Post script: George W. Campbell

George W. Campbell is mentioned in the history section of the Tuskegee University website, www.tuskegee.edu, and also in the www.wikipedia.org article about Tuskegee University.

The best place to read about his contributions is in the multi-volume set, The Booker T. Washington Papers, Louis R. Harlan, Editor, published by the University of Illinois Press, 1972. Volume 1 is a compilation of Washington's biographical writings. George Campbell is mentioned many times in both Up From Slavery and The Story of My Life and Work. Volume 2: 1860-89 also contains many references to our ancestor and has his picture in the illustration section.

Here is the title of one example from Volume 2, taken from pages 212-13:

ANNUAL REPORT OF GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE TUSKEGEE COLORED NORMAL SCHOOL, FOR THE YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 1882

In 1881 the State legislature appropriated $2,000 for the school, and this report for the first year accounts for every penny expended, with $226.71 as an ending balance!
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In 1981, the college was commemorating its Centennial Year. On February 12, 1981, or Charter Day, the descendants of George Washington Campbell and of the ex-slave Lewis Adams were recognized and honored with the Tuskegee Institute Centennial Award. These two men, along with M. B. Swanson, were the original,designated State Commissioners, as well as Trustees. Responding to the recognition for the Campbell family were Mrs. Flora Campbell Woodruff and Mr. Charles W. Campbell, children of George Lee Campbell. Our grandmother Lucerne, or Mrs. Hiram G. Haynie, was in attendance as another of the grandchildren of Mr. & Mrs. George W. Campbell, being the daughter of Mrs. Lucerne Campbell Hill. Gloria Hopkins, or Mrs. George D. Hopkins, was in attendance as a granddaughter of Lucerne Campbell Hill.

This program was held in the Tuskegee Chapel. Speakers included the Governor of Alabama and the President of Virginia's Hampton Institute, the place which originally educated Booker T. Washington and recommended him to George W. Campbell for the post of heading up the new normal school, which used to be the term that was used for schools which educated teachers. This school taught many different subjects and trades, right from its beginning. It evolved into a world-class university.