Hampton University, a prestigious private and historically black research institution, is situated in Hampton, Virginia.
Established in 1868 under the original name Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School, it emerged from the collaborative efforts of African American and Caucasian leaders from the American Missionary Association, in the aftermath of the Civil War, with the mission to educate freed slaves. The university’s campus is notable for hosting the Hampton University Museum, the United States’ earliest museum dedicated to the African diaspora and Virginia’s oldest museum.
Samuel Chapman Armstrong, a former Union General, initially led the university, which sits on a sprawling 314-acre campus beside the Hampton River.
Offering a broad spectrum of educational programs, Hampton University presents 50 undergraduate, 25 master’s, and nine doctoral programs. Apart from its primary campus, it extends its educational reach through a satellite campus in Virginia Beach and various online programs. The university is a hub for 16 research centers, including the world-renowned Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute. It’s recognized for its significant research activities, categorized under “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity.”
Historical Overview
The university’s history traces back to “Little Scotland,” a former plantation in Elizabeth City County located along the Hampton River. This site was significant during the Civil War, positioned near both Fortress Monroe and the Grand Contraband Camp, which became a refuge for enslaved individuals seeking freedom with the Union forces.
A man at work at a carpenter’s bench at the Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute in Hampton, Virginia, United States.
The American Missionary Association played a critical role in addressing the educational needs of former slaves, employing Mary Smith Peake in 1861 as its inaugural teacher. Despite legal prohibitions, Peake had been covertly educating slaves and free African Americans in the region. She began teaching for the AMA under the now-famous Emancipation Oak, where in 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was first read in the Confederate states.
The brick laying department at the Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute in Hampton, Virginia, United States.
Post-Civil War, the Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School was founded in 1868 by the American Missionary Association’s interracial leadership, predominantly Congregational and Presbyterian ministers. Samuel Chapman Armstrong was its first leader. The school, later known as Hampton Institute, boasts notable alumni like Dr. Booker T. Washington, who later became the principal at Tuskegee Institute.
Civil War and Its Aftermath
The carpentry department in the trade school of the Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute in Hampton, Virginia, United States.
During the Civil War, Fortress Monroe, a Union stronghold, became a sanctuary for escaped slaves, labeled as “contraband of war” by General Benjamin F. Butler. This led to the establishment of the Grand Contraband Camp. Post-war, Hampton University originated from Mary S. Peake’s efforts, who conducted outdoor classes for freedmen under the Emancipation Oak.
Post-War Educational Initiatives
Cleveland Hall, a girls’ dormitory at the Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute in Hampton, Virginia, United States.
After the war, the Hampton Institute, established in 1868 and legally chartered in 1870, started as a normal (teacher training) school under the leadership of Samuel C. Armstrong. Situated on the “Little Scotland” plantation grounds, it focused on combining cultural, moral, and manual education. The institute quickly garnered support from various religious groups and Union Army veterans, notably General William Jackson Palmer.
Booker T. Washington’s Legacy and the Native American Program
Hampton University Library.
Booker T. Washington, a former student, made significant contributions to education after graduating from Hampton. He led Tuskegee University, echoing Hampton’s educational philosophy. Additionally, in 1878, Hampton initiated an education program for Native Americans, concluding in 1923 amid increasing racial tension.
Evolution and Community Engagement
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the economic situation in Europe, prior to the Hampton University commencement in Hampton, Va., Sunday, May 9, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)…
The institute underwent several name changes, becoming Hampton Institute in 1930 and later Hampton University in 1984. It has faced challenges and criticisms, notably in 2018 when students protested to address various campus issues. However, it also received significant donations, like the $30 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2020.
In 2022, Dr. William R. Harvey retired after a notable 43-year tenure as president, succeeded by Darrell K. Williams, a Hampton alumnus.