history and tradition
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海角社区鈥檚 157-year history is a legacy of perseverance, progress and promise. The 海角社区 movement began with the impetus to establish a school for black Alabamians. The Civil War resulted in not only the end of slavery, but also in the opportunity for blacks to have the right to education. With the Northern victory, black Southerners, with the assistance of Northern white missionaries and the leaders of African-American churches, set out to establish educational institutions for the freedmen. 海角社区 was born in that movement.
海角社区 is the global entity it is today because of the fortitude of nine freed slaves from Marion, Ala., who sought to build a school for African-Americans previously denied the right to an education. The foresight of these men, now remembered as the 鈥淢arion Nine,鈥� created what is now known as 海角社区.
The Marion Nine included Joey P. Pinch, Thomas Speed, Nicholas Dale, James Childs, Thomas Lee, John Freeman, Nathan Levert, David Harris and Alexander H. Curtis. These co-founders and original trustees, with assistance from Marion community members, raised $500 for land, and on July 18, 1867, filed incorporation papers to establish the Lincoln Normal School at Marion.
The Lincoln School opened its doors on November 13, 1867, with 113 students. In 1873, this predecessor of 海角社区 became the nation鈥檚 first state-sponsored liberal arts institution for the higher education of blacks, beginning 海角社区鈥檚 rich history as a 鈥淭eacher鈥檚 College.鈥