Daniel Payne College
Encyclopedia
Daniel Payne College, also known as the Payne Institute, Payne University and Greater Payne University, was a historically black college in Birmingham
, Alabama
. It was associated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church
and operated from 1889 to 1979. The college was named in honor of Daniel Payne
, the sixth bishop of the A.M.E. Church and the first black president of a college in the United States.
in 1889. Its campus was located at 1525 Franklin Street and included the Bishop Gaines Hall as the primary building, two additional classroom buildings and Coppin Hall which served as a dormitory
. The college stayed at that location through 1922. It then relocated to its Woodlawn location within the city of Birmingham.
During its time in Woodlawn, the college was located at 6415 Washington Boulevard. By 1974, the college had to be relocated because of airport expansion and the building of interstate highways in the area. The street on which the college was located no longer exists; however, a remnant of University Avenue that once led to the campus connects to the Messer Airport Highway.
The college moved to a new campus at the southeast corner of Cherry Avenue and Daniel Payne Drive on the far northern edge of Birmingham, where new buildings were constructed in 1974. On April 4, 1977 a destructive tornado
tore through the campus, severely damaging buildings. The damage, along with mounting financial problems, forced the school to file for bankruptcy
in 1978 and subsequently close its doors in 1979. At the time of its closure, the college had 120 students enrolled on the 153 acre (0.239062711372833 sq mi; 0.61916958 km²) campus.
Later a group of students sued the former president, claiming that he had mismanaged college funds. A court established the important precedent that students have a vested interest in the operation of the college which they attend.
still exists, although the dormitories and cafeteria
are abandoned. Another building houses a public health clinic, and yet another was used as the headquarters for the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Alabama, until 2009, when the office was relocated to downtown Birmingham.
In 2010 the AME Church announced plans to redevelop the campus into a retirement home & multi-use project.
The former campus was severely damaged by the April 2011 tornado outbreak in Birmingham.
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It was associated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the...
and operated from 1889 to 1979. The college was named in honor of Daniel Payne
Daniel Payne
Daniel Alexander Payne was an American bishop, educator, college administrator and author. He became a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was a major shaper of it in the 19th century. He was one of the founders of Wilberforce University in Ohio...
, the sixth bishop of the A.M.E. Church and the first black president of a college in the United States.
History
The college was originally founded in SelmaSelma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
in 1889. Its campus was located at 1525 Franklin Street and included the Bishop Gaines Hall as the primary building, two additional classroom buildings and Coppin Hall which served as a dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
. The college stayed at that location through 1922. It then relocated to its Woodlawn location within the city of Birmingham.
During its time in Woodlawn, the college was located at 6415 Washington Boulevard. By 1974, the college had to be relocated because of airport expansion and the building of interstate highways in the area. The street on which the college was located no longer exists; however, a remnant of University Avenue that once led to the campus connects to the Messer Airport Highway.
The college moved to a new campus at the southeast corner of Cherry Avenue and Daniel Payne Drive on the far northern edge of Birmingham, where new buildings were constructed in 1974. On April 4, 1977 a destructive tornado
Birmingham Tornado of April 1977
The April 1977 Birmingham tornado was a powerful tornado that struck the northern suburbs of the Greater Birmingham Area in central Alabama during the afternoon of April 4, 1977.-Birmingham tornado:...
tore through the campus, severely damaging buildings. The damage, along with mounting financial problems, forced the school to file for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 1978 and subsequently close its doors in 1979. At the time of its closure, the college had 120 students enrolled on the 153 acre (0.239062711372833 sq mi; 0.61916958 km²) campus.
Later a group of students sued the former president, claiming that he had mismanaged college funds. A court established the important precedent that students have a vested interest in the operation of the college which they attend.
Physical legacy
Although the college was closed, the city of Birmingham changed the name of Sayreton Road to Daniel Payne Drive in honor of the leader. The old campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
still exists, although the dormitories and cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
are abandoned. Another building houses a public health clinic, and yet another was used as the headquarters for the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Alabama, until 2009, when the office was relocated to downtown Birmingham.
In 2010 the AME Church announced plans to redevelop the campus into a retirement home & multi-use project.
The former campus was severely damaged by the April 2011 tornado outbreak in Birmingham.