Over 150 Years of Excellence
Morehouse College has been producing extraordinary leaders, visionaries and pillars of the community. Since our humble beginnings in a church basement in 1867, we’ve established a legacy of excellence that continues to strengthen with each passing year. Famous graduates like Martin Luther King Jr. and Spike Lee are joined by five Rhodes scholars as well as congressmen, business titans, college presidents, and many more who proudly represent the Morehouse ideals. Explore our interactive timeline to discover the Morehouse story.
1867
Augusta Institute was founded on Feb. 14 at Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga., by the Rev. William Jefferson White, with the Rev. Richard C. Coulter and the Rev. Edmund Turney.
1879
Institute moves to Atlanta’s Friendship Baptist Church. Becomes Atlanta Baptist Seminary.
1889
Graves Hall was constructed.
1897
School changes its name to Atlanta Baptist College.
1913
Atlanta Baptist College changes name to Morehouse College to honor Henry Lyman Morehouse, corresponding secretary of American Baptist Home Mission.
1917
Morehouse College celebrates its Semicentennial.“History of Morehouse College” by Benjamin Brawley (Class of 1901) is published.
1929
The Atlanta University Affiliation is established with Morehouse, Spelman College, and Atlanta University. Later called the Atlanta University Center consortium (AUC).
1929-1933
Morehouse College admits women. Thirty-three eventually become full graduates.
1948
Martin Luther King Jr. graduates from Morehouse.
1957
Morehouse College receives full accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
1967
Morehouse College celebrates its Centennial.
1968
Phi Beta Kappa chapter established.
1975
Founding of the School of Medicine.
1976
Edwin Moses ’78 wins gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles at Montreal Summer Olympics.
1978-79
Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel dedicated in 1978. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr. begins work in 1979 as founding Chapel dean.
1989
Dr. Louis W. Sullivan ‘54 named Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
1994
Nima Warfield ’94 is first Rhodes Scholar from an HBCU.
1995
Forbes Arena, a 5,700-seat gymnasium is erected and used as basketball venue for 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
2005
State-of-the-art Leadership Center opens. Later named for Dr. Walter E. Massey ’58.
2006
Morehouse completes its most ambitious capital campaign, raising $118 million.
2007
Journalist Ron Thomas launches Morehouse College Journalism and Sports Program. Funds include $1 million from Spike Lee ’79 and $1 million from Charles Barkley in 2015.
2010
Opening of $20-million Ray Charles Performing Arts Center and Music Academic Building.
2010
Cinema, Technology & Emerging Media Studies Program established, for the intellectual and artistic study of film and television.
2012
U.S. President Barack Obama gives Commencement address.
2013
Spike Lee ‘79 awarded honorary Oscar for film direction, including Oscar-nominated “Do the Right Thing.”
2015
For the first time in College history, Morehouse has three valedictorians: Liam Davis, Ian Niemeyer and Willie Thompson.
2016
Morehouse celebrates Sesquicentennial.
2017
Dr. David A. Thomas appointed as the 12th President of Morehouse College, ushering in a new era of leadership for the 150-year-old historically black institution.
2018
Franck Nijimbere became Morehouse’s fifth Rhodes Scholar.
2019
In collaboration with the other institutions within the Atlanta University Center Consortium and UnitedHealth Group, Morehouse announced the AUCC Data Sciences Initiative to help pave the way for students to enter these career paths. The Office of Institutional Advancement raised more than $107 million in a record-breaking fiscal year. This included philanthropist Robert F. Smith paying off the student loans of the Class of 2019. Additionally, Oprah Winfrey made a $13 million donation and philanthropists Patty Quillin and Reed Hastings donated $40 million.
2020
In the face of the global pandemic, the College moved to an entirely virtual learning environment while maintaining operations and its long-range planning. In preparation for the incoming Fall 2020 class, Morehouse partnered with Microsoft and UPS Foundation to provide computers to each member of that class. In October, the Board of Trustees ratified the College’s next five-year strategic plan which will go into implementation in early calendar 2021.
2021
As part of Morehouse’s strategic vision to go beyond borders, the College partnered with 2U to launch Morehouse’s first online bachelor’s degree programs.
“ It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.”
Benjamin E. Mays | President of Morehouse College from 1940 to 1967
“This is the place to become the best version of yourself. ”
Cory Jackson | Morehouse College Class of ‘22