- Savannah State College State Historical
Marker
- Located at intersection of College and Vernon Sts.,
south of Colson Administration Building, Savannah
-
32.023633, -81.05585
SAVANNAH STATE COLLEGE
This state college was established in 1891
as the Georgia Industrial College for Colored Youths as an outgrowth
of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 and an Act of the Georgia General
Assembly, November 26, 1890, creating this institution as one
of the original Negro land-grant colleges.
The initial session was held at the Baxter
Street School in Athens from June to August, 1891. In October
of the same year, the school sessions began on the present site.
Its initial educational program was agricultural, mechanical
and literary, and by 1898, the college was able to award it first
degree.
It was the first public institution of
higher learning to be established for Negroes in the state and
now is a part of the University System of Georgia.
The first president (1891-1921) of the
college was Major R. R. Wright who, when just a lad, was asked
by General O. O. Howard of the Freedman's Bureau what message
should he take back to the people of the North. Young Wright's
famous answer was, "Just tell them, we are rising."
His answer inspired the poet, John Greenleaf Whittier to write
the poem, "The Little Black Boy of Atlanta."
025-90 GEORGIA HISTORIC
MARKER 1978
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