Edward M. Brawley

Edward M. Brawley
Brawley in 1887
Born	(1851-03-18)March 18, 1851 Charleston, South Carolina
Died	January 13, 1923(1923-01-13) (aged 71) Raleigh, North Carolina
Alma mater	Bucknell University
Occupation	Minister, educator, journalist
Religion	Baptist

Edward M. Brawley was an educator and minister in North Carolina and South Carolina. He was the first African American to attend Bucknell University. He was an important figure in the development of the African-American church in South Carolina and the American southeast and helped found numerous churches and schools, including the Benedict Institute and Morris College. He served as president at Morris and, earlier, at Selma University. Later in his career he was a professor at Shaw University. He was also a prominent pastor at numerous churches and an important figure in civil rights and religious affairs.

Edward MacKnight Brawley was born a freeman on March 18, 1851, in Charleston, South Carolina. His parents were James M. and Ann L. Vaughn. He began his education about the age of four when a private tutor taught him to read and prepared him for school. He attended school until 1859 or 1860, when his school for black children closed in response to John Brown's raid. In 1861, Brawley's parents sent him to Philadelphia to attend school. He first attended a grammar school, and after three years entered the Institute for Colored Youth led by Ebenezer D. Bassett, where he attended until 1866. In April 1865 he was baptized into the Baptist church and became involved in Sunday Schools and made plans for the ministry. He then returned to Charleston and apprenticed to be a shoemaker in 1869, but in fall 1870 he enrolled at Howard University as the schools first regularly enrolled theology student. After three months he left Howard and in January 1871 he enrolled in the preparatory department of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, the schools first African-American student. This move was at the advice of Rev. B. Griffith and Brawley received a scholarship from his wife. He also funded his education through teaching vocal music and preaching during the summers. In the fall he finished his preparation and enrolled in the University, graduating June 30, 1875. He was granted an A. M. from Bucknell in 1878, and an honorary D. D. from Simmons College of Kentucky in May 1885.