deland university

Henry Addison DeLand & DeLand University

Wendy M. KnightApril 24, 2012

Henry Addison DeLand

October 25, 1834 – March 13, 1908


Where Henry was born and educated How Henry made his money Why Henry moved to Florida What Henry did for Persimmon Hollow What made Henry open a academy What was academy for Who was academy for Why academy passed onto to John

Stetson

Sources Utilized

Stetson University online Archives› Online research – read book

Historical Society of West Volusia› Rhonda

Town of Perinton, New York Historian› Jean Keplinger

Carnegie Classifications Find A Grave


Parents were Huguenots – emigrated from France to America

Born Newark Valley New York Educated at Macedon NY Academy

Everyone in DeLand family was educated – education was important

Baking Soda

Henry Addison DeLand made his money selling baking soda for his brothers company until his brothers death

Henry Addison DeLand took over business with nephew and became very wealthy

Persimmon Hollow

Henry Addison DeLand was persuaded by his brother-in-law to go to Persimmon Hollow Florida

Brother-in-law had ‘Orange Fever’ Henry Addison DeLand purchased 10 acres

almost immediately upon arrival in 1876 Offered others opportunity to purchase

land for harvesting of oranges – made deal if did not work would refund them all the money they invested

DeLand Florida

Henry Addison DeLand’s initiative for the orange harvest brought many people to Persimmon Hollow

Henry Addison DeLand had an image to make Persimmon Hollow ‘the Athen’s of Florida’ – mirroring Athen’s Greece

From a young age Henry Addison DeLand always said if he became financial success he would donate to worthwhile cause

DeLand Florida

Henry Addison DeLand donated acres and acres of land to the town

Henry Addison DeLand donated money to the town for buildings

Town got together and voted to rename the town DeLand in honor of the man that made their town a flourishing community

DeLand Academy

In 1883 Henry DeLand offered money for the building of an academy

The academy would be used for school and for worship until a church could be built

Henry Addison DeLand offered monies to help build other buildings for churches regardless of denomination

DeLand Academy Attendees

Began under ‘Christian auspices’ – however on Sabbath days pupils could worship their own religion

Initial intent was a school for both males and females that would follow a core curriculum in liberal studies to prepare students for college

Different archives say male but have information that disputes that

Academy buildings were built for those attending to escape the northern winters

DeLand Academy & Stetson University

Henry Addison DeLand continuously funded the Academy until 1889 with help from many others including John B. Stetson

1886 a freeze in Florida killed majority of the orange trees, Henry Addison DeLand being a man of his word began refunding all those who purchase land from him

1889 on the verge of bankruptcy offered the resolution of offering the academy and yearly endowment requests to John B. Stetson

Interesting Facts

Started under Christian auspices but never forced onto students

How school transformed to university by bringing in the best of teachers – all scholars were hand picked by trustees

Offered education to both male and females – making a dorm to attract female students

What was learned

No information of educating persons of color

The informal way of building a college Those affiliated with the academy had

a passion for education

Colleagues

Take from my presentation › Philanthropy › Giving back to community › Education is very important