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This dissertation uses the lens of biography and a focus on citizens hailing from Washington County, Indiana, to explore the underrecognized contributions of the rural Midwest to the development of higher education in the nineteenth century. The study profiles six educational leaders— Catherine and John Morrison, Sarah Parke Morrison, Washington C. DePauw, William Alexander Parsons Martin, and John Williams—whose unique efforts promoted higher learning. While diverse in their identities and social capital, each was influenced by and contributed to the progressive ideals about education that defined the region during this era.
These leaders established institutions, advocated for greater inclusion, and influenced regional and international educational landscapes. Their efforts helped position Salem as an “intellectual Mecca” in the Midwest, a region generally overlooked in higher education literature. This study highlights the Midwest’s role in influencing the modern American higher education system by situating these leaders within the context of their time and place. The findings suggest that Washington County’s cultural and intellectual climate fostered a community uniquely committed to education, even as its identity shifted over time. This research invites further exploration of rural contributions to higher education and challenges prevailing historical narratives that underplay the significance of the region.
