History of Morehouse College in Timeline
Morehouse College is a private, historically Black, men's liberal arts college located in Atlanta, Georgia. The college's main campus spans 61 acres and is situated near Downtown Atlanta. It features various residential dormitories and academic buildings. Morehouse is part of the Atlanta University Center consortium, which includes Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and the Morehouse School of Medicine.
1906: John Hope becomes president
In 1906, John Hope became the first African-American president of Morehouse College. His leadership marked a significant period of growth in enrollment and academic stature for the institution.
1906: Formation of Morehouse Debate Team
In 1906, Morehouse College established its debate team, marking the beginning of a long tradition of excellence in debate and public speaking.
1911: Founding of Morehouse College Glee Club
In 1911, the Morehouse College Glee Club was founded, beginning a long tradition of musical excellence.
1913: Renaming to Morehouse College
In 1913, Atlanta Baptist College was renamed Morehouse College in honor of Henry Lyman Morehouse, corresponding secretary for the American Baptist Home Mission Society.
1925: Renaming of The Maroon Tiger
In 1925, Morehouse College's student-run newspaper, originally founded as The Athenaeum in 1898, was renamed The Maroon Tiger.
1929: Cooperative agreement with Clark College and Spelman College
In 1929, Morehouse College entered into a cooperative agreement with Clark College and Spelman College, which later expanded to form the Atlanta University Center.
1931: Samuel H. Archer becomes president
In 1931, Samuel H. Archer became the fifth president of Morehouse College and chose the school colors, maroon and white, to reflect his own alma mater, Colgate University.
1936: First Miss Maroon & White Crowned
In 1936, the tradition of crowning Miss Maroon & White began at Morehouse College, with Juanita Maxie Ponder of Spelman College winning the first title. The pageant is the oldest active title in the Atlanta University Center.
1938: Franklin Delano Roosevelt's commencement address
In 1938, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave a summer commencement address at the University of Georgia, the last time a sitting president had done so in the state before President Barack Obama's address in 2013.
1940: Benjamin Mays becomes president
In 1940, Benjamin Mays became president of Morehouse College. He was a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr. and oversaw the growth in international enrollment and reputation.
1948: Thomas Dent's Contribution Period Begins
From 1948 to 1952, American poet and writer Thomas Dent contributed to The Maroon Tiger while attending Morehouse College.
1948: Martin Luther King Jr. graduates
In 1948, Martin Luther King Jr., who would later deliver his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech, graduated from Morehouse College.
1952: Thomas Dent's Contribution Period Ends
In 1952, Thomas Dent ended his contributions to The Maroon Tiger, marking the end of an era of significant literary contributions.
1963: March on Washington and 50th anniversary of King's speech
In 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Morehouse graduate Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech. The year 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of this historic event.
1964: Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, a significant historical document included in the King Collection held at Morehouse College.
1967: Hugh M. Gloster becomes the seventh president
In 1967, Hugh M. Gloster became the seventh president of Morehouse College.
1969: Notable Alumni List
In 1969, Donn Clendenon, an alumnus of Morehouse College, became the World Series MVP in Major League Baseball.
1975: Establishment of the Morehouse School of Medicine
In 1975, Hugh M. Gloster established the Morehouse School of Medicine, which became independent from Morehouse College in 1981.
1981: Morehouse School of Medicine becomes independent
In 1981, the Morehouse School of Medicine, established by Hugh M. Gloster, became independent from Morehouse College.
1987: Leroy Keith Jr. named president
In 1987, Leroy Keith Jr. was named president of Morehouse College.
1990: Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholarship Fund
In 1990, Oprah Winfrey pledged to put 100 deserving young men through Morehouse College by establishing the Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports students based on academic achievement and financial need.
1994: First Rhodes Scholar
In 1994, Morehouse College produced its first Rhodes Scholar, Nima Warfield, marking a significant academic achievement for the institution.
