Bennett College

This article is about the historically black women's college in Greensboro, North Carolina. For the women's college in Millbrook, New York which existed from 1890 to 1978, see Bennett College (New York).
Bennett College

Official Bennett College seal
Former names
Bennett School, Bennett Seminary
Motto "Educating and Celebrating Women Since 1873"
Established August 1, 1873 and reorganized as an all-female institution in 1926
Type Private Historically Black Liberal Arts College for Women[1]
Affiliation United Methodist Church[2]
Endowment $15 million
President Rosalind Fuse-Hall
Academic staff
89
Students 780
Location Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Campus 60 acres
Colors Royal Blue and White
Athletics United States Collegiate Athletic Association USCAA
Sports Basketball Golf Softball Swimming Soccer Fitness[3]
Nickname Belles
Affiliations United Negro College Fund
Website www.bennett.edu
Bennett College Historic District
Location Roughy bounded by E. Washington, Bennett and Gorrell Sts., Greensboro, North Carolina
Built 1878
Architectural style Gothic, Other, Georgian Revival
Governing body Private
MPS Greensboro MPS
NRHP Reference # 92000179[4]
Added to NRHP April 3, 1992

Bennett College is a private four-year historically black liberal arts college for women. Located in Greensboro, NC, it was founded in 1873 as a normal school educating newly emancipated slaves. It became a women's college in 1926 and is one of only two historically black colleges that enroll women only. Today it serves roughly 780 undergraduate students.

History

The bell once served as a clock for the student body, letting them know class and meal times.

Bennett College was founded August 1, 1873 as a normal school for seventy African American men and women (former slaves). The school's founder Albion W. Tourgee was an activist in the second half of the 19th century who championed the cause of racial equality contributed greatly to the colleges' inception. The school held its inaugural classes in the basement of Warnersville Methodist Episcopal Church North (now St. Matthew's United Methodist) in Greensboro. Bennett as a coeducational school at the time (offered both high school and college level courses), and remained so until 1926. The year after its founding, the school became sponsored by the Freedman's Aid Society and Southern Education Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Bennett remained under the Freedman's Aid Society for 50 years. In 1878, newly emancipated slaves purchased the land which the colleges stands today. Hearing of what was being done, New York businessman Lyman Bennett provided $10,000 in funding to build a permanent campus. Bennett died soon thereafter, and the school was named Bennett Seminary and a bell was created in his honor. Hearing of Bennett's philanthropy his coworkers continued his mission by providing the bell for the school.

In 1888, Bennett Seminary elected its first African-American president, the Reverend Charles Grandison. Grandison spearheaded a successful drive to have the school chartered as a four-year college in 1889. As to which, two of the first African American bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church were graduates of the college. One being bishop Robert Elijah Jones an 1895 graduate and brother of future president David Dallas Jones. Under the direction of Reverend Grandison, and the direction of the president who followed him (Jordan Chavis), Bennett College grew from 11 undergraduate students to a total of 251 undergraduates by 1905. The enrollment leveled out in the 1910s at roughly 300. In 1916, a survey taken by the Phelps-Stokes Foundation recommended Bennett College be turned into a college for women. After doing research and finding there was not a four-year college for African American women only,(Bennett was chartered as a college in 1889) the Woman's Home Missionary Society sought a school for that purpose. The Board of Education of North Carolina offered Bennett College for that task. Ten years of searching for a location and funding for the construction of a new campus (a new location was sought in Lynchburg, Virginia), the Women's Home Missionary Society and The Board of Education of North Carolina decided to keep the college in its current location since it was already an established institution. Bennett fully transitioned into a women's college in 1926. Note: The Women's Home Missionary Society's on campus involvement with Bennett women dates back to 1886.[5]

