Stephens, Edwin Lewis, president of the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, has been for nearly 25 years identified with the educational activities of the state. He was born in Natchitoches parish, Nov. 27, 1872; the son of Joseph Henry, and Isabella (Whitfield) Stephens, both of whom still live in Natchitoches.

He received his primary education under the supervision of Prof. William C. Jack, head of a private school in Natchitoches; was a student at Keatchie college, De Soto parish, from 1883 to 1888. Thence entering the Louisiana State university at Baton Rouge, he was graduated from that institution with the degree of bachelor of arts, in 1892.

Taking advantage of his vacations, Mr. Stephens learned telegraphy and worked as operator for the Texas & Pacific and the Iowa Central railroad companies. He also taught in parish public schools. In 1892 he was appointed by Col. Thomas D. Boyd, then president of the State Normal school, Natchitoches, La., as teacher of Latin and sciences in that institution.

In 1896 he was appointed to the Helen Miller Gould scholarship in the school of pedagogy, New York university, where he was graduated with the degree of Pd. M., in 1897, and again with the degree of Pd. D., in 1899. In Oct., 1899, he occupied the chair of chemistry and physics at the Boys' high school, New Orleans, until Jan., 1900, when he was elected 1st president of the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial institute at Lafayette.

In order to start the new educational establishment with the best equipment and most approved buildings, Dr. Sephens accompanied by an Architect, visited schools in various parts of the United States, and on his return to Louisiana occupied himself for several months in superintending the construction of modern buildings for the institute, which began its sessions Sept. 15, 1901.

Dr. Stephens has been president of the Louisiana State Public School Teachers' association which he helped to organize in 1892. Under Dr. Stephens' administration, the Southwestern Industrial institute is steadily coming to the front as one of the leading educational institutions of Louisiana. It began with 100 students and 8 instructors. At the present time the number of pupils is 350, the faculty is more than 20 in number, there are 9 buildings, the equipment has been brought up to date, and the curriculum has been greatly improved and extended.

Dr. Stephens was editor, from 1905 to 1908, of the Louisiana School Review. He was married, July 14,1902, to Miss Beverly Randolph, of New Orleans, daughter of John Frazier, and Emma (Parham) Randolph. Three daughters were born of their union: Beverly Randolph, Jr., Caroline Parham, and Mary Margaret Stephens.


Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 417-418. Edited by Alc‚e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association