Chapter D: W. CULP, Palatka, Fla

PROF. W. H. CROGMAN, A. M.

Prof. W. H. Crogman, A. M., who occupies the chair of Greek
and Latin in Clark University, Atlanta, in Christian
character, scholarship in his department, literary ability,
general culture and distinguished services stands, it is
safe to say, among the first four, if not at the head of the
Negro race. In all the particulars mentioned, he would honor
a professorship in any college in the land.

Prof. Crogman was born on the island of St. Martin, May 5,
1841. In 1855, Mr. B. L. Boomer, chief mate of the vessel,
visiting the island, became interested in the boy, then an
orphan, and induced him to come to the United States. Mr.
Boomer took him to his home in Middleboro, Mass., sent him
to district school in the winter, and always took great
interest in him. Mr. Boomer's brothers were all seafaring
men, captains or officers of vessels. With one of these the
boy, Willie, began to follow the sea. This beginning
afterward led to a life of eleven years on the ocean. He
visited many lands, and observant and thoughtful, obtained a
wide knowledge of various nationalities and parts of the
world. His visits included especially England, various
points on the Continent of Europe, Calcutta and Bombay in
Asia, various places in South America and Australia.

In 1866, at the suggestion of Mr. Boomer, that an academic
education would make him useful, Prof. Crogman, then at the
age of twenty-five, began to earn means to attend an
academy. He worked and laid by money till two years later in
1868, he entered Pierce Academy, in Middleboro, Mass. He
remained there two years, taking an English course with
French and bookkeeping.

After completing his academic course, in the Fall of 1870,
Prof. Crogman started for the South to give his life to the
Christian education and elevation of his race. He was
recommended by the Boston Preachers' Meeting to the work in
South Carolina, and was employed by Rev. T. W. Lewis as
instructor in English branches, at Claflin University,
Orangeburg, S. C. Here he remained three years. In this work
he became impressed with the need of a knowledge of Greek
and Latin and began the study of Latin by himself. To gain a
knowledge of these branches he went to Atlanta University in
the Fall of 1873. This resulted in his completing there the
full classical course in 1876. Prof. Francis, of Atlanta
University, who was one of his teachers there, was present
at the reception and in a most happy speech paid a high
tribute to Prof. Crogman's manhood, industry, thorough
scholarship and rapid advancement during his college life,
completing as he did the four years' course in three years.
He spoke also of Prof. Crogman's carrying off as his bride
one of their noblest and most gifted and cultured young
ladies, Miss Lavinia C. Mott, of Charlotte, N. C.
Immediately on his graduating from Atlanta University, Prof.
Crogman was called to a position on the faculty of Clark
University, where he has been ever since, having occupied
his present chair since 1880. Letters expressive of their
highest appreciation of him and his work were read from
several of his students, who now themselves occupy prominent
positions.

Prof. Crogman is author of "Talks for the Times," a book in
which almost every phase of the Race Problem is discussed in
a very practical and fascinating style. Speaking of this
book, the "Independent" says:

"We notice this collection of 'Talks for the Times' with
unusual pleasure. They are worthy of the strong and
cultivated gentleman who is their author. They deal largely
with Negro education, educational institutions and
educators, but occasionally deal with general topics, such
as 'Life's Deeper Meanings.' The author speaks of his race
and speaks in strong, polished English, full of nerve and
rich in the music of good English prose."

The "California Christian Advocate" says:

"We are minded to say, 'here is a volume that must be
intensely interesting to all who are interested in the
culture and continued advancement of the Negro.' But why
should we thus write? It would be nearer our deliberate
estimate to say, 'Here is a book made up of manly and
vigorous addresses by a vigorous, scholarly and independent
thinker.' Whoever values the result of scholarly
investigation will be interested in this volume. We do not
hesitate to say that but for the noble identification of the
author with his own people in such addresses as 'The Negro's
Need,' 'The Negro's Claims,' and 'The Negro Problem,' no one
who reads this book would guess that Professor Crogman was
other than a vigorous minded Anglo-Saxon. And yet to our
thinking, it is much to say that 'Talks for the Times' is
the production of a ripe scholar who is of almost pure
African blood--a man who almost entirely by his own exertion
has climbed steadily up the ladder of scholarship until he
is no mean exponent of the culture of our day."