Morehouse College

Morehouse College
Name	Morehouse College
Established	1867
Type	Private, men's liberal arts college, HBCU
Endowment	$200 million+
President	David A. Thomas
City	Atlanta
State	Georgia
Country	United States
Campus	Urban, 61 acres
Students	2,200+
Faculty	150+
Colors	Maroon and white
Nickname	Maroon Tigers
Affiliations	Atlanta University Center, UNCF

Morehouse College. A private, historically black, liberal arts institution for men in Atlanta, Georgia, it is one of the nation's most prominent historically black colleges and universities. Founded in 1867, the college is a founding member of the Atlanta University Center consortium and is renowned for producing leaders in fields such as civil rights, politics, and the arts. Its mission emphasizes academic excellence, ethical leadership, and service, encapsulated in the phrase "The Morehouse Man."

History

The institution was founded in 1867 in Augusta as the Augusta Institute by William Jefferson White, a Baptist minister, with the support of the National Theological Institute and the American Baptist Home Mission Society. Relocated to Atlanta in 1879 and renamed the Atlanta Baptist Seminary, it moved to its present site in the West End neighborhood in 1885. Under the presidency of John Hope, the first African American president, it was renamed Morehouse College in 1913 in honor of Henry L. Morehouse, corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. The college played a significant role during the Civil Rights Movement, with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. among its alumni and faculty such as Howard Thurman influencing a generation of activists. Its modern era has been shaped by presidents including Benjamin Mays, whose tenure from 1940 to 1967 emphasized social justice and intellectual rigor.

Academics

Morehouse offers a rigorous liberal arts curriculum leading to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees across 26 majors in three academic divisions: Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Mathematics, and Professional Studies. It is particularly noted for programs in business administration, political science, biology, and African American studies. The college houses the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership and the Morehouse Research Institute. A cornerstone of its academic philosophy is the Morehouse Mystique, an ethos promoting leadership, brotherhood, and service. The college maintains a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and has produced a significant number of Rhodes Scholars, including its first in 1977. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Campus

The 61-acre urban campus is located in the historic West End district of Atlanta, adjacent to sister institutions Spelman College and the Clark Atlanta University as part of the Atlanta University Center. Notable buildings include the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, a national historic site that houses the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Institute; Gloster Hall, the main administrative building; and the recently constructed Ray Charles Performing Arts Center. The campus features the Morehouse College of Medicine, which became independent in 1981, and the Morehouse School of Medicine. Residential life centers on traditional halls like Graves Hall and modern facilities such as the Perry Hall residential complex.

Student life

Student life is governed by a strong tradition of brotherhood and leadership development. The Student Government Association is highly active, and students participate in over 80 organizations, including fraternities like Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi. The Morehouse College Glee Club, founded in 1911, is a renowned musical ensemble. The Maroon Tigers compete in NCAA Division II athletics as members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, with fierce rivalries against schools like Tuskegee University. Annual traditions include Homecoming, the Crown Forum speaker series, and the Morehouse House of Funk dance ensemble. All students adhere to a formal dress code and pledge to uphold the Morehouse Appropriate Behavior Policy.

Notable alumni

Morehouse alumni, known as "Morehouse Men," have achieved extraordinary prominence across diverse fields. In civil rights and politics, graduates include Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King III, Maynard Jackson (first African American mayor of Atlanta), Julian Bond, and United States Senator Raphael Warnock. In entertainment and arts, notable alumni are Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ossie Davis. Leaders in business include Louis Sullivan, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Kenneth I. Chenault, former CEO of American Express. Other distinguished graduates are Edwin Moses (Olympic gold medalist), Bakari Sellers, and Jeh Johnson, former United States Secretary of Homeland Security.

In popular culture

Morehouse has been featured and referenced in numerous films, television shows, and literary works, often symbolizing black excellence and tradition. It is prominently depicted in Spike Lee's film School Daze, which satirizes life at a fictional Atlanta University Center institution. The college is referenced in episodes of A Different World and celebrated in documentaries like Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities. The Morehouse College Glee Club has performed for audiences worldwide and on soundtracks for films like Godzilla. The institution's legacy is also explored in books such as The Morehouse Mystique by Ira Joe Johnson.

Category:Liberal arts colleges in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Category:Universities and colleges in Atlanta Category:Educational institutions established in 1867