Lincoln University: A Legacy of Education and Empowerment

Lincoln University stands as a testament to the enduring power of education and the pursuit of equality. Founded in 1854 as the Ashmun Institute, it holds the distinction of being the first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the United States. Its journey from a humble institute to a renowned university reflects the evolving landscape of American higher education and the unwavering commitment to providing opportunities for African Americans.

The Genesis of Lincoln University: From Ashmun Institute to a Beacon of Hope

The story of Lincoln University begins with the vision of John Miller Dickey, a Presbyterian minister, and his wife, Sarah Emlen Cresson, a Quaker. They established the Ashmun Institute in Hinsonville, Pennsylvania, naming it after Jehudi Ashmun, a religious leader and social reformer known for his work in resettling African Americans. Dickey's plans for a university to train young Black men in classical, scientific, and theological education gained approval from the Presbytery of Newcastle, Pennsylvania, in 1853.

Sarah Emlen Cresson's Quaker background instilled in her a deep-seated commitment to service and philanthropy. John Miller Dickey, after serving as a missionary and preaching to slaves in Georgia, became pastor of a church in Oxford, Pennsylvania, in 1832. He was also involved in the American Colonization Society and participated in legal actions to free a young African-American girl from slave raiders.

In October 1853, the Presbytery of New Castle approved Dickey's plan to establish Ashmun Institute, for the scientific, classical, and theological education of colored male youth. On April 29, 1854, the Ashmun Institute Bill was signed by Governor William Bigler, allowing for the construction of the new school. Dickey used his own money to finance construction of the president’s house and a schoolroom with attached dormitories. By the fall of 1856, the school was nearly ready to open, and the Reverend John Pym Carter was selected as its first president.

The first building of Ashmun Institute was dedicated on December 31, 1856, and classes began on January 1, 1857, with only two students, James Ralston Amos and his brother Thomas.

Renaming and Expansion: Honoring Lincoln and Broadening Horizons

In 1866, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the Ashmun Institute was renamed Lincoln University in his honor. This renaming symbolized a pivotal shift in the institution's mission. While initially focused on training Black missionaries for service in Africa, Lincoln University broadened its scope to include instruction in the liberal arts, preparing students for various professions and leadership roles in America. This made it one of the first historically black institutions in the country to focus singularly on higher education.

Dickey proposed that the school expand into a full-fledged university and enroll students of "every clime and complexion." Law, medical, pedagogical, and theological schools were planned in addition to the College of Liberal Arts.

Shaping Leaders and Institutions: Lincoln's Enduring Influence

Lincoln University quickly became a prominent institution, attracting talented students from across the United States, particularly during the era of legal segregation. Its graduates went on to make significant contributions in various fields, including academia, public service, and the arts.

During its formative years, Lincoln graduates also went on to found HBCUs across the southern United States including South Carolina State University, Livingstone College (North Carolina), Albany State University (Georgia) and Texas Southern University.

Lincoln graduates during these formative years also went on to found HBCUs across the southern United States including South Carolina State University, Livingstone College (North Carolina), Albany State University (Georgia) and Texas Southern University.

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The university's influence extended beyond national borders, with alumni like Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, and Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria, shaping the political landscape of Africa.

Lincoln University has alumni who founded the following six colleges and universities in the United States and abroad: South Carolina State University (Thomas E. Miller), Livingstone College (Joseph Charles Price), Albany State University (Joseph Winthrop Holley), Texas Southern University (Raphael O’Hara Lanier), Shantung Christian University (Charles V. Park), and Cuttington College (Levi Akalazu Nwachuku, Judith A. Marianne H.

A Century of Growth and Change: Milestones and Transformations

The 20th century brought significant changes to Lincoln University. In 1945 Horace Mann Bond, an alumnus of Lincoln, became the first African-American president of the university. In 1953, the university marked its hundredth anniversary by amending its charter to permit the granting of degrees to women. This decision reflected the evolving societal norms and the growing recognition of women's roles in higher education and professional life.

In June 1921, days after the Tulsa race massacre, President Warren Harding visited Lincoln to deliver the commencement address. He spoke about the need to seek healing and harmony in that incident's aftermath, as well as to honor Lincoln alumni who were among the 367,000 African-American servicemen who fought in World War I.

In 1972, it formally associated with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a state-related, coeducational university.

The Campus: A Blend of History and Modernity

Lincoln University's main campus, spanning 422 acres (170.8 ha) in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, is a testament to its rich history and commitment to progress. The campus features a mix of historic buildings, modern facilities, and green spaces, creating a vibrant learning environment.

