This 1899 photo is one of over 100 images from the Elizabeth City State University Archives now available on DigitalNC.org. The University was founded in 1891 to serve as a training school for African American teachers. In the photo shown here, students are gathered around a wood stove to keep warm in one of the rented rooms used for instruction while the permanent buildings were under construction.

The photos collected online document the rich history of Elizabeth City State, from the early days when it was known as the State Normal School through its becoming a member of the University of North Carolina system in 1972.