Voorhees College Announces Name Change

Voorhees College announces that the institution will change its name  to Voorhees University next April 2022 during its 125th Anniversary Founder’s Week. 

Voorhees is located in Denmark, SC and was founded as the Denmark Industrial School in 1897. The name was changed to Voorhees Industrial School in 1902. The first post-secondary instruction began in 1929 and the name was changed to Voorhees Normal and Industrial School. Other name changes followed, Voorhees School and Junior College in 1947 and then, Voorhees College in 1962. The first baccalaureate degree was awarded in 1969.

You can also learn more about the institution in a couple of earlier College History Garden posts:

• September 20, 2011  Voorhees College (SC)
• April 1, 2016  Historical Marker Honors Educator and Founder of Voorhees College

Individuals can also consult the Index of Colleges and Universities that have Closed, Merged, or Changed Names to see more information on institutions that have closed or changed names. There are separate pages for each of the states and the District of Columbia.

Lincoln University (MO): Black Culture Mecca...Video of Lecture now Available

The State Historical Society of Missouri posted Dr. Gary R. Kremer's April 3, 2019 lecture, "Lincoln University: Black Culture Mecca of the Midwest," on YouTube. The presentation was part of historical society's African American Experience in Missouri Lecture Series.

I was fortunate to attend the lecture and Dr. Kremer provided an interesting overview of Lincoln's history and cultural importance as an African-American institution. 

You can find more about the history of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO by visiting a 2016 College History Garden post that coincided with the institution's recent anniversary in 2016, "Lincoln University in Missouri celebrates 150th Anniversary."

Concordia College Alabama will Close

The Selma Times-Journal published this week that, "Concordia College Alabama to close at the end of spring semester."  Reporter Blake Deshazo visited with Dr. James Lyons, chief transition officer and interim president for the college, who had shared the news with faculty, staff, and students on Wednesday.  Concordia is a historically black Lutheran College with approximately 400 students.

Deshazo of The Times-Journal previously reported the institution was facing financial pressure on February 6, 2018 that "Concordia College in need of investors to remain open."

The institution was founded as Alabama Lutheran Academy & College in 1922.  Alabama Luther College graduated its first class of four women in 1926, but discontinued the college program for a time during the Depression and it was renamed Alabama Lutheran Academy.  College coursework was added back and the name changed to Alabama Lutheran Academy and College.   Then in 1981, the name was changed to Concordia College.

Concordia received accreditation as an associate-degree granting institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 1983. In 1994, SACS granted Concordia accreditation as a bachelor’s degree granting institution. Concordia continued to grow and in 2010 it acquired the property of the United Methodist Children’s Home, expanded the size of the campus from 22 acres to 57, as well as adding additional housing and historic buildings.

If you are interested in recent trends for closures, mergers,and acquisitions access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page.  There are separate tabs for non-profit closures, for-profit closures, and one for mergers and acquisitions.  Each tab includes basic information for the institutions, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

Snapshot of Black Higher Education in the 1920s

The U.S. Bureau of Education organized an extensive study of black colleges and universities that is available at no charge as a .pdf, "Survey of Negro Colleges and Universities, Bulletin 1928, No. 7," on the ERIC website.  

Dr. Arthur J. Klen, chief of the Division of Higher Education, served as the director for the survey with cooperation of seventy-nine higher education institutions, nineteen state departments, and several church foundations or educational boards.  Data gathering included visits to the institutions and the report presents a detailed picture of life on the campuses through text and tables.  The survey certainly serves as an authoritative source of information on black higher education in the 1920s.

Collection of Historical Photographs for Florida Memorial University

A Florida Memorial University photographic collection is available through the University of Miami Libraries Collaborative Archive from the Africa Diaspora.  The web site offers approximately 25 historical photographs from the larger collection described in several finding aids.

Florida Memorial University traces its roots to the founding of Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, FL in 1879.  Racial tensions led to a move to Jacksonville, FL in 1892 and the founding of Florida Baptist Academy. It later moved to Saint Augustine in 1918 and in 1963 became Florida Memorial College. The institution moved to a new campus located in Miami in 1968 and adopted the name of Florida Memorial University in 2006.

Philander Smith College celebrates 140th Anniversary

Philander Smith College, an HBCU institution in Little Rock, Arkansas has been celebrating the 140th anniversary of their founding in 1877.  Enrollment is roughly 750 students.

The anniversary web pages include an historical sketch and the remaining events scheduled for 2017. 

The college also maintains a digital archive that provides access to some college yearbooks and other institutional documents.

Spelman College: Breaking Boundaries since 1881

There are several excellent short videos providing overviews of Spelman history and the social environment in which it has operated since its founding in 1881.  "Breaking the Boundaries: The History of Spelman College," was published to YouTube in March 2016 and runs for approximately 10:00 minutes.

C-Span offers a 15:00 minute segment focusing on the institution's history that was filmed during a 1994 campus visit.  The video features an interview with Ms. Guy-Sheftall who served as director of the Spelman Women's Resource Center.  

You can visit the Spelman College website for a detailed outline with key historical dates and events.

Mississippi Industrial College: Several sites offer Images of the Campus

I saw this short YouTube video over the weekend with campus images of Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Mississippi.  The video publisher did a nice job of editing and the video was posted in June 2013.  

The Lost College web site devotes an interesting page to the history of the institution.

Mississippi Industrial College operated from 1906-1982 and was affiliated with the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church.  An earlier post on the College History Garden also includes links to a couple of sites that offer interesting images of the campus.

The Rust College Leontyne Price Library website also offers images of students and the campus.  You can also find images of Mississippi Industrial College as part of the collection, "Segregation through the Lens: African American Schools in Mississippi before Integration," hosted by the University of Mississippi Archives & Special Collections.

