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Article - Colleges in Pennsylvania that have closed, merged, or changed their names

College Name    City    State    Start Date    End Date    Affiliation    Other Information    Source
Albert Einstein Medical Center School of Nursing    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1953    1986    Church of United Brethren    consolidation of nursing schools of Jewish Hospital and Mt. Sinai Hospital    http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/collections.htm
Allentown Business School    Allentown    Pennsylvania    1869    
    
    name changed to Lehigh Valley College    http://www.lehighvalley.edu/
Allentown Female College    Allentown    Pennsylvania    1867    
    
    became Allentown College for Women in 1893 and Cedar Crest College in 1912; affiliated with United Church of Christ    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Allentown College of Saint Francis de Sales    Center Valley    Pennsylvania    1965    
    
    name changed to DeSales University in 2001    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Alliance College    Cambridge Springs    Pennsylvania    1912    1987    Polish National Alliance    founded to provide opportunities for students of Polish descent to learn about the mother country, its culture, history, and language; sold to State of Pennsylvania after closure and the site now serves as a minimum-security women's prison    http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/ac/ac.html
http://www.alliancecollege.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_College
Alvernia College    Reading    Pennsylvania    1958    
    Bernadine Franciscan Sisters    initially founded for education of members of the order; lay students admitted after 1961; name change to Alvernia University in 2008    http://www.alvernia.edu/
Ambler Junior College    
    Pennsylvania    
    
    previously Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women; changed name to Ambler Junior College in 1958 and merged with Temple University the same year    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Andalusia College    Bucks County    Pennsylvania    1865    1871    Episcopal    in 1871 had four professors, twelve teachers and 85 students; never granted any degrees; Burke states that it was chartered in 1860, but did not open until 1870    Hunt and Carper, eds.  Religious Higher Education in the United States. 1996.
Burke, Colin B. American Collegiate Populations. 1982.
Antioch University at Philadelphia    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    
    1989    
    
Beaver College    Beaver    Pennsylvania    1853    
    
    founded as Beaver Female Seminary; name changed to Beaver College & Musical Institute in 1872; in 1925 moved to Jenkintown, PA and in 1928 to Glenside, PA; name changed to Arcadia University in 2001    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Blairsville College for Women    Blairsville    Pennsylvania    
    
    http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nancyelder/RobertYElder.htm
Blessed Sacrament Junior College    Bensalem    Pennsylvania    
    Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament    founded for the education of Sisters, probably never enrolled lay students    Schier and Russett.  Catholic Women's Colleges in America.  2002.
Brethren Normal College    Huntingdon    Pennsylvania    1876    
    Church of the Brethren    became Juniata College in 1894    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Bristol College    Bristol    Pennsylvania    1833    1837    Episcopal    successor of a manual labor college for prospective ministers founded near Wilmington, Delaware that was founded in 1825    http://www.crl.edu/content.asp?l1=5&l2=22&l3=39&top=10
Hunt and Carper, eds.  Religious Higher Education in the United States.  1996.
Bucknell University Junior College    Wilkes-Barre    Pennsylvania    1933    
    
    name changed to Wilkes College in 1947    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Cathedral College    Erie    Pennsylvania    1933    
    Diocese of Erie    became Gannon College after 1941    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Central Pennsylvania College    Reading    Pennsylvania    1856    
    United Methodist Church    established as Union Seminary in 1856; became Central Pennsylvania College in 1887; merged with Albright College of Pennsylvania Conferences of United Evangelical Church and name changed to Albright College in 1902; Albright College, founded as Albright Collegiate Institute in 1895 in Myerstown and was located on the campus of the defunct Palantinate College; Albright College later merged with Schuykill College in 1928    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Chautauqua School of Nursing    
    Pennsylvania    
    
    http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/collections.htm
Chestnut Hill Hospital School of Nursing    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1908    1987    
    http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/collections.htm
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia School of Nursing    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1895    1945    
    http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/collections/chop.htm
College Misericordia    Dallas    Pennsylvania    1924    
    Religious Sisters of Mercy    now, Misericordia University after August 24, 2007    http://misericordia.edu/misericordia_pg.cfm?subcat_id=140&page_id=411
Dickinson Junior College    Williamsport    Pennsylvania    1812    
    
