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Former names | Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary (1881–1884) Spelman Baptist Seminary (1884–1924) |
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| Motto | Our Whole School for Christ |
| Type | Privatehistorically Black[1]women'sliberal arts college |
| Established | April 11, 1881; 144 years ago (1881-04-11)[2][3] |
Academic affiliations | ACS Space-grant |
| Endowment | $506.7 million (2024)[4] |
| Budget | $133.8 million (2023)[5] |
| President | Rosalind Brewer[6] |
| Students | 2,420 (fall 2021)[7] |
| Location | , U.S. 33°44′46″N84°24′40″W / 33.746°N 84.411°W /33.746; -84.411 |
| Colors | blue, white[8] |
| Nickname | Jaguars (former) |
Sporting affiliations | None[9] |
| Website | spelman |
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Spelman College is aprivate,historically Black,women'sliberal arts college inAtlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a founding member of theAtlanta University Center academic consortium. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman awarded its first college degrees in 1901 and is the oldest private historically Black liberal arts institution for women.
The Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary was established on 11 April 1881 in the basement of Friendship Baptist Church inAtlanta by two teachers from theOread Institute ofWorcester, Massachusetts:Harriet E. Giles andSophia B. Packard.[2][10] Giles and Packard met while Giles was a student, and Packard the preceptress of the New Salem Academy inNew Salem northeast ofSpringfield, Massachusetts and fostered a lifelong friendship there.[11] The two traveled to Atlanta specifically to begin a school for Black freedwomen and found support from Frank Quarles, the pastor of Friendship Baptist Church.
Giles and Packard started the school with 11 African-American women and $100 given to them by the First Baptist Church inMedford, Massachusetts[2] in addition to a promise of further support from theWoman's American Baptist Home Mission Society (WABHMS), a group with which they were both affiliated inBoston.[11] Although their first students were mostly illiterate, they envisioned their school becoming a liberal arts institution–the first circular of the college said that they planned to offer "algebra, physiology, essays, Latin, rhetoric, geometry, political economy, mental philosophy (psychology), chemistry, botany, Constitution of the United States, astronomy, zoology, geology, moral philosophy, and evidences ofChristianity".[11] Over time they attracted more students; when the first term ended they had enrolled 80 students in the seminary.[11] The WABHMS made a down payment on a nine-acre (36,000 m2) site in Atlanta relatively close to the church where they began, which originally had five buildings left from aUnion Civil War encampment, to support classroom and residence hall needs.[12]
In 1882 the two women returned toMassachusetts to bid for more money and were introduced to businessmanJohn D. Rockefeller who was an industrialist and aNorthern Baptist at a church conference inCleveland, Ohio.[2] Rockefeller was impressed by Packard's vision. In April 1884, Rockefeller visited the school. At the time the seminary had 600 students and 16 faculty members. The school's existence was enabled by donations from the Black community in Atlanta and the efforts of volunteer teachers.[11]
Rockefeller was so impressed that he settled the debt on the property.[12] His wife,Laura Spelman Rockefeller;[2] her sister, Lucy Spelman; and their parents, Harvey Buel and Lucy Henry Spelman also supported the school. The Spelmans were longtime activists in the abolitionist movement. In 1884 the name of the school was changed to theSpelman Seminary in honor of Laura Spelman Rockefeller and her parents. Rockefeller donated the funds for the oldest building on campus, Rockefeller Hall, which was built in 1886.
Packard was appointed Spelman's first president in 1888, after the charter for the seminary was granted. She died in 1891, and Giles was the president until her own death in 1909. A diploma granting institution in its early years, Spelman awarded its first college degrees in 1901.[2]
From 1910 to 1953 the seminary had a substantial amount of growth and transition.[13] After Giles' death, Lucy Hale Tapley became president. Although the college was somewhat progressive, neither the founders nor the current administration were interested in challenging the status quo of young women as being primarily responsible for the family and the home.[11] Tapley said, "Any course of study which fails to cultivate a taste and fitness for practical and efficient work in some part of the field of the world's needs is unpopular at Spelman and finds no place in our curriculum."[13] The nursing curriculum was strengthened, a teachers' dormitory and a home economics building were constructed; and Tapley Hall, the science building, was completed in 1925.[13] The Granddaughters' Club, a club for students whose mothers and aunts had attended Spelman was created and the club is still in existence today.
