Claflin University history

In 1870 Claflin University merged with Baker Bible Institute, and two years later the South Carolina General Assembly merged Claflin with the South Carolina State Agriculture and Mechanical Institute.

An act by the South Carolina General Assembly on March 12, 1872, designated the South Carolina State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute as a part of Claflin University.

In 1879, the first college class graduated.

The pastor of Centenary Church, now Centenary United Methodist Church, in Charleston until 1880, Dunton took an interest in Claflin and knew many of the institution's supporters and board members.

Another much celebrated occasion came in 1882, when the Board of Trustees approved the recommendation that two students, Nathaniel Middleton and William Bulkley, receive bachelor’s degrees.

In 1888, with the help of longtime supporter William Claflin, the trustees endorsed the president’s plans to expand the physical plant, adding several new buildings to the campus.

In 1896 the S.C. General Assembly passed an act of separation which severed the State Agricultural and Mechanical Institute from Claflin University and established a separate institution which eventually became South Carolina State University.

Seabrook attended both high school and college at Claflin before heading to Howard University Law School, where he received an LLB degree in 1926.

Doctor John J. Seabrook was selected as the fifth president of Claflin University in August 1945, becoming the first Claflin graduate to lead the institution.

As part of Seabrook’s plan for academic expansion, the first summer school session was held in 1947.

The school continued to develop a liberal arts curriculum with endowments from Methodist groups and was accredited in 1948 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

On February 6, 1955, the Mary E. Dunton Dormitory was virtually destroyed.

In 1956, Doctor Hubert V. Manning was chosen as the sixth president of Claflin.

Manning helped established re-accreditation for the University with the Southern Association of Colleges and Institutions in 1961.

Claflin also began to participate in programs offered by the government under the 1965 Higher Education Act.

The library was completed in 1967 and named for Manning.

In 1976, Manning became president of the South Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities and president of the Council of Presidents of United Methodist Black Colleges.

May 4, 1984, was declared “Doctor H.V. Manning Day” by Orangeburg Mayor E.O. Pendarvis.

A major initiative during that time was the Capital Campaign, which was officially launched in April 1986.

At the end of 1989, Rogers announced the end of a three-year Capital Campaign - and that it had raised $3,688,000.

Doctor Henry N. Tisdale was named Claflin University’s eighth president in 1994, culminating a national yearlong search by the Board of Trustees.

Also in 1997, Claflin's Academic Plan for Excellence was implemented, and the Leadership Development Center was established.

In 1999, with support provided by a grant from the National Park Service, historic Ministers’ Hall underwent major restoration and now serves as a performing arts facility.

In 2000, three new parking lots were developed and a new Goff Street entrance was added.

The $20 million goal was surpassed in three years and reached more than $30 million in 2002.

In 2003, the University restored Tingley Memorial Hall and renovated the H.V. Manning Library.

In 2004, the University constructed the $15 million Student Residential Center comprised of four residential facilities and the new University Dining Center for students and faculty.

In 2006, the University did a complete makeover of the Mary E. Dunton Residential Hall for women.

In early 2007, the newly built chapel was consecrated and named the James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel in honor of the husband and wife whose $250,000 challenge grant inspired more than 2,000 supporters to contribute to the $3 million building.

Many more developments have occurred since 2008.

Statewide Commission in 2015 and served as Chairman for four years.