| Cheyney
University Of Pennsylvania
Cheyney,
Pennsylvania
Founded in
1837 as the Institute for Colored Youth, Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania is the oldest of the Historically Black Colleges
and Universities in America. The founding of Cheyney University
was made possible by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist
who bequeathed $10,000, one tenth of his estate, to design and
establish a school to educate the descendents of the African race.
Born on a plantation
in the West Indies, Richard Humphreys came to Philadelphia in
1764. Having witnessed the struggles of African Americans competing
unsuccessfully for jobs due to the influx of immigrants, he became
interested in their plight. In 1829, race riots heightened and
it was that year Richard Humphreys wrote his will and charged
thirteen fellow Quakers to design an institution: "...to
instruct the descendents of the African Race in school learning,
in the various branches of the mechanic Arts, trades and Agriculture,
in order to prepare and fit and qualify them to act as teachers...."
The school began in
Philadelphia as the Institute for Colored Youth and successfully
provided free classical education for qualified young people.
In 1902, the Institute moved to George Cheyney's farm, 25 miles
west of Philadelphia. In 1913, the name was changed to Cheyney
State Teachers College; in 1921, the State Normal School at Cheyney;
and in 1959, Cheyney State College. In 1983, Cheyney joined the
State System of Higher Education as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.
Today, Cheyney University
students represent a variety of races, cultures, and nationalities
who receive education instruction beyond the vision of Richard
Humphreys. Cheyney graduates still become teachers, but students
also enter careers such as journalism, medicine, business, science,
law, communication, and government service. The university offers
baccalaureate degrees in more than 30 disciplines and the master’s
degree in education.
www.cheyney.edu
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