USA > Louisiana > Orleans Parish > New Orleans > Standard history of New Orleans, Louisiana, giving a description of the natural advantages, natural history settlement, Indians, Creoles, municipal and military history, mercantile and commercial interests, banking, transportation, etc. > Part 25
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In 1877 "the Carpet Bag" government ceased to exist in Louisiana. It is needless to repeat here the record of high taxes, enormous debts, and general pillage that marked its career in Louisiana. Under the new Democratic administra- tion we may point with pride to one of the first acts of the General Assembly. It was as follows :
"The education of all classes of the people being essential to the preservation of free institutions, we do declare our solemn purpose to maintain a system of public schools by an equal and uniform taxation upon property, as provided in the Constitution of the State; which shall secure the education of the white and the colored citizens with equal advantages.
"LOUIS BUSH, Speaker. "L. A. WILTZ, Lieutenant Governor. "FRANCIS T. NICHOLLS, Governor."
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In New Orleans William O. Rogers was once more called to the office of City Superintendent. He continued to render valuable services to the schools until 1884, when he resigned to accept a position in Tulane University. The records of that day show that Mr. Rogers received from the School Board the highest praise for his long and faithful services in behalf of the schools of New Orleans. He was succeeded by Professor Ulric Bettison, now professor of mathematics in the Sophie Newcomb College, who labored zealously for the advancement of the public schools. In 1887 the present incumbent, Hon. Warren Easton became superintendent. The record of the city schools during the past thirteen years is a witness to the wisdom of his management.
The Constitution of 1879 made but scanty provision for the support of public education; but the present Constitution made a most satisfactory change for the better by allowing local taxation to supplement the general tax. This change, which was demanded by the people of the State, insures the future pros- perity of the public school system.
The present condition of the schools of New Orleans is better than at any previous time in the history of the city. Much praise is due to the efforts of the School Board under the presidency of the Hon. E. B. Kruittscnitt, who has during many years shown himself the devoted friend of public education.
McDonogh High School* No. 1, for boys, under the charge of Principal F. W. Gregory, offers an excellent course of preparation for Tulane and other colleges ; while the two High Schools for girls, under Mrs. Lusher and Miss Suydam, respectively, are doing valuable work. The Normal School, under Miss Marion Brown, has a band of nearly one hundred young women, who are being trained as teachers.
The total enrollment of the public schools in October, 1899, was 23,886, of whom 20,257 were white. Since the beginning of the scholastic year the attendance has largely increased.
*The schools of New Orleans owe a debt of gratitude to John McDonogh, an eccentric old bachelor, who died in 1850, leaving a large amount of property to the cities of Balti- more and New Orleans for free schools. Most of the handsome school buildings that adorn our city have been built from the proceeds of this fund. The history of the donor and of the fund which he bequeathed forms one of the most interesting episodes in the history of Louisiana.
Among the benefactions to education in New Orleans mention should also be made of the Howard and Fisk Libraries, which render invaluable aid to the pupils of public and private schools.
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PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
Under Period II of the Public School System, some mention was made of the various private schools and academies that flourished before the Civil War. The existing institutions of New Orleans are now to be deseribed, and as some of them traee their origin baek to ante-bellum days, they will serve further to illustrate the educational advantages of that period.
The College of the Immaculate Conception .- This institution was established in 1847 by the Jesuit Fathers, soon after they returned to New Orleans at the invitation of Arehbishop Blanc. The College opened in 1849 with ten pro- fessors and one hundred pupils. Up to the Civil War the number of pupils averaged about two hundred and fifty. Some years ago the fine building at the corner of Baronne and Common streets was ereeted, and at the present time (1900) a handsome building is rising on the north side of Jesuit Church from funds donated to the Fathers by a prominent Catholic family.
The course of study includes the primary, the high school, the college, and the post-graduate department. There is also a preparatory department, to which are admitted pupils that ean spell and read, and are familiar with the elements of arithmetie. The Catholic religion alone is taught, but non-Catholies are received, and "their religious feelings earefully respected." The offieers of the institution in 1900 were as follows: Rev. John Brislan, S. J., President ; Rev. S. F. Bertels, S. J., Vice-President ; Rev. Claude Roeh, S. J., Secretary ; Rev. N. Davis, S. J., Treasurer ; Rev. A. Curioz, S. J., Chaplain. There are also sixteen professors of the different branches taught. The College numbers among its graduates a large number of the distinguished Catholie eitizens of New Orleans.
