You are in: Exhibits: Struggle: Public Education: Virginia Theological Seminary and College

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Phillip Morris was the founder and first president of Virginia Seminary. He attended Howard University and graduated with a degree in law and theology. Morris came to Lynchburg to assist his uncle, the Reverend Fielding Morris, pastor of Court Street Baptist Church. Upon his uncle's death in 1881, Morris became pastor of the church.

At the 1886 Virginia State Baptist Convention, Morris argued for the establishment of an educational institution controlled by blacks and independent of white authority. The Convention agreed and employed Morris to begin the work of establishing the new school. Morris acted as the Education Board's agent in acquiring a site and raising funds. His leadership of the Education Board was characterized by a philosophy of race pride and self-reliance. This philosophy carried over into his presidency of Virginia Seminary and influenced Seminary officials who came after him. He was elected president of the Seminary in 1888 and served until he resigned in 1891. Morris was one of only four African Americans serving as president of a black school during his time at the Seminary.

Courtesy of Virginia University of Lynchburg