Even though Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has a history covering only five decades, the campus has a heritage spanning more than 150 years. In 1832, the Baptists of North Carolina purchased the 615-acre plantation of Dr. Calvin Jones for the purpose of establishing a teaching facility for young ministers.
The institution they established became Wake Forest College; and in 1950, more than a century later, the campus was purchased by the Southern Baptist Convention as the home of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Southeastern's campus is noted for its splendid natural beauty as well as its graceful classic Georgian architecture. The grounds are rich with magnolias, elms, pines, oaks, cedars, firs, maples and other varieties of trees. There is also an abundance of azaleas, camellias, sasanquas, dogwoods and flowering fruit trees.
As a result, the campus offers resplendent views all year around, but especially in fall and spring. Many of the trees were growing on the land even before the plantation and are centuries old. Several massive white oaks, part of a magnificent grove near the plantation house, still stand on the Southeastern campus. In fact, this grove was called Wake Forest and gave the town its name.
Another historic landmark, the stone wall now surrounding the central campus, was begun about 1885 by Wake Forest College president Charles E. Taylor and Dr. Tom Jeffries. The wall was rebuilt by Doug Buttram, a Southeastern graduate, during 1990-1994.
Over the years, Southeastern has complemented the natural setting with dogwoods, hollies and an array of flowers. The original Wake Forest College buildings have been renovated, and new ones have been added. Yet, with each change, the goal has been to maintain the character of the original campus and land. Today, Southeastern's campus comprises a full range of excellent facilities for living and learning.
The idea of a Prayer Garden was begun by students in the Class of 1983 with a graduation gift of $546 and has been expanded as funds have become available. In 1991, an anonymous donor gave a gift of the gazebo which is placed in the center of the garden as a formal place of quiet prayer. The Prayer Garden's landscaping design is based on the classical gardens of peace and solitude found throughout the Orient. The Prayer Garden and gazebo are located at the southwest corner of the campus between Lolley Hall, the Shaw House and Stephens-Mackie Hall. [top]
Stealey Hall was built by Wake Forest College in 1934. It replaced the Old College Building, later named Wait Hall, which had been destroyed by fire in 1933. In 1956 it was completely renovated for offices of the administration and faculty. It was renamed in 1961 in honor of the seminary´s first president, Dr. S. L. Stealey. [top]
Appleby Hall was begun by Wake Forest College in 1942 and completed during World War II. From 1951 to 1956 this building housed the new seminary. It was remodeled and, in 1962, renamed in honor of Mr. Scott B. Appleby in recognition of his generous support of the student aid fund. It contains a small chapel, classrooms, offices and a newly furnished lecture room, named in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Percy A. Bethea. Appleby Hall provides the offices and classrooms of Southeastern College. [top]
Adams Hall, erected in 1933, first housed the Wake Forest Medical School (later the Bowman Gray School of Medicine). Renovated in 1956, it has served as a classroom building for the seminary. In 1984 it underwent a complete modernization, with additional stairwells, an elevator, air conditioning and other modern conveniences. In the fall of 1984 it was dedicated to the memory of the late Theodore F. Adams. [top]
Binkley Chapel commands the center of the campus. Its tall spire is visible for several miles along every approach to Wake Forest. Work was begun on the chapel in 1942, but World War II prevented the completion of the interior. When the college moved to Winston-Salem in 1956, the work was resumed and completed in 1958. In 1959, a three-manual Reuter organ was given and installed as a memorial to Walter M. Williams of Burlington, N.C. In 1969, the Board of Trustees named the chapel in honor of the seminary's second president, Dr. Olin T. Binkley. The ground floor of the chapel was redesigned and furnished in 1982 as five modern classrooms and church music facilities, including organ and piano practice areas. In 1987, the chapel organ was renovated and enlarged to 70 ranks by the Schantz Organ Company from Orrville, Ohio. In 1998, the chapel platform was remodeled to make it more open and versatile. [top]
The Library Building was constructed by the seminary in 1958 to replace the old Heck-Williams Building (1878) which was razed in 1957.
