Schools, DeSoto Parish, La - Keatchie College Submitted by: Courtney Tompkins Email: tompkin@c2i2.com Source: The Boardman, June 19(6)1, Published by LA School Board Assn. 112 Geo. Peabody Hall, LSU, University Sta, Baton Rouge, LA 78803, p. 4-10 --------------------------------- ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ---------------------------------------------------- Early Schools and Colleges of Louisiana Editor's Note: This is another in the series of articles by Dr. Rodney Cline about early schools and colleges in Louisiana which will appear Periodically in THE BOARDMAN. KEATCHIE COLLEGE (1856-1912) Keatchie, sometimes spelled Keachie in early documents, is located in DeSoto Parish approximately fifteen miles northwest of Mansfield, about twenty miles southwest of Shreveport, and something less than ten miles from the border of east Texas. Half-way between the watersheds of the Red and the Sabine rivers, the land is pleasant, somewhat rolling as to terrain, well timbered, and of good fertility. Here early in the nine- teenth century came a substantial type of settler. Mostly from Georgia, the Carolinas, and Alabama, people of Anglo-Saxon and Scotch-Irish descent madetheir way to this part of Louisiana to take up land and to make their homes. They brought with them their families, their slaves, their livestock, and farm tools. Also, they brought their rock-ribbed Protestant Christianity and a determination to provide for the education of their children. Timbering, livestock management, and cotton farming flourished. Never large in numbers the planters came within a generation to represent an extensive plantation economy of rather prosperous degree. The village of Keatchie, trading center for the immediate area, soon had its Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches. One of the first permanent houses of worship was built by the congregation of the New Hope Baptist Church, the Reverend A. N. Backus, pastor. Backus was a Kentuckian, characterized by both religious zeal, and by an ambition to make Keatchie a cultural center of importance. He urged the establishment of a Christian school and college in order that the youth of the area might attain to a good academic education, sheltered by the local church and community. Backus was eloquent in his advocacy of a school, and in this he was joined by T. M. Gatlin, a wealthy planter who gave land and otherwise took the lead in securing necessary material support for the project. Then tragedy struck. Both wife and child of Reverend Backus died, and heartbroken he soon returned home to Kentucky. Gatlin and others persisted in the idea of a school. A building on Gatlin land was completed, and in 1856 Keatchie College opened on a limited scale of operation, with J. S. Bacon, president. In the following year, the institution was incorporated as the Baptist Union Male and Female College. Sponsorship was provided by the Grand Cane Association, which at that time represented a small member of Baptist churches of northwest Louisiana. Though chartered as a "male and female" college, enrollment seems to have been nearly exclusively female for most of the years of its existence. Also, though styled "college," Keatchie College like many such institutions functioned both at preparatory and at higher levels of education. This not only was a means to augment the otherwise insufficient enrollment and support of the school; but also reflected the nearly total lack of public schools in rural Louisiana until late in the nineteenth century. J. S. Bacon served as president until 1859. Those who followed him constituted a rather lengthy line of succession. These were with dates of administration: J. H. Tucker, 1859-1864 Peter Crawford, 1865-1871 J. H. Tucker, 1871-? T. N. Coleman, ? - 1880 J. H. Tucker, 1880-1886 C. P. Fountain, 1886-1889 C. W. Tomkies, 1889-1899 G. W. Thigpen, 1899-1908 (School closed temporarily because of financial troubles.) O. J. Peterson, 1909-1910 W. C. Friley, 1910-1912 During the first of the three presidencies of J. H. Tucker, the College enrolled 121 young ladies. This number was gratifyingly large for the time and place. A fine future was seemingly in prospect for the infant institution. War came to the Southland in 1861 but this was for three years, only a minor deterrent to the operation of Keatchie College. As a school for girls and young women, classes continued to be taught, unlike the case of male institutions to which the war usually meant suspension of operation. However, by 1864, financial difficulties of the patrons of the school became increasingly marked. The heavy hand of war, seemingly remote at first, made its impact in the immediate vicinity with the Red River Campaign and the Battle of Mansfield which was fought in April, 1864. For approximately an entire school year, classes were suspended. After the battle near Mansfield, the College building was used as a hospital by the Confederate forces. Classwork was resumed in 1865 under the leadership of President Peter Crawford who organized a vigorous campaign for the recruitment of students. Extolling the virtues of a small Christian college, and noting the wholesome queality of Keatchie community, he offered the prospective enrollee board, room and washing for $15.00 a month. In the early 1870's a boys academy was established near the College. In 1879 the Academy and the College were combined thus effectuating the Title under which the original charter had been granted in 1857. The administration of C. W. Tomkies, 1889-1899, was noteworthy for The fact that courses pertinent to ministerial training were added to the Program of studies. A goodly number of young men, prospective preachers, Were thus attracted to attend Keatchie College. Enrollment in 1891 Attained the lofty figure of 217, probably the all-time high in the life Of the institution. Meanwhile, the Baptists of Louisiana, and especially in north Louisiana were growing in number and in strength. The State Baptist Convention had been organized at Mount Lebanon in 1848, and four years Later, Mount Lebanon College (University) had been established. In 1899 The Convention assumed control, with the prospect of providing better Support for both Keatchie and Mount Lebanon. Keatchie was officially designated as the denominations female College for the State, and Mount Lebanon, the male College. This arrangement continued for several year, but in 1906 Louisiana College was established at Pineville. After difficult beginnings, it began to develop as the Baptist College of the State, thus bringing to a close the period of usefulness of Keatchie and Mount Lebanon. Dr. W. C. Friley, a distinguished educator, because president at Keatchie in 1910. Forty-two students were enrolled that year. Despite the fine efforts of President Friley, it came to be realized that the day of Keatchie College was nearing its end. The growth of Louisiana