Morris College - Hornet Yearbook (Sumter, SC)

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF TWENTY-FOUR ON COLLEGE. Mr. President:— Your committee of 24 on the location of State Baptist College ask leave to submit us report:—In accordance, with the expressed wish of this convention, in session at Anderson last May we your committee of twenty-four were elected with plenarypower to find a suitable location, for a State College, for the Baptists of South Carolina; and if possible to start the machinery at work within this year your committee was first called to meet in the Zion Baptist church by order of Dr Durhami (chairman) in the month of July 1906, At this meeting much spirit and enthusiasm were manifested and various towns and cities vied each for the coveted honor, of locating the long talked of Baptist College in its midst. To that meeting come bids from Gaffney Sumter and Anderson. Gafffiey through the Thickety mountain Association offered us a beautiful sit within the incorporate limits of Gaffney; consisting of ten (10) acres of land with a new building nearly completed. The said house having been erected by the above named association, better known as the Cherokee Normal and Industrial Institute. .Wateree Upper Division asked your committee to accept as a site 12 acres of land within the incorporate limits of the city of Sumter. The said property has a debt of 2-3 'he purchase price with the reserved right to name three of 'Ihe Trustees for said College from the Wateree Association. The Rocky River Association offered ten (10) acres of land located in the city of Anderson and $7000,00 with the endorsement of quite a number of influential white citizens pledging their moral support for snd college. After a careful consideration of health locality, financial support and other things we decided to locate in the beaunful city of Anderson and the proposed college was named Morris College in honor of Rev. Frank Morris fa pioneer of the Rocky River Association) your committee was called to meet again in the city of Anderson, in the month of December. At this meeting your committee saw that no agreement between us and the trustees of the Anderson property could be reached where-upon another meeting was held in the Zion Baptist Church, Columbia. S. C. Jan. 23, 1907. at which time negotiation with the Anderson Trustees was called off. From the time of our election to the meeting of present session, and as you know' even since on the grounds your committee has had before it various propositions and offers. But your committee has very fully realized that-the matter in h.-nd was one of great concern to’ the denomination and wisdom has dictated, that your committee go slow in accepting offers. But after careful cor ideration and deliberation considering all circumstances we bud that Sumter is the more desirable place for the erection of the State Baptist College and therefore recommend that the offer of the Wateree Association be accepted. Humbly submitted. Dr. J. J. Durham, (chairman); J. C. White, B. D . Secretary. )

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AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE DR. ANNA MAYS DANIELS REUBEN was the oldest daughter of the late Reverend George Goings Daniels and Mrs. Wilhelmina Mays Daniels and the wife of the late Reverend Dr. Odell Richardson Reuben, who was President of Morris College from 1918-1970. She was born in I lartsville. South Carolina; however, she spent most of her early life in Georgetown. South Carolina and her later life in Sumter. South Carolina which has been home to her for more than thirty-five years. Dr Reuben was the 1910 valedictorian of the Howard High School. Georgetown. South Carolina; a 1911 recipient of the A.B. degree. Summa Cum I.aude. from Fisk University, a 1945 recipient of the masters degree with honors from Columbia University, a 1965 recipient of the Ed.D. degree from Teacher's College. Columbia University and the I. H D. from Morris College. Her Dissertation Topic was The American Negro and American Nationality: Concepts of American Nationality . In keeping with her deep belief that formal as well as informal education should be lifelong. Dr. Reuben's post-doctorate education included Study at Duke I 'diversity, the I 'niversity of Ibadan (Nigeria. West Africa), the University of South Carolina, and Spelman College in Atlanta. Georgia. In her words Daily. I learn from my colleagues. students, also men and women from all walks of life . Dr. Reuben's professional experiences include: Teacher. Howard High School—1911. 1915-1918, Instructor of English and History at Morris College. 1948-1958; Chairman. Division of Social Sciences. Morris College. 1958-1967; Director (Dean) of Student Affairs. Morris College. 1967-1968, 1969-1973; Academic IXan and Professor of History since 1973. Former positions include: Chairman of the South Carolina Board of Juvenile Placement and Aftercare; President. Sumter County Minister’s Wives Alliance; Vice President. Sumter Chapter—Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History; Member of the Education Committee—Sumter Chapter NAACP; Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Board of Trustees of Sumter School District l?. also President of Sumter County YWCA, and National Board Member of the YWCA; Secretary. Sumter Chapter of the South Carolina Council on Iluman Relations; Member. South Carolina Advisory Committee to the I' S. Commission on Civil Rights; Member. Executive Board—Sumter County Council on Aging; Chairman. Advisory Council—I lead Start Programs of Sumter County, and Member of the Executive Board—Sumter Chapter of the American Cancer Society. Among Dr. Reuben's professional affiliations are American Historical Association; National Council for the Social Studies; S.C Historical Society; S.C. Education Association (life memberl: National Education Association; Pi Lambda Theta; Kappa IX-lta Pi. Phi IXIta Kappa, and Alpha Kappa Mu. During 1942 and 1913 she was listed in Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges IXiring 1911-1915 she was a Rosenwald Scholar for Graduate Study. Columbia I Jniversity In recent years, she was Second Vice-President of the National Association of College IXans. Registrars, and Admissions Officers; President of the Southern Conference of IXans of Faculties and Academic Vice-Presidents. Other groups in which Dr. Reuben held offices are Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority . United Order of Tents. One More Effort Federated Club. National Council of Negro Women and the North Main Street Community Club. The Church in general, and First Baptist Church of Sumter in particular, were very near and dear to her heart Church organizations are proud and grateful for her years of outstanding and inspiring leadership She has served as Secretary of Church Women I nited of S.( . Member of the Executive Board—Woman s Auxiliary to the Wateree Baptist Association. Lower Division, and Chairman of the Missionary Workshop Committee. She was the President of the Woman's Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South ( arolina. Prior to assuming ns highest office, she served as a First Vice-President and as Historian. On the evening of June 17. 1982 at the Sheraton Motor Inn. Greenville. South Carolina. Dr. Reuben was honored during the Womans Convention Annual Banquet which was dedicated to her. She was the recipient of several tributes affirming her greatness, and many presentations representing love and respect from persons who appreciate her loving friendship. The Convention further honored her with a B(X)K OF REMEMBRANCE which she called A unique work of beauty for which I shall be forever grateful The family was especially valued and loved by Dr. Reuben. She and her husband have given to the world six children who are now responsible adults making their positive impact on society. They are Attorney Wilhelmina Matilda Reuben Cooke. Dr Lucy Jeanette Reuben. Miss Anna Marie Reuben. Mr. Odell Richardson Reuben. Jr.. Miss Jayne Stewart Reuben, and MissJanice Samuelle Reuben. One of IX Reuben s greatest desires (and realizations) was to be a good and loving wife, and a good and loving mother Rev Reuben adored her as the greatest wife in the world”. The children have made her life happy with their profound love and devotion, and their tender, loving care—even to the moment of her homegoing and beyond.

