Peace College
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| Motto | Esse Quam Videri (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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To be, rather than to seem |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1857 |
| Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| Endowment | $38.2 million |
| President | Brian Ralph |
| Undergraduates | 1018 |
| Postgraduates | 0 |
| Location | Raleigh, North Carolina, USA |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Green and white |
| Mascot | Pacer |
| Website | peace.edu |
William Peace University is a small liberal arts college in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, and offers undergraduate degrees in 26 majors. The institution adopted its current name in 2012, concurrent with its decision to begin admitting men to its day program; it was previously known as Peace Institute and Peace College.
The institution that eventually became William Peace University was founded in 1872 as Peace Institute by a group of men within the Presbyterian Synod of North Carolina. The leading donation of $10,000 USD ($257 thousand in 2017 terms) came from William Peace, a prominent local merchant and a founding member of the First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh. Peace was a member of the second class of the University of North Carolina (class of 1800), and a longtime proponent of education as a benefactor of Raleigh Academy, a school primarily for boys.
Additionally, Peace donated 8 acres (32,000 m2) for the campus site.Main Building, a red brick, white-columned Greek revival building was built between 1859–1862, but was commandeered by the Confederate States government early in the Civil War to be used as an army hospital. The Main Building was designed and built by the Holt Brothers, Thomas and Jacob, who were notable builders from nearby Warrenton, NC.
The Civil War and Reconstruction Era delayed the opening of the school, but Peace Institute opened in January 1872. The first president was John Burwell, assisted by his son Robert. The Burwells, and his successor, James Dinwiddie, served the school until 1910, and were strong Presbyterians and descendants of old Virginia families.
The name of the school changed from Peace Institute to "Peace College" in 1943.
A member of the Women's College Coalition, Peace College was one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the United States. It was the second-oldest in North Carolina, predated only by Salem College (the first school for girls in the United States, founded in 1772).
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