Western University (1865-1943)

Known as the first historically black college established west of the Mississippi River, Western University was established in 1881 and was open for 72 years until it was forced to close in 1943 after being negatively impacted by the Great Depression. The school followed the Booker T. Washington education model and focused on teaching not just academic skills, but also vocational trades. Prior to the university’s establishment, the original building was used for the Freedman’s School, which prioritized teaching previously enslaved residents of Quindaro from 1865 to 1877. Through the efforts of the Allen Chapel AME Church, the school was turned into a university and expanded into multiple buildings. Western developed a nationally recognized music school whose graduates went on to acquire fame and create advancements in music composition. After its closure, its surviving buildings were used by the nearby Fredrick Douglass Hospital until it was also shut down and the buildings demolished.

The town of Quindaro was founded by abolitionists in 1856 and served as a crucial station on the Underground Railroad, helping people escape slavery after crossing the Missouri River into Kansas. The longest-standing cornerstone of Quindaro was Western University, which outlived the town by several decades and stood open until 1943. The school began with classes in the home of Presbyterian minister Eben Blachly to educate Quindaro’s children. He acquired land, and in 1865, registered a formal school known as Quindaro Freedman's School or Freedmen’s University, but struggled to keep it open. The school was then taken over by the A.M.E Church and renamed Western University in 1881. In 1915, the school became affiliated with the Fredrick Douglass Hospital, a medical facility dedicated to segregated Black American care, which the church also sponsored. Until its close, Western University was a key figure in the development of the Quindaro community, one of the largest Black American communities in the state of Kansas.

Major growth of Western University came under the school's president, William Tecumesh Vernon. Influenced by Booker T. Washington, Vernon instituted a Washington Model of learning into the school. This model focused on teaching Black Americans not just traditional subjects, but vocational training as they believed it would increase their chances of succeeding economically and proving to White Americans that they were as valuable to the economy as them. Funding for Western University was both public and private. As a voice of the Republican Party, Vernon was a factor in the large support of Black American voters and in return, Governor William E. Stanley assisted in granting the university $10,000. This grant was used to build Stanley Hall, the campus’ second building, and to fund a vocational department. The department consisted of classes that taught women how to cook, sew, and type. Classes for men included blacksmithing, tailoring, and cabinet making. Through continuous efforts by Vernon to acquire more government funds, the school developed an annex to Stanley Hall, a power plant and reservoir, another dormitory, two stock barns, and Park Hall.

The University’s peak success was reached around the 1920s due to its student population and programs. Sometimes regarded as the face of the school, the Jackson Jubilee singers were a product of Western University’s music school, its most famous and well-developed program. The group was led by Robert G. Jackson and they toured the nation, spreading awareness of the university and raising funds. The music school’s rigorous programs and the fame of the Jackson Jubilee Singers attracted numerous talented students, many of whom went on to illustrious careers, including Nora Douglas Holt, Eva Jessye, and Etta Moten Barnett. The school’s orchestra and band program was led by Major Nathaniel Clark Smith, who after working at Western, would eventually move to Sumner High School and develop the school’s award-winning band program. In addition to this, Western University had an influential nursing school. After Western University became affiliated with the Fredrick Douglass Hospital, it was used to serve as a training facility for students in the nursing program.

The closing of the University was a result of multiple issues. In 1924, the school's dormitory, Ward Hall, was destroyed in a fire, resulting in a huge loss to the student population due to the lack of housing. The A.M.E. Church did not have enough funding to replace the lost facilities. This incident aggravated internal tensions between the university and church officials regarding administrative differences. With the onset of the Great Depression substantial state funding was withdrawn and fewer students enrolled at Western, with many prospective students choosing to attend institutions with cheaper tuition in larger urban areas. By 1931, only 182 students were enrolled at Western, and by 1943 the graduating class was comprised of 6 students. On June 30, 1943, Western University permanently closed.

Currently, all that is left of Western University is the John Brown Statue that the University bestowed in 1911. With its location on a high buff, it looks over what would have been the town of Quindaro, now the ruins of an area that once was full of life. Western University was a school focused on setting up Black Americans to succeed by preparing them with vocational and academic skills. Although its music program seems to have the largest impact worldwide with alumni like the Jackson Jubilee Singers, the impact of all alumni can be found within Quindaro. The Townsite is currently managed by the Allen Chapel AME Church with ongoing efforts to preserve the site.

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