Wayland Seminary
Encyclopedia
Wayland Seminary was the Washington, D.C. school of the National Theological Institute. The Institute was established beginning in 1865 by the American Baptist Home Mission Society
, designed primarily for providing education and training for African-American freedmen to enter into the ministry. Just before the end of the 19th century, it was merged with its sister institution the Richmond Theological Seminary to form the current Virginia Union University
at Richmond.
was over (which ended slavery
in the former Confederate states) and slavery in the United States had officially ended in the Northern and border states as well with the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
. However, known as freedmen, millions of former African American
slaves were without employable job skills, opportunities, and even literacy itself, (eg., in Virginia, since the bloody Nat Turner Rebellion in 1831, it had been unlawful to teach a slave to read).
Some realized that these newly freed people were still in a battle against ignorance and neglect. Members of the American Baptist Home Mission Society
(ABHMS) proposed a "National Theological Institute" (NTI) which would educate those wishing to enter into the Baptist ministry. Soon, the proposed mission was expanded to offer courses and programs at college, high school and even preparatory levels, to both men and women.
. (Another school, the Augusta Institute, now Morehouse College
also received the support of the NTI) Classes began in both cities by 1867. In Washington, the school became known as Wayland Seminary, named in commemoration of Dr. Francis Wayland
, former president of Brown University
and a leader in the anti-slavery struggle. The first and only president was Dr. George Mellen Prentiss King, who administered Wayland for thirty years (1867-97).
Over the 30 years Dr. King led Wayland, the other branch of the originally planned National Theological Institute at Richmond had faced even greater challenges than Wayland; there, the first classes were actually held in a former "slave jail
" building. However, the branch in Richmond had also grown into a substantial institution by 1897, and had become known as Richmond Theological Seminary.
(VUU) at Richmond. Land for a new campus was purchased. Over 100 years later, VUU's 84 acres (339,936.2 m²) campus is still located there, at 1500 North Lombardy Street in Richmond's North Side
.
Home mission society
The American Baptist Home Mission Societies is a Christian missionary society. It was established in New York City in 1832 to operate in the American frontier, with the stated mission "to preach the Gospel, establish churches and give support and ministry to the unchurched and destitute." In the...
, designed primarily for providing education and training for African-American freedmen to enter into the ministry. Just before the end of the 19th century, it was merged with its sister institution the Richmond Theological Seminary to form the current Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
at Richmond.
1865: plans to educate the freedmen
By late 1865, the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
was over (which ended slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in the former Confederate states) and slavery in the United States had officially ended in the Northern and border states as well with the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
. However, known as freedmen, millions of former African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
slaves were without employable job skills, opportunities, and even literacy itself, (eg., in Virginia, since the bloody Nat Turner Rebellion in 1831, it had been unlawful to teach a slave to read).
Some realized that these newly freed people were still in a battle against ignorance and neglect. Members of the American Baptist Home Mission Society
Home mission society
The American Baptist Home Mission Societies is a Christian missionary society. It was established in New York City in 1832 to operate in the American frontier, with the stated mission "to preach the Gospel, establish churches and give support and ministry to the unchurched and destitute." In the...
(ABHMS) proposed a "National Theological Institute" (NTI) which would educate those wishing to enter into the Baptist ministry. Soon, the proposed mission was expanded to offer courses and programs at college, high school and even preparatory levels, to both men and women.
1867-1897: Washington D.C.
Separate branches were set up in Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. (Another school, the Augusta Institute, now Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
also received the support of the NTI) Classes began in both cities by 1867. In Washington, the school became known as Wayland Seminary, named in commemoration of Dr. Francis Wayland
Francis Wayland
Francis Wayland , American Baptist educator and economist, was born in New York City, New York. He was president of Brown University and pastor of the First Baptist Church in America in Providence, Rhode Island. In Washington, D.C., Wayland Seminary was established in 1867, primarily to educate...
, former president of Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and a leader in the anti-slavery struggle. The first and only president was Dr. George Mellen Prentiss King, who administered Wayland for thirty years (1867-97).
Over the 30 years Dr. King led Wayland, the other branch of the originally planned National Theological Institute at Richmond had faced even greater challenges than Wayland; there, the first classes were actually held in a former "slave jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
" building. However, the branch in Richmond had also grown into a substantial institution by 1897, and had become known as Richmond Theological Seminary.
1899: Merger to form Virginia Union University
During the 1890’s plans were pushed forward to merge several ABHMS Institutions into one University, and by 1899 it was agreed that Wayland Seminary and Richmond Theological Seminary would come together to form Virginia Union UniversityVirginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
(VUU) at Richmond. Land for a new campus was purchased. Over 100 years later, VUU's 84 acres (339,936.2 m²) campus is still located there, at 1500 North Lombardy Street in Richmond's North Side
North Side (Richmond Virginia)
The North Side is an area composed of northern Richmond, Virginia and some parts of Henrico County, Virginia.The area is home to many diverse neighborhoods, especially early streetcar suburbs, including Barton Heights, Bellevue, Ginter Park, Washington Park, Hermitage Road, Highland Park, Sherwood...
.
Famous students of Wayland Seminary
Students at Wayland between 1867 and 1897 included a number of individuals who became famous African American citizens of the United States. These include:- Dr. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr.Adam Clayton Powell, Sr.Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. was a pastor who developed Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York as the largest Protestant congregation in the country, with 10,000 members; a community activist, author, and the father of Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr....
- Dr. Booker T. WashingtonBooker T. WashingtonBooker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
, prominent educator and political figure - Reverend Harvey Johnson of Baltimore – pastor and early civil rights activist
- Kate Drumgoold, author of A Slave Girl’s Story: Being an account of Kate Drumgoold (1898)
- Alfred L. CralleAlfred L. CralleAlfred L. Cralle was an African-American from Virginia who became an inventor and businessman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is best remembered for inventing the ice cream scoop in 1897, a practical design still widely in use over 100 years later.- Youth, education :Alfred L...
, inventor of the ice creamIce creamIce cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
scoop.