Augusta in Richmond County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2010
1. Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College Marker
This building, which was erected in 1801 by Augusta`s first Methodist Society, was moved to this location in 1844 to
become the home of the Springfield Baptist Church.
Organized in 1787 by Jesse Peters, the Springfield Baptist Church is the oldest independent African-American Church in
the nation. This church helped bridge the transition between slavery and free citizenship and has stood as a focus for
black community life.
This church building is the major landmark remaining from the early free-black community of Springfield. The original
structure was moved to the rear of the lot when the new brick church was built in 1897. Springfield Church helped to
establish many black institutions.
In 1867, Morehouse College, the nation`s only all-male, historically black undergraduate institution, was founded in the
basement of Springfield Baptist Church as Augusta Institute by William Jefferson White as requested by Richard
Coulter and Edmund Turney, while Henry Watts was serving as pastor. The school moved to Atlanta in 1879 and was
renamed Morehouse College in 1913. This marker unveiled February 16, 1992,
this page online
Erected 1992 by Georgia Historic Marker. (Marker Number 121-51.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Education • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is February 16, 2002.
Location. 33° 28.737′ N, 81° 58.292′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Georgia, in Richmond County. Marker is on Reynolds Street, on the right when traveling east. Located between 12th Street and 11th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Augusta GA 30901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ware High School (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Grierson (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Paine College Founding Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); LaFayette Visits Augusta (approx. ¼ mile away); American Gold Star Mothers Tribute (approx. ¼ mile away); Woodmen of the World Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Curtis Baptist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Woodmen Of The World Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2010
2. Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College Marker
Also see . . .
1. Morehouse College. Morehouse has a 61 acre campus and an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students. (Submitted on June 4, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
2. About Morehouse College. A Proud Tradition of Producing Outstanding Leaders In 1867, just two years after the American Civil War, the Atlanta Institute was founded by William Jefferson White, an Atlanta Baptist minister and cabinetmaker, with the support of the Rev. Richard C. Coulter, a former slave from Atlanta, Georgia, and the Rev. Edmund Turney, organizer of the National Theological Institute for educating freedmen in Washington, D.C. The institution was founded to educate African American men in theology and education and was located in Springfield Baptist Church, the oldest independent black church in the United States. The Institute's first president was Rev. Dr. Joseph T. Robert (father of Brigadier General Henry Martyn Robert, author of Robert's Rules of Order). (Submitted on June 4, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 16, 2010
3. Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College Marker seen along Reynolds Street
Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 16, 2010
4. Springfield Baptist Church seen along 12th Street in Augusta
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,761 times since then and 284 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 4, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
