Claflin University

History

It was originally named Claflin College and was founded in 1869 by Alonzo Webster, a minister for the Methodist Episcopal Church (today the United Methodist Church). Claflin College opened its doors on October 27, 1869.

Webster came from Vermont to South Carolina as a missionary to teach at the Baker Bible Institute in Charleston, a training school for African American ministers. The Baker Biblical Institute in Charleston, was an institution established by the South Carolina Mission Conference of 1866 of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the education of African American ministers. In 1870, the Baker Biblical Institute merged with Claflin University.

Webster had received a charter from the state of South Carolina to establish a college freed slaves to take their rightful places as full American citizens. Claflin University is the oldest historically black college or university in South Carolina and touts itself as the first college in the state to welcome all students regardless of race or gender. It was the first Black college to offer architectural drawing courses.

The institution was named after two Methodist churchmen: Massachusetts Governor William Claflin and his father, Boston philanthropist Lee Claflin, who provided a large part of the funds to purchase the 43 acre campus. Claflin's first president was Alonzo Webster, who had previously spent time as a member of Claflin's board of trustees. Since the administration of Webster, Claflin has been served by eight presidents.

An act by the South Carolina General Assembly on March 12, 1872, designated the South Carolina State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute as a part of Claflin University. In 1896 the S.C. General Assembly passed an act of separation which severed the State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute from Claflin University and established a separate institution which eventually became South Carolina State University.

In 2020, American novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated US $20 million to Claflin University. Her donation is the largest single gift in Claflin's history.

Presidents

Presidents of Claflin have included:

• 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

Claflin offers degrees through four schools:

• School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• School of Business
• School of Education

Student life

Athletics

thumb|Claflin football team of 1899 Claflin University's athletics teams are referred to as the Panthers. The institution is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) since the 2018–19 academic year. The Panthers have also competed in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) from 2008–09 to 2017–18; as well as in the defunct Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) from 1983–84 to 2004–05.

Claflin competes in ten intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's basketball, baseball, cross country and track & field, and women's basketball, cheerleading, cross country, softball, track & field and volleyball.

Claflin has an all-girl cheerleading team that serves as athletics support and ambassadors of the institution as well as their pep band.

Student organizations

There are over 50 student organizations on campus, including several honor societies and chapters for eight of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations.

Notable alumni

References

References

1. (2024). "President's report: Elevation & transformation 2019-2024". [[Claflin University]].
2. "Academic Programs". claflin.edu.
3. (1994-12-02). "Claflin's past a 'revealing slice of Southern history'". [[The Times and Democrat]].
4. "Claflin University".
5. (2010-07-06). "Claflin University (1869- )".
6. "The son of a former slave became a groundbreaking architect. This crumbling building is about to come down.". [[Washington Post]].
7. Neufeld, Rob. (2018-02-25). "History of Claflin University". [[Asheville Citizen-Times]].
8. [https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/extra/news/claflin-receives-20-million-donation-largest-in-university-history/article_5392c2bb-bd19-582d-8169-fedbd376f312.html Claflin receives $20 million donation] {{dead link. (December 2022)
9. Thomas, June M.. (2022-03-10). "Struggling to Learn: An Intimate History of School Desegregation in South Carolina". [[University of South Carolina Press]].
10. "Clubs & Organizations".
11. "Notable Alumni".
12. link. (2011-09-29 , Claflin University (December 10, 2010). Retrieved June 2, 2011)
13. "Joseph H Jefferson".
14. "E. Roger Mitchell". IMDb.
15. "Claflin University". Times Higher Education.
16. "The Johnson Collection - Rose, Arthur 1921-1995".
17. "Hampton III Gallery Artist: Leo F. Twiggs (1934- )".
18. "Cecil Williams".
19. "Gospel Veteran Bishop Bryan Andrew Wilson".