The battles were over and victory won. No more slavery, no more guns. The people were free from cruel tyranny. But alas, little thought had been given to how people who had only known a dependent role would be able to function in and enjoy their new freedom. Some forward thinking folks had the idea to set up educational opportunities that would give them trades and skills which would allow them to productive members of society and the pursuit of happiness promised by President Lincoln.
A few years ago I attended the Mississippi Hill Country Picnic near Holly Springs, Mississippi, just down the road a piece from the blues and barbecue of Memphis. The “picnic” is a down home blues festival in a cow pasture. It was so wonderful that I went back a second year.
While taking my time to have fun and explore the area I stumbled on several vacant buildings as the top of a hill in the north part of town. Being in great disrepair they seemed reminiscent of a set from the Ghostbusters movie. Stopping at a convenience store across the street I asked the young attendant “What’s the story behind those creepy old buildings up on the hill?” She replied “I don’t know. I ain’t from around here.” How long have you been here I asked. “Five years” was the reply. So much for natural curiosity! So, with water bottle and trusty Nikon D3200 in hand I trekked up the hill, roamed about, read historical plaques and peered into empty buildings. This little side trip and the markers whetted my appetite and gave me enough info that I was able to do a little research when I got back home.
In the period from immediately after the Civil War through the first decade of the1900s there were two separate efforts toward the goal of providing education for African Americans – Mississippi Industrial College (MIC) and Rust College.
Rust College was founded in 1866 by a few northern missionaries with the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was chartered in 1870 as Shaw university. The name was later changed to Rust University to avoid confusion with Shaw University in North Carolina. It was named after Rev. Richard Rust of Ohio, the secretary of the Freedman’s Aid Society and in 1915 assumed the name Rust College. It is the oldest of the eleven historically black college and universities associated with the United Methodist Church and the second oldest private college in Mississippi. It thrives to this day.
Mississippi Industrial College was established in 1905 by the Mississippi Conference of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (now the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church) and began its first classes in May 1906.
By 1908 there were 450 students enrolled. The school was located on the western side of North Memphis Street across from Rust College. Bishop Elias Cottrell desired to found a college for Negro youth which would instill Christian ideas and provide a practical education and for 77 years the school fulfilled that mission.
Catherine Hall was the first campus building and served as a women’s dormitory as well as a classroom. Hammond Hall the Men’s dormitory was added in 1907 and in 1910, Washington Hall named for the famous author and educator Booker T. Washington. It served as the administration building. And 1923, through a donation from Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Auditorium was erected. At the time, it was the largest auditorium in Mississippi open to blacks.
After integration, when all students were allowed to enroll in the colleges of their choice, MIC started losing enrollment and after a federal funding cut in 1981 due to accreditation problems, the college was forced to close its doors in 1982.
When the campus closed, the once proud buildings stood unused, unoccupied and began to show signs of deterioration. Four of them, including the Carnegie Auditorium and Washington Hall, are on the National Register of Historic Places. In an attempt to save the buildings, Rust College across the street attempted to purchase the property when the school closed in 1982. Although the offer was not considered, they were able to acquire the property in 2008. In 1999 a group named the Mississippi Industrial College Alumni Association, Inc. (MICAAI) was formed in an effort to save these important edifices and restore them to their former glory. However, in 2017 they still remain sadly neglected.
When I conducted my informal and impromptu tour of the MIC campus I felt a strong presence of the people who once walked the halls and campus and felt moved. My initial education came from the several historic markers and plaques there. It was later rounded out with the gracious assistance of my friend Jan Hyatt from nearby Blue Springs. She directed me to her friend and local attorney Fife Whiteside who is from Holly Springs. Fife gladly put me in touch with the current president of Rust College in Holly Springs, Dr. David L. Beckley. Many thanks to Doctor Beckley who was very gracious in helping me round out the story.
my mother madora elizabeth sumner was a student at mississippi industrial college graduating i think in 1924… if any information can b found about her i would be so very pleased if it can b forward to me…her
last child. thanking you in advance for your help.
I attended MIC from 1981-82
Hello, So sorry for the delay in answering. Your comment had gone to my junk mail folder. Unfortunately, I will be unable to provide you with any information as I am an individual and made a post on my blog because I thought the story was very interesting. You may want to approach Rust College in Holly Springs. I had some personal conversations with the former president and he was very nice. The phone number for Rust College is (662) 252-8000 and the address is 150 Rust Avenue, Holly Springs, MS 38635. Please me know you got this. Again, my apologies for not responding sooner. Steve Scott (706) 315-9117. I hope you will be able to find the information
Interseting story indeed , ive lost touch with everyone share your info or updates.
Wanting to do a last reigning class photo album. Or a last decade photo album.
I’m looking for information about my grandfather’s,John Walter West, enrollment and attendance there. I was told while there he was on the Board of Directors. I’m not exactly sure what year he graduated.
Dear Charla. I don’t know why I am just seeing your comment. I am sorry that I don’t have any information for you. I am not connected with Rust College or the history of Mississippi Industrial College. I merely wrote an article about it as I was intrigued by the story when I visited Holly Springs, MS a few years ago. You might try Rust College and ask for the history department (662) 252-8000. I hope they will be able to help you. Good luck!
I love this story. My mother told me stories about how she walked past this college several times to work because she was too poor to attend and needed to help out on the farm. I noticed Ida B Wells house museum is very close I would say walking distance to the college. It’s worth seeing. I believe she attended college Rust college formerly Shaw college
I love this story. My mother told me stories about how she walked past this college several times to work because she was too poor to attend and needed to help out on the farm. I noticed Ida B Wells house museum is very close I would say walking distance to the college. It’s worth seeing. I believe she attended college Rust college formerly Shaw college
Hi Melody. Sorry for the late reply. I just found your note. Thanks for writing. I love to hear from readers.
Three of my cousin from Prairie Point, a rural area of Macon, Mississippi attended and graduated MIC. Essie Stewart, I believed, first attended MIC in the late 1950s, Essie still resides in Macon after retiring from teaching there. One of my favorite cousins, Edna Mae Stewart, who unfortunately passed away at a relatively young age in 2010, graduated MIC in the early 1960s I believe. She was a brilliant match student and went on to get her Master’s Degree at another Mississippi College. She was vice-principal of the high school in Macon before challenging health issues caused her to retire early. Her younger sister, Lillie Pearl, also graduated MIC and now resides in Indiana. Proud to be a Mississipian.
Hi. Thanks for writing. Nice to hear of those who attended.
The closure of MIC had nothing to do with integration; as alluding to in your article ( when all students were allowed to enroll in the colleges of their choice, MIC started losing enrollment). I have seen this statement written in several places, but it is simply not a true statement.
The exact reason was never given or published. We can say that the board of trustees (the majority) on the recommendation of the Presiding Bishop (Trustee Chair) voted to close the college in the summer of 1982. The reason for the vote had to due with the loss of federal funding in December of 1981 due to accreditation issues as stated in your article.
However, it is concerned opinion, there others reasons that the vote was taken to close MIC that have not been aired (never been aired) publicly to this day.
Hi. Thanks for the info. I will review my article. I was writing about the period in the late 1800s and early 1900s and not later so I didn’t know anything about that. I just thought the story was interesting and wanted to share it. Steve Scott