Williamsburg in Whitley County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Cumberland College

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2018

1. Cumberland College Marker (Side 1)

Inscription. Founded as Williamsburg Institute in 1889 under the leadership of General Green Clay Smith and R. C. Medaris to provide affordable Christian education for mountain people. Early supporters were James P. and Thomas B. Mahan, Ancil Gatliff, Edwin S. Moss, John W. Siler, and John D. Rockefeller. Name changed to Cumberland College, 1913. Over. Presented by Centennial Com. of Cumberland College. Cumberland College - Alumni include U.S. congressman, Kentucky governors, military officers, medical doctors, missionaries, and university presidents. Among them: Cong. Eugene Siler, Governors Bert Combs and Edwin Morrow, Vice Adm. Charles Blakely, Maj. Generals Ben Baker, Charles Calloway, and Floyd Parks, Brig. Gen. Roy Easley, folk artist Jean Ritchie, and educators William McCall and Cratis Williams.

Erected 1989 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1837.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 36° 44.186′ N, 84° 9.952′ W.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Marker is in Williamsburg, Kentucky, in Whitley County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and College Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Williamsburg KY 40769, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kentucky and in the Cumberland Plateau.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Roburn Hall (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Clyde V. and Patricia Bennett Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Roy Martis Chappell (approx. 0.4 miles away); "Aunt Julia" Marcum (approx. 0.6 miles away); Scott's Raid (approx. 0.6 miles away); County Named, 1818 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Samuel Cox, 1756-1832 (approx. 0.6

Cumberland College Marker (Side 2) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2018

2. Cumberland College Marker (Side 2)

miles away); Historic Williamsburg (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Williamsburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Gillespie Hall (was about 700 feet away but has been confirmed missing); Mahan Hall (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Cumberland College Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2018

3. Cumberland College Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2018

4. Cumberland College Marker

Green Clay Smith image. Click for full size.

5. Green Clay Smith

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2018

6. Cumberland College Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 577 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 10, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.