Norfolk State University was founded in 1935. The college, brought
to life in the midst of the Great Depression, provided a setting
in which the youth of the region could give expression to their
hopes and aspirations. At its founding, it was named the Norfolk
Unit of Virginia Union University. In 1942, the college became the
independent Norfolk Polytechnic College, and two years later an
Act of the Virginia Legislature mandated that it become a part of
Virginia State College. The College was able to pursue an expanded
mission with even greater emphasis in 1956 when another Act of the
Legislature enabled the institution to offer its first baccalaureate
degree. The college separated from Virginia State College and became
fully independent in 1969. Subsequent legislative acts designated
the institution as a university in 1979 and authorized the granting
of graduate degrees. Today, the University is proud to be one of
the largest predominantly black institutions in the nation. Furthermore,
it is committed to pursuing its vital role of serving the people
of the Hampton Roads area, the state, and the nation.
The first Administration and Classroom Building is G.W.C. Brown
Hall (formerly Tidewater Hall).
A Nostalgic Look at the Beginning of Three Momentous Eras
