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[407] risen in 1896 to a total of 165 scholars, all in professional courses.

The first building used by this college was a Confederate gun factory.

8. Fisk University had its beginning in the thought and plan of E. P. Smith and E. M. Cravath, who were both at the time secretaries of the American Missionary Association. They met at Nashville, Tenn., October 3, 1865, and had a conference on the subject of making Nashville an educational center for the then newly emancipated and their descendants. This conference soon took into its councils General C. B. Fisk, commissioner, and Prof. John Ogden, an able educator who had been an officer of the army during the war. A half square of land was purchased, and by General Fisk's solicitation a number of temporary hospital structures which were on the land were by the Government assigned to the use of the proposed university. January 9, 1866, the first school connected with the enterprise opened. General Fisk upon solicitation allowed the use of his name for the university, and Professor Ogden, equipped with fifteen assistant teachers, commenced his work. In 1870 there were 283 pupils; in 1904, 525 students. Mr. Cravath was the president till his death; he was aided by a faculty and officers to the number of 29. The Fisk Jubilee Singers became famous throughout the world. They raised by their public concerts in the United States and abroad over $150,000 for their university. The campus has been increased to thirty-five acres and covered with noble and appropriate structures.

General Clinton B. Fisk from his private estate left the institution heir to a fund of about $30,000 from which was erected its beautiful chapel. The university

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