Hinds Community College

Learning Resources Center

History of the Utica Campus

by Dr. Shirley Hopkins-Davis, Centennial Development Committee Chairperson

After three unsuccessful attempts to found a school for educating Negroes in Mississippi. Dr. William H. Holtzclaw returned for the fourth time. This time, he had read Orison Swett Marden's book, Pushing to the Front, and was inspired by the book's message and by the philosophy of Dr. Booker T. Washington. This Tuskegee graduate and student of Dr. Booker T. Washington walked into Utica, MS in 1902; with two dollars and a dollar watch in his pocket and a strong determination to found a public school to train Negroes to read, write, compute, and develop their farmland communities. Under a tree, Holtzclaw began to teach about 20 students. He and the townspeople began to build a small school house with lumber from Curry Brothers' lumber yard.

In 1903, he founded the school in a rented log cabin, which served as his family's home and the home for two of the first boarding students. The school was chartered in the state of Mississippi as Utica Normal and Industrial Institute for the Training of Colored Young Men and Women. From 1903-1910, the school operated in the town of Utica near St. Peter M.B. Church. About 1907, Holtzclaw sought property on which to relocate the school in order to move away from the distractions of the town and to be near subterranean water. By 1910, Holtzclaw had raised $25,000 from friends to purchase 2000 acres of land located about five miles south of Utica, MS. Three structures on the site near St. Peter Church required relocation to the new site. Dr. Holtzclaw sold 400 of the 2000 acres of land to five teachers; he also purchased the property's plantation mansion for his family.

Holtzclaw's genius, good human relation skills, and support from friends guided the Utica Institute for forty years. He secured teachers of diverse ethnic backgrounds and races from within and outside the state, and he developed the curriculum to teach Negroes how to use their minds and hands. An impresario of educational outreach, Holtzclaw organized the Farmers' Conference to help raise the standards of Negro farms and farming at The Institute. He also organized the Black Belt Society to encourage economic self-sufficiency among rural Negroes through the sale of land to farmers. Up to 1935, The Institute had its own twenty-bed hospital for nurse training; the hospital was swept away by a storm. In 1915, Holtzclaw wrote and published The Black Man's Burden, making him one of the first Negroes to publish a book in Mississippi. In 1925, he organized the Utica Institute Jubilee Singers, taking the name from the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The group toured New York and New England on their first trip to help raise funds for The Institute. By 1926, The Utica Institute Jubilee Singers had their own bus in which to travel.

When William H. Holtzclaw died, the school had 22 teachers, 1600 acres of land, fourteen buildings, and over 400 students. The curriculum consisted primarily of academic and vocational courses, patterned after the curriculum of Tuskegee Institute. His mother, Addie Holtzclaw, graduated from the school at age 94, and all of his children graduated from and taught at The Utica Institute: Robert Fulton, Jerry Herbert, Alice Marie, Ella Adelene, and William Jr.

After the death of Holtzclaw in 1943, his son William Holtzclaw, Jr., succeeded him as principal. Holtzclaw, Jr. kept the school alive for about four years (1943-47). During this time, the Brick Masonry Shop and Trades building (1944), the Health and Homemaking building (1945), the Music-Art building (1946) and Paine Hall ( 1946 - dining, recreation, and classes) were built. The campus had livestock, registered hogs, chickens, and farmland.

In 1946, Holtzclaw, Jr. and his mother, Mary Ella Holtzclaw, agreed to donate the school and property to Hinds County. The County Board of Trustees assumed control of The Institute; the school's name was changed to Hinds County Agricultural High School, Colored.

Following Holtzclaw, Jr. as superintendent of the school was Mr. J. W. Grantham (1947-51) of Collins, MS. During his administration, the Board of Trustees named the school Utica Institute--Hinds Agricultural High School; it had become a tax supported institution aiming to train youngsters to become functional and productive citizens in a complex and changing society. Grantham raised the idea of changing to a junior college, but nothing ever materialized.

Mr. Grantham recruited well-trained, competent faculty -17 recruited his first year and 24 by the time he left in 1951. The curriculum changed; included was college preparation for those who wanted to go on to four-year-college and training in terminal programs for those desiring employment on the farms, in private homes, and industry. There were manual arts courses in shoe repair, laundry operation/dry cleaning, and home nursing. By 1948, enrollment had increased as programs had expanded, so the physical plant also was improved and expanded. Due to budget constraints, the school purchased used materials such as plumbing equipment and electrical wiring from Camp Van Dorn to make repairs to buildings. Six barracks from Camp Shelby were purchased to build the principal's first home; a farm shop building was constructed; and two homes for the vocational agriculture teachers were built.

