Changes

In the years prior to the American Civil War, the [[Methodist Episcopal Church, South]] had been considering creating a regional university for the training of [[Minister (Christianity)|ministers]] located centrally for the [[congregation]]s of the church. Through the lobbying of Nashville bishop [[Holland Nimmons McTyeire|Holland McTyeire]], church leaders voted in 1872 to create "Central University" in Nashville. However, lack of funds and the war-ravaged state of the South delayed the opening of the college.  

In the years prior to the American Civil War, the [[Methodist Episcopal Church, South]] had been considering creating a regional university for the training of [[Minister (Christianity)|ministers]] located centrally for the [[congregation]]s of the church. Through the lobbying of Nashville bishop [[Holland Nimmons McTyeire|Holland McTyeire]], church leaders voted in 1872 to create "Central University" in Nashville. However, lack of funds and the war-ravaged state of the South delayed the opening of the college.  

The following year, on a medical trip to [[New York City]], McTyeire stayed at the residence of [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]], whose second wife was the cousin of McTyeire's wife.  Vanderbilt, the wealthiest man in [[United States of America|America]] at the time, had been considering [[philanthropy|philanthropic]] causes as he was at an advanced age. His original plan was to establish a university on [[Staten Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]], in honor of his mother. McTyeire, however, successfully convinced him to donate USD$500,000 to endow Central University in order to "contribute to strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country."<ref name="VUhistory">{{cite web |publisher = Vanderbilt University |title = The History of Vanderbilt |url = http://www.vanderbilt.edu/history.html |accessdate = 2007-05-24 }}</ref>

The following year, on a medical trip to [[New York City]], McTyeire stayed at the residence of [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]], whose second wife was the cousin of McTyeire's wife.  Vanderbilt, the wealthiest man in [[United States of America|America]] at the time, had been considering [[philanthropy|philanthropic]] causes as he was at an advanced age. His original plan was to establish a university on [[Staten Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]], in honor of his mother. McTyeire, however, successfully convinced him to donate USD$500,000 to endow Central University in order to "contribute to strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country."[http://www.vanderbilt.edu/history.html]

The endowment (later increased to USD$1 million) would be Vanderbilt's only philanthropy.  Though the Commodore never expressed any desire to have the university named after himself, McTyeire and his fellow trustees soon rechristened the school as "the Vanderbilt University."  Vanderbilt died in 1877 having never even visited the school named after him.

The endowment (later increased to USD$1 million) would be Vanderbilt's only philanthropy.  Though the Commodore never expressed any desire to have the university named after himself, McTyeire and his fellow trustees soon rechristened the school as "the Vanderbilt University."  Vanderbilt died in 1877 having never even visited the school named after him.

For the first 40 years, the Board of Trust (and therefore the university itself) was under the control of the General Conference (the governing body) of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]], South. However, tensions began rising between the university administration and the Conference over the future of the school, particularly over the methods by which members of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust would be chosen.   

For the first 40 years, the Board of Trust (and therefore the university itself) was under the control of the General Conference (the governing body) of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]], South. However, tensions began rising between the university administration and the Conference over the future of the school, particularly over the methods by which members of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust would be chosen.   

Conflicts escalated with the appointment of James Kirkland as chancellor in 1893.  The final straw, at least in the mind of Kirkland, was a failed campaign to raise USD$300,000 from Southern Methodist congregations (only $50,000 was raised).  Further disputes between the bishops and Kirkland, which erupted into litigation in 1912, led the Methodist conference to sever all ties with Vanderbilt University in June 1914.<ref name="VUhistory"/>

Conflicts escalated with the appointment of James Kirkland as chancellor in 1893.  The final straw, at least in the mind of Kirkland, was a failed campaign to raise USD$300,000 from Southern Methodist congregations (only $50,000 was raised).  Further disputes between the bishops and Kirkland, which erupted into litigation in 1912, led the Methodist conference to sever all ties with Vanderbilt University in June 1914.

Vanderbilt enjoyed early intellectual influence during the [[1920s]] and [[1930s]] when it hosted two partly overlapping groups of scholars who had a large impact on American thought and letters: the [[Fugitives (poets)|Fugitives]] and the [[Southern Agrarians|Agrarians]].  During the same period, [[Ernest William Goodpasture]] and his [colleagues in the [[Vanderbilt University School of Medicine|School of Medicine]] invented methods for cultivating [[virus]]es and [[rickettsiae]] in fertilized chicken eggs. This work made possible the production of [[vaccine]]s against [[chicken pox]], [[smallpox]], [[yellow fever]], [[typhus]], [[Rocky mountain spotted fever]] and other diseases caused by agents that only propagate in living cells.

Vanderbilt enjoyed early intellectual influence during the [[1920s]] and [[1930s]] when it hosted two partly overlapping groups of scholars who had a large impact on American thought and letters: the [[Fugitives (poets)|Fugitives]] and the [[Southern Agrarians|Agrarians]].  During the same period, [[Ernest William Goodpasture]] and his [colleagues in the [[Vanderbilt University School of Medicine|School of Medicine]] invented methods for cultivating [[virus]]es and [[rickettsiae]] in fertilized chicken eggs. This work made possible the production of [[vaccine]]s against [[chicken pox]], [[smallpox]], [[yellow fever]], [[typhus]], [[Rocky mountain spotted fever]] and other diseases caused by agents that only propagate in living cells.