Hardin Simmons University

Hardin–Simmons University

Motto	An Education Enlightened by Faith
Type	Private
Established	1891
Affiliation	Baptist General Convention of Texas
Endowment	US$87.1 million
President	Eric Bruntmyer
Students	1,721
Undergraduates	1,997
Postgraduates	438
Doctoral students	73
Location	Abilene, Texas, United States
Campus	Urban, 209 acres (0.85 km2)
Colors	Purple and Gold
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – ASC
Mascot	Cowboy
Website	www.hsutx.edu

Hardin–Simmons University (HSU) is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas, United States.

Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher education to the Southwest. The purpose of the school would be "to lead students to Christ, teach them of Christ, and train them for Christ." The original land was donated to the university by rancher C.W. Merchant. It was the first school of higher education established west of Fort Worth. The school was renamed Simmons College in 1892 in honor of an early contributor, James B. Simmons. By 1907 it claimed an enrollment of 524 and a staff of 49. In 1925, it became Simmons University. It was renamed Hardin–Simmons University in 1934 in honor of Mary and John G. Hardin, who were also major contributors. The university has been associated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas since 1941.

The West Texas Historical Association, which met for 22 years on the Hardin–Simmons campus, was chartered on April 19, 1924, at the Taylor County Courthouse in Abilene. Royston Campbell Crane, Sr., an attorney from Sweetwater, the seat of Nolan County, first proposed establishment of the association. He was the son of William Carey Crane, an historian who had served as a president of Baptist-affiliated Baylor University in Waco. Six Abilene residents were also influential in the formation of the group: Rupert N. Richardson, later president of Hardin–Simmons; William Curry Holden, then of Methodist-affiliated McMurry College and later first president of the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock; L. G. Kennamer of Abilene Christian University, a Church of Christ institution; and J. M. Radford, Laura J. D. Scarborough, and B. E. Glammery. Other strong supporters of the movement included James W. Hunt and Jefferson D. Sandefer, then the presidents of McMurry and Hardin–Simmons (then called Simmons College). From the original 24 members, the organization grew in 60 years to nearly 400, including 127 libraries. The original officers were Crane, president; Richardson, secretary, and Scarborough, treasurer. In 1929, the association received a 50-year charter of incorporation from the state. In 1998, after B. W. Aston, historian at Hardin–Simmons, left the position of WTHA executive director, the association moved to Texas Tech and became integral to the Southwest Collection.