page_title: Washington & Jefferson College
section_title: Early history and the academies
hierarchical_section_title: Washington & Jefferson College / History / Early history and the academies
caption_attribution_description: English: Photo circa 1900 of Jefferson Academy, formerly Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (now Washington &amp; Jefferson College).
context_page_description: Washington & Jefferson College is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania. The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County established by three Presbyterian missionaries to the American frontier in the 1780s: John McMillan, Thaddeus Dod, and Joseph Smith. These early schools eventually grew into two competing academies, with Jefferson College located in Canonsburg and Washington College located in Washington. The two colleges merged in 1865 to form Washington & Jefferson College. The 60 acre campus has more than 40 buildings, with the oldest dating to 1793.
  The college's academic emphasis is on the liberal arts and the sciences, with a focus on preparing students for graduate and professional schools. Campus activities include various religious, political, and general interest clubs, as well as academic and professional-themed organizations. The college has a strong history of competing literary societies, dating back before the union of Jefferson and Washington Colleges. Students operate a college radio station, a campus newspaper, and a literary journal. The athletic program competes in NCAA Division III.
context_section_description: Washington & Jefferson College traces its origin to three log cabin colleges established by three frontier clergymen in the 1780s: John McMillan, Thaddeus Dod, and Joseph Smith.  The three men, all graduates from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), came to present-day Washington County to plant churches and spread Presbyterianism to what was then the American frontier beyond the Appalachian Mountains.  John McMillan, the most prominent of the three founders because of his strong personality and longevity, came to the area in 1775 and built his log cabin college in 1780 near his church in Chartiers.  Thaddeus Dod, known as a keen scholar, built his log cabin college in Lower Ten Mile in 1781.  Joseph Smith taught classical studies in his college, called "The Study," at Buffalo.
  Washington Academy was chartered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly on September 24, 1787.  The first members of the board of trustees included Reverends Dod and Smith.  After a difficult search for a headmaster, in which the trustees consulted Benjamin Franklin, the trustees unanimously selected Thaddeus Dod, considered to be the best scholar in western Pennsylvania.  Amid financial difficulties and unrest from the Whiskey Rebellion, the Academy held no classes from 1791 to 1796.  In 1792, the Academy secured four lots at Wheeling and Lincoln street from William Hoge and began construction on the stone Academy Building.  During the Whiskey Rebellion, portions of David Bradford's militia camped on a hillside that would later become home to the unified Washington & Jefferson College.
  In October 1792, after a year's delay from its official incorporation resulting from "trouble with Indians," McMillan was chosen as the headmaster and Canonsburg was chosen as the location for the "Canonsburg Academy."  At a subsequent unknown date, McMillan transferred his students from the log cabin to Canonsburg Academy.  Canonsburg Academy was chartered by the General Assembly on March 11, 1794, thus placing it firmly ahead of its sister school, Washington Academy, which was without a faculty, students, or facilities.  On January 15, 1802, with McMillan as president of the board, the General Assembly finally granted a charter for "a college at Canonsburgh."
caption: Jefferson College campus in 1830, with West College on the left and Providence Hall on the right
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