University of Southern Mississippi - Southerner Yearbook (Hattiesburg, MS)

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in the state who, as president of the Mississippi State Teachers' As- sociation, and as an influential teacher and citizen of the state, had done much to foster a sentiment favorable to the establishment of a Normal C-ollege. This man was Joe Cook, who was elected to and who accepted the position of president of the College. His record during the time he has been president and the splendid success of the Normal College say more for him than any words can say. All who know him feel that he is the right man in the right place and under his guidance the Normal College will continue to prosper. Space will not permit special comment on each individual mem- ber of the faculty, but there is nothing t.oo good to be said of them. The faculty is composed of some of Mississippi's best educated men and women together with the best men and women that the other states could afford. The following names will show who these men and women are: T. P. Scott, J. N. McMi1lin, W. I. Thames, W. F. Bond, T. F. Jackson, G. H. Armstrong, R. J. Slay, Orville Brim, Miss Annie Augustus, Miss Annie Faust, Miss Alina Hickman, Miss Kate Brown, Miss Willa Bolton, Miss Delora Hanel, Miss Maggie D. Campbell, Miss Lorena Thompson, Miss Sadie Chiles, Miss Lorene Thames, Dr. May F. Jones and Miss Emily Jones and Miss May Stokes who are now filling the places of Misses Faust and Chiles, who have resigned. The other officers are: A. V. Hays, Miss F. H. Leech, Mrs. W. T. Hudson, Mrs. J. NV. Chambers, Mrs. Annie Cook, Mrs. J. F. Hamblin, Mrs. Neva NVall, Mrs. Pearl Travis and Mrs. Mills, who is now serv- ing in Mrs. Hamblin's place. In response to the appeal of the trustees the Legislature of 1912 appropriated 376,500 for equipment of the buildings under construc- tion, and 350,000 for maintenance up to December 31, 1913. On September 18, 1912, in spite of the falling rain the normal college opened its doors with its large chapel hall crowded with two hundred and thirty students and many visitors. Despite the fact that many inconveniences existed here as at the beginning of every new institution, new students came in all the year. During the first session eight hundred and eighty-six students were enrolled. Five hundred and six during the regular session and three hundred and eighty new ones during the summer term. Every dormi- tory on the campus, including the Industrial Cottage, has been full from the very beginning and more people have wanted to come than could be accommodated. Since the opening of the second session last Septemer, there has been a constant waiting list containing scores of names of those who insisted on sending their matriculation fees with the understanding that they would be notified when a vacancy should occur in the dormitories. Up to January 24, 1914, fees for fifty-nine people had been turned down. One hundred and eight more had made inquiries and were told that there was no room for them. The legislators, having learned how rapidly the Normal College was trying to grow and after receiving an invitation from the college and Hattiesburg people, decided to pay it a visit and see for themselves what was really needed. Before adjourning the legislators appropriated SSif.tv0u for the building of a new dormitory on the campus. Arrangements are being made now to have this building completed by October 1. 1914. This will be the only state building on the campus and all of us feel justly proud of the generous appropriation of the state. From the beginning of the Normal College, the Hattiesburg peo- ple have ever been willing and ready to lend a helping hand. Nothing has been too hard for them to undertake in the way of assistance when needed. This year when the water-works of the college failed. the Commercial Club of Hattiesburg took the matter up at once with Mr. Cook and water was coming through the pipes from the city to the college in ten days. The college is growing and will continue to grow. How could an institution be a failure with such powerful working power behind it! Last year as soon as possible the Young Menis Christian Asso- ciation was organized for the young men of the college: the Young Woman's Christian Association, two literary societies. the Prestonian and Platonian for the young men: two literary societies. the Mis- sissippian and Sherwood Bonner for the young ladies. a Tomato Club for the young ladies, glee clubs and county clubs for all. Athletics is stressed in various phases. All of these organizations proved success- ful, however, there is always room for improvement. So, this year to

