James M. Canty

James Munroe Canty[lower-alpha 1] (December 23, 1865 – February 16, 1964) was an American educator, school administrator, and businessperson. Canty was an acting principal of the West Virginia Colored Institute (present-day West Virginia State University) in 1898, and is considered by West Virginia State as an acting president.[lower-alpha 2] Canty also served as the Superintendent of Mechanical Industries for West Virginia Colored Institute from 1893 through 1914.

For the American musician, see James Canty.

James Munroe Canty
Photographic portrait of Canty, published in 1906
Acting President of
West Virginia State University
In office
1898
Preceded byJohn H. Hill
Succeeded byJames McHenry Jones
Superintendent of Mechanical Industries at West Virginia State University
In office
1893–1914
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAlbert C. Spurlock
Personal details
Born(1865-12-23)December 23, 1865
Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
DiedFebruary 16, 1964(1964-02-16) (aged 98)
Institute, West Virginia, U.S.
Resting placeInstitute Cemetery
Spouse(s)Sarah J. Harris Canty
Florence Lovett Canty
Children8
ResidenceCanty House
Alma materTuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute
ProfessionEducator, school administrator, and businessperson

Canty was born in 1865[lower-alpha 3] in Marietta, Georgia to former slaves. He attended public school from an early age, and worked numerous trades with his father, including as a carpenter, butcher, ironworker, and farmer. Following a friend's recommendation, Canty began attending Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in 1886 and graduated from the institute in 1890. After graduation, Canty served as the institute's commandant and head of its night school. When he returned to Marietta, he applied his trade in machinery at a carriage shop. After a year in Marietta, Canty received a letter from Booker T. Washington requesting that he write to James Edwin Campbell, principal of the West Virginia Colored Institute in Farm, West Virginia (present-day Institute, West Virginia). He was hired as the superintendent of mechanics at the West Virginia Colored Institute, and commenced his tenure there in 1893. That year, he established a drill team, which evolved to become the institute's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) unit. In the summer of 1898, Canty served as the institute's acting principal.

Later in life, Canty served as first vice president and as a director of the Mutual Savings and Loan Company in Charleston, which was the city's African-American bank. As an officer and director of Mutual Savings and Loan, Canty co-founded two companies to develop trading routes and relationships with Haiti, Africa, and British Guiana in 1922: the Overseas Navigation Corporation and the Overseas Trading Company. In 1950, West Virginia State College's ROTC unit honored Canty for his involvement in the college's military training corps program. Following an extended illness, Canty died at his residence in Institute in 1964 at the age of 98. His residence, Canty House, is located on West Virginia State University's campus and currently houses the university's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

James Munroe Canty[lower-alpha 1] was born on December 23, 1865,[lower-alpha 3] in Marietta, Georgia.[3][2] His parents, James Munroe Canty Sr. and Adella Canty, were former slaves,[3][2] and Canty was the eldest child of two sons and three daughters.[2] He attended public school from an early age, and worked with his father, who was a carpenter, butcher, and ironworker.[2][6] Canty's father also ran for election for a seat in the Georgia General Assembly, but lost by a few votes.[7] From the age of 16, Canty worked as the principal butcher at his father's meat market.[2] After his father became the custodian of streets in Marietta, Canty worked as a street laborer.[2] When his father took up farming, Canty again followed suit and assisted him on the farm.[8]

After continuing to follow his father into one trade after another, Canty joined other young men in attending night school for his self-improvement.[9] He began working in a carriage factory, at which time, he received a newspaper from a female student of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute with an article on the institute's campus, faculty, and students.[6][9] This female student contacted Booker T. Washington on Canty's behalf, and informed Canty that if he relocated to the institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, Washington would enable him to attend the institute.[9] Canty's father was opposed to his attendance of Tuskegee, and advised him to remain in night school in Marietta.[6][9] Despite his father's opposition, Canty relocated to Tuskegee to attend the institute in March 1886.[6][10]

Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute
Booker T. Washington

Canty matriculated into Tuskegee's night school to earn his tuition and expenses for day school, and he was assigned to the institute's blacksmith shop.[11] In total, Canty was a student at Tuskegee for five years.[12] While attending Tuskegee, Canty was influenced by Margaret Murray Washington's positive engagement with students,[13] and by the encouragement he received from the school's superintendent of industries, John H. Washington.[14] Prior to his graduation from Tuskegee, Booker T. Washington hired Canty as an instructor for the institute's night school and blacksmithing shop.[15] He graduated from the institute on May 29, 1890.[5][6][16] At his commencement ceremony, Canty delivered a speech entitled, "The True Leader."[16] In its coverage of the commencement, the Montgomery Advertiser described Canty as "a first class blacksmith."[16]