In 1951, Mr. John Dewey Boyd, Wilkinson County, MS native, became the superintendent. During his administration in 1952, the Board of Trustees resolved to investigate the idea of the school's becoming a junior college. In 1954, the Board of Trustees acted on the proposed resolution of 1952, to form Utica Institute Junior College separate from the high school; Hinds County Agricultural High School, Colored. Eventually, the word 'colored' was dropped from the high school's name. The Board appointed Mr. G. M. McClendon, president of Hinds Junior College, as special consultant to Mr. Boyd, and reports indicate that Mr. McClendon contributed significantly to the success of Hinds AHS and the formation of Utica Junior College. Hinds Junior College and Utica Junior College/Hinds County AHS had the same Board of Trustees.

Mr. Boyd is said to have used the Holtzclaw strategy of getting the community behind the College. Under his leadership, Ginn Hall, built in 1924, during founder Holtzclaw's administration and named after contributor B.F. Ginn, president of Ginn Publishing Company, was used as the high school class and administration building until the main high school building and gym were constructed in 1953. Washington Hall (built 1923) was used to house single women faculty. From 1951-1955, the Music-Art (1946) building served as the Post Office and the grill. In 1955, Mr. Boyd converted it to the Band Room, and Mr. Louis Lee began developing the band for the school. The superintendent's home was remodeled in 1955, and in 1956, faculty apartments in the shape of an "H" were built. The Boyd administration realized the first junior college curriculum, increased enrollment and faculty, an organized student government and other clubs/organizations, adopted "The Utica Ode," written by a graduate of the school, and initiated the first bus transportation system.

From 1957-1969, the process of separating the high school from the college continued. J.D. Boyd became president of Alcorn College in 1957; in the interim, Mr. Rudolph Waters - then Dean of Instruction - served the institution until Mr. Walter Washington, Hazlehurst, MS native, was selected as the superintendent (title later changed to president). Hinds Agricultural High School was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1957.

Walter Washington had been serving as principal of Sumner Hill in Clinton, MS. In Washington's first year as superintendent, 1958, the Board changed the school's name from The Utica Institute Junior College to Utica Junior College. Washington was titled president of the junior college and superintendent of the high school. Thus began the tradition of the College's president serving as superintendent of the high school.

Utica Junior College and Hinds County Agricultural High School grew and began taking on distinctions as a junior college and a high school in enrollment, programs, and physical plant development. The Washington administration realized the greatest physical plant expansion since founder William Holtzclaw's 40-year-tenure. The first vocational-technical department was established during 1957-58; carpentry was the initial program and secretarial science was the second. The following year, the first vocational-technical building was constructed. In 1960, construction on three faculty apartment buildings was completed; single men and women faculty units and married faculty units. The Old High School Annex was built in 1962.

In 1965-66, the Washington administration proposed the master plan for the college. Directly following the plan's completion, a student union building (1967), an academic-administration building (1968), and a second vocational-technical building (1969) were constructed. Dormitories were proposed to be built on each side of the student union building. A library was proposed for construction, and preliminary plans were drawn for a new dining hall. A principal was selected in 1966, to head Hinds County Agricultural High School: Mr. Dennis Jackson. Mr. Jackson served as principal for two years; then in 1968, Mr. George E. Barnes was selected as principal; he served as principal until 1972, when he moved to the College as Academic Dean. Mr. Charles Bell then became the principal in Hinds AHS. The new cafeteria of the high school was completed in 1969, and Paine Hall was torn down for construction on the library to begin.

Other accomplishments during Washington's administration included development of the football field with new bleachers, tennis courts, a modern sewage with a lagoon, a modern natural gas system, a new water system and storage tank (replacing Holtzclaw's of 1913), additional sidewalks and an addition to the library. Student enrollment increased beyond 1500, faculty increased beyond 40, the bus fleet was over 40, and more than seven vo-tech courses were offered by the time Washington decided to leave Utica Junior College. In 1967, campus parents organized a childcare facility, which was operated in one of the apartment complexes behind the newly constructed campus union. By 1968, the child care technology program was begun and by the time the new vo-tech building was completed in 1969, the childcare program was moved to this facility. The child care technology program was the first child care program in the state accredited by the State Vocational Department. Later, during the early 90s, the child care technology program was accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Holtzclaw Mansion, which was located on the Copiah County side of the campus, served as Ginn Line Elementary School until 1965-66; then, the college began using the house for special federally funded programs, For the first time, the College administration initiated in 1968, two Adult Basic Education Centers in Hinds County.

