June 6 …
Dillard University — chartered on June 6, 1930 in New Orleans, LA — is a private Historically Black University created through the merger of Straight College and New Orleans University.
The American Missionary Association of the Congregational Church founded Straight University on June 12, 1868, to meet the educational needs of the newly emancipated. Straight University provided basic schooling, but also eventually offered professional training, including, by 1874, a law department. Straight University was renamed Straight College in 1915 to reflect its actual curricular offerings.
The Union Normal School was established on July 8, 1868, by the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church to train teachers for newly freed Black people. Union Normal School later became known as New Orleans University. In order to more efficiently provide higher education and to better meet their fiscal challenges, both colleges agreed to merge in 1930. Dillard University was born.
The institution was named for James Hardy Dillard, a white professor at Tulane University, and an officer of two notable philanthropies supporting Black education — the Jeanes Fund and the Slater Fund. Under the University’s second President, Albert W. Dent (1941–1969), Dillard expanded its academic offerings and institutional profile.
The institution established one of Louisiana’s first accredited nursing programs for African Americans in 1942 and became a founding member of the United Negro College Fund in 1944.
Over the decades, the university has graduated several thousand students. By the early 21st century, estimates place its alumni body at over 15,000 graduates, reflecting steady institutional growth despite historical challenges.
From its beginning, Dillard offered a liberal arts curriculum to prepare students for leadership and service, particularly within southern Black communities of the American South. And its alumni have made significant contributions across multiple fields. Among them are the following individuals who exemplify the university’s impact on American cultural and intellectual life.
- Ellis Marsalis Jr. (1955) — Pioneering jazz musician and influential teacher.
- Ruth Simmons (1967) — First African American president of an Ivy League university at Brown University.
- Garrett Morris (1958) — Original cast member of Saturday Night Live.
Today, Dillard University remains an important institution within the network of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Its legacy reflects the broader struggle for educational access and equality in the United States, while its continued emphasis on the liberal arts and civic engagement underscores its enduring role in shaping future generations.
Selected Sources:
- “Dillard University.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- “Dillard University.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
- “History & Traditions.” Dillard University.
