PAUL QUINN COLLEGE.
REV. I. M.
BURGAN, A. M., PRESIDENT.
Paul
Quinn College is not the result of an impulse,
but of well-considered promptings. While the
establishment of the school in its present scope
may be dated from 1881, the real beginning of the
institution took place in Austin, in 1874, when,
after discussion and prayer, it was decided to
found a "Conference High School" in
Austin, which was done.
It
was thought best, however, to broaden the purpose
of the school and locate it in the town or city
that offered the best inducements. Several places
vied for the location, and after a very
interesting canvass of the State, Waco, by
reasons of liberal donations, eligible and
beautiful situation, was chosen as the site.
The
promoters were, in the main, uneducated men, with
no experience in, and but little observation of,
school matters; but all were impressed with two
things: first, the necessity of a school for
higher learning in Texas; secondly, the need of
the negro's assuming responsibility and depending
upon self-help, if he would ever reach the full
stature of manhood. While grateful for schools
established in the South by members of the other
race, and appreciating fully their benefactions,
the founders of Paul Quinn thought that
self-reliance was an essential part of a perfect
education, and that could only come through the
onus of managing enterprises calling for
sacrifice, planning, devising, suffering,
triumphing, in the first person.
Paul
Quinn College is under Negro management, and is
doing as much as any institution in the land to
teach the lesson of self-help. It is an object
lesson of Negro capacity to plan, manage, and
promote enterprises involving self-denial and
hard work.
The
growth of the school has been steady and solid.
Bishop Atticus G. Haygood, while agent for the
Slater fund, visited it and said it was the best
managed and conducted school he had seen.
The
school property consists of twenty acres of land,
worth $65,000; two brick buildings and one brick
addition; ten frame buildings; eight teachers;
225 students enrolled.
For
the second time in the history of this school
Rev. I. M. Burgan, A. M., has been elected as
President of Paul Quinn College. He is a graduate
of Wilberforce, and the institution has just
cause to be proud of him. His election this time
is to succeed Prof. H. T. Kealing, who was
elected as editor of the A. M. E. Review.
The fact that Mr. Burgin has been the second time
placed at the head of this institution speaks
well for his ability as an educator.
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