Prominent among those who brought about this change in the attitude toward the education of the free blacks was Gerrit Smith, one of the greatest philanthropists of his time.  He secured privileges for Negroes in higher institutions by extending aid to such as would open their doors to persons of color.  In this way he became a patron of Oneida Institute, giving it from $3,000 to $4,000 in cash and 3,000 acres of land in Vermont.  Because of the hospitality of Oberlin to colored students he gave the institution large sums of money and 20,000 acres of land in Virginia valued at $50,000.  New York Central College which opened its doors alike to both races obtained from him several donations.[1] This gentleman proceeded on the presumption that it is the duty of the white people to elevate the colored and that the education of large numbers of them is indispensable to the uplift of the degraded classes.[2] He wanted them to have the opportunity for obtaining either a common or classical education; and hoped that they would go out from our institutions well educated for any work to which they might be called in this country or abroad.[3] He himself established a colored school at Peterboro, New York.  As this institution offered both industrial and literary courses we shall have occasion to mention it again.  Both a cause and result of the increasing interest in the higher education of Negroes was that these unfortunates had made good with what little training they had.  Many had by their creative power shown what they could do in business,[4] some had convinced the world of the inventive genius of the man of color,[5] others had begun to rank as successful lawyers,[6] not a few had become distinguished physicians,[7] and scores of intelligent Negro preachers were ministering to the spiritual needs of their people.[8] S.R.  Ward, a scholar of some note, was for a few years the pastor of a white church at Courtlandville, New York.  Robert Morris had been honored by the appointment as Magistrate by the Governor of Massachusetts, and in New Hampshire another man of African blood had been elected to the legislature.[9]

[Footnote 1:  Special Report of the U.S.  Com. of Ed., 1871, p. 367.]

[Footnote 2:  African Repository, vol. x., p. 312.]

[Footnote 3:  Ibid., p. 312.]

[Footnote 4:  Among these were John B. Smith, Coffin Pitts, Robert Douglas, John P. Bell, Augustus Washington, Alexander S. Thomas, Henry Boyd, P.H.  Ray, and L.T.  Wilcox.]

[Footnote 5:  A North Carolina Negro had discovered a cure for snakebite; Henry Blair, a slave of Maryland, had invented a corn-planter; and Roberts of Philadelphia had made a machine for lifting railway cars from the tracks.]

[Footnote 6:  The most noted of these lawyers were Robert Morris, Malcolm B. Allen, G.B.  Vashon, and E.G.  Walker.]

[Footnote 7:  The leading Negroes of this class were T. Joiner White, Peter Ray, John DeGrasse, David P. Jones, J. Gould Bias, James Ulett, Martin Delany, and John R. Peck.  James McCrummill, Joseph Wilson, Thos.  Kennard, and Wm. Nickless were noted colored dentists of Philadelphia.]