The Legacy of Campbell: A Story of Education, Civil Rights, and Transformation
Campbell University, though not currently designated as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), holds a significant place in the history of African American education and the Civil Rights Movement, particularly in Mississippi. Its story is one of purpose, calling, and a commitment to education, justice, and equality. This article explores the multifaceted history of institutions named Campbell, paying particular attention to Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi.
The Campbell Passion: Education, Justice, and Equality
The "Campbell Passion" for education, justice, and equality has been a driving force behind various institutions bearing the Campbell name. These institutions have played a vital role in shaping the lives of countless individuals and communities.
Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi: A Beacon of Hope
Founded in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Campbell College was more than just a school; it was a symbol of hope and opportunity for African Americans. Historian Sheren Sanders noted that Campbell College was established as a grammar school and junior college “to impose strict standards of behavior on its students based on Christian principles." Despite its small size, Campbell played an important role in Jackson’s civil rights movement, as it did not rely on state money as a private school. It was organized by Campbell students and led by dean of students Charles Jones and student body president Alfred Cook. The college attracted the ire of white officials when it allowed students boycotting Burgland to enroll there.
Civil Rights Activism
Campbell College students actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement. In late April 1961, students attempted to desegregate Jackson’s bus transport. Jet Magazine reported the story of their arrests and fines in its May 11, 1961 edition. In October 1961, after students staged a walkout at Burgland High School to show solidarity with participants in a sit-in in McComb, Campbell College attracted the ire of white officials when it allowed students boycotting Burgland to enroll there.
Eminent Domain and Legacy
In 1964, the state of Mississippi seized the college by eminent domain. Campbell’s physical plant became part of Jackson State College (now Jackson State University - JSU). Jackson State used the Campbell structure to house student affairs up until 2004, when it was demolished. JSU named its “Campbell College Suites” in honor of “one of the first colleges for African Americans in the state of Mississippi.” The Suites house approximately 420 male and female upper classmen - noted as Suites North and Suites South.
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Alumni Impact
Graduating from Campbell College opened doors for many students. Bishop Guidry stated, “If I had not graduated from Campbell, I would not have been able to go to Tougaloo College." Alumni went on to serve in churches in Louisiana and Mississippi, spanning 60-plus years of service with the “Campbell Passion” for education, justice and equality. Some were elected and consecrated bishops: H. Hartford Brookins, Henry Allen Belin Jr.
Other Institutions Named Campbell
While Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi, holds a special place in history, it is important to acknowledge other institutions that shared the Campbell name and contributed to education. One such institution was JT Campbell College, which was located across the street from Jackson College, now Jackson State University. JT Campbell College famously admitted students expelled from Jackson State for participating in the Civil Rights Movement. Then, amidst a failed plan to relocate to Mound Bayou, Mississippi, a black town, it collapsed financially in 1965.
The Broader Context of HBCUs
To fully appreciate the significance of Campbell College's story, it is essential to understand the broader context of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCUs were established primarily to serve the African American community, which was historically denied access to mainstream institutions of higher education. These institutions played a crucial role in providing educational opportunities and fostering leadership within the Black community.
The Role of HBCUs in American History
HBCUs have been instrumental in the advancement of African Americans in various fields, including education, science, politics, and the arts. They have produced numerous prominent figures who have made significant contributions to society.
Examples of Notable HBCUs
Winston-Salem State University: The first Black institution in the country to grant degrees in elementary education, Winston-Salem State University later, in 1967, became the first HBCU to win an NCAA basketball championship with the help of Earl “The Pearl” Monroe.
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Barber-Scotia College: Barber-Scotia College was established as a Presbyterian school to educate young Black women in teaching and social work. Alumna Mary McLeod Bethune served as an educator, civil rights advocate, and advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
North Carolina Central University: Chartered in 1909, North Carolina Central University became the first state-supported liberal arts college for Black students in the nation.
Bennett College: In Greensboro, students at the women’s-only Bennett College took a break from classes in the 1920s. Bennett Belles took part in the Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins of 1960, a movement that inspired social change here and beyond. Bennett is one of two women’s-only HBCUs in the United States, and in 1955, the school’s president, Dr. Willa B. Player, helped lead the charge to desegregate the city’s theaters.
Saint Augustine’s University: Saint Augustine’s was founded by The Episcopal Church, an affiliation that the university maintains to this day. The school educated Anna J. Cooper, an author, educator, and one of the most prominent African American scholars in United States history.
North Carolina A&T State University: Now the nation’s largest HBCU, North Carolina A&T State was established to teach agriculture and mechanical arts.
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Livingstone College: The home of the Blue Bears was established by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church as a school for newly freed enslaved people. The first president of the college, Dr. Joseph Charles Price, traveled the world to raise money to support the school.
Kittrell College: Kittrell College was founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a vocational school to train teachers and tradesmen.
Elizabeth City State University: From a modest 23 students when it began to graduating more than 20,000 students over the course of nearly 130 years, Elizabeth City State University has evolved from a school for teachers to one offering more than 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including aviation.
The Challenges Faced by HBCUs
Despite their significant contributions, HBCUs have faced numerous challenges throughout their history, including underfunding, discrimination, and limited resources. Many HBCUs have been forced to close their doors due to financial difficulties.
