Cheyney University, originally known as the African Institute, was established on April 19, 1837. Billing itself as the oldest African-American institution of higher learning in the nation, its founding was enabled by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who generously donated $10,000 — a tenth of his estate — to establish a school for individuals of African descent.
Offering degrees in over 30 disciplines and a master’s degree in education, the university boasts an impressive roster of alumni, including Ed Bradley, the late 60 Minutes television journalist, and civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.
