Volume I
ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE, NOVEMBER 15, 1947
Number I
Geraldine Davis Chosen
Miss St. Augustine”
Miss Geraldine Davis, senior
from Fuquay Springs, N. C., won
over seven contestants in the
battle for the coveted title of
“Miss St. Augustine’s.” The
Misses Blanche Coombs, a senior
from Atlanta, Georgia, and Joyce
Sahai, freshman from Trinidad,
B. W. I., respectively, received
the next highest votes, and will
be attendants to “Miss St. Augus
tine’s.”
Other candidates were, Clara
Kelley, Lillian Hunter, Mattie
Dupree, Helen Mitchell, and
Helen Roy.
Miss St. Augustine’s will be
feted by the Alumni Association
at the St. Aug. Winston-Salem
game, and the homecoming
dance on Saturday, November
22.
Distinguished Guests
The guests of the college thus
far have included a concert art
ist and several speakers.
The first guest of the year was
Mr. Neal A. Stitt, baritone, who
gave us an informal concert in
Taylor Hall, October 19, 1947.
Mr. Stitt received his B.A. de
gree in music from St. Augus
tine’s College in 1946, and hav-
cert artist went to New York
and began studying voice with
the director of the Rossini Opera
Company, Maestro Oddone Som-
movigo, and Professor William
Vedal, vocal instructor of Ger
man, French, Italian and Eng
lish. Everyone thinks that Mr.
Stitt has profited immensely
from his teachings.
Our concert artist spent his
entire span of undergraduate
study here at St, Augustine’s and
his voice gained popularity ear
ly in his first year which it kept
for the four years. His voice
instructors were Mr. T. C. Mayo
and Mrs. Lillian O’Daniel.
Mr. Stitt has a vast repertoire
of selections in foreign languages
and those he presented to us
were from the pens of Handel,
Bach, Verdi, Mozart, Wagner,
Schumann, Massenet and Brogi.
Other selections were by Ed
wards, Herbert, Sanderson, Bur
leigh and Johnson. The music of
the Masters were presented first,
followed by the more popular
tunes such as “None But The
Lonely Heart,” “Into The
Night,” “Thine Alone,” and
“Laughing Cavalier.” Spirituals
concluded this program.
The voice accomplishments of
Mr. Stitt have gained a new train
of admirers for him at his Alma
Mater.
The Rev. Edgar C. Young,
D.S.Th., an instructor at Bishop
Payne Divinity School, was the
celebrant at the Holy Commun
ion Service, 7:30 a.m., October
26, 1947. Rev. Young has a son
here at St. Augustine’s.
1\EW SCIE1>ICE
BUILDING PROPOSi:il
For quite sometime there has
been a desire for a new Science
Building. The desire is even
more great now due to the large
increase in our student body.
Lately there has been quite a
deal of talk concerning this
building program but nothing
definite had began to take shape.
With the change of new college
heads our wishes are about to be
fulfilled.
In our short conversations
with Dr. Harold L. Trigg, our
new president, and Dr. Lloyd L.
Woods, head of the Chemistry
Department, we have been able
to secure a few facts concerning
the new building which we shall
pass on to you.
There has been approximately
$88,000 given to the college by
the American Church Institute,
j This amount added to what
1 President Trigg is trying to se-
! cure through other means will
! be sufficient for the cost of con-
! struction.
The new building is to be a
[Functional Program Building.
By that we mean it will not be
wholly lor Science and Biology,
i but also used for other new sub
jects to be added to the curricu
lum such as Pre-nurse training.
At the time of this writing the
architectural plans have not
been drawn up, but we have
been informed that more infor
mation will be available in the
near future and it shall be passed
on to you in our next issue De
cember 15, 1947.
DR. TRIGG
Royal Saints Take To
Stage In Assembly Hall
Dr. Triirff First
The first guest speaker at the
11:30 chapel services, spoke to
us Sunday, October 26, 1947. The
speaker was Rev. Richard B.
Martin, a product of South Caro
lina. Rev. Martin is a graduate
of Allen University, and Bishop
Payne Divinity Schools and has
also studied Applied Religion at
the University of Cincinnati for
one year.
