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FSU HISTORY

	In 1865, a “sophisticated” education agenda was already underway in Fayetteville’s black community. A year after the Civil War ended, the Phillips School provided primary education to Fayetteville’s black citizens, and the Sumner School provided intermediate education for this population. The two schools were consolidated in 1869 and dedicated in April of that year as the Howard School, in honor of the Freedman’s Bureau chief General O. O. Howard. Seven prominent African-American men pooled $136 to purchase two lots for the first building that housed the Howard School.
The Howard School, founded in 1867, was the genesis of Fayetteville State University.	African-American students at the Phillips and Sumner schools were already being taught fundamentals - reading, writing, arithmetic, and practical skills. Building on the curriculum, the leadership of the Howard School added geography and science classes, the latter after its first telescope was acquired. Even then, the community understood the opportunity and the obligation to “build on strengths.” All of this progress occurred in the midst of an economic depression that threatened the entire town. Remarkably, African Americans in Fayetteville continued to donate funds to support the school, demonstrating the high value the black community placed on education. The first leader of the Howard School was Robert Harris; his enduring legacy was in the training of teachers. Not only were students trained to become teachers at the Howard School, but also they were trained to serve as teachers in small rural schools in Cumberland and surrounding counties.
	1867 Seven visionary Black citizens of Fayetteville, North Carolina pay $136.00 for two lots on Gillespie Street and form among themselves a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees to maintain the property for the education of Black youth. The seven Founders are David A. Bryant, Nelson Carter, Andrew J. Chesnutt, George Grainger, Matthew Leary. Thomas Lomax, and Robert Simmons. Robert Harris is named the first principal of the Howard School.
	1877 An act of the legislature provides for the establishment of a teacher training institution for Black North Carolinians. The A Howard School in Fayetteville is selected to become the State Colored Normal School, and thus becomes the first and oldest state-supported institution of its kind in North Carolina. In 1877, the Howard School became not just the first public normal school for African Americans in North Carolina but also the first state-sponsored institution for the education of African-American teachers in the South. It was renamed the State Colored Normal School in Fayetteville that year, Fayetteville State Teachers College in 1939, Fayetteville State College in 1963, and Fayetteville State University in 1969.
The Williams Family, all graduates of the State Normal School in the 1880's; on the right is George H. Williams, Class of 1879 and Principal from 1888 - 1895.	1880 Charles W. Chesnutt is appointed Principal of the State Colored Normal School upon the death of Robert Harris. After three years in office, Chesnutt resigns to move to Cleveland, Ohio, where he passes the Ohio Bar and begins a law practice. His literary career begins in earnest in 1889 when The Conjure Woman, a collection of his stories is published. It is followed by The Life of Frederick Douglass, and many other novels and short stories. In 1928 he is awarded the coveted Springarn Medal, at that time given annually by the NAACP for distinguished achievement.
	1883 Dr. Ezekiel Ezra Smith, 31 years of age and a graduate of Shaw Collegiate Institute in Raleigh, is appointed Principal upon the resignation of Charles W. Chesnutt.
Graduating Class of 1904.	1888 President Grover Cleveland appoints Dr. E.E. Smith as Minister Resident and Consul General of the United States to Liberia, in which capacity he serves for two years. George H. Williams assumes the duties of Principal of the State Colored Normal School.
Graduating Class of 1904.	1895 Dr. E.E. Smith returns to Fayetteville as Principal of the State Colored Normal School. Prior to this he had organized the first newspaper for Black North Carolinians, the Carolina Enterprise, in Goldsboro.
Aycock Building, first brick building on campus, built in 1908.	1898 Dr. Smith obtains a leave of absence for the purpose of serving as Regimental Adjutant of the Third North Carolina Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War. During his absence his work is carried on by the Reverend L. E. Fairly. Dr. Smith returns to his duties in 1899. During Dr. Smith's long and distinguished tenure, the institution moves to its permanent site on Murchison Road in 1907. Later, Dr. Smith and his wife deed additional land to the state to bring the institution's holding to 92 acres. the campus grows to eight buildings and several cottages. All high school work is discontinued in 1929 and the title of Principal is changed to President. Dr. E.E. Smith retires on June 30, 1933 and is elected President Emeritus.
