Happy Founder’s Day Grambling State University

Today's blog was written by Kaitlin Rogers, Archives Technician at the National Archives at College Park

"Where Everybody is Somebody"

[Photograph of Long-Jones Hall, originally called Long Hall on Grambling State University's campus. Louisiana SP Grambling State University Historic District, NAID 73973950]

On November 1, 1901, the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School, known today as Grambling State University, was founded in a small lumber mill town in southwest Louisiana. The school was established by the North Louisiana Colored Agricultural Relief Association; a group of farmers in the community who wanted to establish a primary school for Black children. The group wrote to educator Booker T. Washington to see if he had any former students who could help start a school similar to the Tuskegee Institute. Washington sent Charles P. Adams, a graduate of Hampton Institute, to help found the school in Louisiana and serve as its first principal. Members of the North Louisiana Colored Agricultural Relief Association collaborated with Adams to raise funds for the elementary school that started in a two story building, with classrooms and an upstairs dormitory.

[Photograph of the house of Charles P. Adams, which still stands on the campus of Grambling State University. Louisiana SP Adams, Charles P., House, NAID 73973952]

Like many institutes within the Tuskegee tradition, Grambling evolved over time. Conflict arose between the school founders and Charles Adams. So in 1905, Adams left and opened his own school on land that sawmill owner P. G. Grambling had donated. The new school was named the North Louisiana Agricultural and Industrial School. Louisiana adopted management of Grambling in 1928, and it became a junior college to train elementary school teachers, and renamed the Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute. In 1940, Grambling started offering baccalaureate degrees, and in 1946, its name was changed once again to Grambling College. The college grew at this point, offering training not only in teaching, but in business, science, and the liberal arts. In 1949, Grambling College became accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Twenty five years later in 1974, the school changed its name for the last time to Grambling State University, and established graduate programs in elementary and early childhood education.

5/3/1984 President Reagan during a photo op. with Coach of Grambling State university football team Eddie Robinson in the Oval Office (NAID 75853357) Photograph of President William Jefferson Clinton Delivering the GramblingStateUniversity Commencement Address (NAID 6340788)

Today, Grambling State University enrolls over 5,000 students and offers 42 degree programs. Grambling competes in Division 1 sports and is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Grambling State University boasts many notable alumni, including Erykah Badu, Charles Blow, Doug Williams, Natalie Desselle Reid, E-40, Alicia Reece, Willie Brown, Charlie Joiner, and Ronnie Coleman.

The National Archives and the Presidential Libraries hold several documents and photographs relating to Grambling State University. Below are a few selections:

• RG 79 Louisiana SP Grambling State University Historic District(NAID 73973950)
• RG 79 Louisiana SP Charles P. House (NAID 73973952)
• RG 411 Office of Postsecondary Education Portraits for Reach Higher Promotional Materials (NAID 146150828)
• Collection WJC-WHPO Photograph of President William Jefferson Clinton Delivering the Grambling State University Commencement Address, (NAID 6340788)

Sources:

"Charles P. Adams House." National Park Service. Grambling State University, Revised September 6th, 2023. https://www.nps.gov/places/charles-p-adams-house.htm.

Gallot, Mildred B.G. A History of Grambling State University. Lanham: University Press of America, 1985.

"History." About Us. Grambling State University. Accessed October 28th, 2024. https://www.gram.edu/aboutus/history/.

"Honoring Tradition." Campus. Grambling State University. Accessed October 29th, 2024. https://www.gram.edu/aboutus/campus/historic.php.

Lovett, Bobby L. America's Historically Black Colleges & Universities: A Narrative History, 1837-2009. Macon: Mercer University Press, 2015.

"Quick Facts About Grambling State University." About Us. Grambling State University. Accessed October 28th, 2024. https://www.gram.edu/aboutus/facts.php.

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