Financial Aid from 1980-1985.
Image: 1977 Torch Yearbook dedication to Mike Wildeman
Jack Augustine first began his career at Barrington College in 1962. While at Barrington, he served in many roles including Dean of Men, Athletic Department Director, Associate Professor of Physical Education, and as coach to men's basketball and baseball teams. He left Barrington in 1974.
During his tenure as basketball coach, Augustine had eleven winning seasons out of twelve starts. In 1974, Barrington won the King's Tournament marking the first time Barrington College won the entirety of the King's Tournament. Augustine is remembered as building an excellent all-around program and winning tradition while Athletic Director. More importantly, he is remembered as having a "great impact on the lives of many students" off the court with " his wise advice and counsel."
Image: Undated photo of Coach Jack Augustine (far left kneeling) with Barrington College basketball team
Image: Barrington College vs. Gordon College basketball game (1976)
The King's Tournament, known as the East Coast Christian College Invitational Tournament, sponsored by King's College first began in 1956. By 1962, those participating at King's Tournament could accrue points for basketball, cheerleading, girls' volleyball, ping-pong, bowling, and barbershop quartet competitions.
Image: Excerpt from the Providence-Barrington Bible College Alumni Quarterly talking about the beginning of the King's Tourney (last two paragraphs)
Herman Pitzer, class of 1951, returned to Barrington College in 1969 when he became a member of the Physical Plant staff overseeing Hebbard Athletic Center and also served as chaplain to all athletic teams. Pitzer is remembered as being a beloved and caring member of the Barrington community. He features in many team photos in Torch yearbooks, but the 1979 Torch features a full-page spread thanking him for his service. He passed in 1984. When Barrington merged with Gordon, a locker room in then Rhodes Gymnasium was named for Pitzer.
Image: Thank you message to Herman Pitzer in 1979 Torch yearbook
Image: Blue and yellow varsity jacket with Barrington College written on the back. The jacket was donated by Bancroft McKittrick ('68B). On top of the jacket is a varsity letter "B" that is white with yellow and blue on the edges. It was donated by Mark Ferrin ('72B).
Image: A navy blue and gold Barrington College Student Association stein with the Barrington College seal in the middle and a light blue and gold smaller and narrower mug that has Barrington College written on it with the Barrington College seal.
Donated by Rick Eldridge.
When the merger of Barrington College and Gordon College became a reality, Gordon realized that it needed a new dorm in order to compensate for the larger student body it would have in the Fall of 1986. Because the construction of the building occurred mostly over the winter months, a large, inflatable bubble (shown below) was set up to protect the site. “The Bubble” was later used as a temporary roof for the Hebbard Skating Rink (located on the current Physical Plant lot).
Ferrin Hall gets its name from Dr. Howard Ferrin, former president and chancellor of Barrington College. Ferrin was the longest running president of Barrington College, having served 40 years in that role. The Ferrin lounges were unofficially named Walker Lounge and Woodward Lounge after two of Barrington’s Board of Trustees members.
Image: Ferrin Hall Construction (September 1985)
Image: Photo of "The Bubble" as it was being used to protect the construction site of Ferrin Hall during the winter months (1985).
Image: Photo of construction occurring inside "The Bubble" (1985).
In the 1990s, Gordon College realized that it needed a dedicated space for the arts. Thus, a renovation of Rhodes Gymnasium took place in 1998 to transform the building into a new center for the arts named for Barrington College. The Barrington Center for the Arts was dedicated on October 9, 1999 with remarks from Mrs. Evelyn Ferrin, wife of Howard Ferrin, as well as the gifting, by Barrington alumni, of a Barrington College banner that still hangs in the building today.
Barrington Center for the Arts is meant to honor and tell the story of Barrington College. As one walks toward the building, the Barrington Rock stands proudly, establishing the legacy of Barrington started in 1900 by Essek Kenyon. As one enters the building, a series of glass panels along the windows tell the history of Barrington, from founding to the merger in 1985. These panels include the Miracle Dollar and a photo of the Prayer Tower, part of Ferrin Hall at Barrington College.