1995: Walter E. Massey becomes president
In 1995, alumnus Walter E. Massey became Morehouse's ninth president.
1996: Performance at 1996 Summer Olympics
In 1996, the Morehouse College Glee Club performed at the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, showcasing their musical talent on an international stage.
1999: Gandhi Ikeda King Hassan Institute for Ethics and Reconciliation
In 1999, Lawrence Carter, Professor of Religion and Dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, commissioned the Gandhi Ikeda King Hassan Institute for Ethics and Reconciliation.
1999: Marshall Scholars and Other Scholars
Since 1999, Morehouse College has produced several distinguished scholars, including five Marshall Scholars, highlighting the institution's commitment to academic excellence.
2001: Second Rhodes Scholar
In 2001, Christopher Elders was named the second Rhodes Scholar from Morehouse College, continuing the institution's legacy of academic excellence.
2001: Gandhi–King–Ikeda Community Builder's Prize
In 2001, Lawrence Carter created the Gandhi–King–Ikeda Community Builder's Prize at Morehouse College, named after Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Daisaku Ikeda.
2004: Third Rhodes Scholar
In 2004, Oluwabusayo "Topé" Folarin was named the third Rhodes Scholar from Morehouse College, further enhancing the college's reputation for producing distinguished scholars.
2004: Oprah Winfrey Donation Increase
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey increased her donation to Morehouse College by $5 million, bringing her total contribution to $12 million, which helped support over 400 students.
2005: Membership in American Mock Trial Association
In 2005, Morehouse College joined the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), becoming one of only four historically Black colleges and the only all-male team in the competition.
2006: King Collection Buyout and New Civil Rights Museum
In 2006, the King Collection, a 10,000-piece collection of Martin Luther King Jr.'s documents, was scheduled to be auctioned off. However, private donors in Atlanta intervened with a pre-auction bid of $32 million, securing the collection. Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin announced that a new civil rights museum would be built to house the collection, with Coca-Cola donating a land parcel valued at $10 million to assist in the project.
2006: First Regional Championship Win
In 2006, the Morehouse College Debate Team won its first regional championship, leading to participation in the AMTA national championship competitions.
2007: Graduation of 540 men
In 2007, Morehouse College graduated 540 men, marking one of the largest classes in its history.
May 16, 2008: First white valedictorian graduates
On May 16, 2008, Joshua Packwood became the first white valedictorian to graduate in Morehouse College's 141-year history.
August 2008: Largest entering class
In August 2008, Morehouse College welcomed 920 new students (770 freshmen and 150 transfer students) to its campus, one of the largest entering classes in the history of the school.
2008: Expansion of The Maroon Tiger
In 2008, the staff of The Maroon Tiger sought to expand the newspaper into a comprehensive news organization, launching Morehouse's first television news program, Tiger TV.
October 2009: Controversial Dress Code Policy
In October 2009, Morehouse College implemented a campus-wide attire policy prohibiting students from wearing women's clothes, jewelry on teeth, pajamas in classrooms, du-rags, or pants below the waist at official events. The policy, part of the Five Wells initiative, was controversial, especially among gay students. Vice President for Student Services William Bynum and President Robert Michael Franklin Jr. addressed the backlash, stating the policy was not intended to target gay students.
2009: Advancement of Online News Coverage
In 2009, The Maroon Tiger further advanced its news coverage by expanding its online presence, continuing its evolution as a modern news organization.
2010: Consecutive Regional Championships
By 2010, Morehouse College Debate Team had consecutively won regional championships from 2006 to 2010, earning trips to AMTA national competitions.
2010: White House Fellow
In 2010, Erich Caulfield from Morehouse College was named a White House Fellow, showcasing the leadership potential and academic prowess of its alumni.
2011: Oprah Scholars Tribute
In 2011, several hundred Oprah Scholars surprised Oprah Winfrey at her final TV show, carrying candles to thank her for her generosity. They pledged $300,000 to help future Morehouse students.
