Lincoln University
Missouri
1866
Formerly “Lincoln Institute”
The blue and white school colors of Lincoln Institute date from the late 1800s, but it is not known when they were officially chosen or by whom. The shade of the institute’s blue was originally a light blue, but this has varied over the years: light blue, bright azure blue, medium blue (“true” blue), and dark blue have all been used. Today the university primarily uses a dark blue (or navy blue).
The university’s contemporary shade of dark blue was adopted to honor the soldiers of the 62nd Colored Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, who founded the institute in 1866 after the end of the War Between the States. Most of these soldiers were from Missouri. Additional financial support was contributed by soldiers from the 65th Colored Infantry Regiment. All of these soldiers wore dark blue jackets and light blue trousers.