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Selma University. Selma. Ala.
Rev. R. T. Pollard, D. D., President
SELMA ~IYERSITY, originally named Alabama Baptist
ormal and Theological School, and once known as
Alabama Bapti t Colored University, is the product of
earne t and faitWul endeavor.
Early as 1873 men who had recently been freed from slavery
began to consult among themselves whether or not there
should be e tablished a chool in which men who proposed to
enter the ministry, and men and women who expected to be
teachers and leaders along other lines, might be educated.
Rev. W. H. McAlpine was the founder of the institution.
Because of his indomitable will and energy, a set of resolutions,
looking towards establi hing the institution, and which had
previously been voted down by the Alabama Baptist State
Convention, was reconsidered and voted favorably upon, even
again t the advice of the White Baptist State Convention of
Alabama, which was in ession at the same time and in the
same city as the Colored Convention.
The institution opened its doors January, 1878. During the
thirty years of its existence it progress has been marvelou .
The fir t ten years-were year of peril and misgivings, for the
promoter did not fully understand that it requires monev, and
much of it, to run an institution. ear the close of the first
decade the institution found it elf nearly ten thousand dollars in
debt, with no visible avenue for getting out. Almost weekly
for one year the creditors threatened to close its doors. The
sheriff was daily expected to take charge of the property for the
benefit of its creditors.
Loyal Negro Baptists of Alabama
" Man did not see the wav out, but God did." There were •
thirty-six acres of land belonging to the property. The Board
of trustees sold ix acre and applied the money to the debt.
Then Revs. W. H. McAlpine and J. Q. A. Wilhite were appointed
financial agents in order to raise the balance on the
debt. The Negro Baptist of Alabama stood by them until the
last cent of the debt was paid in 1890. Following the liquidation
of the debt, steps were taken to erect a dormitory for girls.
The building, containing forty-eight rooms, was erected at a
cost of about eight thousand dollars, the women of the state being
111
the leaders in this undertaking. This project caused another
hea\'.'" debt which was wiped out in 1898. The brick to erect
the building, as well a those for building erected subsequentl.",
were made by student and other labor on the premi e
of the institution. During all this time, beginning with the
close of the school year of 1884, the in titution wa sending
out graduates who were being scattered everywhere to bles
mankind.
Dinkins Memorial Chapel Erected
It was not long after the debt for the first building had been
cancelled before the board of trustees, by the suggestion of
President Dinkins, began raising money for another building;
but not more than about fifteen hundred dollars for this building,
to cost $18,000, had been raised, before President Dinkins (in
1901) was called to his reward.
Mter a year's inactivity, so far as this new building was
concerned, the present incumbent (R. T. Pollard), who was
made president, was charged in 1902 with the duty of completing
the work. In less than two years a: four- tory brick
structure of the best material was erected and named "Dinkins
Memorial Chapel," in honor of former President Dinkins,
who began the work, but was not allowed to finish it. This
building was erected with brick made on the chool grounds by
student and other labor, has large recitation rooms on the first
and second floors, an auditorium on the third floor that will
seat twelve or fifteen hundred, and a dormitory of eighteen
commodious rooms on the fourth floor.
The Institution Grows Steadily
The University grows steadily and substantially along all
lines. It has a faculty of 19 teachers, graduates from some
of the best colleges and universities in thi country.
The numerical growth of the institution has been most flattering.
There are 762 students, of whom about four hundred
are non-resident. There are 74 ministerial and theological student.
The departments are: literary, theological. and industrial.
The literary embraces academic and college courses, and
the industrial include fancy and plain ewing, millinery and
dome tic science. There have gone out from the in titution
about four hundred graduates, who are now filling important
places as pastors, home and Foreign mis ionarie , medical doctor ,
pharmacist , clerks, mer hant , farmers, hou ekeeper , teachers.
and college pre idents.
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