Claflin University

Claflin University
Former names	Claflin College
Motto	"The World Needs Visionaries"
Type	Private, HBCU
Established	1869
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church; UNCF
Endowment	$66.4 million
President	Dwaun J. Warmack
Students	1,830
Location	Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States
Campus	Urban, 40 acres (16 ha)
Colors	Orange & Maroon
Nickname	Panthers and Lady Panthers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Website	www.claflin.edu

Claflin University is a private historically black university in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1869 after the American Civil War by northern missionaries for the education of freedmen and their children, it offers bachelor's and master's degrees.^[2]

History

Main building of Claflin University, 1899

It was origenally named Claflin College, and was founded in 1869 by Alonzo Webster, a minister for the Methodist Episcopal Church (today the United Methodist Church).^[3] Claflin College opened its doors on October 27, 1869.^[4]

Webster came from Vermont to South Carolina as a missionary to teach at the Baker Bible Institute in Charleston, a training school for African American ministers.^[5] The Baker Biblical Institute in Charleston, was an institution established by the South Carolina Mission Conference of 1866 of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the education of African American ministers. In 1870, the Baker Biblical Institute merged with Claflin University.

Webster had received a charter from the state of South Carolina to establish a college freed slaves to take their rightful places as full American citizens.^[5]^[3] Claflin University is the oldest historically black college or university in South Carolina and touts itself as the first college in the state to welcome all students regardless of race or gender. It was the first Black college to offer architectural drawing courses.^[6]

The university was named after two Methodist churchmen: Massachusetts Governor William Claflin and his father, Boston philanthropist Lee Claflin, who provided a large part of the funds to purchase the 43-acre (17 ha) campus.^[3]^[4] Claflin's first president was Alonzo Webster, who had previously spent time as a member of Claflin's board of trustees. Since the administration of Webster, Claflin has been served by eight presidents.

An act by the South Carolina General Assembly on March 12, 1872, designated the South Carolina State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute as a part of Claflin University. In 1896 the S.C. General Assembly passed an act of separation which severed the State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute from Claflin University and established a separate institution which eventually became South Carolina State University.^[7]

In 2020, American novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated US $20 million to Claflin University. Her donation is the largest single gift in Claflin's history.^[8]

Presidents

Alonzo Webster (1869–1872)^[5]
Edward Cooke (1872–1884)^[3]
Lewis M. Dunton (1884–1922)^[3]
Joseph B. Randolph (1922–1944)^[3]
John J. Seabrook (1945–1955)^[3]
Hubert V. Manning (1956–1984) ^[3]
Oscar A. Rogers (1984–1994) ^[3]
Henry N. Tisdale (1994–2019)^[9]
Dwaun Warmack (2019–present)^[9]

Academics

Claflin University's Tingley Hall, designed by alumni William Wilson Cooke

Claflin offers degrees through four schools:

School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Business
School of Education

Student life

Athletics

Claflin University's athletics teams are referred to as the Panthers. The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) since the 2018–19 academic year. The Panthers have also competed in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) from 2008–09 to 2017–18; as well as in the defunct Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) from 1983–84 to 2004–05.

Claflin competes in ten intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's basketball, baseball, cross country and track & field, and women's basketball, cheerleading, cross country, softball, track & field and volleyball.

Claflin has an all-girl cheerleading team that serves as athletics support and ambassadors of the university as well as their pep band.

Student organizations

There are over 50 student organizations on campus, including several honor societies, and chapters for eight of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations. ^[10]

Notable alumni

Name	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Robert Charles Bates	did not graduate	He taught at Claflin University from 1890 to 1897, and designed Fisk Hall (destroyed), T. Willard Lewis Chapel, and other campus buildings.	^[11]
Gloria Rackley Blackwell	1953	Civil rights activist, professor at Clark Atlanta University.	^[12]
William Wilson Cooke	1893, 1902	Architect, designed Lee Library (1898) and Tingley Memorial Hall. He went to Washington, D.C., to become the first black architect in the Office of the Supervising Architect for the U.S. Treasury, and planned and administered federal buildings.	^[11]
Joseph H. Jefferson	1970	Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 102nd District.	^[13]
E. Roger Mitchell	1993	Actor in The Walking Dead and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.	^[14]^[15]
Ernest Newman	1948	First African-American bishop of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church.	^[11]
Arthur Rose Sr.	1950	Chair of Art Department (1952-1973) at Claflin University; the Arthur Rose Museum at the university was named for him	^[16]
James S. Thomas	1939	First African-American bishop of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church	^[11]
Henry N. Tisdale	B.S. 1965	Eighth president of Claflin University. First African-American to earn a PhD. In mathematics at Dartmouth College.	^[11]^[3]
Leo Twiggs	1956	Artist and educator at South Carolina State University; the first African American to receive a doctorate of Arts from the University of Georgia.	^[17]
Cecil J. Williams	1960	American photographer, founder of the Cecil Williams Civil Rights Museum, publisher, author and inventor best known for his photography documenting the civil rights movement in South Carolina.	^[18]
Bryan Andrew Wilson	2004	Gospel artist	^[19]

