Cyrus Nutt

Cyrus Nutt (September 4, 1814 Trumbull County, Ohio - August 23, 1875 Bloomington, Indiana) served as the fifth president of Indiana University.

Cyrus Nutt
5th President of Indiana University
In office 1860–1875
Preceded by	John Hiram Lathrop
Succeeded by	Lemuel Moss
Personal details
Born	(1814-09-04)September 4, 1814 Trumbull County, Ohio
Died	August 23, 1875(1875-08-23) (aged 60) Bloomington, Indiana
Resting place	Greencastle, Indiana
Nationality	US
Academic background
Alma mater	Allegheny College
Academic work
Discipline	Greek, Mathematics
Institutions	Indiana Asbury College Fort Wayne Female College Whitewater College Indiana University
Ecclesiastical career
Church	Methodist Episcopal Church
Ordained	1840

Biography

Cyrus Nutt graduated from Allegheny College (B.A. 1836).[1]

Nutt was professor of languages at Asbury (now DePauw) University (1837-1845), pastor of Methodist Episcopal church in Bloomington (1845), professor of Greek at Asbury University (1846-1849), president of Fort Wayne Female College (1849-1850), president of Whitewater College (1850-1855), professor of mathematics and acting president at Asbury University (1857-1860). [1]

In 1860, Nutt was elected president of Indiana University. During his presidency, the University attempted to create an agricultural and mechanical school under the terms of the Morrill Act, though by 1869 Purdue was established as the land grant college of Indiana. In 1867, the Board of Trustees voted to admit women to classes, and around the same time the university experienced the beginning of organized athletics with students embracing the game of baseball. The junior and senior-class-controlled newspaper The Student also was founded that year.

The final years of Nutt’s presidency saw growing tensions with students, though the reasons are unknown. Students published a bogus newspaper in March 1873 titled The Dagger in which they attacked Nutt. In 1875, the Board of Trustees dismissed Nutt, likely over internal problems with the board and the students. Nutt died on August 24, 1875, from remittent fever, approximately one month after his dismissal.[1][2] He was buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Greencastle, Indiana.[3]

Works

Several of Nutt's baccalaureate sermons were published.[1]

Notes

1. Wilson & Fiske 1900.
2. "Death of the Rev. Dr. Cyrus Nutt". Lawrence Daily Journal. August 24, 1875. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com. Indianapolis, Aug. 23. Rev. Cyrus Nutt, D.D., for fifteen years president of the Indiana University at Bloomington, died at that place this morning from remittent fever. Dr. Nutt was one of the most successful educators in this country, and long held a position in the front rank among prominent thinkers and writers of the M.E. church.
3. Loong, Stephanie Yee (2003). "Cyrus Nutt". DePauw University: A Pictorial History. DePauw University.

References

• Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). "Nutt, Cyrus" . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.

External links

• Indiana University President's Office records, 1857-1875

Academic offices
Preceded by John Hiram Lathrop	President of Indiana University 1860 – 1875	Succeeded by Lemuel Moss