Clark Atlanta University

Imagine the year: 1865, as the United States emerges from the clutches of the Civil War. Here, in the Southern part of the nation, something extraordinary was about to happen. James Tate and Grandison B. Daniels, educated African American ex-slaves, kindled a fire that was about to illuminate an epoch of change. The first African American school in Atlanta came to life at the corner of Courtland and Jenkins Streets.

It all began in a quaint structure initially built in 1848, an old church building that was the foundation of the Friendship Baptist Church. Despite the damages incurred during the Siege of Atlanta in 1864, their spirit wouldn't waver. And so, in September 1865, Atlanta University was born, the first HBCU in the Southern United States.

Meanwhile in the north, the white missionary Reverend Frederick Ayer was preparing to join this endeavor. Upon his arrival in November 1865, the American Missionary Association leapfrogged the initiative by purchasing a boxcar in Tennessee for $310 and shipping it to Friendship. This simple boxcar didn't just offer a new teaching environment to Atlanta University, but it also presented a communal space for church gatherings.

With Ayer's arrival, Tate and Daniels saw an opportunity to accomplish their bigger vision. They passed on their roles to Ayer, trusting him to usher in an era of significant educational advancement. It was only a matter of two years before Edmund Asa Ware was appointed as the first president of the university, symbolizing a promising inception.

The chartering of Atlanta University was not an isolated event; it was a testament to the tireless efforts of multiple personalities like Oliver Otis Howard from the Freedmen's Bureau and influential figures like William J. White. It soon marked its footprint as the nation's oldest graduate institution serving a predominantly African-American student body, and starting from 1876, it was the first university in the South to award bachelor's degrees to African-Americans.

Fast forward to 1912, a catalog surfaced that painted a vivid picture of Atlanta University's beginnings. An enrollment of 403 was divided between the two divisions of the college— prepping high school students for college life, and forming the educational trajectory of the next generation of teachers. During this era, black colleges like Morehouse, Spelman, Clark were shining their light independently, all while relying on Northern philanthropy.

Post World War I, the powerful forces of the North initiated a clarion call for mergers to elevate the pedagogical quality. The resultant reverberations were met with the inception of the historic Atlanta University Affiliation, setting the stage for Atlanta University to metamorphize into a graduate school, while Morehouse and Spelman focused on undergraduate programs. By 1988, the university fused with Clark College, marking the birth of Clark Atlanta University.

Journey with us a bit further back into history—1869 marked the establishment of North Hall, the first women's dormitory in an HBCU. Strides were being made to help facilitate women's education. However, imagine the pride when in between 1895 and 1900, seven women held in their hands the bachelor's degree from Atlanta University. A riveting moment of triumph echoed as women began to carve their path in the educational landscape.

By 1905, more landmarks graced the Atlanta University campus, Carnegie Library being one of them. Imagine the stories that must have flowed through those halls, between one student to another, from a professor to a curious mind— a testimony to the journey of intellectual enlightenment. However, by mid-August 2015, a fire threatened to obliterate North Hall's historic significance. Luckily, in October 2017, a court ruling ensured the property's rightful return to Clark Atlanta University.

From this point, Atlanta University metamorphosed as it redesigned its educational roadmap. The unfolding decades gave birth to graduate schools of Library Science, Education, and Business Administration, catalyzing an extensive educational revolution. Morris Brown's former president, Stanley Pritchett, preserves memories with a photo of Atlanta University students housed in what is now Morris Brown's campus.

Landmarks like Fountain Hall, once part of Atlanta University, now Morris Brown College, stand high on the crest of Diamond Hill. Fountain Hall, once the administration building for Atlanta University, now houses offices, a chapel, art studios, and a gallery. It continues to be a gathering place and focus of activity in the education process, marking its presence in the city's cultural fabric.

With the initiation of the modern organization of the Atlanta University Center, the collaboration between several established institutions dawned, thereby broadening the scope of the educational landscape. However, the quality of leadership and faculty, paired with the excellence of its graduates, remains the cornerstone of the university's reputation.

The road ahead is a long one, but the steps taken by institutes like Clark Atlanta University towards enlightenment cannot be ignored.