A Legacy of Leadership: The History of Morehouse College Presidents

Morehouse College, the only historically Black college for men, boasts a rich and unique history of cultivating exceptional leaders. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the institution has been delivering an unparalleled educational experience, catering to the intellectual, moral, and social growth of students from over 35 states and 17 countries. Founded in 1867, Morehouse has evolved into a global powerhouse, shaping leaders across diverse professions and disciplines. From its humble beginnings in a church basement, the college has established a legacy of excellence that strengthens with each passing year. This article delves into the history of the presidents who have steered Morehouse College through its transformative journey.

The Founding and Early Years

In 1867, two years after the Civil War, the Augusta Institute was established at Silver Bluff Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia. Springfield Baptist, founded in 1787, stands as the oldest independent African American church in the United States. The school's initial mission was to prepare Black men for ministry and teaching. The Rev. William Jefferson White, an Augusta Baptist minister, cabinetmaker, and journalist, founded Augusta Institute. He had the support of the Rev. Richard C. Coulter, a former slave from Augusta, Georgia, and the Rev. Edmund Turney, organizer of the National Theological Institute for educating freedmen in Washington, D.C.

The Rev. Joseph T. Robert served as the first president from 1871 to 1884. In 1879, the Augusta Institute was invited by the Rev. Frank Quarles to move to the basement of Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta and was renamed Atlanta Baptist Seminary. The Seminary later moved to a 4-acre lot near the Richard B. Russell Federal Building site in downtown Atlanta.

Relocation and Transformation

In 1885, Dr. Samuel T. Graves became the second President, and the institution relocated to its current site in Atlanta’s West End community. The campus encompasses a Civil War historic site, where Confederate soldiers staged a determined resistance to Union forces during William Tecumseh Sherman’s siege of Atlanta in 1864. The land was a gift from John D. Rockefeller. In 1897, Atlanta Baptist Seminary became Atlanta Baptist College during the administration of Dr. George Sale.

John Hope: A Pioneer in Education

A new era, characterized by expanded academic offerings and increased physical facilities, dawned when Acting President John Hope became the fourth President in 1906. A pioneer in education and recognized as the first civil rights president in the American Academy, he was also the College’s first African American President. Hope, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University, encouraged an intellectual climate comparable to what he had known at his alma mater and openly challenged Booker T. Washington’s call for blacks to forego social and political equality in favor of economic advancement. Atlanta Baptist College, already a leader in preparing African Americans for teaching and the ministry, expanded its curriculum and established educating leaders for all areas of American life. In addition to attracting many talented faculty and administrators, Hope contributed much to the institution we know today. Upon the death of the College’s founder in 1913, Atlanta Baptist College was named Morehouse College in honor of Henry L. Morehouse. Twenty-three years later, Hope became the first African-American president of Atlanta University, the first graduate school for black students in the country. He allied with fellow teacher W.E.B. DuBois in opposing Booker T. Washington’s call for blacks to forego social and political equality in favor of economic advancement.

Read also: Leadership at Morehouse

The Archer Era and the Influence of Mays

Dr. Samuel H. Archer became the fifth President of the College in 1931 and headed the institution during the Great Depression. He gave the school its colors, maroon and white, the same as those of his alma mater, Colgate University. Archer retired in 1937. Dr. Charles D. Hubert served as the third Acting President until 1940 when Dr. Benjamin E. Mays began his leadership.

Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, a nationally noted educator and mentor to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘48, is recognized as the architect of Morehouse’s international reputation for excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. During his presidency, the number of faculty members grew, and those holding doctoral degrees increased significantly.

Gloster's Expansion and Innovation

In 1967, Dr. Hugh Morris Gloster ‘31 was selected by Dr. Mays to become the first alumnus to serve as President of the College. Under his leadership, Morehouse strengthened its Board of Trustees, conducted a successful $20-million fundraising campaign, grew the endowment, and added 12 buildings to the campus, including the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. Morehouse established a dual-degree program in engineering with the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, and Boston University. Gloster founded the Morehouse School of Medicine, which became an independent institution in 1981.

