Morehouse College: A Legacy of Excellence for Over 150 Years

Morehouse College

Since 1867, Morehouse College has been at the forefront of shaping extraordinary leaders, visionaries, and community pillars. What started in a humble church basement has grown into a beacon of Black excellence, continuing to guide generations of young men toward greatness.

In today’s diverse educational landscape, Black men have more options than ever when it comes to choosing a university. Yet, many of the most talented and ambitious have consistently chosen Morehouse—a prestigious HBCU in the heart of Atlanta. Our 66-acre campus, just southwest of downtown, is home to over 2,200 students who are preparing to make their mark on the world. Choosing the right college is a monumental decision, and Morehouse stands ready to help students and parents envision the limitless possibilities that come with a top-tier liberal arts education.

At Morehouse, mentorship is at the core of our educational experience. Our classes are designed not just to educate but to inspire and build lasting relationships between students and faculty. This commitment to excellence is evident in the achievements of our alumni, from civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. to filmmaker Spike Lee, as well as our five Rhodes Scholars, congressmen, business moguls, and college presidents—all proud bearers of the Morehouse legacy.

A Journey Through Morehouse History:

• 1867: The Augusta Institute was founded on February 14 at Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, GA, by Rev. William Jefferson White, with Rev. Richard C. Coulter and Rev. Edmund Turney.
• 1879: The Institute moved to Atlanta’s Friendship Baptist Church, becoming Atlanta Baptist Seminary.
• 1889: Graves Hall was constructed, symbolizing a major step in the college’s development.
• 1897: The institution was renamed Atlanta Baptist College.
• 1913: The school was renamed Morehouse College, honoring Henry Lyman Morehouse.
• 1917: Morehouse celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Benjamin Brawley (Class of 1901) published the “History of Morehouse College.”
• 1929: Morehouse joined the Atlanta University Affiliation, now known as the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUC), alongside Spelman College and Atlanta University.
• 1929-1933: Morehouse briefly admitted women, with 33 becoming full graduates.
• 1948: Martin Luther King Jr. graduated from Morehouse.
• 1957: Morehouse received full accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
• 1967: The college celebrated its 100th anniversary.
• 1968: Morehouse established a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society.
• 1975: The Morehouse School of Medicine was founded, enhancing the college’s academic offerings.
• 1976: Edwin Moses, Class of ’78, won a gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the Montreal Summer Olympics.
• 1978-79: The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel was dedicated, and Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr. began his tenure as the founding dean in 1979.
• 1989: Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, Class of ’54, was appointed Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• 1994: Nima Warfield, Class of ’94, became the first Rhodes Scholar from a historically Black college or university (HBCU).
• 1995: Forbes Arena, a 5,700-seat gymnasium, was built and later served as a venue for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
• 2005: The Leadership Center opened, later named after Dr. Walter E. Massey, Class of ’58.
• 2006: Morehouse concluded its most ambitious capital campaign, raising $118 million.
• 2007: Journalist Ron Thomas launched the Morehouse College Journalism and Sports Program, with notable contributions from Spike Lee, Class of ’79, and Charles Barkley in 2015.
• 2010: The Ray Charles Performing Arts Center and Music Academic Building opened, a $20-million investment in the arts.
• 2010: The Cinema, Technology & Emerging Media Studies Program was created to advance the study of film and television.
• 2013: U.S. President Barack Obama delivered the Commencement address at Morehouse.
• 2013: Spike Lee, Class of ’79, received an honorary Oscar for his groundbreaking contributions to film, including the Oscar-nominated “Do the Right Thing.”
• 2015: Morehouse made history with its first-ever trio of valedictorians: Liam Davis, Ian Niemeyer, and Willie Thompson.
• 2016: The college celebrated its 150th anniversary.
• 2017: Dr. David A. Thomas was appointed as the 12th President of Morehouse College, ushering in a new era of leadership.
• 2018: Franck Nijimbere became Morehouse’s fifth Rhodes Scholar.
• 2019: Morehouse, in partnership with the Atlanta University Center Consortium and UnitedHealth Group, launched the AUCC Data Sciences Initiative. The Office of Institutional Advancement raised over $107 million, including a landmark donation from philanthropist Robert F. Smith, who paid off the student loans of the Class of 2019, along with contributions from Oprah Winfrey and philanthropists Patty Quillin and Reed Hastings.
• 2020: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Morehouse transitioned to virtual learning while continuing its long-term strategic planning. The college partnered with Microsoft and the UPS Foundation to provide laptops to incoming freshmen and ratified a new five-year strategic plan set to begin in 2021.
• 2021: As part of its strategic vision, Morehouse launched its first online bachelor’s degree programs in partnership with 2U.

As a private, historically Black liberal arts college for men, Morehouse College remains dedicated to the intellectual and character development of its students, while embracing a special responsibility to teach the history and culture of Black people. Morehouse is not just an educational institution; it’s a place where the brightest minds are nurtured and where future Black leaders are equipped to make a lasting impact on the world stage.