The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.2, page 49, 10 June 1875, U. of Illinois Press

The page presentation framework of the Booker T. Washington papers is designed to provide researchers worldwide with searchable access to the thousands of pages comprising the fourteen volumes, most of which are out of print. Adapted from the National Academy Press's Open Book framework, this framework allows searching down to the page level, provides sorting of search results chronologically, enables easy navigation across multiple volumes, and allows page-by-page local printing (via PDF) of every page.

[ Top of Page ]

[ Home ]

[ Contact Us ]

[ Help ]

OCRed data provided for searching only.
JUNE . 1875 of a good work accomplished. The design of the school is to fit its graduates to do helpful work among the ignorant and degraded colored masses of the south. For such an object Latin, Greek, and the higher mathematics are useless, and they are wisely omitted from the course. A practical English education is given, sufficient to make good teachers, and with it there seems to have been imparted some comprehension of the needs of the race and a genuine missionary spirit. There were present at the exercises a goodly number of distinguished friends of the school from the north and from Virginia. Among the former were the Revs. E. E. Hales and PhiDips Brooks2 of Boston, the Rev. Dr. Taylor3 and Dr. Whipple of New York, the Rev. Dr. Spears of Pittsfield, the Rev. Messrs. Harding5 of Springfield, Grouts of Concord, Fessenden of Connecticut, Charles L. Brace7 of New York, W. E. McKee of New Haven, Foster of Meriden, Edgar Ketchum and E. M. Cravath of New York, A. M. Kimber of Pennsylvania, representatives of The Courant, Springfield :Republican, Richmond Dispatch, New York Times and Tribune, Christian Union and Congregation~alist. Among the southern gentlemen present were Colonel B. S. Ewell,9 president of William and Mary's college and formerly chief of General Joe. Johnston's staff, General Page,~° of Fort Morgan and other fame, Judge R. W. Hughes of Richmond, Judge Dormancy of Norfolk, the Rev. Mr. Joneses of Richmond, formerly chaplain of General Lee. The morning was devoted to a survey of the farm, and to the closing term examinations. The graduating class were questioned in bookkeeping, history, physiology, Algebra, (the rudiments) and in primary lessons in metaphysics. They showed satisfactory progress, having evidently been taught to think for themselves, and to inquire into the reason of things. At twelve o'clock the students and visitors assembled in Academic Hall, where several of the old songs were sung, after which the graduating class were escorted by the others to Virginia Hall, where a plain dinner was served. The invited guests inspected the admirable culinary arrangements of the building and then met at the president's house, upon the piazza of which they enjoyed a bountiful lunch. At half-past one the graduation exercises began in the beautiful chapel in Virginia Hall, which was crowded to overflowing. Many citizens were present, and a number of officers from the fort with their wives. Following is the 49