West Virginia State College was one of the seventeen schools created under the authority of the second Morrill Act. The expansion of this act in 1890 allowed support to states that chose to create and fund higher education for African Americans. In 1891, the school offered only high school certification and vocational training. However, the institution's curriculum expanded quickly to include a two-year college degree and certifications for teachers. The college of education was the largest program and many of the graduates became teachers throughout the region. By 1927, the college offered enough liberal arts degree programs to attain accreditation. Two years later, the state of West Virginia recognized the school as a four year institution and changed its name to West Virginia State College.From 1920-1922, Carter G. Woodson, who is widely regarded as the "Father of Black History," served as the Dean of the called West Virginia Collegiate University. On September 11, 1939, West Virginia State College President John Warren Davis received approval from the Civilian Aeronautics Authority in Washington, D.C., to establish a Civilian Pilot Training Program at the college, the first African-American college in the country to do so. In the summer of 1940, West Virginia State College became the first Black college to enroll white trainees into its flight program, a precedent for integrating the military. Among those enrolled were George Spencer Roberts, who became the first African-American appointed to the United States Army Air Corps.In 1951, the school began the process of racial integration. Following the state of West Virginia's decision to abide by the United States Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education, the number of white students at West Virginia State College grew rapidly and the majority of the students at the college were white within a few years. In 2004, West Virginia State College reached university status and offered graduate degrees in biotechnology and media studies. Today, graduate degrees also include law enforcement and education and the institution is known as West Virginia State University.Although 78% of current students are white, West Virginia State is still considered a historically Black college. Student life of campus is described as "white by day, Black by night" which means that although most of the students who attend are white and mostly commute, most of the students who live on campus are Black students. Although the majority of the faculty and students are not African American, the University strives to uphold the school's tradition of racial uplift.Along with Carter G. Woodson, West Virginia State has employed numerous influential scholars. For example, Naomi Garrett of the Department of Modern Languages served the institution from 1947 to 1972. During these years, Garett's foreign student program received national acclaim. Garrett’s parents were both educators and books filled their South Caroline home. She earned her MA from Atlanta University and Ph.D. in French from Columbia University. Prestigious fellowships from the Ford, Rosenwald and Fulbright Foundations and Columbia University permitted her to pursue doctoral and post-doctoral work in France. Her research included a study of francophone African poetry at the Bibliotheque National Paris.At this time she met and forged relationships with many French and Caribbean writers. An outstanding scholar and teacher, Dr. Garrett has received numerous awards for her teaching and service and her published articles and book reviews are numerous. Her retirement from West Virginia State College after a long and distinguished career led her to assume distinguished professorships at Denison University, Rhode Island University and the College of Charleston, West Virginia.

In 1891, the state legislature authorized the creation of West Virginia State College, the second institution of higher education for African Americans in West Virginia. In 1939, the college became the first to offer a Civilian Pilot Training Program that open to African Americans. Carter G. Woodson served as a dean at the college in the 1920s. Woodson is often credited as "the Father of Black History" for his role in creating scholarly organizations, journals, and traditions such as Black History Month.

Born in Charleston, West Virginia October 6,1922 Leon Sullivan became a Baptist minister at the age of 18. Sullivan who lived with his grandmother growing up realized at an early age that he would spend his life fighting racism following his experience being denied service at a downtown Charleston lunch counter when he was ten. Sullivan decided that he would visit each drugstore movie house and restaurant in the area until he was granted the same type of recognition afforded to his white counter parts. Sullivan found little success but his determination and intelligence was apparent when a white store owner approached him to ask him to leave. Sullivan stood up and recited part of the U.S. Constitution. The store's owner was impressed by Sullivan and gave the young man a free hamburger and doughnut and told him he could dine there anytime he chose.Sullivan who was a gifted athlete and at six foot five inches tall, he was awarded a basketball scholarship to West Virginia State College. While attending West Virginia State in 1942 Sullivan, met Adam Clayton Powell Jr. The U.S. Representative and pastor who encouraged Sullivan to come to New York upon graduation from college. In 1943 Sullivan moved to New York to study Theology at Union Theological Seminary and Sociology at Columbia University. Powell assisted Sullivan in securing a job with Bell Telephone Company as a coin box collector.Powell moved to North Philadelphia and led Zion Baptist Church in Philadelphia  for many years as its pastor. During these years, he also decided to take on issues related to a lack of decent and affordable housing. Sullivan created the Philadelphia Committee which work hand in hand with he police to clean up the area. In 1954 Sullivan founded Opportunities Industrialization Center provide education and job opportunities for Black youth. In 1968 Sullivan's efforts in helping others improve living conditions earned him visits from the President of the United States, as well as numerous honors including the Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Medal in 1987. One of the most influential residents of Charleston, Leon Sullivan has been recognized by the renaming of a prominent downtown street in addition to this residence hall.