In 1926, David Dallas Jones' installment as President placed Bennett College on a pinnacle of new heights. Under Jones, Bennett College expanded and the student body grew to 400. Known as the Vassar College of the south, diversity was added to the campus with faculty, staff and student body, bringing individuals from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds to the college. Although his leadership of the college was very accomplished, it was also marred with controversy. In 1937, Bennett students protested downtown Greensboro, NC movie theaters because of the depictions of black women in film and segregation of movie theaters. The successful protest and boycott was led by Bennett College freshwoman Frances Jones (daughter of David D. Jones). Due to this protest in the height of Jim Crow in the south, Jones was visited by the FBI and other government agencies, ordering him to force the students from protesting, he refused. He defied all odds once again when he invited first lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the college to meet with an integrated group of school aged children (black and white) from the Greensboro community March 22, 1945. Other visitors to the campus included Benjamin Elijah Mays – former Morehouse College president, poet Robert Frost and James Weldon Johnson. Jones led the college for almost 30 years until he became ill in 1955, naming Willa B. Player interim president. Note: (Bennett's brother college is Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. This relationship developed through the close and historic friendship of David Dallas Jones and Benjamin E. Mays.)

In October 1956, Willa Beatrice Player was inaugurated as President of Bennett College. She was the first African American woman to be president of a four-year, fully accredited liberal arts college or university. During Player's tenure, Bennett was one of the first historically black colleges to receive Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation in 1957. On February 11, 1958 she allowed controversial civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. to speak at the school when he was not allowed to speak anywhere else in Greensboro, NC. His iconic speech "A Realistic Look At Race Relations" was delivered to an overpacked audience at Bennett College's Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel. On King's visit to the college, Player was quoted "Bennett College is a liberal arts college where freedom rings so King can speak here." King's visit to the college along with Howard Thurman and Benjamin Elijah Mays (in order of visit to the college) is what sparked the Bennett Belles to plan and to lead protests in Greensboro.

Civil Rights Movement

Bennett students picketing the segregated National Theatre.

In February 1960 civil unrest hit downtown Greensboro, NC with protest from African American college students from Bennett College and North Carolna A&T. February 2, 1960, Bettye Davis, class of 1963, made the commitment to sit at the "white-only" lunch counter with students from North Carolina A&T and remained at the lunch counter until it was integrated. February 4, 1960, close to a dozen Bennett Belles were arrested due to on going protest of Woolworths.[6]

On April 21, 1960, Bennett and A&T students were arrested for trespassing at the S.H. Kress & Co. lunch counter.[6]

On April 22, 1960, The Daily News broke the story of the arrests with front-page headlines and a picture of a well-dressed female students awkwardly entering the back of a paddy wagon without assistance from the police officers surrounding it. It was stated that Greensboro police were surprised by the behavior of Bennett Belles who were viewed as well dressed upstanding women from an "elitist finishing school" in the Greensboro community. At the peak of the sit in movement more than 40% of Bennett's student body was jailed.[6] Player personally visited students in jail and carried their assignments to them so they would not fall behind in their studies.[7]

Willa B. Player, the activist president, would lead Bennett for an additional six years before stepping down in 1966 and Isaac H. Miller was welcomed as the 11th president. Being at the college came full circle for Miller whose father was an administrator during former president Frank Trigg's tenure.

During the tenure of Isaac Miller, the Bennett Ideal was maintained. But it was not an easy task, with the social change of the 1960s, Bennett belles protested strict dress codes, disciplinary policies and curfew. During the 1967-68 school year, freshwomen walked out of dormitories 1 minute before curfew. Students took over the student union demanding change. Miller's response, surrounding the buildings with campus security, bringing family and sleeping bags which changed the protest into a campus wide sleep over. Belles wore dresses, hats and gloves until the early 1970s.

His collaboration with other colleges and universities in Greensboro resulted in a consortium which expanded Bennett's academic program offerings. Also under Isaac Miller, the Biomedical research and interdisciplinary studies programs were added along with a bridge program in conjunction with Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. He collaborated with other HBCU presidents aiding in the establishment of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and he served as the associations first board of directors. Miller's plans got the support of alumnae and they increased material and fiscal resources. Bennett's endowment grew and four new buildings were added. Isaac Miller served as president for a very accomplished 21 years, the second longest presidential tenure in Bennett College history. He retired in 1987, making Gloria Dean Randle Scott Bennett's 12th president and second woman to take the helm.

