Richard Humphreys (philanthropist)

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This article is about the founder of Cheyney University. For the noted physicist, see Richard Franklin Humphreys.

Richard Humphreys (February 13, 1750 – 1832)[1] was a silversmith and the founder of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the oldest historically black university in the United States.[2]

Bequest[]

Humphreys was a Quaker philanthropist who bequeathed $10,000, one-tenth of his estate, to establish a school for "the descendants of the African race".[3] This Institute for Colored Youth, later renamed Cheyney University, was founded in 1837 to provide educational opportunities for African Americans.[4] Humphreys changed his will to include this bequest in 1829 after race riots occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"The second bequest is of $10,000.00 for the purpose of founding an institution for the education of the descendants of the African race. He left small legacies to a shelter for colored orphans and to three city dispensaries."[1]

British Virgin Islands[]

Humphreys was born on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands on February 13, 1750. Sarah Lake and Thomas Humphrey married in 1744 and had five children, Richard was the fourth-born to the couple.[1] Sarah and Thomas were wealthy members of high-society Tortola, owning and profiting from enslaved African labor on their plantation. Richard Humphreys was one of a number of highly successful individuals who came from the Quaker congregation in that territory (others included William Thornton and John Lettsom).

Literature[]

  • Claus Bernet (2010). "Richard Humphreys (philanthropist)". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). 31. Nordhausen: Bautz. cols. 682–683. ISBN 978-3-88309-544-8.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jenkins, Charles (1923). Journal of the Friends Historical Society: Supplement No. 13, Tortola; A Quaker Experiment of Long Ago in the Tropics. London: Friends' Bookshop. pp. 62, 63, 74.
  2. ^ "Exploring a National Treasure" (PDF). Cheney University of Pennsylvania.
    - Distance education more data could improve Education's ability to track technology at minority serving institutions. United States General Accounting Office. 2003. p. 38. ISBN 9781428939790.
  3. ^ "America's Oldest Black College, Cheyney University, Could Face Financial Collapse". Huffington Post. Reuters. December 18, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
    - Floyd-Thomas, Stacey (2007). Black Church Studies: An Introduction. Abingdon Press. p. 164. ISBN 9780687332656.
  4. ^ "Cheyney University celebrates 180-year anniversary with Founder's Day". Retrieved March 29, 2018.

External links[]


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