[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 6 (Friday, January 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING TOUGALOO COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 10, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable school, Tougaloo College. Tougaloo College is one of the 
United States' premier historically black college and universities. The 
American Missionary Association (AMA) founded Tougaloo in 1869. Early 
in that year the AMA had commissioned Allen P. Huggins, a former Union 
officer, to look for land for a normal-agricultural school. He found 
the former plantation of John Boddie about seven miles north of 
Jackson, Mississippi and negotiated to buy it from its owner, George 
McKee, for $10,500. The money for the plantation was provided by the 
Freedman's Bureau.
  In 1871 the Mississippi State Legislature granted the school a 
charter with the name ``Tougaloo University.'' In 1892 the state 
discontinued funding but the Normal Department was recognized as a 
teacher training school. College credit first became available in 1897, 
but qualifying for accreditation by the Southern Association took a 
number of years to achieve. Improvements in the library, academic 
degrees for teachers, and endowments led to state accreditation in the 
1930s. With this, graduates who had taken 18 semester hours of 
education courses were granted a lifelong professional teaching 
license. Tougaloo had again undergone a name change in 1916 to Tougaloo 
College.
  In 1954 Tougaloo College merged with the Southern Christian Institute 
(SCI) in Edwards, Mississippi, because the two schools had similar 
missions and goals. The new school was called the Tougaloo Southern 
Christian College, but in 1962 was once again renamed Tougaloo College. 
Tougaloo was very active in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 
maintains a reputation for strong social commitment.
  Today Tougaloo, with approximately 1,000 students, is a private, 
coeducational, four-year, liberal arts school. It has a selective 
admittance rate, but is committed to providing those from challenging 
circumstances with a good education. The student population is 
primarily African American, but all are welcome to apply. Nearly 40 
percent of the practicing African American physicians and dentists in 
the state of Mississippi are Tougaloo graduates, and 35 percent of all 
current Mississippi educators are. More than 66 percent of Tougaloo 
graduates enroll in graduate or Ph.D. programs immediately after 
graduating. Tougaloo has won national respect for its high academic 
standards.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Tougaloo 
College for their dedication to serving.

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