Harcum College history

In 1916 when she founded the school, there were few careers open to women, especially to well-bred women.

In 1917, the Harcums had constructed a large Greek Revival building, Melville Hall, which today holds the school’s administration offices.

When he died in a car accident in 1920, Edith assumed the Presidency.

The Junto is a non-profit educational corporation founded in 1941 to promote adult education in the Philadelphia region, adopting the name of a group originally co-founded by Benjamin Franklin.

In 1952 The Junto purchased the assets of Harcum College for possible use as a residential college for adults but soon decided to continue its mission as a two-year college for women.

By 1954, the school had purchased five more buildings, including Hatcher Hall, which once was the home of Samuel Rea, a president of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

In 1955, Pennsylvania granted the College the right to be the first two-year college in the Commonwealth’s history to confer the associate of arts and the associate of science degrees.

In 1956, Pennsylvania granted Harcum permission to be the first junior college in the Commonwealth's history to confer the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degrees.

Extensive building and expansion occurred at Harcum in the 1960’s under the direction of President Michael Duzy, with the addition of the Academic Center, Pennswood Hall, and Klein Hall.

Back has been an active freelance writer since 1990, and currently writes for online and print publications of Digital First Media.

II. I-LEAD was formed in 1995 to promote these grassroots community leadership efforts by delivering leadership training and technical assistance in 16 cities across the Commonwealth in partnership with the Pennsylvania Weed and Seed program.

Between 2000 and today, Harcum launched programs in nursing, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, interior and residential design, and radiologic technology, among others.

The College began admitting men in 2003 and officially became a co-ed institution.

Anders Back is the Director of Internal Communications and Publications at Harcum College where he has worked since 2007.