Voorhees College
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| Voorhees College | |
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| Established: | 1897 |
| Type: | Private |
| Religious affiliation: | Episcopal Church |
| President: | Cleveland Sellers, Jr.[1] |
| Location: | Denmark, South Carolina, United States |
| Campus: | Rural |
| Former names: | Denmark Industrial School Vorhees Industrial Institute for Colored Youths Vorhees School and Junior College |
| Colors: | Royal Blue and White |
| Mascot: | Tigers |
| Website: | www.voorhees.edu |
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.
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[edit] History
In 1897, Elizabeth Evelyn Wright 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 Vorhees 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 Vorhees School and Junior College. In 1962, with the addition of departments, it became accredited as Voorhees College.[2]
[edit] Voorhees College Historic District
- See Main Article: Voorhees College Historic District
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.[3] Photographs of some of the buildings are available.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ "Orangeburg figure Sellers will lead Voorhees College".
- ^ Edgar, Walter (2006). South Carolina Encyclopedia. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press. pp. 999–1000. ISBN 1-57003-598-2.
- ^ "NHRP Nomination form".
- ^ "South Carolina Department of Archives and History".
[edit] External links
- www.voorhees.edu Official site
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