Longwood College - Virginian Yearbook (Farmville, VA)

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State for this purpose a building formerly used as au academy and tliis ofl ' er was warmly sup- ported by men of such character and prominence as Dr. W. H. Ruftner, Rev. James Nelson, D. D., then pastor of the Baptist Church in Farmville, now president of the Woman ' s College, Rich- mond, and Dr. W. ir. II. Thackston, at the time mayor of Farmville and most anxious to further any enter- prise that would promote its inter- ests. The Act of the Legislature es- tablishing the For- mal School, car- ried with it an ap- DR J. L M CURRY, propriatiou of five thousand dollars for buildings and ' necessary expenses in the beginning and ten thousand dol- lars annually to maintain it, with the foUowiag board of trustees : W. H. Ruff ner, J. L. M. Curry, R. M. Manly, C. R. Holland, L. A. Michie, J. L. Buchanan, F. X. Watkins, G. 0. Conrad, W. E. Gaines, W. W. Ilerljert, John B. Minor, C. S. Armstrong, H. II. Harris, James Nelson, and ex-officio, State Superintendent, R. R. Farr. At a meeting of this board held a few weeks later, in Richmond, Dr. J. L. M. Curry was elected president of the board, Dr. J. L. Buchanan, vice- president, and Judge F. N. Watkins, secretary, while Dr. W. H. Rufi ' ner was induced to become principal of the new school, giving to it the benefit of his wide knowledge of the needs of public schools and his unusual intellect. At a meeting of the board held September 7th. 1884, it was resolved to open the school- October 30th, following, although, to quote Dr. Ruffner ' s words, all they had was a principal, an appropriation, a rough scheme and an old academy building. Not a teacher, nor a book, nor a piece of appa- ratus or furniture. But with Dr. Curry at the head of the board and Dr. Ruft ' ner at the head of the school, its success was assured. The first step was to secure teachers which was no easy matter, as teachers in a normal school must be specifically trained for their work. There being in Virginia at this time few people familiar with the organization and methods of normal schools. Dr. Ruffner was authorized to seek in the North three persons suited for the position of instructors

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Zbc State dfentale Bomial School, 1884 1809. IX this year, 1899, Hearing the close of the cen- tury, when all the world is engaged in look- ing back, comparing present things with past, what has been accomplished with what in early years was promised, it were well for us, about to complete the iifteenth year of the life of this institution, to trace step by step its development, to call to mind the purpose of its establishment in order to judge whether that purpose is being fulfilled, and to do honor to those whose brain conceived and put into operation the project, and to those who have borne its burdens to ihe present day. To Dr. W. II. Rutf.ier and Dr. J. L. M. Curry undoubtedly lielongs the credit of the Normal School idea in Virginia. Dr. Rutfner, as Superin- tendent of Public Instruction in the State, hav- ing already rendered most valuable aid to educa- tion by his advanced and correct ideas and his masterly reports, felt the need of teachers spe- cially trained for work in the public schools if the schools were to be really imj ortaut factors in the elevation of the people. Dr. Curry, as agent of tlie Peabody Fund, was able to give very mate- rial ai ! financially, and besides, gave what was, if possible, of more value, his able mental and uioral support. The result of these ettbrts was the action of the Virginia Legislature at its session of 1883-84-, establishing a State Normal School expressly for the training of white female teachers for the public schools. That the school was located in Farmville was due to the fact that the tOAvn oflered to give the

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and his nominees wore at once elected b y the board. To this number were added two ladies from the South who had had experience in teaching in the best public school systems. tSo, at the appointed time, in spite of the discouraging outlook six weeks before, the school was opened with Dr. Buflner, principal, Miss Celeste E. Rush, of Connecticut, vice-principal. Miss Brimblecomb, of Boston, teacher of vocal music, Miss Lillian A. Lee, of Connecticut, teacher of mathematics and drawing. Miss Pauline Gash, of North Carolina, teacher of English, and L-s. C. T. Bartkowska, of Eichniond, teacher of the pre- paratory school. The course of instruction adopted embraced elementary courses in English, Arithmetic, Alge- bra, Physiology, Physics, United States History, Geography, Penmanship, Drawing and Vocal Music. To them were added Lectures on School Economy, Methods of Teaching and Psychology, the whole course of study, subject-matter and methods, covering a period of two years. The first year there were accommodations for fortj ' -foar boarders. The attendance was one hundred and seven, and three graduates. The second session there was a slightly larger attend- ance, and eight graduates, among whom were ]Miss Celestia Parrish and Miss Madeline Mapp, both afterwards teachers in the school, and now both members of the faculty of the Randolph- Macon Woman ' s College, Lynchburg, Virginia. At the beginning of the second session a model school was formed and placed in charge of Miss Clara W. Miner, a graduate of the Teachers ' College of New York City. In 1886 the school was incorporated bj ' the Legislature, under the name of the State Female Normal School, and an appropriation of fifteen thousand dollars made for additional buildings. For three years the increase of students and graduates was steady, and the teachers did their work so well that the school became favorably known throughout the State. In 1887, Dr. Ruttner resigned to resume tlie work of geologist, which he had laid aside in order to undertake the organization of the school, and Dr. John A. Cunningham, was elected to succeed him. Dr. Cunningham was at the time engaged in work in the public schools of Rich- mond, which fitted him peculiarly for the duties upon which he now entered. The course of study, in pursuance of the plan already outlined by Dr. Rufiner, was extended to cover three j ears, two of academic