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University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


THE  THOMAS  J.  READY  JR.  FAMILY  FUND 


JOtattonal  Cpclopebta 

of 

Coloretr 


Editor-in-Chief 

CLEMENT  RICHARDSON 

President  of  Lincoln  Institute 
Jefferson  City,  Mo. 


ASSOCIATE  EDITORS 

Dr.  C.  V.  ROMAN,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Professor  of  Meharry  Medical  College. 

W.  T.  B.  WILLIAMS,  Hampton  Institute,  Va. 

Field  Agent  of  the  Jeannes  and  Slater  Funds. 

II.  M.  MINTON,  M.  D.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Board  of  Directors  Mercy  Hospital. 

SILAS  X.  FLOYD,  Augusta,  Ga. 
Principal  of  City  Schools. 

DR.  R.  E.  JONES,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Editor  of  South  Western  Christian  Advocate. 

DR.  A.  F.  OWENS,  Selma,  Ala. 

Dean  of  Theological  Dept.  Selma  University. 

FRED  MOORE,  New  York  City. 
Editor  New  York  Age. 


ADVISORY  BOARD 

EMMETT  J.  SCOTT,  Chairman, 

Secretary  of  Tuskegee   Institute,   Tuskegce 

Institute,  Ala. 

N.  B.  YOUNG,  Tallahassee,  Fla. 
President  of  A.  and  M.  College. 

DR.  J.  W.  E.  BOWEN,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Dean  of  Gammon  Theological  Seminary. 

J.  R.  E.  LEE,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Principal  of  Lincoln  High  School. 

J.  S.  CLARK,  Baton  Route,  La. 

President  of  Southern  University. 

DR.  M.  W.  DOGAN,  Marshall,  Texas. 
President  of  Wiley  University. 


Volume  One 


NATIONAL  PUBLISHING  COMPANY,  Inc. 

PUBLISHERS 

MONTGOMERY,  ALABAMA 
1919 


COPYRIGHT  1919 

NATIONAL  PUBLISHING  CO.,  Inc. 

MONTGOMERY,  ALA. 


i  B  a  ( 


1 
1 


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• 


•••iiiia  •  ••iii»  •  maiiiiBi'iiB1  •  ••••^ 

BOOKER  TALIAFERRO  WASHINGTON,  M.  A.  LL.  D. 


Foreword 


OR  the  past  20  yearn  Negroes  have  been  coming  to  the  front  so 
rapidly  that  to  list  all  whose  names  should  appear  in  a  work  of 
this  kind  would,  I  know,  be  impossible.  As  it  is  true  of  names 
and  biographies,  so  is  it  true  of  the  general  data  concerning  the  Negro 
race.  Almost  daily  something  happens  or  some  new  development  in 
the  race  records  itself  as  monumental  and  historical.  All  of  this,  I 
know  the  Editors  cannot  record;  yet  I  am  thoroughly  convinced,  from 
what  I  have  seen  of  the  Cyclopedia  of  the  Colored  Race,  that  this 
book  will  be  of  inestimable  good  to  both  the  white  people  and  the  black 
people  of  America. 

It  will  be  of  service  to  the  white  people  because  it  is  the  one  work 
which  gives  a  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  Negro  race,  past  and 
present. 

It  will  be  of  great  service  to  the  Negro  for  two  reasons.  In  the 
first  place  it  will  be  an  advocate  pleading  his  cause  by  setting  forth 
his  achievements  under  the  most  trying  circumstances.  It  will  show 
to  the  world  that  the  American  Negro  is  worthy  not  only  of  what  he 
has  achieved,  but  of  an  open  door  to  much  greater  achievements  and 
much  kindlier  treatment. 

In  the  second  place  it  will  teach  the  Negro  more  about  himself. 
No  Race,  white  or  black,  can  get  very  far  as  a  race  or  as  individuals 
without  a  goodly  amount  of  self-respect  and  -race  pride.  Every 
biography,  the  story  of  every  kind  of  property  ownership,  of  a  bank 
or  store,  owned  and  operated  properly,  will  be  a  source  of  great  inspi 
ration  to  Negroes  old  and  young.  Were  there  no  other  reason,  this 
one  of  valuable  racial  inspiration  would  more  than  justify  the  hard 
labor  and  careful  thought  that  the  publishers  and  editors  have  put 
into  this  work. 

Finally  the  public  can  rely  upon  the  honesty  and  integrity  of  the 
men  whose  names  appear  as  editors  of  the  Cyclopedia.  Here  and 
there  these  men  may  err  in  fact,  but  in  principle  I  do  not  believe  there 
is  a  man  on  the  list  who  can  be  doubted.  I  know  all  of  them  per 
sonally,  a  good  many  of  them  intimately.  The  editor  in  chief,  Mr. 
Clement  Richardson,  his  chief  advisor  Mr.  E.  J.  Scott,  Mr.  J.  R.  E. 
Lee,  Mr.  N.  B.  Young,  are  all  men  who  have  rendered  years  of  most 
valuable  services  on  the  staff  at  Tuskegee  Institute. 

I  commend  this  book  highly  to  all  Americans,  with  the  hope  that 
a  perusal  of  it  will  bring  a  better  understanding  and  a  warmer  spirit 
of  friendship  and  inspiration,  to  both  races. 


Principal    Tuskegee    Institute 


PREFACE 


Cyclopedia  of  the  Negro  race 
should,  it  seems  to  me,  have 
two  purposes — to  inform  and 
to  inspire.  The  ordinary  work 
of  the  kind  has  merely  the  task 
to  inform.  The  inspiration 
story,  the  tale  of  struggle  and  achievement,  is 
attended  to  by  the  daily  paper,  the  magazine, 
the  technical  journal  and  the  photographer. 
Hut  the  only  sure  hope  that  the  black  Ameri 
can  can  entertain  for  immediate  notice  comes 
through  committing  crime.  The  black  man 
who  assails  a  hen  roost,  one  who  perpetrates  a 
blind  tiger  or  commits  even  more  revolting 
crimes  is  pretty  certain  of  a  big  headline  and 
several  pages  in  the  daily  news,  while  he  who 
pays  his  taxes,  supports  his  family  and  lays 
away  a  few  shekels  or  invests  in  land,  houses 
or  brain  power,  passes  on  unheralded. 

Let  the  task  of  this  work  be  to  inform  of 
the  good  deeds.  Rapidly  the  Negro  himself  is 
casting  out  the  discriminating  hook,  with  the 
label,  "Who  is  he?"  written  in  pretty  bold  let 
ters.  Good  deeds,  a  life  of  service,  have  come 
to  be  a  passport  required  among  groups  of  col 
ored  Americans  as  well  as  among  groups  of 
other  people. 

We  have  still  also  our  weakness  toward 
education.  We  like  the  diploma  on  the  wall, 
the  cap  and  gown,  the  enriching  memories  of 
college  days.  He,  therefore,  who  would  make 
his  place  in  various  groups  must  carry  the 
stamp  of  merit  in  cultivation  of  intellect,  in  the 
acquisition  of  wealth,  in  deeds  of  good  for  the 
betterment  of  his  people. 

Therein  does  the  Clyclopedia  hope  to  fill 
what  assuredly  appears  to  be  a  crying  need. 
Negroes  over  the  country  do  not  know  one  an 
other,  neither  do  the  white  Americans  know 
what  their  darker  countrymen  are  doing  to 
make  a  stronger  and  nobler  race  and  to  make 
of  all  wholesome  citizens. 

As  a  rule,  however,  we  cannot  accomplish 
the  end  of  this  undertaking  by  cataloging  a 
few  dry,  abstract  facts.  Thus  to  set  down 
"John  Smith,  born  1884,  proprietor  of  a  drug 
store,  candidate  for  Grand  Secretary  of  K. 
P."  and  so  on,  would  not,  though  thoroughly 
informing,  give  all  that  we  want  the  Negro 
school  boy  and  the  Negro  school  girl  to  find 


A\  hen  they  go  to  search  for  our  names  in  the 
Cyclopedia.  We  want  them  to  look  there, 
both  young  and  old,  to  find  a  brief  succinct 
story, — one  that  while  it  informs,  gives  some 
measure  of  the  man,  some  measure  of  the  char 
acter  he  developed  while  becoming  the  pro 
prietor  of  a  drug  store,  or  candidate  for  Grand 
Secretary.  Here  is  the  editor  of  a  Negro  pa 
per.  How  did  he  get  his  education  in  gen 
eral?  How  did  he  get  his  particular  training 
for  the  craft?  How  many  nights,  as  Horace 
Greely  put  it,  did  he  "sleep  on  paper  and  eat 
ink" — or  support  his  family  on  unpaid  sub 
scriptions?  In  other  words,  we  want  the  Ne 
gro  boy  to  feel  inspired,  to  come  away  with  a 
thrill:  we  want  the  older  Negro  to  feel  that 
he  is  among  a  great  galaxy  of  black  folk,  great 
because  of  character,  of  education,  of  good 
ness. 

Thanks  to  the  breaking  of  a  new  day,  we 
now  have  a  great  many  friends  who  are  gen 
uinely  interested  in  our  progress.  They  want 
to  see  what  the  black  folks  have  done;  to  see 
the  fruit  of  their  labor  on  the  one  hand  and  to 
uphold  the  black  man's  cause  to  those  who  still 
doubt,  or  who  alas !  simply  do  not  know. 

As  we  feel  about  the  person  so  we  feel  about 
the  organization,  the  institution.  Here  is  a 
big  Negro  church  whose  night  classes,  rest 
rooms  and  the  like  owe  their  existence  to  the 
poor  mothers  who  sweat  over  the  wash  tub:  A 
Negro  school  whose  first  master  likely  as  not 
taught  in  the  rain,  or  waded  through  water 
and  mud  to  reach  his  classes.  Here  again  ic 
a  Negro  bank,  whose  first  president  begged 
deposits  from  door  to  door:  A  big  Negro  far 
mer  and  land  owner,  who  once  grubbed  his 
soil  or  chopped  wood  by  the  light  of  a  pine 
torch:  a  Negro  publisher  who  once  was  class 
ed  a  little  above  a  tramp:  A  Negro  insurance 
man,  who  was  once  a  cook:  A  big  Negro  physi 
cian  who  came  from  the  farm  or  from  the 
ranks  of  the  hotel  waiters.  It  is  this  we  would 
chronicle,  not  of  course  that  it  may  be  known 
merely,  but  that  there  may  be  more  and  bet 
ter  banks,  holier  churches,  finer  schools,  big 
ger  farmers,  a  larger  number  forging  forward 
from  the  ranks  typifying  the  best  in  the  race. 

To  have  undertaken  a  task  of  this  kind  was, 
in  the  eyes  of  many,  to  pursue  a  course  of  rash- 


ness,  if  not  madness.  The  territory,  it  was 
th.mght,  was  far  too  wide.  The  task  of  se 
lecting  and  rejecting  was  too  nice  and  too  haz 
ardous.  To  do  even  a  reasonable  amount  of 
justice  to  all  deserving  persons  was  impossible. 
And  so  why  risk  so  much? 

Now,  the  remarkable  feature  of  all  this  is, 
that  those  who  made  these  objections  were  cor 
rect.  Indeed,  each  point  in  itself  is  sufficient 
to  retard  one  from  undertaking  the  task.  Yet, 
there  was,  and  is,  at  least  an  equal  weight  on 
the  side  that  here  is  an  opportunity  to  render 
good  service,  service  of  help  on  the  one  hand 
and  of  enlightenment  on  the  other.  To  sit  by 
and  let  slip  so  fair  an  occasion  merely  because 
of  fear  per  se,  or  because  of  fear  of  failure 
seemed  as  criminal  as  to  try  and  even  fail. 

The  men  whose  lives  are  here  sketched,  the 
Institutions  and  Organizations  here  represent 
ed,  by  no  means  exhaust  the  list.  In  fact,  sume 
of  the  most  thrilling  tales  of  struggle  and  con 
quest  of  both  men  and  Organizations  are,  for 
one  reason  or  another,  not  here  at  all.  It  is 
doubtful,  in  many  instances,  if  they  can  be  se 
cured.  Indifference  to  fame,  a  shrinking 
from  publicity,  intense  engagement  in  one  kind 
of  work  or  another,  all  conspire  to  with-hold 
the  desired  information  from  the  public. 

The  Editor  has  drawn  freely  from  the  wj-it- 
ings  of  others.  Just  what  particular  work  he 
is  most  indebted  to,  he  is  at  a  loss  to  say.  He 
has  consulted  most  printed  matter  on  Negroes. 
He  is  therefore  grateful  to  Negro  Magazine 
Editors,  Negro  News  Paper  Editors,  and  to 
all  Authors  of  books  bearing  on  Negro  people. 
If  there  has  been  any  purloining,  such  has  not 
been  done  through  any  wish  to  arrogate  knowl 
edge  or  talent,  but  with  the  full  desire,  border 
ing,  it  is  hoped,  upon  enthusiasm,  to  send 
abroad  the  good  news  and  glad  tidings  that  the 
people  for  whom  so  many  good  tempers  have 


been  spoiled,  and  for  whom  so  much  blood  has 
been  shed,  are  not  being  redeemed  in  vain. 

One  of  the  happiest  phases  of  the  endeavor, 
both  to  the  publishers  and  to  the  Editor,  has 
been  the  quick  and  hearty  response  accorded 
by  the  leading  Negroes  and  those  White  peo 
ple  interested  in  Negroes  throughout  the 
country.  This  was  particularly  true  of  pro 
fessional  and  thinking  men  of  the  race; 
of  the  Ministers,  of  the  Doctors,  of  the 
Editors,  and  of  up-lift  workers.  So  numerous 
are  these  that  to  name  them  is  impossible. 
Again,  the  leading  schools  for  Negroes,  wheth 
er  in  the  hands  of  Colored  people  or  White, 
have  given  an  encouragement,  without  which 
the  work  could  hardly  have  progressed.  Tus- 
kegee,  Fisk,  Spelman,  and  scores  of  other  sach 
Institutions  gave  their  backing  in  every  sense 
un  reservedly. 

Two  men  must  be  spoken  of,  else  this  Cy 
clopedia  had  not  been — Dr.  R.  R.  Moton  and 
Hon.  Emett  J.  Scott.  The  former  was  com 
ing  into  the  principalship  of  Tuskegee  Insti 
tute  at  the  inception  of  this  work.  Without 
question,  without  hesitation,  he  not  only  gave 
his  endorsement,  but  took  the  occasion  when 
ever  approached  to  commend  the  undertaking, 
an  act  wholly  in  keeping  with  the  known  gen 
erous  traits  of  Dr.  Moton.  Upon  the  latter 
should  have  devolved  the  editing  of  this  work. 
While  he  occupies  the  place  of  Chairman  of 
the  Advisory  Board,  Mr.  Scott  is,  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  in  many  ways  the  Cyclopedia's  spon 
sor.  His  exceeding  wide  contact,  his  host  of 
warm  personal  friends  everywhere,  made  for 
the  Editor  and  the  Publishers  a  rose  covered 
path,  which  might  otherwise  have  been  one 
strewn  with  gravel,  if  not  with  thorns. 
CLEMENT  RICHARDSON, 

Lincoln  Institute, 
Jefferson  Citv,  Mo.,  Nov.  loth,  1918. 


Booker  Taliaferro  Washington,  M.  A.  LL.  D. 


OOKER  T.  WASHINGTON,  a 
model  of  efficiency,  was  born 
a  slave — but  he  lived  to  absorb 
so  much  of  the  white  man's 
civilization  that  he  taught  not 
only  Negroes  by  a  new  method, 
but  had  his  method  adopted  by  white  men 
as  well.  Dr.  Washington  attended  Hampton 
Institute,  earning  his  way  as  he  went.  In 
deed  all  that  Dr.  Washington  had  as  a  start  for 
his  most  remarkable  career,  was  a  determination 
to  better  himself  and  his  people.  He  lived  to 
found  and  serve  till  it  was  fully  established  with 
no  possible  chance  of  failure,  the  largest  institution 
for  Negroes  in  the  world — Tuskegee  Institute. 
This  school  has  become  a  model  for  schools  in  all 
parts  of  the  world.  Dr.  Washington  also  founded 
the  National  Negro  Business  League,  The  Inter 
national  Race  Congress,  and  was  instrumental  in 
the  founding  of  the  Southern  Education  Board. 

He  was  honored  by  Harvard  University  with  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts  and  was  given  the  degree 
of  LL.  D.  by  Dartmouth.  In  addition  to  these  he 
was  given  honary  degrees  by  a  number  of  the 
leading  Eastern  and  Southern  Colleges.  This  was 
done  as  a  recognition  of  his  work.  Dr.  Washing 
ton  never  ceased  to  study,  he  studied  at  home,  on 
the  trains,  on  the  long  trips  through  the  country. 
He  was  as  close  a  student  of  books  as  he  was  of 
men.  His  judgments  of  men  and  things  are  brought 
out  clearly  in  the  many  books  and  periodicals  of 
which  he  is  the  author. 

Booker  T.  Washington  who  died  at  his  home 
early  Sunday  morning,  Nov.  14,  1915,  was  a  big 
man  out  in  the  world ;  he  was  a  bigger  man  at 
home  among  his  teachers.  The  world  knew  him  for 
his  eloquence,  his  homely  wit,  his  tact,  his  shrewd 
diplomacy.  We  knew  him  at  home  for  his  broad 
sympathies,  for  his  kindness,  his  attention  to  little 
things,  his  infinite  power  of  planning  and  work 
ing.  His  two  last  acts,  one  abroad  and  one  at 
home,  are  strikingly  significant  of  his  balanced 
life.  His  last  act  before  the  world  was  to  make  a 
journey  to  deliver  an  address.  His  last  act  at  home 
was  to  repair  an  old  board  fence  which  he  had  un 
wittingly  ordered  torn  down. 

At  home  or  abroad  he  was  never  too  big  for  even 
the  humblest  man  to  approach.  Indeed  he  had  a 
sort  of  craze  for  bringing  together  the  rude  illit 
erate  and  the  more  cultivated  members  of  his  race. 
He  liked  to  assemble  the  rude  black  farmer,  the 
school  teacher,  the  lawyer  and  the  business  man. 
He  had  a  fondness  for  stopping  the  half  illiterate 
preacher,  for  getting  such  in  his  office  and  looking 
into  their  minds.  An  oldtime  mamniv,  or  an  old,  old 


Negro  farmer  in  his  audiences  seemed  to  inspire 
him  more  than  the  richest  and  most  distinguished. 
He  always  rushed,  as  it  were,  into  the  arms  of  such 
at.  the  closing  of  his  big  meetings.  Probably  no 
single  organization  with  which  he  ever  had  connec 
tion  gave  him  quite  the  genuine  satisfaction  he  got 
from  the  Annual  Farmers'  Conference.  He  de 
lighted  to  banter  these  old  fellows,  to  listen  to 
their  rude  speeches  and  homely  sayings.  Many  of 
his  own  stories  and  anecdotes  sprang  out  of  these 
meetings. 

But  he  was  no  mere  stag  acquaintance.  He  wel 
comed  all  such  to  his  fireside,  to  his  office,  his  pre 
cious  time,  his  helping  hand,  the  mother  protesting 
that  her  child  did  not  make  a  class  high  enough, 
the  student  smarting  under  some  misunderstanding 
with  a  teacher,  the  white  banker  or  white  farmer 
wishing  to  transact  business — all  had  free  access 
to  him.  To  be  sure  he  kept  a  closed  office,  but  this 
was  to  gain  dispatch,  not  to  exclude.  It  was  no 
uncommon  sight  to  find  a  vagrant  Negro  preacher, 
a  distinguished  visitor,  a  Negro  farmer,  a  teacher 
or  two,  and  a  few  students  all  waiting  to  see  him. 
.  Reports  say  that  the  doctors  wondered  how  he 
lived  so  long.  The  more  is  the  marvel  when  one 
thinks  of  the  burdens  he  bore.  Having  to  raise 
thousands  of  dollars  to  provide  food,  heat,  com 
fortable  lodgings  for  1500  students,  he  neverthe 
less  kept  his  finger  on  the  smallest  details.  Now  he 
was  dictating  a  letter  asking  for  funds,  the  next 
moment  he  would  be  summoning  a  workman  or 
dictating  a  note  about  the  weeds  in  a  plot  of 
ground,  about  a  hedge,  or  a  broken  window  pane. 
One  moment  he  would  be  dictating  a  speech  for 
some  national  occasion,  the  next  he  would  be  ad 
vising  a  means  of  disposing  of  "old  Mollie,"  one 
of  the  cows  of  the  dairy  herd,  or  "old  Phil,"  a  lame 
mule.  So  it  was  with  the  eggs  and  chickens  from 
the  poultry  yard,  the  sweU  potatoes,  the  peaches, 
the  corn,  oats,  pigs,  the  power  plant,  the  lighting 
system,  the  way  a  new  teacher  was  conducting  a 
class  in  arithmetic  or  grammar.  And  this  thing 
he  kept  up  from  day  to  day,  whether  he  was  in 
New  York  or  Alabama.  I  myself  have  again  and 
again,  during  the  seven  years  in  which  I  have  had 
charge  of  the  English  work  at  Tuskegee  Institute 
gotten  notes  making  suggestions  about  a  paragraph 
or  a  sentence  in  some  student's  talk  or  commence 
ment  address. 

There  was  only  one  way  under  the  sun  he  could 
do  this.  He  regulated  his  life  to  the  very  second. 
He  husbanded  time  most  miserly,  though  he  was 
prodigal  with  his  energies.  He  had  breakfasted 
and  was  out  on  horseback  by  7:30  (he  fancied  the 
big  iron  gray  pacer).  His  hour's  ride  was  in  a 


Sense  recreative ;  in  another  sense,  it  was  work : 
for  he  inspected  the  farm,  the  orchard,  the  shops, 
the  school's  supplies,  taking  notes  and  giving  di 
rection.  If  he  rode  out  into  the  country,  he  usually 
returned  with  suggestions  about  a  torn-off  blind 
on  a  Negro  church  or  the  neglected  garden  of  a 
Negro  schoolhouse.  All  the  time  he  was  stopping 
teachers  and  workmen  by  the  way,  giving  them 
new  tasks,  requesting  them  to  come  to  his  office 
at  a  certain  hour. 

By  half  past  eight  he  was  in  his  office.  For  a 
certain  time  he  read  and  dictated  letters.  In  the 
meantime  the  office  boys  were  flying  over  the 
grounds  and  ringing  the  telephone  bells,  summon 
ing  Council  members,  the  heads  of  departments,  to 
a  committee  meeting,  a  meeting  on  the  budget,  on 
Commencement,  on  a  new  building,  on  the  actions 
of  a  student  or  a  teacher.  Up  to  the  last  second 
he  would  keep  his  mind  fixed  on  his  reading  or 
correspondence.  He  then  took  up  the  business  in 
hand,  dispensed  with  it  and  went  back  to  an  article 
on  teaching  or  on  Negro  homes  or  Negro  business. 
If  he  was  slated  to  make  a  trip  in  a  buggy  or  car 
he  kept  his  work  until  the  clock  was  on  the  second. 
Then  he  stepped  into  the  conveyance  and  was  gone. 
Woe  unto  him  who  brought  a  slow  vehicle.  Even 
so  he  would  be  at  work.  Between  one  stop  and 
another  on  a  speaking  tour  he  would  sketch  a  half 
dozen  plans— for  articles,  for  grading  a  lawn,  for 
remodeling  a  building,  for  rendering  somebody  a 
service.  Always  and  everywhere  his  plans  incul 
cated  this— to  serve  somebody,  to  make  somebody 
happier.  It  might  be  by  giving  a  body  something ; 
it  was  most  often  by  giving  one  something  to  do. 

This  having  things  to  hand,  which  to  some  minds, 
might  appear  at  times  extravagant  was  the  very 
essence  of  his  efficiency,  as  it  is  of  any  man's  effi 
ciency.  The  change  of  clothing  was  usually  ready 
to  hand.  He  had  push  bells  and  telephones  in  his 
office,  and  push  bells  and  telephones  in  his  study 
at  home.  Wherever  and  whenever  he  went  about 
the  grounds  an  office  boy,  sometimes  a  stenograph 
er,  followed  at  his  elbow  to  summon  a  workman  or 
to  take  down  a  note  on  some  weak  point  in  work 
manship.  His  pet  diversion  was  hunting.  In  the 
fall  he  would  frequently  steal  an  hour  and  run  out 
to  the  woods.  To  save  time  he  kept  a  hunting  out 
fit,  gun  cartridges,  etc.,  at  his  home  and  one  at 
the  work  place  of  the  young  man  who  usually  ac 
companied  him,  so  that  whenever  the  hunting  time 
came  he  would  not  loose  an  hour  in  getting  ready. 
To  some  this  would  be  extravagance.  To  one 
whose  time  is  precious  it  is  the  highest  economy. 

With  this  practice  of  having  things  to  hand  he 
coupled  the  habit  of  doing  the  thing  then.  His  key 
word  was  "AT  ONCE."     Alas!  how     often     Tus- 
kegee  teachers  have  seen  that  notice:     Mr    - 
will  see  the  Principal  "at  once."    The  enr;-igemen1 


might  not  last  one  third  the  time  it  required  you 
to  walk  to  the  office ;  but  he  attended  to  *he  thing 
there.  The  errand  boy  gets  the  workman  there. 
The  stenographer  took  down  the  note  on  the  spot. 
He  went  hunting  then;  he  mr.de  his  address  then; 
he  signed  his  letters  then.  Each  minute  in  i.he 
day  seemed  to  have  been  for  him  an  individual  par 
ticle,  to  be  dealt  with  and  settled  by  the  time  the 
next  one  ticked  around.  For  the  last  year  or  so 
he  pushed  this  habit  to  the  extreme,  calling  for 
teachers,  workmen,  council  members,  who  were 
the  advisory  board,  at  midnight,  at  daybreak,  at 
the  meal  hour.  Several  times  Mrs.  Washington 
protested,  seeking  to  restrain  him.  With  the  genius 
of  premonition  he  would  exclaim,  "Let  me  alone. 
Let  me  do  it  now.  I  don't  know  where  I'll  be  to 
morrow." 

Some  local  joker  tells  this  story  which,  though 
likely  enough  untrue,  illustrates  this  habit  of  at 
tending  to  one  thing  at  the  moment.  One  after 
noon  in  the  fall  while  stealing  his  hour's  hunt  he 
chanced  to  cross  a  part  of  the  school's  farm  in  order 
to  reach  the  woods.  The  name  of  the  Director  of 
the  farming  industries  is  Bridgeforth,  that  of  the 
young  man  who  went  hunting  with  Dr.  Washing 
ton,  Foster.  Just  as  the  Tuskegean  and  Foster  en 
tered  the  woods,  a  squirrel  leaped  from  the  ground 
and  went  scrambling  up  a  tree.  Quick  as  a  spark 
Dr.  Washington  leveled  his  gun.  At  the  same  mo 
ment  some  thought  about  improving  the  farm  ev 
idently  flashed  across  his  mind.  Relaxing  his  gun 
the  slightest  bit,  he  turned  to  the  young  man  and 
said: 

"Foster,  get  me  Mr.  Bridgeforth  at  once." 

Probably  few  Americans,  white  or  black,  have 
had  a  higher  sense  of  duty  than  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington.  It  mattered  little  who  imposed  the  task 
or  whether  it  was  great  or  small,  the  thing  was 
promised  and  must  be  done.  Many  of  us  here  at 
Tuskegee  feel  that  nothing  but  this  sense  of  duty 
backed  by  a  tremendous  will,  has  kept  him  alive 
for  the  last  few  years.  A  year  or  so  ago  we  were 
holding  our  Annual  Armstrong  Memorial  exercises. 
Dr.  Washington  had  said  that  he  would  speak  at 
this  exercise,  as  he  always  did  when  he  was  at 
home.  Early  in  the  afternoon  of  the  appointed 
day  he  fell  ill  with  a  throbbing  headache  and  his 
stomach  in  a  turmoil.  The  doctor  put  him  to  bed 
and  ordered  him  to  remain  there.  At  eight  o'clock 
that  night  he  appeared  and  made  his  address, 
though  he  collapsed  in  the  ante-room  immediately 
afterwards. 

Finally,  just  as  he  willed  to  do,  to  hold  on,  he 
could  will  to  let  go. 

He  was  great  in  big  things  and  in  little  things; 
great  in  the  world  and  at  home ;  but  he  was  great 
est  in  the  assertion  of  his  tremendous  will. 


FREDERICK   DOUGLASS 

REDERICK  DOUGLASS,  Orator 
and  Statesman,  born  a  slave,  rose 
to  be  one  of  the  great  men  of  his 
day.  whose  name  will  live  in 
American  history.  He  was  born 
in  Maryland,  February  14.  1817. 
Mis  name  at  first  was  Frederick  Augustus  Wash 
ington  Baily ;  he  changed  it,  being  hunted  as  a  fu 
gitive  slave,  to  Douglass.  He  chose  Douglass  be 
cause  of  his  facination  for  this  character  as  por 
trayed  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  a  character  which  the 
ex-slave  in  his  grand  manner  much  resembled. 

In  his  childhood  he  saw  little  of  his  mother,  noth 
ing  of  his  father.  The  mother  worked  on  a  planta 
tion  twelve  miles  from  her  son  and  could  only  see 
him  by  making  the  journey  on  foot  and  after  work 
time.  Whatever  training  the  boy  received  up  to 
the  age  of  eight,  he  received  it  from  his  grand 
mother. 

At  the  age  of  eight  years  he  was  put  under  Aunt 
Katy,  who  was  cruel,  often  depriving  the  little  fel 
low  of  food.  On  one  occasion  he  went  to  bed  so 
hungry  that  when  all  the  household  were  asleep 
he  rose  and  began  to  parch  and  eat  corn.  In  the 
midst  of  the  corn-parching,  his  mother  came  in, 


bringing  a  ginger  cake,  which  made  him  feel  that 
he  was  "somebody's  child."  This  was  the  last  time 
he  saw  his  mother. 

Douglass  was  sent  to  Baltimore,  where  after  a 
time  he  learned  to  read,  being  taught  by  his  new 
mistress,  Mrs.  Auld.  When  the  master  discovered 
what  the  mistress  had  done,  he  set  a  watch  over 
Douglass  lest  he  should  escape.  This  he  finally  did, 
though  he  was  long  sought  after  and  had  one  time 
to  go  to  England  to  avoid  capture.  He  was  finally 
bought  and  set  free. 

He  gave  his  life  as  a  freedman  to  liberating  his 
brethren  and  to  improving  the  ex-slave  condition 
after  freedom  came.  He  served  during  his  life 
time  as  United  States  Marshall  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  as  Recorder  of  Deeds  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  and  as  Consul  General  to  the  Republic 
of  Hayti.  He  was  the  first  Negro  to  hold  these 
offices.  He  was  much  traveled  and  was  admired  as 
an  orator  and  as  a  man  wherever  he  went. 

A  few  of  the  sayings  of  Douglass  follow: 

"Emancipation  has  liberated  the  land  as  well  as 
the  people." 

"Neither  the  slave  nor  his  master  can  abandon  all 
at  once  the  deeply  entrenched  errors  and  habits  of 
centuries." 

"There  is  no  work  that  men  are  required  to  do, 
which  they  cannot  better  and  more  economically 
do  with  education  than  without  it." 

"Muscle  is  mighty  but  mind  is  mightier,  and 
there  is  no  field  for  the  exercise  of  mind  other  than 
is  found  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soul." 

"As  a  race  we  have  suffered  from  two  very  op 
posite  causes,  disparagement  on  the  one  hand  and 
undue  praise  on  the  other." 

"An  important  question  to  be  answered  by  evi 
dence  of  our  progress  is:  Whether  the  black  man 
will  prove  a  better  master  to  himself  than  the  white 
man  was  to  him." 

"Accumulate  property.  This  may  sound  to  you 
like  a  new  gospel.  No  people  can  ever  make  any 
social  and  mental  improvement  whose  exertions  are 
limited.  Poverty  is  our  greatest  calamity — On  the 
other  hand,  property,  money,  if  you  please,  will  pro 
duce  for  us  the  only  condition  upon  which  any  peo 
ple  can  rise  to  the  dignity  of  genuine  manhood." 

"Without  property  there  can  be  no  leisure.  With 
out  leisure  there  can  be  no  invention,  without  in 
vention  there  can  be  no  progress." 

"We  can  work  and  by  this  means  we  can  retrieve 
all  our  losses." 

"Knowledge,  wisdom,  culture,  refinement,  man 
ners,  are  all  founded  on  work  and  the  wealth  which 
work  brings." 

"In  nine  cases  out  of  ten  a  man's  condition  is 
worse  by  changing  his  location.  You  would  better 
endeavor  to  remove  the  evil  from  your  door  than 
to  move  and  leave  it  there." 


Alexander  Dumas,  Novelist  and  Play-wright 


HACKERY,  the  English  Novelist, 
called  Dumas  "Alexander  the 
Great."  Like  Alexander  Pushkin 
of  Russia,  the  great  French  ro 
mancer  is  the  third  descent  from 
a  Negro,  only  in  this  instance 
the  line  begins  with  the  grandmother  rather  than 
the  grandfather.  Dumas'  grandfather,  who  was  a 
marquis,  married  a  Creole  of  Haiti.  The  author's 
father  was  a  dark  giant  of  a  man ;  one  of  the  heroic 
generals  of  the  army  of  Napoleon. 

The  general  married  the  daughter  of  an  inn 
keeper.  From  this  union  the  novelist  was  born  in 
1802.  The  father  died  while  the  son  was  four 
years  old.  Having  but  small  means,  Alexander 
soon  found  himself  in  Paris  seeking  his  fortune. 
For  a  time  he  attached  himself  to  the  Duke  of  Or 
leans  as  clerk.  Like  Voltaire,  Hugo  and  many 
other  French  men  of  letters,  Dumas  sought  to  make 
his  way  as  a  play-wright.  In  this  he  succeeded 
modestly,  having  presented  successfully,  Henry  III, 
Tower  of  Nelse  and  several  other  plays.  But  Du 
mas'  claim  to  fame,  a  claim  which  he  holds  undis- 
putably,  rests  upon  his  romances,  "The  three  Mus- 
kateers,"  "The  Count  of  Monte  Cristo,"  "Twenty 
Years  After,"  and  scores  of  others.  The  critics  call 
him,  "Capriceius  prolix,  fertile  puissant,"  as  having 
a  "rare  mind,  rare  attention,  subtle  spirit,  quick 
comprehension." 

The  following  is  taken  from  his  writings : 

FATALITY. 

Scarcely  had  D'Artagnan  uttered  these  words 
than  a  ringing  and  sudden  noise  was  heard  resound 
ing  through  the  felucca,  which  now  became  dim  in 
the  obscurity  of  the  night. 

"That,  you  may  be  sure,"  said  the  Gascon,  "means 
something." 

They  then,  at  the  same  instant,  perceived  a 
large  lantern  carried  on  a  pole  appear  on  the  deck, 
denning  the  forms  of  shadows  behind  it. 

Suddenly  a  terrible  cry,  a  cry  of  dispair,  was 
wafted  through  the  space,  and  as  if  the  shrieks  of 
anguish  had  driven  away  the  clouds,  the  veil  which 
hid  the  moon  was  cleared  away,  and  the  gray  sails 
and  dark  shrouds  of  the  felucca  were  plainly  visi 
ble  beneath  the  silvery  light. 

Shadows  ran,  as  if  bewildered,  to  and  fro  on  the 
vessel,  and  mournful  cries  accompanied  these  delir 
ious  walkers.  In  the  midst  of  these  screams  they 
saw  Mordaunt  upon  the  poop,  with  a  torch  in 
hand. 

The  agitated  figures,  apparently  wild  with  terror, 


consisted  of  Groslow,  who,  at  the  hour  fixed  by 
Mordaunt,  had  collected  his  men,  and  the  sailors. 
Groslow,  after  having  listened  at  the  door  of  the 
cabin  to  hear  if  the  musketeers  were  still  asleep, 
had  gone  down  into  the  cellar,  convinced  by  their 
silence  that  they  were  all  in  a  deep  slumber.  Then 
Mordaunt  had  run  to  the  train — impetuous  as  a 
man  who  is  excited  by  revenge  and  full  of  confi 
dence — as  are  those  whom  God  blinds — he  had  set 
fire  to  the  wick  of  niter. 

All  this  while,  Groslow  and  his  men  were  assem 
bled  on  the  deck. 

"Haul  up  the  cable,  and  draw  the  boat  to  us," 
said  Groslow. 

One  of  the  sailors  got  down  the  side  of  the  ship, 
seized  the  cable,  and  drew  it — it  came  without  the 
least  resistance. 

"The  cable  is  cut!"  he  cried,  "no  boat!" 

"How!  no  boat!"  exclaimed  Groslow;  "it  is  im 
possible." 

"  'Tis  true,  however,"  answered  the  sailor ; 
"there's  nothing  in  the  wake  of  the  ship,  besides 
here's  the  end  of  the  cable." 

"What's  the  matter?"  cried  Mordaunt,  who  is 
coming  up  out  of  the  hatchway,  rushed  to  the 
stern,  waving  his  torch. 

"Only  that  our  enemies  have  escaped — they  have 
cut  the  cord,  and  gone  off  with  the  boat." 

Mordaunt  bounded  with  one  step  to  the  cabin, 
and  kicked  open  the  door. 

"Empty!"  he  exclaimed;  "the  infernal  demons!" 

"We  must  pursue  them,"  said  Groslow ;  "they 
can't  be  gone  far,  and  we  will  sink  them,  passing 
over  them." 

"Yes,  but  the  fire,"  ejaculated  Mordaunt;  "I  have 
lighted  it." 

"Ten  thousand  devils !"  cried  Groslow,  rushing  to 
the  hatchway ;  "perhaps  there  is  still  time  to  save 
us." 

Mordaunt  answered  only  by  a  terrible  laugh, 
threw  his  torch  into  the  sea,  and  plunged  in  after 
it.  The  instant  Groslow  put  his  foot  upon  the 
hatchway  steps,  the  ship  opened  like  the  crater  of 
a  volcano.  A  burst  of  flames  rose  toward  the  skies 
with  an  explosion  like  that  of  a  hundred  cannon ; 
the  air  burned,  ignited  by  flaming  embers,  then  the 
frightful  lightning  disappeared,  the  brands  sank, 
one  after  another,  into  the  abyss,  where  they  were 
extinguished,  and,  save  for  a  slight  vibration  in  the 
air,  after  a  few  minutes  had  lapsed,  one  would  have 
thought  that  nothing  had  happened. 

Only — the  felucca  had  disappeared  from  the  sur 
face  of  the  sea.  and  Groslow  and  his  three  sailors 
were  consumed. 


10 


Alexander  Pushkin,  Father  of  Russian  Poetry 


LEXANDER  PUSHKIN  is  called 
the  "Russian  Byron,"  "demigod 
of  Russian  Verse,"  "father  of 
Russian  poetry,"  "the  laureate  of 
Czar  Nicholas."  The  Pushkins 
had  long  been  about  the  rulers  of 
Russia  as  cited  by  Alexander  in  "My  Pedigree." 
The  first  of  the  line  the  grandfather  of  the  poet 
was  an  Abyssinian,  who  was  stolen  as  a  slave  from 
Constantinople.  The  grandsire  was  not  only 
adopted  by  Peter  the  Great,  but  given  a  title  of 
nobility  and  rank  of  General. 

The  poet  was  proud  of  his  African  blood, which 
asserted  itself  unmistablv   in   the   curl  of  his   hair 


and  the  shape  of  his  lips.  He  regarded  himself  as 
a  drop  of  African  blood  on  Arctic  soil.  He  was 
born  in  1799.  During  his  childhood  an  old  nurse  be 
guiled  him  with  many  legends  and  fables  of  Rus 
sia.  When  he  was  twenty  these  legends  brought 
forth  fruit  in  his  first  great  poem,  "Ruslan  and 
Liudmila."  His  democratic  ideas,  which  encouched 
in  an  "Ode  to  Liberty,"  soon  made  him  an  exile 
from  home  and  from  Czar  Nicholas  I.  However, 
the  Czar  loved  the  poet  and  speedily  pardoned  him. 
He  died  quite  young,  having  written  not  only  poet 
ry  that  survives,  but  many  prose  tales.  It  is  said 
that  every  youth  in  Russia  knows  his  poetry  by 
heart. 


MY  PEDEGREE. 
IV.  66. 


With  scorning  laughter  at  a  fellow  writer, 
In  a  chorus  the  Russian  scribes 
With  name  of  aristocrat  me  chide : 
Just  look,  if  please  you.  .  .  nonsense  what! 
Court  Coachman  not  I,  nor  assessor, 
Nor   am    I    nobleman   by   cross ; 
No  academician,  nor  proffer, 
I'm  simply  of  Russiana  citizen. 


When  treason  conquered  was  and  falsehood, 

And  the  rage  of  storms  of  war, 

When  the  Romanoffs  upon  the  throne 

The  nation  called  by  its  Chart— 

We   upon   it   laid  our   hands ; 

The  martyr's  son  then  favored  us  ; 

Time  was,  our  race  was  prized, 

But  I  .  .  am  but  a  citizen  obscure. 


Well    I    know    the    times'   corruption, 
And  surely,  not  gain  say  it  shall  I : 
Our  nobility  but  recent  is : 
The   more   recent   it,   the   more   noble 
But   of   humble    races    a   chip, 
And,  God  be  thanked,  not  alone 
Of  ancient  Lords  am  scion  I ; 
Citizen  I  am,  a  citizen ! 


'tis. 


Our   stubborn   spirit   us   tricks   has  played 

Most  irrepressible  of  his  race, 

With  Peter  my  sire  could  not  get  on ; 

And  for  this  was  hung  by  him. 

Let  his  example  a  lesson  be ; 

Not  contradiction  loves  a  ruler, 

Not  all  can  be  Prince  Dolgorukys, 

Happy  only  is  the  simple  citizen. 


Not  in  cakes  my  grandsire  traded, 
Not  a  prince  was  newly-baked  he ; 
Not  at  church  sang  he  in  choir, 
Nor  polished  he  the  boots  of  Tsar ; 
Was  not  escaped  a  soldier  he 
From  the  German  powdered  ranks ; 
How  then  aristocrat  am  I  to  be? 
God  be  thanked,  I  am  but  a  citizen. 


My  grandfather,  when  the  rebels  rose 

In  the  palace  of  Peterhof, 

Like   Munich,   faithful  he   remained 

To  the  fallen   Peter  Third ; 

To  honor  came  then  the  Orloffs, 

But  my  sire  into  fortress,  prison, — 

Quiet  now  was  our  stern  race, 

And   I   was  born  merely — citizen. 


My  grandsire  Radshaa  in  warlike  service 
To  Alexander  Nefsky  was  attached, 
The  Crowned  Wrathful,  Fourth  Ivan, 
Mis  descendents  in  his  ire  had  spared. 
About  the  Tsars  the   Pushkins  moved; 
And  more  than  one  acquired  renoun, 
When  against  the  poles  battling  was 
Of  Nizhny  Novgorod  the  citizen  plain. 


Beneath  my  crested  seal 
The  roll  of  family  charts  I've  kept ; 
Not  running  after  magnates  new, 
My  pride  of  blood  I  have  subdued ; 
I'm  but  an  unknown  singer 
Simply   Pushkin,  not   Moussin, 
My  strength  is  mine,  not  from  court: 
I  am  a  writer,  a  citizen. 


11 


PAUL  LAWRENCE  DUNBAR 

AUL  LAWRENCE  DUNBAR, 
Poet,  is  well  known,  as  ought  to 
be,  to  all  Negroes.  His  songs  in 
Jialect  and  in  plain  English  are 
known  and  quoted  by  all  English 
speaking  people.  Many  of  the 
pieces  have  been  set  to  music  and  are  sung  with 
remarkable  pathos.  "Poor  Li'l  Lamb,"  and  "Seen 
Mali  Lady  Home  Las'  Night,"  to  quote  two  of  the 
well  known  songs,  are  applauded  by  all  grades  of 
audiences  throughout  the  land. 

Paul  Lawrence  Dunbar  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
in  1872.  He  was  named  Paul  after  the  famous  apos 
tle  in  the  scripture  and  Lawrence  after  a  friend  of 
his  parents.  The  poet  is  said  to  have  written  his 
first  verse  when  he  was  seven  years  old.  Paul  was 
a  very  bashful  boy,  but  he  had  courage  enough  to 
take  his  poems  to  his  teacher,  who  encouraged  him. 
His  favorite  studies  were,  grammar,  spelling  and 
literature.  He  edited  the  High  School  Times,  a 
monthly  school  paper  in  the  Steel  High  School  of 
Dayton,  where  Dunbar  was  a  pupil  and  from  which 
he  was  graduated  with  honors  in  1891. 

Dunbar  went  out  from  school  to  earn  his  bread 


as  best  he  may.  His  father  had  died,  the  support  of 
home  therefore  fell  on  the  boy,  who  was  none  too 
sound  in  health.  He  had  aided  his  mother  with  the 
washing  and  had  done  such  odd  jobs  as  he  could 
find.  All  he  could  find  as  a  graduate  from  the  High 
School  was  the  part  as  elevator  boy  in  the  Callahan 
Building  of  Dayton.  But  he  made  the  best  of  it, 
using  every  spare  moment  to  study  or  to  write. 

He  soon  triumphed  over  his  hardships,  publishing 
his  poems  in  the  best  magazines  of  the  country,  ap 
pearing  before  the  most  select  audiences  both  in 
this  country  and  in  England  and  numbering  among 
his  friends  such  persons  as  James  Whitcomb  Riley, 
William  Dean  Howell,  John  Hay,  William  McKin- 
ley,  Theodore  Roosevelt,  R.  R.  Moton,  and  Book 
er  T.  Washington. 

The   following  are  favorite  lines : 

LITTLE  BROWN  BABY 

Little  brown  baby  wif  spa'kliif  eyes, 

Come  to  yo'  pappy  an'  set  on  his  knee 
What  you  been  doin'  suh — makin'  san.'  pies? 

Look  at  dat  bib — you's  ez  du'ty  ez  me. 
Look  at  dat  mouf — dat's  merlasses,  I  bet ; 

Come  hyeah,  Maria,  an'  wipe  off  his  han's. 
Bees  gwine  to  ketch  you  an'  eat  you  up  yit, 

Bein'  so  sticky  an'  sweet — goodness   lan's ! 

Little  brown  baby  wif  sparkin'  eyes, 

Who's  papyy's  darlin'  an'  who's  pappy's  chile? 
Who  is  it  all  de  day  nevah  once  tries 

Fu'  to  be  cross,  er  once  looses  dat  smile? 
Whah  did  you  git  dem  teef?     My  you's  a  scamp! 

Wah  did  dat  dimple  come  f 'om  in  yo'  chin  ? 
Pappy  do'n  know  yo' — I  b'lieves  you's  a  tramp ; 

Mammy,  dis  hyeah's  some  ol'  straggler  got  in ! 

Let's  th'ow  him  outen  de  do'  in  de  san', 

We  don'  want  stragglers  a-layin'  'round  hyeah ; 
Let's  gin  him  'way  to  de  big  buggah-man  ; 

I  know  he's  hidin'  erroun'  hyeah  right  neah. 
Buggah-man,  buggah-man,  come  in  de  do', 

Hyeah's  a  bad  boy  you  kin  have  fu'  to  eat. 
Mammy  an'  pappy  don'  want  him  no  mo', 

Swaller  him  down  f'om  his  haid  to  his  feet ! 

Dah,  now,  I  t'ought  dat  you'd  hug  me  up  close, 

Go  back,  buggah,  you  shan't  have  dis  boy. 
He  ain't  no  tramp  ner  no  straggler,  of  co'se ; 

He's  pappy's  pa'dner  an'  playmate  an'  joy. 
Come  to  yo'  pallet  now — go  to  yo'  res'; 

Wisht  you  could  allus  know  ease  and  cleah  skies ; 
VVisht  you  could  stay  jes'  a  chile  on  my  breas'— 

Little  brown  baby  wif  spa'klin  eyes! 

— Paul  Lawrence  Dunbar. 


12 


Sojbuner  Truth,  Emancipation  Lecturer 


HE  NEGRO  RACE  has  developed 
some  unique  characters  who  stand 
out  conspicuous  in  their  line  of 
endeavor.  Not  the  least  among1 
these  is  Sojourner  Truth  a  wo 
man  -of  considerable  native  ability 
though  an  illiterate. 

She  was  born  a  slave  in  Ulser  County,  N.  Y., 
about  the  year  1775  and  died  in  Battle  Creek,  Mich 
igan,  Nov.  26th,  1883.  She  was  held  in  slavery 
even  after  its  abolition  in  the  same  State.  In  1827 
she  escaped  from  her  owner  and  went  to  New  York 
City  and  from  thence  to  Northampton,  Mass.,  and 
then  to  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Like  Joan  of  Arc,  she  claimed  that  she  was  call 
ed  to  her  work  through  a  vision. 

Her  mother  was  brought  from  Africa,  but  her 
father  was  a  mixture  of  Negro  and  Indian  blood. 

The  early  training  of  her  mother  influenced  her 
entire  after  life.  She  taught  her  the  value  of  hon 
esty  and  truth  and  directed  her  mind  to  contem 
plate  God  as  a  Father  and  friend  to  whom  she 
could  go  in  confidence  and  trust. 

Naturally  Isabella  (her  slave  name)  developed  a 
very  religious  trait. 

She  learned  the  true  meaning  of  prayer  and  ap 
proached  it  in  the  spirit  of  a  confident  telling  her 
troubles  to  God  and  invoking  his  aid. 

One  day  she  thought  that  she  met  God  face  to 
face  and  it  so  startled  her  that  she  exclaimed :  "O 
God,  I  did  not  know  you  as  you  was  so  big !" 

She  changed  her  name  from  Isabella,  the  one 
given  her  by  her  master,  to  Sojourner,  claiming 
that  the  Lord  had  bestowed  it  upon  her  in  a  vision 
and  added  the  appellation  "Truth"  because  that 
was  the  substance  of  the  message  she  felt  impell 
ed  to  declare  to  men. 

From  the  issue  of  her  marriage  Sojourner  be 
came  the  mother  of  five  children,  the  father  dying 
when  they  were  quite  young,  left  their  care  and 
support  to  her. 

The  following  incident  tends  to  show  that  the 
mother  instinct  was  strong  in  her. 

One  of  her  sons  was  sold  into  slavery  in  Ala 
bama  and  she  was  anxious  to  find  him  so  she 
sought  council  of  God.  Now  simple  and  child 
like  her  plea,  "Now,  God,  help  me  get  my  son.  If 
you  were  in  trouble  as  I  am,  and  I  could  help  you, 
as  you  can  help  me,  think  I  wouldn't  do  it?  Yes, 
God,  you  know  I  would  do  it.  I  will  never  give 
you  peace  'till  you  do,  God !"  and  then  taking  it 
for  granted  that  she  would  receive  the  required 
help,  she  continued,  "Lord,  what  would  them  have 
me  do?"  the  answer  coming,  "Go  out  of  the  city." 
Not  knowing  the  direction  she  should  take,  she 


made  further  inquiry  and  received  instruction  to 
"Go  East." 

Accordingly  on  the  morning  of  the  first  day  of 
June,  1845,  with  a  few  clothes  in  her  bag,  a  few 
shillings  and  a  basket  of  food,  she  left  the  city  and 
turned  her  face  towards  the  rising  sun. 

It  was  on  this  morning  that  she  gave  herself, 
feeling  divinely  directed,  her  new  name,  saying 
that  since  she  was  to  be  a  traveler,  a  sojourner,  her 
name  should  be  Sojourner.  Being  asked  her  sur 
name  she  exclaimed  that  she  had  not  thought  of 
that,  but  immediately  went  to  God  about  it  and  in 
her  characterictic  way  exclaimed,  "Oh,  God,  give 
me  a  name  with  a  handle  to  it,"  and  then  came  the 
thought  that  God's  name  was  truth  and  she  at  once 
adopted  that  as  her  sur-name,  which  so  pleased  her 
that  she  lifted  up  her  eyes  to  God  in  thanks,  saying, 
"Why,  thank  you  God,  that  is  a  very  good  name." 

Sojourner  was  a  woman  of  great  shrewdness, 
wit  and  impressive  voice  which  together  with 
force  of  character  made  her  an  effective  speaker. 

The  great  theme  of  her  lectures  and  the  object 
of  her  effort  was  the  emancipation  of  her  people, 
though  she  touched  upon  woman's  rights,  temper 
ance  and  political  reforms. 

She  traveled  widely  ijj  the  northern  part  of  the 
United  States,  but  during  the  Civil  War  she  spent 
much  of  her  time  in  Washington. 

Her  power  to  electrify  audiences  was  compared 
with  that  of  the  great  French  actress,  Rachel. 

On  one  occasion  Frederick  Douglass  was  speak 
ing  to  a  large  audience  and  was  painting  a  gloomy 
picture  of  the  conditions  of  slavery  and  was  up 
braiding  the  church  and  State.  Just  as  he  had  got 
the  audience  under  his  sway,  Sojourner  suddenly 
arose  in  the  rear  of  the  room  and  cried : 

"Frederick!  Frederick!  is  God  dead?"  It  broke 
the  spell  of  pessimism  and  for  a  time  left  the  au 
dience  and  the  speaker  dumbfounded. 

She  composed  a  battle  hymn  for  a  Negro  regi 
ment  of  Michigan  and  sang  it  herself  both  at  De 
troit  and  Washington  : 

"We  hear  the  proclamation  Massa,  hush  it  as  you 

will; 
The  birds  will  sing  it  to  us,  hopping  on  the  cotton 

hill; 

The  possum  up  the  gum  tree  couldn't  keep  it  still ; 
As  we  went  climbing  on." 

Her's  was  a  life  of  service  and  though  of  hum 
ble  origin  and  of  meager  ability  other  than  that 
conferred  upon  her  by  nature,  she  died  in  her  home 
in  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  with  the  satisfaction 
that  she  had  contributed  her  mite  in  the  service  of 
her  people. 


13 


Benjamin  Banneker,  Mathematician-Astronomer 


HE  first  Banneker  known  of 
among  Negroes  in  American  his 
tory  was  an  African  Prince.  This 
son  of  an  African  king  was  cap 
tured,  brought  to  this  country 
and  sold  to  Molly  Welsh  of  Mary 
land.  Set  free  some  years  after  his  arrival,  Banne 
ker,  who  was  a  man  of  fine  bearing  and  contem 
plative  habits,  married  his  former  owner.  The 
African  Prince  died  early  leaving  his  wife  four 
children.  One  of  these,  a  daughter  by  the  name 
of  Mary,  married  a  native  African,  who  became 
converted,  joined  the  church  and  took  his  wife's 
sur-name  of  Banneker.  This  couple  in  turn  had 
four  children  of  whom  Benjamin  was  the  oldest  and 
only  son. 

Benjamin  Banneker  was  born  Sept.  9th,  1731. 
The  boy  had  a  brilliant  mind,  was  popular  at  school 
;jiid  a  great  favorite  with  his  grand-mother  who 
used  to  give  him  of  her  small  share  of  knowledge 
and  have  him  read  much  from  the  Bible. 

His  study  under  teachers  was  not  at  all  extensive 
but  he  gained  an  early  love  for  books  and  continued 
to  "dive  into  books",  as  was  said  of  him,  all  his 
life.  Benjamin  was  twenty  years  old  when  his 
father  died.  The  latter  had  bought  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  when  Benjamin  was  six  years  old,  for 
which  he  paid  1700  pounds  of  tobacco.  To  the 
son  and  the  widow  the  father  left  seventy-f.wo 
acres  of  land  and  the  home,  dividing  the  remaining 
twenty-eight  acres  among  his  daughters.  Though 
very  studious,  Benjamin  was  an  excellent  farmer, 
having  a  good  garden  and  a  fine  assortment  of 
fruit  trees.  He  kept  two  horses,  several  cows  and 
was  very  skillful  in  handling  bees.  Thus  situated, 
life  was  very  busy  for  him,  but  he  made  all  things 
a  school. 

When  he  was  twenty  years  o'd  haVin?  IT>  too's 
but  a  jack  knife  and  having  seen  nothing  but  a 
sundial  and  a  watch,  Benjamin  made  himself  a  time 
piece  which  struck  the  hours  and  which  kept  the 
t'me  for  more  than  twenty  years.  When  he  was 
fifty-eight  years  of  age,  Banneker,  who  all  these 
years  had  made  the  study  of  Astronomy  a  passion, 
transferred  his  land  to  Ellicott  and  Company  for  an 
annuity  of  twelve  pounds.  He  was  now  free  to  give 
his  whole  time  to  his  favorite  study.  Night  after 
night  he  lay  upon  the  ground,  wrapped  in  his  great 
coat,  watching  the  heavens.  In  the  morning  he 
retired  to  rest,  but  appeared  to  acquire  but  little 
sleep.  He  still  hoed  in  the  garden  and  trimmed 
fruit  trees  for  exercise  and  played  on  the  flute  or 
the  violin  for  diversion. 

He  ventured  from  home  but  little.  The  only  oc 
casion  on  which  he  spent  much  time  from  his  farm 
was  in  the  year  1790  and  thereabout  when  he  aided 

14 


in  laying  off  or  surveying  the  Federal  Territory  for 
the  District  of  Columbia.  He  also  aided  in  locating 
the  spot  for  the  capitol,  the  Presidents'  House, 
Treasury  and  other  public  buildings. 

On  his  return  from  Washington,  he  published  his 
first  Almanac,  1792,  a  copy  of  which  he  sent  Thom 
as  Jefferson.  The  latter  forwarded  the  manuscript 
to  Condercet,  Secretary  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences 
at  Paris.  The  publishers  advertised  it  as  "an  ex 
traordinary  effort  o-f  genius,  calculated  by  a  sable 
descendant  of  Africa."  From  this  he  became  wide 
ly  known  as  a  writer  and  thinker  and  famous  people 
frequently  sought  him  out.  He  died  October  9th. 
1806  at  the  age  of  seventy-five. 
Maryland,  Baltimore  County,  Near  Ellicott's  Lower 

Mills,  August   19,   1791. 
To  Thomas  Jefferson,  Secretary  of  State, 

Philadelphia. 
Sir: 

I  have  taken  up  my  pen  in  order  to  direct  to  you. 
as  a  present,  a  copy  of  an  Almanac  which  I  have 
calculated  for  the  ensuing  year. 

This  calculation,  Sir,  is  the  production  of  my  ar 
duous  study,  in  this  my  advanced  stage  of  life  ;  for 
having  long  had  unbounded  desires  to  become  ac 
quainted  with  the  secrets  of  nature,  I  have  had  to 
gratify  my  curiosity  herein,  thro'  my  own  assidu 
ous  application  to  astronomical  study,  in  which  I 
need  not  recount  to  you  the  many  difficulties  and 
disadvantages  I  have  had  to  encounter. 

And,  altho'  I  had  almost  declined  to  make  niv 
calculation  for  the  ensuing  year,  in  consequence  of 
the  time  which  I  had  allotted  therefor  being  taken 
up  at  the  Federal  Territory,  by  the  request  of  Mr. 
Andrew  Ellicott ;  yet  finding  myself  under  several 
engagements  to  printers  of  this  State,  to  whom 
!  had  communicated  my  design,  on  my  return  to 
my  place  of  residence,  1  industriously  applied  my 
self  thereto,  which  I  hope  I  have  accomplished  with 
correctness  and  accuracy,  a  copy  of  which  1  have 
taken  the  liberty  to  direct  to  you,  and  which  1 
humbly  request  you  will  favorably  receive  ;  and,  al 
tho'  you  may  have  the  opportunity  of  perusing  it 
,;fter  its  publication,  yet  I  chose  to  send  it  to  you  in 
manuscript  previous  thereto,  that  thereby  you 
might  not  only  have  an  earlier  inspection,  but  that 
you  might  also  view  it  in  my  own  handwriting. 

And,  now,  Sir,  I  shall  conclude,  and  subscribe 
myself  with  the  most  profound  respect. 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  ser  -ant, 

B.  BANNEKER. 

Mr.  Thomas  Jefferson,  Secretary  of  State. 
Philadelphia. 

N.  B — Any  communication  to  me  nmy  be  had 
by  a  direction  to  Mr.  Elias  Ellicott,  Baltimore 
Town. 


Phillis  Wheatley,  Poetess 


HILLIS  WHEATLEY  was  one  of 
the  .first  literary  women  of  Amer 
ica  ;  the  first  woman  poet  of  the 
United  States ;  the  first  Negro  au 
thor,  the  first,  as  far  as  has  thus 
far  been  discovered,  to  speak  of 
George  Washington  as  the  "first  in  peace." 

The  first  Negro  poet  was  a  slave  brought  over 
in  a  cargo  of  captives  in  1781.  The  ship  of  human 
cargo  landed  at  Boston.  There  among  other  slave 
buyers,  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Wheatley  who 
came  to  select  and  purchase  a  girl  for  their  home. 
Phillis  came  forth  a  frail  creature  of  seven  rr  eight 
years  of  age.  The  Bostonians  bought  her  and 
christened  her  Phillis  Wheatley.  Of  course  the 
slave  child  was  unable  to  read  or  write.  But  the 
VVheatleys  taught  her.  In  less  than  sixteen  months 
she  had  acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  English  and 
was  able  to  read  the  most  difficult  parts  of  the 
"Sacred  Writings."  From  the  Bible  she  began  to 
read  Latin,  the  Latin  poets  and  mythology.  Soon 
she  began  to  write  verses,  which  to  the  people  of 
Boston  were  very  good,  indeed  excellent  for  one 
v.-hh  so  little  training. 

She  was  frail  in  health.  To  aid  her  in  gaining 
strength  her  friends  advised  taking  a  trip  to  F.n- 
gl.'ind  which  she  duly  made.  In  England  she  was 
the  guest  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  to  whom 
she.  later  dedicated  her  book  of  poems  published 


in  1773,  and  was  entertained  by  Lord  Dartmouth 
and  other  leading  men  and  women  of  the  Empire. 
She  wrote  so  well  that  people  doubted  her  author 
ship.  Such  men  as  Governor  Thomas  Hutchinson 
of  Massachusetts,  Andrew  Oliver,  and  John  Han 
cock,  the  first  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  In 
dependence,  declared  that  they  verily  believed  that 
the  poems  were  her  own  composition. 

On  her  return  to  America,  she  found  Mrs.  Wheat- 
ley  poor  in  health.  Later  the  Mistress  died,  the 
Wheatley  home  was  broken  up  and  the  poet  left 
quite  unprotected.  Shortly  after  this  she  received 
an  offer  of  marriage  from  one  Samuel  Peters  who 
was  a  Negro  grocer  and  a  writer  and  speaker  of 
high  repute.  The  marriage  turned  out  unhappily 
and  the  poet  died  deserted,  December  5th,  1794. 

Benson  J.  Lossing,  the  Historian  says  of  her, 
"Piety  was  the  ruling  sentiment  in  her  character." 

The  following  are  taken  from  Phillis  Wheatley's : 

ON  BEING  BROUGHT  FROM  AFRICA 
TO  AMERICA. 

'Twas  mercy  brought  me  from  my  Pagan  land, 
Taught  my  benighted  soul  to  understand 
That  there's  a  God,  that  there's  a  Savior,  too ; 
Once  I  redemption  neither  sought  nor  knew. 
Some  view  our  sable  race  with  scornful  eye, 
"Their  color  is  a  diabolic  die." 
Remember,  Christians,  Negroes,  black  as  Cain. 
May  be  refined,  and  join  th'  angelic  train. 


A  FAREWELL  TO  AMERICA   (1773. 
To  Mrs.  Susannah  W.  Wheatley. 


Adieu,  New  England's  smiling  meads, 
Adieu,   the   flow'ry  plain : 
I  leave  thine  op'ning  charms,  O  spring, 
And  tempt  the  roaring  main. 

In  vain  for  me  the  flow'rets  rise, 
And  boast  their  gaudy  pride, 
While  here  beneath  the  Northern  skies 
J  mourn  for  health  deny'd. 

Collestial  maid  of  rosy  hvie, 

0  let  me  feel  thy  reign ! 

1  lavigllish  till  thy  face  I  view 
Thy  van  sh'd  joys  regain. 

Susanna'"  mourns,  nor  can  I  bear. 
To  see  the  crystal  shower. 
Or   r.i;i-k    the   tender   falling   tear 
At   sad   departure's   hour , 

Not  unregarding  can  I  see 
Her  soul  with  grjef  opprest 
Hut  let  no  5igh.  nor  groans  for  m» 
Steal  from  het  pensive  breast. 

In  vain  the  feather'd  warblers  sing, 
In  va".  th    garden  blooms, 
And   on   the   bosom   of   the    spring 
Breathes  out  her  sweet  perfumes. 

While  for  Britannia's  distant  shore 
We   sweep  the   liquid  plain. 


And  with  astonish'd  eyes  explore 
The  wide-extended  main. 

Lo  !  Health  appears  !  celestial  dame  ! 
Complacent  and  serene, 
With  Hebe's  mantle  o'er  her  Frame, 
With    soul-delighted    mien. 

To  mark  the  vale  where  London  lies 
With  misty  vapors  crown'd 
Which   cloud  Aurora's   thousand   dyes, 
And  veil  her  charms  around. 

Why,  Phoebus,  moves  thy  car  so  slow  ? 
So  slow  thy  rising  ray? 
Give  us  the  famous  town  to  view, 
Thou  glorious  king  of  day! 

l*o.-   thee,   Britannia,   1   resign 
New  England's  sniiliilg  !^-'u!.-< ; 
To  view  again  her  charms  devine, 
What  joy  the  prospect  yieii 

But  thou !  Temptation  hence  away, 
With  all  thy  fatal  train 
Nor  once  seduce  my  soul  away, 
By  thine   enchanting  strain. 

Thrice  happy  they,  whose  heav'nly  shield 
Secures  their  souls  from  harms 
And  fell  Temptation  on  the  field 
Of  all  its  pow'r  disarms ! 


15 


Harriet  Tubman,   "The  Moses  of  Her  People' 


ARRIET  TUBMAN  was  called  the 
Moses  of  her  people  because  dur 
ing  the  years  of  the  Fugitive 


Law,  she  rescued  some  three  or 
four  hundred  slaves  and  led  them 
to  freedom.  She  was  born  about 
1820  in  Dorchester  County,  Maryland.  She 
worked  as  a  nurse,  as  a  trapper;  fiield  hand 
and  wood  chopper  while  she  was  a  slave.  She 
is  said  to  have  begun  her  labors  about  1845  and  to 
have  continued  until  1860.  She  made  19  trips  into 
slave  States  at  exceedingly  great  risks.  She  went 
into  her  own  native  town  more  than  once,  bringing 
away  her  brothers  and  her  old  parents  as  well  as 
many  neighbors. 

John  Brown  nick-named  her,  General  Tubman 
because  of  her  shrewd  management  and  great  en 
durance.  In  her  trips  to  and  from  the  North  she 
spent  days  and  nights  out  of  doors,  in  caves  and 
often  without  food.  She  spent  a  whole  night  out 
of  doors  at  one  time  in  the  beating  snow  with  only 
a  tree  for  protection.  She  waded  creeks  and  riv 
ers,  neck  high,  forcing  those  whom  she  was  pilot 
ing  to  follow  her.  The  babies  she  managed  by 
drugging  them  with  opium.  No  wonder  a  price  of 
$40,000  was  once  put  upon  her  head. 

She  was  an  eloquent  speaker,  though  she  could 
neither  read  nor  write.  Her  words  are  always 
forceful,  her  descriptions  vivid. 

She  was  once  sent  with  an  exposition  during  the 
Civil  War  to  bring  away  slaves.  This  is  her  de 
scription  of  the  slaves  as  they  flocked  to  the  boats : 

"I  nebber  see  such  a  sight."  "Here  you'd  see 
a  woman  wid  a  pail  on  her  head,  rice  a  smokin'  in 
it  jus'  as  she'd  taken  it  from  de  fire,  young  one 
hangin'  on  behind,  one  han  roun'  her  forehead  to 
hold  on,  'tother  han'  digging'  into  de  rice-pot,  eatin' 
wid  all  its  might ;  hold  of  her  dress  two  or  three 
more ;  down  her  back  a  bag  wid  a  pig  in  it.  One 
woman  brought  two  pigs,  a  white  one  an'  a  black 
one;  we  took  'em  all  on  board;  named  de  white  pig 
Beauregard,  and  de  black  pig  Jeff  Davis.  Some 
times  de  women  would  come  wid  twins  hanyin' 


IT   necks;   'pear-;   like    I    nebber   see   so   maiiv 
\]  • 

wins  in  my. life;  bags  cm  der  shoulders,  baskets 
on  der  heads,  and  young  ones  taggin'  behin',  all 
loaded ;  pigs  squealin',  chickens  screamin',  young 
ones  squallin'." 

Her  story  of  an  incident  of  her  childhood  days 
is  told  as  only  Harriet  Tubman  could  relate  ex 
periences. 

"I  was  only  seven  years  old  when  I  was  sent 
away  to  take  car'  of  a  baby.  I  was  so  little  dat  1 
had  to  sit  down  on  do  flo'  and  hev  de  baby  put  in 


my  lap.  An'  dat  baby  was  allus  in  my  lap  'cept 
when  it  was  asleep,  or  its  mother  was  feedin'  it. 

"One  mornin'  after  breakfast  she  had  de  baby, 
and  I  stood  by  de  table  waitin'  till  I  was  to  take  it ; 
just  by  me  was  a  bowl  of  lumps  of  white  sugar. 
My  Missus  got  into  a  great  quarrel  wid  her  hus 
band  ;  she  had  an  awful  temper,  an'  she  would  scole 
an'  storm,  an'  call  him  all  sorts  of  names.  Now, 
you  know  I  neyer  had  nothing  good ;  no  sweet,  no 
sugar,  an'  dat  sugar,  right  by  me,  did  look  so  nice, 
an'  my  Missus's  back  turned  to  me  while  she  was 
fightin'  wid  her  husband,  so  I  jes'  put  my  fingers 
in  de  sugar  bowl  to  take  one  lump,  an'  maybe  she 
heard  me,  an'  she  turned  an'  saw  me.  De  nex' 
minute  she  had  de  raw  hide  down ;  I  give  one  jump 
out  of  de  do',  an'  I  saw  dey  came  after  me,  but  I 
jes'  flew,  an'  dey  didn't  catch  me.  I  run,  an'  I  run, 
I  passed  many  a  house,  but  I  didn't  dare  to  stop, 
for  dey  all  knew  my  Missus  an'  dey  would  send  me 
back.  By  an'  by,  when  I  was  clar  tuckered  out,  I 
come  to  a  great  big  pig-pen.  Dar  was  an'  ole  sow 
dar,  an'  perhaps  eight  or  ten  pigs.  I  was  too  little 
to  climb  into  it,  but  I  tumbled  ober  de  high  board, 
an'  fell  in  on  de  ground ;  I  was  so  beat  out  I  couldn't 
stir. 

"An'  dere,  I  stays  from  Friday  till  de  next  Chues- 
day,  fightin'  wid  dose  little  pigs  for  de  potato 
peelin's  an'  oder  scraps  dat  come  down  in  de 
trough.  Do  ole  sow  would  push  me  away  when 
I  tried  to  git  her  chillen's  food,  an'  I  was  awful  a 
feard  of  her.  By  Chuesday  I  was  so  starved  I 
knowed  I'd  got  to  go  back  to  my  Missus,  I  hadn't 
got  no  whar  else  to  go,  but  I  knowed  what  was 
comin'.  So  I  went  back." 

Frederick  Douglas  wrote  her  in  1868:  "The  dif 
ference  between  us  is  very  marked.  Most  that  I 
have  done  and  suffered  in  the  service  of  our  cause 
has  been  in  public,  and  I  have  received  much  en 
couragement  at  every  step  of  the  way.  You,  on 
the  other  hand,  have  labored  in  a  private  way.  I 
have  wrought  in  the  day — you  in  the  night.  1  have 
had  the  applause  ot  the  crowd  and  the  satisfaction 
thatr<it>4i}flfl>|iW  being  approved  l>y  the  multitudes, 
whilfl  tlnpnnppt'.that  you  have  done  has  been  wit 
nessed  by  n  few  trembling,  scarred,  .and  foot-sore 
bondmen  and  women,  whom  you  have  led  out  of 
the  house  of  bondage,  and  whose  heartfelt  "God 
bless  you"  has  been  your  only  reward.  The  mid 
night  sky  and  the  silent  stars  have  been  the  wit 
nesses  of  your  devotion  to  freedom  and  of  your 
heroism." 

Harriet  Tubman  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age  and  was 
always,  even  after  freedom,  the  friend  of  the  down 
trodden.  Her  house  was  always  full  of  dependents, 
who  were  supported  solely  by  Harriet's  "Faith." 


OSCAR  WILLIAM  ADAMS 

MONG  the  enterprising  young  men 
who  threw  their  weight  into  mak 
ing  the  Negro  Birmingham  a  suc 
cess,  none  has  fought  harder  or 
more  creditably  than  Oscar  W 
Adams.  On  graduating  from 
Normal  A.  and  M.  College,  Normal,  Ala.,  Mr. 
Adams  cast  his  lot  with  "The  Birmingham  Report 
er,"  now  without  question  the  leading  Negro  News 
paper  of  Alabama.  For  a  number  of  years  he  liv 
ed  out  pretty  faithfully  the  advice  of  Horace  Gree- 
ley  to  the  young  aspirants  to  Journalism — "to  sleep 
on  paper  and  eat  ink."  But  in  time  the  paper  came 
into  Mr.  Adams'  possession,  and  the  struggle  was 
even  more  bitter,  if  possible.  Business  did  not 
hum  in  Brmingham  then  as  now  and  so  his  sub 
scribers  were  few  and  his  advertisers  small,  and 
uncertain,  and  payment  for  both  subscriptions  and 
advertisements  very  slow  in  coming  in. 

To  keep  the  paper  alive,  Mr.  Adams  gave  up  his 
lodgings  and  slept  in  the  office  on  a  lounge.  He  ate 
a  full  meal  whenever  he  could  afford  to  do  so. 

"But,  "  says  he,  "I  always  paid  my  helpers.  I 
didn't  think  it  right  to  keep  them  waiting.  It  was 
none  of  their  affair  if  the  paper  failed."  However, 
the  Reporter  is  on  its  feet  today.  It  has  passed 

17 


through  the  day  of  test  for  twelve  years,  and  .- 
Negro  paper  that  survives  the  test  that  length  of 
time  can  be  said  to  be  fully  established. 

Of  course,  Mr.  Adams  had  been  thoroughly 
schooled  for  the  struggle  with  The  Reporter,  and 
from  this  schooling  one  would  expect  nothing  but 
victory  to  the  end.  Mr.  Adams  was  born  in  Gulf 
Crest,  one  time  known  as  Beaver  Meadow,  a  com 
munity  about  25  miles  out  of  Mobile.  He  attended 
the  district  school  to  the  8th  grade  and  then  made 
his  way  to  Normal,  Alabama,  to  the  A.  and  M.  Col 
lege.  To  make  his  way  through  school,  both  in 
public  school  and  for  the  first  year  in  College,  Mr. 
Adams  worked  as  a  laborer  on  a  turpentine  farm. 
During  his  life  in  College  he  served  now  as  agent  in 
the  Commissary,  now  as  the  assistant  bookkeeper 
and  finally  as  the  Editor  of  the  Normal  Index,  the 
official  paper  of  the  Normal  College.  Going  through 
so  many  experiences  and  coming  out  of  each  suc 
cessful,  Mr.  Adams  built  the  character  which  has 
stood  him  in  such  good  stead  as  editor  of  The  Re 
porter,  as  a  business  man,  and  a  leader  in  the  fra 
ternal  orders. 

Mr.  Adams  is  most  loyal,  even  enthusiastic 
fraternity  man.  As  has  already  been  stated,  his 
paper  is  the  official  organ  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth 
ias,  Odd  Fellows,  and  Masonic  Order  of  Alabama. 
He  holds  membership  also  in  the  Masonic  Lodge, 
in  the  Elks,  in  the  K.  L.  of  H.,  and  in  the  Mosaic 
Templars.  He  is  Secretary  of  the  United  Brothers 
of  Friendship,  as  well  as  its  spokesman  in  his  jour 
nal. 

Second  only  to  his  interest  in  his  journal  is  Mr. 
Adams'  interest  in  education.  He  is  present  at  all 
educational  gatherings  he  can  reach  and  gives  free 
ly  space  in  his  paper  to  the  reports  upon  all  schools 
and  school  work,  both  in  the  city  and  in  the  state. 
He  is  very  loyal  to  Normal,  not  only  because  this 
is  his  Alma  Mater,  but  because  he  really  knows 
what  it  means  for  most  of  our  boys  and  girls 
to  secure  even  a  fair  education,  an  education  ris 
ing  but  little  above  the  three  R's. 

Oscar  W.  Adams,  though  a  young  man,  has  filled 
some  of  the  most  important  speaking  engagements 
of  any  member  of  his  race.  He  is  a  man  of  rare 
quality  in  this  special  line  of  work.  He  is  a  stu 
dent  of  history  and  his  delivery  is  easy  and  pleas 
ant.  At  present  he  is  Chairman  of  the  Four  Min 
ute  Men  Speakers  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  direct 
ed  by  the  United  States  Government,  and  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  State  Committee  on  War  Savings  Cer 
tificates.  He  has,  no  doubt,  appeared  before  more 
audiences  in  the  past  five  years  than  any  man  in 
the  race  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Adams  was  married  to  Miss  Mamie  Tuggle 
in  1910.  The  happy  union,  happy  in  sympathy  and 
co-operation  as  well  as  in  affection,  for  both  were 
very  hard  workers,  lasted  but  five  years,  Mrs. 
Adams  dying  in  1915.  He  lives  now  for  his  paper, 
for  his  school,  for  his  lodge  and  for  Negro  enter 
prise  in  every  direction. 


BISHOP  JOHN  WESLEY  ALSTORK,  D.  D.,  LL.   D. 


ISHOP  John  Wesley  Alstork  was 
born  in  Talladega,  Alabama,  Sep 
tember  1st,  1852.  From  the  date 
of  his  birth  we  gather  that  he  was 
born  early  enough  to  see  a  little 
of  Negro  Slavery.  But  the  Bish 
op  was  fortunate  in  the  place  of  birth  and  in  his 
parentage.  Talladega  is  a  conservative  college 
town.  It  was  one  of  the  first  places  to  be  given 
colleges  for  the  higher  education  of  the  Negro 
after  the  Civil  War.  Here  in  his  own  home  town 
he  had  advantages  of  education  that  were  denied 
to  many  men  born  in  the  same  period.  The  advan 
tage  in  parentage  is  seen  from  the  fact  that  his 
father  was  a  minister  and  was  willing  and  an 
xious  to  see  his  son  have  better  educational  advan 
tages  than  he  himself  had  been  able  to  enjoy.  Bish 
op  Alstork  is  the  son  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Al 
stork,  who  were  greatly  loved  and  honored. 

Bishop  Alstork  did  not  confine  his  studying  to 
the  courses  laid  down  at  Talladega.  Livingston 
College,  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  conferred  D. 
D.  upon  him  in  1892.  The  Degree  of  LL.  D.  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  Princeton  College  in 
Indiana  in  1908.  Though  born  a  slave,  Bishop  Al 


stork  persevered  in  acquiring  an  education  till  he 
had  thoroughly  prepared  himself  for  the  work  he 
had  to  do  in  life. 

Bishop  Alstork  was  married  to  Miss  Mamie  Law- 
son  in  1872  when  only  twenty  years  of  age.  Mrs. 
Alstork  has  been  a  true  helpmate  to  the  Bishop 
and  has  helped  in  his  development.  Ten  years  after 
his  marriage  he  was  ordained  in  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion 
ministry.  In  1884  he  was  elected  Financial  Secre 
tary  of  the  Alabama  Conference  This  position 
he  held  till  1892.  In  1892  he  was  elected  Financial 
Secretary  for  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Connection.  In  this 
position  he  served  till  1900.  His  excellent  manage 
ment  keeping  the  finances  of  the  church  in  good 
condition. 

Bishop  Alstork  had  the  usual  gradual  ri<e  from 
the  ministry  to  the  position  of  Tiisl  op.  He  served 
as  a  regular  pastor  from  the  time  of  his  ordina- 
tion  to  1889.  In  that  year  he  was  made  Presiding 
Elder  and  he  served  in  this  capacity  till  1900  when 
he  was  elected  Bishop.  Many  of  the  honors  within 
the  gift  of  his  church  have  come  to  Bishop  Al 
stork.  He  was  Delegate  to  the  Ecumenial  Confer 
ence,  which  met  in  London,  England,  in  1901.  He 
was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  Conference  in  To 
ronto,  Canada,  in  1911. 

Although  Bishop  Alstork  is  thoroughly  interest 
ed  in  the  church  and  in  all  the  work  of  the  church, 
he  has  still  had  time  to  show  a  great  deal  of  interest 
in  all  the  phases  of  education.  He  is  a  trustee  of 
the  Livingston  College,  of  the  Lomax-Hannon  In 
dustrial  College.  Indeed  Bishop  Alstork  was  the 
founder  of  the  last  named  institution  which  is  lo 
cated  at  Greenville,  Alabama.  He  is  Trustee  of 
Langridge  Academy  at  Montgomery,  Alabama  and 
a  Trustee  of  the  Hale  Infirmary  also  of  Montgom 
ery.  Bishop  Alstork  is  a  member  of  the  Federa 
tion  of  Churches,  a  member  of  the  Southern  So 
ciological  Congress,  Director  of  Loan  and  Invest 
ment  Company,  Montgomery,  Alabama,  member  of 
the  Board  of  Control  of  the  Good  Shepherd  So 
ciety,  Inspector  of  the  General  G.  G.  A.  Order  of 
Love  and  Charity,  National  Grand  Master  of  F. 
A.  A.  York  Masons  Colored  of  the  United  States, 
Lieutenant  Commander  of  the  Supreme  Council 
33rd  degree  Masonry.  In  fact  Bishop  Alstork 
lives  a  very  full  and  a  very  useful  life. 

Bishop  Alstork  has  traveled  over  the  whole 
of  this  country  and  extensively  in  foreign  lands.  He 
is  a  loyal  citizen  of  his  country.  During  this  war  he 
has  been  a  faithful  worker  in  all  the  war  activities. 
Jlis  patriotism  has  been  manifested  in  every  war 
work  campaign.  He  is  a  heavy  purchaser  of  bonds, 
and  a  large  contributor  to  Red  Cross  and  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  work.  He  owns  a  great  deal  of  real  estate  and 
lives  in  his  own  beautiful  home  at  231  Cleveland 
Avenue,  Montgomery,  Alabama. 


BENJAMIN  H.  BARNES 

|  OR  fully  a  score  of  years  Booker 
T.  Washington  thundered  from 
the  Tuskegee  Institute  platform 
the  doctrine  of  service.  "Go  back 
to  your  homes,  put  a  hinge  on  the 
gate,  a  latch  on  the  door.  Don't 
stand  around  and  whine.  Get  into  the  church,  in 
the  school,  into  the  shop  and  help.  Own  your  own 
homes  and  become  a  tax-paying,  respectable  citi 
zen." 

Benjamin  H.  Barnes  after  graduating  under  his 
father's  teaching,  sat  beneath  the  voice  of  the  Tus- 
kegean  and  caught  the  vision  that  the  great  leader 
sought  to  impart.  He  did  not  pick  out  any  one  of 
of  these  suggestions  but  seemed  to  absorb  them  all. 
While  at  Tuskegee  Mr.  Barnes  excelled  not  only  in 
his  studies  both  in  trade  and  in  books  but  also  in 
music.  He  played  the  violin,  the  piano  and  sang. 
For  part  of  three  years  he  traveled  as  a  Tuskegee 
singer.  Returning  to  Tuscaloosa  his  native  town, 
he  accepted  work  as  a  teacher  in  the  city  public 
school  and  began  to  live  to  the  full  the  life  that 
Booker  T.  Washington  had  so  ardently  preached. 
Mr.  Barnes  immediately  connected  himself  with 
the  work  of  the  town  church,  the  First  African 
Baptist  Church.  He  had  been  in  attendance  here 


but  a  short  time  when  he  was  elected  superinten 
dent  of  the  Sunday  School,  a  post  at  which  he 
served  for  twenty-five  years.  Not  long  after  this 
Mr.  Barnes  was  made  church  organist:  and  for 
twenty  years  the  Baptists  of  Tuscaloosa  have  sung 
to  his  playing  in  the  church. 

Some  years  ago  this  church  set  out  to  erect  a 
new  building.  The  cost  of  the  house  was  to  be 
$25,000.00.  Mr.  Barnes  along  with  his  church  and 
Sunday  School  work  had  demonstrated  that  he  was 
a  business  man.  The  church  members  placed  him 
at  the  head  of  the  Committee,  rallied  to  his  sup 
port  and  put  up  a  splendid  brick  structure.  Tho' 
ministers  came  and  went,  Barnes  stayed  by  his  post 
till  the  last  brick  was  laid.  He  is  now  financial  sec 
retary  of  the  church,  secretary  of  the  board  of  trus 
tees  and  one  of  the  strong  active  deacons. 

However,  his  biggest  service  as  a  Christian  work 
er  is  being  rendered  among  the  young  people  of  the 
state.  Alabama  is  peppered  with  Negro  Baptists. 
Blow  your  Baptist  trumpet  in  the  remotest  hamlet 
and  a  regiment  of  loyal  followers  will  come  for 
ward  to  bear  up  the  standard.  Among  their  organ 
ization  is  a  Baptist  Young  People's  Union.  Mr. 
Barnes  has  been  the  president  of  this  organization 
for  sixteen  years.  In  recognition  of  his  religious 
services  and  of  his  exemplary  scholarship,  Selma 
University  some  years  ago  conferred  upon  him  the 
honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

All  through  his  life  Mr.  Barnes  has  been  a  very 
intense  student,  both  in  books  and  in  affairs.  He 
spends  many  hours  in  home  study,  in  a  very  excep 
tional  home  library.  From  time  to  time  he  has  tak 
en  home  correspondence  courses  from  the  Univer 
sity  of  Chicago.  In  addition  to  this  he  keeps  tho 
roughly  abreast  with  all  educational  movements  in 
the  state.  No  convention  or  gathering  of  educators 
in  the  state  is  likely  to  assemble  without  finding 
Benjamin  H.  Barnes  on  hand  ready  to  give  advice, 
time  or  money  to  make  things  go. 

The  home  of  Benjamin  H.  Barnes,  all  paid  for, 
is  one  of  the  most  handsome  of  the  half  dozen  ex 
cellent  Negro  homes  of  Tuscaloosa.  As  one  pur 
chase  whets  the  appetite  for  another  Mr.  Barnes 
after  paying  for  his  home,  bought  other  buildings 
and  now  owns  property  to  rent. 

This  is  not  the  full  business  story  of  Prof. 
Barnes.  The  Union  Central  Life  Relief  company 
of  Birmingham  is  one  of  the  comparatively  few 
Negro  firms  of  the  -kind  to  stem  the  tide  of  bus 
iness  adversity.  Casting  about  for  a  manager  of  a 
branch  office  in  Tuscaloosa,  the  Union  Central  Re 
lief  found  the  man  they  wanted  in  Prof.  Barnes. 
In  this  office  and  in  visiting  patrons  Mr.  Barnes 
spends  his  summer  and  spare  hours  when  not  on 
duty  in  the  school. 

One  dominant  trait  is  unmistakable  in  the  Barnes 
family,  that  of  holding  fast  to  the  duties  in  hand— 
a  father,  school  teacher  in  one  place  forty-two 
years:  a  son,  school  teacher  for  nearly  twenty 
years,  Sunday  School  superintendent  twenty-five 
years,  president  of  Young  People's  Baptist  Union 
sixteen  years. 

Mr.  Barnes  is  married;  his  wife  is  his  partner. 
She  has  rendered  valuable  service  in  all  of  his  en 
deavors.  They  have  celebrated  their  crystal  wed 
ding  with  much  pomp. 


19 


JEREMIAH  BARNES 

HEN  you  go  to  Tuscaloosa,  Ala 
bama,  on  school  matters,  the 
County  Superintendent,  the  bank 
ers  and  other  people  will  tell  you 
to  "see  Jeremiah  Barnes".  Mr. 
Barnes  is  principal  of  the  Negro 
Public  Schools  of  Tuscaloosa,  and  is  most  likely  the 
oldest  Negro  School  man  today  engaged  in  active 
service.  He  began  his  career  as  a  school  teacher 
back  in  1874,  when  a  Negro  school  master  was  in 
deed  a  rare  person.  From  that  date  scarcely  a  day 
has  passed  during  the  school  session  without  find 
ing  the  veteran  at  his  post.  Indeed,  he  goes  to 
school  whether  he  teaches  or  not ;  for  he  keeps  the 
keys  of  the  Tuscaloosa  High  School  and  almost 
daily,  even  in  summer,  you  will  find  him  about  the 
school  going  over  the  grounds,  attending  the  school 
garden,  inspecting  the  rooms  inside. 

The  veteran  school  master  of  Tuscaloosa  was 
reared  a  slave,  on  the  farm  of  Judge  Washington 
Wood,  eight  miles  west  of  Tuscaloosa.  Here  he 
learned  to  read  and  write  and  found  some  opportu 
nity  to  improve  himself  generally.  He  was  a  brick 
mason  back  in  the  60's.  Ten  years  later  he  was 
running  a  variety  store,  at  which  time  he  became 
alderman  of  Tuscaloosa,  grand  juror  of  the  county 


and  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  In  1874  the 
same  year  that  he  began  his  school  work,  Mr. 
Barnes  became  a  Master  Mason  and  later  was 
made  Worshipful  Grandmaster  for  three  terms. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  made  Secretary  of  fore 
ign  correspondence  for  his  Grand  Lodge,  a  posi 
tion  which  he  held  for  fourteen  years.  He  was  one 
time  grand  patron  of  the  Alabama  Order  Eastern 
Star  and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Oak  City 
Lodge  No.  1785,  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fel 
lows.  He  twice  served  his  own  district  rgand 
lodge  as  deputy  grand  master. 

All  this  wealth  of  life  experience  along  with  con 
stant  study  of  books  Mr.  Barnes  brought  to  the 
school  room.  For  years  he  was  a  teacher,  being 
promoted  step  by  step  until  he  reached  the  highest 
post  in  the  Negro  schools  of  his  native  city.  In  his 
work  as  teacher  he  has  taken  rightful  pride  in  the 
graduates  he  has  turned  out.  Some  have  gone  to 
college,  some  to  industrial  schools,  some  settled 
to  trades,  some  to  school  teaching  after  leaving 
him.  Wherever  they  have  gone  they  have  made 
their  mark  as  very  useful  hightoned  citizens. 

In  his  school  curriculum  Prof.  Barnes  balances 
his  courses  pretty  well  between  class  room  work 
and  industrial  work.  His  courses  run  into  studies 
in  Algebra,  Geometry  and  Latin;  out  under  the 
window  you  will  see  a  flourishing  school  garden, 
and  a  place  for  cooking  in  the  basement.  He  teach 
es  the  children  by  deed  as  well  as  by  word,  that 
work  is  honorable  and  intellectual,  just  as  solving 
a  problem  in  Algebra  or  constructing  a  verb  in  En 
glish  or  Latin. 

To  this,  too,  he  adds  a  most  needed  phase  of  ed 
ucation,  that  of  beautifying  one's  surroundings. 
The  Negro  High  School  building  of  Tuscaloosa 
happens  to  be  in  a  rather  unhappy  section  of  the 
city.  A  railroad  yard  is  nearby,  so  also  is  the  city 
refuse  pile  and  the  city  stables.  Yet  by  setting  out 
trees,  constructing  fences  and  laying  out  walks,  the 
veteran  educator  has  managed  to  shut  out  pretty 
nearly  these  obnoxious  features  of  his  school  en 
vironment,  thus  showing  the  pupils  that  their  own 
lives  within  need  not  be  disturbed  by  the  lives  with 
out. 

Along  with  helping  the  students  of  his  school, 
Prof.  Barnes  has  reared  and  educated  several  child 
ren  of  his  own.  His  son,  Benjamin,  is  the  strong 
assistant  of  his  father  in  the  Tuscaloosa  school 
work,  is  the  great  Negro  Baptist  Young  People's 
Union  leader  of  Alabama,  church  organist,  and  bus 
iness  man.  The  other  son  is  the  treasurer  of  the 
Snow  Hill  Normal  and  Industrial  School  of  Snow 
Hill,  Alabama. 

How  long  Prof.  Barnes  will  remain  in  the  school 
work  none  but  a  higher  power  can  tell.  So  far  he 
shows  no  signs  of  retreat.  He  is  vigorous,  active, 
both  in  body  and  in  mind.  Best  of  all  as  a  school 
teacher  he  is  very  cheerful  and  very  optimistic  for 
himself  and  his  people. 


20 


EDWARD  AUSTIN  RROWN 


HERE  arc  about  800  Negro  law 
yers  in  the  United  States.  Some 
of  them  have  occupied  positions 
of  trust  and  prominence,  political, 
judicial  and  diplomatic.  Yet 
whenever  a  colored  man  thinks  of 
entering  the  legal  profession  he  is  instructed  to 
have  well  in  mind  Socrates'  definition  of  courage. 
Said  the  sage,  "He  who  rushes  into  battle  without 
knowing  all  the  consequences  does  not  represent 
genuine  courage  but  rashness."  Thus  it  is  with  the 
law  for  the  Negro.  Of  all  the  professions  it  is  very 
probably  the  least  hospitable  to  the  black  man.  As 
a  rule,  he  is  not  accorded  a  square  deal  in  the  courts 
of  the  South,  while  in  the  North  he  finds  himself, 
for  the  most  part,  up  against  the  most  lively  com 
petition.  He,  then,  who  enters  here  must  weigh 
between  courage  and  rashness ;  and  he  who  suc 
ceeds  in  compelling  a  fair  measure  of  success  is 
either  a  giant  in  intellect  or  a  wizard  in  tact  and 
diplomacy. 

That  Edward  A.  Brown  did  not  enter  the  law 
through  rashness,  through  not  knowing  the  at 
tendant  dangers,  can  be  fairly  inferred  from  the 
fact  that  he  was  born  in  the  South,  where  the  sit 
uation  is  quite  patent.  Mr.  Brown  was  born 


in 


Raleigh,  N.  C.,  forty  odd  years  ago.  After  com 
pleting  the  public  school  course  in  his  native  town 
he  had  private  tuition  in  order  to  prepare  himself 
for  college,  and  soon  thereafter  entered  Lincoln 
University,  in,Pennsylvania,  where  four  years  later 
he  finished  the  collegiate  course,  graduating  with 
honors.  Just  as  Mr.  Brown  was  about  to  enter  a 
New  England  Law  school  he  was  offered  an  oppor 
tunity  to  study  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Henry 
McKinney,  who  was  at  the  time  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  at  the  Cleveland,  Ohio,  bar.  This  offer  was 
accepted  and  in  due  time  the  young  law  student  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio. 
Incidentally,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  of  the  108 
applicants  for  admission  at  the  time,  Mr.  Brown 
offered  the  best  examination. 

After  practicing  his  profession  for  a  while  in 
Cleveland  Mr.  Brown  came  to  Alabama,  where 
again  he  made  a  record  in  his  examination  for  ad 
mission,  winning  from  the  presiding  judge  the 
statement  that  this  was  the  best  examination  he 
had  ever  witnessed.  Ever  since  his  admission  to 
the  Alabama  bar  Mr.  Brown  has  pursued  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Birmingham,  where 
he  resides,  except  for  the  period  of  eight  months 
during  which  he  was  an  army  officer  at  the  time 
of  the  Spanish-American  War,  serving  under  a 
commission  of  First  Lieutenant  in  the  10th  U.  S. 
Volunteer  Infantry. 

Mr.  Brown  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice  and,  like 
thousands  of  the  best  lawyers  of  the  country,  is 
what  is  known  as  a  "civil"  lawyer,  giving  no  at 
tention  to  criminal  practice.  He  is  regarded  by  the 
judges  and  members  of  the  bar  generally  as  an  able 
lawyer  and  as  a  man  of  the  highest  personal  char 
acter.  His  clients  and  friends  believe  in  him,  in  his 
knowledge  of  the  law,  his  integrity  and  his  unfail 
ing  sane  judgment.  To  illustrate  the  unselfish 
public  spirit  of  the  man  a  single  incident  may  be 
related:  The  commissioners  of  the  city  of  Bir 
mingham,  following  the  example  of  certain  other 
municipalities,  undertook  to  enact  a  law  providing 
segregation  of  residences  based  upon  race.  Mr. 
Brown,  without  being  employed  or  even  requested, 
went  before  the  commissioners  with  a  strong  pro 
test  against  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  ordinance 
and  made  such  a  forceful  argument  against  its  con 
stitutionality  as  to  defeat  it  then  and  there.  Here 
was  an  example  of  his  unselfish  spirit,  for  although 
this  was  legal  service  of  the  highest  order  and  deal 
ing  with  a  matter  of  far-reaching  importance  to  his 
race,  not  a  dollar  was  charged  by  him  or  accepted. 

Mr.  Brown  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  com 
petency,  owning  a  residence  valued  at  $5,000  and 
other  real  estate ;  and  besides,  he  has  some  money. 
For  several  years  he  has  served  as  general  attorney 
for  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Alabama,  of  which 
fraternal  order  he  is  a  leading  and  influential  mem 
ber.  He  is  active  in  all  movements  touching  the 
welfare  of  his  people  and  is  one  of  the  really  strong 
and  substantial  men  of  his  community  and  state. 

The  Brown  family  is  small,  consisting  of  Mrs. 
Brown  and  one  son,  Edward,  Jr.  Mrs.  Brown,  who 
was  Miss  Nettie  Jones  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  is  active 
in  club  work  and  various  charities.  Edward,  Jr., 
is  a  quiet,  studious  lad,  having  made  first  year 
high  school  at  the  age  of  thirteen. 


MISS  CORNELIA  BOWEN 


N  a  certain  day  in  May  if  you  are 
anywhere  in  Montgomery  County, 
Alabama,  you  will  see  wagons 
from  the  country,  cars  and  car 
riages  from  the  city,  crowding 
and  jamming  along  the  road,  all 
going  in  one  direction.  On  inquiry  you  will  learn 
that  they  are  making  their  way  toward  the  Mt. 
Meigs  Institute,  to  attend  the  commencement  ex 
ercises.  When  you  reach  the  school,  there  will 
break  on  you  a  sort  of  vision  of  a  new  city,  sudden 
ly  peopled.  This  is  the  work  of  Miss  Cornelia 
Bowen  of  Mt.  Meigs. 

Miss  Bowen  went  to  Mt.  Meigs  in  1888  to  plant 
a  school  in  the  wilderness,  as  it  were.  To  reach 
the  rural  man  and  woman  as  well  as  the  small  boy 
and  small  girl  was  a  demand  which  both  Miss  Bow- 
en  and  the  late  Dr.  Washington  felt  it  a  sacred  duty 
to  answer.  To  use  Miss  Bowen's  own  words  in 
"Tuskegee  and  Its  People" — "a  call  reached  Dr. 
Washington  in  1888  for  a  teacher  to  begin  work  in 
the  vicinity  of  Mt.  Meigs,  Alabama,  similar  to  the 
work  done  at  Tuskegee,  but  of  course  on  a  smaller 
scale.  Mr.  E.  N.  Pierce  of  Plainville,  Connecticutt, 
had  resolved  to  do  something  in  the  way  of  pro 
viding  better  school  facilities  for  the  colored  people 
living  on  a  large  plantation,  into  the  possession  of 

22 


which  he  had  come.  Mr.  Washington  answered  the 
call  while  in  Boston,  and  telegraphed  me  that  he 
thought  me  the  proper  person  to  take  charge  of 
and  carry  on  the  settlement  work  Mr.  Pierce  and 
his  friend  had  in  mind." 

The  place  itself  is  far  away,  out  of  contact.  The 
people  were  weighted  down  with  debt,  mild  peon 
age,  morals  were  at  a  low  ebb.  Miss  Bowen  set 
out  to  improve  the  lives  of  the  old  people  while 
building  a  school  for  the  young.  She  taught  Bible 
classes  in  the  leaky  country  church  and  held  meet 
ings  and  conferences  for  the  mothers  and  fathers. 
In  a  little  while  the  people  began  to  know  that  there 
were  ideals  of  health,  of  family,  of  property  own 
ership.  Thus  it  is  that  today  they  troop  on  horse 
back,  in  buggy,  in  wagon  to  Mt.  Meigs  Commence 
ment.  Here  along  with  the  diversion  offered  they 
come  upon  the  first  impulse  to  do  good. 

It  has  become  quite  common  nowadays  to  speak 
of  the  pioneer,  but  the  Mt.  Meigs  school  was  in  a 
very  real  sense  a  pioneer  in  its  own  kind  of  work. 
To  set  up  in  the  country  a  school  which  was  a 
community  center :  a  school  which  called  in  the 
country  women  to  teach  them  cooking,  sewing, 
and  house-keeping,  to  teach  them  how  to  rear  and 
treat  their  children ;  to  instruct  them  in  finer  man 
ners  towards  their  husbands  and  towards  their 
neighbors ;  to  persuade  them  to  eliminate  certain 
habits,  like  dipping  snuff  and  smoking  and  chew 
ing  tobacco,  as  unfeminine  and  un-womanly ;  to 
have  done  all  this  in  those  early  days  of  any  kind  of 
Negro  school  in  Alabama  was  genuinely  pioneer 
work. 

The  same  constructive  program  was  adopted 
with  the  men  and  boys.  Men  were  better  farmers, 
better  husbands,  fathers,  cleaner  in  their  habits, 
more  ambitious  in  their  ideals  because  of  Mt. 
Meigs.  They  formed  more  definite  ideals  of  home, 
of  family,  of  church,  from  this  teaching  and  from 
their  contact  in  the  school.  Where  there  was  no 
farm  ownership,  they  began  to  buy  farms.  Where 
there  were  no  flowers,  flowers  began  to  grow :  an 
air  of  refinement  and  of  taste  began  to  assert  itself. 

There  is  nothing  so  new  about  this  now,  for  we 
begin  to  see  the  very  definite  results  of  this  train 
ing.  Mt.  Meigs  opened  a  boarding  department  and 
rooms  for  the  children  and  taught  them  new  les 
sons  of  life.  It  fired  them  with  zeal  to  go  back  to 
their  village  and  teach  what  they  themselves  had 
learned.  This  situation  now  so  prevalent  was  at 
first  a  most  startling  innovation  when  Mt. 
Meigs  began.  It  was  the  first  trumpet  call  to  the 
man  in  the  fields  that  somebody  really  cared  for 
him,  for  the  life  he  lived,  whether  or  not  he  was 
really  happy. 

Wrhile  thus  laboring  among  the  elders,  Miss 
Bowen  was  founding  a  school.  She  bought  her 
land,  forty-odd  acres,  and  began  to  put  up  buildings. 
She  put  on  the  curriculum,  not  only  grammar, 
arithmetic  and  the  like,  but  the  study  of  practical 
industries,  such  trades  as  the  boys  and  girls  could 
use  immediately  in  their  homes.  Thus  she  teaches 
her  own  school  gardening,  farming,  poultry-rais 
ing,  the  care  of  live  stock  and  bee-culture. 


VIEW   MT.   MEIGS   INSTITUTE 


hi  the  meantime  she  was  not  forgetting  her  own 
education.  She  had  attended  school  at  Tuskegee 
Institute,  where  Dr.  Washington  was  examiner, 
school  teacher,  principal,  lecturer  and  a  good  many 
other  things.  Under  him  she  sat,  got  her  Tuske 
gee  diploma,  then  spent  some  time  as  principal  of 
the  "Children's  House",  of  Tuskegee  Institute.  To 
the  education  of  experience,  which  her  principal 
and  friend,  Dr.  Washington,  so  ardently  believed  in, 
Miss  Bowen  added  study  in  New  York  City  and  fur 
ther  study  in  Queen  Margaret's  College,  Glasgow, 
Scotland. 

Miss  Bowen  is  through  and  through  a  product 
of  Tuskegee  Institute.  She  was  born  on  what  is 
now  the  Institute  Campus.  The  little  cottage  in 
which  she  was  born  was  the  first  building  of  Tus 
kegee  Institute  to  be  used  for  teaching  girls'  in 
dustries.  "And  never  do  I  go  to  Tuskegee,"  says 
Miss  Bowen,  "that  I  do  not  search  it  out  among  the 
more  imposing  and  pretentious  buildings,  which 
have  come  during  the  later  years  of  the  school's 
history." 

The  cottage  in  which  she  was  born  stood  on  the 
plantation  of  Colonel  William  Bowen,  to  whom 
Miss  Bowen's  mother  was  a  slave.  Unlike  most 
slave  mothers,  Miss  Bowen's  mother  could  read, 
having  been  taught  by  a  former  mistress  in  Balti 
more.  She  was  therefore  able  to  superintend  her 
daughter's  education  to  greater  degree  than 
most  mothers  of  the  time,  hence  arises,  no  doubt, 
the  daughter's  very  strong  grasp  on  people  and  af 
fairs. 

Miss  Bowen  was  first  taught  by  a  southern  white 


woman  of  the  town  of  Tuskegee. :  She  then  at 
tended  the  public  school  of  Tuskegee  until  Booker 
T.  Washington  came  and  founded  the  Institute. 
Her  school  on  "Zion  Hill"  was  then  closed  and  the 
children  all  flocked  to  the  new  school.  Booker  T. 
Washington  was  then  an  active  teacher.  He  gave 
her  the  examination  and  placed  her  in  the  Junior 
class.  He  taught  many  of  the  subjects.  Miss 
Bowen  looks  back  with  no  end  of  pleasure  to  those 
days  when  Dr.  Washington  taught  grammar,  his 
tory  and  spelling. 

She  was  a  member  of  the  first  class  to  graduate 
from  Tuskegee  Institute.  This  was  in  1885,  before 
the  school  had  even  conceived  of  the  great  indus 
trial  idea.  Miss  Bowen  was  an  honor  student,  re 
ceiving  a  first  grade  diploma  and  winning  one  of  the 
three  Peabody  medals ;  medals  which  were  award 
ed  for  excellence  in  scholarship. 

With  this  foundation  she  went  out  to  establish 
the  Mt.  Meigs  Institute,  full  of  confidence.  Her 
work  in  the  school  has  made  a  name  for  Miss  Bow- 
en.  She  has  several  times  held  various  offices  in 
the  National  Association  of  Colored  Women's 
Clubs,  State  Teachers'  Association  of  Alabama,  and 
in  the  Colored  Women's  Federation  of  the  State, 
and  its  president  for  fourteen  years. 

While  a  very  excellent  administrator,  and  a  rare 
student  of  both  men  and  books,  Miss  Bowen  excels 
in  the  mind  of  many,  through  her  gift  of  eloquent 
speech.  Few  persons  on  the  platform  today  can 
bring  so  much  power  to  bear,  go  so  directly  to  the 
point  and  so  eloquently  as  can  Miss  Bowen. 


23 


RICHARD   ANDERSON   BLOUNT 


T  was  Robert  Browning,  who  ex 
pressing  his  fondness  for  Italy, 
said,  "If  you  open  my  heart  you 
will  find  the  word  'Italy'  written 
therein."  If  you  made  an  incison 
in  the  heart  of  Richard  Anderson 
Blount  of  Birmingham,  Alabama,  you  would  find 
"Knights  of  Pythias."  For  nearly  twenty  years 
now  Mr.  Blount  has  thought  Knights  of  Pythias, 
talked  Knights  of  Pythias,  traveled  for  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  what  the  order  of  the  Knights  of  Py 
thias  in  Alabama  is  today,  is  traceable  very  large 
ly  to  Richard  Anderson  Blount. 

Back  in  1887  Mr.  Blount  came  into  Birmingham 
to  seek  his  fortune,  attracted  by  the  prospects  of 
the  town.  He  found  employment  with  the  Lawe- 
son  Carpet  Company  and  spent  some  time  in  their 
service.  He  worked  also  for  sixteen  years  for 
Ben  M.  Jacobs  &  Brothers.  It  was  during  his  em 
ploy  with  the  Jacobs  Brothers  that  Mr.  Blount  be 
came  engrossed  in  the  work  of  the  Knights  of  Py 
thias.  His  zeal  for  the  order  and  his  business  acu- 
nen  soon  attracted  attention,  with  the  result  that 
in  1898  he  was  elected  Grand  Keeper  of  Records 
and  Seal.  In  three  years  he  had  given  such  good 
service  and  had  established  the  records  on  such  a 


sound  business  basis  that  the  body  of  the  state 
made  him  Grand  Chancellor,  a  post  at  which  he 
has  served  now  for  fifteen  years. 

The  records  show  that  when  Mr.  Blount  assum 
ed  office  there  were  in  the  state  some  sixty-five 
lodges,  with  a  total  membership  of  16000  people. 
In  fifteen  years  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Blount 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Alabama  have  three  hun 
dred  and  forty-five  lodges  with  a  total  membership 
of  ten  thousand.  The  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias 
is  much  better  known,  more  popular,  enjoys  a  wider 
confidence  of  the  people,  both  of  those  who  are 
members  and  those  who  are  not. 

Of  course  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Alabama 
must  have  a  building  of  their  own.  It  just  chances 
that  the  Alabama  Penny  Savings  Bank  is  available. 
Mr.  Blount  and  his  helpers  are  pressing  home  plans 
to  secure  this  building.  To  secure  a  splendid  four 
story  brick  structure  like  the  Alabama  Penny  Sav 
ings  Bank  Building,  which  has  an  office  rent  of 
several  hundred,  requires  money,  backing,  appreci 
ation  of  values,  and  confidence.  All  this  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  have  and  they  have  it  very  largely 
through  Richard  Anderson  Blount. 

Mr.  Blount  is  not  a  native  of  Birmingham.  He 
came  from  Montgomery  where  he  was  born  in  the 
early  seventies.  He  attended  the  Swayne  school  in 
his  native  town.  While  he  was  going  to  school,  Mr. 
Blount  had  to  work.  He  somehow  got  into  carpet 
laying;  a  trade  which  did  him  great  service  in  the 
early  years  of  his  manhood. 

His  affiliation  with  and  leadership  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  do  not  blind  him  to  the  merits  of  other 
fraternities  and  organizations.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Sixteenth  Street  Baptist  Church,  a 
staunch  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  the 
Shriners,  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Elks. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous  things  about  Rich 
ard  Anderson  Blount  is  the  beautiful  home  he  has 
erected  and  paid  for.  In  going  up  Seventh  Avenue 
the  passer-by  turns  round  to  look  again  and  again 
as  he  passes  this  residence.  This  house  is  by  no 
means  the  extent  of  Mr.  Blount's  ownership  of 
property.  He  owns  several  rent  houses  and  lots 
in  and  about  town. 

But  the  home  and  the  home  life  were  a  vision 
of  long  ago.  He  saw  big  and  handsome  homes  and 
happy  families  about.  Into  his  own  spirit  crept 
the  vision  of  such  a  home  with  a  happy  family. 
Both  he  now  has.  He  has  been  married  for  more 
than  twenty  years.  His  first  wife  who  was  Miss 
Lucy  Massey,  died  some  eight  years  ago.  The 
daughter  of  this  union  is  now  a  student  at  Spelman 
Seminary  in  Atlanta,  Ga.  He  recently  married 
Miss  Mary  Lue  Crawford.  Mr.  Blount  has  travel 
ed  much  in  the  South  and  in  the  East  and  has  to 
do  so  in  the  interest  of  and  for  the  development  of 
his  lodge. 


24 


CLINTON  J.  GALLOWAY.  A.  B. 


RAVELING  through  the  rural 
districts  of  Alabama,  especially 
through  Macon  County,  every 
where  one  sees  new  up-to-date 
school  houses.  These  schools  have 
three  and  four  rooms  or  more. 
Some  are  used  as  Model  schools  in  which  the 
teacher  lives  and  has  around  her  all  the  animals 
and  other  things  to  be  had  on  a  farm.  These  model 
schools  are  to  train  the  country  boys  and  girls  how 
to  live  happily  amid  their  native  surroundings.  In 
some  places  the  old  half-decayed  school  buildings 
are  still  standing  making  a  marked  contrast  with 
the  new  and  up-to-date  structures.  The  one  man 
who  is  more  largely  responsible  for  this  condition 
than  any  other  is  Clinton  J.  Galloway  of  Tuskegee 
Institute. 

Mr.  Calloway  was  born  April  18,  1869,  in  Cleve 
land,  Tennesee.  Here  in  his  native  town  he  at 
tended  the  public  school,  remaining  to  finish  the 
Grammar  grades.  For  his  High  School  work  he 
went  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee.  As  a  young  man 
he  had  the  trait  of  sticking  to  a  thing  and  so  he 
remained  in  the  school  till  he  completed  the  course 
in  1889.  He  then  matriculated  at  Fisk  Uuniversity. 
All  through  his  school  career  he  was  an  earnest, 

25 


careful  student,  deserving  and  receiving  the  praise 
of  his  teachers.  In  1895  he  completed  the  classical 
course  of  Fisk  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  All  through  his  years  of  study  he  gave  close 
attention  to  practical  ideas  and  ideals. 

