Huston-Tillotson University: A Legacy of Education and Empowerment

Huston-Tillotson University (HT), located in Austin, Texas, stands as a testament to the enduring power of education and the unwavering commitment to providing opportunities for African Americans. Its history is a rich tapestry woven from the threads of two pioneering institutions: Tillotson College and Samuel Huston College. This article explores the historical roots, academic programs, campus life, and significant contributions of Huston-Tillotson University.

The Genesis of Two Colleges

The story of Huston-Tillotson University begins with the establishment of its two predecessor institutions: Tillotson College and Samuel Huston College. These colleges emerged from the efforts of religious organizations dedicated to educating freed slaves during the Reconstruction Era.

Tillotson College: A Vision for Women's Education

The roots of Tillotson College trace back to 1875. The vision of Rev. George Jeffrey Tillotson of Connecticut, under the umbrella of the American Missionary Association, was to establish a school for women. Chartered in 1877 as Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute, the school officially began classes on January 17, 1881. Many of Tillotson’s first students had no prior formal education, highlighting the institution's commitment to providing access to education for all. On June 2, 1909, the school was renamed Tillotson College, a “normal school” for the training of teachers for the black community.

Tillotson College underwent several transformations, reflecting the evolving needs of the community it served. It was reorganized in 1925 as a junior college, in 1926 as a women’s college, and again in 1931 as a senior, co-educational institution. Tillotson College played a vital role in empowering African American women through education, with Mary E. Branch serving as the college's first woman president from 1930 to 1944. The HT gym is named after her.

Samuel Huston College: A Commitment to Moral and Religious Instruction

In 1876, the Reverend George Warren Richardson, a Methodist minister from Minnesota, leased St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas to establish a school for Negroes. Before the end of its first year, the fledgling school had been adopted by the West Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and renamed Andrews Normal College in honor of a church leader. In December 1887, Samuel Huston, a farmer from Marengo, Iowa, donated property estimated to be worth $10,000, with the understanding that the school would bear his name. Samuel Huston College was chartered in 1910 as a private educational corporation under the laws of Texas.

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Throughout its history, Samuel Huston College emphasized moral and religious instruction, which undergirded the curriculum. Like Tillotson College, Samuel Huston College significantly contributed to the social and civic life of Austin’s black citizens.

The Merger: In Union, Strength

Located less than one mile apart in East Austin, Tillotson College and Samuel Huston College fostered a spirit of healthy competition and cooperation. However, both institutions faced challenges related to financial resources. Recognizing their mutual interests, values, and constituencies, the trustees of Samuel Huston College and Tillotson College met jointly on January 26, 1952, and agreed to merge the two institutions on the site of Tillotson College.

The merger was consummated, and the new Charter of Incorporation for Huston-Tillotson College was signed on October 24, 1952. Following the merger, Huston-Tillotson College became the sole provider of higher education for African-Americans in Central Texas until the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which launched the period of desegregation. The motto of the merged institution, "In Union, Strength," reflects the belief that by combining their resources and expertise, the two colleges could better serve their students and the community. The merger created one of the largest black Protestant church-related colleges in the country.

Academics at Huston-Tillotson University

Huston-Tillotson University offers a range of academic programs through its College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business & Technology, and University College. The university is committed to providing students with a solid foundation in their chosen fields, as well as the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for success in the 21st century.

History Program

The study of History is an important part of the journey for intellectual development and human understanding. Through a study of History, we cultivate and develop an understanding of the varieties of the human experience. History helps students develop analytical skills to interpret both the past and the present as well as identify trends and explore human existence. The History program at Huston-Tillotson University provides students with a global perspective and solid grounding in the methods and fields of History. The History program prepares students to find patterns, ideologies, experiences, and narratives that can serve as connecting points for diverse communities and societies.

University Archives

The Huston-Tillotson University Archives serves as the long-term repository for the institutional records of the University. The Archives aims to establish a record of the University’s educational programs and administrative policies, as well as student activity and social organizations. The unique materials housed in the Archives provide tangible evidence and historical perspective of the development and growth of the University, which is essential to staff, faculty, students, alumni, and the larger Huston-Tillotson University community. The Archives operates in conjunction with the Downs-Jones Library to support the curricular offerings of the University by providing access to useful and relevant primary source materials relating to the University. The University Archives is located on the ground floor of the Downs-Jones Library on the campus of Huston-Tillotson University.

