A Southern university built on 13,000 acres is reckoning with its complex history.
In short: Sewanee, the University of the South, is a private Episcopal institution perched on the Cumberland Plateau. While celebrated for its Gothic architecture and academic traditions, the school is currently navigating a profound institutional transition, confronting its historical ties to slavery and the Confederacy while maintaining its unique liberal arts identity.
Founded in 1857 by Episcopal bishops, including Leonidas Polk and James Otey, the university was envisioned as a regional hub to train Southern students. Its location was selected for its accessibility via the Mountain Goat railroad, allowing travel to any point in the South within two days. Early development relied on land donated by the Sewanee Mining Company, which profited from convict leasing, and significant financial backing from John Armfield, a prominent slave trader.
The university's history is deeply intertwined with the American Civil War. Construction halted during the conflict, and the original cornerstone was destroyed by Union forces. Following the war, Charles Todd Quintard, known as the 'Re-Founder,' secured support from the Church of England to resume operations in 1866. For over a century, the school maintained traditions that reflected its Southern roots, including the use of academic gowns by the Order of the Gownsmen and, until recently, the display of a mace honoring Nathan Bedford Forrest.
In recent years, the institution has initiated a formal reckoning with its past. The Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation, launched in 2017, provides the framework for this self-examination. In 2020, the governing board officially acknowledged the university's historical entanglement with white supremacy and slavery. This shift marks a departure from the 'Lost Cause' veneration that once characterized parts of its campus culture, signaling a commitment to a more transparent institutional identity.
Today, Sewanee remains a unique academic environment. It operates as both a liberal arts college and an Episcopal seminary, with a campus that spans 13,000 acres. Beyond its theological mission, the university is home to the Sewanee Review, a literary journal established in 1892 that holds the distinction of being the longest-running publication of its kind in the nation.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Sewanee: The University of the South
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