Arkansas's Southland College Featured: First Higher Education Institution for Blacks west of Mississippi River

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette published an interesting article on Southland College, "Little left of school in Delta," with reporting by Bill Bowdin.  Southland was supported by Quakers and opened in 1925 as Helena Orphan Asylum.  Initially schooling was provided for the children and a normal program was added to prepare teachers after 1869.  The Southland College name was adopted after 1873 and the institution was the first higher education for blacks west of the Mississippi River.  Southland College ultimately closed in 1925.

Bowdin notes that the University of Arkansas archives offer an extensive digital exhibit, "Lives Transformed: the People of Southland College," featuring photographs and first-person accounts documenting the impact of the institution.

A History of Southland College published in 1906 by the Indiana Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends is available at the Internet Archive.  The booklet includes a number of historic images of buildings and people associated with the institution.

Remembering Mary Holmes College

WCBI-TV of Columbus, MS posted an interesting short video by reporter Victoria Bailey with reflections on the history and important role of the former Mary Holmes College.  The institution was founded as Mary Holmes Seminary in Jackson, MS in 1892 and was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.  After a fire in 1892, the institution moved to West Point, MS where it served the community until it closed in 2005.

For those who are interested, the College History Garden offers a couple of earlier posts on Mary Holmes College:

• Mary Holmes Seminary (MS)...a history at HBCUStory
• Mary Holmes College: Tenth Anniversary of the Closing

Morgan State University Celebrates Sesquicentennial

Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD is celebrating the sesquicentennial of its founding in 1867.  The institution was initially known as Centenary Biblical Institute and the name changed to Morgan College in 1890.  It then became part of the state system of higher education as Morgan State College in 1939 and changed its name to Morgan State University in 1975.

Sesquicentennial web pages include A Brief History of Morgan State University written by Dwain C. Pruitt and Burney J. Hollis.  There is also a timeline, and information on celebratory events.

150th Anniversary Celebration at Johnson C. Smith University

Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding in 1867.  Initially known as Biddle Memorial Institute, it became Biddle University in 1867 and the current name was adopted in 1923. 

A timeline with images and historical sketches is available on the university website along with 150th anniversary events.

Howard University: Celebrating the Sesquicentennial of its Founding

Howard University is celebrating the sesquicentennial anniversary of its founding in 1867.  You can visit the institution's website for more information and upcoming activities.  There will be a Charter Day Convocation on March 2, 2017 featuring alum and trustee, Mark A.L. Mason.  A Sesquicentennial Celebration is also scheduled later in the day at the National Museum of African American History & Culture.  A Charter Day Dinner will follow on March 3rd.

Morehouse College Celebrates Sesquicentennial of Founding in 1867

Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding in 1867.  The institution's web site includes pages with a calendar of anniversary events, the history of the college, 150th anniversary timeline, and a short video.

Morehouse begun 1867 as The Augusta Institute in Augusta, Georgia.  It moved to Atlanta and adopted a new name as Atlanta Baptist Seminary in 1879.  The first college degree was awarded in 1883.  The name was changed to Atlanta Baptist College in 1897 and to Morehouse College in 1913. 

New Documentary Highlights HBCUs: Tell Them We Are Rising

Stanley Nelson's newest documentary premiered today at the Sundance Film Festival. The film highlights the role HBCUs have played in the ascent of African-Americans and their families—from slavery to present day. It sounds like an interesting film for College History Gardeners.  A short teaser is available on vimeo.

Fisk University History is Featured on All Things Considered

The history of Fisk University in Nashville was featured in an interesting 4 minute segment, "Fisk University Works to Move Past Cash-Strapped History," on All Things Considered in early January.  The institution was founded in 1866 and is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

You can also visit the Fisk University website for a page that offers brief historical sketches and a number of interesting images of the campus and students.

Morristown College (TN) Campus Purchased

The city of Morristown, TN decided to purchase the campus of the former Morristown College and will convert the property to a park. The report by WBIR includes images of various campus buildings. Morristown College was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church and operated from 1881-1898. Knoxville College offered programs on the site until 1994.

A previous post on the College History Garden in 2010 links to reporting when the main administration building burned.

West Virginia State University Celebrates 125th Anniversary

West Virginia State University is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.  The institution was founded in 1891 as West Virginia Colored Institute.  The name changed to West Virginia Collegiate Institute in 1915, to West Virginia State College in 1929, and to West Virginia State University on April 7, 2004.  You can find an interesting historical overview on YouTube, "West Virginia State University - 125 Years of Passion and Purpose."

Elizabeth City State University Celebrates 125th Anniversary

Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding in 1891.  Anniversary web pages include a timeline, information on an exhibit commemorating the institution's history at the Museum of the Albemarle, and other news and events.

The institution was founded in 1891 as Elizabeth City State Colored Normal School.  The name change to Elizabeth City State Teachers College in 1939, to Elizabeth City State College in 1963, and, to Elizabeth City State University in 1969.

An earlier post here on the College History Garden, "Reflections on the Continuing Impact of a Faculty Member and Archivist who served Elizabeth City State University," provides links to several ECSU histories and other resources.

Eckstein Norton University in Kentucky Served African Americans

Erkstein Norton University operated in Cane Springs, KY from 1890-1912 offering education to African Americans.  The Bullitt County Geneological Society hosts a page devoted to the institution with photographs and transcribed descriptions from the period.   The following advertisement ran in The Appeal (Saint Paul, MN) on September 27, 1902.

The Louisville Courier-Journal ran an article summarizing the institution's history on February 21, 2014 and provided historical context for the closure of the institution.  The author noted that Erkstein Norton merged with Lincoln Institute.  The later institution was founded by Berea College in response to a 1904 Kentucky law forbidding integrated education.