Voorhees College
Encyclopedia
Voorhees College is a private, historically black college (HBCU) in Denmark, South Carolina
. It is affiliated with the Episcopal Church
. Voorhees College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
.
and Jessie Dorsey founded Denmark Industrial School for African Americans. Located in a rural area and small town, it was modeled on Tuskegee Institute. It began in the upstairs of an old store.
In 1902, Ralph Voorhees, a New Jersey
philanthropist
, gave the school a donation to purchase land and construct buildings. In 1904 the South Carolina General Assembly
renamed the school and incorporated it as the Voorhees Industrial Institute for Colored Youths.
In 1924, the school was affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina
. In 1947, its name was changed to Voorhees School and Junior College. In 1962, with the addition of departments, it became accredited as Voorhees College.
In 1969, the schools predominantly Black student body demanded more Black study programs and the hiring of Black faculty as well as assisting the local lower income community of Denmark with scholarships. The Voorhees administration, made up of mostly Whites, ignored the students plea. A demonstration of 500 students began as a response and this eventually led to a 2 day armed student occupation of the college. The President of Voorhees agreed to the students demands but he subsequently called on the South Carolina National Guard to over take the students, arresting them after they had already surrendered. Many were suspended.
This historic district
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on January 21, 1982. It includes thirteen contributing buildings constructed from 1905 to 1935. The historic district is noteworthy as an example of pioneering education for African Americans in the early 20th century, and for its association with Elizabeth Evelyn Wright. In addition, the buildings, constructed mostly by students, showed ambitious design and masonry techniques. Many of these buildings were constructed by the students of Voorhees College as part of their crafts program. Photographs of some of the buildings are available.
Denmark, South Carolina
Denmark is a city in Bamberg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,934 at the 2009 census.-Geography:Denmark is located at .According to the...
. It is affiliated with the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. Voorhees College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
.
History
In 1897, Elizabeth Evelyn WrightElizabeth Evelyn Wright
Elizabeth Evelyn Wright founded Denmark Industrial Institute in Denmark, South Carolina, as a school for African-American youth. It is present-day Voorhees College, a historically black college...
and Jessie Dorsey founded Denmark Industrial School for African Americans. Located in a rural area and small town, it was modeled on Tuskegee Institute. It began in the upstairs of an old store.
In 1902, Ralph Voorhees, a New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, gave the school a donation to purchase land and construct buildings. In 1904 the South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
renamed the school and incorporated it as the Voorhees Industrial Institute for Colored Youths.
In 1924, the school was affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America covering an area of 24 counties in the eastern part of the state of South Carolina. Its see city is Charleston, home to the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul and Diocesan House. There are...
. In 1947, its name was changed to Voorhees School and Junior College. In 1962, with the addition of departments, it became accredited as Voorhees College.
In 1969, the schools predominantly Black student body demanded more Black study programs and the hiring of Black faculty as well as assisting the local lower income community of Denmark with scholarships. The Voorhees administration, made up of mostly Whites, ignored the students plea. A demonstration of 500 students began as a response and this eventually led to a 2 day armed student occupation of the college. The President of Voorhees agreed to the students demands but he subsequently called on the South Carolina National Guard to over take the students, arresting them after they had already surrendered. Many were suspended.
Voorhees College Historic District
- See Main Article: Voorhees College Historic DistrictVoorhees College Historic DistrictThe Voorhees College Historic District is a historic district encompassing the campus of Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina. Thirteen of the nineteen buildings are contributing properties....
This historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on January 21, 1982. It includes thirteen contributing buildings constructed from 1905 to 1935. The historic district is noteworthy as an example of pioneering education for African Americans in the early 20th century, and for its association with Elizabeth Evelyn Wright. In addition, the buildings, constructed mostly by students, showed ambitious design and masonry techniques. Many of these buildings were constructed by the students of Voorhees College as part of their crafts program. Photographs of some of the buildings are available.
External links
- www.voorhees.edu Official site