A Story of Survival

HISTORY OF ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY A Story of Survival HISTORY OF ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY A Story of Survival by EVELYN ADELAIDE JOHNSON VANTAGE PRESS NEW YORK/WASHINGTON/ATLANTA/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO To president, boards of trustees, faculty, and many worthy students who have used the knowledge gained within the portals of this institution to improve all mankind and to add glory and honor to the name Elizabeth City State University Alma Mater To thee dear Alma Mater, A tribute song we sing, Of thy true worth to all of us O may we honor bring Refrain Hail to thy lovely halls, ECSU We’ll hear when duty calls, ECSU Faithful and ever true, we’ll be to you. For in our hearts, we’ll still love thee ECSU. So now we’ll join together For thee O State to work Let none of us be faint at heart Nor any duty shirk. Words and Melody by Jay Wallace Brown Harmonized by Evelyn Adelaide Johnson CONTENTS Preface xiii Chapter I. Prologue: Inception of an Idea 1890-1891 1 Inception of an Idea 3 Location: A Historical Setting 6 II. The Torch Bearer 1891-1928 8 Peter Weddick Moore: The Man 9 A Job to Be Done 11 Climate of Thought, 1891-1903 13 Philosopher, Educator, and Administrator 15 Students, Student Activities, and Teachers (1893-1912) 21 Religious Activity 23 Lyceum 24 Teachers 24 Teachers, Salaries 24 Sources of Funds, 1907-1908 27 Improving the Plant 31 Building Teacher Training Standards 32 The Pangs of Growth, 1923-1928 36 Athletics 39 Management Turmoils 41 III. The Struggle for Permanence 1928-1939 47 The Cloudy Way 48 Economic Crisis 51 Change in Title, Status, and Plans for Future Development 59 Formulation of a Curriculum 62 Financial Strides 63 Assessment of Progress, 1892-1939 67 IV. Planning for Quality Education 1939-1945 71 Curriculum Development 73 Student Organizations and Activities 87 Formal Clubs 91 Dramatic Club 95 Objectives for, 1944-1945 95 Dramatic Tournament 96 College Choir 96 Social Studies Club 99 Alpha Kappa Mu 100 Christian Organizations 100 Informal Clubs 100 Thalia Sorosis 101 Imperial Nautilus Club 101 Be Natural Club 101 Sigma Delta Omega Club 102 Collegiate 4-H Club 103 Annual High-School Day 104 Athletics 104 First Canteen 104 First Organized Health Services 105 Charter Day Celebration 106 Appraisal of the Years 1939-1946 106 Humor and Laughter During the Serious Days 108 The Departure: Dr. Harold L. Trigg Resigns 111 V. The Rising Tide 1946-1958 113 Internal changes 114 Preparation for Evaluation by American Association 116 Summary of Policies and Procedures 123 Athletics 125 Initiation of Student Government 134 Homecoming 138 Twelve Years of Physical Expansion 141 The New health Center (Infirmary) 145 Science Building 146 Food Service 146 Teachers’ Cottages 147 Other Accomplishments 147 Faculty Development 149 Curriculum Development 150 Degree Requirements 151 Grading System 152 Classification of Students 153 Honors 154 Accent on Music 155 Choirs 155 Bands 164 Greek-Letter Organizations 167 Who’s Who Among American Universities And Colleges 168 Braving the Storm 168 VI. Prelude to Action 1954-1958 176 VII. Rough Waters 1958-1968 178 Establishing Internal Stability 179 Lighthouse Student Center 189 Seventy-Fifth Anniversary 192 Presentation and Dedication of Buildings 195 Citations 195 Fine Arts Festivals 196 Miscellaneous Innovations 198 Nursery School 199 Intercollegiate Music Association 200 Traditional Candlelighting Services 202 Graduate Study at Elizabeth City State College 203 First College Retreat 204 Precollege Booster Program 204 Testing and Admissions Standards 205 Rough Waters 206 VIII. Meeting the Challenges of a New Day 1968-1974 Facing the New Day 212 Division of Special Studies and Programs 223 Other Academic Developments 225 Faculty and Staff in Perspective 1971-1974 226 Students in Perspective, 1968-1974 227 The Kindergarten 229 Landmark Events 230 Milestones 235 The Alumni in Perspective 236 Sample of Graduates and Former Students 239 Graduates Awarded Degrees: 1939-1970 245 Qualification of Graduates 248 The Thorpe Administration 250 IX. Epilogue: Today and Tomorrow 256 References 260 Appendix A 265 Appendix B 267 Appendix C 271 Preface ORIGINS AND CONTRIBUTIONS The original idea that history of Elizabeth City State University be written was verbally expressed by Dr. Edna L. Davis and Dr. Louise N. Sutton in an advisory council meeting in 1970. The board of trustees approved the suggestion and commissioned the writing in September 1970. I had hoped that either the late Rev. John T. Doles or Mrs. Edna H. Mitchell would have undertaken this task during their lifetime. They were both dedicated and loyal instructors who were well prepared to recount the story in a dramatic and interesting manner. Reverend Doles was a teacher of geography and history, while Mrs. Mitchell was a very capable professor of English and an alumna. I readily accepted the assignment because it was indeed a challenge. I was aware of the tremendous responsibility being placed upon