Charles Fairchild (1893-1895)
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Description
Charles Grandison Fairchild (1838–1933) served as the second president of Rollins College from 1893 to 1895, bringing to the role a distinguished background as an educator, fundraiser, and Civil War veteran. Born in Birmingham, Michigan, he was the son of Jairus Kent and Maria Hall (Baldwin) Fairchild. His early academic pursuits were interrupted by three years of military service during the American Civil War. Following the war, he completed his undergraduate studies at Oberlin College in 1869 and graduated from Oberlin Theological Seminary. Though ordained in the Congregational Church, Fairchild chose to devote his life to education rather than the pulpit.
His professional career included leadership roles at several educational institutions. He served as headmaster of the New Jersey State Normal School (now The College of New Jersey) from 1870 to 1871 and later worked alongside his father, then president of Berea College in Kentucky. There, Fairchild not only taught but also spearheaded fundraising efforts, securing resources for campus development and establishing the college’s first physics department. Notably, in 1876, he installed the first telephone in the state of Kentucky at Berea.
From 1881 to 1893, Fairchild was a professor and financial officer at Oberlin College, where his efforts helped finance six new campus buildings, including the conservatory of music. In 1893, he accepted the presidency of Rollins College. Despite challenges such as economic depression and the devastating impact of the "Great Freeze" 1894 when the local citrus industry economy was all but halted, Fairchild oversaw enrollment growth at Rollins. He also supported student engagement, launching The Sandspur, the College’s student newspaper. His leadership helped stabilize the young institution during a vulnerable period, and his commitment to liberal education contributed to the foundations of Rollins' identity. However, his tenure was one of the briefest in college history. In March 1995, Fairchild resigned from Rollins presidency, as he was unable to improve the fragile financial situation of the young frontier institution that was further exacerbated by the national depression of the early 1890s and the great freezes of 1894-95.
He later served on New York City's Board of Education (1904–1918). A passionate advocate for education, Fairchild was known for his warmth, intelligence, and commitment to academic ideals. He was married to Adelaide Frances Dean, with whom he had nine children. He passed away in 1933 in Roslyn Heights, New York.
First Year of Presidency
1893
Recommended Citation
Rollins College Archives and Special Collections, "Charles Fairchild (1893-1895)" (1893). Rollins Presidents. 5.
https://scholarship.rollins.edu/presidents/5
