The Peace College was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute by a group of men within the Presbyterian Synod of North Carolina. The leading donation of $10,000 USD ($253 thousand in 2014 terms) came from William Peace, a prominent local merchant. Peace was a member of the second class of the University of North Carolina (class of 1800), and a longtime proponent of education as a benefactor of Raleigh Academy, a school primarily for boys.citation needed Additionally, Peace donated 8 acres (32,000 m2) for the campus site. Main Building, a red brick, white-columned Greek revival building was built between 1859�1862, but was commandeered by the Confederate States government, early in the Civil War to be used as an army hospital. The Main Building was designed and built by the Holt Brothers, Thomas and Jacob, who were notable builders from nearby Warrenton, NC. The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, delayed the opening of the school, but Peace Institute opened in January 1872. The first president was John Burwell, assisted by his son Robert. The Burwells, and his successor, James Dinwiddie, served the school until 1910, and were strong Presbyterians and descendants of old Virginia families. A member of the Women's College Coalition, Peace College is one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the United States. It was the second-oldest in North Carolina, predated only by Salem College (the first school for girls in the United States, founded in 1772).

William Peace University, founded in 1857, is a private, church affiliated, co-ed university. It's campus, a 21-acre grove of native oaks, is located in historic downtown Raleigh, within a few blocks of the state capitol, legislative building, state library, state symphony, a global learning center, and several museums. Raleigh is also one of the cities that comprise North Carolina's Research Triangle Park. William Peace University's mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university's graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation.

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