Constructed in 1970, this West Virginia State University residence hall is named in honor of alumnus Leon Sullivan, the founder of Opportunities Industrial Center (OIC) and an influential civil rights leader and businessman in both Philadelphia and West Virginia. Leon Sullivan also became the first African American member of General Motor's Board of Directors and was a leading voice against South African apartheid. 

Sullivan Hall shortly after its completion 

Sullivan Hall, West Virginia State University 

On August 25, 2018 the bronze statue of Katherine Johnson was unveiled in front of many West Virginia State University fans and Johnson's&nbsp;family and friends.&nbsp; This statue is meant to inspire students and anyone who walks by it to never give up and always try hard, especially when it comes to knowledge they are passionate about. Growing up Johnson, battled hardships as an African American woman.&nbsp; Johnson loved to learn, and did everything she could to expand her knowledge.&nbsp; Johnson stated, "I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed … anything that could be counted, I did".&nbsp; She was born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs. &nbsp; After she could no longer receive anymore education at fourteen years old in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, her father drove her more than 100 miles to Institute, WV so she could continue her education at West Virginia State University. She began studying math and French at the University.&nbsp; Johnson then graduated from this HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) with two college degrees at the age of eighteen. &nbsp; Johnson went on to study for her masters at West Virginia University, where she was one of the first African American students to attend.&nbsp; Her dream was to be a research mathematician, a difficult task during this time period.&nbsp; She moved to Virginia after being offered a teaching job.&nbsp; She remained teaching there for fifteen years.&nbsp; After this she became a stay-at-home mom to her three daughters, Katherine, Joylette, and Constnace. Then Johnson joined NASA in 1953 as a mathematician.&nbsp; This is when the Civil Rights movement first started to take off.&nbsp; Her outstanding calculations made it possible for the U.S. to put the first American in space in 1961.&nbsp; The following year her calculations allowed us to send John Glenn around the Earth three times.&nbsp; In the future this allowed NASA to send someone to the moon. These great attributes we're recognized in the movie 'Hidden Figures', released in January 6, 2017.&nbsp; Katherine Johnson was played by star, Taraji P. Henson. She was also presented with the "Presidential Medal of Freedom", by none other than President, Barack Obama.&nbsp; Now in the heart of West Virginia State University's campus, thanks to this new statue her legacy and drive will live on through many more years.

This statue was built to honor Katherine Johnson, an African American woman who was a mathematician for NASA.  Her calculations made it possible for the United States to put the first astronaut into space.  The statue was placed at her alma mater, West Virginia State University.  The revealing ceremony was held a day before her 100th birthday, on August 25th 2018.

Katherine Johnson Statue

East Hall was built in 1893.&nbsp; It served as a dormitory, then the home of the college presidents. Not only was East Hall used for living quarters, it was also used for entertainment and accommodations for famous guests spend their time at WV State College. It is now used as the Regents Center for Education and Research and offices for the West Virginia State University Foundation. Until 1937, East Hall sat on the east side of campus when it was moved to the west side where it stands today.

East Hall on the campus of West Virginia State University in Institute, West Virginia, is the oldest building on campus. Built in 1893, East Hall served as the president's home until 1973. 

