CHAPTER XII
RAISING MONEY
When we opened our boarding department, we provided rooms in the attic of
Porter Hall, our first building, for a number of girls. But the number of
students, of both sexes, continued to increase. We could find rooms outside
the school grounds for many of the young men, but the girls we did not care
to expose in this way. Very soon the problem of providing more rooms for the
girls, as well as a larger boarding department for all the students, grew
serious. As a result, we finally decided to undertake the construction of a
still larger building- a building that would contain rooms for the girls and
boarding accommodations for all.
After having had a preliminary sketch of the needed building made, we found
that it would cost about ten thousand dollars. We had no money whatever with
which to begin; still we decided to give the needed building a name. We knew
we could name it, even though we were in doubt about our ability to secure
the means for its construction. We decided to call the proposed building
Alabama Hall, in honor of the state in which we were laboring. Again Miss
Davidson began making efforts to enlist the interest and help of the colored
and white people in and near Tuskegee. They responded willingly, in
proportion to their means.
The students, as in the case of our first building, Porter Hall, began
digging out the dirt in order to allow the laying of the foundations. When
we seemed at the end of our resources, so far as securing money was
concerned, something occurred which showed the greatness of General
Armstrong- something which proved how far he was above the ordinary
individual.
When we were in the midst of great anxiety as to where and how we were to
get funds for the new building, I received a telegram from General Armstrong
asking me if I could spend a month traveling with him through the North, and
asking me, if I could do so, to come to Hampton at once. Of course I
accepted General Armstrong’s invitation, and went to Hampton immediately.
On arriving there I found that the General had decided to take a quartette
of singers through the North, and hold meetings for a month in important
cities, at which meetings he and I were to speak. Imagine my surprise when
the General told me, further, that these meetings were to be held, not in
the interests of Hampton but in the interests of Tuskegee, and that the
Hampton Institute was to be responsible for all the expenses.
Although he never told me so in so many words, I found out that General
Armstrong took this method of introducing me to the people of the North, as
well as for the sake of securing some immediate funds to be used in the
erection of Alabama Hall. A weak and narrow man would have reasoned that all
the money which came to Tuskegee in this way would be just so much taken
from the Hampton Institute; but none of these selfish or short-sighted
feelings ever entered the breast of General Armstrong. He was too big to be
little, too good to be mean. He knew that the people in the North who gave
money gave it for the purpose of helping the whole cause of Negro
civilization, and not merely for the advancement of any one school. The
General knew, too, that the way to strengthen Hampton was to make it a
center of unselfish power in the working out of the whole Southern problem.
In regard to the addresses which I was to make in the North, I recall just
one piece of advice which the General gave me. He said: “Give them an idea
for every word.” I think it would be hard to improve upon this advice; and
it might be made to apply to all public speaking. From that time to the
present I have always tried to keep his advice in mind.
Meetings were held in New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, and other
large cities, and at all of these meetings General Armstrong pleaded,
together with myself, for help, not for Hampton, but for Tuskegee. At these
meetings an especial effort was made to secure help for the building of
Alabama Hall, as well as to introduce the school to the attention of the
general public. In both these respects the meetings proved successful.
After that kindly introduction I began going North alone to secure funds.
During the last fifteen years I have been compelled to spend a large
proportion of my time away from the school, in an effort to secure money to
provide for the growing needs of the institution. In my efforts to get funds
I have had some experiences that may be of interest to my readers.
Time and time again I have been asked, by people who are trying to secure
money for philanthropic purposes, what rule or rules I followed to secure
the interest and help of people who were able to contribute money to worthy
objects.
As far as the science of what is called begging can be reduced to rules, I
would say that I have had but two rules. First, always to do my whole duty
regarding making our work known to individuals and organizations; and,
second, not to worry about the results. This second rule has been the
hardest for me to live up to. When bills are on the eve of falling due, with
not a dollar in hand with which to meet them, it is pretty difficult to
learn not to worry, although I think I am learning more and more each year
that all worry simply consumes, and to no purpose, just so much physical and
mental strength that might otherwise be given to effective work. After
considerable experience in coming into contact with wealthy and noted men, I
have observed that those who have accomplished the greatest results are
those who “keep under the body”; are those who never grow excited or
lose self-control, but are always calm, self-possessed, patient, and polite.
I think that President William McKinley is the best example of a man of this
class that I have ever seen.
In order to be successful in any kind of undertaking, I think the main thing
is for one to grow to the point where he completely forgets himself; that
is, to lose himself in a great cause. In proportion as one loses himself in
this way, in the same degree does he get the highest happiness out of his
work.
