King Timeline

Character
Morehouse College was fertile ground for the young Martin Luther King Jr., who entered the College as an early-admission student in 1944 at the age of 15. It was on the grounds of the only college in the world for African American men where he met great social activists, thinkers, theologians and educators who became mentors.

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, the Morehouse president who is considered the architect of the College's reputation for excellence, proved to be an incomparable inspiration to King.

In his weekly chapel address and newspaper columns, Mays urged Morehouse men to be "sensitive to the wrongs, the sufferings and the injustices of society" and to "accept responsibility for correcting these ills."

Outstanding professors also shaped the man who would one day be one of the world's most renowned civil and human rights nonviolent leaders. As a sociology major, King was introduced to the problem of segregation by department chair Dr. Walter p. Chivers. Dr. George D. Kelsey, director of the School of religion, inspired him to think beyond his early fundamental instruction regarding the Bible and theology. The influence of these incredible men undoubtedly led King to abandon his pursuit of law and medicine and, instead, enter the ministry.

1929
Martin Luther King Jr. is born in Atlanta on January 15

1944
Martin Luther King Jr. enters Morehouse as an early-admission student at the age of 15

1948
Martin Luther King Jr. receives the bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Morehouse. He continues his education at the Crozer Theological Seminary in Boston, and later at Boston University's School of Theology

1957
King receives his first ever honorary degree from Morehouse, presented to him by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, the school's sixth president

1959
King delivers Commencement address at the College

1960
King teaches a senior philosophy class as a visiting professor

1965
King becomes a trustee at Morehouse and delivers the Convocation address after receiving Nobel Peace Prize

1966
King delivers keynote address in celebration of the College's 100th anniversary

1968
King's body is carried from Ebenezer Baptist Church to the Morehouse campus for final funeral service. Dr. Benjamin E. Mays delivers the eulogy

1970
Coretta Scott King is awarded an honorary degree from Morehouse

1978
The Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel, the world's largest religious memorial to King, is dedicated by Ambassador Andrew Young

1981
The chapel is renamed "The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel" in honor of King's international acclaim as a Nobel Peace Prize winner

1984
The King statue is unveiled on the King Chapel plaza