After  graduation  Mr.  Calloway  accepted  work  in 
the  Extension  Department  at  Tuskegee  Institute 
and  here  he  has  remained  ever  since.  During  the 
years  spent  in  the  Extension  Department  of  Tuske 
gee,  Mr.  Calloway  has  done  much  to  develop  and 
make  of  service  his  department.  In  1895  when  Mr. 
Calloway  took  charge,  the  work  was  restricted  to 
dealing  with  the  farm  and  country  folk  in  general. 
It  was  then  in  its  rudimentary  stage.  Mr.  Calloway 
saw  the  great  need  of  better  schools.  It  has  been 
largely  through  the  demonstrations  of  Mr.  Callo 
way  that  Miss  Jeannes  of  the  Jeannes  Fund  was 
convinced  of  the  value  of  outside  aid  in  rural  school 
work  among  Negroes.  To  this  end  there  are  now 
all  through  Alabama  and  other  Southern  States 
workers  among  the  rural  teachers  who  travel  back 
and  forth  supervising  the  work  of  the  country 
schools.  These  are  the  Jeannes  supervisors. 

Another  great  advance  in  the  Rural  Schools  of 
Alabama  and  now  of  other  Southern  states  is  due 
to  the  vision  and  thought  of  Mr.  Calloway.  It  was 
he  who  suggested  to  Dr.  Washington  that  Mr. 
Julius  Rosenwald  of  Chicago  would  help  in  the 
erection  of  new  and  up-to-date  schools  for  the  rural 
districts  of  Alabama.  Acting  on  this  suggestion 
Mr.  Rosenwald  has  invested  the  largest  sum  of 
money  set  aside  for  educational  purposes.  The 
schools  built  from  the  fund  are  known  as  the  Ros 
enwald  schools.  The  suggestion  came  from  Mr. 
Calloway  and  he  is  the  man  who  has  had  to  work 
out  the  detail  of  the  investment  and  he  has  also 
had  to  help  the  rural  people  raise  their  share  of 
the  money.  All  of  them  turn  to  Mr.  Calloway 
when  discouraged  and  expect  to  be  shown  the  way 
out  of  difficulties.  Never  has  he  failed  them.  Mr. 
Calloway  is  now  the  head  of  the  Extension  De 
partment  with  a  number  of  workers  under  him,  in 
stead  of  being  the  whole  of  the  Department  as  he 
was  when  he  first  took  the  work. 

Mr.  Calloway  was  married  to  Miss  Josie  Eliza 
beth  Schooler  March  12th,  1901  at  Kowaliga,  Ala 
bama.  To  Mrs.  Calloway  her  husband  gives  credit 
for  his  success  in  acquiring  property.  They  own 
their  own  beautiful  home  and  1,000  acres  of  land 
and  the  implements,  stock,  etc.,  that  are  required 
for  this  sort  of  farming.  Mr.  Calloway  is  a  Con- 
gregationalist  in  Religious  belief.  He  is  a  practical 
Christian  and  commands  the  respect  of  all  who 
know  him. 

Mr.  Calloway  is  through  and  through  a  man  of 
business.  Whatever  he  undertakes  to  do  is  seen 
through  the  amount  of  good  done  for  the  amount 
of  money  spent.  He  is  President  of  Homeseekers 
Land  Company,  Capital  Stock  $10,000.00  and  mana 
ger  of  the  Tuskegee  Farm  and  Improvement  Com 
pany  with  a  capitalization  of  $25,000.00. 

There  are  many  better  schools,  better  homes  and 
better  farms  in  Macon  County  and  in  fact  all 
through  Alabama  because  of  the  work  of  Mr.  Cal 
loway  in  the  Extension  Department  of  Tuskegee. 


T.  M.  CAMPBELL 

ATCHING  the  spirit  of  his  illust 
rious  teacher,  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington,  Mr.  Campbell,  the  pioneer 
Negro  Farm  Demonstrator  is 
bringing  to  a  realization  the 
dreams  of  the  late  Dr.  Seaman  A. 
Knapp,  the  father  of  farm  demonstration  work— I 
am  thinking,  said  Dr.  Knapp,  "of  the  people  of  rose 
covered  cottages  in  the  country,  of  the  strong  glad 
father  and  his  con-tented,  cheerful  wife,  of  the 
whistling  boy  an  dthe  dancing  girl  with  school 
books  under  her  arms  so  that  knowledge  may  soak 
into  them  as  they  go ;  I  am  thinking  of  the  or 
chards  and  the  vineyards,  of  the  flocks  and  the 
herds,  of  the  waving  woodlands,  of  the  hills  car 
peted  with  luxuriant  verdure,  and  the  valleys  in 
viting  to  the  golden  harvest."  Mr.  Campbell  and 
his  large  corps  of  workers  are  doing  all  this  for 
the  colored  people  of  Alabama  and  the  South. 

Born  February  11,  1883,  just  outside  the  corpor 
ate  limits  of  the  little  town  of  Bowman,  Elbert 
County,  Ga.,  Mr.  Campbell's  life  was  typical  of  the 
average  boy  of  that  section,  and  at  the  age  of  fif 
teen,  he  found  that  he  had  attended  school  less  than 
twelve  months.  Hearing  of  Tuskegee  from  an  old- 

26 


er  brother  who  had  gone  there,  the  lad  determined 
to  attend.  His  father  failing  to  keep  a  promise  to 
let  him  use  the  money  earned  working  on  a  neigh 
boring  plantation,  the  boy  walked  and  worked  his 
way  to  Tuskegee  from  which  he  was  graduated 
eight  years  later  in  1906.  He  speaks  as  follows  of 
his  Tuskegee  experience:  "My  training  was  such 
that  I  was  unable  to  make  the  lowest  class  when  I 
came  to  Tuskegee,  and  I  sometimes  think  that  my 
only  salvation  was  that  I  was  large  and  strong  and 
my  services  were  needed  on  the  farm.  By  constant 
study,  both  day  and  night,  I  was  able  to  make  a 
class  the  next  year  and  every  year  after  until  my 
graduation.  During  my  eight  years  stay  here  as  a 
student,  I  received  only  $2.00  cash  and  one  suit  of 
clothes  as  assistance." 

When  Dr.  Knapp  came  to  Tuskegee  in  1906  seek 
ing  his  first  Negro  demonstrator,  he  found  his  man 
in  the  field  following  a  two-horse  plow.  This  man 
was  T.  M.  Campbell,  who  had  recently  been  gradu 
ated  and  was  specializing  in  agriculture. 

"Young  man",  said  Dr.  Knapp,  "I  want  you  to 
travel  over  a  given  territory  and  show  the  Negroes 
how  to  prepare  land  just  as  you  are  doing  now." 
This  Mr.  Campbell  did,  traveling  in  the  Jesup  Ag 
ricultural  Wagon,  an  idea  of  the  far  seeing  Dr. 
Washington  who  conceived  the  idea  of  taking  ed 
ucation  to  the  farmer.  This  work  was  later  merged 
into  the  United  States  Farm  Demonstration  work 
and  has  taken  Mr.  Campbell  into  every  part  of  Ala 
bama  and  other  portions  of  the  South. 

For  the  past  twelve  years,  early  and  late,  in  sun 
shine  and  in  rain,  he  has  been  going  about  Alabama 
and  other  Southern  States  making  the  waste  places 
blossom.  Mr.  Campbell  defining  the  term  demon 
strator  says :  "A  Demonstrator  is  a  farmer  chos 
en  by  the  government  Agent  because  of  his  ability 
to  attract  the  people  of  his  community  to  himself, 
he  is  commonly  called  a  community  leader."  Mr. 
Campbell,  who  is  now  officially  known  as  District 
Agent  for  Farm  Demonstrate!)  Work  for  the  col 
ored  people  of  Alabama,  possesses  these  qualifica 
tions  in  a  high  degree.  He  has  a  very  winning  per 
sonality,  and  a  rich  musical  voice  which  wins 
friends  wherever  he  goes. 

Unlike  most  public  men  of  the  race,  Mr.  Camp 
bell  is  not  a  lodge  man,  due  perhaps  to  the  fact  that 
he  is  so  seldom  at  home;  for  his  duties  keep  him 
ever  on  the  road.  He  is  a  Methodist  and  zealous 
church  worker. 

On  June  1st,  1911,  Mr.  Campbell  was  married  to 
Miss  Annie  M.  Ayers  of  Virginia,  who  is  also  a  Tus 
kegee  graduate.  Four  children,  Thomas  Jr.,  Car 
ver,  Virginia  and  William  help  to  make  the  home  a 
happy,  cheery  place.  The  two  older  boys  are  in 
school  and  promise  to  follow  in  years  to  come  the 
lootsteps  of  their  father. 


JAMES   HENRY   EASON,   D.   D. 

R.  James  Henry  Eason,  the  pas 
tor  of  the  very  select  congrega 
tion  of  the  Jackson  Street  Baptist 
Church,  Birmingham,  Ala.,  is  an 
ideal  product  of  his  state.  He  was 
horn  October  24,  1866  to  Channie 
Bingham  Kason  and  Jesse  Bigham.  Born,  reared 
and  for  the  most  part  educated  in  Alabama,  he  has 
turned  all  his  time  and  his  talent — has  brought  his 
vision  to  pass  in  the  state  of  his  birth.  He  was  born 
in  Sumpterville,  Sumpter  County.  Gaining  all  he 
could  in  the  Sumpterville  public  school  he  entered 
Selma  University  and  after  graduation  from  Selma 
Dr.  Eason  took  his  course  in  theological  training  at 
Virginia  Union  University,  Richmond,  Va.,  receiv 
ing  the  degree  of  D.  D.  On  finishing  his  studies  he 
immediately  returned  to  Alabama  to  give  account 
of  his  education.  Although  he  earned  his  way,  he 
felt  that  he  owed  a  great  debt  to  the  people  of  his 
state.  In  1884  he  began  teaching  school  in  Gads- 
den.  He  taught  one  year  in  Garfield  Academy  at 
Auburn.  Ala.,  and  seven  years  in  Selma  University. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  been  appointed  state  Mis 
sionary  for  Alabama  by  the  Home  Missionary  So 
ciety  of  New  York.  In  this  office,  he  served  several 
years. 


The  year  1891  saw  the  formal  beginning  of  Dr. 
Eason's  career  as  a  pastor.  In  this  year  he  accepted 
thev  pastorate  of  the  Union  Baptist  Church  at  Ma 
rion,  Ala.  Here  he  became  moderator  of  the  new 
Cahaba  Association.  From  Marion  Mr.  Eason  went 
to  Anniston.  Here  he  really  began  to  assert  him 
self  as  a  minister  and  as  a  community  builder. 
When  he  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Eleventh 
Street  Baptist  Church  in  Anniston,  there  were 
eighty-five  members  of  the  congregation.  This 
body  was  then  known  as  the  Galilee  Church. 
Dr.  Eason  held  his  post  here  for  fifteen 
years.  In  that  time  he  increased  the  mem 
bership  from  eighty-five  to  seven  hundred 
and  put  up  a  new  building  which  cost  $25,- 
000.00.  While  building  this  church  in  Anniston, 
he  noticed  that  comparatively  few  colored  people 
owned  homes.  To  aid  the  people  in  securing 
homes,  he  organized  the  Mercantile  Investment 
Company,  whose  efforts  have  resulted  in  hundreds 
of  colored  people  owning  their  homes  in  this  city. 

His  name  now  spreads  abroad  as  a  worker  and  a 
man  of  exceptional  gifts  and  rare  industry.  He  was 
for  ten  years  Editor  of  the  Baptist  Leader ;  the 
official  organ  of  280,000  Alabama  Baptists.  He  ed 
ited  and  published  the  Union  Leader  of  Anniston 
Alabama  for  five  years ;  meanwhile  he  had  written 
and  published  a  book  entitled,  "Sanctification  ver 
sus  Fanaticism,"  which  was  the  first  book  pub 
lished  by  the  National  Baptist  Board,  and  had  writ 
ten  articles  and  historical  sketches  for  the  maga 
zines. 

Thus  asserting  himself,  he  became  a  candidate 
for  many  honors.  Guadaloupe  College,  Texas,  and 
Benedict  College,  S.  C.,  each  honored  him  with  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  was  given  the 
presidency  of  the  Colored  Baptist  State  Convention 
which  he  held  ten  years,  resigning  in  1916.  For 
seven  years  he  was  vice  president  of  the  National 
Baptist  Convention.  Selma  University  elected  him 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  for  one 
year  he  carried  the  presidency  of  the  Anniston  In 
dustrial  College.  June  llth,  1917,  Dr.  Eason  was 
elected  president  of  Birmingham  Baptist  Col 
lege,  Birmingham,  Alabama.  He  was  a  dele 
gate  to  the  World's  Missionary  Conference, 
which  met  a  few  years  ago  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland. 
He  preached  in  Scotland  and  traveled  extensive 
ly  in  Scotland,  in  England,  in  Belgium  and  in 
France.  For  several  years  now  Dr.  Eason  has  been 
pastor  of  the  Jackson  Street  Baptist  church  in  Bir 
mingham,  where  he  has  put  in  many  improvements. 
He  takes  great  interest  in  the  business  life  of  the 
Negro  in  Birmingham  just  as  he  did  in  Anniston. 
He  was  a  director  of  the  Alabama  Penny  Savings 
Bank  in  its  early  days  and  a  depositor  in  it  to  the 
last.  He  is  himself  a  property  owner,  owning  his 
home  and  other  real  estate  which  are  valued  at 
$5.000. 

Dr.  Eason  was  married  in  1894  to  Miss  Phoebe 
A.  Kigh  of  Selma,  Ala.  Of  three  children  born  into 
the  Eason  home,  only  one,  Miss  Gladys  is  living. 
She  is  married  to  Mr.  Edward  A.  Trammel!.  Little 
Phoebe  Mae  Trammell  is  Dr.  Eason's  only  grand 
child. 


27 


- 


SCEXE  IX  GROVE 


ALHOUN  Colored  School  is  locat 
ed  at  Calhoun,  in  the  agricultural 
County  of  Lowndes,  southern  Ala 
bama,  27  miles  south  of  Montgom 
ery,  on  the  main  line  of  the  Louis 
ville  and  Nashville  Railroad. 
Eighty—five  per  cent  of  the  peo 
ple  of  the  County  are  Colored,  95  per  cent  of  the 
precinct. 

The  School  was  founded  in  1892  by  Miss  Mabel 
W.  Dillingham  and  Miss  Charlotte  R.  Thorn, 
Northern  white  workers  at  Hampton  Institute. 
Shortly  before  nearly  forty  Negroes  of  the  vicinity 
had  lost  their  lives  in  a  race  conflict.  After  this 
catastrophe  the  people  held  religious  services  for 
two  weeks,  praying  for  a  school  from  the  North. 

Among  the  original  trustees  were  Booker  T. 
Washington,  who  continued  in  that  office  until  his 
death,  John  Bigelow,  and  Thomas  Wentworth  Hig- 
ginson,  who  was  succeeded  by  Richard  P.  Hallo- 
well.  General  Armstrong,  though  in  failing  health, 
gave  invaluable  endorsement  and  counsel. 

Lowndes  and  the  adjacent  Counties  south  and 
west  were  of  the  most  neglected  regions  of  the 
South.  There  was  almost  no  Negro  ownership  of 
land.  The  crop  lien  tenancy  conditions  were  unusu 
ally  repressive.  The  cabins  lacked  even  the  crudest 
sanitary  equipment.  The  meager  public  school 
funds  of  Lowndes  County  were  divided  between 
White  and  Colored  in  the  ratio  of  thirteen  to  one 
per  child. 

Conditions  at  once  shaped  the  work  into  the  fol 
lowing  departments:  First,  the  school  centre  for 
a  limited  number  of  boarding  pupils,  with  farm  and 
industries ;  second,  instruction  of  pupils  from  the 
cabins ;  third,  community  work ;  fourth  extension 
work  into  the  County  and  gradually  beyond. 

Miss  Dillingham  survived  only  two  years  of  Cal- 
houn's  early  toils  and  hardships.  Miss  Thorn  is  still 
principal. 

In   1896,  3,283  acres   adjoining  the   school  were 


purchased  for  resale  to  Negroes  for  $21,565.00. 
The  resale  was  virtually  at  cost  price,  with  the  legal 
rate  of  8  per  cent  interest  on  notes.  Lots  aver 
aged  40  acres.  Notwithstanding  the  purchasers' 
lack  of  capital,  tools,  and  stock,  and  against  a  series 
of  unfavorable  seasons,  all  payments  were  com 
pleted  within  seven  years. 

In  1907,  600  additional  acres  in  the  vicinity  were 
brought  under  Negro  ownership.  There  are  now 
83  proprietors  on  a  tract  of  about  4000  acres,  of 
whom  two-fifths  have  built  cottages  of  from  three 
to  seven  rooms.  Nearly  all  these  homes  are  paid 
for. 

The  result  of  this  land  movement  is  a  community 
which  is  described  by  standard  books  on  the  South 
as  exceptionally  moral,  intelligent,  and  progres 
sive,  with  far-reaching  influence,  and  intimately 
co-operative  with  all  the  work  of  the  school.  The 
enlargement  of  this  Negro  land  ownership  under 
Calhoun's  direction  is  earnestly  desired  by  the 
people  and  urged  by  educational  authorities  South 
and  North. 

Calhoun  had  in  the  year  1916-17,  35  salaried  work 
ers,  White  and  Colored,  in  nearly  equal  numbers. 
405  pupils  were  enrolled,  32  in  excess  of  any  previ 
ous  year.  There  are  92  boarding  students,  boys 
and  girls.  Over  150  additional  applications  were 
refused  for  lack  of  room.  The  graduating  class 
numbered  18 

The  endowment  May  31,  1917,  was  $107,039.25. 
The  value  of  land,  21  buildings,  and  equipment  was 
$95,307.36.  This  includes  a  water  system  with  com 
plete  fire  protection.  The  library  numbers  3,853 
volumes,  and  is  well  supplied  with  daily  papers  and 
periodicals.  The  following  buildings  have  been 
contracted  for:  new  barn,  silo,  grist  and  saw  mill 
with  tractor  engine,  and  a  three-room  school.  The 
rapid  and  permanent  increase  of  pupils  demands 
an  addition  of  three  large  buildings  for  assembly 
hall,  class  rooms,  shops,  and  dormitory  space  for 
200  boarding  pupils. 


28 


SEWING  ROOM 

The  property  is  vested  in  an  independent  board 
of  trustees:  H.  B.  Frissell,  president,  Hampton  In 
stitute  ;  Paul  Revere  Frothingham,  vice-president, 
Boston ;  Charlotte  R.  Thorn,  Treasurer,  Calhoun ; 
Pitt  Dillingham,  Secretary,  Boston;  Henry  W.  Far- 
naw,  chairman  Investment  Committee,  New  Ha 
ven  ;  N.  Penrose  Hallowell,  member  Investment 
Committee,  Boston ;  William  Jay  Schieffelin,  mem 
ber  Investment  Committee,  New  York ;  Henry 
Ware  Sprague,  Buffalo ;  Joseph  O.  Thompson,  Bir 
mingham. 

The  support  is  mainly  from  contributions.  There 
is  no  State  aid.  The  total  income  of  the  last  fiscal 
year  was  $73,236.26.  Of  this  sum  $31,803.07  was 
for  endowment,  buildings,  permanent  improvement, 
and  equipment. 

The  purpose  of  Calhoun  is  the  progress  of  the 
agricultural  region  of  southern  Alabama.  The  first 
obligation  is  to  its  own  neighborhood,  then  to  the 
County,  then  to  further  sections  as  its  work  ex 
tends  and  develops.  It  is  in  intimate  and  uncom- 
petitive  co-operation  with  the  larger  institutions 
which  serve  the  Colored  population  of  the  South 
generally,  and  with  schools  of  higher  education. 

The  academic  course,  originally  limited  to  the 
six  lowest  grades,  has  gradually  increased  to  ten 
with  the  progressive  needs  of  the  people.  Thor 
ough  drill  is  united  with  inspirational  teaching,  with 
training  is  given  as  far  as  the  limits  of  the  course 
outlooks  into  the  world's  life  and  thought.  Normal 
will  permit,  as  graduates  are  in  great  demand  for 


public  school  teaching.  Calhoun  graduates  teach 
more  than  1400  public  school  children  in  Lowndes 
County  alone.  Teachers  of  Calhoun's  higher  aca 
demic  grades  have  all  been  trained  in  Northern  col- 
Iges  and  universities.  Those  in  charge  of  the  lower 
grades  are  graduates  of  colleges  or  standard  normal 
schools.  Moral  and  religious  training  is  prominent, 
in  which  the  school's  undenominational  character 
is  an  advantage  under  the  conditions  of  the  field. 
Agricultural  training  is  of  chief  importance.  The 
school  farm  has  388  acres  under  intensive  cultiva 
tion;  300  acres  of  this  are  rented,  from  necessity. 
There  are  three  expert  farmers  and  teachers.  A 
fourth  directs  the  people's  farming  and  business. 
The  Colored  farm  demonstrator  of  the  County  is 
paid  in  part  by  the  school.  This  department  held 
last  year  a  County  Fair  and  eight  farmers'  confer 
ences.  Its  counsel  is  sought  continually  by  farm 
ers  of  the  region.  Public  conferences  and  exten 
sion  lectures  on  farming  are  increasing  through  an 
enlarging  number  of  communities.  The  response 
to  President  Wilson's  appeal  for  more  food  produc 
tion  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  world  war  was  an 
swered  by  Calhoun  with  a  doubling  of  farm  acre- 


M1LKIXG  TIME 


BLACKSMITH  SHOP 

age,  large  increase  in  buildings,  equipment,  stock 
and  summer  force  of  working  students. 

The  trades  taught  are  carpentry,  house  building, 
repairing  and  painting,  blacksmithing,  cobbling, 
with  harness  repairing,  cooking,  sewing,  laundry, 
and  domestic  crafts.  Certificates  are  given  in 
blacksmithing,  cobbling  and  domestic  arts,  also  in 
agriculture.  The  addition  of  a  year  to  the  course 
ensures  the  equivalent  of  two  years'  trade  school 
instruction  in  carpentry  and  building. 

Community  and  extension  work  is  no  less  prom 
inent  than  the  school  work  proper.  Community 
clubs  and  classes  are  held.  Medical  assistance  is 
given  by  the  school  nurses  at  a  low  cost.  Commu 
nity  sales  held  weekly  through  the  term  provide 
second-hand  clothing  from  the  North.  The  school's 
community  and  extension  workers  and  others  of 
the  force  are  continually  among  the  people,  whose 
visits  to  the  school  are  frequent  for  meetings,  en 
tertainments,  and  private  counsel.  The  life  of 
home,  farm,  church,  public  school,  and  lodge  is 
open  to  the  school's  directive  influence  through 
an  ever  widening  area,  in  a  way  to  develop  initia 
tive.  The  County  and  extension  work  is  largely 
done  through  approved  persons,  graduates  and  oth 
ers,  who  render  enthusiastic  and  unintrusive  serv 
ice. 


29 


GEORGE  W.  CHANDLER 


EORGE  W.  CHANDLER  is  a 
produce  of  Talladega  College, 
though  a  farm  lad  by  birth.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic,  Mo 
saic  Templars,  Rising  Sons  and 
Daughters  of  Protection,  and 
United  Order  of  Good  Shepherds.  To  these  con 
nections  add  that  he  is  Notary  Public  of  Mont 
gomery  County,  a  trustee  and  steward  of  the  C. 
M.  E.  Church  of  Montgomery,  Trustee  of  Miles 
Memorial  College  of  Birmingham,  and  founder 
and  trustee  of  the  Good  Shepherd's  Home  of  Dal 
las  County,  Alabama,  Editor  Good  Shepherd's 
Magazine,  and  you  have  the  list  of  services  a  man 
in  quiet  life  can  perform. 

Mr.  Chandler  was  born  on  a  farm  some  six  miles 
from  the  town  of  Talladega.  He  attended  the 
country  school  until  he  was  twelve  years  old,  after 
which  he  entered  the  preparatory  department  in 
Talladega  Coollege.  Five  years  here  fitted  him  in 
a  measure  to  begin  to  earn  a  livelihood. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  left  Talladega  and 
found  employment  in  a  grocery  store.  On  spending 
three  years  at  this  he  became  inspector  for  an  in 
surance  company.  This  position  he  held  for  four 
years.  From  this  date  he  began  his  life  work, 


that  in  connection  with  the  United  Order  of 
Good  Shepherds.  He  is  now  Supreme  Pres 
ident  of  this  organization,  which  operates  pretty 
generally  in  the  South  and  which  owns  some  3100 
acres  of  land  in  Dallas  County,  Alabama,  owns  a 
Shepherd  Home  and  does  a  great  deal  of  useful 
work  among  its  members. 

His  great  achievement  is  the  establishment  of 
this  order.  Mr.  Chandler  founded  this  order  in 
the  town  of  Eufaula,  Alabama,  the  third  Wed 
nesday  in  July,  1904.  Those  who  stood  by  Mr. 
Chandler  and  were  joint  founders  with  him  were 
Clark  Richardson,  Thomas  Williams,  Mary  A.  Jack 
son,  Ellen  Turner,  J.  A.  Ward,  P.  H.  Harmon,  and 
John  L.  Thomas.  The  body  at  that  time  had  one 
little  book  of  eight  pages  and  a  financial  card.  Its 
largest  membership  was  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Very  clearly  re-organization  was  urgent,  if  the 
order  really  hoped  to  take  its  place  among  the 
substantial  orders  of  the  race.  With  some  misgiv 
ing  but  with  ardent  persistence  Mr.  Chandler  set 
to  work.  Exactly  one  year  later  he  called  a  meet 
ing  in  Montgomery,  offered  fifty-six  resolutions, 
one  of  which  let  the  organization  be  incorporated, 
the  membership  had  increased,  confidence  had  been 
gained.  All  that  he  asked  was  done. 

Year  by  year  the  order  began  now  to  gain  more 
members  and  a  wider  usefulness.  It  established  an 
endowment  system  one  year;  another  year  it  rais 
ed  its  policy:  a  third  year  it  established  several 
additional  Fountains,  another  year  it  passed  reso 
lutions  to  buy  and  build  a  home  for  old  and  decrepit 
members,  widows  and  orphans.  With  seven  hun 
dred  dollars  in  his  pocket  Mr.  Chandler  set  forth 
to  buy  land  for  this  home.  Two  thousand  acres 
were  bargained  for  in  Dallas  County,  for  which  a 
first  payment  of  $2000  was  made.  The  order  was 
now  extending  its  arm  into  other  States.  It  had 
Fountains  in  Georgia,  in  Florida,  in  Mississippi,  in 
Oklahoma,  as  well  as  in  Alabama.  In  1910  the 
trustees  added  1060  acres  of  land  to  that  already 
purchased,  making  a  tract  of  3060  acres. 

Thus  has  the  Order  grown  and  fought  its  way  to 
its  feet.  Its  two  farms  have  cost  $36,000  with  in 
terest  at  8%.  The  home  for  the  aged  and  decrepit 
has  been  under  continual  improvement  and  care. 
During  the  last  five  years  more  than  $6.000  has 
been  raised  and  expended  on  the  Home.  All  this 
goes  to  show  that  the  trustees  and  George  W. 
Chandler  have  not  been  idle  to  the  opportunities 
of  the  man  on  the  land.  About  one  thousanrl  acres 
of  the  land  is  improved,  the  remainder  is  good  tim 
ber  land,  land  on  which  flourish  white  oak,  pine, 
poplar,  cedars,  ash  and  red  oak.  Taken  for  all  and 
all,  this  land  which  cost  the  Good  Shepherds  $34,000 
with  interest,  is  now  valued  at  $150.000. 

The  Order  has  gained  the  confidence  and  good 
wishes  of  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Mont- 


30 


NATIONAL  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE   UNITED  ORDER  OF  GOOD  SHEPHERDS 


gomery,  its  headquarters,  both  white  and  black. 
Everywhere,  it  has  kept  its  obligations  and  made 
friends,  and  employed  reliable  people  as  its  rep 
resentatives.  A  letter  from  Bishop  J.  W.  Alstork 
will  illustrate  the  good  standing  the  Order  of  Good 
Shepherds  has  gained  through  the  hard  work  of 
G.  \V.  Chandler. 

Bishop  J.  W.  Alstork  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church 
says  in  part : 

If  men  are  to  be  commended  and  rewarded  for 
what  they  have  done,  you  deserve  a  place  in  the 
first  rank  of  those  who  have  done  something  for 
the  advancement  and  general  uplift  of  the  people. 
1  regard  the  project  of  purchasing  the  Good  Shep 
herd  Home  as  one  of  the  most  advanced  steps  ever 
taken  for  the  race  in  this  Country.  When  it  comes 
to  Agriculture  and  economics  it  stands  far  above 
any  Negro  Society  for  broadness  in  scope  and 
comprehension  in  arrangements. 

Mr.  Chandler  believes  in  real  estate  as  one  of 
the  best  investments  for  anyone,  especially  for  the 
colored  people.  He  believes  that  such  investments 
tend  to  raise  a  man  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellows 


in  a  community,  and  to  make  him  feel  on  the  other 
hand  responsibility.  Through  very  close  economy 
which  he  learned  to  practice  early  in  his  career, 
Mr.  Chandler  has  been  able  to  make  many  very 
happy  investments  in  the  business  of  real  estate. 
His  investments  and  property  holdings  are  rated 
at  $20,000. 

For  both  business  and  pleasure  he  has  been  able 
to  travel  much,  having  covered  practically  all  the 
Southern  States  and  a  few  Northern  States  in  his 
journeys.  Mainly  his  trips  have  been  in  the  in 
terest  of  the  Order  of  the  Good  Shepherds  which 
owes  to  him  much  credit  for  its  success  as  an  or 
ganization. 

Mr.  Chandler's  family  is  small,  consisting  of 
three,  himself,  Mrs.  Chandler  and  daughter.  He 
was  married  in  1904.  Mrs.  Chandler  was  Miss  Liz 
zie  Redding  of  Macon,  Georgia.  The  daughter, 
Nettie  Lena  Chandler,  is  a  pupil  in  school. 

Mr.  Chandler  has  the  confidence  and  the  good 
wishes  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  State  of 
Alabama. 


31 


S.  N.  DICKERSON 


PTIMISM  and  pessimism,  are  to 
be  found  in  all  the  walks  of  life 
and  are  not  confined  to  any  race, 
class  or  profession.  While  this  is 
true  to  find  a  business  enthusiast 
among  the  colored  race  is  a  rarity. 
Such  a  one  is  Samuel  Newton  Dickerson  of 
Talladega,  Ala.  A  business  rather  than  a  profes 
sional  life  appealed  to  him  and  he  has  put  into  his 
business  that  energy,  zeal  and  intelligence  which 
wins  success. 

Mr.  Dickerson  was  born  in  Talladega,  the  city 
where  he  began  his  business  career  and  which  has 
been  the  field  of  his  business  activities. 

He  was  born  at  the  close  of  the  civil  war  and 
received  his  education  at  the  Talladega  College. 
He  first  entered  the  public  school  where  he  was 
prepared  for  the  college  course.  Like  most  young 
colored  men  his  way  to  an  education  was  not  a 
rosy  path. 

The  educational  facilities  of  the  town  were  am 
ple  for  his  purposes  but  the  question  of  a  livelihood 
made  it  difficult  for  him  to  avail  himself  of  them. 
In  addition  to  his  own  support  he  had  the  care  of 
his  mother  and  sister  to  whose  comforts  he  devot- 


ed  his  life.  One  of  his  outstanding  traits  is  his  de 
votion  and  loyalty  to  his  family. 

Difficulties  are  not  fatal  to  a  strong  man  but  act 
as  a  tonic  to  spur  him  on  so  it  is  not  surprising 
that  Mr.  Dickerson  succeeded  in  the  face  of  diffi 
culties  in  securing  an  education. 

Mr.  Dickerson's  first  business  venture  was  that 
of  a  painter  which  he  followed  for  fifteen  years 
from  1890.  He  then  entered  the  Drug  business 
which  he  continued  for  ten  years  with  marked  suc 
cess. 

From  this  line  of  business  he  entered  the  gen 
eral  mercantile  business  which  now  occupies  his 
time  and  attention. 

While  push  is  his  watchword  in  business  con 
servatism  steadies  his  place  and  it  is  to  these  two 
characteristics  that  he  has  scored  so  great  a  suc 
cess. 

Concerning  life  as  a  poor  man  through  thrift 
and  good  management  he  has  accumulated  a  good 
property.  Besides  his  home  he  owns  a  store,  six 
rental  houses,  several  city  lots  and  one  hundred  and 
ten  suburban  lots.  He  also  owns  a  share  of  stock 
in  the  Chinabar  Cotton  Mill. 

He  is  a  great  advocate  of  the  Negro  entering  the 
marts  of  trade  and  encourages  the  establishment  of 
individual  firms  but  his  ideals  of  business  take  a 
wider  range  than  the  individual  and  reaches  out  to 
the  community  life.  He  believes  in  co-operation 
and  takes  the  position  that  the  colored  citizen  has 
a  part  to  play  in  the  development  of  the  civic  life 
of  the  community  and  should  take  part  in  all  en 
terprises  of  a  public  nature  which  has  for  its  end 
the  upbuilding  of  the  community  life. 

He  sees  in  this  way  the  best  method  to  win  re 
cognition  and  respect  for  the  worthy  colored  citi 
zens. 

Mr.  Dickerson's  talent  as  a  business  man  and 
promoter  is  recognized  by  his  friends  who  con 
stantly  come  to  him  for  advice,  and  they  always 
find  in  him  a  friendly  and  sound  adviser. 

Aside  from  his  personal  business  connections  he 
has  headed  a  number  of  business  associations. 

He  has  served  as  President  of  the  Talladega 
Business  League,  President  of  the  Farmers  Invest 
ment  and  Benevolent  Association,  President  of  the 
Negro  Merchant's  Association,  and  Vice-President 
of  the  Alabama  Negro  Business  League.  He  has 
given  murh  time  and  thought  to  these  organiza 
tions  and  they  have  profited  through  his  wise  coun 
sel. 

In  business  matters'he  is  a  leader,  but  in  the  do 
main  of  religion  he  prefers  to  follow.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  does  his  part  in 
keeping  up  the  church  enterprises.  He  is  also  a 
Mason  and  has  served  as  Worshipful  Master  of  the 
Mariah  division. 

Mr.  Dickerson's  home  life  is  happy  though  de 
prived  of  children.  In  1890  he  married  Miss  Alice 
Camp  of  his  home  city.  Although  they  have  no 
children  of  their  own,  childhood  makes  a  strong  ap 
peal  to  them  and  they  spend  much  time  and  money 
in  helping  the  children  of  others.  They  are  the 
children's  friends. 

He  gave  his  sister,  Mrs.  T.  B.  Barnett,  the  best 
of  educational  advantages  and  fitted  her  for  teach 
ing.  She  is  now  a  teacher  in  the  Swayne  College. 
Montgomery,  and  ranks  high  in  the  profession. 


32 


JOHN  WILLIAM  BEVERLY. 

iFORE  SLAVERY  was  abolished 
there  was  born  in  Hale  County, 
Alabama,  not  far  from  Greens 
boro,  a  baby  boy  who  was  destin 
ed  to  play  a  large  part  in  the  edu 
cational  advancement  of  the  col- 

ored  race  of  Alabama.     That  babe 

was  John  William  Beverly. 

Nature  endowed  him  with  a  bright  mind  which 
was  largely  developed  through  the  agency  of  the 
Lincoln  Normal  College,  then  located  at  Greens 
boro,  where  he  received  his  education. 

After  reaching  that  period  of  life  when  he  must 
decide  upon  a  calling  he  chose  the  profession  of 
teaching  and  his  first  work  in  the  school  room  after 
his  graduation  was  at  a  school  near  Demopolis, 
Alabama.  Here  he  served  during  the  years  1886 
and  1887. 

From  1887  to  1890  he  taught  in  the  Lincoln  Nor 
mal  College  and  from  there  he  went  to  Brown 
University,  Providence,  R.  I. 

lie  returned  to  Alabama  in  1894  and  became  the 
Assistant  Principal  of  the  State  Normal  School. 

This  school  was  established  as  Lincoln  Normal 
University  at  Marion,  Perry  County,  by  act  of  the 
Alabama  Legislature  in  1873.  it  was  moved  to 
Montgomery  in  1889  and  the  name  changed  to  its 
present  title. 

When  Professor  William  B.  Patterson,  a  white 
man,  who  for  forty  years  had  presided  over  the 
school  and  contributed  much  to  its  development, 


died  in  the  year  1915,  Prof.  Beverly  was  called  to 
take  his  place  and  since  that  time  he  has  devoted 
his  time,  energy  and  talents  to  its  welfare.  Under 
his  leadership  the  school  has  not  only  maintained 
the  high  standard  to  which  his  predecessor  had 
brought  it  but  has  advanced  beyond  it. 

Having  a  good  foundation  to  build  upon  he  has 
proved  himself  a  master  builder. 

While  his  main  thought  is  concentrated  upon  the 
school  room  his  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  peo 
ple  does  not  end  there.  His  vision  carries  him 
beyond  the  domain  of  the  college  and  he  finds  op 
portunities  to  serve  his  people  on  the  outside 
through  the  medium  of  his  pen, 

He  possesses  exceptional  talent  as  a  writer  and 
it  has  served  him  well  in  the  preparation  of  pamph 
lets  for  distribution  among  those  who  are  denied 
educational  advantages.  In  this  way  many  who 
are  denied  privileges  are  kept  in  touch  with  the  ed 
ucational  progress  of  the  day  and  are  influenced  to 
make  sacrifice  in  the  interest  of  the  education  of 
the  children. 

He  is  the  editor  of  "Practical  Ethics  for  Children" 
and  "Guide  to  the  English  Oration." 

His  writings  have  taken  a  broad  range  but  pos 
sibly  the  work  which  has  brought  him  into  greater 
prominence  as  a  writer  is  his  History  of  Alabama. 
This  work  has  been  adopted  by  the  State  Board  as 
a  supplementary  study  of  Alabama  History,  Prof- 
fessor  Beverly  is  a  man  of  deep  thought  and  con 
siders  well  his  plans  before  executing  them. 

He  is  a  farmer  and  owns  and  cultivates  farms  in 
Elmore  and  Montgomery  Counties.  He  has  studi 
ed  closely  the  advanced  theories  of  farming  and 
has  watched  their  practical  test  and  has  adopted 
those  which  appealed  to  his  judgment.  In  this 
way  he  has  brought  his  farming  operations  to  a 
higher  standard  of  success. 

He  owns  his  home  which  is  located  at  105  Tatum 
Street,  Montgomery,  the  refined  elegance  of  which 
is  the  reflection  of  the  refined  taste  of  the  occu 
pant. 

Associated  with  Professor  Beverly  in  the  opera 
tion  of  the  State  Normal  Institute  are  a  corps  of 
teachers,  gifted  in  their  particular  branches  and 
who  render  valuable  assistance  to  the  Principle  in 
promoting  the  welfare  of  the  college. 

Through  the  splendid  system  of  operation  put 
into  effect  by  the  Principle  and  forcibly  carried  out 
by  the  faculty,  the  pupils  are  thoroughly  equipped 
to  fill  their  places  in  life  in  their  chosen  fields  of 
endeavor. 

The  faculty  of  the  State  Normal  College  is  as 
follows:  J.  W.  Beverly,  Principal;  Annie  W. 
Doak,  Secretary;  Mary  L.  Strong.  Literature; 
Rev.  E.  E.  Scott,  History;  Miss  Mary  F.  Mon 
roe.  Mathematics;  J.  L.  Kilpatrick,  Science;  Venus 
H.  Lewis,  Supervisor  Study  room  ;  Albert  H.  Bev 
erly,  English  ;  Christine  L.  Graves,  English  ;  Rosa 
L.  Shaw,  Drawing;  Gertrude  L.  Watkins,  Domestic 
Science;  Josie  Murray,  Domestic  Art;  E.  M.  Lewis, 
Carpentry ;  Annie  L.  Brown,  Music ;  Bertha  L. 
Smith,  Supervisor  of  Model  School  and  Peda 
gogics;  11.  S.  Murphy,  Agriculture;  Camille  High- 
tower,  Sewing  and  Physical  Culture;  Minnie  J. 
Lewis,  first  grade;  josie  Govan,  second  grade; 
Bertha  West,  third  grade;  Merillo  T.  Garner, 
fourth  grade;  Dora  D.  Beverly,  fifth  grade;  Bessie 
L.  Nelms,  sixth  grade ;  Mary  F.  Terrell,  seventh 
grade ;  M.  J.  Moore,  eighth  grade. 


• 


LINCOLN  LACONIA  BURWELL,  M.  D. 

INCOLN  LACONIA  BURWELL, 
of  Selma,  AlaDama,  is,  like  the 
other  professional  men  in  these 
pages,  an  answer  to  the  query : 
"We  give  money  to  educate  Ne 
groes,  but  what  becomes  of  them 
afterwards?" 

As  a  boy  in  Marengo  County,  Alabama,  where 
he  was  born,  he  was  all  but  destitute.  He  was 
given  away  to  rear  when  eight  years  old,  to  his 
brother,  Charles  A.  Burwell.  While  working  on 
the  farm  in  the  usual  way  of  a  country  boy,  he 
showed  ability  to  grasp  more  than  the  rural  school 
had  to  offer. 

Accordingly,  in  1883,  he  went  to  the  Alabama 
Baptist  Normal  and  Theological  School,  now  Sel 
ma  University.  By  1886  he  finished  the  college 
preparatory  course  as  valedictorian  of  the  class.  In 
the  same  year  he  entered  the  Leonard  Medical  Col 
lege,  Shaw  University,  Raleigh.  North  Carolina, 
completed  in  three  years  the  course  in  medicine 
which  usually  covers  four  years.  Here,  again,  he 
was  valedictorian. 

With  no  money  and  no  backing  Dr.  Burwell  re 
turned  to  Selma.  At  first  he  worked  as  a  pharma 
cist.  Having  an  opportunity  to  buy  a  business,  he 


entered  into  a  partnership  to.  ...purchase...  .a  drug 
store  equipment  and  stock.  He  borrowed  one  hun 
dred  dollars,  which  each  partner  was  to  pay  in 
cash,  from  his  brother-in-law,  and  gave  notes  for 
the  balance.  In  a  little  while,  however,  he  sold  his 
share,  and  devoted  all  his  attention  to  the  practice 
of  medicine.  Four  months  after  this  step,  the 
business  failed.  But  Dr.  Burwell  felt  that  the  col 
ored  people  ought  to  have  a  place  to  have  their 
prescriptions  filled  and  to  get  soda  water  without 
embarrassment,  and  therefore  set  up  a  business 
for  himself.  The  store  was  a  room,  twelve  feet  by 
fourteen,  which  he  built  near  his  home.  Perfume 
bottles  took  the  place  of  regular  stock  bottles,  and 
the  tinctures  were  made  in  spare  hours. 

As  the  business  grew  Dr.  Burwell  moved,  always 
getting  larger  quarters  and  nearer  the  center  of 
town.  On  April  20,  1895,  when  steady  develop 
ment  had  brought  much  increased  volume,  the  drug 
store  was  destroyed  by  fire.  In  two  months,  how 
ever,  the  store  was  open  again,  notwithstanding 
the  small  insurance.  In  1904  he  put  up  a  splendid 
brick  structure  opposite  the  City  Buildings  in  the 
business  section  of  Selma.  Here  are  all  the  attrac 
tions  and  accommodations  that  the  best  drug 
stores  anywhere  offer,  with  four  persons  regularly 
employed.  There  is  a  large  soda  fountain,  chairs 
and  tables  in  the  center  of  the  room,  telephone 
booth,  offices  for  medical  consultation  and  treat 
ment.  Everything  is  so  well  arranged  and  kept 
that  it  makes  a  Negro  a  little  proud  of  himself 
just  to  enter  here. 

Dr.  Burwell  has  constantly  kept  in  view  his  duty 
of  service  to  his  fellows.  Educated  under  Christian 
auspices,  he  felt,  indeed  he  knew,  that  accomplish 
ment,  talent,  knowledge,  and  wealth  were  but 
loans  to  be  repaid  in  helping  others.  So,  he  taught 
pharmacy  to  Drs.  G.  W.  Clark.  T.  L.  A.  Tomlinson 
and  C.  W.  Reid.  These  young  men  were  thus  able 
to  pass  the  Alabama  Pharmacy  Board  without  the 
expense  of  attending  the  schools.  Several  others, 
now  doctors,  were  able  to  shorten  their  course  in 
college  because  of  help  from  him. 

In  the  late  nineties,  yellow  fever  invaded  the 
lower  South,  and,  of  course  struck  Selma.  The  rich 
and  well-to-do  fled  northward,  leaving  their  homes 
and  property  to  the  mercy  of  those  who  remained. 
The  white  citizens  organized  a  protective  league  to 
see  that  no  vandalism  was  practised  in  the  citv. 
Dr.  Burwell  organized  a  similar  league  among  the 
colored  people,  which  detailed  seven  men  to  patrol 
the  colored  sections  and  any  other  district  assign 
ed  to  them.  No  vandalism  was  practiced,  and  both 
races  to  this  day  point  to  the  incident  with  pride. 
Another  evidence  of  the  public  spirit  of  our  sub 
ject  is  the  fact  that  he  raised  a  group  of  thirty 
three  men  who  enlisted  in  Company  C.  Third  Ala 
bama  Volunteers,  for  service  in  the  Spanish- 
American  War. 


34 


BURWELL'S   INFIRMARY 

Notwithstanding  the  heavy  burden  of  business 
activities,  Dr.  Burwell  does  not  neglect  his 
religious  duties.  He  is  a  devout  Christian  work 
er.  During  the  twenty-seven  years  of  his  life  in 
Selma  his  interest  has  constantly  followed  both 
church  and  school.  For  thirteen  years  he  was  Sec 
retary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Selma  Uni 
versity,  of  which  he  is  still  a  member,  giving  to  his 
Alma  Mater  time  and  service  and  often  carrying 
financial  responsibilities  with  no  thought  of  re 
turn. 

The  city  of  Selma  is  one  of  the  few  in  which 
Negroes  have  an  infirmary.  The  average  colored 
patient  must  stav  at  home,  however  inconvenient  it 
may  be  for  him,  and  expose  his  family.  Dr.  Bur- 
well  it  was  who  founded  the  infirmary  in  Selma 
in  1907,  providing  competent  trained  nurses  to  give 
the  colored  people  the  same  chance  at  health  and 
recovery  that  others  may  have.  At  present,  be 
sides  the  founder,  nine  white  physicians  take  their 
colored  patients  here  for  operation  and  treatment. 
Incidentally,  this  is  no  inconsiderable  haven  for  the 
Negro  nurses. 

When  Dr.  Burwell  announced  the  opening  of 
the  Infirmary,  an  announcement  which  gave  him 
no  little  pleasure,  as  it  voiced  the  consummation 
of  a  noble  achievement,  he  took  occasion  to  speak 


of  another  of  his  enterprises  in  the  following  sig 
nificant  words : 

"With  a  big  store  erected  and  paid  for,  where  the 
Negro  can  come  and  does  come,  without  any  timi 
dity  or  fear,  with  such  business  as  gives  employ 
ment  to  four  Negroes  daily,  and  with  six  young 
men  inspired  and  prepared  to  do  life's  work  as  they 
may  choose,  the  fondest  hope  of  what  I  wanted  to 
do  for  my  race  is  realized." 

These  words  evince  a  commendable  pride  for 
achievements  in  the  interest  of  his  race. 

Dr.  Burwell  possessed  of  a  zeal  in  the  interest 
of  his  people  and  devoting  much  of  his  time  and 
talent  to  their  advancement  was  not  unmindful  of 
his  life  calling  and  the  steady  development  of  his 
practice  bears  testimony  to  his  popularity  as  a 
physician. 

With  all  these  big  things.  Dr.  Burwell  is  a  rather 
intense  family  man.  You  will  not  talk  with  him 
long  before  you  are  informed  that  to  Mrs.  Burwell, 
who  was  Miss  Lavinia  Richardson,  is  due  the  great 
est  credit  for  his  success.  His  two  daughters  were 
educated  in  Oberlin,  Ohio.  Miss  Almedia  L.  Bur- 
well  was  graduated  from  the  College,  having  taken 
also  extensive  work  in  the  Conservatory  of  Music 
of  the  same  institution.  She  is  now  "teacher  of 
music  in  the  Florida  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 
College,  Tallahassee,  Florida.  The  other  daughter, 
Miss  Elezora  L.  Burwell,  is  interested  in  business 


DR.  BURWELL'S  RESIDENCE 


DR.    BURWELL'S    LIBRARY 

She  was  graduated  from  the  Oberlin  Business  Col 
lege  in  1915,  and  is  now  Secretary  to  the  President 
df  Selma  Univeristy. 

Thus  it  appears  that  this  man,  starting  rather 
destitute  in  Marengo  County,  has  given  a  good 
account  of  his  stewardship.  Being  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  State  Convention  of  the  Order  of 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  trustee  of 
Selma  University,  builder  of  a  big  drug  store  busi 
ness,  helper  of  the  poor  student  and  the  poor  peo 
ple,  founder  and  promoter  of  a  Negro  infirmary,  he 
has  certainly  earned  the  title  of  big  and  public- 
spirited  citizen.  Add  to  this  the  splendid  education 
of  his  children  and  his  erection  of  one  of  the  finest 
homes  in  Selma,  and  you  will  see  why  Dr.  Burwell 
is  pointed  to  with  pride  by  members  of  the  race, 
and  you  will  also  read  the  answer  to  the  query 
with  which  we  began. 


35 


WILLIAM  HENRY  COLEMAN,  M.  D. 

R.  WILLIAM  HENRY  COLEMAN 
of  Bessemer,  Alabama,  follow 
ed  in  the  wake  of  many  of  our 
leading  men  in  getting  his  educa 
tion,  only  he  used  a  greater  varie 
ty  of  occupations  perhaps  than 

most  of    those    who    have    made 

their  way  from  the  bottom.  Born  in  Montgomery, 
Alabama,  January  9th  1877  he  attended  school  for 
a  while  in  his  native  city. 

Finishing  such  training  as  he  could  get  here  at 
that  time  he  became  a  student  in  Payne  University, 
Selma,  Alabama.  From  Payne  he  finally  made  his 
way  into  Meharry  Medical  College  at  Nashville, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1900. 

His  ambition  to  fit  himself  for  the  medical  pro 
fession  did  not  lead  him  along  a  smooth  path  but 
he  won  the  victory  when  he  formed  the  purpose  to 
succeed  and  his  subsequent  efforts  were  more  inci 
dents  in  his  plan. 

In  order  to  complete  the  courses  both  in  college 
and  medicine  he  found  it  necessary  to  put  his  hand 
to  a  variety  of  tasks.  One  session  he  taught  school 
but  the  revenue  from  this  source  was  inadequate  to 
meet  his  expenses  so  he  gave  up  this  employment 
and  sought  another.  His  next  employment  was 
that  of  Bell  boy  in  a  hotel  and  while  not  so  digni 
fied  a  position  as  teaching  school  it  added  to  his  in 
come  and  served  his  purposes  better. 

From  Hotel  bellman  he  became  a  Pullman  porter, 


covering  in  his  journeys  the  greater  part  of  the 
United  States  and  going  into  Canada  and  into  Mex 
ico. 

From  this  latter  work  he  was  enabled  to  save 
sufficient  money  to  pursue  and  finish  his  medical 
studies,  though  he  had  to  practice  the  greatest 
economy  and  added  to  his  fund  by  working  as  jan 
itor  of  the  college  and  filling  other  posts  that  would 
yield  him  a  penny  to  carry  forward  his  education. 
Having  to  work  hard  for  an  education  lie  learned  to 
appreciate  its  value  more  and  the  very  sacrifices  he 
made  to  secure  it  added  to  its  impelling  forces 
in  his  after  life.  Graduating  from  Meharry  in  1900, 
he  first  began  practice  in  Crawfordsville.  Arkan 
sas.  While  the  life  of  a  country  physician  brought 
a  rich  reward  in  health  and  strength  he  felt 
the  call  of  a  larger  field  and  so  after  one  years  re 
sidence  in  Crawfordsville  he  removed  to  Bessemer, 
Alabama,  where  he  opened  an  office  in  1901  and 
where  he  has  continued  to  reside  until  now. 

His  practice  has  grown  wonderfully  during  his 
eighteen  years  residence  in  Bessemer  as  lias  his 
popularity  as  a  man  and  physician.  He  is  inured 
to  hard  work  and  notwithstanding  his  large  prac 
tice  he  finds  time  to  devote  to  his  social,  civic  and 
religious  duties. 

He  is  an  active  churchman  and  makes  his  per 
sonality  felt  in  the  religious  body  to  which  he  be 
longs,  Allen  Temple  A.  M.  K.  Church. 

He  is  also  actively  identified  with  a  number  of 
secret  orders,  the  Masons,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Mo 
saic  Templers  and  others. 

While  giving  close  attention  to  his  patients  and 
not  neglecting  the  manifold  duties  crowding  into 
the  life  of  busy  men  he  still  continues  his  studies 
and  often  the  product  of  his  pen  finds  its  way  to 
the  medical  journals. 

He  made  it  a  rule  to  consider  the  problems  of  life 
with  calmness  and  wisdom  and  never  to  yield  to  the 
suggestions  of  worry.  He  realized  that  all  action 
is  followed  by  equal  reaction  and  so  he  fortified 
himself  against  all  depressive  influences. 

The  reason  why  he  is  enabled  to  accomplish  so 
much  is  that  he  carefully  plans  his  work  and  works 
to  a  definite  point. 

One  of  his  theories  is,  that  the  margin  between 
success  and  failure  is  very  small  and  that  success  is 
not  so  much  due  to  great  ability  as  the  use  you 
make  of  the  ability  you  have,  whether  it  be  great 
or  small. 

He  loves  his  profession  and  has  given  to  it  the 
best  that  is  in  him. 

The  domestic  life  of  Dr.  Coleman  is  very  happy 
and  it  is  an  abiding  joy  to  care  for  his  aged  mother, 
who  makes  her  home  with  him. 

He  was  married  in  1914  to  Miss  Mattie  Kirk- 
patrick  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  who  is  a  help  meet 
in  every  sense  of  the  word. 

They  live  in  a  modern  home  worth  about  $5000.00 
and  have  investments  in  both  residence  and  busi 
ness  property. 

The  atmosphere  of  hospitality  and  good  will  per 
vades  their  home. 


36 


ARTHUR  WILLIS  DAVIS,  B.  S.,  M.  D. 

N  the  year  1875,  in  Marion  Ala 
bama,  Dr.  Arthur  Willis  Davis 
was  born.  At  that  time  for  a 
black  man  to  aspire  to  the  study 
of  medicine  was  to  approach  a 
field  shrouded  in  awe  and  mys 
tery.  Hut  notwithstanding'  the  veil  of  mystery 
covering  the  profession,  Dr.  Davis  decided  to  enter 
its  domain. 

The  facilities  offered  to  the  colored  youth  in  this 
line  of  endeavor  in  his  section  of  the  country  was 
much  beclouded,  the  teachers  few  and  not  espe 
cially  competent,  which  made  the  road  that  young 
Davis  had  to  travel  to  reach  his  aspiration  full  of 
difficulties. 

Difficulties  discourage  the  weak  but  brace  the 
strong  so  Dr.  Davis  made  his  way  through  them 
to  a  gratifying  success. 

Marion,  the  birth  place  of  Dr.  Davis  and  where 
he  received  a  public  school  education,  was  an  edu 
cational  center,  the  very  atmosphere  of  the  place 
breathing  the  spirit  of  education,  which  no  doubt 
contributed  to  his  aspirations.  He  had  seen  many 
young  men  and  women  leave  the  educational  insti 
tutions  located  there  achieve  success  in  life  and 


naturally  he  attributed  their  success  to  the  prepa 
ration  they  had  received  in  college.  He  formed  the 
determination  to  secure  a  good  education  himself 
and  having  come  to  that  decision  he  left  home  in 
search  of  his  goal. 

He  first  attended  the  Talladega  College  at  Tal- 
ladega,  Alabama,  where  he  received  his  B.  S.  de 
gree. 

He  specialized  in  the  sciences  for  the  good  it 
would  serve  him  in  his  life  work. 

After  completing  his  course  at  Talladega  Col 
lege  he  next  entered  Meharry  Medical  College  and 
completed  his  course  of  study  there  in  1903. 

He  was  now  ready  to  hang  out  his  shingle  and  in 
casting  about  for  a  place  to  begin  his  life  work 
his  eyes  turned  towards  his  native  State,  ambi 
tious  alike  to  serve  his  own  people  as  well  as  him 
self. 

Tuscumbia  won  his  favor  and  it  was  in  this  town 
that  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  which 
extended  to  the  near-by  City  of  Sheffield. 

It  proved  to  be  a  wise  choice.  In  the  section  he 
had  selected  as  a  field  of  labor  the  colored  man  liv 
ed  in  great  numbers  and  stood  together  in  all 
efforts  towards  advancement.  It  is  hardly  neces 
sary  to  add  that  he  soon  had  a  number  of  patients. 

When  he  opened  his  office  in  Tuscumbia  his  sole 
wealth  was  $25.  This  nest  egg  has  multiplied 
many  times. 

After  fourteen  years  of  practice  his  list  of  assets 
show  that  he  owns  a  comfortable  home,  a  drug 
store  and  stock,  two  farms  and  a  residence  in  Shef 
field  which  he  rents.  To  have  accumulated  such  a 
property  in  so  short  a  time  shows  business  ability 
as  well  as  professional  skill.  He  had  learned  the 
art  of  saving  which  is  the  first  lesson  in  permanent 
success. 

His  term  at  the  Talladega  College  left  a  religious 
impress  upon  his  life  which  remained  with  him.  In 
his  religious  belief  he  is  a  Corigregationalist  though 
in  sympathy  with  all  religious  bodies. 

In  Fraternal  matters  Dr.  Davis  is  a  Mason  and 
a  member  of  the  Mosaic  Templars. 

He  is  the  State  medical  examiner  for  the  Mosaic 
Templars  and  is  also  the  medical  examiner  for  the 
Conservative  Life  Insurance  Company  of  West 
Virginia,  the  Standard  Life  Insurance  Company  of 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  for  the  Lincoln  Reserve 
Company  of  Birmingham,  Alabama. 

Dr.  Davis  was  married  December  26th,  1905,  to 
Miss  Hattie  Lee  Jackson  of  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
a  Christmas  gift,  which  has  always  appealed  to  his 
heart.  They  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  who 
makes  sunshine  in  their  home. 

Miss  Sadie  May  Davis  is  still  a  young  Miss  in 
school,  seeking  like  her  father  to  fit  herself  for  a 
life  of  service.  No  doubt  under  his  guiding  hand 
she  will  find  her  place  and  (ill  it  with  the  same 
credit  that  he  has  filled  his. 


JAMES  OLIVER  DIFFAY. 


NE  of  the  quietest,  most  courteous 
and  most  humble  men  of  Birming 
ham,  Alabama  is  J.  O.  Diffay.  Mr. 
Diffay  has  the  habit,  more  com 
mon  in  the  country  than  in  town, 

of   seeing   strangers.     In   a   quiet, 

easy  way  he  soon  manages  to  get  them  by  the  hand 
to  find  out  what  they  are  looking  for  and  to  help 
them  secure  the  object  of  their  search,  whether  this 
be  a  lodging  house,  a  good  meal,  a  business  prop 
osition  or  a  railway  station. 

Of  course  there  is  more  or  less  reason  for  this 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  Diffay.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest 
citizens  of  the  giant  Southern  city.  He  knew  Bir 
mingham  when  the  town  was  near  rural,  when 
there  were  few  if  any  street  lights,  no  cars  or  tax- 
icabs,  and  no  street  signs  to  guide  the  stranger. 

How  rural  it  was  is  brought  out  by  a  few  facts 
of  Mr.  Diffay's  early  childhood.  Mr.  Diffay  was 
born  back  in  the  early  sixties  in  what  is  now  Bir 
mingham.  He  attended  the  county  school  up  to 
the  fifth  grade,  attending  about  4  months  in  the 
year.  While  going  to  school  Mr.  Diffay  worked  on 
the  farm.  Thus  the  setting  hereabout  was  closely 
akin  to  rural  in  Mr.  Diffay's  early  days. 


At  the  age  of  twenty-four  Mr.  Diffay  entered 
the  business  of  selling  produce.  Finding  this  not 
so  much  to  his  liking  he  next  set  up  a  barber  shop 
for  colored  people  and  set  out  to  grow  with  the 
town.  Mr.  Diffay  always  felt  that  the  colored  peo 
ple  should  have  just  as  attractive  shop,  just  as  com 
petent  and  polite  service  as  any  other  people.  Thus 
as  Birmingham  grew  he  improved  his  shop.  Here 
is  a  $10,000  emporium  with  some  twelve  odd  revolv 
ing  chairs,  large  mirrors,  hot  and  cold  water, 
baths,  electric  fans,  pool  room  parlors,  social  club, 
indeed  all  that  makes  a  barber  shop  pleasant  to  look 
upon  and  a  refreshing  place  to  visit.  Twelve  bar 
bers,  neat  and  alert,  are  employed  steadily  here  to 
wait  on  the  colored  customers.  Probably  taken 
all  in  all  there  is  nowhere  a  better  shop  for  col 
ored  people  than  this  of  Mr.  Diffay's  in  Birming 
ham. 

For  years  Mr.  Diffay  labored  here,  working  be 
hind  the  chair  himself  superintending  his  helpers, 
acting  as  cashier  and  watching  for  and  putting  in 
improvements.  His  big  shop  in  recent  years  has 
become  well  known,  his  business  secure."  He  has 
therefore  for  a  good  while  been  free  to  look  about 
the  city,  to  watch  the  progress  of  the  people  and  to 
play  a  formidable  part  in  the  growth  of  Negro  bus 
iness.  Finding  himself  comparatively  free,  Mr. 
Diffay  turned  much  attention  to  real  estate,  with 
the  result  that  before  the  hard  times  came  on  his 
business  in  real  estate  almost  rivaled  that  in  the 
barber  shop. 

When  the  late  Dr.  Pettiford,  sometimes  spoken 
of  as  the  "Nestor  of  Negro  Bankers,"  started  the 
Penny  Savings  Bank,  Mr.  Diffay  was  among  the 
first  whose  good  will  and  cooperation  were  sought. 
He  seconded  Dr.  Pettiford  in  all  his  actions,  was 
for  years  the  vice-president  of  the  bank.  When  Dr. 
Pettiford  died,  Mr.  Diffay  succeeded  him,  becoming 
president  of  the  Alabama  Penny  Savings  Bank  and 
the  Prudential  Bank  which  had  combined  their  in 
terests. 

Though  his  education  was  not  far  advanced  dur 
ing  his  youth,  Mr.  Diffay,  besides  the  advantages 
of  very  good  local  contact,  has  embraced  every 
chance  of  self-improvement.  He  is  especially  zeal 
ous  of  race  education,  of  knowing  what  colored 
people  are  really  doing.  Then,  you  will  find  him  in 
a  teachers  convention,  a  farmers'  conference,  a  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  cabinet  meeting,  a  doctor's  gathering,  lis 
tening  and  quietly  questioning.  In  this  way  he 
keeps  himself  young,  well  informed  and  surrounded 
by  a  host  of  warm  friends. 

These  meetings  are  not  on  Mr.  Diffay's  required 
list.  His  Grand  Lodge  meetings,  his  church  meet 
ings  are.  Few  men  are  seen  oftener  in  their  pews 
of  the  famous  16th  Street  Baptist  Church  than  Mr. 
Diffay.  Few  are  more  liberal  towards  it  with  sup 
port,  time  and  counsel  than  he. 

Mr.  Diffay  owns  and  lives  in  a  beautiful  new 
home  near  the  rush  of  the  city,  yet  removed  from 
the  noise  of  traffic  and  cars.  Here  Mrs.  Diffay,  for 
merly  Miss  Soselle  Bradford,  makes  stranger  or 
friend  feel  perfectly  at  case.  Indeed,  the  Diffays 
have  a  cordial  way  of  turning  you  loose,  to  go  when 
you  please  and  where  you  please  and  to  come  back 
when  you  please.  Very  likely  there  is  no  colored 
man  in  Birmingham  who  has  made  as  many  friends 
for  the  city  as  has  J.  O.  Diffay. 


DARIUS    H.    HENRY,   D.   D. 

R.  Darius  H.  Henry  is  a  type  of 
that  Emersonian  American  who 
does  a  great  many  things  pretty 
well.  He  has  taught  school,  been 
a  farm  demonstrator,  an  editor 
and  a  pastor.  Of  these  he  still 
holds  one  or  two  pastorates  and  he  still  farms. 

Dr.  Henry  was  born  in  1866  in  Coy,  Alabama. 
At  a  tender  age  he  was  given  to  his  grandparents 
who  spared  no  pains  in  trying  to  train  him  up  in 
the  fear  of  God  and  educate  him  to  become  a  useful 
citizen.  To  them  he  owes  all  his  education  and  all 
the  inspiration  that  he  received  in  his  youth.  The 
lad  was  first  sent  to  the  public  school  of  Coy,  Ala 
bama  where  he  remained  till  he  needed  more  ad 
vanced  work  and  he  was  then  sent  to  the  public 
school  at  Camden,  Alabama.  From  Camden  he  en 
tered  Tuskegee  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute 
and  was  graduated  from  the  Normal  department 
in  1890. 

On  leaving  Tuskegee.  Dr.  Henry  returned  to  his 
native  town,  Coy,  and  for  two  years  taught  the 
public  school  there.  Thinking  to  enlarge  his  use 
fulness  and  better  himself  at  the  same  time,  he  left 
Coy  and  went  to  Avenger.  Texas.  Here  for  five 
years  he  taught  the  public  school  and,  with  Mr.  J. 
W.  Friday  edited  a  school  Medical  Journal.  He  was 


later  editor-in-chief  of  the  Watchman,  a  paper  pub 
lished  in  Texarkana. 

Giving  up  his  work  as  editor  and  teacher  in  Tex 
as,  Dr.  Henry  returned  to  Alabama,  to  Coy,  and 
began  to  farm.  Dr.  Henry  owns  his  own  farm  of 
1240  acres,  and  valued  at  $25.00  per  acre  and  runs  it 
himself.  His  average  cotton  yield  is  seventy-five 
bales  a  year.  He  runs  on  his  plantation  a  saw  mill, 
a  ginnery  and  a  grist  mill.  In  the  ginnery  alone  he 
does  a  great  business,  for  there  passes  through  his 
mill  from  250  to  300  bales  of  cotton  a  year.  Mr. 
Henry  has  not  neglected  to  put  around  himself  and 
family  all  the  comforts  of  country  life.  The  fam 
ily  lives  in  their  own  home  which  is  valued  at  $1800 
and  they  have  around  them  all  those  comforts  of 
fruit  trees,  vines,  garden  and  stock  that  make  life 
in  the  rural  districts  content.  Indeed  so  successful 
has  Dr.  Henry  been  as  a  farmer  that  the  late  Dr. 
Washington  once  sent  him  to  a  Governor  of  Ala 
bama  as  an  example  of  Negro  progress  in  agricul 
ture.  For  two  years  he  served  the  Government  of 
his  country  as  United  States  Demonstration  Agent 
in  Wilcox  County. 

Dr.  Henry's  work  as  pastor  is  not  eclipsed  by  his 
labors  as  a  farmer.  He  was  introduced  to  the 
Baptist  State  Convention  by  the  Rev.  L.  S.  Stein- 
bach.  And  he  has  proven  worthy  of  the  trust  put 
in  him.  He  is  a  member  of  and  pastor  of  the  Little 
Zion  Baptist  Church,  at  Coy,  Alabama,  his  native 
home.  Dr.  Henry  divides  his  time  as  pastor  with 
the  Magnolia  Baptist  Church  at  Camden,  where  as 
a  boy  he  attended  school.  Nor  is  the  labor  of  Dr. 
Henry  confined  solely  to  his  locality.  He  is  Mod 
erator  of  the  Star  Hope  Association  of  his  section 
and  he  was  for  eighteen  years  clerk  of  this  asso 
ciation.  He  has  served  on  boards  for  the  asocia- 
tion  and  for  the  convention  as  well.  Indeed  so 
freely  has  Dr.  Henry  given  himself  to  the  cause 
of  the  Baptists  of  the  state  and  so  great  has  been 
his  development  along  these  lines  that  Selma  Uni 
versity  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  in  recognition  of  his  growth  and  of  his 
service. 

In  fraternal  membership  Dr.  Henry  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  Lodge  195  of  Coy,  Alabama,  and  to  the 
Eastern  Star  75.  He  is  Master  of  the  former  and 
Worthy  Patron  of  the  latter.  Dr.  Henry  was 
married  in  1897  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Brewer.  There 
are  no  children  in  the  Henry  family. 

When  it  was  known  that  I.  T.  Vernon  was  to  re 
sign  his  post  as  Register  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  Dr.  Henry's  friends  highly  recommend 
ed  him  for  the  vacancy.  This  application  was  en 
dorsed  by  both  Democrats  and  Republicans  as  well 
as  the  leading  colored  men  of  Alabama.  His  cre 
dentials  arrived  too  late  but  the  effort  served  to 
show  him  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held 
bv  his  fellow  citizens. 


39 


WILLIAM   J.   EDWARDS 

MONG  the  men  who  sat  under 
Booker  T.  Washington  and 
caught  his  vision  of  service  in  the 
uplift  of  the  unfortunate  in  out- 
of-the-way  places,  William  J. 
Edwards  is  a  brilliant  example. 
Born  in  Snow  Hill,  Wilcox  County,  Alabama,  in 
the  year  1870,  his  career  has  been  marked  with  pri 
vation  and  difficulties  almost  impassable.  Diffi 
culties  either  make  or  break  a  man  and  in  the  case 
of  Professor  Edwards  they  proved  his  making. 

His  mother  died  when  he  was  only  twelve  months 
old  and  his  father  left  Snow  Hill  when  he  was 
about  six  years  of  age  and  in  a  short  while  the 
message  came  that  he  too  was  dead.  Left  an  or 
phan  at  the  early  age  of  six  he  was  placed  in  the 
care  of  his  old  grand-mother  who  did  her  best  to 
meet  the  responsibility  and  provide  for  the  devel 
opment  of  his  mind  as  well  as  his  body. 

She  sent  him  to  the  neighboring  school  but  often 
with  only  bread  for  his  lunch.  The  lack  of  food, 
however,  did  not  quench  the  thirst  for  knowledge 
and  he  applied  himself  to  his  books  with  great 
energy  and  determination. 

When  he  reached  the  age  of  twelve  this  friend 
and  protector  was  also  taken  from  him  and  he  was 


left  to  shift  for  himself.  Perplexed  and  almost 
bewildered  he  consulted  a  minister  in  the  com 
munity  and  through  him  learned  of  the  Tuskegee 
Institute.  He  at  once  determined  to  attend  this 
school  and  in  order  to  provide  the  means  for  his 
tuition  he  rented  two  acres  of  land,  cultivated  it 
and  in  the  fall  when  his  crop  was  gathered  he  en 
tered  the  Institution.  He  not  only  entered  the 
school  but  finished  his  course  and  finally  stood  out 
side  of  its  walls  to  face  the  problem  which  con 
fronts  most  young  men  who  graduate  and  are 
ready  to  take  up  the  active  duties  of  life.  "What 
next?"  Law  and  the  Ministry  both  made  a  strong 
appeal  to  him  and  he  gave  them  the  closest  con 
sideration  but  the  vision  of  service  to  the  unfor 
tunate  which  Booker  T.  Washington  had  placed 
before  his  mind  had  gotten  too  strong  a  hold  upon 
him  to  be  easily  cast  off  so  it  decided  his  life  work. 
The  outcome  of  this  plan  was  the  founding  of  the 
Snow  Hill  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute. 

When  his  purpose  was  formed  his  mind  instinc 
tively  turned  towards  Snow  Hill,  the  place  of  his 
boyhood  struggles.  He  moved  cautiously,  how 
ever,  not  wishing  to  make  a  mistake  at  the  incep 
tion  of  his  plans.  He  wanted  to  be  sure  of  his 
ground.  To  this  end  he  canvassed  several  of  the 
Black  belt  centers,  noting  the  condition  of  the  peo 
ple,  the  relation  of  the  races  and  the  educational 
advantages  enjoyed  by  them. 

When  he  first  went  to  the  Tuskegee  Institute  he 
made  most  of  the  journey  on  foot  and  the  initial 
journey  through  the  counties  of  the  black  belt  in 
the  interest  of  his  proposed  enterprise  was  made  in 
a  like  manner.  It  was  best  to  travel  in  this  way 
from  two  standpoints.  It  was  cheaper,  and  money 
was  a  consideration  with  him  at  that  time,  and  by 
this  method  of  travel  it  gave  him  an  opportunity  to 
meet  more  of  the  people  among  whom  he  hoped  to 
labor. 

The  result  of  this  journey  decided  him  where  to 
locate  his  school  and  also  determined  its  character. 

He  found  that  there  was  a  colored  population  in 
the  Snow  Hill  district  of  more  than  200,000  and  a 
school  population  of  85.499.  The  people  he  found 
to  be  ignorant  and  superstitious  and  that  strictly 
speaking  there  were  no  public  schools  and  but  one 
private  one.  That  they  were  being  taught  by  min 
isters  and  teachers  not  far  above  them  in  intelli 
gence. 

Visions  are  given  us  to  inspire  to  noble  effort 
so  Professor  Edwards  immediately  set  to  work  to 
translate  his  vision  into  reality  and  the  Snow  Hill 
Normal  and  Industrial  Institute  is  the  monument 
to  his  labors.  To  this  institution  he  has  given  his 
life.  He  has  expanded  it,  developed  its  courses, 
added  many  buildings  and  best  of  all  has  realized 
his  dream  of  a  school  for  the  people. 

The  founder  of  this  school  must  have  kept  before 
his  mind  the  line  "Tall  oaks  from  little  acorns 
grow"  and  had  learned  well  the  lesson  "not  to  de 
spise  the  day  of  small  things."  When  his  school 
started  in  the  year  1894  its  housing  was  an  old  log 
cabin,  its  teaching  force  one  and  the  number  of 


40 


SNOW  HILL  NORMAL  AND  INDUSTRIAL  INSTITUTE 


pupils  three.  This  equipment  backed  by  a  capital 
of  fifty  cents  marked  its  modest  beginning. 

By  the  way  of  contrast  we  quote  from  the  Gov 
ernment  Bulletin  No.  39  issued  in  1916: 

"Total  attendance  293;  male  145  and  female  148. 
Total  teaching  forces  29;  all  colored;  male  15,  and 
female  14;  academic  14,  boys'  industries  5,  girls  in 
dustries  2,  matron  1,  executive  and  office  workers 
6,  agriculture  1. 

The  acorn  has  become  a  tree  and  proudly  stands 
as  a  monument  to  faith,  energy  and  an  abiding  pur 
pose  to  serve  the  people  among  whom  the  founder 
was  born  and  reared. 

As  stated  above  the  school  was  founded  in  the 
year  1894  and  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  vision  which 
came  to  the  principal,  Professor  William  J.  Ed 
wards,  while  a  student  at  the  Tuskegee  Institute. 
The  school  is  owned  and  controlled  by  a  board  of 
capable  Northern  and  Southern  men. 

Its  material  growth  has  been  very  rapid  and 
while  it  has  contributed  to  the  pride  of  the  insti 
tute  its  chief  glory  lies  in  the  educational  advant 
ages  it  has  given  the  community  and  the  prepara 
tion  it  has  given  its  pupils  for  their  life  work. 

It  has  given  them  especial  training  in  the  literary 
branches  but  in  addition  has  given  them  the  choice 
of  thirteen  trades. 

Being  located  near  the  center  of  a  rich  agricul 
tural  belt  it  has  laid  emphasis  upon  the  Agricul 
tural  Department. 

Farming  is  the  chief  industry  of  the  people  and 
it  was  realized  that  a  very  large  per  cent  of  the 
graduates  would  turn  to  the  soil,  so  it  was  deter 
mined  to  teach  them  the  science  of  farming  so  that 
they  would  make  better  farmers  and  win  from  the 
land  larger  and  more  diversified  crops.  It  has 
been  slow  work  to  teach  the  pupils  the  advantage 
of  scientific  farming  over  the  old  methods  but  the 


leaven  is  beginning  to  work  and  ere  long  the  whole 
community  will  see  the  advantage  of  the  Scientific 
method. 

The  school  has  a  large  acreage  of  land  (about 
2000  acres  and  considerable  industrial  equipment. 
It  hs  twenty-one  buildings  and  a  property  valua 
tion  of  about  $90,000.  Its  organization  com 
prises  Elementary,  Industrial  and  Agriculture.  The 
elementary  work  covers  eight  years,  divided  into 
primary  school  of  six  years,  and  the  preparatory 
and  junior  classes  of  one  year  each.  There  are 
four  upper  classes  which  include  some  elementary 
subjects,  called  "B  middle,"  "A  middle,"  "Senior 
preparatory"  and  "Senior." 

The  secondary  subjects  are  english,  chemistry, 
physics,  biology,  agriculture,  geometry,  algebra, 
civil  government,  moral  philosophy,  school  man 
agement  and  psychology. 

In  the  Industrial  department  is  taught  carpentry, 
blacksmithing,  printing,  leather  work,  masonry, 
tailoring  and  commercial. 

In  the  agricultural  department  the  chief  thing 
taught  is  agriculture. 

To  this  school  its  founder  and  principal  has  given 
his  entire  time,  his  best  thought  and  his  physical 
strength.  In  its  development  he  has  not  spared 
himself.  He  has  traveled  far  and  wide  in  its  inter 
est  and  has  often  been  heard  on  the  platform  in  its 
behalf.  Possessing  oratorical  powers  he  has  been 
much  in  demand  as  a  speaker  which  has  given  him 
many  opportunities  to  keep  his  school  before  the 
public.  His  theory  is  that  a  teacher  should  ever 
be  a  student  and  acting  upon  this  theory  he  at 
tends  the  summer  school  at  Chicago,  Harvard  and 
other  places. 

Snow  Hill  Institute  has  been  conducted  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  win  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
the  entire  community,  white  and  black  alike. 


41 


RICHARD   BYRON  HUDSON,  A.   B. 

OR  a  score  or  more  of  years  few 
activities  in  any  kind  of  up-lift 
work  have  existed  either  in  Ala 
bama  or  elsewhere  among  color 
ed  people  without  the  enthusiastic 
support  of  R.  B.  Hudson,  of  Sel- 
ma,  Alabama.  He  has  been  prominent  in  Sunday 
School  work,  in  Baptist  Church  work,  in  Masonic 
Lodge,  and  in  the  State  and  National  Association 
for  Colored  Teachers,  holding  at  one  time  or  an 
other  prominent  and  responsible  offices  in  all  of 
these  bodies. 

In  working  in  Alabama.  Mr.  Hudson  is  on  his  na 
tive  heath.  He  was  born  in  Uniontown,  Alabama, 
Feb.  7.  1866.  He  received  his  first  education  in 
the  Uniontown  District  Academy.  From  here  he 
entered  Selma  University,  whence  he  received  the 
Degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  has  taken  Post 
Graduate  courses  in  the  College  of  Liberal  Arts  in 
Chatauqua,  N.  Y. 

Like  most  men  of  the  earlier  days,  Mr.  Hudson 
had  to  work  his  way  through  school.  In  Selma 
University  he  paid  for  a  great  deal  of  his  education 
by  working  at  the  printer's  trade,  and  by  tutoring 
mathematics.  This  tutoring  led  him  to  choose  a 
life  career.  From  tutoring  he  went  to  teaching  in 


Selma  University,  where  he  taught  mathematics 
from  1889  to  1890. 

Of  course  Prof.  Hudson  is  best  known  in  the 
State  of  Alabama  and  in  the  educational  world 
through  the  Clark  School  of  Selma.  This  is  known 
throughout  the  State  as  one  of  the  best  kept  build 
ings  and  one  in  which  some  of  the  most  thorough 
teaching  is  done  anywhere  in  the  South.  Inspec 
tors,  State  Supervisors,  and  State  Superintendents 
all  point  to  Clark  School  as  a  model  public  school. 

As  has  been  already  stated,  Prof.  Hudson  has 
been  a  leader  in  many  Secret  Orders,  in  the  Church 
and  Sunday  School  throughout  his  career.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  a  Woodman, 
a  Mason,  and  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  has  been  both 
President  and  Secretary  of  the  Alabama  State 
Teachers  Association  and  County  Chairman  of  the 
Alabama  Colored  Teachers'  Association.  He  is  Sec 
retary  of  the  State  Baptist  Convention  and  of  the 
National  Baptist  Convention.  He  is  President  of 
.  the  District  Sunday  School  Convention,  and  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  Federal  Council 
of  Churches  of  America.  He  was  delegate  to  the 
World's  Missionary  Conference  which  met  in  Ed 
inburgh,  Scotland,  in  1910.  He  is  Endowment 
Treasurer  of  the  Endowment  Department  of  the 
Masonic  Grand  Lodge  of  Alabama. 

During  the  recent  war  troubles  Mr.  Hudson  has 
been  Chairman  of  the  Food  Conservation  Commit 
tee  of  Dallas  County,  and  Chairman  of  the  Red 
Cross  for  Colored  people  of  Dallas  County. 

For  many  years  he  was  the  close  personal  friend 
of  the  late  great  leader  of  the  race,  Dr.  Booker  T. 
Washington.  It  seemed  a  great  pleasure  to  Dr. 
Washington  for  him  to  speak  of  the  high  esteem 
in  which  he  held  Prof.  Hudson.  On  one  occasion 
Dr.  Washington  writing  the  "Colored  Alabamian," 
a  paper  then  published  at  Montgomery,  said :  "I 
want  to  thank  you  most  earnestly  and  heartily  for 
your  publishing  the  picture  and  sketch  of  the  life 
of  Prof.  R.  B.  Hudson,  of  Selma,  Ala.  I  am  afraid 
that  the  people  of  Alabama  do  not  appreciate  the 
real  worth  and  ability  of  Prof.  Hudson  in  the  way 
they  should.  He  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  leader 
of  rare  ability  and  especially  a  clear-headed  sys 
tematic  thinker  and  worker. 

The  main  purpose  of  this  letter  is  to  impress 
upon  the  people  of  our  State  the  fact  that  we  have 
a  man  in  our  midst,  a  man  of  such  rare  ability,  and 
I  repeat  that  you  are  to  be  congratulated  for  pre 
senting  him  before  the  public  through  the  medium 
of  your  paper." 

Prof.  Hudson  was  married  in  1890  to  Miss  Lula 
C.  Richardson  who  died  in  1898.  He  was  married 
in  1900  to  Miss  Irene  M.  Thompson.  Mr.  Hudson 
has  two  children.  Misses  E.  Leola  and  Bernice 
Hudson,  the  former  is  a  graduate  of  Spellman  Sem 
inary,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  Pratt  Institute,  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.  She  is  at  present  a  teacher  in  the  Florida 
A.  &  M.  College  at  Tallahassee,  Fla.  The  latter  is 
still  a  student. 


42 


REV.   JOHN   WASHINGTON   GOODGAME. 


N  Birmingham,  Alabama,  out  on 
Avenue  F.,  stands  a  monumental 
Baptist  Church.  The  engravings 
on  the  corner  stones  outside  re 
cord  the  names  of  laborers,  busi 
ness  and  professional  men  who 
joined  hands  to  make  this  building 
the  splendid  edifice  that  it  is.  It 
has  its  big  pipe  organ,  its  animated  well  trained 
choir,  its  pastor's  study,  its  spacious  galleries  as 
well  as  its  big  audience  room.  It  cost  $50,000  when 
it  was  built,  now  valued  at  $80,000.  Its  organization, 
its  distribution  of  workers,  is  exceptional.  It  has  of 
course  its  auxiliary  clubs  among  the  women,  its 
young  people's  societies,  its  deacons'  board  and  the 
like.  But  above  all  it  has  a  regular  man,  in  ad 
dition  to  the  pastor,  whose  business  it  is  to  visit 
the  sick  and  the  needy  and  to  collect  funds  and 
minister  to  their  relief.  The  man  behind  all  this 
work,  who  raised  the  funds,  very  largely  from 
working  people ;  who  in  person  superintended  the 
construction  of  the  building  is  Rev.  John  Washing 
ton  Goodgame. 

Rev.  Goodgame  was  born  in  the  country,  some 
years  after  the  civil  war,  and  while  performing  his 
farm  duties  he  had  time  for  calm  meditation,  lie 
was  a  poor  lad  with  no  very  inspiring  environ 
ments  ;  he  was  without  money,  and  to  boys  with 
out  grit  and  ambition,  his  situation  would  have  ap 
peared  hopeless.  Not  so  with  Rev.  Goodgame. 


He  was  ambitious  to  learn  and  he  determined  to 
secure  an  education  and  he  turned  difficulties  in  to 
propellers  to  bring  him  to  his  goal. 

God  had  raised  him  up  for  leadership  and  whom 
God  calls  to  service  He  prepares  for  the  work  to 
be  done. 

Without  money  but  with  a  consciousness  that 
he  would  succeed,  he  entered  Talladega  College  in 
1885  and  spent  his  first  year  in  college  in  the  work 
department.  He  finally  completed  his  Grammar 
and  Normal  courses  and  entered  the  Theological 
department.  While  pursuing  the  theological 
course  he  served  the  country  churches  in  and 
around  Talladega  as  pastor,  later  accepting  a  call 
to  his  home  church  in  Talladega. 

He  was  next  called  to  pastor  the  leading  Baptist 
church  of  Anniston  for  a  few  years  and  then  came 
to  Birmingham,  his  present  home. 

Members  of  the  Baptist  church  felt  that  a  school 
should  be  started  around  Birmingham.  Who  was 
there  so  fit  to  blaze  the  way  as  J.  W.  Goodgame, 
the  man  who  never  failed  in  business  as  well  as  in 
religion.  Thus  Birmingham  Baptist  College  was 
launched  with  Rev.  Goodgame  at  the  head  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  as  the  real  sponsor  for  the  insti 
tution. 

The  Alabama  Baptist  State  Convention  elected 
him  treasurer,  and  the  Mosaic  Templars  placed  up 
on  him  the  task  of  carrying  the  money  for  its  or 
ganization.  This  then  is  the  load  he  carries — the 
personal  interest  of  two  Baptist  institutions  the 
exchequer  of  the  iMosaic  Templars  and  of  the  Ala 
bama  State  Baptist  Convention  and  the  charge  of  a 
big  city  church.  To  this  have  been  added  many 
other  responsibilities.  He  was  stock  holder  and 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Alabama  Penny  Savings 
Bank  and  one  time  secretary  of  the  Atlanta,  Bir 
mingham  Mutual  Aid  Association,  the  latter  an  in 
surance  company  which  flourished  under  his  ad 
ministration  and  which  was  recently  merged  with 
another  company. 

Unlike  many  ministers,  Rev.  Goodgame  has 
changed  pastorates  but  seldom,  preferring  to  build 
substantially  in  one  place.  Growing  as  Birming 
ham  grew  he  has  had  opportunity  to  judge  prop 
erty  and  to  invest  wisely.  He  owns,  thanks  to  his 
business  acumen,  nine  rent  houses,  and  eight  va 
cant  lots  in  this  city  of  high  priced  property. 

All  this  time  Rev.  Goodgame  has  been  rearing  and 
educating  a  large  family.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Mollie  Bledsoe  in  1890.  Five  children,  now  all 
practically  grown  and  well  educated  form  the 
Goodgame  family.  Miss  Fannie  B.  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Talladega  Normal  course  and  of  Selma  Uni 
versity  ;  Miss  Minnie  of  the  Barber  Seminary,  An 
niston,  Alabama;  Miss  Jennie  of  Cheney  Institute, 
Penn. ;  Miss  Lucile,  a  senior,  1917.  at  Normal,  Ala 
bama  ;  Mr.  John  Washington,  Jr.,  a  student  at  the 
State  Normal  School  in  Montgomery,  Alabama. 
Miss  Fannie  B.  who  is  now  Fannie  B.  Kastland  was 
teacher  for  several  years,  having  taught  in  the 
Birmingham  C'itv  Schools  a  number  of  terms. 

To  protect  himself  and  his  family,  as  well  as  to 
further  good  causes,  Rev.  Goodgame  is  a  Mason,  a 
Knight  of  Pythias,  and  a  Mosaic  Templar.  Few 
men  are  harder  workers  and  more  optimistic  in 
both  religion  and  race  progress  than  is  Rev.  John 
W.  Goodgame  of  Birmingham,  Alabama. 


REV.  PRICE  S.  LENTON  HUTCHINS. 


HE  REV.  PRICE  S.  LENTON 
HUTCHINS,  of  Mobile,  Alabama, 
is  the  seventh  child  of  Reuben  and 
Sylvia  Hutchins.  He  was  born  in 
Cowikee,  Barbour  County,  Ala 
bama,  October  13th.  1862..  At 
_  .  .  ^  ^.  an  early  age  he  was  given  to  his 
grandparents  who  sent  him  to  school  and  did  every 
thing  to  encourage  his  intellectual  growth.  But 
his  grandparents  died  and  he  was  returned  to  his 
parents.  They  were  poor  and  unable  to  send  him 
to  school.  Accordingly  he  was  put  on  the  farm 
where  he  worked  with  his  body  but.  his  mind  was  in 
the  school  room  he  had  left.  His  thirst  for  know 
ledge  was  satisfied  to  a  small  extent  by  a  white 
playmate  and  co-laborer,  Mr.  Walter  T.  Harwell, 
but  he  soon  passed  beyond  the  information  that  his 
teacher  could  impart  and  he  was  again  facing  the 
problem  of  where  to  turn  for  an  education  .  This 
young  man's  development  was  not  one  sided  for 
along  with  the  development  of  the  mind  and  body 
he  was  not  neglectful  of  the  spirit.  At  an  early  age 
he  was  converted  and  was  baptized  into  the  fellow 
ship  of  the  Pleasant  Grove  Baptist  church,  Eu- 
faula,  Alabama,  by  the  Rev.  Jerry  Short.  Re 
ligion  became  the  dominant  factor  in  his  life  which 
finally  led  him  into  the  ministry. 

June  12th.  1882  he  was  licensed  by  his  church  to 
preach,  but  dissatisfied  with  his  preparation  for 
his  work  he  entered  the  Selma  University  Febru 


ary  3rd.  1884  where  he  finished  a  two  years  Eng 
lish  course  and  received  his  certificate  for  same 
from  Rev.  E.  M.  Brawley  D.  D.,  President. 

Four  years  later,  1890,  he  graduated  with  honors 
from  the  Collegiate  Course  under  C.  L.  Puree,  D.  D. 
having  taken  at  the  same  time  a  partial  course  in 
Theology  under  C.  S.  Dinkins,  D.  D.,  and  C'.  I..  Fish 
er,  receiving  the  equivalent  of  a  year's  Seminary 
work  in  Church  History,  Theology,  New  Testa 
ment,  Greek  and  Old  Testament  Hebrew.  He  con 
tinued  his  study  of  Hebrew  under  Rabbi  E.  M.  B. 
Brown,  Columbus,  Ga.,  who  speaks  of  his  work  in 
the  highest  terms.  Among  his  pastorates  was  the 
Bethlehem  Church,  Gallion  and  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Newberne,  Alabama.  He  served  both 
churches  seven  years  and  built  a  house  of  worship 
for  each  costing  more  than  $2000.00. 

The  recorded  number  of  his  baptisms  during 
these  pastorates  was  over  five  hundred.  Septem 
ber  28th,  1891,  he  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church,  Newberne,  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  persons  in  one  hour  and  thirty 
minutes. 

June  3rd.  1897  he  became  Pastor  of  one  of  the 
largest  churches  in  Columbus,  Ga.,  and  during  his 
period  of  service  he  added  to  its  membership  185 
members  and  reduced  a  debt  upon  the  church  sev 
eral  thousand  dollars.  He  also  served  the  Taber 
nacle  Baptist  Church  of  Eufaula  and  the  First  Bap 
tist  Church  of  Hurtsboro,  Alabama,  as  pastor  and 
was  serving  these  churches  when  called  to  Franklin 
Street  Baptist  Church,  Mobile,  which  church  he  is 
now  serving.  His  call  to  the  Franklin  Street  Bap 
tist  Church  was  extended  August  2nd,  1917,  and 
was  unanimous.  This  church  is  one  of  the  leading 
Baptist  Churches  in  the  State  and  he  enters  upon 
his  work  under  the  most  favorable  conditions.  He 
has  already  endeared  himself  to  the  members  of 
the  church  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  entire 
community. 

It  has  been  his  good  fortune  to  retain  the  con 
fidence  and  love  of  the  people  he  served,  an  evi 
dence  of  work  well  done.  In  addition  to  his  Pas 
torates,  Rev.  Hutchins,  has  held  a  number  of  of 
ficial  positions  in  his  denomination.  He  is  a  life 
member  of  the  National  Baptist  Convention  and  a 
strong  supporter  of  all  its  interests ;  a  Trustee  of 
the  Selma  University,  Selma,  Alabama,  and  of  Cen 
tral  City  College,  Macon,  Ga. 

He  served  as  Sunday  School  State  Missionary 
under  joint  appointment  of  the  National  Baptist 
Publication  Board  and  the  State  Sunday  School 
Board,  and  as  State  Organizer  for  Georgia  under 
joint  appointment  of  National  B.  Y.  P.  U.,-  and 
State  B.  Y.  P.  U.  Boards. 

Rev.  Hutchins  is  a  man  of  family  and  is  blessed 
with  a  wife  devoted  to  his  interests  and  the  proud 
mother  of  eight  children.  These  bring  joy  and  sun 
shine  to  his  home  and  has  inspired  that  economy 
in  the  conduct  of  his  affairs  that  has  enabled  him  to 
accumulate  a  nice  property. 

His  possessions  are  scattered  from  Alabama  to 
New  York  and  consist  of  improved  and  vacant  city 
lots  and  farm  property.  Rev.  Hutchins  is  yet  com 
paratively  young.  His  zenith  may  not  be  reach 
ed  for  years ;  many  more  such  startling  strides  as 
he  has  made  in  the  past  thirteen  years,  will  lift  him 
easily  to  the  rank  of  ministerial  wonders. 


44 


JOHN  A.  KENNEY,  M.  D. 

OHN  A.  KENNEY,  M.  D.,  was 
born  June  11,  1874,  in  Albemarle 
County,  Virginia.  Here  he  lived 
on  the  farm  and  did  the  work  of 
a  farm  lad,  enjoying  at  the  same 
time  the  pleasures  that  come  to 
those  who  live  in  the  country,  till  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age.  During  the  last  two  years  of  that 
time  he  was  practically  the  head  of  the  family,  run 
ning  the  farm  which  his  father  left  to  his  care  and 
also  the  grocery  store  which  his  father  had  kq)t 
during  his  life  time.  Although  born  on  the  farm  and 
although  he  remained  for  such  a  number  of  years 
in  the  country,  his  mother  had  other  plans  for  him. 
She  inspired  him  with  the  ambition  to  live  his  life 
away  from  the  narrowing  effect  of  the  farm  life, 
away  out  in  the  world  where  he  could  make  him 
self  felt. 

After  spending  a  great  deal  of  time  in  the  pub 
lic  schools  of  Albemarle  County  and  Charlottsville 
he  went  to  Hampton  Institute,  Virginia  and  later 
to  Shaw  University,  North  Carolina.  In  order  to 
attend  school  he  had  also  to  work.  Nothing  that 
would  turn  an  honest  penny  was  turned  down  by 
this  ambitious  young  man.  He  worked  as  a  waiter, 
he  worked  in  the  family  of  one  of  the  professors 
of  the  University  or  Virginia,  and  he  kept  grocery 


store.  After  leaving  Shaw  University  Dr.  Kenney 
went  to  Leonard  Medical  College  from  which  he 
was  graduated  with  the  degree  M.  D.  in  1901. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  Dr.  Kenney's  real 
career.  He  served  the  first  year  as  interne  at 
Freedmen's  Hospital,  Washington,  District  of  Col 
umbia  and  then  came  to  Tuskegee  Institute.  At 
Tuskegee  he  is  Medical  Director  of  the  Tuskegee 
Institute  Hospital  and  Nurse  Training  School.  For 
the  past  sixteen  years  Dr.  Kenney  has  labored  in 
this  field  and  the  work  has  grown  steadily  under 
his  management.  When  he  took  the  work  there 
was  a  frame  hospital,  not  very  well  equipped  and 
not  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  number  of 
patients  that  come  to  Tuskegee.  During  his  stay 
the  John  A.  Andrew  Memorial  Hospital  has  been 
built,  and  the  Nurse  Training  Course  strengthened. 
The  hospital  is  well  equipped  and  the  nurses  turn 
ed  out  are  efficient. 

While  developing  the  material  side  of  the  work 
at  Tuskegee,  Dr.  Kenney  has  himself  developed 
in  skill.  He  is  now  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  lead 
ing  surgeons  of  the  race  and  people  from  all  over 
the  south  come  to  Tuskegee  to  John  A.  Andrew 
Memorial  Hospital  in  order  to  have  Dr.  Kenney  op 
erate  on  them.  This  is  true  fame — that  speads  from 
one  patient  to  another  and  brings  more  work, 
which  in  turn  means  added  skill. 

The  profession  will  probably  know  Dr.  Kenney 
best  as  Secretary  of  the  National  Medical  Asso 
ciation.  In  this  position  he  served  for  eight  years 
in  succession.  He  then  gave  up  the  work  because 
he  was  over  worked.  Contrary  to  his  expreseed 
wishes  he  was  unanimously  elected  in  1912  as  pres 
ident  of -the  National  Medical  Association 
Dr.  Kenney  with  Dr.  C.  V.  Roman  of  Nashville 
Tennessee  founded  the  Journal  of  the  National 
Medical  Association.  This  is  today  one  of  the  most 
important  publications  among  the  Colored  People 
and  it  takes  high  rank  as  a  professional  journal. 
What  tliis  periodical  is  today  and  in  fact  very  large 
ly  what  the  National  Medical  Association  is  today 
is  due  to  the  energies  and  unbounded  faith  of  Dr. 
Kenney.  At  the  last  meeting  of  the  N.  M.  A.  in 
Richmond,  Va.,  1918,  Dr.  Kenney  by  action  of  the 
Executive  Board  was  made  editor-in-chief  and 
manager  of  the  Journal. 

Since  entering  the  medical  profession  he  has  done 
constructive  work. 

Dr.  Kenney  had  direct  charge  of  the  health  of  Dr. 
Booker  T.  Washington  during  all  the  years  he  was 
in  Tuskegee.  During  the  last  years  of  Dr.  Wash 
ington's  life  Dr.  Kenney  spent  a  great  deal  of  time 
with  him,  accompanying  him  on  the  various  trips 
made  over  the  South'.  It  is  a  source  of  great  pride 
to  Dr.  Kenney  that  when  Dr.  Washington,  ill  in 
the  hospital  in  New  York  was  examined  by  famous 
specialists  they  said  that  Dr.  Kenney  had  done  all 
that  any  one  could  have  done  for  the  great  educa 
tor. 

Dr.  Kenney  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Talbot  of 
Bedford  County,  Virginia  in  Dec-  27.  1902-  Dr. 
Kenney  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss  Frieda 
V.  Armstrong  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  1913. 
There  are  three  small  sons,  John  A.  Kenney,  Jr., 
Oscar  Armstrong  Kenney  and  Howard  Washington 
Kenney. 


45 


GEORGE  W.   LEWIS,  A.   M.,   D.   D. 


E  who  is  inclined  to  grow  doubtful 
of  rare  strength,  scholarship, 
force,  personality  should  look  up 
on  a  company  of  Methodist  Minis 
ters  and  Bishops.  Gathered  in 
convention  they  make  a  grand 

substitute     for     an     assembly     of 

statesmen.  They  are  grave  and  scholarly,  stal- 
warth  of  physique,  pictures  of  health  and  prosperi 
ty.  They  are  analysts  and  orators  and  logicians 
with  splendid  touches  of  the  visionary.  Dr.  George 
W.  Lewis  A.  M.,  D.  D.  is  one  of  these  Methodist 
Episcopal  peers.  There  are  few  riper  scholars,  few 
er  better  orators  than  he. 

Dr.  Lewis  is  a  thorough  going  Georgian.  He 
was  born  in  Burke  County  shortly  after  slavery. 
He  was  born  during  the  reconstruction  period  after 
the  war  when  the  efforts  of  the  South  were  direct 
ed  mainly  in  caring  for  the  body  and  but  little  at 
tention  was  given  to  the  development  of  the  mind. 
It  was  a  day  of  poor  schools,  unprepared  teachers 
and  short  school  terms.  The  opportunities  for  the 
negroes  to  obtain  an  education  were  but  meager 
but  the  very  difficulties  in  their  way  acted  as  a  spur 
to  the  ambitious  and  developed  a  number  of  strong 
men  intellectually. 

Dr.  Lewis  was  among  this  number.  When  a 
mere  boy  Dr.  Lewis  started  life  as  a  farm  laborer 
which  he  followed  for  sixteen  years  but  during  this 
period  he  attended  school  two  or  three  months  each 
year. 


The  activity  of  the  mind  would  not  permit  him  to 
remain  on  the  farm  so  he  left  the  farm  and  attend 
ed  the  Haven  Normal  School  at  Waynesborough, 
Ga.  Here  his  real  development  began.  Here  the 
leading  of  his  mind  and  heart  decided  his  future. 
Here  he  was  converted  and  here  he  responded  to 
the  call  to  the  ministry. 

From  Haven  Norman  school  at  Waynesborough 
he  went  to  Clark  University  at  Atlanta  and  after 
finishing  his  course  of  study  there  he  turned  to  the 
study  of  theology  in  Gammon  Seminary  in  the 
same  University. 

After  completing  his  theological  course  he  took 
up  the  active  duties  of  Pastor  and  served  a  num 
ber -of  churches  in  his  active  native  State.  He  join 
ed  the  Savannah  Conference  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  and 
was  sent  to  Mt.  Vernon  church.  From  Mt.  Vernon 
he  went  to  Readsville,  from  Readsville  to  Valdosta, 
thence  to  Atlanta  and  from  Atlanta  to  Rome. 

In  1895  Dr.  Lewis  was  transferred  to  the  Ala 
bama  Conference  and  served  churches  in  Mont 
gomery,  Mobile  and  in  Pensacola.  Fla. 

It  was  during  his  residence  in  Florida  that  Dr. 
Lewis  branched  out.  in  educational  work. 

Seeing  a  grave  need  for  a  school  in  Pensacola 
he  set  his  mind  to  work  to  supply  it  and  in  1901  he 
founded  the  Pensacola  Normal,  Industrial  and  Agri 
cultural  school.  For  nine  years  he  was  the  Prin 
cipal  of  this  school,  shaping'  its  policies  and  giving 
it  the  benefit  of  his  rare  gifts  as  an  orator.  He 
possessed  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  powers  of 
oratory  which  greatly  aided  him  in  raising  monev 
for  his  enterprises,  a  work  in  which  he  succeeded 
to  a  most  satisfactory  degree. 

His  talent  as  an  orator  and  writer  brought  him 
into  great  prominence  and  his  services  were  sought 
from  all  over  the  country.  For  stirring  and  search 
ing  addresses,  such  as  are  required  on  memorial 
and  emancipation  occasions,  he  probably  has  no 
equal  on  the  platform  of  today.  He  has  delivered 
addresses  of  this  character  at  Montgomery,  at  Mo 
bile,  at  Evergreen,  at  Tampa  and  at  Pensacola, 
many  of  which  at  the  request  of  his  hearers  were 
printed  and  distributed. 

Dr.  Lewis  was  frequent!}'  elected  to  represent  the 
M.  E.  Conference  at  the  General  Conference.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Omaha  General  Conference 
in  1894  and  to  the  conference  at  Saratoga  in  1916. 
For  years  he  has  been  the  Secretary  of  his  Annual 
Conference  and  chairman  of  the  Old  Ministers 
fund.  His  brethren  were  not  slow  to  recognize  in 
him  a  wise  leader  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and 
one  whose  devotion  to  religion  and  education  and 
unexcelled  oratory  gave  him  unbounded  influence 
among  them.  He  won  their  confidence  early  in  his 
ministerial  life  and  still  holds  it  in  a  most  flatter 
ing  degree. 

Dr.  Lewis  family  consists  of  a  wife  and  one  child, 
a  daughter  who  has  inherited  his  mental  vigor. 

He  married  in  1889  Miss  Lucy  Griffin,  of  Tusca- 
lonsa,  Ala.  Their  daughter,  Miss  Emma  C.  Lewis, 
received  her  B.  A.  degree  from  Clark  University, 
Atlanta,  Ga..  and  wears  it  with  as  much  ease  and 
grace  as  the  average  man.  At  present  she  is  teach 
ing  in  New  Orleans  University. 

While  the  church  is  his  chief  consideration  Dr. 
Lewis  is  also  interested  in  the  benevolent  orders  of 
his  people  and  has  membership  in  the  Masons  and 
Knights  of  Phythias. 


46 


HENRY  ALLEN  LOVELESS. 

MONG  the  foremost  colored  citi 
zens  of  Alabama  is  Henry  Allen 
Loveless  of  Montgomery  who 
has  proved  to  his  people  that  they 
can  make  a  marked  success  in 
their  business  ventures  and  still 


preserve  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire  com 
munity,  both  white  and  black. 

Mr.  Loveless  was  born  in  Bullock  County,  Ala 
bama   in   the  year   1854  near    the    town   of  Union 


]  le  had  no  educational  advantages  until  he  reach 
ed  his  eighteenth  year.  Spending  the  day  in  man 
ual  labor  he  attended  a  night  school  which  gave 
him  the  foundation  upon  which  he  built  to  a  limit 
ed  extent. 

Some  years  after  his  first  marraige  he  attended 
the  Selma  University  but  for  only  two  terms.  At 
the  end  of  the  second  term  he  returned  home  to 
arrange  his  business  matters  so  that  he  could  com 
plete  his  course  but  found  that  the  requirements  of 
his  business  were  such  that  he  had  to  forego  his 
plans  for  a  finished  education. 

His  first  business  was  that  of  a  butcher  which 
he  plied  for  several  years  but  gave  up  to  enter  the 
Undertaking  business.  Here  he  had  to  meet  strong 
competition  from  a  long  established  business 


controlled  by  a  member  of  his  race  who  had  much 
influence  "with' the  colored  people. 

He  saw  the  difficulties  in  his  way  but  instead  of 
deterring  him  they  nerved  him  to  push  forward. 

Meeting  competition  upon  fair  grounds  he  forged 
to  the  front  and  not  only  built  up  the  large  busi 
ness  over  which  he  now  presides  but  finally  pur 
chased  the  business  of  his  competitor. 

He  has  been  in  this  business  for  twenty-five  years 
which  together  with  its  adjuncts  is  easily  valued 
at  $25,000.00.  In  connection  with  his  undertaking 
business  he  runs  a  transfer  and  hack  line  and  has 
among  his  patrons  a  number  of  white  citizens. 

His  business  has  brought  him  a  comfortable  liv 
ing  and  enabled  him  to  secure  a  home  worth  ten 
thousand  dollars.  In  addition  it  has  enabled  him 
to  give  employment  to  a  great  many  of  his  people. 

Mr.  Loveless  is  a  deeply  religious  man  and  takes 
an  active  part  in  his  church  life. 

He  has  been  connected  with  the  Dexter  Avenue 
Baptist  church  from  its  organization  and  is  its  lead 
ing  deacon.  He  is  also  the  Church  Treasurer  and 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  The  minis 
ters  who  have  served  the  church  have  always 
found  in  him  a  friend  and  helper. 

Mr.  Loveless'  activities  do  not  end  with  his 
church  and  his  business.  He  has  countless  affilia 
tions  with  various  other  bodies  and  is  interested  in 
the  educational  interests  of  his  people. 

He  is  a  King  Solomon  Mason,  Knights  of  Py 
thias,  member  of  Wm.  J.  Simmons  Lodge,  No.  34, 
the  Eastern  Star,  Knights  of  Tabor,  Eureka  Lodge 
of  the  Mosaic  Templars,  Sisters  and  Brothers  of 
Tabor,  Daughters  and  Sons  of  Zera,  and  the  United 
Order  of  Good  Shepherds.  He  has  held  office  in  a 
number  of  these  orders. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Negro  business  men's 
league,  Treasurer  of  the  Alabama  Realty  Company 
and  a  Trustee  of  the  Swayne  school  of  Montgom 
ery. 

Mr.  Loveless  has  been  married  three  times.  He 
married  his  first  wife,  Miss  Lucy  Arrington  of 
Montgomery,  in  1885.  She  died  after  bearing  him 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  His  son 
John  H.  Loveless  and  daughters,  Miss  Mary  G. 
and  Bertha  L.  Loveless,  are  associated  with  him  in 
his  business  and  have  contributed  no  little  to  his 
success. 

In  1913  he  married  Mrs.  Emma  A.  Anderson, 
who  lived  but  a  short  while  with  him  when  death 
claimed  her. 

His  present  wife,  formerly  Mrs.  Dora  Evelyn, 
was  married  to  him  in  1916.  She  was  a  resident  of 
Eufaula,  Ala. 

Mr.  Loveless  is  a  successful  man  and  in  sum 
ming  up  his  traits  of  character  which  con 
tributed  to  his  success  we  would  mention  first  his 
quiet,  courteous  but  positive  demeanor.  He  never 
gets  unduly  excited  but  is  not  slow  to  take  in  a 
situation  and  to  face  it  with  a  calm  determination 
which  impresses  others  that  he  means  business. 
He  is  a  just  man  and  honest  which  gives  him  a 
good  standing  in  the  business  world.  Then  he  is 
sympathetic,  helpful  and  dependable  and  above  all 
is  recognized  as  an  humble  Christian. 


47 


REVEREND   WILLIAM    MADISON. 


HEN  asked  for  matter  for  a  bio 
graphical  sketch,  Rev.  Wm.  Madi 
son  sent  in  such  scant  material 
that  the  required  length  for  a 
page  was  'lot  to  be  gotten.  When 
asked  for  matter  for  his  church, 
the  matter  came  in  so  freely  that  it  had  to  be  con 
densed.  Such  is  the  modesty  of  the  man  that  he 
takes  to  himself  very  little  of  the  credit  for  the 
very  splendid  church  which  he  built  and  which 
under  his  administration  has  grown  by  leaps  and 
bounds.  But  the  church  is  a  reflection  of  his 
boundless  energy  and  great  business  ability. 

Rev.  Madison  was  born  in  Marion,  Dallas  County, 
Alabama,  in  1873.  As  a  small  boy  and  as  a  young 
man,  he  toiled  in  the  cotton  and  corn  fields  on  a 
Dallas  County  plantation.  Here  he  received  his 
early  training  in  the  public  schools.  Whatever  the 
schools  of  the  country  may  have  failed  to  give  him 
in  accurate  book  knowledge  was  more  than  made 
up  by  the  ambition  which  filled  him  because  of  this 
contact  with  books  and  thoughts.  He  felt  most 
keenly  the  preparation  that  he  needed  to  make  him 
self  happy,  and  at  the  same  time  render  those  about 
him  glad.  He  entered  Selma  University  in  1905, 


and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1910  at  the  head 
of  the  class  in  the  Theological  Department.  This 
gave  him  the  place  of  valedictorian.  This  and  other 
honors  bestowed  upon  him  by  his  Alma  Mater  be 
speak  his  life  and  conduct  as  a  school  boy  and  his 
efficiency  as  a  student. 

Rev.  Wm.  Madison  has  climbed  all  the  way  from 
the  bottom  to  the  top  of  his  profession.  He  is  at 
present  and  has  been  for  some  time  pastor  of  the 
Day  Street  Baptist  Church,  Montgomery,  Alabama. 
This  church  represents  the  capstone  in  his  career 
as  the  builder  of  splendid  houses  of  worship.  Be 
ginning  his  ministry  back  in  his  home  village  of 
Marion,  Alabama,  he  has  raised  and  put  into 
churches  $45,000.00.  He  has  built  churches  at  Un- 
-iontown,  Sawyerville,  Grove  Hill  and  Montgomery. 

In  the  meantime  he  has  pastored,  held  evangelis 
tic  services,  baptized  thousands,  held  conspicuous 
offices  in  his  church  and  denominational  bodies, 
been  orator  and  Commencement  speaker  at  many 
important  school  celebrations  and  gatherings  and 
traveled  extensively  over  the  country  as  preacher 
and  worker. 

Rev.  Madison  did  not  get  his  fame  as  a  speaker 
and  able  builder  without  a  struggle.  Leaving  Sel 
ma  University,  he  followed  the  profession  of  school 
teaching  in  both  Dallas  and  Hale  counties.  Later 
he  studied  bookkeeping  and  was  a  bookkeeper  for 
five  years.  In  filling  these  two  posts  he  got  for 
himself  experiences  that  were  destined  to  be  of 
untold  good  to  him  in  his  pastoral  work  later.  His 
five  years  spent  in  bookkeeping  cannot  be  underes 
timated  as  to  the  good  effect  they  have  had  on  the 
building  and  organizing  of  churches.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  Rev.  Madison  was  ordained  and  he 
has  held  a  most  constructive  career  in  his  church 
ever  since.  He  has  followed  the  circuit  of  his  na 
tive  state,  having  occupied  pulpits  at  Marion,  Un- 
iontown,  Sawyerville,  Lanesville,  Newberne,  Jack 
son,  Grove  Hill,  Birmingham  and  his  present  post 
in  Montgomery. 

