Daniel Curry, President, papers

After leaving his position as pastor of the 27th St. Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City, Daniel Curry became the president of Indiana Asbury University in 1854. He was forty-five years old. His previous roles as a teacher and preacher enhanced the expectations for a successful administration. Although dealing with the issue of low enrollment, Curry had goals of making Indiana Asbury a first rank school. Time was spent off campus, traveling throughout Indiana, urging Methodists and non-Methodists alike that his university was the right one for them. Unfortunately, Curry was forced to deal with the university under a "state of rebellion." There was a statewide recognition of the entire senior class (twenty-two students) and their suspension over society night meetings. With high hopes, but the wrong mental attitude, President Curry was not yet softened enough to handle the young students effectively. At the Board of Trustees meeting in July of 1857, Daniel Curry resigned as president of Indiana Asbury University.