Clarke County GaArchives History - Books .....The State Normal School 1923 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 April 1, 2005, 6:13 pm Book Title: History Of Athens And Clarke County The State Normal School* E. S. SELL, M.S. Agr., Professor of Agriculture and Rural Social Science. * President Jere M. Pound was asked to prepare this sketch of the State Normal School, but since the writer was requested to prepare a history of the School, by its board of trustees at their meeting in May, 1922; and as this history had been completed, President Pound suggested that the writer submit a short and very much abbreviated resume of the History of the State Normal School. In the History, Dr. H. C. White has a splendid introduction and references are given which show the sources of information. THE EARLY HISTORY OF GILMER HALL The land on which the State Normal School is located was purchased by the trustees of the University of Georgia from Charles M. Reese, February 4, 1860. The original tract of land bought by the trustees contained ninety-three acres for which the sum of $2,500 was paid. A number of lots were later sold off in what was then known as Cobbham, so that there are only about thirty acres in the campus of the State Normal School at the present time. The amount of money secured from the sale of these lots, together with bonds and securities owned by the University at this time amounted to $33,600. And when it was determined that new buildings should be erected with this money, $11,600.00 was spent in a library building, $4,000.00 for the "Mess Hall" which is a brick building on Lumpkin Street, and $23,000.00 were put into what was known as the University High School, later called Bock College and now known as Gilmer Hall. In 1859 the board of trustees of the University of Georgia planned to erect a building for the Freshman and Sophomore classes and it was for this purpose that the building then known as Rock College was constructed. This building, however, was never used for the purpose for which it was built. The corner stone of this old building bears the following inscription: This spot was selected by the Prudential Committee and W. L. Mitchell, T. R. R. Cobb and H. H. Hull, Jr., Esquire, who were appointed building committee of the board of trustees of the University of Georgia." The corner stone was laid by the Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 22, on July 4th, 1860. This building was called by the authorities the University High School but as the native rock found upon the spot was used in its construction it was for many years known as Rock College. The High School was opened in January, 1862, and the school was in charge of Prof. B. R. Carroll with Prof. L. H. Charbonnier as assistant. After the death of Mr. Carroll, Mr. Charbonnier became his successor and the school was kept up until the close of the war when the building was occupied by the Federal troops as a garrison. Many sons of the refugees and others from Charleston, Savannah and Augusta were sent to this school to be placed under the control of Mr. Carroll. The boys were placed in companies and instructed in military tactics by Captain L. H .Charbonnier who was a French soldier and a graduate of St. Cyr. Hon. T. W. Rucker of Athens who was a pupil in this school can recall the names of a number of other boys who attended the high school. Among these were: Van Spratlen, Chas. and Edward Bailey, Weldon Price, Willoughby Lumpkin, A. L. Hull, T. A. Hamilton, Bowdre and Ferdinand Phinizy, and Jep Rucker. In March of 1866, Prof. Ben I. Hunter took charge of this school with its appropriation from the state of $300.00 per annum for the support of each crippled Confederate .soldier, under thirty years of age and who wanted to attend school. Every room in the building was soon occupied by these young veterans and at one time thirty-four applicants had to be turned away. The school was in a prosperous condition until General Pope, who was then military governor of Georgia, issued an order for its suspension, alleging disloyalty on the part of these crippled soldiers because they threw up their hats and gave the old rebel yell when the band played Dixie. But later General Mead took command, and through the intercession of Chancellor Lipscomb and others the school was allowed to take up its work again. It continued to prosper until the Legislature of 1868 took away the appropriation. The University High School was conducted by Prof. Hunter for two years, who then retired, and Prof. W. W. Lumpkin and A. L. Hull had charge for a year or two after which the building was unoccupied for some time. After the establishment of the State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, as a department of the University of Georgia on May 1, 1872, the buildings and grounds were occupied by this department, the land being used for experimental purposes. This department was under the management successively of the following men: Dr. E. M. Pendleton, Prof. George Little, Gen. W. T. Brown, Dr. W. L. Jones, and Prof. J. B. Hunnicutt. The historic old building, now known as Gilmer Hall, together with the land on which the State Normal School is located was given by the trustees of the University. During the existence of this building it has been known as the University High School, Rock College and Gilmer Hall. After it became the property of the State Normal School, it