Download & Print
July 2, 2025
Today in Texas History
On this day in 1948, Ralphael O'Hara Lanier, who had earlier served five years as dean of Houston Colored Junior College and more recently as United States Minister to Liberia, became the first president of the Texas State University for Negroes (now Texas Southern University).
The university was established by the 50th Texas Legislature on March 3, 1947. The intent of the legislature was to offer the state's black citizens a university equivalent to the University of Texas, in accord with the "separate but equal" principle of segregation.
Lanier had a record of leadership in higher education, which made him a good selection for the new university. His administration, however, was troubled with both internal and external difficulties. As president, he had to face divisiveness between students who opposed a separate black college and wished to attend the University of Texas, and students who pushed for the establishment of a first-class, yet segregated, black university.
Local newspapers launched a series of attacks on him throughout his tenure, alleging poor administration, unskilled personnel, fiscal irresponsibility, communism and general confusion on campus. A local American Legion post called for the governor to start an investigation of the university. In 1953, a committee of Houston citizens was appointed to study the situation and report to the governor. The committee reported that the charges were unfounded, and that under Lanier's leadership the university had expanded in terms of student enrollment, curriculum and physical facilities.
Despite the difficulties he faced, the university not only survived, but grew under Lanier's leadership.
The university was established by the 50th Texas Legislature on March 3, 1947. The intent of the legislature was to offer the state's black citizens a university equivalent to the University of Texas, in accord with the "separate but equal" principle of segregation.
Lanier had a record of leadership in higher education, which made him a good selection for the new university. His administration, however, was troubled with both internal and external difficulties. As president, he had to face divisiveness between students who opposed a separate black college and wished to attend the University of Texas, and students who pushed for the establishment of a first-class, yet segregated, black university.
Local newspapers launched a series of attacks on him throughout his tenure, alleging poor administration, unskilled personnel, fiscal irresponsibility, communism and general confusion on campus. A local American Legion post called for the governor to start an investigation of the university. In 1953, a committee of Houston citizens was appointed to study the situation and report to the governor. The committee reported that the charges were unfounded, and that under Lanier's leadership the university had expanded in terms of student enrollment, curriculum and physical facilities.
Despite the difficulties he faced, the university not only survived, but grew under Lanier's leadership.