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Images of Graves Hall, oldest
building on the Morehouse College campus, part of the Atlanta
University Center District
National Register photograph by Yen Tang, close up courtesy
of Atlanta Urban Design Commission
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The Atlanta University Center District encompasses a group of the country's
major institutions of higher learning for African Americans. They
have not only pioneered in offering educational opportunities to African
Americans, but have been a progressive force in the development of
the black community in Atlanta, which in turn, has had considerable
impact upon the nation. Located west of Atlanta's central business
district, the six colleges of the Atlanta University Center include:
Atlanta University; Clark, Morehouse, Morris Brown and Spelman Colleges;
and the Interdenominational Theological Center. Atlanta University
was founded in 1865 as an institution offering a liberal arts education.
In 1929, Atlanta University became the graduate school for the affiliated
group of colleges.
![[photo] [photo]](buildings/Aud2_Morehouse.jpg)
Historic postcard image of Morehouse
College
Courtesy of Jody Cook |
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At the northernmost end of the district is the oldest campus, which is now occupied
by Morris Brown College. The National Historic Landmark building Stone
(Fountain) Hall is located on this campus. One block east and
north of the Morris Brown campus is a residential street. This was
a part of the original property of Atlanta University on which faculty
homes were located. On the western boundary of Morris Brown and the
Interdenominational Center are residential streets containing many
typical Victorian frame cottages with occasional examples of Eastlake
style detailing. Also in the area between the old campus and the later
Atlanta University campus are the buildings of the University Homes
housing development. These are two-story, red brick buildings with
wrought iron balconies above projecting entranceways designed in a
modified International style. The southern section of the district
is occupied by the quadrangle of Atlanta University's present campus
surrounded by Morehouse, Spelman and Clark Colleges. Also located
within the boundaries of the Atlanta University Center District are
two historic churches. West Hunter Street Baptist Church occupied
a late Romanesque Revival building in the northern section of the
district until 1972. Friendship Church, in the eastern section, is
strongly linked by tradition and history with the district.
The Atlanta University Center Historic District is roughly
bordered by the transit right-of-way, Northside Dr., Walnut, Fair,
Roach, West End Dr., and Euralee and Chestnut sts. The grounds of
the University are open to the public. For further information about
the Atlanta University Center, visit their affiliated
library. The Atlanta University Center Historic District is
also highlighted in our Historic
Places of the Civil Rights Movement itinerary.
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