Paul Quinn When... On Campus, 1886-1892

The history of a college is usually told in terms of the big events--a founding, an expansion, a relocation, a change of focus. It is harder to discover the ordinary events that make up so much of the life of a school. Who were the faculty in that year? What courses were being offered? Who was the head of that department? Who were the staff? The Waco City Directory, available from 1886-1892, provides year-by-year snapshots of people connected with Paul Quinn College. By piecing together the description of the people who worked at the College, we can get a glimpse of campus life during the presidency of Rev. Isaac M. Burgan, more than 110 years ago.

Paul Quinn College, 1886-1887

Rev. Isaac M. Burgan was President, also serving as Professor of Theology and “Moral Science”, or ethics. He served as President from 1883-1891, served again from 1896-1904, and yet again from 1911-1912. True to the Quinnite spirit, he was also the business manager of the Paul Quinn Monthly, and even served as an arithmetic instructor in 1890-91. His degree (listed in 1890-91) was a B.D., or Bachelor of Divinity. He achieved this at Wilberforce, where he was valedictorian of his class, but his college training began in the field of education at the Indiana State Normal School (today Indiana State University at Terre Haute). In the 1927 Paul Quinn College yearbook he was still listed as academic dean.

Mrs. Anna H. Coleman served as “principal” (equivalent to a dean) of the “normal department” (teacher education) in 1886-87, and at least in 1888-89 was principal of the female side of the industrial department. She also taught the “English branches” (probably the primary-school curriculum of reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and history). Additionally, in 1888-89 she followed Mrs. Mary J. Pogue (1886-87) as the matron of the boarding students.

Noah Anthony Banks taught mathematics and languages (1886-87), and higher mathematics and sciences in 1890-91. His degree was a Bachelor of Science (listed 1890-91) from Wilberforce, where he was acquainted with Isaac Burgan. He took over the Presidency from Burgan for 1891-1892 before the arrival of Hightower T. Kealing. While serving as President he also was Professor of psychology and sciences, and editor of the Paul Quinn Monthly. He would serve as President again from 1926-1928. He was elected to membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1917.

Paul Quinn College, 1888-1889

Moving forward to the 1888-89 City Directory, we get a fuller picture of activities at Paul Quinn College. Adele B. Banes (1867-1959) is listed for the first time, serving the College as teacher of instrumental music and assistant in languages. The 1890-91 directory specifies that she taught both piano and organ. She continued in this position through at least 1893, after which love led her elsewhere--more on which later.

Miss Grace G. Sampson appears as teacher of higher mathematics and sciences, and also assistant teacher of the “English branches,” perhaps to relieve Mrs. Coleman of some of her load since she had assumed duties as matron. Miss Sampson had just graduated from high school, and Paul Quinn College was her first position. In 1889 she became the first African American woman to pass the Dallas teacher’s examination. She left Paul Quinn after a year to teach in the public schools.

The 1888-89 Directory also gives an early look into the staff side of Paul Quinn College. Mr. Henry (sometimes “Harry”) Delay appears in the Directories from 1888-1893 with the simple job description, “works”--a title to which our present facilities staff can certainly relate. The 1892-93 Directory gave his residence as “rear 1120 Elm,” about six blocks from the College. John K. Williams is also listed as “foreman of the printing department,” and served as editor for the Paul Quinn Monthly.

Paul Quinn College, 1890-91

In the 1890-91 Directory we find that an “Anna R. Patterson” was matron, principal of the normal and female industrial departments, and teacher of English branches. This is suspiciously similar to the duties of Anna H. Coleman in prior years, and leads to the surmise that they may have been the same person with the change of a last name (the middle initials “R” and “H” are easily misread). Whether she gained a husband or lost one is not known.

Another new teacher was quite definitely added by marriage--Mrs. Cora Burgan, the new bride of President Isaac Burgan, also taught the English branches during this period. They married on September 4th, 1889. From the 1890-91 Directory we also learn that John K. Williams, previously listed as the foreman of the printing department, was professor of mathematics--but his occupation is also given as “farmer” at the D. R. Byrum farm. He turned over the editorial duties of the Paul Quinn Monthly to Daniel A. Banks.

Mrs. Clara Sears and Mr. Joseph S. Powe joined Harry Delay in carrying the job description, “works.” We are unable to say what roles they filled. Mr. Powe lived at 1113 Renick Ave., just a few blocks from campus, and across the street from an address that gives us our first view into student life of the 1890s.

1114 Renick Ave. was home-away-from-home to six young Quinnites--Thomas D. Beatty, Joseph Dobbs, Harman McDaniel, and three students who were likely brothers or cousins: Henry A. Guess, James E. Guess, and Laban F. Guess. (We can only imagine the jokes they heard about the “three Guesses!”) The City Directory of 1890-91 also mentions William Cain, possibly boarding with Clara Sears, and Alice Walker, a student boarding with John Monroe.

Paul Quinn College, 1892-1893

In the last year for which we have City Directory information, there were a few new faces among the faculty. Frederica F. Jones, B.A., came to teach Greek and Latin, serving also as principal of the female department in place of Anna Patterson. Elnora D. Owens took over the matron’s duties and taught reading and elocution. Amanda F. Woodard taught grammar and history, and the versatile James L. Randolph served as principal of the normal department and superintendent of carpentry. John K. Williams, in addition to teaching mathematics, is again listed as superintendent of printing (if indeed he ever left the position).

Wiilliam E. Day, a principal in the public schools, served as business manager for the Paul Quinn Monthly during this time, and it is through him that we get a final glimpse of the lives of these faculty and staff of long ago. Whether they met through their work at the College, or Day came to the College because of a prior interest, the fact remains that Miss Adele B. Banes, the music teacher, became Mrs. Adele B. Day!