The Soule Commercial and Literary Institute .- This institution was estab- lished by its present President in 1856, and the course of instruction was at first designed to give only a commercial training. Up to the Civil War the sehool prospered, but at that period the principal entered the Confederate army, and served till the elose of the confliet. In 1865 Colonel Soule reopened his school. In 1870 a department of English studies was added. Sinee then the institution has expanded until at present it includes : (1) A preparatory or intermediate sehool for pupils of 8 to 13. (2) A higher English sehool for older pupils. (3) An aeademie school preparing pupils for Tulane. (4) A full high grade eom- mereial sehool. (5) A sehool of shorthand and typewriting. In 1884 the school beeame eo-educational. The average attendanec is four hundred and seventy-five
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annually. There are eleven professors, two of whom are the sons of the president, Albert Lee and Edward E. Soulé, both graduates of Cornell. The institution has grown with the needs of the community, and offers a practical education to the young.
Spencer's Business College and Institute of Shorthand .- This school, which occupies a portion of the Y. M. C. A. building, was established in 1897 by Prof. L. C. Spencer. At first there were but eleven pupils, but the attendance grew so rapidly that at present there are about one hundred and fifty. Though this school is essentially a business college, covering the various branches necessary to a commercial education, there is a preparatory department for the training of those not qualified to enter upon more advanced work. In the commercial course the pupils learn to deal with business papers precisely as in the actual business world. Instruction is also given in shorthand and typewriting. In the Summer of 1899 Professor Spencer adopted a plan of giving free instruction during a portion of the Summer months to as many pupils as he can accommodate.
The New Orleans College of Dentistry .- This college, at the corner of Caron- delet and Lafayette streets, was opened November the sixth, 1899, and is the first institution of its kind in the Gulf States. It is incorporated, and is author- ized to confer degrees. The Dean is Jules J. Sarrazin, D. D. S., who is assisted by an able faculty.
The Home Institute .- This institution, which is situated at 1446 Camp street, was established in 1883 by Miss Sophie B. Wright. From a very humble begin- ning the school has grown until it now has an attendance of one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy-five young ladies. It has a day and a boarding department. The institute is designed to give to young women the benefits of higher education. Much stress is laid upon the development of character, while the physical and the social sides of education are carefully looked after. Among the various studies Music and French are taught with special thoroughness.
Miss Wright began a noble work in New Orleans when, in 1887, she opened a night school for boys and men. In this department frce instruction is given to those who are self-supporting, but who are unable to attend any day school. This charitable undertaking, supported wholly by Miss Wright and some of her friends, has proved a great success. It is the largest free night school in New Orleans, and twelve hundred men and boys are now enrolled. Only seven hundred and fifty can be accommodated at a time, but by alternating, all are taught a cer- tain number of evenings in each week. One of the most interesting scenes in
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New Orleans is presented by this band of earnest students, when they assemble in the evening to enjoy the advantages of instruction under the skilful management of Miss Wright and her eorps of assistants.
The University School, No. 1923 Coliseum street, is eondueted by Professor T. W. Dyer. It was established in 1882. Employing exeellent methods of instruction, Professor Dyer has been very sueeessful, and his sehool is the largest private sehool for boys in the city. The course of instruetion ineludes a thorough preparation for Tulane University and other similar institutions. To the regular school curriculum is added a military drill.
Ferrell's School for Boys, at 2717 Coliseum street, was established by Pro- fessor L. C. Ferrell in 1890. The curriculum ineludes Mathematies, English, physical seienees, Freneh, Latin and Greek. The boys "are foreed to study Latin, and persuaded to study Greek." About ninety per eent of the graduates of this school attend Tulane University and other higher institutions of learning. The school is popular and sueeessful.