The origins of the campus date back to 1854, the year after the institution purchased a 30-acre parcel in Hinsonville, an existing African American settlement located some five miles north of the Mason-Dixon Line. By 1930, Lincoln emerged as a classic college campus shaped by major academic and residential buildings surrounded by faculty houses. Lincoln’s historic buildings are representative of the architectural styles that dominated American college campuses during the mid-to-late 1800s and the first quarter of the twentieth century. The buildings and grounds also represent the work of Philadelphia-based architectural and landscape firms commissioned to design and plan the campus. In particular, the firm of Sloan and Hutton who introduced a vocabulary of Federal style buildings in red brick with simple, well-proportioned facades and details that continue to define the character of the campus. Sloan and Hutton are noteworthy not only for their buildings at Lincoln but also for their work with other institutions in the region including Swarthmore College, Bryn Mawr College, and Haverford College as well.

The 2019 Lincoln University Master Plan emphasizes the institutional history and contributing buildings of the campus with the goal of elevating the status of this influential HBCU. By creating the Lincoln University Historic District, Lincoln is poised to highlight its contributions to American history and generate interest in the preservation and reinvestment in its contributing buildings. The overall goal is to foster a sense of pride in the many illustrious alumni, students and supporters who have contributed to the success of the institution and its campus.

Historic Buildings: Preserving the Legacy

Several historic buildings on campus stand as reminders of Lincoln University's rich heritage:

1856: Azikwe Nkrumah - Designed by Sloan and Hutton, this country-style house is the oldest building on the campus.
1866: Lincoln Hall - Designed by the firm of Sloan and Hutton, Lincoln Hall was constructed principally with federal funds appropriated through the Freedman’s Bureau. As an addition to an earlier building, Ashmun Hall, the design is a direct response to the regulations of the Bureau, which restricted expenditures of its funds to the improvement of old buildings rather than new construction.
1870: Cresson Hall - Constructed in 1870 with funds from the Freedmen’s Bureau, Cresson served as a dormitory for 80 students, housed three boarding clubs, the chemical laboratory, the library and a reading room. The building is an addition to the former President’s House.
1869-70: Alumni House - Constructed as the President’s residence, Alumni House mimics the classical country house style of Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall and the campus architectural style established by Sloan and Hutton.
1870-1871: Amos House - Named in memory of Sarah Hunter Amos, widow of Thomas Henry Amos, a graduate of the first class of the Ashmun Institute. Amos was ordained as a Presbyterian minister and served in Monrovia, Liberia as the first black Presbyterian missionary from 1859-70. After her husband’s death, Mrs. Amos returned to Lincoln to build a lodging and dining hall for students. Deeded to Lincoln in 1926, the house serves as a memorial in honor of this courageous and resourceful woman.
1874: Cannon House - Designed in the fashionable French Second Empire style of the time, this faculty house represents a departure from the Sloan and Hutton campus of the 1860s.
1881-82: Houston Hall - Designed by Addison Hutton and constructed in 1881-82, Houston served a dormitory for Theological students and as the headquarters of the Theological and Missionary societies until 1959.
1891: University Hall - Designed by Isaac Purcell, a Philadelphia-based architect known for ecclesiastical and institutional buildings, University Hall served as the original student center.
1891: Bond House - Designed by James Charles Sidney, the flared pyramidal roof, large wrap-around porch and patterned slate shingles, decorative wood trim and asymmetric façade characterize the house as Queen Anne or late Victorian.
1897: Vail Memorial Library - Designed by Addison Hutton of Sloan and Hutton, Vail was the first purpose-built library on the campus.
1902: Amos Hall - Designed by W.L Plack, Amos Hall was constructed as a bathhouse. Over the years, it served as a student center and as a residence hall.
1904: McCauley Hall - Designed by Walker and Gibson as a refractory, McCauley now serves as a residence hall. President Warring G. Harding in honor of Lincoln students who served in World War I.
1931: Rendall Hall - Named in honor of two former presidents, Isaac N. Rendall and his nephew, John B. Rendall, this residence hall was completed in 1931.

Modern Facilities: Enhancing the Learning Experience

In addition to its historic buildings, Lincoln University boasts several modern facilities that enhance the learning and living experience for its students:

Ivory V. Nelson Science Center and General Classroom High Technology Building: This four-story, 150,000-square-foot (14,000 m2) building, completed in 2008, provides state-of-the-art science and technology facilities.
International Cultural Center: Completed in 2010, this 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2) center serves as a hub for cultural exchange and international programs.
Health and Wellness Center: This 105,000 square feet (9,800 m2) facility, opened in 2012, promotes the health and well-being of students and the campus community.
Langston Hughes Memorial Library (LHML): The new Langston Hughes Memorial Library (LHML) opened in 1972. Its collection outgrew the building's capacity after notable 1929 alumnus and renowned poet, James Mercer Langston Hughes, bequeathed the contents of his personal library to the university upon his death in 1967.

