University of Maryland Eastern Shore Campus - Hawk Yearbook (Princess Anne, MD)

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the college followed, and finally some attention was directed to the expected increased support of the institution. In brief, it was concluded by the officers of the board that from the time the State assumed control of the college program, in terms of excellence, the institution had won little recognition as a center of learning in higher education. It was the further observation of the regents that the derogatory statements coming forward relative to the neglect of the college had merit and that they had been assured that adequate financial support for the college would be immediately forthcoming. It was stressed that assurance of increased aid was possible because the people of the State were demanding that the program of Princess Anne be placed on a sound basis, and the Regents were ready to see that this was done. Thus, in September 1947, when the present administration of Maryland State College began, high regard was given by the new president to the challenge presented. However, it must be stressed that at that time the prestige of the college was so low that the Higher Education in Maryland survey 6. The control of a negro college by a Board of Re- gents whose main interest is in a State University for white students is not likely to result in satisfac- tory facilities for negro students. Indeed, in addition to the publicity given to the recommen- dations included in this survey, several prominent newspa- pers at that time found it difficult to justify the continued existence of the institution. The fact is, during the period mentioned above, intense and vitriolic hostility on the part of many negroes and white people was directed against officials of the University of Maryland, other supporters of the college, and the president of the institution for advocating the con- tinuation of Maryland State College. This was the climate surrounding the college when on De- cember 17, 1947, the Legislative Council met on the Campus of Maryland State College in a day-long session to consider formally the necessity for continuing the existence of this particular state-supported institution. A general feeling of opposition was directed toward the decision of this body when Graduating Class, 1894 recommended that, along with other colleges, the Princess Anne College should be abohshed. In brief, according to the survey, the principal reasons underlying this recommendation were: 1- The college is unfortunately located . ... it is dif- ficult of access from other areas of the State ... 2. The Institution has no recognition by either na- tional or regional accrediting agencies. 3. The cost per student is excessively high, even though the quality of the program is low. 4. It can never hope to attract a student body for efficient operation .... 5. Princess Anne College is now a branch of the Uni- versity of Maryland. Under this arrangement, the development of the negro land-grant college has been shamefully neglected. it recommended that the college should continue its operation. In the period under discussion the concepts and attitudes expressed by news media and from certain quarters in the State were so adverse that a newly-elected Governor of Mary- land in his inaugural address included a statement to the effect that there would be no increase in funds for the college until certain answers were forthcoming and a number of de- cisions had been made. This assertion rang so loudly throughout the State that for the first time since the beginning of the new administra- tion in 1947, negro citizens of the Eastern Shore Counties organized the Eastern Shore Citizens ' Association, in an at- tempt to defend the college. One of the efforts of this associ- ation was to send 750 people to Annapolis to witness the attempts of their elected officers to explain to the Governor of 13

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ginning of research. It is the intention of the State, apparently, to provide at Princess Anne work of a comparable quality and standard to that at College Park. The development at Princess Anne will involve four-year work in the arts and sciences, in the field of mechanic arts, in home eco- nomics, and in agriculture. It is expected that agricul- tural research will be carried on at Princess Anne as well as at College Park. The future of that part of the University of Maryland located at Princess Anne seems now to be assured. The Challenge In September 1947, the president of the University and the chairman of the Board of Regents in a conference held in the office of the president of Princess Anne College (now Mary- land State College) carefully pointed out the job ahead as indicated by the statements appearing in the catalog of that year and made pertinent comments concerning them. Among the many comments offered were statements concerning the necessity for the students and employees of the college to give attention and regard to the mores and folkways of the people of the local geographic area. A discussion concerning the immediate present need for strengthening the offerings of John Henry Nutter 1857-1949 Offered First Position As Principal Pezavia O ' Connell 1861-1930 Third Principal, 1899-1902 12 Thomas H. Kiah 1873-1936 Fifth Principal

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the State their desire to have the program of the college con- tinued and improved. In addition to the efforts of the Eastern Shore Citizens ' Association, the Maryland State College Na- tional Alumni Association was motivated to send several dif- ferent small groups and committees to seek the ear of the Governor and individual members of the University Board of Regents to urge them to lend their active support to the pro- gram of the College. While these attempts were not entirely futile, the Governor of the State did not see fit to recommend funds for capital outlay for the construction of buildings. In- deed, not one single capital outlay appropriation was granted the college over an eight-year period. The years mentioned constituted a critical period for the College. A new administration had just begun, and there was almost universal questioning of the accreditation of the col- lege, in comparison with the status of the College Park area of the University. In brief, justification for the continued ex- istence of the College was overtly discussed over an extended number of years. The State Legislature of 1957 made the first clear-cut ap- propriation of funds for the construction of buildings since 1949. By this time, there could be no question concerning the accreditation of the institution, because in 1953 the Middle States Association, in a separate evaluation, had given its approval for full accreditation of Maryland State College. By way of comment, the Middle States Accrediting Association in its report of that year stated, in part: Finally to be noted is the extraordinary spirit of co- hesiveness and optimism which pervades the Princess Delcon Hall, Built In 1892; Destroyed By Fire, 1959 Anne campus. From the President to the last freshman, these people are convinced that there is a job to do, confident that they can do it, grateful for the resources which have already been put at their disposal, hopeful that their very considerable needs will continue to be met by the University and the State, alert to changing needs and situations, and courageous in facing them . . . In evaluating the College, one recognizes an intrinsic merit. It is pioneering and experimenting intelligently. Once a student is admitted, he or she receives guidance and faculty interest to develop all inherent qualities. Emphasis is placed on the student as an individual, not on the student as a group type .... Following the year that the College received its statement of accreditation from the Middle States Association, there began a new era for the institution. As already mentioned, in 1957 there was the beginning of small state appropriations for capital outlay, and there has been an attempt since that time for state financial sources to provide greater cooperation. Today, it is apparent that the Board of Regents is vitally inter- ested in bringing the institution up to the level where it will be comparable with the University as a whole. (The parts of this brief History are excerpts from works prepared by Dr. W. Augustus Low and Dr. John T. Wilhams) Eliza Smith, Whose Father Gave First Girls Dormitory In Her Memory, 1892 14