Virginia College history

The University opened for classes in 1825 with a faculty of eight and a student body numbering sixty-eight.

The first University president was Doctor Malcolm MacVicar, born in Argyleshire, Scotland in 1828.

Our mission at Virginia Union University was first put into operation shortly after April 3, 1865, the date when Richmond, Virginia was liberated by troops of the United States Army of the James.

In 1870, he made the move from Lumpkin’s Jail, which still held painful memories for many of the students, and purchased the former United States Hotel building at 19th & Main Street for $10,000.

The Institute was the first in the South to employ African-American teaching assistants and faculty and in 1876 was offering curricula which were preparatory (elementary); academic (pre-college) and theological.

Virginia State University was founded on March 6, 1882, when the legislature passed a bill to charter the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute.

A hostile lawsuit delayed opening day for nineteen months, until October 1, 1883.

With no further women students, Richmond Institute turned strictly to theological studies and re- established itself as Richmond Theological Seminary in 1886, offering its first Bachelor’s degree, the Bachelor of Divinity.

The first Founders’ Day took place on February 11, 1899 with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of present-day Kingsley Hall.

In 1902, the legislature revised the charter act to curtail the collegiate program and to change the name to Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute.

From the earliest years of the Twentieth Century, Greek societies have been a significant element in campus life at VUU. In point of fact, the oldest African-American Greek organization, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity had been partially founded by VUU graduate, Eugene Kinckle Jones in 1906.

Charles Spurgeon Johnson (class of 1916): became Director of Research & Investigation for the National Urban League, and editor of its publication: Opportunities: a Journal of Negro Life.

In 1928, the first issue of the Panther yearbook was published and the first Miss VUU was elected by the students during a Thanksgiving Day Football game – her name was Mary S. Booker.

Upon Doctor Proctor’s resignation to assume the presidency of North Carolina A & T, the Board of Trustees tapped the University Dean, Doctor Thomas Howard Henderson, a 1929 VUU graduate, to fill the position.

After serving as first campus pastor and professor of Sociology and Ethics at Virginia State College, he accepted a position on the Virginia Union faculty in 1936.

Meanwhile, the parent school was renamed Virginia State College in 1946.

The charismatic Proctor had to endure serious medical problems with family members and intimidation from white racists (including the Ku Klux Klan’s burning of a cross on the campus), as civil rights/desegregation unrest grew during the late 1950’s.

1954: From these early discussions at the Wise Inn, a committee is formed to pursue the dream.

1957: The College acquires a small stone building, first named Martha Randolph Hall, which formerly housed delinquent boys.

1958: A series of faculty houses and apartments is constructed to help secure a capable faculty.

1959: Zehmer Hall, the state’s first major commitment to the College, is constructed; the Alumni Association is organized.

1960: Miriam Morris Fuller becomes the first African-American student admitted to the College, at a time when other Virginia colleges and universities were not open to black students.

1970: McCraray Hall, the College’s first new residence hall, opens in honor of Emma McCraray, one of the first faculty; the College awards its first bachelor of arts degrees.

1971: The College’s first administration building opens.

1973: The College awards its first bachelor of science degrees.

1974: The new theatre building opens.

Doctor Jean Louise Harris (’51) went on to become the first African-American to graduate from the Medical College of Virginia; Virginia Secretary of Human Resources from 1978-82; and Mayor of Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Doctor James retired in 1979 and Doctor Dorothy Norris Cowling served as Acting President until the Board of Trustees selected Doctor David Thomas Shannon as the eighth VUU President.

The original Virginia College campus was founded in 1983 in Roanoke, Virginia.

1984: Two new residence halls, Thompson Hall and Asbury Hall — named in honor of two of the “Three Wise Men” — open.

In 1989, the college was purchased by Education Futures, Inc.

1991: Full-time enrollment exceeds 1,000 students; the Highland Cavaliers play their first football game at Carroll Dale Stadium in Wise.

In February 1992, Virginia College opened its first branch campus in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Homewood.

Another branch campus was opened in April 1993 in Huntsville, Alabama.

1994: The College launches its first capital campaign with a goal of $13 million; Bowers-Sturgill Hall opens.

Doctor Yvonne Maddox (’65) was named Deputy Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in 1995; and five years later, Acting Deputy Director for the National Institute of Health.

1996: The College graduates its first bachelor of science nursing students.

1997: $2 million, the largest gift in college history, is received to build a new football stadium; Commonwealth Hall, the first new classroom building in 20 years, opens.

1998: A $3 million addition to the Wyllie Library opens; Smith House, the chancellor’s residence, is dedicated.

In 1999, the Board named Doctor Bernard Wayne Franklin, president of St Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina as Doctor Simmons’ successor.

2001: First capital campaign ends with $21 million raised; Jim Humphreys Tennis Complex and Henson Hall open.

2002: Commonwealth Hall is renamed Darden Hall; Beaty-Richmond Field is dedicated.

In 2003, Doctor Belinda Childress Anderson became the eleventh VUU President.

2004: Total enrollment reaches 1,800 students; Burchell “Slew” Stallard Field is dedicated; the College celebrates its 50th anniversary.

2006: Fulfilling the Dream campaign is launched with a goal of $50 million.

On January 21, 2009, Doctor Claude Grandford Perkins took office at the Chief Executive position and became Virginia Union’s twelfth President.

2011: $8.3 million, largest gift in College’s history, is announced to build a health & wellness center; renovate Greear Gymnasium

2012: Fulfilling the Dream Campaign concludes raising more than $67 million

On December 10, 2015, the Virginia State University Board of Visitors announced that Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D. would become the institution’s president.

Doctor Abdullah officially took office on February 1, 2016.

2017: Hunter Smith announces $10 Million gift to UVA Wise, the largest in the College’s history, to be matched with $10 million from UVA to fund the Carl W. Smith Bicentennial Scholars Fund

2019: College Launches Honoring the Future Campaign with goal of $100 Million

2020: Naming of the Library entrance the Doctor Miriam DeLois Morris Fuller Foyer, honoring the College’s first African American Student

2021: UVA receives Apple Distinguished School honor