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History of The Normal College Mississippi is a great state and has always been, but it was noticed by many enthusiastic and broad-minded teachers of the state that there was something lacking. These teachers, whom space will not permit me to name, thought, discussed, dreamed and thought again, and finally decided that a training school for teachers was the one thing needed most. This need bore heavily upon their minds long before the people themselves or the law-makers would take notice. But through the efforts of committees appointed by the teachers' as- sociation to arouse the interest of the law-makers of the state, a bill for the establishment of a normal college received serious consider- ation. This bili passed the senate in 1908, but was killed by a com- mittee of the lower house. In 1910 the fight was renewed and the bill passed the senate again but was favored by a committee of the house. However, the authors of the bill persisted and finally succeeded in getting the bill before the house itself. After a hard struggle and many amendments the bill went through without any appropr iations for building or support. The law-makers of Mississippi had finally given their consent to me establishment of a teacher's training college, but had declined to invest any of the people's money in the buildings. It was thought by many that this act was useless because they believed it impossible to procure funds for the establishment of the college, but the good spirit of Southern Mississippi had been left out of this consideration. As soon as the calls for bids on the location was made, three communities, Laurel and Jones County, Jackson and Hinds County, Hattiesburg and Forrest County rushed forward with bids of from rB250,000 to 53011000 each for the location of this new college which had not one penny for support. Hattiesburg and Forrest County received the award on a cash gife of 3250.000 a gift of eight hundred and forty acres of land and other valuable considerations. The first boaid of trustees were: E. F. Noel, governorg EX-officio Trustee, J. N. Powers, State Superintendent, Ex-officio Trustee, Joe Cook, President and VV. T. Lowrey, P. H. Saunders, T. C. Kimbrough, VV. li. Stokes. The report of the board of trustees submitted to the legislature in January 1912 closed with the following statement? We cannot close this report without a special w-ord of apprecia- tion and commendation for the liberal spirit that was shown by the three cities and counties that made such maginificent offers for the location of this college and especially do we wish to express our grati- tude and sense of deep obligation to the people of Hattiesburg and Forrest County for their magnificent gift. We feel that the people of Mississippi cannot but share our feeling in this matter, and we believe that they will applaud any action of their representatives in giving libera.l support to an institution that is so vitally important to our educational system. The following will show who were officers of the college, the city, Hattiesburg, and the County, Forrest, who were vitally concerned in the first movement made toward the establishment of the Normal College: E. F. Noel, Governor, EX-officio Trustee, Earl Drawer, Gover- nor, Ex-officio Trustee, J. N. Powers, State Superintendent of Educa- tion, Joe Cook, President District Trusteeg W. T. Lowrey, P. H. Saunders, T. C. Kimbrough, VV. E. Stokes, J. E. Brown, H. L. McClesky, R. E. NVilburn, H. R. St-one. Those who resigned: T. P. Scott, J. C. Fant, VV. H. Smith, Joe Cook and J. T. Thomas. The City Officers: J. D. Donald, mayor. Aldermen: M. J. McGrath, VV. E. Fail, H. C. Greer, J. R. Haney, E. J. Mitchell, R. A. Cameron, A. T. Powe and R. C. McKenzie. The County Board of Supervisors: J. C. Pace, J. C. McDonald, NV. A. Conn, J. L. Davis and S. E. Perkins. Now as trustees in the place of W. T. Lowrey, P. H. Saunders and H. R. Stone, resigned, we have E. E. Frantz, F. N. Foote and H. M. Threefoot. When it came to selecting a president for the institution it was very necessary to have one of the best men that Mississippi could af- ford. H. L. VVhitfield, president of the Industrial Institute and College was selected. Not wishing to give up his work at the I. I. and C., he decided not to accept the position. W. H. Smith, who has been and still is the leader in the development of the rural schools of the state, was selected. He, however, like Mr. Vtfhitfield, felt that he could not give up the work in which he was then engaged. There was another man

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the above number have been added a Parent Teacher's Association, in- cluding the parents of the practice school children, members of the faculty, and practice school teachers. A Shakespeare Club has been organized. All are making good. Last year fifty-five certificates were issued, sixty-five have already been issued up to date, April 22, 1914. One hundred and nineteen are enlisted to receive certificates and thirty-five enlisted for diplomas by the close of the seventh term. The Normal College enrolled more students the first session than were enrolled by any other of Missis!ippi's institutions for the first session, and it is third in enrollment now. This shows that the col- lege is doing a work that is meeting the needs of Mississippi teachers. Another reason for this enrollment is that the expenses are within reach of the people. During the past session the average cost of board was 58.25 per month in the dormitories and 36.83 per month in the Industrial Cottage. Up to date this year the average cost of board has been 39.00 per month in the dormitories and about 36.30 per month in the Industrial Cottage. There are a great number of boys and girls in Mississippi who are unable to spend a large amount of money on their education, but who vsill eagerly grasp opportunities given them in this school. The Normal College stands for clean, pure, efficient lives. Its pur- pose is to train teachers for the country schools, to fit them to be leaders in the development of every phase of rural life. The cirriculum has been mapped out and the whole system has been organized with reference to this purpose. The Normal College has a bright future before it and every loyal student will do every thing in his or her power to carry the good work on. Never shall we forget the valuable lessons taught us while here. May we ever carry with us that spirif of personal responsibility, Co-operation, and the respects for the other fe1low's rights that have been stressed so much in this institution. M. R.