Faculty of 1927. First row, seated: Dr. J. W. Seabrook, second from left; Dr. E. E. Smith in the center with wife, Nannie L. Smith to his right; and Professor Dunnie A. Bryant on the far right, for whom Bryant Hall is named.	1933 Dr. J. Ward Seabrook is elected President. Under his leadership the institution becomes a four-year college, is renamed Fayetteville State Teachers College in 1939, and earns both state and regional accreditation. Dr. Seabrook retires in 1956 and is elected President Emeritus.
	1956 Dr. Rudolph Jones succeeds Dr. Seabrook as President. Advances made during his tenure include the revision of the charter in 1959 authorizing the expansion of the curriculum to include programs leading to degrees outside the teaching field; adoption of the name Fayetteville State college in 1963; and significant additions to the physical plant to accommodate growing enrollment. Dr. Jones retires and is elected President Emeritus in 1969.
	1969 Dr. Charles "A" Lyons, Jr. becomes President, the college is named Fayetteville State University, and it is designated a regional university by an act of the legislature. Dr. Lyons becomes the first Chancellor when Fayetteville State University is made a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina by legislative act in 1972. The University becomes a Comprehensive Level I institution offering a variety of baccalaureate and master's degree programs, and the Continuing Education program and the Ft. Bragg - Pope AFB Education Center are established. Dr. Lyons retires in 1987.
	1988 Dr. Lloyd V. Hackley is named the seventh Chief Executive Officer of Fayetteville State University. He actively pursued initiatives to further expand program offerings and improve the campus environment in response to the needs and interests of students and the community. FSU master's level program offerings expanded to 15; FSU's first doctoral program in Educational Leadership was established; and baccalaureate program offerings were increased to 36 disciplines in the arts and sciences, business and economics, and education. The addition of the $6.3 million ultra-modern School of Business and Economics Building and the new $10.9 million Health and Physical Education Building underscored Dr. Hackley's commitment to FSU's continued expansion and growth. He also strengthened FSU's community outreach to at-risk children in the public schools, establishing numerous scholarship and tutoring/mentoring programs to encourage more young people to aspire to academic excellence and a college education. FSU's first major public capital campaign was completed during Dr. Hackley's tenure, and enabled FSU to increase the number of privately funded scholarships available to students. On December 31, 1994, Dr. Hackley left his post at FSU to become President of the North Carolina Department of Community Colleges, the first African-American to lead the state's system of 59 community colleges. Dr. Donna J. Benson, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for The University of North Carolina, is appointed by UNC President C. D. Spangler to serve as Interim Chancellor.
The $10.9 million Health, Physical Education and Recreation Complex, opened in 1995.	1995 The University of North Carolina Board of Governors elects Dr. Willis B. McLeod, FSU Class of 1964, as the ninth leader and first alumnus Chancellor of FSU, effective November 15, 1995. Dr. McLeod's major initiatives include a new "Freshman Year Initiative," or "F.Y.I." program designed to enhance students' educational outcomes; new outreach efforts aimed at strengthening community ties and involving the community in university life; campus improvements including $46 million in Higher Education Improvement Bond Projects underway; forming a regional partnership of public school, community college, and university leaders to focus on enhancing the educational outcomes for pre-K through 16 students; and initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to revitalize the neighborhoods surrounding the FSU campus. After serving his alma mater for eight years, Dr. McLeod steps down from the position of Chancellor on June 30, 2003. 2003 Dr. T. J. Bryan is named the tenth chief executive officer of Fayetteville State University and the first woman elected by The University of North Carolina Board of Governors to lead the 136-year-old institution as Chancellor. She is also the first African-American woman appointed as head of a University of North Carolina institution.