1911

TILLOTSON College is a typical school of higher grade It was founded by the American Missionary Association thirty years ago when the movement for Negro education had been well started in the older Southern States and was pressing forward to newer fields Rev George Jeffrey Tillotson was a Congregational minister of remarkable energy and sterling character. He was born in Farmington, Conn., February 5, 1805; was graduated from Yale College in 1825, and from the Yale Divinity School in 1830. Through his own efforts he paid the expenses of his education. Between the dates of his graduation from college and from the Divinity School, he taught one year in Ellington, Conn., and another at Falmouth, Mass. For about forty-five years he was an active minister of the gospel, spending twenty-seven years of this time in Brooklyn, Conn., and twelve years in Putnam, of the same State. In ancestry and education, in enterprise and devotion to high ideals, he was a splendid example of New England's noblest sons.

Largely through the contributions and efforts of Mr. Tillotson, a beautiful piece of ground was selected and purchased in Austin, and Allen Hall was built. One only needs to see this structure on its commanding elevation to have a vivid impression of the aim and vision of its founders. Three other buildings were later placed upon the Campus, and Allen Hall with these for many years met fairly the needs of moderate enrollments.

At first the teaching was mostly in the common branches, and many of the students were of the primary grades, but the school cherished larger aspirations, developing efficient normal and music courses and maintaining at times a strong college-preparatory course with some attempts to build up a collegiate department. Industrial teaching was early introduced and given a larger place as the years went by. Religious and moral instruction was made prominent in a training that was intended to develop the best in life and character. Thus Tillotson became known and honored for its high ideals and the merit of its work, and, although its numbers were never large, its light shone true and clear.

Tillotson is still pursuing the work so well begun, but is awakening to a larger life. It has recently secured a charter giving ample powers. It is strengthening its higher courses, reaching out for greater opportunities, answering new conditions, enlarging its efficiency. Holding firmly to the thorough and accurate scholarship that it has cherished, regarding as essential such training as gives first value to moral conduct and control, it seeks to offer wider fields of culture and practical usefulness.

Tillotson is building up a promising collegiate department. Secondary graduates are returning to continue the training they have learned to value; and teachers from the city, who wish a larger preparation for their duties and a broader culture, meet in their evening classes, counting the credits as they complete successfully each subject.

The secondary grades are well sustained by earnest and ambitious students. The school maintains its vigorous grammar and intermediate departments still, providing for less forward but aspiring pupils. The new commercial studies are attractive. The music roll is crowded with piano pupils and interest in voice culture is increasing.

Here one may pause to note with pleasure a spirit in the college that is wholesome and is growing. A recent incident of interest was a tree-planting with exercises on the Campus by the juniors of secondary grade. Such a class spirit, such loyalty and devotion to Alma Mater is cherished by the College, while more and more the students learn to feel a noble pride in Tillotson. They will endeavor to complete their courses; they will bring other loyal students; they will be living witnesses of Tillotson's ideals.

A leading feature of the school's development is the growing interest. in its industrial departments. Not only does industrial training figure largely in the general courses but prominence is given to special work. The College has already graduated two classes in Domestic Art and classes in Domestic Science and Manual Training are coming close to their Commencement program The industrial products attract attention and approval The sewing room is scarcely large enough to hold its pupils The cooking room is crowded with regular students on its usual days with teachers and other progressive women from the city in special Saturday classes

The carpenter's shop, erected years ago, has given large service. Within its walls the boys have grown in carefulness and skill and done much neat and finished work. With a well-ordered course and more ambitious models its benches have grown attractive, and are crowded. With growing demands the space is much too narrow, the equipment insufficient. Among the most enthusiastic students here are men enrolled in secondary and collegiate courses.