Following graduation, Canty was also hired as the institute's commandant and head of the institute's night school for a year.[17] As the institute's commandant, Canty received the title of "Colonel" as head of the institute's military corps of students.[5] He resigned his positions at Tuskegee in order to pursue a more lucrative position in the mercantile business.[18]

Machinery career

Canty returned to Marietta and applied his trade at a carriage shop where machine work was done for two furniture factories and a planing mill.[19] Canty repaired the shop's machinery and produced custom machine components for factories.[19] While he was in Marietta, Canty served as the superintendent of Sunday school at a local church on his father's farm.[19] He then co-founded a literary society and served as its president.[20]

West Virginia Colored Institute
From top to bottom: Exterior and interior views of the Machinery Hall in 1898, and exterior view of the building in 1910 following its expansion into the A. B. White Trades Building

After a year in Marietta, Canty received a letter from Booker T. Washington requesting that he write to James Edwin Campbell, principal of the West Virginia Colored Institute in Farm, West Virginia (present-day Institute, West Virginia).[20] Campbell had written Washington seeking a Tuskegee graduate to serve as superintendent of mechanics at the institute,[20] and Washington recommended Canty for this position.[5][21] Canty accepted, and commenced his duties as the superintendent of mechanics at the institute on January 3, 1893.[5][20][21] He was the third teacher to join the institute's faculty.[5][21] West Virginia Colored Institute had been founded in 1891 under the Morrill Act of 1890, to provide West Virginia's African Americans with education in agricultural and mechanical studies.[22][23]

From his arrival in 1893 until the fall of 1898, Canty carried out the school's industrial work and education without assistance.[24] As superintendent of mechanical industries, he taught blacksmithing, carpentry, and mechanical drawing.[24] In addition to teaching, Canty was also in charge of campus maintenance, and installed the institute's sewerage system and heating systems in its buildings.[24] In his first year, Canty established a drill team at the institute because "he felt that the boys needed discipline."[21] Canty only had one rifle for the drill team, so he made the students carve their own rifles out of wood.[21] In 1894, Canty also taught in the institute's literary department.[24]

In the early summer of 1898, the institute's principal John H. Hill resigned to accept a commission as a first lieutenant in the United States Volunteers.[24] Following Hill's resignation, the institute's Board of Regents named Canty as the acting principal.[lower-alpha 2][5][24] While acting principal, Canty established the institute's first military training corps for students, which emphasized physical fitness and sports as major parts of its program.[5] Following the onset of the Spanish–American War, the state appropriated funds for uniforms and Krag–Jørgensen rifles for the training corps.[21] The training corps later became the school's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) unit.[21] Canty served as acting principal until the board's selection of James McHenry Jones as principal on September 21, 1898.[5][24]

Canty's department of mechanical industries was located in the institute's Machinery Hall. The Machinery Hall was expanded in 1903 and rededicated in 1904 as the A. B. White Trades Building, named for West Virginia Governor Albert B. White.[25][26] The trades building expansion cost $35,000 to complete.[25][27] Canty planned and supervised the building's construction.[28]

By 1905, Canty's work at the institute consisted of superintending the school's mechanical industries and teaching mechanical drawing.[24] When Canty arrived at the institute in 1893, the school had three instructors and 30 students, and by 1905, the institute had grown to 18 teachers and 187 students.[24] In that time, Canty's department had grown to include instruction in blacksmithing, carpentry, masonry, mechanical drawing, plastering, printing, and wheelwrighting.[29] Canty was the only instructor in the mechanical industries department when he arrived in 1893, and by 1906, his department had ten employees, seven of whom were under his supervision.[28][30] Canty was credited with building up the institute's mechanical industries program.[30]

In 1907, Canty organized and helped set up the West Virginia Colored Institute's industrial and student display as part of the West Virginia exhibit at the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia.[5] Canty resigned as superintendent of mechanical industries at West Virginia Colored Institute in 1914, and was succeeded in this position by Albert C. Spurlock.[31][32] Canty continued to serve on the institute's faculty until his retirement in 1948.[21] That year, Canty arranged for the construction of West Virginia State College's military training corps rifle range.[21]

