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A charter was proposed to create Dillard University [1]

['Shannon Stecker', 'More Shannon Stecker']

Date: 2023-06-06

On June 6, 1930, the boards of two historically Black colleges – New Orleans University and Straight University – proposed a charter for the opening of a new institution to meet the needs of a growing population seeking opportunities in higher education.

Dillard University was established as a private, faith-based institution meant to serve as an educational center for excellence in the South.

After the Civil War, there was a demand for education among formerly enslaved people in New Orleans. New Orleans University, formerly Union Normal School run by the Freedmen’s Aid Society, was created by the Methodist Episcopal Church (now the United Methodist Church) to meet that demand. Among the first people to sign that school’s charter was the Rev. Emperor Williams, a former slave.

Straight University, which became Straight College after 1915, was founded in 1868 with support from the American Missionary Association of the Congregational Church (now the United Church of Christ). It was also created to provide educational opportunities for African Americans recently freed from slavery. Classes began in a church but later moved to what is now 1631 Esplanade Ave. The university had law and medical schools. In 1877, when Union soldiers began to withdraw from New Orleans marking the end of Reconstruction, Straight’s main campus building was set ablaze by an arsonist.

Dillard University’s physics program is one of the top producers of African American physics graduates in the nation. Credit: Sabree Hill/Dillard University Photographer

The rise of Jim Crow was difficult for African American college graduates who had difficulty finding professional jobs. They were often forced into domestic and menial labor.

In 1928, Straight’s president James P. O’Brien asked businessman Edgar B. Stern for financial support. O’Brien’s request caught the attention of others, including the Julius Rosenwald Fund, the General Election Board of New York and several prominent New Orleanians.

The group agreed to help Straight on the condition that it consolidate with New Orleans University, which had opened in 1869. On June 6, 1930, a newly formed board of trustees proposed a charter for the new school. The university would be named for James Hardy Dillard, who was known for his determination to close racial barriers in education, even though his family had been slave owners in Virginia.

Dillard had served as vice president of the Phelps-Stokes Fund, which worked to improve educational opportunities for African Americans. He also headed the Free Kindergarten Association and the New Orleans Public Library.

Dillard University mascot, Victor E. Bleu, gets the crowd pumped at a university basketball game. Credit: Sabree Hill/Dillard University Photographer

The new Dillard University opened its doors in 1935. James Dillard helped develop the university’s seal which includes the motto: “Ex Fide Fortis,” translated as “From Confidence Courage.”

Today, Dillard continues to evolve, adapting to the changing needs of its student body and the broader society by offering undergraduate and graduate programs in business, education, nursing, sciences, humanities, social sciences, and more to more than 1,200 students.

The campus remains in its original location in the Gentilly neighborhood and continues to be a center of excellence in the South.

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If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @VeriteNewsNola on Facebook @VeriteNewsNola on Twitter. If you have any other questions, contact managing editor Tim Morris. June 6, 1930: A charter was proposed to create Dillard University <h1>June 6, 1930: A charter was proposed to create Dillard University</h1> <p class="byline">by Shannon Stecker, Verite <br />June 6, 2023</p> <p>On June 6, 1930, the boards of two historically Black colleges – New Orleans University and Straight University – proposed a charter for the opening of a new institution to meet the needs of a growing population seeking opportunities in higher education.</p> <p><a href="https://www.dillard.edu/">Dillard University</a> was established as a private, faith-based institution meant to serve as an educational center for excellence in the South. </p> <p>After the Civil War, there was a demand for education among formerly enslaved people in New Orleans. New Orleans University, formerly Union Normal School run by the Freedmen's Aid Society, was created by the Methodist Episcopal Church (now the United Methodist Church) to meet that demand. Among the first people to sign that school’s charter was the Rev. Emperor Williams, a former slave. </p> <p>Straight University, which became Straight College after 1915, was founded in 1868 with support from the American Missionary Association of the Congregational Church (now the United Church of Christ). It was also created to provide educational opportunities for African Americans recently freed from slavery. Classes began in a church but later moved to what is now 1631 Esplanade Ave. The university had law and medical schools. In 1877, when Union soldiers began to withdraw from New Orleans marking the end of Reconstruction, Straight’s main campus building was set ablaze by an arsonist.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/DillardPhoto-3-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6721" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dillard University's physics program is one of the top producers of African American physics graduates in the nation.</figcaption></figure> <p>The rise of Jim Crow was difficult for African American college graduates who had difficulty finding professional jobs. They were often forced into domestic and menial labor. </p> <p>In 1928, Straight’s president James P. O’Brien asked businessman Edgar B. Stern for financial support. O’Brien’s request caught the attention of others, including the Julius Rosenwald Fund, the General Election Board of New York and several prominent New Orleanians.</p> <p>The group agreed to help Straight on the condition that it consolidate with New Orleans University, which had opened in 1869. On June 6, 1930, a newly formed board of trustees proposed a charter for the new school. The university would be named for James Hardy Dillard, who was known for his determination to close racial barriers in education, even though his family had been slave owners in Virginia. </p> <p>Dillard had served as vice president of the Phelps-Stokes Fund, which worked to improve educational opportunities for African Americans. He also headed the Free Kindergarten Association and the New Orleans Public Library.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/DillardPhoto-4-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6723" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dillard University mascot, Victor E. Bleu, gets the crowd pumped at a university basketball game.</figcaption></figure> <p>The new Dillard University opened its doors in 1935. James Dillard helped develop the university’s seal which includes the motto: “Ex Fide Fortis,” translated as “From Confidence Courage.” </p> <p>Today, Dillard continues to evolve, adapting to the changing needs of its student body and the broader society by offering undergraduate and graduate programs in business, education, nursing, sciences, humanities, social sciences, and more to more than 1,200 students. </p> <p>The campus remains in its original location in the Gentilly neighborhood and continues to be a center of excellence in the South.</p> <p><a href="https://veritenews.org/join-our-mailing-list/"><em>Join Verite’s Mailing List</em></a> | <a href="https://veritenews.org/our-commitment-to-listening/"><em>Get the news that matters to you</em></a></p> This <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org/2023/06/06/a-charter-was-proposed-to-create-dillard-university/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org">Verite</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-Verite-icon.png?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://veritenews.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=6724&ga3=319934958" style="width:1px;height:1px;"> Copy to Clipboard

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