Annual Catalogue, Mary Holmes Seminary, West Point, MS (1925)

Cover of the annual catalogue for Mary Holmes Seminary in West Point, Mississippi from 1925-26. The blue cover has a large blue ink stain on the top half.

In 1892, Mary Holmes Seminary was built in Jackson, Mississippi, as the “only institution in the State for the separate education of colored women.” The school, which was established by the Board of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, was named for the wife of Reverend Mead Holmes, a preacher from Rockford, Ill. After three years in Jackson, the school was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in West Point, Mississippi. After another devastating fire four years later, the school reopened in 1900 to educate African American women.

The purpose of the school was to educate and train African American women from all over the country with most attendees from Mississippi. “It is the aim of the Mary Holmes Seminary to educate her pupils physically, mentally, morally and spiritually; to train them first to be home-makers, then to be wise leaders in society and the church.”

The Annual Catalogue of Mary Holmes Seminary provides all of the information necessary for students attending the school. General regulations for the school include proper student attitude (“Pupils are expected to render prompt and cheerful obedience to all rules and requirements of the school”), religious expectations (“Attendance on all the religious exercises is required of all students”), what to bring to school (“...a comb, a hair brush, tooth brush, needles, thimble, pins, a teaspoon, overshoes and a raincoat”), and guidelines regarding correspondence (“All correspondence with gentlemen, except parents and brothers, is strictly forbidden”). Swatches of fabrics recommended for daily wear were included in the pamphlet to provide students with examples of clothing for the school. These included samples for worsted skirt and coat and working skirt and waist.

Page from the catalogue that shows fabric samples to be worn for worsted skirt and coat, working skirts, white waist, and working waist. The samples are accompanied by the following text: These uniforms are compulsory, with the exception of the hat. They can be made in the dressmaking department, under the direction of the teacher, and the materials can be purchased here, or these suits may be provided for at home before the student enters. Parents are specially requested not to provide expensive articles of dress. Silks and expensive hats will not be worn by students. The aim of the school is to discourage all extravagance on the part of pupils, and to avoid all unnecessary expense to the parents. Heavy shoes and rubbers are needed by each student. Every article should be distinctly marked with the owners name and a list of the articles brought should be recorded.

The pamphlet also highlights information pertaining to the curriculum and schooling. The course of study is provided in detail for every term with additional information about the study of Domestic Economy and Domestic Science. The expenses for a year of schooling are presented in detail with the admission fee at $4.00 and room and board at $13.00. A list of all current students and graduates are located in the rear of the publication with photographs scattered throughout. For those who may want to apply to the school, an application is included in the rear of the volume.

A students application to become a member of Mary Holmes Seminary in West Point, Mississippi. It includes the following fields: Name in full, P.O. Address, Age of applican not, What is your church denomination? Are you a member of the church? Give the name and address of your pastor. What schools have you attended? State in general terms the stage of your progress in studies. Will your expenses be paid promptly? Who will pay your expenses? At what time will you be ready to enter school? Will you cheerfully obey all rules of the school? Testimonials are required from pastor and teachers, and also a health certificate from family physician.

To view The Catalogue of Mary Holmes Seminary, visit the 3rd floor of McCain Library and Archives. The call is MISS LC2853 .W47M37 1925-26. It can also be viewed online.

For more information or questions, contact Jennifer Brannock at or 601.266.4347. To see more Items of the Month, click here.

Text by Jennifer Brannock, Curator of Rare Books & Mississippiana