My experience in getting money for Tuskegee has taught me to have no
patience with those people who are always condemning the rich because they
are rich, and because they do not give more to objects of charity. In the
first place, those who are guilty of such sweeping criticisms do not know
how many people would be made poor, and how much suffering would result, if
wealthy people were to part all at once with any large proportion of their
wealth in a way to disorganize and cripple great business enterprises. Then
very few persons have any idea of the large number of applications for help
that rich people are constantly being flooded with. I know wealthy people
who receive as many as twenty calls a day for help. More than once, when I
have gone into the offices of rich men, I have found half a dozen persons
waiting to see them, and all come for the same purpose, that of securing
money. And all these calls in person, to say nothing of the applications
received through the mails. Very few people have any idea of the amount of
money given away by persons who never permit their names to be known. I have
often heard persons condemned for not giving away money, who, to my own
knowledge, were giving away thousands of dollars every year so quietly that
the world knew nothing about it.
As an example of this, there are two ladies in New York, whose names rarely
appear in print, but who, in a quiet way, have given us the means with which
to erect three large and important buildings during the last eight years.
Besides the gift of these buildings, they have made other generous donations
to the school. And they not only help Tuskegee, but they are constantly
seeking opportunities to help other worthy causes.
Although it has been my privilege to be the medium through which a good many
hundred thousand dollars have been received for the work at Tuskegee, I have
always avoided what the world calls “begging.” I often tell people that
I have never “begged” any money, and that I am not a “beggar.” My
experience and observation have convinced me that persistent asking outright
for money from the rich does not, as a rule, secure help. I have usually
proceeded on the principle that persons who possess sense enough to earn
money have sense enough to know how to give it away, and that the mere
making known of the facts regarding Tuskegee, and especially the facts
regarding the work of the graduates, has been more effective than outright
begging. I think that the presentation of facts, on a high, dignified plane,
is all the begging that most rich people care for.
While the work of going from door to door and from office to office is hard,
disagreeable, and costly in bodily strength, yet it has some compensations.
Such work gives one a rare opportunity to study human nature. It also has
its compensations in giving one an opportunity to meet some of the best
people in the world to be more correct, I think I should say the best people
in the world. When one takes a broad survey of the country, he will find
that the most useful and influential people in it are those who take the
deepest interest in institutions that exist for the purpose of making the
world better.
At One time, when I was in Boston, I called at the door of a rather wealthy
lady, and was admitted to the vestibule and sent up my card. While I was
waiting for an answer, her husband came in, and asked me in the most abrupt
manner what I wanted. When I tried to explain the object of my call, he
became still more
ungentlemanly in his words and manner; and finally grew so excited that I
left the house without waiting for a reply from the lady. A few blocks from
that house I called to see a gentleman who received me in the most cordial
manner. He wrote me his check for a generous sum, and then, before I had had
an opportunity to thank him, said: “I am so grateful to you, Mr.
Washington, for giving me the opportunity to help a good cause. It is a
privilege to have a share in it. We in Boston are constantly indebted to you
for doing our work.” My experience in securing money convinces me that the
first type of man is growing more rare all the time, and that the latter
type is increasing; that is, that, more and more, rich people are coming to
regard men and women who apply to them for help for worthy objects, not as
beggars, but as agents for doing their work.
In the city of Boston I have rarely called upon an individual for funds that
I have not been thanked for calling, usually before I could get an
opportunity to thank the donor for the money. In that city the donors seem
to feel, in a large degree, that an honor is being conferred upon them in
their being permitted to give. Nowhere else have I met with, in so large a
measure, this fine and Christ like spirit as in the city of Boston, although
there are many notable instances of it outside that city. I repeat my belief
that the world is growing in the direction of giving. I repeat that the main
rule by which I have been guided in collecting money is to do my full duty
in regard to giving people who have money an opportunity to help.
In the early years of the Tuskegee school I walked the streets or traveled
country roads in the North for days and days without receiving a dollar.
Often it has happened, when during the week I had been disappointed in not
getting a cent from the very individuals from whom I most expected help, and
when I was almost broken down and discouraged, that generous help has come
from some one who I had had little idea would give at all.
I recall that on one occasion I obtained information that led me to believe
that a gentleman who lived about two miles out in the country from Stamford,
Conn., might become interested in our efforts at Tuskegee if our conditions
and needs were presented to him. On an unusually cold and stormy day I
walked the two miles to see him. After some difficulty I succeeded in
securing an interview with him. He listened with some degree of interest to
what I had to say, but did not give me anything. I could not help having the
feeling that, in a measure, the three hours that I had spent in seeing him
had been thrown away. Still, I had followed my usual rule of doing my duty.
