Shaw University was and still is a historical black college. It started with a man named Henry Martin Tupper in 1865. Do to the grace of God, it is still here 137 years later. In1865 Shaw University was known as Shaw Collegiate Institute. At that time only two major structures existed. The Shaw Building and Estey Seminary. What is now present day Estey Hall. In 1879, a third major building was constructed. It was called Greenloaf Building.
Shaw University was the first black school in the South to have a Medical Program. This was held in Leonard Medical Building, which is also still standing today. It consisted of three structures. A four story medical dormitory built to accommodate 75 men and started around 1880. A school of Pharmacy was established in 1890 and a pharmacy building erected in1891. The medical class graduated from Shaw University in 1893. It latered joined with Leonard School of Medicine and was operated successfully. .
In 1874, tuition and room rent were $6.00. As of today, tuition is $16,000 a year and $8,000 a semester. Young women were not charged to wash clothes in those days. As for young men, they were charged an extra $0.50 per month if the institution washed clothes for them. Today, everyone washes and dries their clothes for a charge of $0.75. In 1876-1877 students had to present a testimony of unblemished moral character to attend courses. During study hours, each student remained in his or her room to apply themselves strictly to their studies. Misbehavior and committing and any nuisance would result in immediate expulsion.
Any type of revealing clothing was prohibited for young women on Shaw's campus. They had to dress in a manner that was respectable. Today, young women are free to wear anything that they choose. No matter how conservative or revealing. Young men were not allowed to enter into .
women's dormitory and young women were not allowed to enter into young men's dormitory.