By: Cole Glass
York Co. Library Local History Room
Winthrop University was opened on May 12, 1894. The oldest building
at Winthrop is Tillman Hall which was built in 1894. . The college was
named after benefactor Robert C. Winthrop. The first year it was opened
there was only 1 teacher and 19 students. The 1 teacher was Mary Hall
Leonard. The first president was D.B. Johnson. Winthrop was originally
an all women's school, but in the 1970's it became a coed school. Today
Winthrop, which is now a university, has approximately 4,650 undergraduate
and 1,400 graduate students. Along with its vast student body Winthrop
has a 100 acre campus with a nearby 325 acre sports and recreational area.
This wonderful university makes Rock Hill an exciting place.