The  great  work  that  Rev.  Madison  is  doing  in 
Montgomery  is  recorded  elsewhere  under  the 
sketch  of  Day  Street  Baptist  Church.  He  is  well 
known  as  a  leader,  for  his  executive  skill  and  also 
for  his  ability  to  follow  details.  Rev.  Madison  has 
for  years  occupied  high  places  in  his  church  and  in 
secular  and  fraternal  bodies,  lie  is  a  member  of 
the  Allen  Temple  Lodge,  of  the  Knights  of  Py- 
thians  and  of  the  Good  Shepherds.  In  his  church, 
which  is  missionary  Baptist  he  has  served  as 
Treasurer  of  the  Publishing  Board;  chairman  of 
the  State  Mission  Board;  Treasurer  of  the  Selma 
Alumni  Association;  President  of  the  Baptist  Min 
isters  Conference  of  Montgomery  and  Member  of 
the  National  Baptist  Convention. 

Rev.  Madison  was  married  in  1899  to  Miss  Mary 
Soloman  of  Saffold.  Alabama.  There  are  six  chil 
dren  in  the  Madison  family,  all  of  whom  are  at 
tending  school. 


DAY   STKKKT   I'.AITIST   CHURCH. 


KK1XG  what  they  considered  a 
great  need  of  another  church  in 
the  City  of  Montgomery,  in  1884, 
Mr.  T.  1-1.  Garner  and  Mr.  Ed- 
ward  I'atterson  secured  the  ser 
vices  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Casby,  organiz 
ed  a  church  and  erected  a  frame  building  in  which 
to  serve  God.  Thus  we  have  Day  Street  Baptist 
Church,  one  of  the  best  managed  institutions  of 
its  kind  in  the  South.  Among  the  ministers  who 
administered  to  the  needs  of  the  people  from  the 
pulpit  of  Day  Street  Baptist  Church,  who  deserve 
special  mention  in  these  pages  is  Rev.  T.  C.  ("room. 
who  took  charge  of  the  church  in  1894  and  pastor- 
ed  it  till  his  death  in  1906.  During  his  administra 
tion  the  membership  was  greatly  increased  and  the 
church  building  remedied  and  enlarged.  Succeed 
ing  Rev.  Croom.  Rev.  T.  J.  Flood  gave  the  rest  of 
liis  life  to  the  development  of  the  Day  Street  Bap 
tist  Church.  Mis  pastorate  was  a  short  one,  last- 
ting  but  one  year  and  four  months.  During  this 
short  time  he  raised  $1200  for  the  new  church.  At 
the  death  of  Rev.  Flood,  Rev.  Win.  Madison  was 
chosen  leader  of  this  flock.. 

The  church  business  is  administered  by  the  Pas 
tor  and  Board  of  Trustees,  composed  of  T.  II.  Gar 
ner,  M.  I).  Easterly,  C.  Posey,  J.  J.  Ncal,  C.  Lewis, 
Morris  Smith,  F.  S.  Starks,  Mathew  Wallace  and 
J.  S.  Gregory. 

The  present  structure  was  completed  in  1910. 
The  Pastor  supervised  the  building  of  it  and  rais 
ed  the  money  for  its  erection.  It  cost  $36,000.  but 


with  the  lot  is  valued  at  $50.000.     The  church  also 
owns  a  parsonage  valued  at  $3,000. 

Rev.  Madison  has  changed  the  entire  system  of 
running  the  affairs  of  the  church.  This  was  done 
in  19C9.  It  has  been  put  on  a  business  basis.  He 
incorporated  the  church  holdings  on  a  capitaliza 
tion  of  $25,000. 

While  directing  the  finances  of  the  church  the 
Rev.  Madison  has  not  eebn  unmindful  of  its  activi 
ties.  He  believes  in  a  division  of  work  and  respon 
sibilities  and  has  divided  up  the  work  so  as  to  get 
the  highest  results.  The  Sunday  School  with  an 
excellent  teaching  force  is  placed  in  the  hands  of 
J.  J.  Neal,  the  superintendent.  The  Baptist  Young 
People's  Union  is  in  charge  of  Miss  Lula  Mattox, 
the  President.  The  Woman's  Missionary  Society 
is  presided  over  by  Mrs.  A.  Easterly,  while  the  Ju 
nior  Missionary  Society  is  committed  to  Miss  Al- 
metta  Goldsmith. 

In  addition  to  these  there  is  a  Dorcas  Sewing 
Circle  for  girls  from  four  to  twelve  years  of  age. 
This  circle  makes  garments  for  poor  children 
Then  there  is  a  Cadet  Department  for  boys  from 
four  to  sixteen  years  of  age. 

The  Sun  Beam  Band  is  under  the  direction  of 
Mrs.  Mary  Taylor  and  is  composed  of  children 
from  four  to  eight  years  of  age.  Fnally  there  is 
the  Cooks,  Washerwomen  and  Porters  Club,  under 
direction  of  Mrs.  Laura  Hollis.  President,  the  ob 
ject  of  which  is  to  promote  efficiency  along  these 
lines.  In  connection  therewith  an  employment  bu 
reau  is  operated  with  great  success. 


49 


Robert  Lee  Mabry 


OBERT  LEE  MABRY  was  born  in 
Tuscaloosa,  Alabama  October  1st 
1874,  and  at  an  early  age  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Birmingham, 
Alabama.  Here  in  Birmingham, 
he  received  the  foundation  for  his 
education  through  the  excellent 
school  system  of  the  city.  After  finishing  his  course 
in  the  city  public  schools  of  Birmingham  he  entered 
the  Tuskegee  Institute  for  the  final  touches.  While 
taking  the  Academic  work  he  specialized  in  the 
Tailoring  division  of  the  Institute.  Having  to  de 
pend  upon  his  own  efforts  for  paying  his  tuition 
he  learned  to  take  advantage  of  his  opportunity  and 
applied  himself  diligently  to  his  studies  and  con 
sequently  left  the  Institute  thorough1)-  equipped  for 
his  life  work. 

He  spent  his  first  year  after  graduating  at  the 
Tuskegee  Institute  in  teaching  but  his  inclination 
and  gift  did  not  lead  him  into  that  profession  so  he 
seized  upon  the  first  opening  to  enter  a  business  of 
his  liking. 

He  was  offered  a  position  with  the  People's  Tail 
oring  Company  which  he  promptly  accepted  and 
which  was  the  beginning  of  a  career  which  has 
brought  him  reputation  and  financial  success. 

While  in  College  he  took  orders  for  clothing 
from  his  fellow  students  and  in  his  new  position  the 
experience  he  thus  gained  stood  him  well  in  hand 
and  made  his  work  comparatively  easy. 

While  the  connection  with  the  People's  Tailoring 
Company  was  pleasant  he  decided  to  sever  his  con 
nection  for  purposes  of  his  own.  He  aspired  to 
head  a  business  himself  so  in  1898  he  formed  a  par 
tnership  with  four  other  salesmen  and  opened  a 
cleaning  and  pressing  shop  at  No.  103  North  19th 
Street.  This  partnership  continued  for  only  a 
short  time  when  Mr.  J.  W.  Taylor  and  Mr.  Mabry 
purchased  the  other's  interest  and  became  the  sole 
proprietors  of  the  business.  Even  this  arrange 
ment  was  unsatisfactory  to  Mr.  Mabry  who  was 
ambitious  to  have  absolute  control  of  the  business 
which  he  finally  acquired,  and  associated  with  him 
his  brother.  Since  that  time  the  business  has  been 
known  as  the  "Mabry  Brothers." 

In  the  conduct  of  his  business  Mr.  Mabry  has 
proved  a  most  excellent  executive  and  by  close  at 
tention  and  honest  service  has  built  up  a  trade 
which  enables  him  to  live  and  lay  up  in  store 
against  the  day  of  adversity. 

His  investments  are  mostly  in  real  estate  and 
real  estate  mortgages  and  here  as  in  the  conduct 
of  his  business  his  good  judgment  directed  him 
unerringly.  Mr.  Mabry  is  fortunate  in  having  a 
help  meet  who  is  in  sympathy  with  his  purposes 

50 


and  plans  and  whose  wise  economy  has  aided  in  his 
effort  to  accumulate  an  independence. 

His  wife  was  Miss  Nettie  Faith  of  Mobile  and 
they  were  married  in  Birmingham  August  23rd. 
1899. 

The  issue  of  this  marriage  is  an  only  son  who  is 
now  attending  the  Public  Schools  of  Birmingham. 
It  is  the  ambition  of  Mr.  Mabry  to  give  this  boy  a 
fine  education  and  fit  him  for  some  useful  occupa 
tion  in  life.  Like  most  men  who  have  struggled 
for  an  education  he  knows  its  value  and  has  learn 
ed  that  it  is  necessary  to  any  marked  degree  of 
success  along  any  endeavor. 

Mr.  Mabry  is  something  of  a  traveler  and  his 
travels  have  carried  him  over  a  large  portion  of  the 
United  States.  He  has  visited  practica'ly  all  of  the 
Southern  States,  the  Middle  Atlantic  States  and  in 
New  England  and  has  lived  in  Alabama,  Tennessee 
and  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Mabry  is  a  religious  man  and  in  affiliation  a 
Baptist.  He  became  a  member  of  the  church  in 
1906  and  in  his  church  life  as  in  his  business  life  he 
was  not  content  to  be  a  passive  member. 

His  membership  is  in  the  16th  Street  Baptist 
church  where  he  is  actively  engaged  in  religious 
work. 

Mr.  Mabry  is  greatly  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  his  people  as  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  is 
connected  with  a  number  of  orders  which  seek 
their  uplift. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  An 
cient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Knights  and 
Ladies  of  Honor  of  America,  the  Eastern  Star, 
United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  I.  B.  P. 
O.  E. 

His  worth  as  an  executive  has  been  recognized 
by  these  different  orders  in  which  he  has  advanced, 
to  official  distinction  from  time  to  time. 

At  this  time  he  is  Most  Worshipful  Master  of  the 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Past  Exalted  Ruler  of 
the  1.  B.  P.  O.  E.  and  Past  Grand  Director  of  the 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor  of  America.  He  is 
also  the  Grand  Master  of,  the  Exchequer  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Possibly  Mr.  Mabry's  chief  characteristic  is  his 
love  of  his  fellow  man  and  he  never  tires  in  his  en 
deavors  in  their  behalf.  He  gives  of  himself  and 
his  means  to  their  service  and  it  is  this  which  ac 
counts  for  his  great  influence  and  popularity. 

"Forget   thyself;  console  the  sadness  near  thee, 

Thine  own  shall  then  depart, 
And  songs  of  joy,  like  heavenly  birds,  shall 
cheer  thee, 

And  dwell  within  thv  heart." 


GEORGE   E.   NEWSTELL. 


HE  only  Negro  dry  goods  mer 
chant  in  Montgomery,  Ala.  wor 
thy  of  the  name  is  George  E. 
Newstell.  Mr.  Newstell  keeps  his 
store  on  Monroe  Street,  in  the 
Newstell  building,  meaning  that 
the  building  is  owned  by  the  merchant.  Here  one 
sees  clothing  for  men  and  women  as  attractively 
displayed  as  they  are  in  the  big  stores  up  town. 

Mr.  Newstell  is  out  and  out  a  product  of  the  city 
in  which  he  does  business.  He  was  born  here,  at 
tended  the  Swayne  school  here,  and  has  made  all 
his  ventures  in  business  here.  Graduating  from  the 
Swayne  school  in  1886.  Mr.  Newstell  began  his 
career  as  a  porter  in  a  store  working  for  $2.50  per 
week.  On  completing  three  years  as  a  porter  he 
was  promoted  to  manager  at  a  salary  of  $15  per 
week.  From  this  post  he  went  to  another  at  a  larg 
er  salary.  By  this  time  he  had  accumulated  money 
and  bought  property.  As  he  rose  in  the  business 
world  and  gained  insight  into  the  workings  of  bus 
iness  he  decided  to  launch  out  for  himself.  This 
he  finally  did,  buying  out  his  former  employers. 

He  continued  in  this  business  for  some  years  and 
by  giving  it  his  personal  and  close  attention  he  not 


only  added  to  his  wealth  but  gained  additional  bus 
iness  knowledge  which  enabled  him  to  score  a 
marked  success  in  his  last  and  present  business 
venture. 

Mr.  Newstell  has  very  decided  convictions  re 
garding  business  ventures.  He  holds  that  one 
should  engage  in  a  business  which  appeals  first  to 
his  inclination  and  for  which  he  has  an  aptitude, 
and  even  then  he  should  give  the  matter  close 
consideration  before  he  comes  to  a  decision. 

Following  this  rule  he  considered  various 
branches  of  trade  and  decided  in  favor  of  the  dry 
goods  business.  It  had  been  his  rule  to  study  from 
the  ground  up  every  business  into  which  he  enter 
ed  but  in  the  selection  of  the  dry  goods  business  he 
entered  a  field  entirely  new  to  him,  but  to  which 
he  brought  his  general  knowledge  of  business  and 
ripe,  experience  in  other  lines. 

The  rapid  development  of  the  Newstell  Dry 
Goods  Store  is  a  tribute  to  his  business  sagacity 
no  less  than  to  his  great  popularity. 

In  addition  to  his  dry  goods  business,  Mr.  New 
stell  carries  on  a  Real  Estate  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Newstell  and  Beverly.  Here  again 
he  showed  his  business  sense.  Before  venturing 
this  field  of  operations  he  studied  the  business  for 
two  and  a  half  years  under  two  competent  and 
practical  teachers  and  even  then  he  moved  slowly 
until  he  had  mastered  it. 

Few  men  have  been  wiser  and  more  fortunate 
in  their  investment.  Thirty  years  in  business  have 
yielded  him,  besides  a  comfortable  living  for  him 
self  and  family,  and  besides  his  dry  goods  and  fur 
nishing  store,  ownership  of  property  valued  at  ap 
proximately  $10,000.  His  income  from  rents  is 
about  $250  per  month.  This  he  attributes  to  two 
main  sources;  first,  a  loyal  and  very  helpful  wife; 
second,  the  careful  study  of  a  business  before  mak 
ing  investments. 

Success  in  business  has  brought  to  Mr.  Newstell 
honors  in  many  other  walks  of  life.  For  fifteen 
years  he  has  been  an  Executive  officer  in  the  order 
of  the  Knights  and  Daughters  of  Tabor.  He  is  a 
Mason,  Odd  Fellow,  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  Endowment  Board  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  at  present  treasurer  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  of  Alabama.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Mt.  Zion  A.  M.  E.  Church, 
a  trustee  of  the  Lomax-Hannon  Industrial  School 
of  Greenville,  Ala.,  a  trustee  of  the  Swayne  school 
of  Montgomery,  and  chairman  of  the  Republican 
county  Executive  committee  of  Montgomery 
County. 

Mr.  Newstell  was  married  in  1894  to  Miss  Belle 
Saunders  of  Montgomery  County.  It  is  worth  re 
peating,  as  Mr.  Newstell  never  tires  of  repeating, 
that  much  of  this  man's  success  is  due  to  her. 


51 


ALBERT  FRANKLIN  OWENS,  D.  D. 

EASURED  from  the  depths  whence 
he  came  and  the  heights  he  has  at 
tained  Dr.  A.  F.  Owens  is  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  men  of  the 
race-  Born  a  slave  fifty-six  years 
ago  in  Wilcox  county,  Alabama, 
and  left  an  orphan  at  six  years  of 
age,  he  has  steadily  climbed  from 
the  position  of  a  boy  porter  in  a  book  store  in  New 
Orleans,  Louisiana,  to  the  post  of  Dean  of  the  Theo 
logical  Department  of  Selma  University,  Selma 
Alabama. 

Dr.  Owens  early  education  was  picked  up  in  night 
schools  while  he  worked  for  a  living  during  the 
day.  Soon  he  began  to  teach  and  preach  in  St. 
Landry  Parish,  Lousiana.  Realizing  the  need  of 
better  preparation  for  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
he  entered  Leland  University,  New  Orleans,  in 
1873.  and  finished  in  1877. 

From  the  first  of  his  career  Dr.  Owens  has  been 
interested  in  newspaper  work.  While  attending 
the  University,  he  edited  the  "Baptist  Messenger," 
the  organ  of  the  State  Convention  in  Missionary 
work  in  Louisiana.  In  1885  he  was  editor  of  the 
"Baptist  Pioneer,"  the  official  organ  of  the  Alabama 
Baptist  State  Convention.  Because  of  his  exper 
ience  as  a  journalist  he  is  now  a  special  corres 
pondent  for  the  great  white  dailies  published  in 
Mobile,  Montgomery,  and  Birmingham. 

Dr.  Owens  has  pastored  in  such  cities  as  Mobile, 
and  Montgomery.  He  is  no  less  an  educator,  hav 


ing  served  as  a  Trustee  and  teacher  of  Selma  Uni 
versity.  After  resigning  his  pastorate  in  Mobile 
in  1906,  he  accepted  the  position  of  Dean  of  the 
Theological  Department  of  Selma  University 
where  he  remained  until  1908,  when  he  accepted  a 
similar  post  in  the  Phelps  Hall  Bible  Training 
School,  of  Tuskegee  Institute.  In  1913  Dr.  Owens 
returned  to  his  former  work  at  Selma  University 
where  he  is  now  located. 

During  the  year  1911,  Dr.  Owens  representing 
the  State  Federation  of  Colored  Women's  clubs, 
went  before  the  Alabama  Legislature  and  secured 
an  appropriation  of  $8,000  for  the  Mt.  Meigs  Re 
formatory  for  colored  boys  and  induced  the  legisla 
ture  to  incorporate  that  reform  school  as  a  state  in 
stitution.  Up  to  this  time  it  had  been  supported 
wholly  by  the  colored  women  of  the  state  by  whom 
it  was  organized.  The  following  letter  will  show 
something  of  the  labors  and  the  esteem  in  which 
Dr.  Owens  is  held  by  the  white  people  of  Mobile, — 
The  Mobile  Register. 

GOVERNOR   O'NEAL'S   TRIBUTE   TO   DR. 
A.  F.  OWENS. 
Birmingham,   Ala.,    June,    1918. 

During  my  administration  as  Governor  I  be 
came  acquainted  with  Dr.  A.  F.  Owens,  lie  ren 
dered  me  very  active  and  efficient  service  in  se 
curing  the  passage  of  the  bill  establishing  the 
Mount  Meigs  School  for  the  Reformatory  of  Ju 
venile  Negro  Delinquents.  After  the  establishment 
of  this  institution,  I  appointed  Dr.  Owens  as  one 
of  the  trustees,  and  came  in  contact  with  him  very 
frequently  in  many  matters  affecting  the  interest 
of  both  races.  1  was  deeply  impressed  with  his 
broad  and  liberal  culture,  his  high  ideals  and  his 
sincere  devotion  to  the  cause  of  education  and  the 
betterment  of  both  races. 

I  soon  learned  to  rank  him  with  the  lamented 
Booker  T.  Washington  and  W.  H.  Council,  as  a 
man  who  had  a  clear  and  comprehensive  concep 
tion  of  those  measures  which  would  best  promote 
the  most  amicable  and  friendly  relation  between 
the  races.  I  early  learned  to  recognize  him  as  a 
man  whose  councils  and  teachings  if  followed, 
would  create  the  very  cordial  and  friendly  relation 
between  the  races  so  essential  to  the  interest  of 
both. 

As  a  public  speaker.  Dr.  Owens  has  rare  gifts 
of  oratory,  is  polished  and  forceful  and  by  his 
clear  and  intelligent  conception  of  public  questions 
never  fails  to  make  an  impress  upon  his  auditors. 
He  is  unquestionably  a  worthy  successor  of 
Washington  and  Council,  and  I  earnestly  believe 
his  influence  will  only  redound  to  the  benefit  of  his 
own  race  and  to  the  creation  of  that  cordial  rela 
tion  and  the  removal  of  that  friction  between  the 
races  which  is  too  often  the  result  of  ignorance 
and  prejudice; 

Verv  respectfully, 

EMMET  O'NEAL. 

When  the  Spanish-American  War  broke  out. 
Dr.  Owen  rendered  valuable  service  in  organizing 
the  Third  Alabama  Colored  Regiment  in  Mobile. 

Dr.  Owens  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Minis  Taylor  of  Mobile,  Alabama, 
died  in  1900.  His  present  wife  is  Miss  Sallie  Mae 
Pruitt  of  Leighton,  Alabama. 


52 


1 


LAWRENCE  L.   POWELL 


L.  POWELL,  State  Grand  Mas 
ter  Mosaic  Templars  of  America, 
was  born  near  Conycrs,  Ga.,  Oct. 
1876  and  educated  in  the  city  of 
Atlanta.  After  spending-  his  boy 
hood  days  in  Atlanta,  he  decided 
to  travel.  His  first  stop  was  in  the  State  of  Ala 
bama.  After  some  interesting  investigation  of 
many  places  as  to  their  future  worth,  Mr.  Powell 
decided  to  locate  in  the  Northern  part  of  the  state 
in  the  little  city  of  Sheffield,  which  at  this  time 
seemed  the  most  prominent  industrial  city.  There 
he  entered  the  mercantile  business  and  was  a  suc 
cess  from  the  start.  He  was  successful  in  making 
a  number  of  friends  not  only  in  Sheffield  but  in  all 
the  adjacent  towns,  many  of  whom  he  remembers 
with  gratitude,  and  many  of  whom  tc>  this  dav  are 
his  strongest  indorsers  and  supporters  in  his  work 
as  Grand  Master. 

He  owns  some  very  valuable  property  in  Mont 
gomery  and  Birmingham  and  is  regarded  as  one 
among  the  Negores  who  have  made  good  in  Ala 
bama  in  the  face  of  many  disappointments  and 
difficulties. 


Mr.  Powell  is  identified  with  many  leading 
Lodges,  the  one  in  which  he  is  most  promi 
nent  being  the  National  Order  of  the  Mosaic  Temp 
lars.  He  has  been  identified  with  it  now  for 
twenty  years  and  has  filled  many  places  of  honor 
and  trust.  Slowly  he  has  climbed  to  the  top  of  this 
organization  in  his  state,  and  today  is  State  Grand 
Master  of  the  Alabama  Jurisdiction,  master  over 
600  Lodges  with  a  membership  of  quite  15000. 

As  to  honorary  positions  few  men  of  his  race 
have  received  so  many  pleasant  returns.  For  eight 
years  he  has  represented  his  state  as  a  delegate  at 
large  in  the  National  Assembly  of  his  order,  and 
for  eight  years  has  been  a  fraternal  delegate  to 
visit  all  the  Grand  Lodges  in  the  National  Juris 
diction. 

In  the  fall  of  1911  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Willie 
R.  Lee,  a  widow  of  many  splendid  qualities,  and  a 
mother  of  two  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl,  both  of 
whom  are  making  a  place  for  themselves.  The 
young  man  Clarence  W.  Lee  has  reached  his  ma 
jority  and  is  filling  a  very  important  position  in  the 
Mosaic  Templars  of  Alabama.  The  young  woman, 
Miss  Annie  Helen  Lee  is  a  student  at  the  State 
Normal. 

L.  L.  Powell,  State  Grand  Master  of  the  Na 
tional  Order  of  Mosaic  Templare  of  Alabama  has 
in  eight  years  built  from  45  lodges  and  900  mem 
bers,  quite  600  Lodges  and  1500  members.  This 
organization  has  added  many  features  for  the  bet 
terment  of  the  members :  Namely  the  burial  de 
partment.  When  Powell  was  made  State  Grand 
Master  Wm.  Alexander  (deceased)  was  the  Na 
tional  Grand  Master.  Having  Wm.  Alexander's 
friendship  and  confidence  he  was  able  to  get  Alex 
ander's  co-operation  in  many  ways.  It  was  pre 
dicted  by  no  few  that  this  department  would  never 
be  able  to  sustain  itself,  but  its  success  the  past 
several  years  has  proven  by  careful  management  a 
"Great  Boon"  to  unfortunate  members,  and  today 
this  department  alone  receives  between  nine  and 
ten  thousand  dollars  annually  and  is  self-sustaining. 
This  burial  department  is  exclusive  of  endowment. 
It  is  said  that  the  Mosaics  is  the  only  lodge  of  its 
kind  that  makes  the  last  resting  place  of  its  dead. 

The  Mosaic  Lodge  was  organized  in  Little  Rock 
in  1882  by  the  Hon.  J.  E.  Bush  and  Hon.  C.  W. 
Keatts.  Since  date  of  organization  it  has  entered 
thirty-one  states  and  has  grand  Lodge  in  South 
Africa,  Central  America  and  Panama  Zone.  It  has 
a  total  membership  of  between  80,000  and  100,000. 
It  has  stood  every  crisis  and  is  said  to  have  more 
cash  money  in  hand  than  any  colored  organization 
of  its  kind  in  the  world,  with  no  outstanding  in 
debtedness,  having  to  its  credit  over  a  quarter  of 
a  million  dollars. 


I.  T.   SIMPSON,  B.  D.,  D.  D. 

R.  I.  T.  SIMPSON  is  present  pas 
tor  of  the  African  Baptist  Church 
at  Tuscaloosa.  Alabama.  Dr 
Simpson  was  born  in  troublous 
times,  troublous  historically  and 
troublous  for  Dr.  Simpson  per 
sonally.  He  was  born  in  the  late  50's  in  Conecuh 
County,  Alabama. 

Even  in  this  enlightened  day  Conecuh  County  is 
not  wholly  peppered  with  school  houses.  In  the 
50's,  60's  and  70's  chances  for  a  black  boy  to  learn 
the  mere  rudiments  were  exceedingly  rare.  They 
were  worse  for  the  Tuscaloosa  pastor.  Dr.  Simp 
son  was  an  orphan.  Very  early  in  his  childhood  he 
was  "bound  out",  as  the  phrase  used  to  run.  He 
was  given  a  sort  of  stint;  namely  he  had  to  milk 
twelves  cows  a  day  and  chop  an  acre  of  cotton. 
When  this  was  done  he  could  go  to  school  as  the 
case  might  be.  When  going  to  school  was  not  pos 
sible  he  prevailed  upon  the  sons  of  the  man  he 
was  "bound  to"  to  teach  him. 

Arriving  at  young  manhood,  Dr.  Simpson  set 
out  for  himself.  His  first  real  training  was  received 
at  the  State  Normal  School  in  Montgomery,  Ala 
bama.  From  Montgomery  he  entered  Selma  Uni- 

54 


versity,  finishing  from  each  department  in  the 
school,  the  last  being  the  Department  of  Theology 
and  was  later  made  a  trustee  of  Selma  University. 
Equipped  now  for  life  work,  he  set  out  to  find 
a  field.  His  first  charge,  as  the  clergymen  speak  of 
it,  was  found  at  Evergreen,  the  First  Baptist 
Church  near  the  town.  This,  while  it  was  the  be 
ginning  of  his  life  work  as  pastor  marked  also  the 
beginning  of  a  round  of  charges,  some  very  long, 
some  of  comparative  short  duration.  From  Ever 
green  he  went  to  Mt.  Arrirat,  thence  to  Selma, 
thence  to  Friendship  at  Marion.  Leaving  that  sec 
tion  of  the  country,  he  next  accepted  the  pastorate 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Opelika  and  of  the 
Rbenezer  Baptist  Church,  of  Auburn,  Alabama. 
Over  both  of  these  churches  he  presided  at  the 
same  time,  holding  Opelika  fourteen  years  and  Au 
burn  ten  years. 

During  the  four  years  of  his  pastorate  at  Tus 
caloosa,  Alabama,  where  he  now  presides,  Dr. 
Simpson  has  been  engaged  mainly  in  raising  funds 
to  complete  a  handsome  brick  church.  He  has  been 
able  to  assemble  the  aid  of  the  white  people  and 
colored  people  to  the  extent  of  raising  $17,000  in 
four  years. 

During  his  pastorate  and  career,  Dr.  Simpson 
has  held  many  important  offices  in  his  denomina 
tion  in  the  state.  As  has  been  stated  he  is  a  trus 
tee  of  Selma  University,  a  place  he  has  held  for 
twenty  years.  He  was  at  one  time  a  state  mission 
ary,  and  was  the  state  treasurer  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Convention  for  twelve  years.  He  lifted -a 
debt  of  $2,800  from  the  Chattanooga  Baptist  church 
in  a  short  pastorate  of  fifteen  months.  At  present 
he  is  treasurer  of  the  N.  \V.  Baptist  state  conven 
tion.  In  his  life  as  a  preacher  he  has  baptized 
6000  souls. 

The  Tuscaloosa  pastor  has  tried  to  make  himself 
secure  for  the  day  when  he  will  no  longer  be  vigor 
ous  and  full  of  health.  He  owns  a  lot  in  Birming 
ham,  three  lots  in  Tuscaloosa,  where  he  is  now  pas- 
toring  and  one  lot  in  Steel  City,  St.  Clair  County. 

Dr.  Simpson  has  been  married  more  than  a  quar 
ter  of  a  century.  His  wife  was  Miss  Julia  A.  Cun 
ningham  of  Bellville,  Conecuh  County.  The  fam 
ily  group  is  happiest  when  Dr.  F.  R.  Simpson  of 
Ensley,  the  son,  runs  down  to  Tuscaloosa  for  a 
short  stay  with  his  parents. 

To  quote  Dr.  C.  O.  Boothe  in  his  Alabama  Bap 
tists,  "He  (Dr.  Simpson)  is  peculiarly  himself  and 
not  another — clear  headed,  comprehensive,  reason 
able,  self-reliant,  genial  in  his  home  as  well  as  in 
the  public  harness." 


ELIJAH  STRONG  SMITH. 

EGRO  insurance  is  still  in  its  in 
fancy.  Though  the  first  company 
is  said  to  have  been  established 
in  1810,  the  genuine  Negro  insur 
ance  business  could  not  have  tak- 

: 

then,  there  were  vascilations,  timidity,  mistrust. 
The  Negro  had  to  be  converted  to  his  own.  More 
over,  he  had  to  be  educated  to  the  point  to  be  in 
sured  and  he  had  to  develop  earning  power  to  pay 
the  premium.  Finally,  the  aspirant  to  insurance 
business  had  to  be  educated  to  conduct  and  man 
age  such  an  undertaking — an  education  which  one 
is  inclined  to  admit  the  black  man  came,  by  clan 
destinely,  peeping  out  of  the  corner  of  one  eye 
while  dusting  the  counters  or  adjusting  the  ele 
vator.  , 

Elijah  Strong  Smith  of  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama, 
seems,  however,  to  have  been  to  the  manor  born,  in 
insurance  as  well  as  in  other  forms  of  business. 
While  yet  a  boy  in  his  home  town,  1  lenderson,  Ken 
tucky,  Mr.  Smith  was  paying  his  expenses  in  school 
by  selling  books,  and  he  who  can  sell  books  has 
already  made  his  business  career  secure.  Finishing 
the  public  school  in  Henderson,  he  entered  the 
State  University  in  Louisville.  Again  the  selling 


of  books  and  merchandise  furnished  the  money  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  his  education. 

Finishing  College,  Mr.  Smith  went  to  Alabama 
and  joined  the  Mutual  Aid  Association  of  Mobile, 
the  company  over  which  C.  F.  Johnson  presides. 
Finding  Mr.  Smith  already  seasoned  in  business, 
much  unlike  the  average  school  graduate  who  had 
entered  the  service  of  the  company,  Mr.  Johnson 
sent  Mr.  Smith  to  Pratt  City  to  be  district  agent. 
In  one  year's  time  the  young  man  had  risen  from 
district  agent  to  district  manager.  Seven  years 
later  he  was  made  district  auditor.  In  1911,  the 
company  having  developed  a  large  business  in  Tus 
caloosa,  appointed  Mr.  Smith  manager  of  the  dis 
trict. 

Though  a  stranger  in     Tuscaloosa,     a     town     in 
which  Negroes  are  keenly  alert  in    business,    Mr. 
Smith  took  immediately  a  leading  place  among  the 
business   men.     He   had  been   in   the   city  but   one 
year  when  he  was  chosen  President  of  the  Negro 
Business  Men's  League  of  the  city-    From  this  time 
on  he  has  represented  Tuscaloosa  in  all  the  Negro 
business  gatherings  of  Alabama.     He  was  delegate 
to  the  National  Negro  Business  League  in  1912  and 
was  chosen  Secretary  of  his  State  League  in  1916. 
Useful  in   business   circles,   Mr.   Smith   is   also  a 
vital  force  in  the  church  and  in  the  big  organiza 
tions   of  Alabama.     He   is   an   active   member   and 
worker     of  the     First   Baptist   Church.     For   four 
years  he  has  been  President  of  the  Tuscaloosa  Bap 
tist  Young  People's  Union,  and  for  two  years  As 
sistant   Superintendent  of  the.  Sunday   School.     In 
1914  and  1915  he  was  President  of  the  District  Bap 
tist  Young  People's  Union.    He  is  a  member  of  the 
Advisory  Board  of  the  Federation  of  Colored  Wo 
men  of  Alabama. 

To  be  sure  Mr.  Smith  came  to  business  and  to  ev 
ery  day  life  well  equipped.  He  had  enjoyed  ex 
ceptional  advantages  of  travel  and  contact,  having 
traveled  all  over  the  United  States  as  an  advance 
representative  for  the  Eckstein  Norton  University 
of  Cane  Springs,  Kentucky.  The  officials  of  the 
government  striving  to  select  leading  men  in  differ 
ent  localities  to  lead  in  war  activities,  eagerly 
sought  for  and  selected  Mr.  Smith  to  assume  the 
office  of  Chairman  of  the  Food  Conservation  cam 
paign  in  Tuscaloosa  County,  Alabama. 

The  whole  county  of  Tuscaloosa  fell  in  behind  his 
leadership  and  the  result  was  that  the  war  depart 
ment  realized  that  it  had  made  no  mistake  in  se 
lecting  him  and  the  result  of  his  activities  along 
this  line  will  always  be  a  bright  spot  in  his  work 
for  his  country. 

He  was  also  selected  as  one  of  the  four  minute 
speakers  for  his  county  and  he  was  everywhere  in 
the  city  of  Tuscaloosa  and  Tuscaloosa  County 
where  any  gathering  was  being  held  to  impress 
•i^on  the  people  their  full  duty  in  whatever  mo 
mentous  work  was  being  pushed  by  the  govern 
ment  at  that  time.  In  fact  he  was  always  a  lead 
ing  factor  in  all  war  work  activities. 

In  all  his  endeavors,  Mr.  Smith  relies  much  on 
Mrs.  Smith,  his  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
1896,  before  taking  residence  in  Alabama.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  Miss  Nellie  Montgomery,  of  Starksville, 
Mississippi. 


Soloman  Sharp  Sykes 


F  course  I  don't  look  at  the  books 
every  day,  but  I  keep  pretty  good 
track  of  things  both  outside  and 
in  the  court  house  here.  As  far 
as  I  know,  Sykes  owns  all  this 
property  without  one  cent  of 
mortgage." 

These  were  the  words  of  an  officer  of  the  court 
of  Decatur,  Alabama,  in  speaking  of  Soloman 
Sharp  Sykes,  self-made,  self-educated. 

Even  these  details  are  not  germain.  The  essen 
tial  question  is  what  this  exslave,  almost  illiterate 
man,  accomplished  during  these  50  years  of  his 
freedom.  Of  course  Mr.  Sykes  is  the  most  modest 
of  men.  You  have  to  wrest  facts  from  him  about 
himself.  Even  then  he  gives  only  fragments.  To 
know  about  him  you  have  to  go  to  his  neighbors. 
These  neighbors  tell  you  that  Sharp  Sykes  is  al 
ways  doing  something  for  his  people,  helping  some 
body  through  school  Contributing  to  buy  a  church, 
to  help  a  school,  to  give  somebody  a  start.  They 
tell  you  further,  white  or  black,  that  Mr.  Sykes 
carries  a  thousand  or  two  of  dollars  in  each  of 
the  several  banks  of  the  town.  Then  you  go  to  the 
records  and  along  the  streets  and  find  his  proper 
ty  holdings  about  as  follows :  His  neighbors  and 
the  books  all  confirm  this.  He  owns  his  home,  a 
real  residence.  He  owns  his  undertaking  estab 
lishment.  He  owns  his  seven  stores,  eighteen  rent 
houses,  one  farm  and  a  seven  acre  cemetery.  This 
is  the  property  of  which  the  officer  of  the  court 
said,  "As  far  as  I  know  there  is  not  one  cent  of 
mortgage  on  it." 

He  gives  without  ceasing.  Moreover,  he  has 
reared  and  has  educated  an  unusually  large  family. 
And  Mr.  Sykes  lives  for,  and  in  a  sense,  in,  these 
children.  The  man  does  not  grow  old.  He  has  been 
able  to  grow  with  his  children,  to  get  much  of  their 
education,  to  absorb  from  contact  with  them  an 
abundance  of  the  culture  which  he  in  his  youth 
and  later  struggle  had  to  miss. 

Mrs.  Sykes  has  had  more  education  to  start  with, 
having  had  a  pretty  good  common  school  educa 
tion.  They  are  both  religious  people,  being 
members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  where  Mr. 
Sykes  is  a  deacon.  Mr.  Sykes  is  a  lodge  member, 
holding  membership  in  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  in 
the  Eastern  Star.  His  real  life  interest,  however,  is 
centered  in  the  church,  in  his  family  and  in  mak 
ing  people  about  him  happy  and  content. 

Mr.  Sykes  was  born  in  Lawrence  County,  Ala 
bama,  about  ten  years  before  emancipation  and 
lived  at  a  time  when  it  was  hard  to  get  an  educa 
tion.  He  made  the  best  of  his  opportunities,  how 


ever,  and  managed  to  secure  one  or  two  months  of 
schooling  each  year.  The  balance  of  his  time  was 
devoted  to  manual  labor. 

Tn  1878,  while  still  a  young  man  in  his  early 
twenties,  he  saw  an  opportunity  to  enter  business, 
which  he  was  quick  to  seize,  and  started  upon  his 
business  career  with  only  a  strong  body,  a  quick 
mind  and  a  large  endowment  of  common  sense. 
This  trio  of  gifts  was  sure  to  win  success  and  the 
sequence  of  his  life  shows  that  in  his  case  they  did 
make  a  successful  score.  It  is  unnecessary  to  fol 
low  his  rise  step  by  step.  Sufficient  to  say  that 
he  won  out  and  that  today,  after  twenty  years  of 
business  life,  he  is  the  proprietor  of  a  number  of 
business  enterprises.  Among  his  business  ventures 
is  that  of  Undertaker  and  Embalmer,  a  large  busi 
ness  in  which  his  son  is  associated. 

Mr.  Sykes  is  not  only  a  money  getter,  but  a  lib 
eral  spender.  He  does  not  spend  his  money  fool 
ishly,  but  in  a  way  to  help  others.  He  has  learn 
ed  the  joy  of  service  and  to  him  money  has  open 
ed  up  a  wider  avenue  to  this  blessed  state.  Money 
is  a  good  servant  but  a  hard  master  and  Mr.  Sykes 
has  relegated  money  to  its  proper  place  of  ser 
vant.  Mr.  Sykes  also  appreciates  the  uncertainty 
of  riches  and  instead  of  hoarding  them  to  leave  to 
his  children  when  he  is  gone  he  employs  his  money 
in  giving  his  children  the  best  advantages  of  edu 
cation  and  to  fit  them  for  useful  lives,  knowing 
that  what  he  gives  them  in  this  respect  cannot  be 
taken  from  them. 

Mr.  Sykes  was  married  to  Miss  Ada  Garth  of 
Morgan  Coounty,  Alabama,  in  1880.  and  for  forty 
years  they  have  labored  side  by  side  for  the  good 
of  their  community  and  the  welfare  of  their  chil 
dren.  God  has  blessed  them  with  a  large  family 
of  children,  eight  in  number,  who  constitute  their 
pride  of  life  and  in  whose  interest  their  lives  are 
devoted.  They  have  grown  with  their  children  and 
the  reflex  influence  of  the  educational  advantages 
they  have  given  their  children  are  seen  in  their 
own  mental  advancement. 

Several  of  his  children  have  entered  the  profes 
sions  and  the  others  are  being  fitted  to  fill  well 
any  position  in  life  that  they  may  elect. 

Miss  Rebecca  is  a  graduate  of  Fisk  University; 
Miss  Mamie  Estelle  is  a  graduate  of  Spellman 
Seminar}',  Atlanta,  Georgia ;  his  son,  Newman  M., 
is  a  graduate  of  Fisk  University  and  is  now  pursu 
ing  graduate  studies  for  a  medical  degree  in  the 
University  of  Illinois.  Another  son,  Leo  M.  Sykes, 
is  now  a  student  at  Howard  University  and  is  tak 
ing  a  course  in  Dentistry.  Carl  M.  is  a  student  at 
Moorehouse  College,  Atlanta,  Georgia,  while  Mel- 
vin  and  Eunice  are  pursuing  their  studies  in  the 
public  schools  of  their  home  city.  When  their 
foundation  is  laid  they  will  no  doubt  receive  a  col 
lege  training  also.  Children  with  such  advantages 
and  springing  from  such  a  sire  ar,  sure  to  make 
their  impress  upon  the  world,  and  will  be  pointed 
to  as  a  monument  to  the  wisdom  of  the  parents 
who  trained  them  for  service. 


56 


JOHN  LEVY  THOMAS. 


N  Union  Springs,  Alabama,  the 
county  seat  of  Bullock  County, 
lives  a  colored  man  who  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century  has  been 
judge,  jury  and  court  regarding 
all  matters  pertaining  to  the  pub 
lic  good  of  the  Negro.  Step  by  step  from  a  poor 
and  unlettered  farmer,  he  has  made  his  way  to  the 
post.  At  every  stage  he  has  had  to  stop  and  de 
monstrate.  It  was  doubted  in  that  section  if  a 
colored  man  could  own  and  operate  a  farm  suc 
cessfully.  J.  L.  Thomas  bought  a  farm  and  de 
monstrated.  It  was  thought  that  a  Negro  could 
not  ovv'ii  and  operate  a  city  business  successfully, 
the  prophecy  being  that  business  equipment,  Ne 
gro  and  all  would  in  a  short  time  be  back  in  the 
hands  of  the  white  people.  Thomas  bought  a  block 
and  set  up  a  grocery  and  provision  store  and  prov 
ed  the  fallacy  of  this  notion. 

Some  years  ago  advanced  thought  and  democ 
racy  poked  their  heads  far  enough  in  some  sec 
tions  of  the  South  to  declare  that  a  Negro  County 
]*air  would  be  a  very  helpful,  indeed  an  inspiring 
thing.  In  and  around  the  home  of  Mr.  Thomas 
timidity  and  inexperience  asserted  that  such  a  no 
tion  was  little  short  of  preposterous.  Taking  his 


own  hard  earned  money  from  the  bank,  Mr. 
Thomas  financed  the  Negro  Fair,  showing  that  the 
thing  could  be  done.  Last  year  the  white  citi 
zens  of  Union  Springs  gave  one  hundred  dollars 
for  prizes  for  fairs  between  two  small  Negro  com 
munities.  Today  Mr.  Thomas  is  preaching  veg 
etable,  poultry  and  stock  raising.  Once  more  he 
demonstrates  with  his  own  products,  and  once 
more  his  doctrine  is  being  heeded  by  the  masses 
around  him. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  born  in  Pike  County,  Alabama, 
March  5th,  1863.  A  farm  lad,  he  had  but  a  slight 
chance  to  gain  even  the  rudiments  of  education. 
What  education  he  got  was  gained  by  night  study 
after  plowing  all  day.  The  following  is  told  by  Dr. 
Washington  regarding  Mr.  Thomas'  getting  a  foot 
hold: 

"Thompson  contracted  to  pay  Thomas  five  dol 
lars  per  month,  with  the  privilege  of  coming  to 
town  very  other  Saturday  afternoon  to  see  his 
mother.  He  was  allowed  to  stay  over  Sunday,  but 
was  obliged  to  be  on  hand  at  sunrise  Monday 
morning  to  catch  his  mules  and  go  to  plowing.  He 
was  always  on  time  early  Monday  morning. 

"The  colored  farmer  took  such  a  liking  to  the 
boy  that  the  gave  him  a  little  patch  of  land  to  cul 
tivate  himself.  This  land  was  planted  in  peanuts, 
and  yielded  between  ten  and  fifteen  bushels,  which 
were  carefully  dried  and  housed. 

"At  that  time  it  was  the  custom  among  the  col 
ored  people  to  give  corn  shuckings  and  suppers 
were  attended  by  people  from  ten  miles  around. 
Whenever  Mr.  Thomas  heard  of  one  of  these 
events  he  would  parch  about  one-half  bushel  of  his 
peanuts  and  carry  them  to  the  gathering  to  sell. 
By  offering  them  at  five  cents  a  pint  he  was  able 
to  make  as  much  as  three  dollars  per  bushel.  He 
often  walked  as  far  as  eight  miles  with  his  peanuts 
to  a  big  supper  or  dance,  after  plowing  hard  all  day, 
and  with  another  hard  day  before  him.  He  parch 
ed  them  during  dinner  hour,  when  other  hands 
were  resting,  and  was  often  up  as  late  as  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning  to  sell  them,  although  he 
had  to  go  to  work  at  daybreak." 

Although  his  education  was  small  in  book  learn 
ing  he  had  a  fund  of  practical  knowledge  which 
backed  by  a  wealth  of  common  sense  has  enabled 
him  to  do  things  of  great  worth  and  to  be  a  help 
and  blessing  to  his  race.  After  all  this  is  the  se 
cret  of  a  successful  life  and  measured  by  this 
standard  he  has  not  lived  in  vain. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a  large  real  estate  owner;  his 
possessions  comprise  about  two  hundred  city  lots 
and  several  farms.  While  interested  in  the  city  the 
farm  is  his  first  love.  He  lives  on  his  farm  and 
takes  great  delight  in  his  cattle,  poultry  and  gar 
den  and  from  the  waving  corn  and  snowy  cotton 
field  he  finds  his  chief  joy. 

Mi.  Ihomas  is  ambitious  to  see  his  people  ad 
vance  i  long  all  right  lines  and  he  never  tires  in 
giving  them  the  word  of  encouragement  and  in  ex 
tending  the  helping  hand. 

"A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed,"  and  Mr. 
Thomas  tries  to  be  that  friend  and  has  learned  as 
so  many  have  that  a  life  of  service  is  the  only  life 
worth  living. 


57 


MISS  GEORGIA  WASHINGTON. 

ISS  Georgia  Washington,  the 
founder  and  Principal  of  the 
Peoples'  Village  School,  Mt. 
Meigs,  Alabama,  was  born  a  Vir 
ginia  slave,  and  with  her  mother 
and  brother,  was  sold  away  from 
her  father  when  she  was  a  mere  child. 

After  their  emancipation  the  problem  of  a  live 
lihood  confronted  her  mother,  for  the  new  condi 
tions  imposed  new  and  untried  responsibilities. 
Following  the  course  pursued  by  man}-  ex-slaves, 
the  mother  worked  out  with  her  old  master  and 
left  her  daughter  to  care  for  the  other  children  in 
the  family  and  look  after  the  household  duties. 
This  was  a  grave  responsibility  to  place  upon 
young  shoulders  but  the  struggle  for  existence  left 
no  other  alternative.  Who  can  say  that  the  hand 
of  Providence  was  not  in  this  early  direction  of 
her  life.  The  discipline  she  received  through  du 
ties  thus  early  placed  upon  her  no  doubt  played  an 
important  part  in  her  selection  of  a  life  work. 
Home  cares  stood  as  a  barrier  to  school  privileges 
and  often  she  stood  at  the  window  of  her  home  and 
watched  the  children  pass  too  and  fro  from  school 
and  longed  to  i  e  vith  them.  The  thirst  for  knowl 
edge  was  born  in  her  and  would  not  be  quenched 
because  of  difficulties.  She  felt  that  the  time 
would  come  when  she,  too,  could  attend  school  and 


she  made  the  most  of  the  little  instruction  that 
her  mother  gave  her. 

Her  mother  had  somewhere  learned  the  alpha 
bet  and  some  few  words,  mostly  from  the  Bible, 
and  these  she  taught  her  daughter. 

It  was  a  proud  day  for  Miss  Georgia  when  she 
could  read  the  Bible  and  this  daily  companion  not 
only  served  to  in  part  satisfy  the  cravings  of  an 
active  mind  but  its  principles  became  so  instilled 
into  her  being  that  her  after  life  was  moulded  by 
them. 

Miss  Georgia's  ambition  to  learn  could  not  be 
satisfied  with  what  she  had  attained.  The  knowl 
edge  she  possessed  gave  her  a  keen  appetite  for 
more.  She  applied  to  a  white  lady  to  further  her 
instructions  who  gladly  complied  with  her  request 
and  who  took  pride  in  her  eager  and  successful 
pupil. 

Ihe  expense  of  city  life  became  too  great  for 
the  meager  income  of  the  family  and  it  was  neces 
sary  to  make  a  change  in  order  to  reduce  the  ex 
pense  of  living.  With  this  end  in  view  her  mother 
moved  to  the  country. 

This  move  brightened  the  hope  of  Miss  Georgia 
for  an  education,  for  there  was  a  good  school  in 
the  vicinity  of  their  new  home. 

However,  disappointment  again  met  her.  Grim 
necessity  of  earning  bread  thrust  her  back  to  all 
of  those  myriad  duties  attendant  upon  keeping 
house. 

Her  mother  noting  her  daughter's  disappoint 
ment  and  recognizing  the  activity  of  her  mind,  was 
as  eager  as  she  for  her  to  have  a  chance  for  its  de 
velopment,  and  determined  at  the  first  opportunity 
to  give  her  this  chance.  The  opportunity  came  be 
fore  her  mother  felt  herself  in  a  position  to  act. 

It  chanced  that  the  school  teacher  here  was  a 
Hampton  graduate.  By  hard  persuasion  the  moth 
er  was  prevailed  upon  to  let  the  daughter  go  to 
school  for  a  few  months.  Thus  in  October,  1876. 
she  entered  the  country  school.  By  Christmas 
time,  necessity  in  the  home  caused  the  mother  to 
declare  against  further  attendance.  Again  the 
mother  was  prevailed  upon  and  allowed  the 
daughter  to  go  on  until  Spring.  However,  Miss 
Washington  had  scored  another  triumph  in  her 
career.  She  had  learned  to  write  with  pen  and 
ink,  a  feat  of  magic  to  her,  one  which  she  had  de 
spaired  of  accomplishing. 

Then  came  other  scenes  of  persuasion  and  of 
triumph  in  the  Washington  cabin.  The  teacher 
wished  Miss  Washington  to  go  to  Hampton.  Once 
more  necessity  stood  in  the  way.  She  went,  not 
withstanding,  but  it  was  agreed  that  she  would 
have  to  return  in  a  little  while,  as  funds  would  soon 
run  out.  But  she  did  no  such  thing.  She  entered  in 
1877;  saw  the  Indians  come  to  the  school  in  1878; 
saw  new  buildings  go  up  and  old  ones  torn  down ; 
was  graduated  in  1882;  joined  the  teachers'  staff 
and  taught  and  helped  the  Indian  girls  in  what  is 
known  as  "Winona  Lodge"  for  ten  years  after 
graduation. 

Proud  as  Miss  Washington  was  of  her  detention 
at  Hampton,  yet  such  an  engagement  did  not 
square  with  her  ideals.  She  had  dreamed  of  form 
ing  a  school  in  some  out-of-the-way  place.  This 
she  found  finally  in  Alabama.  At  the  end  of  her 
ten  years  service  at  Hampton,  she  was  asked  to  go 
to  Calhoun,  Alabama,  to  aid  Miss  Mabel  Dilling- 


'/=• 
•*?&*&»  if 

'*^9* 


CAMPUS    SCENE    PEOPLE'S    VILLAGE    SCHOOL 


ham  and  Miss  Charlotte  Thorn,  two  Hampton 
teachers,  to  found  a  school.  Remaining  here  a  year 
Miss  Washington  set  out  to  realize  her  own  vis 
ion,  to  establish  a  school. 

Dr.  Washington  knowing  her  desire  chose  her 
a  spot  near  the  village  of  Mt.  Meigs,  Alabama  a 
spot  forty  miles  from  the  Calhoun  Institute,  and 
twenty-five  miles  from  Tuskegee  Institute.  Hith 
er  in  1893  Miss  Washington  went.  Miss  Washing 
ton  came  to  the  village  in  cotton  picking  time, 
thus  she  found  that  no  place  had  been  provided  for 
either  herself  or  the  school  and  that  very  few  peo 
ple  were  interested  in  either  her  or  the  school.  The 
pastor  of  the  colored  church  gave  her  lodging  for 
the  first  month.  By  October,  1893,  she  had  been 
able  to  rent  a  cabin,  12  by  13,  and  to  open  the  pub- 
Vic  village  school  at  Mt.  Meigs.  Four  small  boys 
completed  the  enrollment  for  the  first  month. 
Shortly  after  this  they  were  crowded  out  of  the 
cabin  and  went  into  the  Negro  church. 

A  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  school  cabin,  she 
rented  another  cabin  for  herself.  Here  during  the 
first  vear  she  lived  alone,  cooking  and  keeping 
house  for  herself  and  paying  four  dollars  a  month 
for  rent  and  laundry.  On  Saturdays,  her  holidays, 
she  taught  sewing  classes  and  wrote  to  the  North 
seeking  to  interest  friends  in  the  school.  She  had 
mothers'  meetings  Sunday  afternoons. 

By  February  the  people  had  bought  and  partly 
paid  for  two  acres  of  land  and  built  a  small  school 
house,  18  by  36.  The  enrollment  the  first  year  was 
one  hundred,  representing  thirty-five  families.  As 
the  children  had  to  pay  50c  or  75c  according  to  age. 
a  great  many  failed  to  enroll.  Indeed,  the  one 
hundred  represented  scarcely  a  third.  After  the 
first  year,  however,  the  school  grew  rapidly.  Out 


side  aid  came,  new  buildings  were  added.  Two 
Hampton  teachers  joined  Miss  Washington,  who 
was  now  able  to  distribute  the  work  and  to  teach 
more  industries.  A  Board  of  trustees  was  incor 
porated,  two  white  men  of  the  community  being  on 
the  board. 

Miss  Washington  has  fully  realized  the  vision 
of  her  school  days  at  Hampton.  She  has  planted  a 
school  in  the  wilderness.  From  an  enrollment  of  4 
small  boys  and  one  teacher  in  1893,  the  school  en 
rolled  in  1916,  225  students  and  had  five  teachers. 
From  no  place  at  all  in  which  to  assemble  the  pu 
pils.  Miss  Washington  has  put  up  a  two-story 
school  house  with  three  recitation  rooms,  an  as 
sembly  hall,  and  rooms  for  teaching  industries  to 
both  boys  and  girls.  Twenty-seven  acres  of  land 
are  now  owned  and  cultivated  by  the  school,  fur 
nishing  a  means  of  teaching  the  boys  and  girls  how 
to  farm  and  live  a  farm  life  and  at  the  same  time 
supply  food  for  students  and  teachers.  All  and  all 
the  school  has  a  property  valuation  of  $9,000.00.  It 
has  touched  and  lifted  old  and  young  in  many  ways 
during  these  twenty-four  years  of  its  existence. 
It  has  taught  mothers  better  house  keeping  and 
fathers  to  buy  land  and  to  put  their  farms  on  a  bus 
iness  basis.  Among  the  young  people,  it  has  turned 
out  85  graduates,  many  of  whom  have  gone  to 
Hampton,  Tuskegee,  Normal,  Meharry  Medical 
College,  Talladega  College,  Spelman  Seminary, 
Howard  University  and  many  other  schools.  These 
are  now  filling  places  of  leadership  where  they  are 
living.  Those  who  did  not  elect  to  study  further 
have  gone  back  home  and  are  applying  their 
knowledge  gained  at  the  Village  School  in  living 
clean,  useful  lives. 


59 


VICTOR  HUGO  TULANE. 


RAVELLING  around  on  the  south 
side  of  Montgomery,  Ala.,  you 
come  all  at  once  upon  a  two-story 
brick  building'  which  you  feel 
ought  to  be  down  town.  It  is 
clean,  wholesome,  spacious,  up-to- 

date  in  all  appointments.     This  is 

the  Tulane  Grocery  on  the  corner  of  South  Ripley 
and  High  Sts.  The  building  and  business  alike  are 
owned  by  Victor  H.  Tulane,  who  in  many  ways  is 
the  foremost  colored  citizen  of  Montgomery. 

Mr.  Tulane  is  a  farm  lad  by  birth,  coming  from 
Wetumpka,  Ala.  When  a  lad  of  fifteen  having 
amassed  the  sum  of  $13.60  from  picking  cotton,  he 
left  his  native  heath  and  walked  into  Montgom 
ery  in  his  bare  feet.  It  took  but  a  little  while  to 
find  employment.  In  a  year's  time  he  with  the  as 
sistance  of  a  hard  working  mother,  had  saved 
$100.00.  With  this  sum  he  resolved  to  enter  busi 
ness  for  himself. 

Now  this  was  back  in  the  late  eighties — 1888,  to 
be  explicit,  when  a  Negro  grocer,  indeed  a  Negro 
anything  worth  while  in  business  was  a  very  rare 
creature.  However,  investing  his  savings  in  a  rust- 
eaten  set  of  scales,  a  broken  meat  knife,  a  lam]),  a 
peck  measure,  and  a  few  grocery  remnants,  lie  set 
forth  on  his  business  career. 

Being  a  pioneer  he  proceeded  upon  anything  but 
a  pretentious  basis.  His  first  purchase  of  new 
stock  consisted  of  one  five  pound  bucket  of  lard 
and  ten  cents  worth  of  salt.  As  can  be  readily 
.^een  his  fifteen  feet  by  twenty  feet  store  was  far 


too  large  for  his  merchandise.  To  meet  a  local  de 
mand  he  turned  one  side  of  the  store  into  a  char 
coal  bin  and  sold  charcoal  along  with,  or  perhaps 
in  excess  of  his  groceries. 

There  were  other  embarrassments  for  the  pion 
eer.  Mr.  Tulane  had  not  been  in  business  long  be 
fore  he  decided  that  plowing  and  picking  cotton 
taught  one  very  little  about  dealing  in  weights 
and  measures.  Nor  were  there  skilled  Negroes  in 
business  as  there  are  now  who  could  give  instruc 
tions.  Mr.  Tulane  found  out,  however,  a  lad  who 
had  worked  around  a  grocery  store.  This  boy 
taught  his  employer  the  use  of  scales  and  man}' 
•other  points  about  the  grocery  business.  It  was  in 
this  early  business  that  he  went  from  house  to 
house  to  solicit  trade  that  crediting  people  well 
nigh  closed  out  his  then  petty  business,  that  he 
closed  his  store  to  deliver  orders,  carrying  on  his 
back  bags  of  meal,  half  barrels  of  flour,  and  the 
like. 

In  four  years  the  light  began  to  break.  He  had 
gotten  some  education  in  grocery  keeping;  his 
business  had  grown.  A  Texas  pony  hauled  around 
the  goods.  A  fifteen  by  twenty  feet  building  was 
growing  too  small,  but  the  store  now  leaked  pain 
fully.  The  young  grocer  had  by  this  time  saved 
three  hundred  dollars.  He  resolved  since  the 
landlord  would  not  repair  to  buy  a  place  of  his 
own.  Thus  began  the  spacious  business  quarters 
on  the  coroner  of  South  Ripley  and  High  Sts.  Here, 
after  twenty  odd  years  he  keeps  stock  worth  sev 
eral  thousand  dollars,  employs  regularly  seven  as 
sistants,  not  counting  himself  and  wife,  both  of 
whom  give  their  time  to  the  store,  runs  several 
grocery  wagons — in  a  word,  does  from  twenty- 
five  thousand  to  forty  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
business  a  year.  Besides  this,  Mr.  Tulane  has 
branched  out  into  other  businesses  and  in  public 
service  work.  He  is  the  owner  of  many  pieces  of 
real  estate  in  Montgomery.  For  some  years  he 
was  the  Cashier  of  the  Montgomery  Penny  Sav 
ings  Bank,  which  of  course  had  to  close  when  the 
parent  bank  failed  in  Birmingham.  That  Mr.  Tu- 
lane's  books  were  above  question  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  both  the  leading  white  banks  and  the  big 
stores  of  Montgomery  came  forward  immediately 
to  proffer  their  assistance.  Throughout  his  ca 
reer  he  has  been  interested  in  uplift  work  of  his 
community.  He  is  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trus 
tees  of  Old  Ship  A.  M.  E.  Church,  the  oldest  col 
ored  church  in  Montgomery.  For  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Swaync  School  Board  and 
is  one  of  the  chief  promoters  of  a  new  building 
and  better  surroundings  for  this  school.  He  is  an 
honorary  member  of  the  Montgomery  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  the  only  NegTO  enjoying  such  an  honor, 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Na 
tional  Negro  Business  League,  and  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Tuskegee  Institute,  as 
well  as  of  other  smaller  schools. 

Mr.  Tulane  bases  his  business  success  around 
which  all  other  distinctions  hover  upon  straightfor 
ward  dealings,  giving  full  measure  for  value  re 
ceived,  meeting  all  obligations  promptly,  avoiding 
cheap  goods,  studying  needs  of  customers,  keeping 
his  surroundings  clean,  in  letting  his  business  ad 
vertise  itself.  Far  above  all  this  are,  two,  Mrs.  Tu- 
lanes  to  whom  this  business  man  expresses  lasting 
gratitude  for  all  that  he  has  achieved,  his  own 
mother  and  also  his  wife.  Mrs.  V.  II.  Tulane. 


60 


CHARLES  WINTER  WOOD,  A.   13.,  B.  D.,   M.  A. 


E  is  a  reader,  an  orator,  an  educa 
tor  and  a  Gentleman."  It  is  with 
these  words  that  the  Chicago  De- 
'l  ^yy  4j  k)  fender  characterizes  Charles  Win- 
J  ^\  ^^  J>  1^r  Wood.  So  far  as  they_  go  they 
J  P*y&i!M  t*  do  well  enough.  But  the  man 
whom  all  call  "Charlie,"  who  is  known  for  his 
generosity  to  friend  and  foe,  whose  unselfishness 
runs  to  the  point  of  abnegation,  who  works  with 
out  regard  to  hours  and  with  indifference  to  remun 
eration,  who  speaks  no  ill  and  thinks  no  ill.  who 
never  abuses  even  those  who  abuse  him,  can  stand 
a  good  deal  heavier  coat  of  felicitation  than  is  laid 
on  him  in  these  few  words  from  his  good  friend 
the  Defender. 

Professionally  Mr-  Wood  could  till  several  posts 
with  distinction.  So  long  as  all  these  posts  run  to 
one  tenor;  namely  the  tenor  of  oratory.  Charles 
Winter  Wood  could  come  away  with  great  eclat, 
lie  commenced  his  course  as  an  actor;  but  a  Ne 
gro  actor  of  the  days  when  Mr.  Wood  made  his 
debut,  was  as  positive  of  starvation  as  was  the  early 
founder  of  a  new  religion.  Stranded  on  the  road 
and  smitten  with  hunger  the  young  Shakespearean. 
and  Shakespearean  he  was  and  is,  shook  the  sack 
and  bieskin  and  besought  the  muses  for  some  hum 


bler  calling  where  applause  was  perhaps  not  so  vo 
ciferous  but,  bread  and  broth  much  more  regular. 
Wood's  greatest  Dramatic  achievement  was  Al- 
clepus  Rex  of  Sophacles  which  was  produced  by 
Beloit  College  at  Auditorium  of  Chicago.  This  was 
in  Greek. 

Then,  too,  even  if  the  stage  had  been  more  lur 
ing,  Mr.  Wood  had  in  him  a  virile  streak  of  the 
missionary.  Somebody  had  put  him  on  his  feet, 
had  shown  him  the  way,  Charlie  Wood  burned  with 
the  desire  to  do  some  sort  of  thing  for  another. 
Booker  Washington  was  looking  for  a  man  with 
just  Mr.  Wood's  zeal  and  ability.  Thither  to  Tus- 
kegee,  in  those  early  days  when  men  got  water  by 
allowance  and  had  to  get  credit  for  a  postage  stamp 
Mr.  Wood  went  and  began  to  teach  English  and 
Public  Speaking.  Much  of  the  dramatic  industrial 
work,  which  later  made  Tuskegee  Institute  famous 
was  begun  and  developed  under  Mr.  Wood- 
But  Mr.  Washington  was  too  shrewd  an  observ 
er  and  interpreter  of  men  to  keep  Mr.  Wood  chain 
ed  very  long  to  the  class  room.  His  talent  as  an 
orator  and  as  an  entertainer  was  far  too  marked 
to  allow  his  remaining  in  the  school  room.  And 
so  Mr.  Wood  went  on  the  road.  -He  trained  stu 
dents  to  speak,  he  drilled  quartets  ;  he  took  the  in 
terests  of  Tuskegee  Institute  to  bankers  and  mil 
lionaires,  making  friends  for  the  institution  and  for 
Dr.  Washington  everywhere. 

This  man  who  has  done  so  much  to  help  make 
•Tuskegee  Institute  of  today  possible  was  born  in 
Tennessee  December  17.  1870.  He  got  what  he 
could  from  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
went  to  Chicago  a  poor  boy  and  blacked  boots  to 
buy  his  bread  and  learned  and  recited  Shakespeare 
for  extras.  One  day  Gaumsarlens,  a  preacher 
of  great  renown,  was  having  his  boots  blacked. 
Shakespeare  was  as  usual  thrown  in.  The  great 
divine  saw  the  worth  of  the  boy  at  once.  Charles 
Winter  Wood  was  soon  in  school.  He  was  graduat 
ed  from  the  Grammar  Schools  of  Chicago,  matricu 
lated  in  Beloit  and  came  forth  a  Bachelor  of  Arts- 
He  was  also  graduated  from  the  Saper  School  of 
Oratory,  was  graduated  from  Chicago  University 
Divinity  School  as  B.  D.,  as  Master  of  Arts  from 
Columbia  University  in  New  York.  All  these  de 
grees  he  earned  by  hard  work  of  body  and  brain 
for  he  had  to  pay  his  own  way. 

Today  he  is  a  preacher  who  could  fill  any  pulpit 
with  much  credit  to  himself  and  great  delight  to 
the  congregation.  He  is  one  of  the  best  enter 
tainers  on  the  road.  He  is  an  orator  of  great  talent. 
Secretary  of  War  Baker  and  his  assistant  Emmett 
Jay  Scott  saw  in  Wood  a  power  as  a  special  war 
speaker  and  Wood  was  called  on  to  do  his  bit  dur 
ing  the  great  war. 

All  these  he  has  subordinated  to  serving  Tuskegee 
Institute.  All  these  he  uses  to  be  sure,  but  he  uses 
them  to  win  friends  and  money  for  the  school  Book 
er  T.  Washington  gave  his  life  to  build.  On  the 
faculty  list  he  is  manager  of  the  Publicity  Cam 
paign,' and  Field  Work,  but  at  the  school  and  else 
where  in  the  country  he  is  one  of  the  big  men  whom 
Tuskegee  has  made  and  who  has  made  Tuskegee. 


61 


MRS.    MARGARET    WASHINGTON. 


Mrs.  Margaret  Washington 


O  have  been  the  wife  of  Booker 
T.  Washington,  to  have  stood  by 
him  in  those  trying  years  of  star 
vation  at  Tuskegee,  to  have  been 
of  tremendous  aid  in  making  Tus 
kegee  Institute  and  making  in  a 
very  literal  way  its  founder  would,  it  appears,  be 
distinction — enough  for  any  lady  of  the  land.  Yet 
apart  from  anything  that  Tuskegee  Institute  could 
have  meant  to  her  save  a  place  giving  opportunity 
to  expand,  Mrs.  Washington  will  go  down  in  Negro 
history  as  one  of  the  greatest  women  of  her  cen 
tury. 

Further,  her  distinction,  though  marked,  will  not 
be  a  distinction  of  press  clippings  and  applause. 
Hers  will  be  a  personal  one.  handed  on  from  neigh 
bor  to  neighbor,  from  father  and  mother  to  child. 
Her  real  service  in  the  world  will  be  estimated,  not 
upon  the  fact  that  she  was  once  President  of  the 
Alabama  State  Federation  of  Colored  Women's 
Clubs  or  of  the  National  Federation  of  Colored 
Women's  Clubs,  not  that  she  spoke  to  crowded  au 
diences  or  dined  with  distinguished  men  and  wo 
men-  Rather  it  will  be  reckoned  upon  the  lost  and 
half-wayward  girls  whom  she  shielded,  encouraged 
and  brought  to  paths  of  rectitude,  upon  the  kind, 
sympathetic  training  she  gave  to  young  girls  who 
knew  no  wrong  and  who  because  of  her  teaching 
remained  always  the  pure,  clean  minded  persons 
they  were  in  childhood,  upon  the  comfort  and  sus 
tenance  she  has  taken  into  the  destitute  country 
homes  around  Tuskegee ;  upon  the  country  schools 
she  has  founded ;  upon  the  rest  room  which  she 
founded  and  keeps  open  for  the  Negro  country  wo 
men  in  the  town  of  Tuskegee ;  upon  the  actual 
teaching  she  has  given  these  women  on  how  to  live 
and  attend  to  their  homes ;  upon  the  disease  eaten 
men  and  women  whom  she  has  had  clothed,  housed, 
fed  and  doctored;  upon  the  out-cast  children  she 
has  reared  and  educated  and  placed  in  good  posi 
tions.  These  are  the  people  who  will  forever  place 
her  name  along  side  of  her  lamented  husband,  not 
because  she  was  partner  in  all  his  struggles,  but  be 
cause  she  was  also  a  servant  to  the  poor  and  the 
neglected. 

Mrs.  Washington  is.  like  Dr.  Washington,  bone 
and  fibre  a  Southerner.  She  loves  the  South,  knows 
Southern  people,  white  and  black  and  prefers  to 
live  and  work  in  the  South.  She  was  born  in  Macon 
Mississippi,  March  9,  1865.  She  was  one  of  a  large 
family,  there  being  in  the  Murray  home  ten  child 
ren.  A  frail  girl  from  her  youth,  she  set  out  early 
to  master  her  physical  weakness  and  secure  a  thor 
ough  education.  On  completing  such  courses  as 
she  could  get  in  the  town  in  which  she  was  living 


she  matriculated  at  Fisk  University.  Entering  here 
in  1889  she  spent  nine  years  preparing  for  and  com 
pleting  her  college  course.  Though  poor  in  health 
during  her  school  career,  she  nevertheless  made  an 
enviable  record  as  a  student,  took  leading  parts  in 
debates  and  in  all  forms  of  school  activities  .and  was 
the  student  most  relied  upon  to  see  that  good  order 
and  good  behavior  prevailed  everywhere.  On  fin 
ishing  her  work  at  Fisk  she  became  teacher  of  En 
glish  at  Tuskegee  Institute.  She  had  not  been  at 
Tuskegee  long  before  she  became  lady  principal 
It  was  in  this  position  even  in  carlv  days  at  Tus 
kegee  that  Mrs.  Washington  began  to  show  her 
real  worth  as  a  leader  .and  helper.  She  soon  tonk 
over  all  the  problems  of  the  girls  and  women,  not 
only  in  the  school  but  in  a  radius  of  at  least  five 
miles  around  the  school.  When  therefore  she  be 
came  Mrs.  Booker  T.  Washington,  which  was  in 
1892.  she  had  grasped  the  who'e  range  of  problems 
which  would  confront  the  wife  of  the  principal  of 
Tuskegee  Institute.  From  that  day  she  has  been 
one  of  the  greatest  forces  at  Tuskegee  Institute, 
and  among  the  Negro  leaders  and  thinkers  of  the 
country.  Practically  nothing  pertaining  to  Negro 
home  life,  is  undertaken  without  a  conference  with 
Mrs.  Washington. 

Mrs.  Washington  is  a  prodigious  worker.  She 
reads  much,  both  popular  matter  and  classic  litera 
ture.  She  sees  people  by  hundreds.  From  the  time 
she  goes  to  her  office  in  Dorothy  Hall  in  the  morn 
ing  until  she  literally  makes  herself  leave,  she  is 
seeing  peop'e  and  helping  solve  their  problems. 
Here  is  a  score  of  student  girls,  a  dozen  country 
women,  a  half  dozen  teachers,  all  in  line  to  confer 
with  her  about  some  matter  vital  to  themselves. 

For  all  this  she  finds  time  for  the  cu'.tivat'on  of 
all  those  delicate  family  and  friendly  relations,  per 
sonal  touches,  a  thing  which  has  endeared  the 
Washingtons  to  thousands  of  people.  Dr.  Wash 
ington's  two  sons,  Booker  Jr.  and  E.  Davidson  and 
his  daughter  Portia,  she  has  always  cared  for  as 
if  they  were  her  own.  Though  they  are  now  all 
married  and  have  families  of  their  own  she  still 
cares  for  them  with  that  deftness  of  family  touch 
peculiar  to  a  few  master  mothers.  Day  after  day 
you  will  see  her  leave  her  office  and  go  after  Book 
er  T.  Ill,  who  is  the  image  of  his  grandfather,  and 
take  him  walking  or  driving.  She  is  as  interested 
in  health  and  manners  and  education  of  child  and 
grandchild  as  if  they  were  all  but  one  young"  fam 
ily  just  starting  in  life.  Tuskegee  owes  her  more 
than  it  can  ever  pay,  more  perhaps  than  it  will  ever 
even  know ;  for  she  has  wrought  directly  much  that 
will  never  die ;  and  indirectly  she  performed  won 
ders  by  the  side  of  him  who  blazed  legions  of  new 
tracks  in  education,  in  labor,  in  economics  and  in 
society  for  the  American  Negro. 


63 


JOHN   WESLEY   WILLIAMS. 

OHN  Wesley  Williams  was  born 
July  10,  1881,  in  Quitman,  Ga.  He 
received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Quitman  and 
other  points  in  the  state  of  Geor 
gia.  His  father  being  a  Methodist 
Minister  he  changed  his  home  frequently  and  of 
course  changed  schools  at  the  same  time.  He  went 
to  Dorchester  Academy,  Mclntosh,  Georgia,  after 
getting  what  he  could  from  the  public  schools  and 
later  did  some  work  in  Oberlin  College,  Oberlin, 
Ohio. 

When  Mr.  Williams  went  to  Dorchester  Academy 
he  had  twelve  dollars  in  his  pocket  and  two  suits 
of  clothes.  He  remained  seven  years  at  this  insti 
tution  of  learning  and  during  that  time  did  not  re 
ceive  one  cent  in  help.  He  worked  his  way  with 
an  idea  of  making  the  most  of  his  time  and  of  him 
self.  After  the  first  year  he  was  put  in  charge  of 
the  buildings  and  grounds.  In  this  way  he  earned 
his  way  through  the  institution.  Although  a  great 
portion  of  his  time  was  taken  up  with  his  work 
he  never  neglected  his  lessons.  He  is  in  fact  a 
proof  of  the  old  saying  that  "Those  who  labor 
hardest,  appreciate  most  what  th.ey  get."  He  ap 
preciated  every  opportunity  that  came  his  way  that 


was  for  his  betterment.  He  came  out  of  that  in 
stitution  at  the  head  of  the  class,  graduating  with 
highest  honors. 

From  the  age  of  twelve  Mr.  Williams  had  looked 
out  for  himself.  In  this  early  start  he  learned  the 
value  of  the  dollar,  and  once  he  had  the  money,  he 
knew  how  to  take  care  of  it.  His  first  business  ven 
ture  was  in  Oberlin,  Ohio.  Here  he  opened  his  es 
tablishment  with  forty  dollars  as  capital.  He  built 
up  a  business  worth  $20,000.00  in  five  years.  lie 
did  this  through  attending  strictly  to  the  matter 
in  hand  and  letting  no  opportunity  pass  him  bv. 

In  1912  he  left  Oberlin  and  went  to  Birmingham. 
Here  he  opened  a  Cleaning  and  Dyeing  Business 
with  a  capital  of  $500.00.  His  business  here  is 
now  worth  $15,000.00.  Besides  what  he  lias  put 
back  into  his  business  he  has  invested  in  real  es 
tate  and  personal  property.  In  all  his  property 
holdings  are  valued  at  $35,000.00.  The  business  of 
Mr.  Williams  is  reputed  to  be  the  largest  cleaning 
and  dyeing  plant  of  any  colored  man  in  the  world. 
This  is  very  gratifying  to  him  when  he  remembers 
that  he  has  done  it  all  unaided,  that  even  in  his 
childhood  he  had  to  be  self  supporting. 

Mr.  Williams  is  an  active  member  of  the  A.  M. 
K.  Church.  Here  he  gives  his  money  freely  to  the 
support  of  the  gospel  and  lends  his  aid  in  every 
way  possible  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause.  In 
fraternal  matters  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Williams  is  President  and  Treasurer  of  the 
O.  K.  French  Dye  and  Cleaning  Company,  incorpor 
ated,  Chairman  of  the  Industrial  Committee  of  the 
United  States  Four  Minute  men  of  Birmingham. 
Alabama,  Manager  of  a  Land  Improvement  Com 
pany,  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  fact  most  of  the  time 
and  energy  of  Mr.  John  Wesley  Williams  is  spent 
in  business.  And  in  this  field  he  is  a  success. 

On  business  and  for  pleasure  Mr.  Williams  has 
traveled  through  most  of  the  middle  western  States 
and  through  all  of  the  Southern.  He  has  also  spent 
some  time  in  various  cities  of  Canada.  In  his  trav 
els  from  one  place  to  another,  and  from  one  sec 
tion  of  the  country  to  another  section,  he  has  been 
able  to  compare  his  business  with  that  of  others 
following  his  line.  In  every  instance  he  has  found 
that  he  was  doing  the  greater  amount  of  work  and 
running  the  larger  establishment.  There  is  nothing 
of  the  braggart  in  this  estimation  he  has  made  of 
his  work.  Merely  a  stating  of  facts.  Indeed,  wher 
ever  Mr.  Williams  has  found  a  new  suggestion  he 
has  accepted  it  gladly,  eagerly.  This  is  in  fact  one 
of  the  reasons  for  his  success. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  L.  Neely 
of  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  October  19,  1915.  Two  beau 
tiful  babies  have  come  to  share  the  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Williams.  Frances  is  two  years  of  age 
and  Baby  Alice  only  six  months  old. 


64 


ARTHUR  McKIMMON  BROWN,  A.  B.,  M.  D. 

RTHUR    McKimmon  Brown,  phy 
sician,  surgeon,  was  born  in    Ra 
leigh,     North     Carolina,     Novem 
ber   9,    1867.      He    came    from    an 
educated  family.     He  was  the  son 
of   Winfiekl    Scott,    and    Jane    M. 
Brown.  His  grandmother  was  one  of  the  first  pub 
lic    school    teachers    in    Raleigh,    North    Carolina. 
Both  of  his  parents  being  educated  and  moderately 
prosperous    they   saw   that   their   son   got  the  best 
preparation  that  the  schools  of  his  day  could  offer. 
His   first   school   days   were   spent   in     the     public- 
schools,   at   Raleigh.     From   the   public   schools   he 
entered  Shaw  University,  taking  preparatory  work. 
He  was  but  twelve  years  of  age,  when  he  first  reg 
istered   at   Shaw.     After   spending   two   years     he 
returned  to  the  city  and  pursued  advanced  study 
in   the   public   schools.     It   was   during  the   second 
course  in  the  public  schools  that  be  began  to  show 
himself  as  a  brilliant  and  promising  student.     By 
competition  he  won  the  four  years  scholarship  at 
Lincoln    University      in      Pennsylvania.     Entering 
Lincoln   University   in    1884  he   soon   became   con- 
spicious  as  a  student  and  talented  singer.     His  ex 
ceptional  ability  as  a  musician  gained  for  him  mem 
bership  in  the  Silver  Leaf  Glee  Club. 

In  1888  he  was  graduated  from  the  Lincoln  Uni- 

65 


versity  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  In 
ihe  same  year  he  matriculated  in  the  University 
of  Michigan  for  the  study  of  medicine.  At  Mich 
igan  University  he  applied  himself  even  harder  than 
he  had  done  at  Lincoln,  and  became  before  the  close 
of  his  career  there  assistant  in  the  office  of  one 
of  the  professors.  Dr.  Brown  was  graduated  as 
doctor  of  medicine  from  Michigan  University,  in 
1I-N1.  Of  all  the  men  who  came  out  that  year  he 
\  ?s  the  only  one  who  dared  face  the  rigid  exami 
nation  of  the  medical  board  of  Alabama.  As  is 
well  known  among  the  physicians  that  the  exami 
nations  of  this  board  are  exceedingly  rigid,  Dr. 
Brown,  however,  took  the  examination  and  passed. 
For  two  years  he  practiced  in  the  mining  town  of 
Bessemer.  Subsequently  he  practiced  in  Chicago, 
and  in  Cleveland  but  returned  to  Birmingham  in 
1894.  Here  he  remained  until  the  beginning  of  the 
Spanish-American  War.  Wishing  to  serve  his 
country  and  his  people  he  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  Army,  as  a  surgeon.  He  was  the  first  Ne 
gro  surgeon  to  secure  a  commission  in  the  regular 
army  of  the  United  States.  In  1899  he  received 
an  honorable  dismissal  and  returned  to  Birming 
ham.  Here  he  has  since  pursued  a  successful 
practice  and  has  become  one  of  the  leading  citi 
zens  in  many  activities. 

While  serving  iti  the  army  he  accumulated 
enough  material  to  join  in  writing  a  very  fascinat 
ing  and  informing  book,  entitled  "Under  Fire  with 
the  Tenth  United  States  Cavalry."  This  is  one 
of  the  most  authentic  documents,  as  well  as  faci- 
nating  reading  on  the  service  of  the  famous  Tenth. 
Dr.  Brown  enjoys  an  enviable  reputation  as 
a  Surgeon  and  stands  high  among  the  Negro  phy 
sicians. 

Throughout  his  career,  Dr.  Brown  has  taken  in 
tensive  interest  in  his  profession  and  in  many  en 
terprises,  both  social  and  business,  about  the  city 
of  Birmingham.  He  was  interested  in  the  Peo 
ples'  Drug  Store,  of  Birmingham,  in  1895.  He 
was  at  one  time  also  chairman  of  the  Prison  Im 
provement  Board ;  director  of  the  Alabama  Penny 
Saving  Bank ;  at  another  time  he  served  as  surgeon 
in  the  Provident  and  John  C.  Hall  hospitals,  in 
Birmingham.  He  is  at  present  surgeon  to  the 
Home  Hospital,  Birmingham,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Surgical  Staff  of  M.  O.  A.,  Andrew  Memorial 
Hospital,  Tuskegee,  Alabama.  He  is  one  of  the 
leading  Baptists  of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  Lodge,  Odd  Fellows,  Elks,  and  Knights 
of  Honor.  In  his  profession,  he  has  been  presi 
dent  of  the  National  Medical  Association ;  presi 
dent  Tri-state  Medical,  Dental  and  Pharmaceuti 
cal  Association ;  the  Tri-States  being  Alabama, 
Georgia,  and  Florida.  Socially  he  holds  active 
membership  in  the  Owl,  Whist  and  Advance  clubs. 
He  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  National  Med 
ical  Journal. 

Dr.  Brown  has  been  married  t\,ice.  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Mamie  Lou  Coleman,  of  Atlanta, 
Georgia.  They  were  married  June  5,  1895.  The 
present  Mrs.  Brown  was  Miss  Mamie  Nellie  Ad 
ams,  of  Birmingham.  He  married  her  September 
27th,  1905.  They  have  four  children,  Arthur,  Her 
ald,  Walter  and  Majorie.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  live 
in  their  beautiful  home  on  Fifth  Avenue,  where 
their  generous  hospitality  is  dispensed  to  friends. 


NATHANIEL  JOSEPH    BROUGHTON,   M.   D. 

F  all  the  sections  in  Alabama  to 
produce  Negro  leaders  and  men 
and  women  who  have  given  am 
ple  account  of  their  stewardship, 
the  locality  in  and  around  Marion 
and  Selma  would  no  doubt  carry 
the  palm.  These  sections  are  probably  just  fer 
tile  enough  to  produce  men  physically  strong 
and  fit  for  life's  wagers  and  yet  barren  enough  to 
make  them  rise  and  go  forth.  Dr.  Nathaniel  Jo 
seph  Broughton  was  born  in  Selma.  He  came 
along  in  a  better  day  than  most  men  who  have 
made  their  mark.  He  was  born  in  the  latter  sev 
enties,  when  Selma  University,  Payne  University 
as  well  as  a  great  many  Negro  institutions  both 
in  and  out  of  the  State  were  no  longer  a  ques 
tion,  but  schools  fairly  well  established  with  cours 
es  and  policies  rather  definitely  shaped. 

Dr.  Broughton  was  first  a  student  at  Payne  In 
stitute  when  his  educational  foundation  was  laid. 
From  this  institute  he  entered  the  Selma  Univer 
sity,  a  few  blocks  away.  Here  he  received  addi 
tional  training  which  prepared  him  for  his  next 
move.  He  next  enrolled  in  Walden  University, 
Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Up  to  this  time  Dr.   Broughton     had     but     one 


though — to  secure  a  good  education  and  to  this 
end  he  bent  all  of  his  energies  and  applied  him 
self  with  untiring  effort. 

As  he  approached  the  goal  of  his  ambition  the 
question  of  a  career  forced  itself  upon  his  mind. 
After  considering  the  various  vocations  he  finally 
chose  that  of  medicine,  seeing  in  this  profession 
not  only  honorable  calling,  but  a  field  of  great  use 
fulness. 

This  decision  was  no  doubt  influenced  by  his 
work  in  and  around  a  drug  store  and  where  he 
had  an  opportunity  to  study  pharmacy.  He  labor 
ed  in  this  store  as  a  means  to  help  pay  his  way 
through  college.  Thus  it  often  happens  that  Prov 
idence  interposes  to  lead  us  to  our  life  work. 

However,  there  is  much  distinction  between  de 
cision  and  action.  It  is  much  easier  to  plan  than 
to  execute.  To  determine  upon  a  course  is  the 
first  and  important  step  and  then  follows  the 
hours,  days  and  often  months  of  patient  toil  and 
effort  to  carry  out  your  plans.  This  was  the  case 
with  Dr.  Broughton.  He  had  for  years  driven 
himself,  as  he  thought,  to  his  limit  in  securing  his 
college  training. 

In  the  summer  he  was  working  hard  in  Pullman 
service  and  during  the  school  year  was  putting  in 
spare  hours  in  the  drug  store  or  anywhere  else  he 
could  find  employment.  He  had  elected  to  be  a 
physician  and  in  order  to  fit  himself  for  his  profes 
sion  he  must  assume  additional  burden  and  he 
went  to  his  task  with  a  zeal  and  determination 
which  won  him  the  fight. 

In  Meharry  Medical  College,  not  far  from  Wald 
en,  indeed  the  two  schools  are  run  under  the  same 
auspices,  though  with  different  executives  and 
teachers,  Mr.  Daniel  Williams,  the  celebrated  Ne 
gro  Surgeon  of  Chicago,  was  delivering  lectures. 
Dr.  Williams  often  wished  to  show  how  plaster  of 
Paris  was  put  on  and  how  plaster  of  Paris  and  the 
patient  behaved.  Thus  they  needed  what  the  artist 
might  call  a  model,  somebody  who  would  allow 
himself  in  part  or  in  toto  to  be  shut  up  in  Plaster 
of  Paris.  Dr.  Broughton  secured  this  rather  unde 
sirable  post,  undesirable  for  some  but  most  desir 
able  for  him.  The  job  served  him  most  lucratively 
in  two  ways.  It  increased  his  fund  considerably 
to  pay  his  college  bills.  Far  more  valuable  still 
it  gave  the  doctor  his  first  real  lasting  incentive 
for  medicine.  He  learned  to  love  the  profession  ; 
he  saw  its  opportunities ;  he  got  very  helpful  in 
struction  both  from  the  experience  and  from  the 
lectures.  He  is  one  of  the  comparatively  few  doc 
tors  in  the  profession  who  "know  how  it  feels"  to 
be  cased  up  in  plaster  of  Paris,  a  sympathy  well 
worth  while  and  one  which  brings  more  business 
than  can  be  readily  appreciated. 

Though  Dr.  Broughton  is  still  young,  and  young 
er  yet  in  his  profession,  he  is  well  established  in  all 
that  the  world  terms  properous.  He  began  practice 
in  Woodlawn.  Alabama,  one  of  the  suburbs  of  Bir 
mingham,  in  1906.  In  ten  years  he  has  thoroughly 
equipped  himself  and  his  office  to  render  the  best 
of  service  in  the  professon.  He  owns  his  home  and 
three  vacant  lots  in  this  town  of  his  adoption. 

A  happy  head,  the  family  surrounds  him.  He  was 
married  in  1906  to  Miss  Beatrice  L.  Statton  of 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.  They  have  two  daughters, 
Misses  Genevieve  and  Mary  George,  both  of  whom 
are  students  in  Normal  School. 


66 


ORION  LAWRENCE  CAMPBELL. 

R.  Orion  Lawrence  Campbell  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County, 
Alabama,  December  13th,  1875. 
When  quite  a  small  boy  it  was 
his  delight  to  visit  a  barber  shop 
and  watch  the  barbers  at  their 
work.  Then  and  there  he  formed  the  ambi 
tion  to  be  a  barber,  but  he  reached  the  goal  of  his 
ambition  in  later  life,  and  after  he  had  given  sev 
eral  other  lines  of  business  his  attention. 

He  received  his  preparatory  education  at  the 
County  School,  but  finished  at  Tuskegee  Institute. 
An  incident  at  the  Tuskegee  Institute  revived  his 
ambition  to  be  a  barber  and  no  doubt  contributed 
largely  in  the  final  determination  to  follow  this  line 
of  work.  He  had  a  difficulty  with  another  student 
in  which  he  proved  an  expert  in  the  use  of  a  razor. 
His  room  mate  joked  him  about  his  ability  to  use 
a  razor  and  suggested  that  he  open  a  tonsorial  shop. 
Acting  upon  the  suggestion  of  the  joker  he  began 
business  and  while  at  the  Institute  he  not  only  shav 
ed  the  students  but  numbered  among  his  custo 
mers,  many  of  the  Professors  and  as  he  expressed 
it,  felt  himself  a  full  fledged  barber,  when  Dr. 
Booker  T.  Washington  sat  in  the  chair. 


After  leaving  the  Tuskegee  Institute  he  engag 
ed  in  the  Upholstering  business,  but  soon  gave  that 
up  for  the  Printer's  trade.  Like  a  great  number 
of  young  men,  he  was  posessed  with  the  false  no 
tion  that  one  business  was  more  honorable  that  an 
other,  and  lost  sight  of  the  fact  that  all  legitimate 
businesses  are  honorable,  and  that  the  honor  lies 
in  doing  well  what  you  undertake.  Under  the  spell 
of  this  idea  he  took  advantage  of  an  opening  to  take 
charge  of  the  type  stand,  and  press  at  the  State 
Normal  School,  Montgomery,  at  a  salary  of  $12.00 
per  week.  He  essayed  to  be  a  printer  but  the  call 
of  the  barber  shop  had  become  too  strongly  in 
trenched  in  his  mind  to  be  effaced,  and  so  his  good 
common  sense  came  to  his  rescue,  and  he  gave  up 
the  press  and  type  for  the  barber's  tools.  He  en 
tered  a  barber  shop  on  the  per  centage  basis,  and 
his  earnings  the  first  week  only  amounted  to  $1.55, 
but  he  was  not  to  be  discouraged.  Other  barbers 
were  earning  from  $15.  to  $20.  per  week,  and  of 
they  could  earn  it  he  could.  He  more  than  doub 
led  his  earnings  the  second  week  and  at  the  end  of 
six  weeks  he  was  earning  as  much  as  any  barber 
in  the  shop.  By  his  courteous  manner  and  fidelity 
to  his  business  he  soon  won  the  confidence  of  the 
Proprietor  of  the  shop,  who  left  him  in  charge  when 
absent.  After  twelve  years  service  in  this  shop  he 
acquired  a  half  interest  in  the  business,  but  only 
continued  partnership  one  year.  After  disposing  of 
his  interest  he  opened  up  a  shop  of  his  own.  He 
opened  his  shop  in  1908,  and  still  operates  it.  It 
is  well  equipped  with  all  the  modern  conveniences 
and  is  well  patronized.  His  motto  is,  "Courteous 
and  Efficient  Service,"  and  living  up  to  his  motto 
has  secured  for  him  the  best  of  trade. 

His  gross  receipts  for  the  year  1918,  amounted  to 
$14,000.00  Mr.  Campbell  has  made  a  success  of 
his  business  by  following  the  bent  of  his  inclina 
tion  and  giving  his  talent  fullplay,  and  by  strict 
and  honest  attention  to  his  affairs. 

It  is  a  matter  of  honest  pride  with  him  that  his 
barber  shop  ranks  with  the  first  class  colored  shops 
throughout  the  country,  both  in  management  and 
equipment. 

He  has  accumulated  quite  a  nice  property.  He 
owns  a  home  of  about  $4000  value  and  six  addi 
tional  houses  worth  about  $800  each,  which  brings 
him  in  a  good  income. 

While  giving  close  attention  to  his  business,  Mr. 
Campbell  finds  time  to  interest  himself  in  all  enter 
prises  which  have  for  their  object  the  betterment 
of  his  race.  He  belongs  to  the  A.  M.  E.  Church, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Swayne  Col 
lege  ;  He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  Lodge  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows.  As 
a  Pythian  he  ranks  as  Past  Chancellor. 

Mr.  Campbell  has  been  quite  a  traveler  and  has 
visited  the  leadng  cities  of  America. 

January  4th,  1911  he  was  married  to  Beatrice 
Gorham,  of  Montgomery,  who  is  still  his  beloved 
companion.  They  have  no  children.  He  occupies 
a  high  position  of  respect  both  among  the  white 
and  colored  citizens. 


67 


ROBERT  RUSSA  MOTON. 


Robert  Russa  Moton  LL.  D. 


R.  Robert  Russa  Moton,  who  is 
now  the  distinguished  Principal 
of  the  Tuskegee  Institute  in  Ala 
bama,  takes  pride  in  tracing  his 
ancestry  to  pure  African  lineage. 
He  is  a  direct  descendant  of  a 
young  African  Prince,  who  was 
brought  over  to  this  country  and 
was  purchased  by  a  Virginia  planter. 

Born  on  August  26,  on  a  Virginia  plantation  ,and 
inheriting  some  of  the  taste  for  knowledge  from  his 
mother,  who  had  under  difficulty  learned  to  read 
and  write,  Robert  Moton  early  developed  a  desire 
to  broaden  and  obtain  more  of  the  world's  know 
ledge.  Accordingly,  he  set  out  for  Hampton  Insti 
tute  with  a  definite  goal  in  view  and  reached  the 
Institute  a  few  years  after  Booker  T.  Washington 
had  graduated. 

Dr.  Moton  was  early  endowed  with  a  generous 
supply  of  common  sense  and  wise  judgment.  His 
fellow  comrades  often  sought  his  advice  and  were 
wisely  and  sanely  directed.  He  graduated  from 
Hampton  Institute  in  1890  and  soon  after  was  em 
ployed  by  his  Alma  Mater  as  Commandant  of  Ca 
dets,  which  position  he  filled  creditably  for  over 
twenty  years. 

In  1905  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Hunt  Har 
ris,  of  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  who  died  the  follow 
ing  year,  1906.  In  1908,  he  married  Jennie  Dee 
Booth,  of  Glocester  County,  Virginia.  As  a  result 
of  this  marriage,  four  children  are  living ;  Cather 
ine,  Charlotte,  Robert  and  Allen. 

During  his  term  of  service  at  Hampton  Institute 
he  became  closely  allied  with  Dr.  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington,  in  their  dual  efforts  to  secure  funds  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  Institutions  which  each  re 
presented.  In  one  of  his  books,  Dr.  Washington 
said  of  him,  "Major  Moton  knows  by  intuition 
Northern  white  people  and  Southern  white  people. 
I  have  often  heard  the  remark  made  that  the 
Southern  white  man  knows  more  about  the  Negro 
in  the  South  than  anybody  else.  I  will  not  stop 
here  to  debate  that  question,  but  I  will  add  that 
colored  men  like  Major  Moton,  know  more  about 
the  Southern  White  man  than  anybody  else  on 
earth. 

"At  the  Hampton  Institute,  for  example,  they 
have  white  teachers  and  colored  teachers ;  they 
have  Southern  white  people  and  Northern  white 
people ;  besides,  they  have  colored  students  and 
Indian  students.  Major  Moton  knows  how  to 
keep  his  hands  on  all  of  these  different  elements, 
to  see  to  it  that  friction  is  kept  down  and  that 
each  works  in  harmony  with  the  other.  It  is  a 
difficult  job,  but  Major  Moton  knows  how  to  nego 
tiate  it." 

"This  thorough  understanding  of  both  races 
which  Major  Moton  possesses  has  enabled  him  to 
give  his  students  just  the  sort  of  practical  and 
helpful  advice  and  counsel  that  no  White  man  who 
has  not  himself  faced  perculiar  conditions  of  the 
Negro  could  be  able  to  give." 

Because  of  their  intimate  relationship  and  the 
mutual  ideas  of  education  and  human  develop 
ment  which  they  entertained,  when  Dr.  Washing 
ton  passed  away,  the  name  of  this  friend  of  his, 


about  whom  he  had  expressed  himself  so  beauti 
fully,  came  into  the  minds  of  hundreds  of  people, 
and  almost  unanimously,  he  was  chosen  to  be  the 
successor  of  this  illustrious  Colored  American. 
The  following  extract  taken  from  Major  Moton's 
inaugural  address  at  Tuskegee,  shows  in  what  spir 
it  he  assumed  the  "mantle"  of  his  illustrious  pre 
decessor. 

"No  greater  or  more  serious  responsibility  was 
ever  placed  upon  the  Negro  than  is  left  us  here  at 
Tuskegee.  The  importance  of  the  work  and  the 
gravity  of  the  duties  that  have  been  assigned  the 
principal,  the  officers  and  the  teachers  in  the  for 
warding  of  this  work  cannot  be  over-estimated. 
But  along  with  the  responsibility  and  difficulties  we 
have  a  rare  opportunity ;  one  almost  to  be  envied, 
— an  opportunity  to  help  in  the  solution  of  a  great 
problem — The  Human  Race  problem,  not  merely 
changing  the  modes  of  life  and  the  ideals  of  a  race, 
but  of  almost  equal  importance,  the  changing  of 
ideas  of  other  races  regarding  that  race." 

Going  beyond  his  regular  duties,  at  Hampton, 
Dr.  Moon  formed  what  is  known  as  the  Negro  Or 
ganization  Society,  in  Virginia.  Through  its  in 
fluence,  350,000  Negroes  are  being  helped  in  the 
fundamentals  of  life,  health,  education,  agriculture, 
home  making.  Dr.  Moton  is  the  founder  and  pres 
ent  honorary  president.  He  is  also  the  chairman 
of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  National  Ne 
gro  Business  League  and  the  Chairman  of  the  Ex 
ecutive  Committee  of  the  Anna  T.  Jeanes  Foun 
dation. 

During  the  period  of  the  war,  Dr.  Moton  was 
instrumental  in  negotiating  a  loan  of  five  million 
dollars  from  the  United  States  government  for  use 
in  Liberia.  He  also  was  very  active  in  speaking 
to  the  people  on  many  tours  in  the  interest  of  War 
Savings  Stamps,  Liberty  Loan  Drives  and  the  con 
servation  of  food.  He  has  recently  been  appoint 
ed  the  Negro  representatives  on  the  Permanent 
Roosevelt  Memorial  National  Committee. 

Early  in  December,  1918,  at  the  sacrifice  of  a 
great  many  matters  of  his  own  which  needed  im 
mediate  attention,  Dr.  Moton  left  his  own  import 
ant  work  to  go  to  France  at  the  special  request  of 
President  Wilson  and  Secretary  Baker,  to  do  spe 
cial  morale  work  among  the  colored  soldiers,  who 
had  made  such  a  fine  record  for  valor  and  courage. 
He  spoke  to  thousands  of  these  soldiers,  black  and 
white,  urging  them  to  return  to  their  homes  in  a 
spirit  of  service  and  firm  in  their  efforts  to  help 
uplift  humanity  and  establish  a  real  democracy  in 
America. 

The  degree  of  L.  L.  D.  has  been  conferred  upon 
him  by  Oberlin  College  and  Virginia  Union  Univer 
sity  in  Richmond,  Virginia. 

To  show  in  what  degree  Dr.  Moton  is  keeping 
alive  the  spirit  of  Tuskegee  Institute,  and  of  Dr. 
Washington,  the  following  quotation  is  taken  from 
one  of  the  leading  Southern  White  papers,  in  Char 
lotte,  North  Carolina : 

"So  long  as  the  Booker  T.  Washington  ideals  pre 
vail  at  Tuskegee,  that  institution  will  continue  to 
perform  a  valuable  service  to  the  Negroes  of  the 
South,  and  under  the  management  of  Dr.  Moton, 
these  ideals  have  been  lived  up  to  in  an  admirable 
manner.' 


69 


CADETS  ON  PARADE  AT  TUSKEGEE  INSTITUTE. 


HE  school  was  established  by  an 
an  act  of  Alabama  Legislature — 
session  of  1880,  as  the  Tuskegee 
State  Normal  School.  Two  thou 
sand  dolars  was  appropriated  to 
pay  salaries.  The  first  session, 

July  4,  1881,  opened  in    a    rented 

shanty  church,  with  30  pupils, 
and  one  teacher.  The  first  prncipal  of  the  institu 
tion,  Booker  T.  Washington,  brought  to  the  work 
his  own  creative  ability  and  the  educational  ideals 
of  his  friend  and  teacher,  Samuel  Chapman  Arm- 
Strong,  the  founder  of  Hamptdn  Institute.  He 
continued  as  principal  until  his  death,  in  November, 
1915.  Through  his  tact  and  energy  the  plant  and 
.endowment  have  been  increased  to  an  aggregate 
value  of  almost  4,000,000.  In  1893  the  institution 
was  incorporated  under  its  present  name.  In  1899 
the  United  States  Congress  gave  the  school  25,000 
acres  of  mineral  land.  Of  this,  5,100  acres  have 
been  sold  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  the  endow 
ment  fund.  The  remaining  19,900  acres  are  valued 
at  $250,000.  The  ownership  and  control  of  the  in 
stitution  are  vested  in  a  board  of  trustees  compos 
ed  of  influential  white  and  colored  men  from  the 
North  and  from  the  South. 

Since  the  foundation  of  the  school  over  ten 
thousand  men  and  women  have  finished  a  full  or 
partial  course.  They  have  gone  out  and  are  do 
ing  good  work,  mainly  as  industrial  workers. 

The  total  enrollment  in  the  normal  and  industrial 
departments  in  1918-1919  was  1,620.  This  included 
representatives  from  thirty-five  states  and  eighteen 
foreign  countries.  This  did  not,  however,  include 
242  pupils  in  the  training  school  or  Children's 
House ;  and  572  in  the  Summer  School.  The  total 
number  of  those  who  had  the  benefit  of  the  schools 
training  was  2,432. 

There  are  forty  trades  or  professions  taught.  The 
industries  are  grouped  under  three  departments : 


The  school  of  agriculture,  the  department  of  me 
chanical  industries  and  the  industries  for  girls. 
There  is  also  a  hospital  and  nurse  training  school. 
Each  of  these  departments  has  a  separate  building 
or  group  of  buildings  in  which  its  work  is  carried 
on.  The  agricultural  school,  in  addition  to  its  la 
boratories,  has  the  farm  and  experiment  station 
where  practical  and  experimental  work  is  done. 
The  farm  includes  over  2,000  acres.  The  work  of 
the  farm  is  carried  on  by  200  students  and  14  in 
structors. 

The  mechanical  industries  include  auto-mechan 
ics,  carpentry,  brickmasonry,  wood  working,  print 
ing,  tailoring,  blacksmithing,  shoemaking,  found 
ing,  wheelwrighting,  harness  making,  carriage 
trimming,  plumbing,  steam  fitting,  electrical  en 
gineering,  architectual  and  mechanical  drawing, 
tin-smithing,  painting  and  brick  making. 

The  girls'  industries  include  laundering,  domestic 
science,  plain  sewing,  dressmaking,  millinery,  and 
home  crafts,  under  which  are  included  bead  work, 
broom  making,  rug  making,  chair  seating  and  home 
decorations  basketry. 

There  is  a  systematic  effort  to  correlate  the  aca 
demic  studies  with  the  industrial  training  and  prac 
tical  interests  of  the  pupils.  By  this  means,  the  in 
dustrial  work  of  the  students  is  lifted  above  the  le 
vel  of  mere  drudgery  and  becomes  a  demonstra 
tion.  On  the  other  hand,  the  principals  acquired 
in  the  academic  studies  gain  in  definiteness,  preci 
sion  and  interest  by  application  to  actual  situa 
tions  and  real  objects.  The  academic  department 
is  divided  into  a  night  and  a  day  school.  The  night 
school  is  designed  for  those  who  are  too  poor  to 
pay  the  small  charges  made  to  the  day  school.  The 
night  school  pupils  spend  five  evenings  each  week 
in  academic  work;  the  day  school  pupils,  three 
days  each  week.  Teaching  in  the  academic  depart 
ment  is  carried  on  by  a  faculty  of  forty-four 
teachers.  They  are  expected  to  visit  every  week 


WHITE  HALL,  ONE  OF  THE  DORMITORIES  FOR  YOUNG   WOMEN   AT   TUSKEGEE    INSTITUTE. 


some  one  division  of  the  shops  or  farm  and  report 
upon  it  in  order  to  find  the  illustrative  material  for 
their  class  room  work.  Pupils  in  their  rhetoricals, 
read  papers  on  and  give  demonstrations  of  the 
work  they  have  done  in  the  shops. 

The  Phelps  Hall  Bible  Training  School  was  es 
tablished  in  1892  to  assist  in  improving  the  Negro 
ministry.  It  aims  to  give  its  students  a  compre 
hensive  knowledge  of  the  English  Bible  and  such 
training  as  will  fit  them  to  work  as  preachers  and 
missionaries  under  the  conditions  existing  among 
their  people. 

The  hospital  and  nurse  training  school  was  start 
ed  in  1892.  Over  one  hundred  nurses  have  graduat 
ed  and  are  doing  good  work  in  different  parts  of 
the  country. 

EXTENSION:  The  extension  department  pro 
vides  a  large  number  of  activities  for  the  improve 
ment  of  educational,  agricultural,  business,  home 
health  and  religious  life  of  the  colored  people  of  the 
United  States.  These  activities  vary  from  those 
limited  to  the  needs  of  the  institute  community  to 
those  of  national  significance.  The  local  organi 
zations  include  the  building  and  loan  associations, 
home  building  society,  women's  clubs,  health  and 
religious  organizations.  Country-wide  movements 
include  the  supervision  and  building  of  rural 
schools,  farm  demonstration  work,  and  health 
campaigns.  The  State-wide  and  national  activities 
are  largely  the  result  of  Dr.  Washington's  influ 
ence  over  the  colored  people  and  the  esteem  with 
which  he  was  regarded  by  white  people,  North  and 
South.  The  most  important  of  these  are  the  Na 
tional  Business  League,  with  its  State  and  local 
organizations,  and  the  State  educational  tours 
which  Dr.  Washington  conducted  in  almost  every 
Southern  State. 

Probably  the  most  influential  of  the  extension  ef 
forts  is  the  Negro  Farmers'  Conference,  held  an 
nually  at  the  institute.  The  conference  brings  to 
gether  thousands  of  colored  farmers  from  neigh 
boring  counties  and  hundreds  from  other  parts  of 
the  State  and  neighboring  States.  In  'addition, 


many  influential  white  and  colored  people  from 
every  part  of  the  country  have  gone  to  Tuskegee 
to  see  the  assembly  guided  by  Dr.  Washington. 
On  the  day  following  the  large  meeting  a  "Work 
ers'  conference"  is  held.  This  is  composed  of  per 
sons  who  are  directing  all  forms  of  endeavor  for 
the  improvement  of  the  Negro  race.  Closely  con 
nected  with  the  farmers'  conference  is  the  short 
course  in  agriculture  consisting  of  two  weeks  of 
study  and  observation  at  the  institute.  It  is  wide 
ly  attended  by  farmers  of  surrounding  countries. 

The  experiment  farm  established  at  Tuskegee 
in  1896  by  the  State  legislature  is  conducting  ex 
periments  in  soil  cultivation  for  the  benefit  of  the 
colored  farmers  of  the  State. 

The  school  publications  include  two  regular  pa 
pers  and  many  valuable  pamphlets.  The  Tuskegee 
Student  is  a  bimonthly  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
the  pupils,  teachers  and  graduates.  The  Southern 
Letter,  a  record  of  the  graduates  and  former  stu 
dents  is  issued  monthly  and  sent  to  persons  inter 
ested  in  Tuskegee.  The  Negro  Year  Book  is  a 
compendium  of  valuable  facts  concerning  the  Ne 
gro  in  the  United  States. 

TEACHER  TRAINING:  The  teacher  -  training 
course  includes  psychology,  history  of  education, 
methods,  management,  school  administration,  re 
views,  and  methods  in  elementary  subjects,  draw 
ing,  physical  training,  nature  study,  and  10  weeks 
of  practice  teaching  at  the  Children's  House.  The 
Children's  House  is  a  large  seven-grade  school 
maintained  co-operatively  by  Tuskegee  and  the 
country.  It  has  facilities  for  manual  work,  house 
hold  arts,  and  school  garden.  It  is  an  excellent  labo 
ratory  for  observation  and  practice  teaching.  Ar 
rangements  have  also  been  made  with  the  county 
superintendents  whereby  a  limited  number  of  sen 
iors  in  the  course  teach  six  weeks  in  the  country 
schools.  Some  pay  is  received  for  this  teaching.  The 
work  outlined  covers  two  years  for  graduate  stu 
dents.  If,  however,  the  teacher-training  hamama 
last  two  undergraduate  years  are  elected  the  course 
may  be  completed  in  one  year  of  graduate  work. 


71 


GIRLS  OF  THE  SENIOR  CLASS  AT  TUSKEGEE  INSTITUTE   LEARNING    MANUAL   TRAINING. 


MUSIC:  All  pupils  receive  some  training  in  vocal 
music.  Special  attention  is  given  to  the  plantation 
melodies,  which  are  taught  not  only  for  their  mus 
ical  value,  but  as  an  expression  of  the  spiritual  life 
and  moral  .struggles  of  the  Negroes  in  America. 
Instruction  on  the  piano  is  provided  for  those  who 
are  able  to  pay  the  special  fee. 

DISCIPLINE  AND  PHYSICAL  TRAINING :  The  mil 
itary  system  is  maintained  among  the  young  men 
to  cultivate  habits  or  order,  neatness  and  obedience. 
The  rooms  are  inspected  and  the  grounds  are  poli 
ced  through  the  military  system.  Physical  train 
ing  is  provided  for  the  young  women  under  the  di 
rection  of  a  woman  trained  in  gymnastics.  The 


young  women's  rooms  are  inspected  by  the  ma 
trons  in  charge  of  the  dormitories. 

Religious  training:  Considerable  provision  is 
made  for  religious  services.  The  activities  include 
Sunday  school  classes  and  daily  chapel  services, 
which  are  attended  by  all  pupils.  The  voluntary 
religious  organizations  are  the  Young  Men's  Chris 
tian  Association,  the  Young  Women's  Christian 
Association,  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  Tempe 
rance  Union,  and  Missionary  Society. 

LIBRARY:  The  Carnegie  Library  contains  a 
stock  room,  reading  room,  librarian's  office,  and 
two  rooms  for  magazines  and  newspapers.  Three 
workers  have  charge  of  the  library  department. 


THE  SUMMER  SCHOOL  AT    TUSKEGEE  INSTITUTE. 

72 


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Photo  by  Q.   V.    Buck. 


HON  EMMETT  JAY  SCOTT 


Emmett  Jay  Scott 


ROM  "Who's  Who  in  America," 
we  learn  that  Mr.  Scott  was  born 
February  13th,  1873,  at  Houston, 
Texas,  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Horace  L.  Scott.  At  an  early  age, 
after  he  completed  the  course  of 
instruction  in  the  Colored  High 
School. 

He  was  influenced  by  Bishop  J.  B.  Scott  and  Rev. 
W.  H.  Logan,  D.  D.,  to  enter  Wiley  University.  In 
order  to  help  provide  funds  for  his  education  young 
"Emmett"  carried  the  mail  from  the  post-office  at 
Marshall,  to  the  school,  a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a 
half. 

For  his  services  he  received  Five  Dollars  per 
month.  This  was  during  the  years  of  1887-1888. 

