Shelton Palmer Sanford, Acting President 1856-1858
- Educator, mathematician (1816-1896); A.B., A.M., LL.D. degrees; married to Maria F. Dickerman (1840)
- Served on the faculty for fifty-two years, and published a series of analytic arithmetic books which were helpful, when Mercer moved to Macon in 1871, in calling public and academic attention to the new era that had begun for the university
- Led in organizing and equipping a voluntary corps of Mercer cadets during the Civil War, serving as captain of a military district that included Penfield and the Mercer student body and carrying a gold-headed cane inscribed with the names of the Mercer volunteers until his death
- When the war made a meeting of the board of trustees impossible and the faculty reluctantly voted to close Mercer's doors, continued to teach with Joseph E. Willet until the trustees met and made formal arrangements to keep the school open
- Remembered for being "dressed immaculately from youth to old age. He was tall, erect, a soldier in his appearance; fond of humor, pleasing in his speech and in his approach; gentle as a girl and firm as a rock in his convictions. He was liberal in his views, never dogmatic, always systematic."
Letter from W. D. Holland to Urban Rumble concerning the creation of a military company on campus led by Professor Sanford, February 21, 1861:
"I have joined a military company & I can tell you I have begun to put on quite a soldier like appearance since you saw me last. We have about one hundred & five in our company. Prof. Sanford is our Captain & he is an excellent drill officer too. I tell you what the old fellow marches us around these old fields here considerably every Saturday."
No comments:
Post a Comment