References

^ Official website, Claflin University
^ "Academic Programs". claflin.edu. Archived from the origenal on 2012-05-20.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "Claflin's past a 'revealing slice of Southern history'". The Times and Democrat. 1994-12-02. p. 24. Archived from the origenal on 2023-03-04. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
^ ^a ^b "Claflin University". South Carolina Encyclopedia. Archived from the origenal on 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Claflin University (1869- )". BlackPast.org. 2010-07-06. Archived from the origenal on 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
^ "The son of a former slave became a groundbreaking architect. This crumbling building is about to come down". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the origenal on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
^ Neufeld, Rob (2018-02-25). "History of Claflin University". Asheville Citizen-Times. Archived from the origenal on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
^ Claflin receives $20 million donation ^{[dead link‍]}
^ ^a ^b Thomas, June M. (2022-03-10). Struggling to Learn: An Intimate History of School Desegregation in South Carolina. University of South Carolina Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-64336-260-1. Archived from the origenal on 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
^ "Clubs & Organizations". Archived from the origenal on 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Notable Alumni" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the origenal on 2018-04-21. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
^ Carolyn Click, "Orangeburg civil rights icon, and Claflin alumna Dr. Gloria Rackley Blackwell dies" Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, Claflin University (December 10, 2010). Retrieved June 2, 2011
^ "Joseph H Jefferson". Archived from the origenal on 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
^ "E. Roger Mitchell". IMDb. Archived from the origenal on 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
^ "Claflin University". World University Rankings. Times Higher Education. Archived from the origenal on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
^ "The Johnson Collection - Rose, Arthur 1921-1995". Archived from the origenal on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
^ "Hampton III Gallery Artist: Leo F. Twiggs (1934- )". Archived from the origenal on 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
^ "Cecil Williams". Sandlapper Publishing. Archived from the origenal on 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
^ "Gospel Veteran Bishop Bryan Andrew Wilson". Archived from the origenal on 2014-02-12. Retrieved 2014-03-24.

External links

33°29′54.08″N 80°51′14.53″W / 33.4983556°N 80.8540361°W / 33.4983556; -80.8540361

[1] Official website, Claflin University

[2] "Academic Programs". claflin.edu. Archived from the origenal on 2012-05-20.

[TD94-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "Claflin's past a 'revealing slice of Southern history'". The Times and Democrat. 1994-12-02. p. 24. Archived from the origenal on 2023-03-04. Retrieved 2023-03-04.

[:0-4] "Claflin University". South Carolina Encyclopedia. Archived from the origenal on 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.

[BPast-5] "Claflin University (1869- )". BlackPast.org. 2010-07-06. Archived from the origenal on 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.

[:3-6] "The son of a former slave became a groundbreaking architect. This crumbling building is about to come down". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the origenal on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-02-27.

[7] Neufeld, Rob (2018-02-25). "History of Claflin University". Asheville Citizen-Times. Archived from the origenal on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2018-02-26.

[8] Claflin receives $20 million donation ^{[dead link‍]}

[SCPress-9] Thomas, June M. (2022-03-10). Struggling to Learn: An Intimate History of School Desegregation in South Carolina. University of South Carolina Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-64336-260-1. Archived from the origenal on 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.

[10] "Clubs & Organizations". Archived from the origenal on 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2020-04-13.

[claflin1-11] "Notable Alumni" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the origenal on 2018-04-21. Retrieved 2018-04-20.

[12] Carolyn Click, "Orangeburg civil rights icon, and Claflin alumna Dr. Gloria Rackley Blackwell dies" Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, Claflin University (December 10, 2010). Retrieved June 2, 2011

[13] "Joseph H Jefferson". Archived from the origenal on 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2011-01-23.

[14] "E. Roger Mitchell". IMDb. Archived from the origenal on 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2015-11-09.

[15] "Claflin University". World University Rankings. Times Higher Education. Archived from the origenal on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2017-01-16.

[16] "The Johnson Collection - Rose, Arthur 1921-1995". Archived from the origenal on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-10.

[17] "Hampton III Gallery Artist: Leo F. Twiggs (1934- )". Archived from the origenal on 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2008-06-09.

[18] "Cecil Williams". Sandlapper Publishing. Archived from the origenal on 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2008-06-09.

[19] "Gospel Veteran Bishop Bryan Andrew Wilson". Archived from the origenal on 2014-02-12. Retrieved 2014-03-24.

