The City of Jacksonville celebrated Edward Waters College Day Wednesday, the 149th anniversary of the school’s founding. Mayor Alvin Brown declared the holiday in an official proclamation.
EWC President and former Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover says the bravery of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in founding the institution can not be understated.
“Edward Waters College was founded in 1866 by the AME church - one year after the end of the Civil War,” Glover said. “As I think of that, I think of how bold of the AME church to have the courage to do that.”
The church created the institution to educate newly freed slaves. It’s the oldest private college in Florida and currently serves about 800 students.
