MAHE Student Scholarship

Document Type

Paper

Publication Date

Fall 2020

Abstract

The 1960’s decade could be described as a tumultuous yet momentous time period for Taylor University. The institution underwent transitions in administrative leaders, vital decisions were made regarding long-term future planning, and Taylor was navigating the changes and challenges facing higher education in America. A formative experience that shaped the future of the institution was the unexpected and devastating burning of the H. Maria Wright Hall. Often described as the “nerve center” of Taylor’s campus in Upland, Indiana, the building housed faculty and administrative offices, classrooms, the library, the chapel, and other vital spaces for the successful operation of the institution (Cleveland; Ringenberg, 2003). No one could have been prepared for the loss the fire brought, yet looking back in the aftermath, it can be seen as a catalyst for immense growth and change for the university. In this paper, I will summarize the events of the H. Maria Wright Hall fire of 1960 and analyze the event’s lasting effects on Taylor University.

Notes

HED550, Dr. Skip Trudeau

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