North Carolina Central University - Eagle Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY By Joseph H. Taylor, Ph.D. Chairman Social Science Division, N. C. College When the Editors of the Maroon and Gray requested that I write a short historical sketch of the college for the 1946 edition, I suggested that the students and faculty might be interested in some account of the early activities of the school. As a result of two disastrous fires in 1925 valu- able records of the school were destroyed. How- ever, through the painstaking efforts of Miss Pa- repa Watson, the Librarian, there has been placed at my disposal the earliest available bulletin of the National Religious Training School. This bul- letin was issued in July, 1912, two years after the founding of the school. It therefore, is the chief source for the short story which follows. The National Religious Training School, which in later years was to become the North Carolina College for Negroes, was founded by Dr. James E. Shepard. The school began operation in July, 1910, with 130 students. The first regular term, the following October, began with an enrollment of 109 students. The first building was started in April, 1910, and by January, 1912, ten buildings had been erected on twenty-five acres of land one-half mile from the corporate limits of the city of Durham. This site ( the present location l was a gift largely of the white people of the city. One of the origi- nal buildings — Avery Auditorium — still stands on the campus. Within the short span of two years the grounds had been put into excellent condition; walks and roadways laid out; garden plots and terraces made; and a water system installed. The monetary valuation of the plant had grown from nothing on January 1, 1910 to over $100,000 two years later. There is listed in the 1912 bulletin a staff of twenty-one persons. There was one teacher each of English, History, Mathematics, Science, Music, Latin and Greek, Millinery, Domestic Science, Domestic Art, and Carpentry. Dean John Henry Moore and one assistant were in charge of classes in Religious Training and Bible. There were two teachers of commercial subjects. The Teacher Training Department had one superintendent and an assistant. The teacher of English was also in charge of physical training. There was a Regis- trar; a Business Director; a Matron. A leading physician of Durham taught classes in Physiology and Hygiene. Among the activities listed for the year 1912- 1913 were a missionary concert, a temperance concert, and public meetings under the sponsor- ship of the Y. M. C. A. and the Theological Fra- ternity. Old President ' s Hume, on site now occupied by the College Library. Students of the present generation will be par- ticularly interested in learning that the Christ- mas holiday for 1912 was December 25. The students of 1912-1913 celebrated Emancipation Day on January 1 by being excused from classes. Board and room cost $7.00 per month; tuition, $1.00 per month; boys ' washing, seventy-five cents per month. Considerable saving could be accomplished if the student paid by the term. For the fall term, from the opening to Christmas, the cost was placed at $25.00. For the spring term, from Christmas to the close of school, the cost to the student was $37.00. $25.00 would pay the expenses of a country minister for a six weeks ' summer session; $90.00, the tuition and board of a student for one whole term; $500 to $1,000, the salary of a teacher or professor for one year; while $10,000 would erect and equip a building. The 1912 bulletin devotes considerable space to the commencement activities of that year. Then, as now, the commencement speakers were of high calibre and attainment. The joint liter- ary societies were addressed by William H. Lewis, noted Negro lawyer of Boston, and assist- ant attorney-general of the United States. The regular commencement orator was the venerable Charles H. Parkhurst, pastor of the Madison Ave- nue Presbyterian Church, of New York City. Following Dr. Parkhurst ' s address diplomas were awarded to 8 students — 5 women and 3 men — from the Commercial Department. Certificates were also awarded in Penmanship. Sewing, and Millinery. The Durham Daily Sm?j, of May 23, 1912, had the following story about the commencement activities: With the band playing enlivening airs, the fe- male students attired in modest white dresses, with the male students carrying themselves in true military style, the campus of the National Religious Training School yesterday afternoon at 3 o ' clock was an inspiring scene. The occasion was the first class day and tree planting in the history of the young institution. Visitors from the various sections of the state and several other states were present and at the conclusion of the program visited the various departments having (Continued on Page 82)

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The College— Its Setting THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICE 5

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This is Avery Auditorium at N. C. College From this building the people of North Carolina have built a state institu- tion, the only Negro state supported Liberal Arts College in this country. Around this building have been built many buildings, classrooms, labora- tories, gymnasiums, dormitories, and a library. And many men and women have come to the buildings to spend their lives in a great work. Many have passed this symbol of the past and creation of the new, bent upon learning the way to a fuller life of usefulness. The building is old — The College is ageless, neither young nor old. For the people of North Carolina have willed that it shall be dedicated to the greatest of creative achievement — education of youth. THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICE 7