New York Central College facts for kids
Main building, 1850.
The first two floors held classrooms and the third a dormitory for male students. |
|
|
Other name
|
Central College, McGrawville |
|---|---|
| Active | 1849–1860 |
| Founder | Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor |
|
Religious affiliation
|
Baptist |
| Students | 100–200 |
| Location |
McGraw (at the time called McGrawville), Cortland County
,
New York
,
13101
,
United States
42°35′46″N 76°05′35″W / 42.5961°N 76.0931°W |
New York Central College, also known as Central College, was a special place in American history. It was the first college in the United States founded on the idea that all qualified students were welcome. This meant it was a strong supporter of ending slavery. It also believed in equality for everyone.
The college was started by Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor and other anti-slavery Baptists in McGraw, New York. It opened its doors in September 1849. Its main goals were "Radical Anti-Slavery, and Equality of the Sexes." Even though it only lasted about 10 years, it made a big difference. It helped create people who fought for human rights when few other places did.
While some other colleges like Oberlin had accepted Black students and women, New York Central College was the first one created specifically to welcome everyone from day one. This was the dream of its founder, Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor. The college also had a large high school section, as public high schools were not common back then.
Contents
A College for Everyone
The college's commitment to equality came from its founders, the American Baptist Free Mission Society. This group had separated from a larger Baptist society because they disagreed about slavery. They believed slaveowners should not be part of their mission.
From the very beginning, New York Central College was open to all people, no matter their background or gender. When describing the college, its founders said it would be different from other schools. It would focus on "the rights and privileges of all classes of citizens." This meant "no individual will be rejected." Other colleges, like Hamilton Literary & Theological Institution, were known for not opposing slavery.
How the College Started
The college was built in McGrawville because the village promised $12,000 to help with construction. Construction started in June 1848. On July 4, the cornerstone was laid. Inside the cornerstone, they placed a box with items like anti-slavery newspapers.
At the cornerstone ceremony, Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor spoke about women's rights. He said women were not less important than men. He also stressed the need to give daughters the same education as sons. About 35% of the students at the college were women.
The college also believed in "manual labor" as part of daily student life. This meant students would do farmwork or other tasks. It wasn't just to save money. It was seen as good for students' minds and spirits. This was a new idea at the time.
The college was officially named New York Central College. It was approved by the New York State Legislature on April 12, 1848. The college opened on September 4, 1849. Charles L. Reason, a Black professor, gave an important speech. President Grosvenor also spoke about education for the body, mind, and morals. The famous abolitionist Gerrit Smith was also there. Over 2,000 people attended the faculty induction the next day.
Life at Central College
William G. Allen, a Black professor at the college, wrote that McGrawville was a great place for Black people to learn. He said they would receive a warm welcome there. In 1852, Allen was the only Black college professor in the entire country.
A Meal at the College, 1850
One visitor described a college dinner in 1850:
- Professor Reason, a Black man, sat at the head of a table. He was described as noble and kind.
- Two Black students sat nearby.
- Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua, a student from Africa, was also there.
- A Native American woman from the Onondaga tribe sat at another table.
- A formerly enslaved person was also present.
After dinner, students sang hymns. The Onondaga students sang in their language. Mahomah sang in Arabic. Other students sang in Latin and French. This shows how diverse the college was. Two Onondaga Native Americans even enrolled in the high school section.
A Student's View
Angeline Stickney, a student and teacher at the college, loved it. She said: "I love this institution. It welcomes everyone to its halls, people of every language and every color. It believes in 'no rights exclusive.' It offers knowledge to all." She was proud to be called a "fanatic" for believing in such equality. She felt encouraged to learn as much as she wanted, unlike in other places where women were told they couldn't study certain subjects.
Teachers, Students, and Classes
The college was run in a very informal way. There were no strict rules or academic ranks. Teachers and students were very close, like a big family. They all lived in the small town, knew each other, and often went to the same church.
College Money Matters
New York Central College struggled financially. It didn't have a clear financial plan or much fundraising. Unlike other schools, it didn't have many rich donors, except for Gerrit Smith. The American Baptist Free Mission Society helped, but they also had limited money.
The students were often not wealthy. They had to pay for housing, food, travel, and tuition. A school with many Black students and women, who often faced financial hardship, was not going to be rich. Wealthy families usually sent their sons to other colleges.
To help students, tuition was very low. It was $24, then $30 per year for college students. For high school students, it was $15. Most students were in the high school program. The low tuition meant there wasn't much money to pay teachers, which led to many teachers leaving.
It's amazing the college lasted as long as it did. Other schools that welcomed Black students had been quickly shut down by angry mobs.
Teachers at Central College
The college didn't have strict rules for hiring teachers. Some had college degrees, but many didn't. Teachers were often hired based on personal connections. There was a lot of change in the teaching staff.