Rugby Academy, situated at 5419 St. Charles avenue, was established in 1894 by Professors J. H. Rapp and W. Edward Walls, two graduates of Tulane University. It was first known as Rugby Sehool, but in 1897 it assumed its present title. In the same year a military department was introduced. In 1898 Professor Rapp withdrew, and the administration of the Academy was reconstrueted with Professors Jones and Walls as associate principals, and Professor Guy S. Ray- mond as Registrar, all three being equal partners. There are three departments, primary, grammar and academie, eaeh requiring three years' study. Mrs. J. Osear Nixon is principal of the primary department, and Captain J. C. Daspit is instrue- tor in French and military tacties. The graduates of this academy stand well at Tulane and other institutions of like grade.
Among other sehools may be mentioned Professor H. S. Chenet's sehool for boys, established in 1892; the Chapman-Blake institute for young women; the school for girls and young women, conducted by the Misses Prentiss ; Mrs. Seaman's school; the Holy Cross College for Boys, of which the Reverend D. J. Spillard is President ; the Academy of the Sacred Heart, conducted by Catholic Sisters; and the Ursuline School, which is completing the one hundred and seventy-third year of its existence.
The Free Kindergartens .- New Orleans is much interested in the free Kin- dergarten movement that is sweeping over the country. For a number of years there have been Kindergarten features in the lower grades of some of the publie
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schools, in the Jewish Orphans' Home, and other institutions. Moreover, excellent private Kindergartens have been conducted by Mrs. Kate Seaman and Miss Waldo. But within the last few years several of these institutions have been established by private subscription in the poorest districts of the city, where thicy can draw pupils from homes that need the uplifting influences of such schools. They stand between the private and the public schools, in that they are supported by private funds and yet are open to all.
Children are admitted even at the tender age of three, before they could enter the public schools; for it has been found that at this impressionable age much can be done in training the head, the heart and the hand. Wonderful results have been accomplished in other cities, and New Orleans has been aroused to the im- portance of saving from the effects of evil surroundings the little children of this great city, and trying to lead them to a higher life. The parents of the children arc drawn into the movement by their visits to the schools where their children are taught, homes are made happier, and the benign influence of noble teachers is spread through districts which neither the public nor private schools could ever reach.
The schools already established are the Jurgens Free Kindergarten, the Michel Heymann Free Kindergarten, the Sophie C. Hart Free Kindergarten, the Diocesan Free Kindergarten (under the auspices of Christ's Church), the Palmer Free Kindergarten (under the auspices of the First Presbyterian Church) and the Mission Colored Kindergarten.
Among those who were most prominent in beginning this work should be mentioned J. Watts Kearny, Clarence F. Low, George McC. Derby, Michel Hey- mann, Mrs. J. L. Harris, Mrs. Bessie L. Kidder, Mrs. Ashton Phelps, and Mrs. H. D. Forsyth.
There is also a Free Kindergarten Association, of which Professor J. H. Dillard is president. This association has a training school for Kindergarteners, under Miss Katharine Hardy, which offers a two years' course of training to those wishing to undertake this important branch of work. Many of its graduates are already "abroad." While accomplishing splendid results in the slums of the city, the Free Kindergartens will tend to improve the methods employed in similar grades of the public schools.
Institution for the Colored .- There are in New Orleans four universities, or more properly, colleges, for the education of the colored youth.
Leland University .- This institution is situated at the corner of St. Charles
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avenue and Audubon street. It possesses ten acres of land, on which two large brick buildings have been erected. It was founded in 1870 by Holbrook Cham- berlain, of Brooklyn, New York, a retired shoe merchant. Mr. Chamberlain came to New Orleans in 1870, purchased the property, erected the buildings, and gave his attention to the financial affairs of the institution for twelve years. In this work he received considerable aid from the Freedman's Bureau and the American Baptist Home Mission Society. At his death, in 1883, it was found that he had bequeathed his property, amounting to $95,000, as a fund for the continuation of the good work. Other contributions to its support have been made, and in May, 1899, Mr. Charles M. Pratt, of New York, gave to the endowment fund the sum of $25,000.
The course of instruction is chiefly collegiate and normal, with an English preparatory department. All instruction is free, except for instrumental music; but a small fee is charged to the day students for fuel and the care of the rooms. About ten years ago the number of pupils from the country increased so rapidly, that the accommodations were found insufficient, and it was decided to raise the standard of admission, and to establish "a system of auxiliary schools in the country for preparatory work." The schools already admitted to this relationship have an attendance of about 600, and others are forming.
