Browse Exhibits (4 total)
The Founding of The York Academy & the Transition to the York Collegiate Institute
York Collegiate Institute was the first major institution for higher education in the city. Located in central York city, it received many students from the city and local areas for primary to high school education before it offered college classes. The primarily white, male institution slowly grew to include a sizable population of women and diverse cultures. The Institute was primarily based around a building referred to as the Tower in later years. It represented an older time in history, and after outgrowing the original building the school moved to a larger campus, which you can learn more about after you finish learning about the beginnings of today’s York College of Pennsylvania.
Groups that Occupied the Land of York College Prior to 1960
The creation of this exhibit came with the initiative in taking a deeper dive into the history of York College prior to 1960 when it became a four-year institution as well as its relationship to the communities in the surrounding area. To do this we examined three essential topics; 1. York College and its potential relationship to the “Great Migration,” and neighborhood deterioration, 2. Slavery in York prior to 1960 and its potential roots to the York College, and 3. York County land, the existence of Indigenous people, and if there is any overlap here at YCP. To do this, we conducted various forms of research. Through our critical analysis, we discovered that there indeed was a link between York College and slavery, the great migration, and the existence of Indigenous people. Ultimately when looking at the past history of York College, it is impossible to note the impact of these various groups on the land that is the college today.
York Junior College 61’ - 68’
In 1961, York Junior College opened its doors for the first time at its new campus, located on Country Club Road. The college purchased this land for $250,000 in 1956, which translates to $2.42M today. The incredible cost and scale of this move, as well as the changes from its time as York Collegiate Institute, are all significant to the creation of this new institution. York Junior College was the foundation for the modern York College of Pennsylvania campus we know today, but at the time the change from York Collegiate Institute was anything but consistent. Through an examination of characteristics such as income and race, on a national, county, and district level, the exhibit on York Junior College will attempt to understand the motives behind this move, especially in light of the “white flight” to suburban areas which was common at this time. Further, we will look at how York Junior College chose to establish itself, by examining its original layout, course offerings, student population, and public media presence to determine its relationship to race and space.
Race and Space at York College of Pennsylvania (4 year Institution)
On September 22nd, 1966 Dr. Ray Miller, President of York Junior College announced that York Junior College would become York County’s first four-year institution (YCP homepage, 2021). Maintaining a similar mission as York Junior College, York College of Pennsylvania vowed to provide exceptional academic service and maintain a diverse and oriented student body. Being a private institution, York College has described itself as a privilege to those who attend and hold high expectations of its students (YCP homepage, 2021). Students are expected to be respectful to themselves, others, and the community. A lot has changed in the 50 years since the college first became a four-year institution. Our research highlights and compares the past and present demographics of YCP, its clubs, and its organization. Specifically, in relation to the wellness and inclusivity of the student body, and the efforts the college has made to ensure diversity is respected in the space here at YCP. The context of comparing race and space at YCP’s four-year college level will describe the fight for inclusivity on campus, and the growing population of diverse students that YCP claims to provide support for.