Ben Tillman and Winthrop University

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Tillman Hall, Winthrop University
Question

In what town did Benjamin Ryan Tillman found a normal school?

Answer

It depends on what you mean by "founded."

Benjamin Ryan Tillman was involved in the early development of both Clemson (now University) and Winthrop (now University). Clemson began as a military school, while Winthrop was for training teachers, which is to say that it was a "Normal school." In 1886, Winthrop was actually founded by educator David Bancroft Johnson in Columbia, SC with seed money from a Boston philanthropist. At that time it was known at Winthrop Training School for Women. Tillman, then the governor of South Carolina, made the school state-run in 1891 and it was renamed The South Carolina Industrial and Winthrop Normal College. In 1893, it was renamed again, and was known as Winthrop Normal and Industrial College.

The records say Tillman, who was then a U.S. Senator, was "instrumental" in having the school moved to Rock Hill in 1895, where it is today. Whether his role was so prominent that he could be said to have "re-founded" the school in Rock Hill is a matter on which historians have disagreed. The first building erected for the college in its new location was Tillman Hall, an ornate Romanesque-style building, constructed with convict labor from the state penitentiary. In 1920, the school became known as Winthrop College, the South Carolina College for Women. In 1974, the school became co-ed and changed its name again to Winthrop College. It was integrated in 1964 (arch-White Supremacist "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman would undoubtedly have been appalled). In 1992 the school became Winthrop University. It now has an enrollment of about 6,500 students in its liberal arts curriculum.

Benjamin Tillman served on Winthrop’s Board of Trustees from 1891 (he was its chairman at the time the school relocated to Rock Hill) until his death in 1918. He had sisters that either worked at or attended Winthrop. All three of his daughters attended the school.

Images:

Senator Tillman, his wife, and their daughter at the Democratic National Convention, 1912. Prints and Photographs Collection, Library of Congress.

Tillman Building, Winthrop College campus, Rock Hill, South Carolina, Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress.

For more information

For many of the details of this answer, I am indebted to Gina White, the Director of Archives and Special Collections at the Dacus Library of Winthrop University.

Winthrop University's website.

Bibliography

Simkins, Francis Butler. Pitchford Ben Tillman, South Carolinian. Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, 2002; orig. published 1944.
—— The Tillman Movement in South Carolina. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1926.

Snowden, Yates ed. History of South Carolina, volume 5 (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1920).

Chicora Foundation, Inc. [SC]

Description

Founded in 1983, Chicora is a heritage preservation organization located in Columbia, South Carolina. Chicora focuses on archaeological and historical research throughout the Southeastern United States, public education in South Carolina, and work in conservation and preservation with museums, libraries, historic organizations, historic libraries, and private citizens. Chicora also creates a wide variety of publications, including publications of archaeological research, and preservation guides.

The site offers purchasing information for all Chicora publications, information on current Chicora projects, links to other preservation resources, and information on the variety of Chicora programs, from educational programs to archaeological research.

Washington State History Museum

Description

The Washington State History Museum is where fascination and FUN come together! People of all ages can explore and be entertained in an environment where characters from Washington's past speak about their lives. Through interactive exhibits, theatrical storytelling, high-tech displays and dramatic artifacts, learn about our state's unique people and places, as well as their impact on the country and the world.

The site offers educational and research resources, virtual tours of the museum, and information about the museum and the Washington State Historical Society.

First National Bank Museum

Description

The First National Bank is one of Columbia, Pennsylvania's oldest and most historic buildings. Founded in 1864, the First National Bank of Columbia moved into the building, which had been built in 1814 and had served as a residence and hotel up until that point. The building was converted into a museum in 1967. The museum is a faithful recreation of the bank in its original setting, and visitors can enjoy exploring the bank building as it looked in the late 19th century.

The site offers general historical information about the bank, as well as visitor information for the museum.

American Personalities: Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty

Quiz Webform ID
22411
date_published
Teaser

Playing the role of the U.S., these characters consistently star in propaganda and political cartoons. Answer these questions on their history.

quiz_instructions

Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty—for over a century, these two characters have personified the United States and popular conception of the nation’s ideals. Answer these questions about the roles these characters have played, including soldier, tyrant, police officer, financier, judge, deity, and champion of the oppressed.