Examples of Closed HBCUs
Avery College: Though the records are scant, it appears that Avery College suspended operations in 1873, the year of a great nationwide financial panic. Trustees considered selling the school property to the marker University of Western Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh), which had reluctantly accepted Avery's donation to assist in educating a handful of African-American students. Nothing came of the negotiations, however, and Avery College never reopened. As late as 1908, the trustees were debating whether to establish a manual training school or a hospital and nursing school facility on the property. Years later the original three-story building was demolished to make way for a new highway project.
Bishop College: Bishop College was founded in Marshall, Texas and later moved to Dallas. It closed its doors in 1988.
Booker T Washington Junior College: Booker T Washington Junior college was the first of twelve black junior colleges created in Florida. It closed in 1965 and merged with Pensacola Junior College.
Carver Junior College: Carver Junior College was one of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs The Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Collier-Blocker Junior College: Collier-Blocker Junior College was a junior college in Palatka, Florida. It opened in 1960 and closed in 1964.
Concordia College - Alabama: Concordia College was a private HBCU in Selma, Alabama that opened in 1922. It was known as "Alabama Lutheran Academy and Junior College" until 1981. It was the only HBCU among the ten colleges and universities in the Concordia University System. The college ceased operations at the completion of the Spring 2018 semester, citing years of financial distress and declining enrollment.
Daniel Payne College: Daniel Payne College was a private HBCU founded in 1889 in Birmingham, Alabama. It closed in 1979.
Friendship College: Friendship College was a private, Baptist HBCU founded in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1891. It closed in 1981.
George R Smith College: George R Smith College was an HBCU founded in Sedalia, Missouri in 1894. It burned down April 26, 1925.
Gibbs Junior College: Gibbs Junior College was founded in 1957. It was founded to show that separate but equal educational institutions for African Americans were viable, and that racial integration, mandated by Brown v. Board of Education, was unnecessary. Gibbs closed shortly after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It merged with St Petersburg Junior College. Today its St Petersburg College.
Guadalupe College: Guadalupe College was a private HBCU in Seguin, Texas founded in 1884. It ceased operations after a fire destroyed the main building in 1936.
Hampton Junior College: Hampton Junior College was an HBCU founded in Ocala, Florida in 1958. It closed in 1966.
Jackson Junior College: Jackson Junior College was an HBCU founded in Marianna, Florida in 1961. It closed its doors in 1966.
Johnson Junior College: Johnson Junior College was an HBCU founded in 1960 in Leesburg, Florida. It closed in 1966.
Kittrell College: Kittrell College was a private HBCU in Kittrell, North Carolina. It opened in 1886 and closed in 1975.
Leland University: Leland University was a private HBCU in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was founded in 1870 as a grade school. It was a Baker, Louisiana-based Baptist University when it closed in 1960.
Lewis College Of Business: Lewis College of Business was a private HBCU founded as Lewis Business College in 1928 in Detroit, Michigan. It closed in 2013.
Lincoln Junior College: Lincoln Junior College was an HBCU founded in 1966 in Fort Pierce, Florida. It ceased operations in 1966.
Mary Holmes College: Mary Holmes College was a private HBCU founded in 1892 in West Point, Mississippi. It closed in 2005.
Mississippi Industrial College: Mississippi Industrial College was a private HBCU founded in 1905 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. It ceased operations in 1982.
Morristown College: Morristown College was a private HBCU founded in 1881 in Morristown, Tennessee. It was founded as a seminary and normal school. It became Knoxville College's satellite campus in 1989, and closed for good in 1994.
Mount Hermon Female Seminary: Mount Hermon Female Seminary was a private HBCU founded in 1875 in Clinton, Mississippi.
Natchez College: Natchez College was a private HBCU founded in Natchez, Mississippi in 1885. It closed in 1993.
Payne College: Payne College was founded in 1879 in Cuthbert, Georgia. On June 5, 1912, it became a part of Morris Brown College.
Roger Williams University: Roger Williams University was a private HBCU founded in 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee. Two suspicious fires destroyed its main building in 1905. It combined with other institutions in 1929 to form Lemoyne-Owen College.
Roosevelt Junior College: Roosevelt Junior College was founded in 1958 in West Palm Beach, Florida. It closed in 1965.
Rosenwald Junior College: Rosenwald Junior College was an HBCU founded in 1958 in Panama City, Florida. It ceased operation in 1966.
Saint Paul’s College: Saint Paul’s College was a private HBCU founded in 1888 in Lawrenceville, Virginia. It was founded as Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School.
Saints College: Saints College originated as Saints Junior College and Academy in Lexington, Mississippi. It closed in 2006.
Southern Christian Institute: Southern Christian Institute was founded in 1908 in Edwards, Mississippi. It merged into Tougaloo College. For a time thereafter its campus, renamed Mt. Beulah, was used by the Delta Ministry, CDGM, and other civil rights organizations
Storer College: Storer College was a private HBCU founded in 1865 in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia in 1865. Its endowment was transferred to Virginia Union, where its alumni have been recognized, and its physical assets were given to Alderson-Broaddus College to create scholarships for black students. Its former campus is now part of the Harpers-Ferry National Historical Park.
Suwannee River Junior College: Suwannee River Junior College was a public HBCU founded in 1959 in Madison, Florida. It ceased operations in 1966.
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