Campus Buildings; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Built for the owner of the Fleet Farm in 1834. The building became known as the Griffin House, after John Griffin bought the tract in 1879. It was purchased for Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute in 1882. It was converted into the main...
Housing; Student and Faculty; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
On this postcard are two buildings which were used for male students when Virginia State University opened in 1883. Reading left to right they were called the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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...
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,...
Honor Society; Program; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
The Kappa Gamma Chi Society was the first honor society for the young men at the "institute". Depicted here is a copy of the cover of the program for the exercises held June 2, 1887. This honor society was organized by Professor James M....
Principal; Female; African American; Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute
Kate Hill Colson, was the oldest child born to John Henry and Rosetta Hill. After the Civil War they returned to Petersburg, and Miss Hill attended the St. Stephen's Normal School in Petersburg. She was one of the first African American school...
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,...
Agricultural facilities--Louisiana; Southern University and A & M College--Buildings
The Agricultural school was established in October, 1891. The first superintendent was Board member, Professor Hugh Jamison, Jr., who was married and had several children, and served from August 21, 1890, until his death in 1899. The clearing of...
The Baton Rouge Academy, an institution sponsored by the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association of Louisiana for black boys and girls. In 1892, a suggestion was made that the Fourth District Association purchase a tract of land for...
Faculty Housing; Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute
This is the oldest building standing on campus. Built in 1906-1907 as a residence for the president of the school, it was the second major building erected, the first being the Main Building (Old Virginia Hall, begun in 1883 and completed in...
College Degree; Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute
James Hugo Johnston, Jr.'s degree from the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. James Hugo Johnston will go on to earn his bachelor's degree from Virginia Union University, and later his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, in...
James Hugo Johnston, Jr. was the son of the second president and a 1908 graduate of the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. He received his AB degree from Virginia Union in 1913. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in history in 1937 from the...
The Agricultural department was popular especially among the rural students, but the location of a site for the new agricultural school proved to be a problem. Beginning in the summer, 1890, the professor of the Agricultural and Mechanical...
James Barnes came to Virginia State in 1931 as an instructor in health and physical education. He also coached basketball, football, and track during his short stay at Virginia State College for Negroes. There is a street named for Coach Barnes...
