Louisburg College history

The second stage in Louisburg College’s evolution began on December 27, 1814, when the state legislature ratified the Louisburg Female Academy charter.

Louisburg Female Academy opened its doors in 1815, under the direction of Harriet Partridge, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women.

The third stage of Louisburg College’s evolution began in January 1855, when the state legislature authorized the transfer of property by Louisburg Female Academy’s trustees to Louisburg Female College Company’s directors.

In August 1857, Louisburg Female College opened its doors under the management of Professor James P. Nelson.

The regular college course in 1867 included such courses as English grammar, mythology, geography, botany, physiology, trigonometry, Latin, French, and "Evidence of Christianity."

The Duke family of Durham bought the establishment for $5,450 in 1891, and the institution became known as Louisburg College.

The Duke family donated it to the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1907.

The directors moved the Female Academy building south of its original location and utilized it as a college annex until a fire destroyed it in 1927.

Unfortunately, a disastrous fire gutted Main Building and the new West Wing in 1928.

Louisburg College became co-educational in 1931, and student enrollment immediately increased.

In 1956, a planning committee of the North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church recommended the establishment of two co-educational senior colleges and the merger of Louisburg College into one of the institutions.

In 1961, the college purchased the Mills High School property on the east side of Main Street and remodeled the building to serve as the college auditorium classroom.

Through the generosity of the United Methodist Men of the Raleigh District, the Clifton L. Benson Chapel and Religious Life Center was opened in 1986.