On this day in 1837, Cheyney University was founded

The university's establishment was made possible by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who donated $10,000 - one-tenth of his estate - to create a school for individuals of African descent.

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Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in Cheyney, Pa., Thursday, May 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Cheyney University was founded on April 19, 1837. Originally called the African Institute, it’s the oldest African-American institution of higher learning in the country.

The university’s establishment was made possible by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who donated $10,000 – one-tenth of his estate – to create a school for individuals of African descent.

Cheyney University has produced an impressive roster of alumni, including the late Ed Bradley, a renowned television journalist for 60 Minutes; Bayard Rustin, a prominent civil rights leader; and Robert Bogle, the president and CEO of the Philadelphia Tribune.

The university offers degrees in more than 30 disciplines and a master’s degree in education, and also boasts one of the most respected men’s and women’s basketball programs in NCAA Division II history.


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