The University of King's College is Canada's oldest chartered university, founded by Reverend Charles Inglis, the first Bishop of Nova Scotia, and other Anglican United Empire Loyalists in Windsor, Nova Scotia in 1789. The university is renowned for its Foundation Year Programme, a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of Western culture through Great Books, designed for first-year undergraduates. A fire destroyed the original university in 1920, and the institution relocated to Halifax in 1923. The relocation was made possible with the help of Dalhousie University, which has since maintained a joint faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with King's. King’s College was established to prevent young men from becoming alienated and traveling abroad to receive an education. For the first 100 years of its existence, all King's students were male. Miss Frances Woodworth, who was from Windsor was the first woman to enter King's in 1893. [1] Convocation Hall constructed between 1861 and 1863 is the oldest surviving building on the original campus of King’s College. It is situated in an isolated location so as to remain protected from the threat of fire. Convocation Hall was used as the museum and library at King’s College from the time of its completion in 1863 until 1923, when the college moved to Halifax. King's College was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1923 because: it was founded in 1789, it is the oldest university in what was to become Canada, and educated many distinguished leaders in church and state. Hiram Cody enrolled at King's College, Windsor, Nova Scotia, in October, 1893. Here he came under the influence of Charles G. D. Roberts, who even then was a nationally renowned writer. The young Cody was greatly impressed by Roberts and years later wrote "What a pleasure it was to attend his lectures! There was nothing dry, nothing formal, but pulsing life and interest, so that the hour seemed but a few minutes. Nearly every student who came under his influence resolved to devote his life to literature and become an author." [2] Cody later became the editor-in-chief of its newspaper. Known on campus for his exceptional writing, he was described by his classmates as “clean, reliable, earnest and as having been persona grata with the college staff”. [3] Cody's B. A. course in Divinity terminated in December, 1896, after which he left for New Brunswick and home. It had been just a little over three years since he had come to Windsor in the Fall of 1893. As was the custom at King's, he would return in June, 1897, to receive his degree. Cody was the valedictorian for the class of 1897. [4] Cody was to make two more visits to Windsor, the final one being ten years away, enough time to accomplish recognition for a second degree from his Alma Mater. [5] From June 27-29, 2014, the University of King's marked it 225th anniversary, over 500 guests, including three former presidents, past and future faculty, alumni from the 1940s to the present, and current students gathered on the quad to celebrate the anniversary with a weekend of festivities. Comments are closed.
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