TITLE: Dr. Henry Lawrence McCrorey

COVERAGE: 1907 to 1947

DESCRIPTION: Dr. Henry Lawrence McCrorey’s materials are included in the collection of the Office of the President, which is housed in the Inez Moore Parker Archives and Research Center at Johnson C. Smith University. The Office of the President Collection contains speeches, manuscripts, photographs, and other documents of individuals who have served as President of Johnson C. Smith University.

TYPE: Photograph

PHOTOGRAPH DATE: Between 1932-1936

CREATOR: Inez Moore Parker Archives and Research Center

ACQUISITION DATE: June 2000

PROCESSED BY: Monika Rivera Rhue

HISTORICAL NOTE: Henry Lawrence McCrorey was born in Fairfield County, South Carolina, on March 2, 1863. Dr. McCrorey graduated from the College and Arts program at Biddle University 1892 and from the theological seminary in 1895. He taught in the high school department at Biddle and was later promoted to chair the Greek Exegesis and Hebrew department in the theological seminary. Dr. McCrorey was elected president of Biddle University in 1907 and he served in this capacity for forty years. Dr. McCrorey was the second African American president of Biddle University.

Dr. McCrorey presided over the university during a period of significant growth and development, which resulted from the donations of several significant benefactors including Mr. Andrew Carnegie, Mrs. Johnson C. Smith and Mr. James Buchanan Duke. Mrs. Smith’s donations to the university funded the establishment of a science hall, two large dormitories, three homes for teachers, and a church. In 1923, the name Biddle University  changed to Johnson C. Smith University. During Dr. McCrorey’s presidency, the institution was rated an “A” college and became a member of the Association of American Colleges.

COPYRIGHT: Any display, publication, or public use, must credit the Inez Moore Parker Archives and Research Center at Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Materials on this web site have been made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. For these purposes, you may reproduce (print, make photocopies, or download) materials from this web site without prior permission, with the condition that you provide proper attribution of the source in all copies.

You must contact the Archives and Research Center at archives@jcsu.edu for permission to use materials from this web site for commercial products, publications, broadcasts, mirroring, or any other purpose that is not considered “fair use”.

SITE CREATION DATE: March 26, 2003