Confederate General; Battle of the Crater; Readjuster Party; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
William Mahone was a railroad engineer, a Confederate General, and a hero in the Battle of the Crater, July 30, 1864. After the Civil War he was one of the people who helped establish the Readjuster Party. The Party's support of the public...
Slave; African American; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Henry Johnson was born a slave around 1835 on the Fleet Plantation. He later became the butler at the Fleet Plantation house. After the Civil War Mr. Johnson became a wagoner.
The Reverend Jacob Brinton Smith, DD Was Born March 1, 1822. He Was Ordained Deacon on December 25, 1845 by The Right Reverend Bosworth Smith, Bishop of Kentucky, Who Was Presiding Bishop From 1865 to 1884. In 1867, The Reverend J. Brinton Smith...
William H. Miles Was Born a Slave In 1828 and Freed In 1854. He Joined the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) In 1855 and the Church Licensed Him to Preach in 1857. Over the Next 22 Years, He Lead a Church That Grew Into One of the Largest In the...
Freedom fighter; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
John Henry Hill was born a slave in King and Queen County, Virginia, in March 1828. He escaped from the institution of slavery in 1853 and fled to Canada. He was very active in the Underground Railroad movement in Canada. After the Civil War...
DeLong, Mary A. [Ann] Craig, 1865-1960; Southern University and A & M College--Students
Black and white photograph of Mary A. Craig DeLong. She was Southern's first student to enter the premises at Southern University when it was chartered in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Politician; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Alfred W. Harris was a member of the House of Delegates from 1881-1888. He presented the Bill to establish Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute now Virginia State University.
Born Into Slavery On July 3, 1842 Near Columbus, Georgia; Bishop Holsey Of The C.M.E. Church And Local Resident Of August, Was the Prime Mover In The Founding Of Pain College. In 1882, As a Fraternal Messenger, He Appeared Before the General...
Members of Senate; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Member of the Virginia Senate 1871-1873, and again from 1877-1887. He represented York County. He was also a member of the First Board of Visitors of Virginia State University and the first treasurer.
African American; Educator; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
He was the first science teacher at the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute now Virginia State University. Mr. Colson was an 1883 graduate of Dartmouth College. He served as acting principal in 1885 replacing the first principal James...
African American; Legislator; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Delegate Peter J. Carter 1844-1888, was born a slave in Northhampton County, Virginia. He was elected first Rector of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute on February 15, 1883.
Dr. Walker (Founder, Teacher And President) Was Elected As A Teacher of Paine Institute, July 17, 1883. He Was Elected To Succeed Dr. Callaway As Second President In 1884, And Remained President Until His Death, May 17, 1911. Under His...
Paine Institute Held Its First Class On January 1, 1884, In Rented Quarters On Broad Street in Augusta, GA. Among The First Group Of Young People Present That Morning Was John Wesley Gilbert, Who Stepped Ahead Of The Others And Enrolled As The...
Daniel Barclay Williams was the first professor of classical languages at the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, having been hired in 1885. He was a native of Richmond, VA, and a graduate of Brown University. Professor Williams authored...
College President; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
John Mercer Langston was the first president of what is now Virginia State University. He was the third head of the institution, following principals, James Storum and James M. Colson Jr. He served in office from January 1, 1886 - December 31,...
He joined the faculty as Professor of Applied Mathematics in 1887 and served for more than three decades. He was also listed as superintendent of Grading in the Industrial Department from 1892-1895.
Secretary; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Charles James Daniel was born in Orange County, Virginia. Before coming to the Institute he had studied at Howard University, and was a graduate of the Richmond Institute in 1878. He taught school in Louisa County, Virginia, and from 1882 to...
President; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
James Hugo Johnston was the second president of Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. He took over the top position at the University in 1888 and remained in that position until his death in 1914.
School Teacher; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
William Henry Johnson is shown in this 1889 wedding photograph with Mrs. Nannie Brewer Johnson. William Henry Johnson was the son of Henry Johnson, who had been born a slave on the old Fleet Plantation site. Mrs. Nannie Brewer Johnson was also...
Bishop Aaron Hunter Was Born In April 26, 1854 In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He Graduated From Amherst College in 1876 and Union Theological Seminary in 1879.