In September 1924, Spelman Baptist Seminary officially becameSpelman College. Florence Matilda Read became the president in 1927. Soon afterwards, Spelman entered into an "agreement of affiliation" with nearbyMorehouse College andAtlanta University by chartering the Atlanta University Center in 1929.[14] Atlanta University would provide graduate education for students; Morehouse and Spelman were responsible for undergraduate education. At a time during which Black students were often denied access to graduate studies at predominantly white southern research universities, access to Atlanta University allowed the undergraduate students at Morehouse and Spelman immediate access to graduate courses.
In 1927, one of the most important buildings on campus, Sisters Chapel, was dedicated. The chapel was named for its primary benefactors, sisters Laura Spelman Rockefeller and Lucy Maria Spelman. The Spelman College Glee Club was founded in 1925,[15] beginning the popular Atlanta tradition of the annual Spelman-Morehouse Christmas Carol Concert. The Atlanta University Summer Theater was staged by the University Players, a drama organization for AUC students. In 1930 the Spelman Nursery School was created as a training center for mothers and a practice arena for students who planned careers in education and child development. Spelman celebrated its 50th anniversary in April 1931. This milestone was accompanied by the construction of a university library that was shared amongst the Atlanta University Center institutions, and the center continues to share a library to this day.[citation needed]
The school continued to expand, building and acquiring more property to accommodate the growing student body. In 1947, Spelman joined the list of "approved institutions" of theAssociation of American Universities.[16] In 1953, Florence Read retired, and Albert E. Manley became the first Black and first male president of the college. Under his presidency and the presidency of his successor, Donald Stewart, Spelman experienced significant growth. The college established its study abroad program, the Merrill Foreign Travel-Study Program.[14] Stewart's administration tripled the college's endowment and was responsible for the establishment of the Comprehensive Writing Program, an across-the-curriculum writing program which required students to submit portfolios of their written work; the Ethel Waddell Githii College Honors Program, and the Women's Research and Resource Center.[14] In 1958, the college received accreditation from theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools.[citation needed]
Going into the 1960s, the Spelman College students became involved in civil rights actions in Atlanta. In 1962, the first Spelman students were arrested for participating in sit-ins in the Atlanta community. Noted American historianHoward Zinn was a professor of history at Spelman during this era, and served as an adviser to theStudent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee chapter at the college. Zinn mentored many of Spelman's students fighting for civil rights at the time, includingAlice Walker andMarian Wright Edelman[17] Zinn was dismissed from the college in 1963 for supporting Spelman students in their efforts to fight segregation; at the time, Spelman was focused on turning out "refined young ladies." Edelman herself writes that Spelman had a reputation as "a tea-pouring, very strict school designed to turn Black girls into refined ladies and teachers."[18]
Stewart retired in 1986, and the following year, Johnnetta Betsch Cole became the first Black female president of Spelman College. During this time, the college became noted for its commitment to community service and its ties to the local community. Cole also led the college's most successful capital campaign; between 1986 and 1996, the college raised $113.8 million, including a $20 million gift fromBill Cosby and his wife,Camille Hanks Cosby, whose daughter graduated from Spelman.[14] In honor of this gift, the Cosby Academic Center was constructed.[19] In July 2015, the remainder of the funds were returned and an endowed professorship named for the Cosby couple discontinued asallegations of sexual assault by Bill Cosby grew more prominent.[20][21]
In 1997, Cole stepped down and Audrey Forbes Manley became Spelman's first alumna president. After Manley’s retirement in 2002, Beverly Daniel Tatum served as the college’s president until 2015, when Mary Schmidt Campbell was named the tenth president.[22] The campus now comprises 26 buildings on 39 acres (160,000 m2) in Atlanta.[3] In 2011,First Lady Michelle Obama served as the keynote commencement speaker.[23] The following year,Oprah Winfrey served as the keynote commencement speaker.[23]
