曼彻斯特 to name building in honor of first Black students

北曼彻斯特，印第安纳州. -- 十大网赌正规网址 will name its 学术中心 in honor of 曼彻斯特’s first African-American students, 玛莎和约瑟夫·坎宁安.

“I can think of no better way for 曼彻斯特 to honor the Cunninghams than to name a hall of learning for them,” said 曼彻斯特 President Dave McFadden.

Siblings who grew up near Kokomo, Ind., the Cunninghams graduated in 1903.

Martha “Mattie” Cunningham Dolby spent the early part of her career working to improve the lives of impoverished Black families in the segregated South. Having spent much of her childhood in the 弟兄会, she worked to establish several congregations in the South and Midwest. In 1911, she became the first woman to be installed as a Brethren minister. 

Her brother moved to Chicago after graduating from 曼彻斯特 and became a physician. He received a Bachelor of English degree from 曼彻斯特 College in 1903. He was also recognized for completing the program in elocution in 1904.*

The Cunninghams arrived at 曼彻斯特 in an era of intense racial violence in the United States, according to historian Nicholas Patler. A number of 曼彻斯特 students did not accept the Cunninghams and made them feel unwelcome. At first, the two prepared and ate their meals off campus.

第二年，情况发生了变化, when fellow student and future 曼彻斯特 president Otho Winger organized a student support group in solidarity with the Cunninghams, which included eating together in the dining hall.

Gender dictated very different college experiences for the siblings.

Joe received financial support from his father and was active on campus, joining the Lincoln Society literary group, and honing his skills at debate and elocution. He also played on the men’s basketball team and managed the baseball team.

Mattie’s father was quoted as saying that the role of women was “to wash and cook and have babies,” and he did not financially support her efforts. She paid for her education by working many hours in the college kitchen. That she graduated was an impressive achievement at the turn of the century, according to Patler. At the time, there were just 252 Black female college graduates in the nation. 

100多年后, the Cunninghams leave a legacy of tenacity, 勇气, and achievement in the face of adversity,麦克法登说. “Their story reflects the challenges of their time and 曼彻斯特’s own journey through that time. Their story is our story – where we have been and the work that remains. Shining a light on the Cunninghams can help inspire all of us to discover our best selves.”

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, to change the name of the building. A formal dedication for the Martha Cunningham and Joseph Cunningham 学术中心 is in the works for the spring semester.

对于媒体来说
If you would like to arrange an interview, please contact Anne Gregory in media relations: aggregory@曼彻斯特.edu

曼彻斯特的多样性

照片学分:

•  March 1903 photo of the Lincoln Society with Joseph Cunningham in front center is from the 十大网赌正规网址 档案.
• Photo of Mattie Cunningham Dolby is used with permission by the North 曼彻斯特 Historical Society. 十大网赌正规网址 does not own the photo. To use it, please request permission from the historical society, nmhistory@cinergymetro.网.
  
  For more information about Mattie Cunningham Dolby, see Patler’s “Recovering African American Voice and Experience in Brethren History: A Biographical Essay on Mattie Cunningham Dolby, 1878-1956,” http://bethanyseminary.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Patler-Article.pdf
  
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  *The Normal English course was designed as a professional course for teachers.  It contained sufficient work in mathematics, 科学, 语言, history and pedagogy to give the graduate professional standing as a teacher. The degree was Bachelor of English. Oration or a thesis was required each term of the senior year, or an equivalent of approved work in one of the Literary Societies.