Business pursuits

Canty served as the first vice president and as a director of the Mutual Savings and Loan Company in Charleston, which was the city's African-American bank established on July 10, 1918.[33][34][35] Canty and his fellow co-founders organized Mutual Savings and Loan in 1918 to serve the banking needs of and provide home loans for Charleston's African-American community.[35] At the company's first annual meeting of stockholders in January 1919, Canty was elected first vice president.[33]

As an officer and director of Mutual Savings and Loan, Canty co-founded two companies to develop trading routes and relationships with Haiti, Africa, and British Guiana in 1922: the Overseas Navigation Corporation and the Overseas Trading Company.[36][37][38] Canty served as the treasurer for both companies.[36] The headquarters offices of both companies were located at 80 Wall Street in New York's Financial District.[36][37][38] Canty was joined in these ventures by Charles E. Mitchell (President of Mutual Savings and Loan), Anthony Crawford, and Beresford Gale, among others.[36][37][38] The Overseas Trading Company purchased its first ship from the United States Shipping Board and renamed it Anna May.[37] The business for both companies was transacted through and underwritten by African-American banks.[36]

Later life and death

In 1945, Canty participated in an initiative to raise $30,000 for the construction of a permanent YMCA location in Charleston by serving as a fundraising captain in Institute.[39] In May 1950, Canty's former department, then known as the Trade and Technical Division of West Virginia State College, held a banquet in honor of Canty and other emeritus instructors of mechanical industries.[32] In September 1950, West Virginia State's ROTC unit honored Canty in a special ceremony for his involvement with the college's military training corps program.[5][21] In August 1961, Canty had cataract surgery at Shepherd Hospital in Charleston.[40] Following an extended illness, Canty died at his residence in Institute on February 16, 1964.[3][5] Canty died of lobar pneumonia while suffering from prostate cancer.[3] He was survived by three of his daughters—Portia C. Dansby, Marcia C. Hammonds, and Grace C. Mitchell—and six grandchildren.[5]

Personal life

Marriage and family

Canty married his first wife and former Tuskegee classmate and graduate, Sarah J. Harris, in 1891.[17] Harris died at the Institute on August 20, 1894 at the age of 26.[17][41] Canty credited Harris with his conversion to Christianity while a student at Tuskegee.[17] Canty and Harris had three children together, including their daughter Portia.[19] Canty's father died in the autumn of 1895, after which, Canty continued to care for his mother who remained in Marietta.[2]

On March 3, 1897 in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, Canty married Florence Lovett.[19][42] Lovett was born on April 11, 1866 in Winchester, Virginia, and was a graduate of Storer College in Harpers Ferry.[19][43] Canty and Lovett had five children together.[19] Lovett died on October 20, 1963, at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, four months before Canty's death in 1964.[5][43]

Residences
Canty House
Main article: Canty House

By 1905, Canty owned a farm consisting of 100 acres (40 ha) within 0.125 miles (0.201 km) of the institute's campus.[25] Canty's home in Institute, known variously as the Canty House or "The Magnolia," was originally built around 1900 and renovated in 1923 by Canty and his wife Florence Lovett Canty into the current neoclassical structure.[44][45] Following Canty's death in 1964, the house was purchased by West Virginia State College and became the only example of Neoclassical architecture on its campus.[44][46] The house has been relocated three times, and served as an office building and the campus health clinic before becoming the site of the West Virginia State University Athletic Hall of Fame.[44][47] The Canty House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 23, 1988.[44]

Personal interests

Canty was a Congregationalist as a Sunday school superintendent and teacher at his church.[5] Canty was also active in civic affairs, and served as an officer in the Institute Community Club and a member of Institute's El Cubo Club.[5]

Legacy

In his 1905 autobiographical sketch, Canty stated, "Whatever my accomplishments may be, the credit is due to Tuskegee."[25] He further emphasized, "I do not wish in life to be regarded as a man of chance possibilities, but rather as one who has consistently persevered in all of his struggles."[25]

gollark: In the literal sense, yes.
gollark: Every topic is equally political, but some topics are more equal than others.
gollark: You mean the politics discord.
gollark: Now I can take these out of context and ruin your political career!
gollark: Er, wait, no, I'll react with triangularity symbols.

