Morristown College

Some of the first faculty members of Morristown College. Notable figures include Almira Stearns (top row, left) and Dr. Judson Hill (bottom row, center)

After being pastor for the First Methodist Church of Chattanooga and doing missionary work, Judson Hill[5] and his wife Laura moved to the Morristown area. Hill had an urge to do work in the South after training at Madison University (now Colgate) and Crozer Theological Seminary. Once appointed president, the tedious job of building and maintaining the school began. Under Hill's leadership, the college grew to over three hundred students by the turn of the century. To raise money for needed classroom buildings and dormitories, Hill secured funds from northern philanthropists such as Andrew Carnegie, the McCormick's and Swift's of Chicago, and the Kellogg's of Battle Creek, Michigan. In addition, Hill solicited contributions from local merchants and sought improved relations with the city. Through his successes in fundraising, Hill was able to launch a major expansion and building program for the college that included the construction of dormitories, classrooms, administrative offices, and a dining facility. The school also acquired a 300-acre (120 ha) dairy farm. Lobbying with the community through various means also helped to ease tensions, foster cooperation, and land considerable praise for the work and dedication the school provided to the growing number of students and the community at large.[6][7]

Typical advertisement found in The Crisis magazine (1931).

Hill's improvements at the school occurred within the larger context of the Jim Crow South. Most whites saw little need for and imposed resistance toward African American education, especially higher education. Many northern and southern leaders, and even some black educators such as Booker T. Washington, tried to compromise with the white society by channeling African Americans into industrial and vocational education. Following this trend, Hill introduced industrial training and, by 1901, the college was renamed Morristown Normal and Industrial College. Some of the industrial courses offered for male students included woodworking, brick-making and masonry, carpentry, iron-molding, shoemaking, broom manufacturing, and agricultural training. For the females, domestic science classes included sewing, cooking, and serving techniques. The products created in these classes, such as brooms, were sold across the United States, and the profits were then given back to the college. For the remainder of Hill's presidency, industrial education was the central focus of the Morristown curriculum, decreasing the earlier emphasis on teacher and clergy training. Hill's death in 1931, coupled with the onset of the Great Depression, brought dramatic changes to the college.

Construction of Laura Yard Hill Hall

Crary Hall in the early 1900s[8]

After Hill's passing and two years of searching, the Board of Schools of the Methodist Church selected Edward C. Paustin as the new president. During his three-year tenure, Paustin changed the direction of the school from industrial training to a more traditional liberal arts education. It is likely that the expense of maintaining the shops during a time of economic crisis drove some of these policies. Despite his efforts, Paustin was unable to turn the school around financially and he resigned in 1937. J.W. Haywood succeeded Paustin, becoming the college's first black president and managing the school for seven years.

In 1944, Miller W. Boyd, an Abingdon, Virginia native, became the first Morristown College alumnus to be president of the institution. He sought funding for the school by establishing relationships with Morristown's business community, instituting financial support from alumni, and gaining support from the Holston Conference. Through his efforts, enrollment rose to 435 (the largest in the school's history), the college's finances improved, and relations with the community were further raised.

Boyd elevated the college to levels not seen since Dr. Hill's tenure. When some thought the college was headed toward demise, Boyd thought otherwise, working tirelessly to promote spirit and loyalty among the students and staff. In the fall of 1952, Boyd died and his wife, Mary Whitten, served as interim president for the remainder of the year. H.L. Dickason, former president of Bluefield State College, succeeded Whitten in 1953 until his death in 1957. Other presidents included Dr. Leonard Haynes, Jr., Dr. Elmer P. Gibson, Dr. Raymond E. White, and Dr. Charles Wade.

After the civil rights movement of the 1960s, African Americans were able to attend previously all-white, state-supported colleges and universities. As a result, Morristown College found it increasingly difficult to compete with the larger public institutions that could offer cheaper tuition and received state and federal funds. In 1959, the college ended high-school level instruction, though two years later it became the first HBCU to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a junior college. Over the next 20 years, the college continued to struggle financially as students, potential or otherwise, were drawn to other institutions and regions. In 1989, Knoxville College acquired Morristown College and began operating it as a satellite campus. However, Knoxville College also had its challenges and closed the facility in 1994.

The historic campus of Morristown College was listed in 1983 on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance and its important contributions to African American education. Its significant architectural examples included Queen Anne and Georgian Revival styles, but the campus suffered from neglect.

Alumni, former faculty, and staff reunite on occasion along with those from other schools associated with the college. Over 15,000 graduates from across the nation and world passed through this institution and its impact has been felt for generations, large and small. Much wasn't expected of this small school tucked away in the foothills of East Tennessee and its history is rarely told. Fulfilling the mission of its founders and possibly exceeding it, the school's existence served as a reminder of hard work and persistence can pay off in the face of adversity and challenges.