James Dallas Burrus facts for kids
James Dallas Burrus (born October 14, 1846 – died December 5, 1928) was an American teacher, pharmacist, and philanthropist from Tennessee. A philanthropist is someone who gives money and time to help others.
James and his brother were among the first three students to graduate from Fisk University. This was a big deal because they were the first African Americans to earn a college degree from a liberal arts school in the Southern United States. After getting a higher degree in mathematics from Dartmouth College, Burrus became the first math professor at Fisk University. He later taught at Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College in Mississippi.
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Early Life
James Dallas Burrus was born into slavery in 1846 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. His parents were William C. J. Burrus and Nancy Burrus. Nancy was an enslaved woman. They had three sons: James Dallas, John Houston Burrus, and Preston Robert Burrus.
William C. J. Burrus (WCJ Burrus) was a white plantation owner, lawyer, and politician. He bought Nancy at a slave auction in Nashville. Nancy had a mixed background, including American Indian roots.
WCJ Burrus died in 1859, just before the Civil War began. In his will, he wanted Nancy and their sons to inherit his property. However, the courts in Rutherford County did not allow this because Nancy and the boys were enslaved. Instead, they became the property of a relative by marriage, a nephew of WCJ Burrus's sister.
Path to Freedom
After a relative named Colonel James Camp Tappan inherited Nancy and her three sons, he took them with him during his service in the Confederate Army. Nancy worked as a cook, and the sons helped officers. Tappan fought in different states like Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. By 1865, when the Civil War ended, the Burrus family was in Marshall, Texas.
President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation set the family free. They traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana, then to New Orleans, and finally to Memphis, Tennessee. In Memphis, James and John found work. Soon after, the family moved to Nashville. In Nashville, James and John worked as wait staff in hotels and saved money for college.
Education and Learning
To earn more money, James Burrus started teaching in schools in Goodlettsville, Tennessee and Arkansas. In 1867, James and his brother John joined the first class at Fisk University. They studied many subjects, with James focusing on mathematics and John on Greek. They needed extra classes to prepare for college.
In 1875, James Burrus, John Houston Burrus, Virginia Eliza Walker, and America W. Robinson became the first graduates of Fisk University. They were the first African Americans to earn a bachelor's degree from a liberal arts college in the Southern United States.
The teachers at Fisk saw James's talent. They encouraged him to continue his studies in mathematics. America Robinson, one of his classmates, loaned him money to attend graduate school. In 1877, he enrolled at Dartmouth College to study mathematics. In 1879, he earned a Master of Arts degree in mathematics. This was the first time an African American received a master's degree in the United States.
A Career in Teaching
In May 1881, James Burrus became the first professor of mathematics at Fisk University. In 1882, he also started teaching mathematics at Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College in Mississippi. He also managed the college's farm there.
Giving Back
Throughout his life, James Burrus was a generous supporter of Fisk University. Starting around 1915, he gave property worth $7,000 to the university. In 1915, he donated $600. In 1917, James and his brother Preston gave $112 to Fisk's Endowment Fund. The two brothers also gave an 85-acre farm to the school in 1922.
In 1926, when Fisk University needed money to pay off a debt, the Burrus brothers donated $1,000. When James Burrus died in 1928, his will stated that his entire estate should go to Fisk University. At the time of his death, his estate included 85 houses, and stocks and bonds, worth over $120,000.
Later Life and Legacy
His Final Years
In 1928, James Burrus died on a streetcar in Nashville, Tennessee. The cause of death was listed as heart problems and old age. He was working as a druggist and was single when he passed away.
Lasting Impact
Burrus left $100,000 to Fisk University. The news of his death and his amazing gift was reported on the front pages of newspapers across the country.
Awards and Honors
- Burrus Hall at Fisk University was built using money from his will.
- Burrus Elementary School in Houston, Texas was named in his honor.
- Burrus Hall, a dormitory for female students, is on the campus of Alcorn State University.
