African American Public Schools, 1870s
"Colored Public School," Tuscaloosa Weekly Times, May 12. 1899.
Educational Reconstruction, the twenty-five years of African American education, has two distinct periods – Freedmen’s School and State-Funded Public School eras. Before the failed passage of the 1890 Blair Education Bill, Tuscaloosa schools mirror those of Mobile and other urban districts of the state. While the University only allowed African Americans to work at the campus (above image), Henderson Johnson, Cornelius Garland, and others helped to secure a system of schools for the generation of freedom's children. The documents below detail the activities, teachers, expenditures, and major developments of the second period of Educational Reconstruction.
Document 1: Presbyterian HBCU Update, 1878
Published in the city mainstream paper, this article notes the creation of the Stillman Institute (currently Stillman College) by the Presbyterian General Assembly.
In the Presbyterian General Assembly South, at Knoxville, Tennessee, last Saturday, encouraging reports were presented from the Union and Columbia Theological Seminaries. Rev. Dr. McIlwain, Secretary, at Baltimore, read annual report on the Sustentation and Foreign mission. More Churches are contributing to these causes than heretofore, yet this is a lack of funds to carry on the work efficiently. Rev. Dr. J. N. Waddel, Secretary, reported on education that 150 were studying for the ministry. More mans were needed to aid the students. Rev. Dr. Stillman reported that ten students were studying at the colored institute at Tuskaloosa, Ala., for the ministry. More would attend if aid was offered them. Rev. T. H. Chambers, D.D. , here from New York as a delegate from the General Assembly of the Reformed Dutch Church, was presented to the Assembly.
The case of Dr. E. T. Baird, against the synod of Va. was concluded by the General Assembly, on May 25th. His complaint was not sustained. The indebtedness of the Publishing Committee, all told is $38,000. They recommend the sale of the Publishing House in Richmond. The Publishing is now done in St. Louis, by contract. Drs. Armstrong and Reynolds appointed a committee to superintend the printing of the Revised Book.
Dr. Stillman’s opening sermon before the General Assembly is thus spoken of by the S. W. Presbyterian in its editorial notes from Knoxville – “The opening sermon was full of rich thought and plan and bold statements of truth, such as found a hearty agreement in the minds of probably all the members of the Assembly. All were made to feel more fully the power of truth, the necessity of a ‘really consecrated ministry’ and ‘membership’ and the privileges of ‘believing prayer.’”
The Methodist General Conference, says the S.W. Presbyterian, is doing valiantly. It has taken action favoring a Methodist Ecumenical Conference, and for a celebration of the first centennial of American Methodism to be held in Boston, Dec. 25th 1884.
The Northern General Assembly has sprung a question which is likely to arouse a voluminous discussion – changing the basis of representation to the number of the members instead of the Presbyteries. Here is likely to be a new Departure. – When through Presbyterians do take a stand they are hard to move either way. The old Covenanter’s prayer is not inappricable, if they would offer it sincerely – “Lord get me right – Thou knowest how hard-headed I am.”
The Methodist General Conference adopted an important report, declaring it to be the duty of the M.E. Church South to do all in its power to cherish the educational interest of the Colored people of the South, and pledge Church to do so.
Source: “General Assembly,” Tuscaloosa News, May 30, 1878, 3.
In the Presbyterian General Assembly South, at Knoxville, Tennessee, last Saturday, encouraging reports were presented from the Union and Columbia Theological Seminaries. Rev. Dr. McIlwain, Secretary, at Baltimore, read annual report on the Sustentation and Foreign mission. More Churches are contributing to these causes than heretofore, yet this is a lack of funds to carry on the work efficiently. Rev. Dr. J. N. Waddel, Secretary, reported on education that 150 were studying for the ministry. More mans were needed to aid the students. Rev. Dr. Stillman reported that ten students were studying at the colored institute at Tuskaloosa, Ala., for the ministry. More would attend if aid was offered them. Rev. T. H. Chambers, D.D. , here from New York as a delegate from the General Assembly of the Reformed Dutch Church, was presented to the Assembly.
The case of Dr. E. T. Baird, against the synod of Va. was concluded by the General Assembly, on May 25th. His complaint was not sustained. The indebtedness of the Publishing Committee, all told is $38,000. They recommend the sale of the Publishing House in Richmond. The Publishing is now done in St. Louis, by contract. Drs. Armstrong and Reynolds appointed a committee to superintend the printing of the Revised Book.
Dr. Stillman’s opening sermon before the General Assembly is thus spoken of by the S. W. Presbyterian in its editorial notes from Knoxville – “The opening sermon was full of rich thought and plan and bold statements of truth, such as found a hearty agreement in the minds of probably all the members of the Assembly. All were made to feel more fully the power of truth, the necessity of a ‘really consecrated ministry’ and ‘membership’ and the privileges of ‘believing prayer.’”
