Classes in the liberal arts have been taught at Penn State since the beginning of the Farmer's High School in 1855; students were offered courses in philosophy, rhetoric, and English grammar and composition, and soon after in languages, political science, literature, and history. The School of Language and Literature was established in 1895 under Benjamin Gill; the same year, the School of History, Political Science, and Philosophy was created, with George W. Atherton as its first head. In 1907, the School of History, Political Science, and Philosophy became the School of History, Mathematics, and Philosophy; in 1909, the two were combined to form the School of the Liberal Arts. The first Dean of the new School was Edwin Erle Sparks, former Head of the School of History, Mathematics, and Philosophy; he held the position of acting Dean while he began his term as President of the College, from 1908 to 1910. In 1953, when the Pennsylvania State College became the Pennsylvania State University, the School of the Liberal Arts became the College of the Liberal Arts.
From the description of Pennsylvania State University, College of the Liberal Arts records, 1909-2010. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 262548760