Gloria Randle Scott took over as President of Bennett College July 1, 1987. During Gloria Scott's tenure additional programs were added to the college. Before coming to Bennett, Gloria Scott was the first African American woman to be President of Girl Scouts of the USA and currently serves as a board member. While President of Bennett, Scott installed a chapter of the Girl Scouts to Bennett's activities. Also under her leadership, the Women's Leadership Institute, Center for African Women and Women of the African Diaspora were added to expand the education culture of the college. In 1989, Maya Angelou was installed as a member of the board of trustees. Gloria Scott was President of Bennett for 14 years before retiring in 2001.

Bennett today

In June 2002 came big changes for Bennett College. The school was revitalized and much needed renovations were made to campus buildings under the leadership of Sister President Emerita Johnnetta B. Cole who spearheaded a $50 million campaign. Also under her leadership the New Academy – an academic program, the Johnnetta B. Cole Diversity and Inclusion Institute and an art gallery were added to expand the culture of the college. Dr. Cole also enhanced the study abroad program. Health and fitness was added as an expansion to educate the young ladies of the college on the importance of healthy living. A host of famous faces stopped by the campus and lent a hand to raise money for Bennett. Notables such as former President Bill Clinton, former US Senator Robert Dole, trustee emerita Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey assisted with this fundraising cause. The campaign closed successfully at the end of her tenure June 30, 2007.

On July 1, 2007, Julianne Malveaux became President of Bennett College. Under the leadership of Malveaux she spearheaded a $21 million expansion and renovation project of the college. She increased enrollment, added four new buildings, a multimedia center and additional renovations were made to campus buildings. Also under her tenure, Malveaux enhanced the overall academic curriculum which focuses on women's leadership, entrepreneurship, communications and global studies.

On July 1, 2012, Esther Terry '61 became the first alumna to ever lead the college. As the College's provost, Terry assumed the position of interim president for a full academic year. During the May 2013 commencement ceremony, the Board of Trustees announced that the official history of the College would refer to Terry as 16th President of Bennett College.

Rosalind Fuse-Hall assumed presidency on July 1, 2013. She is most known for her vivacious, down-to-earth spirit which has led to a plethora of connections within the higher education system. She focuses on the importance of increasing enrollment and retention.

Bennett is currently ranked among the top historically black colleges and universities, both for its academic achievements and its relatively reasonable tuition rates. Since 1930, Bennett has graduated more than 7,000 students, affectionately known as Bennett Belles. The college is also known for its intense spirituality, sisterhood and a wide range of school traditions.

Accreditations and memberships

In 1930, on the graduation of its first four women with a bachelor’s degree, the ‘A’ rating was granted to the college by the North Carolina State Department of Education. This same rating was granted the college in 1936 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Today, the college continues with its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation and is also accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

In 1957, Bennett was one of the first Black colleges to be admitted into full membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Other organizations in which the college holds or has held membership include: the American Association of Colleges, The Commission on Black Colleges of the University Senate, the American Association of Registrars and Admission Officers, the American Council of Education, the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, the College Fund/UNCF, the Council on Independent Colleges, the Women’s College Coalition, the North Carolina Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the NCB Piedmont Automated Library System (NCBPALS), the Greater Greensboro Consortium, and the New York University Faculty Resource Network.

Bennett College

  1. W.J. Parker (principal) (1874–1877)[8]
  2. Edward O. Thayer (1877–1881)[8]
  3. Wilbur F. Steele (1881–1889)[8]
  4. Charles N. Grandison (1889–1892)[8]
  5. Jordan D. Chavis (1892–1905)[8]
  6. Silas A. Peeler (1905–1913)[8][9]
  7. James E. Wallace (1913–1915)[8]
  8. Frank Trigg (1915–1926)[8]

Bennett College for Women

  1. David Dallas Jones (1926–1955)
  2. Willa Beatrice Player (1955–1966) – Bennett's first female president[7]
  3. Isaac H. Miller, Jr. (1966–1987)
  4. Gloria Randle Scott (1987–2001)
  5. Althia F. Collins (2001–2002)
  6. Johnnetta B. Cole (2002–2007)
  7. Julianne Malveaux (2007–2012)
  8. Esther Terry (2012 – June 30, 2013) – Bennett's first alumna president
  9. Rosalind Fuse-Hall (July 1, 2013 – present)

Academics

Bennett college offers 24 majors and 19 minors under 3 divisions: Division of Natural and Behavioral Sciences and Mathematics, Division of Social Sciences and Education, and Division of Humanities. These disciplines include degrees in bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of arts and science in interdisciplinary studies, bachelor of social work, and the bachelor of fine arts. Bennett also offers five dual degree programs including Chemistry/Chemical Engineering with NC A&T, Chemistry/Pharmacy with Howard University, Mathematics/Mechanical Engineering with NC A&T, Mathematics/Electrical Engineering with NC A&T and Mathematics/Industrial Engineering with NC A&T.

