By: Ms Jheri Worldwide
Staff Writer
Shaw University holds a unique and vital place in the history of legal education in North Carolina and throughout the South. Founded in 1865, Shaw University stands as a testament to the vision and determination of its founders, and its legacy continues to resonate today. Often called the “Mother of all Southern HBCUs,” Shaw provided the foundation upon which many other historically Black colleges and universities were built, with their founders often emerging from Shaw University’s own ranks. The driving force behind the establishment was Reverend Henry Martin Tupper, a former Union enlisted soldier who understood the critical need for African Americans to have access to legal education and self-sufficiency. In a time when reliance on the white community was often unavoidable, Tupper sought to empower his students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the legal landscape and advocate for their rights.
On June 28, 1888, a vote in New York approved the establishment of Shaw University Law School, and on December 11, 1888, the doors opened to its first class. The only Black law school between Washington, DC and Texas. The curriculum was rigorous, spanning three years and covering a wide range of subjects, including stenography, contracts, equity, international constitutional law, the argument of cases, torts, and the North Carolina constitution. Tuition fees, around $5, were significant for the time, but the administration was committed to ensuring the success of its students.
The first class in 1889, included E.A. Johnson, Charles E. Williams, and E.H. Hunter, among others. Under the leadership of instructors like John H. Leary, who later became dean, Shaw Law School produced between 47 and 50 lawyers who went on to serve their communities in a variety of fields, with many pursuing careers in education. Graduates hailed from states across the Eastern Seaboard, including New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and beyond. However, financial challenges plagued the institution. Dependent entirely on tuition and external contributions, the law school struggled to maintain its operations. By the early 1900s, conversations began about its closure, as student enrollment dwindled and financial support waned. In 1914, the law school was ultimately forced to close, leaving a significant void in legal education for African Americans in the region until institutions like North Carolina Central University emerged in 1939.
Despite its relatively short existence, Shaw Law School produced a remarkable cadre of graduates who made lasting contributions to society. Among them was Henry Plummer Cheatham (1857-1935), born enslaved in Granville County, North Carolina. Cheatham, a Shaw graduate from 1887 who earned his law degree in 1890. Though he did not practice law, Cheatham entered politics and served as the lone African American member of Congress from 1889 to 1893. Cheatham received a presidential appointment from President McKinley and was a dedicated supporter of the Republican Party. He also founded the Colored Orphanage of North Carolina and was an early leader of Oxford Children’s Home.
Another notable graduate was Rodger D. O’Kelly, who graduated in 1909. Despite being partially blind and deaf from birth, O’Kelly went on to earn a second law degree from Yale, becoming the second deaf student to do so.
Shaw University remains the “Mother of all Southern HBCUs,” which emphasizes the profound impact the Shaw University Law School had on the development of legal education for African Americans in the South and beyond. Reverend Tupper’s vision of providing well-trained legal minds to serve the community remains a powerful legacy, one that The Carolinian is proud to highlight.
