The students of the Radical University: William M. Dart

William M. Dart
From the Columbia Record, March 21, 1936.

William Myrtenello Dart (b. Abt. 1854)
South Carolina.  Born free.  Mulatto.
Occupation: teacher
Father's occupation: painter

William M. Dart was born in South Carolina to William and Susan Dart, free persons of color.  The father worked as painter in Charleston.

Dart left South Carolina to attend Howard University in Fall 1870.  He entered into the (College) Preparatory Department and studied alongside fellow Charlestonians Paul J. Mishow, John M. Morris, and Alonzo G. Townsend.  He graduated from the program on June 12, 1872 and then entered Howard's Collegiate Department.  He stayed at Howard until Spring 1874, the end of his sophomore year.

After his sophomore year, he left Howard at the encouragement of Cornelius C. Scott.  Scott, another Howard student from Charleston, had learned from former Howard Professor Frances L. Cardozo that the University of South Carolina had started admitting African American students.  Cardozo was involved with the reorganization of the university as he was a member of the university Board of Trustees and generally involved in South Carolina politics.  He advised Scott and his classmates to enroll in the university and lent them money for travel expenses.  Following Cardozo's recommendation, Dart returned to South Carolina with Scott, John M. Morris, and Paul J. Mishow.

Dart registered as a student at the University of South Carolina on January 5, 1874.  He enrolled as a college student following the classical studies track.  He graduated with an A.B. degree in June 1876.

After completing his education, Dart stayed in Columbia and worked as an educator. By 1879, he was the principal of the Howard School. The Howard School was a public high school for African Americans.  It had a reputation for offering an excellent education and was the only public school offering a high school education to African Americans until the 1910s.

Dart also served as the first president of the State Association of Colored Teachers.  Of Dart, C. C. Scott wrote in an article on the former U of SC students, "He enjoyed in an unusual degree the confidence and respect of the best people of both races in Columbia.  He was a man of rare ability and scholarship and an excellent Christian."

Dart had passed on by 1911, according to Scott, although the present author has been unable to find a death record.

Sources
1).  1860; Census Place: Charleston Ward 6, Charleston, South Carolina; Page: 432

2). 1870; Census Place: Charleston Ward 4, Charleston, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1486; Page: 243A

3). 1879.  Columbia City Directory. Richland County Public Library, Columbia, South Carolina

4). "When Negroes Attended the State University", May 8, 1911. State (published as The State).  Page 9.

4). "Teachers of State Organized", March 21, 1936. Columbia Record.  Page 57.

Note to self: Look up his 1884 president's address in the library.