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The First HBCU
On February 25, 1837, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania became the nation’s first black institute of higher learning. The University was established through a $10,000 endowment from Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist, to design and establish a school to educate people of African descent and prepare them as teachers.
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Leadership HBCU
Many notable Black Americans have attended HBCUs including, Vice President Kamala Harris (Howard University), Oprah Winfrey (Tennessee State University), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Morehouse College), the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (Lincoln University, Howard University), and NFL Hall of Famer and TV Host Michael Strahan (Texas Southern University).https://hbcufirst.com/hbcu-history -
After The Civil War
The University of the District of Columbia is established. Known as the “Miner Normal School,” as a school to educate Black women.
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HBCUs designated by the U.S. Department of Education
-Bowie State University is founded as Baltimore Normal School.
-Clark Atlanta University is established by the United Methodist Church. Clark College and Atlanta University merged.
-The Brown Theological Institute is opened in Jacksonville, Florida. By the AME Church. Today, the school is known as Edward Waters College.
-Fisk University is founded in Nashville, Tennessee.
-Lincoln Institute is established in Jefferson City, Missouri. Today, it is known as Lincoln University of Missouri. -
The federal government grants land to Black colleges and universities
On August 30, 1890, the Second Morrill Act was passed and required states with racially segregated public higher education systems to provide a land-grant institution for Black students whenever a land-grant institution was established and restricted for White students. After the passage of the Act, public land-grant institutions specifically for Blacks were established in each of the southern and border states.
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The Renaissance
1900: The Colored High School is established in Baltimore. Today, it is known as Coppin State University.
1901: The Colored Industrial and Agricultural School is established in Grambling, La. It is currently known as Grambling State University.
1903: Albany State University is founded as the Albany Bible and Manual Training Institute. Utica Junior College opens in Utica, Miss; today, it is known as Hinds Community College at Utica.
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Renaissance [We Are Rising]
1904: Mary McLeod Bethune works to open the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls. Today, the school is known as Bethune-Cookman College.
1905: Miles Memorial College opens in Fairfield, Ala. In 1941, the school was renamed Miles College.
1910: The National Religious Training School and Chautauqua is established in Durham, NC. Today the school is known as North Carolina Central University.
1912: Tennessee State University is founded.https://www.thoughtco.com/hbcu -
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Religious Organizations Support HBCUs
1915: The Roman Catholic Church opens the St. Katharine Drexel and Sisters of the Blessed Sacraments.The schools merged to become Xavier University of LA.
1922: The Lutheran Church helps to open the Alabama Lutheran Academy and Junior College. In 1981, changed to Concordia College.
1924: The Baptist Church starts American Baptist College in Nashville, TN. Coahoma County Agricultural High School opens in MS; currently known as Coahoma Community Collegw.https://www.thoughtco.com/hbcu -
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Segregation in Higher Education
1927: Bishop St. Comm. College opens. Texas Southern Univ. opens as Texas State Univ. for Negros.
1935: Norfolk St. Univ. opens as the Norfolk Unit of Virginia St. Univ.
1947: Demark Tech. College opens as Denmark Area Trade School. Trenholm St. Tech. College in Montgomery, Ala. as John M. Patterson Technical School.
1948: Church of Christ begins the Southern Bible Institute. Now known as SW Christian College.
1949: Lawson St. Comm. College opens in Bessemer, Ala.https://www.thoughtco.com/hbcu -
Desegration In Higher Education
1950: MS. Valley St. Univ. opens in Itta Bena as the MS Vocational College.
1952: J.P. Shelton Trade School opens in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Today, known as Shelton State University.
1958: The Interdenominational Theological Center opens in Atlanta.
1959: Southern Univ. at New Orleans is founded.
1962: University of Virgin Islands opens.
1967: Southern Univ. at Shreveport is founded in LA.
1975: Morehouse School of Medicine opens in Atlanta.
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HBCU TODAY
Today, all 101 HBCUs across the United States continue to play a vital role in America's prosperity — academically, socially, and economically. HBCUs are also becoming a magnet for international students — largely due to their strong academic programs, affordability, and diverse & inclusive environments. Although HBCUs were originally founded to educate Black Americans, today 1 in 4 students (24%) enrolled at HBCUs is non-Black.
https://hbcufirst.com/hbcu-history
