5 Historic Facts About The Arts at Dean College

Have you ever wondered about the history that lies on the Dean College campus? In the coming weeks, we will be sharing interesting facts about the history that set the foundation for Dean College today. 

With first-rate performance venues, modern equipment and top-of-the-line facilities, the School of the Arts at Dean College prepares students for an exciting career. Dating back to as early as 1871, the arts have had a strong presence on campus. Read on for 5 historical facts about the arts at Dean College.

1. An Oscar Award winner attended Dean College. William Broderick Crawford, an American stage, film, radio, and television actor, attended Dean College. Crawford won an Oscar in 1949 for his portrayal of Willie Stark in All the King’s Men. He was also known for his starring role as Dan Mathews in the television series Highway Patrol.
2. Dean College won a Telly Award. In 1994, Dean College won a Telly Award for a video produced by the College. Stop by the Office of Admissions lobby to check out the award! 
3. The Performing Arts Studio used to be a church. Before Dean acquired the Performing Arts Studio in 1956, it was an Episcopal Church. The space is now used for classes and performances. Fun Fact: piano lessons at Dean date back to 1871!
4. Dean College had multiple theatres on campus. The Ray Building, which now houses classrooms, used to house a theatre! 
5. A first-year student residence hall was named after an instructor. Bourret Hall was named after Mina Harrison Bourret, who served as a theatre instructor and Dean of Women at Dean Academy from 1920-1936. 

Check back next week for more historical facts and in the meantime learn more about the history and mission of Dean College. 

Historic facts provided by Alex Feuz ˈ22 with guidance from Dean College Professor of History, Dr. Rob Lawson. 

About Alex: Alex is a sophomore Sports Broadcasting major with a passion for the history of Dean College. He is looking forward to sharing stories of Dean that will last a lifetime.