was changed to Gilmer Hall on account of the fact that the State Normal School was largely supported for the first three years with the income from the Gilmer Fund, which amounts to $1,000.00 annually. The trustees of the University of Georgia gave the 'building and ten acres of land at first, and later gave five additional acres and offered to sell the balance of the land to the state for the use of the State Normal School. The writer has been unable to find any records to show that the state paid the University for the balance of the land, and it is practically certain that the General Assembly did not buy the remainder of land for the State Normal School and the trustees of the University of Georgia allowed all of this parcel of land to be taken over by the State Normal School. THE SUMMER SESSIONS Many of the rural school teachers of Georgia have been very poorly prepared for their work, especially was this true as late as thirty or forty years ago. Although there were a few teachers, here and there, that had remarkable personalities and rendered great service to the communities in which they taught, many of these rural teachers scarcely had the rudiments of an English education. Consequently, there became an insistent demand, especially from the leaders in education throughout Georgia, that the common school teachers must be better prepared for their work. Mrs. M. A. Lipscomb wrote a number of articles to various daily papers urging the establishment of a normal school at Athens as a branch of the University of Georgia. These articles, unquestionably, had considerable influence in the establishment of the State Normal School. In 1891, Governor W. J. Northen, a successful teacher and an earnest advocate of the duties of the state to the teachers in the rural schools, called attention of the General Assembly to the necessity of providing facilities for normal training. The trustees of the University of Georgia, appreciating the situation, generously assisted and donated to the state the building known as Rock College and from six to ten acres of land contiguous thereto, together with the late George R. Gilmer fund, which amounted to $15,000.00 and the annual interest from this sum amounting to $1,000.00. Under the condition of Governor Gilmer's will, this sum must be used to train teachers in the elementary branches of an English education only. The condition attached to these gifts of the trustees of the University was that the state should establish at Rock College a normal school for the education and training of teachers for the rural schools. An act was passed by the Legislature of Georgia in 1891 "to establish, organize and maintain a State Normal School as a branch of the University, to appropriate money for the same, and for other purposes." This act received the approval of the Governor, October 21, 1891. By the provision of this act, the state received from the trustees of the University, as a donation for the purpose of establishing a normal school, the building known as Rock College and a tract of land not less than six nor more than ten acres upon which the college building stood, lying just outside the limits of the city of Athens, Ga. The act also provided for a Normal School Commission, consisting of the State School Commissioner, who should be the chairman, the Chancellor of the University, and "three citizens of Georgia experienced in teaching, to be appointed by the Governor." It is interesting to note that the water used by the school came from a well and the water was declared to be "pure and wholesome and was so cold that no ice was needed." The lower floor of Rock College was divided into lecture rooms, restaurant, hall and assembly rooms. The second and third floors were used as a dormitory. These rooms were furnished by the appropriation of $500.00 from the city council of Athens in 1892, with wire cots, tables, chairs, buckets and other necessary articles of furniture. The act creating the State Normal School was passed in 1891 and short sessions of the school were held during the summer months of 1892,1893 and 1894 under the direction of Prof. Lawton B. Evans. The Commission had at its command only the interest of the Gilmer fund which was transferred for safe keeping to the trustees of the University by the trustees of the estate of the late George R. Gilmer. The interest on this fund amounted to $1,050.00 a year, from which a commission of $50.00 a year was deducted for the expenses of administration. In 1892 there was added to this, the Peabody Institute fund of $800.00 and the County Institute fund of five counties, which met at Rock College for one week, and amounted to $125.00. Therefore, the school was carried on in 1892 with the sum of $1,925.00. The session of 1892 began July 11 and lasted seven weeks. Exclusive of the attendance during the County Institute week, the roll of students numbered 112, representing thirty-two counties. So far as the resources of the college for the year 1893 are concerned, they are best explained by an extract from the minutes of the Commission at their meeting in Atlanta April 1, 1893: "The Chairman made a statement of the efforts that had been made to induce the Legislature to appropriate a sum of money for the permanent establishment of a State Normal School, and stated that the Legislature had failed to make an appropriation for the purpose named. Dr. William E. Boggs then