College deprived Keatchie of much of the required denominational support. The establishment of State supported colleges at Natchitoches in 1884, at Ruston in 1891, and at Lafayette in 1901 also reduced the seeming need for a college at Keatchie. In the middle of the first term, 1912, Keatchie College ceased to exist except in memory. Some of the catalogs of Keatchie College have been preserved and may be seen in the library of Louisiana College. These provide eloquent testimony of much that pertained to the College during the fifty-six years of its existence. For example, the issue of 1888-89 listed 155 students not only by name but with identification as to parent or guardian, and place of residence. Graduates of the previous year were mentioned as: Bachelor of Arts: H. F. Thigpen, Valedictorian H. L. Alison J. A. Thigpen Bachelor of Science: Bessie Harwell, Salutatorian The program of studies while the college was at, or near its greatest level of prosperity may be known from the catalog of 1889-90. Requirements at the preparatory levels were shown to include the customary reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, English grammar and composition, history, geography, and Latin. At the college level, divided by years, the array was impressively emblematic of the scholarly intention of the faculty. Freshmen Year Algebra, Latin, English Grammar and Composition, Penmanship, History of United States, History of England, Greek Sophomore Year Geometry, Greek, Latin, Rhetoric, History of Greece, History of Rome, Penmanship Junior Year Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Calculus (elective), Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Physiology, Logic, Geography, General History, Latin, Greek Senior Year Astronomy, Geology, Physchology, English, Literature, History of Civilization, Moral Philosophy Program notes for the same year included these statements: (1) French and German will be taught but these do not form part of the regular course. (2) Girls are not required to take Greek, Analytical Geometry, and Calculus. (3) Girls may substitute French or German for Latin in requirements for graduation. Instruction in piano and in art was provided but these do not appear to have been counted as parts of the regular college course. Just how all the indicated subjects were taught is hardly made clear by the faculty list of 1889-90. According to the catalog for that year the roster was as follows: Reverend C. W. Tomkies, President Latin, Greek, Metaphysics G. W. Thigpen, A. M., Chairman of the Faculty Mathematics, English Literature -----------to be supplied French, German, Natural Science, Miss N. J. Dumas English, Mathematics Miss Clayton Dagg Music Mrs. G. W. Thigpen Ornamental Work, Kensington Embroider Mrs. V. M. Mosely Primary Department Dr. W. X. Mosely Physician Charges for tuition and board were listed on the half session, or semester basis. Tuition Primary Class- $12.50 Prepoaratory Class - $17.50 College Level - $25.00 Music - $25.00 Matriculation fee - $1.50 Board* $60.00 (includes fuel, lights, washing, room, meals) A visitor to the College in 1890 would have been considerable impressed by the appearance of the physical plant which dominated the village of Keatchie. The main building was a large frame two-story structure with cupola over the principal entrance. This housed an assembly hall, or chapel, study hall, recitation rooms, music rooms and dining hall. A large galleried wing which extended to the eastward, provided "30 dormitories each 16 feet square." Across the street was another sizeable tow-story building, providing living quarters for men and boys. Conservatism of the times was mirrored in the stated policies of the College as made known to the patrons, friends, and students through the catalog. Religious services were held each morning in the chapel, with both faculty and students expected to attend. Students were required to attend church on Sunday mornings. They were encouraged to go to Sunday School, and to evening services. Girl students were to wear uniforms at all public functions. Boys and girls were to be kept separate at all times except at chapel and in class. "Any attempt by pupils to cultivate acquaintance between the sexes will be severely punished." "If parents must see their children during the session it is best to arrange for a visit by correspondence with the president, in order that the least possible damage be done to the individual and to other students." "Pupils other than local must board in the College." "Female students are not permitted to receive visits or communications from young gentlemen." These, and similar rules were applied not only to assure parents of proper care of their daughters, but also they reflected practices generally considered appropriate for small colleges of the day. For most of the years of its existence, Keatchie College served its area at the lower, in addition to the higher levels of education. As previously stated, rural Louisiana was largely without public schools until near the close of the nineteenth century. One of the services of Keatchie, like other such institutions, by intent, or otherwise, was to help create sentiment favoring tax-supported education. Thus, as Keatchie College neared the end of its active existence, demands grew in the territory which it served for public schools. It is not strange that when the College claed, the public school of Keatchie was established in the same physical plant. There is an epilogue of some significance. The public school operated for a number of years in what had been the College building. This was later replaced by what was then regarded as a modern, two-story brick building. After the passage of additional years this school, too, was closed, it being deemed better to take the pupils by bus to consolidated schools elsewhere. Now, the building stands empty, and the village of Keatchie has now school. Somehow, though, the visitor to this small place may sense a continuing thread of something intangible, yet greatly worthwhile. For here is the scene where a college lived and served. It was a small college, but one of worth. Many lives were enriched by its existence. Its contribution to the development of education and Christian culture makes worthwhile the efforts and the sacrifices by which it was brought into existence, and by which its operation was made possible. REFERENCES: Recorded interview: Mrs. W. V. Costello with G. M. Harper, summer, 1963 The Baptist Message, Oct. 25, 1962. P. 14 A Story of Glory, 1812-1962, Sesquicentennial Year of Louisiana Baptists. Special Program Unit for Louisiana Training Unions. Alexandria, Louisiana, Baptist Convention, September 1962. P.6 Annual Catalogs, Keatchie (Keachie) College for sessions 1888-89, 1893-94, 1894-95, 1895-96, 1897-98, 1901-02, 1906-07, 1909-10, and 1911-12. (In Library of Louisiana College, Pineville, Louisiana)