Having  to  divide  his  summer  earnings  with  the 
younger  children  of  the  family,  he  did  not  return 
to  Wiley,  during  the  1889  term  until  late,  for  the 
lack  of  funds,  and  in  consequence  lost  his  position 
of  mail  carrier.  Nothing  daunted,  he  chopped  wood 
and  fed  the  school's  hogs ;  later  on,  however  during 
the  same  year,  he  became  bookkeeper  in  the  Pres 
ident's  office,  which  "job"  he  held  until  the  end  of 
the  school  year.  The  following  summer  young 
Scott  was  employed  as  janitor  in  the  Pillot  Build 
ing,  and  it  was  here  that  he  first  had  a  real  oppor 
tunity  to  demonstrate  his  natural  aptitude  for  of 
fice  work.  He  attracted  the  attention  of  a  good- 
hearted  Yankee,  who  was  President  of  the  War 
ren  Lumber  Company  and  publisher  of  the  "Tex 
as  Trade  Journal."  During  odd  hours  of  the 
day  when  he  was  around  in  the  building  he 
was  give"n  an  opportunity  to  make  a  little  ex 
tra  money  addressing  wrappers  and  envelopes 
for  this  company  and  a  little  later  on,  through  the 
kindness  of  a  Southern  White  man,  he  was  per 
mitted  to  do  similar  work  for  the  Houston  Com 
mercial  Club,  and  finally  became  one  of  their  reg 
ular  workers  until  the  club  was  disbanded.  For 
several  months  after  this  he  was  unable  to  find 
any  work  to  do  until  a  colored  man,  Mr.  Gibbs 
McDonald,  who  was  generally  known  in  Houston 
as  "Old  Man  Gibbs,"  secured  for  him  a  position  as 
assistant  janitor  and  messenger  in  the  office  of  the 
"Houston  Daily  Post." 

Mr.  J.  L.  Watson,  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
of  the  Post  Publishing  Company,  very  soon 
noticed  his  good  penmanship,  and  on  one  oc 
casion,  on  a  very  busy  day,  put  him  to  addressing 
envelopes.  Later,  as  they  found  his  willing  and 
ambitious,  other  responsibilities  were  given  him, 
to  all  of  which  he  measured  up  with  surprising  sat 
isfaction. 

Even  at  that  time  the  "Houston  Post"  was  the 
leading  paper  of  the  Southwest  and  under  Mr. 
Watson's  management  became  a  strong  and  pow 
erful  influence  in  the  political  and  business  devel 
opment  of  the  South,  a  place  which  it  still  holds. 

Mr.  Scott  himself  did  not  know  how  well-devel 
oped  were  his  powers  of  observation  and  expres 
sion  until  on  one  occasion,  when  the  commence 
ment  exercises-  at  Prairie  View  Normal  School 
were  being  held  and  "The  Post"  could  not  spare  a 
reporter  to  go  to  attend,  Mr.  Johnson  suggest- 

75 


ed  that  he  go  to  Prairie  View  and  secure  the  story 
for  "The  Post."  The  story  which  he  brought  back 
from  Prairieview,  and  which  was  published  in 
"The  Post"  was  prepared  with  all  the  detail  and 
finesse  of  a  veteran  reporter.  When  he  left 
the  employ  of  the  "Houston  Post"  he  had 
reached  that  stage  of  his  growth  where  he  needed 
a  further  outlet  for  his  natural  talents.  About 
that  time  the  "Texas  Freeman"  was  launched  at 
Houston  with  J.  S.  Tibbitt  as  Editor;  Emmett  J. 
Scott,  Associate  Editor,  and  Charles  N.  Love  as 
Business  Manager.  Later  Mr.  Scott  and  Mr.  Love 
acquired  Mr.  Tibbitt's  interest  and  for  three  years 
"The  Freeman,"  under  their  management,  was  the 
most  powerful  and  influential  organ  of  the  colored 
people  of  Texas.  Mr.  Love  continues  the  publi 
cation. 

It  was  one  of  the  most  significant  occurances  in 
Mr.  Scott's  career  as  Editor  of  "The  Freeman" 
that  he  was  one  of  the  first  colored  men  with  suf 
ficient  vision  and  interpretation  of  the  signs  of 
tinies  to  see  that  Booker  T.  Washington  was  des 
tined  to  be  the  leader  of  thought  among  his  race. 
This  is  best  told  in  the  recent  book,  entitled  "Book 
er  T.  Washington — Builder  of  a  Civilization,"  of 
which  Mr.  Scott  and  Mr.  Lyman  Beecher  Stowe, 
grandson  of  the  late  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  are 
co-authors.  Concerning  Dr.  Washington's  famous 
Atlanta  address  in  1895  the  book  says : 

"One  of  the  first  colored  men  so  to  acclaim  him 
was  Emmett  J.  Scott,  who  was  then  editing  a  Ne 
gro  newspaper  in  Houston,  Texas,  and  little  realiz 
ed  that  he  was  to  become  the  most  intimate  asso 
ciate  of  the  new  leader.  In  an  editorial  Mr.  Scott 
said  of  this,  the  famous  Atlanta  address:  'Without 
resort  to  exaggeration,  it  is  but  simple  justice  to 
call  the  address  great.  Great  in  the  absolute  mod 
esty,  self-respect  and  dignity  with  which  the 
speaker  presented  a  platform  upon  which,  as  Clark 
Howell,  of  the  "Atlanta  Constitution"  says,  "both 
races,  blacks  and  whites,  can  stand  with  full  jus 
tice  to  each." 

Since  he  went  to  Tuskegee  in  1897  as  Mr.  Wash 
ington's  secretary,  the  part  which  he  has  played  in 
the,  development  of  .Tuskegee  Institute  and  its 
varied  activities  is  well  known  to  those  of  our 
race  who  are  conversant  with  current  activities. 
In  1901,  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  National 
Negro  Business  League,  which  position  he  has  held 
regularly  ever  since,  and  no  one  in  touch  with  the 
work  of  the  Business  League  can  think  of  this 
splendid  organization  without  associating  with  it 
the  name  of  Emmett  J.  Scott.  In  1909,  Mr. 
Scott  was  a  member  of  the  American  Commis 
sion  to  Liberia,  appointed  by  President  William 
H.  Taft.  His  study  of  Liberian  conditions  has 
been  put  in  pamphlet  form,  under  the  title  "Is 
Liberia  Worth  Saving?"  and  is  recognized  as  an 
authoritative  treatise  on  Liberia  and  its  possibil 
ities.  In  1912  he  was  Secretary  of  the  Internation 
al  Conference  on  the  Negro,  which  met  at  Tuske 
gee  Institute. 

Mr.  Scott's  larger  activities,  other  than  these 
here  outlined,  have  been  his  co-authorship  with  Dr. 
Washington  in  writing  the  book  "Tuskegee  and  Its 


People,"  published  in  1910,  and  with  Lyman  Beech- 
er  Stowe  in  writing  the  book  "Booker  T.  Washing 
ton,"  published  in  1916. 

When  America  entered  the  war  in  1917,  there 
was  considerable  uneasiness  as  to  what  would  be 
the  status  of  the  Negro  in  the  war  and  quite  nat 
urally  Tuskegee  Institute  was  one  of  the  centers 
which  helped  in  adjusting  these  conditions.  Dr. 
Moton,  Principal,  and  Mr.  Scott,  made  frequent 
visits  to  New  York  and  Washington,  and  were  con 
stantly  in  consultation  with  the  authorities  at 
Washington.  Out  of  these  discussions  and  toge 
ther  with  the  activities  of  other  agencies  working 
towards  the  same  end,  the  Officer's  Training  Camp 
for  Negro  Officers  was  established  at  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  later,  following  a  conversation  between 
Dr.  Moton  and  Mr.  Scott,  Dr.  Moton  interviewed 
President  Wilson  and  suggested  that  a  colored 
man  be  designated  as  an  Assistant  or  Advisor  in 
the  War  Department  to  pass  upon  various  matters 
affecting  the  Negro  soldiers  who  were  then  being 
inducted  into  the  service  and  as  the  result,  Mr. 
Scott  went  to  Washington  on  October  1st,  1917, 
and  from  then  until  July  1st,  1919,  served  as  Spec 
ial  Assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Among  the  things  that  the  record  of  Mr.  Scott's 
work  in  the  War  Department  will  show  are  the  fol 
lowing: 

1.  The    formation   of   a    Speakers'    Bureau,    or 
"Committee    of    One    Hundred,"    to    enlighten    the 
Colored  Americans  on  the   war   aims   of   the   gov 
ernment. 

2.  Aiding  in  the  breaking  up  of  discrimination, 
based  on  color,  in  the  great  ship-building  plant  at 
Hog  Island. 

3.  Establishing   morale   officers   and   agents     at 
the  Industrial  plants,  North  and  South  where  large 
numbers  of  colored  workmen  were  employed. 

4.  He   was   largely   instrumental   in   the   enroll 
ment  of  Colored   Red  Cross   Nurses   and   securing 
authorization  for  the  utilization  of  their  services  in 
base  hospitals  at  six  army  camps,  in  which  colored 
soldiers  were  located — Funston,  Dix,  Taylor,  Sher 
man,  Grant  and  Dodge. 

5.  The   continuance   of   the   training   camps   for 
colored  officers  and  the  increase  in  their  number 
and  an  enlargement  of  their  scope  of  training. 

6.  Betterment  of  the  general  conditions  in   the 
camps  where  Negroes  are  stationed  in  large  num 
bers,  and  positive  steps  taken  to  reduce  race  fric 
tion  to  a  minimum  wherever  soldiers  or  opposite 
races  are  brought  into  contact. 

7.  The  extension  to  young  colored  men  the  op 
portunity  for  special  training  in  technical,  mechan 
ical,  and  military  science  in  the  various  schools  and 
colleges  of  the  country,  provision  having  been  made 
for  the  training  of  twenty  thousand  through   the 
Students'  Army  Training  Corps,    and  other  practi 
cal  agencies  of  instruction. 

8.  An  increase  from  four  to  sixty  in  the  num 
ber  of  colored  chaplains  for  the  army  service. 

9.  The  recall  of  Colonel  Charles  Young  to  ac 
tive  service  in  the  United  States  Army. 

10.  The    establishment    of    a    Woman's    Branch 
under  the  Council  of  National  Defense,  with  a  col 
ored  field  agent,  Mrs.  Alice  Dunbar  Nelson,  to  or 
ganize  the  colored  women  of  the  country  for  sys 
tematic  war  work. 

76 


11.  The  appointment  of  the  first  colored  regu 
larly-commissioned    war    correspondent,    to    report 
military  operations  on  the  western  front  in  France. 

12.  The  opening  of  every  branch  of  the  military 
service   to   colored   men,   on   equal   terms   with   all 
others,  and   the   commissioning    of    many    colored 
men  as  officers  in  the  Medical  Corps. 

13.  Large    increase    in    the    number    of    colored 
line   officers — the   total   increasing   from   less   than 
a  dozen  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  to  more  than 
1,200. 

14.  Direct   aid   and   material   encouragement    in 
the  "drives"  for  the  Liberty  Loans,  the  Red  Cross, 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Y.  W.  C.  A.,    and    United    War 
Work  Relief  Agencies  in  general. 

15.  The    calling    and    successful    direction    of    a 
Conference  of  Colored  Editors  and  Leaders,  which 
went  far  to  promote  the  morale  of  the   12,000,000 
colored  Americans,  and  led  to  a  declaration  of  the 
Government's  sympathetic  attitude  toward  the  de 
sires  and  aspirations  of  its  colored  citizenry.     No 
conference    held    for    the    consideration    of    Negro 
problems  has  been  so  fruitful  of  big  results  as  this. 

Dr.  Moton,  in  making  his  annual  report  to  the 
Trustees  of  Tuskegee  Institute  in  1918,  said  of  Mr. 
Scott : 

"Our  Secretary,  Mr.  Emmett  J.  Scott,  who  lab 
ored  so  faithfully  with  Dr.  Washington  during  his 
lifetime,  and  who  is  standing  by  the  present  Prin 
cipal  with  equal  loyalty,  was  loaned  to  the  Gov 
ernment  to  become  Special  Assistant  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  War.  Mr.  Scott  is  fitted,  as  perhaps  no 
other  man  in  the  country,  to  do  this  work  with 
rare  tact  and  good  judgment.  Added  to  his  splen 
did  native  ability,  he  has  had  a  peculiar  experience 
here  at  Tuskegee,  which  has  gven  him  as  broad 
a  conception  of  and  insight  into  the  problems  of 
race  relationship  as  any  man  I  know. 

"I  wish  I  could  put  into  this  report  some  of  his 
real  accomplishments  which  are  having  a  far- 
reaching  effect  in  making  lighter  the  burdens  of 
our  wise,  patient  and  courageous  President,  and 
the  Secretary  of  War,  in  meeting  many  of  the 
problems  which  have  grown  out  of  the  enlistment 
of  thousands  of  colored  soldiers,  and  at  the  same 
time  making  it  easier  for  approximately  400.000 
colored  soldiers  now  in  the  service  to  adjust  them 
selves  to  the  many  trying  and  difficult  situations 
which  must  necessarily  arise  in  the  new  life  into 
which  they  have  been  so  suddenly  entered." 

Late  in  June,  1919,  it  was  announced  through  the 
press  that  Mr.  Scott  had  been  elected  Secretary- 
Treasurer  of  Howard  University,  thus  bringing  to 
a  close  twenty-two  years  of  successful,  faithful, 
service  to  Tuskegee  Institute,  and  upon  July  firs* 
he  entered  upon  his  new  duties. 

Perhaps  the  most  beautiful  estimate  of  Mr.  Scott 
is  the  following  comment  from  Dr.  Booker  T. 
Washington,  which  appeared  in  his  book  entitled, 
"Tuskegee  and  Its  People." 

"For  many  years  now,  Mr.  Scott  has  served  the 
school  with  rare  fidelity  and  zeal,  and  has  been  to 
the  Principal  not  only  a  loyal  assistant  in  every 
phase  of  his  manifold,  and  frequently  trying  duties, 
but  has  proved  a  valuable  personal  friend  and  coun 
selor  in  matters  of  the  most  delicate  nature,  ex 
hibiting  in  emergencies  a  quality  of  judgment  and 
diplomatic  calmness  seldom  found  in  men  of  even 
riper  maturity  and  more  extended  experience." 


ULYSSES.  GRANT    MASON,    M.   D. 


HIE  good  book  tells  us  that  men 
have  varying  talents  and  that 
man  is  not  limited  to  one  talent. 
It  is  often  noted  in  men  of  re 
nown  that  they  possess  a  number 
of  talents  with  one  or  more  very 
conspicuous. 

This  is  illustrated  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Mason.  He 
is  prominent  in  his  profession  as  a  physician  and 
no  less  prominent  as  a  business  man  and  withal  he 
is  a  man  of  marked  initiative  ability. 

Dr.  Mason  is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  Mason, 
and  was  born  in  Birmingham,  Alabama,  Novem 
ber  20th,  1872. 

He  received  his  preparatory  education  at  Hunts- 
ville  College  (now  A.  &  M.  College,  Normal,  Ala 
bama.)  Having  chosen  the  medical  profession  he 
next  entered  the  Meharry  Medical  College,  (Wai- 
den  University,)  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Grad 
uating  from  this  college  he  sought  additional  pre 
paration  in  Europe  and  took  a  special  course  in 
surgery,  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  Scot 
land.  Returning  to  this  country,  he  entered  up 
on  his  medical  career  in  Birmingham,  Alabama. 
the  city  of  his  birth  He  at  once  won  recognition 
as  a  physician  and  soon  had  an  extended  practice. 


His  ability  as  a  physician  was  recognized  by  the 
City  authorities,  who  appointed  him  assistant  city 
physician,  which  position  he  held  for  about  eight 
years. 

Dr.  Mason  was  sympathetic  with  all  movements 
which  looked  to  the  elevation  and  advancement  of 
his  people  and  himself  initiated  several  institu 
tions  which  sought  their  good. 

He  was  the  organizer  and  founder  of  the  Home 
and  George,  C.  M.  Hall  Hospital ;  Founder  and 
Surgeon  to  the  Northside  Infirmary,  located  at 
1508  Seventh  Avenue,  Birmingham,  Alabama.  In 
1910  he  organized  the  Prudential  Savings  Bank, 
and  has  been  its  President  since  the  organization. 

These  organizations  indicate  the  trend  of  his 
mind — to  ameliorate  the  sufferings  of  his  people, 
and  encourage  them  in  habits  of  thrift. 

From  1897  to  1908,  he  had  been  the  Vice  Presi 
dent  of  the  Alabama  Penny  Saving  Bank. 

He  is  regarded  as  a  man  of  remarkable  business 
ability  and  his  reputation  is  well  sustained  in  the 
creditable  manner  in  which  he  handles  all  matters 
confided  to  him.  He  has  filled  many  honorable 
positions,  both  as  a  citizen  and  in  a  professional 
way. 

He  was  Delegate  at  large  to  the  Republican  Na 
tional  Conventions,  1908-1912.  Member  Clinical 
Congress  of  Surgeons  of  North  America ;  member 
of  the  Medical  Society  of  the  United  States  of 
America ;  member  John  A.  Andrew  Clinical  So 
ciety  ;  member  National  Medical  Association ; 
member  of  the  State  Medical,  Dental  and  Phar 
maceutical  Association,  and  of  the  Birmingham 
District  Medical,  Dental  and  Pharmacy  Association. 
He  is  the  Endowment  Treasurer  of  Knights  of  Py 
thias  ;  Trustee  of  the  Central  Alabama  Institute, 
and  Trustee  of  the  16th.  Street  Baptist  Church,  of 
Birmingham.  He  has  always  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  public  affairs.  Secretary  Baker  appointed 
him  on  a  committee  of  one  hundred  to  represent 
the  Government  on  War  Aims ;  he  was  chairman 
of  the  War  Saving  Stamps  Committee ;  Member 
of  the  State  National  Council  Defense  and  member 
of  Volunteer  Medical  Service  Corps,  Council  of 
National  Defense. 

Dr.  Mason  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife,  Miss  Alice  Nelson,  of  Greensboro,  Alabama, 
died  September  19th,  1910,  leaving  him  four  chil 
dren,  Vivian.  Ellariz,  Ulysses  G.  Jr..  and  Alice  F. 
June  17th.  1916  he  married  Mrs.  Elsie  Downs  Bak 
er,  of  Columbus  Ohio,  who  has  borne  him  one 
child.  Dorothy  Downs.  Dr.  Mason  finds  great 
pleasure  and  pride  in  his  family  and  home  life. 

Dr.  Mason  has  accumulated  considerable  pro 
perty  .and  is  among  the  wealthiest  negroes  of  the 
South. 

Regarded  from  every  standpoint  he  is  a  success. 


77 


DAVID  HENRY  CLAY  SCOTT,  M.  D. 


ICKNESS  and  disease  is  to  be 
found  in  all  races  of  men  and  in 
all  stations  of  life  and  the  mar 
velous  advance  mftde  by  science 
in  combating  its  ravages  has  at 
tracted  to  the  profession  of  med 
icine  a  great  many  young  men.  Aside  from  its  re 
munerative  attraction  they  see  in  the  medical  pro 
fession  a  field  of  unlimited  usefulness.  A  doctor's 
life  is  not  one  of  ease  but  the  faithful  physician 
who  spends  himself  in  the  interest  of  humanity 
feels  that  he  has  given  his  life  to  a  good  cause. 
Among  the  young  men  who  were  attracted  to  this 
profession  was  Dr.  David  Henry  Clay  Scott. 

Dr.  Scott  was  born  in  Hollywood,  Alabama,  No 
vember  21st,  1871.  Like  quite  a  large  number  of 
colored  youths  he  aspired  to  rise  above  the  lot  of 
a  day  laborer  and  realized  that  in  order  to  do  so  he 
must  have  an  education  and  fit  himself  for  some 
useful  and  remunerative  occupations.  His  choice  of 
a  life  work  was  that  of  medicine  so  he  set  that 
profesion  as  his  goal  and  bent  all  of  his  energies  to 
attain  a  doctor's  certificate. 

He  received  his  first  educational  training  at  the 
Huntsville  State  Normal  School  where  he  acquir 


ed  a  good  foundation  upon  which  he  continued  to 
build  until  his  education  was  complete. 

He  entered  the  Meharry  Medical  College,  to 
prepare  for  his  life  work,  from  which  instituition 
he  received  his  M.  D.  Finishing  his  course 
he  was  ready  for  business  and  selected  Selma  as 
the  city  in  which  to  hang  out  his  shingle.  How 
ever,  he  remained  in  this  city  only  from  March  to 
November,  when  he  moved  to  Montgomery.  His 
career  in  Montgomery  is  the  best  testimony  as  to 
the  wisdom  of  this  change.  His  practice  contin 
ued  to  grow  from  the  beginning  which  is  evidence 
of  his  ability  as  a  physician. 

While  Dr.  Scott's  large  practice  keeps  him  busy 
he  manages  to  find  time  to  devote  to  civic  matters 
and  is  interested  in  all  matters  which  look  to  city 
developement. 

He  was  appointed  chairman  for  the  colored  citi 
zens  in  the  4th.  Liberty  Loan  Drive,  the  success  of 
which  demonstrated  his  ability  as  a  leader. 

The  following  extracts  from  a  statement  issued 
by  him  in  one  of  the  local  papers  tells  the  spirit  in 
which  he  entered  upon  this  work. 

"As  chairman  of  the  colored  people's  Fourth  Li 
berty  Loan  drive,  I  am  extremely  anxious  that  we 
do  not  falter  in  the  last  hours  of  this  all  important 
effort  to  put  Montgomery  'over  the  top,"  and  again 
"There  is  no  special  honor  coming  to  any  one  be 
cause  of  this  effort.  Selfish  be  he  who  buys  bonds 
for  the  sake  of  any  honor  that  may  come  to  him  in 
so  doing."  Dr.  Scott  has  marked  executive  ability 
as  well  a  liberal  endowment  of  business  sagacity 
which  he  has  used  to  great  advantage. 

Recognizing  the  need  for  a  better  class  of  build 
ings  for  the  colored  business  man,  he  purchased  a 
lot  at  the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Lawrence  Streets, 
and  erected  thereon  a  handsome  three-story  struc 
ture.  The  first  floor  is  occupied  as  a  drug  store, 
which  is  run  in  first  class  style,  having  a  fine  soda- 
fount  and  other  modern  attractions.  The  second 
and  third  floors  are  used  for  offices  and  are  all  oc 
cupied  by  live,  wide-awake  business  men.  When 
you  enter  this  biulding  you  are  at  once  impressed 
with  its  business  atmosphere.  Dr.  Scott  also  owns 
and  occupies  his  residence  and  owns  several  other 
pieces  of  property. 

Dr.  Scott  was  married  December  28th,  1897,  to 
Miss  Viola  Watkins,  daughter  of  a  prominent  Con 
tractor  of  the  city  of  Montgomery,  who  erected 
his  store  building.  They  have  no  living  children. 

While  Dr.  Scott  is  interested  in  all  enterprises 
which  seek  the  good  of  his  people  he  is  especially 
interested  in  that  institution,  which  in  addition  to 
its  humanitarian  appeal,  interests  him  from  the 
standpoint  of  his  profession  as  a  physician  and 
surgeon — The  Hale  Infirmary.  He  is  officially 
connected  with  this  institution  and  gives  to  it  his 
best  thought  and  skill  and  much  of  his  time- 


78 


I 
I 


KAWALIGA  ACADEMIC  AND  INDUSTRIAL  INSTITUTE 


HE  Kowaliga  School  was  founded 
in  1898,  by  William  E.  Benson,  a 
native  of  the  community  in  which 
it  is  located.  It  is  located  in  Tal- 
lapoosa  County,  Alabama,  in  the 
center  of  a  community  of  colored 
people  comprising  about  one  thousand  inhabitants. 
It  was  a  part  of  a  general  enerprise  which  includes 
besides  the  school,  the  Dixie  Industrial  Company. 
It  is  owned  by  a  board  of  trustees  of  prominent 
Northern  men  and  women  and  local  colored  men. 
Represented  upon  the  board  is  John  J.  Benson, 
father  of  the  founder,  a  man  known  far  and  wide 
for  his  marvelous  success  as  a  farmer  and  a  man 
who  commands  the  highest  respect  from  both  the 
white  and  black  citizens. 

The  need  for  better  educational  facilities  for  the 
colored  youth  of  the  community  had  long  been 
felt  and  it  was  to  meet  this  need  that  suggested 
the  enterprise  which  resulted  in  the  building  of 
the  school. 

Primarily  it  was  not  the  aim  of  the  school  to 
train  teachers,  but  to  give  to  the  boys  and  girls  of 
the  community  an  elementary  education.  While 
thorough  instruction  is  given  to  the  grammar 
grades,  the  scholars  are  also  given  instruction  in 
manual,  domestic  and  agricultural  training.  Man 
ual  training  in  wood  and  iron  is  taught  the  boys, 
along  with  training  in  agriculture,  while  the  girls 
are  taught  cooking,  sewing,  millinery  and  basketry. 
The  school  is  non-sectarian  but  kept  under  a  strong 
religious  influence.  Although  the  Bible  is  not 
taught  in  the  day  school,  devotional  exercises  are 
held  each  morning  before  the  school  work  begins. 
The  teachers  and  students  visit  all  the  churches 
in  the  community  and  quite  often  the  ministers  of 
the  churches  visit  the  school.  The  first  Saturday 
afternoon  of  each  month  is  known  as  Mother's 
day,  when  the  mothers  meet  and  receive  instruc 
tion  in  bread  making,  house  cleaning,  laundering, 
care  of  children,  etc.  They  are  given  samples  of 
yeast  and  baking-powder  with  instructions  how 
to  use  them.  In  addition  to  their  school  duties, 
the  teachers  give  as  much  time  as  is  possible  in 
doing  extensive  work.  They  make  a  house  to 
house  canvass  in  order  to  ascertain  just  the  needs 


of  the  patrons  and  show  them  the  advantage  of 
sending  their  children  to  school.  This  extension 
work  is  making  the  school  many  friends.  The 
school  has  a  boy's  brass  band,  which  arouses  much 
interest,  both  in  the  school  and  community.  The 
school  has  a  library  of  900  volumes  which  are  used 
by  the  students.  The  Library  needs  replenishing 
and  a  better  selection  of  books  to  stimulate  a  new 
interest  in  it.  Mr.  Benson,  the  founder,  died  Oc 
tober  14th,  1915,  and  was  succeeded  by  James  An 
drew  Dingus,  who  took  charge  of  the  school  De 
cember  2nd.,  1915. 

Professor  Dingus  was  born  in  Tiles  County,  Vir 
ginia,  March  3rd,  1877,  and  received  his  education 
in  Marietta,  Ohio,  where  he  graduated  from  the 
High  School  and  received  the  finishing  touches  at 
the  Hampton  Institute,  in  Virginia.  He  was  es 
pecially  fitted  for  agricultural  instruction  and  for 
three  years  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Dairy  and 
Poultry  departments  at  Hampton  Institute,  and  for 
three  years  had  charge  of  the  Agricultural  depart 
ment  at  Langston,  Oklahoma. 

When  he  took  charge  of  Kawaliga  school  he 
found  evidence  of  excellent  construction  work 
along  the  line  of  buildings,  but  the  patrons  some 
what  disorganized  owing  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Ben 
son-  His  first  work  was  to  meet  the  local  mem 
bers  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  learn  the  needs 
and  condition  of  the  school.  He  realized  that  three 
things  were  necessary  to  guarantee  success  in  his 
efforts — children  to  instruct,  teachers  to  teach 
them  and  money  to  pay  the  teachers.  Having  sat 
isfied  himself  upon  these  points  he  put  his  life  and 
energy  into  the  work  with  the  most  gratifying  re 
sults.  The  enrollment  1917-18  was  196,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  115. 

The  land  upon  which  the  school  is  located  com 
prises  249  acres,  about  fifty  of  which  is  under  cul 
tivation.  It  is  the  purpose  of  Professor  Dingus  to 
make  this  farm  not  only  self-sustaining  but  a  source 
of  profit  to  the  school.  Thus  it  will  serve  the 
double  purpose  of  a  model  farm  for  instruction  and 
a  source  of  income.  Kowaliga  is  an  Indian  name, 
the  name  of  a  little  river  in  the  uplands  of  Alabama, 
along  whose  borders  was  once  an  Indian  Reser 
vation.  Here  is  now  to  be  found  a  thickly  settled 
farming  community,  inhabited  by  a  comparatively 
thrifty  and  industrious  class  of  colored  people.  In 
the  center  of  this  community  is  the  Kowaliga 
school,  exerting  an  influence  over  the  inhabitants 
elevating,  refining,  and  inspiring  to  a  nobler  life. 


79 


REVEREND  JOHN  BONHAM  McDUFFEE 


E.V.  John  Bonham  McDuffee  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  Ala 
bama,  May  1st,  1868,  and  has  re 
sided  in  the  county  of  his  birth  al 
most  his  entire  life.  The  call  of 
the  farm  had  a  fascination  for 
him,  and  a  tan  early  age  he  began  his  farming 
operations.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  work 
on  his  own  account.  His  farm  was  located  in  Beat 
10,  Montgomery  County,  where  he  has  almost  con 
tinuously  since  tilled  the  soil. 

Like  a  great  many  colored  men,  his  thirst  for 
knowledge  kept  pace  with  his  manual  efforts  so  he 
gave  a  fourth  of  his  time  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
mind.  He  gave  three-fourths  of  his  time  to  the 
farm  and  attended  the  district  school  in  the  winter. 
In  1895  he  joined  the  Baptist  church  at  Hope  Ala 
bama  and  was  by  that  church  ordained  to  the  min 
istry  and  called  to  be  the  Pastor  of  the  church  at 
Letohatchie.  He  served  his  church  for  twelve 
years  before  accepting  work  elsewhere.  The  re 
sult  of  his  ministerial  work  has  been  the  serving 
of  seven  churches,  two  of  which  he  founded  and 
built  from  the  ground  up. 

In  1897  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Alabama 


Middle  district  Sunday  School  Convention,  and 
held  the  office  continuously  for  nine  years. 

In  the  year  1915  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the 
same  convention,  which  position  he  now  fills. 

Rev.  McDuffee  believes  in  taking  time  by  the 
foreclock,  so  when  he  read  that  the  Boll  Weevil 
was  headed  for  Alabama,  he  immediately  began  to 
plan  to  give  him  a  warm  reception,  not  in  the" sense 
of  a  cordial  reception  but  such  a  welcome  as  would 
prompt  him  to  seek  a  more  congenial  clime.  The 
outcome  of  his  tests  and  experiments  was  the  "Mc 
Duffee  Boll  Weevil  Remedy,"  a  remedy  that  has 
brought  him  into  notice  throughout  the  cotton  pro 
ducing  states. 

His  name  has  become  a  by-word  in  the  homes  of 
many  farmers  in  the  cotton  belts. 

The  cotton  production  has  had  to  face  many  dif 
ficulties  and  -has  met  and  overcome  many  formida 
ble  enemies,  the  great  enemy  it  now  faces  being 
the  boll  weevil.  In  finding  a  remedy  for  this  peai 
the  Rev.  McDuffee  will  save  to  the  cotton  produc 
ing  states  much  wealth. 

No  other  remedy  has  accomplished  the  good  in 
the  destruction  of  the  boll  weevil  that  McDuffee's 
preparation  has  clone  and  hundreds  of  farmers  have 
voiced  their  praise  of  the  remedy  in  letters  of  com 
mendation.  It  came  at  a  time  when  the  farmers 
were  blue  and  it  seemed  that  the  death  knell  to 
cotton  culture  had  been  sounded  and  like  the  morn 
ing  sun  it  dispelled  the  mists  of  doubt  and  uncer 
tainty  which  hung  over  the  farmer  and  gave  him  a 
new  hope. 

Thus  it  often  happens  that  our  brightest  visions 
come  in  the  midst  of  our  hardest  trials.  For  every 
evil  there  is  a  remedy  and  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  Rev 
erend  HcDuffee  to  find  the  remedy  for  the  Boll 
Weevil. 

Before  giving  his  remedy  to  the  public,  Rev.  Mc 
Duffee  partook  freely  of  his  own  medicine.  He 
reasoned  that  if  it  did  not  keep  his  own  fields  free 
of  the  pest  it  would  be  of  no  practical  use  to  others. 
His  experiments  were  so  successful  that  he  imme 
diately  told  others  of  the  blessing  he  had  found. 
Others  have  tried  it,  much  to  the  discomfort  of  the 
Boll  Weevil,  and  the  reputation  of  the  McDuffee 
Boll  Weevil  Remedy  was  assured. 

The  home  life  of  Rev.  McDuffee  has  been  a 
mingling  of  joy  and  sorrow.  He  has  been  married 
three  times  and  twice  has  he  stood  at  the  open 
grave  and  watched  the  bodies  of  his  companions 
lowered  into  mother  earth. 

His  first  wife  was  Miss  Elizia  Normon,  who  he 
married  in  1886.  She  died  leaving  him  four  chil 
dren.  He  next  married  Miss  Susia  Woodley,  who 
gave  him  nine  children.  She  died  August  llth. 
1913.  His  present  wife  was  Miss  Arlean  Johnson, 
and  from  this  union  has  been  born  two  children. 


80 


GEORGE  AUGUSTUS  WEAVER,  M   .D. 

R.  George  Augustus  Weaver,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  m 
Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  November 
1st,  1870,  where  the  very  atmos 
phere  breathed  the  spirit  of  edu- 

cation.     Here   the   Alabama   State 

University  is  located,  and  it  is  quite  natural  that  a 
colored  youth  who  was  born  and  raised  in  such  a 
community  should  have  aspirations  for  learning 
and  position. 

With  the  fires  of  ambition  kindled  he  formed  the 
purpose  to  secure  an  education  and  the  fact  that  the 
way  seemed  hard  did  not  deter  him  nor  change  his 
purpose.  He  persevered  until  his  course  was  com 
pleted  and  he  was  enabled  to  hang  out  his  shingle 
as  an  M.  D.  With  the  exception  of  five  dollars  a 
month  given  him  by  his  father  he  paid  his  own  way 
through  school  and  college.  He  served  as  porter 
with  the  Wagner  Palace  Car  Company  and  the  Pull 
man  Company,  and  spent  such  time  as  not  engaged 
in  the  school,  upon  the  road. 

This  work  while  it  gave  him  the  funds  to  contin 
ue  his  studies  also  added  to  the  developement  of  his 
mind.  His  travels  carried  him  all  over  the  United 
States  and  to  many  of  the  cities  of  Canada,  thus 


broadening  his  outlook  and  giving  him  a  greater 
knowledge  of  men.  He  commenced  his  studies  in 
the  city  school,  of  Tuscaloos,  his  native  city,  where 
a  good  foundation  was  laid  and  prepared  him  for 
the  advanced  course  in  other  institutions.  After 
finishing  the  Tuscaloosa  schools  he  entered  the  Tal- 
ladega  College  where  he  graduated  in  1892.  From 
Talladega  College  he  went  to  Howard  University, 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  took  the  medical  course, 
graduating  in  1897.  The  Howard  University  was 
founded  in  1867  by  an  act  of  Congress  and  in  varie 
ty  and  quality  of  profesional  training  stands  first 
among  educational  institutions  for  colored  people. 
Thus  by  his  indomitable  spirit,  energy,  patience 
and  perseverence  he  secured  an  education,  and  com 
pleted  his  medical  course  in  one  of  the  strongest  in 
stitutions  in  the  land.  When  he  left  the  University 
he  was  well  equipped  for  his  profession  so  far  as 
knowledge  goes,  but  without  the  means  to  rent  and 
furnish  an  office,  so  he  turned  again  to  the  road, 
and  for  several  months,  from  May  to  January, 
donned  the  uniform  of  a  pullman  porter.  He  open 
ed  his  office  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery,  in  March,  1898,  in  the  city  of  Tuscaloosa, 
where  he  has  continuously  practiced  since. 

Dr.  Weaver  is  a  member  of  the  First  African 
Baptist  Church  and  takes  an  active  part  in  church 
life.  In  recognition  of  his  ability  and  consecrated 
life  the  church  made  him  Chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge 
and  has  served  as  Senior  Grand  Warden.  He  is  a 
Knight  of  Pythias,  and  an  Odd  Fellow,  being  Grand 
Medical  Director  of  the  latter.  He  is  also  a  mem 
ber  of  the  volunteer  Medical  Service  Corp.  Ex-Pres 
ident  of  Alabama  Dental  and  Pharmaceutical  Asso 
ciation. 

Dr.  Weaver  was  selected  as  Chairman  of  the 
Fourth  Loan  drive,  and  under  his  management  it 
went  far  "over  the  top."  He  was  one  of  the  "Four 
minute-Speakers,"  in  the  speaking  force  to  push 
the  War  Saving  Stamp  campaign,  and  organized  a 
class  of  Red  Cross  First  Aid. 

In  this  time  of  his  country's  need  his  soul  burned 
with  the  firts  of  patriotism,  and  in  this  way  he 
gave  expression  to  his  loyalty  and  relieved  the  pent 
up  fires  of  patriotism  which  urged  him  to  action. 

In  1900  Dr.  Weaver  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mattie  A.  Wallace,  of  Wilsonville,  Ala.,  who 
together,  with  two  children  born  of  this  union,  con 
stitutes  his  family.  One,  a  boy  eight  years  of  age, 
bears  his  father's  name,  and  the  other  a  daughter, 
two  and  a  half  years  of  age,  they  named  Marie  Eli 
zabeth,  and  an  adopted  boy,  Everard  Weaver,  now 
a  student  at  Ttiskegee  Institute. 

Dr.  Weaver  owns  his  home,  which  is  a  pretty 
structure,  worth  $4000,  and  in  addition  he  owns  real 
estate  to  the  value  of  approximately  $13,500. 


81 


STONE  HALL,  SELMA  UNIVERSITY 


R.  Robert  Thomas  Pollard,  A.  B., 
D.  D.,  was  born  in  Gainesville, 
Alabama,  October  4th,  1860.  He 
received  his  early  education  in 
the  common  schools  after  which 
he  entered  the  Selma  University. 
an  institution  to  which  he  gave 
many  of  his  active  and  useful 
years.  After  graduating  from  the  collegiate 
course  he  began  his  work  as  a  minister.  His  first 
labors  were  that  of  a  missionary  in  the  state  of  Ala 
bama.  In  this  work,  he  traveled  for  a  number  of 
years  all  over  the  state.  He  next  became  an  agent 
of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  of 
Philadelphia,  in  advancing  the  Sunday  School 
work.  He  gave  up  this  work  to  enter  the  service 
of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society. 
Again  he  became  a  missionary  for  the  Southern 
Baptist  Convention  and  for  the  Society  of  Alabama 
Baptists.  In  this  service  he  traveled  from  church 
to  church,  and  from  convention  to  convention,  of 
the  colored  people  of  Alabama. 

Having  served  for  a  long  period  as  a  missionary 
he  gave  up  his  field  of  labor  for  the  pastorate  and 
in  this  capacity  he  served  a  number  of  the  leading 
churches  in  Alabama.  He  was  pastor  of  the  church 
es  in  Montgomery,  Marion,  Selma,  Union  Springs 
and  Eufaula.  The  next  step  in  his  career  was  that 
of  an  educator,  being  called  to  the  Presidency  of 
his  alma  mater,  the  Selma  University.  He  con 
tinued  in  this  position  for  nine  years,  from  1902  to 
1911.  While  holding  this  office  he  found  frequent 
opportunities  to  preach,  presenting  the  claims  of 
the  University  and  raising  funds  to  finance  the  in 
stitution.  His  arduous  duties  in  connection  with 
this  institution  impaired  his  health  and  caused  him 
to  resign  his  office  as  president.  He  re-entered 
the  pastorate  for  a  short  period,  when  he  was  elect 
ed  President  of  Florida  Memorial  College,  Live  Oak 
Florida. 

In  1916,  his  successor,  as  president  of  the  Selma 


l/niversity.  Dr.  M.  W.  Gilbert  resigned  on  account 
of  failing  health,  and  Dr.  Pollard  was  again  called 
to  fill  the  post.  Although  he  had  just  been  re-elec 
ted  to  the  presidency  of  the  Florida  Memorial  Col 
lege,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  respond  to  the  call  to 
again  head  the  Selma  University,  which  position 
he  now  holds. 

The  Selma  University  was  born  of  deep  seated 
conviction  that  the  great  need  of  the  colored  race 
was  an  educated  ministry.  This  conviction  deep 
ened  from  year  to  year  and  was  earnestly  discuss 
ed  at  the  Alabama  Colored  Baptist  State  conven 
tions.  It  finally  took  shape  at  the  convention  held 
in  Tuscaloosa  in  1873,  by  adopting  the  following 
resolution  offered  by  Rev.  W.  II.  McAlpine: 

"Resolved ;  That  we  plant  in  the  State  of  Ala 
bama,  a  Theological  school  to  educate  our  young 
men."  This  gave  to  the  movement  a  definite  aim 
and  purpose  and  inspired  it  with  great  activity. 
The  fight  was  on  and  although  the  battle  for  suc 
cess  was  hard  and  long,  it  was  finally  won  and  the 
institution  is  now  the  pride  of  the  C'olored  Baptists 
of  the  state. 

Starting  the  enterprise  forty-five  years  ago  with 
out  funds  and  only  a  resolution  to  incite  enthusiasm 
and  energy,  the  founders  persevered  in  their  work 
until  their  dream  of  a  great  university  became  a 
reality. 

The  University  is  located  at  Selma,  Alabama, 
upon  a  thirty-two  acre  tract.  It  has  three  brick 
dormitories  and  a  home  for  the  President.  Its  pro 
perty  is  valued  at  $175,000.00,  and  is  free  of  debt. 

Both  Montgomery  and  Marion  wanted  the  Uni 
versity,  but  Selma  won  over  thorn  and  secured  the 
prize. 

The  first  president  of  the  institution  was  the 
Rev.  Harris  Woodsmall,  who  was  elected  Decem 
ber  20th,  1877,  and  directed  to  open  the  school  the 
following  January,  which  he  did,  with  only  four 
pupils.  He  had  an  assistant,  the  Rev.  W.  R.  Petti- 
ford.  The  session  was  held  in  the  St.  Phillips 


82 


SUSIE    FOSTER    HALL,    SELMA    UNIVERSITY 

Street    Baptist    church,      now    the      First      Baptist 
church. 

May  30th,  1878,  five  months  after  the  opening 
of  the  school,  the  Trustees  held  a  meeting  in  Sel- 
ma,  and  authorized  the  Executive  Committee  to 
negotiate  for  the  purchase  of  the  "Old  Fair 
Grounds,"  which  is  its  present  location.  The  large 
amphitheatre  upon  the  grounds  was  repaired  at  a 
cost  of  about  $700.00,  and  used  for  school  purposes. 
In  1880  the  school  was  adopted  by  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  which  has  since 
contributed  to  its  support. 

March  1st,  1881,  the  school  was  incorporated  as 
the  Alabama  'Baptist  Normal  and  Theological 
School,  and  in  1885  the  name  was  changed  to  Sel- 
nia  University. 

In  1895  the  name  was  again  changed  to  Alabama 
Baptist  Colored  University,  but  in  1908.  its  former 
name,  Selma  University,  was  restored. 

Overcoming  difficulties,  facing  many  vicissitud 
es,  and  through  great  sacrifice,  the  founders  of  the 
institution,  like  all  great  men,  these  pioneers  of 
Alabama  Colored  Baptist,  built  better  than  they 
knew.  The  two  towering  figures  among  the  Col 
ored  Baptist  of  Alabama  in  those  days  of  struggle 
and  pioneer  work  were  ^.  H.  Alpine,  and  C.  C. 
Boothe.  They  were  both  self-made  men  but  men 
of  great  natural  ability  and  force  and  their  influence 
was  great  among  the  colored  Baptists  of  Alabama, 
and  they  held  the  confidence  and  respect  of  their 
white  brethren.  It  was  under  their  leadership  that 
the  school  had  its  inception  and  through  their 
effort  it  was  brought  to  a  successful  issue,  aided  of 
course  by  their  brethren,  who  put  their  souls,  their 
strength  and  their  means  into  the  enterprise.  Dr. 
McAlpine  has  gone  to  his  reward,  but  Dr.  Boothe 
is  still  using  his  great  powers  for  the  uplift  of  his 
people. 

The  following  officers  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
are  men  of  culture  and  rare  gifts : 

P.  S.,  L.  Lutchins,  D.  D.,  is  chairman,  R.  B.  Hud 
son,  A.  M.,  is  Secretary  and  L.  German,  A.  B.,  is 
Treasurer. 


83 


It  is  a  divine  principle  that  "By  their  fruits  ye 
shall  know  them."  Measured  by  this  standard  the 
Selma  University  occupies  a  high  place  in  the  esti 
mation  of  those  who  have  watched  its  course  from 
the  beginning.  Beginning  with  two  teachers  and 
four  pupils,  the  school  now  has  twenty-three  in 
structors  in  charge  of  about  five  hundred  pupils. 
It  enrolled  one  year  782  pupils.  It  opened  with 
Normal  and  Theological  courses,  but  now  has  a  col 
lege  course.  Bachelor  of  Theology,  Bachelor  of 
Divinity  Course,  a  Pastor's  course,  a  Missionary 
course,  manual  art,  Agriculture,  Domestic  Science, 
Sewing  and  Dress  making.  Stenography,  Type 
writing,  etc.  It  has  turned  out  more  than  six 
hundred  graduates,  who  have  taken  high  places  in 
the  various  avocations  of  life.  The  Institution  has 
been  careful  in  the  selection  of  its  teaching  force, 
who  have  come  from  the  noted  colleges  of  the 
country.  Brown  University,  Chicago  University, 
Leland  University,  Virginia  Union  University,  Har 
vard.  Yale,  Johns  Hopkins,  Vassar,  Columbia  Col 
lege,  Cornell  University,  Meharry  Medical  Col 
lege,  Tuskegee  Institute.  Oberlin  Business  Col 
lege,  etc..  have  all  made  their  contributoin. 
The  University  has  had  eight  presidents;  Rev.  Har 
rison  Wooclsmall,  Dr.  W.  H.  McAlpine,  Dr.  E.  M. 
Bra,wley,  Dr.  Charles  L.  Purse,  Dr.  Charles  S.  Din- 
kins,  Dr.  C.  O.  Boothe.  Dr.  M.  W.  Gilbert  and  the 
present  president,  Dr.  Robert  Thomas  Pollard. 

Dr.  Pollard  was  married  in  1887  to  Miss  Eliza 
beth  J.  Washington,  also  a  graduate  of  Selma  Uni 
versity,  who  has  been  a  great  help  to  him  in  his  ed 
ucational  work.  They  have  one  son  who  is  a  pros 
perous  dentist  at  Florence,  Alabama.  Mrs.  Pollard 
was  for  ten  years  President  of  the  Woman's  State 
Convention,  Editress  of  the  "Woman's  Era,"  au 
thor  of  "Guide,"  one  to  four  and  matron  of  the 
Florida  Memorial  College. 

Dr.  Pollard  has  devoted  most  of  his  life  to  the 
cause  of  Baptist  education,  both  in  the  churches 
and  the  schools,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  activi 
ties  have  been  confined  to  the  State  of  Alabama. 


MANUAL  TRAINING  SHOP,  SELMA  UNIVERSITY 


ANDREW   JACKSON   STOKES,   D.   D. 

OST  of  those  who  fill  the  sacred 
office  are  called  to  the  ministry 
after  reaching  man's  estate,  but 
occasionally  one  is  born  to  the 
cloth.  Among  these  is  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Jackson  Stokes,  who 
commenced  his  pulpit  work  when  a  boy  only  ten 
years  of  age. 

Dr.  Stokes  was  born  in  Orangeburg  County,  S. 
C,  July  25th,  1859,  and  began  his  ministerial  work 
in  Orangeburg  County  in  the  year  1870.  From  the 
first  he  showed  an  aptitude  for  church  building  and 
during  his  ministry  he  has  built  and  remodeled  a 
number  of  church  edifices.  His  first  work  was 
to  build  the  Mt.  Zion  and  Pisgah  churches  in  Or 
angeburg  County,  and  Black  Jack  Church,  in 
Winnsboro  County.  From  1884  to  1886  his  field 
of  labor  was  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  and  here  again  his 
talent  for  church  building  was  called  into  play.  Be 
fore  he  completed  his  labors  in  this  city  he  had 
erected  a  church  building  costing  twenty  thousand 
dollars.  From  Clarksville  he  went  to  Fernan- 
dina,  Florida,  where  he  added  largely  to  the  nume 
rical  strength  of  the  church  and  remodeled  its 
building. 


It  was  in  Montgomery,  Alabama,  however,  where 
he  reached  the  zenith  of  his  active  and  useful  life. 
Upon  the  death  of  the  Rev.  James  Foster,  Pastor 
of  the  Columbus  Street  Baptist  Church,  Dr.  Stokes 
was  called  to  succeed  him.  Coming  to  Montgomery 
in  1891,  he  has  continuously  served  the  church  and 
is  today  its  beloved  Pastor.  When  he  took  charge 
of  the  church  its  membership  numbered  500,  which 
has  increased  to  over  5000.  The  church,  during 
his  administration  has  had  many  seasons  of  revi 
val  and  he  bears  the  distinction  of  having  baptised 
1001  candidates  in  one  day.  The  growing  mem 
bership  required  greater  housing,  and  the  old 
frame  building  in  which  the  church  worshipped, 
was  enlarged  and  remodeled.  The  requirements 
of  the  congregation  soon  called  for  a  more  mod 
ern  structure  and  the  Pastor  with  his  natural  gift 
for  church  building  proved  to  be  the  successful 
leader  in  the  enterprise.  Like  a  wise  leader  he 
first  perfected  his  plans  and  then  made  his  people 
see  the  vision  which  had  come  to  him  and  enthus 
ed  them  with  the  spirit  of  the  enterprise. 

After  months  of  patient  waiting,  unbounding 
sacrifices,  unquenchable  zeal  and  determined  effort, 
the  new  edifice  was  completed  and  dedicated-  And 
today  is  pointed  to  with  commendable  pride,  not 
alone  by  the  congregation  but  by  the  colored  cit 
izens  of  the  Capital  City. 

While  his  main  thought  and  effort  was  the  de 
velopment  of  the  church  life  of  his  people.  Dr. 
Stokes  was  not  unmindful  of  their  educational 
needs,  and  to  meet  these,  he  established  in  1891, 
the  Montgomery  Academy,  the  success  of  which, 
has  met  his  fondest  expectations.  Starting  in  a 
small  way,  with  two  teachers  and  fifty  pupils,  it 
has  steadily  grown  until  today  it  has  six  teachers 
and  two  hundred  pupils  and  is  housed  in  a  well  ap 
portioned  school  building.  From  its  birth,  Dr. 
Stokes  has  been  the  President  of  the  Academy. 
The  object  of  the  founder  was  to  give  to  the  child 
ren  a  Normal  school  education  and  to  fit  them  for 
some  useful  occupaion  in  life.  The  range  of  Dr. 
Stokes'  active  life  extends  for  beyond  his  home 
field.  He  is  a  Trustee  of  the  Selma  University; 
Treasurer  of  the  National  Baptist  Convention,  an 
office  he  has  held  for  the  past  twenty  years,  and 
Moderator  of  the  Spring  Hill  Association.  By  ac 
clamation  he  was  elected  by  the  Congress  for  the 
advancement  of  Colored  People,  as  one  of  a  com 
mittee  to  go  to  France  and  study  conditions  of  en 
listed  men  of  the  United  States  Army. 

Dr.  Stokes  has  been  a  great  traveler,  his  travels 
covering  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  the  coun 
tries  of  Europe,  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land. 

He  has  accumulated  quite  a  nice  property,  own 
ing  about  2000  acreas  of  land,  besides  an  elegant 
home,  which  adjoins  the  handsome  church  building 
of  which  mention  has  been  made.  His  family  con 
sists  of  a  wife  and  two  children,  Lou  Rosa  Stokes, 
and  Hugo  Benton  Stokes.  His  son  is  an  M.  D. 
graduate  of  Meharry  and  served  as  First  Lieuten- 
in  the  U.  S.  Army.  Dr.  Stokes  received  his  degree 
from  Princeton  in  1914.  He  is  author  of  a  book 
called  "Select  Sermons." 


84 


FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  COLORED, 
MONTGOMERY,   ALA. 


RIOR  to  the  Civil  War  and  for 
several  years  after  its  close,  the 
Colored  Baptists  of  Montgomery 
worshipped  with  the  white  Bap 
tists,  in  their  brick  church  build 
ing,  situated  at  the  intersection  of 
Court,  Coosa  and  Bibb  Streets.  For  their  accom 
modation  a  gallery  was  built  on  both  the  east  and 
west  side  of  the  auditorium  and  their  spiritual  in 
terests  were  looked  after  by  the  Pastor  of  the 
church  and  the  white  members.  They  received 
baptism  at  the  hands  of  the  Pastor  and  in  the  bap 
tistry  of  the  church. 

Several  years  after  the  war  the  colored  mem 
bers  decided  that  it  would  be  best  to  withdraw 
their  membership  from  the  white  church  and  form 
a  church  of  their  own,  to  be  ministered  to  by  a 
member  of  their  own  race.  Accordingly  in  1867 
letters  were  granted  to  about  forty  of  the  colored 
members  who  organized  the  Columbus  Street  Bap 
tist  church,  and  called  the  Reverend  Nathan  Ashby 
to  be  their  Pastor.  He  served  them  until  the  year 
1877  when  he  resigned  and  the  Reverend  James 
Foster  was  elected  as  his  successor.  During  his 
pastorate  the  membership  of  the  church  was  in 
creased  to  five  hundred,  like  the  illustrious  William 
Carey,  the  Rev.  Foster  was  a  shoe-maker  before 
he  entered  the  ministry.  He  served  the  church 
until  1891,  when  he  entered  into  his  long  rest.  He 


was  greatly  beloved  by  his  people  and  was  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  the  citizens  of  Mont 
gomery  in  general,  both  white  and  black.  Succeed 
ing  him  as  Pastor  of  the  church,  was  the  Reverend 
Andrew  Jackson  Stokes,  who  came  to  Montgomery 
from  Fernandena,  Florida.  It  was  under  his  ad 
ministration  that  the  church  began  that  marvelous 
growth  which  has  placed  it  near,  if  not  at  the  head 
of  the  list  of  churches  in  point  of  membership. 
From  five  hundred  members  it  has  grown  to  five 
thousand  members,  requiring  the  enlarging  of  the 
old  frame  building,  in  which  the  church  worshipped 
to  accomodate  the  congregation. 

The  church  saw  the  need  for  better  equipment, 
and  were  planning,  under  the  leadership  of  their 
Pastor,  for  a  new  building  and  while  assembling 
material  for  the  new  structure,  the  frame  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  This  hastened  their  plans 
and  gave  them  new  zeal  for  their  work.  After 
months  of  untiring  effort,  generous  giving  and 
willing  sacrifices,  the  building  was  completed,  and 
the  congregation  is  now  worshipping  in  one  of  the 
handsomest  church  edifices  to  be  found  among  the 
colored  citizens  of  the  South.  The  building  has  a 
large  auditorium,  a  commodious  Sunday  school 
room,  and  the  necessary  smaller  rooms  for  the  ac- 
comodation  of  the  church  societies,  class  rooms, 
etc.  It  is  well  located  on  a  corner  lot  facing  the 
Cemetary  Park,  with  nothing  to  obstruct  its  front 
view  for  a  long  distance. 

After  serving  so  large  a  congregation  for  twen 
ty-eight  years,  the  Pastor,  Dr.  Stokes,  is  still  a  man 
of  great  energy,  and  vigor,  and  full  of  zeal  for  the 
welfare  of  his  people.  His  people  stand  by  him  and 
it  is  only  necessary  for  him  to  lay  before  them  his 
plans  of  work  to  inlist  their  cooperation  and  sup 
port.  They  have  found  in  him  a  wise  and  active 
leader  and  they  gladly  follow  him  when  he  points 
out  the  way. 

The  church  will  soon  have  a  pipe  organ  to  aid 
its  splendid  choir,  which  will  add  no  little  to  the 
Sunday  services. 

The  pastor  is  ably  assisted  by  the  following  of 
ficers  :  Deacons  Wm.  Clayton,  Chairman,  Russell 
Johnson,  Treas ;  Kiltis  Singleton,  Henry  Spear, 
Wallace  Johnson,  Robert  Carlton,  Wm.  Bruher, 
Ned  Casby,  Professor,  Henry  Ray,  Levy  Coates, 
Sol  Wallace,  Champ  Williams,  and  Isaac  Croom. 

The  Sunday  School  is  divided  into  two  divisions 
— A  and  B.  Prof  Henry  Ray  is  head  of  Division  A. 
and  Division  B.  is  presided  over  by  Willie  Beasley 
and  Pat  Johnson.  Fred  Thomas  is  at  the  head 
of  the  Board  of  Ushers. 

Missionary  Board:  Mrs.  Fannie  Gable  is  Presi 
dent,  assisted  by  Eliza  Jones,  Mary  Miles,  Hardy 
Martin,  Lucy  Prichard,  Mary  Ward.  Willie  Hall, 
and  Jeanette  McAlpin- 


85 


MONROE  N.   WORK,   PH.   B.,   M.   A. 

C'NROE  N.  Work,  Sociologist  and 
Writer,     Head     of     the      Division 
of  Records    and  Research  of    the 
Tuskegee    Normal    and    Industrial 
Institute,    Editor   of     the     Negro 
Year    Book.     The    subject    of    his 
sketch  was  born  in  Iredell  Coun 
ty,  North  Carolina.  He  was  rear 
ed  in  Illinois  and  Kansas.     His  education  has  been 
as  follows : 

Graduated  from  high  school,  Arkansas  City,  Kan 
sas,  1892;  in  1895,  he  entered  the  Chicago  Theolo 
gical  Seminary,  graduating  in  1898.  While  here  he 
became  interested  in  the  subject  of  sociology,  and 
decided  to  enter  the  University  of  Chicago,  and 
prepare  himself  for  work  in  this  field.  He  remain 
ed  in  this  institution  five  years.  In  1902  received 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy,  in  1903  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  with  sociology  as  a  ma 
jor  subject  and  experimental  psychology  as  a  min 
or-  His  thesis  for  the  masters  degree  was  "Negro 
Real  Estate  Holding  in  Chicago."  This  attracted 
widespread  attention  and  brought  forth  many  com 
ments  from  the  press  throughout  the  country.  He 
showed  that  the  first  owner  of  property  on  the  site 
of  what  is  now  Chicago  was  a  San  Domingo  Negro, 
Baptist  Point  De  Saible,  who  settled  here  as  an  In 
dian  trader,  about  1790. 

The  first  position,  Mr.  Work  held  after  gradua 
tion  from  the  University  of  Chicage  was  with  the 


Georgia  State  Industrial  College,  as  professor  of 
History  and  Education.  This  position  he  held  for 
five  years.  In  1908  he  came  to  Tviskegee  Institute 
and  established  the  Department  of  Records  and  Re 
search.  The  results  of  the  work  of  this  department 
are  embodied  in  the  Negro  Year  Book,  the  first  ed 
ition  of  which  appeared  in  1912.  This  publication 
has  become  a  standard  authority  on  matters  per 
taining  to  the  race.  It  circulates  widely,  not  only 
in  this  country,  but  throughout  the  world.  Wher 
ever  there  are  persons  interested  in  the  Negro  and 
wish  to  secure  reliable  comprehensive  facts  con 
cerning  him,  they  consult  the  Negro  Year  Book. 
The  following  are  examples  of  the  comments  of  the 
press  concerning  this  publication : 

"Interesting  and  important  is  the  array  of  facts 
relating  to  the  Negro  contained  in  the  Negro  Year 
Book.  The  book  is  a  perfect  encyclopedia  of  ach 
ievements  by  Negroes  in  all  ranks  of  life,  of  the 
history  of  the  race  in  the  United  States,  of  legis 
lative  enactments  relating  to  them,  of  activity  in  all 
branches,  particularly  education.  The  book  is  in 
dispensable  to  all  who  have  to  deal  with  any  phase 
of  the  Negro  question." — New  York  Sun. 

"No  better  prepared  or  more  comprehensive  an 
nual  comes  to  hand  than  the  Negro  Year  Book.  It 
covers  every  phase  of  Negro  activity  in  the  United 
States,  reviews  progress  in  all  lines,  discusses  grie 
vances,  outlines  the  economic  condition  of  the  race, 
presents  religious  and  social  problems,  educational 
statistics  and  political  questions  as  they  relate  to 
the  race.  The  book  is  a  valuable  and  authoritative 
book  of  reference." — Indianapolis  Star. 

Mr.  Work  is  a  member  of  the  following  learned 
societies :  The  American  Negro  Academy,  The 
Association  for  the  Study  of  Negro  Life,  and  His 
tory,  The  American  Sociological  Society,  The  Ame 
rican  Economic  Association,  The  National  Econo 
mic  League,  The  National  Geographical  Society, 
and  the  Southern  Sociological  Congress. 

Mr.  Work  is  also  the  compiler  of  statistics  on 
lynching.  His  annual  reports  of  lynchings  are  the 
recognized  authority  on  this  subject. 

The  subjects  of  important  articles  which  Mr. 
Work  has  published  in  magizines  and  periodicals, 
are:  "Geechee  Folklore,"  Southern  Workman,  No 
vember  and  December,  1905;  "Some  Parallelism  in 
the  Development  of  Africans  and  other  Races," 
Southern  Workman,  November,  1906  and  January, 
February,  March,  1907 ;  "The  African  Family  as  an 
Institution,"  Southern  Workman,  June,  July,  Aug 
ust,  1909;  "The  African  Medicine  Man,"  Southern 
Workman,  October,  1907;  "African  Agriculture," 
Southern  Workman,  November,  December,  1910, 
and  January,  February,  1911;  "An  African  System 
of  Writing,"  Southern  Workman,  October,  1908 ; 
"The  Negro  and  Crime  in  Chicago,"  American  Jour 
nal  of  Sociology,  September,  1900;  "Negro  Crimin 
ality  in  the  South,"  Annals  of  American  Academy 
of  Political  and  Social  Science,  September,  1913; 
"The  Negro  Church  and  the  Community,"  South 
ern  Workman,  August,  1908;  "How  to  Fit  the 
School  to  the  Needs  of  the  Community,"  Southern 
Workman,  September,  1908;  and  many  other  arti 
cles  of  like  nature  and  importance.  "The  Negroes 
Industrial  Problem,"  Southern  Workman,  August, 
1914 ;  "Self  Help  Among  Negroes,"  Survey,  August 
7,  1909. 


86 


REVEREND  ALFRED   C.  WILLIAMS.  A.   R..  A    M. 


EV.  Alfred  C.  Williams,  the  son  of 
>j  i«*»p,i  «,jyj  Hampton  A.  and  Chanly  Williams, 
n  t^r^^\^  vvas  ')orn  at  Monticello,  Florida, 
U  K?V  ^^\  May  28th.  1883.  He  developed 
great  mental  vigor  in  his  youth 
and  graduated  from  the  Howard 
Academy,  of  his  own  town  at  fourteen  years  of 
age. 

He  vvas  converted  and  joined  the  church  at  the 
age  of  fifteen.  During  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
he  entered  the  Florida  Memorial  College,  at  Live 
Oak,  Florida,  from  which  he  was  graduated  at  the 
age  of  nineteen.  In  his  nineteenth  year  he  was  or 
dained  to  the  ministry  and  elected  as  supply  pas 
tor  of  his  home  church.  In  June  of  his  twentieth 
vear  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church,  of  Green  Cove  Springs,  Florida, 
which  pastorate  he  filled  until  he  was  twenty-two, 
at  which  time  lie  resigned  to  enter  Morehouse 
College,  Atlanta,  Georgia.  During  the  first  year 
of  his  student  life,  at  Morehouse,  he  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  Antioch  Baptist  Church,  of 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  which  pastorate  he  filled  until 
June  1912.  In  May  1912.  he  received  the  Bachelor 
of  Arts  degree  from  Morehouse  College.  In  June 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Louise  N.  Maxwell,  thf 


oldest  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  L.  B.  Maxwell.  Hav 
ing    received    a    call    to    the    Mt.    Tabor    Baptist 
Church,  of  Pulaska,  Florida,  he  resigned  the  pas 
torate  of  the  Antioch  Baptist  Church,  Atlanta,  to 
accept  this  the  second  largest  church  in  his  home 
state.     In  one  year  and  three  months  he  led  this 
church  from  under  debt  of  more  than  Five  Thous 
and  Dollars,   ($5000,)  and  the  membership  was  in 
creased  more  than  three  hundred.     On  account  of 
the  illness  of  his  wife,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Mt. 
Zion    Baptist   Church,   of   Los   Angeles,   California, 
where  he  remained  for  three  years  and  at  which 
time  he  studied  at  the  University  of  Southern  Cal 
ifornia,  at  which  school  he  completed  work  for  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts.     In  May,   1916,  he  was 
called    o    the   pastorate    of    Sixteenth    Street    Bap 
tist  Church,  Birmingham,  Alabama,  which  he  now 
fills.     The    Sixteenth    Street    Baptist    Church    was 
organized  in  1873,  by  Reverend  James  Readen  and 
Reverend  Warner  Reed.     Succeeding  pastors  were 
Reverend  J.  S.  Jackson,  Dr.  W.  R.  Pettiford,  Rev 
erend  T.  L.  Jordan,  Dr.  C.  L.     Fisher,     Dr.  J.  A. 
Whitted,   and   its  present    Pastor,    Reverend   A.   C. 
Williams.     All  of  these  men  wrought  well  and  are 
credited    with    having    done    a    great      work.     The 
church  has  always  stood  as  a  monument  to  the  Ne 
gro  race,  especially  the  Negro  Baptists,  of  Alabama 
who  have  felt  a  commendable  pride  in  its  work  and 
achievements.     It  has   had  much   to  do  with     the 
shaping  of  the  religious  thought,  and  molding  sen 
timent    for   the   race.     The   Church   clings     to   the 
"Old  time"  religious  principles  of  its  faith,  but  em 
ploys  modern  methods  of  bringing  the  Gospel  mes 
sage  to  the  hearts  and  minds  of  the  people.     It  re 
cognized  the  power  and  uplifting  influence  of  music 
and    organized  a  choir  whose   famous    high    class 
musicals   attract   hundreds   of   white   people   of   all 
classes  throughout  the  city  and  district  who  come 
to  listen  to  the  old  plantation  melodies,  and  jubilees 
as  well  as  their  high  class   solos,  quartettes     and 
anthems.     All    races    and    creeds    in    Birmingham 
have  high  regard  for  this  church's  attitude  in  mat 
ters  affecting  the  social  and    moral    uplift    of    the 
community.     The   church   has     a    membership     of 
more   than   one   thousand.     It   worships   in   a   most 
beautiful   structure,   an   edifice   built   of   brick   and 
stone,   which    together   with   the    Interior    furnish 
ings  cost  about  Eighty  thousand  Dollars,  ($80,000,) 
It  also  owns  the   Pastor's   home   which   is  a   good 
substantial   building.     The   entire   church   property 
is   valued  at   more   than  $125,000.00.     The   interior 
is  beautifully  adorned  by  expensive  art  glass,  win 
dows  and  other  architectural  designs  calculated  to 
•give  tone,  grace  and  beauty  and  is  highly  attrac 
tive  and  pleasing  to  the  most  discriminating  eye. 
A  church  of  this  character  with  a  choir  holding  an 
enviable   place   in    the   estimation   of   music   loving 
people  of  course  has  a  pipe  organ  in  keeping  with 
it.     The  organ  is  large  and  expensive  and  an   or 
nament  as  well  as  an  instrument  of  use. 

Since  becoming  its  Pastor,  Reverend  Williams 
has  received  into  its  membership  more  than  700 
accessions,  and  has  raised  over  $23,000  for  current 
expenses  and  debts. 


87 


JOHN  G.  WRIGHT. 
EW  Negroes  there  are  in  the 
South  who  can  conduct  their  bus 
iness  in  the  largest  building  of 
the  city  in  which  they  live.  Mr. 
Wright's  barber  shop  has  a  first 
floor  location  in  the  largest  busi 
ness  building  in  Tuscaloosa,  adjoining  the  leading 
city  drug  store  and  under  the  rooms  of  the  city 
Board  of  Trade.  His  shop  is  patronized  by  the 
leading  white  men  of  the  city  and  is  looked  upon 
as  the  most  up-to-date  business  of  the  kind  in  Tus 
caloosa. 

Mr.  Wright  was  a  self-made  man,  who  had  no 
very  great  early  advantages,  either  of  school,  of 
parentage,  money  or  environment.  He  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Hale  County,  in  the  late  sixties.  A  white 
lady  taught  him  the  fundamentals  of  education. 
Of  general  education,  such  as  our  children  get,  he 
appears  to  have  had  very  little. 

In  1892  Mr.  Wright  made  his  way  into  Bir 
mingham,  a  town  at  he  time,  and  began  his 
apprenticeship  as  a  barber.  For  eight  years  he 
served  in  the  shops  of  others  in  the  city  of  Bir 
mingham,  first  as  an  apprentice  and  then  as  a  reg 
ular  workman. 

His  ambitions  led  him  to  establish  a  business  of 


his  own.  In  casting  about  for  a  location  he  de 
cided  in  favor  of  Tuscaloosa.  Here  was  located 
the  State  University,  which  offered  a  good  field  for 
patronage  aside  from  the  local  trade. 

Tuscaloosa  has  since  been  the  scene  of  his  active 
life.  Here  he  established  a  barber's  business, 
which  is  today  one  of  the  best  in  the  State. 

Courteous  in  demeanor,  attentive  to  his  business 
and  maintaining  a  strict  integrity,  he  has  won  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  the  entire  community 
and  occupies  the  proud  position  of  being  one  of  the 
leading  colored  citizens  of  the  city. 

In  thinking  of  Mr.  Wright  you  do  not  regard 
him  simply  as  a  barber  but  as  a  business  men  with 
an  unusual  aptitude  for  large  business  enterprises. 
He  is  the  proprietor  of  two  shops  and  they  occupy 
the  best  locations  in  Tuscaloosa,  one  in  the  lead 
ing  hotel  of  the  city  and  one  in  its  largest  business 
building. 

He  does  not  confine  himself  exclusively  to  his 
barber  shops.  He  is  a  dealer  in  real  estate  which 
has  brought  him  much  profit  and  in  a  sense  is  a 
promoter  of  Negro  enterprises. 

He  owns  his  home — a  residence  to  which  his 
neighbors  point  with  pride.  It  is  beautifully  lo 
cated  and  is  built  on  a  quarter  of  a  block.  Since 
the  building  for  himself  he  has  bought  and  now 
rents  thirteen  other  houses. 

From  beng  strictly  in  business  for  himself  he  has 
become  a  promoter  and  backer  of  Negro  undertak 
ings  generally.  He  is  president  of  the  Alabama 
Protection  and  Aid  Association,  Stockholder  and 
promoter  of  the  People's  Drug  Company  of  Tus 
caloosa,  Trustee  and  Treasurer  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Zion  Church  of  his  town  and  was  Grand  Master  of 
the  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Ala 
bama  for  four  years,  and  resigned  this  office  in 
August,  1917,  on  account  of  his  business  requiring 
all  of  his  time. 

Tuscaloosa  is  one  of  the  best  towns  of  the  South. 
One  does  not  here  feel  the  stricture  of  race  pre 
judice  or  opposition.  In  few  if  any  other  towns 
in  the  South  can  a  colored  man  find  such  happy 
accommodations,  handsome  homes,  educated  peo 
ple,  good  restaurants,  clean  surroundings  and  the 
best  of  cooking.  It  needed  only  the  up-to-date 
Drug  store  to  round  out  the  comforts  of  the  col 
ored  people.  This  was  provided  mainly  by  Mr. 
Wright,  who  is  both  president  and  treasurer  of 
the  company. 

Mr.  Wright  is  a  Mason,  Knight  of  Pythias  and 
Odd  Fellow.  In  his  work  as  Grand  Master  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  of  Alabama  he  has  traveled  over  the 
whole  country. 

Mr.  Wright  has  no  children,  but  he  will  tell  you 
that  much  of  his  success  in  business  and  in  life  is 
due  to  Mrs.  Wright,  who  was  Miss  Ophelia  Ed 
monds  of  Tuscaloosa. 


ARKANSAS    BAPTIST    COLLEGE. 


HE  college  is  a  creature  of  the  Ar 
kansas  Negro  Baptist  State  Con 
vention  and  came  into  existence 
'at  the  Convention  held  at  Hot 
Springs,  in  August,  1884.  After 
an  experiment  of  one  year  it  was 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Arkansas  Bap 
tist  College.  For  the  first  several  year  of  its  exist 
ence  it  had  no  permanent  abiding  place,  but  moved 
from  church  to  church.  It  finally  located  upon  its 
own  property,  some  distance  beyond  the  city  limits 
of  Little  Rock  where  it  has  continued  until  the  pre 
sent  time.  Its  equipment  is  not  in  keeping  with 
the  growth  and  importance  of  the  institution.  The 
Administration  building  is  its  only  structure  of 
real  and  permanent  value.  While  the  college  has 
grown  the  City  of  Little  Rock  has  far  outstripped 
it  and  while  encroaching  upon  it  has  added  greatly 
to  the  value  of  the  real  estate  holdings.  The  Trus 
tees  have  already  considered  the  question  of  a  new 
location  and  have  secured  and  paid  for  one  hundred 
acres  of  land,  some  four  miles  distant.  The  land 
purchased  has  a  good  elevation,  is  dry  and  well 
drained  and  excellent  for  farming  operations. 

When  the  present  location  is  sold  it  should  sup 
ply  sufficient  funds  to  erect  a  number  of  modern 
structures  to  meet  its  requirements.  Even  with 
this  advantage  it  will  require  outside  aid  to  make 
the  move  and  place  the  institution  upon  a  sure 
foundation. 

The  President,  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Booker,  who  has 
been  the  President  since  1887,  is  now  maturing  a 


plan  to  secure  help  from  the  wealthy  friends  of  the 
college. 

Its  original  purpose  was  to  train  preachers  and 
teachers,,  but  the  scope  has  been  enlarged  to  reach 
all  clases  of  the  Negro  race,  and  prepare  them  for 
some  useful  occupation  in  life. 

Special  training  is  given  to  the  developement  of 
the  mind  while  industrial  and  farming  is  a  marked 
feature  of  the  institution.  The  training  is  thor 
oughly  practical,  the  students  being  required  to 
put  to  a  practical  test  the  theories  they  are  taught. 

The  attendance  of  pupils  has  gone  beyond  the 
three  hundred  mark,  while  the  teachers  number 
eighteen.  All  of  the  teachers  are  colored ;  male, 
eight,  and  female,  ten;  divided  as  follows:  grades, 
four ;  academic,  seven  ;  girls'  industries,  two ;  theo 
logy,  one ;  music,  one ;  and  Matron,  one.  It  is  or 
ganized  as  follows  :  Elementary — The  elementary 
work  covers  the  usual  eight  grades.  Secondary : 
The  secondary,  or  preparatory  course,  includes  La 
tin,  four  years  ;  English,  four  ;  Mathematics,  four  ; 
Greek  or  German,  two ;  Elementary  Scinece 
two  and  one  half;  History,  one;  Psychology,  one; 
Bible,  three  and  one  half.  Emphasis  is  placed  on 
ancient  languages.  Industrial:  The  girls  are  in 
structed  in  cooking  and  sewing. 
The  industrial  instruction  for  boys  is  chiefly  man 
ual  training;  good  work  in  making  brackets,  tie 
racks,  and  chairs  is  done.  A  few  pupils  work  on 
the  farm,  which  is  located  seven  miles  from  the 
school.  Gardening  has  recently  been  added  to  the 
course  of  study,  with  practice  on  the  school  grounds. 
While  it  is  yet  in  the  nature  of  an  experiment,  it 
is  hoped  and  expected  to  be  a  valuable  addition  to 
the  course. 


89 


JOSEPH    HERCULES    BARABIN,    A.    B.,    M.    D. 

HE  prince  of  good  fellows,  the 
king  of  diagnosticians,  this  is 
what  they  tell  you  out  in  Arkan 
sas  about  Dr.  Joseph  Hercules 
Barabin  of  Mariana.  And  then 
you  are  regaled  with  all  the  hon 
ors  that  colored  Arkansas  has  been  only  too  pleased 
to  bestow  upon  its  leading  physician  ;  a  distinguish 
ed  Mason,  a  leading  Odd  Fellow,  a  prominent 
Knight  of  Pythias,  a  substantial  Mosiac  Templar, 
a  foremost  member  of  the  Royal  Circle  of  Friends 
and  of  the  Supreme  Council  of  Good  Shepherds, 
the  local  examiner  for  all  the  secret  orders  in  the 
State,  a  former  athlete,  the  patron  of  all  athletics. 
Moreover,  he  is  a  big  business  man,  being  pres 
ident  of  the  Colored  Commercial  Club  of  Mariana, 
and  owning  in  addition  to  his  residence,  a  brick 
store,  seven  rent  houses,  286  acres  of  farm  land,  all 
improved,  all  free  from  debt. 

Dr.  Barabin's  rise  to  a  prominent  place  makes 
one  of  those  romantic  biographical  tales  so  inter 
esting  in  all  democracies,  so  dear  to  the  heart  of  all 
Americans.  Dr.  Barabin  was  born  in  Jeanerette, 
Louisiana,  March  19th,  1874.  An  ex-union  soldier, 
left  over  from  the  war,  and  none  too  advanced  in 
education,  gave  the  young  lad  his  first  lessons  in 


books.  When  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  made 
his  way  into  Gilbert  Academy,  at  Baldwin,  Louisi 
ana.  Five  years  of  study  and  work,  of  work  and 
study,  for  he  was  in  and  out  of  his  classes,  having  to 
pay  his  own  way,  completed  his  studies  at  Gilbert 
Academy.  The  adage  of  the  ancients,  that  a  little 
learning  is  a  dangerous  thing  impressed  him  ;  and 
so  the  young  man  sought  a  higher  institution  in 
which  to  pursue  his  studies. 

Fisk  University  was  then,  as  it  still  is,  the  star 
of  hope  for  a  great  many  Negroes  with  college  as 
pirations.  Here  in  1895,  Dr.  Barabin  matriculated. 
In  a  while  he  was  a  leader  in  all  the  big  things  of 
college  life.  He  was  a  brilliant  man  in  the  col 
lege  and  city  societies  (and  who  knows  how  much 
this  social  success  has  counted  in  his  professional 
career?)  he  was  a  formidable  adversary  in  the 
debates  and  in  the  oratory  of  the  college,  and  he 
was  a  ferocious  plunger  on  the  football  field. 

Graduating  as  a  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1900,  Dr. 
Barabin  resolved  that  he  would  study  medicine. 
Business  careers  for  young  Negroes  were  not  com 
mon  then.  The  young  college  graduate  had  es 
sayed  school  teaching  at  odd  times,  and  decided  that 
he  did  not  especially  care  for  life  in  the  school 
room. 

Casting  about  for  a  medical  college  of  high  stand 
ing,  moderate  expense  and  congenial  to  colored 
people,  he  finally  selected  the  Illinois  Medical  Col 
lege  of  Chicago.  Moreover,  he  felt  that  Chicago 
would  offer  the  best  opportunity  for  clinical  prac 
tice  and  also  work  in  odd  times  for  a  student  who 
was  earning  his  own  way.  All  happily  came  out 
as  he  had  planned,  or  even  better.  He  was  able 
along  with  working  in  the  Pullman  service  during 
summer,  to  pay  two  years  expenses  by  playing  foot 
ball,  and  to  pay  the  other  two  years  by  embalming 
the  bodies  in  the  medical  school.  Indeed  it  was  not 
long  before  the  embalming  department  was  put  in 
his  charge.  Despite  his  having  to  work,  the  voung 
doctor  was  one  of  the  two  men  in  his  class  to  re 
ceive  a  special  honor  diploma  for  excellence  in 
scholarship,  and  up  to  that  time,  the  only  colored 
man  to  receive  this  honorary  diploma. 

In  1905,  having  finished  his  medical  course,  Dr. 
Barabin,  after  casting  about  for  a  while,  hung  out 
his  sign  in  Mariana,  where  it  has  hung  these  thir 
teen  years,  and  where  instead  of  being  forty  dollars 
in  debt,  the  sum  borrowed  to  start  business  on, -he 
is  worth  thirty  thousand  dollars.  He  is  a  physi 
cian  and  surgeon,  practicing  within  a  radius  of  fifty 
miles,  going  into  the  country  as  well  as  in  the  town. 
He  is  frequently  called  in  consultation  in  Little 
Rock,  in  Memphis,  Oklahoma  and  in  many  smaller 
places. 

Dr.  Barabin  was  married  on  December  28th,  1905. 
to  Miss  Lulu  Margaret  Benson  of  Kowaliga.  Ala 
bama.  Their  four  children,  Jennie  Maudeline  ;  Jos 
eph  Benson;  William  Strickland  and  Harold  Croc 
kett  are  all  little  folks  getting  their  first  days  in 
school. 


90 


WALLACE  LEON  PURIFOY. 

AVE  you  ever  heard  of  the  United 
Order  of  Jugamos?  It  i|  one  of 
those  secret  and  useful  bodies, 
•  whose  secrets  are  no  secrets  at 
all.  It  has  head  and  several  sub 
heads  in  various  capacities- 
The  head  and  subordinate  officers  make  up 
the  Imperial  Council  of  the  Jugamos.  These  are 
responsible  for  insurance  relief  funds,  burial  and 
the  like,  of  members  of  the  Jugamos.  Its  present 
habitat  is  Arkansas,  the  head  quarters  being  in  For 
est  City.  However,  it  is  to  have  state  headquar 
ters  in  Tennessee,  in  Illinois,  in  Mississsippi,  in 
Louisiana,  in  Oklahoma.  It  has  a  membership  of 
7,500  and  an  annual  income  of  $35.000.  The  or 
ganization  has  grown  at  the  rate  of  more  than  a 
thousand  members  per  year,  being  founded  in  1910 
and  having  now  a  membership  of  7,500. 

The  founder  of  this  order  is  Mr.  Wallace  Leon 
Purifoy.  Mr.  Purifoy  was  born  near  Perry,  Geor 
gia,  in  Houston  County,  February,  ninth,  1869. 
Born  on  the  farm,  lie  put  in  much  time  with  tin- 
plow  and  hoe. 

While  still  young,  Mr.  Purifoy  left  Georgia,  and 
took  up  residence  in  Arkansas,  in  Forest  City. 


Here  he  began  his  education,  attending  the  public 
schools  of  that  city,  and  Philander  Smith  College, 
in  Little  Rock.  All  this  seeking  and  studying  to 
complete  his  training  was  accompanied  by  hard 
work  and  privation,  on  his  own  part  and  on  the 
part  of  a  sacrificing  mother.  The  mother  did 
washing  and  ironing  to  aid  him  through  school.  He 
helped  here,  however,  in  the  actual  work  of  bund 
ling  the  clothes.  Mr.  Purifoy  did  many  other 
jobs  to  gain  his  education.  For  a  while  he  worked 
as  a  laborer  on  big  buildings ;  then  he  drove  drays ; 
then  he  taught  school. 

When  he  reached  the  point  in  his  career  where 
he  could  command  a  school,  the  burden  on  both  his 
shoulders  and  his  mother's  began  to  lighten.  Be 
ginning  to  teach  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  he 
devoted  many  years  to  the  class  room  both  for  pu 
pils  and  for  teachers  before  he  founded  the  Juga 
mos. 

During  his  early  years  at  the  work,  he  taught 
many  schools  in  St.  Francis  County.  He  was  for 
twenty-five  years  Deputy  County  Examiner.  He 
conducted  a  summer  Normal  School  for  teachers, 
taught  for  two  years  in  Texas,  and  for  a  while  as 
principal  in  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas.  His  real  sub 
stantial  school  work,  however,  was  done  in  Forest 
City,  his  home.  Here,  for  twenty-three  years  he 
has  been  principal  of  the  Colored  High  School,  reg 
ulating  the  courses  until  the  students  from  the 
Forest  City  High  School  are  admitted  without  ex 
aminations  to  any  college  in  the  state. 

As  regular  and  as  steady  as  has  been  Mr.  Puri- 
foy's  courses  in  education,  it  has  been  just  as 
steady  and  persistent  in  business.  Looking  about 
him,  he  saw  the  city  growing  and  his  people  need 
ing  homes.  Investing  his  earnings  wisely,  he  soon 
became  the  owner  of  several  pieces  of  valuable  pro 
perty.  He  built  homes  to  rent  and  bought  lots. 
He  also  built  a  beautiful  residence  for  himself. 
His  property  holdings,  in  rent  houses,  vacant  lots, 
and  his  own  residence  now  amounts  to  $20,000. 

Mr.  Purifoy  has  also  been  Grand  Keeper  of  the 
Record  and  Seals  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the 
state  of  Arkansas.  He  is  a  member  and  Deacon  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Forest  City.  He  has 
traveled  extensively  in  the  eastern  and  Western 
parts  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Purifoy  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  J.  Wat- 
erford,  of  Edmonston,  Arkansas,  in  1895.  They 
were  married  at  Forest  City,  where  they  now  re 
side.  There  are  several  children  in  the  Purifoy 
family,  all  of  whom,  except  Harold,  a  deceased 
son,  are  pursuing  their  work  in  school.  Wallace 
Leon,  Jr.,  is  studying  pharmacy  at  North  Western 
University;  Mayme  Marie  is  attending  Knoxville 
COllege,  in  Tennessee  ;  Minnie  Edna,  Roosevelt,  and 
Middlebrooks  are  students  in  the  Forest  City  High 
School. 


91 


SCOTT  BOND. 


Scott  Bond 


N    the    Southwest    they    call    him 
"Unc     Scott"     and     number   him 
among    the    sages.      They    quote 
Socrates,  Cicero,  and  Benj.  Frank 
lin  :     And    then     they    will   quote 
_____    "Unc    Scott"    Bond    of    Madison. 
Arkansas. 

Born  a  slave  in  Mississippi  in  1852,  Mr.  Bond 
migrated  as  chattel  to  Tennessee,  thence  to  Arkan 
sas.  In  grapic  language  such  as  few  others  can 
employ  Mr.  Bond  told  of  his  coming  into  the  vil 
lage  of  Madison,  with  all  his  personal  belongings 
done  up  in  a  red  bandana  handkerchief  thrust  on 
the  end  of  a  stick  and  swung  over  his  shoulder. 

During  slavery  days  and  in  migrating  from  State 
to  State  Mr.  Bond  had  learned  to  judge  the  soil. 
When  his  eyes  fell  on  the  rich  loam  land  of  Madi 
son,  which  is  really  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi, 
he  flung  down  his  load  and  exclaimed,  "Lord,  this 
is  the  place  for  me." 

Like  most  ex-slaves,  who  struck  out  for  them 
selves,  Mr.  Bond  rented  land  on  which  to  farm. 
You  should  hear  him  tell  the  story  of  those  rentals. 
The  rent  ran  up  into  the  hundreds.  He  used  to 
sell  his  cotton  to  a  local  merchant  who  was  a  sort 
of  banker,  the  merchant  would  credit  Bond  with 
the  cotton  and  then  pay  the  farm  rents  and  other 
bills,  balancing  from  time  to  time.  But  the  bank 
er  and  the  landlord  got  at  logger-heads.  Thus  it 
turned  out  that  Mr.  Bond  had  to  get  the  money 
and  take  it  to  the  landlord.  The  sum  demanded 
was  $500  which  he  counted  out  to  "Unc  Scott"  in 
crisp  bills.  Mr.  Bond  says  he  looked  at  the  money, 
then  looked  again  and  again  before  he  would 
touch  it.  Finally  he  put  it  away  down  in  his  in 
side  pocket  and  "sort  a  hugged  it."  On  his  way  to 
the  landlord's  he  was  beseiged  with  a  desire  to 
look  at  the  money.  Fearing  robbery  he  rode  into 
the  deep  wood,  tied  his  horse  and  spread  the  money 
out  on  a  log  and  went  around  the  log  gazing, 
Then  he  said: 

"Lord,  if  I  live,  I'm  goin'  to  have  somebody  pay 
me  rents  just  this  way." 

From  this  hour  his  struggle  began.  He  married 
poor,  having  little  else  but  a  bed  and  a  broken 
skillet.  He  began  to  work  from  "Can't  to  cant"- 
can't  see  in  the  morning  until  can't  see  at  night. 

He  worked  in  season  and  out  of  season,  bright 
days  and  rainy  days,  the  weather  never  stopping 
him  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  set  purpose.  On 
cold,  rainy  days  he  chopped  or  hauled  or  sold 
wood.  He  had  caught  his  vision  and  had  formed 
his  purpose  and  no  work  was  too  hard  for  him 
nor  no  obstacles  could  stand  in  his  way  until  he 
had  accumulated  a  large  rent  roll. 


The  way  to  his  goal  was  extremely  hard  until  by 
chance  he  invested  in  a  small  tract  of  land.  Part 
of  it  was  a  wash  out  in  a  creek  bottom  and  offer 
ed  but  little  prospect  for  farm  purposes.  His  neigh 
bors  thought  he  was  a  fool  and  told  him  so  for 
they  use  plain  language  out  in  Arkansas. 

Mr.  Bond's  eye  keen  for  judging  the  soil  no 
doubt  failed  to  see  in  the  tract  he  purchased  much 
encouragement  for  growing  a  crop,  but  he  saw 
value  in  the  gravel  and  sand  found  in  the  creek 
bottom.  The  sequel  to  his  purchase  showed  the 
wisdom  of  his  venture. 

The  Rock  Island  Railroad  was  greatly  in  need 
of  sand  and  gravel  and  just  such  a  deposit  as  was 
found  on  Mr.  Bond's  land. 

They  investigated  his  gravel  pit  and  immediately 
saw  they  had  found  what  they  had  been  looking 
for  for  many  months.  They  entered  into  negotia 
tions  with  him  which  resulted  in  the  signing  of  a 
contract  which  brought  about  the  development  of 
one  if  not  the  best  gravel  pit  in  the  state.  With 
the  signing  of  this  contract  with  the  Rock  Island 
Railroad  the  stream  of  money  began  to  flow  his 
way  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  realized  his 
dream  and  made  good  his  vow.  Money  was  no 
longer  a  marvel  to  him. 

Mr.  Bond  saw  the  possibilities  of  his  contract 
with  the  Rock  Island  Railroad  and  to  meet  it  would 
call  for  large  and  modern  facilities  for  handling  the 
output  of  his  pit.  With  his  characteristic  energy 
and  push  he  addressed  himself  to  this  task  and  now 
has  an  equipment  which  meets  all  demands  and 
enables  him  to  meet  his  part  of  the  contract. 

As  fast  as  money  came  in  he  began  to  buy  more 
land  to  rent  out.  Today  he  owns  more  than  four 
thousand  acres  of  .rich  fertile  land  and  has  these 
acres  peopled  with  tenants.  He  owns  and  operates 
one  of  the  largest  cotton  gins  of  that  section.  A- 
long  with  farm  land  Bond  bought  timber  land. 
Finding  a  big  demand  for  timber  Mr.  Bond  estab 
lished  a  saw  mill,  now  he  ships  lumber  to  Chicago, 
Pittsburg,  and  other  large  cities. 

The  spot  on  which  he  chopped  wood  for  30  cents 
a  day  when  he  first  came  to  Madison  now  holds 
his  large  co-operative  store.  He  owns  and  lives  in 
the  house  of  the  man  who  first  hired  him  to  plow. 
In  all,  the  property  and  holdings  of  this  ex-slave 
are  valued  at  $280,000. 

Finer  than  all  this  is  the  fact  that  this  "black 
Rockefeller,"  as  some  call  him,  has  given  his  child 
ren  college  education. 

He  was  married  in  1877,  and  his  wife  has  borne 
him  eleven  children,  four  of  which  are  living.  She 
has  been  not  only  a  great  help  in  his  affairs  but  an 
inspiration  to  his  life. 


93 


J.  H.  BLOUNT. 

CHOOLM ASTER  and  a  business 
man,  Professor  J.  H.  Blount,  of 
Forest  City,  Arkansas,  has  been 
fortunate  enough  to  attain  and 
hold  distinction  in  both  his  voca 
tion  and  avocation  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  was  born  in  Clin 
ton,  Jones  County,  Georgia,  September  17,  1860. 
Madison  Blount,  the  father  was  a  slave  belonging 
to  the  Blount  family  of  Jones  County :  the  mother 
belonged  to  another  family  by  the  name  of  Ander 
son.  During  the  refugeeing  of  the  two  white  own 
ers  of  the  parents,  the  mother  and  father  were  sep 
arated. 

The  parents  were  thus  so  widely  separated  that 
they  lost  track  of  each  other  for  many  years,  and 
when  they  learned  of  each  other's  whereabouts, 
both  had  married  again.  The  son  remained  with 
his  mother  all  the  time,  except  when  he  went  to  live 
with  his  father  for  the  purpose  of  going  to  school 
in  Macon,  Georgia. 

During  the  great  exodus  from  Georgia,  which 
took  place  in  1873,  Rev.  I.  H.  Anderson  took  many 
immigrants  to  Arkansas  as  tenants.  Among  this 
number  was  William  Clark,  the  stepfather  of  Mr. 
J.  H.  Blount.  After  spending  a  few  years  in  the 

94 


public  schools  in  Arkansas,  Mr.  Blount  yearned  for 
more  and  better  learning  than  he  could  get  at  that 
time  in  Arkansas.  At  this  time  Dr.  R.  F.  Boyd 
came  to  his  home  town  lecturing  and  soliciting  stu 
dents  for  Central  Tennessee  College  and  Meharry 
Medical  College.  He  induced  the  young  Georgian 
to  go  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  instead  of  attending 
Atlanta  University,  Atlanta,  Georgia,  as  he  and  his 
parents  had  planned.  He  entered  Central  Tennes 
see  College  in  1884  and  continued  in  school  there 
until  1890.  During  his  vacation  he  taught  summer 
school  in  the  town  of  Forest  City,  Arkansas.  As 
the  summer  school  of  this  town  gradually  grew  un 
der  his  tutorship,  from  a  summer  school  to  an 
eight  months  graded  school,  he  finally  concluded  to 
satisfy  his  thirst  for  an  education  by  spending  his 
vacation  in  the  Universty  of  Chicago,  where  he 
worked  very  hard  for  four  summers. 

He  is  still  a  diligent  student,  and  thinks  more  of 
his  library  than  anything,  except  his  children.  For 
the  past  twenty-eight  years,  he  has  served  as  prin 
cipal  of  the  following  named  schools :  Forest  City 
Public  School,  Langston  High  School,  Hot  Springs 
Arkansas  ;  Orr  High  School,  Texarkana,  Arkansas 
and  Peabody  High  School.  Helena,  Arkansas. 

He  was  deputy  County  Examiner  of  St.  Francis 
County  for  ten  years,  and  his  prominence  in  educa 
tional  affairs,  made  him  without  his  seeking,  take 
a  leading  part  in  politics-  His  people  soon  required 
that  he  should  take  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of 
his  county  and  state.  His  education  and  abundance 
of  general  information,  coupled  with  his  skill  to 
manage  public  affairs,  made  him  a  favorite  in  his 
community  and  county.  From  state  politics,  he  be 
came  active  in  national  affairs.  He  was  an  alter 
nate  delgate  at  large,  to  the  Republican  National 
Convention,  that  gave  the  Nation  Roosevelt  and 
Fairbanks  for  president  and  vice-president  respect 
ively. 

Being  a  teacher  in  education  and  in  politics,  did 
not  cause  Mr.  Blount  to  neglect  his  church  and  the 
fraternal  orders  of  which  he  was  a  member.  He  is 
one  of  the  few  thirty-third  degree  masons  of  the 
state  of  Arkansas,  and  has  served  in  nearly  every 
official  position  in  the  Masonic  Grand  Lodge  of  Ar 
kansas.  He  has  held  the  position  of  Secretary- 
Treasurer  for  four  terms  and  that  of  Deputy  Grand 
Master  for  five  terms ;  he  is  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  on  Foreign  Correspondence  at  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  Blount  is  an  active  member  of  other  frater 
nal  orders  such  as  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Royal  Circle  of  Friends  of  the  World, 
Knights  and  Daughters  of  Tabor,  and  the  United 
Brothers  of  Friendship.  He  is  also  a  leading  mem 
ber  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  and  a  Sun 
day  School  worker. 

Professor  Blount  owns  hundreds  of  acres  of  land, 
both  farm  and  forest ;  and  city  property  in  three 
Arkansas  towns.  His  property  will  readily  bring 
$50,000.00,  which  is  a  conservative  valuation,  lie  al 
so  carries  $20.000.00  in  life  insurance,  not  includ 
ing  his  fraternal  insurance. 

He  was  married  in  August  1906  to  Miss  Almira 
Justina  E.  Payne  of  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  who 
was  to  him  a  real  helpmate  till  her  death  in  January 
1917.  In  the  Blount  home  there  are  three  children 
— J.  H.  Blount,  Jr.,  Scott  Bond,  and  E.  Louise,  all 
of  whom  are  pupils  in  their  father's  school. 


BISHOP  JAMES  M.  CONNER,  S.  T.  B.,  B.  D., 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  PH.  D. 

ORN  in  Winston  County,  in  Mis 
sissippi,  in  1863,  Bishop  James 
M.  Conner  fought  hard  for  even 
a  rudimentary  education.  Against 
all  kinds  of  poor  school  facilities. 
which  facilities  include  the  teach 
er,  he  managed  to  secure  his  foundation  in  Mis 
sissippi  and  Alabama.  While  still  a  young  man 
and  but  mid-way  his  education  he  had  thought  and 
planned  out  for  himself  his  career. 

lie  felt  called  to  the  ministry  and  like  Paul, 
yielding  to  the  divine  call,  he  immediately  set  to 
work  to  prepare  himself  for  his  heavenly  mission. 
Without  waiting  to  complete  his  education  he 
took  up  his  life  work  and  went  forth  holding  aloft 
the  banner  of  the  cross,  to  an  unselfish  and  de 
voted  service  which  he  has  steadily  pursued  dur 
ing  his  long  and  useful  career. 

Converted  in  1881  he  at  once  joined  the  A.  M. 
K.  (.  hurch  and  was  licensed  to  preach  one  year 
later. 

He  was  given  his  first  appointment  in  1883  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  Aberdeen  Mission,  Aber 
deen,  Mississippi.  He  entered  upon  his  work  with 
enthusiasm  and  soon  converted  his  mission  into  a 


live  church,  erecting  a  new  building  for  them  and 
building  up  a  fine  congregation.  Recognizing  his 
ability  and  special  endowment  for  such  work 
Bishop  T.  W.  D.  Ward,  the  following  year,  1884, 
made  him  a  Deacon  and  an  Elder. 

From  this  time  on  his  reputation  was  establish 
ed  and  his  co-operation  eagerly  sought.  He  was 
recognized  as  a  man  who  did  things  and  it  was 
generally  accepted  that  when  he  undertook  a  ser 
vice  it  would  be  satisfactorily  rendered. 

Thenceforth  for  a  number  of  years  he  became 
known  as  a  church  builder  and  a  champion  "Dol 
lar"  money  raiser.  He  built  a  church  at  Forrest 
City,  Arkansas,  in  1885.  Then  a  new  church  at 
Oceola  and  a  church  at  Newport,  Arkansas.  To 
quote  Mr.  R.  R.  Wright,  Jr.:  "At  all  these  places 
he  gave  the  connection  good  churches  and  added 
many  new  members  to  the  church  and  carried  ex 
cellent  conference  reports,  excelling  all  previous 
records." 

However  vigorously  he  waged  campaigns  for 
money,  erected  churches,  and  converted  souls, 
Bishop  Conner  never  forgot  personal  growth.  Like 
the  dying  German  poet  he  was  always  crying 
"More  Light."  To  satisfy  his  longing  he  went 
from  time  to  time  to  some  large  institution  to 
pursue  such  courses  as  he  needed  for  his  work.  In 
1891  he  received  from  the  National  University  of 
Chicago  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Sacred  The- 
olngy.  He  later  finished  courses  gaining  the  de 
gree  of  B.  D.  from  the  American  Institute  in  the 
University  of  Chicago,  in  1897,  and  from  Shorter 
College  in  1905.  Campbell  College  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  He  became 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Shor 
ter  College  and  chancellor  of  Campbell  College  and 
Lampton  College  at  Alexandria,  Louisiana.  Mor 
ris  Brown  University  conferred  upon  him  the  de 
gree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  Paul  Quinin  Col 
lege  at  Waco,  Texas,  made  him  Doctor  of  Philoso 
phy. 

That  he  has  richly  earned  these  honors  is  made 
clear  from  his  advancements.  He  is  the  author  of 
several  books.  Among  these  being  his  "Outlines 
of  Christian  Theology,"  "Doctrines  of  Christ"  and 
"The  Elements  of  Success."  He  has  been  a  dele 
gate  to  every  General  Conference  since  1896.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  financial  board  for  eight 
years. 

Bishop  Conner  was  married  to  Miss  Glovenia  L. 
Stewart,  of  Kentucky,  in  1886.  They  had  three 
children,  two  of  which  died-  Zola  X,  their  only  liv 
ing  child  was  a  student  of  Shorter  College.  James 
and  Qu!ntella  died  young. 

Bishop  Conner  is  an  extensive  property  holder, 
owning  his  home  and  other  valuable  pieces  of  real 
estate.  At  present  he  is  Bishop  of  Arkansas  and 
Oklahoma. 


95 


S.  W.  HARRISON,  M.  D. 


HAT  no  man  is  a  hero  to  his  valet, 
or  to  his  neighbor,  is  somtimes 
disapproved.  This  is  true  in  the 
case  of  Dr.  S.  W.  Harrison  of  Fort 
Smith,  Arkansas.  He  was  born  in 
Fort  Smith ;  was  educated  as  far 
as  possible  there  and  returned  there  to  practice  his 
profession.  Yet,  so  useful  has  been  his  career  that 
his  neighbors  speak  of  him  in  their  papers  as  fol 
lows  : 

"Dr.  S.  W.  Harrison,  President  of  the  Negro 
Business  League  and  Colored  Fair  Association,  is 
one  of  the  best  known  leading  Negroes  of  this  sec 
tion. 

"He  is  one  of  the  greatest  exponents  of  the  pro 
gressive  side  of  his  race,  and  delights  to  furnish 
others  with  examples  of  race  progress.  He  ranks 
with  the  foremost  physicians  of  the  state  ;  is  one 
the  most  astute  of  business  men  and  wields  an 
influence  in  the  city  among  both  races  that  is 
equaled  by  few." 

As  his  life  story  will  show,  not  always  has  Dr. 
Harrison's  name  been  a  symbol  of  progress  and 
emulation.  Born  in  Fort  Smith,  September  22nd, 
1879,  he  began  at  a  very  early  age  to  taste  the 


fruits  of  combat  sometimes  bitter,  but  nevertheless 
stimulating.  He  attended  Lincoln  High  School  of 
his  native  city  and  was  graduated  in  1895.  He  was 
graduated  from  Meharry  Medical  College  in  1900. 

Both  in  medical  school  and  in  high  school  his 
education  cost  him  dearly.  In  his  early  school  days 
he  made  himself  a  sort  of  grocery  delivery  wagon, 
carrying  goods  to  so  many  customers  for  a  stipu 
lated  sum.  However,  this  latter  proved  a  most 
profitable  investment ;  for  the  people  he  once  served 
with  groceries  are  now  among  his  best  patrons. 

Dr.  Harrison's  choice  of  a  life  work  was  medi 
cine  and  surgery,  but  how  to  secure  the  necessary 
preparation  for  his  work  was  a  problem  which  re 
quired  great  nerve  and  determination  on  his  part 
to  solve.  Nothing  daunted  he  left  for  Nashville 
and  arrived  there  with  only  ten  cents  in  his  pocket. 
He  did  not  have  the  money  to  purchase  his  neces 
sary  books  but  overcame  this  difficulty  by  bor 
rowing  books  until  he  had  earned  sufficient  money 
to  buy  his  own. 

During  the  summer  he  taught  school  but  at  one 
time  this  post  failed  him,  and  he  was  again  con 
fronted  with  the  problem  of  how  to  continue  his 
course.  However,  he  was  determined  to  do  so  and 
while  brightening  his  wits  to  find  a  way  to  secure 
his  end,  he  gave  up  the  school  master's  rod  and 
books  for  the  boot  black's  brush  and  box  and  went 
forth  to  shine  shoes. 

Graduating  in  1900  Dr.  Harrison  first  opened 
office  in  Smithville,  Texas.  After  remaining  here 
four  years  he  decided  to  return  to  his  native  city. 
Here  he  has  worked,  as  a  physician,  a  business 
man,  a  man  of  public  service.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a 
Knight  of  Pythias,  a  Mosaic,  a  member  of  the  U. 
B.  F.  of  Tabor  and  of  all  local  societes.  As  has 
been  quoted  he  is  president  of  the  Negro  Business 
League ;  he  is  ex-president  of  the  state  Medical 
Association  ;  he  is  a  trustee  of  Shorter  College ; 
Grand  Trustee  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  medical 
inspector  of  the  Negro  Public  Schools  of  Fort 
Smith  and  a  high  ranking  candidate  for  the  Grand 
Chancellorship  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

His  business  ventures  have  been  as  successful  as 
his  practice  in  medicine  and  his  public  service.  He 
owns  his  home,  an  elegant  two  story  residence  on 
Ninth  Street  in  Fort  Smith.  He  owns  eight  rent 
houses  and  six  unimproved  lots.  He  is  a  stock 
holder  in  the  Standard  Life  Insurance  Company  of 
Atlanta.  Georgia.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in 
this  country  on  business  and  for  pleasure. 

Dr.  Harrison  was  married  to  Miss  Margie  Ka- 
tona  Gordon,  December  31,  1902.  Their  two  child 
ren,  Margie  Edith,  who  is  fourteen,  and  Gordon 
Henry,  who  is  twelve,  are  in  school. 


96 


FERDINAND  HAVIS. 


HERE  are  few  men  of  any  race 
who  carry  so  much  of  the  bone 
and  fibre  of  American  history  in 
their  personal  experience  as  does 
Ferdinand  Havis,  of  Pine  Bluff, 
Arkansas.  He  is  one  of  those 
typical  Americans,  almost  impossible  in  other 
countries,  who  from  the  bottom  of  the  scale,  suc 
ceeds  by  hard  work  in  reaching  the  top. 

Mr.  Havis  was  born  in  Shay  County,  Arkansas, 
November  15th,  1847.  He  attended  for  a  little 
while  the  public  school.  But  at  an  early  age  he 
had  to  leave  school  to  work.  A  very  novel  plan 
was  then  hit  upon  as  a  means  of  getting  an  educa 
tion  for  the  young  man.  His  mother  went  to  the 
school  each  day,  mastered  the  lessons  and  then  at 
night  taught  them  to  the  ambitious  boy  who  was 
so  eagerly  waiting  for  them.  A  boy  with  the  am 
bition  makes  a  man  of  mark. 

By  the  time  Mr.  Havis  was  twenty-one  he  had 
run  the  gauntlet  as  a  laborer.  He  had  learned  the 
barber's  trade  and  opened  a  ship  in  Pine  Bluff. 
Three  years  later  he  was  elected  alderman  from  the 
third  ward.  Year  after  year  for  the  space  of  twen 
ty-four  years,  Mr.  Havis  was  elected  and  served  in 
this  capacity.  In  1873  he  was  elected  to  the  state 


Legislature,  but  he  resigned  this  post  to  serve  as 
assessor.  This  post  of  assessor  was  offered  him 
by  Governor  Baxter,  and  he  served  in  it  for  two 
years.  In  1882  he  was  elected  Circuit  Clerk,  a 
post  which  he  held  for  ten  years.  He  was  Re 
publican  Nominee  for  United  States  Senator  from 
Arkansas,  in  1886.  Mr.  Havis  has  served  his 
party  as  a  delegate  to  the  National  Republican 
Convention  every  year  since  1880  with  the  ex 
ception  of  two  years.  These  exceptions  were  in 
1912  and  1916,  when  Taft  and  Hughes  were  nomi 
nated.  He  was  a  colonel  on  the  staff  of  General 
H.  King  in  the  Brooks  and  Baxter  War,  and  was 
one  of  the  306  who  stood  by  General  Grant  in  his 
endeavor  to  become  president  of  the  United  States. 
He  is  on  record  as  having  voted  for  General  Grant 
thirty-six  times.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Repub 
lican  County  Control  Committee  of  Arkansas  for 
twelve  years.  This  shows  in  brief  the  political  life 
of  Mr.  Ferdinand  Havis. 

Having  made  good  in  his  political  career  by  ap 
plying  himself  to  the  task  in  hand,  Mr.  Havis,  when 
he  decided  to  retire  to  private  life,  used  the  same 
method  of  self  applicaton  in  the  work  he  began. 
The  same  acumen  which  kept  him  in  office  and  on 
boards  of  importance  soon  asserted  itself  in  dealing 
in  real  estate  and  in  farming.  Mr.  Havis  has  inves 
ted  heavily  in  farm  lands.  He  owns  about  3000 
acres.  Of  this  amount,  1000  acres  are  under  culti 
vation.  The  rest  is  in  pasture  land  and  timber.  In 
addition  to  this  country  property,  Mr.  Havis  has 
large  interests  in  the  city.  One  of  the  buildings 
which  he  owns,  a  building  on  Main  Street,  rents  for 
$200  per  month.  He  also  has  half  interest  in  four 
stores  which  bring  in  rent.  Then  to  private  fam 
ilies  he  is  able  to  rent  twenty-five  homes. 

Mr.  Havis  owns  his  own  home.  This  is  a  beaut 
iful  place  on  one  of  the  principal  residence  streets 
of  Pine  Bluff.  Here  he  lives  with  his  family.  Mr. 
Havis  has  been  married  three  times. 
There  are  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 
In  his  church  and  loge  affiliations,  Mr.  Havis  is  a 
member  of  the  A.  M.  E.  church,  of  the  Masons,  a 
member  of  the  United  Brothers  of  Friendship,  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
is  the  Grand  Master  of  the  United  Brotherhood  of 
Friendship  of  America  and  of  the  world.  He  is 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  of  the  Lucy 
Memorial  Hospital.  Mr.  Havis  is  referred  to  by 
all  Pine  Bluff  as  their  Colored  Millionaire. 


Since  the  above  was  written,  Mr.  Ferdinand  Ha 
vis  has  passed  away.  After  about  a  month's  illness 
he  died  at  his  home  on  Baraque  Street,  August  25, 
1918.  Pine  Bluff  feels  that  it  has  lost  a  very  sub 
stantial  citizen. 


97 


NAPOLEON  BONAPARTE  HOUSER,  M.  D. 

OMING  from  a  family  of  workers, 
Dr.  N.  B.  Houser,  M.  D.,  of  Hel 
ena,  Arkansas,  has  found  it  sec 
ond  nature  to  make  work  his  di 
version  as  well  as  his  occupation 
When  he  was  nine  years  old  he 
began  working  with  his  father.  It  was  not  an 
easy  trade  that  he  put  his  hands  to,  being  that  of 
making  brick.  However  he  acquired  and  worked 
with  a  diligence  and  patience  that  astonished  and 
pleased  his  parents.  From  the  age  of  nine  to  the 
age  of  sixteen  during  spare  hours  and  school  holi 
days  and  vacations,  he  labored  away,  making  brick, 
learning  the  ins  and  outs  of  the  trade. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen,  the  father's  business  hav 
ing  greatly  multiplied,  the  son  became  private  sec 
retary  and  bookkeeper.  This  post  he  held  for  six 
teen  years,  estimating  contracts,  and  figuring  out 
margins,  pertaining  to  his  father's  interest  as  if 
he  were  really  joint  partner  of  the  firm.  It  was 
really  through  him  that  the  father  was  able  to 
gain  fair  profits  and  to  maintain  his  contracting 
business  on  a  systematic  scale.  Though  engross 
ed  in  keeping  accounts,  the  young  man  did  not  for 
get,  however,  that  he  had  a  duty  to  himself  and  to 
his  people,  the  duty  of  educating  himself  and  of 


serving.  Born  near  Castoria,  in  Gaston  County, 
North  Carolina,  February  14,  1869,  he  attended  the 
schools  round  about,  until  he  was  sufficiently  ad 
vanced  in  years  and  books  to  enroll  at  Biddle  Un 
iversity  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.  Completing  this  work 
at  Biddle  and  becoming  convinced  that  his  calling 
in  life  was  that  of  a  doctor,  though  a  good  position 
was  awaiting  him  back  there  with  his  father,  he 
became  a  student  in  Leonard  College  of  Medicine 
at  Shaw  University  in  1887,  won  the  prize  "tor  su 
perior  knowledge  in  Obstetrics",  did  the  four  year's 
work  in  a  little  less  than  three  years,  graduating 
in  1891. 

