MARY
ALLEN SEMINARY.
This
school was planned some time in 1885 by the board of
missions for freedmen of the Presbyterian Church. The
purpose to establish a school somewhere in Texas was
largely due to Mrs. Mary E.
Allen, wife of the
secretary of the board. She had been for some time
previously seeking information concerning the condition of
the colored women of Texas, and finding that a very large
proportion of them were wholly illiterate and suffered all
the evils incident to such a condition, she determined to
try to do something for
their relief and elevation, and at once brought the matter
to the attention of the board.
The
school was located at Crockett, and three teachers were chosen
to begin work. These were Rev. John B. Smith, Mrs. A. E.
Smith, his wife, and Miss Margaret P. Bolles. They arrived at
Crockett January 1, 1886, and in a few days opened school in
an old farm dwelling rented for the purpose. In the following
April Mrs. Allen died, and in
honor of her memory and interest in this special work the
school was named Mary Allen Seminary.
The first term closed in June of that year with an enrollment
of 46 students. As the school was designed to be for the women
of Texas and neighboring regions, adequate provision had to be
made for the work by the erection of a suitable building for
caring for all who should attend. In that year brick were made
and the walls of the first three stories of the main building
were put up, and the building, 107 feet long and four stories
high, was completed in time for the opening of school in
November, 1887. The enrollment in 1886-87 was 88. In 1887-88,
the first year in the new building, the enrollment was 152,
and the year following 167. The ground upon which the seminary
is built consists of 10 acres, donated by the citizens of
Crockett. A year or two later Mr. James Synder, of Illinois,
gave the seminary 260 acres adjoining the ground upon which
the seminary is built. In 1889 a large donation of money was
made by Hon. James McMillan, of Michigan, by means of which
McMillan Hall was erected. This is a brick building, 90 by 45
feet, four stories high, with basement for dining hall,
kitchen, pantry, etc. This greatly increased the capacity of
the seminary, and in 1890-91 the enrollment was 266. This
number, however, was found to be too great for the room at
command and interfered with the best work for the students,
and so large a number has never been accepted since. Rev. John
B. Smith, A. M., D. D., has continued president from the
opening of the college.
In
addition to the brick buildings above mentioned, there are
frame buildings for three large recitation rooms and a sewing
room, a large laundry and bath building, and other necessary
buildings. The grounds and buildings are valued at $45,000.
The
money for the erection and equipment of this school was
donated principally in small sums, the gifts resulting from
the self-denial of those interested in the work of the church
for the freedmen.
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