Tennessee State University - Tennessean Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

Page 14 text:

The ttcampusi, was barren, rockY, and ungraded. But it was an elevated site anci the location 9f Lhelfgt'st bltlildigiiriiigogigggi panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The first buildings were a-cinaun:L or scaffgtg set; r garghouses women and men, the trades building with heating plant, residence for the 911351 ent, we at ' Thus, the president had to supply the leadership in planning for the arrival of the first students on June 19, 1912. President Hale had assembled a faculty of fourteen teachers to serve those first students who enrolled at the school. This faculty had received undergraduate degrees from some of the most highly developed private black colleges of that day: Atlanta University, Hampton Institute, Howard Univer- sity. Tuskegee Institute and Fisk University. The levels of academic preparation of the students who enrolled for the first regular session varied from fourth grade through the senior normal year. l'Ir'IIIII r'uu'. lt-ft tn I'iu'hl. I'itlunrtL ILuI'IquIHI U' H Burk rnu. Pn-az 'Wt 'I. Hdlr. Hill. is ill ll

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THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL - AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL e UNIVERSITY The famous educational rallies, conducted throughout the State from 1907 to 1909 proclaimed the peoples general desire for expand- ed public education, including the preparation of teachers. The black citizens of Tennessee were insisting that the legislative pro- Dosals to create normal schools must include provisions for tn Preparation of black teachers, and Qt forthright compliance with the mandates of the Second Morrill Act of 1890. This early State action to legalize the separation of the black people from other ethnic groups in Public facilities eventually became all pervasive, including public pro- visions for education. One agricultural and Industrial Normal School for the industrial education of negroes tsict and for preparing negro tSict teachers for the common schools shall be established. The school thus authorized to serve the black citizens was unique in that it would Perform industrial and agricultural education functions as well as the teacher education functions. It was also unique in that it had to be established and maintained with one-half the amount of money that was made available to each of the institutions authorized at that time to serve the white citizens. The headline 0fthe Apri123, 1909, issue of Dr. Boyd's NaShville Globe clearly reflected the view: uA great vic- tory achieved; General Education Bill Passes Senate; Carries an Ap- PFODriatiOn for Negro School. William Jasper Hale The city of Chattanooga in Hamilton County came very close to becoming the home of the Tennessee Agricultural and In- destrial State Normal School. A young black man named William J asper Hale campaigned with great vigor to raise suffi- CIent funds to purchase a site and construct buildings for the proposed school. He succeeded in convincing the Hamilton County Court that the project was worth an appropriation of$75,000. The campus which is included in the corporate limits of the city begins at the intersection of Centennial Boulevard and 35th Avenue.

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Names of famous black personalities began to appear in the titles of student organiiations. These included Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Phylllis Wheatly and W. E. B. DuBois. Dr. Booker T. Washington, PreSIdent 0f Tuskegee Institute, and Chancellor J. H. Kirkland 0f Vanderbilt University were among the thirty-four lecturers during the first year. The school had the type of pragmatic leadership that COUld produce growth, even in a hostile social climate. Black students who wanted the opportunity to develop themselves thTOUBh education beyond the normal school level increased in nurnbers with each graduating class. .. .a. The transition from a two-year to a four-year college oc- curred in 1922. Miss Averitte was identified as a teacher of uExpression and Education. Her credentials included graduate study at the University of Chicago, Chicago School of Expression. As composer of the college's hAlma Mater, she gave a product of her creative talents to thousands of students and alumni. .lrlun'm'xfrrrHI'r' ffffiu'rx um! l'hr'nhiv rugu-Im