Tennessee State University - Tennessean Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

Page 15 text:

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

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

Page 16 text:

THE DAVIS ADMINISTRATION i .- d f . . - . . 4 . . g; r . .- Dr. Walter S. Davis served as acting president of the collcgc from September 1, 1943 until he was appointed president in November of 1943 by the State Board of Education. Dr. Davis was being inaugurated as a president of a young public black col- lege in a state that had a long history of racial segregation and me herent discrimination. Dr. Davis stated the major goal for his administration was to develop ha class university. To achieve the goals for the improvement ofthe academic area, the new president was fortunate to have Phetacflffmisiiltiigg. ship of Dr. George W. Gore, Dean ofthe College. At that timepr. Gore had completedtwenly-years 0f servuce .0 C6 started dur- During this time he had performed every type ofacademic actlvllty that the coltegc requured. HIS teachlrag experifrginistrative ap- ing his first year appointment and continued without interruptlon eacept during study leavessliils aca emit: a F r Dr Gore pointmem was not limited to the deanship. In 1943 he was also servmg as Dlrectar of the. D1v1510h 0f Educauon. H0 5 eht con: teaching and dual administrative responsibilities were not enough to eqnsume h1s seemlngly tmhmned energy. the mpwerc the siderable time counseling individual students. He also advised and organized student orgamzatlons. Chief among 5 . . ' s honor society, Alpha Kappa Mu, and the yearbook staff. Serving as adwsor 10 the yearbook staff was the type of actwny that wa among those most treasured by Dean Gore.