Wiley College: A Historic HBCU in Marshall

Wiley College was founded in 1873 to give African Americans in East Texas access to higher education during Reconstruction. It is a historically Black college and university, known as an HBCU. The college is in Marshall and is still open today.

In the 1930s, Wiley became known nationwide for its debate team. That team was featured in the 2007 film 'The Great Debaters.' The college's story is tied directly to the struggles and achievements of Black Texans after the Civil War. Wiley is still an active part of the Marshall community and is a landmark in East Texas history.