A pioneering coeducational college in rural Tennessee that operated 1848–1939 under Churches of Christ auspices.
Burritt College was established in 1848 by charter of the Tennessee General Assembly and named after activist Elihu Burritt. Operating under the auspices of the Churches of Christ, it was one of the first coeducational institutions in the South, introducing coeducation in 1850 under President William Davis Carnes. The college emphasized a strict moral and religious code, barring swearing, gambling, smoking, and drinking. Despite thriving during the late 19th and early 20th centuries under strong leadership, it struggled after the establishment of state colleges and public high schools, ultimately closing in 1939.
Throughout the 19th century, Burritt offered a classical education centered on sciences, philosophy, classical languages, and English mastery. The curriculum included Latin, Greek, mathematics, chemistry, geology, and moral philosophy. Students completed two 21-week terms annually and earned Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts degrees. By the 1920s, the curriculum shifted toward practical trades including teacher training, bookkeeping, typing, and agriculture. The college also maintained two literary societies—the Philomathesian (founded 1851) and Calliopean (founded 1878)—which hosted weekly debates and maintained thousand-volume libraries.
Located atop the western Cumberland Plateau in rural Spencer, Tennessee, the campus expanded from 10 acres after the Civil War to 25 acres by the 1880s. Facilities included dormitories for men and women, a chapel, administration building, and later a gymnasium and Billingsley Hall. Daily life was highly structured, beginning at 5 A.M. with room inspections, devotionals, and mandatory calisthenics. By the 1920s, the college competed regionally in baseball, basketball, football, and tennis, including women's teams in basketball and tennis. Students enjoyed hiking to nearby Fall Creek Falls and Lover's Leap cliff.
Burritt faced significant challenges in the early 20th century. The main building burned in 1906 but was rebuilt by 1907. After President Billingsley's departure in 1911, enrollment declined due to competition from Middle Tennessee State Normal School and Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. By the 1930s, the college depended heavily on Van Buren County school board funding. When the county built a public high school in 1936, Burritt could no longer compete for students and closed in 1939.