During the fall of 1969, Walter Washington became the first Negro to receive his doctorate degree from a predominately white institution in the state, the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His dissertation was titled, "Utica Junior College, 1903 - 1957: A Half Century of Education for Negroes." Dr. Walter Washington left Utica Junior College in 1969 to become president of Alcorn College (now Alcorn State University).

Mr. J. Louis Stokes, a native of Tennessee and business manager during 11 years of the Washington administration, became the next president of Utica Junior College. Stokes continued physical plant expansion efforts begun by Dr. Walter Washington. In 1971, the beautifully constructed William H. Holtzclaw Memorial Library was completed and dedicated. However, during this time, Stokes had taken a leave of absence for further graduate study, and Mr. Arthur Kinnard, who had been serving as Dean of Instruction, was made acting president from 1970 through 1973. Principal George Barnes then became Dean of Academic Instruction in 1972, and Mr. Charles Bell was appointed principal of Hinds AHS. For the dedication of the Holtzclaw Library, Holtzclaw's son, Robert Fulton Holtzclaw (then residing in Cincinnati, OH), was the keynote speaker. In 1972, while Mr. Kinnard was serving as acting president, Utica Junior College was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Also in 1972, the master plan developed during Washington's administration in 1965 - 66, was revised, and the barbering and cosmetology complex, instead of proposed dorms, was constructed near the student union building. This two-story complex was named the H. H. "Shine" Davis Building in honor of the Board member and friend of the college and community.

Of particular note during the Stokes administration is the fact that Opera South, one of two black professional opera companies in the country and the only one based in a university setting, was launched in 1970. Donald Dorr, artistic director and Dolores Ardoyno Dorr, general manager, were the husband-wife team who helped organize the opera company. Professional faculty/staff and student talents from Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, and Utica Junior College were used for management and performances. the mission of Opera South was to introduce minorities and rural communities to opera and to give students the chance to work with opera professionals. Opera South presented operas only in English so the performances would be understood by a general audience.

Students of Utica Junior college were an integral part of the productions of Opera South. Mrs. Ouida Kinnard, music instructor, began working with music students to prepare them for Opera South. Then, in 1972, Dr. Bobby Cooper came to Utica to work with the music program, and the students were involved in productions such as Aida, Turandot, Othello, A Bayou Legend, The Flying Dutchman, Jubilee, Elixir of Love, and Hansel and Gretel. Among those serving as presidents of Opera South Board were Utica Junior College President, Mr. J. Louis Stokes, and Academic Dean, Dr. George E. Barnes. Dr. Bobby Cooper served as Opera South's Chorus Master. During 1980 - 81, Opera South cancelled the opera, A Bayou Legend. Thereafter, performances continued through 1987, when the last performance of Opera South was Hansel and Gretel.

By 1976, the high school and college were growing. Mr. Charles Bell was transferred to the College as campus union director, and Mr. Arthur Dampier was hired as high school principal. He remained as principal until 1987, with the distinction of having served longer than any principal selected after 1966.

Still without dormitories, the College became known as the "institution on wheels," and students commuted from five counties: Hinds, Claiborne, Copiah, Warren, and Rankin. Enrollment climbed beyond 1600 students during the Stokes administration in 1978-79. In 1978, following tornado damage to several campus buildings, the gymnasium was completed and named in honor of J. D. Boyd. During the late 70s, Washington Hall, built in 1923 as a girls' dormitory and used later for several other purposes, was torn down - the space it occupied was developed into a playground for the Child Development Technology laboratory program. As enrollment increased in the high school, Hinds AHS Superintendent Stokes was instrumental in having another High School Annex completed in 1978.

During the late 70s, Dr. Bobby Cooper organized The Jubilee Singers. Dr. Cooper, who joined the faculty as music instructor and choir director in 1972, was bringing back the kind of group who had sung Negro spirituals to help raise funds for the school during the 40-year Holtzclaw era. Cooper was moved by the original group's history, dedication, purpose, and the sheet music of old plantation songs. So, he organized the Jubilee Singers and taught them the songs from the original music sheets. The Jubilee Singers have since become ambassadors for the Utica Campus, singing at most general assemblies and receiving invitations to sing for major events throughout the U.S. and other countries. Their most memorable invitations have come from Italy and France.

