Fayetteville State University - Fayettevillian Bronco Yearbook (Fayetteville, NC)

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HISTORICAL STATEMENT Fayetteville State Teachers College is the oldest institution of its kind in the state, but for its origin we must go back to the year of 1867. At this time seven local Negroes purchased a lot, at the cost of $140, on Gillespie Street and con- stituted themselves a self-perpetuating board of trustees to maintain this property permanently as a site for the education of the colored children of Fayetteville. On this lot a building was erected by General O. O. Howard of the Freedman ' s Bureau, and the institution thus established became known as the Howard School. In- cidentally this institution marked the beginning of public education tor both white and colored children in North Carolina. Robert Harris was the school ' s first principal and under his leadership the Howard School attracted state-wide attention. The superintendent of public instruction in his annual report for 1869 refers to the Howard School as the best in the state for colored children. ' In the meantime the North Carolina Legislature had instituted provisions for the training of both white and Negro teachers. A summer normal school was begun for whites at the University of North Carolina, and the Howard School was chosen as the normal school for Negroes, being officially designated as such and renamed the State Colored Normal School by a Legislative Act of 1877. Robert Harris was retained as principal and his staff consisted of two assistants. The normal school classes were conducted in the three second story rooms of the building with the lower floor reserved for the primary grades. Three years after the establishment of the Norma! School Mr. Harris died, and Charles W. Chesnut, a well known writer of fiction, and in whose honor our library is named, was chosen to succeed him. Three years later (1883) Mr. Chestnut resigned to devote his time to his books and to practice law. Ezekiel Ezra Smith, who though still a young man of 31 years, had been for five years the principal of a school in Goldsboro. was chosen to succeed Mr. Chestnut as head of the State Normal School at Fayetteville. Thus began Mr. Smith ' s con- nection with the institution which lasted for a period of nearly fifty years. Under the long administration of Dr. Smith the State Normal School made steady progress. Dr. Smith saw very early that the growth and expansion of this institution was inevitable. He knew also that the institution could not grow as it should unless it were located on a site that would allow easy expansion. For several years he worked to secure a suitable location. After twenty-five years in the Gillespie Street Building the school was moved to Ashley Heights, a mile west of its first home, and after four .years there returned to the city and was located in a rented hall on Worth Street. With money available from the Legislature for a building, but no site on which to build, there was some talk of removing the Normal School to another cit.v. It was at this time when the present site of the school was purchased. This site, located on the Murchison Road and comprising fifty acres of land, was purchased largely through the personal generosity of Dr. Smith with the assistance of T. W. Thurston, prominent Negro superintendent of a local silk mill. Aycock Hall, completed in 1908, was tlie first building to be erected on the new site. Two years later Vance Hall was erected. The physical plant of the institu- tion has steadily expanded until now it consists of fourteen brick buildings and several cottages and other frame structures. Dr. Smith resigned the presidency in July 1933, became President Emeritus, and was succeeded by James W. Seabrook. Under the administration of President Seabrook the institution has continued to progress. On March 23, 1939, the State Legislature voted to change the name of the State Normal School to the Fayette- ville State Teachers College and thereby officially raising the status of the in- stitution to a full four year teachers college.

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FOREWORD The Bronco marks the beginning of a new era in the history of Fayette- ville State Teachers College. The class of ' 47 is the first Four- Year College Class to undertake the publication of an Annual. The members of this class sincerely hope that through this edition the ideals received at F.S.T.C. will be perpetuated and hence serve as a stimulus and guide in future years. The staff is particularly grateful to the Administration, Faculty, and Student Body for their interest and cooperation in helping make this publication possible. The class is naming this yearbook The Bronco in honor of our highly esteemed basketball and football teams, known as the F.S.T.C. Broncos and Broncorettes. Of course the members of the staff admit that they are poineers in the field of publication but trust that through these efforts others will be inspired to attain greater heights. As you turn these pages may you catch the spirit that we have tried to portray. The Editor.

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DEDICATIOX LEONARD H. ROBINSON In recognition of his inspiring per- sonality and his unceasing efforts in help- ing the class of ' 47 carry out their many assigned tasks during the past four years, and his advice which grea tly assisted us in the preparation of this publication, the staff greatfully dedicates the 1947 edition of The Bronco to Professor Leonard H. Robinson.