(Continued on page four)
BENSON LIBRARY
RENOVATED
During the summer months,
the Benson Library of St. Augus
tine’s College was greatly im
proved. If you have taken any
interest in your library, you will
have noticed that the library has
been equipped with new fluores
cent lights. The cost is estimated
to be over a thousand dollars.
As to the beautification of the
library, the walls were painted
sea foam green with white ceil
ings, which is very restful to the
eyes.
New pictures have been hung
in the library.
Even though books came to
the library every day during the
summer months, there have been
placed in the library approxi
mately 1,500 new books.
In the renovation of the li
brary, shades were cleaned and
reversed. In connection with the
renovating of the library, the
walls were plastered and the
roof water-proofed.
It might interest some of you
to know that at the North Caro
lina Library Association meet
ing, St. Augustine’s College was
represented by the librarian.
Miss Pearl Snodgrass. The meet
ing was held in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina.
All these things have gone
into the making of a better li
brary at St. Augustine’s College.
Bette A. Neely,
Library Reporter.
Negro President
Of St. Augustine’s
To be first in anything is not
alone the honor of establishing
a precedent. It is a responsibili
ty to preserve the best of the
past, and a challenge to move
forward into a new and more
glorious future.
Historic St. Augustine’s Col
lege is far more than a grou^
of buildings on a beautiful and
spacious campus in East Raleigh,
li ib Liie bpiiiLUdi txpiebsioii oi
a great world Church; the vision,
hopes, and ambitions of the
founders and past presidents; the
contributions of its distinguished
sons and daughters to the public
weal; the sturdy character of
her living Alumni in America,
and Africa and the Islands of the
sea; the splendid spirit of a stu
dent body drawn from many
states as well as foreign terri
tory; the loyal and sacrificial
service of consecreated teachers
down through the years since
1867 to the present; the continui
ty in the devotion to ideals of
sterling worth, Christian educa
tion and living.
St. Augustine’s is at one and
the same time an integral part
of the North Carolina College
pattern, and an institution dedi
cated to the education of youth
from the world wide territory
served by the Protestant Episco
pal Church.
During the thirty-five year
tenure of the Reverend Edgar
H. Goold it moved up to an ac
credited high school, a junior
college, and to its present status
as the only four year, A Grade
liberal arts college for Negro
Youth maintained by the
Church.
Distinguished leaders in
church and school, in medicine,
law and business both in the past
and the present have gone forth
from St. Augustine’s to set a
signal example to the students
of 1947. The challenge is ines
capable.
Much has been said of a new
era of development under the
first Negro president of the col
lege. This is possible only in
the light of new demands of a
new modern world neighbor
hood for a new leadership that
can cooperate with and partici
pate in the processes of orderly
social progress, and with the
tangible support of the Alumni.
Today’s students will be to
morrow’s graduates. Whether or
not they will be links in the un-
(Continued on page four)
Saint Augustine’s College has
a dance band! Hard to believe?
How did it happen? All of a
sudden! When? October, 1947.
This sounds interesting; tell me
more. Well, here’s the story:
Everyone went to Assembly
one morning expecting a special
club program, or the like. The:
curtain started to rise, and mu- |
sic was heard. Music! A dance
band and not from a pick-up!
There it was, St. Aug. stu-'
_ dents had formed a dance band.
“Baby” Chavis, leading the band
I at the piano, with “Sonny” Chip-
pey as understudy. Sax and clar
inet, Robert DuBose (hot licks
lalto). Frank DeLaine, alto
(sweet) — and groovy. Tenors,
Arthur Calloway, “Ooksie”
Jones, Oscar Smith. We’ve heard
about Mr. James and his trum
pet, now we boast Mr. Kirk on
the same instrument.
To top it off, Mark Ross is on
the drums, so that makes an All-
star aggregatibn if I ever saw
one. Such swell, new music!
; Unique arrangements, and good!
I Sure they are ... all originally
by “Baby” Chavis. Prediction:
Duke, Count, Teddy, move over,
here comes “Baby ”
Here’s a choice bit. Come
' closer — we hear that the inimi
table Mr. Lacy Walker plays
trombone and will soon appear
in the band. We’ll be there!
