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Arthur and Leonard Baldwin, two brothers who grew up on a farm in the nineteenth century and went on to become very successful lawyers, made a donation to Drew that forever changed the small Theological Seminary into a university. Leonard, a Drew trustee since 1917, and Arthur had a friendly relationship with President Tipple, whom they surprised in 1928 with their enthusiasm to endow a liberal arts college at Drew. They donated $1.5 million for the building and endowment of Brothers College (this required a name change of Drew Theological Seminary to the more encompassing Drew University). Leonard Baldwin died in 1933, followed by Arthur in 1939. In the 1950s, Brothers College became known as the College of Liberal Arts. Portrait (Finding Aid: PDF, HTML)
Bowne, Samuel
A generous benefactor to Drew between 1890 and 1910, trustee Samuel Bowne's many donations resulted in the building of Hoyt-Bowne dormitory, Bowne Gymnasium, and Samuel W. Bowne Hall. Bowne died in 1910.
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George R. Crooks joined Drew in 1880 as professor of historical theology, upon the departure of President Hurst. An ordained minister, Crooks had been a long-time advocate of theological training and editor ofThe of The Methodist. Crooks was one of "the Great Five" revered professors who led Drew for decades. He died in 1897.
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Thomas Gibbons was a Savannah lawyer turned New York steamboat tycoon. With his son, William Gibbons, and his captain, Cornelius Vanderbilt, he took on New York ferry monopolies and won a Supreme Court decision regulating interstate commerce. Gibbons died in 1826. A longer account of Thomas Gibbons' life is available. (Finding Aid: PDF, HTML)
*Gibbons, William
William Gibbons was the son of steamboat tycoon Thomas Gibbons. Upon the death of his father, William inherited Thomas' assets - steamboat holdings, land, houses and several plantations in the south, which included more than 500 slaves. It is believed that William's wife, Abigail Louise Taintor, persuaded her husband to buy land in Madison, New Jersey. In time, William had collected 205 acres in "The Forest," and in 1833, the Gibbons' built a plantation-style mansion (now called Mead Hall), a stable for William's racehorses and a granary. In 1844, Abigail died, followed by her husband in 1852. Their son sold the property in 1867, to Daniel Drew, at which time the Gibbons' mansion became the main building of Drew Theological Seminary. (Finding Aid: PDF, HTML)
*Herberg, Will
Will Herberg was Andrew V. Stout Professor of Philosophy and Culture at Drew University's Graduate School, where he taught from 1955 until his retirement in 1976. He was an internationally renowned Jewish scholar, best known for his landmark book, Protestant-Catholic-Jew, published in 1955, which changed religious scholarship to this day. He died in 1977. (Finding Aid: PDF, HTML)
*Hough, Lynn Harold
Lynn Harold Hough, a prominent Methodist preacher, writer, and former president of Northwestern University, had taken a B.D. degree at Drew in 1905. He returned to Drew in 1930, at the age of 53, as professor of homiletics. In 1934, he was named dean of the Seminary (the Seminary's first). Hough retired in 1947, and he died in 1971. (Finding Aid: PDF, HTML)
Hoyt, William
William Hoyt was one the university's most generous trustees, and his efforts included the construction of Hoyt-Bowne dormitory and Seminary Hall. He died in 1902.
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