Virginia University of Lynchburg is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

historically black Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. Mo ...

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

university in

Lynchburg, Virginia Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch, the city's population was 79,009 at the 2020 census. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mounta ...

. The university is accredited by the

Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) is a U.S. based institutional accreditation organization that focuses on Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries seeking collegiate accreditation in the United Sta ...

and offers instruction and degrees, primarily in religious studies, including a Doctorate of Ministry program. The campus is a

historic district A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from cer ...

listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

History

Virginia University of Lynchburg is the oldest school of higher learning in Lynchburg. The school was founded in 1886 and incorporated in 1888 by the Virginia Baptist State Convention as the coeducational "Lynchburg Baptist Seminary". Classes were first held in 1890 under the name Virginia Seminary. With the offering of a collegiate program in 1900, the name was again changed, to Virginia Theological Seminary and College. In 1962, the institution was renamed to the Virginia Seminary and College. Finally, in 1996, the school was given its current name. The campus includes three historic academic buildings on : Graham Hall (1917), Humbles Hall (1920–21) and the Mary Jane Cachelin Memorial Science and Library Building (1946). These buildings and the Hayes Monument (c. 1906) comprise a

, an
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which was listed on the

in 2010. Its first President was the Rev. Phillip F. Morris, pastor of the city's Court Street Baptist Church. Seeking a financial patron, Morris agreed to step down as president rather than yield to the demand of the

American Baptist Home Mission Society The American Baptist Home Mission Society is a Christian missionary society. Its main predecessor the Home Mission Society was established in New York City in 1832 to operate in the American frontier, with the stated mission "to preach the Gospe ...

that he step down from the pulpit to assume full-time leadership of the school. Rev. Morris would later serve as President of the National Baptist Convention. Rev. Gregory W. Hayes, a graduate of

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio. It is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college in the United States and the second oldest continuously operating coeducational institute of highe ...

, assumed the full-time position as president in 1891, serving until his death in 1906. His wife, Mary Rice Hayes Allen, biracial daughter of a Confederate general and mother of author

Carrie Allen McCray Carrie Allen McCray (October 4, 1913 – July 25, 2008) was an African-American writer. Early and family life Carrie Allen was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, October 4, 1913, and raised in that city, where she came to know poet Anne Spencer, ...

, assumed the presidency until replaced by Dr. JRL Diggs in 1908. During Hayes' administration, controversy arose between black separatists and accommodationists over the future of the school. The chief patron wished it to become a pre-collegiate manual training institution. Hayes, among the separatists, returned the patronage to retain and strengthen black autonomy and academic integrity. This move eventually led to a schism within the National Baptist Convention. In July 2010, the school reached an agreement with

Liberty University Liberty University (LU) is a private Baptist university in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia ( Southern Baptist Convention). Founded in 1971 by Jerry Falwell Sr. and Elmer L. Towns, Lib ...

to help VUL students looking for degrees not offered at the school to complete their degrees at Liberty.

University Presidents

The following have led Virginia University of Lynchburg since its founding: # Philip F. Morris, 1888-1890 # Gregory W. Hayes, 1891-1906 # Mary Rice Hayes Allen, 1906-1908 #

James Robert Lincoln Diggs James Robert Lincoln Diggs (7 November 1866 – April 14, 1923) was an American civil rights leader, college president, pastor, and college football coach. Early life and studies Diggs earned degrees from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, P ...

, 1908-1911 # Robert C. Woods, 1911-1926 # William H.R. Powell, 1926-1929, 1934-1946 #

Vernon Johns Dr. Vernon Johns (April 22, 1892 – June 11, 1965) was an American minister based in the South and a pioneer in the civil rights movement. He is best known as the pastor (1947–52) of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He ...

, 1929-1934 # Madison C. Allen, 1946-1966 # MacCarthy C. Sutherland, 1966-1980 # Benjamin W. Robertson, 1980 # Leroy Fitts, 1980-1981 # Thomas E. Parker, 1982-1987 # Melvin R. Boone, 1988-1990 # Ada M. Palmer, 1990-1992 # Elisha G. Hall, 1992-1999 # Ralph Reavis, 2000-2015 # Kathy C. Franklin, Ph.D., 2016 - Present

Athletics

The VUL athletic teams are called the Dragons. The university is a member of the

National Christian College Athletic Association The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) is an association of Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada whose mission is "the promotion and enhancement of intercollegiate athleti ...

(NCCAA). The Dragons were formerly a member of the

United States Collegiate Athletic Association The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) is a national organization for the intercollegiate athletic programs of 72 mostly small colleges, including community/ junior colleges, across the United States. The USCAA holds 15 natio ...

(USCAA). VUL previously competed as a member of the

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. CIAA institutions mostly consist of historically black co ...

(CIAA), which is currently a

NCAA Division II NCAA Division II (D-II) is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It offers an alternative to both the larger and better-funded Division I and to the scholarship-free environmen ...

athletic conference, from 1921–22 to 1953–54. VUL competes in eight intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, football and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

Notable alumni and faculty

* Lawrence Carter, civil rights historian *

John Chilembwe John Chilembwe (June 1871 – 3 February 1915) was a Baptist pastor, educator and revolutionary who trained as a minister in the United States, returning to Nyasaland in 1901. He was an early figure in the resistance to colonialism in Nyasaland ...

, a Nyasa (Malawian) Baptist preacher and leader of the 1915

Chilembwe uprising The Chilembwe uprising was a rebellion against British colonial rule in Nyasaland (modern-day Malawi) which took place in January 1915. It was led by John Chilembwe, an American-educated Baptist minister. Based around his Church in the villa ...

. Graduated in 1901. * Georgia Mabel DeBaptiste, academic *

, pastor and civil rights activist *

Herman Dreer Herman H. Dreer (1888–1981) was an American academic administrator, educator, educational reformer, activist, author, editor, Baptist minister, and civil rights leader. He is best known for writing curriculum and programming for teaching African ...

(1888–1981), academic administrator, educator, educational reformer and activist, author, editor, minister, and civil rights leader *

, pastor and civil rights activist *

W. Henry Maxwell Walter Henry Maxwell, Sr. (April 3, 1935 – November 13, 2010) was an American politician and Baptist minister from Newport News, Virginia. A Democrat, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1983–1993 and the Senate of Virgi ...

, politician and pastor *

Stella James Sims Stella James Sims (1875-1963) was an African-American science professor who held positions at Storer College, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and Bluefield Colored Institute. Stella James was born February 5, 1875, in Washington, D. C. to Le ...

, biology professor at Storer College, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and

Bluefield State College Bluefield State University (Bluefield State) is a university in Bluefield, West Virginia that is an historically black university. It is a part of West Virginia's public education system and converted to a university in the summer of 2022. It ad ...

Anne Spencer Anne Bethel Spencer (born Bannister; February 6, 1882 – July 27, 1975) was an American poet, teacher, civil rights activist, librarian, and gardener. Though she lived outside New York City, the recognized center of the Harlem Renaissance, also ...

, poet, teacher, civil rights activist, librarian, and gardener

References

External links

*
Official athletics website
{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1886 Educational institutions established in 1888 Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Education in Lynchburg, Virginia Seminaries and theological colleges in Virginia Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Buildings and structures in Lynchburg, Virginia University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia USCAA member institutions National Register of Historic Places in Lynchburg, Virginia 1886 establishments in Virginia 1888 establishments in Virginia Non-profit organizations based in Lynchburg, Virginia Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia