The Twin City star., 1914-04-03
WEST KENTUCKY COLLEGE.


institution Founded by Professor o. n.
Anderson Has Grows Rapidly.
Paducah, Ky.-Situated in Paducah,
KY, bordering the states Of Tennessee
and Illinois, is the West Kentucky In
dustrial college, founded eight years
ago by Professor D. II. Anderson. The
peculiar location of the school In touch
ing three states gives its work wide
scope In the efforts to reach the large
mass Of members Of the race.
Like most educators who have dedi-
catetd their lives to the service Of the
race, Professor Anderson tells thrill
ing story Of sacrifice and devotion in
his effort to build up his school. 1t is
the story Of the hard worker who
starts out to. accomplish what may
seem to others impossible. Seeing the
need of an institution in this section,
Professor Anderson in 1904, with the
assistance of Mrs. Anderson and with
no other capital than an honest heart
and a rugged determination, began this
institution.
The work was begun In an old aban-
doned building with seventeen pupils
and himself and wife as teacher. For
three years the school struggled along
in this abandoned house until its
steady growth necessitated larger quar-
ters. The school is carrying on its
work at the present time in two mod
ern buildings well equipped for its
work. 1t has an enrolment Of over
200 students, and the faculty consists
of nine teachers and officers. The
school is one of the most potent fac
tofs in the uplift of the race in Ken
lucky and is making the section where
the institution is located one Of the
busiest educational centers in the
south.
For miles around the institution
radiates its influence and is fast be-
coming the pride Of the race in that
section Of the state. The West Ken
lucky Industrial college represents the
single effort of its founder. With saw
and hatchet and a pocketful Of car
penter's tools and nails Professor An
derson has done most of the work on
the main building of the school, which
is two stories high. The building has
thirty-two rooms, six recitation rooms,
an assembly room seating 1926, twenty;
six dormitory rooms and dining
room. .-.....
Prominent white educators Of the
state have indorsed in the highest
terms the work of the school. Pro
fessor Anderson is a familiar figure in
the educational life Of the race in the
state, and for twenty-one years he has
been engaged in educational work. He
was born in Jackson, Tenn, and after
passing through the public school he
entered Lane college, from which he
graduated. After his graduation lie
was sometime principal of the public
schools of Jackson, and it was while
In this capacity he founded his pres
ent work. ...., -.
In connection with his duties as pres
ident of his school Professor Ander-
son conducts summer normal institutes
for teachers throughout the state Of
Kentucky. Professor Anderson has
given much time to the education of
his race and has written syllabus pre-
pared for colored teachers institutes
which has been adopted by the state.
Professor Anderson is nobly assisted
by Mrs. Anderson, who is imbued with
the same spirit of sacrifice as her hus-
band. Perhaps more beautiful spirit
of service cannot be found than is seeA
in Mrs. Anderson. who is graduate
Of Scotia seminary and Is the right
hand partner Of her husband.
Besides her duties at the college Mrs.
Anderson teaches at White Oak, two
miles from the city. The $55 per
month she gets for her work as teacher
in this rural school she turns over to
the support of the Industrial college.
Professor Anderson Is now in New
York on a campaign to raise $4,000
to enlarge the work. Professor An.
derson Is meeting with much success
on his campaign and has succeeded in
making many friends for the school
Professor Anderson's tour will include
several cities before he returns south
The success Of this able young educa
tor should serve as an inspiration to
the aspiring youth of the race.