If I had not seen him, I should have felt unhappy over neglect of duty.
Two years after this visit a letter came to Tuskegee from this man, which
read like this: “Enclosed I send you a New York draft for ten thousand
dollars, to be used in furtherance of your work. I had placed this sum in my
will for your school, but deem it wiser to give it to you while I live. I
recall with pleasure your visit to me two years ago.”
I can hardly imagine any occurrence which could have given me more genuine
satisfaction than the receipt of this draft. It was by far the largest
single donation which up to that time the school had ever received. It came
at a time when an unusually long period had passed since we had received any
money. We were in great distress because of lack of funds, and the nervous
strain was tremendous. It is difficult for me to think of any situation that
is more trying on the nerves than that of conducting a large institution,
with heavy financial obligations to meet, without knowing where the money is
to come from to meet these obligations from month to month.
In our case I felt a double responsibility, and this made the anxiety all
the more intense. If the institution had been officered by white persons,
and had failed, it would have injured the cause of Negro education; but I
knew that the failure of our institution, officered by Negroes, would not
only mean the loss of a school, but would cause people, in a large degree,
to lose faith in the ability of the entire race. The receipt of this draft
for ten thousand dollars, under all these circumstances, partially lifted a
burden that had been pressing down upon me for days.
From the beginning of our work to the present I have always had the feeling,
and lose no opportunity to impress our teachers with the same idea, that the
school will always be supported in proportion as the inside of the
institution is kept clean and pure and wholesome.
The first time I ever saw the late Collis P. Huntington, the great railroad
man, he gave me two dollars for our school. The last time I saw him, which
was a few months before he died, he gave me fifty thousand dollars toward
our endowment fund. Between these two gifts there were others of generous
proportions which came every year from both Mr. and Mrs. Huntington.
Some people may say that it was Tuskegee’s good luck that brought to us
this gift of fifty thousand dollars. No, it was not luck. It was hard work.
Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard
work. When Mr. Huntington gave me the first two dollars, I did not blame him
for not giving me more, but made up my mind that I was going to convince him
by tangible results that we were worthy of larger gifts. For a dozen years I
made a strong effort to convince Mr. Huntington of the value of our work. I
noted that just in proportion as the usefulness of the school grew, his
donations increased. Never did I meet an individual who took a more kindly
and sympathetic interest in our school than did Mr. Huntington. He not only
gave money to us, but took time in which to advise me, as a father would a
son, about the general conduct of the school.
More than once I have found myself in some pretty tight places while
collecting money in the North. The following incident I have never related
but once before, for the reason that I feared that people would not believe
it. One morning I found myself in Providence, Rhode Island, without a cent
of money with which to buy breakfast. In crossing the street to see a lady
from whom I hoped to get some money, I found a bright new twenty-five-cent
piece in the middle of the street-car track. I not only had this twenty-five
cents for my breakfast, but within a few minutes I had a donation from the
lady on whom I had started to call.
At one of our Commencements I was bold enough to invite the Rev. E.
Winchester Donald, D.D., rector of Trinity Church, Boston, to preach the
Commencement sermon. As we then had no room large enough to accommodate all
who would be present, the place of meeting was under a large, improvised
arbor, built partly of brush and partly of rough boards. Soon after Dr.
Donald had begun speaking, the rain came down in torrents, and he had to
stop, while some one held an umbrella over him.
The boldness of what I had done never dawned upon me until I saw the picture
made by the rector of Trinity Church standing before that large audience
under an old umbrella, waiting for the rain to cease so that he could go on
with his address.
It was not very long before the rain ceased and Dr. Donald finished his
sermon; and an excellent sermon it was, too, in spite of the weather. After
he had gone to his room, and had gotten the wet threads of his clothes dry,
Dr. Donald ventured the remark that a large chapel at Tuskegee would not be
out of place.
The next day a letter came from two ladies who were then traveling in Italy,
saying that they had decided to give us the money for such a chapel as we
needed.
A short time ago we received twenty thousand dollars from Mr. Andrew
Carnegie, to be used for the purpose of erecting a new library building. Our
first library and reading-room were in a corner of a shanty, and the whole
thing occupied a space about five by twelve feet. It required ten years of
work before I was able to secure Mr. Carnegie’s interest and help. The
first time I saw him, ten years ago, he seemed to take but little interest
in our school, but I was determined to show him that we were worthy of his
help. After ten years of hard work I wrote him a letter reading as follows:
December 15, 1900 Mr. Andrew Carnegie, 5 W. Fifty-first St., New York
DEAR SIR:
Complying with the request which you made of me when I saw you at your
residence a few days ago, I now submit in writing an appeal for a library
building for our institution.
