Let's Get to Know Thomas E. Miller

Thomas E. Miller

You ever wondered who Miller Hall was named after of?

Thomas E. Miller, the first president of the Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina (now South Carolina State University).

Born in 1849 in Ferrebeeville, SC. Although Miller had a very fair complexion, he identified as black. Rumor has it he was born to an unmarried couple but was raised by a black couple in Charleston. He attended schools in Charleston for free black children.

Miller was active in Republican politics. He represented Beaufort in the SC house and senate from 1874 to 1882. He briefly served in U.S. Congress in 1890, after a prolonged dispute involving the 1888 election. Miller was also a lawyer.

In 1896, Miller became the president of the Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College of SC.

Even though Miller was president, he was not the free leader of the black institution. Major and several minor decisions were made by the all-white board of trustees.

According to the university’s archivist, Avery Daniels, Miller was forced out as the school’s president. “He kind of went against the governor at the time dealing with the elections,” said Daniels.

Coleman L. Blease

The governor at the time, Coleman L. Blease, was the most driven opponent against black people. He believed the education of black youth was a waste of money.

“Instead of making an educated Negro, you are ruining a good plow hand and making a half-trained fool,” said Blease.

In 1902, the legislature elected Blease to serve a six-year term on the college board of trustees, before becoming governor after three attempts.

Miller violated his own advice that black men steer clear of politics when he publicly opposed Blease. After winning the election, one of Blease first acts was to appear at a board of trustees meeting to demand Miller’s resignation for ‘pernicious political activity.’

“I am guilty of having begged the voters not to vote for you,” said Miller, in reference to Blease. He was almost eagerly accommodated the governor announcing that principle took precedence over presidency.  

Before ending his 15-year tenure as the college president, he spoke to Blease directly and stated, “Honored Sir, I have never slandered you for there was no malice in my opposition to you. I felt your announced policy against the Negro was not founded upon justice and the best interest of the state, and for that reason I tried to bring about your defeat.”

After leaving the university, Miller returned to Charleston and took can active role in community affairs.

Miller died on April 8, 1938. He summed up his legacy with the state he had engraved on his tombstone, “I served God and all the people loving the white man not less, but the Negro needed me most.

Photo taken by: Mr. Harwood

This story is part of a three-part series, read the other stories; What Happened to Miller Hall and Behind The Archive's Director, Avery Daniels.