Beverly Roberts Waugh was the son of Bishop Beverly Waugh (1789-1858) of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was born July 28, 1824, at Liberty MD. He graduated from Dickinson College in 1846 and was licensed to preach by the Baltimore Conference, but accepted instead the position of Professor of Mathematics and Literature at Baltimore Female College, which was under patronage of the Baltimore Conference.
Waugh received his M.A. from Dickinson in cursu in 1849. This was not an honorary degree, as such, even though it is often reported that way. In the 1800’s it was fairly standard for institutions to grant M.A.’s in cursu to graduates about three years after they received their B.A.’s – provided that they had been engaged in worthwhile occupations and/or study since graduation. This was a practice that Waugh continued with his graduates when he became principal of Pennsylvania Female College.
In 1853 the trustees of Pennsylvania Female College at Harrisburg secured Waugh as the first principal of that institution, a position he held until his death. While his move to Harrisburg corresponds with his August 1853 wedding to Sarah Beatty of that city, the connection between those two events cannot be documented. One probable scenario is that they met while the seven-year younger Miss Beatty was a student at Baltimore Female College (if indeed she ever was) and that their relationship prompted his move to Harrisburg – and may even have been instrumental in the creation of Pennsylvania Female College. It is also possible that the two met while Waugh was a student at Dickinson.
While the scrapbook contains many news clippings that are glowing testimonials to Mr. Waugh’s qualifications and dedication as principal at Pennsylvania Female College, a more interesting assessment is found in the diary of one Horatio Collins King (1837-1918), a Dickinson College student whose diary is reserved at that institution. The following entry is for Tuesday, December 16, 1856.
* Arose at 7:30 am… At 10 o’clock the [train] cars bore away… Harrisburg after a short time was duly reached. John Carson and I jumped off at the bridge and called on Ginnie Allen and Maria Stevenson at the Pennsylvania Female College, about ten minutes before recess. Mr. Waugh, the principal, came in very much excited and wished to know if we had any particular messages for the young ladies. If so he would take them, as the young ladies were not allowed to receive visitors during study hours, etc., etc. We kept perfectly cool, signified our intention of waiting for the recess and the girls, treated him very politely, and bowed him almost raving out of the parlor. Ha! Ha! Ha! Rather rich, I should say. Ginnie A. came down. Maria S. was so angry, however, that she wouldn’t. We left in a short time, took dinner in the cars… proceeded towards Philadelphia.
Despite how it may sound, Mr. King was quite a respectable gentleman who was well connected. He was the nephew of Dickinson College president Charles Collins, went on to study law with Edwin Stanton (later Secretary of War), and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for “conspicuous gallantry” while serving with the Union cavalry in March 1865. His father served as postmaster general in the cabinet of James Buchanan – who was a supporter of Pennsylvania Female College. The above diary continues the events of that December 1856 day as follows.
* At Lancaster the President Elect, James Buchanan, entered the cars. After a while I handed him my card. He received me cordially, asked if I received his letter, and regretted he could not meet us. We talked over old times, college affairs past and present, the morality then and now, and also a few words relative to Dr. Tiffany – as he called the Professor. The interview was very agreeable, and especially worthy of mention. We reached Philadelphia at 7 o’clock.
