Page:Women of distinction.djvu/190

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WOMEN OF DISTINCTION.

resulted in the rapid development of the higher educational courses. In 1875 the first college class was graduated, and also the first normal class, and regularly from that time students have graduated from the college and normal departments.

Livingstone Missionary Hall is the other large building connected with Fisk University. The plan for the erection of this hall took shape in 1876 with the Jubilee Singers, who were then in England, and the first contribution to the fund, outside of the Jubilee Company, was given by Mrs. Agnes Livingstone Bruce, of Edinburgh, daughter of the great African explorer.

The honor of completing the work and securing the erection of the building is due to Mrs. Stone, of Maiden, Massachusetts, who gave $60,000 through her agent, Rev. W. H. Wilcox, D. D. This beautiful building was dedicated October 30, 1882.

The building for the gymnasium and mechanical department had its origin in a gift of $4,000 by Colonel Howard, for years a distinguished citizen of Nashville.

I am pleased to note that the Theological Seminary, so long talked of, hoped for and prayed for, has at last been erected, at a cost of $25,000. This building contains three large lecture-rooms, a library and reading-room, and thirty-seven dormitory rooms. Two professors, newly elected, are at present conducting the work. Others will be added as the growth of the Seminary demands.

The legacy of $28,000 left by General Fisk is to be used in erecting a memorial chapel during the present year.