Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 21, 2021
1. The founding of Lincoln University Marker
Inscription.
The founding of Lincoln University. Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri. , Lincoln University was founded by the black enlisted men of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantries and their white officers who fought for the cause of the Union during the Civil War. the black soldiers of these two regiments were the victims of an 1847 Missouri law that prohibited blacks from learning to read and write. Amidst the horror of war, they were given the opportunity to rise above this obstacle when their white officers established informal classes for them. As the war came to a close, the men dreamed of sharing the gift of education with other blacks in Missouri. They resolved to establish a school in their home state dedicated to teaching freed blacks.
Towards the end of the war, the men began to solicit funds to accomplish this dream. With some donating as much as a year's salary to the cause, they were able to collect more than $6,000. Their efforts resulted in the establishment of a school that they located in Jefferson City, Missouri, and named Lincoln Institute. Richard Baxter Foster, a former first lieutenant in the 62nd Infantry, became first principle of the newly-established institution. On September 17, 1866, in an old frame building in Jefferson City, the school opened its doors to the very first class. In 1870, Lincoln Institute received a $5,000 appropriation from the state of Missouri for teacher training. College-level work was added to the curriculum in 1877.
With the deeding of its property to the state in 1879, Lincoln Institute formally became a state institution. Later, under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, the school became a land-grant institution. In 1921, the Missouri Legislature passed a bill introduced by Walthall M. Moore, the first African American to serve in that body, which expanded the school's mission and changed its name to Lincoln University. The North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools accredited the high school division in 1925, the teacher-training program in 1926, and the four-year college of arts and sciences in 1934. Graduate instruction was added in the summer session of 1940.
During the next four decades, Lincoln University surpassed all expectations, growing into a culturally rich and diverse institution. In 1954, when the United States Supreme Court made Brown v. the Board of Education the law of the land, Lincoln University opened its doors to all applicants meeting its entrance requirements. This resulted in the school's most significant increase in enrollment. Today, Lincoln University is a comprehensive land-grant institution serving a diverse clientele, both residential and commuter.
The school provides an array of academic programs, engages in a variety of research projects, and offers numerous public service programs. The soldiers' dream has been realized. ★
[The founders:] , Jacob Anderson, 62nd U.S.C.T., Fayette, Missouri , Logan Bennett, 65th U.S.C.T., Jefferson City, Missouri , Nelson Bergamise, 62nd U.S.C.T., New Franklin, Missouri , John Draine, 65th U.S.C.T., Montgomery City, Missouri , Richard Baxter Foster, Lt. 62nd U.S.C.T., Hanover, New Hampshire , John Jeffries, 62nd U.S.C.T., Columbia, Missouri , Buck Shelby, 62nd U.S.C.T., Sedalia, Missouri , Charles Wheeler, 62nd U.S.C.T., Troy, Missouri
Lincoln University was founded by the black enlisted men of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantries and their white officers who fought for the cause of the Union during the Civil War. the black soldiers of these two regiments were the victims of an 1847 Missouri law that prohibited blacks from learning to read and write. Amidst the horror of war, they were given the opportunity to rise above this obstacle when their white officers established informal classes for them. As the war came to a close, the men dreamed of sharing the gift of education with other blacks in Missouri. They resolved to establish a school in their home state dedicated to teaching freed blacks.
Towards the end of the war, the men began to solicit funds to accomplish this dream. With some donating as much as a year's salary to the cause, they were able to collect more than $6,000. Their efforts resulted in the establishment of a school that they located in Jefferson City, Missouri, and named Lincoln Institute. Richard Baxter Foster, a former first lieutenant in the 62nd Infantry, became first principle of the newly-established institution. On September 17, 1866, in an old frame building in Jefferson City, the school opened its doors to the very first class. In 1870, Lincoln Institute received a $5,000 appropriation from the state of Missouri
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for teacher training. College-level work was added to the curriculum in 1877.
With the deeding of its property to the state in 1879, Lincoln Institute formally became a state institution. Later, under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, the school became a land-grant institution. In 1921, the Missouri Legislature passed a bill introduced by Walthall M. Moore, the first African American to serve in that body, which expanded the school's mission and changed its name to Lincoln University. The North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools accredited the high school division in 1925, the teacher-training program in 1926, and the four-year college of arts and sciences in 1934. Graduate instruction was added in the summer session of 1940.
During the next four decades, Lincoln University surpassed all expectations, growing into a culturally rich and diverse institution. In 1954, when the United States Supreme Court made Brown v. the Board of Education the law of the land, Lincoln University opened its doors to all applicants meeting its entrance requirements. This resulted in the school's most significant increase in enrollment. Today, Lincoln University is a comprehensive land-grant institution serving a diverse clientele, both residential and commuter.
The school provides an array of academic programs, engages in a variety of research projects, and offers
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 21, 2021
2. The founding of Lincoln University Marker
numerous public service programs. The soldiers' dream has been realized. ★
[The founders:] Jacob Anderson, 62nd U.S.C.T., Fayette, Missouri Logan Bennett, 65th U.S.C.T., Jefferson City, Missouri Nelson Bergamise, 62nd U.S.C.T., New Franklin, Missouri John Draine, 65th U.S.C.T., Montgomery City, Missouri Richard Baxter Foster, Lt. 62nd U.S.C.T., Hanover, New Hampshire John Jeffries, 62nd U.S.C.T., Columbia, Missouri Buck Shelby, 62nd U.S.C.T., Sedalia, Missouri Charles Wheeler, 62nd U.S.C.T., Troy, Missouri
Location. 38° 33.859′ N, 92° 10.155′ W. Marker is in Jefferson City, Missouri, in Cole County. Marker is on Chestnut Street just north of Dawson Drive, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 820 Chestnut St, Jefferson City MO 65101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Soldiers' Memorial Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker);
Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