Quiz Answer

1. What characters have political cartoonists used to represent the English counterparts to Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty?

c. John Bull and Britannia.

Wearing breeches and a Union Jack waistcoat, John Bull once served as the symbol for the British everyman, but evolved into a symbol of the country as a whole. Both Britannia, the goddess-like female figure of England, and John Bull often appeared in political cartoons with Uncle Sam or Columbia—another name for Lady Liberty.

2. This version of Uncle Sam appeared in a Denver Evening Post cartoon in November 1898. Uncle Sam is usually drawn as a skinny character. Why is he fat here?

b. He has just finished consuming overseas territories, such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

In a spree of imperialism, the United States, represented by Uncle Sam, has "consumed" Hawaii (annexed to the U.S. on July, 1898), as well as Puerto Rico and the Philippines (though the Treaty of Paris and the acquisition of these as territories was still in debate in November 1898). Now, Uncle Sam turns to the figure of Spain—the cartoon's caption has him say, "Now, young man, I'll attend to your case." With the Spanish-American War over, the glutted U.S. prepares to attend to Spain itself, not just its colonies.

3. When did political cartoonists draw Uncle Sam as a self-appointed global policeman?

d. During the "Imperialist" phase of U.S. foreign affairs, beginning prior to the Spanish-American War.

In the years leading up to the Spanish-American War and the U.S. metamorphosis into an imperialist world power, Uncle Sam was often drawn as a police officer. However, cartoonist Thomas Nast had already pictured Uncle Sam as a cop on the beat, policing U.S. political corruption, as early as 1888.

4. When Uncle Sam first appeared, he was drawn to resemble:

a. An old gentleman in knee breeches.

For several decades, Uncle Sam was indistinguishable from an earlier character, Brother Jonathan, who also represented the U.S., superceding Yankee Doodle. By the middle of the 19th century, the same figure-by then clad in striped pants, short jacket, and top hat—was sometimes called Uncle Sam and sometimes Brother Jonathan. By about 1875, "Brother Jonathan" had mostly disappeared.

5. When Columbia first appeared, she most closely resembled:

a. The goddess of liberty, Libertas.

Often depicted in the French Revolution, Libertas wore a soft "liberty" or "Phrygian" cap. As Columbia, she could also wear feathers on her head, a reference to Native Americans, or a star or crown. The name "Columbia" fell out of popularity after World War I, and the character gained the names "Miss Liberty" or "Lady Liberty."

For more information

The Library of Congress, as part of its American Treasures exhibit, looks at the history of the famous "I Want You" World War I image of Uncle Sam. It also showcases an image, by the same artist, of Lady Liberty.

Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty have appeared regularly in political cartoons since their creation. Vassar College's 1896: The Presidential Campaign includes a subsection just for cartoons containing Uncle Sam, as does Leo Robert Klein's The Red Scare (1918-1921) (see "Uncle Sam" under subject headings). Even Dr. Seuss took his turn drawing Uncle Sam: Try June 1942 in Dr. Seuss Went to War: A Catalog of Political Cartoons. You might also try a search for the term "uncle sam" in the New York Public Library's Digital Archive.

Once you've found some resources picturing these iconic personifications, take a look at Understanding and Interpreting Political Cartoons in the History Classroom for models of classroom use.

Sources
  • "Have Your Answers Ready," 1917, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Collection (accessed November 12, 2009).
  • James Baillie, "Uncle Sam and his servants" (New York: 1844), Prints and Photographs Collection, Library of Congress (accessed November 12, 2009).
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Columbia CA Chamber of Commerce [CA]

Description

The Columbia CA Chamber of Commerce is dedicated towards preserving and aiding in the everyday operation of the Columbia State Historic Park, which is located in Columbia, California. Columbia was one of the first gold rush towns in California, and was founded in 1850 along a particularly large vein of gold, and so was very successful. Unlike many other gold rush towns, Columbia was never truly abandoned, and was incorporated into the California State Park system in 1945.

The site offers a history of Columbia, a listing of merchants and lodging in and around Columbia, and an events calendar.

This is a support organization for California's Columbia State Historic Park, which is listed separately within the database.