Proposal to Change Name to Athens College
On January 27, 1923, J. Walter Barnes, Treasurer and member of the State Board of Control, wrote the following in a letter to President C. C. Rossey:
Mr. Rossey:
At a meeting of the State Board of Control yesterday we discussed changing the name of your school. It was the opinion of the Board that Athens College would be a proper and significant name for your institution; that Concord has long since ceased to exist and no one knows where or what it is.
Athens is a growing community and well known in the southern part of the state, and when you ask any one what school they attend they will say that they attend the school in Athens. Besides Athens itself is significant of culture, refinement and education. The word state does not add anything as all recognize the institution as a State Institution.
It would also be more significant to a graduate of “Athens College” than to be a graduate of Athens Teachers College. It would add more prestige to one going into another state if he was a graduate of “Athens College” rather than Athens Teachers College because it would limit his field of indeavor (sic). The individual might not desire to engage in teaching, and it would give him greater standing in the community to undertake other lines of work.
These are suggestions for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
STATE BOARD OF CONTROL
By
J. Walter Barnes
Treasurer.
