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.


Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

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