Returning  to  Charlotte,  the  seat  of  his  alma 
mater,  Biddle  University,  he  hung  out  his  sign  and 
began  life's  bsuiness.  He  soon  became  what  is 
known  as  a  "successful  practicing  physician."  With 
his  general  practice  he  became  the  consulting  phy 
sician  for  Biddle  University.  Paying  a  visit  to  his 
brother  in  Arkansas  in  1900,  Dr.  Houser  was  so 
favorably  impressed  with  the  possibility  for  a  good 
doctor  and  drug  business  that  though  having  well 
established  himself  in  his  ten  year's  practice  at 
Charlotte,  he  decided  to  go  west  and  build  anew 
his  practice  and  to  contribute  his  mite  in  building 
up  the  country;  and  so  he  left  North  Carolina, 
where  he  was  most  popular  with  the  men  of  his 
profession,  having  served  as  president  and  secre 
tary  of  the  North  Carolina  Colored  Medical  Asso 
ciation,  and  having  been  physician  in  charge  of  the 
Samaritan  Hospital  at  Charlotte  for  three  years. 
In  Helena,  Arkansas,  where  he  began  his  new 
career,  progress  in  his  profession  surpassed  even 
that  of  North  Carolina.  Beginning  practice  here 
in  1901,  he  had  by  1908  gained  sufficient  footing 
and  confidence  to  open  the  Black  Diamond  Drug 
Store,  a  business  which  prospered  from  the  out 
set,  which,  because  of  expanse,  he  had  to  move 
three  times,  until  now  he  has  it  on  one  of  the  main 
streets  and  in  one  of  the  most  desirable  spots  in 
Helena. 

Had  Dr.  Houser  not  been  a  brilliant  success  as  a 
physician  and  a  man  of  business,  he  would  still  no 
doubt  have  been  a  very  poular  man ;  for  he  is  a 
musician  of  rare  talent,  playing  on  many  different 
instruments,  an  engaging  companion,  a  fervent 
church  worker,  being  a  Baptist  in  his  religious 
choice,  and  a  member  of  nearly  every  lodge  extant 
in  the  state  of  Arkansas — a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow, 
a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  Mosaic  Templar. 

In  all  of  these  orders  he  made  his  personality 
felt  and  contributed  no  little  to  their  work  and 
development.  He  was  not  content  to  be  a  mem 
ber  only  but  brought  to  their  aid  his  great  fund  of 
intelligent  executive  ability. 

Dr.  Houser  was  married  to  Miss  Amie  A.  Alston 
of  Louisburg,  North  Carolina,  January  18th,  1902. 
One  daughter,  Weillie  Henry,  graces  their  home. 


MRS.   MAME  STEWART  JOSENBERGER,  A.   B. 

RS.  Maine  Stewart  Josenberger, 
one  of  the  really  remarkable  wo 
men  of  the  age,  was  born  in  Os- 
wega,  New  York.  In  her  youth 
she  attended  the  grammar  schools, 
the  high  school  and  the  Free 
Academy  of  Oswega.  From  the  Free  Academy  of 
Oswega  she  went  to  the  Fisk  University,  Ten 
nessee,  where  she  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts. 

After  her  graduation  at  Fisk  she  entered  the  pro 
fession  of  school  teaching  and  began  a  long  career 
as  a  school  teacher.  This  covered  a  period  from 
1888  to  1903. 

During  her  first  year  as  teacher  she  gave  in 
struction  at  the  State  Normal  School,  at  Holly 
Springs,  Mississippi.  This  was  in  1888  and  1889. 
In  1890  she  taught  in  the  graded  schools  of  Fort 
Smith,  Arkansas,  and  from  1891  to  1901  she  was 
a  teacher  in  the  Fort  Smith  High  School. 

While  in  the  school  room  Mrs.  Josenberger  was 
the  model  teacher,  her  whole  thought  and  atten 
tion  given  to  her  work,  but  after  school  hours  her 
mind  had  time  to  take  in  other  interests  and  she 
was  soon  identified  with  those  institutions  seek 
ing  the  uplift  of  the  Negro  race.  It  was  contrary 


to  her  disposition  to  be  a  passive  member  in  the 
orders  to  which  she  belonged  and  her  activity  and 
thorough  equipment  for  service  was  soon  recog 
nized  by  them  and  led  to  her  rapid  promotion 
among  them. 

These  duties  finally  took  so  much  of  her  time 
that  it  became  necessary  for  her  to  choose  be 
tween  them  and  her  profession  of  teacher.  Be 
lieving  that  she  could  serve  her  people  best  along 
the  lines  of  public  service  she  yielded  to  the  point 
ing  of  Providence  and  gave  up  the  school  room  for 
a  larger  sphere  of  usefulness. 

Thus  in  1903  she  left  the  school  room  to  take 
the  position  of  Grand  Register  of  Deeds  in  the  Or 
der  of  Calanthe,  a  position  she  has  held  continu 
ously  for  fifteen  years. 

Mrs.  Josenberger  lost  her  husband  in  1909.  From 
then  until  she  became  Register  of  Deeds  for  Calan 
the  she  conducted  the  undertaking  business  left  by 
him.  Her  public  duties  and  engagments  now  be 
came  so  pressing  that  she  gave  up  altogether  the 
business  of  her  husband  and  devoted  her  energies 
to  work  for  the  public  good.  She  had  joined  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  1909,  being  confirmed  by  Rev. 
Father  McClure,  who  was  at  that  time  archdeacon 
of  Arkansas.  She  joined  also  the  Royal  Circle,  the 
Eastern  Star,  the  American  Woodmen,  and  several 
other  fraternal  orders.  In  all  these  bodies  she  be 
came  an  adviser  and  a  leading  worker. 

It  would  seem  that  these  were  enough  member 
ships  for  any  one  person  to  hold,  especially  where 
one  is  a  worker  as  is  Mrs.  Josenberger.  But  Mrs. 
Josenberger  was  soon  enlisted  outside  the  state. 
She  became  a  member  of  the  Standard  Life  Insu 
rance  Company  and  was  forthwith  put  on  the  Ad 
visory  Board.  She  joined  the  National  Negro  Bus 
iness  League,  soon  becoming  a  life  member.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  N.  A.  A.  C.  P.,  Past  Supreme 
Conductress  of  the  Order  of  Calanthe ;  President  of 
the  Phyllis  Wheatlely  Club,  which  is  the  first  local 
Federation  Club  of  Fort  Smith,  is  vice  president  of 
the  State  Federation  and  chairman  of  the  peace 
committee  among  the  N.  A.  colored  women. 

Serving  in  so  many  positions  Mrs.  Josenberger 
has  traveled  extensively  and  has  had  wide  and  help 
ful  contact. 

Mrs.  Josenberger  was  married  in  1892  to  Mr. 
William  Ernest  Josenberger,  who  was  a  postman  in 
Fort  Smith,  then  an  undertaker.  She  is  as  suc 
cessful  in  business  affairs  as  she  is  in  doing  uplift 
work.  She  is  worth  about  $30,000  which  includes 
a  two-story  cement  store  building  and  a  two-story 
brick  building,  which  has  five  stores  on  the  first 
floor  and  a  large  auditorium  on  the  second. 

Mrs.  Josenberger  has  one  daughter,  William  Er 
nest  Josenberger — now  Mrs.  Joseph  L.  Stevens,  a 
musician. 


99 


Scipio  Africanus  Jordan 


CIPIO  Africanus  Jordan,  is  one 
of  the  old  and  leading  citizens  of 
Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  He  has 
grown  with  the  city  and  each  is  a 
sort  of  mutual  contributor  to  the 
growth  of  the  year.  He  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  Arkansas,  January 
1st,  1860.  Mr.  Jordan,  when  a  lad,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Little  Rock  and  later  the  colored 
High  School.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  grad 
uating  class  of  the  Little  Rock  Colored  High  School 
which  awarded  its  first  diploma  in  1880. 

After  graduating  from  the  Little  Rock  Colored 
High  School,  Mr.  Jordan  cast  about  for  work  and 
entered  the  service  of  the  United  States  Govern 
ment,  becoming  a  janitor  of  the  post  office  build 
ing.  This  position  he  held  for  twelve  months  when 
he  received  the  appointment  of  letter  carrier.  As 
letter  carrier  he  went  his  daily  rounds  over  mi 
streats  of  Little  Rock  for  more  than  thirty-six 
years  delivering  mail.  By  his  courteous  and  oblig 
ing  manner  he  made  many  friends  among  all 
classes.  He  was  possibly  the  best  known  man  in 
Little  Rock — men,  women  and  children  knowing 
him  by  name  and  watching  for  his  daily  visits. 

In  1896  he  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Civil  Service  Examiners  for  the  Post  Office  of 
Little  Rock. 

While  Mr.  Jordan  gave  his  first  thought  and  at 
tention  to  his  business  and  won  favor  with  the 
Government,  as  his  promotions  give  evidence,  he 
always  found  time  to  serve  his  people  and  became 
interested  in  all  agencies  looking  to  their  good.  In 
and  help  and  his  fellow  citizens  found  in  him  a 
all  matters  pertaining  to  the  betterment  of  the 
colored  race  he  gave  the  benefit  of  his  wise  counsel 
and  help  and  his  fellow  citizens  found  in  him  a 
willing  helper. 

He  joined  most  of  the  secret  orders  of  his  state 
and  became  very  active  in  their  work  and  soon 
was  a  recognized  leader  among  them,  taking  a 
prominent  part  in  all  their  gatherings  and  in  the 
working  out  of  their  plans. 

His  fine  executive  ability  advanced  him  to  posts 
of  honor  and  responsibility.  In  1889  he  was  elect 
ed  Chief  Grand  Mentor  for  the  Knights  of  Tabor 
and  then  ten  years  later  in  1899  he  succeeded 
Father  Moses  Dickson  as  International  Chief 
Grand  Mentor.  Both  of  these  positions  he  is  still 
holding  which  is  a  glowing  tribute  to  his  worth 
and  popularity. 

However,  these  posts  did  not  tend  to  lighten  his 
responsibilities,  but  rather  to  increase  them.  He 
has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Bethel  A.  M.  E. 
Church  of  his  city,  for  twenty  years  he  has  been 


a  trustee.  He  is  a  Mason,  and  an  Odd  Fellow  as 
well  as  a  Knight  of  Tabor.  He  became  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Lincoln  Farm  Association  in  1907.  He 
has  been  colonel,  acting  on  the  staff  of  the  major 
of  the  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  a 
number  of  years.  Working  in  so  many  positions 
Mr.  Jordan  has  traveled  in  all  of  the  United  States 
combining  business  and  pleasure. 

Mr.  Jordan  has  accumulated  a  goodly  amount  of 
real  estate  and  personal  property  in  Little  Rock. 
He  owns  his  home,  one  of  the  best  residences  of 
Colored  Little  Rock.  He  owns  eleven  vacant  lots 
and  eleven  rent  houses. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  married  in  1884  to  Miss  Pinkie 
E.  Venable  of  Little  Rock.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jordan 
have  a  large  family,  there  being  born  to  them  9 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  living.  Toney  C.  Jor- 
don,  who  is  deceased,  was  a  graduate  of  Howard 
University ;  Miss  Mabel  E.,  who  is  now  married, 
is  a  graduate  of  the  public  schools  of  Little  Rock ; 
Dr.  J.  V.  Jordan  is  a  dentist,  being  a  graduate  from 
the  school  of  denistry,  of  Howard  University,  and 
of  Northwestern ;  Miss  Scipio  is  a  graduate  of  the 
public  schools  of  Little  Rocok  and  of  Philander 
Smith  Commercial  department ;  Yancy  B.  is  a  grad 
uate  of  the  pupils  schools,  mechanical  course,  and 
is  now  in  the  Virginia  shipyards;  Miss  Myrtle  is 
pursuing  a  commercial  and  high  school  course  at 
the  Arkansas  Baptist  College;  Valmer  H.  is  a 
school  boy  and  Olga  is  still  enjoying  the  freedom  of 
childhood. 

Had  Mr.  Jordan  done  nothing  but  rear  and  edu 
cate  this  large  family  he  would  still  have  deserved 
a  place  of  honor  among  those  of  his  race  or  any 
race  for  contributing  so  largely  to  the  welfare  of 
the  race  and  state.  His  children  stand  as  monu 
ments  to  the  earnest  endeavors  of  this  man.  Not 
one  of  the  large  family,  but  was  sent  through  at 
least  one  school  and  most  of  them  secured  two 
diplomas.  Mr.  Jordan  himself,  though  born  at  a 
time  when  it  was  easy  for  the  colored  lad  to  miss 
getting  an  education,  was  a  graduate.  Having  ed 
ucated  himself  at  a  sacrifice,  he  was  willing  to  do 
all  in  his  power  for  the  development  of  his  chil 
dren.  But  as  is  the  law  of  things,  while  doing  for 
his  children,  he  continued  to  advance  himself.  We 
find  Mr.  Jordan  developed  into  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  his  city  and  state.  He  is  a  real  asset 
to  the  community  of  which  he  is  a  member.  His 
work  in  the  various  organizations  of  which  he  has 
been  for  a  great  number  of  years  one  of  the  leaders 
has  been  one  of  the  things  that  has  made  of  Little 
Rock  a  good  community  for  our  people.  Mr.  Scri- 
pio  A.  Jordan  can  well  be  pointed  out  to  the  young 
as  one  worthy  of  emulation. 


100 


ELIAS  CAMP  MORRIS,  D.  D.,  PH.  D. 

EAR  Spring  Place  in  Georgia, 
born  a  slave,  May  7,  1855,  Dr.  E. 
C.  Morris  of  Helena,  Arkansas, 
was  fortunate  enough  to  have  a 
father  who  could  read  and  write. 
The  father,  a  tradesman  from 
North  Carolina,  was  permitted  to 
visit  his  children  on  the  planta 
tion  twice  a  week.  At  such  times  he  taught  his 
children  to  read  and  write. 

In  1864-65  Dr.  E.  C.  Morris  attended  school  at 
Dalton.  He  also  studied  in  the  public  schools  of 
Chattanooga,  Tennessee  and  at  the  Stevenson  In 
stitute  in  Alabama.  In  1874-75,  he  was  a  student 
at  the  Nashville  Institute,  now  Roger  Williams 
University. 

Going  into  life  Dr.  Morris  essayed  many  things. 
For  a  time  he  taught  school  in  North  Alabama. 
While  serving  as  a  minister  in  Alabama,  he 
worked  at  his  trade  as  a  shoemaker.  In  1877 
he  set  his  face  westward,  intending  to  go  to 
Kansas.  Stopping  over  in  Arkansas  he  decided  to 
remain  in  Helena.  Here  in  1879,  he  was  ordained ; 
here  he  was  given  his  first  church,  the  only  church 
over  which  he  has  presided  and  he  is  the  only  pas 
tor  the  church  has  had  for  nearly  forty  years.  This 
church,  the  Centennial  Baptist,  over  which  he  be 
came  pastor,  was  at  that  time  composed  of  a  group 
of  twenty-two  members,  homeless  and  without 
property  of  any  kind.  Today  it  has  a  membership 
of  seven  hundred,  a  stately  edifice,  which  is  valued 

101 


at  $40,000,  an  active  Sunday  School  of  399  children. 
While  toiling  for  the  growth  of  his  church,  Dr. 
Morris  launched  forth  every  kind  of  movement  to 
promote  the  religious  growth  of  the  whole  state. 
In  1879,  the  same  year  he  became  pastor  of  Cen 
tennial  Church,  he  organized  the  Phillips  Lee  and 
Monroe  County  District  Association,  and  was  sec 
retary  for  two  years.  In  1880  he  was  elected  sec 
retary  of  the  Arkansas  Baptist  State  Convention 
and  served  in  this  capacity  for  two  years.  In  1882 
he  was  chosen  president  of  the  Arkansas  Baptist 
State  Convention,  a  position  he  has  held  for  thirty 
six  years.  He  founded  the  Baptist  Vanguard,  a 
Baptist  weekly  newspaper,  and  was  its  editor  for 
two  years.  He  helped  to  found  Arkansas  Baptist 
College  in  1884,  and  was  chairman  of  the  board  of 
trustees  for  twenty-four  years  .  For  eighteen  years 
he  has  been  chairman  of  the  Arkansas  State  Mis 
sion  Board,  an  organization  which  works  in  con 
junction  with  the  National  Baptist  Convention  and 
with  the  Southern  White  Baptist  Convention.  In 
1891  he  was  made  vice  president  of  the  National 
Baptist  Convention,  and  president  in  1894. 

Under  his  administration  many  plans  for  expan 
sion  have  been  effected.  At  his  recommendation, 
the  National  Publishing  Board  of  Nashville,  the 
Baptist  Young  People's  Union  of  Nashville,  the 
National  Baptist  Woman's  Auxiliary  of  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.,  the  National  Benefit  Association,  and  the 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Board  of  Little  Rock,  have 
all  been  organized  and  advanced  until  they  are  now 
among  the  perfect  bodies  of  their  kind. 

Outside  of  his  special  sphere  Dr.  Morris  began 
to  win  many  honors  both  in  the  church  and  in  pub 
lic  affairs.  He  aided  in  organizing  the  General  Con 
vention  of  North  America,  which  is  made  up  of  all 
Baptists  of  both  races,  and  is  the  only  Negro  mem 
ber  of  the  executive  committee  of  this  body.  He 
aided  in  organizing  the  American  executive  com 
mittee  of  this  body.  In  public  life  he  represented 
the  First  Arkansas  Congressional  District  at  the 
Republican  National  Convention  three  times — at 
the  nomination  of  James  G.  Elaine  in  1884,  of  Benj. 
Harrison  in  1892;  of  Theodore  Roosevelt  in  1904. 
He  was  alternate  delegate  at  large  in  1908  to  nom 
inate  William  H.  Taft.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to 
every  Arkansas  State  Republican  Convention  for 
nearly  forty  years. 

Active  in  the  church  and  in  the  state  Dr.  Morris 
has  not  forgotten  the  business  interest  of  colored 
people.  He  organized  the  State  Business  League ; 
he  took  great  interest  in  the  Mound  Bayou  Oil  Mill 
project,  becoming  one  of  the  directors ;  he  is  di 
rector  of  the  Phillips  County  Land  and  Investment 
Company.  He  himself  owns  mining  stock,  has  a 
seventy-five  acre  farm,  owns  unimproved  property, 
has  a  home  and  four  pieces  of  improved  property, 
valued  at  $10,000. 

Dr.  Morris  was  married  in  1884  to  Miss  Fannie 
E.  Austin  of  Faekler,  Alabama.  Their  five  children, 
Elias  Austin,  Frederick  Douglass,  Mattie  M.  Mar 
quess,  Sarah  Hope  and  John  Spurgeon,  are  all  giv 
ing  good  account  of  themselves.  Mr.  Elias  Austin 
is  First  Lieutenant  in  Company  M.  366  Infantry  U. 
S.  A. ;  Frederick  Douglass  is  Grand  Keeper  of  Rec 
ords  and  Seal  of  Knights  of  Pythias  Grand  Lodge, 
of  the  Arkansas  jurisdiction.  Mrs.  Marquess  and 
Miss  Morris  are  teaching  school.  John  Spurgeon 
is  a  student  in  the  Arkansas  Baptist  College. 


JOHN  EDWARD  BUSH. 


John  Edward  Bush 


VER  since  J.  E.  Bush  departed 
this  life  he  has  been  the  subject 
of  eulogy.  And  yet  it  is  very 
doubtful  if  any  assembling  of 
words,  no  matter  how  frought 
with  poetic  figures,  will  prove  so 
eleoquent,  as  the  plain  simple  recitation  of  the  facts 
of  that  heroic  struggle  of  his  from  poverty  and 
neglect  to  a  place  of  the  highest  esteem  in  the 
hearts  of  all  American  Negroes.  Mr.  Bush  was 
born  a  slave.  He  was  born  in  Moscow,  Tennes 
see,  in  1858.  Shortly  after  slavery  he  was  brought 
to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  by  his  mother.  In  a  lit 
tle  while  the  mother  died,  and  the  ex-slave  lad  was 
left  in  the  streets  of  Little  Rock  an  orphan. 

Merely  to  live  now  became  to  him  a  very  serious 
problem.  He  slept  in  houses  when  he  could  find 
a  man  or  woman  so  kind  as  to  extend  to  him  that 
privilege,  a  privilege  which  was  some  times  ac 
corded  for  such  small  services  as  the  little  boy 
could  render.  Most  commonly  however  he  slept 
under  bridges,  in  the  livery  stables  and  in  deserted 
houses.  He  earned  his  bread  by  doing  chores,  run 
ning  errands,  watering  stock,  and  washing  dishes. 
Moreover,  J.  E.  Bush  was  classed  as  a  bad  boy, 
which  did  not  help  him  to  get  a  night's 
lodging  or  an  extra  crust  of  bread.  However,  some 
good  soul  forced  him  off  the  streets  into  a  school 
house.  In  a  little  while  the  boy  of  mischief  was 
lost  in  the  study  of  books.  Though  he  could  not 
afford  regular  attendance,  yet  he  tasted  enough  to 
pronounce  the  food  of  the  right  kind  and  whole 
some.  Henceforth  John  E.  Bush  was  a  student. 
He  made  such  good  out  of  his  spare  time  in  the 
midnight  hours  that  he  soon  became  a  school  teach 
er.  This  post  he  held  in  Little  Rock  for  a  number 
of  years.  However,  it  appears  that  he  overstepped 
the  bounds  circumscribed  for  one  of  his  station,  by 
marrying  out  of  his  class.  He  lost  his  position  im 
mediately.  He  secured  the  principalship  of  a  school 
in  Hot  Springs  and  taught  here  for  two  years.  In 
1875  he  entered  the  railway  mail  service.  For  sev 
enteen  years  he  followed  this  calling,  but  finally 
resigned  to  start  a  newspaper. 

All  the  time  Mr.  Bush  was  an  active  Republican. 
In  1884  he  ran  for  the  county  clerkship  of  Rosalie 
County,  Arkansas,  on  the  Greenback  Ticket.  In 
1898  he  was  appointed  United  States  Land  Office 
Receiver  by  President  McKinley.  He  was  reap- 
pointed  by  Theodore  Roosevelt  and  again  by  Presi 
dent  Taft.  He  even  survived  the  Republican  Black 
Broom,  which  swept  Negroes  so  very  clean  from 
Federal  Offices,  under  the  kind  Mr.  Taft.  This  ap 
pointment  had  come  and  was  the  result  of  a  long 


series  of  hard  fights  and  small  victories  in  the  pol 
itics  of  Arkansas. 

In  1882  Mr.  Bush  founded  the  Mosaic  Templars 
of  America.  How  he  came  to  found  this  order,  and 
what  the  order  means  to  the  Negroes  of  America 
has  been  briefly  told  elsewhere — for  the  few  who 
may  not  know  tHe  whole  history  already.  Suffice 
it  to  say  here  that  the  need  of  a  poor  woman,  beg 
ging  for  help  to  bury  her  husband,  the  contempt  of 
a  white  man  and  the  chagrin  of  Mr.  Bush  at  the 
whole  situation  started  this  organization.  The 
body  grew  rapidly,  and  with  it  grew  also  J.  E. 
Bush.  He  learned  not  only  more  about  the  intri 
cacies  of  business  but  he  learned  a  great  deal  about 
men.  Most  important  of  all,  the  organization 
brought  J.  E.  Bush  the  deserved  place  he  had  won 
by  hard  work. 

In  a  few  years  he  became  known  the  country  ov 
er  as  a  strong  business  man  and  a  public  benefac 
tor.  He  was  introduced  to  Booker  T.  Washington, 
and  almost  immediately  these  two  giants,  both  with 
the  experience  of  sleeping  under  bridges,  behind 
them,  became  fast  friends.  When  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington,  who  was  himself  a  great  political  adviser, 
sought  political  advice,  it  was  to  J.  E.  Bush  he  turn 
ed.  When  the  wizard  of  Tuskegee  was  touring  the 
states  of  the  south  and  bewitching  the  great  crowds 
with  his  anecdotes  and  shrewd  common  sense,  he 
frequently  called  into  service  the  founder  of  the 
Mosaic  Templars  of  America,  and  when  Dr.  Wash 
ington  saw  the  need  of  laying  the  task  of  carrying 
forward  the  work  of  the  Negro  National  Business 
League  upon  the  shoulders  of  a  group  of  strong 
men,  J.  E.  Bush  was  one  of  the  first  looked  to  .  He 
was  for  years  one  of  the  Vice-presidents  and  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  this  body. 

Though  an  extremely  busy  man  J.  E.  Bush  found 
time  to  do  many  deeds  of  uplift  in  schools,  church 
es  and  the  like.  He  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the 
Arkansas  Baptist  College  and  a  trustee  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Little  Rock.  In  secret  orders, 
he  was  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  of  course  the 
founder  and  promoter  of  The  Mosaic  Templars  of 
America. 

Mr.  Bush  was  married  in  1879,  to  Miss  Winfry  of 
Little  Rock.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bush  had  three  children, 
all  three  of  whom  survive  their  father:  Miss  Stella 
E.  Bush,  Mr.  Chester  E.  Bush,  who  succeeds  his 
father  as  the  National  Grand  Secretary  and  Treas 
urer  of  the  Mosaic  Templars  and  Alridge  E.  Bush, 
who  is  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Mon 
ument  Department  of  the  Mosaic  Templars. 

John  E.  Bush  left  a  fair  name,  a  business  in  per 
fect  order,  and  worldly  possessions  amounting  to 
$500,000. 


103 


MOSAIC    TEMPLARS'    OFFICE    BUILDING,    LITTLE    ROCK,  ARKANSAS. 


ENTION  the  Mosaic  Templars  of 
America  and  you  think  of  John 
E.  Bush.  Mention  John  E.  Bush 
and  you  think  of  the  Mosaic  Tem 
plars.  The  Mosaic  Templars  ot 
America  was  founded  by  J.  E. 


Bush  in  1883.    Its  two  sponsors  were  John  E.  Bush 


and  C.  W.  Keats.  As  stated  by  Hamilton  McConi- 
co,  the  organization  had  its  beginning  from  a  three 
fold  source :  The  scorn  of  a  white  man,  "a  Negro 
woman's  poverty  and  a  Negro  man's  shame."  All 
this  arose  out  of  J.  E.  Bush  standing  on  the  street 
talking  to  a  white  man  when  a  colored  woman 
came  by  begging  for  alms  to  bury  her  dead  hus 
band.  The  white  man  like  Mr.  Bush,  gave,  but  he 
afterwards  cast  aspersions  on  the  Negro  people  for 
their  improvidence.  From  this  John  E.  Bush  re 
solved  to  found  an  order  which  should  protect  the 
poor  of  his  race. 

The  organization  was  started  as  a  benevolent 
society,  with  no  intention  of  operation  outside  of 
Little  Rock.  But  in  a  few  years  the  demands  for 
its  services  drew  it  into  other  states.  It  began  with 
one  lodge  and  fifteen  members.  It  now  has  2,000 
lodges  and  a  membership  of  more  than  80.000.  It 
began  in  one  city.  It  now  operates  in  twenty-six 

104 


states,  in  Central  America,  Panama  and  the  West 
Indies.  It  opened  without  sufficient  funds  to  in 
corporate.  It  now  has  assets  exceeding  $300,000. 
It  started  without  shelter,  the  two  founders  work 
ing  out  their  plans  on  the  doorsteps  of  an  old  build 
ing.  Today  upon  the  site  of  the  old  building  it  has 
one  of  the  finest  brick,  steel  and  stone  structures 
of  any  Negro  lodge  in  America,  a  building  which 
has  offices,  stores,  and  all  kinds  of  rooms  to  ac 
commodate  the  business  and  professional  men  of 
Little  Rock.  Thus  has  it  brought  pride  and  self- 
respect  to  all  the  Negroes  of  Little  Rock  and  in 
deed  to  the  Negro  everywhere. 

When  the  two  founders  of  the  Mosaic  Templars 
sat  on  the  steps  of  that  old  building  in  Little  Rock, 
their  only  thought  was  to  provide  a  means  of  safe 
guarding  the  pennies  of  the  poor  and  needy.  They 
had  no  dream  of  departments,  sections  and  various 
ramifications  of  a  great  order.  As  the  body  grew 
and  gained  the  unlimited  confidence  of  the  people 
everywhere,  however,  they  with  the  helpers  it  was 
necessary  to  call  in,  found  that  many  departments 
and  divisions  had  to  be  formed  to  meet  the  more 
complex  needs  of  the  public.  Thus  one  after  anoth 
er  departments  were  organized,  until  now  there  are 
in  the  body  six  main  divisions  or  departments,  each 


with  its  head,  yet  all  workng  under  the  central 
head  of  the  Mosaic  Templars.  These  are  the  En 
dowment  Department,  The  Juvenile  Department, 
the  Temple  Department,  the  Uniform  Rank  De 
partment,  the  Monument  Department,  the  Arkan 
sas  Charity  Fund,  Recapitulation,  Analysis,  Rec 
ommendations.  Each  Department  is  a  unit  in  it 
self;  yet  each  is  a  part  of  the  great  whole.  For 
example,  though  each  Department  is  a  memher  of 
the  whole,  yet  each  must  be  responsible  for  all 
the  business  coming  under  its  head.  If  the  given 
Department  runs  behind  in  its  accounts,  or  gets 
entangled  in  its  bookkeeping  that  Department  and 
not  the  whole  organization,  becomes  sponsor. 
Thus,  while  all  move  under  a  general  head,  yet 
there  is  ample  departmental  responsibility  to  keep 
the  whole  body  on  the  qui  vive.  Each  head  of  a 
Department  and  each  worker  in  the  department 
feels  a  personal  responsibility  and  a  personal  and 
departmental  pride  in  keeping  his  work  to  the  fore. 
For  in  every  instance,  if  the  department  fails  the 
head  and  all  his  co-workers  also  fail. 

It  therefore  turns  out  that  while  J.  E.  Bush 
founded  a  most  helpful  organization  he  also  estab 
lished  a  body  which  is  a  splendid  object  lesson  of 
what  the  Negro  can  do  when  working  together,  a 
body  which  is  helpful  in  promoting  the  respect  of 
the  white  for  the  black  man  and  in  inspiring  self- 
respect  in  the  black  man. 

Of  equal  service  perhaps  is  this  order,  in  that  it 
furnishes  dignified  employment  to  hundreds  of  our 
educated  men  and  women. 

When  we  consider  that  all  these  people  would  be 
living  on  half  pay  from  the  school  room,  or  whole 
pay  from  the  Pullman  or  steam  boat  services,  some 
adequate  notion  can  be  formed  as  to  the  real  serv 
ice  of  this  organization,  outside  of  its  direct  pur 
pose.  Every  such  organization  is  a  great  milestone 
in  a  race's  progress,  and  he  who  establishes  such  is 
building  a  school  and  a  business  at  the  same  time. 
For  in  no  other  way  could  our  men  and  women 
become  accustomed  to  handling  the  intricacies  of 
bookkeeping  and  the  question  of  high  finance. 

Finally,  The  Mosaic  Templars  have  found  men. 
In  its  own  state  it  began  very  early  to  teach  the 
people  of  Arkansas  who  their  great  thinkers  and 
leaders  were.  Then  it  reached  out  its  hand  into 
this,  then  into  that,  until  in  every  state  of  the 
south  and  in  many  in  the  north,  there  are  scores 
more  of  solid  leaders  than  would  otherwise  have 
been  known.  The  organization  has  been  left  in  the 
hands  largely  of  the  sons  of  the  founder,  C.  E. 
Bush,  National  Grand  Secretary  and  A.  E.  Bush, 
Secretary-Treasurer.  This  again  follows  the  line 
of  a  great  service,  affording  a  big  lesson  for  the 
men  of  the  race.  Young  Morgan  is  running  his 
father's  bank;  young  Hill  is  carrying  forward  the 
great  railroad  interests  of  James  J.  Hill.  And  the 

105 


sons  of  J.  E.  Bush  are  holding  and  increasing  the 
heritage  left  to  them  and  to  the  Negro  people  of 
America. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  report  to  the 
National  Grand  Lodge,,  meeting  at  Little  Rock, 
Ark.,  July  10-13,  1917,  by  the  National  Grand 
Scribe ;  "From  comparative  insignificance  we  have 
now  forged  to  the  front  and  have  attracted  nation 
wide  attention.  We  have  set  a  pace  in  the  Frater 
nal  World  that  up  to  this  writing  has  not  been 
out-distanced.  Our  growth  being  steady,  having 
increased  membership  about  25  per  cent  since  our 
Tuskegee  meeting  and  our  assets  have  increased 
approximately  more  than  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars  above  what  they  were  at  Tuskegee. 

"The  same  plan  of  economy  inauguarted  at  the 
birth  of  the  organization  has  been  steadfastly  ad 
hered  to.  The  main  object  in  view  is  to  properly 
safeguard  and  handle  the  money  that  the  people  in 
trust  to  our  keeping.  If  we  have  achieved  any 
success  it  is  due  more  to  this  principle  than  any 
other  element.  Examiners  from  various  insurance  i 
departments  have  marveled  at  the  low  expense 
budget  maintained  to  operate  our  organization. 

"That  our  Organization  is  well  organized  is  evi 
denced  by  the  minimum  amount  of  friction  in  the 
management.  All  of  our  officials  and  leaders,  with 
few  exceptions,  are  men  and  women  of  level  heads 
and  well  balanced  minds.  The  discordant  element 
is  so  little  encouraged  in  our  Organization  that  it 
soon  seeks  other  quarters  of  its  own  volition.  A 
big  business  like  the  Mosiac  Templars  of  America 
can  only  have  successful  management  by  having 
harmony  in  all  of  its  working  departments.  Many 
people  in  dealing  with  the  Mosiac  Templars  are 
very  much  surprised  when  they  learn  that  the  Na 
tional  Grand  Master's  office,  the  National  Grand 
Scribe's  office,  the  Attorney  General's  office,  the 
Auditor's  office,  the  Monument  office  all  operate 
without  one  interfering  with  the  other.  Each  de 
partment  head  is  held  responsible  for  success  in 
his  or  her  department.  If  he  fails,  then  no  blame 
can  be  placed  upon  any  other  department  and  the 
report  must  be  made  to  you,  the  final  judges." 

The  Mosaic  Templars  stand  for  the  unification 
of  one  common  brotherhood,  of  every  man  or  wo 
man  with  Negro  blood  coursing  through  his  or  her 
veins,  of  good  moral  character,  into  a  common 
brotherhood  of  helpfulness  and  usefulness.  It  be 
lieves  that  whatever  agencies  or  forces  that  are 
conducive  to  the  uplift  of  the  white  race  will  have 
a  corresponding  effect  on  the  Negro. 

It  stands  for  a  symmetrical  development  of  the 
Negro  on  moral,  religious,  educational  and  indus 
trial  lines.  It  believes  that  whatever  safeguards 
that  are  thrown  around  one  race  to  enoble  it,  and 
prepare  it  for  beter  citizenship,  the  same  ought 
to  be  extended  the  Negro. 


RICHARD    ARNETT    WILLIAMS,    M.    D. 


HE  unthinking  world  is  too  apt  to 
discredit  men  of  visions,  and  yet, 
without  the  visionary  men  this 
world  would  be  poor  indeed,  and 
would  still  be  in  a  chaotic  state. 
Men  must  see  things  before  they 
can  be  accomplished  and  to  the  credit  of  the  men 
of  visions,  be  it  said,  that  they  paved  the  way  for 
all  great  achievements.  Such  a  man  is  Dr.  R.  A. 
Williams. 

Dr.  Williams  was  born  September  13th,  1879,  in 
Forest  City,  Arkansas.  Although  his  parents  were 
not  rich,  they  possessed  sufficient  means  to  enable 
them  to  aid  their  son  to  secure  an  education.  They 
saw  the  advantages  of  a  good  education  and  de 
termined  that  they  could  do  no  better  part  for  their 
children  than  to  do  what  they  could  in  the  devel 
opment  of  their  minds.  They  early  placed  the 
Doctor  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city, 
where  he  graduated  at  the  tender  age  of  twelve. 
His  appetite  for  knowledge  was  whetted  by  his 
course  in  the  public  school,  and  he  determined  to 
pursue  his  studies  further.  This  he  did  at  the 
Danville  Industrial  High  school,  of  Danville  Vir 
ginia.  After  a  course  at  this  school  he  continued 
his  literary  studies  in  the  Arkansas  Baptist  College, 


Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  and  graduated  from  the 
Academic  Department  of  this  institution,  in  1896. 
He  bears  the  distinction  and  honor  of  being  the 
first  graduate  of  this  department  which  has  since 
sent  out  so  many  well  prepared  young  men  and 
women.  At  an  early  age,  Dr.  Williams  gave  much 
thought  to  the  question  of  his  life  work,  and  decid 
ed  upon  the  medical  profession.  This  decision  re 
mained  with  him  through  all  of  his  college  life,  and 
all  of  his  preparation  looked  to  this  end.  It  was 
in  1898,  that  he  began  to  see  the  fruition  of  his 
hope  and  the  consummation  of  his  dream.  It  was 
this  year  that  he  matriculated  at  Meharry  Medi 
cal  College.  He  finished  his  course  of  study  in 
this  well  known  school  and  not  only  won  honors 
but  also  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
students.  His  career  as  a  student  was  not  without 
its  trials  and  difficulties  and  he  found  it  necessary 
to  engage  in  business  ventures  from  time  to  time 
in  order  to  raise  the  money  necessary  to  pay  his 
way. 

At  the  early  age  of  fourteen  he  assumed  the  du 
ties  of  the  school  master  and  governed  himself,  ev 
en,  at  this  early  age,  with  the  dignity  befitting  one 
in  that  profession.  His  next  venture  was  that  of 
a  merchant  and  under  the  firm  name  of  Williams 
and  Brown  he  conducted  for  two  years  a  grocery 
business.  This  venture  was  successful  but  could 
not  tempt  him  to  give  up  the  purpose  to  become  a 
physician.  It  enabled  him,  however,  to  carry  out 
his  well-formed  plan  for  a  medical  education. 

After  graduating  at  the  Meharry  College,  he 
went  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  commenced  his  pro 
fessional  career.  Here  he  remained  for  three 
years  and  won  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and 
established  a  good  practice.  He  could  not  re 
main  satisfied  at  Knoxville,  for  the  lure  of  his  na 
tive  state  was  upon  him.  He  could  not  turn  a 
deaf  ear  to  its  call,  so  in  1905,  he  left  Knoxville,  and 
turned  his  face  toward  Arkansas.  Helena  was  the 
city  of  his  choice  and  here  he  located  and  here  he 
has  remained,  building  up  for  himself  a  good  prac 
tice  and  an  enviable  reputation.  Being  a  man  of 
sympathetic  nature,  he  was  not  slow  to  put  him 
self  in  touch  with  the  needs  of  his  people,  and  to 
interest  himself  in  their  behalf.  His  work  as  a 
physician  enabled  him  to  see  the  great  need  of 
money  in  times  of  sickness  and  when  the  death  an 
gel  spread  its  wings  over  the  home  and  it  was  this 
that  gave  him  this  vision  of  a  society  that  would 
supply  this  need.  He  put  his  mind  to  work  and 
as  a  result  of  his  thinking  he  brought  into  exis 
tence  the  "Royal  Circle  of  Friends  of  the  World." 
To  this  organization  he  has  given  his  time  and  ex 
ecutive  skill  and  in  its  interest  he  has  had  to  travel 
extensively.  Seeing  in  it  such  great  possibilities, 
he  has  given  it  so  much  of  his  time  that  he  has  had 
to  curtail  his  general  practice  and  confine  himself 
to  an  office  practice  and  to  a  specialty. 


106 


The  Royal  Circle  of  Friends  is  one  of  the  most 
modern  organizations  calling  upon  the  public  for 
its  support.  It  bases  its  claims  for  support  alone 
upon  merit.  It  has  found  favor  from  the  start, 
and  continues  to  hold  its  friends.  Its  growth  is 
phenominal  and  has  exceeded  the  hopes  of  its  foun 
der.  Its  first  lodge  was  organized  in  1909  and  the 
number  has  increased  to  about  three  hundred  lod 
ges,  and  about  nine  thousand  members.  The  lod 
ges  are  scattered  over  five  states,  Arkansas,  Miss 
issippi,  Alabama,  Kentucky  and  Oklahoma.  The 
order  has  several  main  features.  It  has  an  en 
dowment  feature  by  which  the  beneficiary  of  a  de 
ceased  member  gets  Three  Hundred  Dollars  at 
his  or  her  death.  This  endowment  is  paid  prompt 
ly  within  a  week  after  the  death  of  a  member  and 
if  the  family  is  in  great  need  it  is  paid  immediately. 
Another  feature  rewards  the  member  for  a  ten 
year  connection  therewith.  It  is  a  one  hundred 
dollar  endowment.  It  also  provides  for  a  sick  and 
accident  benefit.  This  feature  alone,  has  done  in 
calculable  good.  The  order  is  noted  for  its  prompt 
ness  in  settlement  of  its  claims  and  is  multiplying 
its  strength  in  the  accumulation  of  a  surplus.  The 
founder  recognizes  the  importance  of  keeping  in 
touch  with  its  members  and  to  this  end  he  has  es 
tablished  a  paper,  known  as  the  Royal  Messenger. 

Much  of  the  success  of  the  Royal  Circle  of 
Friends  is  due  to  the  popularity  of  its  founder  and 
his  rare  business  judgment. 

The  aim  of  the  founder  of  the  Royal  Circle  of 
Friends  was  to  give  to  his  people  the  largest  bene 
fits  at  the  least  cost  and  to  insure  the  prompt  pay 
ment  of  all  claims.  To  make  it  possible  for  all  to 
share  in  its  benefits  the  initiation  fee  was  placed  at 
Two  Dollars  and  Fifty  Cents,  and  a  quarterly  en 
dowment  fee  of  One  Dollar.  When  the  substan 
tial  benefits  derived  from  this  organization  are  con 
sidered  its  fee's  are  more  reasonable  than  any  oth 
er  order. 

The  great  majority  of  the  men  and  women  who 
come  into  the  organization  are  young.  This 
gave  the  order  an  advantage.  To  meet  conditions 
which  will  naturally  arise  as  the  members  grow 
older  a  surplus  has  been  created  which  is  being 
added  to  annually. 

Dr.  Williams,  the  founder  and  President,  has  the 
handling  of  funds  of  the  order  and  has  already  de 
monstrated  his  ability  to  handle  them  with  consu- 
mate  business  skill.  His  intregrity  is  above  ques 
tion  and  the  members  feel  safe,  so  long  as  the  af 
fairs  of  the  order  remain  in  his  hands.  An  order 
of  this  character  has  to  get  out  much  printed  mat 
ter  and  in  keeping  with  its  economical  manage 
ment  a  printing  press  was  purchased  and  by 
means  of  this  outfit  much  money  has  been  saved 
the  Order  in  the  item  of  printing  alone.  Dr.  Wil 
liams  is  constantly  in  receipt  of  letters  commending 
the  order  and  acknowledging  the  good  it  has  done 
for  the  colored  race.  It  has  been  especially  gra- 

107 


tifying  to  him  to  receive  so  many  letters  of  per 
sonal  commendation  and  to  know  that  he  is  held  in 
such  high  personal  esteem  by  his  friends.  To  feel 
that  you  have  done  something  worth  while  always 
brings  pleasing  reflections  but  to  know  that  you 
have  started  a  movement  which  will  continue  long 
after  you  have  passed  away,  to  bless  the  people 
whom  you  love  and  wish  to  serve  is  thrilling  in  its 
contemplation.  Such  is  the  joy  that  has  come  to 
Dr.  Williams  in  establishing  the  order  of  the  Royal 
Circle  of  Friends.  He  has  lived  to  see  it  a  success 
and  to  see  the  great  good  it  has  already  accomplish 
ed.  If  he  should  cease  from  his  labors  now  he  has 
done  enough  to  hand  down  his  name  to  posterity 
and  in  a  way  to  brnig  only  pleasant  memories  of 
him. 

He  has  built  his  monument  which  will  be  more 
enduring  than  granite,  or  stone,  and  as  long  as  the 
Royal  Circle  of  Friends  exists,  Dr.  Williams  will 
be  held  in  fond  remembrance. 

"Fading  away  like  the  stars  of  the  morning, 
Losing  their  light  in  the  glorious  sun — 
Thus  would  we  pass  from  earth  and  its  toil 
ing, 
Only  remembered  by  what  we  have  done." 

August  25th.,  1903  Dr.  Williams  was  married  to 
Miss  Cora  E.  Morgan  of  Memphis,  Tennessee.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  wealthiest  planters  of 
Shelby  County,  Tennessee,  and  is  a  woman  of  cul 
ture,  refinement  and  great  ability. 

Mrs.  Williams  was  graduated  from  the  LeMoyne 
Institute  of  Memphis  and  for  several  years  was 
one  of  the  leading  teachers  in  her  native  county. 

A  daughter,  Vera  Louise  Williams,  makes  the 
Williams'  home  one  of  happiness. 

She  is  a  very  bright  young  person  and  makes 
life  interesting  for  the  father  and  mother. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Dr.  Williams  was 
a  man  of  small  means  and  only  attained  to  his  pres 
ent  standing  in  the  financial  world  by  the  practice 
of  the  strictest  economy.  He  is  now  housed  in  his 
own  home  and  lives  in  a  style  that  is  befitting 
a  high  class  professional  man. 

Dr.  Williams  gives  much  of  the  credit  for  their 
financial  success  to  his  wife.  She  it  was  who 
helped  him  to  rise  in  life  and  who  was  an  in 
spiration  to  him  in  the  dark  hours  that  come  to  all 
who  struggle  upward. 

It  is  not  often  that  a  man  accomplishes  so  much 
in  so  short  a  period  of  his  life  and  it  must  be  a 
matter  of  supreme  satisfaction  to  Dr.  Williams  to 
see  the  seed  of  his  planting  blossom  into  so  frag 
rant  and  beautiful  a  flower,  whose  aroma  of 
friendship  will  bless  the  coming  generations.  The 
man  who  confers  a  benefit  upon  his  race  is  blessed 
in  his  work  for  others  and  the  reflex  influence  upon 
his  own  life  brings  to  him  a  personal  blessing. 

A  life  of  service  is  a  successful  life  and  brings  its 
own  sure  and  blessed  reward. 


E.   O.   TRENT. 

OR  a  man  to  hold  the  same  posi 
tion  for  considerably  over  a  quar 
ter  of  a  century,  and  still  keep 
thoroughly  abreast  with  the 
times,  shows  a  great  strength  of 
character.  One  of  the  easiest 
things  for  a  man  who  serves  the  public  to  do,  is 
to  get  in  a  rut.  Then  his  days  of  usefulness  are 
numbered.  But  when  a  man  can  serve  the  public 
year  in  and  year  out,  giving  something  new  to  each 
set  of  people  who  come  directly  under  his  care, 
when  a  man  can  do  this,  he  is  a  success. 

For  thirty-three  years  E.  O.  Trent  has  served  as 
principal  of  the  High  and  Industrial  School,  at  Fort 
Smith,  Arkansas.  During  all  these  years  he  has 
kept  his  school  up  to  the  standard  in  every  particu 
lar.  His  teachers  have  caught  something  of  his 
spirit  of  service  and  give  freely  of  their  time  and 
energies  during  off  hours. 

Professor  Trent  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
February  24,  1859.  Fortunate  for  him  he  was  in  a 
section,  where  even  in  those  days  a  boy  of  color 
could  have  some  chance  at  an  education.  So  from 
the  age  of  six  to  twenty-three  he  attended  school 
in  his  native  state.  He  graduated  from  the  Ger 


man  High  School  of  Columbus  and  then  entered  the 
Ohio  State  University.  From  this  institution  he 
was  graduated  in  1882.  In  seeking  for  a  place 
where  he  could  best  serve  his  people  in  the  capacity 
of  school  master,  he  left  his  native  state  and  went 
to  Missouri.  Here  for  one  year  he  taught  and  then 
having  received  the  opening  at  Fort  Smith,  Arkan 
sas,  he  gave  up  his  work  in  Missouri  and  went  to 
Arkansas.  Here  he  has  remained,  teaching  in  the 
school  room  and  out  of  it  both  young  and  old, 
some  of  the  lessons  from  books  and  many  of  the 
fundamental  lessons  of  life. 

Professor  Trent  did  not  confine  his  work  to  the 
town  of  Fort  Smith.  He  saw  the  need  of  a  State 
Teachers  Association  for  the  colored  teachers  of 
Arkansas,  and  became  one  of  the  prime  movers  in 
organizing  this  body.  That  through  this  act  alone 
Professor  Trent  has  served  the  entire  State  of  Ar 
kansas,  can  not  well  be  disputed.  All  the  teachers 
through  this  organization  have  been  brought  up  to 
a  higher  standard  of  teaching.  All  of  them  know 
more  fully  just  what  they  are  trying  to  do  for  the 
boys  and  girls,  who  come  directly  under  their  care. 
In  this  way  has  the  influence  of  Professor  Trent 
been  broadened. 

In  religious  affiliation  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  a  stanch  Baptist.  He  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  in  Fort  Smith. 
In  this  church  he  has  held  many  responsible  posi 
tions.  He  has  served  as  deacon,  as  clerk,  as  a  lead 
er  of  the  young  people's  organization  and  as  Su 
perintendent  of  the  Sunday  School.  Through  the 
Sunday  School,  Professor  Trent  has  been  able  to 
touch  the  lives  of  his  pupils  from  the  standpoint  of 
religion,  and  because  of  this  he  has  been  able  to 
help  develop  well  rounded  young  men  and  women. 

In  fraternal  Orders  he  is  also  a  man  of  promi- 
.nence.  He  was  for  seventeen  years  Secretary  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  Benefit  Association.  He  is  C.  C. 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Order,  he  is  H.  H.  R.,  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
a  member  of  the  Mosiac  Templars  and  of  the  Roy 
al  Arch  Masons.  Through  these  organizations, 
Professor  Trent  has  come  more  directly  in  contact 
with  the  men  and  women  of  his  adopted  town.  And 
so  we  see  that  his  life  has  touched  the  lives  of  the 
people  of  Fort  Smith,  from  many  different  points. 
In  return  for  all  the  things  he  has  done  for  the  peo 
ple  of  Fort  Smith,  they  have  given  him  honor  in 
many  particulars.  He  has  held  positions  of  honor 
and  trust  in  the  churches,  fraternal  orders  and 
in  the  Sociological  Congress. 

Professor  Trent  was  married  to  Miss  Hattie  S. 
Smith,  August  25,  1886,  in  Columbus,  Ohio.  There 
are  two  children  in  the  Trent  family.  E.  E.  Trent 
is  in  business  for  himself  in  Fort  Smith.  He  is  a 
very  successful  merchant.  Alphonso  Trent  is  still 
a  student.  He  is  in  the  Lincoln  High  School  at 
Fort  Smith. 

During  all  the  years  that  he  has  been  out  working 
for  himself,  Professor  Trent  has  managed  to  accu 
mulate  considerable  of  this  worlds  goods.  He 
owns  thirty-two  rent  houses  and  a  truck  farm.  A 
conservative  estimate  of  the  value  of  his  holdings 
is  placed  at  $50.000.00. 


108 


BIRD'S  EYE  VIEW  OF  ATLANTA  UNIVERSITY 


TLANTA  University  is  one  of  the 
pioneer  institutions  for  the  Chris 
tian  education  of  Negro  youth. 
It  possesses  excellent  equipment 
for  the  work  of  high  school, 
normal  school  and  college  classes, 
and  has  accommodations  for  one 
hundred  and  sixty  boarding  stu 
dents.  It  is  the  first  institution  in  the  State  of 
Georgia  to  undertake  work  of  college  grade  for 
Negroes,  and  steadily  emphasizes  the  importance 
of  genuine  scholarship.  It  enjoys  the  cumulative 
advantage  which  results  fro  mforty-nine  years  of 
continuous  effective  work.  It  has  been  unusually 
fortunate  in  the  continuity  of  its  administration. 
It  was  founded  in  1865  under  the  auspices  of  the 
American  Missionary  Association,  by  Edmund  Asa 
Ware.  It  was  presided  over  by  him  until  his 
death,  in  1885.  President  Ware  was  a  graduate 
of  Yale  University  of  the  class  of  1863.  In  1875 
his  Yale  classmate  Horace  Bumstead,  succeeded 
to  the  presidency  and  held  the  position  until  1907, 
when  he  resigned,  and  became  the  recipient  of  a 
Carnegie  penson.  His  successor  is  Edward  Twichell 
Ware,  son  of  the  founder  and  first  president,  a 
graduate  of  Yale  University  of  the  class  of  1897. 
On  the  teaching  force,  there  have  always  been,  as 
there  are  now,  men  and  women  who  have  received 
the  best  education  that  this  country  affords. 
Among  the  colleges  represented  by  the  teachers 
are  Harvard,  Dartmouth,  Chicago,  Smith,  and 
Wellesley. 

The  University  is  beautifully  situated  upon  the 
summit  of  a  hill  in  the  Western  part  of  the  City  of 
Atlanta,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  campus  of  sixty 
acres.  There  are  seven  substantial  brick  buildings, 
three  of  them  covered  with  Boston  Ivy.  The  value 
of  the  property,  all  told,  is  $300.000.  The  invested 
funds  amount  to  about  $125,000.  For  the  proper 
maintenance  of  the  work,  about  $39,000  is  required 
each  year  in  addition  to  the  amount  reasonably  to 
be  expected  from  payments  of  students  and  income 
from  funds.  For  this  extra  amount  the  Institution 
depends  upon  the  endowment  of  friends  who  give 
from  year  to  year. 

Instruction  in  domestic  science  and  manual  train 
ing  is  required  of  all  the  high  school  students  and 
there  are  opportunities  for  pursuing  this  work 
further  in  the  college  course  of  mechanic  arts  and 


in  the  Furber  Cottage  for  the  normal  students. 
The  normal  course  comprises  two  years  following 
the  high  school  course. 

During  the  Senior  year  the  girls  live  in  the  Fur 
ber  Cottage  in  groups  of  fifteen  and  under  the  su 
pervision  of  the  matron,  do  all  the  work  of  the 
home. 

The  Institution  also  possesses  a  well  equipped 
printing  office,  from  which  is  issued  the  catalogue, 
the  school  and  alumni  papers.  Here,  there  is  an 
opportunity  to  learn  the  art  of  printing.  It  is  the 
purpose  of  Atlanta  University  to  make  the  home 
life  in  the  school  strong  and  wholesome. 

There  is  probably  no  school  for  the  Negroes  in 
the  South  better  equipped  with  facilities  for  home 
training,  for  library  work,  or  for  the  preparation 
of  teachers.  This  institution  has  also  been  long 
prominent  for  the  excellence  of  its  work  in  sociol 
ogy.  Its  annual  publications  on  the  Negro  prob 
lem  have  received  wide  recognition  from  scholars 
and  may  be  found  in  the  best  libraries  in  this  coun 
try  and  abroad. 

Opportunities  for  Post  Graduate  Study  leading 
to  the  degree  of  A.  M.  are  offered  to  a  limited  ex 
tent , 

There  are  enrolled  over  five  hundred  students. 
About  two-thirds  of  them  come  up  the  hill  every 
day  from  the  City  of  Atlanta.  The  rest  are  in  the 
boarding  department  and  represent  sixteen  states, 
and  thirty-nine  counties  in  the  State  of  Georgia. 
These  young  people  are  many  of  them  children  of 
the  graduates  of  Atlanta  University  and  most  of 
them  have  received  their  training  in  schools  over 
which  the  graduates  preside. 

This  Institution  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  Christian 
spirit  which  brought  so  many  earnest  and  devoted 
teachers  South,  in  the  educational  crusade  of  the 
sixties  and  seventies.  The  work  is  essentially 
Christian.  It  is  undenominational  and  strong  in 
religious  motive.  Students  attend  church  and 
Sunday  school.  They  also  have  their  voluntary 
:  eligious  organizations,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  Y.  W. 
C  A.  Participation  in  the  religious  exercises  and 
in  the  home  life  of  the  school  has  often  been  in 
strumental  in  molding  the  character  of  the  student 
for  the  most  efficient  service  among  their  people. 

The  chief  source  of  encouragement  for  the  work 
rests  in  the  almost  uniform  success  of  the  grad 
uates  of  Atlanta  University. 


109 


MRS.  ROSA  LULA  BARNES. 


N  recent  years  the  Negro  woman 
has  begun  to  find  herself.  Time 
was  when  both  by  herself  and  in 
the  minds  of  the  general  public  it 
was  decided,  yea  determined,  that 

her  place  was  in  the  home,  in  the 

school  room  and  in  the  Sunday  School.  Gradually 
she  got  into  founding  institutions,  schools,  so 
cial  settlements  and  the  like.  She  went  on  the  lec 
ture  platform.  She  traveled  in  America  and  in  Eu 
rope  as  a  singer.  In  all  these  places  she  found  her 
self  a  complete  success. 

Then  a  few  ventured  into  unheard  of  fields — into 
politics  and  in  business.  Again  success  is  crowning 
their  endeavors.  Why  should  they  not  enter  any 
and  all  branches  of  work? 

One  of  the  leading  Negro  women  in  business,  in 
^odge,  and  general  social  work  is  Mrs.  Lula  Barnes 
of  Savannah,  Georgia.  Though  an  Alabamian  by 
birth  and  education  Mrs.  Barnes  is  a  Georgian  by 
adoption  and  achievement.  She  was  born  in  Hunts- 
ville,  Alabama,  near  the  scene  of  the  labors  of  the 
late  Dr.  Council.  Born  August  22nd,  1868,  she  had 
many  difficulties  in  getting  an  early  education. 
However,  Huntsville  Normal  and  Industrial  Insti 


tute  was  near  at  hand;  and  so  after  several  years 
she  entered  here  and  gained  her  life  training. 

Soon  after  her  school  days  she  was  married  and 
set  about  to  make  a  happy  home  and  to  aid  her 
husband  in  every  possible  way.  Providence  deem 
ed  it  otherwise.  Spurred  by  adversity,  she  now  be 
gan  to  cast  about  for  a  livelihood.  Living  in  Sa 
vannah,  she  thought  she  saw  an  opening  for  a  Ne 
gro  grocery.  She  thought  also  that  a  Negro  wo 
man  should  just  as  well  conduct  this  business  as 
could  a  man.  Hence  she  launched  forth  into  the 
business.  She  opened  a  store  on  Price  Street,  and 
by  courtesy,  fair  dealing  and  shrewd  business  tact 
made  her  store  one  to  be  reckoned  with  in  the 
business  world.  For  ten  years  she  was  a  grocer, 
and  gave  up,  or  sold  out,  only  to  enter  other  fields. 

The  grocery  business  proving  very  confining,  and 
an  opportunity  opening  for  her  services  in  lodge 
work,  she  closed  her  grocery  books  in  1893,  and  ac 
cepted  work  with  the  Court  of  Calanthe.  She  be 
came  Grand  Worthy  Counsellor  of  the  Court  of 
Calanthe  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  The  post 
with  the  latter  she  still  hollds. 

During  her  ten  years  in  business  Mrs.  Barnes 
had  practiced  economy.  She  now  made  several 
paying  investments.  She  bought  a  handsome  resi 
dence,  which  is  her  home,  on  East  Henry  Street. 
She  bought  twelve  rent  houses,  which  in  them 
selves  provide  her  with  a  pretty  comfortable  in 
come.  She  owns  five  vacant  lots  in  Savannah. 

Having  made  these  investments,  which  were  safe 
and  which  would  protect  her  in  case  of  inability, 
she  felt  safe  in  placing  money  in  several  worthy 
enterprises.  She  owns  stock  and  is  a  director  in 
the  Wage  Earner's  Bank  of  Savannah,  in  the 
Standard  Life  Insurance  Company,  in  the  Afro- 
American  Company  and  in  the  Union  Development 
Company. 

Mrs.  Barnes  now  gives  her  life  very  largely  to 
service  in  lodges  and  in  the  church.  She  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  of  the  Court  of  Calan 
the,  of  the  Household  of  Ruth,  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
of  the  Good  Samaritan.  She  has  been  honored 
with  the  post  of  Grand  Worthy  Chancellor  of  the 
Court  of  Calanthe  of  Georgia ;  Supreme  Worthy 
Inspector  of  the  National  Court  of  Calanthe ;  Past 
District  Most  Noble  Governor  of  Georgia :  Past 
Grand  Worthy  Superior  of  the  Household  of  Ruth  ; 
and  Past  Grand  Matron  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

With  these  honorary  positions,  with  the  duties 
and  responsibilities  entailed,  Mrs.  Barnes  has 
traveled  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States.  There 
are  few  people  and  places  in  the  country,  about 
which  she  cannot  give  a  very  intimate  account. 

Mrs.  Barnes  was  married  to  Mr.  Richard  Barnes 
at  Savannah,  Aug.  16th,  1884.  Mr.  Barnes  died  in 
Sept.  2nd,  1911.  Left  alone  Mrs.  Barnes  has  de 
voted  her  life  to  making  bright  the  every  day  lives 
of  others. 


110 


HENRY   RUTHERFORD   BUTLER,   M.  D. 


NE  of  the  conspicuous  figures  in 
colored  Georgia  during  this  last 
quarter  century  has  been  Dr.  H. 
R.  Butler.  He  has  been  the  ex 
ponent  in  business  enterprises  and 
in  uplift  work  and  has  been  :>.  sort 
of  sponsor  for  the  good  name  of  Atlanta  to  the 
world.  To  him,  being  a  physician  is  but  an  item 
in  his  career.  He  is  a  strong  church  man,  being  a 
member  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  a  steward  in  the  Bethel  Church  of  Atlanta. 

In  membership  and  activity  in  secret  orders  as 
well  as  in  national  bodies,  few  men  anywhere  are 
his  peers.  He  is  a  thirty-third  degree  Mason.  More 
than  this  he  is  the  Grand  Master  of  the  Maso*is  of 
Georgia,  a  post  he  has  held  for  fifteen  years.  Hi;  is 
also  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  Past  Eminent  Grand 
Commander  of  Georgia.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  a 
Knight  of  Pythias,  being  a  Brigadier  General  of 
the  Uniform  Department  and  Supreme  representa 
tive  of  this  body.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Eastern 
Star  and  Court  of  Calanthe.  He  belongs  to  the 
Red  Cross  Society  and  to  the  National  Georgraph- 
ical  Society.  He  was  surgeon,  with  rank  of  first 
lieutenant  in  the  Second  Battalion  of  Georgia  Vol 


unteers  until  that  battalion  was  mustered  out  in 
1896. 

He  organized  the  colored  Medical  Association  of 
Georgia  in  1891  and  was  its  first  president.  He  was 
for  four  years,  physician  to  Spelman  Seminary,  the 
largest  school  in  the  world  for  Negro  girls.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Atlanta  State  Sav 
ings  Bank  and  is  now  one  of  its  directors.  He  was 
the  first  regular  Negro  contributor  to  the  Atlanta 
Constitution.  He  is  manager  of  the  Fair  Haven  In 
firmary  of  the  M.  B.  U. 

Amazing  as  all  this  work  may  appear,  it  becomes 
more  so  when  it  is  known  that  Dr.  Butler  gained 
his  education  by  the  hardest  of  struggle.  He  was 
born  in  the  country  in  a  log  cabin,  in  Cumberland 
County,  North  Carolina,  April  11,  1861.  The  spot  of 
his  birth  place  is  some  four  miles  from  Fayette- 
ville,  on  the  Willington  Road.  The  first  few  years 
of  his  life,  he  worked  on  the  farm  as  a  laborer. 
Then  he  moved  to  Wilmington  and  became  a  wharf 
hand,  then  a  stevedore.  From  here  he  went  into 
the  lumber  yard  as  a  workman,  thence  to  the  Wil 
mington  Compress  Company,  for  whom  he  finally 
became  a  cotton  buyer. 

All  this  time  he  was  carrying  a  burning  desire  to 
be  educated,  to  become  a  man  and  hold  positions 
of  trust  and  responsibility.  To  be  sure  he  had  but 
little  to  book  on  or  build  on.  Back  there  in  Cum 
berland  he  had  enjoyed  three  months  schooling  in 
a  log  cabin  school  house.  His  parents  could  give 
him  no  more.  To  pay  his  way  he  worked  as  bell 
boy,  waiter,  side  waiter  and  finally  head  waiter  in 
the  Northern  Hotels.  His  mother  sent  him  one 
green  back  dollar,  while  he  was  in  school.  The 
rest,  for  both  his  elementary,  college  and  profes 
sional  education,  he  raised  himself. 

Completing  his  course  in  the  study  of  medicine, 
Dr.  Butler  went  to  Atlanta  in  1890  and  began  to 
practice  medicine  and  to  become  a  part  of  the  life 
in  Atlanta  and  in  Georgia.  In  his  profession  he 
ranks  foremost  and  enjoys  a  very  wide  practice  in 
Atlanta  and  surroundings.  In  company  with  Dr. 
T.  H.  Slater,  he  was  owner  of  the  flourishing  Drug 
Store  under  the  name  of  Butler,  Slater  and  Com 
pany.  Dr.  Butler  is  one  of  the  leading  property 
owners  in  Atlanta.  He  owns  a  very  handsome 
home,  owns  other  property  in  Atlanta,  in  Southern 
Georgia,  and  in  Lincoln,  property  and  buildings 
which  amount  in  value  to  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars. 

Dr.  Butler  was  married  May  2nd,  1893,  to  Miss 
Selana  May  Sloan.  They  have  one  son,  Henry 
Rutherford,  Junior,  who  is  at  present  a  student  in 
Atlanta  University,  but  who  is  to  attend  and  be 
graduated  from  the  Harvard  Divinity  School  in 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

The  Butler  family  of  three  has  traveled  much. 
Dr.  Butler  himself  has  crossed  the  American  Con 
tinent,  indeed  is  a  registered  physician  in  Califor 
nia,  and  in  Los  Angeles.  He  and  his  family  have 
traveled  through  Canada  and  Europe,  where  he 
spent  much  time  in  study  in  the  hospitals  of  London 
and  Paris. 


Ill 


BISHOP    RANDALL   ALBERT    CARTER 
A.  B.,  A.   M.,  D.   D. 

ISHOP  Randall  A.  Carter  of  the  C. 
M.  E.  Church,  in  his  early  years, 
planned  to  enter  the  law,  but 
thanks  to  an  early  conversion  and 
a  deep  interest  in  religious  mat 
ters  growing  out  of  this,  he 
changed  his  plans,  and  became  a  minister  instead. 
Bishop  Carter  was  born  in  Fort  Valley,  Georgia, 
January  1,  1867;  but  while  still  a  small  child  he 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Columbia,  South  Caro 
lina.  Here  in  Columbia  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  applying  himself  to  all  the  tasks  that  were 
set  for  him.  He  completed  the  common  schools  of 
his  home  and  was  ready  for  higher  training,  at  the 
time  of  the  founding  of  the  Allen  University,  in 
Columbia,  S.  C.  So,  instead  of  going  away  to  col 
lege  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  have  the  college 
come  to  him.  Bishop  Carter  was  among  the  first 
students  to  matriculate  in  the  University.  He  re 
mained  in  Allen  University  long  enough  to  com 
plete  the  Freshman  Class. 

While  studying  in  this  school  he  was  converted 
during  a  great  revival.  It  was  not  long  after  this 
that  he  felt  a  call  to  the  ministry  and  so  he  joined 
the  South  Carolina  Conference  of  the  C.  M.  E. 


Church.  Bishop  Wm.  H.  Willis,  of  Louisville,  Ken 
tucky,  was  the  presiding  officer  at  the  Conference 
at  the  time  Bishop  Carter  joined. 

Bishop  Carter,  as  a  minister,  served  many  im 
portant  charges  both  in  South  Carolina,  and  in 
Georgia.  While  working  in  Georgia,  Bishop  Car 
ter  completed  his  full  college  course  at  Payne  Col 
lege.  He  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  with 
the  highest  honors.  For  a  number  of  years  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  served  as  presiding  Elder  in 
the  Georgia  Conference.  He  was  the  confidential 
advisor  of  Bishop  Holsey  for  many  years  and  was 
the  recognized  leader  of  the  Georgia  Conference, 
of  the  C.  M.  E.  Church.  He  was  elected  chairman 
of  the  delegation  from  his  conference  to  the  gen 
eral  conference  for  twenty  years  in  succession.  He 
was  the  first  Epworth  League  Secretary  of  that 
department  of  his  church.  He  was  the  fraternal 
delegate  from  his  church  to  the  general  conference 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  held  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  delegation  from  his  church 
to  the  Ecumenical  Conference  of  Methodism,  heM 
in  London,  England.  While  abroad,  Bishop  Carter 
took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  and  visited 
many  of  the  countries  of  Europe. 

In  1914  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  he  was  elected  a  Bishop 
of  his  church.  At  this  time  Bishop  Carter  received 
the  highest  vote  ever  given  any  aspirant  for  that 
position.  Thus  Bishop  Carter  has  come  from  the 
ranks  to  the  highest  position  in  the  gift  of  his 
church.  Starting  as  a  school  teacher,  who  wanted 
to  be  a  preacher,  joining  the  conference  and  serv 
ing  first  small  and  then  larger  charges,  he  has 
developed  wonderfully  in  this  time.  In  recognition 
of  his  growth  and  development  he  was  given  the 
degree  of  A.  M.  in  1900  and  of  D.  D.  in  1901.  Both 
of  these  came  from  his  Alma  Mater. 

Bishop  Carter  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  fore 
most  orators  and  most  scholarly  preachers  in  his 
church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  National  Geogra 
phic  Society,  the  National  Association  for  the  Ad 
vancement  of  the  Colored  People.  A  member  of 
the  committee  on  Church  and  Country  Life  of  the 
Federal  Council  of  Churches,  and  a  member  of  the 
Association  for  the  Study  of  Negro  Life  and  His 
tory.  Bishop  Carter  has  held  and  served  in  many 
other  positions  which  are  honorary  and  which  work 
for  the  public  good.  Among  those  in  which  he 
is  still  actively  engaged  we  might  mention  that  he 
is  President  of  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the  C.  M. 
V..  Church,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  of 
the  Texas  College  of  Hagood,  Arkansas,  and  of  the 
Indiana  College,  of  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas. 

Bishop  Carter  has  traveled  extensively  in  this 
country  and  abroad.  He  has  covered  this  country 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  He  owns  pro 
perty,  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  in  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  and  in  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

In  1891,  on  the  22nd  of  April,  Bishop  Carter  was 
married  to  Miss  Janie  S.  Hooks,  of  Macon,  Georgia. 
There  is  one  child  in  the  family,  Miss  Carrie  Car 
ter,  who  is  a  freshman  in  Atlanta  University. 

Born  of  poor  parents,  we  might  say  born  in  real 
poverty,  Randall  Albert  Carter  has  made  a  good 
record  for  himself  during  his  half  century.  His 
is  a  life  that  will  lend  inspiration. 


112 


SILAS  X.  FLOYD,  A.  M.,  D.  D. 


D 


ILAS  X.  Floyd  was  born  Octo 
ber  2nd,  1869,  in  the  City  of  Au 
gusta,  Georgia,  and  here  he  has 
lived  tor  the  greater  part  of  his 
•  life.  During  his  childhood  period 
it  was  hard  tor  a  colored  youth  to 
secure  a  thorough  education,  but  Dr.  Floyd  was  an 
exception.  He  secured  a  good  education  but 
through  close  application  to  his  studies  and  a  de 
termination  to  succeed.  When  a  lad  he  attended 
the  schools  of  his  native  city  and  then  entered  At 
lanta  University.  He  graduated  at  this  institution 
in  1891,  and  in  1894  received  his  M.  A.  degree  from 
his  Alma  Mater.  Finishing  his  course  he  returned 
to  Augusta,  Georgia,  where  he  immediately  began 
and  has  continued  a  marvelously  active  life.  An 
enumeration  of  his  activities  seems  almost  in 
credible  that  one  man  could  accomplish  so  much 
and  retain  his  health  and  strength.  But  Dr.  Floyd 
is  an  unusual  man.  Dr.  Floyd  is  first  a  preacher 
and  from  1899  to  1900  he  was  the  Pastor  of  the 
Augusta  Tabernacle  Baptist  Church.  Prior  to 
this,  from  1891  to  1896,  he  was  principal  of  the 
Public  School  and  editor  of  the  Augusta  Sentinel. 
From  1896  to  1899  he  was  field  representative  of 
the  International  Sunday  School  Association,  and 

113 


from  1900  to  February,  1903,  he  was  field  worker 
for  Georgia  and  Alabama  for  the  American  Bap 
tist  Publication  Society.  Since  that  time  he  has 
served  continuously  as  Principal  of  the  Public 
School  of  his  native  city. 

Dr.  Floyd  has  many  gifts  but  the  two  which  are 
preeminent  are  those  of  teacher  and  author.  By 
means  of  these  he  has  left  an  impress  upon  the 
colored  citizens  of  Augusta,  and  in  fact  the  entire 
country,  which  will  tell  for  the  good  of  the  race 
for  ages  to  come. 

For  many  years  he  has  conducted  every  Sunday 
morning  a  colored  people's  page  in  each  of  the  two 
white  daily  newspapers  published  in  Augusta.  He 
has  also  held  the  unique  position  of  being  a  paid 
reporter  on  two  Southern  white  papers  in  the  same 
city.  This  has  given  him  a  great  local  power  to 
help  his  people.  But  Dr.  Floyd  has  not  confined  his 
work  to  the  school  room,  nor  to  the  pen.  His  great 
heart  embraces  the  whole  colored  race  and  he  is 
interested  in  all  efforts  for  their  uplift.  To  this 
end  he  has  served  as  Secretary  of  the  National  As 
sociation  of  Teachers  in  Colored  schools ;  he  was 
the  President  of  the  first  Negro  State  Press  Asso 
ciation,  in  the  United  States,  for  Colored  Newspa 
pers  ;  he  was  the  originator  of  a  system  of  syndica 
ting  the  news  among  colored  newspapers ;  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Walker  Baptist  Institute,  Augusta ; 
he  is  a  member  of  the  American  Historical  Asso 
ciation,  and  a  member  of  the  American  Social 
Science  Association.  In  these  various  organiza 
tions  he  has  come  face  to  face  with  many  of  the 
problems  of  the  race  and  has  done  his  share  towards 
the  adjustment  of  them. 

Dr.  Floyd's  writings  have  been  voluminous  and 
have  been  extensively  read.  He  has  made  contri 
butions  to  such  well  known  periodicals  as  the  New 
York  Independent.  Youth's  Companion,  Lippin- 
cctts,  Judge,  and  Leslie's  Weekly.  He  is  the  au 
thor  of  "Floyd's  Flowers,"  a  booko  of  stories  for 
colored  children,  the  first  book  of  its  kind  ever 
published  in  the  history  of  the  race  in  the  United 
States.  He  has  also  written  the  "life  of  C.  T.  Wal-^ 
ker,"  the  "Gospel  of  Service  and  other  Sermons," 
and  a  number  of  stories  and  verses  which  have  ap 
peared  from  time  to  time  in  the  leading  papers  and 
magazines  of  the  country. 

Dr.  Floyd  has  made  his  contribution  to  the  civic 
life  of  Augusta,  and  has  rendered  valuable  service 
to  the  commonwealth  on  many  occasions.  In  re 
cognition  of  his  invaluable  aid  in  relief  work,  fol 
lowing  the  great  fire  which  swept  Augusta,  the 
Chairman  of  the  White  Relief  Committee  publicly 
presented  him  with  a  beautiful  gold  watch  and  fob. 
During  the  war  which  has  happily  come  to  a  close, 
Dr.  Floyd  was  conspicious  for  his  patriotic  service 
and  was  placed  at  the  head  of  many  of  the  commit 
tees  which  this  service  called  into  existence. 

Space  alone  prevents  further  record  of  his  ach 
ievements.  A  fitting  end  is  to  speak  of  his  happy 
home  life.  His  family  consists  of  a  wife,  (for 
merly  Mrs.  Ella  Jam'es,)  and  a  daughter,  Miss 
Marietta  James,  who  are  in  perfect  accord  and 
sympathy  with  him  and  in  their  own  home  they 
present  the  ideal  family  circle. 


BENJAMIN  JEFFERSON   DAVIS. 


Benjamin  Jefferson  Davis 


R.  Benjamin  Jefferson  Davis,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Dawson,  Georgia,  in  1870.  He 
passed  his  childhood  under  the 
usual  disadvantages  of  the  Negro 
child  in  those  days.  He  was 
born  with  an  insatiable  thirst  for  knowledge,  and 
with  an  ambition  and  will  to  do  whatever  his  hands 
found  to  do  better  than  anybody  else  could  do  it. 
His  longing  to  render  service  for  his  race  and  man 
kind  ripened,  and  accordingly  he  resolved  to  acquire 
an  education  that  would  fit  him  for  life's  work ;  and 
he  entered  Atlanta  University  and  availed  himself 
of  every  opportunity  to  better  his  condition.  As 
a  student  he  was  brilliant  and  showed  unmistaka 
bly  the  elements  of  leadership,  which  has  made  him 
a  leader  of  men.  As  success  marked  his  efforts,  he 
never  forgot  to  appreciate  the  friends  who  encour 
aged  and  helped  him  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
task  which  he  had  mapped  out. 

After  spending  several  terms  in  Atlanta  Univer 
sity,  he  decided  to  teach  school  to  aid  him  in  his 
preparation  and  to  secure  the  amount  of  money 
necessary  to  carry  out  what  he  had  undertaken  and 
planned  for  the  future.  Meanwhile,  he  was  ten 
dered  a  government  position  which  he  accepted ; 
but  it  was  not  long  before  he  felt  that  he  could  bet 
ter  serve  his  race  and  generation  by  giving  up  the 
government  service  and  taking  up  work  more  in 
keeping  with  his  Life's  ambition.  But  he  had  the 
foresight  to  see  that  there  were  great  possibilities 
for  racial  development  in  the  G.  U.  O.  O.  F.,  in 
America.  He  joined  the  Order  at  seventeen.  His 
mother,  Mrs.  Katherine  Davis,  who  was  very  much 
devoted  to  her  boy,  partly  kept  up  his  dues  during 
the  time  he  was  attending  school.  He  rose  rapidly 
in  the  Order  and  became  a  Past  officer  in  1891,  and 
a  member  of  the  District  Grand  Lodge  in  1892; 
he  was  elected  District  Grand  Treasurer  in  1900; 
was  elected  Grand  Director  of  the  National  Branch 
of  the  Order,  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1904,  and  serv 
ed  two  years.  He  was  elected  Grand  Treasurer  of 
the  National  Branch  in  1906  at  Richmond,  Va., 
which  position  he  filled  four  years.  He  was  elected 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Order  in 
Baltimore  in  1910,  and  served  four  year.  In  1917, 
at  the  Macon  District  Grand  Lodge,  he  was  again 
re-elected  District  Grand  Secretary  for  the  Eighth 
Biennial  term,  making  sixteen  years  ;  and  he  was 
elected  General  Manager  of  the  Corporation  of  the 
G.  U.  O.  O.  F.  of  America,  Jurisdiction  of  Geor 
gia.  In  1916,  when  the  Order  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  Receiver  by  the  courts,  he,  on  account 
of  his  signal  ability,  and  intricate  knowledge  of  the 


affairs  of  the  Order  was  appointed  by  the  court  as 
Assistant  Receiver. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.,  Supreme  Circle, 
Knights  of  Tabor,  a  Director  of  the  Standard  Life 
Insurance  Company,  Stockholder  of  the  Atlanta 
State  Savings  Bank  and  President  of  the  Atlanta 
Independent  Publishing  Company — publishers  of 
the  Atlanta  Independent. 

In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  usually  one 
of  the  Big  Four  Delegates  from  the  State-at-large 
to  the  Republican  National  Convention  every  four 
years.  At  the  19th  Republican  National  Conven 
tion  he  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Plat 
form  and  Resolutions  of  which  Senator  Henry  Ca 
bot  Lodge  of  Massachusetts,  was  the  Chairman. 

The  strongest  institution  in  which  Mr.  Davis  is 
interested,  and  the  one  which  wields  a  world  of 
good  for  both  races,  is  the  Atlanta  Independent.  As 
owner  and  editor  of  this  widely  read  and  circulated 
journal,  he  shapes  ks  policy  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  ablest  journalists  and  writers  of  his  day. 

It  is  impossible  to  discuss  the  Negro  progress  in 
America  without  mentioning  "Ben  Davis"  and  the 
Odd  Fellows  Block  in  Atlanta,  which  stands  as  a 
monument  to  his  vision,  perseverance  and  organ 
izing  genius.  He  is  essentially  an  organizer  and 
leader  of  men.  Twenty  years  ago  when  he  be 
came  officially  identified  with  the  G.  U.  O.  O.  F. 
in  Georgia,  it  represented  a  membership  of  less 
than  10,000  and  as  a  state  organization,  it  was 
struggling  and  gasping  for  breath,  so  to  speak.  To 
day  the  membership  is  more  than  fifty  thousand, 
including  the  Household  of  Ruth,  Juveniles,  Divis 
ion  Meeting  and  Deputy  and  Supervisor's  Institute. 

When  Mr.  Davis  took  charge  of  the  office  of 
District  Grand  Secretary,  he  addressed  himself  to 
the  task  of  re-constructing  the  Order  and  placing 
it  upon  a  substantial  basis.  His  first  efforts  were 
to  systematize  the  business  of  the  office  and  build 
up  confidence  in  the  Order  in  the  minds  of  the 
people.  This  having  been  accomplished,  he  felt 
that  the  time  was  propitious  to  have  a  strong  or 
gan  in  the  State  of  Georgia  with  which  to  give 
publicity  to  the  work  and  the  benefit  of  the  Or 
der,  and  widen  the  circle  of  the  Race's  influence. 
Out  of  this  idea  sprang  the  Atlanta  Independent, 
which,  from  the  beginning,  was  a  popular  and  fear 
less  sheet  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  for 
good  not  only  in  Georgia,  but  throughout  the  coun 
try — and  today  the  Independent  is  the  most  wide 
ly  read  Negro  paper  in  America  and  is  read  by 
white  and  black  people  alike. 

In  his  struggles  for  the  erection  of  the  present 
Odd  Fellow  Block  on  Auburn  Avenue  in  the  City 
of  Atlanta  in  the  year  1912,  the  story  will  never  be 


115 


known  in  its  entirety ;  for  only  God  and  Mr.  Davis 
alone  know  in  the  broadest  sense  the  fiery  ordeals 
through  which  he  passed.  Even  those  who  were 
most  intimately  associated  with  him  do  not  know 
as  he  did,  for  in  many  respects,  "He  trod  the  wine 
press  alone."  Mr.  Davis  conceived  the  idea  in  the 
erection  of  the  Odd  Fellow  Block  that  every  mem 
ber  of  the  Order  in  Georgia  give  $1.00  as  a  Free- 
Will  offering  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  May  14,  1911. 
As  a  result  of  this  idea  over  $50,000  was  raised  in 
one  day.  The  Block  was  completed  at  a  cost  of 
more  than  $300,000  without  a  dollar  of  incum- 
brance  upon  it. 

When  you  think  of  Benjamin  Jefferson  Davis, 
you  think  of  three  things — The  Atlanta  Indepen 
dent,  The  growth  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Odd 
Fellows'  Block  in  Atlanta,  Ga.  The  paper  speaks 
for  itself — it  is  the  most  aggressive  and  influen 
tial  paper  published  in  the  country  for  Negro  peo 
ple.  No  paper  is  more  eagerly  sought-for  and 
more  widely  read  than  the  Atlanta  Independent.  Of 
his  work  among  the  Odd  Fellows,  his  chief  distinc 
tion  arises  from  putting  the  organization  on  a 
business  basis  and  extending  the  membership  in  a 
little  more  than  ten  years  in  the  State  of  Georgia, 
from  10,000  to  50,000;  from  a  depleted  treasury  to 
an  accumulated  wealth  of  $600,000,  carrying  a  cash 
balance  of  $50,000. 

But,  perhaps,  his  crowning  achievement  in  con 
nection  with  his  great  work  with  the  G.  U.  O.  O.  F., 
is  the  establishment  of  the  Bureau  of  Endowment 
for  widows  and  orphans,  who,  until  this  time  had 
been  left  destitute  at  the  death  of  their  husbands 
and  fathers.  He,  therefore,  put  through  an  amend 
ment  whereby  every  member  must  carry  a  death 
benefit  of  not  less  than  $200.00  and  not  more  than 
$500.00.  The  effect  of  this  act  has  been  far-reach 
ing  and  has  laid  a  broad  foundation  upon  which  the 
Race  can  build  for  all  time  to  come.  It  has  been 
the  forerunner  for  many  other  institutions  of  the 
Race — such  as  banks,  insurance  companies,  first- 
class  professional  offices  and  hundreds  of  business 
places  for  young  men  and  women  of  the  Race. 

He  was  happily  married  August,  1898,  to  Miss 
Jimme  W.  Porter  of  Dawson,  Ga.,  and  their  home 
has  been  blessed  with  two  children — a  boy,  B.  J. 
Davis,  Jr.,  and  a  girl,  Johnnie  Katherine. 

Mr.  Davis  is  less  than  fifty  years  old  and  is  in 
the  very  prime  of  his  intellectual  and  physical  pow 
ers.  He  is  ambitious,  gifted  and  determined.  He 
knows  no  such  thing  as  "can't"  and  never  ceases 
until  the  thing  undertaken  is  put  "Over  the  top." 
It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  is  one  of  the 
Race's  greatest  leaders.  He  is  today  the  greatest 
exponent  of  the  principles  of  Odd  Fellowship  in 
America.  He  is  a  National  character  and  a  born 
leader. 
The  race's  greatest  constructive  and  economic 


contribution  to  the  national  growth  is  Odd  Fellow 
Block,  200  Auburn  Ave.,  between  Bell  and  Butler 
Streets,  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

Odd  Fellow   Block,  which  consists  of  two  large 
buildings,  is  the  largest  and  the  most  up-to-date  of 
fice  building  owned  by  the  Race  in  America.  These 
vast  properties  were  erected  in   1912  and   1913  by 
District  Grand  Lodge  No.  18,  G.  U.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Am 
erica,  Jurisdiction  of  Georgia,  a  corporation.     The 
corporation  consists  of  fifty  thousand  male  and  fe 
male  members  of  G.  U.  O.  O.  F.,  of  America,  Jur 
isdiction  of  Georgia.     The  main  building  is  known 
as  Odd  Fellow   Building  and     is     located     on   the 
northeast  corner     of     Auburn     Avenue     and   Bell 
Street,  and  is  seven  stories  high  above  the  ground. 
The  building  consists  of  six  stores,  fifty-six  offices, 
three  lodge  rooms  and  the  roof  garden.     The  roof 
garden   will   seat   and   accommodate   one   thousand 
people.    It  is  the  largest  and  the  most  modern  roof 
garden  in  the  country,  adapted  to  use  all  seasons 
of  the  year — sanitary,  ventilated  and  heated  by  the 
most  modern   systems.     The  lodge   rooms   are   oc 
cupied  by  many  of  the  different  secret  Orders  in 
the  city.     The  offices  are  used  by  such  substantial 
concerns  as  the  Standard  Life  Insurance  Company, 
Atlanta  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  Chatham  Mu 
tual  Insurance  Company,  Atlanta     State     Savings 
Bank,  District  Grand  Lodge  No.  18,  G.  U.  O.  O.  F., 
of  America,  Jurisdiction  of  Georgia,  The  N.  C.  Mu 
tual  &  Provident  Association  and  the  Masonic  Re 
lief  Association.    The  main  building  fronts  Auburn 
Avenue  60  feet,  and  runs  north  on  Bell  Street  one 
hundred  feet. 

The  Odd  Fellow  Auditorium  and  Office  Build 
ing  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Auburn  Avenue 
and  Butler  Street,  facing  Auburn  Avenue  138 
feet  front,  and  consists  of  eight  stores,  eighteen 
offices  and  the  Odd  Fellow  Auditorium  Theatre. 
The  building  is  two  stories  high,  and  the  offices 
on  the  second  floor  are  occupied  almost  entirely  by 
the  leading  colored  physicians  of  the  city.  The 
stores  are  always  rented ;  the  Gate  City  Drug  Store 
occupies  the  corner.  This  great  property  of  the 
Order  was  erected  at  a  cost  to  the  Corporation,  in 
cluding  the  land,  quite  $400,000  and  is  today  valued 
at  a  half  million  dollars.  The  Order  contributes  to 
the  State  of  Georgia  and  the  City  of  Atlanta  $5,000 
in  taxes  each  year  on  its  holdings. 

More  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  young  men  and 
women  are  engaged  in  the  various  enterprises,  do 
ing  business  in  the  Odd  Fellow  Block.  This  invest 
ment  is  a  paying  proposition,  netting  to  the  Or 
der — above  operating  expenses — each  year  $10,000 
which  is  credited  to  the  Endowment  Fund,  guar 
anteeing  the  payment  of  the  Death  Benefit  Certifi 
cates  held  by  the  members  of  the  Order  throughout 
the  Jurisdiction.  This,  the  greatest  contribution  of 
the  Race  to  the  National  growth,  argues  most 
largely  its  possibilities  and  is  due  entirely  to  the 
leadership  of  the  District  Grand  Secretary,  Benja 
min  Jefferson  Davis,  and  stands  as  a  monument  to 
hi.-;  energy,  push  and  pluck. 


116 


ODD   FELLOWS    BLOCK,   MAI  M   BUILDING,  ATLANTA,  GA. 


CHARLES  HENRY  DOUGLASS. 


N  Macon,  Georgia,  there  is  an  up- 
to  date  negro  theatre,  one  of  the 
few  negro  theatres  of  any  kind  to 
be  owned  and  managed  by  a  Ne 
gro.  It  was  built  in  1911,  with 
modern  appliances.  It  has  a  seat 
ing  capacity  of  330  and  is  sanitary  throughout. 
It  has  both  oscilating  and  exhaust  fans  to  keep 
the  air  within  pure  and  the  building  sanitary. 
This  enterprise  is  the  work  of  Charles  Henry 
Douglass,  who  in  this  way  has  made  provision 
for  the  recreation  and  pleasure  of  his  people.  Here 
every  afternoon  and  evening  the  tired  housewife, 
servant  or  laborer  can  drop  in  and  enjoy  a  pleas 
ant  hour  without  embarrassment  or  discrimina 
tion.  Seeing  an  opportunity  for  a  Negro  amuse 
ment  house  in  Macon,  he  leased  in  1904,  the  Oc- 
mulgee  Park  Theatre,  which  he  operated  for  two 
years,  when  he  sold  his  lease  and  purchased  a  lot 
on  Broadway  and  erected  the  Colonial  Hotel,  a 
three  story  brick  building,  which  stands  on  this 
business  thoroughfare  in  the  midst  of  the  big  bus 
iness  of  the  city.  The  building  cost  eighteen 
thousand  dollars  ($18,000),  and  is  the  only  piece 
of  property  on  Broadway  to  be  owned  by  a  Ne- 

118 


gro.  While  operating  his  hotel,  Mr.  Douglass  or 
ganized  a  theatrical  company  of  about  thirty-five 
of  forty  colored  people  and  traveled  with  his  com 
pany  through  fourteen  states,  giving  performances 
in  many  cities,  winning  favorable  patronage  which 
established  his  reputation  and  earned  him  much 
money.  Selling  out  his  interest  in  the  Theatrical 
Company  he  added  the  proceeds  to  other  funds  and 
erected  the  "Douglas  Theatre."  This  theatre  he 
operates  entirely  with  Negro  help.  He  has  the 
only  Negro  picture  operator  permitted  to  operate 
a  machine  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  In  contemplat 
ing  a  successful  man  it  is  interesting  to  note  the 
steps  by  which  he  climbed  the  ladder  of  success. 
We  will  go  back  now  and  trace  the  history  of  Mr. 
Douglass  from  his  childhood  days. 

Mr.  Douglass  was  born  in  Macon,  Georgia,  in 
1870  and  reared  in  comparative  poverty,  his  parents 
being  very  poor.  Necessity  laid  upon  him  the  bur 
den  of  money  making  from  early  life,  in  fact  from 
the  time  that  he  could  earn  a  penny.  His  first  job 
was  to  peddle  light  wood  and  vegetables.  To  this 
work  he  devoted  his  mornings  but  attended  the 
public  school  in  the  afternoon.  He  chopped  cotton 
when  he  was  so  small  that  he  had  to  saw  off  the 
hoe  handle  so  that  he  might  wield  the  hoe.  When 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  left  the  cotton  patch  and 
went  to  the  city.  Here  he  secured  a  position  as 
buggy  boy  for  a  physician,  and  received  as  wages, 
Six  Dollars,  ($6.00)  per  month. 

This  position  he  held  until  the  death  of  his  fa 
ther.  When  his  father  died  the  support  of  his 
mother  and  two  sisters  fell  upon  his  shoulders. 
Without  flinching  he  assumed  the  responsibility 
and  set  himself  to  the  task. 

He  realized  that  he  could  not  meet  the  demands 
of  the  family  upon  the  small  wages  that  he  was 
receiving,  so  he  gave  up  his  position  of  buggy  boy 
and  sought  employment  in  other  lines.  He  se 
cured  work  as  a  day  laborer,  finding  employment 
in  a  saw  mill,  where  he  received  seventy-seven 
(77)  cents  per  day.  Here  he  labored  until  he 
found  an  opening  where  the  wages  were  larger. 
From  the  saw  mill  he  returned  to  Macon,  where 
he  entered  a  box  factory,  earning  wages  of  from 
$1.75  to  $2.00  per  day.  It  cost  him  five  dollars  to 
get  this  job. 

While  working  as  a  laborer  with  his  hands  his 
mind  was  working  upon  a  plan  to  start  a  business 
of  his  own,  and  to  this  end  he  began  to  save  his 
money.  When  he  had  saved  twenty-four  dollars 
($24),  he  was  ready  for  his  venture.  With  this 
small  capital  he  opened  a  bicycle  repair  shop,  which 
continued  to  grow  until  the  auto  made  its  appear 
ance.  This  was  the  beginning  of  his  business  ca 
reer,  but  very  far  from  being  its  end. 

When  the  automobile  bid  for  popular  favor  the 


COLONIAL  HOTEL  AND  DOUGLASS  THEATRE 

bicycle  had  to  take  a  back  seat  so  he  took  time  by 
the  forelock  and  disposed  of  his  repair  shop  and 
entered  another  line  of  endeavor. 

He  next  entered  the  Real  Estate  business  which 
he  conducted  with  marked  success. 

Ne  never  shirked  the  responsibility  which  his 
father's  death  placed  upon  him,  but  cared  for  his 
mother  and  sisters  with  devotion  and  loyalty  which 
made  their  paths  smooth  and  pleasant. 

When  his  mother  died  he  remained  the  devoted 
brother  and  supported  and  looked  after  the  inter 
ests  of  his  two  sisters  until  they  married  and  made 
homes  for  themselves.  He  not  only  supported 
them  but  gave  them  the  advantages  of  education 
which  contributed  to  their  pleasure  and  usefulness 
in  life. 

When  he  worked  at  the  saw  mill  he  often  saw 
the  porters  and  waiters  in  the  Pullman  car  ser 
vice  and  was  -deeply  impressed  at  the  smug  and 
satisfied  air  they  exhibited,  and  the  spirit  of  con 
tentment  that  seemed  to  possess  them.  He  also 
noted  that  they  were  well  dressed.  Thus  uncon 
sciously  they  inspired  in  him  the  desire  to  have 
good  clothes  and  to  enjoy  their  seemingly  spirit 
of  contentment. 

This  desire  he  has  realized  far  beyond  his  fond 
est  hopes  and  aspirations.  With  him  to  desire  is 
the  determination  to  attain  and  determination  and 
energy  usually  brought -him  the  coveted  reward. 

His  personal  appearance  while  not  gaudy  was 
always  attractive  and  he  is  what  may  be  termed  a 
well  dressed  man.  Mr.  Douglass  has  always  de 
pended  upon  himself  and  all  his  moves  originated 
with  himself  and  he  paid  for  any  and  all  assistance 
he  received.  He  never  put  himself  in  the  attitude 
of  a  beggar.  When  he  secured  the  position  in  the 
box  factory  he  paid  one  of  the  laborers  therein  to 
recommend  him  and  he  has  followed  that  policy 


through  all  his  business  career.     He  attributes  his 
success  in  a  large  measure  to  this  principle. 

Another  element  in  his  character  which  helped 
in  his  successful  career  was  his  power  to  discern 
a  need  and  the  grit  to  venture.  If  he  saw  a  need  it 
was  to  him  an  opportunity  and  opportunity  found 
in  him  a  willing  follower. 

Air.  Douglass  has  acquired  considerable  proper 
ty.  In  addition  to  his  hotel  and  theatre  he  owns 
thirty  tenement  houses,  which  contain  from  three 
to  eight  rooms,  two  pressed  brick  stores  with  flats 
in  second  story ;  these  are  in  the  Broadway  block 
and  the  flats  rent  for  $140  per  month.  He  has  a 
thirty  acre  farm  just  outside  of  Macon  where  he 
raises  Duroc  and  Berkshire  hogs  , truck,  fruit  and 
game  chickens. 

Mr.  Douglass  was  married  in  1902  to  Miss  Fan 
nie  Appling  of  Macon,  Georgia.  Six  children  make 
up  the  Douglass  family,  Winna,  Marsenia,  Charles 
Henry,  Jr.,  Peter,  Carro  and  Lilly.  His  close  atten 
tion  to  business  matters  did  not  lessen  his  interest 
in  his  family  life  and  he  endeavored  to  make  his 
home  attractive  and  comfortable.  Recently  he 
built  an  attractive  bungalow  for  his  family.  Here 
he  finds  his  greatest  relaxation  from  business  cares. 
It  is  not  surprising  that  a  man  who  was  such  a 
good  son  and  brother  should  make  an  ideal  hus 
band  and  father.  The  importance  he  felt  for  the 
education  of  his  sisters,  which  he  accomplished, 
under  the  stress  of  poverty,  he  now  feels  for  his 
children  and  being  in  a  financial  condition  to  give 
them  a  good  education  he  plans  to  fit  them  for  use 
ful  and  honorable  positions  in  life.  He  is  a  living 
illustration  of  what  a  man  with  a  vision  and  a 
strong  will  can  do  in  brushing  aside  difficulties  to 
reach  his  goal. 


RESIDENCE  OF  C.  H.  DOUGLASS. 


119 


IUSHOP  JOSEPH  SIMEON  FLIPPER,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 


Bishop  Joseph  Simeon  Flipper 


OR  nearly  forty  years  Bishop  Jo 
seph  Simeon  Flipper,  of  the  A.  M. 
E.  Church,  has  been  a  leader  in 
the  South ;  a  leader  in  education, 
in  religion,  and  in  organizations 
ot  uplift  for  the  American  Negro. 
Born  Feb.  22,  1859,  in  the  days 
of  slavery,  and  educated  amidst 
the  confusion  of  reconstruction,  he  has  risen  from 
school  teacher  to  pastor,  from  pastor  to  dean,  then 
college  president,  and  finally  to  Bishop. 

In  1867,  when  the  Northern  Missionaries  came 
South,  he  attended  school  in  Bethel  A.  M.  E. 
Church.  From  here  he  went  to  the  Storrs  School 
on  Houston  street.  In  October,  1869,  he  enrolled 
among  the  first  students  to  enter  the  Atlanta  Uni 
versity,  where  he  remained  until  1876.  In  the  sum 
mer  of  this  year  he  began  teaching  school  at 
Thomaston,  Georgia.  He  was  converted  in  March 
1877,  and  joined  St.  Thomas,  A.  M.  E.  Church.  In 
1877  and  1878  he  taught  school  in  Thomas  County 
In  1879  he  was  commissioned  by  his  Excellency, 
Governor  Alford  H.  Colquitt,  Captain  of  the  Thom- 
asville  Independants,  a  colored  company  forming 
a  part  of  the  State  Militia.  In  the  same  year  he 
taught  school  at  Groverville,  now  Key,  Brooks 
County,  Georgia.  Here  he  was  licensed  both  as 
an  exhorter  and  local  preacher,  and  recommended 
by  the  local  church  for  admission  into  the  Georgia 
Annual  Conference  of  the  African  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church.  In  January,  1880,  he  was  received 
into  the  itinerant  ministry  of  the  Georgia  Confer 
ence  at  Americus,  Georgia,  by  Bishop  J.  P.  Camp 
bell,  and  assigned  to  the  Groverville  Circuit.  He 
was  ordained  Deacon  in  January,  1882,  in  St.  Tho 
mas  A.  .M  E.  Church,  Thomasville,  the  same 
church  in  which  he  was  converted  and  which  he 
joined  in  1877.  Here  he  was  elected  Secretary  of 
the  Georgia  Conference,  and  a  Trustee  of  Morris 
Brown  College.  He  was  appointed  to  Darien, 
Georgia,  in  1882.  The  next  year  he  taught  school 
at  Cairo  and  Whigham,  Georgia.  In  1884,  he  was 
ordained  Elder  at  Valdosta,  and  appointed  to  Quit- 
man.  Remaining  here  until  January,  1886,  he  was 
transferred  from  the  Georgia  Conference  to  the 
North  Georgia  Conference,  and  appointed  to  Be 
thel  A.  M.  E.  Church,  on  Wheat  Street,  Atlanta. 
This  was  the  largest  church  in  the  State  and  he 
was  the  youngest  man  that  had  ever  been  appoint 
ed  to  such  an  important  charge  in  the  State.  His 
mother  had  been  a  member  of  this  church,  he  had 
attended  its  Sunday  School  when  a  boy,  and  had 
first  learned  his  alphabet  here.  He  remained  here 
four  years,  the  full  limit  of  the  law,  and  raised 
more  Dollar  Money  than  had  ever  been  raised,  not 
only  in  the  history  of  this  church,  but  of  the  entire 
State.  It  was  here  in  1886,  he  became  one  of  the 
Dollar  Money  Kings  of  the  entire  connection,  for 
which  he  was  honored  with  a  gold  badge,  making 
a  record  which  stood  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  be 
fore  any  other  pastor  exceeded  it.  From  Bethel  he 
was  appointed  pastor  of  Pierce  Chapel  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  Athens. 

In  1891,  he  was  elected  delegate  to  the  Gen 
eral  Conference  which  met  in  Philadelphia  ,Pa., 
in  May,  1892.  It  was  in  this  same  year  that  he 

121 


was  appointed  by  Bishop  A.  Grant,  Presiding  El 
der  of  the  Athens  district.  Two  years  later  Allen 
University,  Columbia,  S.  C.  conferred  upon  him  the 
title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Remaining  in  the  Ath 
ens  District  three  years,  he  was  appointed  pastor 
of  Allen  Temple,  Atlanta.  This  was  in  1895,  the 
same  year  he  was  elected  delegate  to  the  General 
Conference,  which  met  in  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  May 
1896.  In  1899  he  was  elected  leader  of  the  delega 
tion  of  the  North  Georgia  Conference,  to  the  Gen 
eral  Conference  which  met  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  May 
1900.  It  was  at  this  conference  that  he  was  elec 
ted  Chairman  of  the  Episcopal  Committee,  the 
most  important  committee  of  the  General  Confer 
ence.  At  this  General  Conference,  also,  he  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  Financial  Board,  which 
has  the  oversight  of  all  money  raised  by  the  church. 
In  1899  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Paul,  A.  M. 
E.  Church,  Atlanta,  serving  four  years.  In  1903 
he  was  elected  by  the  Trustee  Board  of  Morris 
Brown  College,  Dean  of  the  Theological  Depart 
ment,  where  he  served  one  year.  The  year,  1903. 
saw  him  elected  leader  of  the  delegation  of  the  At 
lanta,  Georgia  Conference  to  the  General  Confer 
ence,  which  met  at  Chicago,  111.,  May  1904.  Here 
again  he  was  elected  Chairman  of  the  Episcopal 
Committee,  which  committee  for  his  faithful  ser 
vice,  presented  him  with  a  large  silver  loving  cup. 
He  was  again  appointed  a  member  of  the  Financial 
Board.  Upon  his  return  home  he  was  elected  by 
the  Trustee  Board,  President  of  Morris  Brown  Col 
lege,  and  enrolled  the  largest  number  of  students 
in  the  school's  history.  This  position  he  held  for 
four  years.  In  1906,  Wilberforce  University,  Ohio, 
conferred  on  him  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 

In  1908,  at  the  General  Conference  held  in  Nor 
folk,  Virginia,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Bishops 
of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
assigned  to  the  Ninth  Episcopal  District,  consisting 
of  Arkansas  and  Oklahoma.  In  1912,  when  the 
General  Conference  met  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
the  delegation  from  Georgia,  his  native  state,  re 
quested  that  he  be  sent  to  preside  over  Georgia, 
which  request  was  granted.  On  coming  to  Geor 
gia,  he  erected  the  Flipper  Hall,  the  boys  dormitory 
at  Morris  Brown  College,  the  Central  Normal  and 
Industrial  Institute,  at  Savannah,  bought  ten  acres 
of  land  for  Payne  College,  at  Cuthbert,  Georgia, 
and  united  all  the  schools  into  one  system,  known 
as  Morris  Brown  University. 

Bishop  Flipper  owns  his  home  and  three  rent 
houses,  in  Atlanta,  two  vacant  lots  in  Waycross, 
five  in  Savannah,  and  one  in  Lincoln,  Md.  He  is  a 
stockholder  of  the  Standard  Life  Insurance  Com 
pany.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  Director  of  the 
Atlanta  State  Savings  Bank,  and  a  stockholder 
in  the  Independant,  of  New  York  City.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Southern  Sociological  Congress ; 
of  the  National  Geographic  Society,  Washington, 
D.  C.,  a  Trustee  of  the  World's  Christian  Endeavor 
— president  of  the  Sunday  School  Union  Board  of 
the  A.  M.  E.  Church. 

Bishop  Flipper  was  married  in  Thomasville,  Geor 
gia,  in  1880,  to  Miss  Amanda  Isabella  Slater.  There 
are  three  children  in  the  Flipper  family:  Josephine 
G.,  Nathan  and  Carl. 


WILLIAM  ALFRED  FOUNTAIN,  A.  B  ,  M.  A.. 
S.  T.  B.,  B.  D.,  Ph.  D. 

R.  William  A.  Fountain,  now  Pres 
ident  of  Morris  Brown  Univer 
sity,  is  the  son  of  Reverend  Rich 
ard  and  Virginia  Fountain,  both 
of  whom  were  devoted  members 
of  the  African  Methodist  Episco 
pal  Church. 

He  was  born  October  29,  1870,  at  Elberton,  Geor 
gia,  and  was  one  of  seventeen  children.  He  en 
tered  school  at  the  age  of  six  and  attended  about 
sixteen  years.  Passing  through  the  public  school 
at  Elberton,  he  graduated  successively  from  Morris 
Brown  University,  Allen  University,  Turner  Theo 
logical  Seminary,  and  took  a  post-graduate  course 
at  Chicago  University,  and  non-resident  courses  in 
Central  University.  He  has  the  following  degrees : 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  from  Morris  Brown  University, 
in  1901  ;  Master  of  Arts  from  Allen  University ;  S. 
T.  B.,  from  Turner  Seminary;  B.  D.  and  Ph.  D., 
from  Central  University.  He  was  also  a  student 
at  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  111.,  in  1916. 
He  was  converted  April  1888,  at  the  age  of  eigh 
teen  and  joined  Allen  Temple  A.  M.  E.  Church,  At 
lanta,  Georgia,  the  same  year.  He  became  very 


active  in  the  church  work  and  has  held  almost  ev 
ery  office  in  the  body. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  at  Elberton,  Georgia, 
in  1893,  by  Rev.  (now  Bishop,)  J.  S.  Flipper.  He 
joined  the  annual  conference  at  Marietta,  Georgia, 
under  Bishop  Grant;  was  ordained  deacon  at  Ath 
ens,  Georgia,  by  Bishop  A.  Grant;  ordained  elder 
at  Cedartown,  Georgia,  by  Bishop  Turner.  He  has 
held  the  following  appointments:  Pendergrass 
Mission;  Athens-Bethel;  Washington-Jackson  Cha 
pel  and  Pope's  Chapel,  Marietta,  Georgia;  Turner 
Chapel,  Atlanta,  Georgia;  Allen  Temple,  Wilming 
ton,  North  Carolina ;  St.  Stephens,  Macon  Georgia  ; 
Steward  Chapel;  Presiding  Elder  of  Athens  dis 
trict.  Each  change  carried  him  to  an  enlarged 
field  of  work. 

His  accomplishment's  as  a  church  builder  and 
debt  liquidator  show  a  decided  ability  in  those  lines. 
He  built  Pope's  Chapel,  at  Washington,  Georgia, 
at  a  cost  of  $20,000;  repaired  the  Parsonage  at  Ma 
rietta,  Georgia,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000;  bought  lot  and 
beautified  church,  paid  church  out  of  debt,  at  Atlan 
ta,  at  cost  of  $5,000;  left  $500  to  build  a  Sunday 
School  room  for  St.  Stephens  at  Wilmington,  N.  C. ; 
established  an  Old  Folk's  Home  and  built  a  Par 
sonage  at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  for  Steward  Chapel,  Ma- 
con,  Georgia.  He  has  lifted  mortgages  at  Athens, 
Marietta,  Allen  Temple  and  Steward  Chapel. 

Dr.  Fountain  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  follow 
ing  General  Conferences :  Columbus,  Ohio,  in 
1900;  Chicago,  in  1904;  Norfolk,  in  1908;  Kansas 
City,  in  1912,  and  the  Centennial  General  Confer 
ence  at  Philadelphia,  in  1916. 

Before  becoming  active  as  a  minister,  Dr.  Foun 
tain  gave  part  of  his  time  to  the  school  room,  so 
when  he  was  called  to  succeed  the  lamented  Dr. 
E.  W.  Lee,  as  president  of  Morris  Brown  University 
he  was  not  without  experience  as  a  teacher. 

Dr.  Fountain  holds  membership  in  many  organi 
zations  and  has  an  active  interest  in  them.  He  is 
an  Odd  Fellow,  a  Mason,  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 
He  has  been  twice  married.  He  was  first  married 
to  Miss  Jessie  M.  Williams,  of  Sumter,  S.  C,  in 
1893.  She  died  in  1898.  In  1899  he  married  Miss 
Julia  T.  Allen.  His  first  wife  gave  him  two  chil 
dren,  W.  A.  Fountain,  Jr.,  and  Jessie  Mamie  and 
his  second  wife  gave  him  four  children,  Louise 
Virginia,  Sue  Jette,  Julia  Bell  and  Allen  McNeal, 
deceased.  Dr.  Fountain  has  a  high  ambition  for 
his  children  which  he  is  trying  to  realize  by  train 
ing  their  heart  and  mind  as  he  was  himself  trained. 
He  finds  great  satisfaction  and  pleasure  in  his  home 
life.  He  has  another  great  ambition  also — to 
make  the  Morris  Brown  University  a  great  Insti 
tution,  taking  high  rank  among  the  Negro  schools 
of  the  land.  He  is  fast  advancing  it  towards  his 
goal  and  has  received  much  encouragement  to  per 
severe  in  his  efforts. 


122 


JOHN   WESLEY   GILBERT,   Ph.   D. 

OME  years  ago  the  public  was 
startled  to  know  that  Brown  Uni 
versity  had  sent  a  Negro  scholar 
to  Athens,  Greece.  There  were 
many  causes  for  this  surprise.  In 
the  first  place  it  had  been  wide 
ly  exploited  that  the  Negro  could  not  learn  Greek. 
In  the  second  place  the  Negro  had  been  chosen 
as  a  representative  of  a  New  England  college.  This 
was  how  it  all  came  about.  Brown  University,  at 
Providence,  Rhode  Island,  holds  what  is  known  as 
an  Athens  scholarship.  This  scholarship  is  award 
ed  to  the  best  Greek  scholar  in  the  University. 
John  Wesley  Gilbert  won  this  scholarship  over  the 
sons  of  Anne  Hutchinson,  of  Roger  Williams,  and 
over  many  other  lads  of  distinguished  ancestry. 
Thus  it  came  about  that  the  American  Negro  in  a 
quarter  of  a  century  after  slavery  had  sent  a 
scholar  abroad. 

John  Wesley  Gilbert  was  born  in  Hepsibah, 
Georgia,  July  6,  1865.  His  first  years  of  training 
were  spent  in  the  public  schools  of  Augusta.  Geor 
gia.  From  the  public  schools  of  Augusta,  he  reg 
istered  in  the  Atlanta  Baptist  Seminary,  now  the 
theological  department  of  Morehouse  College,  At 
lanta,  Georgia.  Going  up  from  the  South.  Mr. 

123 


Gilbert  made  his  way  into  Brown  University,  and 
soon  made  his  mark  as  a  scholar  of  the  classics. 
He  especially  excelled  in  Greek;  so  that  when  the 
award  was  made  for  the  representative  from  Brown 
University,  the  Negro  scholar  was  chosen  to  go  to 
the  American  school  of  classics  in  the  city  of  So 
crates  and  Plato,  of  Pericles  and  Demosthenes.  It 
was  here  he  won  his  Master's  degree. 