stated that the net interest on the Gilmer fund, amounting to $1,000.00, would be available on the first day of July. He said, also, that the people of Athens were desirous of having the Normal School operated during the coming summer, 1893, and that the grand jury of Clarke County had, at his request, made an appropriation of $400.00 for that purpose. The citizens of Athens had also made up a private subscription of $537.00 to he added to the fund. (These private subscriptions from the citizens of Athens were secured by Dr. Edwin D. Newton and Mr. T. W. Reed. This must have been a tedious undertaking for many of the subscriptions amounted to fifty cents.) These resources, added together, made a total of $1,937 for the summer session of 1893." The session of 1893 began July 5, and lasted six weeks. There were enrolled 116 students from thirty-five counties. These pupils were not all present at the same time. Some came for a week, others for two weeks, others for a month, while many remained during the entire session. THE PERMANENT ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE. NORMAL SCHOOL Although the act creating the State Normal School was passed by the General Assembly in 1891 and summer sessions were held at the Rock College for three summers, from 1892 to 1894, the institution could not be permanently organized because it had no means of support that was certain, except the income from the Gilmer fund. In addition to this fund, it had private subscriptions that enabled the school to run for these three summers. The success of the summer sessions under the direction of Mr. Lawton B. Evans made a permanent Normal School a necessity. The Legislature of 1894 did, however, give financial assistance to the school and fixed the annual appropriation at $10,000.00. The first appropriation from the Legislature to the State Normal School was secured very largely through the efforts of Mr. W. S. Holman, Mr. W. D. O'Farrell, Mr. W. J. Morton, Mr. J. Y. Carithers, Mr. Alvin P. Dearing, Major H. H. Carlton, and Mr. Tom Mell. It is doubtful whether this school would ever have been established on a large and permanent basis, had it not been for the work of these men. It was peculiarly fitting that Captain S. D. Bradwell was chosen as the first president of the. State Normal School, after it was permanently established. Probably no man had done more for the teachers of the state and no one understood their needs better or sympathized with them in their work more. He was possessed with a remarkable memory for names and faces, and while State School Commissioner, he probably knew more men in Georgia than any other man. This fact was an invaluable aid to Captain Bradwell in getting the school established. Captain Bradwell moved his family to Athens and located them in the east end of Rock College, now known as Gilmer Hall, in January, 1895. He assumed the duties as president January 1, 1895, but the first three months were spent in preparing for the opening of the school and soliciting students to attend. Most of the teachers of the state were busy teaching and had neither time nor money to attend this school. The meager appropriations made it impossible to advertise or even employ a stenographer to carry on the correspondence. The president wrote all of the letters and looked after all the work of clearing the grounds, arranging class-rooms, obtaining furniture and making other necessary arrangements for the opening of school. The school was opened April 17, 1895. The 17th of April was observed as Founder's Day for many years in the school and appropriate exercises were conducted. Miss Mamie Mathews of Oglethorpe County was the first student to register in the school. The attendance during the spring was very small but the summer months brought a much larger enrollment. For many years the great majority of students at the State Normal School Were men and women who had already had some experience in teaching and who were seeking improvement in their chosen profession. Captain Bradwell maintained the position that the State Normal School was created for two purposes; namely: to better qualify those persons who were already teaching; and in the second place, to train as teachers those pupils who had never taught before. At the time that the State Normal School was established most of the rural teachers were employed for very short terms and at a meager salary. Since most of the students were already teachers and wanting to better prepare themselves it was necessary to have the expenses reduced to the minimum in order that any reasonable number might get the advantages of this training. Consequently, a co-operative plan of supplying board and other necessities was inaugurated. The tuition was, of course, free. This co-operative expense account was put on a weekly basis. To insure payment by the student, the sum of $20.00 was required on registering. As this was exhausted, a further deposit was required. By this co-operative method, the expense of board was reduced to the minimum, running as low as six dollars per month per student. Captain Bradwell added all of the accounts and expenses at the end of the ten weeks term on September 17, 1896, for board, laundry, lights, fuel and all living expenses, and found that the cost to each student on this co-operative basis to be seven dollars per month, or one dollar and seventy-five cents per week, or twenty-five cents