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Thomas Van Scoy

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Written by Juliette Burns, Class of 2026

Thomas Van Scoy was a lifelong theologian and school headmaster, working as the seventh president of Willamette University from 1880 to 1891. Van Scoy was born in Indiana in 1848. There is not much to be found about his early years until the age of seventeen, when he joined the 154th Indiana Volunteers under the Union army in 1865.1 At some point during his childhood he attended the Battle Ground Collegiate Institute. In 1866—after the war—he attended Brookston Academy, and in 1869, at the age of twenty-one, he began attendance at Northwestern University in Illinois. 

He would pause his studies for a time to become principal of his alma mater, Brookston Academy. He was in this position for three years sometime in the early 1870s, returning and graduating from Northwestern University in 1875.2 Also in 1875, he married his first wife, Jennie Thomas.3 Following his time at Northwestern, Van Scoy preached in Rensselaer, Indiana from 1876 through 1878 in the Methodist tradition before entering the theology course at Garrett Biblical Institute.4 In 1880, he went west to become a professor of ancient languages at Willamette University. During his time at Willamette, he impacted both the students and the institution through his involvement and commitment. 

Even before becoming president, Van Scoy quickly got to work providing for the needs of the university. Upon his arrival in 1880, Van Scoy purchased the building and land owned by Chloe Clarke Willson, the first teacher at the Oregon Institute (which later became Willamette University). The property was intended for use by the newly formed Women’s College.5 This college was supplementary to the College of Liberal Arts, offering on-campus housing and additional classroom space to accommodate the increasing number of female students, to whom the University felt a strong responsibility to provide an ordered home experience. The Women’s College was first considered under Charles Lambert, the president from 1879 and 1880. It was sanctioned by the Board of Trustees in February 1880, to open its doors to the female students in September of that year.6 Van Scoy’s gift to the university was hailed by The College Journal as, “the most magnificent contribution ever made to the Institution.”7

When Charles Lambert resigned in late 1880, Van Scoy was elected to replace him.8 Around the same time he assumed the role of acting president (officially appointed in January 1881), he also became the chief editor of the newly launched campus paper, College Journal (1880-1885) in November, 1880.9 He held this role until late summer 1881, all while continuing his duties as professor of ancient languages.10

Van Scoy served as president from 1880 to 1891 and was well liked by the students.11 The College Journal noted that students from the University Academy (a preparatory school for the College of Liberal Arts) had “the highest gratitude” for Van Scoy after he took them to a restaurant after graduation exercises. He also hosted graduates at his home for celebrations. The newspaper often reported on his sermons and his family’s travels, and community interactions, as newspapers often did for local residents.12 For example, in September 1881, they reported Van Scoy’s trip to Mount Hood, proclaiming that “few college presidents on this continent have risen to so high an eminence or had such clear and comprehensive views of their fields of labor so soon after their inauguration as ours has had.”13 

In 1884, Van Scoy’s wife Jennie died after a long period of poor health. The College Journal called her a “persistent and successful worker in the cause of Christianity,” a “gentle spirit,” and an “honest and faithful” friend.14 They had been married for nine years, and had one daughter, Lena. 

During Van Scoy’s decade as president, several changes occurred in the university itself. In 1881, the University included the College of Liberal Arts, the Woman’s College, the College of Medicine, the University Academy, the Medical Institute, and several aligned academies throughout the state.15 By 1890, the University had added a College of Theology, College of Pharmacy, College of Law, and formalized art, music, and elocution into separate academic departments.16 The law school opened in 1884/1885 and was considered a suitable addition to a university so centered near the state courts.17 

Another prospective change, had it gone through, would have changed the experience of the university forever, and ultimately led to the end of Van Scoy’s tenure as president. In December, 1890, the Board of Trustees met for a whole night to deliberate whether Willamette University should be removed from Salem and newly instituted in Portland, about 50 miles north. The members questioned the legal, moral, and financial wisdom of the decision.18 There was some misunderstanding among the trustees and later the general public that Van Scoy was a big backer/author of this plan, however it appears that he may actually have been more neutral towards the idea. 

After much deliberation, it was decided to keep the university in Salem. However, the Methodists of Oregon still wanted a university in Portland, so it was decided the best option was to form a new university.19 In 1891, some Willamette students and faculty transferred to this new school, called Portland University. Whether he had originally backed it or not, Van Scoy was interested in the project and left Willamette, becoming dean of Portland University.

Van Scoy worked in this position until 1898, when he would depart Oregon altogether for a new opportunity. Van Scoy left for Montana to become president of the Montana Wesleyan University, another Methodist college connected to the Oregon schools through Methodist conferences. While there, he immediately began preparation for a new department of “science and mining”.20 Details on his tenure there are sparse, but he continued to give lectures and sermons, and seemed to be well liked in his new position. 

Van Scoy died unexpectedly in 1901 at the age of 53, leaving behind his daughter Lena, his second wife Jessie, and her son Paul. He had served as a pastor, school principal, dean of Portland University, and President of Willamette and Montana Wesleyan Universities. 

Endnotes

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  1. ˆ “Thomas Van Scoy,” Montana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church Official Journal, August 1901.
  2. ˆ “The Faculty of Willamette University,” The College Journal (Salem, OR), September 1, 1881.
  3. ˆ  “Thomas Van Scoy,” Montana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church Official Journal.
  4. ˆ “Thomas Van Scoy,” Montana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church Official Journal; “The Faculty of Willamette University,” The College Journal; “Dr. Thomas Vanscoy Dead,” February 15, 1901, Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican (Rensselaer, Indiana).
  5. ˆ “1880-1891: Thomas Van Scoy,” Presidents, Willamette University Archives.
  6. ˆ Box 1, Volume 3, Records of Women’s College, Willamette University, 1880-1894, Bound faculty minutes, 1870-1913, Willamette University Faculty Minutes (WUA036), Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
  7. ˆ “Needs of Willamette University,” The College Journal (Salem, OR), April 1, 1883.
  8. ˆ  “1880-1891: Thomas Van Scoy,” Presidents.
  9. ˆ The College Journal (Salem, OR), November 19, 1880.
  10. ˆ “The Faculty of Willamette University,” The College Journal.
  11. ˆ “‘Mr. Chips’ tells of WU campus as he first glimpsed it many years ago,” Willamette Collegian (Salem, OR), January 31, 1992.
  12. ˆ “Woman’s College,” The College Journal (Salem, OR), April 1, 1884.
  13. ˆ “Locals,” The College Journal (Salem, OR), September 1, 1881.
  14. ˆ  The College Journal (Salem, OR), February 1, 1884.
  15. ˆ “Departments,” Catalogue of Willamette University and Correlated Academies for the year 1880-81, Willamette University Catalogs and Bulletins, Willamette University Archives and Records.
  16. ˆ “Departments,” Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Willamette University for the year 1891-2, Willamette University Catalogs and Bulletins, Willamette University Archives and Records.
  17. ˆ The College Journal, April 1, 1884.
  18. ˆ  “Still in Doubt,” Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR), December 19, 1890. 
  19. ˆ “State and Coast: The Willamette University will remain in Salem,” Morning Daily Herald (Albany, Oregon), December 27, 1890.
  20. ˆ “M.E. Church Announcements,” The Anaconda standard (Anaconda, Montana), June 4, 1898.

Works Referenced

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