ERIC ED347887: The History of Maryland's Historically Black Colleges.

57 Pages·1992·0.95 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 347 887
HE 025 650
AUTHOR
Gill, Wanda E.
The History of Maryland's Historically Black
TITLE
Colleges.
PUB DATE
92
NOTE
57p.
PUB TYPE
Historical MatPrials (060)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
*Black Colleges; Black History; Black Students;
*Educational History; Higher Education; Racial Bias;
Racial Segregation; School Desegregation; State
Colleges; State Legislation; State Universities;
Whites
*African Americans; Bowie State College MD; Coppin
IDENTIFIERS
State College MD; *Maryland; Morgan State University
MD; University of Maryland Eastern Shore
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a history of four historically
Black colleges in Maryland: Bowie State University, Coppin State
College, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland,
Eastern Shore. The history begins with a section on the education of
Blacks before 1800, a period in which there is little evidence of
formal education for African Americans despite the presence of
relatively large numbers of free Blacks thronghout the state. A
section on the education of Blacks from 1800 to 1900 describes the
first formal education of Blacks, the founding of the first Black
Catholic order of nuns, and the beginning of higher education in the
state after the Civil War. There follow sections on each of the four
historically Black institutions in Maryland covering the founding and
development of each, and their responses to social changes in the
1950s and 1960s. A further chapter describes the development and
manipulation of the Out of State Scholarship Fund which was
established to fund Black students who wished to attend out of state
institutions for courses offered at the College Park, Maryland campus
and other White campuses from which they were barred. Included are a
timeline of important events in higher education for Blacks in
Maryland and 35 references. (JB)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
*
*
from the original document.
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The History of Maryland's Historically Black Colleges
by
Waida E. Gill, Ed.D.
U.S. IMPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
Office of Educationel Research end
Immoyement
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
Wanda E. Gill
CENTER (ERIC)
This document has been reproduced
as
received from the person or organization
originating it
0 Minor Chanel hays wen made to improve
MPfeduction evality
t,
I Points of view of OpuntOntslalso in this docu-
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
mint do not niceaSarsly represent official
OERI position or policy
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
env mu
init
-111MT
Preface
Maryland's four historically blac% colleges have contributed
significantly to the education of African Americans in Maryland
Bowie State University, Coppin State College,
and in the nation.
Morgan State University and the University of Maryland Eastern
Shore have significantly impacted on the pool of African American
Through curriculum and governance changes, these
professionals.
institutions have survived and thrived to experience enrollment
increases at a time when other area institutions ars experiencing
The history of these institutions, from
enrollment declines.
segregated beginnings, give insight into the strategies needed
for survival.
The librarians and archivists at all four institutions were
helpful in locating early manuscripts for this publication.
Mrs. Courtney Funn of Bowie State University, and Ms. Melanie
Gardner, former Archivist at Bowie State University, were
especially helpful.
Ms. Lauren Boccabello and Ms. Lawanda Michelle Williams
They are to be commended for
typed and edited the manuscript.
their thoroughness.
This article is dedicated to Candace Ellen and Kimberly Lea
Gill, my daughters, who today profit from the classes they pursue
at Bowie State University.
Wanda E. Gill, Ed.D.
3
a
Table of Contents
Preface
i
The Education of Blacks in Maryland Prior to 1800
4
The Education of Blacks in Maryland from 1800-1900
8
Bowie State University
11
Coppin State College
21
Morgan State University
32
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore
38
The Out of State Scholarship Fund
44
Events Impacting on Higher Education
49
Timeline:
for Blacks in Maryland
References
54
THE EDUCATION OF BLACKS IN MARYLAND PRIOR TO 1800
elected and paid
Even though freedmer of St. Mary's County
1664, there is no other
expenses for four burgesses as early as
There is little
Maryland.'
evidence of any formal education in
in
evidence of any educational efforts for African Americans
numbers of
Maryland prior to 1800 despite the presence of large
Yet, there were no laws
free Blacks throught
c. the state.
in
prohibiting the education of Blacks in Maryland as there were
in Talbot
Rev. Thomas Bacon began a school
many other states.
In 1800, there
Blacks.2
County for orphans, poor children and
slaves and 19,587
were a total of 125,522 Blacks; 105,935 were
Negroes
The largest number and peicentage of free
were free.3
Kent
Dorchester County.
were in Baltimore City followed by
Baltimore County,
County, Queen Anne County, Harford County,
Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County had populations of free
Blacks numbering over 1,000 (Table A).
'Archives of Maryland (1) Proceedings and Acts of the Assc. bly,
Historical Society, William
January 1637 - September 1664, Maryland
Hand Browne, e., 1883.
"Piety,
Vanorny,
and Patricia
M.
Browne
2Margaret Lynne
Education in Maryland to 1916",
Chastity and Love of County:
Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, 1984.
Study of the Development of Nearo
3Michael Francis Rouse,
Ec_kgAtig_an_sJcleCattLolig_Auslrlanci_and the District of
The Johns Hopkins Press, 1935.
Columbia.
4
.)
From the Census of 1800
Negro Population by Counties
Table A.
Western Shore
Eastern Shore
EMeercKA.,)esCo.F.I.M.lig_gr.22.11
Slaves
Counties
1,344
4,264
Harford
373
2,103
Cecil
1,536
6,830
Baltimore
1,786
4,474
Kant
2,771
2,843
Balt. City
602
1,865
Caroline
1,833
9,760
Anne Arundel
1,025
6,517
Queen Anne
307
4,401
Calvert
1,591
4,775
Talbot
622
6,399
St. Mary's
2,365
4,566
Dorchester
262
6,288
Montgomery
586
7,432
Somerset
648
12,191
Pr. Geo.
