Alabama A&M University
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, also known as Alabama A&M University or AAMU, is an historically black college located in the community of Normal near Huntsville (Madison County). It was established by the Alabama state legislature in 1873 as the Colored Normal School at Huntsville for the education of black teachers. It opened on May 1, 1875 with 61 students, two full-time instructors and William Hooper Councill as its first president.
In 1885 the name was changed to the State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville and an industrial training building was constructed. Five years later the school was designated as a land-grant college with a 183-acre campus outside of Huntsville. The new location was named "Normal" when a post office was established. Students constructed residence halls and programs in agriculture were added to the curriculum. In 1896 the name was changed to the State Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes.
Athletics
Alabama A&M's colors are maroon and white and their mascot is the Bulldog. Alabama A&M's sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly I-AA for football) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Alabama A&M Department of Athletics sponsors men's intercollegiate basketball, football, baseball, cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field along with women's intercollegiate tennis, basketball, soccer, track, cross country, bowling, volleyball and softball. Also offered are men's and women's swimming clubs.
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.
1897: Art Painting Department added to curriculum.
1901: First honorary degree awarded.
1903: Blues great W.C. Handy leaves as band director.
1910: American football began.
1912: First baseball game.
1927: Joseph Fanning Drake becomes fourth 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 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
1965: Intercollegiate soccer began.
1969: State Board of Education adopts a resolution changing the name of the institution to Alabama A&M University.
1970: Office of Alumni Affairs established. Phillip L. Redrick became first director.
1975: University observed Centennial. Elmore Health Sciences Building constructed.
1977: Volleyball for women began.
1981: Desegregation case began.
1984: Dr. Douglas Covington became AAMU's sixth president.
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.
1987: Dr. Carl Harris Marbury was named interim president.
1989: Carl Harris Marbury becomes seventh president.
1990: The University holds its first Grand Reunion, initiated by Dr. Carl Harris Marbury and Georgia S. Valrie, Director of Alumni Affairs.
1991: Board of Trustees named Dr. Alan Lee Keyes Interim President.
1992: Dr. David Bernard Henson becomes eighth president. First AAMU Athletic Hall of Fame induction held.
1994: Mamie Labon Foster Student Living/Learning Complex erected. First African-American Ph.D. recipients in physics. University's SACS accreditation reaffirmed.
1995: Groundbreaking held for new School of Business facility; stadium and residence hall construction begins. Master of Social Work Program accepts first students. Dr. Virginia Caples, vice president for academic affairs, becomes the first woman to head (interim) the University in the school's 120-year history.
1996: Dr. John T. Gibson named ninth president in July. AAMU launches Councill Challenge Campaign. Football returns to campus at the new $10 Million Louis Crews Stadium.
1997: Unified Alabama Cooperative Extension System unveils new logo. Patrick Grayson makes USA Today All-USA Academic First Team. Filmmaker Spike Lee visits. AAMU joins Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
1998: Ryan Swain makes USA Today All-USA Academic First Team. Nobel Laureate series begins under coordination of AAMU physicist Ravi B. Lal.
1999: AAMU Research Institute started.
2000: AAMU observes its 125th anniversary celebration in January.
2001: AAMU’s fundraising efforts earn it the distinction of lead institution in the Tom Joyner Foundation/HBCU program. Accreditation announced and earth work begins on new School of Engineering and Technology; library renovations underway; athletic complex expands.
2002: Learning Resources Center renovations completed. Engineering and Technology building erected. Social Work re-accredited. Forestry gains national accreditation. Normal Hill renovations extensive. Councill Challenge Campaign goal reached.
2003: New School of Engineering and Technology Building opens for classes in January. Mary Frances Berry addresses Commencement. Fourth doctoral program in Reading/Literacy announced. AAMU researchers study volcanic ash in Montserrat. HSCaRS hosts study on interaction between land surface and the atmosphere. AAMU offers training on multimillion dollar EDS software. Normalite Ruben Studdard named “American Idol.”
2004: Councill Federal Credit Union celebrates 50th anniversary. Councill Memorial Statue unveiled in October. AAMU welcomes its 7th Nobel Laureate lecturer in physics.
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
Recent Events & Modern History
Dr. Robert R. Jennings was chosen in January 2006 by the AAMU Board of Trustees to guide the more than 130-year-old institution as its 10th president. His official inauguration was Saturday, September 16 2006.
In 2002, a renovation added over 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²), an interactive Distance Learning Auditorium, conference, study and class rooms, lounges, computer lab and much more. The LRC provides services to a diverse clientele at numerous locations to university members and the community.
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 Pasadena, California Tournament of Roses Parade. They were first in the lineup. In May 2008, the Alabama A&M University Choir was slated to participate in the American Choral Music Festival in Leipzig, Germany.
Presidents
- William H. Councill||1875 - 1909
- William Buchanan||1909 - 1920
- Theophilus Parker||1920 - 1927
- Joseph Fanning Drake||1927 - 1962
- Richard Morrison||1962 - 1984
- Douglas Covington||1984 - 1987
- Carl Marbury||1987 - 1991
- David Henson||1991 - 1995
- John Gibson||1996 - 2005
- Robert R. Jennings||2006 - March 31, 2008
One of its most influential and longest-serving presidents was its fourth, Joseph Fanning Drake, who served from 1927 until 1962. Drake's appointment request by the legislature was made when he was previously Dean of the College at Alabama State College in Montgomery, Alabama.
Notable alumni
- Howard Ballard - football player
- Cleon Jones - baseball player
- Brick Haley - football coach
- John Stallworth - football player
- Ruben Studdard - American Idol winner
- Barry Wagner - football player
- Robert Mathis - football player
Library
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 and provided additional book stacks and reading rooms. 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, Miss 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.
References
- "Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 31 Mar 2008, 17:58 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 31 Mar 2008 [1].
- Morrison, Richard David. History of Alabama Agricultural and
Mechanical University : 1875-1992. Huntsville, Ala. : Liberal Arts Press, c1994.
- Saintjones, Jerome (2006). Publications. Office of Information and Public Relations, Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama
External links
| Dual licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike License version 3.0 | |
| This article is published under the GFDL and the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license v3.0. | |