per day, or ten cents per meal. As so many of the students were active teachers and at that time the sessions in the rural schools were held at almost any time in the year that the patrons of the school might select, the student body at the State Normal School for the first few years of its existence was constantly changing. The first graduating exercises at the school took place November 26,1896, when nineteen diplomas were awarded; the graduates having completed a two-year course. After these exercises the school closed for the winter vacation, to be opened again the following March. From almost the beginning of the school there has been a lack of room to properly house those that wanted to attend. The enrollment of the first day was only twenty-three, of which eight lived in the dormitory. But as soon as the work of the school and the economical plans of the management became known, students began to come in from all parts of the state. Before the summer had pasised every available foot of space was occupied. All the cottages near by were rented and filled with students who lived there .and took their meals in the dormitory. These facts were presented to the General Assembly and an appropriation of $7,000.00 was made for building purposes, which was used in the construction of two stories of Bradwell Hall. Many have been at a loss to know why this building was placed in such a peculiar manner with reference to the street and so close to the other buildings. The reason was because the person who represented the Prudential Committee of the University thought that the State Normal School would not need any more land for buildings, and the west side of Bradwell Hall was the limit of the area of the land that belonged to the University that the school was permitted to use at that time. The new dormiory was completed and furnished by July 1, 1896. One-half of the lower floor was used as a dining room and the rest of the building was used as the men's dormitory. With the expenditure of $750.00 in 1897 an additional story was added to this building which afforded accommodations for forty or fifty more young men. 'The rooms left vacant by the men on the lower floor were turned over to the young ladies. The dining room, however, could not be enlarged and the housekeeper was compelled to resort to the plan of serving two meals, three times a day. Thus, it was true that six meals a day were served at the State Normal School. This dormitory was very quickly filled and again room was very much in demand The president then conceived the idea of placing tents on the campus for the young men to live in. Application was made to the grand jury of Clarke County for aid in carrying out, this plan. Three hundred dollars was received from this source and tents were purchased which were stretched over frames elevated above the ground and properly ventilated. It was said that these tents made comfortable living quarters for the men. When the visiting committee from the Legislature saw these tents and learned that even they would not furnish all the accommodations needed, they unanimously recommended that the General Assembly appropriate $20,000.00 for building purposes and $22,500.00, for an annual appropriation to meet the current expenses. The larger annual appropriation was asked for on the ground that the State Normal School was no longer an experiment but that it deserved to be put on the same basis as the other branches of the University. The $20,000.00 for building purposes was not appropriated but the amount asked for maintenance was given and the Commission was granted authority to use some of the appropriation for each of the years, (1897 and 1898) to expend as they might; think necessary for buildings and improvements. Money saved out of the maintenance fund was used to erect the third story to Bradwell Hall, the building now known as the old auditorium, five two-room cottages and the president's cottage. THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL The fact that the State Normal School has always been unable to take care of all the students that have applied for entrance, is due largely to three reasons. In the first place the Legislature has never, supplied adequate building funds, and secondly, there has been an increasing demand for better trained teachers in the state, and lastly, the authorities of the school have always kept the expenses for the students reduced to the minimum. Captain S. D. Bradwell tendered his resignation as president of the school at a meeting of the Commission held March 7, 1901, and Prof. E. C. Branson was elected president. Captain Bradwell had been president since the permanent organization of this institution in 1895. During the short period of six years, under his administration the school was organized and had grown to such an extent that the annual enrollment was well above six hundred. At the same meeting of the Commission, the work of this school was enlarged by adding tre Department of Manual Training. Mr. P. J. Orr was selected to conduct this work. The campus was very much improved in the fall of 1901. The entire front of the grounds, the surface of which was rock, was covered with soil and then planted in grass. Trees were set out and walks were arranged in an artistic manner. The sewerage connections were in the process of construction in June, 1901, and this work was completed by the 9th of August at a