449
4,398
Worchester
101
499
Alleghany
,
8,777
36,130
TOTALS
342
2,200
Washington
473
4,572
Frederick
Carol County was organized in
Note:
organized in
1836; Howard County was
1851; Wicomico County was organized
10,810
69,805
Totals
organized
in 1867; Garrett County was
in 1872.
(From ty
_SudotheDeveloeectroEducat'jonUnderr'alkcAjg_
n
Michael
the Dist 'ct of Co umbia by
us ices in Maryland and
1935, p. 16),
Francis Rouse, The Johns Hopkins Press,
5
6
Large numbers of slaves were needed to maintain the great
of
mansions of Prince George's County, Maryland, home of several
The Belair mansion of Bowie,
Maryland's early governors.
Maryland was built by Benjamin Tasker, acting governor from 1752-
The mansion was occupied by Governor Ogle who was
1753.1
and 1746-1752.2
governor of Maryland from 1731-1732, 1733-1742
of
His son occupied the Belair mansion and served as Governor
There, Governor Ogle began the first
Maryland from 1798-1801.3
Large numbers of slaves were required
stud farm in the country.
The
to work the land, maintain the mansion and the stud farm.
"Fairview" and "Pleasantview" mansions date back to 1790 and the
Sacred Heart Church was founded in
late 1700's, respectively.4
The grand mansions were surrounded by large tobacco
1741.5
Education of the Negro was not forbidden but was
farms.
the
One can but wonder at the quality of life for
discouraged.
prior to 1800.
648 free Negroes in Prince George's County
Ironically, Prince George's County would become home for an
These large populations of free
Historically Black College.
the
Blacks on the eastern and western shores of Maryland led to
for the
need for formal education and, eventually, to the need
An Historical Study of the
1Cleophus Cerrutheous Hatcher,
George
Integration of Students and Facult
1977, pp. 162-163.
Washington University, February 21,
2Ibid., pp. 162-163.
3Ibid., pp. 162-163.
4Ibid., pp. 162-163.
5Ibid., pp. 162-163.
6
7
higher education of Blacks in Maryland.
Prior to 1800, three colleges were founded for White males;
Washington College of Chestertown, Maryland in 1782; St. John's
1807.1
College of Annapolis in 1785; and, Cokesbury College in
Washington College and St. John's College were briefly affiliated
arrangement which was short
as the University of Maryland, an
These
Cokesbury College went our of existence in 1796.
lived.
These populations,
White schools did not admit Blacks or women.
before
Blacks and women, would have to wait another sixty years
they would have their own colleges.
in the
The free Blacks of Maryland were to find allies
Both religious groups would be
Quakers and Methodists.
instrumental in assisting Blacks in their educational efforts.
Methodists which began
The close alliance with the Quakers and
before 1800 would eventually lead to the state supported
educational structures which continue to this day.
Maryland,
Education
in
of
History
Steiner,
'Bernard
C.
Washington, Government Printing Office, 1894.
7
8
axg_EgkigAt'ooacl_l_n_fafrom
1800-1900
Blacks in Maryland after 1800
The first formal education of
Members of the Sharp Street Methodist
was initiated by freedmen.
Episcopal Church bought land for a new .church and school
in
This new church and school was to become the forerunner
1802.1
in Maryland.
of public education for Blacks
(Sisters of Providence),
The founding of the Oblate Sisters
in the United States,
the first black Catholic order of nuns
education of Black children by
marked the early beginnings of the
The Oblate
in 1829.2
the Black hierarchy of the Catholic Church
children in Maryland for
Sisters would educate Black Catholic
Their contributions included
nearly one hundred fifty years.
improvements in the community as well as in the classroom.
the end
Higher education in Maryland began two years after
In.18671 Morgan State University (Centenary
of the Civil War.
On December 16,
Baltimore.3
Biblical Institute) was founded in
(Baltimore Normal School) was founded.4
1867, Bowie State College
Reconstruction, the
In 1887, towards the end of
Maryland
1Phebe Jacobsen, "Researching Black Families at the
Annapolis, 1984.
Hall of Records" Maryland Hall of Records,
2Phebe Jacobsen, op. cit.
Theltstorlorgan
State cglleat_i
3Edward N. Wilson,
Action 1867-1967, Vantage Press,
A Century of Purpose in
New York, 1968.
Sketch of
4Ida G. Brandon and Elizabeth H. Tipton, "Historical
The George Washington
Bowie State College," Washington, D.C.:
University, 1973.
8
fi
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (The Princess Anne Academy)
The Sharp Street Methodist Church (Black) was
founded.'
was
Morgan established the
instrumental in the founding of Morgan.
Shore) as a
Princess Anne Academy (University of Maryland Eastern
Bowie was founded by the Baltimore Association.
branch school.
Maryland were
Free Blacks in Baltimore and other parts of
institutions of
directly responsible for the founding of these
Whether the founding was for the clergy or for
higher education.
the mission of
teachers for Black children in segregated schools,
in the free Black
these schools was tied to the immediate needs
These free Black communities and Quakers in this
communities.
White
country and abroad financed these institutions.
Marylanders' involvement, with the exception of a few Quakers,
was almost nonexistent.
The tax based support of education of Blacks in Maryland was
instituted with the 1864 Constitution which called for a state
Black children attended segregated
public school system.2
to
schools in counties where free Blacks paid enough taxes
This continued until 1872 when a new law
support their schools.3
election
established a Black public school in each county's
'BernardC. Steiner. HistoryEd_LcationinNtarylAnd, Government
Printing Office, 1894.
"Piety,
and Patricia M.
Vanorny,
Lynne Browne
2Margaret
1916,"
Chastity and Love of Country and Education in Maryland to
Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, 1984.
3Margaret Lynne Browne and Patricia M. Vanorny, op. cit.
9