Wilberforce University - Forcean Yearbook (Wilberforce, OH)

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BENJAMIN F LEE 1876 1884 SAMUEL T MITCHELL 1884 1900 A A ' . l - I - - - i , - l 5 - - I ' ' force University. He also made contact with per- sons of means for the purpose of providing the needed revenue for continued operation. In spite of their pledges, however, five of the conferences failed to raise their quotas. Only the Ohio and the Baltimore Conferences raised the full amounts. Nevertheless, the agents succeeded in paying seven thousand and five hundred dollars on the property within two years. Before the agents made the final payment on the property, the main building was destroyed by fire. This incident placed the university authori- ties in a serious dilemma, and there was some speculation as to whether the school would be continued. President Payne and his co-workers, however, were determined not to be defeated, and redoubled their efforts to raise the necessary funds with which to rebuild. ln the meantime, Miss Malt- by fitted up classrooms in one of the cottages and continued the work of instruction for those who were not compelled to withdraw. While many of the students did not return to Wilberforce, Miss Maltby's retirement left the school without an ade- quate teaching staff. For a period, much of the instruction was done by J. P. Shorter, one of the advanced students. Shortly after the nation entered the world war, the faculty passed resolutions placing the entire resources of Wilberforce University at the disposal of the government. Telegrams were sent to the President of the United States and to the Governor of Ohio informing them of this action. The Presi- dent replied, as did the Governor, thanking the institution and assuring it that it would be called upon when needed. At a meeting of June 30, 1858, Richard S, Rust, a distinguished member of the New Hampshire Conference, was unanimously elected president of the institution and began his active work at the institution in September of the same year. As an individual, President Rust was exceedingly active: and it was not long before the enrollment increased from a few students to nearly one hun- dred. He revised the curriculum and made exten- sive plans for the future of the institution as a college. In fact, it is said of him that he developed the institution from a primary school into a college within a short time. The African Methodist Episcopal Church then gain- ed possesion of the institution, largely through the efforts of Bishop Daniel A. Payne, and on March 10, 1863, the institution was newly incor- porated as WiIberforce University of the AME Church. In rapid succession the following depart- ments were established by the AME Church in the university: the theological, in 18653 the classi- cal and scientific, in 18671 and the normal, in 1872. The charter secured, by the AME Church for Wil- berforce University of the AME Church , stated that the university was incorporated for the pur- pose of promoting education, religion, and moral- ity among the colored race ... and the institution shall be and forever remain under management, direction and control of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and for that, a maiority of the 5

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I 5 I RICHARD S. RUST 1858-1862 DANIEL A. PAYNE 1863-1876 ri Civic The History of Wilberforce University Wilberforce is in picturesque, rural Southern Ohio, yet close to the urban centers of Dayton, Spring- field. Columbus and Cincinnati, all of which offer supplemental facilities, cultural advantages and employment opportunities. Activities and student associations are shared by Antioch College, Wil- mington College. and Central State University. The City of Xenia fthe summer home of the Shaw- nee lndians in times pastj boasts a population of 25,000 and is a good shopping center. It provides a resource for field study and recreation. The village of Wilberforce is a small community with a history of significant activity in the underground railway of pre-Civil War days. Adjacent to the campus is the beautiful wooded valley of Massies Creek, and nearby is John Bryan State Park, the gorge of the little Miami River and an extensive wilderness area, Glen Helen, which is supported for public use by Antioch College. Wilberforce University, named after the English statesman and abolitionist, William Wilberforce, was founded in 1843 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the higher education of Blacks, and called The Ohio African University. Thirteen years later, in 1856, this name was changed to Wilberforce University of the ME Church. This action was approved by a board of twenty-four incorporators, including Governor Samuel P. Chase, of the state of Ohio. Thus the interest of the state of Ohio in education at Wilberforce stems from this participation by Governor Chase in the incorporation of the original institution. The institution was formally dedicated by Rev. Edward Thompson, the president of the Ohio Wes- leyan University of Delaware, Ohio, in October, 1856, and M. P. Gaddis, Jr., of the Methodist Episco- pal Church was elected the principal. Gaddis con- tinued to serve in this capacity until June 26 1857. v The immediate direction of the school under the new auspices was left to John G. Mitchell, who opened the school the first week of July with only six pupils. The enrollment increased rapidly, however, and before long, the services of the wife of the principal, Mrs. Fannie A. Mitchell, were required to assist with the work of instruction. By the beginning of the Spring term 1864, it was necessary to secure still another teacher. Miss Esther Maltby, of Oberlin, a teacher in the schools of the American Missionary Society at Portsmouth, Virginia, was secured as lady principal and teacher. By the following year the enrollment increased and the curriculum was broadened to include instruction in Greek, Latin, and lower mathematics for the more advanced pupils. John G. Mitchell ln the meantime, President Payne busied himself mostly with financial matters pertaining to the school. He visited all seven of the Annual Con- ferences of the church, and secured the pledges of each to raise two thousand dollars for Wilber-

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6WW0'DGXMVDG'NM'0 DGNMfDGWQ0fiJo-wQ07TocfT'vQ0'fv6N'w0To JOSHUA H. JONES 1900-1908 WILLIAMS S. SCAR BOROUGH 1908-1920 QJWND epwxs emma wwxv f-Yfaassgv e-Ames 0.0089 CLJWA-'J 6 board of directors and trustees shall always be members of said African Methodist Episcopal Church. After Bishop Payne had contracted to purchase the Wilberforce University plant for the A.M.E. Church in March, 1863, he soon secured the co- operation of Professor J. G. Mitchell, then principal of the Eastern District School in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Rev. J. A. Shorter, pastor of the AME Church in Zanesville, Ohio, in the new venture. ln the next three months these men, as agents of the AME Church raised twenty-five hundred dollars, the down payment under the contract, and on June 11, 1863, the property was formally turned over to them as agents of the church. Immediately, these agents busied themselves in getting a new charter, and in finding prominent persons who would be willing to act as trustees. Within a month these details had been attended to and the new charter was granted on July 10, 1863. Very soon the new board of trustees was organized and the administrative staff of the new institution was elected. D. A. Payne was elected president of the university, J. A. Shorter became the treasurer, and John G. Mithcell was made the principal. Owing to the fact that Wilberforce University was the only Black school with a military department supported by the national government, it immedi- ately took the lead in war service among the Black colleges. The institution sent its quota of men to the First, Third, and Fourth Training Camps and had a large return of men with commissions, including captains, lieutenants, and sergeants. When the call came for clerks for the army, Wil- berforce was again called upon to furnish a quota of seven, which was promptly filled. Three Wilber- force professors and six students took intensive training at the Washington, D. C. Training Camp. Wilberforce men received commissions at Camp Hancock, Georgia, where they were trained as machine gunners. A number of second lieutenants were commissioned at Camp Pike, Arkansas, where training was given in the use of artillery. ln fact, by September, 1918, Wilberforce had as- serted her ascerfdency in the matter of military contributions. President Scarborough Cthen Presi- dent of Wilberforce Universityj summed up the Wilberforce war work by stating that, We may say with becoming modesty and pardonable pride that in all the cantonments Wilberforce students have stood highest as compared with those of other institutions. We have the word of officers for this statement and we have the commissions TO Show Our great pYOpOr'tiOl1 among the grad- uates. During the school year of 1918, the comprehensive plan to cooperate with the colleges in the training of college students was in operation at Wilber- force, and a student Army Training Corps of 400 Soldiers was sent to the University for academic and vocational training. In these movements the institution assumed the responsibility for housing, food, and drill grounds, which created quite a problem with the facilities at hand.