Arthur M. Taylor

(1897 - 1981) Arthur M. Taylor (no relation to G. F. Taylor), the second president of Franklin Springs Institute, served during the 1926-27 school year. He was born in Darlington, South Carolina, and continued his education until he had completed his bachelor's degree at Wofford College. He was one of the few college graduates in the church at that time and the first to join the faculty of Franklin Springs Institute.

Joining the faculty in 1923 at the age of 25, A. M. Taylor was a valuable addition. He taught a number of college level courses to the ministerial students and also helped with advanced high school classes. He was at the time heavily in debt for his own education in addition to the expense of maintaining his family. At least once, in July of 1925, he almost resigned from the faculty because of inadequate salary. He wife also served on the faculty.

Taking the reins of the presidency following the long term of G. F. Taylor was not an easy task for anyone. G. F. Taylor had poured thousands of dollars of his own money into the operation of the school, which for a number of years had been operating under the "free school" plan of no tuition charges. Enrollment had grown tremendously during this time to a high of 250 students in the fall of 1925. However, with no financial support forthcoming from the sale of G. F. Taylor's Sunday School literature and a remaining $11,000 indebtedness on the new academic building, A. M. Taylor was forced once again to charge board and tuition for the year 1926-27.

Each student was charged $16.00 a month for tuition and expenses, and as a result of the change of policy, enrollment in 1926-27 dropped to 100 students with only 16 in the dormitories. In spite of the drop in enrollment, A. M. Taylor tried to remain optimistic about the future, but future events seemed to militate against the new administrator.

On October 23,1926 the upper hotel, then used as a boys' dormitory, caught fire and burned to the ground. The $10,000 loss was not covered with insurance, and the fire seemed to be a foreshadowing of further trials. By 1926 the South, as well as the entire nation, had begun to feel the effects of economic disaster that in a few years would shut down the school altogether. Several students were forced to drop out of school before the year ended because of lack of funds.

With the heavy burden of these responsibilities on his shoulders, the quiet, serious, intellectual 29-year old president faithfully and efficiently completed the year but regretfully resigned.