    founded as Williamsport Academy in 1812, became Williamsport Dickinson Seminary in 1848, Williamsport Dickinson Seminary and Junior College in 1929 and Lycoming College in 1948    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1907    1986    Jewish    named after benefactor, Moses Aaron Dropsie to promote instruction in Hebrew language and literature; granted more than 200 Ph.D.'s; known as Annenberg Research Institute after closing and then merged with the University of Pennsylvania as the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies    Penn Library Center for Judaic Studies Library
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Advanced_Judaic_Studies
Eastern Baptist College    
    Pennsylvania    1952    
    Baptist    Palmer Theological Seminary was founded on March 19, 1925 as Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary; in 1940, relocated from Philadelphie to Wynnewood, PA; Eastern Baptist College was founded in 1952, changed its name to Eastern College in 1972, and became Eastern University in 2001.     http://www.palmerseminary.edu/about/history.html
Eastern Pilgrim College    Allentown    Pennsylvania    1921    
    Pilgrim Holiness    founded as Beulah Park Bible School in 1921; became Allentown Bible Institute in 1934; then, Eastern Pilgrim College in 1954 and Penn Wesleyan College in 1970; merged with Wesleyan College (Frankfort, IN) and Wesleyan College (Kernersville, NC) in 1972 under new nameof United Wesleyan College; merged with Houghton College in 1989    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Female Medical College of Pennsylvania    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1850    
    
    later becomes Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1867 and Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1970    www.mcphu.edu/learn/milestones.html
Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Franklin College    Lancaster    Pennsylvania    1787    1850    Lutheran    First Lutheran College in U.S.; maintained corporate existence until 1850 and merger with Marshall College; Lutheran trustees joined board of Gettysburg College    Solberg.  Lutheran Higher Education in North America.  1985.
Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Franklin Medical College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    
    
    http://jeffline.tju.edu/aisr/aahsl/aamc.html
www.collphyphil.org/FIND_AID/hist/histlmh1.htm
Haddington College    
    Pennsylvania    1836    1840    Baptist    successor to manual labor school; possibly didn't serve college level students    Burke, Colin B.  American Collegiate Populations. 1982.
Hershey Junior College    Hershey    Pennsylvania    1938    1965    
    
Holy Ghost College    Pittsburgh    Pennsylvania    1878    
    Catholic    became University of the Holy Ghost in 1911; name changed to Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost in 1911 and to Duquesne University in 1935    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Homeopathic College of Pennsylvania    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1848    
    
    later beecomes Hahnemann Medical College in 1884    www.mcphu.edu/learn/milestones.html
Irving College    Mechanicsburg    Pennsylvania    1858    1929    Lutheran    first Lutheran College to award bachelor's degrees to women    www.mechanicsburgmuseum.org/sites.html
Solberg.  Lutheran Higher Education in North America.  1985.
Jefferson College    Canonsburg    Pennsylvania    1794    
    
    in 1865 merged with Washington College to form Washington-Jefferson College    www.washjeff.edu/about_us_our_history.html
Jefferson Medical College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1824    
    
    founded as Jefferson Medical College of Jefferson College of Canonsburg, PA; became Jefferson Medical College in 1838 and then Tomas Jefferson University in 1969    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Lambeth College    Kittanning    Pennsylvania    1868    1876    Episcopal    never awarded any degrees    Hunt and Carper, eds.  Religious Higher Education in the United States. 1996.
Lankenau Hospital School of Nursing    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1899    1992    
    http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/collections/lankenau.htm
Log College    Neshaminy    Pennsylvania    
    
    
Madison College    Uniontown    Pennsylvania    
    1849    
    merged with Greence Academy to form Waynesburg College    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Burke, Colin B. American Collegiate Populations. 1982.
Maimonides College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1867    
    Jewish    short-lived institution for preparation of rabbis    Hunt and Carper, eds.  Religious Higher Education in the United States.  1996.
Marshall College    Mercersburg    Pennsylvania    1836    1853    
    moved to Lancaster, PA to form Franklin & Marshall College    http://library.fandm.edu/archives/FandMbib.html
Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Mary Immaculate Seminary & College    Northampton    Pennsylvania    1818    1990    
    
Medical College of Pennsylvania    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    
    
    now McP Hahnemann University School of Medicine    www.mcphu.edu/learn/milestones.html
Medico Chirurgical College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1892    1913    
    now part of the University of Pennsylvania    http://www.archives.upenn.edu/faids/upc/upc50_3enter.html
Mercy-Douglass Hospital School of Nursing    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1895    1960    
    http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/collections/mercdoug.htm
Mount Airy College    Germantown    Pennsylvania    
    
    a military school built on the former estate of Justice Allen. The Allens' property was confiscated during the Revolution because the Allens were Loyalists. The property eventually came to be owned by James Gowen and after his death became the Lutheran Theological Seminary    http://www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/city360/proj/bcproj/history.htm
Mount Mercy College    Pittsburgh    Pennsylvania    1929    
    Sisters of Mercy    name changed to Carlow College in 1969    www.carlow.edu/aboutcarlow/aboutcarlow.html
Schier and Russett.  Catholic Women's Colleges in America.  2002.
Mount Pleasant College    Mount Pleasant    Pennsylvania    1848    1864    United Brethren in Christ    at some point around 1864 was referred to as Westmoreland College; according to Hunt and Carper, assets transferred to Otterbein University in Ohio; the buildings were under Baptist control after 1871 operating as Western Pennsylvania Classical andScientific Institute    Hunt and Carper, eds.  Religious Higher Education in the United States.  1996.
www.mtpleasantpa.com/institut.html
Mount Saint Joseph College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1858    
    Sisters of Saint Joseph    founded as Mount Saint Joseph Academy; 1924 first four-year class admitted; name change to Chestnut Hill College in 1972    Schier and Russett.  Catholic Women's Colleges in America.  2002.
Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
National Agricultural College    Doylestown    Pennsylvania    1896    
    
