NATIONAL
A ^
A Perspective
of Fisk University
When Beth Howse goes to
work on the campus of Fisk Univer
sity, she literally walks in the foot
steps of her mother, grandfather and
great-grandmother. Beth is a special
collections librarian at Fisk Univer
sity in Nashville and the fourth gen
eration of her family to graduate
fro.m_. one, of the nation's oldest
African-American schools. ?
Fisk began in October 1865
when General Clinton B. Fisk met
with representatives of the Ameri
can Missionary Association in New
York and the Freedman's Aid Com
mission of Ohio to plan ^sChool for
the education of the children of for
mer slaves. Fisk University
accepted its first students in 1866,
providing a quality, liberal arts edu
cation to facilitate in the liberation
oT America's newest citizens.
?Fisk today 4s known Tor"Tts
alumni of influential American lead
ers, its commitment to scholastic
- achievement and its architectural
and fine art treasures. But it was the
Jubilee Singers, the school's choral
group, that first brought interna
tional attention to the school.
Howse's gj-eat-grandmother,
Ella Sheppard, was one of the origi
nal members of the world-renown
troupe.
"Ella was purchased from slav
ery by her father," said Howse. "He
took her to Ohio, but she returned to
Tennessee in 1868 to accept a teach
ing position in Gallatin. She
enrolled in Fisk and eventually
obtained a position as the school's
music teacher and was ^nly
. black staff member at the school
until 1875. Ella also joined the
Jubilee Singers and served as the
group's pianist and assistant coach.''
When a financial crisis threat
ened to close the doors at Fisk in the
early 1870s, the Jubilee Singers
embarked on a fund raising lour to
save the school. Under the guidance
of the school's treasurer George L.
White, Ella and eight others began a
tour of the North and the South on
Ocl 6, 1871.
"At first many people ridiculed
them as nothing more than a min
strel show," Howse said. "They
were often denied food and lodging
and were sometimes threatened with
violence. One performance in Ohio
raised less than $50. Then the group
heard news of the Great Chicago
Fire. Though they were hungry and
cold, they donated the money to aid
the victims." ^
Their act of charity was
rewarded in Brooklyn when clergy
man Henry Ward Beecher endorsed
the group, creating a climate of
acceptance that opened the doors of
white churches everywhere. A per
formance aflhe "Boston Coliseum
electrified the audience, among
them Johann Strauss, who was said
to have thrown his hat into the air
with excitement. The group also
performed before President U.S.
Grant in the White House.
"People fell under the spell of
the American Negro Spiritual,"
remarked Howse. "The music was
an outgrowth of the suffering
endured in the yoke of slavery.
There was a universal appeal in the
music that touched many people. By
the end of the first tour, the Jubilee
Singers earned S125,000,-a vast for
tune in those days.
"It is also interesting to note
that they sacrificed their own educa
tion so Fisk could flourish/' added
Howse. "Their second tour began in
18K4 and lasted for six years! None
of the original singers graduated,
but Fisk's survival was assured."
The second tour took the group
to Europe, where they sang before
commoners and kings. In England
^yeen Victoria was -so pleased with
their performance, she commis
sioned a life-size portrait of the
group. The painting, rendered by
court artist Havel, hangs today in
Jubilee Hall.
The Jubilee Singers took Fisk
University from its humble begin
nings^! the close of the Civil War
to international recognition as an
instituuon of higher education": The
Jubilee Singers, drawn from the stu
dent body, still tour at home and
abroad.
The university today is a pri
vate, coeducational liberal arts col
lege, w e 1 C o fin T ng~s t u den t s from 40
stales and seven foreign countries.
Iis graduate list is impressive,
including such notable as Hazel
O'Leary, U.S. Secretary of Energy;
U.S. Representatives John Lewis of .
Georgia and Alcee Hastings of
Florida; David L. Lewis, author and
professor at Rutgers University;
John Hope Franklin, author, of The
Militant South ; and Nikki Gio
vanni, poet and author of Sacred
Cows.
Fisk was created in the chang
ing social order of the Reconstruc
tion, and the campus buildings
reflect this in their variety and scale.
Jubilee Hall, the university's first
permanent structure and a National
Historic Landmark, sits prominently
on a hill to the west. To the soiHh,
one of the original, clapboard Civil
used as a school house, it has been
restored and now serves as The Lit
tle Theatre.
To the north the Fisk Memorial
Chapel is a dramatic example of
High Victorian Picturesque archi
tecture. With Romanesque arches*
and a gigantic Gothic bell tower, it
is radically different from other Fisk
buildings. The chapel serves as a
visual reminder that Fisk may be
small but is full of unique treasures,
many of which are open to the pub
lic.
