E. Gardner Jacobs (1901- 1985), who succeeded his father Henry L. Jacobs as
president of Bryant College (now University), was born in Dayton, Ohio in
1901, and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. He was a graduate of Moses
Brown School and went to Bryant for his baccalaureate and master’s degree.

Passionate about the college, he served as its vice-president under his
father. During his tenure as second in command, he greatly expanded the
institution’s Providence campus on the East Side of the city. Purchasing
and remodeling two houses to use as dormitories in 1948, he then oversaw
the establishment of the Business Management Institute, which was put in
place to aid small business entrepreneurs.

After thirty years of service as vice president, he assumed the top post
when his father retired in 1961. The elder Jacobs died two years later.
During Dr. Jacobs’ term as president, his friend, Earl Tupper, of
Tupperware fame, donated 295 acres of land in Smithfield, Rhode Island,
where the university is now located. Jacobs then sold the East Side campus
to Brown University for $5 million to help fund the building of the new
college.

President Jacobs also oversaw Bryant’s national accreditation as a business
college. According to William T. O’Hara, who succeeded Jacobs as president,
“The college was his entire life,” which was evidenced by his service as
chancellor following his retirement from the top post in 1968.

In addition to his work with the college, Dr. Jacobs served as a trustee of
the Providence Preservation Society, and also sat on the boards of Butler
Hospital, Roger Williams General Hospital, and Blue Cross of Rhode Island.
For his tireless efforts on behalf of higher education and service, Dr. E.
Gardner Jacobs was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in
1973, twelve years before his death on October 27, 1985.

Debra A. Mulligan