William Jasper Hale (September 26, 1874 – October 5, 1944) was an American academic administrator. He was the first president of

Tennessee State University Tennessee State University (Tennessee State, Tenn State, or TSU) is a public historically black land-grant university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, it is the only state-funded historically black university in Tenness ...

, a historically black university in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

, from 1912 to 1943.

Early life

Hale was born in rural poverty in

Marion County, Tennessee Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is located in East Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,837. Its county seat is Jasper. Marion County is part of the Chattanooga, AL– TN– GA Metropol ...

, on September 26, 1874. He was of mixed race, and was often considered white. Hale attended

Maryville College Maryville College is a private liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1819 by Presbyterian minister Isaac L. Anderson for the purpose of furthering education and enlightenment into the West. The college is one of the ...

for several terms.

Career

Hale was a teacher in Coulterville, Retro and

Chattanooga Chattanooga ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Located along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia, it also extends into Marion County on its western end. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, ...

. From 1912 to 1943, he served as the founding president of Tennessee State University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee. Thanks to his efforts, TSU was accredited in 1933. Hale expanded the campus, with the completion of six more buildings by 1935. He was succeeded as president by Walter S. Davis in 1943. He fundraised $40,000 for the

War savings stamps of the United States War savings stamps were issued by the United States Treasury Department to help fund participation in World War I and World War II. Although these stamps were distinct from the postal savings stamps issued by the United States Post Office Departme ...

. Hale was the president of the

National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools The American Teachers Association (1937-1966), formerly National Colored Teachers Association (1906–1907) and National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools (1907–1937), was a professional association and teachers' union representing tea ...

in 1927 and the president of the State Interracial Commission in 1929. He was awarded the

William E. Harmon Foundation Award for Distinguished Achievement Among Negroes #REDIRECT William E. Harmon Foundation Award for Distinguished Achievement Among Negroes {{R from move ...

in 1930. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from

Wilberforce University Wilberforce University is a private historically black university in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans. It participates in t ...

in 1936, and another honorary doctorate from Howard University in 1939.

Personal life, death and legacy

Hale married Harriet Hodgkins. They had three children. His wife was his secretary at TSU, and their three children graduated from the university. Hale died on October 5, 1944, in New York City. He is the namesake of Hale Stadium on the TSU campus.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hale, William J. 1874 births 1944 deaths People from Marion County, Tennessee Educators from Nashville, Tennessee Tennessee State University presidents 20th-century African-American academics 20th-century American academics