A Street Named for Joseph Carter Corbin: Founder of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff By Dr. Gladys Turner Finney

Second Avenue in Pine Bluff was renamed Joseph C. Corbin by a Resolution by the City Council as part of Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Day celebrating the sesquicentennial founding of UAPB. At the Unveiling Ceremony, September 26, 2023 (1:00 P.M.), at the original site of the college, Second Avenue and Oak Street, the speakers were Dr. Gladys Turner Finney, Caleb Williams, representative of UAPB Student Government, and Senator Stephanie Flowers. Professor Joseph Carter Corbin opened Branch Normal College, the predecessor of UAPB on September 27, 1875 in a rented house at present day Second and Oak Street with seven students, age 9 to 15, none of whom could read beyond the third grade reader. Throughout his twenty-seven year tenure at the college, he maintained a preparatory school along with the collegiate. Professor Corbin changed the course of history in education in Arkansas for African-Americans. He produced the first African-Americans with Bachelor of Arts degrees in the state. He was a leader at both the collegiate and secondary level. He magnified Pine Bluff as a center of learning for African-Americans.

AAGGMV NEWSLETTER ARTICLES BY GLADYS TURNER FINNEY

Professor Joseph Carter Corbin’s Story Continues 150 Years in the Making

From Ohio Conductor on the Underground Railroad to Arkansas Reconstruction Era Superintendent of Public Instruction and founder of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and NOW Illinois Grave Site at Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, DESIGNATED as National Historic Place, April 17, 2023 by the U.S. National Park Service. Dr. Gladys Turner Finney was the Nominator. See on-line Weekly List2023.04.21-National Register of Historic Places (U.S National Park Service). For the Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Day Sesquicentennial Event, September 27, 2023 please make a donation to the Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Memorial Scholarship for math and science majors at UAPB- Give on-line, at www.uapb.edu/give (go to Other and write in name). Or mail to: UAPB Foundation Fund University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 1200 North University Drive #4985 Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601.

PROFFESOR JOSEPH CARTER CORBIN DAY SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

DATE: September 27, 2023 PLACE: Pine Bluff, Arkansas Purpose: To commemorate Professor Joseph Carter Corbin, founder of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Father of Higher Education for African Americans in Arkansas. Community Celebration: Free and open to the public, beginning with a Proclamation and Tribute Ceremony with city and state officials at the original site of the college, 2nd Avenue & Oak Street. Plans include exhibits, speakers, newly released documentary on Professor Corbin.There will be a reception with panelists reflecting on Dr. Corbin's contributions to education in Arkansas. ALL ARE WELCOMED. Joseph Carter Corbin (1833-1911) American Educator of African American heritage, Journalist, Mathematician, Scholar, Linguist, Musician. He was born free in Ohio to formerly enslaved parents, William and Susan Corbin, from Virginia. He became one of the most educated men of his day, eaming an A.B. degree and two master degrees from Ohio University at Athens. During Reconstruction following the Civil War, Professor Corbin migrated to Arkansas and in 1872 was elected Arkansas Superintendent of Public Instruction. Recognizing the need for teachers for the 115,000 "freedmen," he help lay the foundation for a public teacher's college for "the poorer class" that would become Branch Normal College of the Arkansas industrial University, now the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Branch Normal College, chartered in 1873, is the predecessor of A.M.&N. College, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Professor Corbin opened Branch Normal College on September 27, 1875 with seven elementary students. During his 27 years tenure as founder and president, he produced the first African Americans in Arkansas with Artium Baccalaureus (AB.) degrees. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is the second oldest public institution of higher education in the state. It is an 1890 Land Grant HBCU and serves a diverse student population. It contributes greatly to the economy of Pine Bluff. To help establish and endow a memorial scholarship to honor Professor Corbin, you may give On -line Giving: Uapb.taforms.net/ or mail UAPB Office of Development: 1200 N University Drive #4981, Pine Bluff, AR 71601.

Dr. Gladys Turner Finney And Donors Create the Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Memorial Endowed Scholarship at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)

The Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Memorial Scholarship recognizes Professor Corbin for his extraordinary achievements in Education, the founder of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and the creator of the first Artium Baccalaureus (AB) degrees for African-Americans in Arkansas. Professor Corbin was an Educator, Journalist, Mathematician, Scholar, Linguist, and Musician. He held AB and two masters’ degrees from Ohio University at Athens. The scholarship will support students in mathematics and the sciences. Ways to Give 1. Give by check payable to UAPB Foundation Fund In memo write: Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Memorial Scholarship Mail to: UAPB Office of Development, 1200 North University Drive Mail Slot 4981, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601 2. Give on line at www.uapb.edu/give (go to other and write in name) or call 870-5758701 3. Give by mobile phone.(TextUAPB19 to 41444) THANK YOU FOR GIVING Dr. Gladys Turner Finney, Class of 1957

Union Baptist Church & Joseph Carter Corbin

Union Baptist Cemetery & Joseph Carter Corbin

Give to UAPB Founder Memorial Scholarship

PROFESSOR JOSEPH CARTER CORBIN DAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 SESQUICENTENNIAL FOUNDER CELEBRATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF WON’T YOU PLEASE HELP? TO ENDOW THE UAPB PROFESSOR JOSEPH CARTER CORBIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP For mathematics and science majors Ways to Give 1. Give by check payable to UAPB Foundation Fund In memo write: Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Memorial Scholarship Mail to: UAPB Office of Development, 1200 North University Drive Mail Slot 4981, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601 2. Give on line at www.uapb.edu/give or call 870-5758701 3. Give by mobile phone.(TextUAPB19 to 41444) THANK YOU FOR GIVING Dr. Gladys Turner Finney

Family Members Buried at Randolph-Damacus Cemetery, Grady, Lincoln County, Arkansas Without Headstones

By Dr. Gladys Turner Finney

Mary Inez ("Arned) Williams Scoggins
B.D. July 28, 1897
D.D. September 8, 1947

Adward Williams
B.D.
D.D. September 8, 1957

Drucilla Turner West
B.D. March 24, 1884
D.D. October 16, 1955
Burial Date: October 21, 1955

Robert Turner
B.D. October 24, 1913
D.D. October 24, 1986

Emma Lee Turner Glanton
B.D. June 23, 1895
Burial Date June 8, 1974

Savannah Dozier Bluford
B.D. March 20, 1876
D.D. January 24, 1966

Cora Taylor Williams
B.D January 1, 1876
D.D September 8, 1957

Thurman Jones
 B.D. 1903
 D.D. Unknown Waterbury, Ct.

 Margaret Bluford Donaldson
 B.D. May 8, 1918
 D.D. May 21, 1987
 Burial Date May 27, 1987

 Robert Donaldson
 B.D. July 15, 1915
 D.D July 22, 1981
 Burial Date: July 27, 1981

  Chester Lee (Johnson) Bluford,   B.D.December 13, 1897,   D.D. April 8, 1993,   B.D. April 14, 1993.