Straight University
Encyclopedia
Straight University, after 1915 Straight College, was a historically black college
that operated between 1868 and 1934 in New Orleans
, Louisiana
. It was founded by the American Missionary Association
.
, occupying the block between Tonti and Rocheblave Streets backed by Gasquet (now Cleveland Avenue). After the university was absorbed into the nearly created Dillard University, the campus buildings served as a school and YWCA until demolished in 1950.
need to educate newly freed African Americans in New Orleans, Louisiana and the surrounding region, the American Missionary Association
of the Congregational Church founded Straight University on June 12, 1868.
Straight University received its name as recognition for Seymour Straight's initial endowment gift. Straight was a wealthy cheese manufacturer from Hudson
, Ohio
.
In 1915, the name "Straight University" was changed to Straight College which represented the scope of the school's work more accurately. Missionary work was a core concern, which extended from New Orleans to Africa.
Throughout its history, Straight offered courses of study ranging from elementary- to college
-level courses in music
, and theology
.
In 1934, after experiencing financial difficulties, Straight College was merged with New Orleans University
to form Dillard University
.
department from 1874 to 1886, and its graduates participated in local and national Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era civil rights
struggles. For example, 1876 Straight University Law School graduate, Louis André Martinet, published The Crusader--a civil rights daily, co-founded the Comité des Citoyens (Citizens' Committee), and played a significant role in the Plessy v. Ferguson
landmark Supreme Court case.
The Law department is historically notable because blacks and whites were trained side by side. "It is an interesting fact of our 50 law graduates, 35 have been white." The school struggled to provide its law students a proper research library. The students typically met for classes in the law professors offices.
In 1886, Straight discontinued the Law Department and began to focus on the liberal arts
, industrial arts
, and teacher training.
James W. Ames
, for example, founded the first hospital for blacks in Detroit in 1910. Dunbar Hospital
was created for physicians and patients of color, unable to practise or be admitted to Detroit hospitals operated by whites. Straight's graduates participated in local and national Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era civil rights
struggles. For example, 1876 Straight University Law School graduate, Louis André Martinet, published The Crusader--a civil rights daily, co-founded the Comité des Citoyens (Citizens' Committee), and played a significant role in the Plessy v. Ferguson
landmark Supreme Court case. Among other notable alumni are P.B.S. Pinchback (first African American governor of a U.S. state) and Alice Dunbar Nelson
, foremother of the Harlem Renaissance
.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
that operated between 1868 and 1934 in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. It was founded by the American Missionary Association
American Missionary Association
The American Missionary Association was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on September 3, 1846 in Albany, New York. The main purpose of this organization was to abolish slavery, to educate African Americans, to promote racial equality, and to promote Christian values...
.
Campus
The campus faced Canal Street, New OrleansCanal Street, New Orleans
Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans. Forming the upriver boundary of the city's oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter , it acted as the dividing line between the older French/Spanish Colonial-era city and the newer American Sector, today's Central Business District.The...
, occupying the block between Tonti and Rocheblave Streets backed by Gasquet (now Cleveland Avenue). After the university was absorbed into the nearly created Dillard University, the campus buildings served as a school and YWCA until demolished in 1950.
History
Responding to the post-Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
need to educate newly freed African Americans in New Orleans, Louisiana and the surrounding region, the American Missionary Association
American Missionary Association
The American Missionary Association was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on September 3, 1846 in Albany, New York. The main purpose of this organization was to abolish slavery, to educate African Americans, to promote racial equality, and to promote Christian values...
of the Congregational Church founded Straight University on June 12, 1868.
Straight University received its name as recognition for Seymour Straight's initial endowment gift. Straight was a wealthy cheese manufacturer from Hudson
Hudson, Ohio
Hudson is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 22,262 at the 2010 census. It is an affluent exurban community and is part of the Akron, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
In 1915, the name "Straight University" was changed to Straight College which represented the scope of the school's work more accurately. Missionary work was a core concern, which extended from New Orleans to Africa.
Throughout its history, Straight offered courses of study ranging from elementary- to college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
-level courses in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
In 1934, after experiencing financial difficulties, Straight College was merged with New Orleans University
New Orleans University
New Orleans University, was a historically black college that operated between 1873 and 1934 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church and affiliated with a number of preparatory schools located in various parts of the state of Louisiana...
to form Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
.
Law department
Straight University also offered professional training, including a lawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
department from 1874 to 1886, and its graduates participated in local and national Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
struggles. For example, 1876 Straight University Law School graduate, Louis André Martinet, published The Crusader--a civil rights daily, co-founded the Comité des Citoyens (Citizens' Committee), and played a significant role in the Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision in the jurisprudence of the United States, upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in private businesses , under the doctrine of "separate but equal".The decision was handed...
landmark Supreme Court case.
The Law department is historically notable because blacks and whites were trained side by side. "It is an interesting fact of our 50 law graduates, 35 have been white." The school struggled to provide its law students a proper research library. The students typically met for classes in the law professors offices.
In 1886, Straight discontinued the Law Department and began to focus on the liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
, industrial arts
Industrial arts
Industrial Arts is an umbrella term originally conceived in the late 19th century to describe educational programs which featured fabrication of objects in wood and/or metal using a variety of hand, power, or machine tools...
, and teacher training.
Notable alumnai
Graduates had an important role in bringing education and medical care to African-Americans during the early part of the 20th Century. PhysicianPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
James W. Ames
James W. Ames
James W. Ames was an African-American physician.Ames was educated at Straight University in New Orleans, and then received a degree from Howard University. He had taught school in New Orleans as well....
, for example, founded the first hospital for blacks in Detroit in 1910. Dunbar Hospital
Dunbar Hospital
Dunbar Hospital was the first hospital in Detroit, Michigan for the black community. It is located at 580 Frederick Street, and is currently the administrative headquarters of the Detroit Medical Society. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.- Building construction...
was created for physicians and patients of color, unable to practise or be admitted to Detroit hospitals operated by whites. Straight's graduates participated in local and national Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
struggles. For example, 1876 Straight University Law School graduate, Louis André Martinet, published The Crusader--a civil rights daily, co-founded the Comité des Citoyens (Citizens' Committee), and played a significant role in the Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision in the jurisprudence of the United States, upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in private businesses , under the doctrine of "separate but equal".The decision was handed...
landmark Supreme Court case. Among other notable alumni are P.B.S. Pinchback (first African American governor of a U.S. state) and Alice Dunbar Nelson
Alice Dunbar Nelson
Alice Ruth Moore Dunbar Nelson was an American poet, journalist and political activist. Among the first generation born free in the South after the Civil War, she was one of the prominent African Americans involved in the artistic flourishing of the Harlem Renaissance...
, foremother of the Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
.