College Building; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Construction began in 1883, and was finished in 1888. It contained classrooms, library, dormitories, cafeteria, administrative offices, faculty housing, infirmary, and auditorium. It could accommodate 1000 students. The name was changed to...
Mills; Pre-Civil War; Industrial History; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
This is a view of Fleets Hill in 1883, as seen from Petersburg across the Appomattox River. This picture shows some of the many mills operating from water power along the Appomattox in Ettrick and Petersburg from the mid-1840s through the 1890s.
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.
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...
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...
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,...
African American; Principal; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Ida M. Harris was the first female administrator at what is now Virginia State University. She was originally from Fairfax County, Virginia. She was very involved in the development of African American Education in Virginia after the War of the...
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.
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...
College Seal; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
This original seal first appeared in 1885; but was never officially adopted as the school seal. However, elements of this unofficial seal were incorporated into the seal that was officially adopted and used from 1914 to 1991.
Legislators; Virginia; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Shown here are the eight African Americans who were serving in the Virginia Legislature, the General Assembly in 1887-1888. On the front row, seated left to right, are Alfred W. Harris, William W. Evans, and Caesar Perkins. On the back row,...
Slave; African American; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Malinda Johnson was from Petersburg, VA. She was a slave, property of a Major P. Branch. She married Henry Johnson and in 1854 gave birth to William Henry Johnson, their only child.
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...
Newspaper Editor; Priest; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
George Freeman Bragg, Jr., was the twenty-year-old editor of the "Petersburg Lancet" when the cornerstone was laid for the new college in July 1883. His eighteen-year-old sister Carrie, was among the sixty-two students present on opening...
Henry Johnson; Malinda Johnson; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
The home was built by Henry Johnson in 1865 after the end of the Civil War on Rome Street in Petersburg, VA. Henry Johnson had been born a slave on the old Fleet Plantation, now the site of Virginia State University. The house is still standing.
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.
