Honoring the Legacy: The Harry Bradshaw Matthews Impact on Oyaron Hill
With the renaming of the Belonging Center in September 2025 and the creation of a scholarship fund in his honor, Harry Bradshaw Matthews’ legacy continues to shape Hartwick College.
A retired associate dean, founding director of the Office of Intercultural Affairs and the U.S. Pluralism Center, and recipient of the College’s Doctor of Humane Letters in 2024, Matthews also founded the United States Colored Troops Institute (USCTI) in 1998.
Established to promote research, preservation and remembrance of Black soldiers who served in the Civil War, the USCTI created a space at Hartwick to elevate overlooked histories. Over its 22 years on campus, the Institute expanded its scope, fostering broader conversations about Black achievement, highlighting the contributions of Black women and emphasizing the importance of local history.
Publications and programming produced by the USCTI reflect Matthews’ enduring vision: that understanding the experiences and contributions of historically underrepresented people is essential to understanding the American story. As Hartwick observes Black History Month, the Institute’s work remains a powerful reminder of the impact one initiative can have on generations of learners.
Photos are part of the collection in Hartwick College Paul F. Cooper, Jr. Archives.
