People, Locations, Episodes

Tougaloo College is Founded

The founding of Tougaloo College in 1869 is celebrated on this date. It is one of over 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America.

Leland College is Founded

*The founding of Leland College is celebrated on this date in 1870. A Historical Black College and University (HBCU) was established as a college for Blacks in New Orleans, Louisiana, yet was open to all races.   It was founded with support from the New York-based Baptist Free Mission Society.   Leland University opened as a coed school, borrowing its education […]

Lulu Vere Childers, Classic Vocalist born

*The birth of Lulu Vere Childers in 1870 is celebrated on this date. She was an African American classic vocalist and educator.

She was born in Dry Ridge, KY. She studied voice at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she earned her B. A. degree in Music in 1896. She was a teacher at Knoxville College in that same year and joined the faculty of Howard University in 1905. She continued to perform, singing contralto in a 1908 concert organized by E. Azalia Hackley at the Philadelphia Academy of Music.

Thomas Blue, Librarian, and Minister born

The 1870 birth of Reverend Thomas F. Blue is celebrated on this date. He was an African American minister, educator, administrator, and librarian.

The son of former slaves, Blue was born in Farmville, Virginia. He graduated from Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in 1888. He taught in Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1898 from Richmond Theological Seminary. Around the turn of the last century, he was a secretary of the YMCA, serving Spanish-American War soldiers, moving to Louisville in the same capacity from 1899 to 1905.

Thomas W. Talley, Chemist born

*Thomas W. Talley was born on this date in 1870.  He was a chemist, poetry collector, and professor.  Thomas W. Talley was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He was one of eight children born to former slaves Charles Washington and Lucinda Talley.  Talley attended public school for six years, followed by high school and college at […]

Dunbar H.S., (Washington D.C.) Opens

*On this date in 1870, we affirm the opening of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.   Dunbar High School is a public secondary school in Washington, D.C., United States.   Originally named the Preparatory High School for Colored Youth from 1891 to 1916, it became M Street High School. The school was founded as an educational mission at the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian […]

M Street School Begins Classes

*M Street School is celebrated on this date in 1870. This high school was created in Washington, D.C. when the city’s dual public school system was established. Initially, Black and white schools were essentially equal. M Street High School initially began as the Preparatory High School for Negro Youth when Congress established it, and “Originally, […]

The Barber-Scotia Seminary Opens

*On this date in 1870, Barber-Scotia Seminary was chartered by the State of North Carolina. This was a learning institution for Black girls.

Carrie Thomas Jordan, Educator born

*Carrie Thomas Jordan was born on this date in 1870.  She was a Black educator and activist.             Early life Carrie J. Thomas was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and the eldest of 11 children was born to Lawrence Thomas and Mary Green Tinsley Thomas. Her father was a preacher who pastored at Mount Zion AME […]

Benedict College (South Carolina) is Established

On this date in 1870, Benedict College was established in Columbia, S.C, one of over 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America.

Allen University (South Carolina) is Founded

The founding in 1870 of Allen University in South Carolina is celebrated on this date. Allen University is one of more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States.

Established by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Allen University is the oldest historically Black university in South Carolina. African Americans founded it with the express purpose of educating African Americans. It is a Christian Liberal Arts institution of higher education and has an illustrious history.

Charles Seifert, Historian born

On this date we celebrate the birth of Charles Seifert in 1871. He was an African American historian of African and African American history who was especially influential in the black arts community.

Edward C. Williams, Librarian born

*Edward Williams was born on this date in 1871. He was a Black librarian and educator. Edward Christopher Williams was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was the only son of an interracial marriage between Daniel Williams and Mary (Kilary) Williams of Tipperary, Ireland. He received his primary and secondary education from the public schools of […]

Alcorn State University is Founded

On this date we mark the founding of Alcorn State University in 1871. It is one of over 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in America.

Miles V. Lynk, Physician and Author born.

*Miles V. Lynk was born on this date in 1871. He was a Black physician, author, and activist for science, specifically for medical doctors. Miles Vandahurst Lynk was born near Brownsville, Tennessee. He was named after two bishops, William Henry Miles and Richard H. Vandahurst, of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Jackson, Tennessee. Lynk […]