Swift Memorial College

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.