Montgomery Porter Sellers (1873-1942)

Montgomery Porter Sellers was born on August 26, 1873 to Francis Benjamin and Martha Porter Sellers. He grew up in Carlisle and graduated from Carlisle High School. Sellers entered the local Dickinson College in 1889. While a student at Dickinson, Sellers took courses in the modern language curriculum. He was a member of the Belles Lettres Literary Society and won that organization's Sophomore Prize, a gold medal awarded to a member outstanding in composition and declamation. In addition, Sellers was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He graduated with his class in 1893.

Upon graduation, Sellers began teaching in the Preparatory School. Following this, he served as an adjunct professor of history and German at the College until 1904, and then from 1904 to 1942 he was a professor of rhetoric and English. Also during this time, Sellers served as dean of the freshman class and finally as dean of the College from 1928 to 1933. Outside of the classroom, Sellers traveled extensively in Europe, studying in both England and Germany. He also pursued graduate work at the University of Chicago.

Known almost universally as "Baldy," Sellers served Dickinson College for over half a century. In 1937, he made a gift of $50,000 to endow the Martha Porter Sellers Chair in English in honor of his mother; he was its first occupant. Montgomery Porter Sellers died on December 4, 1942. His devotion to the College was commemorated at his funeral service as College president Fred Corson delivered the eulogy and undergraduate Phi Kappa Psi members acted as pallbearers.