Revisiting Middlebury's Racial History
Dublin Core
Title
Revisiting Middlebury's Racial History
Subject
Student gives a summary of the life of Alexander Twilight, as well as an overview of the controversial moments/ significant changes that occurred in the history of Middlebury College, in terms of race. Some of the highlights from the article:
1830- Middlebury, Dartmouth, Williams, Amherst, and UVM all received "recommendations for four black prospective students from Philadelphia. They all rejected the applicants"
1845- Accepting of Martin Freeman into Middlebury. First Middlebury graduate who identified as Black.
1895- Admittance of Mary Annette Anderson, Middlebury's first Black female student.
1962- The Campus published an article stating that "an absence of Negroes during the current revolution in race relations would be a grave deficiency in any college"
1965- The Campus publishes an article that "20 Negroes Apply for Admission to the Class of '69"
1970- Dean of Diversity position created
1985- A diversity panel, the Twilight Committee is created
2005- Middlebury College Task Force sets a goal of increasing the number of US students of color to 15% by 2011
2012- Only about 5.4% of the Middlebury freshman class are Black "
1830- Middlebury, Dartmouth, Williams, Amherst, and UVM all received "recommendations for four black prospective students from Philadelphia. They all rejected the applicants"
1845- Accepting of Martin Freeman into Middlebury. First Middlebury graduate who identified as Black.
1895- Admittance of Mary Annette Anderson, Middlebury's first Black female student.
1962- The Campus published an article stating that "an absence of Negroes during the current revolution in race relations would be a grave deficiency in any college"
1965- The Campus publishes an article that "20 Negroes Apply for Admission to the Class of '69"
1970- Dean of Diversity position created
1985- A diversity panel, the Twilight Committee is created
2005- Middlebury College Task Force sets a goal of increasing the number of US students of color to 15% by 2011
2012- Only about 5.4% of the Middlebury freshman class are Black "
Description
Volume 112, Number 19
Creator
Conor Grant
Publisher
The Campus
Date
03/20/2014
Contributor
Conor Grant
Middlebury President Labaree
Middlebury President Labaree
Coverage
"'Middlebury is not designed especially for the colored race,' Middlebury President Labaree couched his argument in geography. 'Middlebury is not inclined particularly to encourage negroes from all parts of the country to resort here for education,' but, 'Colored young men in VT and the States adjacent, who would naturally fall to use, we will cheerfully receive"- Middlebury President Labaree (1830)
"For decades after Freeman, only a handful of black students-- no more than one per year-- were admitted to the College. "
"For decades after Freeman, only a handful of black students-- no more than one per year-- were admitted to the College. "
Hyperlink Item Type Metadata
URL
Collection
Citation
Conor Grant, “Revisiting Middlebury's Racial History,” Archives of Anti-Racist Activism, accessed October 27, 2026, https://twilightprojectantiracistrecords.middcreate.net/items/show/593.