Parsons College was named for Lewis B. Parsons, a wealthy New York
merchant who died in 1855 and left much of his estate as an endowment
for an institution of higher learning in the state of Iowa. The
executors of Parsons' estate considered a number of possible locations
for the school before choosing a tract of land just north of Fairfield.
The college opened in 1875, with a single building on the campus; the
physical plant gradually grew as supporters made gifts and bequests for
additional facilities. A fire destroyed the main building, but a 1905
gift from Andrew Carnegie made it possible to rebuild.

Until 1955, the college was like many other small colleges in the
Midwest. Its history was unexceptional and its reputation was purely
local. For more than 75 years Parsons grew slowly, accepting anyone who
wanted to come, primarily local residents, and accumulating little
endowment and many deficits.

In 1955, the trustees appointed Millard G. Roberts, a Presbyterian
minister from New York City, as president of the college. Although he
had no experience in educational administration, the trustees believed
that he had the ability to promote the college, raise more money from
donors, attract more students, and possibly manage the school more
efficiently.

Roberts quickly instituted a 15-Year Plan to develop the college.
Throughout his 12-year presidency, he attracted both positive and
negative attention. Chief among the positive consequences was a huge
increase in enrollment, which, in turn, made it possible for the
college to implement other aspects of the Plan, which soon became known
as the Parsons Plan.

Dave Neff and Robert Tree remember and celebrate Parsons.