me, yet I knew that it was a must because so little is written about black educators and their efforts to train the youth of their race and of their leadership, foresight, perseverance, courage, and ingenuity when faced with seemingly irresolute problems. It was because of these reasons that I could not refuse this time- consuming but challenging assignment. In February 1966, I had been asked to relate some of the history of the institution to students in the College Lighthouse, now called the University Center. It was at this time that I did a limited amount of research and wrote a brief history of Elizabeth City State College. Many of my colleagues, friends, and some members of the board of trustees considered this to be a good beginning for a more complete history. However, I felt that this brief history was xiii not nearly comprehensive enough to begin a reliable recounting of the events of importance in the development of the institution. After I had cogitated over several ideas, the subtitle, A Story of Survival, was decided upon through consultation with my colleague, Leonard R. Ballou, who is archivist-historian and director of institutional research at the university. While it is impossible to list the names of all persons who contributed to the completion of this official documents, I would like to acknowledge these: the board of trustees, for having allowed Chancellor Marion D. Thorpe the privilege of providing records in his office; Mrs. Cynthia Walker, administrative secretary to the chancellor, for securing the records; Dr. Louise N. Sutton, for her unfailing support and secretarial aid; Dr. Edna L. Davis, for reducing my teaching load, Mr. Hobson Thompson and Mrs. Gwendolyn Midgette, librarians, for their untiring aid in securing reference in the G. R. Little Library; Mr. James Law, for securing “cut of print, o n loan” material; Miss Odessa Williams, nonbook materials librarian, for newspaper articles on microfilm, from The North Carolinian and The Independent’ the family of Dr. John H. Bias, for pamphlets, pictures, and articles; Dr. Sidney D. Williams, for his briefed history of the institution; Mrs. Blanche Newell and the late Mr. James Mitchell, for materials from the files of the late Professor Edna H. Mitchell; Miss Olivia Hocutt, loyal alumna, for The Normal banner, published by the class of 1925; Mrs. Carlee Berry, Mr. Robert Oscar Frost, Mr. Aurelius P. Lester, Mr. Charles Bowser, Mr. Edward I. Clemmons, Dr. Walter N. Ridley, and Dr. Marion D. Thorpe, for tape recordings; Mrs. Dorothy Anderson, Mrs. Brenda Overton, Miss Carolyn White, and Mrs. Phyllis Anderson who typed numerous revisions of the manuscript. Several of my colleagues read and made suggestions for the whole or various portions of the manuscript. Among these were Mr. Robert Vaughan, Mrs. Alma N. Newby, Mrs. Katie S. Wamack, and Mrs. Lula G. Thorpe. Special acknowledgment must go to my friend, Miss Alice A. Jackson, retired librarian of Virginia State College, for reading the manuscript critically and making make valuable suggestions for its development. Special appreciation is also accorded Mr. Leonard R. Ballou for his constructive criticisms and use of his work, Pasquotank xiv Pedagogues and Politicians; Early Educational Struggle, and the constant help received from his secretary, Mrs. Dorethea Banks. Special recognition is accorded Mr. Jeff E. Smith, director of the Institute on Desegregation, associate director of research, evaluation and planning, and assistant compliance officer at North Carolina Central University, Dr. Benjamin F. Speller, Jr., professor of library science, School of Library Science, North Carolina Central University, for their many contributions. They provided technical and editorial assistance to me. This history would have been impossible in its final form without their valuable ideas and suggestions, critical attention to its content and organization, and dedication to and patience in shaping it to its present dimension. Although the manuscript was written over a five-year period, there were on funds to have it published. Since the task of raising funds was too much for me to undertake alone, I was really excited with relief when Mr. Jeff E. Smith, director of the Hugh Cale Memorial Scholarship Fund, agreed to help raise the necessary money to this book published with the understanding that profit from sold copies would be used to provide scholarships to attract secondary-school graduates with above-average abilities and special talents to Elizabeth City State University. I had complete faith and confidence in Mr. Smith’s decision and ability to perform this tedious, difficult, momentous task. The publishing of this history would have been impossible without Mr. Smith’s successful fund-raising efforts and support from Dr. Benjamin F. Speller, Jr., co-director, Hugh Cale Memorial Scholarship Fund; Mr. Eddie Davis, III, vice-president of ECSU General Alumni Association, who headed up the special General Alumni Association Task Force; and Mr.

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