895 F Supp 131

Look how bad it was in the 1870s.

Taken from the diary of Colonel David French Boyd who was President of LSU during Reconstruction:

"July 28, 1874 — This day finds our poor school in a very bad condition — terribly in debt, ourselves so poor that we are in actual want — no money and no credit — and the impression pretty general throughout Louisiana that the University cannot long stand — if indeed it is not already broken up.

“Today we are nearly out of such common articles as we have, viz: bread, meat, peas, rice, sugar, coffee, and tea. We are out of sugar; and of butter we have had none for many months. We are using up now what we promised to pay for at the end of this month. We have not a dollar in the treasury; and where the moneys to come from to pay those who have fed us this month I don’t know.

“July 24, 1874 — Professor ... has been absent visiting some of his friends. But he, like the rest of us is so near out of clothes that he must find it hard to make himself presentable. I never was so poor in all my life not even in the worst days of the war. I have bought no clothes for myself or family for three years.

“July 25, 1874 — Still without sugar. Had today to have buttons (brass) taken off my (Confederate) uniform coat and replaced by common buttons. Too poor to buy a new coat.

“August 1, 1874 — Mr. Van Pelt, T.D.B. (Col. Thomas Duckett Boyd, later president of the university from 1896 to 1927), and I have been making copies of my circular (newsletter). We are too poor to print; so we have to make written copies.

“August 6, 1874 — Today and up to Saturday, we will no doubt have beef and bread, but unless I can get some money, or get salt meat and flour here, there will be nothing to eat at the University.

“August 16, 1874 — What is to become of us if we stay here much longer, or if I should die, God only knows. I have not a dollar, owe a great deal, and what money is due me from the University I may never get.

“October 4, 1874 — This is the last day of my fortieth year. Who has worked harder and accomplished less in 40 years than I have? Two years ago I had determined to leave the service of the University today, if not before. I must stay here ten years more if necessary for the salvation of our poor school. But meanwhile how is my family to live?

“June 30, 1875 — Closed our session, perhaps our last session, here today with four cadets, McNulty, Randolph, Robinson and Slack. T.D.B. and myself, and Guyol (ready to teach French) and professors.

“At times it did seem impossible to bring the session to legitimate close. And I do not believe that such an effort to maintain a state school — an average of four professors and six cadets — through the session was ever attempted before. But I do feel that the school is safe — that the general improvement in affairs in Louisiana will cause the school to prosper.”
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