Virginia State University - Trojan Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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FROM WHENCE WE COMETH College History The history of our proud land-grant college, Virginia State, is quite an interesting one. The campus is lo cated on the sloping green hills between Ettrick and Petersburg, Virginia. It has not always been known as Virginia State College, but was founded the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. The organization of this institution is attributable to the activities of the Virginia Negroes in politics during the eighties. The bill for establishing our Alma Mater was drawn up and led through the legislature by A. W. Harris in 1882. Neces- sary legislative action was made and on July 4, 1883, the cornerstone of Virginia Hall, the Main Building, was laid. In as much as construction funds were insufficient, appropriations were made by the legislature to enlarge the College. Work was diligently accomplished to the extent that in October, 1883, the school opened its doors and accepted 170 men and women in its first class. The courses of study embraced the normal and college departments. There were seven teachers, while James Storum, an Oberlin College graduate, acted as principal. In 1885 Professor James Major Colson succeeded Mr. Storum as principal for four months prior to the coming of John Mercer Langston, our first president. Mr. Langston immediately set out to build up a large and representative student body in addition to developing high standards of schol- arship and conduct. ln 1886 the college department sent out its first graduates. During its organization the department has awarded 48 men and women their degree of Bachelor of Arts. In May 1887 by an amendment to the original Act of Incorporation, the General Assembly standardized the curricula of the normal and college courses, while in the same year President Langston resigned his office to become representative in Congress. Consecrated service and lofty ideals were brought to the College by James Hugo Johnston in January 1888. During his administration the school met severe re verses through the force of politicians who were unsympathetic concerning the education of the Negro. As a result on March 29, 1902, in an amendment to the original Act of 1887, the General Assembly elimi- nated the College department and changed the name of the institution from Virginia Normal and Colle giate Institute to Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. In spite of this discouraging circumstance a second brick structure, Vawter Hall, was erected in 1908, and the faculty was enlarged. In 1914, following the death of President Johnson, John Manuel Gandy, an instructor at the institution since 1889, was elected third president. He worked diligently to further the interests of the college. In 1915 the courses of study were reorganized to meet national requirements for a four year high school and a two year normal school. Between 1918 and 1922 courses designed to train teachers of vocational sub jects were introduced, and the Board of Visitors restored the college department. In 1930, by legislative enactment, the name of the school was changed from Virginia Normal and lndus- trial Institute to Virginia State College for Negroes. Also, the Smith-Lever extension work for Negroes was brought to the College. Dr. Gandy retired on July 1, 1942, and was, until his death on October 5, 1947, the first President Emeritus and Professor of Research. Dr. Luther H. Foster, treasurer-business manager of the College, served as its acting president from July 1, 1942, until April 1, 1943. Later he was elected by the State Board of Education to become the fourth presi- dent. In 1946, by an act of the General Assembly, the official name of the institution became that of Virginia State College. On July 6, 1949, while in the midst of working on the physical expansion of the institution, President Foster died suddenly. Dr. James H. Johnston, ll served as acting president from that date until President Robert Prentiss Daniel of Shaw University was elected to the office by the State Board on Decem- ber 15, 1949. As we look to the future we carry the words of our President: If Virginia State College is to survive in the higher educational environment . . . we must understand and be able to conceptualize and carve ourselves a special niche in this environment, but we must first understand that environment. . . lf there is one phrase underlying the ferment of this critical period in the history of higher education and spe cifically for Virginia State College it would have to be 'The Age of Relevance'. THOMAS M. LAW

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TO YOU WE DEDICATE THE 1980 TROJAN YEARBOCJK ff

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