Editing Wabash College (section)

==History==
[[File:CollegeFounding.jpg|left|thumb|Wabash College founders kneeling in the snow on November 22, 1832]]
Wabash College was founded on [[November 21]], [[1832]], by a group of [[Presbyterian]] ministers and laymen in [[Crawfordsville, Indiana]]. Seeking to bring classical and moral education to the [[American frontier]], the founders envisioned a “classical and English high school, rising into a college as soon as the wants of the country demand.” The next day, they dedicated the campus grounds in prayer while kneeling in the snow—a moment that became symbolic of Wabash’s spiritual and intellectual mission.<ref>{{cite book |last=Osborne |first=James I. |title=Wabash College: The First Hundred Years |publisher=R. E. Banta |year=1932 |location=Crawfordsville, IN |last2=Gronert |first2=Theodore G.}}</ref>

[[File:Caleb-Mills.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Caleb Mills, first faculty member at [[Wabash College]]]]
Classes began in 1833 on [[education]], and [[Elihu W. Baldwin]] became the college’s first president in [[1835]]. Early instruction emphasized [[Classical education]], [[Theology]], and a short-lived [[Manual labor school]] model. Despite early financial hardship and a devastating fire in 1838, Wabash quickly rebuilt. It developed a distinguished faculty, notably [[Caleb Mills]], a founder of [[Indiana Department of Education]], and [[Edmund Otis Hovey]], who served as professor, trustee, treasurer, and fundraiser for over four decades.<ref>{{cite book |last=Osborne |first=James I. |title=Wabash College: The First Hundred Years |pages=20–25}}</ref>

By the mid-19th century, Wabash had become known for its [[liberal arts education]], rooted in [[classical studies]], [[rhetoric]], and [[moral philosophy]]. Student life was centered around literary societies such as the Euphronean and Calliopean, which provided early platforms for oratory and debate.<ref>{{cite book |last=Osborne |first=James I. |title=Wabash College: The First Hundred Years |pages=85–95}}</ref>

Under President [[Joseph F. Tuttle]] (1862–1892), the campus added buildings such as [[Center Hall]] and Peck Hall, while Wabash increasingly emphasized [[scientific education]] alongside the classics.<ref>Wabash College Archives, Tuttle Papers</ref>

[[File:WabashCollegeStudent Life - SATC recruits.png|thumb|SATC Recruits]]
In the 20th century, President [[George L. Mackintosh]] (1903–1926) instituted major reforms, including the development of the [[Wabash Plan]], which emphasized faculty-student dialogue, senior comprehensive exams, and a distinctive curriculum rooted in interdisciplinary learning.<ref>{{cite book |last=Osborne |first=James I. |title=Wabash College: The First Hundred Years |pages=140–150}}</ref> During [[World War I]], Wabash hosted a [[Student Army Training Corps]] unit, and during [[World War II]], the college trained [[United States Navy|Navy]] officers through the [[V-12 Navy College Training Program]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wabash and the V-12 Program |url=https://www.wabash.edu/archives/v12}}</ref>

The postwar period brought enrollment growth through the [[G.I. Bill]] and further academic reform. Despite broader national trends toward coeducation, Wabash remained a [[men's college]], reaffirming that identity via a campus-wide referendum in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |date=1992 |title=All-Male Tradition Affirmed at Wabash |newspaper=Indianapolis Star}}</ref> In 1996, under the direction of James Fisher, Wabash became the first college in America to stage [[Tony Kushner]]'s ''[[Angels in America]]''.<ref>{{cite web |year=1999 |title=Wabash College, One of a Dying Breed |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/990208/archive_000234.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211095156/https://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/990208/archive_000234.htm |archive-date=February 11, 2008 |access-date=February 22, 2013}}</ref>

In the 21st century, Wabash has prioritized global learning, undergraduate research, and leadership programs like [[WabashX]]. The college maintains vibrant traditions such as Chapel Sing, Ringing In and Out, and the annual [[Monon Bell Classic]] against [[DePauw University]]. With a strong alumni network, modern facilities, and enduring commitment to the liberal arts, Wabash continues its mission: “to educate men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Wabash Mission Statement |url=https://www.wabash.edu/about/mission}}</ref>