Oberlin College and the town of Oberlin were started together in 1833. In 1837, the college began a program of ; admitting female students. In 1835, the college began a policy of education. The Board of Trustees voted to allow black students at a time when there was only one black person living in the county. The first black student was a former slave, James Bradley from Cincinnati. The first building was Tappan Hall, named for Arthur Tappan of New York City. It was both a dormitory and classroom. In 1903 Memorial Arch was constructed. It was to honor those from Oberlin college who were killed in the Boxer Rebellion in China.