During her remarks, Evelyn Ferrin noted that Barrington Center for the Arts was the first prominent place where the name Barrington appeared on Gordon’s campus.
Image: Renovations of Barrington Center for the Arts (1998)
Image: A publication published highlighting the gift of the Barrington College banner, Barrington alumni honors, and photos of the inside of the building from Homecoming 1999.
Image: Barrington Center for the Arts with a blue banner covering the name of the building (Oct. 9, 1999).
Image: Photo of name of the Barrington Center for the Arts being unveiled (Oct. 9, 1999).
Image: Glass panel explaining the Miracle Dollar in Barrington Center for the Arts. This panel includes the supposed miracle dollar.
Image: Photo of Barrington Rock at its location on Barrington's property.
The only auditorium located in Jenks Library is named for a particularly beloved Barrington alumnus and professor, Dr. Carlton Gregory. Gregory Auditorium, previously named Winn 10, was renamed for Gregory in 1985. He was so beloved that the Carlton Gregory Cinema Room in Barrington Center for the Arts is also named after him, to honor his love of the arts and teaching in aesthetics.
The plaque outside the lecture hall reads:
“This lecture and performance hall is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Carlton Gregory, who served Barrington College for more than 35 years as a philosophy professor. He embodied the heart and soul of an institution that fostered dialogue in grace and truth. Dr. Gregory passed into eternity on the day of Barrington’s last commencement ceremony in 1985. The spirit of faithful engagement that marked his career lives on at Gordon College through this dedicated space.”
Image: Gregory Auditorium (Fall 2025)
Carlton Gregory graduated from Providence Bible Institute in 1939, but returned in 1945 as a part-time faculty member before becoming full-time in 1952. He taught philosophy and was Chairman of the Philosophy Department at Barrington for over 30 years. He retired in 1984. He was known as a tough but fair professor who, according to remarks given by Dr. Gordon Eaton, “respected his students, and like all accomplished teachers he allowed his students to express their opinions, even when they differed from his own.” He was noted by many as being a leader, a mentor, kind, and competitive, even known to “race” the college nurse to campus when the school was located in Providence.
Image: Carlton Gregory
Dr. Jane Andrus served as a professor at Barrington College from 1979 to 1985, joining Gordon’s faculty at the time of the merger in 1985 until her retirement in 1995. She is currently a Professor Emeritus of Biology. During her time at Barrington, Dr. Andrus served as the Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences, Math and School of Nursing in 1984, and as the Chairwoman of the Department of Biology in 1984. She was awarded Teacher of the Year in 1982.
When asked what she enjoyed about working at Barrington and Gordon Colleges, Dr. Andrus wrote, “I loved taking [students] to foreign countries to study the wonders of God’s creation—both in the ocean and in the natural beauty of the countries where I held the [Tropical Coastal Waters] course, primarily Belize, Venezuela, and Kenya.”
The Tropical Coastal Waters course was started by Andrus at Barrington in 1980 and it continued to run at Gordon until 2003, though its name changed in 1997-98. Andrus admitted that this was her favorite course to teach as it was well suited for the winter session held in January.
Image: Jane Andrus (1992)
Image: Undated photo of Jane Andrus (left in pink) with students holding turtles on the Tropical Coastal Waters course (possibly 1990s).
Image: Undated photo of Jane Andrus with participants of the Tropical Coastal Waters course (possibly 1990s). Courtesy of Jane Andrus and daughter, Priscilla Hinchey.
Dr. Marion Bean had a long history with Barrington College. Not only did she receive her B.A. from Barrington in 1950, but she also served as a professor for almost 30 years. During her tenure at Barrington she held the positions of Professor of Secretarial Studies, Professor of Business, Director of the Business-Economics Department, Chairperson of the Division of Social and Behavioral Science, and Assistant Dean of Students. At the time of the merger, Dr. Bean joined Gordon’s Education faculty and was Director of Media until her retirement in 1991. She was a Professor Emeritus of Education until her passing in 2023.
