In January of 1866, with the devastation of the Civil War far from
assuaged in the slowly recuperating South, Fisk University made its home
in abandoned Federal barracks near Nashville, Tennessee. The entire
region faced hardships after the conflict, but Southern blacks still
encountered what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles, even after the
emancipation of slaves. Within five years of its opening, Fisk was in such
a dire financial situation, many expected its closure; however, in an
effort to raise funds for the university, Professor George L. White and nine
students traveled the country performing in a musical ensemble known
as the Jubilee Singers. Their hard-won rise to fame led them to the White
House where they performed for President Ulysses S. Grant, and the
money they earned touring the country literally saved Fisk.
The spirit of the first Jubilee Singers lives on at Fisk today, but it is a
university much different than the one that opened in 1866. Today Fisk
is an institution fully equipped for the challenges of the future, noted
for its excellence in academics, and celebrated for the achievements of
its distinguished alumni. Whether in the classroom, on the playing field,
or on stage, Fisk students and faculty are torchbearers of achievement
in all areas of life. It is their unyielding determination that is celebrated
within these pages, as the university's history comes to life in vintage
photographs. Early classrooms, beloved professors, civic and social
organizations, sporting events, famed alumni, and the Jubilee Singers are
all included in this retrospective.