cost of about $5,000.00. The sessions of the school were somewhat changed the latter part of 1901. The school closed December 15th and re-opened February 5th thus making the winter vacation shorter than usual. This institution was closed again about the middle of June and remained closed until the first of August. A short summer school was conducted before the opening of the fall session, this year. A great many prominent men of our country have been interested in the work of this school for a long time. This is proven by the fact that at the Commencement exercises in December, 1901, the following men were in attendance: Mr. Walter H. Page, Editor of the World's Work; Dr. J. L. M. Curry, Agent for the Peabody Educational Fund; Dr. Charles W. Dabney, Chancellor of the University of Tennessee; Dr. Edwin A. Alderman, President of Tulane University; Dr. H. A. Frissell, of Hampton Institute; Dr. Chas. D. Mclver, President of the Normal and Industrial College of North Carolina; and Hon. Hoke Smith. The Domestic Science Department was established in 1901 and was placed in a servant's house that had been cleaned and disinfected, and in which simple equipment had been installed. This work was begun under the direction of Miss Ida Turnbull and the equipment was furnished by Mr. Robert C. Ogden of New York. The cooking school, as it was then called, was equipped for courses in the chemistry of foods and practical lessons in cookery. One room in the two-room cottage was used as a kitchen and the other room was the dining room. Two teachers were selected for this work in the beginning, and their salaries amounting to $2,000.00, were paid by Mr. George Foster Peabody. Soon after this department was created, Mr. Branson received a check from Mr. George Foster Peabody for $1,000.00 to further and better equip the Department of Domestic Science and Arts. Mr. Pea-body also authorized Mr. Branson to equip a laboratory for experimental psychology, with the very latest apparatus. From somewhat later information, it seems that Mr. Peabody gave $1,000.00 to equip the psychology laboratory. Another great need of the school at this time was a library. A large room was set aside for this purpose in Gilmer Hall and by December, 1901, 4,000 volumes had been gathered together without a dollar of expense to the state. The creation of this nucleus of the library was the result of the united effort of the faculty, the students, and the friends of the school in the city of Athens. In order to secure a more stable student body and to have the students remain longer and consequently, become better prepared to teach, a plan was perfected whereby many of the students could secure a $50.00 scholarship. By the opening of the fall session of 1902, fifty scholarships had been subscribed by individuals. For the year 1902-03, Georgians gave one hundred $50.00 scholarships and the General Education Board gave the same number. Mr. Branson made application of the Southern Conference for Education which met in Athens in 1902, for $15,000.00 for scholarships, provided the school secured an equal amount. Dr. Wallace Buttrick who at this time was executive secretary of the General Education Board, announced on the third day of the session of the Southern Educational Conference which was at this time meeting in Athens, that 1. The 'General Education Board subscribes to the State Normal School for the period of three years, fifty scholarships of $50.00 each to meet the forty-six scholarships already provided by the Georgia people. 2. In addition the Board will duplicate for three years, new scholarships of $50.00 each, secured before 1903, not to exceed fifty in number. 3. Understanding that $6,000.00 have been subscribed by the Daughters of the Confederacy towards a fund of $15,000.00, with which to erect a Hall to the memory of Miss Winnie Davis, the Board subscribes one-half of the remainder, $4,500.00, provided the balance is raised. As a result of an organized movement to raise the necessary money to meet the requirement of the General Education Board for scholarships, each of the Board of Trustees was made chairman of a committee for this purpose in his Congressional district. One of the most interesting and at the same time one of the most beautiful buildings in the state is the Winnie Davis Memorial Hall. The Daughters of the Confederacy conceived the idea of building a suitable memorial to the daughter of Jefferson Davis; and rather than erect a shaft of marble or set up a pillar of bronze, they decided to build a home for young women while preparing themselves for the noble service of teaching. This, it was believed, would be an appropriate manner by which to perpetuate the memory of Winnie Davis, the beloved daughter of the Confederacy. The idea of such a building originated with the women of Georgia, but it was indorsed by Mrs Jefferson Davis, for she said in a letter to Miss Mildred Rutherford when plans for the building were being made: "My dear child often said: 'If I only was well enough off to give to Confederate orphans, to endow a college, or even a chair in one, I should be extremely happy. Do you think, dear, I could ever afford it?' It is a matter of pride and rejoicing to me to know my and her dear friends will do this, and I am sure she knows it and rejoices in Heaven over the tender offering. May God speed you in your effort." The Athens Banner, in speaking about this