| The intent of this study was to investigate the mission of Voorhees College as a predominantly black, liberal arts, church-related institution of higher education in the United States. The origins of this institution were traced through the development of black education in the United States and within South Carolina prior to the founding of the institution (Denmark Industrial School) in 1897.;Additional developmental factors which are involved in the history of Voorhees College were the affiliation with the Protestant Episcopal Church, the role of women, and the leadership of President John F. Potts and Chairman of the Board of Trustees J. Kenneth Morris during the period of 1954-1970. In 1924, the institution became affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Church of South Carolina. These ties have been historical, expansive, and continuous. The role of women in the life of the campus can be amply demonstrated by the work of the founder, Elizabeth Wright, her immediate supporters, Almira Steele, and Jessie Dorsey, to the present era of Catherine Moore and Muriel Potts. Under the extraordinary leadership of John Potts and Morris, Voorhees achieved unprecedented growth in physical expansion, student enrollment, and resource development.;Following a period of student disturbances in 1969 and 1970, the institution had to struggle with additional changes and challenges to its traditions. In the 1980's the college was faced with rising costs, student enrollment losses, federal funding cut-backs and shifting career interests. Its future role is uncertain.;The early history of the enterprise was characterized by the educational philosophy of Booker T. Washington and the private philanthropy of Ralph Voorhees who provided the school with its greatest financial support and whose name the institution now bears. The developing role of Voorhees from 1897 to 1954 was conditioned by various name changes, and growth from an ungraded elementary school, high school, junior college, and finally, a four-year liberal arts institution of higher education in 1968. The shift toward the liberal arts philosophy of W. E. B. DuBois began after World War II when trade education was shifted to the Denmark Area Trade School in 1947. By 1968, when the first bachelor's degrees were awarded, the move toward the DuBois model was almost complete. In the 1970's and 1980's, a gradual turn back to the technical-vocational program of Booker T. Washington had occurred. |
