Douglass University was a university established for

African Americans African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa ...

in 1926 in located in

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

. It was the second university in the state of Missouri to admit African American students; and it was the second U.S. law school that admitted African Americans for a full law degree. The university moved locations many times within the same city; as well as remained active off-and-on for decades after its founding.

History

Douglass University was named after

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 14, 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. He was the most impor ...

, and was founded by Benjamin F. Bowles for African American students in the fall of 1926. It was temporarily located at 4346 Enright Avenue but moved months later to 2803 Pine Street, St, Louis. Attorney Freeman L. Martin served as the first vice chairman and

dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean * Dean Sw ...

of the law school. The first classes were held in January 1927, and focused exclusively on law, serving only 8 students. At the time of the university’s founding, no other college in St. Louis County admitted black students. The first university in the state of Missouri allowing black students to attend was Lincoln University (founded in 1866), which was followed by Douglass University. It was also only one of two schools in the United States offering full law degrees to black students. None of the 24 faculty received wages when the university opened. The faculty of the school was mostly made up of teachers from the local public school system. In 1928, the second year of operation, the university added departments in theology, business, and music and had increased enrollment to 37 students. The college was later moved to 4300 West Belle Place, St. Louis. Bowles had led the school until his health declined in the late 1920s. In 1934, Herman Dreer re-opened Douglass University in a temporary location at 1042 Grand Blvd. and moved a year later to 3626 Finely, St. Louis. By 1937, the university had 54 enrolled students. It was the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

and the school struggled with their financial situation. By June 1942, the school had closed. In 1943, Dreer re-opened Douglass University again.

References

{{coord, 38.64904, -90.24872, type:edu_globe:earth_region:US-MO, display=title Defunct private universities and colleges in Missouri 1926 establishments in Missouri African-American history in St. Louis Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Universities and colleges established in 1926

History

See also

References