In 2015, Spelman opened the Wellness Center at Reed Hall, a state-of-the-art recreation center. It is host to a multitude of services from an indoor track and cycling room to a teaching kitchen and a multitude of fitness and wellness programs.[24] In 2017, Spelman's leadership voted to allowtransgender women to enroll.[25] In 2018, Spelman received $30 million from Spelman trusteeRonda Stryker for the construction of a new state-of-the-art building on campus.[26][27] Two years later, the college received another significant donation: $40 million from philanthropistsReed Hastings and his wife Patty Quillin to be used as scholarship funds for students enrolled at Spelman.[28] In July 2020, Spelman received a notably large undisclosed donation from philanthropistMacKenzie Scott.[29]
In April 2022, Helene Gayle was named the 11th president of Spelman College.[30] In January 2024, Spelman received the largest single donation in its history and one of the largest ever to aHBCU with $100 million given by Spelman trustee Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston. Spelman stated that $75 million of the $100 million donation will go towards endowed scholarships for future students, and the remaining $25 million will be used to "develop an academic focus on public policy and democracy, improve student housing and provide flexible funding to meet critical strategic needs."[31]
Since its inception Spelman has had 11 presidents:
TheSpelman College Museum of Fine Art is the only museum in the United States that emphasizes art by and about women of theAfrican Diaspora.[34] Some Black Women artists the museum has featured includeAmy Sherald,Harmonia Rosales,Mickalene Thomas,Beverly Buchanan,Zanele Muholi, andReneé Stout.[35] Each semester, the museum features a new exhibit.[36]
In 2016, the museum collaborated with Spelman's Department of Art and Art History to start a two-year curatorial studies program to increase diversity in the museum industry.[37]
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| Liberal arts | |
| U.S. News & World Report[38] | 40 of 211 |
| Washington Monthly[39] | 95 of 194 |
| National | |
| WSJ/College Pulse[40] | 126 (tie) of 796 |
Spelman is ranked tied for 40th of 211 of among national liberal arts colleges and 1st among 79historically Black colleges in the United States byU.S. News & World Report for 2025; additionally, it tied for 1st in "Social Mobility", tied for 16th for "Most Innovative", tied for 30th for "Best Undergraduate Teaching", and 60th for "Best Value" among liberal arts colleges.[41] Spelman leads the nation in enrolling the highest percentage ofGates Millennium Scholars.[42][43] Spelman ranked first amongbaccalaureate origin institutions of African-American women who earned science, engineering, and mathematicsdoctoral degrees.[44][45] Spelman ranked among the top 50 four-year colleges and universities for producingFulbright andGilman Scholars, and ranked the second-largest producer of African-American college graduates who attendmedical school.[46][47][48]
Spelman is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Spelman is a member of the Coalition of Women's Colleges, National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, The College Fund/UNCF, National Association for College Admissions Counseling, and State of Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC).[3]
Spelman offers bachelor's degrees in over 30 academic majors. In addition, Spelman has strategic partnerships with over 30 accredited universities to help students complete degree programs not offered on campus in healthcare, law, and engineering.[49][50] Its most popular majors, by number out of 483 graduates in 2022, were:[51]
The Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program is a selective academic community available to students who meet the requirements.[52]
Spelman houses several pre-professional and research programs designed to make students more competitive for admissions intograduate school programs.[53] Approximately two-thirds of Spelman graduates have earnedpostgraduate degrees.[54]
Spelman has domestic exchange and study abroad programs.[49] Approximately 70% of Spelman students have studied abroad before graduation.[55]
Spelman has the highest graduation rate among HBCUs, with a graduation rate of 76% after six years.[56] It also has a student:faculty ratio of 9:1.[57][58]
There are several registered academic honor societies on campus.[59]
Spelman is a selective institution with an acceptance rate of 28% for the fall 2022 first-time, first-year class.[60]
Students are all women and predominantly African-American.[3] Approximately 30% come from Georgia, 69% from the rest of the United States, and 1% are international. 85% of Spelman students receive financial aid, the average financial package for a first year student adds up to $22,000.[61]
Spelman offers organized and informal activities. Spelman's over 80 student organizations include community service organizations, special interest groups, honors societies, Morehouse cheerleaders, choral groups, music ensembles, dance groups, drama/theater groups, marching band, intramural sports, and student government.[59]
Spelman's gated campus neardowntown Atlanta consists of over 25 buildings on 39 acres.
