Elmer Burritt Bryan - 11th Ohio University President

Elmer Burritt Bryan, A.B., LL.D., L.H.D., 1865-1934

Eleventh President of Ohio University, 1921-1934

Born in Ohio and reared in Indiana, Dr. Bryan was educated at Indiana, Harvard, and Clark universities. He came to the presidency from the same position at Colgate University. With teacher preparation the dominant program, resulting in women students outnumbered men by a large margin, arts and preprofessional programs designed to provide a base and balance for a true university, and to attract more men, was promoted. Trustees' life appointments were changed to limited terms in 1921 and the same year the last original tree on the green died. A Men's Union was organized in 1922. The first correspondence courses were offered in 1924. Inter-college athletics were encouraged through construction of a men's gymnasium, a stadium, and joining the Buckeye Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The addition of Memorial Auditorium in 1929 brought a new sense of unity among students and Chubb Library in 1931 a heightened sense of scholarship. Membership in the Association of American Colleges and Universities was attained, as was recognition of women graduates by the American Association of University Women. A chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was installed.

Dr. Bryan died in office.

Dick Piccard revised this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/athens/history/people/bryan.html) on January 25, 2006.

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