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A LOOK BACK . . . THE WAY IT BEGAN The initial founding of Morris College was truck a test of strength, yet the venture had just begun. The College was to face a future of trials and success. The year 1915 brought forth the first two graduates with the Bachelor of Arts. In 1916-P. Morris College enrolled as an accredited college with the South Carolina State IX-partment of Education. This act was significant for not only the institution but for it's growing population of graduates. As time passed in the essence of prosperity, and growth, the school was soon to confront a national dilema. As many other institutions across the country, the Great Depression curtailed progress and promoted changes. In 1929. Morris College discontinued its normal program. By the following year, the college president resigned and all outside aid to the school was withdrawn. As a result of financial stress. Morris College became a two year |umor college; it also discon- tinued the elementary school. A meeting of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina at Anderson unanimously voted that Morris College and Benedict College enter a compact whereby the duplication of work would lx- reduced. It was necessary, for the continuation of both schools, that each be unique. Therefore, such a compact (Morris College as a Junior College! lasted from 1930 52. In 1933. the college was restored a four-year school. The decade was equally so. The high school curriculum was discontinued in 1915 which permitted the college to become strictly a post-secondary institution. The next year. 1947, stagnated the school as accreditation was denied by the South Carolina State department of Education. Nevertheless, the college regained State accreditation in 19-19 and in 1950 received B rating of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Morris College was established solely for the education of Negroes, however on August 14. 1961. the word Negro appearing in the original charter (certificate of incorporation) was eliminated hence opening the facilities of the institution to all ethnic groups. The major priority of the institution was perhaps accreditation, full Steam Ahead was declared in 1962 the motto for the venture to pursue full accreditation with the Southern Association. By 1968. status for application was obtained with the Southern Association for accreditation. The institution already maintained accreditation by the South Carolina State Department of Education, membership with the Veteran's Administration. Federal Government for Student I.oans. Foundation for the Advancement of Negro Colleges, the National Alumni Association and the Inter-Collegiate Press. In 1969. the first Dr. Stewart Oliver Dr. Stewart diver. Moderator of the Rocky Riser Association of Anderson Counts recommended in 1902 that the Brethren begin to raise funds and secure property for the establishment of a college Bv 190$. $7,000 had been raised and 10 acres of land donated The College was to be named Morris College after Rev f rank S Morns, first moderatot of the association. After some differences the association merged with the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina and the school was located in Sumter (FACING PAGE; Much of the inspiration fot founding the school came from Dr E.C. Morris (Not to be Dr. E.C. Morris confused with the other Morris), then President of the National Baptist Convention, who presented the idea at one of the Convention s earlier national meetings. The offer to locate the school in Sumter was made by the Wateree Association