History

Nashville Globe states, "Walden University was the first institution organized for the education of colored people in the South."  It was formed in 1865 by the Methodist Episcopal Church as a community school for freed children and adults.  In 1867 it became known as Central Tennessee College to provide teacher education and training in science, agriculture and theology.  It added a preparatory department for those without the background for college.  In 1876 it added Meharry Medical College, one of the first in the South for Blacks.  Advertisements in the Globe in 1907 boasted of thirteen departments, including law, industrial arts, domestic science, commercial, music, and Braden Bible Training.  The Meharry Medical College also offered dentistry, pharmacy and nurse training.  In 1898 Central Tennessee College became Walden University, named for Bishop John Morgan Walden.

 

The 1884 catalog shows a student body of 360—10 collegiate, 35 preparatory, 2 academic, 235 normal, 46 Common English, 2 law, 31 medical, 31 music, and 31 theological.  An additional 115 preparatory students attended the affiliated West Tennessee Academy at Mason, TN.

 

Student organizations with religious orientation included the Y.M.C.A., the Haven Missionary Society, the William Taylor Friends of Africa, the College Hill Temperance Society and the Young Women's Christian Temperance Union.  Literary organizations included the Excelsior Literary Society, the Frances Harper Literary Society, and the Lyceum.

 

Bobby Lovett notes that a demographic shift in black population in Nashville at the end of the century led to the creation of the state-supported Tennessee Normal and Industrial College.  In 1915 Meharry Medical College obtained a separate charter, separating itself from Walden University. So by 1922 the renamed Walden College was reduced to a small two-year school.   Walden College last advertised in December of 1926.