Washington College Presidents' papers, Gilbert W. Mead papers

Gilbert Wilcox Mead (1889-1949) was born May 7th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Rev. Wesley Gilbert Mead and Carolyn Switzer Wilcox Mead. After receiving a diploma from Southwestern Pennsylvania Normal School in 1905 he continued his education first with a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College in 1911 and then a master’s from Columbia University in 1916. He stayed on teaching English and comparative literature at Columbia until 1923 when he became the chair of English at Westminster College. In 1925 he served as Dean at Birmingham-Southern College and stayed there until his election as President of Washington College. His inauguration at the College included the presentation of an Honorary Degree to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and in 1945, he presented another Honorary Degree to President Harry S. Truman. During his tenure as President, he dealt with updating and expanding the campus, including the building of Hodson Hall, Somerset Dormitory, and the creation of Bunting Library. Mead also had to contend with World War II and the education of returning GIs. Mead was also the first President to reside at the Hynson Ringgold House after its purchase in 1946. After serving the College for nearly sixteen years President Mead died on March 25, 1949. In 1914 Mead married Iva Madeline Clark and together they had four sons: John Clark, Gilbert, Jr., Francis, and Robert. Mead is buried in St. Paul’s Church in Kent County.