Claflin University

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Claflin University

Established	1869
Type	Private, HBCU
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church UNCF
Endowment	$74 million
President	Dr. Henry N. Tisdale
Students	1,800
Location	Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States
Campus	Urban 40 acres (16 ha)
Colors	Orange and Maroon
Athletics	NCAA Division II
Sports	basketball baseball tennis track and field softball volleyball
Nickname	Panthers and Lady Panthers
Affiliations	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Website	www.claflin.edu

Claflin University is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. Claflin University was founded in 1869 and is the oldest historically black college or university in the state of South Carolina.

History

Claflin was founded after the American Civil War in 1869 by Methodist missionaries from Massachusetts, supported by the New England Conference, to provide education to freedmen and prepare them for full citizenship. The university was named after two prominent Methodist churchmen, the Massachusetts governor William Claflin and his father, the Boston philanthropist Lee Claflin, who provided a large part of the funds to purchase the campus.

1899 football team, Claflin College

1900 band, Claflin College

Dr. Alonzo Webster, a minister and educator from Vermont and a member of Claflin’s Board of Trustees, secured Claflin’s charter in 1869. The charter forbids discrimination of any sort among faculty, staff and students, making Claflin the first South Carolina university open to all students regardless of race, class or gender.

Dr. Webster served as the first president of Claflin. He had gone to South Carolina to teach at the Baker Biblical Institute in Charleston. It was established in 1866 by the S.C. Mission Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the education of African-American ministers. In 1870 the Baker Biblical Institute merged with Claflin University. 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; it eventually became South Carolina State University.

Presidents

Dr. Alonzo Webster (1870-1872);
Dr. Edward Cooke (1872–1884);
Dr. Lewis M. Dunton (1884–1922);
Dr. Joseph B. Randolph (1922 1944);
Dr. John J. Seabrook (1945–1955);
Dr. Hubert V. Manning (1956–1984);
Dr. Oscar A. Rogers, Jr. (1984–1994); and
Dr. Henry N. Tisdale (1994–present).

Dr. Cooke left the presidency of Lawrence College to become the second president of Claflin. In 1879 the first college class was graduated.

The Reverend Dr. Dunton, the former vice president and development officer, was Claflin’s third president. A graduate of Syracuse University in New York state, he was a practical educator. Under his administration, the law department was set up under the Honorable J. J. Wright, a former Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court. Its graduates were admitted to the South Carolina Bar. He increased Claflin’s property from six to 21 acres (8.5 ha). During the 1890s, Robert Charles Bates (architect) (c. 1872 - ), a Claflin instructor and the first certified Black architect in the United States, designed several buildings on campus. After Dunton retired, he deeded his personal residence and 6 acres (2.43 ha) of land to Claflin.

Dr. Randolph, Claflin’s fourth president, was the former president of Samuel Houston College and former dean of Wiley College. As a professional educator, he placed emphasis on a complete liberal arts education to inspire students intellectually, culturally, and spiritually to launch into varied fields. He discontinued operating classes for the upper elementary grades and high school, which had formerly prepared students for study at Claflin. The college operated classes in the first four elementary grades for training of the college students in the elementary school teacher education program. This part of the program was later discontinued.

Dr. Seabrook, director of Morgan Christian Center, Baltimore, Maryland, became the fifth president of Claflin. Dr. Seabrook persuaded the South Carolina Annual Methodist Conference to increase substantially its annual giving to Claflin. He also revived the interest of the New England Conference of the Methodist Church in the institution. They helped increase the endowment and expand the curriculum. The college was first accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1948.

Dr. Manning was appointed Claflin’s sixth president. He was a Methodist minister and former associate professor at Claflin. He strengthened the faculty by hiring highly qualified people, increased the endowment and expanded the physical plant.

Dr. Rogers, former dean of the Graduate School at Jackson State University, became Claflin’s seventh president. Under his administration, the enrollment and endowment increased, the Grace Thomas Kennedy building was constructed, the financial base of the college improved, and two capital campaigns were completed. Dr. Rogers also commissioned a master plan to guide campus development into the 21st century.

Dr. Tisdale, Claflin’s eighth and current president, was former senior vice president and chief academic officer at Delaware State University. Dr. Tisdale brought scholarly achievement and demonstrated leadership to the University. He declared academic excellence the number one priority for Claflin. He established the Claflin Honors College and the Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, and gained national accreditation for more than a dozen academic programs.

Graduate programs established include the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Science in Biotechnology, and the Master of Education. Facilities enhancements include construction of the Living and Learning Center, Legacy Plaza, the Student Residential Center, the Music Center, and the new University Chapel. Claflin University is recognized as one of the premier liberal arts institutions in the nation.

Academics

Lee Library

The university offers broad-based education in liberal arts and sciences combined with internships and other career-focused programs and offers a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA), a Master of Science in Biotechnology and 33 undergraduate majors.

There are 1,883 students enrolled. 32% are male and 68% are female. They represent 45 SC counties, 24 States, and 18 countries.

Student activities

Greek letter organizations

The university currently has chapters for eight of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations.

Organization	Symbol	Chapter	Chapter Symbol
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority	ΑΚΑ	Gamma Nu	ΓΝ
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity	ΑΦA	Delta Alpha	ΔΑ
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority	ΔΣΘ	Gamma Chi	ΓΧ
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity	ΚΑΨ	Gamma Nu	ΓΝ
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity	ΩΨΦ	Lambda Sigma	ΛΣ
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity	ΦΒΣ	Omicron	Ο
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority	ΣΓΡ	Theta	Θ
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority	ΖΦΒ	Mu	Μ

Gamma Phi Delta, a national Christian fraternity, founded a chapter at Claflin in 2010.

