Description: Portrait of Reverend W.B. Derrick, D.D., President of the Board of Directors of Payne Theological Seminary at Wilberforce University, ca. 1899. This photograph appears in the Annual Catalogue of Wilberforce University, 1899-1900, which was published in 1900. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent 18th century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army, and Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the AME Church, John Mitchell, a school principal in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an AME pastor from Zanesville, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African American community for the next 24years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, which brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 378_771W641h_1899_Derrick
Subjects: Wilberforce University; Higher education; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Religious education;
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Reverend Abram Grant, D.D., President of the Board of Trustees at Wilberforce University, ca. 1899. This photograph appears in the Annual Catalogue of Wilberforce University, 1899-1900, which was published in 1900. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent 18th century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army, and Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the AME Church, John Mitchell, a school principal in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an AME pastor from Zanesville, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African American community for the next 24years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, which brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 378_771W641h_1899_Grant
Subjects: Wilberforce University; Higher education; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Educators
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the Carnegie Library at Wilberforce University. This image appears in the Annual Catalogue of Wilberforce University, 1909-1910. According to the publication, the library was dedicated on June 19, 1907, and opened to students and patrons on September 1 of that year. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent 18th century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army, and Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the AME Church, John Mitchell, a school principal in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an AME pastor from Zanesville, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African American community for the next 24years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, which brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 378_771W648H_Carnegie
Subjects: Wilberforce University; Higher education; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Libraries--Ohio;
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Reverend Samuel Thomas Mitchell, A.M., LL.D., retiring President of Wilberforce University ca. 1899. This photograph appears in the Annual Catalogue of Wilberforce University, 1899-1900, which was published in 1900. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent 18th century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army, and Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the AME Church, John Mitchell, a school principal in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an AME pastor from Zanesville, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African American community for the next 24years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, which brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 378_771W641h_1899_Mitchell
Subjects: Wilberforce University; Higher education; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Educators
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Illustrated portrait of J.P. Maxwell, who served as secretary of Wilberforce University. This portrait appears in "School Days at Wilberforce," a small volume of recollections by author Reverdy C. Ransom of his time as a student at the university. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent 18th century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army, and Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the AME Church, John Mitchell, a school principal in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an AME pastor from Zanesville, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African American community for the next 24years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, which brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 378_771W641Er_Maxwell
Subjects: Wilberforce University; Higher education; Historically Black Colleges and Universities;
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Illustrated portrait of Professor Joseph P. Shorter, A.M., Superintendent of the Normal and Industrial Department at Wilberforce University, ca. 1899. This portrait appears in the Annual Catalogue of Wilberforce University, 1899-1900, which was published in 1900. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent 18th century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army, and Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the AME Church, John Mitchell, a school principal in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an AME pastor from Zanesville, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African American community for the next 24years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, which brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 378_771W641h_1899_Shorter
Subjects: Wilberforce University; Higher education; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Educators
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Illustrated portrait of Reverend T.H. Jackson, D.D., who was a professor of Theology at Wilberforce University. This portrait appears in "School Days at Wilberforce," a small volume of recollections by author Reverdy C. Ransom of his time as a student at the university. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent 18th century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army, and Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the AME Church, John Mitchell, a school principal in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an AME pastor from Zanesville, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African American community for the next 24years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, which brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 378_771W641Er_T_Jackson
Subjects: Wilberforce University; Higher education; Historically Black Colleges and Universities;
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Reverend Joshua H. Jones, A.M., D.D., President of Wilberforce University, ca. 1901. This portrait appears in the Annual Catalogue of Wilberforce University for the years 1900-1901 and 1901-1902. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent 18th century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army, and Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the AME Church, John Mitchell, a school principal in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an AME pastor from Zanesville, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African American community for the next 24years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, which brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 378_771W641h_1900_Jones
Subjects: Wilberforce University; Higher education; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Educators
Places: Wilberforce (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)