The control of the University is in the hands of a Board of Trustees, residing in New Orleans and New York, and to an executive committee, consisting of the president and several prominent citizens of New Orleans. Reverend E. C. Mitchell, who had been president of the institution for thirteen years, died February 26th, 1900, and Principal G. H. Felton is now the acting president.
Straight University .- This institution was established in 1869 under the auspices of the American Missionary Association. Among its early benefactors was Seymour Straight, a produce merchant of New Orleans, in whose honor the University was named. The first college building was erected, in 1870, on Espla- nade avenue, corner of Burgundy, and when this building was destroyed by fire, the University was moved to its present location, corner of Canal and Tonti. This school, established only a few years after the general emancipation of the slaves, at first attracted pupils by the thousand. They all came hoping to receive some benefit-they knew not what. Many of them remained only a few days, but gradually regular attendance was established.
In 1881, Mrs. V. S. Stone, of Massachusetts, gave the institution $25,000. Other donations followed, and handsome buildings arose to fill the needs of the
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University. In 1886 an industrial department, aided largely by the Slater fund, was established, and from 1876 to 1886 a law school was successfully conducted. From the latter were graduated in all seventy-four young men, some of whom were white. It was finally decided to close this department, and there is now no law school for colored youth nearer than Washington, D. C.
In 1890 a theological department was established under the direction of Reverend Geo. W. Henderson. The other departments are the college, the college preparatory, the normal, the grammar, the industrial, and the Daniel Hand pre- paratory. Since 1890 the president has been Professor Oscar Atwood, who has labored diligently for the advancement of the University. The whole number of graduates has been 119, and the total attendance for 1898-9 was 509.
New Orleans University. This institution, which was chartered by Act of the General Assembly in 1873, is really an outgrowth of the Union Normal School, established in 1869 by the Freedman's Bureau. A board of trustees was ap- pointed, and it was provided that not less than two-thirds of the board should be members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The University was at first situated on the corner of Camp and Race streets, but in 1884 the present location on St. Charles avenue was chosen, and a five story brick building was erected. The present president of the Board of Trustees is the Rev. S. Duncan, and the presi- dent of the Faculty since 1887 is the Reverend L. G. Adkinson.
In 1889 a Medical Department was added, and in the following year a Medical Building was erected at the corner of Canal and Robertson streets, which is open to both races and both sexes. The other departments are the preparatory, the primary, the grammar, the normal, the collegiate, and the theological (Methodist). The total number of students in 1899 was 365.
Southern University (State Institution). In the Constitution of 1879 provision was made for the establishment in New Orleans of a University for the higher education of the colored youth. The first Board of Trustees was appointed in 1881. The first two presidents of the University were colored men, and during their terms of office, only primary instruction was given, and the institution was far from successful. In 1883, Reverend J. H. Harrison, white, a graduate of Vanderbilt, was elected President, and the school made progress. Still greater progress has been made under Professor H. A. Hill, who has been president since 1887.
Until 1890, the University was supported entirely by appropriations from the State treasury, but in that year an Agricultural and Mechanical Department
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was added, and in this way some assistance was obtained from the United States Government. Moreover, a farm of one hundred acres, fronting on the Mississippi River, is now cultivated under the management of the University. The other de- partments are the grammar school, the high school, the normal sehool, the musie department, and the college. It is expected that a law and medieal department will be added as soon as the funds of the University permit. The total attendanee in 1899 was 414. The buildings of the institution are situated on handsome grounds at the corner of Magazine and Soniat streets.
TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA.
It seems fitting that this chapter on the history of education in New Orleans should end with a sketch of the Tulane University of Louisiana; for this institu- tion of learning not only connects the Past with the Present, but is generally regarded as representing the highest expression that the educational development of the city and the State has thus far reached.
