RE: John Mercer Langston -- According to the historians at Washington & Lee, their school had the first African-American college grad, John Chavis. He enrolled in the mid-1790's at Liberty Hall Academy (which became Washington Academy during his time there) to finish his preparations for ordination as a Presbyterian minister. Presumably he graduated (though the records as to who graduated and who didn't are rather sketchy for this period) since he was licensed by the Presbyterians who required it of all their ministers. He went on to a notable career as an educator and minister in Orange County, NC, operating two schools (one for white kids and one for blacks) for a while until the laws prohibiting such things were strengthened and more rigidly enforced. He is claimed as an ancestor by the Rev. Ben Chavis, who achieved considerable notoriety a few years back as head (briefly) of the NAACP and then as a Black Muslim. David W. Coffey Virginia Military Institute [log in to unmask] ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html