Douglass University

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Douglass University was named after Frederick Douglass, and was founded by Benjamin F. Bowles for African American students in the fall of 1926.{{Cite book |last=Early |first=Gerald Lyn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IRLhcVs_pJUC |title=Ain't But a Place: An Anthology of African American Writings about St. Louis |date=1998 |publisher=Missouri History Museum |isbn=978-1-883982-28-7 |pages=307–314 |language=en}} It was temporarily located at 4346 Enright Avenue but moved months later to 2803 Pine Street, St, Louis.{{Cite news |last= |date=1928-02-12 |title=St. Louis Negros Are Working Without Pay to Found Douglass University |pages=74 |work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109776645/st-louis-negros-are-working-without/ |access-date=2022-09-18}} Attorney Freeman L. Martin served as the first vice chairman and dean of the law school.{{Cite news |date=1926-10-23 |title=Negroes Plan College Here; Douglass University to Open Classes in Temporary Quarters Feb. 1 |pages=6 |work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109784974/negroes-plan-college-here-douglass/ |access-date=2022-09-18}} The first classes were held in January 1927, and focused exclusively on law, serving only 8 students.

At the time of the university’s founding, no other college in St. Louis County admitted black students. The first university in the state of Missouri allowing black students to attend was Lincoln University (founded in 1866), which was followed by Douglass University. It was also only one of two schools in the United States offering full law degrees to black students. None of the 24 faculty received wages when the university opened. The faculty of the school was mostly made up of teachers from the local public school system. In 1928, the second year of operation, the university added departments in theology, business, and music and had increased enrollment to 37 students. The college was later moved to 4300 West Belle Place, St. Louis.{{Cite book |last1=Wright |first1=John Aaron |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L1pAFXCeGZUC&dq=bowles+douglass+university&pg=PA51 |title=Discovering African American St. Louis: A Guide to Historic Sites |publisher=Missouri History Museum |year=2002 |isbn=9781883982454 |pages=51–52}}

Bowles had led the school until his health declined in the late 1920s. In 1934, Herman Dreer re-opened Douglass University in a temporary location at 1042 Grand Blvd. and moved a year later to 3626 Finely, St. Louis.{{Cite news |date=1937-10-29 |title=Douglass University Now Has 54 Students |pages=6 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109784825/douglass-university-now-has-54-students/ |access-date=2022-09-18}} By 1937, the university had 54 enrolled students. It was the Great Depression and the school struggled with their financial situation. By June 1942, the school had closed. In 1943, Dreer re-opened Douglass University again.

• List of things named after Frederick Douglass

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Category:Defunct private universities and colleges in Missouri

Category:1926 establishments in Missouri

Category:African-American history in St. Louis

Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1926