In 1999, Dr. Bean was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for her commitment to Barrington’s and Gordon’s communities and missions.
n a piece titled “Reflections,” Dr. Bean wrote, “At the heart of any college is its faculty. God blessed [Barrington] with giants in the faith, men and women of God,” sharing names such as Dr. F. Carlton Booth, Dr. Samuel Logan, Dr. Marvin Wilson, Dr. Muriel Radtke, and many more beloved Barrington faculty and staff.
Image: Marion Bean
Dr. Muriel Radtke Franz taught at Barrington College from 1967 to 1985 and joined the Gordon faculty after the 1985 merger before retiring in 2001. She is currently a Professor Emeritus of Education. During her time at Barrington, she also directed the Elementary Education program, oversaw the Early Childhood Center (a program for children aged 3-5), and was Interim Academic Dean from 1980 to 1982. Franz served as the Chairperson of the Education Division both at Barrington College (1979-1985) and Gordon College (1993-2000).
She also had a heart for missions and was the Director of the Barrington College Summer Missionary Service Corps, where she was in charge of sending out groups of students to work in both the home and foreign missions fields.
President David Horner wrote, “I know of no assignment in any area of Dr. Radtke’s life which she has not completed with competence. She is a person of the highest integrity. She is loyal, supportive and industrious.”
Image: Muriel Radtke Franz (1986)
Image: Dr. Muriel Radtke Franz and Dr. Jane Andrus for Stillpoint 1985
Dr. Roger Green taught at Barrington College from 1970 to 1985. As a part of the merger, Dr. Green was offered a position at Gordon where he taught for an additional 31 years before retiring in 2016 with the distinction of being the last Barrington-turned-Gordon professor to retire. He is currently a Professor Emeritus of Biblical and Theological Studies.
Dr. Green was a much beloved member of both Barrington and Gordon Colleges. He received Faculty of the Year awards from Barrington in 1978 and 1984, and received Junior and Senior Faculty Excellence in Teaching Awards during his time at Gordon College. A highlight of his career, though, was being hired to teach at Barrington College by none other than Marv Wilson.
Reflecting on what made Barrington College so special, Dr. Green wrote, "...the atmosphere of a family. All the faculty, staff and administration lived very near to the College and cared for each other. When alumni speak of Barrington, that family atmosphere is what they often mention. Some of the happiest years of my 46 years of teaching were at Barrington College."
Image: Roger Green
Image: Roger Green lecturing at Gordon College (1987)
Image: Roger Green with pineapple (1988)
Dr. Timothy Stebbings taught at Barrington from 1976-1985. He also served at Barrington College as business manager and treasurer. When he joined Gordon in 1987, he was initially brought on as an adjunct professor, but was given full-time status in 1999. He also served for seven years as Gordon’s Vice President for Finance. In 1985, he was named Barrington’s Faculty Member of the Year.
Before his death in March 2003 following a fight with cancer, he wrote, “Twenty-five years ago, when I embarked on a calling as a teacher, part of my rationale was that I could have a ‘ripple effect.’ I enjoyed my time in industry and it provided a means of bringing kingdom values to the marketplace. But as a professor of business, I thought I could train many others to have such an impact.”
The Barrington 126 classroom is named the Timothy D. Stebbings Conference Room in his honor. At the time of his death, he was one of two professors to have yearbooks dedicated to him both at Barrington and Gordon.
Image: Timothy Stebbings
Image: Timothy Stebbings' Accounting I class (1976)
Image: Timothy Stebbings' Business Law class (1976)
Dr. Marvin Wilson, better known as Marv, taught at Barrington College from 1963 until 1971, when he joined the faculty of Gordon College. He taught at Gordon for an additional 47 years before retiring in 2018, having taught for a combined 55 years at both institutions. He is currently the Harold Ockenga Professor Emeritus of Biblical and Theological Studies.
During his time at Barrington, he not only chaired the Department of Biblical Studies, but also received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award in 1968. At Gordon, he also chaired the Department of Biblical Studies for 17 years. Over the course of his teaching career, he received the Excellence in Teaching Award six times. He is one of two professors to have yearbooks dedicated to him at both institutions.