An accomplishment during the Stokes era was the receipt of a 3.5 million dollar loan from the Federal Housing Urban Development Program to build dormitories. At the same time, the two junior colleges of Utica and Hinds were involved in a court decree to merge; they were said to be creating racial dualism since they were within 21 miles of one another. Both schools operated under the same Board of Trustees, with the exception of two additional members from Copiah county on the Utica Board. From 1981-1983, Mr. J. L. Stokes returned to graduate school, and Dr. George E. Barnes served as acting president until Hinds and Utica were merged in 1982, and named in state legislation, Hinds Junior College District. Dr. Clyde Muse was appointed president in 1982, and Dr. Barnes served as acting vice president of the Utica Campus through the 1982-83 school year.

After the Board of Trustees approved the 3.5 million dollar housing loan in 1983, construction of the dormitories was completed and the dormitories were dedicated in 1985. The dormitory complex consisted of four major structures. During the 82nd Founder's Day, March 19, the complexes were dedicated and named in honor of men and women who had rendered services to the institution and community: B. E. Lewis Hall, Newton-Walker Hall, Maggie Dunson Hall, and McGriggs-Williams Cafeteria. The complex also included a two-story director's residence, replete with vending-laundry services, office/storage space, and living quarters on the second floor.

Mr. J. Louis Stokes served the Utica Campus as vice president from 1982-1987. Upon Mr. Stokes' retirement in 1987, Dr. George E. Barnes, Collins, MS native, became the vice president of the Utica Campus. Dr. Barnes had served in various capacities of the high school and college since 1962 (served as Academic Dean in Stokes administration) and had been transferred to the Raymond Campus a year following the merger in 1983, to serve as District Vice President of Student and Administrative Services. Dr. Barnes maintained the former position and added it to the position of vice president of Utica Campus and Vicksburg/Warren County Branch.

In 1987, the Mississippi legislature changed the name "junior college" to "community college"; thus, the new name was Hinds Community College District. At the same time, the major public four-year institutions' names were changed in legislation from "college" to "university." The Utica Campus, one of six locations of Hinds Community College District, continued to thrive and grow under the presidency of Dr. Clyde Muse, Sebastopol, MS native, and the vice presidency of Dr. George E. Barnes. Drs. Eugene Gaston and Jesse Killingsworth served as deans of instruction and career and technical education, respectively. Continuing the tradition, which was begun during the Washington administration, President Clyde Muse also served as superintendent of Hinds Agricultural High School. Vice President George Barnes served as assistant superintendent.

Ginn Hall, the oldest of the three remaining historic structures on the Utica Campus, collapsed in 1990, while a Board of Trustees committee was meeting in the Walter Washington Academic-Administration building regarding the condition of the building. All activity had ceased several years before and the building was vacant, so discussion was about the possibility of renovating and restoring Ginn Hall. The two remaining historic structures were then Holtzclaw Mansion and the Bell Tower.

Following the retirement of Hinds AHS Principal Arthur Dampier, Mr. Charles Langston was selected as high school principal, and he led the high school for eight years; then, he retired during the 1994-95 school year. Mr. Johnny Hughes became principal and served through the 1997-98 school year. Following him was Mr. Carl Palmer, who served as principal for two years, 1998-2000; during his principalship, construction on the high school technology building was completed and the building was dedicated in March 2000. The following school year, 2000-2001, Mr. Robert Strong became principal. Mr. Strong had worked in the high school for 34 years as industrial arts teacher and as football, tennis, and basketball coach.

Under the vice presidency and assisting superintendence of Dr. George Barnes, the Utica Campus and Hinds County Agricultural High School focused on excellence in academic, vocational-technical, and continuing education. Additionally, the leadership strove to improve student services and administrative services. In the late eighties and early nineties, the College strongly emphasized technology, and eventually, Hinds Community College and the Utica Campus were deeply involved in computer/information technology, student and administrative services, and faculty development. In 1995, the Hinds Community College Five-Year Master Plan for Information Technology was developed. Key features of the plan included building an infrastructure to implement wiring and connectivity on and between locations and allow for computer communication between campuses and on the Internet/World Wide Web: online student registration, databases of student information/services and financial management; computers on the desks of every secretary/administrative assistant, administrator, and instructor; computer learning labs; video conferencing; and online instruction/distance learning classes.

By 1996, The Jubilee Singers, with Dr. Bobby cooper still serving as director, had begun receiving so many invitations, they were unable to accept them all. However, the choir and Dr. Cooper gladly accepted an invitation from Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of Bolton, MS, and they performed for the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in September 1996. By 1999, the group and the director accepted the invitation to represent the state of Mississippi in the American Celebration of Music in Italy. They performed concerts in Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan. According to Dr. Cooper, the highlight of their performance was at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the largest Cathedral in the world. In March 2001, the Jubilee Singers received an invitation to perform at the 83rd International Phi Theta Kappa Convention in the Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado. Each year in March, the Campus Choir and Jubilee Singers go on tour. By 2002, they had toured the East Coast and Mid-west several times; three performances had been in New York City.

