Campus Organization; Virginia State College for Negroes
The Choral Society, (college choir) 1931 conducted by Alston Burleigh. The pianist for the group sitting next to Mr. Burleigh on the front row is Undine Smith Moore.
Commissioned Officer; Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute.
Virginus Johnston was a 1913 graduate of the Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute. Virginus was one of five Virginia State University graduates to be commissioned an officer in the 92nd division during World War I.
Campus Physician; First Physics Graduate; Virginia State College for Negroes
Charles Townes entered Virginia State College for Negroes in 1931. Mr. Towns became the first physics graduate in 1934. He went on to get a Ph.D in physics from Penn State and M.D. in medicine from Howard University. After World War II, Dr....
High School Teacher; College Faculty Member; Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute
Dannie Starr graduated from Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute in 1928. Her career at Virginia State included time teaching at the university high school and as a member of the college faculty after 1940. She later married Charles Townes.
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...
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...
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.
