Morgan State University

Quick facts Centenary Biblical Institute, 1869–1882 ... Presidents of Morgan State University Centenary Biblical Institute 1869–1882 J. Emory Round 1882–1888 W. Maslin Frysinger Morgan College 1888–1901 John J. Wagner 1901–1902 Charles Edmond Young (acting) 1902–1937 John O. Spencer Morgan State College 1937–1948 Dwight O.W. Holmes 1948–1970 Martin D. Jenkins 1970–1971 Thomas P. Fraser, II (interim) 1971–1974 King Virgil Cheek 1974–1975 Thomas P. Fraser Morgan State University 1975–1984 Andrew Billingsley 1984–2010 Earl S. Richardson 2010–present David Wilson Close Morgan State University (MSU) is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute, a Methodist Episcopal seminary , to train young men in the ministry. At the time of his death, Thomas Kelso , co-founder and president of the board of directors, endowed the Male Free School and Colored Institute through a legacy of his estate . [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] It later broadened its mission to educate both men and women as teachers. The school was renamed as Morgan College in 1890 in honor of the Reverend Lyttleton Morgan , the first chairman of its board of trustees, who donated land to the college. [ 5 ] In 1895, the institution awarded its first baccalaureate degree to George W. F. McMechen , after whom the building of the school of business and management is named today. McMechen later earned a law degree from Yale University and, after establishing his career, became one of Morgan's main financial supporters. [ 11 ] John O. Spencer became the fifth president of Morgan College in 1902, and served in that position until 1937. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] In 1902, Morgan's assets were a little over $100,000 in grounds, equipment and endowments, including its branch schools at the time; the then Princess Anne Academy and the Virginia Collegiate and Industrial Institute.

During his tenure as president, the university saw major expansions across the campus. By 1937, the school's assets were more than $1,000,000 and its enrollment had grown from 150 to 487. [ 17 ] It also saw the first "Era of Progress" as the college transformed from a college supported by the religious community (which focused primarily upon training young men and women for the ministry) to a college gaining support from private foundations, and offering liberal arts academic degree for a variety of professions. In 1915, Andrew Carnegie donated to the school a grant of $50,000 for a central academic building. The terms of the grant included the purchase of a new site for the College, payment of all outstanding obligations, and the construction of a building to be named after him. The College met the conditions and moved to its present site in northeast Baltimore in 1917. [ citation needed ] In 1918, the white community of Lauraville tried to have the sale revoked by filing suit in the circuit court in Towson , upset that the Ivy Mill property, the planned location of Morgan State, had been sold to a "negro" college. The circuit court dismissed the suit, which the community appealed to the Maryland Court of Appeals . [ 18 ] The appellate court upheld the lower court decision, finding no basis that siting the college at this location would constitute a public nuisance. [ 19 ] Despite some ugly threats and several demonstrations against the project, Morgan College was constructed at the new site and later expanded. Carnegie Hall, the oldest original building on the present Morgan campus, was erected a year later. [ citation needed ] Morgan remained a private institution until 1939. That year, the state of Maryland purchased the school. Morgan College became Morgan State College. In 1975, Morgan State added several doctoral programs and was designated as a university by state legislature.

[ citation needed ] 21st century New student union building In the 21st century, the university has seen the construction of a new student union, two dedicated parking garages, the Earl S. Richardson Library, the Dixon Research Center, the Communications Building, and the Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies. [ citation needed ] The Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center is also the home of the James E. Lewis Museum of Art. In September 2012, Morgan State opened the Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies (CBEIS) which houses the School of Architecture and Planning, School of Transportation Studies, and the School of Engineering. [ citation needed ] In 2020, MacKenzie Scott donated $40 million to Morgan State. [ 20 ] The following year, Calvin E. Tyler Jr. donated $20 million to endow scholarships. [ 21 ] In 2025, MacKenzie Scott donated an additional $63 million to Morgan State, the largest donation in the history of the institution. [ 22 ]

The historic Holmes Hall Morgan State awards baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees . Morgan has educated over 100 Fulbright scholars, the most of any HBCU. Morgan is also first among HBCUs in the number of Fulbright-related grants awarded to students, faculty, and administrators. It is one of the 19 schools included on the inaugural Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders list. [ 23 ] Since instituting the Fulbright program, Morgan State University has trained 144 Fulbright awardees initiating international studies in 43 different countries. Moreover, 51 MSU professors or administrators (none of whom were Morgan graduates) have earned 73 "Senior Fulbright" awards to 42 countries. [ 24 ] Schools and colleges The university operates twelve colleges, schools, and institutes. James H. Gilliam, Jr. College of Liberal Arts School of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences Clarence M. Mitchell School of Engineering School of Architecture and Planning Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management School of Community Health and Policy School of Global Journalism and Communication School of Education & Urban Studies School of Social Work College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies Dr. Clara Adams Honors College School of Graduate Studies Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL) James H. Gilliam, Jr. College of Liberal Arts The College of Liberal Arts offers degree programs in the arts, history, humanities, military and social sciences, and hosts two museums: the James E. Lewis Museum of Art and Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum . The James E. Lewis Museum of Art (JELMA) is the cultural extension of Morgan State University's Fine Arts academic program. The Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum illustrates the last recorded lynching in Maryland.