Schools, DeSoto Parish, La - HISTORY OF LOUISIANA FEMALE COLLEGE Submitted by: Courtney Tompkins Email: tompkin@c2i2.com Source: The Eulalian, Keatchie, LA, December 1902, Vol. 1, No. 1 --------------------------------- ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ---------------------------------------------------- HISTORY OF LOUISIANA FEMALE COLLEGE BY LAURA PICKETT The Louisiana Female College is located in Keachie, a small town of DeSoto parish, in the northwestern part of Louisiana on the Houston, East and West Texas Railway. The town took its name from a tribe of Indians who lived about two miles from the present town. And about three miles north on the Shreveport and Keachie dirt road, the United States government established an agency. In August 1856, the question of founding at Keachie, a Baptist Female College, came up. As a result, in 1857 the Baptist Union Female College was incorporated. The buildings were a donation from Mr. Thomas M. Gatlin. In 1858 the school opened, with Dr. Bacon as president. After a short time, Dr. Bacon resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Tucker. Under his management the College prospered, and when the Civil War began there were one hundred and twenty-five young ladies attending. During the latter part of the War the College was closed and the buildings were uses for a Confederate Hospital. After the close of the Civil War the College was reorganized with Rev. Crawford as president. He began the work of restoring the College to its former prosperity and although he met with many difficulties, the College gradually improved. The Keachie Male College was united with the Baptist Union Female College in 1879, under the name of Keachie Male and Female College and under the same management, but with separate buildings and classes. The year 1880 was an unfortunate one for the College. There was a cyclone, which damaged the buildings, injured President Tucker and some members of his family, and killed the language teacher. The College was soon repaired, but President Tucker was naturally delicate, and the injuries which he received caused his death in 1881. He was succeeded by President Coleman and the College opened at the usual time in September. President Coleman was succeeded by President Fountain. In 1887 an addition was built on the west end of the old building. Mr. Tomkies was the next president, and he was succeeded by Prof. G. W. Thigpen, who has had much experience, is an excellent teacher, and one of the best presidents that the College has had. In 1899 the College was changed from the Keachie Male and Female College to the Louisiana Female College.