Philander Smith College
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philander Smith College is a private, historically black college that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The student body averages around 850 attendees, with around 30% of that figure attending part time. Although known historically as a school for African Americans, it technically accepts students of all races. However, the vast majority of its students are black.
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[edit] History
Philander Smith College was officially founded in 1877 under the name of Walden Seminary as a means of providing educational opportunities for freed slaves west of the Mississippi River. The school was renamed to Philander Smith College in 1882 in order to recognize the financial contributions of Adeline Smith, the widow of Philander Smith. The college was chartered as a four-year college in 1883 and conferred its first bachelor’s degree in 1888. In 1943, Philander Smith was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Philander Smith College was also a pioneer of the civil rights movement; during this period many of its students engaged in nonviolent violations of segregation laws - such as sitting in at "whites-only" lunch counters.
[edit] Notable alumni
- James Hal Cone, Ph.D. - a major figure in systematic theology and liberation theology
- Joycelyn Elders - former United States Surgeon General
- "Geese" Ausbie - former Harlem Globetrotters player and coach
- Lottie Shackelford - former mayor of Little Rock
- Elijah Pitts - former Green Bay Packers player
- Tap Genius - Underground beatmaker, founder of The Refugees of the Old Earth
[edit] Notable faculty
- Lee Lorch, mathematician and civil rights activist.
[edit] External links
- Philander Smith College -- official website
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Categories: Universities and colleges affiliated with the United Methodist Church | Universities and colleges in Arkansas | Historically black universities and colleges in the United States | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools | Educational institutions established in 1877 | Southern United States university stubs