On Sept. 18, 1901, classes began for the first time at Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute.

E.L. Stephens, then 30 years old, headed the school. He’d been hired away from Boys’ High School in New Orleans (later renamed Warren Easton) for the princely sum of $208 a month. He was also required to teach mathematics.

The other original paid faculty members included Victor Leander Roy, science; Ashby Woodson, manual training; Gertrude Mayfield, domestic science; Beverly Randolph, drawing and gymnastics; Edith Garland Dupré, English and French; L.W. Mayer, stenography; and Mrs. Elizabeth F. Baker, matron of the girls’ dormitory.

Florent Sontang, was the music teacher but had no salary. He gave vocal lessons to the whole school free, in order to have the clientele of the school for private lessons in instrumental music.

The two male teachers had an annual salary of $1,000. The four women were paid $600 a year.

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Jim Bradshaw
jbradshaw@theadvertiser.com