Produced by Julia Neufeld, Roberta Staehlin, David Garcia and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) [Illustration: CHARLES LEWIS COCKE] CHARLES LEWIS COCKE FOUNDER OF HOLLINS COLLEGE BY W. R. L. SMITH, D.D. BOSTON RICHARD G. BADGER THE GORHAM PRESS COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY RICHARD G. BADGER All Rights Reserved Made in the United States of America The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. FOREWORD It will be obvious that this biography has been written in a passion of admiration and loyal love. Conscious of the eminent worthiness of its subject, the writer has felt no temptation to exceed the just limits of praise, or to violate the demands of a true sincerity. The effort has been to hold the record to a faithful presentation of the facts in a long and distinguished career. The singular unity of his life-work, localized on one spot of earth, has made the gathering of materials an easy task. An intimate and affectionate friendship of twenty-three years, is one of the author's invaluable sources. Then, abundant information was found in the minutes of the trustee meetings, the yearly catalogues, the college magazines, the occasional reminiscent speeches to students and the annual commencement address. One makes bold to say that he fears not the verdict of the older Hollins girls on this memoir. If it shall awaken hallowed memories and unseal the fount of tears; if it shall tighten the clasp of their heartstrings to dear old Hollins, its purpose will have been largely accomplished. W. R. L. Smith. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE THE EARLY YEARS 21 CHAPTER II CALL OF THE SOUTHWEST 34 CHAPTER III HOLLINS INSTITUTE IN STRUGGLE AND GROWTH 49 CHAPTER IV THE CLEARING SKIES 63 CHAPTER V EXPANSION AND ACHIEVEMENT 75 CHAPTER VI THE PRESIDENT AND HIS GIRLS 91 CHAPTER VII COMMENCEMENTS AND ADDRESSES 105 CHAPTER VIII RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASMS AND ACTIVITIES 123 CHAPTER IX CHARACTERISTICS 132 CHAPTER X HIS COMRADES AND CO-WORKERS 142 CHAPTER XI HIS MONUMENT 159 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS CHARLES LEWIS COCKE _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE