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Early Learning - A Foundation of Pacific University
In 1846, a 66-year old widow named Tabitha Brown completed an arduous journey to Oregon, settling in Forest Grove. She soon became concerned about the welfare of the many orphan children in the area, and dedicated herself to making their lives easier.
Tabitha Brown shared her vision with Rev. Harvey Clark, who offered property and a meeting-house in which to establish an orphan school. With the help of her neighbors and friends, “Grandma Brown” set up the school and gathered the children. She provided the orphans with love, direction, and the creature comforts of life. From this small beginning, an educational institution began to grow.
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Tabatha Moffit Brown
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Through the efforts of Rev. Harvey Clark, Tabitha Brown, and Rev. George Atkinson, the Tualatin Academy was created. Its purpose was to educate children in the local area, carrying forward the work of the "Orphan Asylum" started by Rev. Clark and Tabitha Brown. It received a charter from the territorial government of Oregon on September 26, 1849 - the first such charter granted.
Since the academy was devoted to educating younger children, a collegiate department was proposed after a few years of operation. On January 10, 1854, the original charter was changed to create Tualatin Academy and Pacific University. Tualatin Academy operated as a sister institution to Pacific University until 1915, when the final class graduated.
In 1995 the Pacific University School of Education launched a new initiative to authorize early childhood educators. As part of this effort the Early Childhood program director, Mark Bailey, began his quest to establish a school for young children that would connect with the university's roots and bring the education of young learners back on to the campus. After a generous grant from the Gates Foundation and Jim and Mary Berglund, the school was built in 2008 into the lower level of the new Berglund Hall. The school was named the Early Learning Community in recognition of its role as the entry level learning community on the University campus, and the College of Education's mission of transforming education through communities of learners, with a focus on promoting cultural competence, creating student-centered classrooms, and enhancing learning through technology
The Early Learning Community rekindles the spirit of the founding of Pacific University, once again guiding children toward lifelong learning and growth, cultivating and accompanying their wondrous exploration of the world.
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