Missouri History Today September 17, 1866: First College For Freed African Americans Opens For Classes

Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City becomes the first higher education institution in Missouri for freed African Americans, starting with a class of two students. Soldiers and officers of the 62nd US Colored Infantry envisioned the college, which relocated to its present home in 1870.

Based upon content from the book Missouri 365: This Day in Missouri History by John W. Brown, broadcaster and Missouri historian. Get your copy at Reedy Press.

Photo credit: Garner Essex

Read about artist Garner Essex, who paints black Civil War soldiers, here: