Hillman College - Pioneer Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

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The Faculty 9

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TOE ]PI OTS[ 1013 In 1896, she was succeeded by Dr. Franklin L. Riley, a Ph. D. of Johns Hopkins University, and a scholar of unusual attainments and accuracy. He contributed much to the present high and ethical standing of the institution. In 1897, the Hillman College property was purchased from Mrs. Hillman by Rev. Geo. Wharton, who served as President until January, 1901, when the school became the property of Dr. John L. Johnson. Dr. Johnson, an alumnus of the University of Virginia, was for sixteen years Professor of English in the University of Mississippi. He brought to this crowning labor of his life, ripeness of scholarship and experience, a glorious heritage for an insti- tution which, in 1903, entered upon the semi-centennial year of its existence. Associated with Dr. Johnson in the management of the college was his son, John L. Johnson, Jr., a brilliant alumnus of the University of Mississippi, with ten years experience in the educational field of Georgia. In 1905, Hillman College came under the management of Lowrev and Berry, of Blue Mountain College. Prof. Jno. L. Johnson remained with the College one year, succeeding his father as President. Dr. W. T. Lowrev became President in 1906, and under the untiring efforts of this inimitable school man, Hillman underwent thorough repairs. Steam heat took the place of stoves; brilliant electric lights the place of lamp and candle; hydrants of pure spring w’ater w’ere placed in convenient spots about the campus and buildings; a new’ dormitory w’ith all the modern improve- ments and a splendid dining hall, was added to the buildings; the campus was enlarged so that the girls might have tennis and basketball courts; an Industrial Home was added where many a noble girl w’ho wished to make her college expenses as light as possible, has been helped. In 1911, Dr. Lowrev became President of Blue Mountain, but retained the Presidency of Hillman. Since then he has been very ably assisted in his work here by Vice-President L. T. Lowrey, an M. A. from Mississippi College. A History of Hillman College w’ould be incomplete w’ithout some mention being made of the work done by the two literary societies, The Lesbian and Adelian. In 1856, the young ladies of the Institute organized the Lesbian Society. In 1902, the Adelian Society, named in honor of Mrs. Hillman, was organized. The purpose of these societies was the attainment of a more extensive acquaintance with literature. The friendly rivalry between the two has always been an incentive to literary work. The founders of Central Female Institute proposed in her establishment a permanent institution for the imparting of high literary culture to the female mind. We believe they have succeeded. For sixty years, even during the Civil War when she was in the very pathway of the contending armies, this institution has continued her daily work. It is believed that this can be said of no other school in the south. This fact so greatly pleased Gen. Grant, the commander of the federal armies which oc- cupied the town, that he gave it his full protection. When C. F. I. came into existence, she stood almost alone in her effort to furnish in the south west a cultivated and extended course of education for young ladies. Now we see our own and the neighboring states dotted thickly over with excellent institu- tions of learning. 1 o some of these the Institute — Hillman — has been the mother, for her pupils have established them, or directly influenced their establishment. To others she has been an example and a stimulus, while for six decades of uninterrupted activity, she has done so much in awakening and sustaining the interests and in elevat- ing the sentiments of the generations in educational matters. This has been her past. What does Hillman hope to be in the future? With her foundation laid thus broad and deep, she hopes to raise her educational column yet higher and make her influence still more widely felt. With the accumulated resources of her past experience, she feels that she is able to wwk even more and better. There- fore, depending upon the patronage of those who appreciate thoroughness in education, the reality instead of pretense, she starts out hoping to make her career increasingly useful through another and yet another and even many more decades. 8

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131 07M Wm, Tyndale Lowrey, D.D., LL.D. It is useless to introduce Dr. Lowrey to the people of Mississippi. It is doubtful if there is a politician in the State who has as large a personal acquaintance, as Dr. Lowrey has with the Baptists of Mississippi. He has been a College President for nearly thirty years, and for the last seven years has been President of two colleges at the same time. 1 housands of his students whose characters he has helped to mould now rise up to honor his name. Under his leadership, together with that of his brother, B. G. Lowrey, Blue Mountain College was built up from a small school to its present magnificent propor- tions, with over five hundred students and nine splendid buildings. During his thirteen years in Mississippi College, the patronage increased over two hundred per- cent, and he increased the endowment from forty thousand to one hundred twenty thousand dollars. In addition to this, he raised the money for the erection of a Presi- dents’ Home, a dormitory and a science hall. Jennings Hall has been declared the best school dormitory in the South, and the new science hall is certainly not surpassed in Mississippi. An account of the improvements made in Hillman since he took charge, w T ill be found elsewhere in this volume. Outside of his College work, he is President of the Board of Trustees of the Tri- state Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and at the last Mississippi Baptist State Convention he was elected President of that body. io