North Carolina A&T: First 50 years (1891-1941)

John Oliver Crosby

1892

John Oliver Crosby was elected the first President of the A&M College for the colored race. He is from Raleigh, NC and earned a degree from Shaw University. Under his leadership, the university was constructed. He also made it possible for the short-lived admission of women in 1893. In addition, he is responsible for creating the first two academic departments: agriculture and mechanical arts. He served for only 4 years.

James Benson Dudley

1896

James B. Dudley was the 2nd president of the university. Born a slave, he did not let that stop him from receiving an education, eventually graduating from Shaw University. As president, Dudley brought the college from a point of turmoil to a state of prominence for black students. The school grew from 58 students to 476 students during his time there. He was known for his talent of appealing to both whites and blacks. He served for 29 years.

Susan Wright Dudley

1896

Susan Wright Dudley was the wife of James B. Dudley. Although she never earned her college degree, she was still able to receive her teacher's certificate. At the uniersity, she taught English and Ancient Literature. She also directed numerous plays. She is most known for writing the words to the A&T Alma Mater.

Austin Wingate Curtis, Sr.

1899

Austin Curtis, Sr. is an alumni of N.C A&T, graduating in 1899. At the college, he earned a degree in Agriculture. Following graduation, he became the head of the Agricultural department at West Virginia State. He is widely known as the most famous member of the first graduating class in 1899.

Gaston Alonzo Edwards

1901

Edwards is an alumni of the A & M college who graduated in 1901. During his time there, he studied architecture. Edwards had a very brilliant mind. After graduating, he began to take courses at Cornell University. He is most known for his impact at Shaw University. At Shaw, he was in charge of the university's building program. His talents led him to become the first black architect licensed in North Carolina.

Neil Alexander Bailey

1908

Bailey was one of 18 graduates of the A&M college in 1908. At the college, he earned a degree in agriculture. He was the first Afican-American agricultural extension agent in the state of North Carolina. His office was located on the campus of A&T.

John William Mitchell

Mitchell earned a B.S in agriculture from the A&M college in 1908. He was one of the most well known cooperative extension agents in the nation during his time. It started when he was appointed to the extension service office at the A&T campus in 1922. He built one of the largest Negro 4-H clubs in the country. He was inducted to the N.C A&T School of Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1996.

1908

Charles E. Stewart

1909

Stewart was a music professor at A&T. He is most known for composing the music for the A&T Alma Mater that was written by Susan B. Dudley. He also taught general world history. In 1910, he organized the first band, orchestra, and chorus programs for the college.

John Dudley Wray

Wray earned a B.S degree in agriculture at the A&M college in 1909. In 1912, after a few years of working under Booker T. Wasgington and George Washington Carver, he returned to the A&M college. He was named the Superintendent of the school's farm and a professor of both agronomy and agricultural engineering. Wray and his students helped to rennovate the college farm. In 1913, the college awarded him an Honorary Master's Degree. During the 1920s, he served as the president of the A&T College Alumni Association.

1909

Lieutenant Robert Lee Campbell

When Campbell first came to A&T, he ran the machine shop and the college's steam power plant. He also taught auto mechanics. In 1919, after fighting in two different wars, he became A&T's first instructor of military science. He was known around campus as "Captain". In 1955, the building containing A&Ts' ROTC programs was named after him.

1911

Ferdinand Douglass Bluford

1925

Bluford was the third president of A&T. He served as president for 30 years, longer than any other president. Before becoming president, he was a professor of English for six years, a dean, and the vice president. He helped bring A&T from a "D" class college to an "A" class university by the N.C Department of Education. The amount of land, resources, and programs increased tremendously under his guidance. The campus library was named after him.

Dazelle Foster Lowe

1929

Lowe worked as an emergency agent starting in 1919. These workers were hired to contribute to the war effort by teaching other African-Americans steps to perserve food and improve their lives during the war. She became a permanent agent in 1923. In 1929, the office where she worked was moved from Raleigh to Greensboro, specifically to the Negro Agricultural and Technical College of N.C.