Mississippi College - Tribesman Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

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T HE magnificent work done by the Mis- sissippi Historical Society during the last ten years is not only the just pride of every true Mississippian, but the subject of much favorable comment throughout the Union. In 1898, Doctor Franklin L. Riley, of University, Mississippi, was elected secre- tary and treasurer of that worthy organization, and it was through his efforts that it was re- vived from its state of five years’ inactivity. In this capacity he procured the first legislative appropriation for historical purposes , and to him is due the establishment of the State Department of Archives and History. Born August 24th, 1808, near the present town of New Hebron, Mississippi, he was prepared in the rural schools of that and neigh- boring counties for college, entering Mississippi College in 1885, and was graduated with first honors with the Class of ’89. While here, he was first lieutenant of the M. C. Invineibles; winner of the Price Medal; editor in chief of the Mississippi College Magazine. After receiving the degree of Master of Arts from his alma mater, he took a three-years graduate course in Johns Hop- kins University, with history as major subject. He was fellow in history in Johns Hopkins during the session 1895-9(5, and received the Degree of Ph. D. in June, 189(5, his doctor’s dissertation of “Colonial Origins of New England Senates” having been published in the Johns Hopkins Studies in Political and Historical Science. After a most successful session as president of Hillman College, he resigned to accept the chair of history in the University of Mississippi, which position he has since filled with honor to himself and State. Realizing that the South has been and is still grievously misunderstood because its internal history is largely unpublished and unknown, Doctor Riley is devoting his life to historical research in this field. Besides being the author of Riley’s School History of Mississippi, which has been adopted for use in all of the public schools of the State, he has ably edit( d nine volumes of the Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, and is at present directing special lines of investigation in the local history of reconstruction inMissis- sippi. As assistant literary editor of the Library of Southern Literature, he is now helping to direct the work on the literary history of this State, and is also engaged with others upon the preparation of an elaborate work of several volumes to be entitled “The South in the Building of the Nation,” being associated in this under- taking with President Alderman, of the University of Virginia; President Houston, of the University of Texas; and Doctor J. A. C. Chandler, of Richmond, Virginia. In addition to the above works, Doctor Riley is the author of numerous newspaper and magazine articles and monographs of a historical nature. F. L. Riley, ’89 24

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I J. C. Hardy, ’89 rT HAS been said that the standard of the schools of a community is a true index to the character of its citizenship. This is equally true of the State. The nature of an institution of learning is not dependent on buildings, equipment, nor enrollment, but on the character of the men at its head. Missis- sippi, with one exception, expends more money proportionally on the education of her youth than any State of the Union, and the four largest institutions of learning within her borders are presided over by graduates of Mississippi College. Our Agricultural and Mechanical College has for the last eight years been under the able direction of John t rumpton Hardy, and under his wise super- vision, the enrollment of that excellent insti- tution has increased from three hundred to over one thousand, and the value of the college property from two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to over eight hundred thousand dollars. ... Born on Christmas eve, 1864. near Newton, ' lssl ssippi, the subject of this sketch, after a very meager education in the rural school entered Mississippi College in 1885. He served for two years as captain ot the M. C. Invincibles, was anniversarian of the Hermenian Society, winner o the Junior Medal, and was valedictorian of the Class of 1889, the first honors having been divided with Doctor F. L. Riley. ,t • At ' U “ r a S eneral postgraduate course at the University of Chicago and Cornell telTchinfhU 7 S ? Faduated in J law from Millsa P s College, but, deciding to make in l88Q g A Pr0l T: m ' acce P ted the pnncipalship of the Carrollton Male Academy • • year later he was elected principal of the Jackson High School and eanacdv 7 ' ' T ' su P eril tendent of the Jackson City Schools, in which capacity he served until 1900, when he succeeded Governor John M. Stone as president ot Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College. President Hardy is a most ardent athletic enthusiast. Understanding that a student must have physical strength to supplement his mental powers, he organized athletics at the A. and M. on its present clean basis, and has since given his hearty cooperation and support towards maintaining it. This explains in some degree Ins remarkable popularity with his students, the athletic field at Starkville being called Hardy Field . 99 h Governor A. H. Longino appointed him one of the Commission to ui d the new million-dollar capitol, hut he resigned on his election to the presi- r wi an Jul y °f the same year he was married to Miss Kate t . Whitfield, the youngest daughter of Chief Justice A.. H. Whitfield. Their home has since been blessed with three beautiful little girls. 23

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T O LEARN the meaning of success, and then to meet the full measure of its requirements, should be the prime motives to actuate the activities of one’s entire life. This thought has in it graceful charm, and he who yields himself to it will surely find in its demands a serious moral purpose, far outweighing any airy or irresponsible frivolities. Virtue founded on truth, and fortitude based upon virtue, form the only piers upon which a trustworthy ark of character can be constructed. These great principles were early in life im- bibed by the subject of this sketch, who was born in Brandon, Mississippi, May 28th, 1870. He was the only child of Joseph and Elizabeth Frances Hudnall. His father died when Henry was only six years old, but, under nurturing care of the fond and wise mother, he grew to man’s estate, possessed with a steadi- ness and fidelity with which he was ever able to successfully battle against the insidious temp- tations which so persistently assail youth, and the integrity which he has maintained throughout the years of his active life will forever stand as a testimony to the moral greatness of his mother’s influence, as well as to the innate worth of his own nature. He received his early education in the public schools. In September, 1886, he entered Mississippi College, from which institution he was graduated with second honors, with his B. A. degree. He was an ardent Philomatliean, and took a promi- nent part in all things looking to the welfare of his society, which was not neglectful nor ungrateful, for as a meed of his faithfulness he served as president and was chosen First Orator, whose privilege it was to hang on the Phi the picture of the Anniversarian, T. B. Dodson, his friend and fellow-townsman. After his graduation, he was assistant in the preparatory department in M. C. one year. He then entered the University of Virginia, where he was graduated with the M. A. degree in 1894. From this great university he went to Germany, and in 1898 at Leipsic he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Immediately on his return to America, he was elected to the Chair of English in the Virginia Poly- technic Institute. He is now a member of the Modern Language Association of America. Doctor Hudnall was married to Miss Lillian Peters, of Lynchburg, on December 30th, 1903. He is a man of deep religious convictions, is a deacon in the Baptist Church, and a teacher in the Sunday school. The natural abilities of Doctor Hudnall are exceedingly vigorous, and to these he has added almost unparalleled educational advantages, so that he easily ranks among the most scholarly men who have graduated from Mississippi College. His gentle nature and scholarly attainments make him at once companionable with his associates and an inspiration to his students. R. H. Hudnall, ’90 25