Alabama State University Mobile - Bleater Yearbook (Mobile, AL)

Page 109 text:

The new Alabama State College from which the Mobile Branch was con- ceived and born may be said to have had one major function and two associa- ted functions. At that time the major function was that of preparing prospec- tive Negro teachers. One associated function was that of providing the alter- native opportunity for four-year undergraduate pre-professional training for those Negro students who do not contemplate entrance into the teaching pro- fession but rather look forward to professional training and to life careers in such fields as medicine, dentistry, law, theolog y, social work, library science and others. A second associated function is that of providing the most service- able lower college training for that appreciable number of Negro high school graduates who would do only one or two years in college, before going into some life ' s occupation. These preceding facts give more support to the philosophy which stands fully behind the establishment of the Branch school at Mobile. f NEW BUILDING IN PROGRESS

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Ji isiorical (bAeic i Institutions are present in our society, but they just do not accidentally happen. All primary institutions are born, grow, develop and later are destroy- ed because of an idea or ideas. These idea or ideas become crystallized and sanctioned by the serviced group, therefore, they become established. Another empirical observation which is put frequently in the forefront in making explan- ations about the establishment of institutions is the theory that they come into being because of a felt need on the part of those whom they are to serve. Both of the above observations could very well fit into the pattern for the es- tablishment of the permanent Mobile Branch in 1936. It was in September, 1936, that the Mobile Branch of the Alabama State Teachers College at Montgomery was bom as a full-time two-year institution. The program provided for prospective elementary teachers. There was a two- year general education program set up for those whose desire was the Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education. Persons in this particular curricu- lum were awarded the two-year general certificate. During this time, the college was housed in the Old University of Alabama Medical School at Saint Anthony and Lawrence Streets. In 1942, the school board found it necessary to claim its facilities for the expanding school population. Consequently, the Mobile Branch College was asked to vacate the wing which it occupied. Fortunately, a site was procured from the Voluntary Fire-fighters Society 11. There was no direct appropria- tion meted out for the Branch College by the State of Alabama, therefore, a loan of $2, 000 was made to the college by two very benevolent citizens, Mr. W. H. Madison and his wife, Mrs. Pearl Johnson Madison. Through this method the State College came into possession of its fint parcel of property in Mobile, Alabama.

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Member of Center ' s First Graduating Class Gives its History. Audience Listens Attentively