Birthplace William Rainey Harper
Recently we were driving through southern Ohio, when we decided to get off of the interstate, and do a bit of exploring. In New Concord, on Main Street, I saw this rather rustic looking building, and decided we should park and take a look. As we were getting out of our car, a man stopped us, and asked if were planning to go to Mr. Harper’s house, I did not know who Mr. Harper was, but assumed he must have lived in the building we had seen, thus I said yes. The man answered that it was closed, but he would be happy to open it for us, and give us a private tour – sheer delight!
My sheer delight, at being offered a private tour, soon turned into so much more; the small cabin was actually the birthplace of not one, but two highly accomplished brothers: William Rainey Harper, founded the University of Chicago, while Robert Francis Harper translated The Code of Hammurabi.
“This log house, constructed by blacksmith Joseph McKinney, was the birthplace of William Rainey Harper. The son of Scotch-Irish settlers, Harper graduated from Muskingum College at the age of 14, giving his valedictory address in Hebrew. A gifted scholar, Harper earned a Ph.D. in Semitic languages from Yale University at the age of 19. He was a nationally-known Biblical scholar, lecturer and author. Harper’s vision of higher education led him to found the University of Chicago, a European-style university committed to freedom of intellectual inquiry. His views were shared by John D. Rockefeller who financed the institution. Harper served as president of the University of Chicago from 1891 until his death in 1906.”
“Robert Francis “Frank” Harper, who was born in this cabin, joined his brother William Rainey in studying ancient languages. He became one of the world experts on the ancient people of Assyria. Harper directed the expedition to Babylonia for the Oriental Exploration Fund; edited the American Journal of Semitic Languages; directed the American School for Oriental Study and Research in Palestine and was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, London. He was the translator from cuneiform of the landmark work The Code of Hammurabi.”
I have to say, I left the cabin, thinking a great deal about what kinds of parents would have produced such sons.
