The Birth of Garnet and Blue: Thomas E. Miller, SC State's First President

There's a first for everything, including the illustrious South Carolina State University. By uprooting the school's oldest records we have discovered who paved the stepping stones as the university's first President. Meet Thomas E. Miller.

Born in 1849, in Ferrebeeville, South Carolina, Thomas Ezekiel Miller was the first President of the illustrious South Carolina State University. Addressing this era, the college previously known as: the Colored, Normal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina.

Growing up, Miller faced several controversies regarding his upbringing and racial background. Due to his extremely fair skin complexion he was not always perceived as African American like he claimed. Even though Miller was raised by a black couple, some sources suggest he conceived from a mixed couple. Wikipedia states, "The historians Eric Foner and Srephen Middleton found that his mother was a fair-skinned mulatto daughter of Judge Thomas Heyward Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence."

Thomas E. Miller - Google.com

Around this time the Civil War was at its peak, allotting Thomas to work on the railroads of Charleston and Savannah. Soon after, the confederacy what take over the railroads forcing him to become a confederate soldier. Post war, Miller strived to advance in his education. He initially graduated from Pennsylvania Lincoln University in 1872.

Miller would later receive some law related education from what is known today as the University of South Carolina. Proving to be skilled in the political realm, Miller became active in Republican politics. He would go on to represent Beaufort in both the House and Senate in 1874-1882.

After losing several elections in the 1890s, Miller would finally be elected to represent Beaufort, SC in the state constitutional convention. His main focus was to defend the right of black men to continue to participate in the political system. He often theorized that black did not want political or social dominance but rather a voice in who makes and administers laws.

Miller struggled to preserve the right to vote, however he succeeded in convincing delegates to create a land grant college under the authority of black people. Twenty-three years prior South Carolina's reconstruction fixated an agricultural and mechanical college that was attached to Claflin University.

Original SC State from 1896 - scsu.edu

Senator Tillman quickly moved to detach the institution from Claflin by making provisions at the Constitutional Convention of 1896. On September 30, 1896 Thomas Miller along with other faculty members opened the doors of the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina.

SC State was a primary/ secondary vocational school, and could not offer a bachelor's degree until 1925. The curriculum was initially modeled on that of Hampton and Tuskegee. The school focused on agricultural and political advancement and Miller would soon become Professor of Agriculture before president.

Miller died on April 8, 1938 in Charleston South Carolina. His gravesite is located in Brotherly Association Cemetery. Some up close shots were provided on the Find A Grave website .