Around 1997, the College began converting the Amphitheater of the Walter Washington Academic-Administration building to a computerized presentation and two-way interactive video conferencing center; work was completed in 1999. Computer labs were set up in four rooms of the Walter Washington Academic-Administration building, on the second floor of the Holtzclaw Memorial Library, in the Ples McCadney building, in two rooms of the D. W. L. Davis building, and the J. L. Stokes Student Union Building (Student Support Services Program). The high school was also equipped with computers in several classrooms and the library.

Plans for constructing a technology building on the Utica Campus was completed in 1997, and midway the construction on the college technology building, plans were drawn to construct a high school technology building. The College technology building was completed December 1999, and the high school technology building was completed April 2000; both buildings were dedicated during the 97th Founder's Day Program. The two-floor college technology building housed the Title III administration; the Student Learning Assistance instructors and multimedia specialist's offices and a multi-station, networked computer learning assistance lab; an electronic classroom; an executive conference room; and the TV/Radio Broadcasting Technology Program (TV studio, editing suite, multi-station computerized classroom, simulated radio station, audio control room). The one-floor high school technology building housed an audio-visual room, an integrated technology classroom of modules for career and technical programs, labs for learning assistance, and faculty offices.

Further improvements on the Utica Campus included renovations and transformations in the Holtzclaw Memorial Library: 1999-2001 - converted one side to three rooms of The Black Heritage Collection, The Utica Normal & Industrial Institute Archives, and the Children's Collections/Resource Room. During the 98th Founder's Day Program, the Black Heritage Collection and The Archives rooms were named in honor of Mr. William Holtzclaw, Jr.

Between the years 1987 and 2002, Vice President Barnes sought to re-connect the college and community. In 1997, he and a few town citizens joined forces to organize Friends of Utica, Inc. (FOU). Dr. Barnes, FOU president, and Friends of Utica, Inc. began working collaboratively with other local organizations and local governance officials to develop neighborhoods around the college and to develop the local economy. Funds were sought to restore Holtzclaw mansion - one of two remaining historic structures on the campus, the other being the Bell Tower. The College sought funds to document Holtzclaw Mansion history and to restore the home; the African American Historic Preservation Grant Program funded the college $21,000 to document the history. Once documentation is completed, federal funds to restore the home will be sought. In the meantime, the College will solicit donations to match the funds during Centennial activities and fund-raising.

During the 2000 program year, the college completed plans to build a workforce development center (WDC) to house Title III career counseling and Teacher Education Program services. This facility was completed May 2002. While the WDC was under construction, Dr. Barnes and FOU received a community development grant from the HBCU-HUD Program to hire a program manager/staff, initiate a business incubation center, renovate a town facility for social programs, and revitalize the Utica community and businesses. The WDC will also house this program's management team.

The administration of President Clyde Muse and Vice President George Barnes, with Dr. Barnes also being responsible for grants and services, realized increases in state and federal funding for full-time and summer enrichment programs: Title III Institutional Aid, Workforce Investment Act Programs, National Youth Sports Program (NYSP, 5-week program), National Science Foundation and NASA, Student Support Services, Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Institutional Aid. Such programs have enabled the College to offer enriching activities to the College and high school students, and pre-high school youths of the surrounding communities.

The Utica Campus in its 99-year history, has undergone tremendous growth and development. The leaders have each contributed to the Utica Campus's being the great campus it is. From founder Holtzclaw to the present administration, priority has been to "embrace the legacy, uphold the promise" of providing an atmosphere conducive to quality teaching and student learning and to fostering positive community relations/development.

Approaching the 100th year of rich, rewarding Utica Campus history has prompted the present administration, faculty, and staff to revisit the history; take stock of the institution, its alumni, and the surrounding community; and prepare to renovate, restore, celebrate, and honor in 2003. Thus, the theme for The Utica Campus Centennial celebration is, "Embracing the Legacy, Upholding the Promise." The logo reflects this them and founding date in the outlying border of the circle. Displayed in the circle's center is the bell tower, one of the Utica Campus's oldest remaining structures, which symbolizes the start of the school and the freedom to educate African Americans and eventually, a diverse student body.

© 2002 by Shirley Hopkins-Davis