College of the Albemarle - Beacon Yearbook (Elizabeth City, NC)

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Monday, July 11, 1960, THE DAILY ADVANCE notified the public that a petition for a com- munity college had been filed and forwarded by the Pasquotank County School Board of Higher Education. In August, the former hospital build- ing was inspected officially by the State Board and found to be adequate to house a community college. Original Hospital Building From then until Wednesday, November 1960, wh e n the voters went to the polls, the com- munity collegewas constantly before the citi- r EL' zens. Speakers told of the fully accredited liber al arts and science programs that the W A college would offer. They explained the man- ! ner of selection of the tw e lve trustees for Km the college and the probable tuition of from Biology Laboratory, 1962 S200 to S250 a year. When they made clea.r that acounty property tax of fifteen cents on every S100would have to be voted, there was some opposition, primarily from a few owners of large properties. Heeding the sign Future Home of Community College erected near the old hospital building, citi- zens of Pasquotank County voted 4,119 for to 1,791 against supporting a community college. Head- lines announcing the land slid e approval equaled those naming the newly elected President of the United States. College of the Albemarle was chosen as the official name of the new college. Possibly the name seemed most apt bec aus e the new school was to serve not only Pasquotank County but also sur- rounding areas that were once included in the vast precinct of Albemarle. 9

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First in Communigf College Education Before the 1957 legislative move to give financial -45? ,.4 aid under the Community C olle ge Act Mr. Elton Aydlett suggested to his colleagues of the State Board of Higher Education that Pasquotank County was a possible site for acommunity college. They laughed because it seemed so far from the beaten track. Once the actwas passed, however, Mr. George Attix and Mr. Charles G or don began considering in all seriousness the possibilities of such a college in Elizabeth City. Then in November of 1959, with a call from Mr. Roy Simons to Mr. Gordon, Pasquo- tank County was off to another first in education. PORTSMOUTH Frederick -10 Miles MURFREESBORO Chowan so Miles ROCKY MOUNT Wesleyan ll5 Miles WILSON Atlantic Christian 120 Miles GREENVILLE I- East Carolina 110 Miles WILMINGTON Wilmington College 210 Miles NORFOLK Old Dominion 50 Miles ELIZABETH CITY College of the Albmarle 8 These four men discussed from every angle the problems and prospects of a community college and decided that Elizabeth City would be an ideal location, particularly since it was miles from any oth er college. At that point the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce with Mr. Paul Brad- shaw as president took the promotion of a college as its major project for 1960, and success seemed possible. By radio, by newspaper advertisements, and by s p e e c h e s to organizations, the official com- mittee fCha.rles Gordon, chairmanj acquainted citizens of Pasquotank County with the advant- ages of having a local college. On February 12, 1960, the committee called a public meeting for persons interested in an area college. Three days later the Pasquotank County Commissioners voted their support.

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In December, 1960, the first Board of Trustees for the College of the Albemarle was named. They elected Dr. C. Robert Benson, Jr., the first President of the College. At the National Guard Armory on November 10, 1961, with Governor Terry Sanford and the Honorable Herbert C. Bonner present, Dr., Benson was inaugurated. A luncheon in the Whitehurst Library followed for the With eight faculty members and 176 students, first classes began Septem- ber 21, 19615 and June 1, 1962, College of the Albemarle graduated college officials and visiting dignitaries. X-Al. i K, ,,,,,. .g -- 1 p Friday, May 31, 1963. In addition to the tax levy voted by the citizens of Pasquotank County, generous contri- b ut i o n s by individuals and groups if its first s opho m or e , Mrs. Mary QA..- N have made possible the success of Fr an c e s J o n e s Bennett. In this h E' the first two years of College of The second y e ar , ten faculty members have taught 230 students in the com- bin e d d a y and evening programs. The first full class will be graduated .17 Alb e m ar le . They have provided e ight y - o n e scholarships totaling 315,000 and books and funds for a fine small library. A 516,000 do nation by Mr. Walter H. Davis primarily has made possible the rapid growth of the Whitehurst Library, so named in honor of Mrs. W. H. Whitehurst, a grade school teacher of Mr. Davis. Other donations of b ook s from the private libraries of individuals and organizations have swelled the present collection to 6,519 volumes. Such donors as Dr. C. Robert Benson Jr Mr ! 'Q ' David Stick, Mr s . T . P. Brinn, and Mr. David Dear have been particularly gener- ous. Unde r the judicious and competent direction of Mis s Hortense Boomer, the November 1963 goal of 8,000 volumes will be reached. IO