A Methodist college in Illinois that operated from 1855 to 1927 before merging with Illinois Wesleyan University.
Hedding College was established in 1855 in Abingdon, Illinois, and named after Methodist Bishop Elizah Hedding. The institution operated for 72 years before closing in 1927, when the Methodist Church determined there were too many other schools in Illinois. The college's records were transferred to Illinois Wesleyan University, and the two institutions formally merged in 1930. The original campus building was later used by Roosevelt Military Academy before being demolished in 1947; distinctive pillars from the structure were preserved and incorporated into the Sesquicentennial Gateway at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Hedding College was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1910 to 1926, indicating active participation in collegiate athletics during its final decades. The college maintained a chapter of Sigma Iota Chi sorority, reflecting organized student life on campus.