Bennett has incorporated three new programs that are aimed at increasing students' awareness of the struggles and accomplishments of all women, especially those of African descent; and staying in-step with the ever-changing climate of today's globally integrated society: Womanist Religious Studies, Global Studies, Africana Women's Studies and The New Academy.

The Early/Middle College at Bennett College

The Middle College at Bennett has the distinction of being one of only two all-female high schools in the state of North Carolina. It began in 2003 as a middle college serving female 11th and 12th grade students who were at-risk of dropping out of high school. By 2006, with the help of The New Schools Project Reform Initiative, The Middle College expanded its population to include 9th and 10th graders and began offering dual enrollment. With dual enrollment, students take college courses and earn transferable college credit as they earn their high school diploma. Students begin taking college courses their 9th grade year and may earn up to two years of transferable college credit hours upon completion of their senior year.

Today, the Early/Middle College is nationally recognized as an honor school. In 2012 it was named a National Blue Ribbon School, and in 2011 and 2013 became one of 25 schools across the United States and Canada to receive a Project Ignition grant to put their no texting and driving campaign into action. In June 2013 the high school was announced as one of the top ten under the Project Ignition campaign and were awarded additional funding.

Campus

Student life

There are over 60 campus social, service, religious, and the student government association organizations. Bennett College also has collegiate sports.

Honor societies

Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Kappa Mu, Beta Kappa Chi, Iota Iota Iota, Psi Chi, Sigma Tau Delta

Student publications, media and alumnae publications

Bennett Banner, Belle Vision TV, Bennett College Association of Black Journalist, Belle Ringer Alumnae Magazine

Student academic and enrichment clubs

American Civil Liberties Club, Belle Business Club, Biology Club, Chemistry Club, Foster Friends Club, HBCU-UP Club, Mathematics and Computer Science Club, Psychology Club, Social Work Club, Journalism Club, Minority Association for Pre-Med Students (MAPS).

Student council

Barge Hall Council, Cone Hall Council, Jones Hall Council, Pan Hellenic Council, Pfeiffer Hall Council, Player Hall Council, Reynolds Hall Council, Pre Alumnae Council or PAC.

Student Government Association (SGA)

Serves as the official governing body for students.

Student Union Advisory Board (SUAB)

Provides educational, cultural, social recreation, entertainment and community building.

Student North Carolina Association of Educators (SNCAE)

Aids in making a smooth transition for education majors from classwork to first year teaching.

Belle awareness and encouragement groups

Belles Against Domestic Violence, Belles of Peace, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Political Pacesetters, HIV/AIDS Prevention Taskforce

Religious organizations

Bennett College Choir, Belles of Harmony Gospel Choir, The Millennium Mentors, Spirit of David Dance Ministry, Student Christian Fellowship, United Methodist Women, Catholic Campus Connection.

Sisterhood organizations

Ringers, Liberty Belle New York Connection, Sister to Sister, Native Sister, Mid West Belles Club, Southern Belles Club, West Coast Connect

International organizations

Caribbean Connection, International Club

National Pan Hellenic Council

Active Sororities on Bennett College campus

Alpha Kappa Alpha , Delta Sigma Theta , Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho

Other organizations

Belles in Media, Blue Blaze Dancers, Bennett College Ambassadors Association, Class Governments (Freshwomen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior), Ecentrique Modeling Troupe, Ladies of Essence Dance Team, Queens Association, Students in Free Enterprise.