Speaking of his time at Barrington College, Dr. Wilson remarked, “...Barrington College was a vibrant, close-knit community of faculty, staff, and students known for reaching out to support others in times of need. In short, our experience was that Barrington was more than a school or community; rather Barrington was like a family.”
Image: Marvin "Marv" Wilson
After the merger, Gordon College gained four new majors: accounting, marine biology, social work, and youth ministries.
Image: Professor Sam Logan's English class enjoying class on the lawn in front of Ferrin Hall in 1973.
While Gordon College already had a music department, the merger brought an additional deep history and commitment to music at Barrington College. From the beginning of the school in 1900, then known as Bethel Bible Training School, music was a large part of its curriculum. This was even more enhanced with the arrival of Richard Oliver in 1926 and F. Carlton Booth in 1930. By 1930, a music course was required for all students, with more offered for those interested. An official Music Department, with Booth as the first director, was established in 1933 with an Applied Music major and minor available. The first Bible-Music student graduated in 1937. The legacy of Barrington’s music programs continued to grow under F. Carlton Booth and Donald Brown.
With the move to Barrington, RI, the College was able to expand and renovate buildings including the Booth Music Building, named for F. Carlton Booth, which was dedicated on May 5, 1962. Lovingly nicknamed the “Music Barn,” students recalled the practice rooms being repurposed stalls and the recital hall being the repurposed hayloft. Expanding course offerings and spaces led to the music program being accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in 1969. It was the first program in Rhode Island and the eleventh program in New England to be accredited at the time. An article in a 1970 edition of the Barrington College Bulletin stated that 10% of the total student body at Barrington were enrolled as music majors. By 1985, there were four different music majors - Church Music, Music, Music Education, and Music Performance.
Image: L-R: Terrelle Crum, Charles E. Hummel, unidentified man, and Louis Caister receiving the music accreditation certificate in 1969.
Image: Undated postcard of the Music Barn
Image: NASM Music Accreditation Certificate
This is to Certify that
Barrington College
is an institutional member of the
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of SCHOOLS of MUSIC
and is entitled to all the rights, privileges and
recognition appertaining thereunto.
In Witness Where of the Association has caused this
certificate to be signed by its President and
Secretary this 24th day of Nov. 1969.
The Social Work major had a very long legacy at Barrington College. Originally called Social Service Education, the first courses appeared in the Providence Bible Institute course catalog in the 1953-54 school year, located under the Christian Education major. By the 1959-60 school year, Social Service was a concentration under the Education and Psychology division. It became a major in 1971-72, but it wasn’t until 1980-81 that the major was designated as a Social Work major. In 1983, the program was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
After the merger, Gordon began to offer Social Work as a major. Previously, only Sociology was offered as a major.
Image: Social Work Professor Grace Jessop from the 1985 Torch Yearbook
Another unique program that was added as a major post-merger was Marine Biology, with Dr. Jane Andrus joining the biology faculty at Gordon College. At Barrington, Marine Biology was first offered as a course starting in the 1969-70 school year, and became a major only three years later in the 1973-74 school year. A part of the offerings of the Marine Biology major was the Tropical Coastal Waters course that transferred with the major from Barrington College to Gordon College. The course was created and directed by Andrus in 1980 as an intensive field course during the January term known as “Winterim.” Students would join Dr. Andrus in a variety of locations including Venezuela, Kenya, Australia, and Belize.
After the merger, the Tropical Coast Waters course continued at Gordon until 2003, though its name changed to Tropical Expeditions in Biology in 1997.
Image: Dr. Jane Andrus teaching on a boat during the Tropical Coastal Waters course.
Shipping Up To Princemere
7o Years of Gordon in Wenham
Curated by Kaylan Haber ('27)
Prior to the current location in Wenham, Gordon College had a campus in Fenway for both undergraduate and graduate students. During the 1940s, the college outgrew its Boston campus as the student body and programs expanded.
Gordon began looking for a new campus. Thanks to the effort of James Higginbotham, Gordon found its Wenham campus.