Residential Life: Fostering Community

Lincoln University provides on-campus housing for over 1,600 students in fifteen residence halls. The residence halls range from small dorms such as Alumni Hall, built in 1870; and Amos Hall, built in 1902, to the new coed 400-bed apartment-style living (ASL) suites built in 2005.

Academic Programs and Initiatives: Preparing Students for Success

Lincoln University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), ensuring the quality and rigor of its academic offerings.

Lincoln University provides undergraduate and graduate coursework to approximately 2,000 students.

The university also emphasizes experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, research projects, and study abroad programs, to prepare students for success in their chosen fields.

The Lincoln-Barnes Visual Arts Program

The Lincoln-Barnes Visual Arts program is a collaboration between Lincoln University and the Barnes Foundation. As president of Lincoln University (1945-1957), Horace Mann Bond formed a friendship with Albert C. Barnes, philanthropist and art collector who established the Barnes Foundation. Barnes took a special interest in the institution and built a relationship with its students.

Student Life and Activities: A Vibrant Campus Community

Lincoln University offers a vibrant campus life with over 60 student organizations catering to diverse interests. These organizations provide opportunities for students to engage in activities such as fashion, arts, social justice, religious, international, cultural, service, leisure, media, and publishing.

Lincoln University participates in the NCAA as a Division II institution. Lincoln competes as a Division II member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and, the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

Notable Alumni: Shaping the World

Lincoln University has produced numerous notable alumni who have made significant contributions to society. Some of the most prominent alumni include:

Thurgood Marshall: US Supreme Court Justice and civil rights lawyer.
Langston Hughes: Harlem Renaissance poet and activist.
Kwame Nkrumah: First president of Ghana.
Nnamdi Azikiwe: First president of Nigeria.
Christian Fleetwood: Medal of Honor recipient and pioneering African-American editor.
Horace Dawson: Former US Ambassador to Botswana.
Frederick D. Alexander: Civil rights activist.
Gil Scott-Heron: Song artist and activist.
Roscoe Lee Browne: Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actor.
Robert Walter Johnson: Tennis coach of Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe.
Melvin B. Tolson: Educator and one of the most significant African American modernist poets.
Hildrus A. Poindexter: The first African American to earn both an M.D. (1929, Harvard University) and a Ph.D. (1932, Columbia University) as well as also the first African American internationally-recognized authority on tropical diseases.
Rev. James A. Forbes: Navy Rear Admiral.
Jacqueline F. Allen: Administrative judge of the trial division of the Common Pleas Court, Philadelphia.
Sheila Oliver: The first African American woman elected Assembly Speaker in the New Jersey General Assembly and the first African American woman elected Lt. Governor of New Jersey.
Philip Banks: Former New York City Police Chief.
Fred Thomas, Jr.: Actor, director and three-time NAACP award-winning playwright.
Dr. E. Marie B. Bynum: Superintendent of Schools, Chester, PA.

Leadership and Vision: Guiding Lincoln into the Future

Lincoln University is led by President Brenda A. Allen, who assumed office in 2017. President Allen is committed to advancing the university's mission of providing a high-quality education to students from diverse backgrounds and preparing them to be leaders in their communities and the world.

Early in her presidency, President Allen stated, “We need a plan designed to help us make smart investments in repurposing our older facilities, a plan design to help us honor the past while addressing contemporary needs” Thanks to her leadership, the 2019 master plan is now in place. Informed by detailed architectural assessments, the master plan summarizes major deficiencies and provides recommendations for stabilizing select historic buildings. Sasaki completed the Lincoln University Master Plan in 2019. The master plan provides building renovation and landscape recommendations for the Historic District, which encompasses the original campus core and surrounding faculty houses. It also coordinates the future use of the buildings with broader institutional and campus-wide initiatives. Landscape proposals provide a context and setting for several of the most neglected historic buildings in the core. Suggested improvements include the creation of a “historic quad” and strategies for bringing historic buildings up to code. New “pod” additions to the buildings provide entries, elevators, restrooms and mechanical systems while improving accessibility. The master plan builds upon previous studies for the historic buildings as well as recommendations developed during the planning process.

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