The Western Reserve Eclectic Institute was opened at Hiram, Ohio, in the fall of 1850. The Disciples founded the institution to educate students in moral science based on the facts and precepts of the holy scriptures. James A. Garfield was an early student of the Eclectic and went on to become the country's twentieth president. From the outset, the school was co-educational and drew on a largely rural population in the hopes of adding literary character and a bit of polish to its graduates.

This work traces the history of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, Hiram College, in a thematic manner. Using primary sources, the story of Hiram College is not told but becomes a self-portrait. The men and women who contributed to the College's story are the narrators. Newspapers and other publications of the eras add depth and context.

Questions about funding, curriculum offerings, the value of sports, and even the definition of liberal arts have been asked throughout the College's existence. The unique answers show the importance of the liberal arts entity in American history. As James A. Garfield put it, "Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education without which neither justice nor freedom can be permanently maintained."

The book is a must read for Hiram College graduates and those associated with the institution.