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Josephine Pierce
Talladega, Alabama. Oct. 7th 1874.
Rev. J. W. Alvord, Washington. D. C.
Dear Sir,
I open correspondence with you by request of the Field Secretary of the American Missionary Association. This Society has established a central school, that, from the other and various schools of the state, the students might pass into the higher education of this [sue?] The one for Alabama, is Talladega College, at Talladega. There are three schoolbuildings. Swayne Hall, with recitation rooms, and dormitory for young men; Foster Hall, with rooms for young ladies, and boarding department; and Graves
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Hall for the Theological Department. Students and Teachers board together. We are a Family. Their interests and ours, are one. We walk with them, in the sunshine and in the darkness; in sickness, and in health. Out of school, we kneel, morning and nights, at the same Family Altar; and thus, the six hours good of the school room,j is multiplied many fold. We reckon this christian home influence a great educator for the Freed Ones! The last three catalogues report six hundred Students.
We are on the Selma, Rome and Dalton R. R., in location central, situation healthful, scenery delightful!
The aim of the school, is to raise up educated Ministers; to fit nature missionary Teachers, who shall be a power in the Land, and even across the waters, in Africa! Already, one little Mission Band has organized two Congregational
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Churches, 15 and 5 miles from Talladega.
But the Mission effort which is the work of the school must be crippled, unless there be, here at the fountainhead, more generous appliances, and larger means of christian education. That the Students may be better fitted for the work, a Library is needed. The scholars are not able to buy the books, but the use of them, would be a good, not only for to-day, but the coming years! Will you, therefore, dear Sir, yourself, according to the largeness of you heart, give money, for a Library? Often young men come for books, to refer to, and there is none for them. It is hard to send them empty away! A Library is the present need. Let us hope soon to hear from you, that you are a helper, in this the work of to-day!
Yours for the Library, Josephine Pierce.
