First African-American male to attend Indiana University
Indiana University still was located at its original Seminary Square campus when 20-year-old Harvey Young arrived in August of 1882 to begin college. Of the 166 members of the student body, Harvey was unique. He was the only African-American, the first of his race to attend IU. Harvey was the son of a laborer and a seamstress, the oldest of four children, all of whom attended school from an early age. Harvey was a graduate of Indianapolis High School, where he had been elected class orator for his commencement. He attended IU for three semesters in 1882 and 1883. Harvey then returned to Indianapolis and became a teacher in the Indianapolis School system. He taught school in Indianapolis for at least 10 years before moving to California, where he resided until his death. There are no records indicating that Young ever completed his college degree or visited Bloomington again. It would be 13 years after Harvey first set foot on campus that IU would have its first African-American graduate – Marcellus Neal in 1895.