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A Survey of the African American Experience at Indiana State University 1870-1975: A Pictorial Timeline Written on the Occasion of the 7th Anniversary of the Incorporated Gathering African American Reunion 2014 (IndianaPROOF State University) By Crystal Mikell Reynolds, Ph.D. Designed by Hyung-Jung Chang, M.F.A. The author would like to thank all of the African American Alumni of ISU, Sam Dixon of the Incorporated Gathering, and the ISU Archives, especially Cinda, Dennis, Katie, and Josh, the Indiana Statesman, the Vigo County History Society, Dr. Christopher Olsen, Dr. Richard Clokey, Dr. Nancy Latta, and Ms. Hyung-Jung Chang. She would also like to thank her children Alvin and Yzabel for their patience and faith. Photos are courtesy of Indiana State University Archives, Indiana State University Statesman, and the Vigo County Historical Society. Photos are not to be reproduced without permission of these entities. This book is courtesy of the Department of History and African American Studies at Indiana State University. All donations will help to further the goals of the Incorporated Gathering. Crystal ReynoldsPROOF can be reached at [email protected] Hyung-Jung Chang, graphic designer, can be reached at [email protected] 1916—The editors of the 1916 Indiana 1911—Evangeline Harris State Normal School’s Normal Advance April 1888—Indiana State Merriweather graduated from (precursor to the yearbook) printed a Normal School’s Old Main Indiana State Normal School. stereotypical image of an African building burned, destroying Merriwether became a teacher, American woman. The picture was of a most of the school’s records, author, and soprano soloist. Black woman in the “mammy” imagery, including those of students of Renowned scientist, George an image which was a popular stereo- 1915—Leonidas Blake is color. Because of the loss of the Washington Carver, was quite typical image of Black women during believed to be the first records, the number of Black impressed with her children’s this time. This stereotypical mammy 1919—Terre Haute Native Jane African American track students attending ISNS between books and referred to her as image appeared throughout the Dabney Shackelford (1895- athlete at Indiana State 1870 and 1888 is unknown. an early pioneer of the Civil School’s yearbooks in the first two 1979), educator and author, Normal School. This Terre Rights Movement. decades of the Twentieth Century. graduated from Indiana State Haute native was reported Normal School. In the 1930’s to be an outstanding athlete. and 1940’s, she published several renowned children’s books which explored African American history and culture. 1870 1880 1890 1900 1915 1915 1920 1918—John W. Lyda (1886-1969), Terre 1920—To deal Haute native, graduated from Indiana State with life on a 1870—Zachariah M. Anderson 1903—First official class photograph 1913—Black students Normal School. He was a renowned teacher predominately White of Terre Haute, Indiana,PROOF attended of African-American Students appear were members of the PROOFat Booker T. Washington Junior High School campus, the Black Indiana State Normal School. He is in the Indiana State Normal School Equal Suffrage League of (The Tenth District School) in Terre Haute students at Indiana believed to be the first Black student Normal Advance, a combination the State Normal School. during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. State Normal School to attend ISNS. He became yearbook and newspaper. The Bertha Coakley was one 1918—During World War I, Black soldiers were His book the Negro in Indiana (1953) founded the the first teacher in the newly Normal Advance, (1895-1919), such member in 1913. being trained at Indiana State Normal School. received high acclaimed for its research organization established school for Blacks in provides a glimpse into the lives Women would get the Although the training camp for the Student Army and scholarship. His son Dr. Wesley Lyda AMICITIA, the Latin Terre Haute. of Black students during the early right to vote with the Training Corps was located on the campus, became ISU’s first chair of the Afro American word for friendship. years of the School. passage of the 19th the Black and White soldiers were trained and Studies Department. The organization Amendment in 1920. housed separately. However, it would appear was in existence that the federal government at this time did not from 1920 -1924. practice photograph segregation, for the Black soldiers were photographed among the White soldiers in the official photographs. 