Wilberforce University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wilberforce University

Seal of Wilberforce University
Former names	Wilberforce College (1856–1965)
Motto	Suo Marte
Motto in English	By one's own toil, effort, courage
Type	Private historically black university
Established	1856
Religious affiliation	African Methodist Episcopal Church
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
President	Vann R. Newkirk, Sr.
Students	500
Location	Wilberforce, Ohio , U.S. 39°42′27″N 83°52′50″W / 39.70750°N 83.88056°W / 39.70750; -83.88056
Campus	Rural
Colors	Green & Gold
Nickname	Bulldogs
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – Mid-South
Carnegie Library (Old Wilberforce University Campus)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	1055 North Bickett Rd. Wilberforce, Ohio 45384
Area	0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built	1907
Architect	David Riebel
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	04000610
Added to NRHP	June 16, 2004

Wilberforce University is a special kind of college in Wilberforce, Ohio. It's a private university, which means it's not run by the government. It's also a historically black university (HBCU). This means it was founded to educate African American students. Wilberforce University is connected to the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). It was the very first college in the United States to be owned and run by African Americans. It also helps students through the United Negro College Fund.

Central State University, also in Wilberforce, Ohio, started as a part of Wilberforce University. Ohio state lawmakers could send students there with scholarships.

The college began in 1856. It was a joint effort between the Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). Their goal was to offer a classic education and teacher training for young Black people. The college was named after William Wilberforce, a famous British activist. Its first leaders included both Black and white people.

The American Civil War (1861–65) caused problems for the college. Most students were from the Southern states and left during the war. The college closed in 1862 because it lost money. In 1863, the AME Church bought the college to keep it open. This made it the first college in the nation owned and run by Black people. AME Bishop Daniel Payne was one of the original founders. He became the first president after it reopened. He was also the first African American college president in the U.S.

In 1865, a fire damaged the college. Donations from important white supporters helped rebuild it. The U.S. Congress also gave money to help. Later, the state government also provided support. In the 1890s, famous scholar W. E. B. Du Bois taught there. The college also started accepting Black students from South Africa.

History of Wilberforce University

Wilberforce College was created to educate African American students. Before this, it was very hard for Black students to attend college. In the 1800s, it was legal to treat Black people unfairly. Only a few white colleges would accept Black students. These included Grinnell College, Hillsdale College, Oneida Institute, Oberlin Collegiate Institute, and New-York Central College.

The college is located near Xenia, Ohio. It was started by leaders from the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). They wanted to provide a strong education and train teachers for Black youth. The first group of leaders in 1855 included Black and white members. Among them were Bishop Daniel A. Payne and Rev. Lewis Woodson from the AME Church. Salmon P. Chase, who was the Governor of Ohio and against slavery, was also on the board. The college was named after William Wilberforce, a British leader who fought against slavery.

To start the college, the Cincinnati Conference bought a former resort. It had a hotel, cottages, and about 54 acres of land. The resort was called Tawawa House. This name came from a Native American word for "clear or golden water." This referred to the natural springs in the area. White people had built the resort in 1851 because they believed the springs had health benefits.

This area was a place where many free people of color settled. Many moved from the South to find better lives. Some Southern states made newly freed people leave. Xenia had a large free Black population. Other towns in southern Ohio, like Chillicothe and Yellow Springs, also had many free Black residents. Before the Civil War, people used houses in Xenia as stops on the Underground Railroad. Wilberforce College also supported people seeking freedom from slavery.

The college opened in 1856. By 1858, Rev. Richard S. Rust became its first president. In the 1850s, the college hired Frances E. W. Harper. She was a poet and an activist against slavery. She was the first woman to teach at the school. In 1859, Sarah Jane Woodson began teaching at Wilberforce. She was a graduate of Oberlin College. She was the first Black American to teach at a historically Black college. She returned to Wilberforce in 1866 with more responsibilities.

By 1860, the college had over 200 students. Many of them were from the South. These were often the children of wealthy white planters and Black women who were enslaved. The fathers paid for their children's education. This education was not available to them in the South. These fathers helped their children by giving them a chance at education.

The Civil War caused financial problems for the college. Southern families took their children out of the school. No more paying students came from the South. The Methodist church said it needed to use its money for the war. The college closed for a short time in 1862.

Daniel Alexander Payne in the early 1890s

In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) decided to buy the college. Bishop Daniel A. Payne led this effort. They paid off the college's debts. Bishop Payne became the college's president. He was the first African American to be a college president in the U.S. James A. Shorter and Dr. John G. Mitchell also helped.

