A First Draft History: The Madison College Experiment in Christian Education

This book presents a fresh and thorough account of the Madison experiment, told by those most closely involved in its development. The original typewritten manuscript, written in 1912, was found in the archives of the Layman Foundation headquarters in Collegedale, Tennessee. This is a faithful transcription of that previously unpublished document.

Percy T. Magan immigrated from Ireland to the United States at the age of 16 and found the Adventist message in Nebraska. He immediately started working for the conference and soon completed his education at Battle Creek College, there forming a lifelong friendship with his roommate, Edward A. Sutherland. He started out as a history professor at his alma mater, then served as dean while Sutherland was president. They moved the school to Berrien Springs, Michigan, in 1901 and cofounded Madison College in 1904. He went to medical school in 1910 and after finishing his degree, was called to Loma Linda to develop the Los Angeles campus of the College of Medical Evangelists. He served as dean and president of that school until failing health forced him to retire. He died in Los Angeles in 1947. Born in New York, Bessie DeGraw started her distinguished teaching career under Professor Edward A. Sutherland while he served as president of Walla Walla College in Washington State. Her early interest in educational reform led her to spend her career working closely with Sutherland at Battle Creek College, and then later at Emmanuel Missionary College in Berrien Springs, Michigan before helping to found Madison College in 1904. She remained involved with the college until her death in 1965.