Quoting from the AL-AfriGeneas mailing list

"I know I'm a little late in joining this discussion, but the story of
William James Edwards in available on the internet. It's is entitled
William James Edwards, b. 1869 "Twenty Five Years in the Black Belt"
You can read the full text. My father was a graduate of Snow Hill
Institute in 1960. A great great uncle of mine (Robert "Bossy"
French of Dallas County) learned the trade of blacksmithing from Snow
Hill Institute some time before 1910. The documentary contains
pictures of the first graduating class and also pictures of the
Institute:"

http://docsouth.unc.edu/edwards/menu.html