Longwood College - Virginian Yearbook (Farmville, VA)

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T H E V I E a INIA N Childhood and Youth A Vision Behold the vision of Childhood and Youth reaching out eager, restless hands to an unknown world. Behind the hands are youthful faces, alert ears, eager, questioning eyes, some filled with the joy of happy childhood, some filled with wonder, some, perhaps, with the fear of the unknown — Childhood and Youth facing a world in which they are to live, and of which they are to become a part ! The speechless hands, the open ears, the questioning eyes — all embody the mute appeal of childhood and youth for train- ing, direction, and guidance — training for the little hands that they may become strong, skillful hands. The open ears, the questioning eyes, need direction and guidance that they may begin to understand and interpret the world which from year to year is to become a more real world to them. Thus the heritage of sublime thought in great literature may be opened up to them that their youthful faces may come to reflect the spirit of the One in whose image they were created. This vision of the inarticulate appeal of the childhood and youth of Virginia bore so heavily upon the minds and hearts of the educational leaders of fifty years ago, that to meet this need, in 1884 the State Normal School, Farmville, lrginia, came into existence. In the educational ideals for the development of the three- fold nature of the child, in this first institution in Virginia for the training of teachers, was reflected the spirit of scholarship, of progress, of unselfish service. I low well this first Normal School of Virginia, now the State Teachers College, barmville, Virginia, has fulfilled the mission intrusted to it, is attested by the faithful, efficient service of the alumnae who have gone out from its walls. What has been accomplished belongs to the past, touches the present, reaches out into the future. And in this future — The Eternal Vision of Childhood and Youth! I gfSlfpi u

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V O L U M E XXX I I I To Mrs. Portia Lee Morrison A strong woman in consecration to duty ; in loyalty to serv- ice ; in high ideals of the obligations for duties assumed, and in the faith that sustaineth to the end was Mrs. Portia Lee Morrison. From June, 1888, to June, 1905, Mrs. Morrison was the head of the home department of the Normal School, Farm- ville, Virginia. During this time, she was a pillar of strength and encouragement, of aggressive hope and confidence that all would be well. She never failed to look upward and onward, and her chief aim was to create for the students the atmosphere of a true home. Her strong personality, combining rare mental, social, and spiritual qualities, touched a responsive and quick- ening chord in the hearts of the students, the faculty, the mem- bers of the home department, and the citizens of the community. Possessed of a broad and liberal education, gifted with a naturally clear intellect, which was refined and cultivated by constant reading, study, and communion with the classics, both ancient and modern, with the literature of missions, and with the spiritual teachings of the Bible, Mrs. Morrison was an or- nament to any scholarly circle. Pure of life, inflexible in integrity of purpose, warm and generous of heart, charitable in impulse and deed, she meas- ured up to the stature of a noble woman, a true leader, one who has left an indelible impression for good upon the hearts of those who were blessed with intimate association with her. % t - £■= 1 9 3 4

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V O L U Ml E XXX I I I Our Alma Mater | ' HF first teacher-training institution in Virginia was established by the IL Legislature in [884 and located in Farmville, a small town in Southside Virginia, six miles from the old College of Hampden-Sydney. That Farm- ville secured the school was due to the fact that the town offered to donate to the State the building and grounds of what was then known as Farmville College, a small plant occupying less than half a square of ground. It was not, however, until 1886 that the institution was incorporated by the Legislature under the name of the State Female Normal School. As the bill was signed on March 7. this date is observed in the College as Founders ' Day. The signing of this hill was an important step in the edu- cational life of Virginia, for it was the beginning of a real schedule of growth for the public schools. In fact, it was the first indication that the State was realizing the great importance of giving to her children proper opportunities for an education. Among the men who were closely associated with this beginning of teacher-training, we may mention two, especially, who threw themselves heart and soul into the work: Dr. J. L. M. Curry and Dr. W. H. Ruffner. To them is conceded the credit for the normal school idea in Virginia. Ami truly they were the guiding spirits of the new undertaking! Dr. Curry drafted the bill for the establishment of the school, and from that day until his death in 1903, his interest was unflagging. He was the first President of the Board of Trustees and was one of a committee to re- port a plan for organization. As a statesman and leader in educational matters, Dr. Curry stood preeminent in the South. Among man)- prominent positions held by him was that of agent for the Peabody Fund for a period of twenty-two years; lie was also agent for the Slater Fund ( for negro education ) for twelve years. Through the administering of these funds, he had more to do with the organization of the public schools of Virginia and the South than any other man. In a sketch of Dr. Curry the writer says: He was a wonder- fully versatile man — soldier, preacher, member of Congress, State Legislator, administrator of two funds, professor, college president, author, representative at a foreign court — and with it all, a knightly gentleman and a lovable man. 1,-) 1 an 3 4