Knox College
Knoxville College like most other schools for the children of colored parents traces its origin to the results of the Civil war. In September 1862, under the auspices of three presbyteries of the United Presbyterian church, Rev JG McKee opened a school for negroes that flocked into Nashville. This school grew and prospered until the death of Rev Mr McKee in 1868. The United Presbyterian church had also other schools for colored children in the South, and at this time it resolved to concentrate on one school, and to elevate the character of that one school by adding thereto, the normal feature. In carrying out this idea, the general assembly of the church in June, 1869, recommended its board of missions to freedmen to proceed as soon as possible to the establishment of a normal school somewhere in the South and authorized it to draw upon the church for the necessary funds.
But the project was not easily realized and it was not until 1874 that it was revived with hopes of success Knoxville appearing to be the most promising location, the Nashville school was removed to Knoxville in September, 1875, and was opened in a building which had been used as a freedmen's school. The new building erected for the use of this school contained nine rooms for teachers, and seven for recitations, and was dedicated September 4, 1876, the address being delivered by Rev RB Ewing DD. The first principal of the school in Knoxville was Rev JP Wright, assisted by Rev SB Reed, Miss Aggie Wallace, and Mattie M Baldridge. The school opened in this new building September 5, 1876. The name of the institution became Knoxville College and at the end of one year, Rev JS McCullough DD became president and has retained the position ever since. Miss Eliza B Wallace was lady principal from the opening of the school in Knoxville until her death December 12, 1897. Besides the main building erected as above stated in 1876, other buildings have been erected as required by the growth of the school. In 1887, a Little Girls Home, and in 1890, a Little Boys Home were erected in which children from six to thirteen years of age are cared for. In 1891, this college had an enrollment of 313, ten of whom were state normal students. The property consists of 224 acres of land and three main buildings, besides other buildings enumerated later on in this sketch and it is all valued at more than $100,000, the chief support of the institution being received through the board of missions to freedmen of the United Presbyterian church amounting to about $7,000 per annum.
The buildings located on a rise of ground, about two miles west of Knoxville, on the Clinton Pike, are as follows: The college building, 119x75 feet in size with an extension 61x43 feet, and is two stories high, contains seventeen rooms besides a chapel with a seating capacity of 600. The McCullough Hall an L one front of which is ninety feet and the other seventy five feet the depth being forty three feet It is three stories high and contains forty five rooms, in addition to laundry and bath rooms. Elnathan Hall rebuilt in 1897-98 to take the place of old Elnathan Hall burned down December 15, 1896. This is a four story building with sleeping and study rooms for sixty girls, and kitchen and dining rooms capable of accommodating 200. It is 90x40 feet, with a rear extension 47x58 feet. Each floor of this building has bath rooms with hot and cold water. The Little Girls Home, three stories high, is 60x40 feet in size and contains study rooms, kitchen and dining room accommodations for fifty girls. The Little Boys Home is of the same dimensions as the Little Girls Home. In these two buildings, children from six to sixteen years of age are taken care of for an almost nominal sum. The Industrial building is two stories high 61x40 feet, and has a one story rear extension 30x50 feet. It is equipped for instruction in agriculture and mechanics including printing.
Four cottages afford homes for the families of the president, professors and others connected with the institution. Four of the main buildings are heated by steam, and all except one cottage are lighted by electricity furnished by a dynamo run by the students.
Header photo credit: "Knoxville-college-1903-tn1" by Unsigned photograph - H.F. Kletzing and W. H. Crogman, Progress of a Race: The Remarkable Advancement of the Afro-American (Napierville, Ill.: J.L. Nichols and Co.: 1903), p. 434. Downloaded from Google Books, Full View.. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - Link