There are other talented players
, soon to appear also. To name a
few, Sarah Dudley, trombone;
Henry Goodson, drums, and
i others.
News of Faculty
And Staff
Have we forgotten some one?
If you’re thinking of Lillian
Hunter, we definitely have not.
Description — appearance — a
long, low whistle; her voice; a
sigh. In other words, she can’t
be beat! Another surprise! The
: sponsor, Mr. Mayo, has amazed
; us all. He sits in at rehearsals,
jand plays boogie, be-bop, and
anything you can name. We’ll
have to ask him to play with the
band sometimes, eh? We’ll guar
antee you’ll enjoy it!
i Wanted — A male vocalist.
[We’ve heard of some good pros
pects. DeWitt Robinson, Rich
ard Powell, George Crenshaw,
and Claudius Blackett. By the
way, ask Blackett to tell you
I about the show he was in over-
' seas, about the time he sang in
ta New York night club, and on
the Apollo Amateur Hour in
New York!
Royal saints, we salute you!
■ You made a fine start and you
rate tops in our book.
You’ll recognize mine as a fa
miliar face in front of your band
stand from now on!
Carol Royster.
New members of the faculty
and staff this year, in addition
to the President, include:
The Rev. Lloyd M. Alexand-
jer. Chaplain, who is also teach
ing history and philosophy
(courses. Father Alexander, a
1933 graduate of St. Augustine’s,
' is also an alumnus of the Bishop
Payne Divinity School. He
; holds the Master’s Degree from
i Columbia University, and has
done additional graduate work
I at Union Theological Seminary.
During the war Father Alexand
er served overseas with the
Army, as Chaplain with the rank
of Captain.
Mr. Gordon L. West, profes
sor of education and director of
' teacher training, formerly of the
faculty of State Teacher’s Col
lege, Elizabeth City, has suc
ceeded Professor Earl H. Mc-
Clenney, now president of Voor-
hees Junior College. Mr. West,
a graduate of Emporia (Kansas)
State Teacher’s College, and the
University of Wichita (M.A.),
i is a candidate for the Doctor’s
' —T rr ;
- --O' .
Mrs. Ernestine Saunders, for
merly of Talladega College, has
been added to the foreign lan-
g u a g e department teaching
French and German. She holds
the M.A. Degree from Middle-
bury College, has studied at the
Sorbonne, France, and is work
ing toward the Doctorate at
Columbia University,
Miss Jacqueline Cwper, a
graduate of North Carolina Col
lege, the new budget offic-r and
secretary to the president joins
the staff after a year of tradu-
ate study at the Wharton Sihool
of Finance, University of lenn-
sylvania. She is also teac'ting
a course in our Commerce De
partment. (
Mr. Alexander M. Merritk, a
1944 graduate of St. Augustiie’s,
and of the laboratory techndogy
department of Meharry Medcal
College, has joined the stafl as
instructor in chemistry md
mathematics. Last year Mr. A4^r-
rick was a member of the Ac
uity of St. Paul’s Polytechiic
Institute, Lawrenceville, Va.
Mr. T. L. Spraggins eontinutd
his graduate study last summtr
at American University, Wasl-
ington, D. C., Mr. James A. Liva,
at New York University, and Mx
James A. Boyer at the Universi
ty of Michigan.
HOME COMING
Saturday, November 22, the
Alumni Association will spon
sor a parade, barbecue, and
dance. The final game of our
football schedule will be
played that day against Win-
ston-Salem, N. C.
Miss Hazel V Clarke, was
awarded the Master of Science
degree at the clcse of the sum
mer session at the University of
Pennsylvania. Miss Clarke or
ganized and is head of our Com
merce Department.
Mr. WilsoD B. Inborden was
on the summer staff of the Vet
erans’ Vocational Department,
Washington High School, Ra
leigh. Mr Russell E. Blunt and
Mr. Theodore C. Mayo were
members of the staff of the sum
mer recreation program spon
sored by the City of Raleigh.
Mr. William A. Perry acted as
sum-ner registrar at St. Augus
tine s.