Image: Gordon's Campus at Fenway
Image: Wilson Hall (Fall 1975)
James “Jim” Higginbotham, a 23 year old divinity student at Gordon, was part-time pastoring at Wenham Baptist Church when he learned of Gordon’s desire for a bigger campus. Higginbotham knew of “Princemere” from his congregation and felt a call to visit Frederick Prince. While visiting, Higginbotham approached Prince with the idea of giving his estate to Gordon as a philanthropic act. Prince was so impressed with Higginbotham’s character that he agreed to have a meeting with President T. Leonard Lewis, Gordon’s president at the time. Prince agreed to sell the campus and donated a sum of money to Gordon’s future.
The 1,000 acre campus was acquired for $150,000.
Image: Yearbook photo of James Higginbotham
Image: Boston Sunday Post article on Gordon's acquisition of Princemere (Jan. 4, 1948)
This estate was known as “Princemere.”
Fun Facts:
-The Prince Mansion had fourteen fireplaces
-The mansion was built to the specifications of Mrs. Prince who was attempting to copy an Irish castle.
-Frederick Prince put flood lights on the roof because he was afraid that his children would be kidnapped in the night.
The original campus consisted of the stone mansion now known as “Frost Hall” and seven “frame” buildings. This campus was to house both Gordon undergraduates and the Divinity School.
Image: Map of Princemere Estate
Image: Map of Princemere's location on the North Shore of Boston (1956)
Image: Frost Hall, 1950
The Trustees acquired the campus in 1947, and continued to expand the campus to fit their needs until the campus opened in September 1955.
The campus offered beautiful acres of woodlands complete with lakes, and a location close to the ocean. The campus also would eventually include immediate access on and off Route 128.
Fun Fact: Between the purchase in 1947 and the completion of the move in 1955, the campus was maintained by the sale of gravel and timber from the campus itself. Land bought for the completion of Route 128 also assisted with financial returns.
Buildings on Campus in 1955:
Frost Hall
Prince Chapel
Winn Library
Wood Hall
Byington Hall (Dec 1955)
Drew Hall (Dec 1955)
Image: The Gordon Herald Feb 4, 1955
Image: Students standing in line in the cafeteria located in Frost Hall (1955)
Image: Wood Hall under construction in 1955
The Divinity School relocated officially in the fall of 1951. The increased capacity of campus allowed for the registration of a record number of students for the institution.
Divinity students originally resided in Frost, which was also used as the divinity library and cafeteria.
During the summer of 1955, campus was a flurry of move in efforts with Edwin K. Gedney leading the charge. Due to the incredible efforts of volunteers and workers the campus was ready to be moved into in the fall of 1955.
Image: Students Walking to Class in Fall 1955
Prince Chapel was built in an “English-Country style,” and included a seating capacity of 550 as well as original 12th century stained glass windows, embroidered tapestries, and a black oak communion table.
In 1950, the first building on campus was completed: Prince Chapel.
It was named for Abigail Norman Prince, Frederick Prince’s wife.
Image: Prince Chapel Dedication Sept 10, 1948
Image: View of Prince Chapel looking toward Frost Hall (1954). The stained windows are seen at the end of the building.
Winn Library was added to the campus in 1954. A gift from Arthur L. Winn, an alumni and trustee who was the principle donor for the Gordon Relocation Fund. The Relocation Fund allowed for Winn, Wood and other buildings to be constructed.
The original Winn Library was three stories with areas for reference, reserved books, and periodicals. Originally, the library had a collection of 25,000 volumes.
There was a special room that held the 7,000 volumes of the Vining Collection. The custodian of the Vining Collection was Dr. Theodore Tass Thienemann. Today the Vining Collection is housed in the Gordon College Archives.
Image: Winn Under Contruction 1955
Image: Winn Library under construction in 1955 before the cupola was added.
Image: Photo of Winn Library after it was completed in 1955. There are two students walking across the quad and a flagpole on the quad.
Image: Byington Hall in the snow (Winter 1955)
Image: Map of Gordon College in 1955
Image: Moving From 30 Evans Way to Princemere Campus, 1955
Image: Photo of Edwin Gedney in 1950
Image: Students moving into Wood Hall (1955)
Image: Students standing on the steps of Winn Library in 1955
Image: Cover of the "Gordon Moves" pamphlet (1955)
Image: The Gordon Relocation Reporter (January 1958)
Image: Wood Hall (1973)
Since 1955, Gordon College’s Wenham Campus has been a place to learn, grow, and make lasting connections.
