Alabama Institute of Literature and Industry ( A Baptist College in Greensboro, Alabama)

Education and missions have always been an integral part of Baptist tradition and emphasis. This was brought out in the initial forming of the Alabama Baptist State Convention in October of 1823 near Greensboro.  During that first convention, a constitution was drawn up and adopted.  Article 4 of the Constitution stated that "the Convention shall be to promote missions, and religious instruction throughout the state...and in improving the Education of the Gospel ministers."  

In additional actions the Convention voted to donate to the endowment of an Alabama scholarship and for a professor of Columbia College and Washington City Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.   Money was also received and designated by the Convention for missions, Bibles, tracts, and education.  

In the September 1833 meeting of the Convention, the desire for an educational institution of higher learning in Alabama was forwarded with a resolution,  "That we will use our exertions to promote the education of pious young men called to the ministry, and that we earnestly recommend to the churches of our union, to take the subject under their consideration."   

A committee was appointed and assigned "the duty of devising and adopting some arrangements for the establishment of learning in the state of Alabama, on the Manual Labor Plan, for the education of indigent young men to the ministry.  That in their opinion, the cause of science and religion imperiously demand such Instruction."

There upon, an act was passed by the Alabama Legislature, on January 17, 1834, to incorporate the school under the name of the Alabama Institute of Literature and Industry.  While this was the official name, it was also referred to as the Manual Labor Institute, Manual Labor Seminary, Baptist Institute of Greensborough, and Green County Institute of Literature and Industry in subsequent reports and newspaper articles. 

It is interesting to note that, at the same time, there was an effort to create a college in nearby Marion on the manual labor concept, also combining classical education with work, whereby students could earn tuition and board money and also provide a source of income for the school.  On December 16, 1833, the Alabama Legislature passed an act incorporating the Manual Labor Institute of South Alabama.  This Institute was located three miles west of Marion. 

In 1834, a 355 acre farm was purchased one mile east of Greensboro for the new Baptist institution.  Work started on buildings to accommodate students and faculty.  The first faculty members were W. J. Williford as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy and D. P. Bestor as Professor of Theology.  James Parker was chosen as "Steward and Farmer."  And so the Institute went into operation. 

According to the 1836 Report to the Convention, it reported " a flourishing condition, and flattering prospects of future usefulness to the community."  The report goes on to say that "in the present session it has increased from thirty to fifty students," and " they have raised on the farm this year about seven hundred bushels of corn and about one hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes." 

The Alabama Sentinel ( Greensboro newspaper) of April 9, 1836, reported that the labor performed by students amounted to eleven hours per week and that the money would be applied to tuition and board.  On the other hand,  "the course of instruction is similar to that of other universities."  An Examination of students was scheduled for July and the "friends of learning are invited to attend." 

Unfortunately, financial difficulties seemed to exist and 1837 seems to seal the fate of the Institute.  The national economy declined and efforts to raise funds across the state had limited success.  Then, according to the 1837 Convention Report, "that this Convention notice with much regard that a number of our brethren who subscribed to the Manual Labor Institute, have removed from the State and have not paid their subscription."  This was followed by a resolution to consider  "removing the Manual Labor Institute, now located in Greensborough, to some place in the northern part of the State." 

A special session was held on December 20 in Marion to sell the property as creditors had started lawsuits.  The land was sold and the library collection was given to the Convention and stored in Greensboro until it later was transferred to Howard College in Marion.  Thus ended the Alabama Institute of Literature and Industry. 

While the concept of a manual labor institute was a noble one, it not only failed in Greensboro but also with the Institute in Marion, which ceased operation in 1841.  However, the idea of having an institution of higher learning did not die with the Greensboro Institute.  Baptists rallied to create the Judson Female Institute in 1838 for young women and to create Howard College in 1842 for the education and ministerial training of young men. 

--Paul G. Reitzer

Marion Female Seminary at Marion, Alabama

Marion has distinguished itself as a cultural landmark city by having influenced the founding of six institutions of higher learning, namely, The Manual Labor Institute of South Alabama ( later named Madison College), Marion Female Seminary, Judson College, Lincoln Normal School, Howard College, and Marion Military Institute.  Consequently,  Marion has earned the title of  "The College City." 

Of these colleges, The Marion Female Seminary was established in the spring of 1836 as a non-sectarian school  "where denominational connections should neither qualify or disqualify an individual for the situation of Principal, or teacher in its Faculty of Instruction," and provide young ladies with the basic elements of ancient history, classical and modern languages, the Bible, literature, natural science, creative arts, mathematics, music, etc.  To accommodate these young ladies, a four story brick building was erected with classrooms and private rooms housing four to six students each. 

Among the various presidents elected was the appointment in 1841 of Miss Priscilla Maxwell, one of the teachers, making her (according to recent research) one of the first female college presidents in the United States.  In 1844, after marrying Edwin Upson, a local gentleman, she moved to Eutaw, Alabama, to start an academy, and a few years later started an academy in Camden, Alabama.

In 1850, the four-story structure was deemed no longer to be safe, and was replaced with a new three-story brick building.  During the interim, the Trustees rented a 17-room building in town that had served as the "Planters' Hotel."

Throughout the later half of the 1800's the school had an unbroken and fairly prosperous career, and though its annual enrollment was never large, the names of hundreds of women who "have been useful and honored citizens are enrolled among its alumnae."

One of the most notable professors during the antebellum years was Nicola Marschall.   Born in St. Wendel, Prussia, in 1829, this professional artist came to the United States in 1849 and taught art, music, and languages at the Seminary during the 1850's and 1860's.  While in Marion, he married a local girl, and supplemented his income by painting portraits.   Many of these portraits are prized possessions and several have won national awards. 

Perhaps one of the most notable accomplishments of Nicola Marschall was his original design for a Confederate flag which was selected as the first official flag of the the Confederacy. This design is not the one that was later adopted as the "Battle Flag" of the Confederacy.  In addition, Marschall designed what would become the official uniform of the Confederacy. 

The Marion Female Seminary continued to operate as it had from its beginning until 1908, at which time it was turned over to the Presbyterian Synod of Alabama.  Unfortunately, in time it struggled, and in 1915 the Presbyterian Synod voted to consolidate its Alabama schools.  This resulted in the closing of the Marion Female Seminary.  The next year, the Seminary officially closed and the property was turned over to the Perry County Board of Education. 

Beginning in 1917, the building housed an elementary school and in 1919 the structure was reworked into a two-story building and has remained such since that time.  In 1928, the building became a junior high, and with the demolition of the Perry County High School building in 1930, the Seminary building became Perry County High School and functioned as such until 1965 when the new Francis Marion High School was built some blocks away.  

In 1987 the vacant Seminary building was purchased by the Perry County Historical and Preservation Society, at which time efforts were made to preserve and restore it.  About the same time, the Historical Society agreed to lease the building to the Perry County High School Alumni Association with the purpose of working jointly to restore and maintain the Seminary property. 

Upon restoring the various classrooms and the auditorium, the Historical Society saw it fitting to create an historical museum with the focus on Perry County heritage.   The museum is open for tour groups and at association events. 

The Seminary building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.  The building and the museum are maintained through private tax-deductible donations. 

--Perry County Historical & Preservation Society