Isaac Stiles Hopkins

Background

Isaac Stiles Hopkins was born on June 20, 1841 in Augusta, Georgia, United States. He was the son of Thomas Hopkins, a native of Ireland, and Rebecca (Lambert) Hopkins.

Education

Hopkins graduated from Emory College in 1859, and in 1861 received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia.

Career

Hopkins joined the Georgia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in the fall of 1861 and served pastorates for eight years, preaching to both white and negro congregations. During a part of 1864 he was a member of a company of scouts in the Confederate service.

From 1869 to 1875 he was professor of natural science in Emory College, and for the next two years, professor of physics in Southern University, Greensboro, Alabama. Returning to Emory College, he served from 1877 to 1882 as professor of Latin, and from 1882 to 1885 as professor of English. In December 1884 he succeeded his classmate, Atticus G. Haygood, as president and became by virtue of his new position professor of mental and moral science. For his own recreation he had while at Emory a workshop in the rear of his home. Several students, he said, "pleaded to share the labors of that little shop and in order that they might do so I purchased a few sets of plain carpenter's tools, and set them to work. " Interest on the part of students and parents grew and in 1884 the college catalogue announced that a School of Tool Craft and Design would be opened in the fall.

In 1886 the name was changed to School of Technology. In October 1885 the Georgia legislature authorized the establishment of the Georgia School of Technology as a branch of the state university, and in April 1888 Hopkins was elected as its first president and professor of physics, resigning his position at Emory in July to assume the new office. A twenty-horsepower Corliss engine made in the Emory shops was used by the Atlanta Constitution in its job-printing department. The institution, established at Atlanta, was opened for students in the fall, and has become the largest school of collegiate grade for men in the state, though technological education was in its early days the object of distrust, opposition, and scoffing. The objections of manufacturers caused the sale of articles made in the shops to be discontinued. Withdrawing from educational work in 1896, Hopkins reëntered the ministry, serving pastorates in Atlanta, Georgia, St. Louis, Missouri, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Athens, Georgia, and Lagrange, Georgia. In 1908 he retired from active work.

Achievements

• Hopkins advocated technological education not only because of its practical applications but because "mechanical science has in itself an educative value in the development of the perceptive powers, the taste, the judgment, the reason. " As a minister and instructor who ranged over wide fields of learning he illustrated an old type of college professor; as a pioneer in technological education he was one of the builders of the new S.

Religion

Hopkins was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Personality

Hopkins was naturally skilful in handling tools and machines, and as a lad he was frequently called on by the neighbors to repair sewing machines and clocks. He had little relish for administrative duties but found pleasure in his study and workshop.

Connections

Hopkins was twice married: first, in 1861, to Emily Hight; and second, in 1874, to Mary Rogers Hinton. He was the father of nine children.

Spouse :

Mary Rogers (Hinton) Hopkins

Spouse :

Emily (Hight) Hopkins

Daughter :

Annie Harriett (Hopkins) Daves

Daughter :

Rebecca Hopkins

Daughter :

Ruth Hopkins

Father :

Thomas Hopkins

Sister :

Rebecca (Hopkins) Dunbar

Brother :

Thomas Newton Hopkins

mother :

Rebecca (Lamberth) Hopkins

Daughter:

Mary Hinton Hopkins

Son:

Jessie Hopkins

Son:

Hinton John Hopkins

Son :

Isaac Stiles Hopkins

Son :

Paul Hopkins

Son :

Thomas Hopkins