The following are short descriptions of the major institutions which have contributed to the shaping of African American history. These encyclopedia entries serve as a starting point for much more inclusive descriptions and discussions that appear in other sources. For additional information please consult the print or website sources cited in the entry.
Miles College is a private, four-year Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Fairfield, Alabama, about six miles west of downtown Birmingham. The school was founded in 1905 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (now called Christian Methodist Episcopal Church or CME Church), but … Read MoreMiles College (1905- )
Philander Smith is a private liberal arts college in Little Rock, Arkansas and is known as a Historically black college/university (HBCU). Established originally as Walden Seminary in 1877 by the United Methodist Church, the school was named after the first Freedmen’s society secretary, Dr. J.M … Read MorePhilander Smith College (1877- )
Texas College is a historically black College (HBCU), located in Tyler, Texas. The college was originally proposed by several ministers within the Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church. The Church founded the college, the third all-black institution in the state, on roughly 25 acres of land … Read MoreTexas College (1894- )
Tennessee State University (TSU) is a historically black, comprehensive, four-year co-educational university located on a 500-acre campus in Nashville, Tennessee. With over 10,000 students, including nearly 1,900 graduate students, it is one of the largest historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the nation. It … Read MoreTennessee State University (1912- )
LeMoyne-Owen College is a private, historically black, four year, co-educational, liberal arts institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ. The institution can trace its roots back to 1862, when the American Missionary Association (AMA) sent Lucinda Humphrey to … Read MoreLeMoyne-Owen College (1862- )
Lincoln University is a public university located in Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri. It is a member of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and was founded in 1866 by members of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantry and as such … Read MoreLincoln University [Missouri] (1866- )
Bluefield State College is one of the first historically black colleges (HCBUs) to become a predominantly white institution. The college was opened in 1895 as the Bluefield Colored Institute after the expansion of the Morrill Act in 1890 to provide funding for African American colleges … Read MoreBluefield State College (1895- )
Fayetteville State University is a historically black institution of the University of North Carolina system located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is the second oldest higher education institution in North Carolina and was founded in 1867 as Howard School in honor of General Oliver Otis … Read MoreFayetteville State University (1867- )
Clark Atlanta University (CAU) was founded in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a private not-for-profit, coeducational historically black university, affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is the largest of the United Negro College Fund … Read MoreClark Atlanta University (1988- )
The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore is a historically black land grant institution located in Princess Anne, Maryland. The school was initiated under the auspices of the Delaware Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and began as a branch campus for Morgan College (Morgan State … Read MoreUniversity of Maryland, Eastern Shore (1886- )
