In 1876, a group of Midwest Quakers (Friends) migrated to Chehalem Valley to start their own community–the Chehalem Monthly Meeting. In 1883, as more Friends families settled in the area, the meeting began to discuss the possibility of opening a school. Within months, the group successfully raised enough money from the local community and from the East Coast Quakers to purchase a plot of land in Newberg from Jesse Edwards, one of the founders of the town. In 1885, Friends Pacific Academy opened with the mandate to provide education for students through 12th grade.
The first building, aptly named the Academy Building, was located at the current site of Newberg Friends Church (3rd and S. College). Tuition, room, and board were $110 a year. The school had nineteen students and three faculty members, including Henry and Laura Minthorn and W.R. Starbuck. Herbert Hoover, the Minthorns’ nephew and later President of the United States, attended the school from 1885-88.
Realizing the need for an institution of higher learning immersed with Quaker values, the founders of the academy announced plans to create Pacific College. The college opened on September 9, 1891, with Thomas Newlin as president. Enrollment included two juniors, four sophomores, two freshmen, and seven other students who were not eligible for freshman standing. Seven faculty members taught at the academy and the college. The first college catalog stated that Pacific College would “offer to young men and women the benefits of a liberal Christian education. Its courses of study are arranged to give that broad culture which should be the possession of every intelligent man and woman. The founders recognize the great importance of religious training and that the work of the classroom is not merely consistent with Christianity, but decidedly Christian in character.” The college continued to prosper, expanding to 43 students by 1895.
Fun Fact: In 1902, the college paid off the first mortgage and to celebrate, they burned the document. The ashes are part of the university’s museum.
Faculty were expected to support Christian ideals in their own lives and in their classrooms. In the early years of the college, the board advised that “no teaching either by teacher or textbook should be permitted in Pacific College that in any way discredits the authenticity of any portion of the Bible.”
Thomas Newlin resigned from the presidency in 1900 and was replaced by Edwin McGrew. The college experienced some issues with funding throughout the next few years but continued to be supported graciously by the community and alumni. Due to the growing number of students, the college decided another academic building was needed. Amanda Woodward and Evangeline Martin raised $30,000 (approximately $900,000 in 2018 dollars) and in 1911, the new Wood-Mar building was named in their honor.