Considering the Past: Topics in M.C. History

Dr. Richard Vann, the second president of Meredith College (1900-1915) wrote the lyrics to “Alma Mater” in 1902. His poem was not set to music until 1905, when an unnamed violin instructor composed a melody.  However, Dr. Vann was dissatisfied by that initial effort: “the music just wasn’t meant for that kind of song.” And so in 1907, Dr. Vann completed the “Alma Mater” – as it is still sung today - by setting his words to his music. Asked in 1933 why he had not written his history of Meredith College, he said that he had done so in the “Alma Mater,” recording “Meredith’s past, present and future – in distilled form.” When  Dr. Vann resigned the presidency to move on to other responsibilities, the Board of Trustees noted, “The beautiful college hymn…. will be a tender tie binding the name of Richard Tilman Vann to Meredith College through all the coming years.”