An overview of the development of traditionally black institutions (TBIs) from 1869 to 1970 is presented, along with trend data for all the institutions, and data for individual institutions. The information covers 105 colleges and universities designated in 1976 as TBIs by the National Center for Education Statistics. The TBIs are in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Of the 100 TBIs in existence in 1984, 57 were under private control and 43 were under public control. Sixteen of the public TBIs are land-grant institutions and receive federal funds; 45 of the 57 private TBIs are affiliated with a church. Attention is directed to: the location of the TBIs; enrollment in TBIs, degree awards and curriculum, black full-time undergraduate enrollment in TBIs and non-TBIs in the TBI states, 1970-1982; degree awards to blacks by TBIs and non-TBIs in the TBI states, 1976-1981; finance and federal funding for TBIs; employment by TBIs; facilities at TBIs; nonblack enrollments at TBIs; and the socioeconomic background of TBI students. For each TBI listed alphabetically by state, information for 1982 is provided on: control highest degree awarded, total students, percent full-time, percent black, total postbaccalaureate, number of full-time faculty; degrees/awards by level; and number of library volumes. (SW)