Claflin University facts for kids
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Former names
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Claflin College |
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| Motto | "The World Needs Visionaries" |
| Type | Private historically black liberal arts college |
| Established | 1869 |
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Religious affiliation
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United Methodist Church UNCF |
| Endowment | $72.9 million (2024) |
| President | Dwaun J. Warmack |
| Students | 1,830 |
| Location |
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South Carolina
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United States
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| Campus | Urban, 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Colors | Orange & Maroon |
| Nickname | Panthers and Lady Panthers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
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Claflin University is a private university in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It is a historically black college or university (HBCU). This means it was founded to educate African American students. Claflin was started in 1869, right after the American Civil War. It offers both bachelor's and master's degrees.
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History of Claflin University
Claflin University first opened its doors on October 27, 1869. It was originally called Claflin College. A minister named Alonzo Webster helped to start it. He was part of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Webster came to South Carolina as a missionary. His goal was to help educate African Americans. He received permission from the state of South Carolina. This allowed him to create a college for formerly enslaved people. The idea was to help them become full citizens.
Claflin University is the oldest historically black college in South Carolina. It was also the first college in the state to welcome all students. This was true no matter their race or gender. It was also the first Black college to teach architectural drawing.
The university was named after two important Methodist churchmen. They were Massachusetts Governor William Claflin and his father, Lee Claflin. They gave a lot of money to buy the land for the campus. Alonzo Webster was Claflin's first president. Since then, eight other presidents have led the university.
In 1872, the South Carolina State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute became part of Claflin. But in 1896, it became a separate school. This school is now known as South Carolina State University.
In 2020, a writer and giver named MacKenzie Scott donated $20 million to Claflin University. This was the largest gift the university had ever received.
Claflin University Presidents
Here are the people who have served as presidents of Claflin:
- Alonzo Webster (1869–1872)
- Edward Cooke (1872–1884)
- Lewis M. Dunton (1884–1922)
- Joseph B. Randolph (1922–1944)
- John J. Seabrook (1945–1955)
- Hubert V. Manning (1956–1984)
- Oscar A. Rogers (1984–1994)
- Henry N. Tisdale (1994–2019)
- Dwaun Warmack (2019–present)
Academics at Claflin
Claflin University offers many different study programs. These programs are organized into four main schools:
- School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (for subjects like science and math)
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences (for subjects like history and writing)
- School of Business (for learning about business)
- School of Education (for becoming a teacher)
Student Life
Students at Claflin University can join many activities.
Athletics and Sports
Claflin University's sports teams are called the Panthers. The women's teams are sometimes called the Lady Panthers. They compete in NCAA Division II sports. This is a level of college sports in the United States.
Since 2018, they have been part of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). Before that, they were in other conferences.
Claflin has ten different sports teams. These include men's basketball, baseball, and track. Women's sports include basketball, softball, and volleyball. The university also has an all-girl cheerleading team. They support the sports teams and represent the school. There is also a pep band that plays music at games.
Student Organizations and Clubs
There are more than 50 student groups at Claflin University. These groups help students get involved and meet new people. Some are honor societies, which recognize students with high grades. Others are chapters of national Greek letter organizations.
Notable Alumni
| Name | Class year | Notability | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Charles Bates | MA 1888 | He taught at Claflin University. He also designed some buildings on campus. | |
| Gloria Rackley Blackwell | 1953 | She was a civil rights activist. She also became a professor. | |
| William Wilson Cooke | 1893, 1902 | He was an architect. He designed buildings like Lee Library and Tingley Memorial Hall at Claflin. He was the first Black architect in a U.S. government office. | |
| Joseph H. Jefferson | 1970 | He served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. | |
| E. Roger Mitchell | 1993 | He is an actor. He has appeared in TV shows and movies like The Walking Dead and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. | |
| Ernest Newman | 1948 | He was the first African-American bishop in a major church conference. | |
| Arthur Rose Sr. | 1950 | He led the Art Department at Claflin University. The Arthur Rose Museum at the university is named after him. | |
| James S. Thomas | 1939 | He was also a first African-American bishop in a major church conference. | |
| Henry N. Tisdale | B.S. 1965 | He was the eighth president of Claflin University. He was the first African-American to earn a PhD in mathematics at Dartmouth College. | |
| Leo Twiggs | 1956 | He is an artist and educator. He was the first African American to receive a doctorate of Arts from the University of Georgia. | |
| Cecil J. Williams | 1960 | He is a photographer, author, and inventor. He is known for his photos of the civil rights movement in South Carolina. | |
| Bryan Andrew Wilson | 2004 | He is a gospel music artist. |
