Eight thousand dollars were expended in
adding a wing to each end of the Main Buildin at Swift Memorial
College Rogersville Tenn One wing was left unfinished for lack of funds
The whole improvement when done will cost about $10,000 (Source:
Minutes - United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1913, p. 248) Link
"In 1883, Union Presbyterian
Church sent the Reverend William Henderson Franklin to Rogersville to
organize a school for Negro girls. The school was named for the
Reverend Elijah E Swift, president of the Board of Missions for
Freedmaen of the Presbyterian Church. By 1893, Swift Memorial
College had a three story administration building and a girls
dormitory, located where the Presbyterian Church now stands." (Touring
the East Tennessee Backroads, Second Edition,Carolyn Sakowski, John
F. Blair, Publisher, 2007, p. 142)
 | ||
| Boys Dormitory |
After so long a time we
are at last able to to the readers of the HERALD and the Memorial
Institute with the understanding that our Board would erect an
additional building for the accommodation of young men at a cost of
at least $10,000. It took two years to raise this desired amount, and
another year was consumed in obtaining plans, and erecting and
furnishing the building. It is now finished and occupied much to the
delight of the President Faculty and students. In the year 1903- 4,
$7,202 were raised, in the year 1904-5 $2,174 more were raised
bringing the amount up to $9,373. When we reached this point we began
our plans for building, many friends of our work a picture of the boys
new dormitory at Swift Memorial Institute in Rogersville, Tenn.
It will be
recalled by those who keep themselves informed of current events, in
connection with our work that after the Tennessee Legislature made it
unlawful to educate colored and white pupils in the same school, the
trustees of Maryville College, Maryville ,Tenn, that had formerly
admitted both colored and white to its classes agreed to turn over
$25,000 of its Endowment Fund to the Trustees of the General Assembly
for the benefit of colored education at Swift and although delayed
somewhat by the first contractor, who failed to give sufficient bond,
we started again and finished the building far enough to have it
occupied by students last fall, although some finishing touches were
not put on until as late as last spring. The total cost of the
building and furnishing was $12,676. The Institution is in a
prosperous condition under the faithful and able administration of
Rev WH Franklin DD. The arrangement seems quite satisfactory to the
Tennessee people white and black and both colleges seen much
benefited by this adjustment of affairs. (Source: The Presbyterian
Magazine, 1901, p. 635) Available on Google Books, Link
William Henderson Franklin: college
president was born in Knoxville Tenn Apr 14, 1852, son of Henderson and
Elizabeth Bates Franklin. AB Maryville College, 1880, AM 1883 STB
Lane Theological Seminary Cincinnati, Ohio, 1883; DD Maryville College
1898, married Mrs Laura C Emmons of Concord, N C Dec 24, 1893.
Conducted State Teachers Institute Knoxville 1881-2, founded Swift
Memorial College Rogersville Tenn 1883, and since pres gave $1,000
1912 toward purchasing lot for college building.
Presbyterian Pastor
St Mark's Church Rogersville 1883-1914, erected new church on ground
secured from the Freedmen's Board of the Presbyterian Church,
principal organizer Rogersville Presbytery and Synod of E Tenn, gave
name and was first moderator of both, again elected moderator of
latter by acclamation 1913 commissioner to General Assembly of
Presbyterian Church USA for Holston Presbytery (white) 1888-1902;
Trustee Maryville College. Republican. Member East Tennessee Colored
Teachers Assn, pres 1914. Active in all race matters. Contributor to
New York Age, Herald and Presbyter (Cincinnati), the Continent
Chicago and other papers.
Laura C Franklin matron and principal
born at Concord, N C on Oct, 1858, daughter of Dalia Holmes, ed Scotia
Seminary, Concord; married William Holmes, deceased, 2d marriage Rev
William H Franklin pres Swift Memorial College of Rogersville, Tenn
Dec 24, 1893. Reared under influence of Scotia Seminary and helped in
the care of its students, teacher in schools of Concord 1870-92,
became matron 1892, matron and principal since 1893 with Swift
Memorial College devoted to child welfare work labored unselfishly
and sacrificed much for good of colored race.
In 1932 the Presbyterian Board
of National Missions sold the Swift College property to the
county.
