The school was founded in 1897 and was known as the Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University. From 1898 to 1916 its president was Inman E. Page. Langston University was created as a result of the second Morrill Act in 1890. The law required states with land-grant colleges to either admit African Americans, or provide an alternative school for them to attend as a condition of receiving federal funds. The university was renamed as Langston University in 1941 in honor of John Mercer Langston, civil rights pioneer, first African American member of Congress from Virginia, founder of the Howard University Law School, and American consul-general to Haiti. Through the years Langston University has developed slowly but surely. Some of the most serious problems have been political influences, financial stress, and lack of adequate space and equipment. During the 1960s the campus underwent a complete makeover. New buildings appeared, and additions were made to the library and auditorium. Poet Melvin B. Tolson taught at Langston from 1947 until 1964. Tolson was portrayed by Denzel Washington in the film The Great Debaters.
Academics
Six schools house the degree programs of Langston University: Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Arts and Sciences; Business; Education and Behavioral Science; Nursing and Health Professions; and Physical Therapy. A total of 29 undergraduate and six graduate degree programs are offered at LU. The university offers the Edwin P. McCabe Honors Program for highly motivated undergraduate students with exceptional academic records. The university was accredited with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in 2005. It is the university's only doctoral program and one of two in the state. Langston University is accredited by seven different college accreditation agencies.
Athletics
Langston University teams, bearing the sport name of the Lions, are part of the Sooner Athletic Conference. Men's sports include basketball, football, and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, softball, track & field and volleyball. There is also a co-ed club soccer program. The present athletic director is Donnita Rogers. The Lions won the 1939 and 1941 HBCU National Championships in football. Langston won two HBCU National Championships in basketball in 1944 and 1946.
Marching Pride
Langston's marching band is known as the "Langston University Marching Pride". It is a major ambassador of the university, a supporter at athletic events, and serves as a training center for students interested in pursuing a career in music and/or developing pertinent life skills. Charlie Wilson, of GAP Band fame, once served as Drum Major. , the band has won three bids to the Honda Battle of the Bands in the Georgia Dome since the inaugural event in 2003.