building, says, "One year ago when the Convention had almost decided to establish the Memorial elsewhere, Miss Mildred Rutherford secured a postponement of the matter in order to give the State Normal School a chance." "It was Miss Mildred Rutherford who inspired the application made by the State Normal School for the Winnie Davis Memorial," says Miss Isma Dooly in The Atlanta Constitution. The Daughters of the Confederacy, by a unanimous vote, decided to erect this building on the campus of the State Normal School. It was completed in 1902 and since that time this serviceable memorial has been the temporary home for thousands of students that come from all parts of the state. The Daughters of the Confederacy have builded better than many people know, for the fine qualities that characterized the life of Miss Winnie Davis are being incorporated in the training that is being given to young women who are preparing themselves to teach the coming generations. The Winnie Davis Memorial Hall is an attractive and substantial building. The columns in front of and on the sides of it are made of solid marble because it was desired that this memorial should by all means be enduring. It is not only true that this organization built the memorial but the different chapters in the state furnished the rooms in it. The students that occupy the rooms in the building are not placed there by the faculty of the institution but these various chapters that have furnished rooms also select the students to occupy them; or, in other words, prospective students make application to their local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy for a room in the Winnie Davis Memorial Hall. Representative Thomas J. Shackelford secured an appropriation of $25,000 from the state, provided $25,000 could be secured from other sources which would make a fund of $50,000 for building purposes. In June, after this conditional appropriation had been made, Mr. H. J. Howe called on Hon. George Foster Peabody, who was in the office of Chancellor Hill. Mr. Howe explained the needs of the State Normal School and stated that as president of the Board of Trustees, he expected to get subscriptions to match the state funds. After listening for some time to Mr. Howe, Mr. Peabody said: "Howe, if you will get a native Georgian to give $10,000.00, I will give the same amount or as much more as any one Georgian will give." Mr. Rowe went at once to see Dr. J. S. Stewart, who had visited Col. James M. Smith on many occasions to induce him to make donations for educational purposes. Col. Smith was at this time a candidate for governor and Mr. Rowe helped to conduct his campaign. So, it was decided that Mr. Stewart and Mr. Rowe should make an effort to get Col. Smith to give the $10,000.00, which he did, and one of the buildings erected with the $50,000.00 fund was named for him. Mr. Peabody and Col. Smith gave $10,000.00 each but there still remained $5,000.00 to be raised in order to get the $25,000.00 from the state. Hon. R. B. Davidson, Mr. H. J. Rowe and Hon. Thomas J. Shackelford were able to secure over $3,000.00 in Athens toward this fund. Mr. James M. Smith, in discussing his gift to this institution, said: "I have heen considering for some time how I might best serve my state in some permanent and useful way, and I have decided that in helping the educational interests of the state I can do the most good. A large portion of the people of the state will always be educated, but in order for the state to grow greater and stronger in every sense it is necessary for the masses to be educated. How to reach the masses is the question. This can best be done by well trained teachers. "What is put into the school through the teachers will appear in the life of the people. Now, we need more knowledge of the sciences, of the industrial arts; our girls need to be taught along with their books, domestic science; how to make the home life easier and more attractive. "This building will stand for the education of the masses in these subjects. In helping the rural school teachers prepare themselves for their work among the children, we are helping those who need help "I have made my gift to a state college because of the permanent nature of these institutions. As long as the state exists, these institutions will be cared for, and this building continue its service to all the people regardless of distinction." From the very beginning of the school, there have been individuals and organizations that have believed in the mission and the purposes for which it was established and have placed their efforts and their money at the disposal of the authorities in charge of its affairs. In fact, for the first three years of the existence of the State Normal School, it was supported entirely with gifts from friends who were concerned with securing better trained teachers for the rural schools. Not only has it been true that this school was begun with gifts but it has been in no small degree, through such generosity that has enabled it to grow so rapidly and so quickly into a large teacher training institution. It is interesting to note that the State Normal School has had given to it from individuals and organizations $197,708.05, much of which has gone into buildings and equipment. The state has given for buildings and repairs during the existence of the institution $186,347.75. From the Peabody Educational Fund the school has