HISTORY OF PAUL QUINN COLLEGE
 

HISTORY OF PAUL QUINN COLLEGE

Paul Quinn College was founded by a small group of African Methodist Episcopal circuit-riding preachers in Austin, Texas in 1872. The College was later relocated to Waco and established as a modest one-building trade school at Eighth and Mary Streets, where the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway Station now stands. Here, newly freed slaves were taught blacksmithing, carpentry, tanning and other skills.

As A.M.E. districts were developed throughout the South, funds became available for a larger school. Consequently, in 1881 two acres of the Garrison Plantation in East Waco were purchased. Later, twenty more acres were added. To construct the first building, a “Ten Cents a Brick” campaign was launched throughout the A.M.E. congregations, thus, pennies of the desperately poor people built the first solid monument to their dreams

In May 1882, Paul Quinn College, named for Bishop William Paul Quinn, A.M.E. Bishop of the Western States for almost thirty years, was chartered by the State of Texas. Today the College is the oldest liberal arts college for African Americans in the State of Texas. Taught by a faculty of five men and women, the curriculum, in the early days of the College, included: Mathematics, Music, Latin, Theology, English, Printing, Carpentry, Sewing and “Household, Kitchen, a Dining Room work.” The teaching facilities were indeed meager. In addition to the main brick building, there was one frame building for the kitchen and dining room, an office, and three shed rooms that served as dormitories for young men.

As the increasing need to serve and the value of Paul Quinn College became apparent, more buildings were erected on the campus. These buildings were made possible largely through contributions from interested patrons. Again, in 1950, Paul Quinn College experienced a great stage of physical expansion. A campus church, student union building, gymnasium and an administration building were all erected between 1950 and 1954. In addition, major renovations were made to other buildings on the campus.

On March 21, 1954, the Waco Chamber of Commerce launched a $100,000 drive for a new women’s dormitory to replace one that had been destroyed by fire. The campaign concluded successfully on April 15,1954. In May1956, Bishop Howard T. Primm, former Presiding Bishop of the Eighth Episcopal District and Chancellor of Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi, was assigned as Bishop of the Tenth Episcopal District, thus becoming the new Chairman of the Paul Quinn College Trustee Board.

On June 26, 1956, the Reverend John Hurst Adams, then Associate Professor of New Testament and Church History at Payne Theological Seminary at Wilberforce University, was elected president of Paul Quinn College. He succeeded Dr. Veal, who resigned to accept the presidency of Allen University in South Carolina.

Bishop O. L. Sherman was assigned to supervise the work of the A.M.E. Church in Texas in 1962. His first official act was to have the Charter of the College changed so that trustees could be elected without regard to race, creed or color. Because of this significant innovation, some of the most outstanding civic leaders in Central Texas were added to the Board of Trustees.

Under the leadership of the Reverend L. H. McCloney and the work of Bishop Sherman, Paul Quinn College made major developments in the 1960s. During this time two ultra-modern dormitories, a modern two-story classroom building, a fully equipped science building, and a modern library building were constructed.

 Dr. Stanley E. Rutland became president of Paul Quinn College in 1969. Under his leadership, further additions and renovations were accomplished with the addition of an ultra-modern gymnasium, the renovation of historic Johnson Hall and the development of the Ethnic Cultural Center. The most significant for Paul Quinn College development under Dr. Rutland was the full accreditation of the College with the Southern Association of Colleges and School in 1972. Since that time, the accreditation has been reaffirmed and the Texas Education Agency has re-opened the Teacher Training program.

 In 1990, under the leadership of Dr. Warren W. Morgan, Paul Quinn College relocated to Dallas, Texas. The first semester in its new home began on September 20, 1990, with an enrollment of 1,020 students. Several innovative programs were soon implemented, including a cooperative agreement with the Dallas County Community College District - designed to facilitate easier transition from all seven of the DCCCD 2-year institutions to Paul Quinn College.

In 1992, under the leadership of Dr. Lee E. Monroe, the College strengthened its academic programs, while increasing fiscal responsibility.  Under his administration, the College eliminated a 4.2 million dollar deficit in less than three years.  Dr. Monroe’s focus was establishing Paul Quinn College as the premier private historically black college in Texas.

Dr. Dwight J. Fennell became president in 2003 after serving as interim president from 2001. Under Dr. Fennell the College continued to develop its academic programs, increased student enrollment and retention, expanded the College’s endowment, promoted greater interaction between students and faculty, enhanced academic programs and continued to connect with the wider community in Dallas.

Dr. Oswell Person became interim president of Paul Quinn College in the Fall of 2005. Under his leadership the College continues to progress in all academic, financial, and student services. Several campaigns, and grants involving the corporate community have been initiated. He worked diligently to ensure the financial stability of the College and has increased the visibility of  businesses, the community and benefactors.

The Presidents of Paul Quinn College: 

  • Bishop J. M. Brown (1872-76)

  • Bishop R. H. Cain (1876-80)

  • H.T. Keiling (1880-83)

  • I. M. Burgan (1883-91)

  • N.A. Banks (1891-92)
  • W. I. Laws (1904-08)
  • D. A. Butler (1908-11)

  • I. M. Burgan (1911-14)

  • J. K. Williams (1914-24)

  • J. F. Williams (1924-26)

  • N.A. Banks (1926-28)

  • Dean Mohr (1928-32)

  • A.S. Jackson (1932-39)

  • J. W. Yancy II (1939-42)

  • George Davis (1942-45)

  • George Singleton (1945-46)

  • Nanie Bell Aycock (1946-51)

  • Sherman L. Green,Jr. (1951-53)

  • Frank R. Veal (1953-56)

  • John H. Adams (1956-62)

  • L. H. McCloney (1962-69)

  • Stanley E. Rutland (1969-76)

  • Reuben D. Manning (1976-78)

  • William D. Watley (1979-81)

  • Norman W. Handy (1982-84)

  • Warren W. Morgan (1984-92)

  • Winston D. Powers (1992-92)

  • Lee E. Monroe (1992-2001)

  • Dwight J. Fennell (2002-2005)

  • Oswell Person (Interim) (2005-2006)

  • John Waddell (August 2006-February 2007)

  • Michael J. Sorrell ( 2007- Present)
 

Paul Quinn College | 3837 Simpson Stuart Road | Dallas, Texas | 75241 | 214-376-1000