The Methodist General Conference, says the S.W. Presbyterian, is doing valiantly. It has taken action favoring a Methodist Ecumenical Conference, and for a celebration of the first centennial of American Methodism to be held in Boston, Dec. 25th 1884.
The Northern General Assembly has sprung a question which is likely to arouse a voluminous discussion – changing the basis of representation to the number of the members instead of the Presbyteries. Here is likely to be a new Departure. – When through Presbyterians do take a stand they are hard to move either way. The old Covenanter’s prayer is not inappricable, if they would offer it sincerely – “Lord get me right – Thou knowest how hard-headed I am.”
The Methodist General Conference adopted an important report, declaring it to be the duty of the M.E. Church South to do all in its power to cherish the educational interest of the Colored people of the South, and pledge Church to do so.
Source: “General Assembly,” Tuscaloosa News, May 30, 1878, 3.
Document 2: Colored Institute, 1878
Published in the city mainstream paper, this brief article praises the creation of the Stillman Institute (currently Stillman College) by the Presbyterian General Assembly.
It will be gratifying to the friends of the Institute for training colored ministers in the Presbyterian church to learn that the General Assembly “endorsed the Institute at Tuskaloosa and took action suggesting measures for its interests and progress.”
Source: “Colored Institute,” Tuscaloosa News, May 30, 1878, 3.
It will be gratifying to the friends of the Institute for training colored ministers in the Presbyterian church to learn that the General Assembly “endorsed the Institute at Tuskaloosa and took action suggesting measures for its interests and progress.”
Source: “Colored Institute,” Tuscaloosa News, May 30, 1878, 3.
Document 3: Colored School #1 Exhibition, 1878
Published in the city mainstream newspaper, this articles places the African American educational attainment within prevailing southern white understands of race relations following political Redemption.
We regret that other engagements prevented our attending the Exhibition of Jerry Barnes’s Colored School last Thursday evening, because we desire to know how they are taught, what is taught them, and to do this one must go to the place where they are taught and learn for himself. – We understand the children acquitted themselves very handsomely; speaking with remarkable ease and a fair degree of correctness. We feel a deep interests in the welfare of the colored people, and are glad to know of any effort on their part to better their condition. While they cannot hope, nor do we expect, any great number of them to reach eminence in learning, yet it is a duty they owe themselves, the community they owe themselves, the community and the State, to use every means of refining, educating, and elevating themselves and their race.
By education they become better laborers, more intelligent farmers, and are better able to comprehend the duties of citizenship. It is our candid opinion however that they ought to let politics alone. We are in favor of granting them all the rights of citizenship, - but having this great responsibility thrust upon them without any preparation, they were and are not now in a condition to act with that intelligence which in a proper sense, constitute the good citizen. If they ever attain any degree of excellence, they will owe it to their own persevering efforts. We have no prejudice on this subject which are inimical to the highest interests of the colored race. We never wood have enfranchised them, but now that it has been done, by the results of the war we would not for any consideration remand him to his former condition. There should be no antagonism between the races. We feel none toward them, and are glad to help them establish schools and do rejoice in their educational improvement. But the Caucasian race must, will and ought to govern in State affairs. – Those of them who dream of social equality, and those bad men who prompt and feed the morbid desires are fools and enemies to both races.
Source: “Colored School Exhibition,” Tuscaloosa News, August 1, 1878, 3.
We regret that other engagements prevented our attending the Exhibition of Jerry Barnes’s Colored School last Thursday evening, because we desire to know how they are taught, what is taught them, and to do this one must go to the place where they are taught and learn for himself. – We understand the children acquitted themselves very handsomely; speaking with remarkable ease and a fair degree of correctness. We feel a deep interests in the welfare of the colored people, and are glad to know of any effort on their part to better their condition. While they cannot hope, nor do we expect, any great number of them to reach eminence in learning, yet it is a duty they owe themselves, the community they owe themselves, the community and the State, to use every means of refining, educating, and elevating themselves and their race.
By education they become better laborers, more intelligent farmers, and are better able to comprehend the duties of citizenship. It is our candid opinion however that they ought to let politics alone. We are in favor of granting them all the rights of citizenship, - but having this great responsibility thrust upon them without any preparation, they were and are not now in a condition to act with that intelligence which in a proper sense, constitute the good citizen. If they ever attain any degree of excellence, they will owe it to their own persevering efforts. We have no prejudice on this subject which are inimical to the highest interests of the colored race. We never wood have enfranchised them, but now that it has been done, by the results of the war we would not for any consideration remand him to his former condition. There should be no antagonism between the races. We feel none toward them, and are glad to help them establish schools and do rejoice in their educational improvement. But the Caucasian race must, will and ought to govern in State affairs. – Those of them who dream of social equality, and those bad men who prompt and feed the morbid desires are fools and enemies to both races.
Source: “Colored School Exhibition,” Tuscaloosa News, August 1, 1878, 3.