References

Explanatory notes
  1. Canty's 1964 death certificate and obituary in Charleston Daily Mail list the spelling of his middle name as "Munroe,"[3][5] however, his gravestone at Institute Cemetery spells his middle name as "Monroe."[4]
  2. West Virginia State University was founded as the West Virginia Colored Institute in 1891, and was later known as West Virginia Collegiate Institute (1915), West Virginia State College (1929), and finally West Virginia State University (2004). Canty was titled acting principal during his tenure; however, West Virginia State University considers previous principals as its presidents.[1]
  3. In his 1905 autobiographical sketch in Tuskegee and Its People: Their Ideals and Achievements, Canty lists his birthdate as December 23, 1863;[2] however, his gravestone at Institute Cemetery and his death certificate list his birthdate as December 23, 1865.[3][4] The 1865 birthdate aligns with Canty's obituary in Charleston Daily Mail which listed his age at death as 98.[5]

Citations
  1. "Office of the President: Past Presidents". West Virginia State University. 2020. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  2. Canty 1905, p. 299.
  3. "Death Record Detail: James Munroe Canty". West Virginia Archives and History, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. 2019. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  4. "James Monroe Canty". Find a Grave. 2020. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  5. "Pioneer W.Va. Educator Dies". Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, West Virginia. February 17, 1964. p. 5. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Living Examples of Tuskegee's Influence". The New York Age. New York. February 9, 1905. p. 2. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Canty 1905, p. 301.
  8. Canty 1905, pp. 299–300.
  9. Canty 1905, p. 300.
  10. Canty 1905, pp. 301–302.
  11. Canty 1905, pp. 303–304.
  12. Canty 1905, p. 304.
  13. Canty 1905, p. 308.
  14. Canty 1905, p. 309.
  15. Canty 1905, p. 311.
  16. "Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers Closes with Commencement Exercises". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. May 30, 1890. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Canty 1905, p. 312.
  18. Canty 1905, pp. 312–313.
  19. Canty 1905, p. 313.
  20. Canty 1905, p. 314.
  21. "ROTC Honors James Canty At Institute". The Charleston Gazette. Charleston, West Virginia. September 17, 1950. p. 13. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  22. "Our History Runs Deep". West Virginia State University. 2020. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  23. Jones 1904, p. 285.
  24. Canty 1905, p. 315.
  25. Canty 1905, p. 316.
  26. "White Trades Building - Campus Buildings and Artifacts, WVSU Archives & Special Collections". West Virginia State University. 2020. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  27. Jones 1904, p. 286.
  28. Alexander 1906, p. 98.
  29. Canty 1905, pp. 315–316.
  30. Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 1906, p. 33.
  31. Prillerman 1914, p. 6.
  32. "Retired Profs To Be Honored". Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, West Virginia. May 3, 1950. p. 20. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  33. "Officers Are Elected". Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, West Virginia. January 7, 1919. p. 10. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  34. "Mutual Savings and Loan Company Advertisement". Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, West Virginia. June 4, 1939. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  35. "Mutual Has Fine Record". Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, West Virginia. June 4, 1939. p. 10. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  36. "Negro Bankers Organize". The New York Times. New York. September 19, 1922. p. 27. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. Associated Negro Press (September 16, 1922). "New Trading Company Formed in New York". The Dallas Express. Dallas, Texas. p. 8. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. "Negro Expedition Ready to Sail for Diamond Field". The Brooklyn Standard Union. Brooklyn. August 20, 1922. p. 15. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. "$30,000 Solicited For YMCA Branch". The Charleston Gazette. Charleston, West Virginia. March 11, 1945. p. 15. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  40. "Of All Things". Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, West Virginia. August 26, 1961. p. 8. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  41. "Death Record Detail: Sarah E. Canty". West Virginia Archives and History, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. 2019. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  42. "Marriage Record Detail: James Monroe Canty and Florence Lovett". West Virginia Archives and History, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. 2019. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  43. "Death Record Detail: Florence Lovette Canty". West Virginia Archives and History, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. 2019. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  44. "Canty House - Campus Building and Artifacts, & WVSU Archives & Special Collections". West Virginia State University. 2020. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  45. Bickley 1988, pp. 1–2 of the PDF.
  46. Bickley 1988, p. 2 of the PDF.
  47. Bickley 1988, pp. 2–3 of the PDF.

Bibliography
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