Central College was the first college to hire African-American teachers. Three highly qualified Black professors taught there:
- Charles L. Reason (1849-1852)
- William G. Allen (1852–1853)
- George Boyer Vashon (1853–1859)
These men held the same teaching position one after another. Reason was the first Black college professor in the country.
The first teachers in 1849 included:
- C. P. Grosvenor, the President, who taught about thinking and morals.
- L. H. Waters and Charles L. Reason, who taught Greek, Latin, French, Math, and Science.
- Mrs. Eliza M. Haven, who was the "Matron" (like a house mother) and taught French, Music, and Drawing.
- Miss Sophia M. Lathrop, who taught English Literature.
By 1852, all the teachers were different. This shows how much the staff changed.
Students at Central College
Over 1,000 students attended Central College. Most were in the high school program. About 64% were boys and men, and 35% were girls and women. The college didn't keep records of students' skin color, but there were some Black students, including Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua, Edmonia Lewis, and Benjamin A. Boseman. In 1856, about half of the 226 students were African-American.
Classes and Programs
President Grosvenor wanted a "free institution" for the "literary, scientific, moral, and physical education of both sexes and of all classes of youth." The college taught classic subjects like Latin and Greek, as well as farming science.
The college was inspired by Oberlin, which started admitting Black students in 1835 and women in 1837. But New York Central College was the first American college founded on the idea that everyone is equal: Black and white, male and female. Black, female, and Native American students were all welcome.
In May 1850, over a hundred students were enrolled. The college dorms were full, so students had to find rooms in private homes.
Soon after opening, a smallpox outbreak affected the college and McGrawville. Four to six students died, and the college had to close briefly.
In 1851, New York Central College received $1,500 from the New York State Legislature. This was the same amount given to bigger universities like New York University and Hamilton College.
The college's first commencement was in 1855, with five graduates. One graduate, Azariah Smith, was immediately hired to teach Greek.
By 1857, the college had three main departments:
- A Teachers' Department, which trained high school students to become primary school teachers.
- An Academic Department, which prepared high school students for college.
- A Collegiate Department, for college-level studies.
There was also a class for public speaking.
College Buildings
Boys and men lived in a dormitory on one floor of the main building. Girls lived in a separate building with a matron. There were no separate living areas for Black students. However, there was a separate cemetery for Black college students.
Challenges and Closure
Because the college treated Black students equally and had Black professors, it faced a lot of public criticism. Some people in the New York State Legislature were very angry about the college. One legislator even said it would be better to give money to a mob to destroy the college than to fund it. They called it a "treasonable college" and worried that its ideas about equality would spread. Others disliked the idea of "amalgamation of sexes, as well as of races." Despite this, the college still received state funding.
The William Allen Incident
In 1853, a Black professor named William G. Allen became engaged to a white student, Mary King. This caused a big scandal and strong opposition. To avoid danger, Allen and King left for England, where they married. This event made the social and political opposition to the school even worse.
Decline and End
Even though the college seemed to be doing well in 1854, it soon faced financial problems. The college was struggling, and its supporters were losing hope. It was suggested that the college might be taken over by Black supporters, bought by McGrawville citizens to become a high school, or simply close.
The college was later denied state funding and went bankrupt by 1858. The abolitionist Gerrit Smith took over the college's debts and property. The college officially closed in 1860, partly due to financial issues and a smallpox outbreak in McGrawville.
New York Central Academy
After the college closed, the buildings were bought by citizens of McGrawville in 1864. They started the New York Central Academy, which operated as a high school until 1867. It later became part of the McGrawville Union School.
Daniel S. Lamont, who later became Secretary of War for President Grover Cleveland, studied at the Central Academy as a child. He described it as the successor to the "queer institution" known as New York Central College, which was founded by Gerrit Smith and other abolitionists to educate boys and girls "without regard to color."
Famous Former Students
Many interesting people studied at New York Central College:
- Angeline Stickney: A teacher, supporter of women's voting rights, and mathematician. She graduated in the first class in 1855. The largest crater on Mars's moon Phobos is named after her.
- Asaph Hall: A famous astronomer who discovered the moons of Mars.
- Edmonia Lewis: A well-known sculptor.
- Mahommah Gardo Baquaqua: A former slave who became a missionary.
- Herman Ossian Armour: Co-founder of a large meatpacking company, Armour & Co.
- Grace A. Mapps: Graduated in 1852, possibly the first Black woman to earn a four-year college degree.
- Benjamin A. Boseman: A doctor who served in the Civil War. He later became a politician and postmaster in Charleston, South Carolina.
See also
- Storer College: Founded in 1868, it was the second college in the United States open to all, regardless of skin color and gender.
