Hall of Fame
James “Jimmie” Hughlette Carter was a native born Baltimorean.
In September, 1912, James Carter entered the freshman class at Morgan College. While in the Colored High School (now Douglass), he pursued extra courses in shorthand and typing. He worked his way through college in a job as student secretary to Dr. John O. Spencer, President. “Jimmie”, as he was called by those who knew and loved him, excelled as a student.
He was salutatorian of his class and delivered the salutatory at the commencement in June, 1916. He was immediately employed as full-time secretary and served in this position with distinction until his death in 1959.
“Jimmie” excelled in the 100-yard dash.
During the early days of athletics at Morgan, he gave more impetus to the program than any other man. As secretary to the President, he watched over Morgan and Morgan’s athletes for his entire career. The athletes at Morgan were “Jimmie” Carter’s boys. “Jimmie” organized the first Athletic Association and served as chairman and secretary of the Athletic Committee.
In 1917, when the President and Trustees inspected the present site, among others, as a suitable home for Morgan College, they took James H. Carter along to record the personal impressions of the inspectors.
The present campus was known as the Ivy Mill Property where the owners were in the stone quarry business. Employees of the quarry were housed in stone buildings. There were about 80 families who resided there. The Old Ivy Mill, built of stone on Grinden Lane (now Cold Spring Lane) had ceased operation and was turned over to a Lutheran minister, Mr. Carter’s father where he and his family lived in the upper floors and used the lower floor for a church where the quarry employees could worship. Jimmie was born in this mill.
As the inspecting committee was informed by “Jimmie” of the advantages of the site and that it was his birthplace where he had spent his boyhood years, the inspectors were impressed.
It can be safely concluded, therefore, that Mr. Carter contributed to the selection of the present site for the campus of Morgan State College. In addition to his duties as secretary to the President, he served extra hours daily as Business Manager, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, Secretary of the Faculty and Board of Trustees.
Currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland.
