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| ====== Bridgeforth, George Ruffin (1901) ====== | ====== Bridgeforth, George Ruffin (1901) ====== |
| | {{http://scua.library.umass.edu/images/youmass/football_1901.jpg?350|Football team, 1901 (Bridgeforth in center rear)}} |
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| <a href="http://scua.library.umass.edu/images/youmass/football_1901.jpg"><img src="http://scua.library.umass.edu/images/youmass/football_1901.jpg" alt="Football team, 1901" class="youmassimage" /></a> | |
| <div class="caption">Football team, 1901 (Bridgeforth in center rear)</div> | |
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| The first [[a:african_american_students|African American student]] to enroll at the Massachusetts Agricultural College was probably George Ruffin Bridgeforth (sometimes listed as George Ruffum Bridgeforth), who arrived in Amherst in the fall of 1897. Born in Athens (Limestone County), Ala., on Oct. 5, 1873, Bridgeforth was nearly 24 when he entered as a freshman, and in some ways, he set a pattern for the pioneering cohort of African American students at MAC. Older than the average student and southern in origin, he had studied at an historically Black college (Talladega) prior to his arrival. Just as important, once he arrived, he became an active participant in the athletic and academic life of his new college.(1) | The first [[a:african_american_students|African American student]] to enroll at the Massachusetts Agricultural College was probably George Ruffin Bridgeforth (sometimes listed as George Ruffum Bridgeforth), who arrived in Amherst in the fall of 1897. Born in Athens (Limestone County), Ala., on Oct. 5, 1873, Bridgeforth was nearly 24 when he entered as a freshman, and in some ways, he set a pattern for the pioneering cohort of African American students at MAC. Older than the average student and southern in origin, he had studied at an historically Black college (Talladega) prior to his arrival. Just as important, once he arrived, he became an active participant in the athletic and academic life of his new college.(1) |
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| Success in so many endeavors aside, Bridgeforth faced challenges in his schooling. After his first term at MAC, on January 4, 1898, he was forced to join an Armenian student, Dickran B. Tasjian, in petitioning the College [[t:trustees|Board of Trustees]] for relief from tuition and fees because of inability to pay them" (4). The petition was granted. Although it is uncertain how Bridgeforth coped thereafter, there are clues. In the U.S. census for 1900, he was one of four lodgers (the others white) listed as living at the home of Louisa S. Baker, just off the south end of campus at 101 E. Pleasant Street. Baker was no ordinary town resident. Known for many years as a good "Friend of the College," Mrs. Baker came from a family that had owned part of the land on which MAC was established, and she lived virtually at the gate of the college until her death in 1908. The writer of Baker's obituary lauded her philanthropy to the poor of New York City and the "colored people of the south," but took equal pains to point out her quiet work with MAC students: | Success in so many endeavors aside, Bridgeforth faced challenges in his schooling. After his first term at MAC, on January 4, 1898, he was forced to join an Armenian student, Dickran B. Tasjian, in petitioning the College [[t:trustees|Board of Trustees]] for relief from tuition and fees because of inability to pay them" (4). The petition was granted. Although it is uncertain how Bridgeforth coped thereafter, there are clues. In the U.S. census for 1900, he was one of four lodgers (the others white) listed as living at the home of Louisa S. Baker, just off the south end of campus at 101 E. Pleasant Street. Baker was no ordinary town resident. Known for many years as a good "Friend of the College," Mrs. Baker came from a family that had owned part of the land on which MAC was established, and she lived virtually at the gate of the college until her death in 1908. The writer of Baker's obituary lauded her philanthropy to the poor of New York City and the "colored people of the south," but took equal pains to point out her quiet work with MAC students: |
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| <html><blockquote><p>"she delighted in acting a mother's part toward boys who came to college determined to pay their own bills so far as possible. She opened her house to such and always had one or more occupying rooms under her roof. She gave them employment and looked sharply after their conduct and habits... The number of 'Aggie' boys whom she has helped in one way or another us unknown to any except those who knew her well. Many of them she helped financially to secure their education at M.A.C. She advanced them money to complete thir professional studies in universities and in some cases welcomed their sons when they, too, came to their father's college." (5)</p></blockquote></html> | "she delighted in acting a mother's part toward boys who came to college determined to pay their own bills so far as possible. She opened her house to such and always had one or more occupying rooms under her roof. She gave them employment and looked sharply after their conduct and habits... The number of 'Aggie' boys whom she has helped in one way or another us unknown to any except those who knew her well. Many of them she helped financially to secure their education at M.A.C. She advanced them money to complete thir professional studies in universities and in some cases welcomed their sons when they, too, came to their father's college." (5) |
| In her will, Baker left $6000 to support "poor, industrious and deserving" students." | In her will, Baker left $6000 to support "poor, industrious and deserving" students." |
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