Reserve Officers Training Corps

Claflin graduates who complete the R.O.T.C. program (a cross-enrollment agreement with South Carolina State University) may be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

Athletics

Claflin's athletic teams are the Panthers. It is a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of the NCAA (Division II). Men's sports include basketball, baseball, tennis, and track and field. Programs for women include basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, and track and field.

Notable alumni

Name	Class year	Notability	References
Roger Kenton Williams	1936	Educator who taught at psychology departments at North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Morgan State University, and University of Maryland-Eastern Shore
Danny!	2005	recording artist for Okayplayer Records and music producer/composer for MTV's Hype Music production library	^[1]
Dr. Gloria Rackley Blackwell	1953	civil rights activist, professor at Clark Atlanta University	^[2]
Dr. Nathaniel Frederick	2002	professor of communication at Claflin University	^[3]
Joseph H. Jefferson	1970	member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 102nd District	^[4]
Dr. Leonard Pressley	2002	professor of biology at Claflin University	^[5]
Leo Twiggs	1956	Artist and educator at South Carolina State University; the first African American to receive a Doctorate of Arts from the University of Georgia	^[6]

References

↑ "Danny!: Biography". Retrieved 2011-03-13.
↑ Carolyn Click, "Orangeburg civil rights icon, and Claflin alumna Dr. Gloria Rackley Blackwell dies" Claflin University (December 10, 2010). Retrieved June 2, 2011
↑ "Claflin Alumni Return to University to Serve on Faculty". Retrieved 2011-01-23.
↑ "Joseph H Jefferson". Retrieved 2011-01-23.
↑ "Claflin Alumni Return to University to Serve on Faculty". Retrieved 2011-01-23.
↑ "Hampton III Gallery Artist: Leo F. Twiggs (1934- )". Retrieved 2008-06-09.

External links

v t e Colleges and universities in South Carolina

Public institutions	The Citadel Clemson Coastal Carolina College of Charleston Francis Marion Lander South Carolina State USC Aiken USC Beaufort USC Columbia USC Lancaster USC Salkehatchie USC Sumter USC Union USC Upstate Winthrop

Private institutions	Allen Anderson Benedict Bob Jones Charleston Southern Claflin Columbia Columbia International Coker Converse Erskine Furman Limestone Morris Newberry North Greenville Presbyterian Sherman Southern Wesleyan Spartanburg Methodist Voorhees Wofford

Technical Colleges	Aiken TC Central Carolina TC Denmark TC Florence-Darlington TC Greenville TC Horry-Georgetown TC Midlands TC Northeastern TC Orangeburg-Calhoun TC Piedmont TC Spartanburg CC Technical College of the Lowcountry Tri-County TC Trident TC Williamsburg TC York TC

Seminaries, graduate, and professional institutions	Charleston School of Law Erskine Theological Seminary Geneva Reformed Seminary Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Medical University of South Carolina USC School of Law

International Association of Methodist-related Schools, Colleges, and Universities

v t e Historically black colleges and universities

Public institutions	Alabama A&M Alabama State Albany State Alcorn State Arkansas–Pine Bluff Bishop State CC Bluefield State Bowie State Central State Cheyney Coahoma CC Coppin State Delaware State Elizabeth City State Fayetteville State Florida A&M Fort Valley State Gadsden State CC Grambling State Harris–Stowe Hinds CC Jackson State Kentucky State Langston Lincoln, Missouri Lincoln, Pennsylvania Maryland, Eastern Shore Mississippi Valley State Morgan State Norfolk State North Carolina A&T State North Carolina Central Prairie View A&M Savannah State Shelton State CC South Carolina State Southern Southern–New Orleans Southern–Shreveport Tennessee State Texas Southern UDC UPR UVI Virginia State West Virginia State Winston-Salem State

Private institutions	Allen Arkansas Baptist Barber–Scotia Benedict Bennett Bethune-Cookman Claflin Clark Atlanta Concordia Alabama Dillard Edward Waters Fisk Florida Memorial Hampton Howard Huston–Tillotson Interdenominational Theological Center Jarvis Christian Johnson C. Smith Knoxville Lane LeMoyne–Owen Lewis College of Business Livingstone Meharry Miles Morehouse Morehouse School of Medicine Morris Brown Morris Oakwood Paine Paul Quinn Philander Smith Rust Saint Paul's Selma Shaw Simmons College (Ky.) Southwestern Christian Spelman Stillman St. Augustine's Talladega Texas College Tougaloo Tuskegee Virginia Union Virginia University Voorhees Wilberforce Wiley Xavier (La.)

Defunct institutions	Bishop Daniel Payne Guadalupe Kittrell Mississippi Industrial College Mount Hermon Female Seminary Storer Straight Western

v t e Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Members	Albany State Benedict Claflin Clark Atlanta Fort Valley State Kentucky State Lane LeMoyne–Owen Miles Morehouse Paine Stillman Tuskegee

Associates	Central State

Future	Spring Hill

v t e U.S. National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina

Lists by county	Abbeville Aiken Allendale Anderson Bamberg Barnwell Beaufort Berkeley Calhoun Charleston Cherokee Chester Chesterfield Clarendon Colleton Darlington Dillon Dorchester Edgefield Fairfield Florence Georgetown Greenville Greenwood Hampton Horry Jasper Kershaw Lancaster Laurens Lee Lexington Marion Marlboro McCormick Newberry Oconee Orangeburg Pickens Richland Saluda Spartanburg Sumter Union Williamsburg York

Lists by city	Charleston Columbia Greenville North Charleston Rock Hill

Other lists	Bridges National Historic Landmarks

Keeper of the Register History of the National Register of Historic Places Property types Historic district Contributing property

Coordinates: 33°29′54.08″N 80°51′14.53″W / 33.4983556°N 80.8540361°W / 33.4983556; -80.8540361

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