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Since its founding in 1891, Delaware State University has proven to be an influential leader in the campaign for equal and quality higher education for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds in the state of Delaware. Originally the State College for Colored Students, the school was established in response to the Second Morrill Land Grant Act, which required states to allow African Americans entrance into state colleges or to create separate schools for such students. Born in the age of segregation, this proud institution has weathered the storms of over a century and, with vision and persistence, transformed itself into a highly regarded, four-year university. Containing over two hundred black-and-white photographs, Delaware State University tells the remarkable story of a beloved college. The faces and deeds of faculty and students--from professional athlete John Taylor to Ambassador Jerome Holland, from Civil Rights activist Ethel Belton to jazz great Clifford Brown--are depicted in this volume, as well as historical events that came to bear on university life, such as the training of pilots through the Civilian Pilot Training Program and the desegregation that stemmed from the Civil Rights Movement. Reflecting the changing landscape of American society, Delaware State University continues to reinvent itself and endeavors, always, to instill in its students the truth that "Only the Educated are Free."
About the author
Author Bradley Skelcher is a professor of history at Delaware State University, and his research into Delaware's African-American heritage has helped to establish the state's plans for preserving this valuable public treasure. Skelcher's passion for his subject shines brightly in this pictorial retrospective, illustrating both the challenges and accomplishments of Delaware State University with vintage archival photographs. Present-day students, alumni, and faculty are all sure to enjoy this historical tribute.
