In 1907, the Episcopal Diocese, under the leadership of Theodore Bratton, began developing plans to establish a girl’s school in Mississippi. Cities that were in the running for the location of this school were Meridian, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Canton, Winona, and Vicksburg. The Vicksburg Business League held a meeting on June 13, 1907 and, according to the Vicksburg Herald, “put itself on record as endorsing the movement to bring the Diocesan girls’ school to Vicksburg. It was the opinion of the members of the league that this was a matter of the greatest importance to the city and that active efforts should be made to bring the school to Vicksburg. Several cities of the state have made handsome offers for the school.”

The mayor and aldermen also endorsed the project and offered 35 acres on Confederate Avenue in the National Park Addition and $32,500. Church leaders encouraged their congregations to donate to the construction of the school. In the end, there were 945 “subscribers” who donated $45,639.99. The Valley Dry Goods Company and other businesses held special sales where portions of the sales were contributed to the “Citizens’ Committee on the Episcopal Diocesan School.” Concerts were also held with the proceeds being donated to the fund. In August 1907, Bishop Bratton sent the committee a letter stating that “at a meeting of the committee on Diocesan School, held this day in the city of Vicksburg, a decision as to the location of the school for girls was reached, and I have great pleasure in informing you that Vicksburg is the unanimous choice of the committee. In (sic) behalf of the committee, I formally accept the offer made through you, and beg that you will convey our thanks to the members of your citizens’ committee. It is due both to you and to them to say that the generous subscription offered is gratefully received by us and that the site offered by the National Park Realty Company, beautiful and picturesque, is admirably adapted to the purpose to which it is to be devoted.”

By November 1907, the Diocese had chosen New Orleans architects DeBuys, Churchill and Labouisse to design the main building to eventually be named William Mercer Green Hall after Mississippi’s first Episcopal bishop. An article in The Vicksburg Post reported that “the plans embrace all the requirements of a modern school and will include the academy, art rooms, music halls, dormitories, gymnasium, president’s building, administration building. Mississippi River water will be used at the school building and gas and electricity for illuminating purposes.” I. C. Garber of Jackson was awarded the contract to erect the building at a cost of $62,175.

The cornerstone was laid on All Saints Day 1908 with a large audience in attendance. Col. R. V. Booth, one of the committee members, gave the address which was reported by The Vicksburg Post: “Colonel Booth said that such an institution meant the uplifting of women. Education was the foundation on which was reared the structure of civilization. Until a comparatively recent date, little attention had been paid to the education of women. He was glad to note the progress of women, not only in the industrial life of the nation, but in the arts and literature. Southern women had given to literature in the last thirty or forty years many rare and costly jewels.”

Construction of the Neo-classical building was started almost immediately and, in April 1909, it was completed at a final cost of $80,000. In addition to the rooms already listed, the building included a kitchen, dining room, library, infirmary, and dormitory space for 50 students. The grounds included gardens for fresh vegetables and a small herd of Jersey cows for fresh milk.  The Rev. William Mercer Green, the grandson of the first bishop of the Diocese, was named the first dean of the school. The catalog printed for the first academic year, 1909-1910, announced that “the High School will conform to the standard set by the Southern Association of Colleges and Preparatory Schools, and that the Carnegie Unit System will be observed with fourteen units being required for graduation in the high school course. 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.”

Tuition in that first year was $265-275, which included board, fuel, light, and laundry. The medical fee was $10, and an “incidental fee” was $5. College day students were charged $75, high school day students $60, and preparatory day students $50. Courses included science, math, English, Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Bible, and ethics. 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. In the following year, seventh and eighth grades were added and then in 1911, sixth grade was added. Also in this year, the high school was accredited by the University of Mississippi and all college credits were accepted by the university. In addition, a business course was added that included typing, stenography, and bookkeeping. To be continued. 

Nancy Bell, Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation