On the Qantfjus I
M.
“Chowan's
trustees,
faculty and
administrators
are challenged
to prepare us
for the new
America of the
twenty-first
century.”
.y employment at Chowan College
began in August, 1968. During my first twenty-
one and one-half years with the college, I served
as Dean of Students. Since January, 1990,1 have
worked in the Office of Development as
Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations.
My responsibilities to the college have been
varied. 1 have recruited students, given campus
tours, directed all aspects of the student devel
opment program including housing and campus
security, taught classes in history and the
freshman year experience, and solicited gifts
from Chowan College alumni and friends,
foundations and corporations. These varied
experiences have given me a rather comprehen
sive appreciation and understanding of Chowan
College, its missions and its positive influence,
especially in northeastern North Carolina and
southeastern Virginia.
My work in the Office of Development has
given me opportunities to more fully appreciate
Dr. Godwin Cotton Moore and his friends who
founded the college. On numerous occasions I
have admired the judgment and foresight of
Chowan’s founders. Chowan Female Institute
opened its doors with 11 students on October
11,1848. That was 147 years ago today.
In the years prior to the Civil War, many
people assumed that women needed little
education. A great discrepancy existed between
the amount and kind of education provided from
men and women. Women were for children and
the kitchen. Some people, both men and women,
laughingly suggested that women should be
awarded such degrees as the M.P.M. for
Mistress of Pudding Making, or the M.S.B. for
Mistress of the Scrubbing Brush.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill was founded in 1795 and Wake Forest
University was established in 1834 by Baptists
of North Carolina. Neither the state of North
Carolina nor the Baptists of the Tar Heel State
had the education of women in mind when these
schools were created. The University of North
Carolina was concerned about a gentlemen’s
education. Wake Forest was established prima
rily to educate men for the ministry. Against this
background, we must express admiration for
those founders who dared to establish a school
of high order for women in Murfreesboro, a
town described in 1848 as “a prosperous
economic center with schools and churches and
“A
school
of high
order’’
A Founders Day
Address
Delivered by
R. CLAYTON LEWIS
October 12, 1995
R. Clayton Lewis, center, is pictured on the front steps of historic
McDowell Columns prior to his Founders Day address with two
college presidents. Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker, left, retired in 1989 after
serving as president for 32 years. Dr Herman E. Collier, Jr, right,
is currently serving as interim president.
a refined and intelligent citizenry.”
On July 4,1851, the people of Murfreesboro
gathered for the laying of the cornerstone for
McDowell Columns building. The cornerstone
is located near the front of the building on the
side nearest Thomas Cafeteria. Take time to
read the cornerstone. Notice the classical Greek
influences around the windows and doors of
McDowell Columns. This beautiful structure,
listed in the National Registry of Historic
Places, provides us with an awareness of history
and tradition, a feeling of stability and a sense
of quality. McDowell Columns, with massive
Doric columns and broad veranda—so typical of
the old South—has become Chowan’s symbol.
In spite of food shortages, high taxation,
sharp increases in prices and a decline in
students, Chowan remained open during the
Civil War. The people of northeastern North
Carolina experienced numerous difficulties after
Federal forces captured much of the area we
know as the Outer Banks, Hatteras Inlet and
Roanoke Island. Prices soared. Bacon rose from
$.33 per pound in 1862 to $7.50 per pound in
1865. During the Civil War, the tuition and fees
of Chowan Female Institute tripled.
In 1863, the Board of Trustees instructed the
business manager to invest the college’s money
in Confederate bonds. This decision led to
critical financial problems after the war because
the bonds were worthless. However, as always,
the Trustees, faculty and Baptists of Murfrees
boro were determined to meet the educational
needs of young women in northeastern North
Carolina and southeastern Virginia.
In 1910, the name of Chowan Female
Institute was changed to Chowan College. The
first yearbook, "Alaska Nuggets," was pub
lished in 1911. The first Student Government
Association was organized in 1914.
By 1920, Chowan was once more facing
economic problems. Citizens of Murfreesboro
again demonstrated their appreciation of
Chowan by pledging $22,500 to pay the
college’s indebtedness.
The economic history of Chowan College
closely parallels that of the United States. The
Baptists of North Carolina were tightening their
belts during the Great Depression of the 1930s
and decided the Baptist State Convention of
North Carolina should not support two four-year
colleges for women—Chowan and Meredith.
Attempts were made to consolidate Chowan
with Meredith. Plans for merging Chowan with
Wake Forest were discussed. There was talk of
moving Chowan to Rocky Mount or Elizabeth
City.
There was a shortage of students. Students
either paid their way or went to work if employ
ment could be found. Few people had the
financial resources to attend college. There was
no such thing as financial aid for students in the
1930s. One of Chowan’s older graduates from
Elizabeth City, when talking with me about her
college experiences, told me that her father was
able to pay her college tuition and fees with
wagon loads of Irish potatoes. Others have told
me their college expenses were paid with cows,
sheep, ciu'ed hams, corn, potatoes, and canned
goods.
Deciding to admit men in 1931 was a last
ditch effort to ease the financial burden of the
college. Accepting men would improve enroll
ment. Enrolling men changed the personality of
the college. Football was introduced in 1933. In
the spring of 1934, Chowan field its first
baseball team.
Before Chowan would give up its life, the
trustees, faculty and friends of the college took
another step to continue its services. Chowan
suspended its operations as a four-year college
and began functioning as a two-year residential
college in 1937.
A shortage of students brought about by
World War II closed Chowan College in 1943.
With World War II over and the availability of
financial aid through the G. I. Bill, Chowan
resumed operation in 1949 as a two-year
residential college. The years following World
War II were relatively good years for Ameri
cans. Chowan experienced remarkable growth.
Continued on Next Page
Chowan Today
USPS 715-880 ISSN 1051-9580
HERMAN W. GATEWOOD
Editor and Director of News Services
E. VINCENT TILSON
Vice President for Development
CHARLES AYCOCK
Director of Alumni Services
RANDY BRANTLEY
Director of College Relations
JACK GOLDBERG
Sports Information Director
Published by Chowan College, a four-year senior
college founded in 1848 and controlled by the Baptist
State Convention of North Carolina.
Comments, suggestions and informational submis
sions from alumni, friends and parents are welcome.
Please send them to Director of College Relations, PO
Box 1848, Murfreesboro, N. C., 27855.
Published four times a year in March, June, Septem
ber and December. Postmaster: Send 3575 to Chowan
Today, Chowan College. PO Box 1848, Murfrees
boro. N. C., 27855.
SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT
MURFREESBORO,
NORTH CAROLINA (27855)
AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES
PAGE 4 — CHOWAN TODAY. December 1995