William H. McAlpine facts for kids

William H. McAlpine (born June 1847 – died November 3, 1905) was an important Baptist minister and teacher in Alabama. He helped start Selma University and was its second president. He was also a key leader in the Baptist church, helping to create and lead the Baptist Foreign Mission Convention. Later in his life, he taught at Selma University as the Dean of its Theology Department.

Growing Up in Tough Times

William H. McAlpine was born in June 1847 in Buckingham County, Virginia. At that time, he was born into slavery. When he was about three years old, he, his mother, and his younger brother were sold to Robert McAlpine in Coosa County, Alabama. William never knew his father.

In 1855, Robert McAlpine died. William was then separated from his mother and moved to Talladega County, Alabama. He would not see his mother again until 1874. His new owner, Augustus McAlpine, was a doctor. William stayed with this family until the American Civil War ended in 1865. As a child, William worked as a nurse for his owner. This job kept him close to the house. Because of this, he was able to get a basic education. He learned to read and write alongside the white children who were taught at home.

Becoming a Community Leader

In 1864, William became a Baptist and joined a church in Talladega. After the war, in 1866, he was finally a free man. He started working as a carpenter and also began studying at Talladega College. He worked evenings and weekends to pay for his education. He had to leave school in 1874, just six months before he would have finished.

In 1868, he attended his first meeting of the Colored Baptist Missionary Society of Alabama. He continued to go to these meetings. In 1869, he was allowed to preach. By 1871, he became the pastor of a Black church in Talladega. He helped this church build its very first building. After that, he became a pastor at a church in Jacksonville, Alabama. He also taught in public schools there. William helped create several Baptist groups in North Alabama.

Building a New University

In November 1873, a meeting of the State Colored Baptist Missionary convention took place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. At this meeting, McAlpine suggested starting a university. This idea later led to the creation of Selma University. Some white leaders suggested that the Black Baptists should give their money to them. They thought it would be better if the white leaders managed the university project.

However, McAlpine convinced the convention that they should build the school themselves. He believed they could do it. In 1874, at a meeting in Mobile, Alabama, McAlpine was chosen to travel around the state. His job was to raise money for the new school. He was chosen again for this important task in 1875.

In 1874, a group of leaders was chosen to oversee the school. This group included McAlpine, Holland Thompson, Henry J. Europe, Charles Octavia Boothe, and Alexander Butler. In 1877, William took charge of the Marion Baptist church. He also traveled the state again to raise more money. His efforts to raise funds were very successful.

Later that year, the State convention met in Eufaula, Alabama. They decided to buy the old Fair Grounds in Selma, Alabama for the school's location. In 1881, McAlpine was chosen to be the president of the new university, which became Selma University. He served as president for two years. He then stepped down, believing that someone with more academic experience should lead the school. He returned to the Marion Baptist church. Rev. Edward M. Brawley became the next president.

Spreading the Word

In 1878, William was chosen to be the editor of a newspaper called The Baptist Pioneer. He held this job until 1882. Edward Brawley also took over this role after him. In 1880, McAlpine helped organize the first Baptist Foreign Mission Convention. This meeting happened in Montgomery, Alabama. He was elected president and served for two terms.

Around 1882, he became a member of the Board of Trustees for Lincoln Normal University in Marion, Alabama. He was the only Black member on that board. In 1895, as a member of the Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, McAlpine was part of a special committee. This committee worked to unite different Baptist groups. He worked with other leaders like Albert W. Pegues and Andrew J. Stokes to bring everyone together.

Later Life and Family

William H. McAlpine was highly respected by many people. He was a close friend of Booker T. Washington, who founded Tuskegee Institute. In 1899, McAlpine became the pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery. He also served as the Dean of the Theology Department at Selma University later in his life.

In 1905, he attended the National Baptist Convention in Chicago. Soon after returning home, he sadly passed away on November 3, 1905, from malaria.

William McAlpine had a daughter named Ethel. Ethel became a high school principal and also taught at Selma University. She married Nathaniel D. Walker, who was a well-known doctor. Ethel and Nathaniel Walker had a daughter named Eunice Walker. Eunice Walker became a very successful executive at Johnson Publishing Company. She also founded the famous magazines Ebony and Jet.