Campus Life

With just over 1,000 undergraduate students, Huston-Tillotson University offers a close-knit campus community where students can thrive academically and socially.

Residence Halls

The college has two residence halls: Beard-Burrows Hall for male students and Allen-Frazier Hall for female students.

Presidential Leadership

The leadership of Huston-Tillotson University has been instrumental in shaping its identity and guiding its growth. Rosalee Martin, a retired faculty member who served Huston-Tillotson University for 50 years, wrote “Their Stories, Our Stories: Four Presidents of Huston-Tillotson University” (Texas Tech University Press). The book offers candid, insider accounts of the tenures of four Huston-Tillotson University presidents - John Q. Taylor King Sr., Joseph T. McMillan Jr., Larry Earvin, and Colette Pierce Burnette - all of whom served during Martin’s 50-year teaching career at the historically Black institution.

John Q. Taylor King Sr. (1965-?)

King began his presidency at age 44, in 1965, right after the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin by federal and state governments, and in public places. Following this, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave voting rights for all Americans, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act, prohibited discrimination in housing based on race, religion, national origin and sex. Having laws didn’t mean immediate implementation. Consequently, athletes traveling to different cities and states were often denied access to hotels and had to stay in community homes. When campus was closed, some HT students found homes away from home in King’s as well as faculty and staff’s houses. This was especially true for foreign students, as there were times when they were 33% of HT’s student population. One of his strengths was he believed in a highly educated faculty. He supported educational and training opportunities. He recalled his own education in segregated schools where his teachers were invested in him becoming a trained intellectual; he wanted the same for HT students. His commitment to HT was clearly seen in his putting up the family home as collateral to secure a loan to pay salaries, as reported by two of his children. HT alumni mainly have warm feelings about King’s HT, attributing to him their professional success.

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Joseph T. McMillan Jr.

President McMillan said he loved HT in his inaugural address and in his farewell speech. However, his 12 years were riddled with conflicts and leadership ineptness. In 1999, McMillan made some horrific decisions that could have caused HT to lose its accreditation. Three faculty members decided it was time ask the board for his removal. With board support to remove McMillan, the Save HT committee persisted by presenting to the board a detailed document highlighting the deficits of McMillan’s administration, along with case studies and financial discrepancies. Within three months of non-stop intervention, the Save HT committee finally met with HT’s board president. McMillan then announced his retirement, effective in six months.

Larry Earvin

Earvin came to HT from an HBCU, Clark-Atlanta, as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. He had a 26-year tenure there. Earvin’s greatest contribution was getting HT reaccredited with no recommendations, but not without HT first being placed on probation. After much back and forth, HT was reaccredited. Earvin made numerous contributions to HT, including changing its name from a college to a university. In partnership with the city of Austin and the University of Texas, the Sandra Joy Anderson Community Health & Wellness Center was established on HT’s campus, when an HT alumna, Ada Anderson, gave the first $3 million. The old administrative building built with stones cut by HT students in their industrial classes was condemned; neither King nor McMillan had raised funds for renovation. Earvin did and it’s now a National Historic Landmark.

Colette Pierce Burnette

Burnette was the first female president of the merged Huston-Tillotson, and the second one in HT’s history; Mary Branch was her predecessor and her role model. Burnette called her students “the genius generation,” and insisted that teachers “tailor make” their lessons to foster students’ genius abilities. She took students with her to professional meetings, encouraged faculty to prepare students to present at professional conferences, and supported student organizations. An engineer, Burnette sought opportunities and finances to advance STEM programs on campus. She partnered with Apple to bring the African American Male Teacher Initiative, which provided scholarships to Black male students who wanted to teach K-12 grades. Amazingly, HT was reaccredited during the COVID-19 shutdown, giving breathing room to her successor. Under her leadership, she was able to place HT financially in the black, also good news for HT and her successor.

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