Today the Campus houses over 1,600 students, and has added dorms, academic buildings, athletic fields, student centers, and many more places to create a home away from home.
Image: Gordon College Aerial
Image: Gordon College Women's Soccer (1991) L-R: Pam Morehouse, Julie Watson, Marla Macaluso, Laura Allaire
Image: Students laughing outside with the Clarendon Bell and A.J. Gordon Memorial Chapel in the background (Fall 2021)
Image: Students around a cross in the lobby of A.J. Gordon Memorial Chapel during Victory Chapel (Spring 2025)
Image: Mike and Jennifer Hammond in Rockport, MA (2024)
Privateers, Pirates, and the Perils of the Sea
A Glimpse into 17th and 18th Century Maritime Culture
Curated by Renata Boulay ('26) - Archives Inter (Fall 2024)
Maritime culture of the 17th and 18th century emerged from a rocky environment of intense global competition. Trading empires such as the Dutch, British, and Spanish were in constant rivalry for resources, land, money, and power. While these countries engaged in battle with each other on both land and sea, they were also engaged in a conflict with nature itself – a constant struggle for control of the ocean, something no one could truly master. No matter how skilled a sailor was, the winds and waves would always have the upper hand. Unpredictable weather and topography made for a constantly shifting and treacherous field of operation that could steal lives and dash hope in an instant. Shipwreck, disease, storms, creatures of the deep, mutiny, and piracy were just some of the fears in the mind of a 17th century sailor. However, despite this peril, countless people set out to sea – some sought adventure, some sought wealth, others freedom, and still yet others were not given a choice.
This exhibit highlights three books from the Vining Collection: William Dampier’s A New Voyage Round the World, Alexandre Exquemelin’s Bucaniers of America, and The Mariner’s Chronicle.
A once influential figure, William Dampier was a renaissance man of the 17th century – explorer, author, pirate, cartographer, British Naval captain, naturalist, illustrator, and hydrographer. Dampier was also a man of many “firsts;” he was the first Englishman to reach Australia and document it, including interactions with the Aboriginal peoples. He was also the first person to circumnavigate the world three times, and in doing so recorded detailed accounts of the lands he travelled to. These accounts included descriptions and illustrations of the flora and fauna, native peoples, and culinary phenomena unfamiliar to Europe. He recorded recipes for what we would call mango chutney and guacamole, as well as descriptions of exotic meat such as flamingo and manatee, and even introduced words such as “barbeque,” “cashew,” and “tortilla.” Dampier, through his exploits, writing, illustration, and collection of samples helped advance 17th century scientific knowledge in a radical way that continued its impact for years to come.
Image: An early copy of Dampier's A New Voyage Round the World published in London in 1697. The page is open to a tri-fold map showing the known world on the left side and the title page on the right side. (Vining G 420 .D15w 1697)
Image: Drawn portrait or engraving of William Dampier c. 1832.
Although little is known about the early life of Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin, what is remembered today are the spine-tingling accounts of ruthless pirates and buccaneers who prowled the Caribbean, recorded in his book Bucaniers of America, or, A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the coasts of the West-Indies, by the bucaniers of Jamaica and Tortuga, both English and French ... especially the unparallel'd exploits of Sir Henry Morgan, our English Jamaican hero.
What we do know about Exquemelin is that he was, presumably, a Dutch or French indentured servant in the West Indies but later became a surgeon on board a ship with the famed Captain Henry Morgan. During his time at sea, Exquemelin recorded encounters with other pirates such as François l'Olonnais, Rock Brasiliano, and Bartholomew the Portuguese. It was thanks to Exquemelin’s writing that we have accounts of these men, their lifestyles, and exploits, which overall provide one of the earliest and most comprehensive accounts of the “Golden Age of Piracy.”
However, these accounts of piratical undertakings are far from the romanticized and theatrical view we may hold today. Exquemelin provides narratives of extreme cruelty inflicted by the pirates upon towns, innocent people, and particularly, the Spanish Fleet.
