All Saints' Episcopal College was originally an Episcopal college for women in Vicksburg, Mississippi. It began accepting male boarding students as All Saints' Episcopal School in 1971. It was founded in 1908 and it ceased operating as a traditional school in 2006. Currently, All Saints' provides training to Americorps students in a residential setting.
Introduction
"All Saints' Episcopal College, established in 1908, was the outcome of years of planning. Its beginning is traced to the broad foundation of diocesan activities laid by the first Bishop of Mississippi, William Mercer Green, who was consecrated in 1850 and served as Bishop from 1850 to 1887."
The College of St Andrew was the first of a series of diocesan schools established in Jackson in 1852. This was long before public schools. The Civil War disrupted plans for a diocesan school for girls, but other diocesan schools were established including: Wilson Hall at Early Grove in Marshall county; the Church School, Mississippi City; Okalona School for colored students in Okolona; and the Vicksburg Industrial School for colored boys and girls.
In 1903 Theodore DuBose Bratton, D.D., L.L.,D., a South Carolina native was elected Bishop of Mississippi. Bishop Bratton's idea of the establishment of All Saints' grew out of his own interest in Christian education and his desire to finish the work begun by Bishop Green.
History
The Name
The school was called the "Episcopal Diocese Girls College" in the records of the sale of the Vicksburg property, "All Saints' Episcopal College" in the Vicksburg Evening Post article on the opening and "All Saints' College for Girls" in the Times Picayune. The Diocese provided a loan of $50,000 to the new institution. The City of Vicksburg gave the school 25 acres and $32,500.
William Mercer Green Hall
The original building was named William Mercer Green Hall after Mississippi's first Episcopal bishop. The cornerstone was laid with Masonic honors on All Saints' day 1908. The building was designed by DeBuys, Churchill and Labouisse, architects of New Orleans and built by I. C. Garber of Jackson, Miss. who was awarded the contract for a bid of $62,175.
"The building was constructed on a steel frame of brick and concrete, 230 feet long and 40 feet wide, and the final cost was $80,000." The building included dormitory space for 50 students, a kitchen, dining room, administration offices, recital rooms, sound proofed practice rooms, a library and reading room, an infirmary, and art studios with prism glass skylights. The grounds included gardens for fresh vegetables and a small herd of Jersey cows for fresh milk.
Highlights
The First Academic Year 1909 - 1910
The Rev William Mercer Green Jr., grandson of the first bishop of the diocese, was named the first Dean of the college. In the 1909 catalog we find the following statements: The High School will conform to the standard set by the Southern Association of Colleges and Preparatory Schools. The Carnegie Unit System will be observed, and for graduation in the High School Course, 14 units will be required.
All Saints' will take the rank as a Junior College. It will confer no degrees, but its graduates will receive a Certificate of Graduation which will represent the completion of the first three years of a Standard College or University. The course will be equivalent to 48 points. and a table of fees.
In addition to science, mathematics and English, students could take 4 years of Latin, as well as courses in Greek, French, Spanish, and German. The College courses covered mathematics, history, English, science, Latin, French, Spanish, German, Greek, Italian, Bible, and Ethics. The school year consisted of 2 terms of 18 weeks each.
There were daily services in the chapel on campus, and Sunday services could be attended at any local church of the student's choice with a proper chaperone.
1910 - 1911
Two intermediate years were added to the school. Fr. Green left All Saints' to become rector at St. Andrews in Jackson.
1911 - 1912
Wellesley, Smith, Agnes Scott, Sophie Newcomb, Randolph-Macon and Vassar all spoke well of students accepted into their programs from the high school program at All Saints'. The high school was accredited by the University of Mississippi this year and accepted all college credits point by point. A business course was added that included typing, stenography, and bookkeeping. One more grade was added to the intermediate years so that the school now serviced grades 6 through 12 plus the college.