Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

CAMPUS MIRROR 3 Basement of Friendship Baptist Church Where SpelmaN First Began—1881 Historically Speaking Miss Sophia Packard and Miss Harriet Giles saw a necessity for the development of Negro women’s education; therefore, the two ventured toward untouched soil to invest their lives; and in 1881, what was then termed “The Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary” was founded in the basement of Friendship Baptist Church, during the pastorate of Father Frank Quarles. This school in the basement, and later : n the old army hospital, “Union Hall,” often lacked funds, yet it never lacked the necessary courage which Miss Packard and Miss Giles had in undertaking this work and the perseverance to carry it through. It was through the liberality of North ern Baptists that it was made possible for such characters to come south and to ren der service, not oidy for colored people, but for the entire American civlization. itli the talent of these two women to plan here, with their ability to execute their plans, and with the ideas of the two combined, a high and noble character was imparted to the institution. Their tactful ness drew to them the interest of others. In places, their dynamic personalities were so forceful that they tore down racial prejudice, so that in time they could speak to white groups in white churches in the interest of Negro education. The growing interest spread; the number of people who were willing to invest interest and funds spread slowly in the South, but rapidly in the North. With eleven students as their first ma terial. they began the investment. As time came on the school grew, the number of students increased, and the course of study became more extensive; other peo ple’s interest in this broader education grew and spread, so that what was then The Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, through the active interest of the Spel- man-Rockefeller family, became Spelman Seminary in 1884. Gifts from this family made possible a number of college halls, which bear the names of Rockefeller Hall, Laura Spelman Hall which houses the home economics laboratories, and Sisters Chapel, a memorial to Mrs. Rockefeller and her sister. Miss Lucy Spelman. The largest addition of buildings was made during the years of service of President Lucy Hale Tapley, whose entire service to Spelman covered a period of thirty- seven years. The large increase of prop erty and buildings, in the pushing of re quirements to higher and higher stan dards. which President Tapley mothered, led to one of her high goals, the college idea. The crowning event of her long pe riod of invested effort was the dedication service of Sisters Chapel on May 16, 1927. As the college continued to grow', there came, in the year 1927, Miss Florence Ma tilda Read, who had just the experience for handling large affairs and who was fitted for the directing of the expanding growth of Spelman. A collection of old frame buildings, sur rounded by bare clay and gullies, over grown with weeds, has given place to a beautifully landscaped campus, verdant with grass and studded with stately brick buildings, ivy-grown, a veritable bower of beauty: and yet the outward visible Spel man but typifies the work within. Edu cation. intelligence, culture, and Chris tianity are her branches, growing daily for the replacement of the ignorance and thriftlessness of slavery days. Spelman College, the pioneer institu tion for Negro women’s education, has grown larger than her buildings, more extensive than her acres of land, and broader than her curriculum; she is posi tive and all persuasive in spiritual atmos phere. The spirit, character, method and aim of Spelman have influenced thousands of individuals. Students trained here have gone to live out the influence still more potently. She is the opener of the eyes of thousands; she has brought many into a different state of mind and heart. Spelman has grown and is still grow ing! Her investment in buildings and money is growing bigger; her standards and ideals are higher and her hope for the future is promising. FACING FACTS (Continued from Page 2) pearance. tactfully says, as she takes his hat. “John, did you just come from work ?” I he girl who has standards and can re veal them without a pout or any sharp ness. says in a pleasant way. “I like you so much, but 1 would like you better if—.” She is raising the community education ally, religiously, and morally, to higher standards wherever she goes. DIAMONDS watches JEWELRY FOUNTAIN FENS SILVERWARE CLOCKS Engraving and Repair Work James L. Hoi.i.owav Phono JEWELER W A Inut 2772 172 Auburn Av< N.K.