Editing Georgetown College (section)

==History==
In 1829, the [[Kentucky General Assembly]] chartered the Kentucky Baptist Education Society with the purpose of establishing a Baptist college in the state. 24 trustees under the leadership of Silas Noel selected the town of Georgetown as the site for the new school. The first president hired by the college in 1829, William D. Staughton, died before assuming his duties. The second president, Rev. Joel Smith Bacon, stayed two years (1830–1832), fighting court cases to release funding for the college before leaving out of frustration. The third president, Benjamin Farnsworth, endured a power struggle with the [[Campbellites]] and resigned in 1837.

In 1838, Rev. Rockwood Giddings became the fourth president of the college. During his short tenure, Giddings began construction on Recitation Hall, the school's first permanent building. Giddings died after a year in office and was replaced by Rev. Howard Malcolm in 1840.

Malcolm oversaw the completion of the construction of the building, now known as Giddings Hall. He also expanded the educational offerings beyond the classics and encouraged the founding of literary societies and the Georgetown Female Academy. He resigned in 1849 when his anti-slavery vote at Kentucky's third constitutional convention resulted in criticism from slavery proponents.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The college experienced steady growth until the Civil War, when a clear divide established between students and faculty. Partisan differences at the start of the war became so hostile, the college was forced to shut down until 1863. By 1867, enrollment had grown to seventy-six students, and, that same year, one of the earliest female seminaries was founded at the college. [[Basil Manly Jr.]] was president of Georgetown College from 1871 to 1879.<ref>{{Citation| publisher = Oxford University Press| last = Wills| first = Gregory A.| title = Manly, Basil, Jr. (1825-1892), Baptist minister| date = February 2000}}</ref>

The college saw steady growth for the next century but experienced a major boom following World War II and the GI Bill.

The college is associated with five Rhodes Scholars and, since 1989, its alumni have included 38 Fulbright Scholars.<ref name="GCinfo">{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/admissions/information/ |title=Georgetown College Information and Quick Facts |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228130842/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/admissions/information/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The college also has an honors program and a partnership with [[Regent's Park College]], [[Oxford]]. 

As the student population grew in the late 20th century, the administration sought ways to diversify the campus and protect academic freedom. In 2005, Georgetown College and the [[Kentucky Baptist Convention]] reached an agreement on a separation plan, due to the college's desire to elect non-Baptist members to the board of trustees.<ref> Bob Allen, [https://goodfaithmedia.org/georgetown-college-loosens-kentucky-baptist-ties-cms-6444/ Georgetown College Loosens Kentucky Baptist Ties], goodfaithmedia.org, USA, October 19, 2005 </ref> In 2013, the [[Kentucky Baptist Convention]] officially ended its partnership with the college.<ref> Bob Allen, [https://baptistnews.com/article/kbc-votes-to-end-georgetown-ties/ KBC votes to end Georgetown ties], baptistnews.com, USA, November 15, 2013 </ref>

In 2014, the college earned the highest rating for protecting free speech on campus.<ref name="FIRE">{{Cite web |last=Fire |date=2014-03-28 |title=Georgetown College Earns Highest Rating for Free Speech {{!}} The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression |url=https://www.thefire.org/news/georgetown-college-earns-highest-rating-free-speech |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.thefire.org |language=en}}</ref>