Drury University is a private, liberal arts school in Springfield, Missouri.
It was founded as Springfield College in 1873 by Congregationalist church missionaries, and patterned after existing Congregationalist universities such as Oberlin College, Dartmouth College, Carleton College, and Yale University. Rev. Nathan Morrison, Samuel Drury, and James and Charles Harwood provided the school's initial endowment and organization; Drury's endowment was the largest of the group, so before the year was over the school was renamed in honor of Drury's recently deceased son. Drury College became Drury University on January 1, 2000.
Drury College admitted female students from the beginning; the first graduating class included four women.
The school is a founding member of the Heartland Conference. |
