Hamilton Holt

Hamilton Holt was elected to the Century in 1904, ten years after he graduated from Yale. At that time he was a journalist, and he was managing editor, editor and owner, and then consulting editor of “The Independent,” a magazine of public opinion. The diversity of his interests was astonishing. They ranged from every kind of activity of the Congregational Church to simplified spelling, social ethics, world peace, Democratic politics, Polish freedom, and the League of Nations.

It was in the field of education, however, that Holt achieved his most spectacular recognition. In 1925 he became President of Rollins College, at Winter Park, Florida, and then and there he undertook to “humanize” education. He had two-hour conferences instead of lectures; and in order to “break down the barrier between student and instructor” he abolished formal examinations. Arm-chairs and open air replaced the conventional hard benches and classrooms. The reason these innovations worked is found in Holt’s own dynamic personality. He controlled the whole show—even to having the employment of professors depend in each instance on an undergraduate plebiscite—but after he retired in 1949 difficulties multiplied like mushrooms.

Holt was a striking man physically, and quick to make friends. He had many of the attributes of Alcibiades; and he was filled with energy and confidence and a high order of talent. He came of Connecticut Yankee stock, and was immune alike from fear or favor. When he espoused a cause, it became a crusade and he expected all good men to rally to his support: which again and again they did.

In conversation he was animated, polite and provocative. He was not always right; but he was always good company, always examining anew the accepted dogmas. He was perfectly fitted to be President of Rollins College, and he must have been grateful to the Divinity which shaped him to that end.

George W. Martin
1951/1952 Century Association Yearbook