History of Baldwin Wallace University

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History of Baldwin Wallace University

Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio has roots in two schools that joined together. It all started in 1828 when John Baldwin settled in Berea. He later helped start Baldwin Institute in 1845 to offer college courses with the support of James Wallace.

Baldwin University was chartered in 1856 and opened its doors to all students, regardless of race or gender. As more German workers moved to Berea, a separate school for German Americans began—German Wallace College—established in 1864. From the start, students could take courses at either school.

In 1913, Baldwin University and German Wallace College merged to form Baldwin–Wallace College, with the motto In Union There is Strength. The new campus combined buildings from both schools.

Philura Gould Baldwin, John Baldwin’s granddaughter, helped start the school's first library and suggested the brown and gold colors. The Philura Gould Baldwin Library opened in 1894 and later became part of the Malicky Center.

The Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music began in 1898, and the BW Bach Festival, founded in 1933, is the oldest collegiate Bach festival in the United States.

The campus grew through the mid-20th century under leaders like Alfred Bryan Bonds, who directed many new buildings. Other notable additions include Burrell Memorial Observatory in 1940 and several residence halls and academic facilities.

During World War II, Baldwin-Wallace participated in the V-12 Navy College Training Program. The campus later expanded with new centers and facilities, such as the Center for Adult Learning in Beachwood (BW East) and the Thomas Family Center for Science and Innovation (opened in 2009). The university also adopted green initiatives, including a wind turbine in 2009 and geothermal heating in Ernsthausen Hall.

In 2012, Baldwin–Wallace College became Baldwin Wallace University, with the hyphen dropped. The university added the Durst Welcome Center and continued renovations to the Conservatory and other buildings.

Two parts of the campus are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as historic districts: the South Campus Historic District (added in 2010) and the North Campus Historic District (added in 2012).

The university has a rich athletic history, including notable figures like Lee Tressel and his son Jim Tressel, and Olympic gold medalist Harrison Dillard.

Baldwin Wallace University was founded by Methodist settlers and is located in Berea, near Cleveland, in the region known as the Western Reserve.