However,  one  must  live  in  Athens,  and  scholar 
ships  do  not  always  defray  all  expenses.  To  pay 
h'.s  way  the  Greek  scholar  served  as  a  guide  to 
American  tourists,  who  came  to  visit  this  ancient 
citadel  of  culture  and  war.  In  those  days  exca 
vations  in  Greece  were  exceedingly  popular.  Be 
fore  long,  Mr.  Gilbert  was  numbered  among  those 
who  sought  to  exhume  the  old  walls,  pillars  and 
gates,  made  famous  in  ancient  Greek  stories.  He 
conducted  excavations  not  only  in  Greece,  but  on 
the  Mediterranean  Islands.  Few  men  have  been 
thus  favored  to  use  their  classical  scholarship. 

Mr.  Gilbert  has  been  an  extensive  traveler.  He 
has  traveled  practically  over  the  whole  of  the 
United  States  and  visited  most  places  of  note  and 
interest  and  has  visited  many  countries  in  Europe. 

The  trip  to  Athens  only  whetted  the  young  scho 
lar's  taste  for  more  travel.  He  made  two  more 
trips  abroad,  when  he  visited  many  countries  in 
Africa  and  most  of  the  countries  in  Europe.  He 
was  not  only  traveling,  he  was  working.  While 
in  the  Belgian  Congo,  he,  with  Bishop  W.  R.  Lam- 
buth,  founded  the  mission  at  Wimbo,  Miami,  a 
mission  which  is  still  in  full  operation.  His  work 
of  investigation  and  research  won  him  a  member 
ship  in  the  Archaeological  Institute  and  in  the 
Philological  Association  of  America. 

Mr.  Gilbert  has  been  engaged  for  years  in  teach 
ing  and  preaching.  He  began  his  course  as  a 
teacher  in  Paine  Coollege,  Augusta,  Georgia,  in 
1889.  He  was  Dean  of  Theology  in  Paine  for  three 
years.  Mr.  Gilbert  entered  the  ministry  in  1895,  in 
the  C.  M.  E.  'Church.  In  1901  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Ecumenical  Congress,  which  assembled  in  Lon 
don,  England.  He  is  at  present  commissioner  for 
and  professor  of  Greek,  in  Paine  College. 

He  has  kept  his  membership  alive  in  many  of  the 
organizations  at  home.  His  membership  in  the  A. 
M.  E.  Church  has  been  one  of  much  activity.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  superintendent  of  African 
missions  for  many  years.  He  is  a  Mason,  a  Knight 
of  Pythias  and  an  Odd  Fellow.  In  the  Knight  of 
Pythias  he  is  Grand  Auditor. 

He  was  married  in  1889  to  Miss  Oceola  Pleasant, 
a  native  of  Augusta,  Georgia.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  of  whom  three  are  living. 

His  real  estate  holdings  are  valued  at  $15,000  and 
he  is  a  holder  of  several  shares  in  a  realty  company 
of  Augusta. 


KEMPER   HARRELD. 

EM  PER  Harreld,  known  the  coun 
try  over  as  a  concert  violinist, 
popular  also  as  a  teacher  of  violin 
and  as  a  chorus  director,  was  born 
and  reared  in  Muncie,  Indiana. 
From  his  youth  he  was  a  musical 
prodigy.  His  special  talent  first 
manifested  itself  in  song ;  so  much  so  that  under 
the  tutelage  of  Miss  Nannie  C.  Love,  who  was  in 
charge  of  the  public  school  music,  he  soon  became 
known  as  the  boy  singer.  However,  the  violin  had 
early  fallen  into  his  hands,  and  while  singing,  he 
was  also  after  his  boy  fashion  making  rich  tones  on 
the  violin,  becoming  in  a  short  time,  at  least  a 
fiddler. 

Following  his  bent  Mr.  Harreld  took  special  stu 
dies  in  his  home  town  and  then  in  Indianapolis. 
From  Indianapolis  he  entered  the  Chicago  Musical 
College  and  studied  violin  under  Chiheiser,  theory 
under  Maryott  and  Falk,  and  composition  under 
Borowski.  Mr.  Harreld's  next  studies  were  pur 
sued  under  Frederick  Frederiksen,  a  celebrated 
violinist  from  the  Royal  College  of  Music  in  Lon 
don.  Three  years  of  hard  work  with  Frederiksen 
gave  Mr.  Harreld  a  much  finer  touch,  higher  tech 
nique  and  greater  confidence  in  himself. 

Meantime  he  had  become  well  known  in  Amer 
ica  as  one  of  the  leading  violinists.  To  the  laity 
he  was  already  perfect  in  technique,  harmony,  and 
those  points  of  excellence  for  which  musicians  so 
eagerly  and  so  sedulously  strive. 


Morehouse  College  in  Atlanta,  Georgia,  was 
among  the  institutions  to  invite  Mr.  Harreld  to  be 
come  a  member  of  their  teaching  staff.  Atlanta 
being  a  field  of  rare  possibility,  due  to  the  high  in 
tellectual  standard,  Mr.  Harreld  became  a  teacher 
of  music  at  Morehouse,  and  established  a  studio 
on  Chestnut  Street  in  the  city. 

Here  in  Atlanta  Mr.  Harreld  lives  an  exceeding 
ly  busy  life.  As  a  teacher  of  private  pupils  he  takes 
every  minute  of  his  spare  time.  As  a  chorus  direc 
tor  he  with  his  chorus  is  constantly  in  demand.  He 
has  developed  an  orchestra  for  Morehouse,  an  or 
chestra  of  from  eighteen  to  twenty-three  members, 
picked  from  a  student  body  of  not  more  than  four 
hundred  and  fifty  students.  Biggest  of  all,  Mr. 
Harreld  has  a  choir  chorus  of  three  hundred  voices, 
a  chorus  which  is  made  up  of  choirs  from  twenty- 
eight  churches.  When  Billy  Sunday  preached  in 
Atlanta  his  chorus  was  increased  to  fifteen  hun 
dred  voices,  who  sang  to  an  audience  of  seventeen 
thousand. 

Dear  as  these  honors  are,  Mr.  Harreld  has  not 
decided  to  rest  on  what  he  already  knows  and  can 
do.  Busy  as  he  is  with  his  regular  music  at  More- 
house,  with  private  pupils,  chorus  work  and  violin 
recital,  he  nevertheless  steals  time  here  and  there 
for  intense  study  and  observation.  The  year  1914, 
for  example,  found  him  stealing  away  to  spend  his 
vacation  to  study  in  Berlin.  Unhappily,  the  war 
broke  forth  during  his  stay  in  Berlin,  and  he  and 
Mrs.  Harreld  were  held  by  the  German  Govern 
ment  for  twenty-five  days,  before  they  were  al 
lowed  to  leave  for  America. 

Since  that  time  owing  to  disturbances  every 
where  Mr.  Harreld  has  not  returned  to  Europe  to 
study.  He  has  traveled,  however,  in  England,  Hol 
land  and  Germany  in  recital  engagements,  and  in 
nearly  every  part  of  the  United  States.  His  studies 
have  during  his  work  at  Morehouse  taken  a  prac 
tical  turn,  going  into  Negro  music  and  its  possi 
bilities. 

It  is  difficult  to  determine  what  branch  of  music 
Mr.  Harreld  excels  in,  as  a  music  master,  a  chorus 
director,  or  as  a  concert  violinist.  In  the  first  two — 
Atlanta  gives  him  the  leading  place.  In  the  last 
named  the  papers  of  various  cities  in  which  he  has 
appeared  vie  with  one  another  in  singing  his  praise. 
This  from  the  College  Bulletin  of  Birmingham  is 
typical,  and  at  the  same  time  expresses  the  great 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 

"Plays  in  most  finished  and  artistic  style  with 
brilliancy  and  very  beautiful  tone.  Has  no  equal  in 
temperament  and  expression." 

What  Mr.  Harreld  himself  considers  his  best  ef 
fort  was  a  benefit  concert  given  in  the  Auditorium- 
Armory  in  Atlanta.  For  this  he  organized  the  cho 
ral  and  orchestral  forces  of  the  six  higher  institu 
tions  for  Negro  education  in  Atlanta — Atlanta  Uni 
versity,  Morris  Brown  University,  Clark  Univer 
sity,  Morehouse  College,  Spelman  Seminary  and 
Gammon  Theological  Seminary.  There  were  five 
hundred  in  the  chorus  and  a  large  orchestra.  This 
program  was  rendered  before  5000  persons. 

Mr.  Harreld  was  married  on  June  11,  1913,  to 
Miss  Claudia  White,  daughter  of  the  famous  Dr. 
W.  J.  White,  of  Augusta.  They  have  one  child,  a 
daughter,  Josephine  Eleanor,  who  is  three  years 
of  age. 


124 


JOHN  HOPE,  A.  B.,  A.  M. 

OHN  Hope,  President  of  More- 
house  College,  was  born  in  Au 
gusta,  Georgia,  June,  1868,  the 
son  of  James  and  Mary  Francis 
Hope.  After  some  years  of  ele 
mentary  education,  secured  large 
ly  by  his  own  efforts,  he  entered  Worcester 
Academy,  (Mass.,)  in  the  fall  of  1886.  He  was 
prominent  in  the  activities  of  the  school,  becoming 
editor-in-chief  of  the  Academy,  the  Student  Month 
ly  ;  and  at  graduation  he  was  class  historian  and 
a  commencement  speaker.  Entering  Brown  Uni 
versity  in  1890,  he  received  the  A.  B.  Degree  in 
1894,  with  the  distinction  of  being  class  orator.  In 
1907  his  Alma  Mater  conferred  on  him  the  A.  M. 
degree.  In  October  1894,  Mr.  Hope  entered  the 
service  of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission 
Society  as  a  teacher  in  Roger  Williams  University, 
Nashville,  Tenn.  In  1898  he  was  transferred  to  At 
lanta  Baptist  College.  On  the  resignation  of  pres 
ident  Sale  he  was  promoted  to  the  presidency,  ser 
ving  for  the  first  year  as  Acting  President.  In 
1897  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lugenia  D.  Burns,  of 
Chicago,  111.,  He  is  the  father  of  two  boys,  Ed 
ward  Swain  and  John,  Jr.  President  Hope  is  one 


of  the  leading  figures  in  the  education  of  the  negro 
in  the  South,  and  his  time  is  largely  drawn  upon 
by  many  activities  for  social  or  educational  service. 
In  1915-16  he  was  President  of  the  National  Asso 
ciation  of  Teachers  in  Colored  Schools ;  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.,  of  Atlanta,  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  Na 
tional  Association  for  the  advancement  of  the  Col 
ored  People,  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Urban  League  of  New  York,  of  the  committees  on 
the  Spingarn  Medal,  of  the  Anti-Tuberculosis 
Association,  of  Atlanta,  and  of  various  boards  of 
the  State  Baptist  Convention.  President  Hope's 
chief  interest,  however,  remains,  the  education  of 
men  and  boys ;  and  the  fact  that  he  has  given  him 
self  to  his  work  in  such  wholehearted  fashion  lar 
gely  accounts  for  the  rapid  advancement  that 
Morehouse  College  has  made  within  the  last  ten 
years. 

In  the  summer  of  1918,  President  Hope  was  giv 
en  a  leave  of  absence  by  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society  and  was  appointed  by  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  as  a  Special 
Secretary  for  the  oversight  of  the  Negro  soldiers 
of  America  in  France.  In  this  capacity  he  has  ren 
dered  such  distinguished  service  for  the  improve 
ment  of  the  morale  of  the  army  that  he  has  been 
requested  to  continue  in  this  work  until  the  sum 
mer  of  1919.  He  has  complied  with  this  request, 
and  is  still  at  his  work  that  covers  over  fifty  cities. 

The  following  estimate  of  the  administration  of 
President  Hope  has  been  taken  from  the  "History 
of  Morehouse  College,"  written  by  the  Dean. 
"One  of  the  outstanding  features  of  the  adminis-- 
tration  of  President  Hope  has  been  the  excellent 
understanding  between  the  head  of  the  college  and 
the  student  body.  In  the  era  of  "Atlanta  Baptist 
College"  the  aggressive  spirit  that  caused  the  in 
stitution  to  be  widely  known  first  received  real 
impetus.  In  more  recent  years  it  has  developed 
into  a  devotion  with  which  the  youngest  student 
becomes  acquainted  as  soon  as  he  is  enrolled. 
Whatever  question  may  arise,  the  students  know 
that  presiding  over  the  college  is  one  looking  out 
for  their  best  interests,  in  vacation  as  well  as  term 
time,  and  one  with  whom  there  may  be  the  frank 
est  conference.  The  response  comes  in  a  loyalty 
that  has  never  failed  when  anything  involving  the 
highest  welfare  of  the  college  was  at  stake." 

President  Hope  lived  the  life  he  endeavored  to 
impress  upon  the  young  men  coming  under  his 
influence  and  stands  out  before  them  as  an  example 
worthy  of  their  imitation. 

To  impress  oneself  upon  the  rising  generation 
in  such  a  way  as  to  incite  them  to  a  high  ideal  of 
life  is  worthy  the  effort  of  any  man.  This  pleas 
ure  and  satisfaction  is  President  Hope's. 


125 


GRAVES    HALL,    MOREHOUS  E   COLLEGE,  ATLANTA,   GA. 


hlE  Morehouse  College  in  the  city 
of  Atlanta,  Georgia,  is  operated 
by  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society,  of  New  York, 
for  the  education  of  Negro  young 
men,  with  special  reference  to  the 
preparation  of  ministers  and  teachers. 

HISTORY 

The  College  was  organized  in  the  year  1867,  in 
the  city  of  Augusta,  Georgia,  under  the  name  of 
"The  Augusta  Institute."  In  1879,  under  the  pres 
idency  of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Robert,  LL.  D.  (1871- 
1884),  it  was  removed  to  Atlanta  and  incorporated 
under  the  name  "Atlanta  Baptist  Seminary."  At 
this  stage  of  its  growth  the  institution  owned  only 
one  building,  that  a  comparatively  small  three- 
story  structure,  located  near  what  is  now  the  Ter 
minal  Station.  President  Robert  was  succeeded 
by  President  Samuel  Graves,  D.  D.,  in  1885.  Dr. 
Graves  served  as  president  until  1890.  continuing 
as  Professor  of  Theology  for  four  years  longer. 
In  1889,  as  the  surroundings  of  the  old  location  in 
Atlanta  had  become  unfavorable,  a  new  site  was 
secured,  and  in  the  spring  of  1890  the  school 
was  removed  to  its  present  location.  In  the  au 
tumn  of  this  year  President  George  Sale,  (1890- 
1906-  entered  upon  his  duties.  In  1897  amend 
ments  to  the  charter  were  secured,  granting  full 
college  powers  and  changing  the  name  of  the  in 
stitution  to  "Atlanta  Baptist  College."  In  1906 
President  Sale  resigned  to  become  Superintendent 
of  Education  of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mis 


sion  Society,  and  was  succeeded  by  President 
John  Hope,  who  had  been  a  professor  on  the 
faculty  since  1898.  By  a  vote  in  1912  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  concurred  in  by  the  American  Bap 
tist  Home  Mission  Society,  and  by  a  change  in 
1913,  of  the  charter  granted  by  the  State  of  Geor 
gia,  the  name  of  the  institution  became  "More- 
house  College,"  in  honor  of  Rev.  Henry  L.  More- 
house,  D.  D.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Am 
erican  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  and  the  con 
stant  friend  and  benefactor  of  the  Negro  race. 
CAMPUS 

The  campus  is  thirteen  acres  in  extent.  It  oc 
cupies  one  of  the  highest  points  of  land  in  the  city, 
1,100  feet  above  sea-level,  and  commands  a  fine 
view  of  the  city  and  surrounding  country.  For 
beauty  and  healthfulness,  the  situation  could  not 
be  surpassed.  The  property  is  on  West  Fair 
Street,  at  the  junction  of  Chestnut  Street,  with 
in  half  an  hour's  walk  from  the  post-office  and 
railroad  stations. 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  Department  of 
Interior  bureau  of  education  Bulletin,  1916,  No. 
39: 

"It  is  a  young  men's  school  of  secondary  and  col 
lege  grade  with  classes  in  theology  and  an  ele 
mentary  department.  It  is  the  leading  Baptist 
school  of  Georgia,  and  holds  high  rank  among  the 
schools  of  the  South. 

The  institution  is  owned  by  the  American  Bap 
tist  Home  Mission  Society.  A  self-perpetuating 
board  of  trustees  acts  in  an  advisory  capacity. 


126 


t 

*  -. 


MOREHOUSE  REPRESENTATIVES  AT  CAMP  DODGE,  DES  MOINES,  IOWA. 


It  has  an  attendance  of  277,  of  which  number  150 
are  boarders ;  the  teaching  force  consists  of  14 
males  and  five  females,  two  of  which  are  white  and 
the  remainder  colored.  The  teachers  are  devoted 
to  the  welfare  of  thir  pupils  and  command  the  con 
fidence  of  the  student  body.  Besides  the  element 
ary  and  secondary  grades  ,there  is  a  short  course 
in  music,  Bible  and  manual  training.  This  prepara 
tory  course  is  required  of  all  students.  There  are 
no  elective  courses.  All  pupils  entering  the  col 
lege  are  required  to  complete  the  foreign  lan 
guages  of  the  secondary  course. 

The  simple  theological  courses  offered  serve  a 
useful  end,  in  training  ministerial  students. 

Graves  Hall,  erected  in  1889,  at  a  cost  of  twenty 
eight  thousand  dollars,  and  named  in  honor  of 
President  Graves  is  the  chief  college  dormitory. 
Quarles  Hall,  erected  in  1898,  at  a  cost  of  Fourteen 
thousand  dollars,  and  named  in  honor  of  Reverend 
Frank  Quarles,  for  many  years  pastor  of  Friend 
ship  Baptist  Church,  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  presi 
dent  of  the  Georgia  State  Baptist  Convention,  con 
tains  the  class  rooms  in  which  the  work  of  the 
English  Preparatory  Department  is  done  with  a 
floor  for  science  work  in  Chemistry  and  Physics. 
Sale  Hall,  erected  at  a  cost  of  forty  thousand  dol 
lars,  in  1910,  and  named  in  honor  of  President  Sale, 
has  recitation  rooms  and  a  chapel  with  seating  ca 
pacity  of  seven  hundred.  Robert  Hall,  erected  in 
1917,  at  a  total  cost  of  thirty  thousand  dollars,  has 
a  basement  that  is  used  as  a  dining  room  and  three 
floors  devoted  to  dormitory  purposes. 


This  is  emphatically  a  Christian  school.  The 
faculty  keeps  constantly  in  mind  the  fact  that 
it  was  founded  by  a  missionary  organization,  and 
is  sustained  by  the  contributions  of  Christian  peo 
ple  for  the  Christian  education  of  young  men.  The 
Bible  has  a  place  in  the  regular  course  of  study. 
Generally,  Morehouse  College  encourages  all  acti 
vities — religious,  literary,  athletic — which  make 
for  the  development  of  Christian  Ideals  and  for 
the  culture  of  a  sound  mind,  in  a  sound  body. 

The  College  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the 
war.  Already  recently  from  the  student  body  two 
hundred  men  have  be'en  furnished  for  active  ser 
vice.  As  many  as  fourteen  were  commissioned  at 
the  Officers'  Training  Camp,  at  Camp  Dodge,  Iowa. 
Twenty-four  volunteered  for  service  in  the  Signal 
Corps  at  Camp  Sherman,  Ohio.  In  the  fall  of 
known  to  be  either  preaching  or  teaching,  while 
Government  for  the  formation  of  a  unit  of  the 
Student  Army  Training  Corps,  and  a  broad  plan 
was  launched  whereby  the  total  resources  of  the 
institution  were  made  available  for  war  uses. 

In  the  summer  of  1918  President  Hope,  was 
summoned  to  France  for  special  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work 
among  Negro  soldiers. 

The  large  idea  of  the  alumni  of  the  college  is  that 
of  service.  No  less  than  three  fifths  of  the  living 
graduates  of  Morehouse  College  are  definitely 
known  to  be  either  preaching  or  teaching,  while 
at  least  another  fifth  are  engaged  in  the  work  of 
the  medical  profession,  the  Y  .M.  C.  A.  or  other 
lines  of  definite  service. 


127 


ALEXANDER   D.   HAMILTON. 

R.  Alexander  D.  Hamilton  of  At 
lanta,  Georgia,  is  the  father  of  a 
large  family,  the  owner  of  a  sub 
stantial  business,  and  of  consid 
erable  property  and  has  invest 
ments  in  many  Negro  enterprises 
in  and  around  Atlanta. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  born  in  Eufaula,  Alabama,  in 
the  year  1870.  When  but  six  years  of  age,  his  fa 
ther  moved  to  Atlanta,  Georgia,  where  he  was  im 
mediately  enrolled  as  a  pupil  in  the  public  school, 
thus  beginning  his  preparation  for  life  at  an  early 
age.  His  parents  were  not  only  concerned  about 
his  mental  developement,  but  had  regard  for  his 
spiritual  training  and  saw  that  he  was  placed  under 
the  uplifting  influence  of  the  church.  These  two 
agencies,  the  church  and  the  school,  developed  him 
rapidly.  He  completed  his  course  in  the  public 
school  when  only  thirteen  years  old  and  was  re 
ceived  into  the  membership  of  the  church  at  the 
age  of  eleven. 

After  passing  through    the    public    schools    Mr. 

Hamilton  entered  the  Atlanta  University,  where  he 

remained  until  he  had  completed  the  preparatory 

course. 

Atlanta  University  has  long  been  noted  for  its 


thorough  course  in  manual  training.  It  was  at 
Atlanta  University  in  this  course  that  Mr.  Ham 
ilton  learned  the  further  use  of  the  carpenters' 
tools,  for  which  he  cultivated  so  great  a  liking. 

This  disposition  to  the  carpenter  trade  was 
instilled  in  him  from  childhood.  His  father  pur 
sued  this  trade  and  had  become  a  contractor  of 
some  note.  The  youthful  Hamilton,  quick  to  learn 
and  of  an  observant  tendency,  soon  learned  the 
use  of  the  tools,  which  greatly  aided  him  in  his 
studies  in  the  industrial  department  of  the  Atlanta 
University.  Now  ready  for  his  life  work  he  en 
tered  the  employment  of  his  father  and  applied 
himself  energetically  to  his  task.  Fidelity  to  the 
interest  of  his  fathers'  business  brought  its  reward 
and  after  five  years  of  service  he  was  admitted  to 
the  membership  of  the  firm.  From  that  date  until 
the  death  of  his  father  the  name  of  the  firm  was 
A.  Hamilton  and  Son.  His  father  died  in  1911, 
since  which  time  the  son  has  continued  the  business 
alone.  His  conduct  of  the  business  keeps  it  up  to 
the  high  standard  for  which  the  firm  is  noted. 

As  a  young  man,  Mr.  Hamilton  worked  hard  to 
gain  a  footing.  The  fact  that  he  was  in  the  em 
ploy  of  his  father  seemed  to  spur  him  on  rather 
than  to  make  him  take  his  ease.  Struggling  hard 
to  make  his  place  as  a  carpenter,  he  wished  also  to 
establish  a  certain  financial  competence.  To  this 
end  he  saved  as  regularly  and  as  systematically  as 
he  worked.  Thirty  years  of  working  and  saving 
have  brought  encouraging  returns.  He  owns  a 
$7,000  home,  has  pieces  of  rent  property  valued  at 
$5,500,  carries  $17,000  Life  insurance,  the  payment 
of  whose  policies  requires  a  pretty  large  income, 
and  has  some  $3,000  invested  in  various  Negro  en 
terprises. 

He  appraised  money,  however,  not  as  a  means 
of  luxury,  and  show,  but  as  a  means  of  usefulness, 
an  avenue  to  larger  service.  This  too,  has  come 
to  him.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  Standard  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Atlan 
ta,  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  Georgia  Real 
Estate  and  Loan  Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church,  of  St.  James  Mason 
ic  Lodge,  and  of  the  Century  Odd  Fellows.  He 
has  been  able  to  travel  and  to  make  friends  in  the 
East,  in  the  West  and  in  the  South. 

With  his  savings  and  investments  and  with  his 
other  responsibilities.  Mr.  Hamilton  has  been  rear 
ing  a  big  family.  He  was  married  in  1892,  to  Miss 
Nellie  M.  Cooke,  of  Atlanta.  Seven  children  grace 
the  Hamilton  home.  The  oldest,  Alexander  D.  Jr., 
is  23  years  of  age,  is  associated  with  his  father  in 
the  business  of  contracting  and  building.  The  sec 
ond  oldest  child.  Miss  Eunice  Evlyn.  is  a  teacher  in 
the  Atlanta  Public  Schools.  T.  Bertram,  Henry 
Cooke,  Marion  Murphy,  Nellie  Marie,  and  Joseph 
Thomas,  who  is  only  seven  are  all  students  in  the 
^chool. 


128 


THE   HALE   INFIRMARY,    MONTGOMERY,  ALA. 


HIS  Institution  was  born  in  the 
mind  of  one  of  Montgomery's 
most  respected  colored  citizens, 
the  late  James  Hale,  who  for 
many  years  was  one  of  the  city's 
leading  contractors.  He  was 
known  for  the  high  character  of  his  work  and  his 
reliability  as  a  man.  As  he  drew  near  the  sun-set 
of  life  his  mind  centered  upon  his  people  and  upon 
his  two  children  who  had  passed  into  the  great 
beyond. 

The  Hale  Infirmary  is  the  outcome  of  his  med 
itations  and  is  an  expression  of  his  deep  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  his  people  and  at  the  same  time 
a  memorial  to  his  children.  It  was  incorporated 
as  the  James  Hale  Infirmary  Society,  Montgom 
ery,  Alabama,  in  1889. 

The  original  plant  cost  about  seven  thousand, 
($7,000).  It  consisted  of  a  two  story  frame  struc 
ture  with  capacity  to  care  for  sixty  patients. 

It  is  modern  in  its  equipment,  having  sanitary 
plumbing  throughout  and  with  bath  rooms  for  both 
male  and  females.  It  is  supplied  with  hot  and 
cold  water,  and  has  modern  operating  room  with 
the  necessary  modern  equipments.  In  addition  to 
the  main  building  there  is  a  laundry,  and  small 
buildings  for  isolating  patients  who  could  not  be 
admitted  to  the  main  building.  The  maintenance 


of  the  Institution  is  dependant  upon  a  nominal 
charge  for  services  and  revenue  derived  from  the 
nurses.  It  has  no  endowment.  The  nurses  are 
trained  in  a  three  year  course  and  during  their 
training  are  frequently  called  upon  to  render  ser 
vice  outside  of  the  infirmary  and  the  revenue  de 
rived  from  their  services  is  a  valuable  asset  to  the 
Institution.  The  experience  gained  by  the  nurses 
in  the  operating  room  becomes  invaluable  to  them 
in  their  course  of  training.  The  head  nurse  of  the 
Infirmary  is  the  superintendent  of  the  training 
school  and  she  has  the  assistance  of  two  graduate 
nurses  who  teach  them  the  theory  of  nursing  with 
practical  illustrations.  Lectures  are  also  given  be 
fore  the  class  by  the  large  corps  of  physicians  who 
daily  visit  the  infirmary  and  contribute  to  its  up 
build.  Dr.  David  Henry  Scott  is  the  head  of  the 
Institution  and  is  keenly  alive  to  its  interests  and 
never  tires  in  his  efforts  in  its  behalf. 

The  control  and  government  of  the  infirmary  is 
vested  in  a  Board  of  Trustees,  composed  of  nine 
members. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  is  as  follows : 
Bishop  J.  W.  Alstork,  Chairman ;  J.  M.  C.  Logan, 
Geo.  W.  Doak,  H.  A.  Loveless,   Belton  Murphree, 
Dr.  D.  H.  C.  Scott,  V.  H.  Tulane,  Jas.  H.  Fagain, 
and  Jas.  Alexander. 


129 


BISHOP  LUCIUS   H.   HOLSEY. 

ISHOP  L.  H.  Holsey  was  born 
near  Columbus,  Georgia,  in  1845, 
and  therefore  saw  more  slavery 
than  most  men  now  living.  He 
was  even  traded  in.  having  had 
three  masters  before  the  Emanci 
pation  Proclamation  set  him  free. 

Educational  facilities  for  the  colored  race  at  the 
date  of  his  birth  were  very  meager  in  the  place 
where  he  was  born,  so  he  had  but  little  opporun- 
ity  to  learn  but  he  was  a  man  to  make  the  most 
of  his  opportunities  and  ride  them  to  a  successful 
career. 

When  but  seven  years  of  age  he  was  deprived 
of  a  mother's  loving  and  tender  care,  which  added 
to  the  struggle  of  his  early  days. 

Bishop  Holsey  is  a  man  of  strong  initia 
tive  ability  and  when  emancipation  gave  him 
the  opportunity  to  exercise  his  gift  he  immediately 
brought  it  into  active  play. 

Coming  in  a  period  when  men  of  initiative  were 
in  crying  need  he  helped  meet  the  demands  of  the 
day  and  the  wonderful  manner  in  which  he  filled 
his  place  is  shown  in  the  many  honors  and  distinc 
tions  carried  by  him  in  his  old  age. 

He  is  the  oldest  ordained  Bishop  of  his  church, 


and  one  of  the  oldest  men  to  be  in  active  service 
of  any  kind.  He  is  the  first  Negro  to  petition  for 
a  C.  M.  E.  Church,  and  first  to  establish  a  church 
after  the  civil  war.  He  was  delegate  to  the  first 
general  conference  of  his  church  and  first  delegate 
to  the  Ecumenical  church  Conference  and  the  first 
delegate  to  the  conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church  South. 

His  initiative  first  manifesting  itself  in  church 
work  has  by  no  means  been  confined  to  that  branch 
of  activities,  but  has  been  almost  eclipsed  by  his 
labors  for  education.  He  is  an  ardent  avocate  of 
education  and  was  quick  to  realize  that  next  to  re 
ligion  education  would  be  the  great  uplifting  pow 
er  to  help  elevate  his  people. 

He  founded  the  Paine  College,  in  Augusta, 
Georgia,  took  steps  for  the  founding  of  Lane  Col 
lege,  in  Jackson,  Tenn. ;  founded  Holsey  Industrial 
Institute  at  Cordell,  Georgia ;  Helen  B.  Cobb  In 
stitute  for  girls  at  Barnesville,  Georgia.  He  still 
is  a  trustee  and  patron  of  all  of  these  institutions. 
He  was  agent  of  the  Paine  College  for  25  years. 

With  these  honors  from  his  labors  and  many  oth 
er  good  judgment,  he  served  as  the  Secretary  for 
the  College  of  Bishops  for  quarter  of  a  century, 
and  was  for  many  years,  General  Corresponding 
Secretary  for  the  connection.  He  has  compiled 
for  his  church,  a  Hymnal  and  a  Manual  for  disci 
pline.  He  once  edited  a  church  paper,  the  "Gospel 
Trumpet,"  and  held  the  post  as  church  Commis 
sioner  of  education.  Surely  if  one  were  bedecked 
for  uplift  deeds  of  this  sort  Bishop  Holsey  would 
be  literally  covered. 

All  through  his  youth  and  early  manhood,  Bishop 
Holsey  felt  the  call  for  a  larger  service.  Picking 
up  knowledge  when  and  where  he  could  he  secured 
his  first  church  as  pastor  in  1868.  on  the  Hancock 
Circuit  in  Georgia.  Five  years  later  at  the  close 
of  a  two  years  pastorate  in  Savannah,  he  was  or 
dained  Bishop  of  his  church.  This  makes  him  push 
close  to  a  half  century  of  service  as  Bishop  of  his 
church. 

Bishop  Holsey  was  married  at  Sunshine,  near 
Sparta,  Georgia.,  in  1862,  to  Miss  Harriet  Turner. 
Nine  children  have  been  born  to  the  Holsey  family  ; 
of  these,  three  are  deceased — among  those  deceas 
ed  was  Miss  Ruth  M.  Holsey,  whose  talent  as  a 
musician  was  already  becoming  widely  known. 
She  had  won  distinction  in  this  country  and  had 
studied  two  years  in  Paris.  Of  the  children  living; 
James  Henry  is  a  graduate  of  Howard  University 
and  a  Dentist  in  Atlanta,  Georgia.;  Miss  Katie  M., 
a  graduate  of  Paine  College,  lives  with  her  father  ; 
Miss  Ella  B.  and  Claud  Lucia  are  living  in  Boston. 
The  former  is  a  matron,  the  latter  married  and  re 
sides  there.  Sumner  L.,  who  is  a  printer,  also 
lives  in  Boston.  Rev.  C.  Wesley  is  a  Presiding  El 
der  and  Missionary  in  and  around  Atlanta. 


130 


MISS  CLARA  A.  HOWARD. 

1SS  Clara  A.  Howard  was  born 
in  Greenville,  Merriwether  Coun 
ty,  Georgia.  It  has  been  in 
Georgia  that  she  has  spent  the 
greatest  number  of  years  in  ser 
vice.  She  was  one  of  the  first 
students  to  enter  Spelman  Seminary,  when  it  was 
founded  in  1881.  Miss  Howard  says  of  this  fact 
that  she  feels  almost  as  though  she  was  one  of  the 
founders.  From  Spelman  she  was  graduated  in 
1887.  After  her  graduation,  Miss  Howard  taught 
in  the  public  schools  of  Atlanta.  But  she  did  not 
feel  that  this  was  her  place  for  life  work.  Always 
before  her  were  the  needs  of  the  people  of  Africa  : 
and  so  May  3,  1890,  she  sailed  for  Africa.  For  five 
years  Miss  Howard  remained  in  Africa.  She  was 
stationed  at  Lukungu,  Congo,  South  West  Africa. 
Here  she  tried  in  her  very  effective  manner  to 
reach  the  people  and  to  teach  them  how  to  live,  as 
well  as  how  to  be  Christians.  At  the  same  time, 
Miss  Howard  had  to  fight  the  African  fever.  Af 
ter  five  years  of  work  she  had  to  come  back  to 
America  to  rest.  Her  health  was  very  slow  in 
returning,  and  after  a  time  she  had  to  give  up  all 
hope  of  ever  returning  to  Africa. 
In  1899,  Miss  Howard  became  a  member  of  the 


faculty  of  Spelman  Seminary.  At  first  she  served  as 
assistant  matron  in  the  Student  Boarding  Depart 
ment,  but  in  1909  she  became  the  only  matron  in 
that  department.  Of  her  work  here,  Miss  Howard 
says,  "As  Matron  in  the  Student  Boarding  Depart 
ment,  I  come  to  know  every  boarding  student  each 
year,  and  I  assure  you  the  field  for  usefulness  is 
about  as  wide  as  the  one  in  Africa."  Any  one 
hearing  a  group  of  Spelman  girls  discussing  their 
teachers  either  before  or  after  graduation  will  soon 
hear  them  come  to  Miss  Howard.  By  her  quiet, 
kindly  treatment,  she  has  won  all  of  them  and,  in 
winning  them  as  friends,  she  has  helped  each  one 
to  a  higher  plane  of  thinking  and  living. 

Of  the  work  that  Miss  Howard  is  doing  in  Spel 
man,  Miss  Tapley,  the  president  of  the  Institution 
says,  "She  is  invaluable  to  us.  She  fills  a  large  place 
and  fills  it  as  well  as  any  person  we  ever  had  or  can 
ever  expect  to  have.  Very  few  women  could  carry 
her  work  so  well  as  she  does.  No  matter  what 
our  difficulties,  we  can  count  on  Miss  Howard  be 
ing  brave,  co-operative  and  helpful." 

Besides  the  oversight  in  a  general  way  of  all  the 
girls  and  in  particular  in  the  Dining  room.  Miss 
Howard  has  had  direct  charge  of  a  number  of  small 
children,  who  have  entered  Spelman.  Among  these 
was  one  little  African  girl,  Flora  Zeto,  whom  she 
brought  with  her  from  Africa.  To  Flora,  Miss 
Howard  was  everything  that  a  mother  could  be. 
No  one  talking  with  Flora  after  a  few  years  under 
the  direct  influence  of  this  good  woman,  would 
have  imagined  her  origin.  Her  voice  and  manner 
took  on  the  culture  of  her  friend.  Miss  Howard 
has  played  the  part  of  mother  to  a  number  of  other 
small  girls.  During  all  the  years  she  has  been 
working  in  this  Institution  she  has  been  able  to 
keep  up  the  habit  of  treating  girls  as  individuals. 
She  never  thinks  of  them  in  mass.  All  over  the 
South  there  are  girls  and  women  who  remember 
the  times  when  Miss  Howard  stood  for  them  as  a 
guardian  angel.  As  a  part  of  her  work  in  the 
school,  Miss  Howard  has  monthly  meeting  with 
the  girls  in  which  various  subjects  of  a  very  per 
sonal  nature  are  discussed.  Miss  Howard  handles 
these  as  only  a  few  persons  know  how  to  handle 
delicate  subjects.  From  her  the  girls  will  take  any 
suggestions  for  their  betterment.  Surely  her's 
has  been  a  life  of  usefulness.  Her  five  years  in 
Africa,  in  Lukungu,  alone,  represents  great  good 
done,  but  back  in  her  native  country,  her  native 
state  and  her  Alma  Mata,  she  has  done  a  work  that 
few  are  permitted  to  accomplish  in  a  lifetime. 

The  influence  of  her  useful  and  consecrated  life 
will  make  itself  felt  throughout  the  land,  as  the 
girls  go  forth  from  this  institution,  and  will  re 
main  to  bless  her  people  long  after  she  has  gone 
to  her  reward. 


131 


David  Tobias  Howard 


R.  David  Howard  of  Atlanta,  Geor 
gia,  is  one  of  the  pioneers  among 
Negro  undertakers.  Born  in 
Crawford  County,  Ga.,  in  1849,  he 
saw  much  of  slavery,  of  the  Civil 
War  and  of  the  reconstruction  pe 
riod.  A  lad  of  15  years  when  the  Civil  War  came, 
he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  train  load  of  colored 
people,  who  were  being  shipped  from  Atlanta  to 
Barnesville.  Like  most  of  the  ex-slaves  he  found 
himself  poor,  uneducated,  deserted  when  freedom 
was  declared. 

His  first  steady  job  was  that  of  a  porter  in  a  rail 
road  office.  Here  in  1869,  he  began  work  for  $5.00 
per  month,  boarding  and  lodging  himself  out  of  this 
sum.  Here  he  worked  for  fourteen  years.  Dur 
ing  this  period,  his  salary,  rather  his  wages,  had 
risen  from  $5.00  to  $45.00  per  month.  By  this  time 
he  had  managed  to  save  a  pretty  snug  sum  of 
money  and  had  made  up  his  mind  to  venture  into 
business  for  himself. 

He  was  led  to  his  business  venture  through  ob 
serving  the  business  of  a  firm  to  whom  he  had 
loaned  money  from  time  to  time.  It  was  an  un 
dertaking  firm  and  he  observed  that  they  could 
afford  to  pay  interest  on  money  borrowed  and 
make  a  good  profit  out  of  it. 

He  had  no  knowledge  of  the  business  further 
than  his  visit  to  the  establishment  in  collecting  his 
interest,  but  he  had  the  good  sense  to  see  the  pos 
sibilities  in  it,  so  when  he  decided  to  enter  a  busi 
ness  career  for  himself  he  had  also  decided  the 
character  of  business  he  would  pursue.  In  those 
days  very  few  of  the  colored  race,  whether  teach 
ers,  preachers  or  even  physicians  had  specialized 
very  highly  in  their  chosen  occupations. 

Mr.  Howard  saw  an  opening  for  the  business 
and  an  inviting  field  and  he  trusted  to  his  own 
energy  and  business  ability  to  win  success. 

Like  many  a  man  who  started  out  with  bright 
hopes  he  soon  learned  that  the  path  to  success  is 
not  a  rosy  path  but  rather  a  rugged  way. 

He  invested  his  earnings  in  the  Undertaking 
business  after  he  had  married  and  had  begun  to 
raise  a  family,  hoping  and  expecting  large  profits, 
but  the  profits  fell  below  his  expectation  and  he 
realized  that  the  business  must  be  of  slow  and 
gradual  growth. 

This  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  supplement 
the  business  with  some  other  line  of  work  in  or 
der  to  support  his  family  while  his  business  grew. 
He  drove  a  hack  which  was  really  in  line  with  the 
undertaking  business  so  that  he  could  give  atten 
tion  to  both  without  neglecting  either. 


Mr.  Howard  is  not  easily  discouraged  and  is  a 
man  of  great  determination  so  the  difficulties  in 
his  way  did  not  deter  him  but  rather  acted  as  a 
spur  to  awaken  his  energy.  He  went  forward  and 
in  the  course  of  time  won  his  fight  and  established 
the  large  undertaking  establishment  over  which 
he  now  presides. 

He  not  only  established  a  large  business,  but 
also  a  reputation  as  a  business  man  who  commands 
the  respect  of  the  citizens  of  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and 
of  the  entire  state. 

Mr.  Howard  has  not  confined  his  business  ope 
rations  to  the  city.  As  his  undertaking  business 
developed  and  he  made  a  surplus  money  for  in 
vestment  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  country 
and  invested  in  farm  lands  and  the  raising  of  cat 
tle.  He  has  several  farms  outside  of  Atlanta 
where  he  cultivated  gardens,  planted  orchards  and 
raised  cattle.  His  country  places  serve  to  rest  his 
mind  from  the  exactions  of  his  undertaking  busi 
ness  and  the  stress  of  city  life.  The  country  air 
and  diversions  of  the  farm  no  doubt  account  for 
his  own  fine  health  and  that  of  his  family  and  con 
tributes  to  the  optimistic  spirit  which  character 
izes  him. 

Incidentally  this  ex-slave  who  started  working 
for  $5.00  a  month  nearly  half  a  century  ago  is  now 
worth  $175,000.  Most  of  this  he  has  invested  in 
real  estate  and  farms,  the  way  he  thinks  most  col 
ored  people  should  invest  their  money,  especially  in 
farm  lands.  Though  he  has  amassed  so  large  a  sum 
Mr.  Howard  is  by  no  means  a  stingy  man.  Indeed, 
he  is  quite  the  opposite,  having  an  open  purse  for 
any  uplift  work  of  his  city.  A  recent  instance  of 
this  kind  is  his  being  the  first  among  the  few  to 
subscribe  $1000  for  the  Negro  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building 
of  Atlanta. 

Much  of  his  income,  too,  he  has  spent  in  educat 
ing  his  children.  Mr.  Howard  was  married  in  1870 
to  Miss  Ella  Buanner  of  Summerville,  Georgia. 
Nine  children  have  been  born  into  the  Howard  fam 
ily.  These  Mr.  Howard  has  given  the  best  educa 
tion  available.  Some  have  been  graduated  from 
Atlanta  University,  some  from  the  Oberlin  Conse- 
vatory  of  Music,  some  have  attended  Morehouse 
and  other  colleges.  The  children  are  Frank  David, 
Willie  Gladstone,  Paul,  Thomas  Edward,  Misses 
Eleanor  B.,  Lottie  Lee,  Julia  and  Henry  Gladstone. 
His  son,  Henry  Gladstone  is  associated  with  his 
father  in  business. 

Mr.  Howard  is  a  member  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  fraternal  organizations,  be 
longing  to  the  St.  John's  Masonic  Lodge,  to  the 
Good  Samaritan,  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  to 
the  Knights  of  Tabor. 


132 


GEORGE  RUBIN  HUTTO. 

LL  who  read  the  history  of  the 
steady  advance  that  has  been  made 
by  the  colored  Knights-  of  Py 
thias,  of  Georgia  will  know  that 
back  of  the  organization  is  a 
strong  man.  A  man  who  is  fear 
less  in  his  endeavor  to  do  the  right 
things  for  his  people,  a  man  who 
has  the  courage,  of  his  convictions,  a  man  who  is 
a  born  leader  of  men  is  the  only  sort  of  man  who 
could  get  in  behind  an  order  and  see  it  develop  so 
steadily.  The  Colored  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Geor 
gia  are  fortunate  indeed  to  have  at  its  head  such 
a  man  in  the  person  of  George  R.  Hutto. 

Mr.  Hutto  was  born  n  Barnelwell,  South  Caro 
lina  in  1870.  His  training  in  the  school  room  be 
gan  at  an  early  age  and  so  at  the  age  of  twenty  we 
find  him  graduating  from  Claflin  University, 
Orangeburg,  South  Carolina.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  class  of  1890.  The  following  year  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Addie  E.  Dillard.  Miss  Dillard 
was  a  graduate  of  Benedict  College  which  is  loca 
ted  at  Columbia,  South  Carolina.  To  the  Hutto's, 
two  children  were  born.  One,  Marcus  Hutto,  is 
a  senior  in  the  Meharry  Medical  school.  The  oth 
er  is  a  daughter,  Miss  Callie  Hutto. 

In  church  affiliation,  Mr.  Hutto  is  a  Baptist. 
This  is  another  point  on  which  Mr.  Hutto,  early 
made  his  decision.  In  fact  Mr.  Hutto  is  a  man 
of  prompt  action.  He  was  early  at  school,  early 
out  of  school,  early  married  and  early  settled  down 

133 


to  the  development  of  his  life  along  the  line  he  had 
chosen.  In  the  year  1895  Mr.  Hutto  was  elected 
Principal  of  the  Public  School,  at  Bainbridge,  Geor 
gia.  The  same  year  he  joined  the  Masonic  order. 
Thus  at  an  early  age  we  find  Mr.  Hutto  starting 
out  in  fraternal  orders.  In  1897  there  was  organi 
zed  in  Bainbridge,  Georgia,  a  court  of  the  Order 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  known  as  the  Lucullus 
Lodge,  No  45.  Mr.  Hutto  joined  the  order  at  the 
organization  of  this  new  lodge.  From  the  first, 
his  great  interest  and  ability  as  a  leader,  won  for 
Mr.  Hutto  distinction  in  the  ranks  of  Pythians.  In 
1900  in  the  City  of  Valdosta,  he  was  elected  Grand 
Lecturer  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Georgia.  For 
four  consecutive  times  he  was  re-elected  to  this 
position.  In  1905  he  was  elected  Vice-Chancellor 
of  the  organization  for  his  State.  At  that  time  ser 
ving  as  Chancellor  was  Mr.  C.  D.  Creswell.  At  the 
death  of  the  Chancellor  in  1910,  Mr.  Hutto  filled  out 
the  unexpired  term  and  at  the  next  session,  which 
was  held  in  the  city  of  Macon,  he  was  elected  to 
the  position  of  Grand  Chancellor.  To  this  position 
he  has  been  re-elected  each  year  since.  The  figur 
es  of  the  order  show  the  marvelous  growth  of 
the  organization,  Mr.  Hutto's  influence  in  the  de 
velopment  of  the  body  did  not  begin  with  his  elec 
tion  to  the  position  of  Grand  Chancellor.  It  be 
gan  rather  witTi  his  admission  as  a  member  when 
the  court  was  formed  in  Bainbridge.  Through  all 
the  following  years  his  influence  for  the  develop 
ment  of  the  Knights  of  the  State  of  Georgia  was 
secured.  As  a  lecturer  he  served  and  served  well. 
In  this  position  he  had  ample  opportunity  to  bring 
before  the  people  the  merits  of  the  order  and  the 
benefits  to  be  derived  therefrom.  His  next  step 
upward  in  this  body  was  that  position  of  Vice- 
Chancellor.  Here  he  learned  all  the  workings  and 
rulings  of  the  order  and  when  the  death  of  Mr. 
Creswell  put  upon  Mr.  Hutto  the  work  of  head 
man  for  the  State  of  Georgia,  he  was  ready.  The 
order  has  developed  steadily  under  his  leadership. 
Of  the  State  of  Georgia  has  been  said,  "This  is  our 
Banner  State."  For  the  truth  of  this  statement 
much  of  the  credit  is  due  Mr.  Hutto. 

The  first  Court  organized  in  this  State  was  the 
Opal  Court,  No.  41,  by  Sir  J.  C.  Ross,  at  Savannah, 
1889,  with  Sir  J.  C.  Ross,  W.  C. 

The  Grand  Court  was  organized  at  Atlanta,  Ga., 
July,  1892,  by  Rev  Israel  Derricks,  Supreme  Wor 
thy  Counsellor,  with  the  following  Grand  Officers : 
Mrs.  W.  L.  Catledge  (Hill,)  G.  W.  C;  Mrs.  R.  L. 
Barnes,  G.  W.  Ix. ;  Sir  C.  A.  Catledge,  G.  R..  of 
Deeds ;  Sir  F.  M.  Cohen,  G.  R.,  of  Deps. ;  with  Sir 
J.  C.  Ross  and  Dr.  T.  James  Davis,  P.  G.  W.  C, 
Mrs.  Catledge  (Hill,)  served  one  year,  1902-3,  as 
G.  W.  C.  Mrs.  R.  L.  Barnes  was  elected  1893.  and 
has  served  continuously  until  1917. 

In  1900  there  were  21  Courts,  450  members,  with 
$92.75  Endowment  on  hand. 

1910,  218  Courts,  8,000  members,  94  deaths,  $11,- 
318.60  collected  for  Endowment,  $10,140.00  paid  on 
claims,  $20,353.73  balance  on  hand,  36  Juvenile 
Courts,  1150  members. 

1915,  350  Courts,  12,500  members,  268  deaths, 
$26,408.10  Endowment  collected,  $24,380.00  paid  on 
claims,  $29,450.80  balance  on  hand.  Grand  Court 
fund  balance  on  hand,  $2,250.  Georgia  is  the 
Banner  Grand  Court  of  the  order. 


REVEREND  EDWIN  POSEY  JOHNSON,  A.  B. 


HE  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  Feb.  22,  1849,  in  Columbus, 
Georgia.  His  father,  William 
Warren  Johnson,  was  brought  to 
Georgia  from  Maryland,  where  he 
received  considerable  education 
and  was  taught  the  Stage-build 
ing  trade.  His  mother,  Caroline 
Posey  came  from  Virginia  to  Georgia,  with  her 
owners,  in  whose  family  her  people  had  been  rear 
ed  for  generations.  Her  master,  Major  Nelson,  be 
lieved  that  colored  people,  as  well  as  white  should 
be  taught  to  read  so  as  to  study  the  Bible  for  them 
selves.  Hence  his  mother  was  a  constant  reader 
of  the  Bible  and  other  good  books. 

Freedom  came  to  him  when  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 
The  first  opportunity  for  learning  to  read  and 
write  was  in  a  little  dirt-floor  school  house  in  an 
alley.  Here  with  many  others  he  tackled  a  Blue 
Back  Spelling  Book.  The  next  year  he  hired  him 
self  to  work  on  a  farm  and  walked  a  mile  and  a 
half  to  a  night  school,  taught  by  Mrs.  Lucy  E.  Case 
and  others.  When  Mrs.  Case  became  matron  at 
Atlanta  University,  she  persuaded  him  to  attend 
school  there.  In  the  fall  of  1873,  having  saved  up 
$150,  he  matriculated  at  Atlanta  University.  By 
working  as  an  engineer  at  school  and  teaching 
during  the  summers,  he  was  enabled  to  remain  in 
school.  In  1874  he  was  converted  under  the  min 
istry  of  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Walker,  one  of  the  instruc 


tors..  With  an  unfailing  courage  he  continued  his 
studies  until  he  graduated  in  1879,  with  the  degree 
of  A.  B.  On  July  of  that  year  he  was  ordained  as 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel  by  his  pastor,  Rev.  Frank 
Quarles,  and  others  in  Friendship  Baptist  Church, 
Atlanta,  Georgia.  He  served  his  denomination  one 
year  as  a  missionary,  then  taught  six  years  in  Haw- 
kinsville,  during  which  time  he  built  the  two-story 
school  house  at  the  cost  of  $1,600.00.  From  his 
arduous  labors  at  Hawkinsville,  he  has  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  many  of  his  pupils  occupying 
places  of  usefulness.  Leaving  Hawkinsville,  he 
served  as  principal  of  the  Mitchell  Street  School, 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  for  two  terms. 

On  December  26,  1882,  he  was  married  by  Rev. 
Henry  Way,  to  Miss  E.  S.  Key.  In  1888  he  was 
called  to  the  pastorate  of  Calvary  Baptist  Church, 
Madison,  Georgia.  During  the  eleven  years  of  his 
stay  there,  he  made  many  improvements  on  the 
church  property  and  added  to  the  church  more  than 
five  hundred  precious  souls.  While  at  Madison, 
he  was  elected  by  the  board  of  Education  as  the 
first  principal  of  the  city  school  for  colored  people, 
which  he  organized  and  directed  till  a  suitable  man 
could  be  found. 

In  1899  he  was  elected  as  general  manager  of  the 
New  Era  Institute  Work,  under  the  joint  auspices 
of  the  Home  Mission  Society  of  New  York,  The 
Southern  Baptist  Convention  and  the  General  Mis 
sionary  and  Educational  Convention  of  Georgia. 
This  position,  for  three  years  took  him  to  all  parts 
of  the  state. 

For  several  years  he  was  instructor  at  Phelps 
Hall  Bible  Training  School,  vTuskegee  Institute, 
Alabama.  Here  he  filled  the  position  with  satis 
faction  to  all  concerned. 

In  1901  Rev.  Johnson  was  called  to  pastor  the 
Reed  Street  Baptist  Church,  Atlanta,  Georgia. 
Here  he  has  been,  laboring  for  sixteen  years,  or 
ganizing,  building,  giving  to  the  church  the  ripe 
fruits  of  all  his  experiences  in  the  school  room  and 
country  and  town  churches.  As  a  result,  the 
church  is  now  organized  into  practical  and  useful 
committees  and  anxiliaries.  Also  a  new  stone 
church  edifice,  situated  on  the  corner  of  Frasier 
and  Crumley  Streets,  which  when  finished  will  cost 
$25,000,  is  now  almost  completed  and  more  than 
400  members  have  been  added.  When  the  new 
building  was  begun,  the  pastor  reduced  his  own 
salary  $15  per  month,  thereby  setting  an  example 
of  economy.  He  sets  a  further  example  by  living 
in  his  own  home,  keeping  his  credit  up  to  such  a 
high  standard  that  he  and  the  church  of  which  he 
is  pastor  can  secure  money  and  commodities  on 
his  name. 

Rev.  Johnson  is  treasurer  of  the  Atlanta  Baptist 
Minister's  Union;  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trus 
tees  of  Spelman  Seminary;  Secretary  of  the  Refor 
matory  Board ;  Treasurer  of  the  General  Mission 
ary  Educational  Board ;  Treasurer  of  the  State  B. 
Y.  P.  U.  Convention  ;  Chairman  of  the  Reid  Orphan 
Home,  at  Covington,  Georgia;  Member  of  the  Exe 
cutive  Board  of  the  Madison  Association ;  Geor 
gia's  Foreign  representative  of  the  National  Bap 
tist  Convention  and  Instructor  in  the  Divinity  De 
partment  of  Morehouse  College. 


ROBERT   EDWARD   PHARROW. 


LT HOUGH  there  are  a  great  num 
ber  of  Negro  carpenters  and 
builders  tbere  are  comparatively 
few  who  might  be  termed  con 
tractors,  taking  that  term  in  its 
larger  sense  of  erecting  large 
buildings,  dormitories,  school  houses,  temples  for 
the  fraternities,  hotels  and  office  buildings.  This 
is  due  in  a  large  measure  to  the  fact  that  such 
contracts  call  for  a  large  outlay  of  money  and  very 
few  Negroes  have  the  capital  to  back  up  such  con 
tracts  nor  the  influence  and  ability  to  secure  it. 
Another  reason  why  so  few  Negroes  undertake 
the  erection  of  large  buildings  is  that  it  requires 
a  special  training  and  equipment  for  such  work.  It 
involves  confidence,  bookkeeping,  managing  big 
squads  of  men,  time-keeping,  dealing  in  large 
freight  orders,  running  engines  and  so  marshalling 
it  all  that  the  structure  will  be  reliable  and  satis 
factory  and  the  profits  ample. 

Mr.  Pharrow  is  among  the  few  Negro  contrac 
tors  who  have  risen  to  prominence  in  the  con 
tracting  business.  He  did  not  rise  to  this  distinc 
tion  at  a  bound,  but  reached  it  after  years  of  pa 
tient  toil  and  strict  application  to  his  work. 

He  began   his  career  as  a  brick  mason,  when  a 


lad  of  only  sixteen  years  of  age,  working  under 
the  old  system  of  apprenticeship.  He  was  quick 
to  learn  and  made  the  best  of  the  opportunity 
offered  him  while  serving  his  apprenticeship  and 
in  seventeen  years'  time  had  not  only  learned  the 
trade  of  Masonry,  but  all  that  one  could  learn  of 
the  intricacies  of  the  business  without  being  in  it. 

At  the  age  of  thirty-three  he  began  the  con 
tracting  business  upon  his  own  account. 

Mr.  Pharrow  exhibited  the  virtue  of  patience 
during  his  long  apprenticeship  and  was  so  well 
fitted  for  his  work  when  he  started  business  on  his 
own  account  that  he  rose  rapidly  in  the  confidence 
of  the  public  and  received  a  goodly  share  of  its 
patronage. 

His  reputation  as  a  builder  was  not  confined  to 
his  home  town  of  Macon,  Georgia,  but  he  entered 
and  won,  in  competing  for  contracts  throughout 
the  States  of  Georgia  and  Alabama.  He  erected 
the  new  Recitation  Hall  at  Morehouse  College,  At 
lanta,  and  has  built  structures  in  most  of  the  large 
cities  of  Alabama  and  Georgia. 

Mr.  Pharrow  figures  close  and  does  good  work 
and  consequently  has  made  money  out  of  his  con 
tracts. 

Besides  the  capital  invested  in  a  well  establish 
ed  business  he  owns  a  good  home  and  twelve  addi 
tional  houses  which  brings  him  in  a  monthly  rental 
of  pleasing  amount. 

Mr.  Pharrow  has  sought  health  and  pleasure  in 
travel,  his  travels  having  carried  him  over  the 
greater  part  of  United  States,  Canada  and  Cuba. 

Mr.  Pharrow  was  born  in  Washington,  Georgia, 
in  1868.  As  he  went  to  work  at  his  trade  when 
very  young  the  amount  of  his  schooling  was  real 
ly  very  small.  But  he  has  always  made  haste  slowly 
and  has  thereby  atoned  for  much  that  he  might 
possibly  have  gained  from  further  schooling. 

He  has,  further,  kept  himself  intellectually  and 
socially  fit  by  membership  in  the  church  and  in 
many  of  the  leading  organizations  of  his  State. 
Mr.  Pharrow  is  a  member  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church 
—of  the  Masons,  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  of  the  Elks, 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  Past  Grand 
Master  of  the  Patriarchs,  Past  Chancellor  of  the 
Pythians  and  Senior  Warden  of  the  Masons,  An 
cient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

Mr.  Pharrow  bases  much  of  his  success  upon  the 
sympathy,  advice  and  cooperation  of  his  helpmates 
at  home.  He  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  L.  Harris,  of  Atlanta,  in 
1892.  She  it  was  who  stood  by  him  so  faithfully 
in  his  first  ventures  as  a  contractor.  Mrs.  Phar 
row  died  in  1911.  The  present  Mrs.  Pharrow  was 
Miss  R.  V.  Garly,  of  Savannah,  Georgia.  Mr. 
Pharrow  has  one  child,  Miss  Estelle,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  Atlanta  University,  and  who  teaches 
in  the  Atlanta  public  schools. 


135 


HENRY   HUGH    PROCTOR,   A.    B.,   D.   D. 

NE  of  the  best  known  Congrega 
tional  ministers  of  the  Colored 
Race  is  Dr.  Henry  Hugh  Proctor 
born  in  Fayetteville,  Tennessee, 
December  8,  1868,  and  it  was  a. 
very  fortunate  date,  because  he 
was  among  the  first  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  freedom. 

As  a  boy  he  attended  the  public  school  of  his 
town.  This  school  was  not  among  the  best,  judg 
ed  even  by  the  standard  of  that  time,  but  the 
young  man  applied  himself  most  diligently  and  ac 
quired  at  least  the  habit  of  organized  studying 
aside  from  some  real  knowledge.  He  worked  hard 
here  and  when  he  had  gotten  all  that  he  could  from 
his  town  school,  he  entered  Fisk  University.  Here, 
where  the  standard  was  high  and  the  method  of 
instruction  good,  the  young  student  developed 
very  rapidly,  distinguishing  himself  both  by  con 
duct  and  scholarship.  Before  finishing  his  college 
course  one  ideal  so  took  possession  of  him  as  to 
dominate  his  being — service  through  the  Christian 
Ministry.  Thus  when  he  graduated  from  the  Col 
lege  Department  of  Fisk,  he  went  to  New  Eng 
land,  the  cradle  of  American  culture,  and  entered 
Yale  Divinity  School  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 
Here  he  lived  and  worked,  studying  hard  while  he 
laid  the  foundation  for  his  great  life  work.  His 
scholarship  rewarded  his  efforts  and  when  he  com 
pleted  the  prescribed  course,  his  was  truly  a  com- 


mencement — a   commencement  of  work   in  a  field 
toward  which  he  had  so  eagerly  looked. 

His  first  regular  charge  was  Pastor  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  at  Atlanta,  Georgia.  Of 
this  church  Dr.  Proctor  is  still  the  beloved  pas 
tor.  To  the  year  of  his  taking  charge  of  the  work, 
1894,  Dr.  Proctor  looks  back  as  the  beginning  of 
his  vital  career.  One  would  be  justified  in  saying 
that  the  church  was  really  established  by  Rev. 
Proctor. 

Here  in  Atlanta,  for  twenty-four  years  Dr. 
Proctor  has  labored,  developing  his  church  and  of 
necessity  growing  himself.  With  wonderful  fore 
sight  as  to  the  needs  of  our  people — not  necessar 
ily  the  needs  of  the  people  of  his  congregation,  but 
the  needs  of  the  Colored  people  of  Atlanta — Dr. 
Proctor  developed  his  church,  adding  to  it  one  line 
of  work  after  another  until  today  it  is  one  of  our 
foremost  institutional  churches. 

Aside  from  the  regular  church  with  its  Services, 
Bible  School,  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  and  Prayer  Meetings, 
there  are  the  Employment  Bureau,  Free  Public 
Library,  consisting  of  3000  volumes  and  the  only 
Public  Library  accessible  to  Negroes  in  Atlanta ;  a 
gymnasium  open  afternoons  and  evenings ;  the 
Avery  Congregational  Home  for  Working  Girls ; 
the  Conally  Water  Fountain,  whereby  through  a 
unique  device  ice  water  is  furnished  the  passerby 
in  summer;  the  Prison  Mission,  whose  object  is  to 
help  those  held  in  prison  through  religious  ser 
vices,  literature  distribution,  and  visits  giving  pas 
toral  comfort :  a  Trouble  Department  whose  ob 
ject  is  to  render  any  service  possible  to  those  in 
trouble ;  an  Auditorium  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
1000,  provided  with  grand  pipe  organ,  heated  by 
steam,  lighted  by  electricity  and  opened  for  any 
beneficial  gathering  for  the  community ;  and  the 
Georgia  Music  Association,  which  gives  the  city 
an  opportunity  to  hear  the  best  musical  talent  of 
the  race.  The  Annual  Musical  Festival  held  by  the 
colored  people  in  the  Auditorium  Armory  is  due 
largely  to  the  Musical  Association. 

For  all  this  Dr.  Proctor  is  directly  responsible. 
He  has  been  able  to  obtain  aid  for  his  work  from 
both  the  white  and  the  colored  people  of  Atlanta 
because  they  could  see  the  benefit  of  the  organiza 
tion. 

Though  the  Institution  and  his  church  demand  a 
large  share  of  his  time.  Dr.  Proctor  has  still  found 
time  to  serve  in  other  ways.  He  is  President  of 
the  Carrie  Steel  Orphanage  in  Atlanta ;  Assistant 
Moderator  of  the  National  Council  of  the  Congre 
gational  Church ;  Vice-President  of  the  American 
Missionary  Association  of  New  York ;  and  Secre 
tary  of  the  Congregational  Workers  among  Col 
ored  People. 

One  year  before  he  came  to  Atlanta,  Rev.  Proc 
tor  married  Miss  Adeline  Davis  of  Nashville,  Ten 
nessee.  Their  home  has  been  blessed  by  the  com 
ing  of  six  children,  Henry  Hugh,  Jr.,  a  graduate 
of  Fisk  University,  and  at  present  serving  as  a 
First  Lieutenant  in  France :  Richard  Davis,  deceas 
ed  ;  Muriel  Morgan  and  Lillian  Steele,  students  at 
Atlanta  University;  Roy  and  Vashti,  public  school 
children. 

Dr.  Proctor  is  beloved  by  all.  He  is  acknowl 
edged  a  Reformer  and  an  Educator.  He  is  doing 
much  good  in  bringing  about  a  better  understand 
ing  between  the  races. 


136 


Thomas  Heath  Slater,  A.  B.,  M.  D. 


N  the  South  there  are  at  least  two 
cities  in  which  there  is  a  splendid 
galaxy  of  educated,  prosperous, 
refined  Negroes.  These  are  Nash 
ville,  Tennessee,  and  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  which  could  claim  super 
iority  is  a  grave  question.  Both  have  a  Negro  Col 
lege  or  University  on  nearly  every  hill  in  the  city. 
Both  are  full  of  business  men,  professional  men  and 
tradesmen.  Competition  among  the  colored  men  in 
nearly  all  pursuits  is  close.  Therefore,  he  who 
gains  his  place  and  holds  it,  does  so  largely  by  dint 
of  excellence. 

In  Atlanta  one  could  count  on  all  the  fingers  of 
his  hands  physicians  with  conspicious  careers, 
with  reputations  and  practices  well  established. 
Very  prominent  among  these  is  Dr.  Thomas  H. 
Slater.  Dr.  Slater  is  a  North  Carolinian  by  birth, 
having  been  born  in  Salisbury,  December  25,  1865. 
He  attended  the  schools  of  Salisbury,  his  birth 
place,  and  then  went  to  college  at  Lincoln  Univer 
sity,  Pennslyvania,  where  he  received  his  Bachel 
or's  Degree  in  1887,  and  was  graduated  with  first 
honors.  He  then  entered  Meharry  Medical  College 
in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  completing  his  course  early 
in  1890,  here  he  also  won  first  honors. 

In  March  of  the  same  year,  Dr.  Slater  went  to 
Atlanta,  Georgia  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession.  Here  in  the  same  city  in  nearly  the  same 
spot,  he  has  continued  for  this  quarter  of  a  century. 
Dr.  Slater,  (with  Dr.  H.  R.  Butler)  was  the  real 
pioneer  of  the  Negro  Medical  profession  in  Atlanta. 

Up  to  this  period  the  Negroes  were  attended  al 
most  exclusively  by  the  white  physicians,  in  whom 
they  had  the  utmost  confidence,  and  it  was  not  an 
easy  matter  to  turn  them  to  the  colored  physicians 
who  were  then  beginning  to  establish  themselves 
in  the  South. 

It  was  Dr.  Slaters  mission  to  win  the  confidence 
of  his  people  and  turn  them  to  the  physicians  of 
their  own  race,  and  it  was  largely  due  to  the  fact 
that  Dr.  Slater's  unusual  ability  and  qualifications 
as  a  diagnostician  and  practitioneer  were  recognized 
by  Dr.  J.  S.  Todd,  at  that  time  Atlanta's  leading 
practitioner  of  internal  medicine,  enabled  him  to  so 
rapidly  gain  this  confidence.  Dr.  Slater  has  always 
been  grateful  to  Dr.  J.  S.  Todd  for  his  recommend 
ations  and  kind  assistance  in  those  early  days. 

In  the  midst  of  sharp  competition,  the  constant 
injection  of  new  blood  and  the  rapid  advancement 
of  the  profession,  he  has  held  his  place  both  in  At 
lanta  and  in  the  state  of  Georgia  as  one  of  the 
leading  and  best  equipped  physicians. 

This  has  not  been  done  through  idleness  or  a  sat 
isfied  state  of  mind.  He  has  studied  continually, 

137 


both  in  theory  and  in  practice.  His  eye  is  ever  alert 
for  the  latest  and  best  in  medicine  and  in  the  equip 
ment  of  service.  His  office  equipment  is  among 
the  best  and  most  modern  in  the  city.  It  has  every 
modern  convenience  and  appliance,  including  an 
equipment  for  Chemical  and  Blood  tests.  There  is 
possibly  no  physician  who  realized  more  forcibly 
the  importance  of  hard,  continuous  study  in  keep- 
ng  up  with  the  latest  and  most  successful  methods 
of  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  all  internal  diseases. 
He  has  viewed  with  keen  interest  the  rapid  yet  pos 
itive  changes  in  the  therapy  of  his  profession. 
From  the  excessive  use  of  drugs  in  the  general 
treatment  of  diseases  he  has  watched  and  followed 
the  successful  advancement  of  the  practice  to  spe 
cific  treatment  through  the  use  of  specific  agents, 
vaccines,  bacterins,  phylacogens  and  organic  ex 
tracts.  His  work  as  a  physician  early  won  for  him 
distinction,  both  among  the  men  of  his  profession 
and  in  other  bodies.  He  is  President  of  the  Atlanta 
Meharry  Alumni  Association  and  has  served  among 
the  doctors  of  the  state  as  President  and  as  Sec 
retary  of  the  Georgia  State  Medical  Association  of 
Negro  Physicians,  Dentists  and  Pharmacists. 

Dr.  Slater  was  reared  and  educated  a  Presbyter 
ian,  and  has  always  found  time  to  faithfully  dis 
charge  has  religious  duties  toward  his  church.  He 
has  learned  that  the  opportunities  for  service 
comes  to  the  Christian  physician  in  a  larger  meas 
ure  than  from  any  other  line  of  endeavor  outside 
of  the  Christian  ministry.  He  believes  that  a  strong 
moral  and  religious  character  is  the  best  asset  that 
any  physician  can  have,  and  at  this  period  of  racial 
development  and  progress  he  deems  it  absolutely 
essential. 

Dr.  Slater  is  interested  in  the  various  orders  of 
the  Colored  race,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  them. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  Mas 
ter  of  the  Local  Lodge  of  Masons. 

Dr.  Slater  has  been  twice  married.  His-  first 
wife,  Mrs.  Marie  A.  Taylor,  of  Austin,  Texas,  and 
a  graduate  of  Wilberforce  University,  he  married 
in  June,  1903,  but  lost  her  by  death  in  February, 
1905.  In  July,  1907  he  married  Mrs.  Celestine 
Bass  Phillips,  of  Michigan,  a  graduate  of  Bay  City 
High  School.  He  had  only  one  child,  a  son,  Thomas 
Heathe,  Jr.,  who  was  born  February  21st,  1905,  and 
died  November  5th,  1906. 

Dr.  Slater's  home  on  Piedmont  Avenue  is  among 
the  colored  residences  that  Atlantans  point  to  for 
proofs  of  their  prosperity  and  good  taste.  His 
home  life  is  a  source  of  pride,  pleasure  and  comfort, 
and  he  attributes  his  success  to  domestic  peace  and 
happiness. 


PANORAMIC  VIEW  OF  SPELMAN  SEMINARY. 


PKLMAN  Seminary,  of  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  the  largest  school  in  the 
world  for  Negro  girls,  carries  in 
the  story  of  its  growth  many  a 
thrilling  romance — the  romance 
of  faith,  of  prayer,  of  struggle,  of 
successful  rendering  of  service.  For  fifteen  years 
Father  Quarles,  ex-slave  and  pastor  of  the  Friend 
ship  Baptist  Church,  laid  the  Spelman  foundation 
in  prayer,  beseeching  that  God  would  send  some 
means  of  elevatiing  the  Negro  women  of  Georgia. 
In  the  fifteenth  year  while  he  tarried  in  supplica 
tion,  the  answer  came.  Two  ladies,  Miss  Sophie 
Packard  and  Miss  Harriet  F.  Giles,  of  Massachu 
setts,  were  the  evangels.  They  came  to  seek  out 
Faather  Quarles  and  actually  knocked  on  his  study 
door  while  the  good  man  still  lingered  in  prayer. 
With  the  coming  of  the  two  ladies  began  the  ro 
mance  of  struggle.  Here  were  the  workers,  the 
pupils  were  legion  ;  but  there  was  no  school  room. 
Combining  faith  and  work  as  best  he  could.  Father 
Quarles  surrendered  to  the  workers  the  basement 
of  his  church.  This  was  the  setting  for  the  strug 
gle.  To  begin  with  the  school  was  sneered  at  by 
white  and  black,  being  stigmatized  as  the  "Out 
Hill."  The  basement  was  cold  and  damp,  admit 
ting  water  when  it  would  rain.  There  were  no 
desks,  no  seats.  The  flooring  was  rotting  away. 
A  rickety,  smoking  flue,  held  up  by  wire  ;  darkness, 
approaching  gloom !  the  increase  of  enrollment 
causing  them  even  to  hold  a  class  in  the  coal  bin  ; 
no  salary,  no  definite  assurance  of  support — all  this 
confronted  two  women  far  from  home,  on  soil  still 
hostile ;  women  who  had  taught  in  buildings  com 
fortably  heated  and  properly  ventilated,  who  had 
drawn  their  salary  regularly  and  lived  amidst  hap 
py  relatives  and  cordial  friends.  However,  prayer 


again  entered  the  struggle.  The  school  had  for 
mally  opened  its  doors,  April  11,  1881.  It  had  elev 
en  pupils,  some  old  and  some  young;  some  were 
single,  some  married.  Among  the  older  students 
was  a  grown  woman,  who  day  by  day  looked  up 
the  hill  which  was  then  occupied  by  the  Barracks, 
and  prayed  that  one  day  Spelman,  (then  Atlanta 
Baptist  Female  Seminary,)  might  occupy  this  spot. 
Each  day  they  gathered,  prayed,  toiled  in  the  base 
ment.  The  enrollment  increased  from  eleven  to 
eighty  in  three  months  and  to  one  hundred  seventy 
five  by  the  end  of  the  year.  The  next  year.  1882,  saw 
the  prayers  answered.  The  American  Baptist 
Home  Missionary  Society  bought  a  part  of  the 
Barracks,  nine  acres,  which  had  on  the  grounds, 
five  frame  buildings.  Here  Spelman  has  remained 
expanding  in  territory,  in  number  of  buildings  and 
in  useful  service  to  the  people. 

Grappling  every  day  with  want  of  buildings,  of 
equipment,  of  food,  clothes  and  comforts  for  their 
students,  the  founders  nevertheless  began  early  to 
shape  the  courses  of  study  to  suit  the  need  of  the 
people  among  whom  their  students  had  to  labor. 
To  this  end  they  started  the  Spelman  Nurse  Train 
ing  Course  in  1886,  the  Missionary  Department  in 

1891,  the    Teachers'     Professional    Department    in 

1892,  the  College    Department    in    1897.     In    doing 
this   Spelman   was   not  only   serving  its   graduates 
and  those  among  whom  they  would  work,  but  was 
serving  as  pioneer  to  a  host  of  Negro  schools    in 
the  South,  which  only  in  recent  years  have  adop 
ted    similar   courses    in    their   curriculums.      Later, 
Spelman   further  expanded  its  courses.     To  Nurse 
Training,     Teaching,     Missionary     Courses,     have 
been  added   courses    in  music,  in  Domestic  Science, 
in    Laundering,    Sewing,    Dressmaking,     Millinery, 
Basketry,    Gardening,    Printing.     There    are,    too, 
courses  in  High  School  and  College  Departments, 
which  comprehend  the  study  of  Latin  and  German. 
Higher  Mathematics  and    the    Sciences,  looking  to 
careers  of  thought  and  scholarship. 


138 


PANORAMIC  VIEW  OF  SPELMAN  SEMINARY. 


The  school  is  under  the  direct  control  of  a  strong 
hoard  of  trustees  and  affiliated  with  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society.  It  has  had 
three  presidents,  its  two  founders,  Miss  Sophia 
Packard  and  Miss  Harriet  E.  Giles,  Miss  Giles  suc 
ceeding  Miss  Packard  in  1891.  The  present  en- 
cumbent  is  Miss  Lucy  Hale  Tapley,  who  came  all 
the  way  from  the  ranks  of  the  teachers  and  who 
has  grown  with  the  school.  Spelman  has  a  faculty 
of  fifty  teachers.  Each  teacher  receives  her  com 
mission  direct  from  the  Women's  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Board.  It  registers  an  average  attend 
ance  of  750  students  a  year.  In  all  the  departments 
the  school  is  thoroughly  and  intensely  religions. 
Whatever  courses  a  student  may  pursue,  prayer 
and  Bible  study,  required  and  volunteer,  and  the 
doctrine  of  service  play  a  major  part  in  shaping 
the  lives  of  those  who  come  within  her  walls. 

The  usefulness  of  an  institution  is  judged  by  the 
amount  of  good  work  done  by  the  graduates  and 
former  students  turned  out.  Judged  from  this 
point  of  view,  Spelman  ranks  among  the  highest 
institutions  in  the  country.  Teaching  has  been  and 
continues  to  be  the  leading  occupation  of  Spelman 
graduates.  They  are  found  to  be  in  nearly  every 
State  of  the  South — in  city  graded  schools,  in  in 
dustrial  schools  and  in  ungraded  schools  in  rural 
districts,  and  a  number  have  served  on  the  faculty 
of  their  Alma  Mater,  Morehouse  College,  Selma 
University,  and  Similar  schools.  One  tribute  to 
the  ability  of  these  Spelman  girls  as  teachers  came 
from  a  former  State  School  Commissioner  of  Geor 
gia.  He  said  that  if  he  had  fifty  teachers  from 
Spelman's  Normal  department,  he  would  revolu 
tionize  teaching  in  Georgia. 

A  large  and  important  class  of  the  graduates  are 
bright  examples  of  Christian  wives  and  mothers. 
Of  these  many  are  helpful  wives  of  ministers-;  oth 
ers  are  assisting  their  husbands  in  their  work  as 
teachers;  all  are  exerting  a  helpful  influence  on 
the  lives  of  the  next  generation.  Then  there  are 
graduates  in  a  number  of  other  callings — there  is 
an  editor,  bookkeepers,  stenographers,  several 
doctors.  There  are  workers  in  Orphan  Homes, 


kindergartens,  charity  work,  Y.  W.  C.  A.  work, 
home  and  foreign  mission  work.  All  of  these  young 
women  go  out  as  representatives  of  the  school  that 
has  done  so  much  for  them  and  they  are  proud  to 
hold  up  her  banner. 

Spelman  graduates  do  not  confine  their  teaching 
to  books.  They  undertake  to  teach  their  pupils 
both  old  and  young,  how  to  live.  One  encouraging 
thing  about  the  work  of  these  young  women  is  the 
fact  that,  as  a  rule,  women  and  girls,  living  in  com 
munities  where  Spelman  students  have  labored, 
have  a  higher  ideal  of  life,  which  manifests  itself 
in  the  care  and  the  training  of  the  children. 

The  grounds  of  Spelman  are  an  expression  of 
well-organized  orderly  life  within.  Th  campus  it 
self  has  a  good  effect  on  the  pupils  who  attend  the 
school.  Going  out  from  Spelman,  each  girl  is  op 
posed  to  dirt  and  trash.  Each  girl  feels  that  she 
must  make  her  surroundings  attractive.  Then 
there  is  about  Spelman  an  air  of  having  time  to 
think,  to  feel,  to  commune  with  one's  self  and  with 
ones  God.  The  value  of  this  time  cannot  be  over 
estimated. 

Another  feature  of  the  life  of  the  students  at 
Spelman  Seminary  is  the  manner  in  which  they 
are  cared  for  while  students  there.  The  system 
is  unique.  The  boarders  are  divided  into  groups  of 
about  fifty,  and  placed  in  the  care — not  of  a  ma 
tron,  not  in  the  care  of  a  preceptress,  but  in  the 
care  of  a  "Hall  Mother."  Each  girl  is  at  home  with 
the  "Hall  Mother,"  and  a  "Hall  Mother"  feels 
just  as  responsible  for  the  girls  in  her  care  as 
though  they  were  really  her  own.  Here  in  the  pri 
vacy  of  their  own  halls  the  girls  of  any  given 
group,  have  their  prayers,  their  study  hours,  their 
little  concerts  and  Christmas  entertainments,  etc. ; 
and  then  go  out  and  enjoy  the  more  public  ones 
which  take  in  the  whole  school.  In  this  manner, 
the  atmosphere  of  home  is  thrown  around  the  girls 
and  they  have  the  feeling  of  being  really  loved 
and  protected. 

Spelman  Seminary  is  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the 
best,  organized  institution  among  our  people.  Its 
training  is  thorough. 


139 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  HILL,  PRESIDENT 
WALKER   BAPTIST   INSTITUTE. 


HE  Walker  Baptist  Institute  is  lo 
cated  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  where 
it  was  moved  eleven  years  after 
it  was  founded,  from  Waynes- 
boro,  Ga.  It  was  founded  in  the 
year  1881  by  Father  Nathan  Wal 
ker.  Since  its  removal  it  has  grown  in  popularity 
and  efficiency  until  it  has  become  known  as  one 
of  the  most  substantial  secondary  schools  in  the 
State  of  Georgia. 

It  is  owned  and  partly  supported  by  a  board  of 
seventy-eight  trustees  selected  by  the  Walker  Bap 
tist  Association. 

While  the  property  of  the  Institute  belongs  to 
the  Walker  Baptist  Association  it  has  been  foster 
ed  by  the  Negro  Baptists  of  the  entire  state  of 
Georgia,  and  in  a  considerable  measure  of  late 
years,  by  the  General  Education  Board  of  New 
York. 

In  recent  years  the  general  public  has  also  con 
tributed  to  its  support.  In  addition  to  this  it  has 
had  many  srong  Baptists  as  sponsors. 

The  founder,  Nathan  Walker,  was  followed  by 
T.  J.  Hornsby  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  the 
Reverand  C.  T.  Walker. 


Under  the  care  of  C.  T.  Walker,  popularly  known 
as  the  "Black  Spurgeon",  Walker  Baptist  Institute 
has  gained  its  widest  publicity,  expanded  most,  and 
done  its  best  service. 

The  Walker  Baptist  Institute  is  a  secondary 
school  with  large  elementary  enrollment.  It  has 
three  departments :  Grammar  School,  a  College 
Course,  and  a  Department  of  Theology. 

The  Grammar  School  covers  a  course  of  eight 
years.  This  department  is  under  the  direction  of 
Professor  G.  W.  Hill,  who  is  the  principle  and  who 
is  assisted  by  Dr.  James  M.  Mabritt,  Dr.  L.  C.  Wal 
ker,  Mrs.  Rubena  Newson,  Mrs.  U.  L.  Golden, 
Misses  Labara  Kech,  Naomi  Wright,  and  Mrs.An- 
nie  E.  Wheelston. 

This  organization  under  the  management  of 
Professor  Hill,  has  done  much  for  the  young  Bap 
tist  pupils  for  whom  it  was  especially  organized. 

While  it  is  a  denominational  school  no  student  is 
kept  from  receiving  its  instruction  because  of  his 
religious  beliefs. 

After  passing  through  this  departmer.t  the 
scholars  are  prepared  for  their  college  course  and 
for  the  study  of  Theology. 

The  aim  of  the  school  is  to  prepare  its  students 
for  entrance  into  life  where  they  must  further  ad 
vance  through  the  school  of  experience. 

The  foundation  laid  for  them  here  will  enable 
them  to  gain  from  the  school  of  experience  addi 
tional  knowledge  and  strength  to  ensure  a  noble 
and  useful  life. 

The  courses  in  the  college  and  theological  de 
partments  cover  Latin,  Greek,  Mathematics,  The 
ology,  Psychology,  English,  Pedagogy,  Domestic 
Science,  and  where  there  are  young  lady  students, 
music  and  studies  relating  to  the  Bible  as  well  as 
the  Bible  itself. 

The  Institution  is  now  nearly  forty  years  old.  It 
has  grown  slowly  but  steadily,  both  in  size  and 
efficiency.  It  has  rendered  a  large  service  to  the 
students  coming  under  its  influence  and  to  the  de 
nomination  which  brought  it  into  existence. 

Its  property  valuation  is  thirty-five  thousand 
dollars  and  includes  three  large  buildings,  one  of 
which  is  a  four  story  brick  building  containing 
thirty-two  rooms,  used  for  a  girl's  dormitory, 
chapel  and  dining  room. 

The  Institution  has  never  been  satisfied  with  its 
attainment,  though  pleasing,  but  is  continuously 
striving  to  advance.  Its  president  has  caught  a 
vision  of  a  great  and  influential  school  and  he  is 
bending  his  energies  to  translate  his  vision  into  an 
accomplished  fact.  The  Institution  has  a  bright 
outlook  for  an  enlarged  and  more  efficient  service. 

In  this  effort  he  is  ably  assisted  by  the  Baptists 
of  the  Walker  Baptist  Association,  and  especially 
by  the  Reverend  C.  T.  Walker  and  the  members  of 
his  congregation. 


140 


CHARLES  T.  WALKER,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

R.  Charles  T.  Walker  is  among  the 
leading  colored  men  of  the  world 
today.  Few  are  better  known. 
By  common  consent ,  he  is  the 
ablest  Negro  preacher  in  the 
world  without  regard  to  denomi 
nation.  He  is  pastor  of  the  Ta 
bernacle  Baptist  Institutional 
Church  of  Augusta,  Georgia,  where  he  has  been 
laboring  for  nearly  thirty-five  years  continuously, 
excepting  two  or  three  years  when  he  was  pastor 
of  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church,  in  New  York 
City. 

His  church  in  Augusta  is  frequented  on  each  Sun 
day  morning  during  the  winter  or  tourist  season  by 
scores  and  scores  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  in 
fluential  American  people,  both  men  and  women. 
John  D.  Rockfellow  was  for  years  among  his  re 
gular  attendants.  The  same  is  true  of  former 
President,  William  Howard  Taft,  who  declares  that 
Dr.  Walker  is  the  most  eloquent  man  he  ever 
heard.  The  late  Booker  T.  Washington  said:  "I 
do  not  know  of  any  man,  white  or  black,  who  is  a 
more  fascinating  speaker  either  in  private  conver 
sation  or  on  the  public  platform." 

Dr.  Walker  was  born  in  the  little  town  of  Hep- 
zibah,  Georgia,  a  few  miles  South  of  Augusta,  in 
the  county  of  Richmond,  on  February  5,  1858.  His 
father  was  a  deacon  of  the  Baptist  church  and  was 
also  the  coachman  of  the  family  that  owned  him. 
Dr.  Walker  comes  of  a  race  of  preachers.  One  of  his 


uncles  was  pastor  of  the  little  church  which  was 
organized  in  1848,  and  of  which  Dr.  Walker's  father 
was  a  deacon.  The  freedom  of  this  uncle — Rev. 
Joseph  T.  Walker,  was  purchased  by  the  slaves  in 
order  that  he  might  devote  his  entire  time  to 
preaching  the  gospel.  It  is  after  this  same  uncle 
that  the  Walker  Baptist  Association  is  named. 
This  association  founded  and  maintains  the  Wal 
ker  Baptist  Institute  at  Augusta. 

The  Johnson's  the  Hornsby's  the  Youngs,  the 
Whitehead's  and,  of  course,  the  Walker's  are  all 
related  to  the  family  of  the  older  Walker's. 
These  men  are  the  foremost  ministers,  and  have 
been  for  many  years  the  leading  ministers  and 
pastors  in  Eastern  Georgia.  Quite  recently  the 
Walker  Baptist  Association,  of  which  Dr.  Walker 
has  been  the  moderator  for  the  past  eighteen  years, 
raised  for  educational  purposes,  $22,000  in  cash— 
the  largest  amount  ever  raised  by  any  Baptist  As 
sociation  or  State  or  national  convenion  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  United  States. 

Dr.  Walker's  work  has  not  been  confined  to  the 
]-astorate.  He  has  been  interested  in  the  puMica- 
t.'.m  of  two  weekly  newspapers — the  "Augusta 
Sentinel,"  of  which  he  was  business  manager  for 
several  years,  and  the  "Georgia  Baptist,"  founded 
at  Augusta,  by  Dr.  W.  J.  White,  and  at  whose 
death  Dr.  C.  T.  Walker  became  editor-in-chief  of 
the  paper  in  which  position  he  served  for  many 
successful  years.  His  accounts  of  travel  in  the 
Holy  Land,  originally  published  in  the  Sentinel, 
were  afterwards  published  in  book  form  and  receiv 
ed  a  very  wide  circulation.  He  was  founder  and 
for  many  years  president  of  the  Negro  Fair  Asso 
ciation,  at  Augusta.  He  founded  the  colored 
men's  branch  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  on  53rd  Street,  in 
New  York  City,  and  also  founded  the  colored  Y.  M. 
C.  A.,  at  Augusta. 

As  an  evangelist,  Dr.  Walker  has  no  superior 
among  the  colored  preachers  and  pastors  of  this 
country.  He  has  been  holding  meetings  in  all 
parts  of  this  country  from  Maine  to  California, 
for  the  past  thirty  years,  and  always  with  success. 
No  colored  preacher  in  this  country  draws  larger 
crowds  anywhere  . 

He  has  also  taken  a  prominent  and  active  part 
in  the  business  and  political  developement  of  his 
race.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Penny  Bank,  Augus 
ta's  only  colored  savings  bank ;  he  is  director  in 
the  Pilgrim  Health  and  Life  Insurance  Company, 
the  biggest  corporation  of  any  kind  in  the  city  of 
Augusta,  owned  and  operated  by  colored  people ; 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Augusta  Realty  Corpora 
tion — a  band  of  seven  men  owning  and  controlling 
some  of  the  best  city  property ;  and  he  has  long 
been  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Central 
Committee  and  he  has  twice  been  elected  by  the. 
people  of  his  district  to  represent  them  in  Repub 
lican  National  Conventions. 

In  all  this  work,  and  in  all  his  many  activities, 
Dr.  Walker  has  not  been  an  agitator.  He  has  done 
more  than  any  other  colored  citizen  of  his  home 
town  to  bring  about  pleasant  relations  between  the 
two  races,  and  Booker  T.  Washington  says  that  he 
did  more  than  any  man  he  knew  to  bring  about 
peace  and  good  will  between  the  two  sections  of 
our  country  and  the  white  and  colored  races. 

It  is  a  benediction  to  have  lived  in  the  same  age 
and  in  the  same  country  with  Dr.  C.  T.  Walker. 


141 


JAMES  RUFUS  WEBB. 


OR  some  years  the  city  of  Macon, 
Georgia,  has  been  making  bids  to 
have  the  state  headquarters  re 
moved  from  Atlanta  to  her  soil. 
Macon's  arguments  have  not  al 
ways  been  convincing,  but  some 
how  they  have  more  than  worried  the  thinkers  and 
writers  of  Atlanta.  If  wide  awake  progress  of  the 
Negro  means  anything  Macon  certainly  cannot  be 
dismissed  with  a  wave  of  the  hand.  Atlanta  has 
her  Odd  Fellows  building,  but  Macon  has  her  Pyth 
ian  Temple,  not  so  pretentious,  but  very  useful  nev 
ertheless.  Her  Negroes  have  not  the  complicated 
interests,  due  to  the  multiplicity  of  big  schools  and 
strong  religious  denominations,  that  Atlanta  has. 
Her  black  people  move  more  in  unison. 

Conspicuous  among  the  big  Negro  business  men 
who  would  aid  in  weighing  down  the  scales  for 
Macon,  is  James  Rufus  Webb,  grocer,  real  estate 
dealer,  farmer,  barber  shop  proprietor,  holder  of 
big  shares  in  and  promoter  of  undertaking  and 
broom  manufacturing  establishments.  Indeed  they 
look  upon  him  in  Macon,  as  a  sort  of  Cotton  Ave 
nue  King. 

Mr.  Webb  was  born  in  1863,  in  Crawford  county, 
Ga.  He  got  his  education  in  Bibb  County,  in  the 

142 


city  schools  and  in  Ballard  High  School.  Much  of 
his  way  he  earned,  the  other  his  father  paid.  Fin 
ishing  his  school  career,  Mr.  Webb  was  none  too 
certain  just  what  he  was  to  do  to  earn  a  livelihood 
and  to  make  his  place  in  the  world.  However  he 
thought  he  saw  an  opening. 

The  Negro  business  man  was  making  his  way, 
but  feebly,  with  a  rare  exception,  in  Macon  in  those 
days.  There  was  no  Douglass  Hotel  on  Broad 
Street,  ITO  Pythian  building,  little  Negro  real  estate. 
However,  in  1889  Mr.  Webb  courageously  set  forth 
as  a  grocer  on  Cotton  Avenue.  Prosperity  came 
quicker  and  more  abundantly  than  he  had  dared 
hope.  His  business  flourished  without  a  failure  for 
thirteen  years,  when  he  thought  he  would  change. 

Selling  out  the  grocery  business  he  took  up  that 
of  dealing  in  Realty.  He  had  some  money  and  had 
learned  some  of  the  tricks  of  business  and  of  invest 
ments.  Situated  in  his  office  in  the  Pythian  build 
ing  where  he  could  think  and  plan,  he  not  only  made 
profitable  investments  for  himself  but  became  a 
thinker,  a  planner,  and  a  promoter  for  Negro  bus 
iness  in  general.  He  saw  that  there  was  a  big  op 
portunity  as  well  as  a  chance  to  render  improved 
service  in  the  business  of  undertaking.  Hence  two 
undertaking  establishments  were  soon  under  way, 
backed  by  his  name,  influence  and  capital.  The 
Central  City  Undertaking  Company  of  Macon  is  his 
own  business  and  he  carries  a  controlling  interest 
in  the  Webb  and  Hartley  Undertaking  establish 
ment. 

Just  as  he  saw  the  chance  for  the  Negro  under 
taker  to  render  bigger  and  better  service,  so  he 
saw  it  in  several  other  callings.  He  thought  there 
was  much  room  for  the  improved  barber  shop  in  his 
town,  and  he  started  the  Union  Barber  shop.  He 
thought  there  was  a  chance  for  the  Negro  to  suc 
ceed  as  a  broom  maker  and  he  established  the  O.  R. 
Broom  factory. 

Planning  and  working  incessantly,  working  not 
only  to  succeed  himself,  but  also  to  give  the  colored 
people  employment,  it  is  no  wonder  that  Mr.  Webb 
has  prospered.  He  does  not  hoard  money,  rather  he 
keeps  money  moving,  investing  it,  making  it  in 
crease  itself.  He  owns  thirty  houses,  three  stores, 
and  a  165  acre  farm  in  addition  to  his  other  busi 
ness  interests.  The  farm  which  has  its  houses, 
barns  and  the  like,  he  takes  pride  in  looking  after 
himself. 

Thus  engrossed  in  business  Mr.  Webb  has  devot 
ed  but  little  time  to  organizations  of  any  other  kind. 
He  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Clara  B.  Webb,  are  members 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  He  is  a  Mason,  a  St.  Lukes 
Knight  of  Pythias.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
Macon  Lodge  of  Masons  and  past  Chancellor  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

All  his  business  career,  running  over  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  Mr.  Webb  has  spent  on  Cotton  Ave 
nue.  Here  are  the  scenes  of  most  of  his  invest 
ments.  Here  are  all  the  business  establishments 
of  the  King  of  Cotton  Avenue.  Thus  it  is  that 
through  Webb,  through  Douglass  and  others,  that 
if  Macon  were  bidding  for  the  capital  on  the  basis 
of  Negro  business,  she  could  not  be  dismissed  with 
a  mere  gesture. 


MADAM  MARTHA  BROADUS  ANDERSON  B.  M. 


HICHEVER  city  of  America  may 
claim  to  be  the  Negro  money  cen 
ter,  social  and  intellectual  center 
and  the  like,  it  is  certain  that  Chi 
cago  alone  carries  the  palm  as  the 
center  of  Negro  music.  There  are 

but  a   few  of  our  best   musicians 

before  the  public  today,  whatev 
er  be  their  specialty,  but  have  come  by  the  way  of 
Chicago.  Their  talent  may  have  been  discovered 
elsewhere,  but  the  finish  and  the  courage  to 
mount  stages  of  the  country  and  sometimes  of  the 
entire  globe,  come  from  Chicago.  Such  among  the 
many  are  the  Williams',  Singers,  Kemper  Harreld, 
Morehouse  and  Madame  Martha  Broadus — An 
derson.  Mrs.  Anderson  is  among  those  whose  talent 
was  discovered  and  in  goodly  measure  developed 
elsewhere.  Born  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  she  gained 
her  early  literary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Washington,  D.  C.  It  was  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  District  of  Columbia  that  she  first  discover 
ed  her  talent  on  the  one  hand,  and  learned  the  ele 
mentary  technique  on  the  other,  under  the  tutelage 
of  the  late  Professor  John  T.  Layton.  She  soon  be 
came  the  leading  singer  in  all  public  school  sing 
ing. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  she  was  chosen  official  cho 
rus  director  of  the  Second  Baptist  Lyceum,  a  ly- 
ceum  which  at  that  time  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  best  literary  societies  in  the  country. 

On  finishing  her  studies  in  the  public  schools  of 


Washington,  Mrs.  Anderson  took  the  civil  service 
examination  and  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the 
Government  Printing  service,  where  she  worked 
for  many  years.  In  the  meantime,  however;  she 
did  not  wholly  neglect  her  talent.  She  studied  and 
practiced  regularly,  and  appeared  in  public  when 
ever  time  and  opportunity  permitted. 

In  1898  Mrs.  Anderson  was  married  to  Mr.  Henry 
S.  Anderson  and  took  up  residence  in  Chicago. 
Here  she  made  her  home,  launched  out  into  musi 
cal  studies  and  into  the  musical  life  of  Chicago.  To 
quote  George  L.  Williams  of  the  Williams  Jubilee 
Singers— "Madam  Anderson  is  in  the  first  division 
of  the  men  and  women  of  the  race  who  are  doing 
things  musical.  For  ten  years  she  has  been  active 
in  the  musical  life  of  Chicago,  having  built  up  and 
directed  a  great  choir  at  Quinn  Chapel,  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  which,  during  the  time  of  her  direction, 
was  acknowledged  to  be  the  best  organization  of 
its  kind  in  the  great  city  of  Chicago.  She  is  now  a 
director  of  an  excellent  choir  at  Bethesda  Baptist 
Church  and  maintains  a  beautiful  and  well  appoint 
ed  studio  at  3518-22  South  State  Street,  Chicago, 
to  which  a  large  number  of  students  go  to  study 
vocal  and  instrumental  music." 

She  was  graduated  from  the  Chicago  Musical 
College  in  1908,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Music.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  colleges  of  music 
in  the  West,  and  Mrs.  Anderson  is  one  of  the  few 
colored  people  to  have  studied  there  and  the  only 
Negro  to  obtain  a  degree  there.  Her  voice 
is  described  as  lyric  soprano,  very  flexible, 
tapable  of  wonderful  range.  ~  She  numbers 
among  teachers,  in  addition  to  those  at  the  Chi 
cago  Musical  College,  Herbert  Miller, Pedro  T.  Tin- 
sley,  both  well  known  in  the  musical  world,  Her 
bert  Miller  says  of  her: 

"She  has  had  a  protracted  course  of  study  with 
me,  covering  a  period  of  years  and  understands  the 
principles  which  underly  and  govern  the  art  of 
singing.  I  also  know  her  to  be  an  accomplished 
musician,  her  studies  of  composition,  history,  sight- 
reading  and  piano  giving  her  education  a  breadth 
unusual  among  vocalists." 

Mrs.  Anderson  spends  her  time  teaching  pri 
vate  pupils,  directing  chorusus  and  appearing  in 
recitals.  She  appears  before  the  public  not  only 
in  lighter  solo  singing  but  in  prolonged  and  heroic 
roles.  For  example,  some  of  the  best  work  on  the 
stage,  that  by  which  audiences  best  remember  her 
are  the  "Rose  Maidens."  "Esther  the  Beautiful 
Queen,"  and  "The  Messiah."  In  these  she  is  a  great 
favorite  before  the  general  public  and  before  audi 
ences  of  college  students.  She  has  sung,  among 
many  institutions,  at  Howard  and  at  Fisk.  At  Fisk, 
where  music  is  in  the  foundation  stones  of  the  Uni 
versity  and  throbs  in  everybody's  pulse,  she  won 
words  like  this  from  the  Nashville  Globe : 

"The  entirely  new  feature  on  the  program  was 
the  appearance  of  the  soprano  soloist,  Mrs.  Martha 
Broadus — Anderson,  of  Chicago,  Illinois.  To  say 
that  she  won  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  her  audience 
is  to  state  it  mildly.  Her  stage  manners  were  sim 
ply  perfect,  and  her  perfection  lay  in  her  simplicity. 
To  be  received  as  she  was  by  such  a  gathering  as 
greeted  her  was  an  enviable  compliment.  She  was 
to  sing  four  solos,  but  the  audience  compelled  her 
to  sing  seven,  and  clamored  for  more,  but  the 
length  of  the  program  forbade  her  singing  longer." 


143 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  ELLIS, 


George  Washington  Ellis,  K.  C,  F.  R.  G.  S.,  LL.  D. 


HOSE  who  marvel  at  the  versatil 
ity  of  Mr.  George  W.  Ellis,  of 
Chicago,  will  be  even  more  amaz 
ed  to  know  of  the  wide  range  of 
his  education.  Mr.  Ellis  was 
born  in  Platte  County,  at  Wes 
ton,  Missouri,  May  4th,  1876.  His  parents  were 
also  Missourians,  his  father  being  of  Lexington, 
Missouri.  His  mother  was  Miss  Amanda  Drace 
of  Clinton,  County,  Missouri.  Mr.  Ellis  began 
his  education  in  his  native  city,  of  Weston,  where 
he  attended  public  schools.  From  Weston  he  en 
tered  Atchison  High  School,  Atchison,  Kansas. 
Graduating  from  here,  he  spent  the  next  two 
years  in  the  Law  Department  of  the  University  of 
Kansas.  Then  he  began  the  practice  of  law  to  as 
sist  in  paying  his  way  for  four  years  in  the  College 
of  Arts  in  the  University  of  Kansas.  Next  he 
spent  two  years  in  the  Gunton's  Institute  of  Econ 
omics  and  Sociology,  in  New  York.  From  New 
York  he  enrolled  in  the  Department  of  Philosophy, 
and  Psychology,  in  Howard  University,  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.  He  has  a  diploma  from  Gunton's  Insti 
tute  (of  Economics  and  Sociology),  a  diploma  from 
Gray's  School  of  Stenography  and  Typewriting, 
and  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  from  the  University  of 
Kansas.  In  1918  Wilberforce  conferred  upon  him 
the  degree  of  LL.  D.,  in  appreciation  of  his  exten 
sive  work. 

Set  "over  against  this  long  list  of  achievements 
in  education  are  his  many  successes  in  life.  Mr. 
Ellis  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Lawrence,  Kan 
sas,  in  1893.  In  1899  he  passed  the  Census  Board 
of  Examiners,  and  was  appointed  a  clerk  in  the  In 
terior  Department  at  Washington.  Transferred 
in  1902,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Roosevelt 
and  confirmed  by  the  Senate  as  Secretary  of  the 
Legation  to  the  Republic  of  Liberia.  The  next  eight 
years,  Mr.  Ellis  spent  in  Africa.  He  made  no  end  of 
excursions  into  the  hinterland,  studying  the  lives 
and  manners  of  the  African  people.  Retiring  in  1910 
Mr.  Ellis  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Chicago,  un 
der  the  firm  name  of  Ellis  and  Ward.  This  name 
was  changed  in  1912  to  Ellis  and  Westbrooks,  as 
it  now  stands.  In  addition  to  a  large  general  prac 
tice,  Mr.  Ellis  was  elected  in  1917  as  assistant  Cor 
poration  Counsel,  a  position  which  he  still  holds. 
Throughout  his  career,  Mr.  Ellis  has  been  a 
strong  and  active  Republican.  He  has  been  much 
in  demand  as  a  campaign  speaker  and  advisor.  He 
is  very  active  in  all  political  movements  in  Chicago, 
taking  a  conspicious  part  in  their  direction  and 
giving  voice  to  their  outcome  in  various  magazines 
and  newspapers.  Active  and  useful  as  he  is 


in  National  and  city  politics,  Mr.  Ellis  will 
no  doubt  be  the  longest  remembered,  as  he  is  pro 
bably  best  known  by  his  writings.  A  mere  list  of 
his  writings  will  illustrate  how  very  prolific  he  has 
been  with  his  pen  and  what  service  he  has  been 
able  to  render  all  black  peoples  through  the  press. 
His  three  books  are  "Negro  Culture  in  West  Af 
rica,"  "The  Leopard's  Claw,"  and  "Negro  Achieve 
ments  in  Social  Progress."  Among  his  contribu 
tions  to  various  publications  are  "Education  in 
Liberia,"  (National  Bureau  of  Education ;)  "Justice 
in  the  West  African  Jungle,"  (New  York  Indepen 
dent  ;)  "Liberia  in  the  Political  Psycology  of  West 
Africa,"  (African  Journal ;)  "The  Mission  of  Dun- 
bar,"  (The  Champion;)  "Negro  Morality  in  West 
Africa,"  (The  Light ;)  "Negro  Morality  in  the  Af 
rican  Black  Belt,"  (The  Light;)  "The  Outlook  of 
the  Negro  in  Literature,"  (The  Champion;)  "The 
Chicago  Negro  in  Law  and  Politics,"  (The  Cham 
pion  ;)  "Dynamic  Factors  in  the  Liberian  Situa 
tion  ;"  "Islam  as  a  Factor  in  West  African  Culture ;" 

To  enter  into  the  merits  of  these  publications  is 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  space  alloted  here.  Suffice 
it  to  say  that  most  of  the  leading  daily  papers  of 
the  country  along  with  many  of  the  best  magazines 
have  given  most  wholesome  praise  to  both  his 
books  and  articles.  Fully  as  substantial,  if  not 
more  so,  is  the  endorsement  given  him  by  many 
of  the  leading  intellectual  societies  of  the  world. 
In  recognition  of  his  contributions  in  ethnoligical 
studies,  Mr.  Ellis  upon  the  recommendation  of  Sir 
Harry  Johnston,  and  Dr.  J.  Scott  Keltic,  has  been 
elected  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society 
of  Great  Britian.  Upon  the  merits  of  the  same 
writings  he  has  been  made  a  member  of  the  Af 
rican  Society,  London,  of  the  American  Sociologi 
cal  Society,  of  the  American  Political  Association, 
of  the  American  Society  of  International  Law.  He 
has  been  decorated  a  Knight  Commander  of  the 
Order  of  African  Redemption,  and  has  been  chosen 
an  honorary  member  of  the  Luther  Burbank  So 
ciety. 

Mr.Ellis  was  married  to  Miss  Clavender  Sher 
man,  in  1906.  Mrs.  Ellis  died  in  1916. 

He  is  as  has  been  indicated  a  strong  Re 
publican,  a  Methodist  in  his  religious  belief, 
and  was  last  delegate  to  the  General  Con 
ference,  1912-1916.  He  was  given  a  place  in  Who's 
Who  in  America,  in  1912,  and  in  The  Book  of  Chi- 
cagoans,  in  1917.  He  has  just  been  selected  for  a 
place  in  the  National  Encyclopedia,  of  American 
Biography,  volume  XVIII,  now  in  the  press. 

July  1,  1918,  at  the  Coliseum,  in  a  convention  of 
15,000  people,  Mr.  Ellis  was  nominated  for  judge  of 
the  Municipal  Court,  of  Chicago,  for  the  Repub 
lican  primaries,  September  11,  1918, 


145 


RICHARD    EDWARD    MOORE. 

EBRUARY  7,  1850,  Richard  Ed 
ward  Moore  was  born  in  Browns 
ville,  Pennsylvania  He  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Chicago  in 
1858 

In  1871  when  he  was  thirty-one 
years  old  ,he  joined  Bethel  A.  M. 
E.  Church,  where  he  has  labored 
for  the  past  forty-six  years,  filling  almost  every 
position  a  layman  can  fill  in  a  church. 

He  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School 
which  is  now  a  splendid  working  force.  Having 
all  the  advanced  ideas  of  Sunday  School  work, 
taught.  At  the  present  time  the  membership  is 
740  pupils. 

In  1868,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  Mr.  Moore  organ 
ized  a  military  company  of  boys,  ranging  from 
fourteen  to  twenty  years.  They  were  called  the 
"Hannibal  Zouaves,"  fashioned  in  dress  after  the 
famous  French  Zouaves,  of  France.  The  com 
pany  adopted  the  lightning  quick  Zouave  tactcis 
and  soon  became  the  pride  of  Chicago,  and  when 
ever  they  appeared  in  public  parades,  they  were 
given  rousing  applause  by  the  citizens,  white  and 
colored,  who  saw  them. 

And  a  few  years  later  this  company  entered  the 
State  Militia  of  Illinois  and  was  enrolled  in  com 
pany  "A,"  16th  Battalion,  Illinois  State  Guards 
under  Governor  Tanner.  Mr.  Moore  received  the 
first  Captain's  commission  ever  issued  to  a  colored 
man  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  It  was  the  military 
spirit  of  Captain  Moore  and  good  service  rendered 
by  the  "Hannibal  Guards,"  in  the  railroad  riots  and 
the  16th  Battalion  in  the  services  of  the  State,  that 
paved  the  way  for  the  admission  into  the  State  of 
the  now  famous  8th.  regiment,  Illinois  Infantry, 
now  doing  service  in  the  regular  army  of  the  Un 
ited  States,  This  company  is  now  in  France, 
known  as  the  370  Regt.,  U.  S.  Infantry,  and  which 


is  the  only  regiment  of  Colored  men  in  military 
service  in  the  world  that  is  commanded  by  Negro 
officers  from  corporal  to  colonel. 

When  a  boy  sixteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Moore's 
mother  had  Richard  to  join,  with  his  mother,  the 
Good  Samaritans.  With  the  coming  years  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  Masons, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  True  Reformers,  and  several 
Social  and  Business  organizations.  Finding  it  im 
possible  to  render  his  full  duty  to  all  of  these  fra 
ternal  organizations,  he  confined  his  efforts  to  the 
Masonic  Order.  From  October  1878,  to  October, 
1913,  he  served  as  R.  W.  Grand  Secretary  of  the 
Most  Worshipful  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Ill 
inois,  for  35  years.  During  the  same  time  for  5  years 
he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  the  Masonic 
Order,  the  offices  of  Secretary  of  the  Grand 
Chapter  of  the  Royal  Arch  Masons,  Grand  Recor 
der  of  the  Grand  Commandery  Knights  Templar, 
and  later  on,  the  Supreme  Council  Scottish  Rite 
Masons  33,  of  the  Northwestern  jurisdiction  ;  and 
Imperial  Recorder  of  the  Imperial  Council  of  No 
bles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  the  United  States. 

In  1890  he  organized  the  Grand  Chapter  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  and  served  as  Grand  Patron  for  four 
years.  In  1892,  he  began  a  three  year's  term  in  the 
office  of  Grand  Joshua  Heroines  of  Jericho.  In 
1913,  he  organized  the  Arabic  Court,  Daughters  of 
Isis,  auxiliary  to  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
In  1916  he  organized  the  Chicago  Assembly  Loyal 
Ladies  of  the  Golden  Circle,  auxiliary  to  the  Su 
preme  Council  Scottish  Rite  Masons.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  serving  in  the  office  of  Lieut 
enant  Commander  of  the  Supreme  Council  Scottish 
Rite,  of  the  Northern  jurisdiction  and  Chief  Rab- 
ban  of  the  Imperial  Council  A.  E.  A.  O.  Nobles  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine  of  the  United  States  and  Can 
ada. 

On  April  1,  1871,  Mr.  Moore  was  employed  as 
porter  in  the  office  of  the  American  Express  Com 
pany.  He  gradually  worked  his  way  up  to  pri 
vate  messenger  to  Mr.  Charles  Fargo,  Vice-Presi- 
dent  and  General  Manager  of  the  Company.  He 
remained  in  this  position  until  the  death  of  Mr. 
Fargo,  in  1902.  He  was  then  transferred  as  filing 
clerk  to  the  new  Foreign  Department  of  the  com 
pany,  and  had  charge  of  more  than  fifty  thousand 
files  which  covered  the  transactions  of  that  very 
important  branch  of  the  company's  business  from 
the  date  of  its  introduction,  1900  to  April  30,  1913. 

The  world's  war  caused  a  general  reduc 
tion  in  the  employee's  rank  of  all  express  compan 
ies  and  the  company  generously  placed  Mr.  Moore 
on  the  Pension  Roll,  after  having  served  for  forty- 
six  years  and  six  months  without  ever  losing  a 
day's  pay  or  causing  a  demerit  to  be  placed  against 
his  record. 

At  the  present  time  Mr.  Moore  is  actively  engag 
ed  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Church,  Sunday  School,  and  So 
cial  uplift  work  . 

On  December  5,  1874,  Mr.  Moore  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Rosa  E.  Hawkins,  who  was  a 
charming  young  Chicago  belle,  of  that  period.  They 
lived  happily  together  until  the  time  of  her  death, 
April  15,  1912.  Mr.  Moore  is  now  pleasantly  loca 
ted  with  his  daughters,  Mrs.  Alberta  Moore-Smith, 
and  Mrs.  Etta  M.  Shoecraft,  and  their  husbands, 
and  his  son,  Richard  Moore,  Jr.,  all  forming  one 
happy  household  group. 


