of sound. The 1890 catalog listed piano, organ, and voice, all offered through private lessons. The College, during its first three years, faced a difficult economy, which included the Panic of 1893. By 1893, not one faculty member from the original group remained. First music students of Texas Normal College Six music students were awarded medals at the college's first commencement exercises on June 18, 1991: Miss Annie Carson – Proficiency in Vocal Music Miss Josie Bell – Improvement in Instrumental Music Madge Spalding – Improvement in Vocal Music Ed Hann (Edmund Lyne Hann; 1869–1904) Family Eliza Jane McKissack was born in New York to James P. (1810–1835) and Elizabeth Aykroyd, Bettner (d. Mar. 12, 1869). James and Elizabeth were married on July 12, 1824, in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. Elizabeth, Eliza's mother, was a music teacher in Nashville. In practically every North Carolina village where there was an academy there was also a music teacher, an art teacher, and sometimes a dancing teacher. In some of these towns, such as New Bern, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Wilmington, there were music teachers independent of academy patronage. In 1823 James Aykroyd, then of New Bern, "respectfully informed the citizens of Hillsboro and its vicinity that he intended giving lessons in music there during the summer months." His terms were "for the Piano, twelve dollars a quarter, for lessons every other week; and three dollars for vocal music, two lessons every other week." On August 10, 1854, in Pulaski, Tennessee, Eliza married Alexander Cogle McKissack (b. 30 April 1831 Roxboro, NC; d. 26 Sept 1898, Memphis, TN). Alexander was an 1852 alumnus of Yale College. He died near Memphis at the home of his sister (during a visit), Jessie McKissack Peters of Van Dorn and Spring Hill repute. Alexander McKissack, a native of Pulaski, Tennessee, moved to Holly Springs, Mississippi, in 1856 with his wife, Eliza. Except for his tenure in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, he resided on his plantation, 4 miles north of Holly Springs, until his death. Alexander and Eliza had only one child, a daughter, who died early. Eliza Jane McKissack died January 15, 1900, Nashville, Tennessee. The funeral service was held at Christ Church and the burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee. References University of North Texas College of Music faculty New England Conservatory alumni People from New Bern, North Carolina People