Bathsheba's Benny, Born in Columbia, Rebranded in Rhode Island

Bathsheba A. Benedict, a Pawtucket resident, funded the purchase of land in Columbia, SC. Later, her name graced the historic Benedict College grounds, originally a teachers' institute founded in 1870 by northern Baptists. For African Americans, who were often denied education as enslaved, this northern education was a key to the future. The first class of ten students learned under the guidance of the Reverend Timothy Dodge, a North-educated preacher, who was also made the institute's president.

Bathsheba and the college did not link up until later on. Following a line of seven northern white Baptist ministers as presidents, Benedict College, with aid from the Slater Fund, expanded into a four-year liberal arts college in 1894. In 1994, a goal of 2000 students by the year 2000 was set, and it was surprisingly reached in 1996, five years ahead of schedule. Today, this small, private Benedict College boasts 3,000 students and is working on a $50 million campus improvement plan.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons