Johnson C Smith University - Golden Bull Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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Dr. Henry Lawrence McCrorey. 1907-1947 Dr. McCrorey was born in Fairfield County, South Cai ' olina, March 2, 1863. He came to Biddle as a young boy of modest means but with high ambi- tions. He graduated from the College of Liberal Arts in 1892, and from the Theological Seminary in 1895. Upon graduation he was employed at Biddle as a teacher in the high school department but was later promoted to the chair of Greek Exegesis and He- brew. Following the death of President Sanders in 1907, he was elected president of the Institution. His administration was long and fruitful. As a professor under Dr. Sanders ' administration, he had become well aware of the institution ' s program and needs. Dr. McCrorey asked the Freedmen ' s Board for a considerable amount of money to begin a pro- gram of expansion and enrichment but was told by Dr. J. M. Gaston, the Secretary, that the Board did not have the money but he would introduce him to a person who might make him a grant. Together the two went to the home of Mrs. William Thaw of Pitts- burgh. After Dr. McCrorey presented the Institu- tion ' s cause, Mrs. Thaw gave him a substantial do- nation and called her friend, Mrs. Johnson C. Smith, and made an engagement for Dr. McCrorey with her. Mrs. Smith was impressed with Dr. McCrorey ' s statement of the Institution ' s needs and later made it felt in a very tangible way. Dr. McCrorey was acquainted with the late pres- ident ' s efforts toward providing adequate library facilities, and immediately revived the Library Fund Campaign.

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Class in Surveyinn under Dr. K. L. Douglass Dr. R. L. Douglass, instructor, was at the school for forty-four (44) years as a student, teacher, professor of mathematics and was for many years head of the Department of Mathematics, 1903-1947.

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The plea for adequate library facilities began as early as 1873 when President Mattoon appointed Reverend R. M. Hall part-time librarian and began appealing to the generosity of friends for good books. Soon after President Sanders became pres- ident in 1891, he began negotiating with Mr. Andrew- Carnegie for aid in providing adequate library faci- lities on the campus. With the assistance of Booker T. Washington, who had both the confidence and friendship of the philanthropist, a provisional grant was made. The provisional offer stipulated that the philanthropist would contribute $12,500 for the cause provided an equal amount would be raised to guarantee the security and growth of the proposed library. The Board of Missions for Freedmen accept- ed the offer, expressed the Board ' s gratitude and approval and immediately set up a fund-raising cam- paign for matching the offer. When Dr. Sanders died in 1907, $3,947.75 had been raised toward the fund. By 1911, however, under the shrewd admini- stration of President McCrorey the matching fund e.xceeded its goal by $2,500. The building was erec- ted at a cost of $15,000 and was dedicated on May 30, 1911, in connection with the commencement activities. Carnegie Library, built of stone near the center of the campus in 1911, is a two story buildinR, which contain.s the reading room, reference shelves and office on the top floor; the stacks, reading lounge, a work room and a storage room at the basement level. The total holdings of the library system (including that of Carnegie and the Theological Library) are appro.ximately 72,000 volumes.