Photo credits: Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

A university in Pennsylvania (logo pictured) bills itself as the oldest African-American institution of higher learning in the country.

It was originally founded as the African Institute in 1837; during an era when few if any, African-American young people went to college. Indeed, The school’s founding was made possible by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who donated $10,000 — a tenth of his estate — for the establishment of the school for people of African descent.

Now known as Cheyney University, this East Coast school has one of the most highly respected men’s and women’s basketball programs in NCAA Division II history.

The school boasts an impressive list of alumni, including Ed Bradley, the late 60 Minutes television journalist; Bayard Rustin, the renowned civil rights leader; and Robert Bogle, the president, and chief executive of the Philadelphia Tribune.

The university offers baccalaureate degrees in more than 30 disciplines and a master’s degree in education (Hick, 2012).

Reference: Hicks, J. (2012, April 19) This Day in Black History: April 19, 1837. Retrieved from https://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/04/19/this-day-in-black-history-april-19-1837.html

*BlackThen.com writer/historian Victor Trammell edited and contributed to this report.