Charlotte Forten Hall Dedicated At Salem State University

SALEM, MA — The first campus building at Salem State University named after an African-American woman was dedicated on Thursday with the official renaming of the newest resident hall as Charlotte Forten Hall.

Hall, a member of the class of 1856 and the school's first African-American graduate was honored for being an abolitionist, educator, writer, poet, translator and women's rights activist.

The new Charlotte Forten, previously called Viking Hall, houses about 350 residents.

"I'm most excited about people getting a chance to know who she was and what her story is," said SSU alum Michael Corley, who spearheaded the name change as a student trustee in 2022. "I'm extremely proud that Salem State has chosen to recognize her in this way."

Corley is now a constituent services and special projects assistant in the office of Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo.

Forten grew up in Philadelphia as a member of a prominent abolitionist family. She then traveled to Massachusetts where she attended the Salem Normal School — now Salem State University.

She became a teacher and author who wrote about the inequality she faced because of her race and gender.

"Charlotte is celebrated on our campus and her passion for social justice is woven into our curriculum and campus life today," SSU President John Keenan said. "I am grateful to Michael Corley for raising this matter and for the Board of Trustees' support of this naming in recognition of this important alumna."

Forten taught in the Salem Public Schools.

"As I scour through the Journals of Charlotte Forten Grimke and reflect on being introduced to who she was when I attended Salem State University years ago, I am extremely proud the university is honoring her by renaming the residence hall," said Shawn Newton, associate vice
president and dean of students. "Celebrating the achievements and contributions of trailblazing individuals like her is an important step toward fostering a more inclusive and diverse community, a value that is important to SSU."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)