Thomas E. Miller

A hall on the campus of South Carolina State University named after him? An educator, lawyer and politician? It has to be none other the Thomas Ezekiel Miller. Born June 17th, 1849 in Ferrebeeville, S.C. Miller was born too an unmarried white couple, but rumor has it that he was raised by a black couple in Charleston. His light skin complexion caused speculation about whether or not he was black or white. He could have passed for a white person, but he identified himself as black. He attended South Carolina College (now know was University of South Carolina) and graduated in 1875.

(Thomas E. Miller)

Fast forward years later, Miller was an active politician as served as a member of the republican party as he represented Beaufort in the South Carolina house and then the senate from 1847 to 1882. He praised rural black southerners for their progress they had made since the emancipation. He condemned southern white Democrats for their undemocratic efforts to deny black men the suffrage. "It is not the fear of Negro supremacy in the south that causes southern election officers to suppresses the Negro vote, but it is the fear of the rule of majority regardless of race." 

Fast forward to September 30th, 1896, Miller who was the first President of Colored Normal Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina, and his his 11 faculty members welcomed students to the school. The 8-acres campus and 11-acre farm was home to the first students.Today known as South Carolina State University  it was a primary and secondary vocational training school modeled on Hampton and Tuskegee. Miller was the longest serving President of SCSU from 1911-1937.

(Old hall located on Normal Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina)

A building located on SCSU campus is called Miller Hall. This building is named after Thomas E. Miller. It was built in 1938 in his honor. Miller Hall is one of the 1st buildings that wasn't named after board members making it distinct. It has also been stated that Miller Hall was built by students. 

(Old picture of Miller Hall)