Regardless of how true these accounts may be, there is no denying that Exquemelin caused a sensation. His books provoked the imagination, spreading a fearful curiosity that has trickled down through time. Even today, pirates remain icons of history, often symbolizing an enticing free and reckless lifestyle that continues to be perpetuated in media, literature, and pop culture.
Image: First edition of Alexandre Exquemelin’s Bucaniers of America published in the original Dutch in Amsterdam. The open page shows numerous scenes of pirate raids and battles surrounding the original Dutch title. (Vining F 2161 .E71)
Image: Exquemelin's Bucaniers of America was first written in Dutch, then translated into English in 1684. This copy is a third edition published in London and is open to an “engraving,” or picture, of the ruthless French pirate Francis L’Olonois. (Vining F 2161 .E767)
Image: Engraving of Bartholomew the Portuguese (c. 17th century) from Exquemelin's Bucaniers of America.
In Alexandre Exquemlin’s Bucaniers of America, there are many chapters dedicated to the particular attacks of Henry Morgan and his torturing of victims; however, Morgan took the publisher of Exquemelin’s book to court over false accounts and won. In the book The Governors of Jamaica in the Seventeenth Century, of which Henry Morgan was one, there is a quotation from the “London Gazette” June 8, 1685 that refers to The History of the Bucaniers as containing “many False, Scandalous, and Malicious Reflections on the Life and Actions of Sir Henry Morgan of Jamaica Kt.” The text continues by revealing that Morgan ultimately received £200 compensation, but due to heavy drinking, illness, and a generally taxing lifestyle, he died only a few months after this ordeal.
Image: Engraving of Henry Morgan (c. 17th century) from Exquemelin's Bucaniers of America.
In the book The mariner's chronicle, of shipwrecks, fires, famines and other disasters at sea containing narratives of the most noted calamities and providential deliverances which have resulted from maritime enterprise, both in Europe and America; together with an account of the whale fishery, the title almost completely reveals the content. This book, published in 1843 in Boston, tells the tales of sailors and expeditions gone awry. It encompasses much of the sailing culture from the 17th and 19th centuries, including the hazards of nature such as storms, run-ins with pirates, and whaling trips gone wrong. The chronicle also includes sixty engravings, or images, that portray various disasters at sea. The stories here provide both intriguing and cautionary tales of danger, adventure, and woe – all with the common theme of the sea.
Image: This book was printed in Boston in 1834 and contains numerous engravings of disasters at sea. On the right page, there is an image of a whaling ship sinking, and on the left – the top image shows the burning of the ship Kent, while the bottom image depicts the exploding of the steamboat Helen McGregor.
Image: Slightly blurred photo of a piece of lead shot from c. 1715 next to a quarter for size reference. Courtesy of a private collection.
Mel Fisher Center, Inc.
Certificate of Historic Artifact
from the
1715 Spanish Plate Fleet
This is to certify that this Lead Shot was recovered from a shipwreck site of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet. Lead Shot of this type were ammunition for early handguns such as the musket or pistol.
Because they were loaded with rich cargo of treasures accumulated in the New World, the ships of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet were well armed for their transatlantic voyage from Cuba to Spain. On July 31, 1715, the Fleet was driven by a fierce hurricane onto the treacherous Florida reefs and destroyed.
To the bottom left is a photo with 3-4 examples of lead shot with a small section of a ruler about 1 inch in length. Underneath it says "Photograph is representation of Lead Shot assemblage." To the right of this photo is written: "Certified on this 21st day of July 2023" with the signature of Taffi Fisher Abt. In the center of the certificate seems to be a watermark of a Spanish soldier/sailor holding a gun and a sword.
Image: Cyprian Southack’s 1734 Map of Cape Cod notes the lost pirate ship Whidah. A red arrow locates the spot of the wreck on the map. Today, the Whydah Pirate Museum houses the partially excavated wreck and treasure in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. For more information, visit the museum's website!
Gordon College is New England’s top Christian college, located on the North Shore of Boston in Wenham, MA.
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