East Hall

The Canty House, named in honor of "Colonel" James Monroe Canty, was built in 1900.&nbsp; Canty was born a slave in Georgia in 1863 and educated at Tuskegee Institute.&nbsp; At Booker T. Washington's recommendation, Canty became "Superintendent of Mechanics" at the WV Colored Institute (now WV State University) in&nbsp;1893. He was named acting principal in 1898.&nbsp; Canty House, also known as The Magnolia, has been moved twice on the campus of WV State.&nbsp; The original setting for the Canty House is&nbsp;where Wallace Hall stands today.&nbsp; It was moved ca. 1970 to the northeast corner of campus near Rt. 25 near Hamblin Hall.&nbsp; Finally, in 1988, the Canty House was moved its present location.&nbsp; It is currently used as WVSU Athletic Hall of Fame.&nbsp; After the renovations in 1923,&nbsp;the original farm house style was changed to reflect the Neo-classical Revival structure we see today. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in .

The Canty House was named after James Canty, early teacher and acting principal of the West Virginia Colored Institute.  The house, also known as The Magnolia, was constructed ca. 1900 and renovated in 1923. 

Canty House at West Virginia State University

Canty House

Earl Francis Lloyd was born on April 3, 1928 in Alexandria, Virginia. His talents of playing basketball began early by playing in his neighborhood. His basketball career began while in high school, which would later lead to being recognized by colleges. He was named to the All-South Atlantic Conference three times and twice to the All-State Virginia Interscholastic Conference while in attendance at the segregated Parker-Grey High School. After graduation from high school in 1946, he received a scholarship to play basketball at West Virginia State University (WVSU). Earl Lloyd's college basketball career started fast post high school graduation. He led the West Virginia State University Yellow Jackets to two CIAA Conference and Tournament championships, the first in 1948 and the second in 1949. During his senior year he led the Yellow Jackets back to the CIAA Conference and Tournament but ended in second place. Throughout his entire collegiate career Earl Francis Lloyd was named All-Conference three times and All-American twice for his outstanding performance on the court. The most memorable basketball year for Lloyd was when he led the WVSU Yellow Jackets to be the only undefeated team in the United States for the 1947-1948 season. His fame is for being the first Black basketball player to play in a game in the NBA, but there were also two other Black players drafted in 1950 as well. His team just happened to play first according to schedules and he would be bestowed the honor of being the first to play in a game for the Washington Capitols on October 31, 1950. In this history-making game, Lloyd (nicknamed “Big Cat”) would score six points being not only the first Black basketball player to play in the NBA but to also be the first Black player to score points in the league. He went on to play for nine seasons that included 560 games, but the seasons would be divided where he was drafted for the Korean War by the U.S. Army. After serving for America in the war, he returned to basketball and won the NBA title in 1955 with the Syracuse Nationals. He would stay with Syracuse for six more seasons before trading to Detroit for his last two seasons before retirement in 1961. After Lloyd's retirement he would continue with basketball but as a coach for the Detroit Pistons in 1971, becoming the first African American to coach in the NBA. Post-coaching he worked in Detroit as a job placement administrator for the public school system in the 1970s and 1980s. While he worked he also did volunteer work and ran programs for underprivileged children in the area. In the 1990s he was a director for the manufacturing company Bing Group maintained in Detroit. He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, the CIAA Hall of Fame in 1998, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. Lloyd retired again in 1999 and moved to Tennessee with his wife where they lived together until his death in 2015 from disease.

The statue was unveiled in 2014 of the former West Virginia State University Yellow Jacket basketball player, Earl Francis Lloyd, at the Walker Convocation Center on the WVSU campus. The college erected the statue to show their appreciation for Earl Francis Lloyd who after playing for the university became the first Black basketball player in the NBA in 1950. He would also go on to become the first Black professional basketball player to win an NBA championship in 1955, the first Black assistant coach for an NBA team, and be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. His accomplishments shredded the racial divide in basketball and paved the way for many more African Americans to follow in his footsteps. After his basketball career, he started community outreach programs in Detroit, Michigan for underprivileged children. He passed away due to disease in 2015, but he is remembered by his wife, three sons, and four grandchildren.


Statue to commemorate Earl F. Lloyd erected at West Virginia State University

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