Samuel McCormick

Who was Samuel McCormick?

Samuel Black McCormick was the ninth Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh.

His administration is best known for changing the name of the university and moving and expanding it from Allegheny City to its current location in Oakland. McCormick's administration also established Pitt's dental, medical, business, and education schools.

McCormick was an alumnus of Washington and Jefferson College. He also was a lawyer, an ordained Presbyterian minister, and president of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1897 to 1904.

His administration of the university was noted for his leadership in resisting pressures to abandoned the school's commitment to liberal education in favor of more technical-based training and the move of the university to the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh where it began to build a classically-influenced campus designed by Henry Hornbostel. McCormick would also lead the university into a new level of national recognition, expansion, and growth, as well as begin institutional support of athletics.

At the University of Pittsburgh, one of the high rise residence halls located on 3990 Fifth Avenue in the Schenley Quadrangle is called "McCormick Hall", named after Samuel McCormick. This residence hall houses upperclassmen in suites.