Prairie View A and M University - Pantherland Yearbook (Prairie View, TX)

Page 7 text:

PV Faculty-Staff in 1957-58 1924 L. C. Anderson (1884-1896) L. C. Anderson succeeded his brother E. H. Anderson, at the latter’s death in 1885. It was at this time that the ideas of the trustees of the John F. Slater Fund were taking prominence in Southern Education. As a result an Agricultural and Mechanical department was attached to the Normal School. The 20th Legislature authorized a branch Experiment Station and a girls Industrial department, was also added. J.C. Osborne (1918-1925) In 1918. J. C. Osborne was nominated by his faculty colleagues to act as successor to Terrell, and was finally elected by the Board as the sixth principal. A medical doctor. Osborne had been employed by William Bennett Biz-zell. president of A M College, a boyhood friend whom he had once saved from drowning. On September 1. 1966. Dr. J. M. Drew, who had served as Dean of Instruction and Dean of Graduate Studies became the second President of Prairie View A M College. Shortly after .taking office. Dr. Drew became ill. and as a result of his asking to be relieved of his office the Board of Directors asked President Emeritus Evans to serve as Acting President. Dr. Drew died of pneumonia on January 30. 1978 in Edwardsville. IL. following a lengthy illness.

Page 6 text:

Minor K. H Anderson L C. Anderson Hl.ii kshe.ir Terndl Evans Osborne Drew Banks Pantherland — 100th Year The Pioneers i i 1 L.W. Minor (1878-1879) , The first principal of the new college was a native of Mississippi who was selected by Thomas S. Gathright. the first president at I (College Station. On March 11.1878. Professor Minor enrolled eight young men as| Ithc first black students to be enrolled in a state supported college in Texas. Mr. Minor was a man of fine education and excellent| [character, and he came up fully to all expectations in his management and qualificatiems. J I E. H. Anderson (1879-1884) The A M College Board of Directors met in Hempstead. j, U8US’ 1879- and elected for the new Normal a fac-|U ty of two and authorized the teaching of thirteen sub- J jects on the elementary and secondary level. With Mr. E. | H. Anderson, minister-teacher from Memphis and Fisk , I University as second principal. The Normal opened Octo-ber 6, 879wi|h twelve students E. L. Blackshear (1896-1915) r E. L Blackshear was elected the fourth principal of Prairie View| I in 1895. The tall stately golden voiced Blackshear was a Booker T., .Washington disciple, and he was especially interested in the agriculture phase of industrial education. — — J | Students loved Mr. Blackshear. his discipline was firm, but life, i at the college was rich and varied. — W. R. Banks (1926-1947) I W. R. Banks was asked to come to Prairie View by the Offil | of the General Education Board and the President and Boar the parent school because of his long experience in school ad! istration and his fitness to execute the program of teacher prej! | lion found to be the first need of Black education in the South.i , The influence of the General Education Board was felt in t! of money for needed college projects and buildings. I | I-M. Terrell (1915-1918) , icollwl Tn odowed Mr. Blackshear came to the J iWorth rom Pu 'c school system of Fort j, 1 WorldPW |0 at minis,ra,'on which crossed the years of i 'both nhveJ .’.Wa? marked by several improvements in 1 i development and in programs of service. 1 1 1 E. B. Evans (1947-1966) ! r' B nk ’ wh°went in,° ' 1 of Science . ke Dr- Osborne. Dr. Evans was a man i ! X'Ll? in his field. and Mechani r uUrC named Prairio View Agriculture . i and a new era f ° a University of the first class , i Texas A M CnU ° Ic'ency and autonomy throughout the , ---------------e ° System was evident. I 4

Page 8 text:

Up the Steep Hill to Victory Steady Growth of Physical Facilities Prarie View’s first building was the old Kirby i louse. purchased as part of tin Alta Vista Plantation situated east of Hempstead. Female students were housed with the Principal in Kirby Ilall and the young men lived in the 30 by 40 foot combination chapel-dormitory called Pickett Hall. The two buildings made up the early college ampus for several years. Academic Hall was added in 1886 along with si college for Teachers, a brick mechanic shop, a two story dining hall-dormitory and a blacksmith shop. An extensive building program followed at the Turn of the Century. Construction Included Foster and Luckie Halls in 1909: the Auditorium Dining Hall in 1911 and Crawford Hall in 1912. The Household Arts building, the Power and Ice Plant, and Laundry were erected in 1918. The influence of the General Education Board was felt in terms of money for needed college projects and in moving its narrow provincial intellectual life into the stream of Southern and national educational development. It was also realized in the building programs of that time when its funds, combined with Federal grants and other accumulated revenue made possible the Dining Hall, the Hospital, three apartment houses for men teachers, two of three dormitories for women, a green house, an incubator house, a classroom building, a new audito-rium-gymnasium. a new Mechanic Arts Building, over sixty cottages for college • families, and a model college farm unit. The Library building which bears the name of W. K. Banks, was built out of a •late appropriation and General Education Board funds. Most of the newer buildings on campus came since i ut The campus which Includes 1440 acres, now has over 150 buildings valued at an estimated $90 million.