received $21,175.00 over a period of twenty years. Mr. George Foster Pea-body has given $27,754.50, most of which has gone into buildings and equipment. The Daughters of the Confederacy put something over $25,000.00 into the Winnie Davis Memorial Hall and the Elijah Clarke Chapter of the D. A. R. aided in the erection of the infirmary which bears their name. Miss Ida Young, who died in 1919, but who began teaching in the School in 1897, left $1,500.00 to the Y. W. C. A. as a scholarship fund to help those members who might be in need of financial assistance. Miss Young organized the Y. W. C. A. and for more than twenty years served the State Normal School in a most unselfish manner. Many thousands of dollars have been given in the form of scholarships by individuals, a complete list of which cannot be secured, and in many instances the donors do not wish their names to be made known. In recent years, it sometimes happens that a student, who is so fortunate as to secure money through a scholarship fund, may not know from whom the gift or loan has been secured. There is a need for a larger permanent fund, from which worthy girls may borrow in order to complete their education. The city council of Athens passed on ordinance that placed seven hydrants on the campus of the school. This measure was passed March 8, 1906, and since the installation of these hydrants splendid fire protection has been available at this institution. The second issue of the Levana was published in 1906. This was the annual prepared by the Senior class. Annuals have been issued almost every year since 1905 but several years ago the name was changed to the Crystal. A topographical survey was made of the campus by Professors C. M. Strahan and E. L. Griggs. Mr. Robert Sagels of New York spent some time here in looking over the grounds and making notes in order to aid Mr. Charles W. Leavett in drawing plans for the future development of the State Normal School. Mr. Leavett made the plans at the request of Mr. George Foster Peabody at a cost to him of about $2,000.00, and it was expected that these plans would cover a development of fifty years. In 1912, President E. C. Branson resigned and asked that a Department of Rural Economies be created. Mr. Jere M. Pound was elected president and at the request of Mr. Branson, he was elected as the head of the new department. The county club idea or applied rural economics originated at th6 State Normal School through the efforts of Mr. Branson and in recent years many universities and colleges have added courses or departments that carry out the original idea of the work established here. No very large appropriation for building purposes had been made by the state, to the State Normal School, until 1916 when $100,000.00 were given. Miller Hall and Pound Auditorium were built with the money received at this time. Miller Hall was named for Hon. B. S. Miller, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who worked so faithfully to secure the appropriation, while the auditorium was named for the president of the school who has been laboring continuously to increase the efficiency of the institution. Until this time the greater part of the money for building purposes and equipment had come from individuals. The fact that this large appropriation was made by the Legislature is an indication that the state is at last beginning to realize the importance of enlarging and equipping an institution that is training so many teachers for the common schools of the state. The first woman to be appointed on any board of trustees, of any state institution in Georgia was Mrs. J. E. Hayes of Montezuma, who was appointed by Governor Hardwick in 1922 as trustee of the State Normal School. Since Mrs. Hayes was appointed, five other women have been selected by the same governor to serve on our board. They are as follows: Mrs. Howard McCall, Atlanta; Mrs. Annie Freeman Johnson, Rome; Mrs. Ira B. Farmer, Thomson; Mrs. W. W. Stark, Commerce; and Mrs. Julia Ashton White, Athens. Mrs. White is a member of the Prudential Committee and the first woman to ever serve on such a committee for a state institution in Georgia. During the year 1922-23, 624 students were registered in the regular normal courses, 501 were in attendance at the summer school, 272 pupils were enrolled in the Muscogee Elementary Training School and the Rural School, and 60 were registered in the correspondence courses. A total of 1,457 individuals received instruction at this institution for the year 1922-23. There were 118 counties represented in the student body. Students holding diplomas from other schools numbered 372, while 63 had first grade license to teach, 36 had second grade license to teach and 76 had had experience in teaching. More than fifty per cent, of the students are sons and daughters of farmers. The total registration since the foundation of the school is 14,957. The number of graduates to June, 1922, is 1,930. The graduating class this year numbers 196. There are 48 teachers and officers connected with the school. The above statistics of the school for 1922-23 would be representative for any year since 1917, when two buildings were completed. The school can grow only as additional dormitories and class rooms are supplied. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/clarke/history/1923/historyo/statenor572gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 38.4 Kb