A Jewell on The Hill
Since 1849, William Jewell College has been committed to its founding vision as an institution that develops leaders who shape a changing world.
History of William Jewell College
William Jewell College has traversed the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression, a tornado and more. Through each challenge, we have emerged stronger, and our future is brighter than ever.
The early years
William Jewell is a private college in Liberty, Mo., with a long history of cultivating thought leaders and innovators who have pursued meaningful lives throughout the world. Founded as a Baptist college, we are proud of our rich history and heritage, and today are an independent, four-year college.
As settlers migrated West in the 1830s, a group of Baptists who lived along the Missouri River envisioned a college at the edge of the American wilderness in Liberty. Many towns in Missouri wanted the college, but Clay County Baptists, joined by Mexican War hero Colonel Alexander Doniphan and Dr. William Jewell, a physician, legislator and Baptist layman who donated land for a college, persevered with grassroots fundraising. A thorough examination of connections between the College, its founders and the institution of slavery has been underway since 2020. The College is a member of the Consortium of Universities Studying Slavery and has published information on research, reconciliation and commemoration at jewell.edu/racial-reconciliation.
The General Association (forerunner of the Missouri Baptist Convention) approved a proposal, and the Missouri Legislature granted a charter to found a college in 1849. Named for its key founder, William Jewell College's relationship with the Baptist Convention continued through 2003.
Challenging times in Missouri’s frontier days forced a number of colleges to close, but strong leadership enabled Jewell to forge ahead, honoring the founders who believed in the power of education to change the world. As students entered the Civil War, classes were suspended and Federal troops occupied campus, using Jewell Hall as a lookout point, an infirmary and a stable.
When Jewell reopened, enrollment began to steadily climb. World War I and the burning of a nearby women’s college brought female students to Jewell, where they were admitted on the same terms as men beginning in 1920. The GI Bill created another influx of students post-World War II. In the decades that followed, Jewell strengthened its academic profile, adding numerous new programs. In 1982, the College invested in study abroad programs and developed partnerships with Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England to create the Oxbridge Honors Program. Jewell emerged as a national liberal arts college, garnering attention for rigorous curriculum and outstanding student outcomes.
The 21st century
Today, Jewell sits at the edge of both urban and rural landscapes. In one direction lie rolling hills and Midwestern countryside, reminiscent of the College’s rustic beginnings. From another vantage, the Kansas City skyline graces the horizon. Our prime location in a thriving metropolis means rich cultural offerings for you, while Jewell’s partnerships with Kansas City corporations, entrepreneurs and alumni yield internships, mentors, research programs, dynamic lecturers and career possibilities.
Jewell has been called “the campus of achievement” in recognition of students’ prestigious scholarships and fellowships, placement in the country’s finest graduate schools and contributions to their professions and communities beyond The Hill. Recognition is an outcome of Jewell’s investment in students, inspiring them to become lifelong learners, teaching them to think critically, challenging them to ask tough questions, encouraging them to pursue spiritual development, engaging them in the world and preparing them for lives of leading and serving.