    previously the National Farm School; became National Farm School and Junior College in 1946, the National Agricultural College in 1948 and then Delaware Valley College in 1960    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Northeast Bible College    Green Lane    Pennsylvania    1938    
    Assemblies of God    became Valley Forge Christian College in 1977    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Northeastern Christian Junior College    Villanova    Pennsylvania    1957    1993    
    founded as the Northeastern Institute for Christian Education; consolidated with Ohio Valley College after 1992    www.ovu.edu
Ogontz Junior College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1850    1950    
    after closure buildings acquired by Penn State    http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/bezillapshistory/083s08.htm
Our Lady of Angels      Aston    Pennsylvania    1965    
    
    name changed to Newmann College in 1980    www.newmann.edu/about/history_mission.html
Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories. 2003.
Palantinate College    Myerstown    Pennsylvania    1868    
    
    campus later operated by Albright Collegiate Institute, now Albright College; Albright moved to Reading, PA in 1929    www.lebanononline.org/timeline.html
Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Palm's Business College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    
    
    
Penn Hall Junior College    Chambersburg    Pennsylvania    1906    1973    
    
Penn Wesleyan College    Allentown    Pennsylvania    
    Wesleyan Church    Previously Eastern Pilgrim College; merged with Wesleyan College (Frankfort, IN) and Wesleyan College (Kernersville, NC) in 1972 to become United Wesleyan College    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Pennsylvania College for Women    Pittsburgh    Pennsylvania    1869    
    
    founded as Pennsylvania Female College; in 1890 name changed to Pennsylvania College for Women; in 1955 became Chatham College    www.chatham.edu/admweb/htm/admissections/ccc/history.htm
Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Pennsylvania College of Gettysburg    Gettysburg    Pennsylvania    1832    
    
    name changed to Gettysburg College in 1921    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Pennsylvania Military College    Chester    Pennsylvania    1821    
    
    founded as Bullock School became Hyatt School in 1853, Delaware Military Academy in 1859, Pennsylvania Military Academy in 1862, Pennsylvania Military College in 1892, PMC Colleges (Pennsylvania Military College and Penn Morton College) in 1966, now Widener University since 1972    www.widener.edu
Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Philadelphia College of Art    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1876    
    
    known initially as Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art; became Philadelphia Museum School of Art in 1948; separated from the museum in 1964 to become Philadelphia College of Art; merged with Philadelphia College of Performing Arts in 1985 to become Philadelphia Colleges of the Arts and the University of the Arts in 1987    http://www.uarts.edu/about/history.html
Philadelphia College of Medicine    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1847    1858    
    http://jeffline.tju.edu/aisr/aahsl/aamc.html
www.collphyphil.org/FIND_AID/hist/histlmh1.htm
Philadelphia College of Performing Arts    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1870    
    
    founded as Philadelphia Musical Academy; name change to Philadelphia College of Performing Arts in 1976; merged with Philadelphia College of Art in 1985    http://www.uarts.edu/about/history.html
Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1884    
    
    founded as Philadelphia Textile School; name changed to Philadelphia Textile Institute in 1941 and to Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science in 1970's, then to Philadelphia University in 1999    http://www.philau.edu/about/aboutBriefHistory.html
Philadelphia Dental College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    
    1907    
    merged with Temple University    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Pinebrook Junior College    Coopersburg    Pennsylvania    
    1992    
    
Pittsburgh College of the Holy Ghost    Pittsburgh    Pennsylvania    1878    
    
    now Duquene University    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Pittsburgh Female College    Pittsburgh    Pennsylvania    
    1896    
    merged with Beaver College    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Polish National Alliance College    Cambridge Springs    Pennsylvania    
    
    purchased by state of Pennsylvania and is now used as a minimum security prison    http://www.crl.edu/collcat/collcatP.htm
Precious Blood Teacher Training College    
    Pennsylvania    
    Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood    founded for the education of Sisters, probably never enrolled lay students    Schier and Russett.  Catholic Women's Colleges in America.  2002.
Presbyterian School of Nursing    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1889    1987    
    http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/collections/pson.htm
Rittenhouse College    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    
    