In 1865, a fire damaged some buildings. Payne asked for help to rebuild. Salmon P. Chase, a Supreme Court Justice, and Dr. Charles Avery each gave $10,000. Mary E. Monroe, another supporter, gave $4200. The US Congress also approved a $25,000 grant. The college also raised more money from many other people.

In 1888, the AME Church made an agreement with the state government. This brought a lot of money and support to the college. The college was able to offer both classic education and job training.

The state government created a special department at Wilberforce College. It was for commercial, normal (teacher training), and industrial education. This brought tens of thousands of dollars in state aid each year. Each state lawmaker could give a scholarship to this department. This allowed hundreds of African American students to attend. Students could study liberal arts or take job-focused classes.

By the mid-1890s, students from South Africa also came to the college. This was part of the AME Church's work in Africa. The church helped these students with scholarships. It also arranged for them to live with local families. A report from 1898 showed the university had 20 teachers and 334 students.

The college became a center for Black culture and ideas in Ohio. Many Black professionals lived in Xenia and nearby towns.

Many leaders were educated at Wilberforce University. These included teachers, ministers, doctors, and politicians. In the 1800s, Bishop Payne started a theological seminary there. It was named after him. Top scholars taught at the college. These included W.E.B. Du Bois and William S. Scarborough. In 1894, Lieutenant Charles Young started the military science department. He was the third Black graduate of West Point.

Other important scholars taught at the college in the early 1900s. These included Theophilus Gould Steward and Richard R. Wright, Jr.. Wright was the first African American to get a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. He later became a bishop and president of Wilberforce. These men were also part of the American Negro Academy. This group supported scholars and writers.

In 1941, the normal/industrial department grew. It became a four-year program. In 1947, this part of the university became its own separate college. It was renamed Central State College in 1951. As it grew, it became Central State University in 1965.

Wilberforce University grew a lot after the mid-1900s. A new campus was built in 1967, about a mile away. In 1974, a very strong tornado hit the area. It destroyed much of Xenia and the old Wilberforce campus.

Some older buildings are still used today. These include the Carnegie Library, built in 1909. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Shorter Hall was built in 1922. The Charles Leander Hill Gymnasium was built in 1958. The old home of Charles Young near Wilberforce is a National Historic Landmark. This honors his important career in the US Army.

In the 1970s, the university created the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center. It offers exhibits and programs for the area. The Ohio Historical Society now runs it. The university also supports the national Association of African American Museums. This group helps museums across the country.

In 2021, the university announced it would lower tuition by 15% for Ohio residents.

University Presidents

• Daniel A. Payne, 1863–1876
• Benjamin F. Lee, 1876–1884
• Samuel T. Mitchell, 1884–1900
• William S. Scarborough, 1908–1920
• Richard R. Wright, Jr., 1932–1936, 1941–1942
• Charles Leander Hill, 1947–1956
• Rembert E. Stokes, 1956–1976
• Yvonne Walker Taylor, 1984–1988
• John L. Henderson, 1988–2002
• Floyd Flake, 2002–2008
• Vann R. Newkirk, Sr., 2023–present

Academics at Wilberforce

Cooperative Education Program

Wilberforce University requires all students to take part in a cooperative education program. This means students get real-world work experience through internships. This program has been a required part of the school since 1966. It helps students get practical skills along with their classroom learning.

NASA SEMAA Project

In 2006, Wilberforce opened the NASA Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA). It also opened the Aerospace Education Laboratory (AEL). This program helps students learn about science, technology, engineering, and math. It was designed to help students who might not have many chances to learn about these subjects.

Wilberforce offered training sessions for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. These sessions took place during the school year and in the summer. The AEL is a special classroom with computers and technology. It helps students in grades 7–12 with their SEMAA training.

Student Life and Activities

Greek Organizations

All nine of the National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations have chapters at Wilberforce University. These are historically Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities.

Sports at Wilberforce

The Wilberforce athletic teams are called the Bulldogs. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They play as an independent team in the Continental Athletic Conference.

Wilberforce has 11 different sports teams. Men's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, spirit teams, and track & field.

Intramural Sports

Students can also play intramural sports for fun. These include basketball, softball, volleyball, flag football, and tennis.

Notable Alumni

See also

• Historically black colleges and universities

Images for kids

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  Seal of Wilberforce University

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  Daniel Alexander Payne in the early 1890s