We have 1100 students, 86 officers and instructors, together with their
families, and about 200 colored people living near the school, all of whom
would make use of the library building.
We have over 12,000 books, periodicals, etc., gifts from our friends, but we
have no suitable place for them, and we have no suitable reading-room.
Our graduates go to work in every section of the South, and whatever
knowledge might be obtained in the library would serve to assist in the
elevation of the whole Negro race. Such a building as we need could be
erected for about $20,000. All of the work for the building, such as brick
making, brick-masonry, carpentry, blacksmithing etc., would be done by the
students. The money which you would give would not only supply the building,
but the erection of the building would give a large number of students an
opportunity to learn the building trades, and the students would use the
money paid to them to keep themselves in school. I do not believe that a
similar amount of money often could be made go so far in uplifting a whole
race.
If you wish further information, I shall be glad to furnish it.
Yours truly, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, Principal
The next mail brought back the following reply:
“I will be very glad to pay the bills for the library building as they are
incurred, to the extent of twenty thousand dollars, and I am glad of this
opportunity to show the interest I have in your noble work.”
I have found that strict business methods go a long way in securing the
interest of rich people. It has been my constant aim at Tuskegee to carry
out, in our financial and other operations, such business methods as would
be approved of by any New York banking house.
I have spoken of several large gifts to the school; but by far the greater
proportion of the money that has built up the institution has come in the
form of small donations from persons of moderate means. It is upon these
small gifts, which carry with them the interest of hundreds of donors, that
any philanthropic work must depend largely for its support. In my efforts to
get money I have often been surprised at the patience and deep interest of
the ministers, who are besieged on every hand and at all hours of the day
for help. If no other consideration had convinced me of the value of the
Christian life, the Christ like work which the Church of all denominations
in America has done during the last thirty-five years for the elevation of
the black man would have made me a Christian. In a large degree it has been
the pennies, the nickels, and the dimes which have come from the Sunday
schools, the Christian Endeavor societies, and the missionary societies, as
well as from the Church proper, that have helped to elevate the Negro at so
rapid a rate.
This speaking of small gifts reminds me to say that very few Tuskegee
graduates fail to send us an annual contribution. These contributions range
from twenty-five cents up to ten dollars.
Soon after beginning our third year’s work we were surprised to receive
money from three special sources, and up to the present time we have
continued to receive help from them. First, the State Legislature of Alabama
increased its annual appropriation from two thousand dollar to three
thousand dollars; I might add that still later it increased this sum to four
thousand five hundred dollars a year. The effort to secure this increase was
led by the Hon. M. F. Foster, the member of the Legislature from Tuskegee.
Second, we received one thousand dollars from the John F. Slater Fund. Our
work seemed to please the trustees of this Fund, as they soon began
increasing their annual grant. This has been added to from time to time
until at present we receive eleven thousand dollars annually from this Fund.
The other help to which I have referred came in the shape of an allowance
from the Peabody Fund. This was at first five hundred dollars, but it has
since been increased to fifteen hundred dollars.
The effort to secure help from the Slater and Peabody Funds brought me into
contact with two rare men- men who have had much to do in shaping the policy
for the education of the Negro. I refer to the Hon. J. L. M. Curry, of
Washington, who is the general agent for these two funds, and Mr. Morris K.
Jesup, of New York. Dr. Curry is a native of the South, an ex-Confederate
soldier, yet I do not believe there is any man in the country who is more
deeply interested in the highest welfare of the Negro than Dr. Curry, or one
who is more free from race prejudice. He enjoys the unique distinction of
possessing to an equal degree the confidence of the black man and the
Southern white man. I shall never forget the
first time I met him. It was in Richmond, Va., where he was then living. I
had heard much about him. When I first went into his presence, trembling
because of my youth and inexperience, he took me by the hand so cordially,
and spoke such encouraging words, and gave me such helpful advice regarding
the proper course to pursue, that I came to know him then, as I have known
him ever since, as a high example of one who is constantly and unselfishly
at work for the betterment of humanity.|
Mr. Morris K. Jesup, the treasurer of the Slater Fund, I refer to because I
know of no man of wealth and large and complicated business responsibilities
who gives not only money but his time and thought to the subject of the
proper method of elevating the Negro to the extent that is true of Mr. Jesup.
It is very largely through his effort and influence that during the last few
years the subject of industrial education has assumed the importance that it
has, and been placed on its present footing.