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w. S. BUCHANAR
•
Agricultural and Mechanical
College. Normal. Ala.
Walter S. Buchanan, President
THE Agricultural and Mechanical College, Normal, was
founded in 1875 by W. H. Councill, who was its president
until his death in April. ]909. In 1875. the annual appropriation
was $] .000. and there wa a facult~· of two teacher.
Th(' atkndance was about ixty pupils. In 1878, the annual
appropriation was doubled,
the teaching force increased,
and the school began to
attract general attention for
the great good it was doing
in preparing re ponsible
teachers.
In 1882, through s elf denial
on the part of the
principal and tea c her s,
strict economy in expending
appropriations, and by
aid of the Peabody and
Slater funds, and individual
donations, a lot was purcbased
and buildings were
el'ected for school purpose. To accomplish this. the teachers
taught for les than half salarie. The document which they
drew up and signed, donating a portion of tbeir salaries to the
state for the benefit of the race, i a witnes to their devotion
to the education of the Tegro. The property was deeded to
the state of Alabama in tru t for Negro education.
The school continu d in this way until 1885, when the legislature
of Alabama imTea ed the annual appropriation to $4,000,
ancl made it the Indu trial School for the Negroes of Alabama.
In ]891, the legislature made the chool a beneficiary of a fund
granted by act of Congrcs to be u ed for the more complete
endowment and the upport of college for the benefit of agriculture.
After thi the property at Huntsville wa' sold and
one hundrcd and eighty-two acre of land, located about four
miles north of Huntsville, was purcha ed. On this land are
twenty-two buildings,-Iaboratories, shops, library, reading
room. and museum.
The school has property valued at $75,000. It receives an
annuity of $4,000 from the state of Alabama, and an annuity of
about $11,000 from the general government. There were 25
Negro teachers and 326 students in 1908. Annual expenses,
$20,000.
The aim of the school is to afford young men and women of
the Negro race an opportunity to acquire a college education in
the arts and sciences, and at the same time acquire such technical
skill as will fit them to engage in and teach the industries
in a practical way.
The college embraces nine distinct schools,- school of mechanical
arts, school of agriculture, scientific literary school,
school of music, school of domestic science, school of business,
school of Biblical literature, normal school, preparatory school,
and training school.
The Carnegie Library Building was erected at a cost of
$12,000. There are biological, chemical, and physical laboratories.
The machine shops are supplied with two engines of
twenty horse-power each, and a seven horse-power gasoline .
engme.
There is a thorough course of Bible study continuing through
the year, and a special Bible cour e for ministers.
Religious training is greatly emphasized at this institution.
Chapel devotions are held each evening, when all students and
teachers are expected to be present. Every Sunday morning,
service is heid, at which a regular sermon is delivered. A program,
religious or ethical in character, is rendered every Sunday . evenmg.
The Young Men's Christian Association is a student organization,
active in its field and helpful in the daily life of the students.
It maintains regular religious meetings throughout the yea~.
The Young Women's Christian Association is a similar organIzation
for yo'ung women. Bible bands have been organized for
a systematic study of the Bible among the younger students.
Attention is given to physical culture, and the young men of the
institution are under military discipline.
More than six hundred of the O'raduates of this institution are
at work in the schools of the b South, and many times tbis
number are successfully engaged in the industrial pursuits
of life. Wherever these graduates are found, tbey are conspicuous
for their force, industry, and capabilities as leaders of
the people. They are strong advocates of temperance and
moral reform among their people.
•