November 2012: John Silvanus Wilson announced as 11th president
In November 2012, alumnus John Silvanus Wilson was announced as the 11th president of Morehouse College.
2012: Notable Alumni List
In 2012, Morehouse College alumni included notable figures like businessman and former 2012 Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain.
May 2013: President Barack Obama delivers commencement address
In May 2013, President Barack Obama became the first sitting president in three-quarters of a century to deliver a commencement address in Georgia when he spoke at Morehouse College's 129th Commencement ceremony. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Morehouse.
2013: Notable Alumni List
In 2013, Jeh Johnson, an alumnus of Morehouse College, served as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
2013: Multiple milestones celebrated
In 2013, Morehouse College celebrated several historic milestones: the 100th anniversary of its renaming in 1913, the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, the 50th anniversary of King's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail,' and the 25th anniversary of the 'A Candle in the Dark' Gala.
2013: House of Funk Halftime Show
In 2013, the Morehouse College Marching Band, known as the House of Funk, performed the halftime show at the NCAA Men's National Championship basketball game. The band is renowned for its dynamic performances combining dance, marching, and various music genres.
December 2014: Board of Trustees composition
As of December 2014, Morehouse College's Board of Trustees had 37 members, including three student trustees and three faculty trustees, with a notable presence of Morehouse alumni.
2015: Fourth Rhodes Scholar
In 2015, Prince Abudu was recognized as the fourth Rhodes Scholar from Morehouse College, demonstrating the ongoing academic success of its students.
2016: Hosting U.S. Universities Debating Championship
In 2016, Morehouse College was selected as the host for the annual U.S. Universities Debating Championship, the only HBCU, Georgia institution, and men's college to do so, with nearly 200 teams participating.
2017: International Debate Championship Win
In 2017, the Morehouse College Debate Team won an international first-place title at the Lafayette Debates North American Championship in Washington D.C., defeating Vanderbilt University and earning a trip to Paris, France.
January 2018: David A. Thomas takes office as president
In January 2018, David A. Thomas took office as the 12th president of Morehouse College.
2018: Fifth Rhodes Scholar
In 2018, Franck Nijimbere became the fifth Rhodes Scholar from Morehouse College, continuing the tradition of academic excellence at the institution.
April 2019: Admission of transgender men
In April 2019, Morehouse College announced that it would begin admitting transgender men starting in the year 2020.
May 2019: Robert F. Smith's donation
In May 2019, Robert F. Smith, who received an honorary degree at Morehouse College's 135th commencement ceremony, pledged to pay the educational loan debt for every spring 2019 graduate, totaling about $34 million.
2019: Oprah Winfrey's Continued Support
In 2019, Oprah Winfrey added $13 million to the Morehouse College scholarship program, bringing her total donations to $25 million.
June 2020: Reed Hastings' and Patty Quillin's donation
In June 2020, Reed Hastings and his wife Patty Quillin donated $40 million to Morehouse College for scholarship funds, marking one of the largest single donations in HBCU history and the largest ever for Morehouse.
July 2020: MacKenzie Scott's donation
In July 2020, Morehouse College received a $20 million donation from MacKenzie Scott.
2020: Transgender men admissions begin
In 2020, Morehouse College began admitting transgender men for the first time, following the announcement made in April 2019.
February 2021: Online degree completion program and athletics course
In February 2021, Morehouse College announced its online degree completion program for adult learners and launched its first online certificate course focused on athletics and social activism.
2021: Popular majors of 2021 graduates
In 2021, Morehouse College's most popular majors among graduates were identified, reflecting the academic interests and strengths of the student body.
January 2022: Establishment of the Black Men’s Research Institute
In January 2022, Morehouse College announced the establishment of the Black Men’s Research Institute, focusing on issues affecting Black men, especially where disparities exist.
February 2022: $500 million capital campaign launch
In February 2022, Morehouse College launched a $500 million capital campaign to fund scholarships, infrastructure improvements, research, and faculty recruitment and retention.
