Research conducted by Ferris State University’s Diversity and Inclusion Office detailing
Ferris’ relationship with Hampton University in Virginia is documented in “Haste To
Rise: A Remarkable Experience of Black Education During Jim Crow,” a book now available
through PM Press.
Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion David Pilgrim and his colleague, Multimedia
Specialist Franklin Hughes co-wrote the 224-page work. Hughes said the genesis of
their work came several years ago when Pilgrim asked him to find images of Gideon
Smith. Smith has been a recurring nominee for the College Football Hall of Fame, had
graduated from Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in 1910 and went on to study
and play football at Ferris. Smith continued his education and athletic career at
Michigan Agricultural College, now Michigan State University. Hughes was to give the
images to Diane Cleland, then the Docent at the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia,
to paint a Smith portrait. Hughes’ research into black students who attended Ferris
in the first quarter of the 20th century pointed to a significant relationship with
Hampton.
“From around 1910, into the early 1920s, photos in Ferris yearbooks showed these groups
of students, who we found were generally from Virginia and nearby states,” Hughes
said. “When we followed up on their backgrounds, connections to Hampton kept showing
up.”
Haste To Rise provides information on more than 60 young men who traveled north to
Ferris to complete college preparatory classes and degree programs, without the barriers
and indignities of the Jim Crow racial hierarchy. Hughes said there are many stories
of leadership and excellence in a variety of professions.
“Percival (P.L.) Prattis began at Hampton, and graduated from Ferris Institute in
1916,” Hughes said. “After establishing himself at the Chicago Defender, the leading
black newspaper in the country, Prattis went on to a 30-year career with the Pittsburgh
Courier, where he retired as Executive Editor. A.J. Wells completed college prep classes
at Ferris in 1916 and is believed to be among the first African-Americans to graduate
from the Northwestern University Dental School when he earned his Doctor of Dental
Surgery degree in 1919. After Russell A. Dixon graduated from Ferris in 1923, Woodbridge
Ferris used his influence to help him attend Northwestern’s dental school. Dixon was
the first African-American to earn an advanced degree in Dentistry from Northwestern
in 1933. He is remembered for his distinguished career as dean of the Howard University
School of Dentistry. Dixon built Howard’s school into one of the foremost institutions
of dental education in the United States, during a 37-year career.”
Pilgrim said this project was “most assuredly” a labor of love, as nearly all of the
research was done at night, and on the weekends. Pilgrim said these stories should
be viewed as more than a footnote in Ferris’ history.
“We feel it represents a major part of the early history of Ferris Institute,” Pilgrim
said. “Their stories showed a side of our founder, Woodbridge Ferris, which had been
lost, namely that he was a strong and powerful voice for racial justice. That was
his legacy. It is our mandate.”
Hughes said that role of advocate and mentor also applies to Gerrit Masselink, who
had his first leadership responsibilities at the institute when Ferris became Governor
of Michigan in 1913.
“We learned a great deal about how they both worked to support and mentor Hampton
students, which we wanted to make known, for posterity,” Hughes said. “I hope this
is an uplifting story that shows how providing opportunity can make an important difference.
We would be very happy to see this spur a re-establishment of our relationship with
Hampton. It could be a unique and valuable collaboration.”