Bennett College for Women Athletics

Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Softball

Health, wellness and fitness

Outdoor Tennis Courts, 1/2 Mile Walking Track, Fitness/Weight Room

Notable alumnae

Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
Dorothy L. Brown 1941 First African American woman general surgeon in the south and to serve on the Tennessee General Assembly, Brown was also the first African American woman to be made a fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Maidie Norman 1934 Actress and educator. Maidie Norman's most famous role came in the 1962 horror and suspense film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? along side veteran actresses Joan Crawford and Betty Davis. Norman is also widely known in Hollywood for fighting against stereotypical movie roles of African Americans.
Carolyn R. Payton 1945 First woman, first African American and first psychologist tapped by President Jimmy Carter to head the Peace Corps. Payton also defined the meaning for what it is to be a First Class Citizen. She is also a pioneer in women's psychology
Jacquelyn Grant 1970 Author of the widely acclaimed White Women's Christ and Black Women's Jesus: Feminist Christology and Womanist Response. Jacquenlyn Grant is the first African American woman to earn a doctoral degree in systematic theology at Union Theological Seminary. She is also an author, theology professor and minister.
Beverly Buchanan 1962 Noted artist for her exploration of Southern vernacular architecture. She went on to Columbia University where she received a master's degree in parasitology(1968) and public health(1969). Beverly decided not to attend medical school in order to pursue her dream as an artist.
Yvonne Johnson 1962 First African American Mayor of Greensboro, NC and Educator.
Gladys A. Robinson 1971 Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate representing the 28th district.
Belinda J. Foster 1979 First African American female District Attorney in the State of North Carolina.
Talia Melanie McCray 1990 Professor and noted research scientist.
Sara Lou Harris Carter 1943 First African American model to be featured in a national poster advertisement campaign in the 1940's for Lucky Strike cigarettes. She was also an Actress, Educator and Humanitarian.
I. Patricia Henry 1969 First African American woman to manage a major American brewery, making her a master brewer for Miller Brewing Company now MillerCoors.
Hattie Caldwell 1971 noted African American Physicist
Frances Jones Bonner 1939 First African American woman to train and to become a faculty member at Massachusetts General Hospital. She also led a successful protest and boycott of downtown Greensboro, NC movie theaters in 1937.
Cynthia D. Brown 1991 Former Durham, North Carolina City Councilwoman and Candidate for U.S. Senate in 2002.
Linda Beatrice Brown 1961 Author, Civil Rights Activist, Willa Beatrice Player Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Bennett College for Women.

Notable faculty

Name Department Notability Reference
R. Nathaniel Dett Visiting Director of Music. Advisor to Frances Jones Bonner during 1937 downtown Greensboro, NC boycott and protest.
Julianne Malveaux African-American economist, author, liberal social and political commentator, and businesswoman. Began as a visiting professor of economics before serving as president 2007–2012. [11]
Alma Adams Was elected to North Carolina House of Representatives in 1994. Served as professor of art and former director of Steele Hall Art gallery.
Merze Tate Department chair of Social Science and professor.
Willa Beatrice Player Served as President from 1955-1966

See also

References

[12]

  1. "About Us". Bennett College. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  2. "Student Affairs". Bennett College. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  3. "Student Affairs: Athletics". Bennett College. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  4. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  5. "Bennett College Concentrated on Educating Black Women". African American Registry. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Bennett College's Civil Rights Timeline". Bennett's Sit-in Story. Bennet College Journalism and Media Studies Department. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Willa Player Encouraged and Taught Many". African American Registry. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 "Bennett College, a haven for Education . . .". The African American Registry. 2005-08-01. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  9. Arnett, Ethel Stephens (1973). For Whom Our Public Schools Were Named, Greensboro, North Carolina. Piedmont Press. p. 274.
  10. Wallace, Rich (September 1996). "Ida Haslup Goode Leaves Legacy". Traveling Through Time. Shelby County Historical Society. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  11. "Julianne Malveaux Resigns as President of Bennett College". The Grio. February 28, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  12. library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/JSH/JSH1999/JSH2603/JSH2603h.pdf. "We Were Ladies, We Just Played Like Boys"African American Womanhood and Competitive Basketball at Bennett College, 1928-1942 by Rita Liberti.

External links

Coordinates: 36°04′03″N 79°46′43″W / 36.0674527°N 79.7785359°W