A Presidential Timeline

From its humble beginnings as Walden Seminary in 1877 to the “GREAT” Philander Smith College of the present, 1 principal, 14 presidents and several interim presidents have led the institution through flourishing and trying times. Take a moment to learn more about the visionaries who have helped to shape the course of the College over the last 139 years.

*This is a living timeline. More images, events and dates will be added to this page periodically.

1877-1880

Helen M. Perkins

Principal, Walden Seminary

1881-1883

Rev. Thomas Mason

President, Walden Seminary¹

1883-1897

1st President, Philander Smith College¹

1897-1924

Rev. James Monroe Cox

2nd President ²

1924-1936

Rev. George C. Taylor

3rd President ³

1936-1960

Dr. M. L. Harris

4th President⁴

The New President of Philander Smith College (1936 brochure)

The Philanderian, March 1938

Presenting Philander Smith College: A College of Service and Distinction

The Voice in the Wilderness (excerpt)

A Dream for the Future of Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas

Development Program Convocation, 1958

Guiding Policies of Philander Smith College

In Memoriam, Panthernaut, Vol. II, No.2. November 23, 1966

1961-1964

Dr. Roosevelt D. Crockett

5th President⁵

"Dr. Roosevelt D. Crocket Inaugurated." The Panther Journal, 26(1), Jan. 1964

Dr. Crockett in Office

President's Message

"From the President's Desk." The Panther Journal, 26(3), Aug. 1964

President and Mrs. Roosevelt Crockett

Fine Arts Program, October 8, 1963

The Panther, 1(1), Feb. 1939 (copy)

Edited by Roosevelt D. Crockett

Dr. Roosevelt D. Crockett

1965-1969

Dr. Ernest T. Dixon, Jr.

6th President⁶

"Dr. Ernest T. Dixon, Jr. Elected President of the Philander Smith College." The Panther Journal, 27(2), Dec. 1964

Biographical Sketch, Dr. Ernest T. Dixon, Jr.

Dr. Dixon with Expansion Plans

"President Offers Challenge To Philanderians." The Panthernaut, 2(3), Feb. 1967

1969-1979

Dr. Walter R. Hazzard

7th President⁷

The inauguration of Walter Raphael Hazzard as the seventh President of Philander Smith College

Dr. Hazzard in Office

A Biographical Statement, Walter R. Hazzard

"Philander's New President Takes Office." The Panthernaut, 4(7), Sum. 1969

Dr. Hazzard Speaking

"The President Reports Progress in the 70's" The Panthernaut, 7(7), Apr. 1972

"Progress Projected from the President." The Panthernaut, 9(2), Dec. 1973

"The President Resigns." The Panthernaut, 10(2), Apr. 1979

1979-1983

Dr. Grant S. Shockley

8th President⁸

News Release: Dr. Grant S. Shockley

Formal Remarks to Press Conference

An Inaugural Symposium: Philander Smith College Faces the Future (program)

Schedule of Inaugural Events, Dr. Grant S. Shockley

"Dr. Grant S. Shockley To Be Presented to PSC Community January 31" The Panthernaut, Jan. 1980

1983-1987

Dr. Hazo W. Carter, Jr.

9th President⁹

The Inauguration of Hazo William Carter, Jr. as the Ninth President of Philander Smith College.

Biography of Hazo William Carter, Jr.

Philander Smith gets $225,000 Gift

Philander Smith College/Village Square, Inc., News Conference

1988-1998

Dr. Myer L. Titus

10th President¹⁰

Press Release, September 7, 1988

Inauguration of Myer L. Titus, the Tenth President of Philander Smith College

The Centennial Choir in Performance: "The Black Experience in America" Dinner Theater and Inaugural Gala

An Inaugural Symposium, Decisions: Election 1988

College Relations News Clipping Scrapbook, 1988-1990

Dr. Titus and the Philander Smith College Collegiate Choir

Dr. Titus in Office

President and Mrs. Titus

"President's Message." The Panther, 2(3), Nov. 1990

"Values, Education and The Possible President's Convocation." The Panther, 7(1), Sept. 1995

Obituary, Dr. Myer L. Titus

1998-2004

Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed

11th President¹¹

Inauguration Ceremony for Trudie Kibbe Reed, Ed. D., Eleventh President of Philander Smith College

Inaugural Address: Trudie Kibbe Reed, Ed. D., Eleventh President

The Black Family Studies Seminar: an Inaugural Event Celebrating the Investiture of Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed Eleventh President of Philander Smith College

Biographical Sketch, Trudie Kibbe Reed, Ed. D.

President Reed's Vision

The "GREAT" Philander Smith College

Philander Smith College Strategic Plan, 1999-2004

The Needs of Historically Black Colleges in the 21st Century

Echoes of Excellence, Fall 2000

Echoes of Excellence, Spring 2000

Echoes of Excellence, Fall 2002

Echoes of Excellence, Spring 2004

2004-2012

Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough

12th President¹²

Inauguration Ceremony of Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough

Inaugural Address of Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, Twelfth President Philander Smith College

Philander Smith College's 12th President, Walter M. Kimbrough, Ph.D.