Fisk University is located at the
corner of Jefferson Street and D.B.
Todd Boulevard. Information on
gallery or library hours and group
tours of the campus can be obtained
For more information on Ten
nessee's African-American historic
sites, call 1-800-636-8100.
Lou Rawls (2nd from left) celebrates the success of the 1994 " Lou Raw Is parade of Stars" telethon with (from
teft) James Alston of UNCF , Way man F. Smith III of Anheuser-Busch ?o. and actor Gregory A. Williams .
UNCF Telethon Raises $ IT Million
Preliminary totals from the Lou
Rawls Parade of Stars telethon,
*
which benefits the United Negro
College Fund (UNCF), indicate that
$11 million in cash and pledges
were raised during the nationwide
telecast Jan 8.
Proceeds from the 14th annual
telecast arc used to help maintain
and expand educational opportuni
ties at the 41 private historically
" black^colfiTges^and universities rep
resentcd by the college fund.
More than 54, (XX) students are
enrolled at UNCF colleges, a 27
percent increase in the last five
years. 1
Cumulative totals for the
nation's only telethon to benefit an
educational cause now stand at
approximately $120 million.
Among the stars who joined
Rawls for the seven-hour special
were co-hosts Marilyn McC oo, Ed
McMahon,' Patti Labelle, Alex Tre
ing the, "Parade of Stars'' included
Ray Charles, Anita Baker, Eddie
Murphy, Frank Sinatra, Oleta
Adams, Michael Bolton, Quincy
Jones and Boyz II Men. Rawls, who
has led the Parade of Stars for the
past 14 years, thanked the many
callers who contributed to, the pro
gram, which launched the 50th
anniversary of the United Negro
College Fund.
"The public's financial support
of UNCF colleges and universities
is outstanding, "Rawls said.. "I want
to thank everyone for their generous
support.
A Voice i
Lovely
Sound to
Hear.
__ Disease and aeeidents*can cause "hearing loss at am ace. from infants
to tfie older adult. After testing and evaluation. when a hearing aid is
determined to be appropriate ^select ion ma\ be made from the wide ?
variety of types & styles available.
*Hc<irni\: atii\ Ji> ft 'it ? ?? ??? i ? ? ??>;? J u.4,'\
1 , \T>v"
.. I> III HIAKINk i A5TP"
HTK'II TI N
14-0 I'l AZA, DRIVE
AU\>R)\ SAI.1M, Ni:
ittf-Ossti
< dhi? K,ul>. (k?n?f Olicn foi the l?csi selection
NIGHT STANDS
FROM
of prevfousb ou nt*d men handisc available
TABUS
PROM
$9
TV STANDS
FROM
$19
f0?wfear
$119
vers
$99
WAIL ART
FROM
$119
BEDROOMS
FROM
LAMPS
FROM
$9
STEREOS
$99
$149
WUMIK o? DfflTfRf
SOFAS AND LOVIS *?FAS AMD LOVES
FROM from
$149 Mi E lm $149
CONSOU COLOR T?ra*TT'?7fll CONSOLE CQ1QP
TV'S FROM TV'S FROM
$169 $169
RICLINERS
FROM
$89
FROM
$99
DINETTES
FROM
$89
$89
RKCUNKRS
FROM
$89
EVERYTHING'S GOT TO GO!
OU4iS~+ pmm^j
2946 Waughtown Street CASH. VISA.
Win ?ton-S? lorn, NC MC. OIHCKS
(910)788-2**4 , ,
Loc?'ed ?ctou from Parkview Shopping C crier
KEL-WAY]
rentto-own"
'.??? *V?I ? ???. v.<1| ? U7?c? 3
for just $1,500 down
You Can Put your Name
On Something Better Th an
? A rent Check.
RICjHT NOW, JUST $1,500 IXWN
PUTS YOUR NAME ON A HUH HOME.
down payments am as low as 3(>o versus thn standard
t,o 20Xj. Ariel we'll
(jft.fjn cover most. if not, all
nf your closing costs.
Contact your local real
estate agnnt. now for more
information. And call
1 BOO-767-4HIJD fc jr- a
^ree brochure on how t.o buy a MUD Homo
Your own home. You want. it.. You deseive it. And
believe us. now you realty can afford it.
?smb? we'll hllp You Own a Piece of America.
LU
t\ yen i r^ent., the
time will come
when you decide
you deseive j
something more
for your money
t hai i temporary
living quarter's
You'll think about.
things like stability,
security, equity
Your family's m
name on a
mailbox You'll want, your first, home
Let us help you make it. happen We're MUD, - the
U S' Department, of Housing and Urban Development
And we have a great, selection of homes in many
areas. They're all surprisingly affordable. In fact, our