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

Page 22 text:

CLASS OF 1905 (Collese) p ' ' ■ i ' - • i tMb YMCA Cabinet in Ihe Karly Day The Y. M. C. A. was the first organization, with a Christian Citizenship motive, as its prime objec- tive, to be established on the t-ampus. In 1985. the Y. W. C. A. was brought to the campus by Mrs. H. L. McCrorey as a handmaiden to the Y. M. C. A.

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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.

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On May 20, 1909 William Howard Taft delivered an address to the faculty and students of the Insti- tution. Prior to his arrival the secret service men inspected the platform and other equipment con- nected with his appearance. They found that the Institution did not have a chair large enough to hold the President. So the faculty pooled their money and bought a chair for the occasion. And down through the years it has been known as the President ' s Chair.