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Ira A. Priest
(1897-1901)
Rev. Ira A. Priest was born at Mt. Holly, Vermont in May of 1856 and spent his childhood on a farm. After attending public schools he worked his way through Goddard Seminary in Barre, Vermont where he prepared for college. He entered Tufts College in 1880 and graduated four years later with a Ph.B. degree. In 1884 he continued his studies in the theological department at Tufts and in 1887 graduated with a B.D. degree. In 1898 his alma mater conferred on him the D.D. degree.
Priest was connected exclusively with church work for many years and served numerous pastorates throughout Massachusetts. In the fall of 1896 he came to Akron and took charge of the Universalist church in addition to serving as Chaplain and Instructor in Ethics and Psychology at Buchtel College. The following year he was named 5th President of Buchtel College.
Priest faced many challenges during his first years in office. In addition to financial debts brought on by the depression of the 1890s, Old Buchtel Hall, the main college building, burnt to the ground on December 20, 1899, an immeasurable loss to the young and struggling college. The next day, Priest vowed to rebuild the College and served on a committee to restore the College to its former glory. He oversaw the building of new Buchtel Hall and the Academy Building.
After he left Buchtel College, Priest became interested in business and politics. In 1901 he embarked in a real estate, loan, and general insurance business that became one of the leading firms of its kind in Akron. He was elected President of Akron City Council in 1903 and was re-elected in 1905. A staunch Republican, he served as Treasurer of the Summit County Central Committee and served as the party’s choice for membership on the Board of Public Service. Fraternally, Priest was a Knight Templar Mason and belonged to the Odd Fellows.
On June 23, 1887, Priest married Eva Hall of Lacon, Illinois. They had one child. Priest died at the age of 77 at his home in Belmont, Vermont, on February 18, 1933.
“Yes, the College is still burnt, but a grander Buchtel shall arise–buildings better adapted to college work, and a college growing to be a greater honor to our city.”
– Ira A. Preist
From the Ira A. Priest Papers in Archival Services of University Libraries
Ira Priest entered Tufts College (now Tufts University) in Medford, Massachusetts in 1880 and graduated four years later with a Ph.B. degree. In 1884 he continued his studies in the theological department at Tufts and in 1887 graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. In 1898 his alma mater conferred on him this degree, the D.D. or Doctor of Divinity.
From The University of Akron Photographs Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
Ira Priest experienced many challenges during his first years as president, including the destruction of the Main College Building (now known as Old Buchtel Hall) by fire on December 20, 1899. The fire rendered a major blow to the young and struggling college. The day after fire completely destroyed Old Buchtel Hall, President Priest delivered a speech vowing the continuance of the institution. In the days that followed, he was relieved of all classroom duties to focus on a major fundraising campaign to rebuild the College
From the Ira A. Priest Papers in Archival Services of University Libraries
In this draft letter to friends and alumni of Buchtel College, President Priest recounts the “calamity” of the burning of Old Buchtel Hall and describes the “sorry sight to the gaze of the passerby” of the college grounds. He also uses the opportunity to appeal to the community to raise funds for the construction of a new Buchtel Hall, which was built in 1901, and still stands on the campus today.
From The University of Akron Photographs Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
After the loss of Old Buchtel Hall, President Priest temporarily housed the College in Crouse Gymnasium, which became the center of activity. Classrooms were partitioned off and the basement was converted into laboratories. The building also included a chapel and library and served as the location for commencement exercises.
From the Ira A. Priest Papers in Archival Services of University Libraries
Ira Priest resigned as President of Buchtel College on June 25, 1901, after the trustees received a petition from the Alumni Association expressing their concern about the “condition of the college,” especially the “spirit of discord” in the faculty and “undercurrent of unrest and lack of confidence” in the student body. According to the late University Historian Emeritus George W. Knepper, “first McCollester, then Cone, then Priest . . . each president suffered from circumstances he could not control.” “Priest, especially,” he continued, “encountered depression, then fire, and then dissent which clearly drained him of his optimism.”
From the Ira A. Priest Papers in Archival Services of University Libraries
After he left Buchtel College, Ira Priest became interested in business and politics. In 1901 he embarked in a real estate, loan, and general insurance business, which became the firm of Patton & Priest in 1906. It was one of the leading firms of its kind in Akron. Priest always took an interest in politics and on numerous occasions was elected to city office. In 1903, he was elected Vice Mayor and President of Akron City Council and was re-elected in 1905. A staunch Republican, he served as Treasurer of the Summit County Central Committee and served as the party’s choice for membership on the Board of Public Service.
From the Ira A. Priest Papers in Archival Services of University Libraries
Ira Priest served as a chaplain of the 8th Ohio Infantry of the Ohio National Guard for over 17 years and held the rank of Major. For a brief time he was stationed with the troops along the Mexican border during the war on Mexican Revolutionary Francisco “Pancho” Villa. During his service, he often delivered addresses and prayers, as evidenced by this program for the Second Brigade of the Ohio National Guard Vesper Service at Fort McKinley in Newark, Ohio.
From the Ira A. Priest Papers in Archival Services of University Libraries
Ira Priest was a devout Christian. In addition to sermons and addresses, he also wrote religious poetry, especially later in life, including this poem he wrote in his mid 60s.
“Dr. Priest was active, positive, sympathetic and tactful. He was a man of good executive ability and courageous leadership.”
– Dean Albert I. Spanton