1 2 1925 1930-1939—African —Reeves Hall became the second 1927—Tindolph Cook of Bloomington, 1933—Junius “Rainey” Bibbs was 1929 American students residential facility for women at Indiana Indiana was recognized both by the —The Indiana a standout in baseball at Indiana continued to be active State Teachers College. It was founded for editors of the Indiana State Normal State Teacher’s State Teacher’s College. He was also in social clubs and female students, White female students. In School newspaper and the yearbook College segregated a fullback on the football team. Bibbs organizations. The 1930, the College formally stated for the first as one of the School’s finest athletes. Student Council was was one of the most celebrated black elementary club was time that the women’s residence halls were Cook was a standout on the football dismantled. The athletes both during his years at ISTC perhaps the most popular for “White women only”. What had been team and the only Black member 1929 New Student and in subsequent years with the club. However, traditionally standard practice at the College was now during his four year tenure on the Constitution gave Negro Baseball Leagues. Because White national social an official written policy. Almost three more football team. It would appear that Black students a of his remarkable baseball feats, fraternities and sororities decades would pass before Black women Cook was the first African American seat on the Student Bibbs was inducted into the ISU Hall were still off limits to were allowed to reside in Reeves Hall. to make the ISNS football team in Council. of Fame in 1998. the School’s history. these students. 1920 1925 1930 1930 1935 1925—Charles T. Hyte, beloved educator at Booker 1925—Babe Holland of 1926—Warren Anderson 1931—Donald Porter of Terre Haute 1934—Indiana State T. Washington School (10th Terre Haute, graduated of Terre Haute, scholar 1930—Georgia Offutt, received the Bigwood Award for Teacher’s College District School) for Black PROOFwith a bachelor of arts athlete, received Indiana PROOFthis future Crispus Attucks his outstanding track performance. purchased a house off children, graduated from degree from Indiana State State Teachers College’s High School educator, The Bigwood Award was presented campus to board Black Indiana State Normal School. Normal School. He was a Highest Athletic Award, received the prestigious each year to the athlete who was women students. Phyllis He was a community activist standout on the School’s the Hines Award. He was “I” Women Award, the deemed most worthy based on Wheatley Hall was the and worked tirelessly for the baseball team and a three prominently featured in highest award that a athletics and scholarship. Porters result of the efforts of advancement of Black people 1927—On this date, Sylvestor “Sy” year letterman in track. He the 1927 ISNS yearbook. woman in a campus receiving the Bigwood Award was local Terre Haute African in Terre Haute until his death Laffoon, the son of a local Terre Haute went on to have successful He became the first Black organization at Indiana a remarkable feat for a Black male American activists Daisy in 1941. In 1942, a community business owner, graduated from Indiana teaching, coaching, and member of the Indiana State Teacher’s College at a predominantly White college Hood and Grace center was named in his honor. State Normal School. The Terre Haute administrative careers Board of Education. native was a track star on both Wiley High could earn. at this time. Wilson Evans. The Hyte Center is still viable in Texas. today although now located School and ISNS teams. He was the father in a different location. of famed Terre Haute educator Barbara Sizemore. He was tragically killed by Terre Haute police in 1936. 3 4 1940—Gary native Darathula 1937—A group of Black 1942—Willa Brown 1946—Clinton Mitchem “Dolly” (Hood) Millender graduated male students at Indiana State Chappell 1927 Indiana of Indianapolis, along with 1938—In the 1940s and the 1950s, Jane Dabney from Indiana State Teachers College. Teachers College organized the State Teacher’s College his six White counterparts, Shackelford (1895-1979), a 1914 graduate of Logansport Daughter of Terre Haute activist Statonian Club. One of the most graduate, became the first was appointed to the High School and a 1919 graduate of ISTC, published Daisy Hood, she has had an illustrious popular and successful Black 1938—Mabel Evans Cason, the daughter Black woman to become Student Union Board several renowned children’s books which explored career as an educator, librarian, organizations of its time, it had of Terre Haute activist Grace Wilson Evans, a member of the Civil Air of Management by African American history. Her children’s books broke renowned author, and activist. as its members Quenton Smith graduated from Indiana State Teacher’s Patrol. Chappell was also a President Ralph Tirey. new ground. This educator received honors both locally Daughter Naomi Millender attended of Gary, IN, Nathanial Scott College with a bachelor of arts degree in flight instructor at Tuskeegee Mitchem would also hold and nationally for bestselling books, such as The Family ISU in the 1960s and became the first and Otis Turner of Terre Haute.

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