Lincoln University, located in Pennsylvania, holds a significant place in Black history as it is known as the United States' oldest degree-granting historically Black college and university (HBCU). It was founded in 1854 by John Miller Dickey, a Presbyterian minister, and his wife Sarah Emlen Cresson, as the Ashmun Institute. The institution was renamed Lincoln University in 1866 in honor of President Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln University has produced many notable Black leaders, scholars, and activists throughout its history. One of its most famous alumni is Langston Hughes, a renowned poet and leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Other notable alumni include Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, and Hildrus Poindexter, a pioneer in the field of tropical medicine.

Throughout its existence, Lincoln University has been dedicated to providing quality higher education to Black students and promoting academic excellence, leadership, and social responsibility. The university continues to be a respected institution in the African American community and a key contributor to Black history in the United States.