The oldest department of what is now Tulane University is the Medical College. Its organization dates back to the year 1834; it was chartered in the following year, and has the honor of being the first Medieal College in Louisiana or in the Southwest to eonfer degrees. As we trace its long and illustrious career in Louisiana, we find that it has numbered in its Faculty many of the most distinguished doetors of the State. Its first faculty included the names of Thomas Hunt, Charles A. Luzenburg, J. Monro Maekie, A. H. Cenas, E. H. Darton, Thos. R. Ingalls, John H. Harrison, and Warren Stone. Among their sueeessors were Drs. T. G. Richardson, Sam Logan, Albert B. Miles, James Jones, J. L. Riddell and Joseph Jones. The present faculty consists of the following professors, aided by fifteen leeturers, demonstrators, etc .: Stanford E. Chaillé, M. D., Dean, Professor of Physiology, Hygiene and Pathologieal Anatomy; Ernest S. Lewis, M. D., Professor of General and Clinical Obstetries and Diseases of Women and Children ; John B. Elliott, M. D., Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine and Clinical Medicine; Edmond Souchon, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Clinical Surgery ; Louis F. Reynaud, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica, Therapeuties and Clinical Medicine; Rudolph Matas, M. D., Professor of General and Clinical Surgery; A. L. Metz, M. Ph., M. D., Professor of Chemistry and Medieal Jurisprudcnee. The total number of its enrolled students down to the year 1899 was 12,753. This department of the University offers unusual advan- tages to its students through its connection with the great Charity Hospital and
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the Milliken Memorial for children. Here the students have unrivaled facilities for studying the practical side of the healing art.
In 1893, through the generosity of Mrs. T. G. Richardson, the Medical De- partment came into possession of a splendidly equipped modern building on Canal street, and in this its lectures are now given. The faculty, though nominally forming a part of the University faculty, is practically autonomous.
The Law Department. The Law Department begins its history somewhat later than the Medical. Though it was not organized until 1847, it has had an honorable career, and has numbered in its faculty many of the most eminent law- yers of the Louisiana bar. As the course of instruction must lay special stress on the civil law, which is peculiar to Louisiana, this department has not been able to draw students from other States, and the attendance has never been very large. Nevertheless its graduates up to the present time have been more than nine hundred in number.
Among the professors of this department in the past we find the following names : Professor of Constitutional Law, Commercial Law, and the Law of Evi- dence, Randell Hunt, LL. D., emeritus rector (1847) ; Professors of Civil Law, Henry Adams Bullard (1847), Christian Roselius, LL. D. (1850), Thomas Jeffer- son Semmes (1873), Carleton Hunt, LL. D. (1879), James B. Eustis (1883), Henry Denis (1884) ; Professors of Common Law and Equity Jurisprudence, Richard Henry Wilde (1847), Thomas Benton Monroc (1847), Sydney L. John- son (1852), Alfred Hennen (1855), Thomas Allen Clarke, LL. D. (1870), William Francis Mellen, LL. D., dean (1878) ; Lecturer on Common Law and Equity Jurisprudence, Daniel Mayes (1851) ; Professors of Admiralty and International Law, Theodore Howard McCaleb, LL. D. (1847), Alfred Philips, LL. B. (1865), Carleton Hunt, LL. B. (1869), Charles E. Schmidt (1879), Henry Carleton Miller (1882).
The present faculty is composed of Henry Denis, Professor of Civil Law and Lecturer on the Land Laws of the United States; Thomas C. W. Ellis, Professor of Admiralty and International Law; Frank Adair Monroe, Professor of Com- mercial Law and the Law of Corporations; Harry Hinckley Hall, Dean, and Pro- fessor of Criminal Law, the Law of Evidence, and of Practice under the Code of Practice of Louisiana; Eugene L. Saunders, Professor of Constitutional Law, Com- mon Law and Equity.
Academic Department. This department was opened in 1846 in a building which stood at the corner of Common street and University place, and which was
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afterwards the home of the law department. Although some distinguished scholars were elected to the various chairs, the Academic Department was poorly supported, and had a precarious and unsuccessful career down to the time of the Civil War. Its many vicissitudes during this period form a sad story, which it is not possible to record in this chapter. The war and the trials of the Reconstruction period prevented any attempt at a revival of this department. In 1877, however, when the government of the State had been restored to the Democrats, Governor Nicholls appointed a board of administrators for the University, with Judge John H. Ken- nard as president. This board reopened the Academic Department in 1878, with R. H. Jesse as Dean, and a faculty composed of J. L. Cross, M. P. Julian, and R. B. Montgomery. To this faculty, later on, were added some of the present pro- fessors of Tulane University.
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