The growth and progress of the College also shows in its enrollment. Throughout its history the yearly enrollment has often reached less than 200 students. Five years ago 211 were enrolled- The two succeeding years the numbers fell below 200. Two years ago 248 were enrolled, last year 287. This year the first semester closed with an enrollment of 292. Before last year the largest number of boarding students, as catalogued, had slightly passed 100; last year the number reached 111; the first semester of this year 121. With humble thankfulness the school rejoices in the many marks of progress and glows with the enthusiasm and confidence that springs from consciousness of going forward.

But growth is sorely hindered — has almost seemed impossible — from lack of funds. The Association by which the College is directed can furnish but a moderate support. A school whose service is to help the poor and lowly can gather only sparingly from students, many of whom themselves must have assistance, and contributions, so generously given by friends in early days, have fallen off these many years. The school has had a struggle to hold its even course and meet its barest needs In this heroic struggle courage has not failed Earnestly patiently confidently it has pressed onward working its best to day yet cherishing a larger vision and help is coming A citizen of Austin a long time friend, has seen its work, its struggle, its devotion, and given his approval by a conditional offer of three thousand dollars the first large gift for many years

Among its friends on the Campus, in the city, in the State of Texas, at least one thousand dollars must be promptly raised, which, added to the offer of our city donor, will make one-half of the full sum required for building and equipment— and coming from the Southland. Then will we turn again with confidence to Northern friends. The industrial building will be built—we feel sure of it. Plans are already maturing to begin the work the coming summer —the material, cement, the workmen students of the College. A new building will rise among the old upon the Campus, and it will mean more, far more than the rich service to a special training that it will give:

It will mean the gratitude of a struggling institution to the kind friend who came to its assistance first, and to all the kind friends who joined to help with him; and it will mean that Tillotson is still a living school and wide awake to what is' best in education and advancement; and it will also mean that a new era of prosperity and growth has opened which will place the College among the foremost institutions for the Negro in the South.

In deepest gratitude for the vision of achievement, which also is the promise of fulfillment, Tillotson College obeys the order to Go forward.

IN the growth and prosperity of Tillotson College the accommodations of the college are becoming overcrowded and insufficient. More buildings are needed; a larger equipment is required. Especially urgent are the demands of the industrial departments, partly through general growth, partly through prominence given to this feature of the college work.

The American Missionary Association, by which the college is directed, can furnish but a moderate support. A school whose service is to help the poor and lowly can gather only sparingly from students, many of whom themselves must have assistance. For needed buildings, for unusual improvements and enlargement the college must depend on gifts of friends. A citizen of Austin has seen its useful work and its devotion to a noble service and given his approval by a conditional

offer of $3,000 for a boys' industrial building. Five thousand dollars promptly added for building and equipment will secure this gift. A part of this has already been given or pledged by Northern friends. Assurances have come that if the college and friends in its home city and state will promptly raise $1,000 for the industrial building fund the whole will be secured. Then will rise upon the campus a new building, commodious and well equipped, devoted to industrial training—the material cement blocks, the workmen students of the college—a building that will be historic in the progress of the school, an ornament to Austin.

The people of our city are responding, and on the business men of enterprise and public spirit, whom Tillotson has rarely asked for aid, the college must rely for help in this important undertaking so needful for the college.

The commencement week at Tillotson College, which ended with the graduation program, was one of special interest and fittingly closed a very successful year.

Among the glad features of this year's work is the success of the college in raising funds for a new and much needed industrial building. Classes have vied with classes in friendly competition. One class has raised over $100 and three others over $50 each. The alumni are earnestly assisting, kind friends in the city have given substantial aid. One church in far-off Corpus Christi has pledged $75. A kind friend in San Antonio has sent $50. In an earnest and enthusiastic endeavor to secure the condition gift by a citizen of Austin of $3,000 toward an industrial building, the school has raised nearly $1,200 since about the 1st of March.

Plans for the new building are being procured, and it is expected that the work will soon begin. The college is grateful for the kindness of many friends, for the successes in its work and the bright promise for the days to come.