146 


High  Degree  Masonry  in  Illinois 


HE  three  high  branches  of  the 
Masonic  Order  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  are  the  M.  E.  Grand 
Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons, 
the  Occidental  Consistory,  A.  A. 
Scottish  Rite  Masons,  Valley  of 
Chicago,  and  Arabic  Temple  No. 
44,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
of  Chicago. 

The  Grand  Chapter  of  the  Royal  Arch  Masons 
was  organized  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  October  9, 
1879,  with  four  chapters,  Saint  Mark's,  Chicago; 
Saint  John's,  Springfield;  Eureka,  Chicago,  and 
Mount  Moriah,  Cairo.  These  chapters  were  chart 
ed  by  the  most  excellent  Grand  Chapter  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  which 
was  organized  about  twenty-two  years,  prior  to 
the  organization  of  the  Grand  Chapter  of  Illinois, 
by  Royal  Masons,  who  were  regularly  made  Mas 
ons  in  lodges  established  by  Prince  Hall,  Grand 
Lodge  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  successors,  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Massachusetts,  the  members  of 
which  afterwards  received  the  Royal  Arch  degrees 
in  regular  constituted  chapters  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Boston,  Massachusetts,  said 
chapters  organized  the  Grand  Chapter  of  Pennsyl 
vania.  The  four  chapters,  composing  the  Grand 
Chapter  of  Illinois,  at  the  time  of  organization, 
numbered  only  one  hundred  and  sixty  companions 
Royal  Arch  Masons.  At  this  time  there  were 
thirty  subordinate  lodges  of  Master  Masons  with 
a  membership  of  eight  hundred  and  thirty.  The 
higher  one  goes  into  the  higher  degrees  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  the  number  of  eligibles  to  draw 
from  in  order  to  increase  the  membership  de 
creases  ;  this  accounts  for  the  small  membership 
composing  the  four  Chapters  which  formed  the 
Grand  Chapter. 

Joseph  Washington  Moore,  was  elected  the  first 
M.  E.  Grand  High  Priest.  He  was  a  Mason  of  ex 
ceptional  executive  ability  and  integrity. 

Companion,  William  D.  Berry,  was  elected  the 
first  M.  E.  Grand  Secretary.  At  the  present 
time,  there  are  fifty-four  subordinate  Chapters 
in  the  State,  with  the  membership  of  2370.  The 
present  M.  E.  Grand  High  Priest  Companion,  Al 
bert  R.  Lee,  of  Champaign,  a  man  of  extraor 
dinary  ability,  is  the  youngest  Companion  who  has 
occupied  the  exalted  position  of  Grand  High  Priest. 
Occidental  Consistory,  No.  28,  Valley  of  Chica 
go,  was  organized  in  the  year  1889,  by  the  conso 
lidation  of  Prince  Hall  Consistory,  holding  a  chap 
ter  issued  by  the  Supreme  Council  of  Illustrious 
Inspectors  Generals  of  the  thirty-third  and  last 
degree  of  the  Southern  jurisdiction ;  whose  Grand 
East  is  at  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C..  Illus 
trious  Thornton  A.  Jackson,  is  Sov-Grand  Corn- 
mender,  and  Excelsior  Consistory,  holding  a  char 
ter  issued  by  the  Supreme  Council  of  Illustrious 
Inspectors  General  of  the  thirty-third  and  last  de 
gree  of  the  United  States,  whose  Grand  East  is  at 
the  City  of  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Illustrious  Brother, 
Peter  W.  Ray,  Sov-Grand  Commander.  The  illus 
trious  brethren  of  the  thirty-third  degree  of  the 
two  Consistories  were  consolidated  under  the  name 

147 


of  Occidental  Consistory,  which  was  granted  a 
patent  issued  by  the  Supreme  Council  of  Inspec 
tors  Generals  of  the  Northern  jurisdiction  in  the 
year  of  1913.  Their  Grand  East  is  at  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  Illustrious  Brother  J. 
Francis  Rickards  is  Sov-Grand  Commander.  The 
two  Consistories  held  concurrent  jurisdiction  in  the 
Valley  of  Chicago,  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years, 
before  a  consolidation  was  effected,  owing  to  the 
long  dispute,  as  to  the  legality  of  the  five  existing 
Supreme  Councils,  which  was  finally  settled  by  re 
cognizing  one  for  the  Southern  jurisdiction  and 
one  for  the  Northern  jurisdiction,  which  by  the 
two  Supreme  Councils  was  consummated  d'uring 
the  administration  of  Illustrious  Brother  James  E. 
Bish,  Commander-in-Chief  of  Occidental  Consis 
tory. 

Occidental  is  the  largest  consistory  among  Col 
ored  men  in  the  United  States,  having  a  member 
ship  of  three  hundred  and  five  Sublime  Princes. 
The  present  commander  of  Occidental  Consitory, 
Illustrious  Brother,  Charles  T.  Scott,  is  consider 
ed  to  be  one  of  the  best  ritualists  and  thorough 
Masonic  workers  in  the  Northern  Jurisdiction,  and 
to  him,  is  due  the  credit  of  having  brought  the 
Consistory  up  to  its  present  high  standard  among 
Scottish  Rite  Masons  in  America.. 

Arabic  Temple,  No.  44,  of  the  Oasis  of  Chicago, 
Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  was  organized  in 
the  month  of  June,  1893,  by  Noble  Milton  F.  Fields, 
a  duly  accredited  representative  of  the  Imperial 
Council  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shriners  of  the  Unit 
ed  States  of  North  America.  There  existed  at  the 
time  of  organization,  another  Imperial  Council, 
called  "The  Ancient  Arabic  Order  Nobles  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine  of  the  United  States  and  Canada." 
The  right  to  the  supreme  control  of  work  of  the 
Order  was  a  serious  contention  between  the  two 
Imperial  Councils  for  twenty  years,  but  was  finally 
settled  by  all  the  Temples  of  the  two  factions  in 
1913,  by  agreeing  to  amalgamate.  In  order  to  pre 
vent  future  trouble  and  to  obtain  incorporation 
papers,  the  title  of  the  order  was  changed  to  be 
known  in  the  future  as  the  "Ancient  Egyptian  Ara 
bic  Order  of  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine." 

When  Arabic  Temple  was  organized  in  1913,  No 
ble  Henry  Graham  was  elected  the  first  illustrious 
potentate  and  Noble  R.  E.  Moore,  the  first  illus 
trious  Recorder,  with  an  enrollment  membership 
of  twenty-six  Nobles.  By  careful  management,  by 
these  two  officers,  with  the  undivided  support  of 
the  charter  members,  the  Temple  was  built  upon 
a  strong  foundation  and  succeeded  in  increasing 
the  membership  until  1913.  when  the  Temple  took 
out  a  charter  under  the  amalgamated  Imperial 
Council,  Noble  Robert  I.  Hodge  being  the  Illus 
trious  Protentate,  and  Noble  Richard  E.  Moore, 
Illustrious  Recorder.  The  present  Illustrious  Po 
tentate  Noble  Marcellus  F.  Coley  has  no  equal  in 
the  country  as  a  live,  wide-awake,  soul-stirring, 
potenate,  always  presenting  something  new  for  the 
edification  of  the  members.  The  Temple  now  has 
a  membership  of  345,  which  makes  it  the  largest 
temple  of  Colored  Shriners  in  the  United  States. 


WILLIAMS  FAMOUS  SINGERS, 


Williams  Famous  Singers 


HICAGO  is  their  post  office  ad 
dress  :  the  world  is  their  home. 
From  Canada  to  Mexico,  from 
Maine  to  California,  from  London 
to  Berlin,  they  journey  with  all 
the  ease  of  the  cosmopolite.  The 
impassable  snow  banks  of  Montana,  the  washouts 
in  Florida,  the  heatless  theatres  in  Alabama,  none 
of  these  can  suppress  the  rich  melody,  the  good 
cheer,  the  masterly  rendition  of  these  singers 
gathered  and  blended  from  many  parts  of  America. 
For  fifteen  years  this  troup  of  William  Colored 
Singers  has  had  an  unparalleled  vogue  before  the 
international  public.  It  had  its  origin  back  in  1904, 
being  organized  by  Mr.  Charles  P.  Willams,  from 
whom  the  company  takes  its  name.  The  personnel 
of  the  troup  has  been  practically  the  same  from  the 
beginning;  no  wonder  they  can  blend  their  voices 
with  equal  fascination  in  "Who  Built  de  Ark?"  and 
in  the  sextet  by  Lucia 

These  are  no  picked-up  'harmonizers,"  but  edu 
cated,  refined  people,  to  begin  with ;  and  intense 
students  of  music  besides.  Mr.  Charles  P.  Wil 
liams,  the  organizer,  was  formerly  a  student  in 
Rust  University,  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi.  His 
father,  D.  A.  Williams,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Me 
thodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  Mississippi,  was  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  his  race,  but  died  when 
Charles  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  When  his  fa 
ther  died  Charles  was  left  with  the  care  of  a  mo 
ther  and  five  sisters.  Prior  to  this  time  he  had 
been  a  student  of  Rust  University,  and  had  known 
no  responsibility  greater  than  that  of  study  and 
college  athletics.  However,  he  went  to  Chicago, 
and  working  in  various  capacities  managed  to  take 
care  of  the  family  and  home.  He  was  not  con 
tented  with  the  nature  of  his  occupation,  and  final 
ly  secured  a  position  with  a  traveling  Male  Quar 
tette,  which  in  time  was  abandoned  by  its  leader 
and  which  was  ultimately  taken  over  by  Mr.  Wil 
liams.  With  the  remaining  members  of  that  quar 
tette,  he,  with  the  assistance  of  Dr.  Frank  L.  Love- 
land,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  Iowa,  organized 
the  Dixie  Singers.  In  the  Spring  of  1904,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Williams,  and  J.  H.  Johnson  resigned  from 
the  last  named  company  to  organize  what  is  at 
present  the  famous  "Williams'  Singers." 

Mr.  J.  H.  Johnson,  who  is  Mr.  Williams  business 
partner  and  Musical  Director  of  the  company,  was 
born  in  Coal  Creek,  Tennessee.  He  and  his  bro 
ther,  G.  L.  Johnson,  the  first  tenor  singer  of  the 
company,  are  sons  of  a  Methodist  minister,  but 
they  were  in  early  life  sent  to  Knoxville  College, 
a  United  Presbyterian  School,  Knoxville,  Tennes 
see,  where  they  each  received  their  literary  and 

149 


musical  education.  Each  of  them  afterwards  trav 
eled  with  the  Knoxville  College  Glee  Club,  until  J. 
H.  Johnson  located  in  Chicago,  and  G.  L.  Johnson 
accepted  a  call  to  one  of  the  mission  schools  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Williams  was 
attracted  to  J.  H.  Johnson  when  he  was  directing 
a  choir  in  one  of  the  large  Chicago  churches  and 
induced  him  to  fill  a  vacancy  with  the  Dixies,  and 
to  ultimately  join  Mr.  Williams  in  organizing  the 
present  "Williams'  Singers,"  G.  L.  Johnson  was 
then  called  to  this  new  company.  Mr.  J.  S.  Crabbe, 
the  basso,  was  formerly  manager  for  the  Mutual 
Lyceum  Bureau.  Mrs.  Chas.  P.  Williams  was  for 
merly  Miss  Clara  Kindle  of  Oberlin  College  and  of 
the  Maggie  Porter-Cole  Fisk  Singers.  The  prima 
donna,  Mrs.  Virginia  Greene,  studied  under  Profes 
sors  Perkins  and  Tinsley  of  Chicago.  Mrs.  Hattie 
Franklin  Johnson  was  trained  at  Fisk  University,  at 
Walden  and  in  Chicago  under  Professor  Tinsley. 
Mrs.  Marie  Peeke  Johnson  was  born  in  Madison, 
Wis.,  and  reared  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  She  was 
sent  at  early  age  to  Fisk  University  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  where  she  had  eight  years  in  literary 
branches  combined  with  piano  and  vocal  music  un 
der  Miss  Grass  and  Miss  Robinson,  respectively. 
Later  Mrs.  Johnson  studied  under  Mr.  Kurt  Don- 
ath  and  Mr.  A.  Ray  Carpenter,  Chicago,  and  in  the 
meantime  filled  professional  engagements  with 
Fisk  Jubilee  Singers. 

Miss  Inez  L.  McAllister  was  born  at  Pueblo, 
Colo.,  and  is  a  graduate  from  the  High  School  of 
that  city,  is  a  contralto  singer  and  is  Mr.  Williams' 
private  secretary.  She  substitutes  for  Mrs.  Wil 
liams  as  contralto  singer  of  the  company. 

To  years  of  constant  devotion  to  their  life's  work 
in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  they  have  added 
a  year  of  travel  and  study  in  England,  Scotland, 
Wales.  Holland,  Belgium,  Germany  and  France. 
They  were  eighteen  weeks  in  London,  where  they 
gave  130  performances,  singing  in  many  of  its  best 
known  theatres,  among  which  was  the  World-fam 
ous  Coliseum.  While  in  London  the  entire  company 
was  under  the  instruction  of  one  of  the  world's 
greatest  vocal  teachers — Miss  Ira  Aldridge,  who  is 
a  scholar  of  the  London  Royal  Conservatory  of 
Music,  and  whose  early  teacher  was  the  famous 
Jennie  Lind.  This  experience  added  to  natural  tal 
ent  and  former  years  of  faithful  application  en 
hances  the  ability  of  each  individual  singer,  and  has 
produced  in  their  case  a  remarkable  musical  com 
bination. 

The  V.orld  war  has  brought  changes  among  these 
singers,  as  it  has  among  all  kinds  of  groups  the 
world  over.  But  their  popularity  is  unchanged; 
their  enthusiasm  is  unabated,  their  talent  seems  to 
grow  richer  and  richer  as  the  days  pass  by. 


A.  WILBERFORCE  WILLIAMS,  M.  D. 

ANUARY,    1864,    Dr.    A.    Wilber- 
force    was    born    to    Baptice    and 
Flora     Williams.       For     thirteen 
years  young  Williams  lived  on  the 
plantation,    toiling    happily    with 
out   the    knowledge   of   his   A.    B. 
C's.     Then,   in    1876,   he   came   to 
Springfield,  Missouri,  and  for  the 
first  time  had  a  chance  to  attend  school.     In  1881, 
he  obtained  a   license  to  teach  common   school  in 
Mount  Vernon  County,  Mo. 

He  alternated  teaching  and  studying  until  he 
was  graduated  from  the  Normal  Department  at 
Lincoln  Institute,  Jefferson  City,  Mo.  He  then 
taught  in  the  summer  school,  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
and  at  the  same  time  continued  to  study.  He  pur 
sued  private  studies,  took  a  course  at  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.,  attended  evening  school  and  the  Summer  Nor 
mal. 

Young  Williams  had  some  difficulty  in  choosing 
his  Mir  work.  He  was  a  most  excellent  teacher, 
but  he  felt  that  he  would  not  like  to  make  it  his 
life  work.  He  was  advised  to  become  a  minister. 
The  }  oung  man  decided  that  he  was  not  fitted  for 
such,  a  calling.  Then  for  a  time  he  felt  that  his 
future  happiness  depended  upon  his  becoming  a 
lawyer  and  a  member  of  the  bar.  There  had  been 
a  cyclone  and  young  Williams  had  watched  the 
skill  of  Dr.  Taft,  an  ex-army  surgeon  care  for 
the  wounded.  He  admired  that  skill  as  a  boy.  and 
he  could  not  forget  it  as  a  young  man.  And  so  in 


the  choice  of  his  profession,  Dr.  Williams,  one  of 
our  foremost  surgeons,  went  back  to  his  childhood 
for  the  inspiration  that  made  him  choose  the  pro 
fession  for  which  he  was  best  fitted.  And  having 
definitely  decided  on  his  profession,  Dr.  A.  Wilber- 
force  Williams  set  his  heart  on  becoming  one  of 
the  best,  with  the  ability  to  saw  bones  and  bind 
up  wounds  as  he  had  seen  Dr.  Taft  do. 

Thus  it  was  that  in  1890,  he  left  Kansas  City, 
Mo.,  and  went  to  New  York  to  attend  Bellevue 
College — but,  they  refused  him  admittance  and  he 
returned  to  his  school  room  for  another  year. 
When  next  he  started  out  to  get  admittance  in  a 
medical  school,  he  applied  for  the  place  before 
leaving  his  home.  And  so,  we  find  him  a  student 
of  medicine  in  Northwestern  University,  Chicago, 
111.,  where  he  received  the  same  credit  as  that  of 
any  other  student.  He  was  graduated  in  1894,  and 
then  served  for  two  years  as  resident  physician  in 
Provident  Hospital  in  Chicago. 

Dr.  A.  Wilberforce  Williams  is  Professor  of  In 
ternal  Medicine;  head  of  the  Medical  Department 
of  the  Post  Graduate  School  of  Provident  Hos 
pital  ;  Secretary  of  the  Medical  Staff  and  Attend 
ing  Physician  of  Provident  Hospital  and  lecturer 
on  Hygiene,  Sanitation  and  Medicine  in  its  Train 
ing  School  for  Nurses.  Attending  Physician  for 
six  years  at  the  South  Side  Municipal  Tuberculo 
sis  Dispensary  .Supervisor  of  the  Municipal  Tu 
berculosis  Sanitation  Survey;  he  is  an  authority  on 
all  forms  of  tuberculous  diseases,  a  well  recogniz 
ed  Heart  and  Lung  Specialist  and  Health  Editor  of 
the  Chicago  Defender.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  A.  M.  A.,  Illinois  State  and  Chicago  Medical 
Societies,  Mississippi  Valley  Tuberculosis  Confer 
ence,  Robert  Koch  Society  for  the  Prevention  and 
Study  of  Tuberculosis,  the  National  Society  for  the 
Study  and  Prevention  of  Tuberculosis  and  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  National  Med 
ical  Association  and  also  a  member  of  a  committee 
of  that  Association,  to  wait  on  Secretary  Baker 
for  the  purpose  of  having  colored  professional  men 
(physicians  and  dentists)  commissioned  in  the  U. 
S.  Army  or  to  give  them  deferred  classification  and 
not  be  forced  to  enlist  as  privates  on  account  of 
racial  relations.  He  is  President  of  the  Physicians, 
Dentists  and  Pharmacists  Association  of  Chicago. 

The  U  .S.  Government  selected  him  to  act  as  a 
member  of  the  Advisory  Board  in  the  supervision 
of  the  work  of  Local  Exemption  Boards  in  the  ex 
aminations  of  registrants.  He  was  Chairman  of  the 
Second  Ward  Committee  of  the  Fourth  Liberty 
Loan,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Physicians 
of  the  Red  Cross  Home  Service  Medical  Section  in 
the  medical  care  of  dependents  of  relatives  now 
fighting  at  the  front ;  and  aside  from  these  purely 
medical  organizations,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Odd  Fellows,  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
Court  General  Robt.  Elliott,  A  .O.  F.,  Urban 
League  and  Social  Service  Club. 

In  connection  with  his  profession  he  has  traveled 
extensively  over  the  United  States,  Mexico  and 
Canada. 

He  was  married  June  1902,  to  Miss  Marry  Eliza 
beth  Tibbs,  of  Danville,  Ky.,  who  enjoys  with  him 
the  comforts  of  their  attractive  modern  home. 

Forty  years  ago  he  stood  before  his  cabin  door 
an  unlettered  boy  of  thirteen.  Now  he  has  found 
his  place  in  life  and  fills  it  with  credit  and  honor. 


150 


ed  States  Army  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 


war. 


WILLIAM  H.  ANDERSON,  D.  D. 

ORN  in  Vigo  County,  Indiana,  May 
8th,  1843,  the  Reverend  Wil 
liam  H.  Anderson  has  seen  innum 
erable  changes  in  the  history  of 
the  country,  has  been  party  to 
many  of  them,  and  has  enjoyed 
with  delight  approaching  ecstasy  the  strides  for 
ward  by  his  own  people. 

From  his  youth  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War,  his  life  was  much  like  that  of  the  ordinary  boy 
of  the  northwest.  The  school  being  four  miles 
from  his  home,  he  got  his  first  teaching  from  an 
older  sister.  As  soon  as  he  was  large  enough  to 
walk  the  distance  to  school  in  Vigo  County,  he  be 
gan  to  attend  the  public  schools.  As  a  pupil  he  be 
came  very  brilliant,  usually  standing  at  the  head 
of  his  class. 

He  was  just  coming  into  young  manhood  when 
the  Civil  War  broke  forth.  His  first  appearance  as 
a  speaker  before  the  public  was  due  to  conditions 
surrounding  the  enlistment  of  Negroes.  As  is  com 
mon  knowledge  now  Massachusetts  was  forming 
two  Negro  regiments,  the  Fifty  Fourth  and  the 
Fifty  Fifth.  The  recruiting  officers  were  seek 
ing  to  draft  the  Negroes  of  Indiana  into  the  Massa 
chusetts  regiments.  This  Mr.  Anderson  opposed, 
taking  the  position  that  the  Indiana  Negroes  should 
be  enlisted  for  Indiana  and  not  for  another  state. 

That  he  was  sincere  in  his  protest  and  not  seek 
ing  to  evade,  was  made  clear  by  later  action.  When 
the  time  came  for  the  Indiana  Negro  to  take  up 
arms  and  bear  his  share  of  the  burden  of  war,  all 
four  of  the  Anderson  sons,  he  and  three  others, 
shouldered  arms  and  went  to  the  front  in  the  Unit- 


The  war  over,  he  began  immediately  on  his  life 
as  a  public  servant,  and  later  as  a  minister.  In  1865 
he  was  sent  by  his  regiment  as  a  delegate  to  the 
Negro  Convention,  which  met  in  Nashville  in  Au 
gust,  1865.  In  1870  he  began  his  pastorate.  His 
first  pastorial  work  was  in  Rockville,  Indiana, 
which  church  he  served  one  year.  From  Rock 
ville  he  went  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  where  he 
was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  there  for  ten 
years.  From  Terre  Haute  he  went  to  the  Mc- 
Farland  Chapel,  in  Evansville,  Indiana,  where  for 
thirty-five  years  he  has  served  this  church  with 
untiring  zeal  and  fidelity.  This  long  pastorate 
places  Dr.  Anderson  at  the  head  of  the  Indiana  Col 
ored  pastors  in  point  of  continuous  service  to  one 
church,  and  but  very  few  if  any  can  claim  a  like 
distinction  in  the  United  States.  Another  mark  of 
distinction  in  his  long  life  of  service  as  a  pastor, 
(forty  seven  years)  is  that  he  has  only  served  three 
churches — the  one  at  Rockville,  one  at  Terre 
Haute  and  the  McFarland  Chapel  at  Evansville. 
The  fact  of  a  preacher  serving  a  church  as  pastor 
for  thirty  five  years  is  itself  evidence  of  wise  lead 
ership  but  to  cover  this  period  with  only  two  un 
pleasant  meetings  of  the  church,  is  a  remarkable 
showing.  Such  has  been  the  record  of  Dr.  Ander 
son. 

Dr.  Anderson  has  not  been  an  extensive  traveler, 
but  his  mind  has  visited  almost  the  entire  globe.  He 
spends  much  of  his  time  in  his  library  where  he  has 
access  to  books  of  travel  and  history.  He  can  con 
verse  intelligently  with  those  who  have  visited  this 
and  other  countries. 

He  has  held  many  posts  of  honor  in  the  In 
diana  Baptist  Association  and  in  secret  orders.  He 
has  been  a  Mason  for  forty  years,  and  is  at  present 
Grand  Chaplain  of  the  Masons  of  Indiana,  a  posi 
tion  which  he  hrs  held  continuously  for  twenty-sev 
en  years.  He  is  said  to  be  the  first  preacher  of  his 
denomination  in  Indiana  to  receive  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  this  was  conferred  upon  him 
by  the  State  University  of  Kentucky,  in  1889.  The 
Kentucky  Colored  people  chose  him  to  fight  the  Jim 
Crow  Coach  Law  in  the  Blue  Grass  State.  This 
law  was  declared  unconstitutional  by  Judge  Barr 
of  Louisville. 

He  owns  his  home  in  Evansville  and  has  interest 
in  other  property.  He  is  the  author  of  a  booklet, 
"Negro  Criminality",  which  is  pronounced  one  of 
the  best  publications  on  that  subject,  Indiana 
knows  him  as  the  young  preacher's  friend. 

Reverend  Anderson  has  been  twice  married: 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Stewart  of 
Terre  Haute,  May  31st,  1866.  He  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Mattie  D.  Griggsby  of  Indianapolis,  Novem 
ber  8th,  1017. 


151 


MOSES  A.  DAVIS. 

IRECTOR  of  Manual  Training  and 
of  Vocational  Education,  in  the 
colored  schools  of  Evansville,  In 
diana,  Moses  A.  Davis  was  born 
in  Savannah,  Georgia,  February 
3rd,  1870.  In  his  early  years  he 
attended  the  public  schools  and  then  Knox 
Institute  of  Athens,  Georgia.  His  study  in  Athens 
brought  to  the  surface  an  almost  insatiable  desire 
for  learning  of  all  kinds,  but  especially  of  the  me 
chanical  and  technical  branches. 

These  he  sought  as  the  old  scholars  pursued 
learning  in  the  various  centers  of  Europe.  He  en 
tered  Hampton  Institute,  was  graduated  there  in 
1891,  then  did  post  graduate  work  there.  During 
summer  sessions  he  went  to  the  Stout  Institute  at 
Menomine,  Wisconsin  ;  then  to  the  Massachusetts 
Institute  of  Technology  at  Boston  ;  then  to  Chicago 
University ;  and  Greer's  Automobile  College  of  Chi 
cago.  He  has  also  in  his  spare  time  pursued  tech 
nical  courses  in  the  International  Correspondence 
School  of  Scranton,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Davis  was  among  the  last  to  receive  a  com 
mission  from  General  Armstrong.  One  of  his  first 
positions  as  a  teacher  was  given  him  through  Gen 
eral  Armstrong,  v/ho  sent  Mr.Davis  to  Frankfort. 


Kentucky,  to  take  charge  of  the  technical  course 
and  manual  training  work  in  the  Kentucky  State 
Normal  School  at  Frankfort.  Here,  being  among 
the  first  colored  men  to  teach  these  subjects  suc 
cessfully,  and  knowing  his  work  from  a  practical 
as  well  as  from  a  theoretical  angle,  Mr.  Davis  be 
came  very  popular  both  as  a  teacher  and  as  a  prac 
tical  builder.  Many  of  the  buildings  of  Frankfort 
were  both  designed  and  constructed  by  him  during 
his  thirteen  years  as  a  teacher  in  the  State  Normal 
School.  From  Frankfort  he  went  to  the  State  Col 
lege  in  Savannah,  his  native  city,  where  he  taught 
for  one  year. 

From  1905  to  1918  he  has  held  his  present  posi 
tion  as  director  of  Manual  and  Vocational  training 
in  Evansville.  All  along  the  line  Mr.  Davis  has 
been  a  pioneer  in  his  work,  as  a  manual  training 
teacher,  directing  knowledge  into  useful  channels 
and  convertng  prejudice  and  information  into  en 
thusiasm  and  devotion. 

Great  indeed  has  been  his  joy  in  his  work.  Dur 
ing  the  twenty-seven  years  of  his  teaching  he  has 
seen  his  favorite  subjects  shake  off  the  ashes  of  re 
jection  and  become  a  main  feature  in  nearly  every 
curriculum  in  the  country.  He  has  put  up  many 
buildings  along  with  giving  class  instruction.  He 
is  at  present  erecting  with  the  students  of  the 
Clark  High  School  of  Evansville  an  Industrial  Art 
Building,  which  is  to  be  the  largest  of  its  kind  north 
of  the  Ohio  River.  Most  agreeable  to  him  how 
ever,  of  all  his  constructive  endeavors,  is  the  fact 
that  while  he  was  a  post  graduate  at  Hampton, 
he  designed  the  school  residence  of  Dr.  Booker  T. 
Washington. 

As  busy  as  he  is  professionally,  Mr.  Davis  finds 
time  to  do  many  useful  things  as  a  citizen  and  as  an 
organization  worker.  Though  a  Christian  Scientist 
in  his  beliefs,  he  has  affiliated  himself  with  the  A. 
M.  E.  Church  as  a  Sunday  School  teacher  and 
worker  in  this  body  in  Evansville.  He  is  a  Mason 
and  a  Knight  Templar,  and  is  a  Past  Deputy  Grand 
Master  of  Masons  of  Kentucky.  He  organized  the 
present  Colored  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  of  Evansville,  and 
was  for  many  years  chairman  of  the  committee  of 
management. 

Mr.  Davis  is  very  fond  of  one  kind  of  travel,  he 
likes  to  attend  the  National  Exposition.  He  num 
bers  on  his  list  the  Atlanta  Exposition,  1895 ;  the 
St.  Louis  Exposition,  1904;  Jamestown  Exposition, 
1907;  and  the  Panama  Exposition,  1915. 

Mr.  Davis  was  married  in  1895  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  to 
Miss  Beulah  Thompson,  Mrs.  Davis  is  a  graduate 
of  Hampton  Institute,  of  the  class  of  1889.  She 
was  trained  in  the  famous  Whittier  School  at 
Hampton,  and  was  later  a  teacher  at  Tuskegee 
Institute.  Mrs.  Davis  is,  like  her  husband,  devoted 
to  practical  arts.  She  is  director  of  the  Domestic 
Science  work  of  Evansville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  live  in  their  own  home,  a  very 
well  equipped  and  modern  residence  in  Evansville. 
They  own  property  valued  at  about  $10,000. 

On  March  13th,  1918,  Mr.  Davis  gave  up  his  work 
in  Evansville  with  an  indefinite  leave  of  absence 
from  the  Board  of  Education,  to  go  to  New  York 
City,  from  whence  he  sailed  March  30th,  for  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  War  work  with  the  men  in  France  under 
General  Pershing. 


152 


JOHN   WALTER  HODGE. 


for  themselves 
it     has     done. 


N  the  establishment  of  the  Nation 
al  Negro  Men's  Business  League, 
the  founder,  Booker  T.  Washing 
ton,  had  as  one  of  the  objects 
the  lending  of  inspiration  and  in 
centive  to  men  of  color  to  venture 
out  in  the  realm  of  business.  This 
It  has  been  the  cause  of  do- 


cause 

ing  more  and  better  business  among  those  who 
were  already  out  for  themselves,  and  it  has  caused 
many  who  were  timid  to  cut  loose  from  the  jobs 
that  held  them,  and  take  the  final  plunge  for 
themselves.  Mr.  John  Walter  Hodge  belongs  to 
this  latter  class.  When  this  organization  met  in 
Boston,  at  its  first  meeting  he  was  present.  He  was 
at  that  time  a  Pullman  Porter.  He  had  served  in 
this  work  for  six  years,  and  like  many  another 
young  man  was  content  with  the  easy  money  to  be 
made  in  this  work.  But  when  Mr.  Hodge  heard 
of  the  work  in  the  business  world,  done  by  other 
men  in  his  race,  when  he  heard  them  tell  of  how 
they  had  built  up  their  business  from  very  meager 
beginnings,  he  became  inspired  with  the  idea  of 
venturing  out  for  himself. 

Mr.  Hodge  was  born  in  Chattanooga,  Tennessee, 


September  29th,  1878.  Here  he  spent  his  child 
hood  and  young  manhood.  He  entered  the  Pub 
lic  Schools  of  his  native  city  and  remained  to  get 
all  that  was  offered  in  that  line.  As  a  boy  he 
worked  at  odd  jobs,  in  and  around  places  of  busi 
ness  in  Chattanooga.  In  1899  he  obtained  a  place 
in  the  Pullman  service  and  remained  in  this  until 
1905.  In  1905  he  left  the  service  of  the  Pullman 
Company  and  went  to  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  where 
he  opened  a  Real  Estate  office.  His  office  does 
General  Sales  business,  rental  and  Commission  bus 
iness.  Among  the  big  deals  that  have  been  made 
by  Mr.  Hodge  might  be  mentioned  the  sale  of  the 
present  site  for  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building,  and  the 
site  for  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Building. 

After  adopting  Indianapolis  for  his  home  town, 
Mr.  Hodge  decided  to  inclentify  himself  with  all 
the  worthy  institutions  there.  So  we  find  him  a 
very  active  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  of  this  city. 
This  branch  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and 
most  beautiful  among  colored  people.  Mr.  Hodge 
serves  the  organization  in  the  capacity  of  Secre 
tary  of  the  Board  of  Managers.  He  is  Past  Chan 
cellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Secretary  of 
the  Local  Negro  Business  League.  He  is  a  Mason 
and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  In  fact, 
wherever  we  find  colored  men  gathered  together 
working  for  the  betterment  of  the  race  there  we 
will  find  J.  Walter  Hodge.  He  is  interested  in  all 
movements  for  the  advancement  of  the  race,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  popular  leaders  out  in  Indiana 
polis. 

In  the  interest  of  his  business  and  for  pleasure 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  traveled  all  over  the 
United  States.  This  has  served  to  broaden  him 
and  to  make  him  easy  of  approach  to  all  men.  Aug 
ust  15,  1910,  Mr.  Hodge  was  married  to  Miss  Janie 
Parrish,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Hodge 
has  as  great  an  interest  in  the  uplift  of  the  race 
as  has  her  husband.  In  fact  they  are  one  in  their  ef 
forts  to  improve  the  people  around  them.  Mrs. 
Hodge  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  of 
Indianapolis  and  stood  by  the  organization  through 
all  the  struggles  when  it  was  getting  its  footing. 
All  of  the  city  love  and  respect  this  very  unselfish 
couple.  They  live  in  their  own  home  at  924  Fa- 
yette  Street. 

This  is  a  record  of  a  man  who,  when  he  heard  the 
call  of  a  bigger  chance,  even  though  he  could  not 
see  his  way  to  the  end  of  it,  did  not  hesitate  to  ac 
cept  the  challenge.  And  having  accepted  the  chance 
offered  him,  be  has  used  every  opportunity  to  bet 
ter  others  while  he  was  helping  himself.  For  this 
unselfishness,  he  has  gotten  a  reward  in  the  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held.  All  of  Indianapolis  look  up 
on  him  as  one  of  her  most  useful  and  most  prospe 
rous  business  men. 


15,; 


F.   B.   RANSOM,   LL.   D. 

R.  F.  B.  Ransom  of  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  is  a  southerner  by  birth, 
having  been  born  in  Grenada, 
Mississippi,  July  13,  1882.  He 
spent  his  early  days  in  Grenada, 
working  on  the  farm  and  attend 
ing  the  public  schools. 

Completing  his  course  in  the  public  schools  he 
went  to  Walden  University,  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
where  he  finished  his  literary  training,  and  where 
he  also  gained  the  degree  of  L.  L.  D.  His  L.  L.  D. 
he  won  in  1908.  He  studied  Theology  in  the  same 
university.  Later  he  read  law  in  Columbia  Univer 
sity  in  New  York.  In  1910  he  began  to  practice 
law  in  Indianapolis. 

In  Indianapolis  he  began  not  only  his  career  as  a 
lawyer,  but  a  career  of  usefulness.  Walden  had 
taught  him  that  no  matter  what  his  chosen  career, 
a  man  counted  in  a  community  or  state  only  in  so 
far  as  he  made  himself  a  genuine  asset  to  his  com 
munity.  This  general  teaching  had  been  very  large 
ly  supplemented  by  his  study  and  application  of 
Theology. 

Going  into  Indianapolis  he  immediately  allied 
himself  with  the  Bethel  A.  M  .E.  Church  and  began 


to  take  hold  and  give  practical  help  in  all  deliber 
ations  and  undertakings  of  the  church.  Here  again 
both  his  training  in  Theology  and  his  education  and 
practice  in  law  made  him  a  most  decided  asset  to 
the  Indianapolis  Church. 

He  joined  the  Masons  and  Knights  of  Pyhthias 
and,  once  more  put  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel  to 
make  those  organizations  greater  lights  to  their 
members  and  to  the  world. 

It  was  not  long  before  both  the  church  and  the 
city  saw  his  worth.  When  therefore  there  was  an 
honor  to  bestow  or  a  responsibility  to  be  assumed 
Mr.  Ransom  was  forthwith  thought  of.  Bethel 
Church  soon  elected  him  to  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
The  Good  Citizens'  League  made  him  president  of 
their  organization.  He  had  been  in  the  city  but  a 
few  years  when  Mr.  Julius  Rosenwald,  the  Chicago 
philanthropist,  sent  abroad  his  offer  to  give  twenty 
five  thousand  dollars  towards  building  Negro 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations.  Indianapolis 
had  a  great  many  young  men.  She  had  been  strug 
gling  to  keep  their  feet  in  good  and  circumspect 
paths,  especially  during  evening  hours  of  leisure. 
The  colored  citizens  saw  here  the  opportunity  of  a 
life  time,  to  build  an  attractive  building,  to  equip 
it  with  such  appointments  as  the  young  men  would 
find  in  the  pool  rooms  and  in  the  parks  without 
the  liability  of  vice.  A  committee  was  formed  to 
devise  plans  for  raising  funds  to  put  up  and  equip 
such  a  building.  Who  but  F.  B.  Ransom,  skilled 
in  law,  in  theology,  in  the  affairs  of  life,  should  con 
stitute  the  bone  and  sinew  of  such  committee?  The 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  was  built  and  equipped.  It  was  one 
of  the  first  to  embrace  Mr.  Rosenwald's  offer  and 
one  of  the  best  Negro  Y.  M.  C.  A.  buildings  of  the 
country,  of  the  world.  Much  of  the  credit  of  all 
this  is  due  to  F.  B.  Ransom,  to  his  skill,  to  his  will 
ingness  to  serve. 

One  by  one  other  honors  came  to  him.  If  the 
church  and  Y.  M.  C.  A.  relied  upon  him,  why  not 
the  world?  The  Advisory  Committee  of  the  Col 
ored  Alpha  Home  for  the  aged  colored  people  need 
ed  an  attending  attorney,  who  was  concerned  not 
so  much  with  fees,  but  with  the  general  welfare  of 
the  Home  and  of  the  people.  Mr.  Ransom  was 
called  upon  to  fill  this  post.  The  Knights  of  Py 
thias  chose  him  to  serve  for  a  number  of  years  as 
its  Grand  Lecturer.  Thus  today  in  church,  in 
civic  work  as  well  as  in  the  courts  of  law,  Mr. 
Ransom  is  numbered  among  the  best  citizens  of 
Indianapolis.  For  the  last  seven  years  he  has  been 
acting  attorney  for  the  Mme.  C.  J.  Walker  Manu 
facturing  Company  and  for  the  last  year  he  has 
acted  solely  in  that  capacity,  having  had  to  give  up 
all  other  clients,  and  perhaps  Mr.  Ransom  receives 
the  highest  annual  retainer  of  any  colored  attor 
ney  practicing  law. 

Mr.  Ransom  has  traveled  much  both  on  business 
and  for  pleasure,  his  trips  having  taken  him  over 
the  whole  country.  He  was  married  on  July  31, 
1912,  to  Miss  Nettie  L.  Cox,  of  Jackson,  Mississippi. 
Three  little  lads  brighten  the  home  of  the  Ransom 
family ;  Frank,  Frederick,  and  Willard,  aged  four, 
three  and  two,  respectively. 


154 


REVEREND  DIXIE  CICERO  CARTER 


NVIABLE  indeed  is  the  attain- 
iiiL-nt  of  Reverend  D.  C.  Carter  of 
Frankfort,  Kentucky.  He  is  both 
a  minister  and  a  physician.  Stand 
ing  on  the  vantage  point  of  these 
two  professions,  he  commands 
the  secrets  of  the  body  and  of  the  spirit.  His  ap 
proach  must  be  one  of  large  sympathy ;  for  look 
ing  into  the  Mechanism  of  men's  bodies  he  can  un 
derstand  wherein  the  spjrit  has  free  play  in  some 
and  is  debarred  or  suppressed  in  others.  In  him 
science  and  religion  unite  and  clasp  hands  instead 
of  crossing  swords  as  they  often  do  in  other  in 
stances. 

Reverend  Carter,  who  follows  the  ministerial 
career,  was  born  in  Giles  County,  Tennessee,  Nov. 
25,  1866.  A  poor  lad,  he  garnered  bits  of  learning 
wherever  he  could,  laboring  in  the  meantime  for 
bread.  Having  accumulated  sufficient  knowledge 
he  finally  entered  Walden  University  in  Nashville, 
Tenn.  He  later  studied  medicine  in  the  Louisville 
National  College,  in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Coin 
ing  in  a  time  when  education  for  his  people  was 
unpopular  and  when  the  few  who  wished  well  had 
only  wishes  to  offer,  he  had  to  labor  at  all  kinds 


of  tasks  to  pay  his  way.  Now  he  toiled  in  the 
bristling  August  sun,  picking  cotton,  now  on  the 
railroad,  in  the  hotels,  wherever  he  could  turn  an 
honest  and  honorable  penny,  here  he  was  found. 

He  entered  the  ministry  under  the  impulse  of  an 
inner  suggestion  or  as  it  is  often  called,  a  divine 
call  to  service,  but  the  inspiration  to  study  medi 
cine  came  from  quite  another  source — it  was  the 
suggestion  of  the  son  of  his  employer.  The  young 
man  had  just  graduated  in  medicine  and  was  at 
home  on  a  visit  before  beginning  his  practice. 
While  at  home  he  urged  the  young  colored  lad  to 
study  for  the  career  of  doctor  of  medicine.  So 
deeply  was  he  impressed  with  the  suggestion  that 
he  decided  to  act  upon  his  advice  and  in  due  time 
entered  the  Louisville  National  College  to  prepare 
for  this  line  of  work. 

However,  the  call  to  preach  took  a  much 
stronger  hold  upon  him  than  the  desire  to  enter 
the  medical  profession  and  to  the  service  of  the 
ministry  he  has  in  the  main  devoted  his  life.  His 
knowledge  of  medicine  gives  added  strength  to  his 
work  and  influence  as  a  minister. 

Reverend  Carter  is  blessed  with  a  good,  vigorous 
mind  which  he  is  using  to  the  best  advantage  and 
being  a  man  of  unusual  energy  it  is  not  surprising 
that  he  was  soon  equipped  mentally  for  his  profes 
sion  of  a  minister.  His  first  charge  as  a  minister 
was  at  Elkton  Tennessee  which  he  assumed  in  1885 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  In  accordance  with 
the  policy  of  the  A.  M.  E.  church,  he  was  moved 
from  place  to  place  at  stated  intervals  but  always 
gave  up  a  charge  with  the  best  of  feeling  between 
him  and  his  people.  He  never  left  a  community 
without  leaving  some  imprint  of  his  work  for  the 
betterment  of  both  the  church  and  community, 
which  caused  him  to  be  held  in  grateful  remem 
brance  by  his  people  and  won  the  gratitude  of  his 
successor. 

When  he  was  pastor  in  Brandenburg,  Ky.  he  built 
a  church  there.  He  bought  a  parsonage  during  his 
sojourn  at  Elizabethtown,  Kentucky ;  another  dur 
ing  his  stay  at  Shelbyville  and  built  still  another 
church  at  Pleasureville,  Kentucky.  He  was  the 
pastor  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  in  Frankfort  for 
five  years,  but  is  now  pastor  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church  at  Ashland,  Kentucky. 

Reverend  Carter  has  four  times  been  represen 
tative  to  the  General  Conference  of  his  church ;  is 
a  life  Trustee  of  Wilberforce  Univrsity  and  a  Trus 
tee  of  Wayman  Institute  of  Kentucky. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  National  Medical  Asso 
ciation  and  a  member  of  the  Mosiac  Templars  of 
America. 

He  was  married  in  Jefferson,  Indiana,  in  Decem 
ber,  1902,  to  Miss  Jennie  Williams,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Geneva  Ossin,  six  years  of  age. 


155 


JAMES  NEWTON   SHELTON. 


HEN  you  go  to  Indianapolis,  In 
diana,  on  business,  and  wish  to 
talk  business  with  the  colored 
men  who  not  only  know  business, 
but  do  business,  it  will  not  be 
long  before  some  one  will  intro 
duce  you  to  James  Newton  Shelton.  Mr.  Shel- 
ton  is  working  in  his  native  state.  He  was  born 
in  Charlestown,  Indiana,  June  12,  1872.  He  had 
from  his  earliest  youth,  good  educational  advan 
tages.  His  mother  and  father  moved  to  Indiana 
polis  when  he  was  one  year  of  age.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Indianapolis,  Marion  county, 
till  he  was  ready  for  the  High  school  and  then  he 
entered  The  Indiana  High  School.  Here  he  made 
a  record  for  himself  not  only  in  scholarship,  but  in 
deportment.  While  still  in  High  school,  Mr.  Shel 
ton  decided  to  be  a  business  man.  No  other  busi 
ness  to  his  mind  offered  the  opportunities  to  the  col 
ored  man  that  are  offered  in  the  undertaking  bus 
iness.  Colored  people  die  at  a  rapid  rate,  if  not  at 
a  greater  rate  than  do  the  people  of  other  races, 
and  of  course  they  require  a  burial.  This,  to  the 
mind  of  Mr.  Shelton,  was  work  for  a  colored  man. 
So  on  leaving  high  school  he  entered  Chicago 
University.  Here,  along  with  other  subjects  taken 
up  he  took  up  the  embalming.  In  this  sub 


ject  he  did  all  the  work  offered  by  the  Univer 
sity  and  on  leaving  received  a  diploma  in  Embalm 
ing.  Mr.  Shelton  had  as  much  foresight  in  choos 
ing  the  place  to  establish  his  business,  as  he  had 
in  choosing  the  kind  of  business.  And  so  instead 
of  returning  to  his  native  town  to  open  his  shop, 
he  stayed  in  Indianapolis.  Here  colored  people 
live  in  large  numbers  and  here  he  felt  sure  that  he 
could  get  a  great  deal  of  the  colored  undertaking 
business.  Starting  out  on  a  small  scale,  Mr.  Shel 
ton  has  steadily  developed  his  business,  putting 
back  into  the  business  the  profits  received  from  it, 
till  today  his  is  one  of  the  choice  business  houses 
operated  by  colored  people  in  the  city  of  Indiana 
polis.  For  his  work  he  now  uses  Auto  Hearses 
entirely.  And  because  of  the  good  equipment  of 
his  establishment  and  because  of  the  courtesy  with 
which  all  persons  are  received  he  gets  a  very  large 
share  of  the  work  in  this  line. 

Mr.  Shelton,  while  he  has  in  no  way  neglected 
his  business,  has,  nevertheless  taken  time  to  serve 
his  people  and  his  city  in  other  capacities.  He  has 
served  as  delegate  to  the  last  three  Republican  Na 
tional  Conventions.  This  shows  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  his  people  in  the  matters  of 
political  issue,  not  only  is  he  a  good  organizer,  but 
an  orator  of  ability  also.  He  has  for  the  past  twelve 
years  served  as  Deputy  of  the  Department  of  As 
sessor  of  Center  Township,  Indianapolis.  Mr. 
Shelton  is  the  Past  Grand  Chancellor  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  for  the  state  of  Indiana,  and  has  served 
the  order  as  supreme  delegate  for  the  past  ten 
years.  He  is  equally  as  active,  though  not  in  so 
prominent  a  post,  in  other  orders.  He  is  a  Mason, 
Shriner,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  member  of  the  United 
Brothers  of  Friendship,  and  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Negro  Men's  Business  League.  In  all  of 
these  organizations,  Mr.  Shelton  lends  his  weight 
for  the  betterment  of  the  majority.  Not  only  has 
this  man  loaned  his  business  ability  to  the  develop 
ment  of  secular  orders  that  look  for  the  betterment 
of  the  race,  but  he  gives  freely  of  his  means  and  of 
his  advice  to  the  church  of  which  he  is  an  active 
member.  Although  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  he  helps  all  the  Colored  churches. 

November  25,  1894,  Mr.  Shelton  was  married  to 
Miss  Mamie  E.  Pettiford,  of  Franklin,  Indiana. 
Mrs.  Shelton  has  been  of  great  help  in  the  business 
of  her  husband,  helping  not  only  with  her  advice, 
but  with  actual  work,  whenever  the  occasion  de 
manded  this.  There  is  one  daughter  born  to  them, 
and  who  is  the  joy  of  their  life.  This  is  Miss  Ze- 
ralda  Marion  Shelton.  She  attended  Fisk  Univer 
sity,  Nashville.  Tennessee,  and  for  a  time  was  a 
student  of  music  in  the  Chicago  School  of  Music. 
She  is  now  Mrs.  Scott,  her  husband  being  a  sol 
dier  in  Company  A,  92  Brigade,  now  stationed  in 
France. 


156 


LOGAN  H.  STEWART,  LL.  B. 


HE  son  of  Wesley  and  Victoria 
Stewart,  Logan  H.  Stewart,  news 
boy,  reporter,  real  estate  dealer, 
was  born  in  Union  Town,  Ken 
tucky,  July  22,  1879.  Shortly  af 
ter  his  birth  he  was  taken  to  In 
diana.  When  Mr.  Stewart  was  three  years  old 
his  father  died,  leaving  the  mother  and  three  small 
children.  When  he  was  ten  years  old  his  mother 
took  him  with  the  other  children  to  Evansville, 
where  they  lived  for  a  time  in  want,  but  at  least 
one  son  achieved  victory  over  want,  and  success  in 
life. 

Mr.  Stewart  began  his  career  in  Evansville  by 
selling  papers.  He  sold  the  Evansville  News,  now 
the  Evansville  Journal-News.  Here  the  young  man 
of  fourteen  proved  his  worth.  In  a  short  time  he 
had  built  up  one  of  the  best  routes  of  the  city.  In 
return  the  Evansville  News  made  him  manager  of 
a  district.  He  was  also  given  the  post  of  reporter 
for  the  colored  people,  being  responsible  for  all 
local  news  about  Negroes. 

However,  the  young  man  with  all  this  success 
was  not  merely  working  for  the  newspaper.  He 
was  also  going  to  school.  In  1899  he  was  graduat 
ed  from  the  Latin  course  in  Evansville  High  School. 

157 


Having  decided  to  enter  business  he  took  a  com 
mercial  course  in  the  High  School  in  1900. 

Mr.  Stewart  thanks  all  newspapers  for  his  busi 
ness  career.  He  gained  his  first  experience  in  bus 
iness  by  handling  newspapers.  Moreover,  while 
he  was  attending  school,  he  was  able  to  save  three 
hundred  dollars.  In  the  year  of  his  graduation  he 
invested  a  part  of  this  sum  in  real  estate.  The  ven 
ture  proved  so  profitable  that  he  immediately  re 
solved  to  enter  the  business  of  buying  and  selling 
land  and  lots. 

In  this  business,  Mr.  Stewart  has  been  both  a  pi 
oneer  and  a  benefactor  in  Evansville.  Before  he 
entered  the  business  of  real  estate,  the  10,000  Ne 
gro  population  of  Evansville  was  thought  of  mere 
ly  as  workers  and  church  goers,  not  as  dealers  in 
finance.  Their  realty  holdings  were  less  than  $10,- 

000.  They  had  no  bank  credit,  and  woefully  little 
business    recognition.      Thus    matters    stood    when 
Mr.  Stewart  opened  his  office  in  1900.     By  January 

1,  1917,    the    Negroes    of    Evansville    had   $500,000 
invested  in  real  estate,  substantial  bank  credit,  and 
a  wider  general  credit  and  recognition  throughout 
the  city.     Mr.  Stewart  himself,  beginning  in  pov 
erty  back  in   1889,  now  owns  his  home,  which     is 
valued  at  $7,000;  one  quarter  block  of  stores  and 
shops  in  a  business  section,  valued  at  $15,000;  a  fac 
tory    for   the   manufacture   of   concrete    stone   and 
building  material,  worth  $3,500;  and  other  real  es 
tate  values  amounting  to  $15,000. 

Absorbed  in  business  Mr.  Stewart  has,  however, 
missed  no  opportunity  to  grow  and  to  serve.  While 
joining  no  special  church  he  has  worked  with  the 
Methodist  in  his  town  and  with  any  denomination 
that  set  out  to  serve  the  people.  He  was  one  of 
the  early  members  of  the  National  Negro  Business 
League,  joining  that  body  in  1905.  He  was  charter 
member  of  the  Negro  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Evansville  and 
very  instrumental  in  securing  funds  for  the  Negro 
Association  when  it  was  in  its  infancy.  In  1915  he 
organzed  Health  and  Clean-Up  Week  in  Evansville 
causing  five  thousand  colored  people  to  clean  up 
and  beautify  their  homes  and  surroundings,  and 
two  hundred  and  thirty-five  gardens  to  be  planted. 
He  was  president  of  the  Evansville  Negro  Busi 
ness  League  for  more  than  ten  years  and  a  member 
of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  National  Negro 
Business  League.  He  is  on  the  Board  of  Manage 
ment  of  the  Negro  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  Evansville.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Evansville  Chamber  of  Com 
merce,  the  only  colored  man  to  have  this  honor.  He 
has  traveled  extensive!}'  in  the  East,  in  the  West, 
and  in  the  South.  He  has  spent  much  time  and  en 
ergy  in  putting  on  their  feet  struggling  Negro  bus 
iness  men,  who  needed  recognition  at  the  banks 
and  instruction  in  handling  business  matters.  In 
honor  of  his  good  services  to  his  fellow  men  and 
in  appreciation  of  his  continued  education,  Lin 
coln-Jefferson  University  of  Hammond,  Ind.,  con 
ferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws, 
in  1913. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  married  on  November  30,  1911, 
to  Miss  Sallie  L.  Wyatt  of  Evansville.  Mrs.  Ste 
wart  was  formerly  a  teacher  of  Domestic  Science  in 
the  Evansville  High  School. 


GEORGE  WILLIAM   WARD,   D.   D. 

R.  George  William  Ward,  pas 
tor  of  the  Mount  Zion  Baptist 
Church  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
was  born  in  Port  Gibson,  Mississ 
ippi,  July  2,  1869.  His  early  days 
were  spent  on  the  farm,  where  he 
found  his  first  inspiration  to  labor  and  wait;  where 
he  learned  to  dream  in  big  terms  and  to  execute 
patiently  and  persistently.  This  by  the  way,  this 
quiet  country  life,  in  a  warm  and  fertile  country, 
was  his  first  school. 

He  had  two  more  early  schools.  He  attended  the 
district  schools  of  Clayborne  County,  learning  from 
books  what  knowledge  he  and  his  teacher  could  dig 
out.  Neither  of  them  at  that  time  was  over  adept 
at  this  task,  the  times  being  considerably  out  of 
joint,  by  reason  of  Reconstruction  and  general  rest 
lessness,  and  by  reason  of  the  scarcity  and  very 
limited  preparation  of  the  Negro  teachers.  How 
ever,  a  third  means  of  learning  supplemented  the 
efforts  of  the  struggling  young  lad  and  his  district 
teacher.  He  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  thrown 
into  a  private  white  family,  and  was  given  five 
years  schooling  by  a  white  teacher.  Here  he  got 
environment,  which  did  in  actuality  what  he  had 
been  taught  in  books.  Hence  Dr.  Ward  learned  to 

158 


speak,  to  think,  to  act,  by  example  as  well  as    by 
precept. 

These  three  were  his  preparatory  schools,  nature, 
the  district  school,  the  private  white  family,  in  the 
last  named  speaking  and  acting  education  were  a 
habit  and  not  a  theory.  These  prepared  him  for 
college.  He  chose  Roger  Williams  University,  of 
Nashville,  entered  Corresponding  department  The 
ology,  under  Dr.  Geurnsey,  having  already  become 
a  thorough  going  Baptist.  Theology  and  a  higher 
literary  training  completed  his  studies  and  he  went 
forth  ready  to  preach  and  to  work  among  his  peo 
ple. 

In  his  pastorates  he  has  been  unusually  fortunate, 
as  Baptist  pastorates  go.  He  has  been  pastoring 
now  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  yet  he  has  had 
but  four  charges  in  all  this  time.  His  first  two 
charges  were  in  Mississippi,  at  Duncan,  Mississip 
pi  and  at  Gumunion,  Mississippi ;  at  the  latter 
named  he  worked  for  five  years,  developing  here 
the  habit  of  staying  at  one  post  long  enough  to 
make  his  work  count.  In  1899  he  was  called  to 
Chattanooga,  Tennessee.  I-n  Chattanooga  he  built 
the  Monumental  Baptist  Church,  and  so  made  for 
himself  a  name  in  this  section  of  the  country,  and 
alson  got  in  the  habit  of  church  building. 

From  Chattanooga  he  was  called  to  his 
present  charge  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  1907.  Here 
he  again  applied  his  old  practice  of  getting  congre 
gations  into  new  and  spacious  church  homes.  In 
1908  he  built  the  Mount  Zion  Baptist  Church 
on  Twelfth  and  Fayette  Streets,  a  handsome  brick 
structure,  modern  in  all  of  its  appointments  and 
conveniences. 

From  building  churches  and  giving  his  services  in 
other  directions,  honors  have  come  to  him.  He  is 
a  Past  Master  Mason  and  a  moderator  of  the  Union 
Baptist  Association  of  Indiana.  State  University 
at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  has  conferred  upon  him 
the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

Dr.  Ward  has  evidently  made  up  his  mind  to  set 
tle  down  in  the  West,  or  at  any  rate  he  is  remaining 
true  to  the  old  habit  formed  back  there  in  Gumun 
ion,  Mississippi,  of  becoming  part  and  parcel  of 
the  place  and  section  he  works  in.  Moreover,  as  a 
minister  he  feels  that  he  must  teach  by  example  as 
well  as  by  precept.  Therefore  he  has  invested  his 
savings  and  his  influence  in  homes  and  enterprises 
in  and  around  Indianapolis.  He  owns  his  home  on 
West  Street  in  Indianapolis  and  one  rent  house,  and 
he  is  stockholder  in  the  Studebaker  Auto  Tire  Cor 
poration  of  South  Bend  and  in  the  Irvington  Sick 
and  Accident  Insurance  Company  of  Indiana. 

Dr.  Ward  was  married  at  Cartersville,  Georgia, 
in  1904.  Mrs.  Ward  was  formerly  Miss  Emma 
Robinson.  What  Dr.  Ward  is  by  example  to  the 
men  of  his  congregation,  Mrs.  Ward  has  in  great 
measure  been  to  the  women.  She  has  been  a  great 
helper  in  church  organization  and  in  church  build 
ing. 


William  Henry  Ballard 


EARED  in  Kentucky  where  he 
seems  to  have  found  the  Elixir 
of  youth  as  well  as  business  suc 
cess,  Dr.  William  H.  Ballard, 
though  approaching  close  upon 
three  scole  years,  carries  upon 
him  no  mark  of  age,  either  in  his  actions  or  in  his 
mind.  To  be  sure,  his  profession  may  be  respon 
sible  for  this  as  he  is  a  pharmacist.  Or  it  may  be 
the  full  life  of  achievement  for  himself  and  of  help 
fulness  to  others  which  he  has  led. 

Among  the  picturesqe  scenes  of  Franklin  County, 
Kentucky,  with  its  rugged  cliffs  overhanging  the 
placid  waters  of  the  Kentucky  River,  was  born  to 
Down  and  Matilda  Ballard,  October  31,  1862,  a  son, 
whom  they  named  William  Henry.  His  parents 
being  industrious  and  energetic  people,  and  seeing 
that  a  liberal  education  was  essential  to  success, 
moved  to  Louisville  in  1870.  Here  their  son  was 
placed  under  a  private  tutor  and  remained  under 
his  instruction  until  the  opening  of  the  public 
schools  in  1873,  when  he  entered  the  public  schools 
and  continued  his  course  of  studies  in  them.  His 
progress  was  rapid ;  he  took  advantage  of  every 
opportunity  to  improve  himself.  After  seven  years 
of  faithful  application  to  his  studies  he  was  gradua 
ted  from  the  Louisville  High  School.  His  thirst 
for  knowledge  was  far  from  being  quenched  when 
he  completed  his  course  in  the  high  school.  What 
he  had  attained  only  whetted  his  appetite  for 
greater  knowledge,  and  made  him  dissatisfied  with 
the  preparation  he  had  received,  which  was  far 
above  that  of  many  youths.  Dr.  Ballard  entered 
Roger  Williams  University,  where  he  pursued  a 
special  course  in  science  and  languages,  complet 
ing  it  in  1884.  While  at  Roger  Williams  Univer 
sity,  Dr.  Ballard  began  the  work  of  teaching.  He, 
like  many  others  who  were  striving  to  be  a  credit 
to  their  race  and  ancestry,  taught  in  the  common 
school  districts  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  during 
the  summer  and  pursued  his  studies  at  the  Univer 
sity  during  the  winter. 

The  next  step  in  the  upward  progress  of  Dr.  Bal 
lard  was  his  election  to  the  principalship  of  the 
Mayfield,  Graves  County,  Kentucky,  where  he 
served  with  satisfaction  for  some  time.  His  suc 
cess  as  a  teacher  is  shown  by  the  great  number  of 
ambitious  young  men  and  women  now  employed  in 
the  schools  of  Southwestern  Kentucky,  many  of 
whom  were  under  his  immediate  charge.  This  also 
shows  that  the  fourteen  years  spent  in  the  school 
room  were  characterized  by  conscientious  and  pain 
staking  study. 

In  1890  he  entered  Northwestern  University  at 
Chicago,  111.,  for  the  purpose  of  studying  phar 
macy.  He  was  graduated  from  this  course  in  1892 
receiving  honorable  mention.  Shortly  after  gradu 
ating  from  Northwestern  University,  Dr.  Ballard 


was  married  to  Miss  Bessie  H.  Brady,  one  of  the 
most  estimable  young  women  of  Nashville,  Tenn 
essee,  a  teacher  in  Meig's  High  School,  a  woman 
respected  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her. 

He  has  an  interesting  family,  consisiing  of  a  wife 
and  four  children — three  sons  and  a  daughter.  Up 
on  these  he  bestows  his  most  devoted  care  and  af 
fection  and  seeks  their  highest  good.  The  chil 
dren  have  listened  to  the  counsel  of  their  father, 
and  like  him  are  making  something  of  their  lives. 
William  Henry  Ballard,  Jr.,  is  studying  Pharmacy 
at  Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Orville 
L.  Ballard  is  studying  medicine  at  the  same  Insti 
tution  ;  Edward  H.  Ballard  is  a  student  in  the  Lex 
ington  High  School,  and  Miss  Vivian  Elizabeth 
Ballard  is  studying  in  the  Chandler  Normal  School. 

Dr.  Ballard  began  business  in  Lexington,  Ken 
tucky,  February,  1893,  opening  the  first  Pharmacy 
owned  and  controlled  by  Negroes  in  the  State.  He 
has  the  confidence  of  all  his  acquaintances  and  has 
been  highly  honored  by  many  fraternal  orders  to 
which  he  belongs.  He  is  Past  Chancellor  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias ;  ex-State  Grand  Master  of  the 
United  Brothers  of  Friendship ;  Commander  in 
Chief  of  Blue  Consistory  Scottish  Rite  Masons  ;  and 
has  the  distinction  of  being  a  polished,  capable  and 
conservative  business  man. 

Dr.  Ballard  is  a  Methodist  in  church  affiliation, 
and  is  a  member  of  St.  Paul  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  is  also  a  Trustee  of  the  St. 
Paul  A.  M.  E.  Church.  His  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  colored  race  enlists  him  in  all  enterprises 
looking  to  their  development.  The  Colored  Agri 
cultural  and  Mechanical  Fair  Association  was  or 
ganized  to  encourage  the  colored  citizen  to  take 
more  active  interest  in  agriculture  and  mechanical 
pursuits.  Dr.  Ballard  not  only  connected  himself 
with  this  enterprise  but  served  as  Assistant  Secre 
tary,  thus  giving  it  the  benefit  of  his  organizing 
ability. 

While  he  has  not  visited  foreign  countries,  Dr. 
Ballard  has  seen  much  of  the  United  States. 

Dr.  Ballard  exemplifies  what  a  man  of  strong 
character  and  indomitable  courage  may  do.  He  is 
worthy  of  emulation,  not  only  for  what  he  has 
achieved  for  himself,  but  for  the  service  he  has  ren 
dered  in  putting  others  on  their  feet.  The  clerks 
who  worked  in  his  store  have  been  inspired  to 
launch  out  for  themselves.  Four  of  the  drug  stores 
of  the  state  are  run  by  men  who  were  one  time 
clerks  in  the  Ballard  Pharmacy.  One  doctor,  Doc 
tor  White  of  Owensboro,  also  served  time  as  clerk 
in  this  same  store.  Indeed  so  high  is  the  business 
in  the  esteem  of  both  races  that  Dr.  Ballard  has 
been  for  years  a  member  of  the  State  Pharmaceut 
ical  Association.  Thus  Dr.  Ballard  has  lived  a  long 
life  of  usefulness,  helping  to  better  all  whom  he 
touched. 

The  man  who  makes  the  most  of  his  opportuni 
ties  both  for  fitting  himself  for  a  useful  life  and  in 
serving  others  gets  the  most  out  of  life,  and  learns 
from  experience  that  a  life  of  service  is  a  life  of 
joy. 

"What  we  are  is  God's  gift  to  us, 

What  we  make  ourselves  is  our  gift  to  God." 


159 


THOMAS  L.  BROOKS. 

R.  T.  L.  Brooks,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Char- 
lottesville,  Albemarle  County,  Vir 
ginia,  in  1862,  being  the  fourth 
child  of  Thomas  and  Mildred 
Brooks.  His  father  was  a  carpen 
ter  by  trade  and  was  employed  at  the  University  of 
Virginia  to  help  in  keeping  up  the  repairs  around 
the  College  and  it  was  here  that  young  Brooks 
learned  the  trade  of  his  father. 

Commencing  at  the  early  age  of  ten  he  continued 
to  work  with  his  father  until  1883  when  he  came 
to  Frankfort,  Ky.,  secured  employment  with  Rod 
man  and  Sneed,  Contractors,  and  later  with  Wake- 
field  &  Choate.  He  remained  with  the  latter  firm 
eight  years  serving  the  last  half  as  Foreman. 

On  October  18,  1892,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  L.  Hocker  of  Frankfort,  Ky.,  one  of  the 
Public  School  teachers  of  Franklin  County.  From 
this  union  one  child  was  born,  which  died  in  infancy. 
Both  being  very  fond  of  children  the  home  has  nev 
er  been  without  a  child,  having  adopted  one  daugh 
ter  who  remained  with  them  until  her  marriage  and 
at  present  they  are  rearing  two  of  his  Sister's  child 
ren. 

In  the  same  year  Mr.  Brooks  decided  to  go  into 

160 


the  contracting  business  for  himself.  Although  he 
has  contracted  and  built  throughout  Eastern  Ken 
tucky,  it  has  been  in  Frankfort  that  he  has  made 
his  chief  mark.  Some  of  the  most  beautiful  and 
costly  edifices  erected  all  over  the  Capitol  City  and 
wth  values  ranging  in  the  thousands  are  the  pro 
duct  of  his  brain  and  skill.  It  can  be  truthfully 
stated  that  fully  ninety  percent  of  his  work  has 
been  for  white  people  and  against  the  sharp  oppo 
sition  of  white  competitors.  Over  one-half  of  the 
residences  of  the  celebrated  "Watson  Court" — the 
most  exclusive  and  handsome  section  (white)  of 
Frankfort  was  built  by  him.  The  Columbia  Thea 
tre,  a  $15,000  structure  and  the  leading  and 
most  attractive  moving  picture  theatre  of  the  city 
is  also  his  work. 

The  Auditorium  and  the  Trades  Buildings  of  the 
Kentucky  Normal  &  Industrial  Institute  which 
were  erecter  at  a  cost  of  thirty  thousand  dollars 
were  also  contracted  for  and  built  by  him  and  it  is 
an  object  of  pride  that  both  these  handsome  stone 
buildings  were  built  exclusively  by  Negro  labor. 
The  ten  thousand-dollar  Colored  Odd  Fellows  build 
ing  and  the  twenty-five  thousand-dollar  Colored 
Baptist  Church  were  also  erected  under  his  imme 
diate  supervision. 

Mr.  Brooks  has  a  high  standing  among  the  banks 
and  business  men  of  Frankfort  and  has  accumu 
lated  much  valuable  property,  and  his  word  is  ac 
cepted  as  readily  as  most  men's  bond.  He  is  held 
in  the  very  highest  esteem  by  both  races,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  the  Capitol  City. 
He  also  takes  high  rank  as  a  Churchman,  being  one 
of  the  most  widely  known  Baptist  laymen  in  Ken 
tucky.  He  has  been  a  Sunday  School  Superintend 
ent  for  twenty  years,  a  Trustee  for  sixteen  years, 
Deacon  for  six  years  and  was  Church  Clerk  for  ov 
er  four  years. 

He  is  also  a  prominent  Secret  Society  man,  hav 
ing  been  Secretary  of  the  Capitol  City  Lodge  of 
Odd  Fellows  for  twenty-seven  years,  frequently 
a  delegate  to  the  B.  M.  C.  and  has  served  his  state 
as  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Insurance  Bureau 
and  State  Grand  Master,  at  present  being  State 
Grand  Treasurer.  He  was  the  pioneer  of  the  Ne 
gro  Fraternal  Insurance  in  Kentucky  Grand  Lodge 
of  Odd  Fellows  over  twenty-six  years  ago.  He  also 
holds  high  official  positions  in  the  Masons,  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  United  Brothers  of  Frendship. 
At  this  time  he  holds  position  as  Secretary  of  Meri 
dian  Sun  Lodge  which  he  has  held  for  sixteen  years. 
He  is  Past  Grand  Chancellor  and  Treasurer  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  which  office  he  has  held  for 
twelve  years  and  has  held  the  office  of  Secretary  of 
Charity  Lodge,  United  Brothers  of  Friendship  for 
five  years  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Union  Benev 
olent  Society  and  of  the  Mosaic  Templars  of  Amer 
ica. 

Mr.  Brooks  is  of  an  affable  temperament,  up 
right  life  and  a  high  Christian  character  with  an  in 
tense  interest  in  the  welfare  and  advancement  of 
his  people. 


JOHN  BKNJAMIN  COOPER. 


OHN  Benjamin  Cooper,  Funeral 
Director,  Embalmer,  a  business 
man  of  many  interests,  and  a 
member  of  all  the  secret  orders 
of  his  state,  was  born  in  Mobile, 
Alabama,  in  April,  1872.  He  is 
the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Aga  Cooper. 
In  early  childhood  he  was  possessed  of  an  am 
bition  to  make  something  of  his  life  and  follow 
ing  his  career  from  childhood  to  man's  estate  it 
will  be  seen  that  he  kept  his  eye  upon  his  goal  and 
followed  his  course  unwaveringly.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Mobile 
and  in  the  Emerson  Institute,  and  A.  M.  E.  School, 
alsb  of  Mobile. 

With  this  foundation,  Mr.  Cooper  left  Mobile 
and  continued  his  education  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  entered  the  City  High  School.  Finishing 
his  course  here  he  felt  himself  sufficiently  equipped 
for  a  business  career,  but  like  numerous  other 
young  men  he  found  it  necessary  to  earn  some 
money  before  branching  out  for  himself. 

With  this  aim  in  view  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Pullman  Company  and  was  soon  rated  among 
their  best  employees.  While  in  the  employ  of  the 

161 


Pullman  Company  he  carne  to  a  decision  as  to  the 
character  of  business  he  would  embark  in  and  en 
tered  the  Barnes  School  of  Embalming  in  Chicago 
to  study  the  Undertaking  business.  Completing 
his  studies  here  he  went  to  Louisville  in  1907  and 
took  charge  of  the  Watson  and  Est  which  he  now 
owns  and  controls,  conducting  a  very  successful 
business. 

However,  the  business  of  funeral  director  ap 
pears  to  be  but  a  convenient  peg  upon  which  Mr. 
Cooper  hangs  an  excuse  for  being  in  business. 
From  this,  to  change  the  figure,  he  radiates  into 
every  sort  of  Negro  enterprise  national  or  local, 
that  one  finds  on  the  calendar.  One  wonders  where 
he  finds  time  and  thought  for  it  all.  He  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  National  Negro  Business  League,  a 
member  of  the  Kentucky  Funeral  Directors'  As 
sociation,  and  of  the  Falls-Cities  Undertaking  As 
sociation.  In  each  of  these  he  is  a  live  member, 
keeping  track  of  the  workings  of  the  organiza 
tions  and  keeping  abreast  of  and  bringing  before 
these  bodies  all  the  latest  inventions  and  devices 
in  handling  and  embalming  the  dead. 

In  business  he  is  director  of  the  Falls  City  Realty 
Company  of  Louisville,  a  director  of  the  Louis 
ville  Cemetery  Association  and  Treasurer  of  the 
Colored  Funeral  Directors'  Association  of  Louis 
ville. 

These  obligations  together  with  the  demands  of 
a  large  business  would  seem  to  be  more  than  the 
average  mortal  could  bear,  but  Mr.  Cooper  is  equal 
to  the  task  and  does  his  work  well.  But  Mr.  Cooper 
is  especially  more  than  the  average  mortal.  He 
has  united  himself  with  fully  a  score  or  more  other 
organizations,  all  of  which  require  time,  thought, 
and  in  many  instances,  a  good  deal  of  study  and 
travel.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church 
and  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  is  a  Mason, 
having  reached  the  thirty-second  degree.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  of  the  Pythians,  of 
the  United  Brothers  of  Friendship,  of  the  Sons 
and  Daughters  of  Moses,  of  Cooper's  Union, 
of  the  Son's  and  Daughters  of  M  o  r  n  i  ng  ,  of 
the  Brilliant  Comet  Tabernacle,  Sisters  and  Broth 
ers  of  Friendship,  Maces  Lodge,  Union  Star  Lodge, 
Lampton  Street  Aid  Society,  Grand  Star  Court, 
and  active  member  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.  In  none  of  these 
is  he  merely  a  member  but  is  active  in  all  the  mat 
ters  of  business  transactions  and  in  all  that  per 
tains  to  disposing  of  and  handling  the  dead  mem 
bers  of  these  orders. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  married  to  Mrs.  Lavinia  Brady 
Watson  of  Louisville,  August  19th.  1907.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cooper  live  in  their  own  home  on  West 
Chestnut  Street,  and  are  both  looked  upon  as  lead 
ers  in  social  uplift  work,  as  well  as  in  business  and 
in  secret  orders. 


THOMAS  MADISON  DORAM,  M.  D.  V. 


HE  Negro  has  yet  in  any  consider 
able  numbers  to  make  his  way  in 
to  the  field  of  Veterinary  practice. 
For  this  there  appears  to  be  sev 
eral  causes.  In  many  cases  the 
calling  appears  not  to  have  been 
attractive.  Again  to  practice  it,  has  been  rather  ex 
pensive  ;  and  finally  many  of  the  Veterinary  schools 
have  been  hard  for  the  black  man  to  enter  and  still 
harder  for  him  to  leave — with  a  diploma. 

Thus  it  is  that  Dr.  T.  M.  Doram,  M.  D.  V.,  of 
Danville,  Kentucky,  will  have  an  added  attraction 
for  the  average  reader  beyond  that  of  mere  per 
sonal  achievement.  Dr.  Doram  is  on  record  as  the 
first  and  only  Negro  in  the  state  of  Kentucky  to  re 
ceive  a  diploma  from  a  Veterinary  College  and  one 
of  the  first  two  colored  men  in  the  United  States 
to  win  such  a  diploma  at  all. 

Dr.  Doram  was  born  in  Danville,  Ky.,  in  1871."  He 
comes  of  a  hardy  stock  of  farmers  and  tradesmen, 
who  loved  to  handle  animals  and  wield  tools.  Dr. 
Doram's  father,  though  a  Carpenter  by  trade,  own 
ed  valuable  land  and  kept  good  horses.  It  was  here 
that  the  young  man  discovered  and  cultivated  fur 
ther  his  love  for  the  horse.  It  is  a  Kentucky  in 


stinct  to  love  a  good  horse  and  from  this  state  has 
come  some  of  the  best  blooded  stock  of  the  world. 
Young  Doram  was  born  and  bread  in  the  Kentucky 
atmosphere  and  it  only  needed  that  he  should  be 
brought  into  a  personal  contact  with  the  horse  to 
develop  a  strong  attachment  for  this  noble  animal. 
While  attending  public  schood  at  Danville,  and 
during  vacation,  the  young  man  worked  with  his 
father  at  the  trade  of  carpentry.  Finishing  the  pub 
lic  school,  Dr.  Doram  entered  the  Eckstein  Norton 
University  at  Cane  Springs,  Ky.,  the  institution  re 
ferred  to  in  the  story  of  Dr.  C.  H.  Parrish  in  this 
volume.  It  was  here,  that  the  young  man  had  his 
skill  acquired  at  carpentry  under  his  father  stand 
him  in  good  stead.  During  his  course  here,  one  of 
the  University  buildings  burned.  Young  Doram 
now  turned  to  and  lent  great  aid  in  rebuilding  the 
University. 

in  1896  he  matriculated  in  the  McKillip  Veter 
inary  College  at  Chicago,  111.  As  a  matter  of  course 
the  rest  of  the  students  were  white,  but  to  show 
what  one  can  do  with  an  opportunity,  at  the  close 
of  the  first  year,  Doram  led  his  class  in  Materia 
Medica ;  the  second  year  he  was  at  the  head  of  his 
class  in  Pharmacy,  and  during  his  last  or  senior 
year  he  was  appointed  senior  assistant  instructor 
in  Pharmacology  of  his  class,  an  honor  of  which 
he  may  be  justly  proud. 

After  graduating,  in  1899,  he  opened  an  office  in 
Evanston,  Illinois,  a  beautiful  suburb  of  Chicago, 
with  a  population  of  thirty  thousand,  where  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

While  his  practice  here  was  successful  and  grow 
ing,  numbering  among  his  patrons  many  of  the 
wealthy  people  of  that  aristocratic  community,  he 
gave  it  up  after  three  years  residence  there  and 
moved  to  his  old  home  in  Danville,  Kentucky. 
His  practice  has  continuously  grown  and  Dr. 
Doram  is  now  fully  satisfied  that  he  made  no  mis 
take  when  he  entered  the  Veterinary  profession. 

In  October  of  same  year,  at  Danville,  Kentucky, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha  James  Hancock,  a 
native  of  Austin.  Texas.  She  received  her  educa 
tion  at  Mary  Allen  Seminary,  Crockett,  Tex.  They 
are  now  the  parents  v>f  eight  children,  three  girls 
and  five  boys.  Dr.  Doram  very  much  hopes  that 
at  least  one  or  more  of  his  boys  may  be  inspired 
to  take  up  the  profession  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
and  Surgery,  as  well  as  many  other  young  men  of 
his  race;  for  he  is  confident  that  many  could  suc 
ceed  in  many  parts  of  the  country.  Notwithstand 
ing  that  we  are  in  the  day  of  the  Automobile,  and 
that  so  many  of  them  are  in  use.  Dr.  Doram  is 
thoroughly  convinced  that  the  horse  is  not  a  back 
issue  and  that  this  noble  animal  will  always  be 
in  demand,  which  will  call  for  expert  men  of  his 
profession. 


162 


S.   H.   GEORGE,   M.  D. 

H  1C  story  of  the  small  boy  left 
alone,  either  by  desertion  of  his 
relatives,  by  robbery  or  by  the 
death  of  his  parents  used  to  be  a 
favorite  subject  of  the  writers  of 
fiction.  The  subject  was  one  that 
always  elicited  eager  perusal  and  often  sobs.  Then, 
however,  the  matter  was  very  remote.  No  one 
thought  of  such  a  thing  as  happening  in  real  life. 
I  he  rise  of  modern  biography  and  autobiography. 
the  willingness  of  our  great  men  to  talk  about 
themselves  in  magazine  articles  and  to  be  inter 
viewed  by  the  reporters,  have  turned  the  light  on 
quite  a  different  aspect  of  the  growth  of  our  youths 
into  manhood.  No  longer  is  this  matter  of  priva 
tion,  of  sleeping  out  in  the  open,  of  tattered  clothes 
and  blistered  feet  a  fiction.  It  is  all  a  very  every 
day  reality.  Booker  T.  Washington,  Jacob  Kiis, 
Henry  W.  Grady,  with  the  numberless  capitalists 
who  have  risen  from  hunger  to  opulence,  have 
made  early  hardships  a  sort  of  premium  in  the  life 
of  the  American.  So  much  is  this  so  that  it  is 
counted  a  sort  of  blessing  to  start  off  handicapped 
with  hunger,  lack  of  antecedents  and  with  nobody 
to  appeal  to  but  your  own  strong  arms. 

Such  was  the  early  beginning  of  Dr.  S.  H.  George 


of  Paducah,  Kentucky.  Dr.  George  lays  no  partic 
ular  claim  to  distinction,  is  rather  stingy  with  the 
data  of  his  boyhood  and  early  life,  indeed  is  rather 
inclined  to  withdraw  within  his  shell  when  he  is 
pressed  for  the  story  of  his  career.  Yet  the  distinc- 
ton  of  his  career  lies  in  a  most  desirable  direction. 
Jt  is  this:  It  is  all  normal.  It  is  just  what  the 
average  boy  with  pluck  and  hard  work  could  do. 
The  story  of  Douglass  or  Washington  might  be  dis 
heartening  to  some ;  because  those  men  seemed 
to  accomplish  so  very  much  out  of  so  little.  That 
of  Dr.  George  comes  quite  within  the  reach  of  us 
all. 

Dr.  George  was  born  in  Kentucky.  His  mother 
having  died  when  he  was  three  years  old,  the  lad 
soon  found  it  necessary  to  go  forth  and  earn  a  pen 
ny  wherever  he  could.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  state,  whenever  he  could  af- 
ord  to  do  so.  The  farm,  the  restaurant,  the  rail 
road  all  held  out  chances  for  him  to  earn  his  way. 
Many  of  these  opportunities  he  embraced,  now 
dropping  out  of  school,  now  returning,  when  he 
had  earned  enough  to  sustain  him  for  a  whole  or 
part  of  a  term.  When  he  had  been  sufficiently- 
trained  to  do  school  work,  he  became  a  teacher,  and 
for  seven  years  labored  in  the  school  room.  With 
school  teaching  and  other  work  he  finally  became 
able  to  push  his  education  to  the  desired  end.  He 
entered  Walden  University  in  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
and  after  a  good  long  struggle  was  graduated. 
Daunting  nothing  because  of  the  cost  of  the  col 
lege  course  he  next  registered  in  the  Meharry  Med 
ical  College.  Again  he  had  to  fight  a  lone  battle, 
having  few  to  whom  he  could  look  in  the  time  of 
need.  p:xpenses  here  were  higher,  the  hours  of 
work  were  much  longer,  because  of  experiments, 
lectures  and  outside  reading.  Yet  Dr.  George  was 
not  to  be  halted.  A  doctor  he  wanted  to  be  and  a 
doctor  he  became ;  and  he  used  only  those  means 
which  any  aspiring  youth  with  good  strong  arms 
and  lusty  will  can  use  to  attain  the  goal. 

Completing  his  course  in  Meharry  Medical  Col 
lege,  he  returned  to  his  native  state  and  began  to 
practice.  In  a  few  years  he  felt  more  than  rewarded 
for  all  the  hardships  he  had  suffered ;  for  he  had 
hung  out  his  sign  at  Paducah,  had  made  many 
friends  and  had  built  up  a  very  sucessful  practice. 
He  joined  forces  with  all  the  progressive  organiza 
tions  of  his  state  and  community.  He  allied  himself 
with  the  church  and  with  many  of  the  secret  so 
cieties  of  Kentucky.  He  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fel 
low,  a  Pythian,  and  a  member  of  the  Court  of 
Calanthe.  As  a  professional  man  and  a  leader  Dr. 
George  felt  that  he  must  both  teach  and  show  the 
people  of  his  section  the  ideal  way  to  live.  He, 
therefore,  joined  the  several  business  organiza 
tions.  He  joined  the  Pythian  Mutual  Industrial 
Association  of  the  State  and  soon  became  its  Vice- 
President.  In  a  little  while  the  leading  Negroes  of 
Kentucky  saw  a  wider  need  for  reliable  insurance 
for  colored  people.  They  founded  the  Mamouth 
Life  and  Accident  Insurance  Company.  Dr.  George 
was  one  of  these  founders  and  promoters,  and  has 
been  one  of  the  staunch  supporters  of  the  company. 
'Dr.  George  was  married  to  Miss  Nettie  N.  Mc- 
Claine.  Dr.  George  owns  his  home  in  Paducah. 


163 


JAMES   H.  HATHAWAY. 


ENTUCKY  has  long  taken  a  lead 
ing  place  as  a  prosperous  state. 
She  has  made  a  happy  adjustment 
of  the  so-called  race  question,  by 
giving  all  her  citizens  a  fair  meas- 
sure  of  privileges,  yet  holding  to 
the  social  restriction.  Apparently  this  is  all  her 
darker  sons  have  wanted,  indeed  all  that  black  folk 
want  any  where.  The  Kentucky  men  of  color  have 
gone  far  beyond  their  brothers  in  farming,  in  busi 
ness  and  in  many  instances  in  education.  Thus  her 
sons,  like  the  one  here  mentioned,  have  an  open 
road  to  essay  their  talents. 

Among  the  big  business  men  in  Louisville."  Ken 
tucky.  James  H.  Hathaway  looms  large  and  impor- 
ant.  He  is  not  only  a  business  success  in  one  direc 
tion,  but  in  several.  Indeed  Mr.  Hathaway  appears 
to  have  acquired  the  Midas'  touch ;  only  unlike  the 
king  of  old,  Mr.  Hathaway  worked  for  his  touch  in 
stead  of  gaining  it  through  any  special  favor  of  the 
Gods. 

Of  the  business  he  has  developed,  Mr.  Hathaway 
can  hardly  tell  which,  had  he  to  make  a  choice,  he 
would  select  above  all  the  rest.  He  tried  his  hand 
at  running  a  grocery.  He  succeeded  at  that.  He 
tried  Undertaking,  and  again  he  was  a  success.  He 


essayed  farming,  both  tilling  the  soil  and  raising 
stock ;  again  he  received  abundant  yield.  He  put 
his  hands  to  the  transfer  business  and  once  more 
the  gods  of  fortune  smiled  upon  him. 

Born  in  Montgomery,  Kentucky,  Mr.  Hathaway 
did  not  spend  much  time  in  gaining  an  education. 
He  is  educated,  but  his  is  an  education  of  things  ; 
an  education  from  intimate  contact  and  combat, 
rather  than  the  brand  gained  from  schools  and 
books.  He  began  his  business  experiences  in 
Mount  Stirling,  Kentucky,  where  he  set  up  and 
ran  for  a  good  many  years  a  grocery  store. 

Selling  out  his  grocery,  he  made  his  way  to  Lou 
isville,  Kentucky,  and  secured  a  wagon  or  two  and 
started  in  the  transfer  business.  Thus  for  fourteen 
years  he  plied  his  trade  and  continually  increased 
and  multiplied.  When  Mr.  Hathaway  entered 
business,  there  was  a  transfer  firm  in  Louisville, 
known  as  Smith  and  Nixon.  Seeing  the  business 
acumen  and  dispatch  of  their  colored  rival,  they 
sold  him  their  wagons  arid  horses  for  a  mere  song 
and  got  him  to  handle  their  business  by  contract. 

In  1902,  Mr.  Hathaway  saw  an  opportunity  to  buy 
an  Undertaking  business.  He  secured  this  and  is 
now  one  of  Louisville's  most  successful  colored 
Undertakers. 

As  he  increased  his  income  from  transfer  work 
and  from  Undertaking,  Mr-  Hathaway  looked  out 
upon  the  farmers  and  saw  what  a  happy  invest 
ment  could  be  made  in  farms  and  in  stock  raising, 
especially  in  Kentucky,  where  the  grass  is  luxuriant 
and  the  temperature  is  congenial  to  raising  nearly 
every  breed  of  useful  animals.  Thus  he  has  an 
nexed  to  his  holdings  a  118  acre  farm,  which  is  now 
well  stocked  with  thorough-bred  horses,  sheep, 
hogs,  and  cattle.  After  entering  the  transfer  bus 
iness  it  was  an  easy  glide  into  the  other  branches 
of  business  he  took  on.  As  a  transfer  men  his  ve 
hicles  was  called  into  constant  demand  for  funeral 
occasions  and  this  brought  to  his  attention  the  un 
dertaker's  business.  It  did  not  take  him  long  to 
see  that  this  business  and  the  transfer  business 
could  be  worked  together  and  with  the  large  stock 
of  horses  such  a  business  demanded  it  was  easy 
for  him  to  determine  that  farming  would  be  a  val 
uable  adjunct  to  his  business.  So  the  three  work 
ed  together  to  his  profit.  Mr.  Hathaway 's  other 
property  holdings  are  his  own  house  and  the  build 
ing  in  which  he  runs  his  undertaking  business. 

He  divides  his  energies  between  his  family  and 
his  business.  Other  than  his  membership  in  the 
Christian  church,  he  has  few  affiliations.  He  was 
married  in  1892  to  Miss  Columbia  Gray  of  Louis 
ville,  Ky.  There  are  six  children  in  the  Hathaway 
family :  Miss  Ethel  Louise,  a  graduate  of  the 
Louisville  High  School,  is  her  father's  secretary. 
James  Harris,  Warner  Mason,  Columbia  S.  and 
Ruth  are  still  of  school  age. 


164 


ROBERT  HORACE  HOGAN. 


HE  words  of  the  song,  "Inch  by 
Inch"  find  apt  significance  in  the 
life  of  Mr.  Robert  H.  Hogan,  con 
tractor  and  builder,  of  Lexington, 
Kentucky.  Mr.  Hogan  was  born 
on  a  farm  near  Macon,  Ga.,  Feb. 
12,  1881.  The  Hogans  were  a  very  large  family  who 
lived  the  earlier  years  of  their  history  in  the  coun 
try,  but  who  later  moved  into  Macon.  Mr.  Hogan 
was  born  on  the  farm  near  Macon  before  the  fam 
ily  had  migrated  to  the  city. 

Born  of  a  large  family  the  young  man  had  no 
time  for  school,  but  had  to  earn  money  to  aid  in 
supporting  the  family.  One  of  his  first  jobs  was 
that  of  elevator  boy  in  the  Wesleyan  Female  Col 
lege  at  Macon,  Georgia.  As  good  fortune  would 
have  it,  the  president's  wife,  Mrs.  John  D.  Ham 
mond,  passed  up  and  down  on  that  elevator.  She 
saw  that  young  Hogan  had  no  learning  and  set  out 
to  teach  him.  Mrs.  Hammond  not  only  taught  him 
herself  but  made  arrangement  for  several  of  the 
teachers  to  give  him  help.  She  went  furtner.  She 
wrote  Dr.  Washington  about  the  boy  and  later  had 
him  enter  Tuskegee  Institute. 

While  Mr.  Hogan  liked  Tuskegee  well  enough, 


the  call  of  the  large  family  once  more  threw  him 
out  into  the  world.  He  worked  a  while  in  Macon, 
Ga.,  then  in  Jacksonville,  Florida,  as  a  Government 
brick-layer.  In  the  meantime  he  was  doing  private 
studying  with  the  International  Correspondence 
school.  For  five  years  he  worked  about  in  Florida, 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  Tennessee  as  a  brick-layer, 
studying  and  working  at  the  same  time.  In  1905, 
leaving  Alabama,  where  he  had  been  assisting  in 
the  building  of  a  steel  mill,  he  went  to  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  and  accepted  work  as  foreman  for  H.  A. 
Tandy,  an  old  and  successful  contractor  of  that 
city.  By  this  time  his  studies  began  to  bear  fruit. 
On  completing  his  studies  with  the  International 
Correspondence  School,  he  was  offered  a  position 
with  the  Combs  Lumber  Company,  as  superintend 
ent  of  their  brick  construction  work.  This  was 
one  of  the  largest  firms  of  the  kind  in  the  state 
and  gave  Mr.  Hogan  opportunity  to  app.y  his  the 
ories,  to  learn  new  ones,  and  to  practice  on  big 
undertakings.  For  the  past  seven  years  he  has 
superintended  the  construction  of  all  the  largest 
buildings  of  Lexington.  Continuing  to  study  in 
private,  and  now  having  completed  a  course  in 
Building  Superintendence,  Contracting  and  Estim 
ating,  with  the  American  School  of  Correspondence, 
Mr.  Hogan  thought  it  was  time  for  him  to  launch 
into  business  for  himself.  This  step  he  took,  Jan. 
1,  1916.  Since  that  time  he  has  built  a  mansion  for 
C.  B.  Shafer,  which  cost  $40,000;  constructed  the 
brick  work  in  the  Physicians'  Office  Building  at  a 
cost  of  $20,000;  put  up  the  Bamby  Flat  for  $10,- 
000  and  erected  and  superintended  many  residences 
and  smaller  buildings  and  including  his  own  two- 
story  brick  residence.  At  present  he  is  doing  the 
brick  work  on  the  new  Senior  High  School  Build 
ing,  a  $60,000  building. 

One  feature  in  connection  with  Mr.  Hogan's  new 
line  of  work  is  that  upon  the  guarantee  to  Combs 
Lumber  Co.  that  he  would  take  care  of  a  certain 
amount  of  their  work  as  well  as  the  fact  that  he 
has  an  excellent  standing  with  them,  he  has  been 
able  to  secure  financial  backing  from  that  strong 
company. 

Mr.  Hogan  in  all  his  rush  of  study  and  work  has 
maintained  his  connection  with  the  church  and 
many  other  bodies.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  his  city,  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Deacons  and  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School.  In  Lodge  affiliation  he  is  a  Mason  of  the 
32nd  degree. 

Mr.  Hogan  was  married  in  1903  to  Miss  Letetia 
Hunter  Jones  of  Macon,  Ga.  Of  the  three  child 
ren  born  in  the  household,  two  are  living.  Robert 
H.,  Jr.,  died  in  infancy.  Horace  Wesley,  10  years 
of  age,  is  in  the  sixth  grade  of  the  public  school; 
Marion  Letetia  is  five  years  old. 


165 


MARSHALL  BELL  LANIER,  A.  B.,  B.  I). 


EVEREND  Lanier  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  at  Mocksville,  in 
1869.  He  first  attended  the  pub 
lic  schools  of  Salem,  North  Car 
olina,  but  did  not  remain  there  a 
great  while,  but  went  to  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  where  he  enrolled  in  Wayland  Semi 
nary.  Here  he  studied  for  two  years,  when  he 
made  another  change.  He  had  become  deeply  im 
pressed  that  he  was  called  to  preach  and  with  a 
view  of  preparing  himself  for  his  ministerial  work 
he  left  Wayland  and  entered  the  Lincoln  Univer 
sity,  located  near  Philadelphia.  He  was  then  a 
young  man,  barely  eighteen  years  of  age,  but  very 
ambitious. 

He  graduated  from  the  Lincoln  University  in 
1892,  and  received  from  that  Institution  his  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  Wishing  to  specialize  further 
in  Theological  studies  he  took  a  course  in  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  in  Fittsburg,  Penn.,  and 
was  graduated  as  Bachelor  of  Divinity  in  1896. 
This  was  the  eventful  year  in  the  life  of  Reverend 
Lanier,  for  he  not  only  completed  his  studies  and 
received  his  degree,  but  it  was  the  year  in  which 
he  was  ordained  to  the  ininistrv  and  installed  in  his 


first  pastorate.  His  first  pastorate  was  that  of 
Grace  church,  Pittsburg,  Penn.  He  was  soon  re 
garded  as  an  eloquent  preacher  and  a  sound  theolo 
gian  and  his  progress  in  his  new  field  of  labor  was 
rapid. 

His  reputation  as  a  preacher  soon  spread  and  be 
fore  he  had  served  his  church  very  long  he  rceived 
a  call  to  be  the  Dean  of  the  Theological  Depart 
ment  of  the  State  University.  At  the  same  time 
he  was  called  to  be  Dean  of  the  University  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky.  He  accepted  the  latter  call 
and  for  eight  years  has  served  the  institution.  The 
holding  of  this  office  has  not  prevented  him  from 
continuing  his  work  as  a  minister.  He  has  not  ne 
glected  his  duties  in  connection  with  the  Univer 
sity,  but  has  at  the  same  time  acceptably  served 
the  following  churches  as  Pastor :  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Irvington,  Kentucky,  and  the  Corin 
thian  Baptist  Church,  of  Frankfort,  Kentucky.  He 
is  still  the  Pastor  of  the  latter  church. 

Reverend  Lanier  is  especially  interested  in 
young  men  and  boys  and  never  tires  in  working  in 
their  interest.  He  sees  in  them  great  possibilities 
for  the  advancement  of  the  race,  and  is  exceeding 
ly  ambitious  to  place  before  them  high  ideas  of  life. 
Along  with  his  duties  as  Pastor  and  Dean,  he  is 
trustee  of  the  Home  for  Colored  boys.  This  office 
gives  him  a  fine  opportunity  to  get  in  close  touch 
with  the  boys  and  lead  them  to  improve  their 
minds  and  hearts. 

While  a  minister,  he  does  not  forget  his  duties 
to  his  country  and  State,  and  in  politics  he  very 
naturally  sides  with  the  Republicans.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  .he  Masonic  fraternity  and  makes  his 
personality  felt  in  that  order. 

He  was  married  in  1901,  to  Miss  Maud  E.  Bryce, 
of  Pittsburg,  Penn.,  in  whose  companionship  he 
finds  great  delight.  They  live  in  their  own  home 
on  West  Chestnut  Street,  in  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
Reviewing  the  life  and  work  of  Reverend  Lanier 
it  is  probable  that  in  no  other  way  could  he  have 
served  his  people  better  than  in  the  manner  chosen 
by  him.  First  his  years  of  preparation  gave  him 
a  fund  of  information  which  not  only  fitted  him  for 
his  work,  but  enabled  him  to  scatter  with  a  lavish 
hand  to  the  youth  growing  up  about  him. 

As  Dean  of  the  Theological  Department  of  the 
State  University  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  he  has 
had  the  privilege  of  touching  with  his  life  a  large 
number  of  young  men  who  are  preparing  to  enter 
the  ministry.  He  has  impressed  them  with  his 
high  ideals  and  has  sent  them  forth  to  influence 
other  lives  in  like  manner. 

All  over  the  State  of  Kentucky,  you  will  find 
men,  young  and  old,  who  have  been  helped  to  a 
better  life  because  at  some  point,  the  life  of  Rev 
erend  Lanier  touched  their's. 


166 


JOHN  A.  C.  LATTIMORE,  M.  D. 


i 


O  man  is  a  hero  to  his  valet,  some 
one  has  said.  This  was  not  the 
case  with  Dr.  John  A.  C.  Latti- 
more,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
Dr.  Lattimore  was  not  a  valet,  but 
he  fulfilled  the  real  spirit  of  the 
saying  in  that  he  was  very  close  to  the  man  who 
influenced  him  to  enter  the  medical  profession. 
Dr.  Lattimore  when  a  lad  was  a  buggy  boy  for 
a  physician,  Dr.  Bullock  of  Greensboro,  North 
Carolina.  He  was  a  very  observant  boy  and  was 
quick  to  note,  as  he  went  with  the  Doctor  in 
making  his  daily  calls,  the  cordial  greeting  he  re 
ceived  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held. 
He  also  made  a  note  of  the  handsome  income 
which  came  from  a  large  practice.  Thus  uncon 
sciously.  Dr.  Bullock  influenced  his  buggy  boy  to 
become  a  physician.  Seeing  the  interest  magni 
fied  by  his  buggy  boy  in  bis  work  the  good  Doctor 
suggested  to  him  that  he  study  medicine,  a  sug 
gestion  which  he  was  quick  to  adopt.  I  laving 
formed  the  purpose  he  held  to  bis  course  until 
be  received  his  diploma  and  hung  out  bis  shingle. 
Dr.  Lattimore  was  born  in  Lawndale,  North  Car 
olina,  where  be  received  his  early  training  in  the 


Lawndale  Public  Schools.  After  passing  through 
the  public  schools  he  entered  Bennett  College, 
Greensboro,  North  Carolina,  and  was  graduated 
from  this  Institution  in  the  fall  of  1897.  His  next 
enrollment  was  in  Meharry  Medical  College  in 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  from  which  institution  he 
received  his  doctors  degree  and  the  same  year, 
1901,  be  began  practicing  in  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

The  goal  was    a  magnet  to    draw    him    through 
meshes  of  difficulties  before  the  end  was  obtained. 

However,  his  way  through   school  was  not  one 
fraction  so  easy  as  it  is  to  relate.    The  young  med 
ical  student  was  far  from  rich  and  had  to  toil  at 
many  things  to  defray  his  expenses.     In  vacation 
time,  like  many  other  students,  he  worked  in   the 
hotels  of  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.,  and  New  York  as  bell 
boy  and  waiter.     Throughout  Dr.   Lattimore's  life 
of  hardship  as  a  student  be  remembers  with  great 
tenderness  the  kindness  of  the  president   of   Ben 
nett    College,    who    took    the    young    man    into    his 
home  and  cared  for  him  as  a  father  would  do  for 
his  son.    This  side  of  his  training  brought  into  the 
life  of  the  young  man  a  new  phase,  that  side  which 
neither  the  text-books  nor  the  laboratory  can  dis 
cover;  that  is,  the  spirit  of  helpfulness.     This,  Dr. 
Lattimore  exercises  in  his  relation  to  the  individual, 
but  more  so  in  his  public  spirited  attitude  toward 
life   and   needs    in    his   community.      He    is   always 
willing  and  eager  to  lend  a  band  to  any  progressive 
enterprise  of  his  city  or  state.     With  money,  with 
counsel  or  with  time,  he  has  helped  all  movements 
for  the  betterment  of  his  race  in  his  city,  state,  or 
country.    He  is  found  holding  many  responsible  po 
sitions  of  his  city :  A  member  of  the  executive  board 
of   National   Association    for   the   Advancement   of 
Colored  People,  an  ex-member  of  the  board  of  man 
agers  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  a  trustee  of  his  church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.,  of  the  Masons,  of 
the.  U.  B.  F.  and  of  the  Court  of  Calanthe.     He  is 
ex-Grand  Medical  Register  of  the  Knights  of  Py 
thias  of  the  state,  a  postion  which  he  held  until  he 
resigned  to  become  Treasurer  of  the  Pythian  Mu 
tual  Industrial  Association  of  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State,  a  position  he  holds  until  today.  In  all  these 
bodies  he  is  looked  upon  as  a  wise  leader,  a  gen 
erous  helper,  and  a  man  with  initiative.     He  also 
belongs   to   all   the   leading   Natonal    organizations 
of  his  race :  the  National  Medical  Association,  and 
National  Negro  Business   League,  etc.     Dr.   Latti 
more  is  a  member  of  the  African  Methodist  Epis 
copal   Church. 

Dr.  Lattimore  has  been  fairly  successful  finan 
cially.  He  owns  a  beautiful  home  and  ether  prop 
erty  to  the  value  of  ten  thousand  dollars.  He  is 
also  interested  in  several  business  enterprises  in 
Louisville. 


167 


ALBERT  ERNEST  MEYZEEK,  A.  M. 

ROFESSOR  Albert  E.  Meyzeek, 
Principal  of  the  Normal  and  East 
ern  School  of  Louisville,  Ken 
tucky,  is  the  proverbial  human 
dynamo  in  the  school  teaching 
world  of  Louisville.  He  was  once 
pictured  as  one  who  is  first  to  fight  for  the  rights  of 
his  fellow  countrymen.  Serious  to  the  point  of  se 
verity,  business  like  to  a  fault,  a  friend  to  be  sought 
after,  a  foe  to  be  feared,  a  champion  for  the  rights 
of  the  black  man,  but  with  all  a  jolly  good  fellow. 
In  business  life  a  mighty  factor  in  the  struggle  to 
mould  the  characters  of  our  future  men  and  women 
in  the  private  life,  a  model  husband,  a  property 
owner  and  a  Christian  gentleman. 

The  original  of  the  above  drawn  picture  was  born 
in  Toledo,  Ohio.  Completing  the  course  in  the  pub 
lic  schools  of  his  native  city,  he  pursued  further 
study  in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana.  Finishing  in  Terre 
Haute,  having  planned  definitely  to  make  school 
teaching  his  life  work,  he  entered  Indiana  State 
Normal  College  and  later  studied  at  the  state  Uni 
versity.  Ready  now  for  the  business  of  life,  he 
went  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  began  to  work 

•>    '  cJ 

in  his  chosen  field. 


Inch  by  inch  he  rose  in  the  scale  as  a  school 
teacher,  becoming  prim  ipal  of  the  Grammar,  then 
of  the  Normal  and  Eastern  Schools  of  Louisville 
and  then  of  the  Kentucky  State  Normal  and  In 
dustrial  School. 

In  his  school  work,  Prof.  Meyzeek  always  leaned 
towards  the  practical,  the  useful.  He  put  discipline 
and  order  into  the  Eastern  schools  of  Louisville, 
because  he  looked  upon  discipline  as  a  fundamental 
item  in  education.  He  established  courses  in  domes 
tic  science  even  when  the  city  could  not  provide 
funds  for  it,  because  he  felt  that  such  was  needed 
in  the  every  day  lives  of  his  pupils.  He  organized 
clubs  for  parents  because  he  saw  a  means  of  bring- 
nig  parent  and  child  to  a  better  understanding  with 
each  other  and  both  in  a  relation  to  the  school.  He 
established  the  Normal  training  school  on  a  busi 
ness  basis,  employing  teachers  specially  trained  to 
teach  teachers,  and  he  organized  his  courses  so  that 
those  who  studied  the  theory  could  later  secure 
the  practice. 

To  him  was  intrusted  the  establishment  of  the 
Normal  courses  and  the  organization  and  equip 
ment  of  same  was  left  entirely  to  his  discretion 
and  supervision.  Students  are  appointed  to  posi 
tions  in  the  public  schools  according  to  a  list  fur 
nished  by  him  and  clone  upon  merit  and  no  influ 
ence  can  change  the  plan  adopted  by  him. 

Thoroughly  alive  in  all  the  details  of  school  work. 
Professor  Meyzeek  nevertheless  connected  his 
school  life  with  the  life  of  a  citizen.  Noticing  that 
the  advertisements  in  the  papers  stated  "white  pre 
ferred"  in  asking  for  cooks,  he  opened  courses  for 
domestic  science  that  he  might  improve  the  effi 
ciency  of  the  colored  cooks  already  in  service.  He 
entered  the  campaign  for  a  new  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  was 
the  means  of  securing  a  pledge  of  $6,500  from  the 
white  citizens.  He  entered  in  the  fight  against  the 
separate  street  car  law  in  Louisville  and  broke  the 
back  of  that  measure.  He  fought  the  Louisville 
Segregation  ordinance  tooth  and  nail,  pointing  out 
that  the  white  people  drove  the  best  colored  people 
out  of  colored  sections  of  the  city  by  planting  there 
the  white  "palaces  of  sin." 

It  is  no  wonder  that  the  Kentucky  people  loved 
Prof.  Meyzeek  and  that  various  organizations  hon 
or  him.  For  more  than  seventeen  years  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  board  of  directors  and 
for  ten  years,  president.  The  state  University  re 
cently  honored  him  with  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts.  He  is  a  pioneer  Juvenile  Court  worker,  a 
promoter  of  libraries  and  an  all  round  citizen  of 
whom  Louisville  is  exceedingly  proud. 

Prof.  Meyzeek  owns  his  own  home  and  three 
rent  houses  in  Terre  Haute.  In  1896  Prof.  Mey 
zeek  was  married  to  Miss  Pearl  Hill,  who  was  a 
teacher  in  the  Louisville  Public  School. 


168 


ROBERT   MITCHELL,  A.   M.,  D.   D. 

EW  big  undertakings  have  occur 
red  among  the  Negroes  of  Ken 
tucky,  or  indeed  among  the  color 
ed  people  of  the  Nation  during  the 
past  quarter  of  a  century  without 
enlisting  the  services  of  Reverend 
Robert  Mitchell,  A.  M.  D.  D.  of  Lexington,  Ken 
tucky.  He  has  been  in  constant  demand  on  the  lec 
ture  platform,  at  Chautauquas,  at  temperance  gath 
erings  and  at  revivals.  In  his  denomination  and 
out  he  has  worked  incessantly.  For  two  years  he 
was  president  of  the  Kentucky  State  Teachers  Asr 
sociation.  For  four  years  he  was  moderator  of  the 
General  Association  of  Kentucky  Baptists.  He  was 
for  fourteen  years  Auditor  of  the  National  Baptist 
Convention  and  is  now  its  vice  president.  For 
twenty-five  years  he  has  been  a  Trustee  of  State 
University  at  Louisville  and  still  holds  his  place 
there.  He  was  a  member  of  the  committee  which 
appeared  before  the  state  legislature  in  1891against 
the  separate  car  law.  Reverend  Mitchell  was  chos 
en  by  his  committee  to  address  the  legislature  of 
Kentucky  on  that  occasion.  Two  years  later  in 
1893,  he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  from  the 
National  Baptist  Convention  to  appear  before 

169 


President  Cleveland  on  matters  pertaining  to  the 
Negro  race. 

In  spite  of  all  these  extra  duties,  Dr.  Mitchell  has 
been  a  constant  and  hard  worker  at  a  special  post. 
He  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  Kentucky,  March 
1,  1864.  When  a  mere  infant  he  was  taken  to  Mis 
sissippi  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  and 
studied  also  in  private  schools.  From  Mississippi  he 
attended  the  State  University  in  Kentucky,  where 
he  gained  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  From 
Louisville  he  entered  Gaudaloupe,  Seguin,  Texas, 
where  he  won  the  degree  of  D.  D.  He  is  one  of 
the  many  to  get  his  education  by  waiting  on  the 
tables  mornings  and  evenings.  He  preached  in  odd 
times  when  he  could  get  a  hearing. 

Finishing  his  course  he  immediately  entered  the 
ministry.  His  first  charge  was  at  Paducah,  Ky., 
over  the  Seventh  Street  Baptist  Church.  Here  he 
was  pastor  four  years.  From  Paducah  he  went  to 
Bowling  Green,  where  he  served  eighteen  years, 
two  periods  of  nine  years  each.  He  was  pastor  of 
the  Main  Street  Baptist  Church,  Lexington,  for  two 
years :  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Frankfort  five 
and  a  half  years;  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of 
Kansas  City,  Kansas,  three  years  and  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Lexington,  his  present  charge, 
two  years.  He  was  president  of  Simmons  Memor 
ial  College  at  Bowling  Green  for  eight  years.  He 
has  built  one  church,  completed  and  paid  for  the 
State  Street  Baptist  Church  of  Bowling  Green  at  a 
cost  of  $7,500,  purchased  and  paid  for  the  present 
site  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Frankfort  at  a 
cost  of  more  than  five  thousand  dollars. 

While  he  has  given  himself  untiringly  to  the  de 
velopment  of  his  work  among  his  churches,  he  has 
not  been  altogether  unmindful  of  his  obligations 
to  his  family  and  has  accumulated  a  property,  per 
sonal  and  real,  valued  at  eight  or  ten  thousand  dol 
lars. 

Dr.  Mitchell  was  married  in  1885  to  Miss  Virginia 
Leech  of  Paducah.  One  daughter,  Miss  Emma  B. 
Mitchell  has  been  their  only  child.  She  died  in 
1911.  She  was  a  young  woman  of  rare  attainments, 
having  been  graduated  from  the  Frankfort  High 
School  and  from  the  Kansas  City  High  School  and 
having  done  special  work  in  both  Chicago  Univer 
sity  and  Miami  University. 

Dr.  Mitchell  was  appointed  also  by  the  National 
Baptist  Convention  as  a  member  of  the  delegation 
to  the  World's  Baptist  Alliance,  that  convened  in 
London,  England,  July  1905,  but  owing  to  pressing 
home  obligations  it  was  not  possible  for  him  to  at 
tend. 

He  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  what  honesty, 
sturdy  pluck,  and  persistency  will  do  for  one,  al 
though  born  and  reared  under  unfavorable  circum 
stances. 


REVEREND    JAMES    JODY    McCUTCHEN. 


N  November  9th,  1868,  in  Logan 
County,  Kentucky,  was  born  Rev 
erend  James  J.  McCutchen,  of 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  who  began 
his  career  in  public  by  winning 
honors,  and  throughout  his  long 
and  serviceable  career  he  has  continued  to  carry 
laurels  won  on  fields  of  labor.  Attending  the  pub 
lic  schools  of  his  native  county  he  was  awarded  the 
gold  medal  for  excellence  in  scholarship  and  was 
Valedictorian  of  his  class,  in  1891,  at  Simmons  Me 
morial  College,  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky. 

His  habit  of  study  acquired  in  Logan  County  led 
him  into  several  institutions  and  into  courses,  of 
study  in  various  ways. — He  took  a  post  graduate 
correspondence  course  in  the  scientific  studies  from 
Danville,  New  York ;  gained  an  honorary  degree 
from  Eckstein  Norton  Institute  at  Cane  Spring, 
Kentucky,  finished  a  teacher's  training  course  with 
the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  and  com 
pleted  a  course  of  study  in  stenography. 