All new Spelman students are required to attend a six-day new student orientation (NSO) in August immediately before the fall semester begins. NSO includes events, workshops, and sessions designed to teach new Spelmanites about the mission, history, culture, traditions, and sisterhood of Spelman College; students are also given information on how to successfully matriculate to Spelman Women (graduates), such as registration, advisement, placement, and planning class schedules. NSO is led by student orientation leaders known as PALs (Peer Assistant Leaders) and Spelman alumnae. During NSO, new students are required to remain on campus at all times; any leave must be approved by PALs.[62][63]
One of Spelman's oldest traditions are Spelmanites wearing "respectable and conservative" white attire to designated formal events on campus. The tradition began in the early 1900s when it was customary for women to wear white dresses when attending formal events. White attire is worn today for several annual events, and graduating seniors wear white attire underneath their graduation gowns for Class Day and Commencement.[64] In 2009, My Sister's Closet was established on campus by the Student Government Association for alumnae and current students to donate white attire for Spelman students.[65]
Spelman offers a literary magazine (Aunt Chloe: A Journal of Candor),[66] a student newspaper,The BluePrint, and student government association newsletter (Jaguar Print).[59] The yearbook is calledReflections.
Religious organizations currently registered on campus include: Baha'i Club, Al-Nissa, Alabaster Box, Atlanta Adventist Collegiate Society,Campus Crusade for Christ, Crossfire International Campus Ministry, Happiness In Praise for His Overflowing Presence,InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Movements of Praise Dance Team, The Newman Organization, The Outlet and The Pre-Theology Society Minority.[59]
NAACP and Sister Steps are registered campus organizations.[59] Spelman also has chapters ofColleges Against Cancer,Circle K, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance,Habitat for Humanity,National Council of Negro Women,National Society of Black Engineers,Operation Smile,United Way, andYoung Democrats of America. Spelman is also the first HBCU to charter a chapter ofAmnesty International on its campus.
Spelman's 2005 robotics team, the SpelBots, became the first all women, all black robotics team to compete in theRoboCup Four-Legged League Soccer competition. The team tied for first place in the 2009 RoboCup humanoid soccer championship inOsaka, Japan.[67][68]
Spelman has several sororities on campus including all four of theNational Pan-Hellenic Council. About three percent of students are active in Spelman's Greek system.[69]
Spelman College has eleven residence halls on campus with approximately 1,500 students occupying them.[70] All first-year students are required to live on campus.[71]
The Spelman athletic teams were called the Jaguars. The college was a member of theDivision III ranks of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in theGreat South Athletic Conference (GSAC) from 2003–04 to 2012–13.
Spelman competed in seven intercollegiate varsity sports: Women's sports included basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.
In 2013, Spelman College decided to drop varsity athletics and leave the NCAA. Using money originally budgeted to the sports programs, they created wellness programs available for all students.[72]
Spelman's notable alumnae include the first African-AmericanCEO ofSam's Club andWalgreensRosalind Brewer,Pulitzer Prize winnerAlice Walker, former Dean ofHarvard CollegeEvelynn M. Hammonds, activist andChildren's Defense Fund founderMarian Wright Edelman, civil rights and criminal defense lawyerDovey Johnson Roundtree, college organistJoyce Johnson, musician, activist and historianBernice Johnson Reagon, politicianStacey Abrams, writerPearl Cleage, TV personalityRolonda Watts, opera singerMattiwilda Dobbs, and actressesCassi Davis,LaTanya Richardson,Adrienne-Joi Johnson,Keshia Knight Pulliam,Tati Gabrielle, Assemblywoman of the 18th district of New York State[73]Taylor Darling, designor and curatorSara Penn,[74]Lisa D. Cook, member of theFederal Reserve Board of Governors,[75] andPamela Gunter-Smith, the first African-American president ofYork College of Pennsylvania.[76]
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