The History of Terry Hall

Terry Hall is four-story residence hall that houses about 150 female students in the double rooms. It also houses student lounges, minicomputer lab, laundry facilities, community and individual showers, wireless internet as well as administrative offices. The name was coined from Miss Harriet J. Terry, one of the esteemed teachers of English and Literature at Alabama A. and M. College. She was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York in the year 1885 and she enrolled at Howard University in 1906 and graduated in 1910 with a Bachelor of Arts. Upon graduating from Howard she taught for one year in a small school in Capahoosie before she agreed to a different job, making and inspecting money with the Bureau of Engraving in the Government Printing office in Washington, D.C. she held this job for two years. Although this was a lucrative job, her strong passion for teaching made her quit it, and subsequently joined Alabama A. and M. in 1922 and worked there until her retirement. Since childhood, Terry always aspired to be a teacher. In fact, even in her plays with her associates during the early school age, she always wanted to be a school teacher. No wonder she had to quit such a well-paying job in pursuit of her passion.

An exceptional example of womanhood, Terry worked with patience, dedication and with a passion for almost four decades teaching at the university quite a few generations of students who willingly loved and respected her. She equally gave support to the work of learned and professional organizations among them were the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Education Association, and the College Language Association. She was also one of the founders of the AKA- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Miss Terry has played a significant role in the Alabama College community. As such, her name is fondly remembered in the College by bearing it on a female resident hall till to date. Without a doubt, Miss Harriet J. Terry had lived her dream.