Echoes of Excellence, Fall 2004 Special Edition

Echoes of Excellence, Spring 2005

Who Are We? An Overview of PSC History

From Mis-Education to Education: The Renaissance of Philander Smith College

Black Male Initiative brochure

PSC In Review: 2006-2007

Philander Smith College Renaissance Plan Phase One: 2006-2012

Philander Smith College: A Renaissance Story

Presidential Scrapbook: Programs, publications and accomplishments 2005-2010 (excerpt)

2012-2014

Dr. Johnny Moore

13th President¹³

Philander Smith College, Dr. Johnny M. Moore, Thirteenth President: Inauguration May 3, 2013

Inauguration Activities: May 3 and 4, 2013

Philander Smith College's 13th President: Dr. Johnny Moore

Building with Purpose "Extending the Vision of Excellence to Excellence and Beyond"

Philander Smith College, 2014-2019 Strategic Plan

2015- 2023

Dr. Roderick L. Smothers, Sr.

14th President¹⁴

The Inauguration of Roderick L. Smothers, Sr., Ph.D. Interfaith Prayer Service

Opening Convocation, Thursday, September 3, 2015

President's Inaugural Scholarship Gala

2016 President's Scholarship Gala

2017 PSC Gala Program 94 LOW RES_FINAL.pdf

2017 President's Scholarship Gala

2018_PresScholarshipGala_00001_compressed.pdf

2018 President's Scholarship Gala

2017 PSC Strategic Plan (Public Doc) 93(3).pdf

10-Year Long Range Strategic Plan

Philander Forward Initiatives

pres_SmothersRL_AAHighSchoolHonorsCeremony_00076.pdf

2016 African American Honors Ceremony

2017 African American High School Honors Ceremony

pres_SmothersRL_AAHighSchoolHonorsCeremony_20180225.pdf

2018 African American High School Honors Ceremony

Philander S.T.A.R.T. Student Tuition Assistance and Readiness Tracks

Philander START Summer Bridge Program 2015

Philander START Summer Bridge Program 2017

Philander Smith College History at a Glance: 1877-2017

About the African Art Collection

Melissa and Kevin Katz African Art Collection

Sources

Gibson, D. (1972). The transition: Walden Seminary to Philander Smith College, 1877-1897. In A historical study of Philander Smith College, 1877 to 1969 [Dissertation]. University of Arkansas. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Gibson, D. (1972). The administration of President James Monroe Cox, 1897-1924. In A historical study of Philander Smith College, 1877 to 1969 [Dissertation]. University of Arkansas. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Gibson, D. (1972). The administration of Reverend George Collins Taylor, President, 1924-1936. In A historical study of Philander Smith College, 1877 to 1969 [Dissertation]. University of Arkansas. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Gibson, D. (1972). The administration of Dr. Marquis LaFayette Harris, 1936-1960. In A historical study of Philander Smith College, 1877 to 1969 [Dissertation]. University of Arkansas. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Gibson, D. (1972). The administration of Dr. Roosevelt David Crockett, 1961-1964. In A historical study of Philander Smith College, 1877 to 1969 [Dissertation]. University of Arkansas. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Gibson, D. (1972). The administration of Ernest Thomas Dixon, Jr., the sixth President, 1965-1969. In A historical study of Philander Smith College, 1877 to 1969 [Dissertation]. University of Arkansas. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
The President resigns. (1979, April). The Panthernaut. The Panthernaut Collection, Box 2. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Dr. Grant S. Shockley to be presented to PSC community January 31. (1980, January). The Panthernaut. The Panthernaut Collection, Box 2. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Philander Smith College. (1987-1988). Philander Smith College Catalog, 1987-1988, 1988-1989. PSC Catalogs Collection. D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Riley, M. W. (1997, June). Titus to retire. The Philologer, 8(10). Philander Smith College, Marketing/Public Relations Department. PSC Publications Collection, D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Reed, T. K. (2004, Spring). Dr. Reed says good-bye. Echoes of Excellence. Office of the President, Philander Smith College. Echoes of Excellence Collection, D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Memory lane, the Kimbrough years. (2012). The Philanderian (Special Edition). Philander Smith College, Office of the President and the National Alumni Association. The Philanderian Collection, D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.
Dr. Johnny Moore resigns interim named. (n. d.). Philander Smith College. Retrieved from http://www.philander.edu/news-events/drjohnny_moore-resigns.aspx
President Roderick L. Smothers, Sr., Ph. D. (2015, August 29). The inauguration of Roderick L. Smothers, Sr., Ph.D. [Program]. Philander Smith College. Presidents of Philander Smith College Collection, Box 35, D. W. Reynolds Library, Archives and Special Collections, Philander Smith College.