The seminary library is dynamically involved with faculty and students in the achievement of educational objectives. It provides resources and services to support the research and study of the faculty and to meet the needs of students for the free and independent study which is stimulated by classes, chapel and other components of student life situations. Provided also is a broad range of materials for the general educational, cultural and recreational interests of students, faculty and their families.
A major building project, completed in 1977, has transformed the library into a modern facility, enlarged by 50 percent and redesigned functionally. Individual study carrels and materials on open shelves are dispersed throughout the carpeted, air-conditioned building. Audiovisual facilities, microform readers and printers, a computer lab, typing rooms, group-study rooms and copiers are also provided.
The library's collection has grown to more than 300,000 items including books, periodical volumes, music scores, music recordings and audiovisual materials, microforms, computer software and Baptist documents. Currently received periodicals total over 1,100 titles. The microforms, containing approximately 95,000 volumes of books, periodicals and dissertations, make this young library's collection strong in early American and early British materials, including important Baptist history resources. The collection is adequate to serve all of the seminary's programs of study. [top]
Broyhill Hall is the oldest building on Southeastern's campus and is listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings. Built in 1888 as Lea Laboratory, it served Wake Forest College as a science building and then as the chemistry building. After the college moved, it was converted into a student center for the seminary. In 1980 it was extensively renovated and renamed Broyhill Hall in appreciation of the generous gifts of J. E. and Paul Broyhill, trustees from Lenoir, N.C. It now houses various faculty offices. [top]
Stephens-Mackie Hall was originally named in honor of Dr. and Mrs. George E. Mackie of Wake Forest. The building was renamed Stephens-Mackie Hall in October 1999 in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald K. Stephens of Morganton, N.C. As charter members of the seminary's Board of Visitors, the Stephens donated generously of their time and resources to further the work of God through Southeastern Seminary. Formerly, this facility served as the seminary's student center. Stephens-Mackie Hall has been redesigned and renovated as a professorial office complex. [top]
The Jacumin-Simpson Missions Center was dedicated in October 2001, almost two thousand years after Christ issued The Great Commission. This building houses the Lewis A. Drummond Center for Great Commission Studies, a 111-seat auditorium equipped with world-wide conferencing technology and 14 faculty offices. The center serves as the headquarters for Southeastern´s mission effort. The light that shines forth from the cupola at night is a symbol of the light of the Gospel penetrating the darkness of the world. The building is named in honor of Jim and Nancy Nell Jacumin of Icard, N.C., for their generous support of the project and the seminary. It is also named in honor of the Jacumin's parents, Emile and Mamie Jacumin, and Roy and Muriel Simpson. The Jacumins' commitment to reach the world with the Gospel has been influenced through the years by their parents' love and support for missions. [top]
The Prince Facilities Management Building is located on Stadium Drive. It houses administrative offices and the air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, paint, grounds and environmental services shops, as well as the housing office. Campus security is also housed in this building. [top]
The Ledford Center/Cannon Gymnasium is an expansion of Gore Gymnasium which was first dedicated by Wake Forest College in 1938. Renovations and additions to the original building in 1986 provide a comprehensive activities facility containing more than 50,000 square feet. The three-floor complex includes a multi-use gymnasium, fully-equipped fitness facility, racquetball courts and locker/dressing rooms for women and men. In addition, there is a study room, a computer lab, a post office, a game area, The Court restaurant, The Locker campus store, LifeWay Christian Bookstore and the student life offices. The center is named in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert F. Ledford of Raleigh, N.C. The gymnasium area has been named for the late Charles Cannon and the Cannon Trusts. [top]
The Health Center was constructed by the seminary in 1968 and contains offices for medical treatment.
Magnolia Hill is the home of the school's president. Built in 1928 as the residence of the president of Wake Forest College, the house is located off the southwest corner of the campus. It was renovated and refurnished in 1975. An addition to the home was dedicated in April 2001 and features a new library and living space. The house is the heart of Southeastern hospitality. [top]
Purchased in 1960 and renovated in 1994, the Manor House, near the main campus, provides pleasant accommodations for prospective students and other guests. [top]
The Athletic Field is located near the campus and is utilized for recreational activities such as softball, baseball, flag football and soccer. [top]
Contact Us
