HBCU Travel: Voorhees College Museum

Voorhees College Historical Museum

Historically Black Colleges and Universities were built to provide higher education for African Americans. These institutions ensured that there is a place to not only grow while feeling inclusive but also to become a piece of history that can’t be erased. As an HBCU alum of Voorhees College, I have learned much of what it took for Voorhees College to become the great institution in which it is today. I have also met and learned about individuals who have mastered much more after Voorhees College and have left their mark on this campus in Denmark, SC.

Through conversation and news articles, many can read about the history at Voorhees College, however, in the year 2018 Voorhees College opened its very own Historical Museum. Located on the 2nd floor of the Wright-Potts Library, which is centrally located and easily accessible from every section of the Campus, is the Voorhees College Historical Museum. Housed in the place where everyone goes for knowledge, necessary resources, and educational materials, is where much of the history of Voorhees College can be found.

The Voorhees College Historical Museum

Museums and HBCUs are cultural institutions that will always have a role to play in the education of generations. This museum has served and will continue to serve as a history lesson for students, faculty and staff, alums, and those touring the South Carolina campus.

In the museum, there is a timeline that features the ups and downs that Elizabeth Evelyn Wright faced when starting the process of what we now know as Voorhees College.

Voorhees College Historical Museum provides an insight into the history of humankind. While no museum can provide a complete picture of history, Voorhees College Historical Museum does a great job of capturing important moments that help add paint to the brushes that are finishing the big picture.

For instance, take a look into the museum where the founder Elizabeth Evelyn Wright-Menafee and Martin lived in their home “The Oak.” The house was located near the campus and Booker T. Washington Hospital to be close to the institution. The Voorhees College Museum highlights furnishings and images from this period that would have been in their home during the 1900s.

The Voorhees College Historical museum has not only become a pillar for the institution but also has added depth to the community of Denmark by celebrating the collective heritage of this town. The museum features the life in which students lived at Voorhees College and accomplished in Denmark, SC.

From playing football and participating in community service within Greek-lettered organizations to becoming a member of the Chicago Bulls team like Jackie Dinkins and rioting due to the Orangeburg Massacre, the Voorhees College Historical Museum provides insight into the greatness and most remarkable experiences in the Denmark, SC area.