Education: Hollins Freed

Many a family has given its name to a U. S. educational institution, but few families own one. Brenau College (founded in 1878 as the Georgia Baptist Seminary, in Gainesville) was owned by Haywood Jefferson Pearce from 1913 until 1928 when, its endowment completed, it was turned over to a board of trustees. Culver Military Academy was relinquished by the Culver family last June, made a trust foundation. Last week Hollins College in Roanoke, Va. likewise was set free.

Founded in 1839, Hollins was Virginia’s first chartered institution for young ladies, first in the U. S. to adopt an elective system of studies, first to establish an English department under a full professor. It has some 8,000 alumnae, including Adviser to the Lovelorn Dorothy Dix (Mrs. Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer). First president of Hollins was Charles Lewis Cocke, member of an old Virginia family, professor at Richmond College. Hollins became more & more in his debt until in 1900 the college was deeded to him. The following year he died. His daughter Matty L. Cocke became president. In 1926 the Cocke family offered the college to a self-perpetuating board of trustees on condition that a $650,000 endowment fund and a $150,000 improvement fund be raised. Last week as the Cockes gave up Hollins it was announced that the first fund was nearly completed, the second more than complete.