1798 –Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America established

1807 –Seminary constitution adopted

1810 –Seminary courses commence in Philadelphia, Pa.; Samuel B. Wylie (1773–1852), first professor

1811–James Milligan (1785–1862), first graduate

1817–Professor Wylie resigns: seminary suspended; classes continued by Professor Wylie

1823 –Samuel B. Wylie reappointed professor, served 1836-51; seminary reestablished in Philadelphia

1827– Professor Wylie resigns, Seminary suspended

1836 –James R. Willson (1780–1853) appointed professor; seminary reestablished in Coldenham, N.Y. (Hudson River Valley)

1838–Synod establishes a second seminary in Allegheny (now North Side of Pittsburgh, Pa.), Thomas Sproull (1803–1892), professor

1840 –Two seminaries merged at Allegheny, Pa., exact location unknown: Willson and Sproull both professors

1845 –Sproull and Board of Inspection resign; seminary moves to Cincinnati, Ohio, meets in temporary location; Willson sole professor

1847–Seminary meets in the new building of the Cincinnati RPC

1849 –Seminary moves to Northwood, Logan County, Ohio; meets in facilities of Geneva Hall (now Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa.)

1851–Seminary suspended after most students boycott classes; John B. Johnston, John C. K. Milligan, James R.W. Sloan serve as instructors in theological dept. of Geneva Hall.

1856–Seminary reestablished in Allegheny, Pa.; James Chrystie (1786–1863) and Thomas Sproull chosen professors

1858–James McLeod Willson (1809–1866), son of James R. Willson, succeeds Chrystie

1866–James Renwick Willson Sloane (1823–1886) succeeds Willson

1872–Charles Hodge’s Systematic Theology replaces Francis Turretin’s Institutio Theologiae Elencticae as the standard text

1873–Seminary purchases first building in Allegheny, Pa.

1875 –David Burt Willson (1842–1919), son of James McLeod Willson, succeeds Sproull

1883 –Library contains 3,100 volumes

1887 –John K. McClurkin (1853–1923) succeeds Sloane

1891– Robert James George (1844–1911) succeeds McClurkin

1896–Academic program reduced from four years to three years

1908–Richard Cameron Wylie (1846–1928) added as third professor

1910–Seminary celebrates its centennial

1911–Robert James George McKnight (1878–1966) succeeds Professor George. Dr. George’s three-volume pastoral theology work The Covenanter Pastor, Pastor and People, The Covenant Vision, begins publication.

1922–Seminary building sold Seminary moves to East End RPC, East Liberty (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

1923–Professor McClurkin dies but is not replaced

1924–Seminary moves to the Horne Mansion in Point Breeze, on the East End of Pittsburgh, Pa.

1927–First diplomas are distributed to graduates

1928–Professor Wylie dies and is replaced by four part-time professors

1933–Salaries are reduced in the depths of the Great Depression

1940–Professor McKnight recognized as president of the seminary

1953–S. Bruce Willson (1910–1999) and James Burt Willson (1891–1976), son of David Burt Willson, elected professors, Dr. S. Bruce Willson president

1954–Library contains 5,300 volumes

1958–New curriculum estalished

1959–Seminary receives a charter from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

1960–Seminary celebrates its 150th anniversary; seminary building remodeled in honor of the 150th anniversary; chapel and classroom area built at the front of the building

1962–E. Clark Copeland (b. 1915) elected professor of Old and New Testaments

1970–Wayne R. Spear (b. 1935) elected professor of systematic theology and homiletics; library contains 13,000 volumes; seminary switches from semester to quarter system; first professional librarian appointed, Miss Joanne Luther (Mrs. Bruce Martin)

1971–Two-story library wing erected; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania gives approval to grant the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree

1973–Bruce C. Stewart (b. 1924) elected professor of pastoral theology

1976–Bruce C. Stewart elected president of the seminary

1978 –J. Renwick Wright (1918–2009) elected professor of New Testament studies; Rachel George becomes librarian; seminary library begins computerizing the catalog through OCLC

1979–Seminary begins offering courses for Coalition for Christian Outreach

1981–Willson family donates books and archival materials from the five Willson professors

1983–Seminary contacts the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Middle States Association for Schools and Colleges concerning accreditation (nothing comes of the latter)

1984–Seminary library contains 25,000 volumes

1985–Rare books room opens on the second floor of the seminary building; seminary celebrates its 175th anniversary; Dr. Robert M. Copeland writes the history of the seminary, Spare No Exertions; Dr. William Russell, retired dean of Geneva College, elected professor of church history

1986–President’s Council established to provide non-Reformed Presbyterians with the opportunity to counsel the administration about the seminary

1989–G. Duncan Lowe (b. 1935) succeeds Dr. Copeland as professor of Old Testament studies

1993–Dr. Edward Robson (b. 1935) succeeds Dr. Wright as professor of New Testament studies; James C. Pennington appointed part-time professor

1994–Seminary accredited for three years by the ATS

1995–Jerry F. O’Neill (b. 1947) succeeds Dr. Stewart as president and professor of pastoral theology

1996–Thomas G. Reid Jr. succeeds Rachel George as librarian; Dr. William Russell retires

1997–Seminary re-accredited by ATS for 10 years, the maximum permitted

1998–Seminary begins offering the Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) degree

1999–Seminary begins to house the Reformed Presbyterian archives

2000–Seminary building renovated and air-conditioned; seminary library installs an online catalog system

2001–Dennis J. Prutow (b. 1939) elected professor of pastoral theology and homiletics, in succession to Dr. Lowe

2003–Seminary library’s online catalog finally complete, after 25 years of work

2005–Dr. Richard Gamble (b. 1955) succeeds Dr. Spear as professor of systematic theology; C. J. Williams (b. 1971) elected professor Old Testament, in succession to Dr. Robson

2007–Seminary re-accredited by ATS for another ten years

2008–Seminary purchases the Willson Center, located across Penn Avenue from the seminary building; seminary begins offering the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree; seminary library contains 71,000 volumes; commemorative volume published: To God Alone Be Glory, Celebrating 200 Years (edited by Dr. Norman Carson)

2009–Biblical Counseling Institute founded, directed by Dr. George Scipione (b. 1946); Dr. Gamble publishes the first of three volumes on The Whole Counsel of God

2010–Willson Center to open

—By Thomas Reid