Keith's Financial Growth and Campus Development

In 1987, Dr. Leroy Keith Jr. ‘61 was named eighth President of Morehouse. The College’s endowment increased to more than $60 million during the Keith administration. The Nabrit-Mapp-McBay science building was completed, the Thomas Kilgore Jr. Campus Center and two dormitories were built, and Hope Hall was rebuilt.

Interim Leadership and Transition

In October 1994, Wiley Abron Perdue ‘57, vice president for business affairs, was appointed the fourth Acting President of Morehouse. Under his leadership, national memorials were erected to honor Dr. Benjamin E. Mays and internationally noted theologian Dr. Howard W. Thurman ‘23. Perdue launched an initiative to upgrade the College’s academic and administrative computer information systems, finalized plans to build a dormitory, and undertook the construction of a 5,700-seat gymnasium to provide a basketball venue for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Today, this arena is named for the longtime basketball coach Franklin L. Forbes.

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Massey's Vision for Excellence

On June 1, 1995, Dr. Walter Eugene Massey ‘58 was named the ninth President of Morehouse College. A noted physicist and university administrator, Massey called on the Morehouse community to renew its longstanding commitment to a culture of excellence. Under Massey’s leadership, the College embraced his vision of becoming one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges and accepted the challenge of providing students with a top-quality, 21st-century education. The physical infrastructure was also significantly enhanced. Construction was completed on Davidson House Center for Excellence, which serves as the President’s official residence. In 2005, a new Leadership Center was opened with a comprehensive conference center, the Executive Conference Center. Other additions included the John H. Hopps Technology Tower, a 500-car parking deck, and an expanded campus bookstore. Renovations were made to several residential halls, classroom buildings, Archer Hall Recreation Center, Chivers-Lane Dining Hall, and the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. In June 2006, the College completed Morehouse’s most ambitious capital campaign-raising a record $112 million, which exceeded the Campaign’s goal of $105 million. The same year, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin raised $34 million to Morehouse College for the Martin Luther King Jr. Collection.

Franklin's Renaissance and Focus on Ethics

On July 1, 2007, the Rev. Dr. Robert Michael Franklin Jr. ‘75 was appointed the 10th President of Morehouse College. During his tenure, Franklin led the institution forward with his vision of the “Morehouse Renaissance,” further elevating public confidence in the College’s continuing stature as a premier institution providing a high-quality education along with enhancing the intellectual and moral dimension of Morehouse’s mission and mystique. Franklin led and supported cultivation efforts that increased the number of new donors.

Wilson's Focus on Student Achievement

On January 28, 2013, Dr. John Silvanus Wilson Jr. ‘79, an accomplished university administrator, professor, and former executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, stepped into office as the College’s 11th President. Under his leadership, the College improved student achievement across various metrics.

Taggart's Brief Tenure

William James Taggart assumed the role of the sixth Acting President of the College after serving as the chief operating officer of Morehouse since 2015. Tragically, just two months after his appointment, Taggart suddenly passed away on June 8, 2017.

Martin's Interim Leadership

On June 26, 2017, Harold Martin Jr. ‘02 left the Morehouse Board of Trustees temporarily to accept an appointment as the eighth Acting President of Morehouse College. Martin set campus-wide priorities to improve accountability, boost enrollment, increase the graduation rate, and highlight the contributions of young alumni.

Thomas' Vision for the Future

In October 2017, the Morehouse Board of Trustees voted to name Dr. David A. Thomas as the 12th President of Morehouse College. Thomas took office on January 1, 2018. Thomas is raising funds to support campus renovations, faculty research, infrastructure improvements, and other needs. Under Thomas’ leadership in 2018-19, Morehouse College raised more than $7 million to establish new endowed scholarships, build an outdoor study area and park for students, and support programming at Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel.

Bowman's Homecoming and Vision

The inauguration of Dr. F. DuBois Bowman as the 13th president of Morehouse College was more than a ceremonial milestone; it was a homecoming. The day’s events unfolded with reverence, tradition, and palpable anticipation. President Bowman then delivered his inaugural address, “Building Principled Leaders: Steadfast, Honest, True,” articulating a vision grounded in Morehouse’s legacy and responsive to the demands of the present moment.

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