    Burke, Colin B. American Collegiate Populations. 1982.
Roberts Junior College    Corapolis    Pennsylvania    1866    
    Free Methodist    founed as Chili Seminary, became Chesborough Seminary in 1885, Roberts Junior College in 1945,and Roberts Wesleyan College in 1949    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Sacred Heart Junior College    
    Pennsylvania    
    Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart    founded for the education of Sisters, probably never enrolled lay students    Schier and Russett.  Catholic Women's Colleges in America.  2002.
Saint Fidelis College    Herman    Pennsylvania    1877    1979    
    
Saint John Kanty College    Erie    Pennsylvania    
    
    www.crl.edu/content.asp?l1=5&l2=22&l3=39&top=10
www.archives.nd.edu/findaids/ead/xml/ins.xml
Saint Theresa's Institute    
    Pennsylvania    
    Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries    founded for the education of Sisters, probably never enrolled lay students    Schier and Russett.  Catholic Women's Colleges in America.  2002.
Saint Thomas College    Scranton    Pennsylvania    1888    
    
    after 1938, the University of Scranton    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Schuykill College    Reading    Pennsylvania    1881    
    Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of Evangelical Church    founded as Schuykill Seminary in Reading; moved to Fredericksburg in 1896 and back to Reading in 1902; name changed to Schuykill College in 1923; merged with Albright College in 1928    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Spring Garden College    Chestnut Hill / Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1851    
    
    oldest private technology school in U.S. when it closed; became junior college in 1957 and offered bachelors degrees after 1969    www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Campus/7315/history.html
Susquehanna Female College    Susquehanna    Pennsylvania    
    1872    
    Solberg.  Lutheran Higher Education in North America.  1985.
United Wesleyan College    Allentown    Pennsylvania    1972    
    Wesleyan Church    result of mergers of Penn Wesleyan College with Wesleyan College (Frankfort, IN) and Wesleyan College (Kernersville, NC)    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
University of Lewisburg    Lewisburg    Pennsylvania    1846    
    Baptist    after 1886, Bucknell University    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
University of Northern Pennsylvania    Bethany    Pennsylvania    
    
    http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/studentwork/himes/register/miscellaneous.htm
Villa Maria College    Immaculata    Pennsylvania    1914    
    Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary    founded as Villa Maria Academy for Girls, became Villa Maria College in 1920 and then Immaculata College in 1928 and Immaculata University in 2002    Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Villa Marie College    Erie    Pennsylvania    1925    1989    Sisters of Saint Joseph    merged with Gannon University    Schier and Russett.  Catholic Women's Colleges in America.  2002.
Villa Sacred Heart    
    Pennsylvania    
    Sisters of Saint Cyril and Methodius    founded for the education of Sisters, probably never enrolled lay students    Schier and Russett.  Catholic Women's Colleges in America.  2002.
Volant College    Volant    Pennsylvania    1889    1911    
    http://www.crl.edu/collcat/collcatV.htm
Western Pennsylvania Medical College    Pittsburgh    Pennsylvania    1886    
    
    joined University of Pittsburgh in 1892    http://www.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/overview/history.html
Western University of Pennsylvania    Allegheny    Pennsylvania    1787    
    
    founded as Pittsburgh Academy; became Western University in 1819 and in 1908 became University of Pittsburgh    http://www.ir.pitt.edu/fbweb99/general/glance99.htm
Williamsport Dickinson Seminary and Junior College    Williamsport    Pennsylvania    1812    
    Methodist    founded as Williamsport Academy in 1812, became Williamsport Dickinson Seminary in 1848, Williamsport Dickinson Seminary and Junior College in 1929 and Lycoming College in 1948    www.lycoming.edu/library/archives/LC.html
Songe, Alice H.  American Universities and Colleges: A Dictionary of Name Changes.  1978.
Williamsport Area Community College    Williamsport    Pennsylvania    1941    
    
    founded as Williamsport Technical Institute; name change to Pennsylvania College of Technology in 1989    Brenner, Morgan G.  The Encyclopedia of College & University Name Histories.  2003.
Wilson Female College    Franklin    Pennsylvania    1834    
    
    Several Franklin residents served on its board, including I. N. Hays, William M'Lellan, J. A. Crawford, J. W. Wightman, T. B. Kennedy, W. G. Reed, W. S. Fletcher, Thomas Creigh, W. A. West, W. D. M'Kinstry, J. C. M'lannahan, and W. S. Amberson. The college, a Presbyterian school, was first located in the former home of Col. Alexander McClure, and was named for Miss Sarah Wilson, whose generous donation of $30,000 allowed the school to open.    http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu/outlines/education.html
Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania    Philadelphia    Pennsylvania    1850    
    
    see entry for Female Medical College of Pennsylvania    www.collphyphil.org/FIND_AID/hist/histlmh1.htm

    
    
    
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