Historic St. Augustine’s University Needs Community Support

by Ruth Little, Preservation Raleigh Board Member

May is National Preservation Month, a time to celebrate and advocate for the places that tell Raleigh’s story. As part of this effort, Preservation Raleigh is highlighting eight significant locations facing threats through our 2025 Places in Peril (PIP) initiative.

This article focuses on St. Augustine’s University, the first site featured in our 2025 series. Located at 1315 Oakwood Avenue, the 20-acre campus core includes over a dozen well-preserved and architecturally significant buildings dating from 1895 to 1971. St. Aug’s holds key significance as one of North Carolina’s oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities, but currently faces serious development pressure because of ongoing financial difficulties and accreditation issues.

Why It Matters: History and Significance 

St. Augustine’s University played a vital role in the education and advancement of Black individuals in North Carolina and beyond, especially during a time of significant racial discrimination. It provided crucial opportunities for higher education, leadership development, and served as a cultural hub for the Black community in East Raleigh.

Located at 1315 Oakwood Avenue in downtown Raleigh, the St. Augustine’s University campus, established in 1867, holds key significance as one of North Carolina’s oldest Historic Black Colleges and Universities. The 20-acre campus, including over a dozen well-preserved and architecturally significant buildings dating from 1895 to 1971, faces neglect and development pressure because of ongoing financial difficulties and accreditation issues.

Established by the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1867 to train black teachers and ministers, the school was led in the late 1800s and early 1900s by Bishop Henry Delany, the first black man to become an Episcopal bishop in North Carolina. 

An interesting historical aside on Bishop Delany: his daughters Sadie and Bessie grew up on the St. Augustine’s campus. As adults, they moved to Harlem in New York City and had distinguished careers, one as a high school teacher, the other a dentist. They inspired a best-selling biography, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years, edited by Amy Hill Hearth, 1993.

Architecture and Landscape of St. Augustine’s Campus

The earliest surviving buildings– St. Augustine’s Chapel, 1896, a striking stone Gothic gabled and towered landmark; the Romanesque Revival stone Benson Library of 1898; and the large stone St. Agnes Hospital,1909–are located at the front of the campus along Oakwood Avenue. The hospital is a picturesque ruin.

The rest of the campus buildings are arranged around The Main Quadrangle (Oval) of 1964, which organizes the campus into an elegant ensemble. The well-maintained grassy quad includes plots in the northern section devoted to Black Greek Letter Organizations, a traditional feature on HCBU campuses.

A notable later historic building, Penick Science Hall, 1930, has red brick walls and a stylish Moderne entrance. A group of 1960s and 1970s Modernist buildings of brick and reinforced concrete include the Boyer Building, Robinson Library, Martin Luther King Union, and Jones Fine Arts Building, most designed by local architects.

The main 20-acre campus is a National Register Historic District, listed in 1980 and updated in 2019. The district holds significance under the themes of education, Black ethnic heritage, architecture, and landscape. Its period of historic significance extends from 1895 to 1971. The institution’s most important leaders include Bishop Henry Beard Delany (1885-1908), Edgar H. Goold (1917-1946), Dr. James A. Boyer (1954- 1966), and Prezell Robinson (1967-1995).

The main campus is quite distinct from the residential and commercial areas around it in east Raleigh. From its late 1800s stone buildings reflecting its Episcopal roots to the mid-1900s Modernist library, administrative center, and dormitories, the enclave possesses a tranquil and rarified academic atmosphere. The north half of the 94-acre of the campus includes more recent facilities and athletic fields.

The Threat: Why Is It a Place in Peril? 

St. Augustine’s University is currently navigating significant financial and accreditation challenges and institutional upheaval. As a result, several of its historic buildings are suffering from deferred maintenance, even as the university remains open and accredited during arbitration with unchanged ownership. The primary threat to this historic campus is the instability of the institution and potential development pressure on its valuable land. Ultimately, the disappearance of St. Augustine’s University would represent the loss of a venerable educational institution in North Carolina. The deterioration of its historic buildings would threaten the legacy of Black education in North Carolina and its unique architecture and landscape design.  

Potential for Preservation?

The 20-acre core campus is listed as a National Register Historic District, which offers some recognition but may not prevent demolition or significant alterations without federal involvement. Exploring new uses for some of the under-used buildings that align with the university’s mission or serve the broader community could offer a path forward. 

Preservation requires a multi-faceted approach, including addressing the university’s financial and accreditation challenges, securing funding for necessary repairs and maintenance, raising community awareness and support, and potentially exploring partnerships or grants focused on historic preservation.

Call to Action 

St. Augustine’s University campus represents one of North Carolina’s oldest Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs) and has been a Black cultural center in East Raleigh since the late 1800s. Its future hangs in the balance, and inaction could lead to the irreversible loss of this vital piece of Raleigh’s heritage. 

How Can People Help?

Learn more by following local news to stay updated on the university’s progress. Share this story to raise awareness about the importance of preserving this historic institution. Advocate for the institution and its buildings by expressing your support to local leaders and the university administration. Support St. Augustine’s University through donations or by engaging with their ongoing initiatives. 

If you have resources or expertise that could assist the university in its preservation efforts, consider reaching out to them directly. 

Recent news and resources:

Article Sources

• Perplexity AI search, Apr. 30, 2025
• ABC News
• Spectrum Local News
• Mary Ruffin Hanbury, North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office St. Augustine’s College Campus Historic District, Additional Documentation, 2021. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/WA0138AD.pdf