American History

15 Elite Colleges That Owe Their Foundations to Enslaved Labor

Trista - July 15, 2025

Many of America’s most revered colleges were built on foundations intertwined with slavery. From direct financial support through the profits of enslaved labor, to the actual labor of enslaved people constructing campus buildings, these institutions benefited immensely from an unjust system. Today, as calls for racial equity grow louder, universities are grappling with how to acknowledge and address this painful history. The legacy of slavery continues to shape these campuses, prompting ongoing research, dialogue, and public reckoning.

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1. Harvard University

Harvard University’s early prosperity was deeply connected to slavery. Donations and endowments from wealthy slave traders and plantation owners helped shape its financial foundation. Several of Harvard’s presidents and prominent faculty members even enslaved people themselves, embedding the institution in the system of bondage. Today, Harvard is confronting this legacy through public reports, memorials, and proposed reparative initiatives. To learn more about Harvard’s acknowledgement and steps toward addressing its historical ties, visit the Harvard Gazette.

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2. Yale University

Yale University’s early growth was shaped by both direct and indirect ties to slavery. Some of its most influential benefactors amassed wealth through the slave trade or businesses dependent on slave labor. Additionally, several of Yale’s founding presidents and faculty owned enslaved people, weaving the institution into the broader slave economy. Recent research has led to public acknowledgment and deeper inquiry into this history. For further details, see Yale’s official report on its historic ties at Yale News.

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3. Princeton University

Princeton University’s foundation is closely linked to individuals who directly profited from slavery. Early presidents, trustees, and donors often owned enslaved people or derived wealth from the slave economy, fueling the institution’s growth. This legacy is now the subject of ongoing academic research and public engagement through the Princeton & Slavery Project, which uncovers the university’s deep entanglements with enslavement. Their work continues to shed light on forgotten histories and prompt dialogue about Princeton’s responsibility. Explore further at the Princeton & Slavery Project.

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4. Brown University

Brown University’s origins are inseparable from the transatlantic slave trade. The Brown family, instrumental in founding the university, amassed significant wealth through slave trading and related enterprises. This troubling past has been publicly acknowledged by the university through its landmark Slavery and Justice Report, which investigates Brown’s historical ties and advocates for ongoing reflection and restorative actions. To delve deeper into Brown’s reckoning with its legacy, view the full report at the Brown University Slavery and Justice Report.

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5. Columbia University

Columbia University’s early years were significantly shaped by benefactors and trustees who were themselves slaveholders or slave traders. The institution benefited from New York’s vibrant slave economy, receiving donations and support from those invested in enslavement. Columbia’s ongoing research initiative, Columbia and Slavery, has revealed the extent of these connections and their impact on the university’s development. For detailed findings and historical documentation, visit Columbia and Slavery.

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6. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania’s early history is closely linked to enslavement through its founders, faculty, and even students, many of whom were slave owners or participated in the slave economy. Financial contributions and intellectual support from these individuals helped Penn establish its enduring legacy. Recently, the university has begun to confront these uncomfortable truths through the Penn & Slavery Project, an initiative dedicated to uncovering and publicizing Penn’s ties to slavery. To explore their findings and ongoing work, visit the Penn & Slavery Project.

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7. Georgetown University

In 1838, Georgetown University’s Jesuit leaders infamously sold 272 enslaved men, women, and children to pay off the school’s debts and secure its financial future. This transaction, one of the most documented and impactful in higher education history, directly funded the institution’s survival and growth. Georgetown has since initiated a public reconciliation process, including memorialization, scholarships for descendants, and attempts at reparative action. For a deeper look into this legacy and the university’s ongoing efforts, read the detailed coverage by The New York Times.

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8. Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College’s early history is marked by financial and personal connections to slavery. Key trustees and donors in its formative years were involved in the slave economy or were themselves slaveholders, contributing funds that helped establish the college. Today, Dartmouth is actively investigating these historic ties, launching research projects and open discussions to better understand its legacy. To explore Dartmouth’s ongoing work in confronting its past, visit Dartmouth and Slavery.

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9. University of Virginia

The University of Virginia stands as a physical testament to the labor of enslaved people who built its iconic grounds. Founded by Thomas Jefferson, himself a slave owner, the university’s early operations and construction were dependent on enslaved laborers. In recent years, UVA has acknowledged this painful legacy, dedicating memorials and educational initiatives to honor those who contributed under bondage. To learn more about the university’s efforts to confront and memorialize this history, visit UVA and the History of Slavery.

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10. Williams College

Williams College’s early financial stability was partially rooted in the wealth of donors connected to slavery. Some of its initial funding came from fortunes built through the transatlantic slave trade or businesses reliant on enslaved labor. Recognizing this legacy, Williams has begun to examine and publicize its historical ties to slavery through research and campus dialogue. For more details on these findings and ongoing work, visit Williams College Special Collections.

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11. Rutgers University

Rutgers University’s roots are deeply entwined with the institution of slavery through its founders and early leadership. Presidents, trustees, and benefactors at Rutgers owned enslaved individuals, and enslaved labor was used in the construction and maintenance of the campus. This direct involvement has come to light through rigorous research and public engagement by the Scarlet and Black Project, which documents and disseminates Rutgers’ connection to slavery. For comprehensive resources and ongoing scholarship, visit the Scarlet and Black Project.

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12. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was physically constructed and maintained by enslaved laborers, whose work was essential to its early development. The university also benefited economically from the broader system of slavery, with profits from the slave economy contributing to its growth and operations. Ongoing research and public exhibits by UNC are uncovering and sharing these truths. For more on this history and its continuing impact, see the UNC University Libraries exhibit.

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13. Johns Hopkins University

Recent discoveries have challenged the narrative surrounding Johns Hopkins, the university’s founder, revealing evidence of his family’s involvement in slavery. Contrary to long-held assumptions about Hopkins as an abolitionist, records show that he and his relatives enslaved people. The university has launched a historical review and issued public statements to address and share these findings with the broader community. For an in-depth account, read the coverage by The Washington Post.

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14. University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina’s campus was built and maintained through the extensive use of enslaved laborers, who contributed significantly to its physical and institutional development. As a prominent institution in the antebellum South, USC directly benefited from slavery and the wealth it generated. Today, the university is actively researching and acknowledging this legacy through educational programs and public history initiatives. Learn more about these efforts at the University of South Carolina.

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15. University of Georgia

The University of Georgia’s earliest buildings and grounds were constructed and maintained by enslaved individuals, whose labor was integral to the university’s foundation. UGA, like many Southern institutions, relied on the resources and systems of slavery to support its growth and operations. In recent years, researchers at the university have undertaken projects to uncover, document, and share this important history. To learn more about UGA’s ongoing efforts and research, visit this University of Georgia news article.

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Conclusion

The histories of these elite American colleges reveal a shared, often overlooked legacy: their foundations are intertwined with the injustices of slavery. As universities continue to acknowledge their pasts, efforts toward reconciliation and restorative justice are gaining momentum. Historical transparency is essential—not only for understanding the roots of these institutions, but for fostering accountability and meaningful change. To support these efforts, ongoing research and public engagement are vital. Learn more about this movement for truth and justice at Universities Studying Slavery.

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