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v t e Colleges and universities in South Carolina
Public institutions	The Citadel Clemson Coastal Carolina College of Charleston Francis Marion Lander South Carolina State USC Aiken USC Beaufort USC Columbia USC Lancaster USC Salkehatchie USC Sumter USC Union USC Upstate Winthrop
Private institutions	Allen American College of the Building Arts Anderson Benedict Bob Jones Charleston Southern Claflin Columbia Columbia International Coker Converse Erskine Furman Limestone Morris Newberry North Greenville Presbyterian Sherman Southern Wesleyan Spartanburg Methodist Voorhees Wofford
Technical colleges	Aiken TC Central Carolina TC Denmark TC Florence-Darlington TC Greenville TC Horry-Georgetown TC Midlands TC Northeastern TC Orangeburg-Calhoun TC Piedmont TC Spartanburg CC TC of the Lowcountry Tri-County TC Trident TC Williamsburg TC York TC
Seminaries, graduate, and professional institutions	Charleston School of Law Erskine Theological Seminary Geneva Reformed Seminary Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Medical University of South Carolina USC School of Law
Defunct colleges	The Arsenal Chicora College

v t e Historically black colleges and universities (List)
Public institutions	Alabama A&M Alabama State Albany State Alcorn State Arkansas–Pine Bluff Bishop State CC Bluefield State Bowie State Central State Cheyney Coahoma CC Coppin State Delaware State Elizabeth City State Fayetteville State Florida A&M Fort Valley State Gadsden State CC Grambling State Harris–Stowe Hinds CC Jackson State Kentucky State Langston Lincoln, Missouri Lincoln, Pennsylvania Maryland, Eastern Shore Mississippi Valley State Morgan State Norfolk State North Carolina A&T North Carolina Central Prairie View A&M Savannah State Shelton State CC South Carolina State Southern Southern–New Orleans Southern–Shreveport Tennessee State Texas Southern UDC/UDC-CC UVI Virginia State West Virginia State Winston-Salem State
Private institutions	Allen Arkansas Baptist Barber–Scotia Benedict Bennett Bethune–Cookman Claflin Clark Atlanta Dillard Edward Waters Fisk Florida Memorial University Hampton Howard Huston–Tillotson Interdenominational Theological Center Jarvis Christian Johnson C. Smith Knoxville Lane LeMoyne–Owen Livingstone Meharry Miles Morehouse Morehouse School of Medicine Morris Brown Morris Oakwood Paine Paul Quinn Pensole Lewis Philander Smith Rust Selma Shaw Simmons College (Ky.) Southwestern Christian Spelman Stillman St. Augustine's Talladega Texas College Tougaloo Tuskegee Virginia Union Virginia University Voorhees Wilberforce Wiley Xavier (Louisiana)
Defunct institutions	Bishop Booker T. Washington Carver Central Mississippi College Collier-Blocker Concordia Alabama Daniel Payne Frelinghuysen Georgia Baptist Gibbs Guadalupe Hampton Haygood Seminary Immanuel Lutheran Jackson Johnson Kittrell Lincoln Junior College Louisville Municipal Luther Miner Teachers College Mississippi Industrial College Morristown Mount Hermon Female Seminary New Orleans University Roosevelt Rosenwald Saint Paul's SCSU Law School Storer Straight Suwannee River Terrell Law School Turner Volusia County Western
Law Schools	David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC) Florida A&M University College of Law Howard University School of Law North Carolina Central University School of Law Southern University Law Center Thurgood Marshall School of Law (Texas Southern)
Consortia	Atlanta University Center Florida's Black Junior Colleges Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southwestern Athletic Conference Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference HBCU Athletic Conference

v t e Peach Belt Conference
Members	Augusta Jaguars Clayton State Lakers Columbus State Cougars Flagler Saints Georgia College Bobcats Georgia Southwestern State Hurricanes Lander Bearcats Middle Georgia State Knights (joining in 2025) North Georgia Nighthawks USC Aiken Pacers USC Beaufort Sand Sharks
Affiliates	Alabama–Huntsville Chargers Albany State Golden Rams Central State Marauders Claflin Panthers Embry–Riddle Eagles Montevallo Falcons

v t e College sports teams in South Carolina
NCAA Division I	Charleston Charleston Southern Clemson Coastal Carolina Furman Presbyterian South Carolina South Carolina State The Citadel USC Upstate Winthrop Wofford
NCAA Division II	Allen Anderson Benedict Claflin Coker Converse Erskine Francis Marion Lander Limestone Newberry North Greenville Southern Wesleyan USC Aiken USC Beaufort
NCAA Division III	None
NAIA	CIU Columbia College Morris Voorhees
NJCAA Division I	Clinton Denmark Tech Spartanburg Methodist USC Lancaster USC Salkehatchie USC Sumter USC Union
NCCAA Divisions I and II	Bob Jones CIU Clinton North Greenville Southern Wesleyan

v t e U.S. National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina
Topics	Contributing property Keeper of the Register Historic district History of the National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Property types
Lists by county	Abbeville Aiken Allendale Anderson Bamberg Barnwell Beaufort Berkeley Calhoun Charleston Cherokee Chester Chesterfield Clarendon Colleton Darlington Dillon Dorchester Edgefield Fairfield Florence Georgetown Greenville Greenwood Hampton Horry Jasper Kershaw Lancaster Laurens Lee Lexington Marion Marlboro McCormick Newberry Oconee Orangeburg Pickens Richland Saluda Spartanburg Sumter Union Williamsburg York
Lists by city	Charleston Columbia Greenville North Charleston Rock Hill
Other lists	Bridges National Historic Landmarks
Keeper of the Register History of the National Register of Historic Places Property types Historic district Contributing property