Monday, May 19, 2008

Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)

Each week we will highlight an HBCU school and we begin with:
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, also known as Alabama A&M University or AAMU, is a public, coeducational school located in Normal, Huntsville. It was established in 1875. AAMU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. Dr. Beverly Edmond is the interim president. The school has an enrollment of 6,047 of which 1,000 are postgraduates.

School History:
1873: Alabama State Legislature pass bill for establishment of the "Colored Normal School at Huntsville"; to be devoted to the education of Black teachers.
1875: William Hooper Councill founded Alabama A&M University. May 1, school at Huntsville opened with 61 pupils, and two teachers.
1881: Moved to first school-owned property on West Clinton Street.
1882: Shop courses introduced into curriculum (e.g., carpentry, printing, mattress-making, horticulture, sewing, etc.)
1885: Name changed to State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville.
1890: Students numbered 300; teachers, 11. School site became known as Normal, Alabama. Students were called "Normalites."
1891: the present site of 182.73 acres was purchased. The school expanded to include agriculture and home economics; Palmer and Seay Halls were built with student labor.
1893: First night school was held. First alumni meeting held.
1894: Trade education diplomas authorized. First trade certificates were awarded.
1896: Name changed to The State Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes.
1901: First honorary degree awarded.
1903: Blues great W.C. Handy resigns as band director.
1909: School's motto, "Service is Sovereignty," introduced;
1910: American football began.
1912: First baseball game.
1927: Joseph Fanning Drake becomes president and institutes a massive building program.
1939: State Board of Education gives authority to offer course work on the senior college level.
1949: Name changed to Alabama A&M College.
1963: AAMU becomes fully accredited. Intercollegiate soccer began.
1969: Name changed to Alabama A&M University.
1977: Volleyball for women began.
1981: Desegregation case began.
1985: AAMU signs memorandum of understanding with Kansas State University/USAID.
1986: Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm addressed "Women's Week" activities. University announced approval of Ph.D. program in physics. Department of Mathematics received NASA research grant.
1992: First AAMU Athletic Hall of Fame induction held.
1994: First Black American Ph.D. recipients in physics.
1995: Master of Social Work Program accepts first students.
1996: Football returns to campus at the new $10 Million Louis Crews Stadium.
1997: Patrick Grayson makes USA Today All-USA Academic First Team. Filmmaker Spike Lee visits. AAMU joins Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
1999: AAMU Research Institute started.
2001: AAMU’s fundraising efforts earn it the distinction of lead institution in the Tom Joyner Foundation/HBCU program.
2003: New School of Engineering and Technology Building opens for classes in January. Fourth doctoral program in Reading/Literacy announced. AAMU researchers study volcanic ash in Montserrat. Normalite Ruben Studdard named “American Idol.”
2005: The men's basketball team won its first SWAC regular season and tournament Championship.
2006: The football team won its first SWAC Championship.
2007: The Alabama A&M University Choir became the first HBCU Choir to be invited to attend the American Choral Festival in Germany
On January 2, 2006 the Alabama A&M University marching band, known as the Marching Maroon and White-Showband of the South, marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade. In May 2008, the Alabama A&M University Choir was slated to participate in the American Choral Music Festival in Leipzig, Germany.
Alabama A&M University is the licensee for National Public Radio affiliate station WJAB-FM 90.9, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week on campus.

The first library on the campus was built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation in 1904 for $12,000, and was named for its benefactor, Andrew Carnegie. In the 1940s, it was remodeled at a cost of $70,000. The library was two stories tall, and with a little over 4,000 square feet; it served several purposes and housed the offices of the President, Business Manager and Treasurer, Home and Farm Demonstration Agents, the U.S. Post Office at Normal, and on the second floor, living quarters for male faculty.
In 1931, Lucille A. Love, a graduate of the Library School at Hampton Institute, became the first professional librarian.
In 1947, the library was enlarged 5,000 square feet, which reflected the college's growth. So rapid was the college's student growth that they even outgrew the nearly 10,000 square foot library, and in 1962, a new Reference Annex was added. In January 1968, a new 60,000 square foot library was completed and occupied and was named in honor of Dr. Drake. It was designed to house 300,000 volumes and 1,000 students.
In 1972, the Educational Media Center and the Library merged to form the Learning Resources Center, which incorporates interactive and multi-media.
In 2002 the competition of the latest renovation saw the [LRC] become a 75,000 square-foot structure now housing over 400,000 volumes, digital research sources and other student oriented services.

Famous Alumni
Howard Ballard - former National Football League right tackle for the Buffalo Bills; 2 time Pro-Bowler; 4 time Super Bowler.
Cleon Jones - former Major League Baseball player
Brick Haley - Defensive line coach for the Chicago Bears.
John Stallworth - National Football League Hall Of Famer & former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and four time Pro-Bowler
Ruben Studdard - American Idol winner
Barry Wagner - Arena Football League wide receiver for the San Jose SaberCats & Orlando Predators; set many Alabama A&M school football records
Robert Mathis - current National Football League Defensive End

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