The  early  age  at  which  he  finished  his  education 
al  courses  gives  evidence  of  an  ususually  vigorous 
mind,  which  his  after  career  enlarged  and  develop 
ed.  These  courses  he  finished  at  the  early  age  of 


sixteen  and  for  some  years  thereafter  he  taught 
school.  He  taught  nine  years  in  Logan  County, 
where  he  was  born,  and  two  years  in  Bowling 
Green  Kentucky.  From  Bowling  Green  he  enter 
ed  the  Theological  College  of  Glascow,  Kentucky, 
where  he  served  as  Principal  for  one  year. 

Rev.  McCutchen  is  a  Missionary  Baptist  and 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  that  church  in  the 
year  1893.  He  took  up  his  work  as  a  minister  at 
once  after  his  ordination  and  found  his  first  field 
of  labor  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Bristow  Baptist 
Church,  of  Bristow,  Kentucky.  Here  he  labored 
for  one  year,  but  gave  up  the  work  for  a  larger 
field,  to  which  he  was  called.  From  1905  to  1913, 
he  served  as  State  Missionary  for  the  Western  dis 
trict  of  Kentucky,  in  which  capacity  he  rendered 
his  denomination  a  great  service.  The  National 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Board  and  the  Southern 
Baptist  Board  co-operated  with  the  State  Board  in 
this  work. 

He  built  the  church  at  Daniel  Boone,  Kentucky ; 
remodeled  the  church  at  Adairville,  Ky.,  remodeled 
the  church  at  Townsends  Grove,  Ky.,  built  the 
church  at  Auburn,  Ky.,  and  two  school  houses  in 
Logan  County.  He  also  assisted  in  establishing 
the  "Baptist  Voice,"  a  Baptist  paper  which  is  pub 
lished  at  Princeton,  Ky.,  and  is  at  present  the  offi 
cial  organ  of  the  Baptists  of  Western  Kentucky. 

His  good  work  was  of  a  character  to  stand,  for 
he  built  upon  a  good  foundation 

When  he  accepted  the  Main  Street  Baptist 
Church,  Lexington,  Kentucky.,  that  body  was  heav 
ily  in  debt  and  much  discouraged,  and  there  was 
a  great  falling  off  in  membership. 

Reverend  McCutchen  in  less  than  two  years  rais 
ed  over  nine  thousand  dollars  ($9,000),  re-united  the 
forces  of  the  church,  lifted  the  mortgage,  put  in 
a  two  thousand  dollar  ($2,000)  pipe  organ,  put  in 
modern  equipment  and  appliances,  and  added  275 
members,  which  gave  the  church  a  total  member 
ship  of  1200.  In  his  career  as  minister,  he  has  bap 
tized  some  1400  souls. 

The  great  denomination  to  which  he  belongs  re 
cognized  his  ability  as  a  leader  and  has  placed  him 
in  many  positions  of  honor  and  responsibility.  He 
is  First  Assistant  Moderator  for  the  State,  and 
holds  the  position  of  Secretary  of  the  Minister's 
and  Deacons'  meeting  of  Lexington  and  vicinity. 
Reverend  McCutchen  has  been  twice  married ; 
the  first  time  to  Miss  Katy  Morrow,  of  Mortimer, 
Kentucky,  in  1892.  She  died  in  1897,  leaving  a  son, 
Walter  L.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  having 
graduated  from  the  preparatory  department  of  M. 
and  F.  College,  Hopkinsville,  Ky.  The  second  Mrs. 
McCutchen  was  Mrs.  Lucy  Morse,  of  Mayfield, 
Kentucky.  They  were  married  at  Mayfield  in  1900. 


170 


REVEREND    ELMORE   THEVALL   OFFUTT. 

MONG  the  Baptist  of  Kentucky, 
Reverend  Elmore  Thevall  Offutt, 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  is  one  of 
the  peers.  His  preparation  has 
been  ample  and  thorough:  his 
knowledge  or  education  from  con 
tact  and  experience  has  been  fully  as  broad  and  in 
timate  as  his  studies  in  books. 

lie  is  out  and  out  a  Kentuckian.  He  was  born 
in  Logan  County  March  17th,  1871.  For  several 
years  he  attended  common  school  but  because  of  a 
lack  of  finance  he  was  forced  to  stop  school  and  to 
"remain  on  the  farm  where  he  worked  in  the  tobac- 
to  fields  to  aid  in  the  support  of  the  family.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  by  the  consent  of  his  father  he  went 
to  Louisville  to  find  work  with  the  idea  of  finish 
ing  his  education.  It  was  there  In-  learned  the 
tanner's  trade,  working  during  the  day  and  study 
ing  at  night.  At  noon  hours  or  whenever  oppor 
tunity  permitted  he  used  the  blacked  side  of  a  tan 
ned  cow  hide  as  a  substitute  for  a  black  board  upon 
which  he  solved  problems  in  mathematics  and  dia 
gramed  sentences  which  he  had  not  been  able  to 
solve  the  preceding-  night. 

He  was  married  in  Louisville  in  1893  to  Miss   |o- 

171 


anna  Kemble,  whose  faithful  cooperation  and  Chris 
tian  life  has  made  his  success  possible.  There  are 
nine  children  in  the  Offutt  family:  Miss  Elnora  B. 
who  is  teaching  in  the  public  school,  Elmore  T.  Jr., 
Harriett,  James  Arthur,  Olivia,  Queenie,  Garland 
and  William,  who  are  students  and  pupils  in  school 
and  Joanna  Kimble  Offutt  who  is  yet  a  baby. 

He  was  converted  and  baptized  into  the  fellow 
ship  of  the  Portland  Baptist  Church  in  1894  and 
was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry  in  1896.  In 
connection  with  his  school  work  he  has  sucessfully 
pastored  the  following  churches  each  of  which 
protested  his  resignation:  Harrods  Creek,  Jeffer 
son  County;  Elk  Creek,  Spencer  County;  Indiana 
Ave.  Baptist  Church,  Jeffersonville,  Ind. ;  La 
Grange,  Oldham  County,  Ky. ;  Eminence,  Henry 
County;  Portland  Baptist  Church,  Louisville,  which 
he  resigned  to  accept  his  present  charge,  the  Pleas 
ant  Green  Baptist  Church,  Lexington,  Ky.  He  has 
recently  written  a  short  history  of  this  church 
which  is  of  great  value  to  those  who  are  interested 
in  the  early  history  of  Baptists  in  this  country.  This 
is  the  oldest  Colored  Baptist  church  west  of  the  Al- 
leghanies  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  United  States. 
It  was  organized  in  1790,  has  a  membership  of 
twelve  hundred  and  a  property  valuation  of  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  The  prosperity  of  the  church 
was  never  greater  than  at  present. 

Jn  1901,  he  entered  State  University,  Louisville, 
an  opportunity  he  recognized  as  answer  to  prayer. 
Here,  he  was  not  long  in  making  his  presence  felt, 
becoming  a  brilliant  student  in  most  of  the  branches 
he  inn-sued.  After  his  graduation  from  the  Colleg 
iate  and  Theological  departments,  he  became  a 
teacher  in  the  University,  a  position  he  filled  with 
credit  for  several  years.  While  teaching  at  the 
University  he  continued  his  pastoral  duties  and 
studied  medicine  in  the  Louisville  National  Medi 
cal  College.  He  has  also  taken  a  course  in  law 
from  the  American  Correspondence  School  of  Law, 
Chicago. 

Rev.  Offutt  is  active  in  both  the  state  and  nation 
al  work  of  his  denomination.  Eor  several  years  he 
served  as  moderator  of  Central  District  Association 
of  Kentucky  Baptist.  Because  of  his  modesty  and 
Christian  piety  combined  with  his  general  knowl 
edge,  especially  of  the  Bible,  he  is  held  in  high  es 
teem  by  the  ministry  and  has  been  honored  for  the 
past  three  years  by  the  minister's  meeting  of  his 
city  as  lecturer  on  the  Sunday  School  lesson,  one  of 
which  is  delivered  each  Monday  morning.  In  his 
church  he  conducts  a  class  twice  a  week  for  the 
benefit  of  all  ministers  who  have  not  had  the  ad 
vantage  of  theological  training.  He  is  interested 
in  the  Sunday  School  work  of  the  State  and  con 
ducts  institutes  in  his  own  district  convention.  He 
is  a  contributor  to  the  Sunday  School  Teacher  pub 
lisher  by  the  National  Baptist  Publishing  Board, 
Nashville,  Tenn.  From  time  to  time  he  has  served 
on  the  various  boards  of  the  National  Baptist  Con 
vention  and  is  now  a  member  and  treasurer  of  the 
(educational  Board  of  that  body. 


CHARLES  HENRY  PARRISH,  A.  B.,  A.  M., 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  F.  R.  G.  S. 


T  was  the  late  Mark  Twain  who 
insisted  that  mere  facts  contained 
by  far  more  mystery  and  more 
thrills  than  fiction.  Such  certain 
ly  are  the  facts  of  the  iife  of  Dr. 
C.  H.  Parrish,  D.  D.,  F.  R.  G.  S., 
President  of  the  Eckstein  Norton  University, 
Cane  Springs,  Ky.,  and  thirty  years  pastor  of  the 
Calvary  Baptist  Church,  Louisville,  Ky.  Dr.  Par 
rish  was  born  a  slave  on  the  Beverly  A.  Hicks  plan 
tation  in  Lexington,  Ky.  At  ten  years  of  age  he 
was  converted  and  baptized,  by  Reverend  James 
Monroe,  Pastor  First  Baptist  Church,  Lexington, 
Ky.  Shortly  after  this  he  began  a  life  that  has 
been  crowned  with  rare  distinctions,  unusual  and 
out-of-the-way  honors  and  happenings. 

Dr.  Parrish  began  to  win  laurels  in  school.  One 
of  the  early  students  in  the  State  University,  he  was 
the  first  valedictorian  from  the  college  department 
of  that  insitution.  This  was  in  1886.  The  Univer 
sity  thought  so  well  of  its  first  valedictorian  that  it 
afterwards  engaged  him  as  a  Professor  of  Greek 
and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  Eckstein  University. 
Jointly  with  the  Reverend  Wm.  J.  Simmons,  he 
founded  the  Eckstein  Institute,  in  1890,  where  he 
remained  as  its  President  for  twenty  two  years,  at 


which  time  Eckstein  Institute  was  connected  with 
Lincoln  Institute.  Dr  Parrish  is  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Lincoln  Institute. 

During  this  period,  so  full  of  responsible  labors, 
he  remained  the  Pastor  of  the  Calvary  Baptist 
Church,  of  Louisville  Kentucky,  never  once  halting 
in  his  active  duties  in  connection  therewith.  His 
time  was  fully  occupied  in  teaching,  preaching,  vis 
iting  and  the  other  multiform  duties  of  a  city  pas 
torate.  He  won  the  degree  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  and 
D.  D.  from  the  Kentucky  State  University,  LL.  D. 
from  the  Central  Law  School  and  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Geographical  Society  from  London. 

He  went  to  the  world's  Baptist  Congress,  which 
met  in  Jerusalem  in  1894;  was  messenger  to  the 
World's  Sunday  School  Convention  the  same  year ; 
under  the  direction  of  Karl  Maschar  inspector  of 
German  Baptist  Missions,  he  traveled  through  Ger 
many  and  preached  in  seventeen  German  towns, 
winning  six  hundred  converts ;  he  was  a  messen 
ger  to  the  Baptists  of  Jamaica  in  1915;  he  has  trav 
eled  through  the  Holy  Land  and  has  stood  waist 
deep  in  the  waters  of  the  river  Jordan ;  he  has 
baptised  believers  in  the  Carribean  Sea,  and  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Traveling  thus  abroad  and  extensively  in  this 
country,  Dr.  Parrish  has  nevertheless  held  no  end 
of  important  posts  at  home.  As  has  been  stated, 
he  has  been  the  pastor  of  the  Calvary  Baptist 
Church  of  Louisville  for  thirty  years.  He  is  Sup 
erintendent  of  the  Kentucky  Home  for  Colored 
Children ;  president  of  the  citizens  National  Hospi 
tal  and  Vice  President  of  the  Mammoth  Life  and 
Accident  Insurance  Company;  Ex-Moderator  of 
the  General  Association  of  Kentucky  Baptists.  Yet 
these  side  duties  appear  only  to  have  multiplied  Dr. 
Parrish's  offices  in  the  church.  He  has  baptised 
1500  persons,  united  160  couples  in  marriage, 
preached  548  funerals,  preached  3000  sermons  and 
delivered  even  more  lectures.  Probably  his  great 
est  effort  as  a  pulpit  orator  came  at  the  Nashville 
Convention  a  few  years  ago,  known  as  the  fiftieth 
Jubilee  sermon.  Dr.  J.  M.  Frost  of  Nashville,  said 
of  the  sermon :  "It  was  a  most  fitting  crown  of  the 
fifty  years  of  remarkable  progress  of  the  colored 
people." 

Many  of  his  sermons  and  tracts  have  appeared  in 
print.  Aside  from  these  he  has  published  several 
books  entitled :  "What  Baptists  Believe,"  "God  and 
His  People,"  "The  Gospel  in  the  Adjustment  of 
Race  Differences,"  "Orient  Light  or  Travels  in  the 
Holy  Land,"  "The  Golden  Jubilee  of  Kentucky  Bap 
tists." 

Dr.  Parrish  was  married  in  1898  to  Miss  Mary  V. 
Cook,  of  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky.  One  son, 
Charles  Henry,  Jr.,  has  been  born  into  the  Parrish 
Home.  The  young  man  is  now  in  school  in  How 
ard  University,  Washington,  D.  C. 


172 


OTHO  DANDRITH   PORTER,  A.   B..   M.   D. 

R.  O.  D.  Porter,  A.  B.  and  M.  D. 
is  one  of  those  to  contradict  the 
saying  that  the  prophet  is  without 
honor  in  his  own  country.  Born  in 
Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  he  has 
spent  most  of  his  life  there.  As  a 
boy  he  attended  the  public  schools  there.  As  a 
young  man  struggling  to  find  the  light  he  worked 
in  and  around  his  native  city. 

On  finishing  the  public  schools  of  Bowling  Green, 
Dr.  Porter  went  out  as  a  school  teacher  and  for 
years  gave  instruction  in  the  country  schools.  Two 
factors  contributed  to  his  stay  in  the  school  room  : 
one  was  that  he  was  not  yet  fully  persuaded  of  his 
calling:  the  other,  persuasion  or  not,  he  had  to 
earn  a  livelihood  and  also  pay  his  way  if  he  de 
cided  to  study  further. 

His  experience  with  the  people  in  the  country 
soon  pointed  to  a  decision.  The  people's  ways  of 
eating,  of  sleeping,  of  wearing  clothes  convinced 
him  that  no  need  was  so  crying  as  that  for  a  phy 
sician  and  a  social  worker,  one  who  not  only  admin 
istered  drugs,  but  spread  everywhere  and  at  all 
times  common  knowledge  of  health  and  sanitation. 
So  persuaded,  he  entered  Fisk  University  prepar 
atory  department  in  1884.  He  was  not  seeking 

173 


short  cuts  but  thorough  preparaton.  From  the  pre 
paratory  department,  he  entered  the  college  from 
which  he  obtained  his  Bachelor  of  Arts  degree  in 
1891.  During  this  time  he  taught  school  in  Ken 
tucky,  Tennessee,  Texas,  and  many  other  places  to 
earn  money  to  make  his  way.  However,  though  he 
had  to  work  his  way,  he  stood  as  one  of  the  best 
scholars  of  his  class  and  one  of  the  institution's 
strongest  men. 

From  Fisk,  Mr.  Porter  enrolled  as  a  medical  stu 
dent  in  Meharry  Medical  College.  From  here  he 
received  his  doctor's  degree  in  three  years.  Back 
to  his  native  home  he.  went,  passed  the  state  ex 
amination  and  set  out  to  right  the  wrongs  of  health 
such  as  he  had  seen  during  his  boyhood  days  and 
during  his  school  teaching  in  the  country.  Know 
ing  his  community  and  state,  Dr.  Porter  was  able 
to  go  to  the  heart  of  his  work  at  once.  He  has 
been  practicng  a  little  more  than  20  years.  During 
this  period,  though  he  came  out  of  school  all  but 
penniless,  he  has  equipped  himself  with  the  best 
books  and  tools  his  profession  affords,  has  his  auto 
mobile,  owns  some  of  the  choicest  real  estate  in 
Bowling  Green  and  owns  and  lives  in  a  two-tory 
brick  resdence.  His  two-story  office  building  faces 
main  street  and  joins  the  costly  lot  on  which  is 
built  the  $150,000.00  Custom  House. 

During  the  few  years  of  his  practice,  Dr.  Porter 
has  been  president  of  the  National  Medical  Asso 
ciation  of  Colored  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  a  post 
to  which  he  was  elected  in  1899.  One  of  the  best 
facts  about  his  election  to  this  post  is  the  fact  that 
it  came  unsought.  He  is  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
State  Medical  Association  and  is  a  member  of  the 
State  Association  of  both  white  and  colored  doc 
tors. 

Doctor  Porter  was  married  in  April,  1895,  to  Miss 
Carry  Bridges  of  Macon,  Miss.  Mrs.  Porter  was 
educated  at  Fisk  Universty.  To  her  Dr.  Porter 
gives  most  of  the  praise  for  his  success. 

From  his  own  town  comes  this  tribute : 

"The  public  takes  keen  interest  in  Dr.  Porter's 
work.  The  white  physicians  have  no  hesitancy  in 
sitting  in  consultation  with  him  because  they  know 
his  worth  and  ability  as  a  physician,  and  therefore 
value  highly  his  opinion  in  cases  which  require 
rare  skill  and  experience.  He  is  thoroughly  inter 
ested  in  all  business,  social  or  benevolent  move 
ments  for  the  advancement  of  the  race  in  this  city 
a  -id  vicinity,  and  n^ver  refuses  to  give  encourage 
ment  to  the  struggling  young  men  and  women  of 
the  race.  As  busy  as  Dr.  Porter  is  with  matters 
as  above  indicated,  he  devotes  time  to  religious 
work  in  his  church  in  an  official  capacity. 

Dr.  Porter  believes  in  race  co-operation  along  all 
lines,  anJ  h:c  willingness  to  he'.p  hir,  p-o;:!e  by  serv 
ing  at  the  head  of  many  organized  bodies  for  uplift 
in  this  city  is  an  evidence  of  his  sincerity." 


WILLIAM   HENRY   STEWARD. 


William  Henry  Steward 


Y  virtue  of  devoted  services  as  well 
as  by  dint  of  years,  William  H. 
Steward  of  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
is  known  throughout  the  country 
as  the  "Dean  of  Colored  Editors." 
He  began  the  publication  of  the 
American  Baptist  in  1879.  For  thirty  eight  years 
therefore  he  has  molded  the  sentiments  of  his  peo 
ple  both  in  his  state  and  wherever  Baptists  are 
found.  But  the  American  Baptist  has  merely  serv 
ed  as  a  sort  of  peg  for  him  to  hang  on  while  he 
labored  here  and  advised  there.  For  fourteen  years 
he  was  secretary  of  the  National  Baptist  Conven 
tion.  For  forty  years  he  has  been  secretary  of  the 
Kentucky  Baptist  Association,  and  for  forty  years 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Kentucky 
State  University. 

Mr.  Steward  was  born  on  July  26,  1847,  at  a  time 
when  neither  the  advantages  of  education  nor  op 
portunities  knocked  very  energetically  on  the  black 
boy's  cabin  door,  but  his  ear  was  keen  to  hear  even 
the  slight  knocking  of  opportunity  and  to  seize  it 
by  the  forelocks  while  it  was  passing. 

He  received  the  ground  work  of  his  education 
through  private  instruction  and  when  he  had  ad 
vanced  to  a  certain  point  he  was  sent  to  Louisville 
where  he  entered  private  schools.  He  proved  an 
apt  pupil  and  became  very  proficient  as  a  scholar 
so  that  when  emancipation  came  he  was  ready  to 
take  his  place  as  an  efficient  worker  and  leader 
among  his  people. 

His  preparation  during  the  period  of  slavery  was 
a  God  send  to  both  himself  and  his  people  for  his 
services  came  at  a  time  when  the  demand  for  edu 
cated  leadership  among  the  Negroes  was  great  and 
the  supply  exceedingly  small. 

Mr.  Steward  was  quick  to  recognize  the  situa 
tion  and  quick  to  respond  to  the  cry  of  help  and 
to  devote  his  life  to  the  uplift  of  his  race. 

Like  most  persons  who  at  that  time  chanced  to 
have  an  education,  Mr.  Steward  entered  the  pro 
fession  of  school  teaching.  He  began  at  Krank- 
fort,  Kentucky,  where  he  taught  for  three  years. 
From  Frankfort,  he  returned  to  his  native  heath. 
Louisville,  continuing  in  the  same  profession. 

The  teaching  profession  did  not  offer  the  moder 
ate  income  and  fair  opportunities  for  service  and 
advancement  as  it  does  now.  Mr.  Steward  there 
fore  left  the  schoolrooms.  He  entered  the  employ 
of  the  railroad  and  for  a  number  of  years  served 
as  messenger  for  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Rail 
road  Company.  From  Railroad  messenger  he  be 
came  letter  carrier,  being  the  first  colored  mail  car 
rier  ever  appointed  in  the  city  of  Louisville.  This 


post  he  held  for  sixteen  years.  By  this  time  he  had 
established  himself  as  a  thinker  and  writer.  His 
paper  had  become  known  along  with  him.  He  could 
now  give  his  time  to  the  publishing  of  the  American 
Baptist  and  to  the  uplift  work  with  which  he  had 
aligned  himself  from  the  beginning  of  his  career. 

He  had  begun  his  career  by  joining  the  church. 
In  1867,  when  he  launched  out  as  a  school  teacher, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Fifth  Street  Baptist 
Church  in  Louisville.  Subsequently  he  taught  a 
Sunday  School  class,  the  largest  in  his  church,  be 
came  secretary  of  the  choir  and  Sunday  School 
Superintendent.  He  was  elected  secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Louisville  Colored  Public 
Schools  from  which  place  he  was  later  advanced  to 
chairman  of  the  board.  He  joined  the  Masonic 
Lodge  and  was  soon  made  Grand  Master.  In  1905 
he  was  chosen  one  of  the  lay  delegates  to  the 
World's  Congress  which  was  held  in  London,  Eng 
land. 

Mr.  Steward  has  traveled  much,  mainly  as  a 
newspaper  man  and  as  an  active  servant  of  his 
people.  Few  Negro  organizations  assemble  with 
out  him.  The  late  Dr.  Washington  was  won't  to 
say,  speaking  at  the  annual  Farmers  Conference, 
"This  conference  would  be  very  incomplete  without 
the  presence  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Steward,  he  has  come 
here  regularly  with  his  sympathy  and  words  of 
cheer  for  years." 

Mr.  Steward  lives  in  his  own  home,  a  brick  res 
idence  in  Louisville,  surrounded  by  a  happy  and  well 
educated  family.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mamie 
E.  Lee,  in  Lexington,  in  1878.  Mrs.  Steward  is  well 
known  herself  as  an  educator  and  a  woman  of  tal 
ent.  She  was  for  years  a  teacher  of  music  at  the 
State  University,  a  native  Baptist  worker  among 
women  and  a  lecturer  in  continual  demand.  There 
are  three  daughters  and  one  son  in  the  Steward 
family  Misses  Lucy  B.  and  Jennette  L.  are  gradu 
ates  of  the  Louisville  High  School;  Miss  Carolyna 
is  not  only  a  graduate  from  the  High  School,  but 
from  the  State  University.  All  three  have  been 
successful  school  teachers.  Willim  H.  Jr.,  is  a  Me 
chanical  Engineer,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Armour 
School  of  Technology  of  Chicago.  He  was  for  two 
years  a  teacher  in  Tuskegee  Institute,  having 
charge  of  the  school's  heating  plant  and  lending 
great  aid  in  the  construction  of  the  larger  Tuske 
gee  heating  and  lighting  plant.  He  is  drafting  en 
gineer. 

The  veteran  editor  and  worker,  though  seventy 
years  of  age,  is  still  in  the  heyday  of  service,  active 
in  mind  and  in  body,  editing,  lending  aid,  giving  ad 
vice,  attending  organizations  just  as  if  he  were  ne 
ver  to  grow  old. 


175 


EDWARD  E.  UNDERWOOD,  M.  D. 


HE  black  man  of  the  North  and  of 
the  West  is  rapidly  coming  into 
his  own.  Time  was  when  the  man 
of  the  South  boasted  that  the 
"Doers"  all  came  from  their  ranks. 
Not  so  in  these  days.  Dr.  E.  E. 
Underwood  is  a  conspicious  ex 
ample  of  the  plucky  boy  born  and 
reared  in  the  West.  Dr.  Underwood  was  born  in 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Ohio,  in  1864.  As  a  lad  he  attended 
the  Mt.  Pleasant  High  School,  where  he  was  grad 
uated  in  1881.  Ten  years  later  he  was  graduated 
from  the  medical  department  of  the  Western  Re 
serve  College  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  For  a  time  he 
studied  theology  under  the  direction  of  a  private 
tutor. 

On  graduating  from  the  Medical  College,  Dr. 
Underwood  began  to  practice  medicine,  hanging 
out  his  sign  in  Frankfort,  Kentucky.  For  twen 
ty-five  years,  now  he  has  practiced  medicine  in 
Frankfort.  In  that  time  he  has  carried  honor: 
and  responsibilities  enough  to  stagger  the  average 
man.  He  was  for  seven  years  a  school  teacher, 
teaching  in  the  Enerson  Colored  School,  of  Ohio. 
In  1891  he  began  the  editorship  of  th  e  "Blue 
Grass  Fugle,"  the  colored  weekly  of  Frankfort, 
which  was  edited  by  him  for  ten  years.  He  was 
for  four  years  assistant  city  physician  of  Frank- 
f^rt ;  for  fourteen  years  secrctaiy  of  the  U.  S. 
Board  of  Pension  Examining  Surgeons.  In  1910 
he  established  the  People's  Pharmacy  and  was  its 

176 


first  president.  He  has  been  its  secretary  since 
1911.  He  is  Educational  Editor  of  the  Lexington 
News ;  is  author  of  the  "History  of  Colored  Church 
es  of  Frankfort,"  and  of  several  poems. 

Besides  all  6f  these  duties  and  honors,  Dr.  U..- 
derwood  has  been  a  "Daniel  Boone"  among  and 
for  the  Negroes  of  his  section.  The  numbers  of 
first  times  for  a  colored  man  to  do  things  in  his 
section  seems  to  fall  upon  him.  He  was  the  first 
colored  student  to  enter  and  graduate  from  the 
Mt.  Pleasant,  (Ohio)  High  School ;  first  colored 
member  of  the  Jefferson  County  (Ohio)  Republican 
Committee ;  first  Negro  member  of  the  Mt.  Pleas 
ant,  City  Council,  being  elected  over  four  whit? 
aspirants  for  the  office.  He  is  the  first  colored 
member  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  Kentucky  Nor 
mal  and  Industrial  Institute,  having  been  appoint 
ed  by  Governor  Bradley  in  1898,  and  appointed 
again  by  Governor  Wilson,  in  1907. 

Large  as  the  number  of  first  things  that  Dr.  Un 
derwood  has  done,  they  utterly  pale  before  the  num 
ber  of  organizations  with  which  he  is  actively  affi 
liated. 

Dr.  Underwood  is  a  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar, 
a  Knight  of  Pythias,  an  Odd  Fellow,  United  Bro 
ther  of  Friendship,  member  of  the  Union  Benevo 
lent  Society,  and  of  the  Mosiac  Templars.  He  ij 
not  merely  a  member  of  good  standing  in  these 
bodies,  but  has  held  offices  in  all  of  them.  He  is 
at  present  Supreme  Keeper  of  Records  and  Seals, 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  N.  A.  S.  A.  E.  A.  and  A., 
and  member  of  the  Kentucky  State  Board  of  Man 
agers  of  the  United  Brothers  of  Friendship. 

Having  so  wide  and  intimate  contact  with  his 
people.  Dr.  Underwood  became  extremely  sensi 
tive  to  their  needs  and  to  the  wrongs  they  have 
suffered.  Thus  he  is  found  undertaking  many  ser 
vices  in  their  defense  and  for  their  uplift.  From 
1891  to  1893,  he  was  Executive  Secretary  of  the 
Anti-Separate  Coach  State  Executive  Committee, 
which  tested  the  constitutionality  of  the  "Jim 
Crow"  law.  In  1895,  he  was  the  Kentucky  Commis 
sioner  to  the  Cotton  States  Exposition,  which  was 
held  in  Atlanta,  and  at  which  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington  leaped  into  fame  as  an  orator.  Two  years 
later  he  was  commissioner  from  his  State  to  the 
Tennessee  Centennial  Exposition,  held  in  Nash 
ville.  In  1898,  he  organized  and  was  first  presi 
dent  of  the  State  League  of  Colored  Republican 
Clubs  of  Kentucky.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Frank 
lin  County  Republican  Committee  in  his  State  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  every  Republican  State 
Convention  since  1892.  He  was  delegate  at  large 
to  the  Republican  National  Convention  of  1904  and 
was  strongly  endorsed  in  his  State  for  Register 
of  the  United  States  Treasury  in  1909.  He  is 
president  of  the  Franklin  County  Colored  Ag 
ricultural  and  Industrial  Association,  member  of 
the  National  Medical  Association,  of  the  Nation 
al  Association  of  Pension  Examining  Surgeons,  of 
the  National  Negro  Business  League,  of  the  Na 
tional  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Thrift 
among  Colored  people  and  of  the  Kentucky  State 
Medical  Association. 

Dr.  Underwood  married  Miss  Sarah  J.  W'alker, 
There  are  two  sons:  Ellworth  W.  and  Robert  M., 
the  former  is  a  student  in  the  Dept.  of  Pharmacy, 
Western  Reserve  University  of  Cleveland,  the  lat 
ter  a  Senior  in  the  Frankfort  Colored  High  School. 


DR.    RANDOLPH   FRANKLIN   WHITE. 


H1LE  he  is  really  filling  the  place 
of  a  modest  business  and  profes 
sional  man.  Dr.  Randolph  Frank 
lin  White,  the  Negro  Pharmacist. 
of  Owensboro,  Kentucky,  has  so 
so  happily  mixed  business,  educa 
tion,  work  and  travel,  that  he  may  be  almost  called 
a  globe  trotter.  His  travels,  which  all  the  time 
had  in  them  the  purpose  of  business,  have  taken 
him  into  the  leading  cities  of  America,  into  Can 
ada,  into  Hawaii,  into  Japan,  and  into  the  Philip 
pine  Islands.  Few  men  have  made  the  profession 
of  pharmacy  serve  them  such  triple  service — pro 
vide  travel,  gain  experience  and  supply  a  livelihood. 
Dr.  White  was  born  in  Warrentown,  Florida, 
June  25th.,  1870.  He  spent  his  early  school  days 
in  his  native  State,  and  early  made  up  his  mind  to 
become  a  pharmacist.  To  this  end  he  entered  Ho 
ward  University,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1897. 
But  Dr.  White  cannot  be  said  to  have  begun  or  to 
have  completed  his  course  at  any  one  time.  As  he 
mixed  travel  with  business,  so  he  mixed  school  ed 
ucation  and  practical  education.  Thus  while  he 
was  attending  Howard  University,  pursuing  a 
course  in  Pharmacy,  he  was  at  the  same  time  gain- 

177 


ing  practical  experience  in  Pharmacy,  working  for 
the  Plumnur  Pharmacy,  in  Washington,  D.  C. 

His  graduation  in  1897  was  therefore  more  at 
taining  freedom  and  license  for  he  was  already  ripe 
in  his  calling,  ready  to  take  charge  and  manage  ra- 
ther  than  serve  the  usual  apprenticeship.  He  found 
no  trouble  under  the  circumstances  with  securing 
good  responsible  posts  at  the  very  outset.  His 
first  position  was  in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Here 
he  took  charge  of  the  Peoples'  Drug  Store,  and 
ran  it,  giving  satisfaction  to  its  stockholders.  From 
Louisville  he  went  to  Lexington  and  for  a  time 
joined  forces  with  Dr.  Ballard.  He  was  already 
well  known  as  a  pharmacist.  The  United  States 
Government,  needing  a  Hospital  Steward,  Dr. 
White  was  appointed  to  the  post,  and  commission 
ed  to  serve  in  the  Philippines.  Here  he  worked  for 
two  years,  from  1899  to  1901.  Hence  it  was  that 
he  got  his  trip  to  the  Orient,  and  other  countries 
while  he  was  away  from  the  United  States. 

Having  completed  his  travels  and  finished  his 
services  with  the  Government,  he  returned  to  Ken 
tucky,  to  begin  business  for  himself.  In  1901  he 
opened  a  drug  store  in  Owensboro.  Dr.  White  had 
some  difficulty  in  securing  a  place  to  begin  busi 
ness.  He  therefore  bought  the  store  which  he 
was  to  use  and  which  he  still  uses.  His  business 
prospered  from  the  outset,  as  he  had  had  wide  ex 
perience  in  handling  drugs  and  in  handling  people. 
He  owns  his  home  and  his  store  in  Owensboro  and 
owns  three  rent  houses  in  Lexington. 

Dr.  White  is  a  good  churchman  and  a  member 
of  several  fraternal  bodies.  He  is  an  Episcopalian, 
a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  U.  B.  F.,  and  a  Knight  of 
Pythias.  In  the  Masonic  order  he  is  Deputy  Grand 
Master  of  the  State. 

Dr.  White  was  married  in  Lexington,  July  23. 
1901,  to  Miss  Fannie  Hathaway. 

Almost  every  city  has  some  one  individual  or 
business  which  holds  a  unique  position  because  of 
some  marked  and  distinctive  feature  or  characte 
ristic. 

Thus  in  Owensboro.  Kentucky.  Dr.  Randolph 
Franklin  White  is  known  as  the  Pharmacist. 

lie  has  won  this  distinction  from  his  remarkable 
success  in  business,  which  is  universally  recog 
nized,  but  not  from  this  alone,  his  valued  services 
to  the  Government  during  his  travels  abroad  make 
their  contribution  to  the  enviable  reputation  he- 
enjoys. 

His  thorough  knowledge  of  his  business  is  evi 
denced  in  the  great  success  he  has  achieved  in  it 
and  this  with  his  courteous  manner  and  elevated 
bearing  commands  the  respect  of  all  who  deal  with 
him. 


WILLIAM  MILLIARD  WRIGHT. 


HERE  was  a  time  when  the  Negro 
.lawyer  was  the  jest  of  his  own 
and  of  .the  white  race.  He  was 
not  allowed  to  practice  in  the 
courts ;  or  if  accorded  the  techni 
cal  privilege,  he  was  denied  the 
genuine  right.  He  was  a  lawyer  in  name  and  often 
well  prepared  for  his  work,  but  prejudice  stepped 
between  him  and  the  practice  of  his  profession  and 
embarrassed  him  in  his  efforts  to  win  recognition. 
His  earnings  were  therefore  next  to  nothing. 
His  clothes  were  thread-bare;  his  home  depleted; 
he  and  his  family,  were  he  so  rash  as  to  marry, 
went  hungry. 

Yet  with  the  true  spirit  of  the  pioneer,  the  black 
lawyer  has  endured  the  whips  and  scorns  of  the 
courts  and  of  the  public  until  lie  is  no  longer  the 
mark  of  open  rebuke.  Patiently  winning  his  way 
he  has  faced  and  overcome  opposition,  met  ridi 
cule  with  intellectual  force,  and  dignity,  and  with 
a  kind  though  determined  spirit,  has  finally  won 
recognition  from  both  the  Court  and  the  Bar. 
He  now  even  boasts  a  home  of  his  own ;  good 
clothes,  and  a  happy  family.  He  enters  the  courts, 
especially  in  the  West  and  handles  his  cases  on  his 
merit. 


Slowly  the  men  of  his  profession  have  devel 
oped  sufficient  esprit  d'corps  to  accord  him  at 
least  common  courtesy.  To  win  this  recognition 
he  has  had  to  study  hard,  endure  and  persevere. 
All  the  time,  he  like  all  men  of  professional  careers 
among  black  folk,  has  had  to  serve  as  missionary 
to  his  people  on  the  one  hand  and  batter  down  by 
every  sort  of  means  their  prejudices  on  the  other. 
Surely  no  men  deserve  more  gratitude  from  their 
people,  for  whatever  has  been  their  endeavor,  the 
first  impulse  of  the  public  was  that  the  lawyer 
was  really  "something  out  for  a  suit"  and  not  real 
ly  seeking  the  public  good. 

While  Mr.  Wright's  large  and  ever-growing  law 
practice  requires  most  of  his  time,  and  attention, 
he  is  not  unmindful  of  civic  matters  and  the  devel 
opment  of  his  people.  He  is  always  on  the  alert 
to  seize  upon  every  suggestion  that  will  conduce 
to  their  uplift  and  is  foremost  in  all  plans  looking 
to  that  end. 

In  Louisville,  for  example,  the  white  citizens  have 
what  is  known  as  the  "Million  Dollar  Foundation 
Fund.  Mr.  Wright  was  much  impressed  with  the 
idea  resulting  in  the  organization  and  reasoned 
that  a  like  organization  would  be  helpful  to  tin- 
colored  race.  Co-operating  with  the  colored  bus 
iness  and  professional  men  of  the  city,  a  club  sim 
ilar  in  purpose  is  in  process  of  forming.  The  Negro 
Club  is  to  be  a  $100,000  Mercantle  Foundation 
Fund. 

The  prime  mover  in  this  endeavor  among  the  col 
ored  people  is  William  H.  Wright  of  Louisville.  Mr. 
Wright  has  been  before  the  public  of  his  state  for 
many  years,  both  as  a  professional  man  and  as  a 
man  of  business.  As  a  student,  a  professional  and 
business  man,  Mr.  Wright  is  amply  equipped  for 
the  great  undertaking.  Born  in  Livingston,  Ala 
bama,  he  was  educated  in  Selnia  University,  Selma, 
Alabama,  in  the  State  University,  Louisville,  Ken 
tucky,  and  in  the  department  of  law,  Howard  Uni 
versity,  Washington,  D  C  For  the  most  part  he 
worked  his  way  through  all  these  schools.  He  be 
gan  the  practice  of  law  in  Louisville,  in  1904.  He 
organized  the  first  Negro  Insurance  Company  of 
Kentucky  and  thus  educated  many  colored  people 
up  to  the  idea  of  insurance  and  to  entrusting  their 
money  to  Negro  enterprises,  Since  1904  lie  has 
been  able  to  amass  considerable  property  holdings, 
as  he  owns  his  office  building  on  Sixth  Street  in 
Louisville,  and  several  rent  houses. 

Mr.  Wright  is  a  Baptist  in  religious  affiliation, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Fifth  Street  Baptist  Church, 
a  Mason,  Odd  Fellow,  K.  of  P.  and  Mosaic  Templar. 

lie  has  traveled  extensively  both  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  his  travels  giving  him  an  en 
larged  view  of  life.  He  has  not  yet  traveled  upon 
the  sea  of  matrimony,  and  so  the  pleasure  of  that 
voyage  still  awaits  him. 


178 


HOMER  MILTON  CHARLES. 


HIS  successful  business  man,  of 
Chalmette,  Louisiana  St.  Bernard 
Parish,  has  one  of  the  most  pros 
perous  businesses  in  Louisiana. 
His  reputation  is  not  only  state 
wide,  but  generally  national.  He 
is  a  life  member  of  the  National  Negro  Business 
Men's  League,  is  an  attendant  at  all  meetings  of 
this  body,  and  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  Ne 
gro  Business  ideas.  Mr.  Charles  has  not  always 
moved  with  men  of  larger  finance  among  Negroes. 
He  has  know  the  pinch  of  need  and  has  vivid  recol 
lections  of  hard  struggles  to  gain  a  footing. 

Mr.  Charles  was  born  in  St.  Martin  Parish,  La., 
July  4,  1861.  Two  years  later  his  parents  moved 
to  St.  Bernard  Parish.  His  schooling  consisted  of 
what  he  gained  in  the  public  school  of  said  Parish 
and  of  a  private  tutor,  at  home.  However,  he 
was  one  of  the  family  of  thirteen  children,  which 
usually  means  that  as  soon  as  the  boys  are  able  to 
earn  a  penny  they  must  be  up  and  away  to  their 
post.  Being  very  industrious,  he  was  employed 
on  a  sugar  farm,  where  he  filled  many  positions. 
Later  on  he  began  truck  farming  with  his  father. 

In  1887,  feeling  that  he  must  still  make  the  de- 

179 


termined  start,  he  launched  forth  in  business.  His 
undertaking  was  modest  enough  ;  consisting  of  a 
fruit  stand  on  the  river  bank  in  a  store  nine  by  nine 
feet.  There  were  three  conspicious  features  to  the 
whole  setting;  first,  that  he  was  determined  to  sell 
as  cheap  as  his  competitors ;  second,  that  with  the 
assistance  of  his  wife,  he  was  satisfied  to  be  as  ec 
onomical  as  any  one  else ;  third,  that  as  he  had  that 
ambition  to  push  forward,  was  determined  to  be 
as  polite  to  his  customers  as  his  competitors.  This 
spot  was  near  Chalmette  National  Cemetary,  on  the 
historic  spot  where  the  "Battle  of  New  Orleans" 
was  fought.  It  was  one  of  the  rather  few  instances 
in  which  a  Negro  dared  to  become  a  fruit  dealer. 
Inch  by  inch,  as  the  song  goes,  he  developed  his 
business.  Taking  his  basket  on  his  shoulder,  he 
peddled  his  fruits  from  house  to  house,  until  he 
had  built  up  confidence,  gained  patronage  and  the 
respect  of  the  entire  community.  Then  he  purchas 
ed  a  one-horse  wagon ;  then  followed  two  horses 
and  wagon  to  meet  the  demand  for  deliveries. 

He  was  already  married  to  Miss  Hester  Anderson 
of  St.  Bernard  in  the  year  1885.  She  was  the  si 
lent  but  effective  partner  during  these  stages  of 
uncertainty.  She  did  work  in  private  families, 
helping  to  provide  food  for  the  family  and  some 
times  capital  for  the  business.  Four  daughters 
sprang  from  this  union,  three  of  whom  are  living. 
Miss  Sadie  died  while  preparing  for  graduation  at 
New  Orleans  University.  The  others  are:  Misses 
Augusta,  Mary  and  Clara.  Miss  Clara,  the  young 
est,  is  still  in  school. 

Today  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  are  among  the  lead 
ing  property  owners  of  Louisiana.  Besides  own 
ing  their  home,  they  have  stock  in  the  Friscoville 
Realty  Company,  of  St.  Bernard  and  have  several 
houses  for  rent. 

Mr.  Charles  is  what  is  often  called  an  organiza 
tion  man,  believing  as  he  does  in  organization  of 
men  into  bodies  as  means  of  promoting  race  wel 
fare.  He  is  Catholic  in  his  religion  ;  a  member  of 
Felicity  Lodge  K.  P.  No.  199,  Daughters  of  Cres 
cent  Tab.  No.  27,  Progressive  Aid  Mutual  Benefit 
Association.  In  the  business  and  educational 
world,  he  is  a  life  member  of  the  National  Negro 
Business  Men's  League,  an  honorary  member  of 
the  Bergemont  Educational  Association,  a  member 
of  the  Fazendville  Educational  Association,  a  stock 
holder  in  the  Bank  of  St.  Bernard,  a  stock  holder 
in  the  World  Bottling  Company,  New  Orleans.  He 
has  traveled  over  the  United  States  on  business,  and 
for  pleasure  and  relaxation. 

During  his  residence  in  St.  Bernard  Parish,  Mr. 
Charles  has  built  up  such  a  reputation  of  integrity 
and  honesty  as  to  be  considered  the  most  respon 
sible  Negro  Citizen  in  his  community  by  both  his 
people  and  the  White  authorities. 


Walter  L    Cohen 


N  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  Jan 
uary  22,  1860,  was  born  Walter 
L.  Cohen ;  and  the  place  of  his 
birth  has  been  the  scene  of  most 
of  his  active  life.  Here  he  has 
lived  and  made  a  place  for  himself 
in  the  business  world,  in  the  fraternal  world,  and 
in  the  political  world,  as  well  as  one  of  prominence 
in  the  social  world.  As  a  young  lad,  he  attended 
the  public  schools  of  New  Orleans,  and  then  spent 
two  years  in  Straight  University,  of  New  Orleans, 
and  one  year  in  the  St.  Louis  Catholic  School. 
While  his  opportunity  for  attending  school  lasted 
we  find  the  young  man  applying  himself  diligently 
to  the  work  in  hand.  Indeed  this  has  been  the  key 
note  of  his  whole  life — applying  himself  to  the 
work  then  in  hand. 

While  still  a  boy  he  started  out  to  learn  to  be  a 
cigar  maker,  but  because  he  was  not  a  smoker,  he 
was.  made  ill  by  this  work  and  had  to  give  it  up. 
His  next  work  was  in  a  saloon.  Here  he  remained 
for  about  four  years.  In  1889  he  gave  up  his  work 
in  the  saloon  to  take  up  the  work  of  United  States 
Inspector.  Later  he  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  Lieutenant  of  the  United  States  Inspectors.  In 
this  capacity  he  served  until  the  democrats  took 
charge,  when  he  resigned  the  position.  In  1899  he 
was  appointed  Register  of  the  United  States  Land 
Office  at  New  Orleans.  This  appointment  came 
from  President  McKinley  and  he  was  re-appointed 
by  President  Roosevelt.  He  served  in  this  office 
until  1911.  We  find  that  Mr.  Cohen  has  been  very 
active  in  politics  for  a  great  number  of  years.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Republican  Con 
vention,  in  1892,  1898,  1900,  1904,  1908,  1912  and  in 
1916.  He  is  the  recognized  leader  of  the  fight 
against  the  "Lily  White  Republicans  of  Louisiana." 
So  active  has  Mr.  Cohen  been  in  the  interest  of  his 
people  in  his  native  city  that  the  Mayor  of  the  city 
appointed  him  as  a  chairman  of  the  colored  citi 
zens  committee.  This  committee  has  charge  of  all 
matters  concerning  the  education  and  general  wel 
fare  of  the  colored  people  of  New  Orleans.  In  this 
capacity  Mr.  Cohen  has  had  a  great  opportunity 
to  help  his  race,  an  opportunity  which  he  was  quick 
to  seize  and  which  he  used  to  their  best  advantage. 
In  another  line  of  work,  he  has  done  equally  as 
much  for  the  betterment  of  his  people.  He  is 
President  of  the  People's  Industrial  Life  Insurance 
Company..  Mr.  Cohen  owns  three-fifths  of  the 
stock  of  this  company.  To  do  the  work  of  the 
company  there  are  employed  nearly  one  hundred 
colored  agents.  In  all  they  collect  over  $100,000.00 
in  premiums  yearly.  The  organization  of  this  com- 

180 


pany  furnishes  work — work  where  our  young  peo 
ple  can  earn  a  livelihood  and  still  keep  their  self 
respect.  Mr.  Cohen  has  also  one  third  interest  in 
two  drug  stores.  In  addition  to  the  money  inves 
ted  in  these  concerns  he  owns  his  beautiful  resi 
dence  in  the  city  and  a  summer  home  in  Bay  St. 
Louis,  Mississippi. 

Mr.  Cohen  leads  a  full,  active  life  and  it  would 
seem  that  his  private  interests  would  command  his 
entire  time,  nevertheless,  he  is  found  upon  the  mem 
bership  roll  of  a  number  of  organizations. 

He  is  a  member  of  Mt.  Olive  Lodge,  No  21,  Ma 
sons  ;  Zenith  Lodge  No.  175,  Knights  of  Pythias  ; 
1'ride  of  Louisiana,  No.  1324,  Grand  Linked  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  He  has  been  president  of  the  Ec 
onomy  Benefit  Association  for  twenty-four  years. 
This  last  named  organization  is  composed  of  the 
old  Creole  citizens  in  New  Orleans,  they  first  or 
ganized  themselves  in  1836.Mr.  Cohen  is  also  Pres 
ident  of  the  Iroquois  Social  Club,  and  Vice-Presi 
dent  of  Providence  Hospital  Board  of  Administra 
tors. 

In  these  times  of  war  our  country  has  not  fail 
ed  to  recognize  the  need  of  strong  men  to  help  back 
her  in  all  her  efforts  to  conquer  Germany.  It  is 
not  surprising  that  Mr.  Cohen  was  early  called  upon 
to  take  a  part  and  he  did  his  share  of  the  work 
well.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Speakers  Bureau, 
whose  duty  was  to  speak  in  the  interest  of  Liberty 
Bonds,  Red  Cross  and  other  war  measures.  He  was 
also  the  representative  of  the  colored  people  on  the 
Executive  Committee  for  War  Saving  Stamps  for 
New  Orleans. 

In  religious  belief,  Mr.  Cohen  is  a  Catholic.  He 
is  active  in  the  affairs  of  his  church.  He  serves 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  Directors  of  the  St. 
Louis  Catholic  School.  In  the  St  Joseph  Catholic 
Church,  New  Orleans.  Louisiana,  Mr.  Cohen  was 
married,  to  Miss  Wilhelmina  M.  Seldon,  March  19, 
1882.  There  is  a  family  of  four  children,  two  boys 
and  two  girls.  W'alter  L.  Cohen,  Jr.,  and  Benjamin 
B.  Cohen,  work  with  their  father  in  the  Insurance 
Company  and  are  following  in  his  footsteps,  and 
are  being  trained  to  carry  on  this  business,  when 
their  father  retires.  Miss  Margret  R.  Cohen  is  a 
school  teacher  and  Miss  Camille  is  now  Mrs.  Bell 
and  is  a  cashier  in  one  of  her  father's  drug  stores. 
As  is  seen  from  this,  Mr.  Cohen  has  provided  pay 
ing  positions  for  his  own  children  in  developing  his 
business  ability,  as  well  as  providing  places  for 
the  children  of  others.  What  he  is  doing  for  his 
children  in  a  material  way  will  not  compare  with 
what  he  has  done  to  fit  them  for  life. 


PAUL  H.  V.  DEJOIE,  M.  D. 


|  ORN  and  educated  in  New  Orleans, 
La..  Dr.  Paul  H.  V-  Dejoie  enter 
ed  upon  and  successfully  pursued 
his  practice  in  his  native  city. 
Born  July  2nd.  1872,  he  was  the 
first  child  of  Artistide  Dejoie  and 
Ellen  Chambers.  Because  of  the  fact  that  his 
father  held  many  responsible  positions  during  his 
life  time,  the  young  lad  did  not  have  all  the  strug 
gle  for  an  education  that  some  of  our  prominent 
men  have  had.  So  we  find  that  Mr.  Dejoie  as 
a  buy  was  a  constant  pupil  in  the  New  Orleans 
Public  Schools.  Having  gotten  from  the  public 
course  of  instruction  all  that  they  li  d  to  offer.  Dr. 
Dejoie  entered  Southern  University.  Here  he  was 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  popular  students 
of  his  day.  He  won  the  Peabody  Scholarship  Me 
dal.  After  graduation  from  Southern  he  decided 
to  take  up  the  study  of  medicine.  To  this  end  he 
matriculated  at  the  New  Orleans  University,  and 
completed  the  course  in  1895.  He  went  before 
the  Louisiana  State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners 
and  passed.  This  fact  is  striking  because  he  was 
the  first  colored  man  to  pass  that  board. 

Having  secured  his  privilege  to  practice  medicine 
he   settled  down  to  that  work  in   his  own   native 


city,  New  Orleans.  Here  he  remained  for  the  past 
t \venty-three  years.  During  this  time  he  has  been 
successful  as  a  practitioner,  having  built  up  quite 
a  practice.  Seeing  the  need  of  the  colored  people 
for  a  Drug  Store,  he  busied  himself  in  opening  one. 
In  this  drug  store  he  owns  half  interest.  It  was 
from  the  first  a  very  successful  undertaking.  The 
store  bears  his  name — Dejoie  Cut  Rate  Pharmacy, 
being  the  name  of  the  Drug  Store. 

In  the  work  as  a  physician,  he  had  an  abundant 
chance  to  see  the  needs  of  the  colored  people  when 
they  were  sick,  and  the  needs  of  the  bereaved  fam 
ilies.  To  in  a  measure  alleviate  the  suffering  from 
these  two  sources,  he  has  interested  himself  in  the 
Unity  Industrial  Life  Insurance  and  Sick  Benefit 
Association.  For  two  years  he  served  the  organi 
zation  in  the  capacity  of  Secretary,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  president  of  the  organization. 
Under  his  management  he  has  seen  the  association 
grow  rapidly.  It  has  gone  to  the  front  and  now 
is  ahead  of  all  companies  doing  similar  insurance 
in  the  State.  This  company  is  conducted  on  broad 
and  liberal  principles  by  conservative  and  well- 
qualified  persons.  The  company  paid  over  $350,- 
000.00  to  members  in  Louisiana  for  sickness,  ac 
cident  and  death.  It  gives  profitable  employment 
to  over  two  hundred  colored  people.  In  this  way. 
Dr.  Dejoie  has  been  able  to  serve  his  race  from 
two  entirely  different  points.  He  has  made  work 
for  a  number,  and  he  has  made  it  possible  for  many 
sick  to  have  some  of  the  comforts  of  life. 

Dr.  Dejoie  has  made  it  a  point  to  come  in  contact 
with  the  better  men  of  the  race.  In  order  to  do 
this  he  had  connected  himself  with  several  frater 
nal  orders.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason, 
an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  To  these 
organizations  he  has  brought  his  good  business 
judgment,  his  strong  sense  of  right  and  wrong  and 
his  pleasing  personality. 

During  the  twenty-three  years,  Dr.  Dejoie  has 
been  out  in  the  world  for  himself,  he  has  formed 
the  habit  of  saving.  So  among  his  worldly  poss 
essions  we  might  note  his  beautiful  home,  a  dou 
ble  cottage  and  his  stock  in  various  banks,  oil  wells 
and  gold  mines. 

Although  born,  partly  educated  and  established  in 
business  in  the  same  city,  Dr.  Dejoie  has,  never-the 
less  taken  time  to  travel  about  a  great  deal  in  his 
own  country.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  the 
Kast,  and  through  most  of  the  Southern  States. 
He  also  spent  some  time  in  Jaures,  Mexico.  Dr. 
Dejoie  has  served  his  Alma  Mater  as  president  of 
the  Alumni  Association. 

On  June  16th,  1900,  he  was  married  to  Miss  El 
la  Brown,  of  New  Orleans.  There  are  two  sons  in 
the  Dejoie  family,  P.  H.  V.  Jr.,  and  Pradhomme, 
who  are  now  attending  school  in  New  Orleans. 


181 


SMITH  WENDELL  GREEN. 


W.  GREEN  became  a  member  of 
the  order  of  K.  of  P.  on  July  17, 
1883  when  the  Order  was  in  its 
infancy,  being  a  charter  member 
of  Pride  of  Tensas  Lodge  No.  21, 
St.  Joseph,  La.  He  was  elected  to 
the  station  of  V.  C.  of  the  lodge,  but  served  as  C.  C. 
from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  lodge  until 
June  30,  1886.  He  was  the  Grand  Representative 
from  this  lodge,  and  immediately  upon  entering  the 
Grand  Lodge,  his  ability  to  handle  finances  com 
menced  to  show  itself,  and  in  May,  1884,  he  was 
elected  to  the  position  of  G.  M.  of  F.,  and  served 
for  one  year ;  the  office  has  since  been  abolished. 

In  April,  1886,  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of 
G.  K.  of  R.  and  S.  and  served  in  that  station  until 
1891.  He  was  elected  to  the  position  of  G.  C.  in 
May,  1892,  served  until  1897,  and  declined  re-elec 
tion.  In  April,  1899,  he  was  again  elected  to  the 
position  of  G.  C.  Upon  assuming  that  station  he 
found  the  finances  of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  an  insol 
vent  condition.  The  general  fund  had  no  assets, 
while  its  liabilities  amounted  to  $105.62.  The  En 
dowment  Fund  showed  the  small  amount  of  assets 
as  $196.40,  while  its  liabilities  showed  death  claims 


due  and  unpaid,  aggregating  $3,424.25.  The  mem 
bership  at  that  time  was  only  897. 

He  found  that  it  was  necessary  to  increase  the 
endowment  dues  if  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State 
of  Louisiana  was  to  be  resurrected.  The  recom 
mendation  he  made  was  adopted  and  became  a  part 
of  the  laws  of  the  Grand  Lodge  with  the  result 
that  a  sufficient  sum  was  soon  accumulated  to  pay 
off  all  outstanding  claims  for  endowment.  When 
the  Grand  Lodge  met  in  April,  1902,  they  found 
themselves  entirely  out  of  debt,  with  a  small  sur 
plus  on  hand  to  the  credit  of  the  endowment  de 
partment.  The  Grand  Lodge  was  then  paying  an 
endowment  of  $300.00,  ninety  days  after  filing  the 
claim. 

In  April,  1905,  he  recommended  that  the  endow 
ment  policies  be  raised  to  $500,  and  the  claims  be 
paid  within  thirty  days  after  they  were  filed.  In 
the  year  of  1906,  the  surplus  in  the  Endowment 
Fund  had  reached  such  a  large  sum,  and  was  grow 
ing  all  the  time,  that  the  question  arose,  "What 
shall  we  do  with  this  money?"  It  was  then  nec 
essary  for  S.  W.  Green  to  study  out  a  way  of  in 
vesting  it.  Accordingly,  in  1906,  at  the  Grand 
Lodge  Session  in  Alexandria,  La.,  he  recommended 
that  the  Grand  Lodge  State  of  Louisiana  erect  a 
Pythian  Temple,  and  accordingly  an  appropriation 
of  $12,000  was  made  by  the  Grand  Lodge  for  the 
purchase  of  a  site. 

This  appropriation  was  found  to  be  insufficient 
to  purchase  a  site  in  the  desired  locality,  and  an  ad 
ditional  $3,000  was  therefore  appropriated  to  pay 
for  same.  This  appropriation  resulted  in  the  pur 
chase  of  a  desirable  site  in  the  city  of  New  Drleans, 
La.,  to  be  used  at  later  date  for  a  Pythian  Temple. 
The  original  appropriation  for  the  temple  was  only 
$60,000  but  realizing  that  a  $60,000  building  in  a  city 
like  New  Orleans  would  not  serve  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  intended,  he  allied  his  forces,  and  car 
ried  them  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  which  convened  in 
the  city  of  New  Orleans  in  1908.  Here  the  Grand 
Lodge  approved  his  action  in  reference  to  building 
a  magnificent  structure,  which  is  now  completed 
and  cost  in  the  neighborhood  of  $200,000.  Today  we 
see  that  from  the  crippled  conditions  of  affairs 
when  Mr.  Green  assumed  control  of  the  office,  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Louisiana  has  180 
lodges  in  the  state,  with  a  membership  of  9,000  and 
with  the  total  resources  of  $123,354.07,  endowment 
claims  being  paid  within  thirty  days  after  filing. 

Mr.  Green  attended  the  first  Supreme  Lodge  ses 
sion  in  August,  1893  as  Supreme  Representative 
for  the  State  of  Louisiana,  in  August,  1895,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  and  has  attended  every  Supreme  Lodge 
session  as  a  representative  since  that  date. 

At  the  Supreme  Lodge  session  at  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
in  1905,  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of  Supreme 
Vice  Chancellor  and  ex-officio,  Supreme  Worthy 
Counsellor.  At  the  Supreme  Lodge  session  in 
Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1907,  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
position  and  held  that  position  until  April  3,  1908, 
when  he  assumed  the  duties  of  Supreme  Chancellor 
the  place  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  the  late  S. 
W.  Starks. 


182 


HENRY   CLAUDE  HUDSON,  D.   D.   S. 


LL  those  doubting  the  efficacy  of 
a  young  man's  acquiring  a  trade 
in  his  early  years  should  know 
the  story  of  Dr.  Henry  Claude 
Hudson,  D.  D.  S.  of  Shreveport, 
Louisiana.  A  trade  not  only  pro 
vided  him  his  daily  bread,  even  when  he  was  very 
young,  but  it  was  the  agency  whereby  he  gained 
funds  to  pursue  his  education  and  whereby  he  was 
able  on  at  least  one  occasion  to  render  almost  price 
less  service  to  himself  and  to  his  people. 

Born  in  Marksville,  Avoyles  Parish,  Louisiana, 
April  19th,  1886,  his  parents  moved  to  Alexandria, 
La.,  when  he  was  a  five-year-old  where  he  passed 
his  early  school  days.  Having  aspiration  for  higher 
education  he  entered  the  eighth  District  Academy 
at  Alexandria,  where  he  prepared  to  enter  college. 
However  there  was  no  means  in  sight  to  defray 
his  expenses  through  school  and  so  dropping  out  of 
school  he  went  forth  and  became  apprentice  at 
brickmasonry.  Having  mastered  this  trade  he  re- 
entered  school  and  once  more  pursued  his  studies. 
From  the  academy  in  Alexandria,  he  went  to  Wiley 
University  in  Marshall,  Texas.  It  was  here  that  his 
trade  served  him  in  such  good  stead  and  did  such 
excellent  service  for  his  people.  When  Dr.  Hudson 
entered  Wiley,  in  1910,  that  institution  was  about 
to  erect  a  Carnegie  Library.  All  was  ready  except 
the  labor.  This  was  under  the  control  of  the 


unions.  A  dead  lock  insued.  In  this  situation  the 
young  man  came  forward,  stated  that  he  was  a 
brickmason  and  that  he  would  take  charge  of  the 
work  and  complete  it,  if  the  University  would  pro 
vide  students  to  help.  This  was  agreed  to,  and  the 
library  was  built,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
university  and  the  glory  and  profit  of  the  young 
man. 

Finding  him  a  thoroughly  reliable  builder  and 
that  it  saved  money  by  his  taking  the  contract,  Wi 
ley  University  soon  had  him  on  other  buildings. 
Several  dormitories  for  boys  were  to  be  erected.  It 
engaged  his  services  as  superintendent,  and  thus 
erected  its  buildings  with  a  considerable  saving  to 
itself  and  with  no  further  trouble  from  the  labor 
unions. 

Having  now  decided  to  become  a  dentist,  and 
having  solved  pretty  well  the  difficulty  of  financing 
himself,  Dr.  Hudson  entered  Howard  University 
in  Washington,  D.  C.  Several  times,  however,  he 
found  during  his  course  in  dentistry  that  he  could 
not  turn  his  trade  to  immediate  account.  Compe 
tition  was  a  good  deal  sharper  in  the  North,  he 
found,  than  it  was  in  the  South.  Thus  in  his  short 
vacations  when  time  was  exceedingly  precious  he 
turned  his  energies  to  whatever  task  his  hands 
could  find.  He  found  the  Pennsylvania  Dining  Car 
service  the  most  immediate  employment  and  the 
largest  remuneration  for  a  short  space  of  time. 
Engaging  in  this  service  he  was  able  to  continue 
his  education.  Incidently  he  traveled  all  over  the 
eastern  states  while  he  was  in  this  work. 

Graduating  from  the  Howard  University  Dental 
course  in  June,  1913,  he  immediately  returned  to 
his  home  land  and  prepared  for  the  state  examin 
ations.  To  make  assurance  doubly  sure  he  took 
the  examinations  in  two  states,  Louisiana  and  Ark- 
kansas.  In  both  states  he  passed.  Louisiana  was 
his  home,  and  in  his  home  he  preferred  to  try  first. 
Hanging  out  his  sign  in  Shreveport,  he  began  his 
career  as  a  dentist.  His  success  has  far  exceeded 
even  his  ambition.  In  a  short  time  he  found  that 
one  chair  was  not  sufficient  to  accommodate  his 
patrons.  He  found  also  that  he  could  not  meet  all 
the  demands  made  upon  him.  He  therefore  set  up 
a  second  chair  and  employed  an  assistant,  a  young 
lady  who  is  giving  most  efficient  service. 

That  he  has  been  unusually  successful  as  a  pro 
fessional  man  is  shown  from  the  amount  he  has 
been  able  to  accumulate  during  the  few  years  of 
his  practice.  Dr.  Hudson  owns  his  home,  a  very  at 
tractive  residence  on  Jordan  Street  in  Alexandria. 
He  has  equipped  his  office  with  the  most  up-to-date 
dental  appliances  available.  All  these  he  owns, 
having  paid  for  them  $3000. 

Though  genuinely  interested  in  the  life  of 
Shreveport,  Dr.  Hudson  has  but  little  time  to  °-ive 
to  lodge  or  social  engagements.  Only  his  Sabbaths 
are  free,  and  frequently  only  a  part  of  these.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  St.  James  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Shreveport,  where  he  attends  services, 
and  takes  such  active  part  in  church  work  as  his 
time  will  allow.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  trustees  of  Wiley  University  in  May,  1918. 

Dr.  Hudson  was  married  to  Miss  Thomey  B. 
Thomas  of  Shreveport,  September  14,  1914.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Hudson  have  two  children,  Henry  Claude, 
Jr.,  who  was  born  January  5th,  1916;  and  Gloria  T., 
who  was  born  April  11,  1917. 


183 


MASON  ALBERT  HAWKINS,  A.  B.,  A.  M. 

ASON  Albert  Hawkins,  of  Balti 
more,  Maryland,  is  a  Virginian  by 
birth.  On  October  21,  1874,  he 
was  born  in  Charlottsville,  Al- 
hermarle  County.  At  an  early 
age  he  went  from  Virginia  to 
Maryland  where  he  attended  the  Elementary 
schools,  of  Baltimore.  Completing  the  work  of 
the  graded  schools  he  prepared  for  college  at 
Morgan  College,  also  in  Baltimore.  From  Mor 
gan  College  Mr.  Hawkins  went  to  Harvard  Univer 
sity.  Here  he  spent  four  years  in  the  classical 
course  of  this  great  institution,  graduating  in  1901. 
with  the  degree  A.  B.  He  received  the  degree  of 
A.  M.,  from  Columbia  University  in  1910. 

Upon  finishing  the  course  at  Harvard,  Mr.  Haw 
kins  became  a  teacher  of  Latin,  German,  and  Ec 
onomics,  in  the  Colored  High  School,  of  Baltimore. 
In  this  position  he  worked  for  five  years,  when  he 
became  head  of  Department  of  Foreign  Languag 
es  in  1906.  In  1909  he  was  made  Vice-Principal  of 
this  school  and  Principal  the  latter  part  of  the  same 
year.  Here  Mr.  Hawkins  still  labors.  Most  of 
his  life  has  been  spent  in  the  school  rooms  of  Bal 
timore. 


Since  Mr.  Hawkins  took  charge  of  the  Colored 
High  School  it  has  had  a  great  growth.  He  has 
modified  the  course  of  study  to  meet  in  a  large  de 
gree  the  needs  of  the  community  which  it  serves. 
He  emphasizes  the  obligations  of  the  teacher  to  the 
parents.  He  also  lays  great  stress  upon  the  need 
of  broad  vision  and  sympathy  and  the  requirement 
of  high  professional  skill.  With  these  views  it  is 
but  natural  that  Mr.  Hawkins  himself  should  go 
out  of  the  school  room  to  touch  the  lives  of  all  in 
the  community.  So  we  find  him  an  active  member 
of  the  Union  Baptist  Church,  a  member  of  the 
American  Academy  of  Political  and  Social  Sciences, 
and  a  Fellow  of  American  Geographical  Society. 
But  his  interests  in  the  people  of  his  immediate 
community  is  shown  more  in  the  fact  that  he 
serves  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Provident 
Hospital;  President  of  the  Maryland  Colored  Pub 
lic  Health  Association;  Treasurer  of  the  Maryland 
Colored  Blind  Association ;  Member  of  the  Com 
mission  on  Preparedness  and  Defense  for  the  Col 
ored  People  of  Maryland. 

He  was  appointed  to  the  Commission  on  Pre- 
pardness  by  Governor  Harrington.  This  alone  goes 
to  show  that  his. efforts  in  the  behalf  of  the  Race 
has  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  State.  So 
numerous  and  so  varied  are  these  bodies  which  he 
serves,  that  it  is  readily  seen  that  it  is  no  one 
phase  of  the  development  of  the  Race  which  Mr. 
Hawkins  has  at  heart,  but  the  advancement  of  the 
entire  people. 

Along  with  all  the  interests  which  are  ever  be 
fore  Principal  Hawkins,  he  has  an  interest  in  cer 
tain  inventions.  On  this  he  spends  considerable 
time.  It  to  him  is  a  recreation  from  the  other  kind 
of  work  which  is  ever  with  him.  He  has  been 
awarded  patents  on  a  cabinet  for  player  music  rolls 
and  he  has  patents  pending  on  a  number  of  various 
devices. 

On  October  14,  1905,  Mr.  Hawkins  was  married 
to  Miss  Margaret  B.  Gregory.  Mrs.  Hawkins  is 
the  daughter  of  the  late  Professor  James  M.  Gre 
gory,  of  Bordentown  Industrial  School,  Borden- 
town,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Hawkins  has  two  sons, 
Gregory  Hawkins,  and  Mason  A.  Hawkins.  These 
two  lads  are  in  the  schools  of  Baltimore  and  give 
promise  ;of  great  intellectual  development.  Mr. 
Hawkins  ambition  is  to  prepare  them  for  an  hon 
orable  and  useful  life. 

Mr.  Hawkins  has  set  the  example  of  thrift  for 
those  who  take  him  as  a  pattern.  He  pays  taxes 
on  both  real-estate  and  personal  property.  In  this 
man  we  see  one  well  rounded.  He  is  a  sound 
scholar,  a  progressive  educator,  and  an  excellent 
administrator.  At  the  same  time  he  touches  the 
lives  of  all  the  people  about  him,  even  the  most 
lowly  in  a  helpful  manner. 


184 


WILLIAM  PICKENS,  A.  B..  A.  M.,  LIT.  D.,  LL.  D. 

S  a  very  young  man  in  school, 
William  1'ickens  won  for  himself 
honors  and  the  name  ot  a  close 
student  and  a  good  speaker.  What 
the  young  man  gave  promise  of 
being  William  1'ickens,  the  man, 
is.  He  was  born  in  South  Carolina, 
Jan.  15,  1881.  His  public  school 
training  was  received  in  Arkansas.  In  1899  he 
graduated  from  the  High  School  in  Little  Rock,  as 
Valedictorian  of  the  class.  Not  only  had  young 
Pickens  led  his  particular  class,  but  he  had  higher 
marks  than  any  student  had  ever  made  in  the 
school.  After  leaving  High  School,  Mr.  Pickens 
entered  Talledega  College,  Talledega,  Alabama,  and 
graduated  with  the  degree  of-  A  .B.,  again  valedic 
torian  of  his  class.  Not  yet  satisfied  with  his  train 
ing  the  subject  of  this  sketch  next  entered  Yale  Un 
iversity.  After  two  years  stay  he  graduated  in  the 
highest  grade,  "Philosophical  Oration  Grade"  in 
class  of  over  three  hundred.  One  of  the  rewards 
of  his  high  scholarship  was  receiving  Phi  Beta 
Kappa.  During  his  first  year  at  Yale  Mr.  Pickens 
won  the  highest  of  ten  different  prizes  for  Oratory 
in  the  James  Teneyck  Oratorical  Contest.  Thous 
ands  of  people  complimented  him  on  this  achieve 
ment  among  them  being  ex-President  Cleveland. 
President  Roosevelt's  family. 

Having  completed   the  work  at  Yale,   Professor 
Pickens  first  worked   in   his   old   school.  Talladega 


College.  Here  for  ten  years  he  was  Professor  of 
Language.  While  in  Talladega,  he  took  a  very 
special  interest  in  the  students.  At  all  times  he 
was  willing  and  ready  to  see  their  side  of  any  ques 
tion  and  to  see  that  they  were  given  their  rights. 
While  teaching  in  Talladega,  Fisk  University,  Nash 
ville,  Tennessee  gave  him  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts,  for  a  Latin  thesis.  After  ten  years  of  work 
at  Talladega,  Professor  Pickens  gave  up  the  work 
there  and  accepted  the  position  as  Professor  of 
Greek  and  Sociology  in  Wiley  University,  Mar 
shall,  Texas,  1914-15,  and  then  the  post  of  Dean  of 
Morgan  College,  Baltimore,  Md.  This  position  he 
held  till  1917,  when  the  Trustees  of  Morgan  made 
him  Vice-President.  Selma  University  honored  him 
with  the  degree  Lit.  D.,  in  1915,  and  Wiley  with 
L.  L.  D.,  in  1918. 

Mr..  Pickens  did  not  leap  suddenly  into  fame  as 
a  speaker.  From  his  earliest  young  manhood  he 
led  his  mates  in  this  particular  line.  While  in  the 
Sophomore  year  at  Talladega,  he  began  lecturing 
in  the  North.  At  this  time  he  was  only  nineteen 
years  of  age.  And  so  well  were  his  hearers  pleased 
with  the  words  of  wisdom  uttered  by  one  so  young, 
that  they  requested  the  publication  of  these  address 
es. 

Since  this  beginning  as  a  public  speaker,  Mr. 
Pickens  has  made  for  himself  a  great  name  in  this 
particular  line.  He  appeared  on  the  American 
Missionary  Association  program  at  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  in  1900,  in  the  Court  Square  Thea 
tre.  At  the  same  time  Booker  T.  Washington,  the 
great  race  leader,  and  Newell  Dwight  Hillis,  fa 
mous  New  York  preacher,  were  speakers.  Many 
times  since  that  day  Mr.  Pickens  has  appeared  in 
similar  meetings.  He  is  in  constant  demand  in 
both  the  North  and  the  South  for  the  lecture  plat 
form. 

At  the  same  time  that  he  was  making  a  name  for 
himself  in  this  line  of  speaking,  he  was  making 
known  his  powers  as  a  writer.  He  has  written 
many  articles  for  magizines  and  many  phamplets. 
He  has  out  now  a  book,  "The  New  Negro."  It  is 
a  book  of  merit  and  one  that  has  met  with  ready 
appreciation. 

That  Mr.  Pickens  is  no  dreamer  but  can  handle 
practical  problems  very  well  is  evidenced  by  the 
manner  in  which  he  is  serving  his  country  during 
this  war.  He,  with  Mr.  Spingarn  are  reputed  to  be 
the  first  to  make  a  move  for  an  officers'  Training 
Camp  for  Negroes.  At  the  time  many  were  hostile 
to  the  idea,  especially  is  this  true  of  the  attitude  of 
the  Negro  press.  But  today  we  are  proud  of  that 
cam])  and  its  results.  Mr.  Pickens  has  taken  his 
time  to  busy  himself  with  the  different  canton 
ments,  visiting  and  speaking  to  the  men.  As  a 
member  of  the  Maryland  Council  of  Defense,  he 
is  doing  many  sorts  of  war  work. 

Mr.  Pickens  was  married  in  1905,  to  Miss  Min 
nie  McAlpine  of  Meridian  Mississippi.  To  them 
have  been  born  three  children,  William,  Jr.,  Har 
riet  Ida,  Ruby  Annie.  They  are  all  pupils  in  school 
and  are  showing  that  they  have  inherited  from 
their  father  some  of  his  ability. 

Mr.  Pickens  has  traveled  extensively.  He  has 
covered  the  greater  part  of  this  country  and  has 
traveled  in  Europe.  He  is  a  fine  example  of  "The 
New  Negro"  himself. 


18S 


WILLIAM    STANLEY   RRAITHWAITE. 


N  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  the 
year  1868,  there  was  born  a  child 
who  was  destined  to  take  a  lead 
ing  place  as  an  authority  on 
American  Verse.  This  child  was 
William  Stanley  Braithwaite.  At 
the  age  of  twelve  years  he  had  to  leave  school  in 
order  that  he  might  help  provide  for  his  mother. 
This  was  due  to  the  fact  that  he  had  lost  his  father. 
Up  to  the  time  he  left  school  the  lad  had  been  a 
close  student  and  had  mastered  all  the  tasks  that 
were  set  for  him.  And  even  though  lie  was  out 
of  school,  young  Braithwaite  did  not  cease  to  study 
but  continued  to  be  thoughtful  and  to  absorb  all 
the  culture  that  surrounded  him. 

Mr.  Braithwaite  says  of  himself:  "At  the  age 
of  fifteen  like  a  revealation,  there  broke  out  in  me 
a  great  passion  for  poetry,  an  intense  love  for  lit 
erature,  and  a  yearning  for  the  ideal  life  which  fos 
ters  the  creation  of  things  that  come  out  of  dreams 
and  visions  and  symbols.  J  dedicated  my  future  to 
literature,  though  the  altar  upon  which  I  was  to 
lay  my  sacrificial  life  seemed  beyond  all  likelihood 
of  opportunity  and  strength  and  equipment  to 
reach.  I  set  about  it,  however,  with  fortitude, 
hope  and  patience." 

What  the  exercise  of  these  three  virtues  brought 
r.bout  in  the  life  of  this  young  man  may  be  readily 


seen  from  the  results  that  he  has  been  able  to 
achieve.  In  America  and  abroad  as  well  he  is  re 
cognized  as  the  leading  authority  .on  American 
Poetry.  This  high  place-  did  not  conic  to  him  be 
cause  of  his  love  for  this  work,  but  because  of  tin- 
time  and  effort  he  put  into  the  study  of  the  sub 
ject.  For  the  past  twelve  years  he  has  devoted 
most  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  American  poetry. 
F.ach  year  he  has  published  in  the  Boston  Tran 
script  a  review  of  poetry  for  the  vear  and  each 
year  he  has  published  an  Anthology  of  American 
Poems.  In  this  work  Mr.  Braithwaite  includes  all 
of  the  poems  written  during  the  year  that  arc,  in 
his  opinion  worth  while.  In  such  high  regard  is 
the  opinion  of  this  man  held  that  not  to  be  in  his 
book  for  the  vear,  is  not  to  be  known  as  a  poet. 
In  fact  in  the  opinion  of  literary  folk  in  F.ngland 
Mr.  Braithwaite  is  not  only  an  authority  on  Amer 
ican  Poetry,  but  The  Authority  on  the  subject. 

Mr.  Braithwaite  stands  to  the  colored  boy  and 
the  colored  girl  as  an  example  of  the  man  who  has 
gone  to  the  top  in  spite  of  his  color.  So  many  hold 
that  the  best  place  is  never  given  to  a  person  of 
color.  Mr.  Braithwaite  is  a  positive  denial  of  this 
saying.  In  fact  with  him,  and  with  a  few  others 
who  have  dared  to  go  ahead,  starts  the  saying — 
a  man  can  be  just  what  he  wants  to  be  in  spite 
of  his  color. 

The  works  of  Braithwaite  include  "Lyrics  of 
Life  and  Love,"  "The  Book  of  Klizabethian 
Verse,"  "The  House  of  Falling  Leaves,"  "The 
Book  of  Georgian  Verse,"  "The  Book  of  Restora 
tion  Verse,"  and  "The  Book  of  Victorian  Verse." 
The  publishers  for  the  works  of  Braithwaite  say 
of  his  Poetic  Year  for  1916:  "Here  is  a  book  that 
is  actually  'Something  new  tinder  the  sun,'  and 
furthermore,  'fills  a  long  felt  want.'  "  Any  lover 
of  poetry,  any  student  of  contemporary  literature, 
who  desires  to  form  an  intelligent  estimate  of 
recent  poetry,  or  to  make  an  acquaintance  with  any 
individual  poet  of  our  time  sufficiently  definite  to 
give  him  the  requisite  knowledge  for  an  intelligent 
discussion,  will  find  the  book  indispensable. 

"The  method  of  the  book  is  not  the  least  of  its 
virtues.  A  friendly  discussion  takes  place  among  a 
group  of  four  friends,  including  Mr.  Braithwaite 
himself,  who  provides  the  guiding  hand." 

"Bv  this  lively  treatment,  so  surprisingly  differ 
ent  from  the  usual  method  of  critical  writing,  tin- 
reader  forms  a  personal  impression,  as  human  as 
it  is  well  founded  of  the  poetry"  of  all  contempo 
rary  poets  who  are  really  deserving  of  that  title. 

William  Stanley  Braithwaite  has  made  a  place 
for  himself  at  the  top  in  his  chosen  work,  lie  is 
held  up  here  as  an  ideal  along  his  line  to  all  young- 
persons  of  color,  lie  is  an  example  of  what  con 
centrated  endeavor  will  do  for  a  person  of  deter 
mination. 


186 


WILLIAM  NELSON  DeBERRY,  D.  D. 


HEN  Fisk  University  wishes  to 
point  to  her  useful  and  scholarly 
graduates,  she  usually  comes  very 
soon  to  the  name  of  William  N 
DeBerry.  As  it  is  with  Fisk,  so 
it  is  with  the  whole  of  Nashville. 
He  is  especially  a  source  of  pride  to  Nashville,  not 
because  she  is  lacking  in  conspicious  men  among 
her  colored  citizens,  but  because  of  the  theory  that 
the  men  living  nearest  institutions  of  learning  fre 
quently  make  the  least  use  of  them.  This  saying  is 
far  from  true  in  the  case  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Mr.  DeBerry  was  born  in  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
August  29,  1870.  He  was  fortunate  enough  to  be 
able  to  attend  school  from  early  childhood.  So  we 
find  him  as  a  lad  attending  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city.  Here  he  applied  himself  very  diligent 
ly  to  the  work  in  hand.  Always  he  had  before 
him  the  chance  of  attending  the  University  which 
was  open  for  him  at  his  very  door.  So  we  find 
him  while  still  a  young  man  entering  Fisk.  Here 
he  remained  to  complete  the  course  of  study  and 
graduate.  He  finished  with  the  class  of  1896.  While 
in  Fisk  University  young  DeBerry  was  always 

187 


ready  to  receive  with  an  open  mind  the  instruc 
tion  of  his  teachers.  Hence  we  have  him  as  a  shin 
ing  example  of  the  good  scholars  that  arc  turned 
out  by  Fisk  University. 

Leaving  Fisk,  Mr.  DeBerry  matriculated  at  Ober- 
lin  College  in  Ohio.  Here  he  was  a  student  in  the 
theological  Department.  From  the  full  course  of 
that  department  he  was  graduated  in  189C).  Mr. 
DeBerry  is  a  Congregationalist  in  church  affilia 
tion.  Leaving  Oberlin  he  went  to  Springfield, 
Massachusetts  to  pastor  the  St.  John's  Congrega 
tional  Church  there.  Here  he  has  remained  since 
that  time,  having  had  but  the  one  charge  in  all 
these  years.  This  is  remarkable  for  a  pastor  of 
any  denomination. 

Working  hard  and  steadily  at  his  post,  studying 
to  keep  abreast  of  the  times,  Dr.  Ue  Berry  is  much 
in  demand  as  a  public  speaker  and  lecturer  and 
freely  welcomed  into  many  organizations  for  his 
usefulness.  His  has  been  a  life  spent  in  develop 
ing  the  younger  people  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact.  He  has  endeavored  to  make  them  better 
men  and  women — better  mentally,  morally  and 
spiritually. 

The  St.  John's  Congregational  Church  has  what 
is  perhaps  the  most  modern  and  best  equipped 
plant  of  all  the  colored  churches  in  New  England. 
The  present  edifice  which  was  erected  in  1911  is 
valued,  together  with  its  equipment,  at  $30,000.  It 
io  free  from  debt. 

Ihe  Church  is  unique  in  its  plan  of  organization 
and  in  the  method  of  its  varied  activities.  It  seeks 
to  adapt  its  work  in  all  its  phases  to  the  religious 
and  social  needs  of  the  people  whom  it  serves.  It 
is  known  throughout  the  country  for  the  well  or 
ganized  and  very  efficient  institutional  work  which 
it  carries  on.  The  institutional  activities  include 
a  parish  home  for  working  girls,  a  night  school  of 
Domestic  Science,  a  social  center  for  women  and 
girls,  a  club  house  for  young  men  and  boys,  a  free 
employment  bureau  and  a  department  of  family 
housing.  The  institutional  staff  includes  six  paid 
workers  in  addition  to  the  pastor.  The  real  estate 
and  equipment  of  the  institutional  department  are 
valued  conservatively  at  $50,000  making  the  total 
valuation  of  the  property  owned  by  the  church  at 
about  $80,000. 

Among  the  many  organizations  which  are  proud 
to  claim  Dr.  DeBerry  a  member  are  the  American 
Missionary  Association,  and  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions.  Of  both 
these  organizations  he  is  a  life  member. 

In  1914  Fisk  University  elected  him  a  member 
of  her  board  of  trustees.  In  this  capacity  he  still 
serves  the  school  that  gave  him  his  inspiration  for 
his  life  of  usefulness. 

Recognizing  the  excellent  work  of  this  man, 
Lincoln  University  conferred  upon  him  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  in  1915.  In  1917  he  was  el 
ected  to  honorary  membership  in  the  fraternity  of 
Alpha  Phi  Alpha.  In  this  way  some  of  the  honor 
due  Dr.  DeBerry  is  being  received  by  him  now. 

Dr.  DeBerry  was  married  in  1899  to  Miss  Aman 
da  McKissack,  of  1'ulaski,  Tennessee.  Mrs.  De- 
Berry  is  a  graduate  of  Fisk  University.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  brighten  and  gladen  the 
home  of  the  DeBerry's — Charlotte  Pearl  and  Anna 
Mae.  They  are  both  young  misses  in  school. 


DAVID  EUGENE  CRAWFORD. 

ROM  a  date  somewhere  near  the 
clays  of  Plymouth  Rock  and  the 
first  Pilgrims,  Boston,  Massachu 
setts,  has  had  its  famous  Negroes. 
Phillis  Wheatley  was  the  first  fa 
mous  Negro  of  Massachusetts,  as 
she  was  the  first  woman  poet  of  the  state  and  the 
first,  and  perhaps  the  only  Negro  woman  poet 
of  the  ages.  Crispus  Attucks  and  Peter  Salem  were 
the  famous  black  men  of  the  Revolutionary  times, 
then  came  the  Ruffins,  the  Trotters,  but  history 
becomes  confused.  She  cannot  distinguish  between 
the  real  Bostonian  and  the  man  and  woman  who 
went  to  Boston  to  become  famous,  or  who  be 
came  famous  because  they  went  to  Boston. 

Hem-ever,  from  Phillis  Wheatley  to  this  day  Bos 
ton  has  never  lacked  for  genuinely  strong  and  use 
ful  colored  people.  Among  the  modern  leaders  of 
the  practical,  modest  yet  very  powerful  and  useful 
type  is  numbered  David  Eugene  Crawford. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  born  in  Lynchburg,  Virginia, 
December  26th,  1869.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Lynchburg,  and  then  attended  Hampton 
Institute.  Getting  the  Hampton  stamp  upon  him 
he  went  to  Boston  and  began  work.  All  along  he 

188 


has  linked  work  and  education ;  because  he  could 
not  pursue  his  studies  without  working  and  he 
would  not  work  without  studying.  When  he  was 
sixteen  he  began  dealing  in  produce  in  the  Virginia 
markets.  In  Boston,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  be 
came  a  caterer,  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  mean 
time  in  the  Boston  Y.  M|  C.  A..  This  business  of 
caterer  and  student  he  followed  until  1907  when 
he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  to  practice  law.  Thus 
he  became  after  a  struggle  of  a  quarter  of  a  century 
to  realize  his  dream  of  a  professional  life. 

But  Mr.  Crawford  found  entrance  into  the  pro 
fession  of  law  by  no  means  marked  his  entrance  in 
to  public  life.  It  rather  marked  a  public  recogni 
tion  of  what  he  had  done  and  been  in  Massachu 
setts  for  more  than  a  score  of  years.  He  has  been 
closely  allied  with  the  New  England  Suffrage 
League,  with  civic  movements,  with  meetings  and 
petitions  for  justice  to  the  black  man  throughout 
the  country.  Indeed  there  has  scarcely  been  a  step 
taken  among  the  colored  people  of  Boston  during 
these  years  but  Mr.  Crawford  has  been  a  conspic 
uous  figure. 

What  the  leading  citizens  of  Massachusetts  think 
of  him  is  shown  by  the  many  prominent  offices  he 
holds  and  by  the  cooperation  he  has  been  able  to 
gain  in  his  undertakings.  He  is  treasurer  of  the 
Ebenezer  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  has  for  years 
been  a  member.  He  has  been  a  Mason  for  twenty- 
five  years.  He  is  a  thirty-third  degree  Mason  and 
Past  Master  of  the  Eureka  Lodge,  a  member  of  all 
masonic  branches  and  Deputy  of  the  Valley  of 
Massachusetts.  In  1915  the  Governor  of  Massachu 
setts  appointed  him  master  in  Chancery,  and  in  1916 
the  citizens  of  Boston  elected  him  as  a  delegate  to 
the  National  Republican  Convention,  which  met  at 
Chicago.  The  crowning  mark  of  public  confidence, 
however,  came  to  Mr.  Crawford,  in  1910,  when  he 
opened  the  Eureka  Co-Operative  Bank,  the  only 
Negro  Bank  in  the  Bay  State.  That  it  has  run 
successfully  ever  since  in  a  city  and  in  a  state 
where  banks  are  common  and  competition  for 
money  very  sharp,  is  highly  expressive  of  the  pub 
lic  in  Mr.  Crawford. 

Through  studying  and  serving  Mr.  Crawford 
managed  all  along  to  accumulate  property  and  to 
educate  a  growing  family.  He  has  traveled  in  the 
North,  Middle  West,  and  in  some  parts  of  the 
South  and  in  Canada.  His  property  holdings  of 
apartments,  stores  and  commercial  properties  are 
valued  in  all  at  $150,000. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  married  to  Miss  Almira  G. 
Lewis  of  Boston  in  1894.  Their  four  children  are 
all  making  careers  worthy  of  their  father,  who  has 
set  such  a  high  standard  of  attainment.  J.  William 
Crawford,  who  is  twenty-two  years  of  age  is  a 
senior  in  the  Boston  University  Law  School ;  Miss 
Mildred  L.,  age  twenty-one,  is  a  bookkeeper  and 
stenographer,  Miss  Helen  F  is  a  sophomore  in  Rad- 
cliff  College,  and  Miss  M.  Virginia  is  a  senior  in  the 
Girl's  High  School  of  Boston. 


ROLAND  WILTSE  HAYES. 


OLAND  W.  Hayes,  easily  the 
leading  tenor  of  the  Colored  Race 
was  born  June  5,  1887,  at  Curry- 
ville,  Georgia.  Here  in  Georgia 
he  lived  on  the  farm,  working,  at 
tending  school  when  it  was  in 
session,  till  he  was  fourteen  years 
of  age.  His  father  died,  leaving 
seven  children,  and  Roland  was  among  the  older 
ones.  On  him  therefore  fell  some  of  the  responsi 
bility.  His  mother  moved,  when  he  was  fourteen, 
to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee.  The  problem  of  edu 
cating  the  children  was  a  serious  one.  Mrs.  Hayes 
finally  hit  upon  the  plan  of  letting  the  two  older 
boys,  Robert  and  Roland,  take  turns  at  attending 
school.  One  went  to  school  one  year,  while  the 
other  worked  to  help  in  the  support  of  the  family 
and  the  next  year  this  turned  it  about.  In  this 
manner  Roland  W.  Hayes  had  a  chance  t«i  attend 
school.  He  made  the  most  of  his  opportunity  dur 
ing  the  four  years  they  were  thus  taking  their 
turns  at  school. 

Arthur  W.  Calhoun,  (Colored),  a  graduate  of  the 
Oberlin  Conservatory  of  Music,  heard  young  Hay 
es  sing  one  day  and  persuaded  him  to  take  lessons 
and  urged  him  to  adopt  singing  as  a  profession. 
His  first  public  appearance  aroused  enthusiastic 
comment  and  a  sum  of  money  was  raised  to  per 
mit  the  boy  to  continue  his  studies  at  the  musical 
college.  With  this  help  and  by  his  own  labors  he 


spent  four  years  in  Fisk  University.  Here  his  voice 
was  under  the  care  of  the  Vocal  teacher,  Miss 
Jennie  A.  Robinson,  head  of  the  music  department. 

In  the  summer  of  1910  Mr.  Hayes  went  to  Louis 
ville,  Kentucky,  where  he  worked  for  eight 
months.  His  object  in  working  in  Louisville  was 
to  save  money  enough  to  go  North  for  further 
training.  Combining  work  and  education,  Mr. 
Hayes  took  a  job  as  a  waiter  in  Pendennis  club. 
Some  of  the  members  learned  that  he  could  sing, 
through  the  head  waiter,  Mr.  Henry  T.  Bain. 
Through  them  he  had  many  opportunities  to  fill 
engagements  as  a  singer.  It  was  through  this 
club  that  he  met  a  theatrical  manager,  who  hired 
him  at  five  dollars  a  day  for  a  month.  At  the  con 
clusion  of  this  engagement,  through  one  of  the 
members  of  the  Pendennis  club,  in  which  he  was 
a  waiter,  made  arrangements  for  him  to  sing  in 
Louisville  at  the  National  Fire  Insurance  Agent's 
Banquet.  A  few  weeks  after  this  engagement  he 
was  asked  to  sing  in  the  missionary  meeting  "The 
World  in  Boston."  Here  he  appeared  with  the 
Fisk  Jubilee  Singers,  where  the  engagement  lasted 
for  six  weeks. 

In  the  Fall  of  1911,  Mr.  Henry  H.  Putnian.  of 
Boston,  arranged  for  Mr.  Hayes  to  begin  his  mus 
ical  training  in  Boston,  under  Maestro  Arthur  1. 
Hubbard,  where  he  has  continued  his  studies  until 
the  present.  Under  the  teaching  of  the  great 
Maestro  Hubbard,  for  the  last  seven  years,  the  na 
turally  sweet  voice  of  Mr.  Hayes  has  been  devel 
oped  and  straightened  until  now,  he  as  an  artist, 
ranks  among  the  best  artists  of  the  land.  In  No 
vember  of  1917,  he  made  his  first  appearance  in 
the  great  Symphony  Hall,  of  .Boston. 

He  is  the  first  Colored  Artist  to  have  a  recital  in 
this  Hall.  To  quote  from  the  Guardian  we  can  see 
how  Mr.  Hayes  was  received. 

"Doff  the  hat  to  Roland  W.  Hayes,  the  singer ! 
He  essayed  the  difficult  and  succeeded.  He  made 
the  fight  and  won.  In  size  of  audience,  in  finan 
cial  profit,  in  auditorium  and  in  his  own  musical 
performance  Hayes  scored  a  triumph. 

"The  great  Symphony  Hall  was  packed,  even  the 
platform  was  filled  with  seats  and  persons  stood 
thick  along  both  hall  aisles.  It  was  a  mixed  aud 
ience  with  no  segregation  and  thoroughly  repres 
entative  of  both  rates,  as  big  an  audience  as  world- 
famous  white  artists  have  there.  No  Colored  Ar 
tist  ever  had  a  recital  in  Symphony  Hall. 

"In  this  respect  and  in  the  talent  displayed  by 
Mr.  Hayes,  as  well  as  in  the  size  and  character  of 
the  audience  the  recital  made  musical  history  for 
Colored  Bostonians.  Mr.  Hayes  rendered  a  wide 
variety  of  songs.  After  Mr.  Hayes'  singing  Thurs 
day  night.  Colored  Boston  can  claim  to  have  the 
leading  tenor  of  the  day.  His  voice  was  full  and 
robust  with  a  long  range-  It  was  resonant  and 
flexible. 

Mr.  Hayes  has  traveled  over  the  United  States 
as  a  Concert  Artist.  His  time  has  been  given 
wholly  to  the  development  of  his  voice  and  in  ear 
ning  means  for  that  purpose.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  of  Boston,  but  has  connected 
himself  with  no  other  organizations.  His  is  the  life 
of  the  true  artist,  one  of  continual  application  of 
self  for  continued  artistic  development,  for  the 
sake  of  art  and  for  the  inspiration  of  the  members 
(musical),  of  his  race. 


189 


ALEXANDER   HUGHES. 

ORN  a  slave  in  Richmond,  Virginia 
January  17,  1857,  growing  to 
manhood  without  even  the  rudi 
ments  of  an  education,  Alexander 
Hughes  of  Springfield,  Massachu 
setts,  has  won  his  way  into  the 
hearts  of  his  fellow  townsmen,  until  he  is  one  of 
the  most  respected  and  best  loved  men  of  his  sec 
tion  of  Massachusetts.  The  respect  of  his  fellow 
citizens  he  gained  through  careful  attention  to  his 
work  and  to  his  business  relation,  paying  his  debts 
and  meeting  obligations  promptly,  a  thing  that 
pleases  a  New  Englander.  Their  affections  he  won 
through  flowers;  through  growing  flowers  and 
giving  away  flowers..  For  three  successive  years 
he  lias  won  a  pri/.e  offered  by  the  Springfield  Re 
publican  for  the  prettiest  flowers  in  back  and  front 
yards.  He  even  went  further.  He  rented,  or  bor 
rowed,  vacant  lots  and  planted  flowers  in  these. 
Then,  when  the  flowers  grew,  he  would  give  them 
in  handsome  bouqets  to  the  sick,  to  invalids,  to  the 
members  of  old  people's  homes. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  nine  years  old  when  his  master 
returned  from  the  war.  The  master  gave  Mr. 
Hughes'  father  five  days  to  leave  the  plantation. 


The  father  departed,  but  left  Mr.  Hughes  with  one 
brother  and  two  sisters  to  aid  the  master.  From 
nine  to  twelve  Mr.  Hughes  tended  cows  and  did 
chores  about  the  plantation.  From  twelve  to  eight 
een  he  worked  in  a  tobacco  factory  of  Richmond ; 
from  eighteen  to  twenty  he  drove  a  grocery  wagon 
from  twenty  to  twenty-four  he  carried  brick  and 
mortar.  From  twenty-four  to  twenty-seven,  he 
drove  a  wholesale  grocery  wagon  in  Spring 
field.  Then  he  cared  for  furnaces  for  t  w  o 
years,  and  was  a  janitor  for  two  years.  In  Oct 
ober,  1888,  he  became  shipping  clerk  for  the  Massa 
chusetts  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company. 

Here  he  has  remained,  winning  distinction  in 
many  directions.  In  1889  he  added  night  catering 
to  his  list,  his  patrons  being  of  social  exclusiveness  ; 
and  won  distinction  and  made  money.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  Springfield  Chamber  of  Com 
merce;  of  the  St.  John's  Congregational  Church, 
also  deacon,  church  treasurer,  Sunday  School  teach 
er  and  member  of  the  Standing  Committee,  mem 
ber  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  member  of  the  Golden  Chain 
Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows:  treasurer  of  the  Household 
of  Ruth;  member  of  the  Negro  Civic  League  of  the 
Springfield  Improvement  Association  ;  of  the  Un 
ion  Relief  Association;  of  the  Home  Guards,  a  war 
defense  organization.  He  is  treasurer  and  trustee 
of  the  Mutual  Housing  Company,  a  company  which 
keeps  homes  for  colored  people. 

All  these  posts  he  fills  with  honor.  Yet  Mr. 
Hughes  began  life  a  slave  and  rose  to  maturity  il 
literate.  Indeed  his  education  in  books  is  very  lim 
ited.  Back  in  1881,  when  he  was  twenty-four  years 
old,  he  attended  for  a  while  the  Springfield  Night 
Schools,  where  he  learned  some  reading,  writing 
and  arithmetic. 

Mr.  Hughes  has  been  twice  married.  In  1882  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Bettie  A.  White ;  she  died  in 
1892.  The  second  Mrs.  Hughes  was  Miss  Pauline 
Simms.  Both  came  from  Virginia,  his  native  home. 

Mr.  Hughes'  story  has  been  a  source  of  much  in 
spiration  even  in  Massachusetts.  The  following 
from  New  England  Character,  edited  by  Thomas 
Dreier,  will  show  how  highly  Mr.  Hughes  is  es 
teemed  and  how  widely  he  is  written  of  in  the  Old 
Bay  State. 

"Recently  I  wrote  for  a  magazine  a  little  squib, 
about  Alexander  Hughes  of  Springfield,  Massachu 
setts.  I  told  how  this  negro,  born  in  slavery,  has 
for  two  years  won  the  prize  offered  by  this  city 
for  the  best-kept  lawn  and  garden,  how  it 
is  his  habit  to  appropriate  the  vacant  ground  be 
longing  to  his  neighbors  and  plant  flowers  on  it, 
h'^w  he  carries  flowers  to  the  hospitals  to  make 
brighter  the  days  of  those  forced  to  lie  in  their 
beds — taking  especial  care  to  provide  flowers  for 
strangers  and  those  who  have  no  friends  at  hand, 
how  he  works  all  day  in  the  shipping  de 
partment  of  the  Massachusetts  Mutual,  and  at 
nights  serves  as  a  caterer  where  rich  folks  want 
service  plus,  how  he  stands  as  a  leader  in  re 
ligious  work  among  his  people,  and  how  each  year 
he  sends  part  of  his  salary  to  southern  educational 
institutions.  All  these  things  and  more  I  told,  and 
what  I  wrote  was  reprinted  with  editorial  backing 
in  the  Springfield  "Republican." 


190 


WILLIAM  H.  LEWIS,  A.  B.,  LL.  B.,  LL.  D. 


N  November  28,  in  Berkley,  Vir 
ginia,  William  Jrl.  Lewis  was 
born.  Berkley  is  now  a  part 
of  Norfolk.  At  an  early  age  he 
went  to  Portsmouth,  Virginia, 
where  he  was  a  student  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city.  Leaving  the  schools 
of  Portsmouth  he  next  entered  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Petersburg.  He  next  matriculated  at 
Ainherst,  from  whence  he  was  graduated  in  1892. 
Having  decided  upon  the  practice  of  law  as  a  pro 
fession  he  then  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School 
and  was  graduated  in  1895.  In  1918  Hon.  Lewis 
once  more  received  a  degree.  This  time  is  was  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Law  and  it  came  from  Wil- 
berforce  University. 

During  his  school  days  Mr.  Lewis  was  noted  for 
his  foot  ball.  He  was  one  of  the  best  centers  that 
they  have  ever  had  in  Harvard.  He  was  Captain 
of  the  foot  ball  team  of  Amherst  and  was  al,so  the 
Class  Orator  of  his  class.  When  he  entered  Har 
vard  he  once  more  had  a  place  with  the  foot  ball 
team,  h'or  two  years  he  played  on  the  team  and 
then  for  ten  years  he  served  as  the  coach  for  the 
foot  ball  eleven.  His  knowledge  of  college  men 
and  liis  interest  in  them  has  extended  over  a 
greater  period  of  years  than  is  given  most  men 
in  liis  profession. 

Having  finished   law   at   the   Harvard   School   of 

191 


Law  in  1895,  Mr.  Lewis  was  promptly  admitted 
to  the  practice  of  law  in  Boston.  Since  that  time 
many  positions  of  honor  have  been  filled  by  him. 
He  was  member  of  the  City  Council,  Cambridge. 
Massachusetts,  in  1899,  1900,  1901.  He  was  mem 
ber  of  Massachusetts  Legislature,  1902.  President 
Roosevelt  appointed  him  Assistant  United  States 
District  Attorney  in  1903.  He  was  made  a  member 
of  the  Public  Library  Trustees  of  the  City  of  Cam 
bridge.  From  1908  to  1909  he  was  the  Attorney  in 
charge  of  Naturalization  for  the  New  England 
States.  President  Taft  appointed  him  Assistant 
Attorney  General  of  the  United  States  in  1911. 

Mr.  Lewis  has  been  fearless  in  standing  for  the 
rights  of  the  colored  people  of  the  United  States. 
He  was  invited  to  join  the  American  Bar  Associa 
tion.  Later  he  had  an  invitation  to  resign,  but  in 
his  characteristic  manner  he  refused  to  comply 
with  the  invitation.  Mr.  Lewis  has  had  many  hon 
ors  from  the  government.  He  has  done  good  for 
the  entire  race  by  the  manner  in  which  he  has  filled 
the  various  posts  that  have  been  given  him. 

In  religious  belief  Mr.  Lewis  is  a  Congregation- 
alist.  He  has  traveled  extensively  through  the 
United  States  and  in  1912  he  visited  England  and 
France.  September  26,  1896,  Mr.  Lewis  was  mar 
ried  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Baker  of  Cambridge,  Mas 
sachusetts.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
brighten  this  home.  Miss  Dorothy  Lewis  is  a  stu 
dent  of  Wellesley.  Here  Miss  Lewis  gives  a  good 
account  of  herself  among  her  fellows.  Miss  Eliza 
beth  Lewis  is  a  student  at  High  School,  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts,  and  Mr.  William  H.  Lewis,  Jr.,  is 
also  a  High  School  student.  In  the  point  of  edu 
cation  the  young  people  of  this  family  bid  fair  to 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  their  father. 

Mr.  Lewis  has  made  a  success  of  his  life.  In 
school  besides  being  a  good  student  he  was  a  good 
orator  and  a  first  class  athlete.  Out  in  life  he  has 
carried  the  same  idea  of  success  in  everything  un 
dertaken.  The  many  duties  that  have  been  show 
ered  upon  him  have  been  filled  to  his  credit.  In 
his  profession  he  is  a  good  lawyer.  If  the  case 
involves  some  things  in  the  medical  world,  Mr. 
Lewis  is  not  satisfied  till  he  has  mastered  all  the 
knowledge  on  the  subject.  If  it  is  a  matter  of 
boundaries  he  studies  equally  as  hard.  To  him  the 
thing  desired  is  a  complete  knowledge  of  all  the 
things  that  touch  the  case  even  remotely,  tie  has 
been  quoted  on  some  of  his  famous  cases  through 
out  the  United  States.  Of  course  the  fact  that  he 
was  colored  was  not  known.  But  the  color  of  his 
skin  could  not  change  the  facts  that  were  gathered 
in  his  brain.  Nothing  short  of  perfect  understand 
ing  of  the  matter  in  hand  satisfied  Mr.  Lewis.  Be 
cause  of  this  he  is  one  of  our  most  prominent  men. 


HORACK  G.   McKERROW,   M.   D.,  C.   M. 


R.  Horace  G.  Mackerrow,  of 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  in 
vested  many  years  in  education, 
in  attending  various  institutions 
of  learning.  He  appears  to  have 
set  over  against  each  year  and 
each  institution,  all  itemized, 
some  definite  service  to  men  and 
to  the  state.  He  was  born  in  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia, 
October  thirteenth,  1879.  As  a  lad  he  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Halifax.  From  1893  to  1897  he- 
was  a  student  in  Halifax  Academy.  The  next  year 
1898,  he  spent  in  the  Teachers'  Training  Class  of 
Dollwise  College.  From  this  institution  he  enrolled 
in  the  Montreal  Business  College.  Still  forging  to 
the  front  he  taught  school  in  Halifax  for  two  years. 
Finding  this  none  too  much  to  his  liking  he  came  to 
the  "states."  For  a  while  he  oscilated  between  the 
Montreal  postal  service  and  hotel  work  at  Atlantic 
City.  He  spent  some  time  also  in  Pullman  service. 
Running  on  the  Grand  Trunk  Rail  Road  in  dining 
car  service. 

By  this  time  he  had  fully  made  up  his  mind  as 
to  the  career  he  wished  to  follow.  In  October  1900 
he  enrolled  in  the  Leonard  Medical  College  at  Shaw 
University,  Raleigh,  North  Carolina.  Completing 
his  medical  course  in  1904,  he  entered  Bishop's  Uni 
versity.  Here  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  C.  M.  in  1905.  Returing  to  Canada,  he  was 
for  six  months  resident  house  surgeon  for  the  Wo- 

192 


man's  Hospital.  In  September,  1905,  he  took  the 
medical  examination  in  Massachusetts.  Passing, 
he  opened  office  in  Worcester  of  the  same  year. 

It  is  in  Worcester  that  he  has  translated  all  his 
former  experiences,  all  his  years  of  study  into  use 
ful  action.  Here  he  is  a  member  of  the  John  Street 
Baptist  Church,  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School.  He  is  Past  Master  of  Masonic  Lodge  of 
King  David.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St.  John  Chap 
ter  of  R.  A.  M.  and  Zion  Commandery,  K.  T.  C.  P., 
of  the  Holy  Shepherds  Consistory,  Lizra  Temple 
A.  K.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  Past  Examiner  of  this  body  ; 
he  is  Grand  Commander  of  the  Knight  Templars 
of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts;  he  is  Past 
Grand  Master  of  the  Council  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
North  Star  Lodge,  G.  U.  O.  O.  and  P.  N.  F.  To 
his  activities  in  the  various  lodges.  Dr.  Mackerrow 
add  many  activities  in  civil  and  social  life.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  Citizens 
League  of  Worcester,  of  the  Massachusetts  State 
Guards.  19th  regiment  of  Worcester,  of  the  Wor 
cester  Military  Training  School,  of  the  Pistol  and 
Rife  Club,  of  Worcester,  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Club, 
of  Worcester,  of  the  Gun  and  Rod  Club  of  Cam 
bridge  and  Boston.  Not  forgetting  his  profession 
Dr.  Mackerrow  has  allied  himself  to  all  medical 
associations  of  his  section  of  the  country.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Worcester  District  Medical  Associ 
ation,  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Association,  of 
the  American  Medical  Association  and  of  the  Na 
tional  Association  of  Physicians,  Doctors  and  Phar 
macists.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada. 

Dr.  Mackerrow  comes  from  a  substantial  line  of 
Europeans.  His  father  was  a  Canadian  fur  dealer, 
having  dealt  in  furs  for  forty  three  years.  The  pa 
ternal  grandfather  was  a  Scotchman,  coming  from 
Aberdeen,  Scotland.  The  maternal  grandfather 
was  of  Welch  origin.  Both  ancestors  had  landed 
in  Canada  and  had  made  themselves  substantial  and 
loyal  subjects  of  their  Government.  Their  off 
spring  was  true  to  their  example  ;  for  Dr.  Mack 
errow  not  only  set  forth  to  make  for  himself 
a  most  enviable  career,  but  even  in  his  early  years 
in  Canada,  he  joined  the  battalion  of  the  Halifax 
Academy  and  became  before  he  left  that  institution 
a  major  in  his  company.  In  his  early  years  as  well 
as  later  Dr.  Mackerrow  has  also  shown  himself  a 
substantial  citizen,  by  owning  and  paying  taxes  on 
property,  both  in  his  native  country  and  in  his 
adopted  land.  He  is  a  property  owner  in  his  na 
tive  city,  Halifax,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and 
in  Worcester.  More  than  this,  by  his  conversation 
with  his  patients  as  he  goes  about,  he  has  encour 
aged  many  to  buy  property,  to  pay  taxes,  to  clean  up 
to  join  with  all  the  forces  of  civic  improvment  in 
making  Worcester  one  of  the  best  cities  in  the  land 
for  colored  people.  To  him,  and  this  is  often  his 
text,  thorough  participation  with  all  the  myrid  ac 
tivities  of  the  city  and  of  the  state  is  the  very  bone 
and  fibre  of  citizenship.  This  explains  his  almost 
countless  membership  in  lodges,  in  civic  clubs,  in 
recreation  clubs  and  in  various  military  organiza 
tions. 

Dr.  Mackerrow  was  married  in  1916,  to  Miss  Ef- 
fie  S.  Wolf  of  Allston,  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Mack 
errow  is  the  daughter  of  the  famous  James  H.  Wolf 
G.  A.  R.  Commander.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mackerrow  are 
parents  of  one  child,  a  son,  Horace  Gilford  Mack 
errow,  Jr.,  who  is  now  two  years  old. 


GEORGE  BUNDY,  M.  D. 


R.  George  Bundy,  M.  D.  was  born 
May  4th,  1868,  at  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Jefferson  County,  Ohio.  Like  so 
many  people,  born  in  Ohio  ,  he 
made  his  way  to  Michigan  to 
work,  but  this  was  not  done  until 
after  he  had  spent  a  number  of  years  in  the  schools 
and  colleges  of  his  native  State.  He  spent  the  usual 
years  in  the  common  schools  and  then  went  to 
Widberforce  University,  to  Wittenberg  College. 
Springfield,  Ohio  and  to  Payne  Divinity  School, 
Petersburg,  Virginia,  and  later  to  Detroit  College 
of  Medicine  and  Surgery. 

When  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  Dr.  Bundy  had 
his  first  lesson  in  the  Medical  science  under  a  no 
ted,  wealthy,  white  physician  in  Ohio.  Under  this 
kind  of  physician,  Dr.  J.  E.  Finley,  he  got  a  taste  of 
the  healing  art  that  he  could  never  quite  get  out  of 
his  system.  So  we  find  Dr.  Bundy  at  the  age  of 
forty-four,  graduating  from  the  full  medical  course 
in  the  Detroit  College  of  Medicine  and  Surgery. 
He  graduated  with  honors  in  a  class  of  fifty  and  he 
had  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  colored  man 
in  his  class.  Since  graduating  from  the  medical 
college,  he  has  enjoyed  a  very  lucrative  practice  in 
the  city  of  Detroit. 


During  the  years,  between  college  days  and 
the  taking  up  of  medicine,  Dr.  Bundy  spent 
in  church  work.  He  was  first  ordained  for 
the  ministry  in  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  He  after 
wards  studied  for  the  Priesthood  of  the  Protes 
tant  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  made  priest  in  St. 
Paul's  Cathedral,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1900.  He  was 
recommended  by  the  Episcopal  Church  for  chap 
laincy  in  the  United  States  Army,  and  was  receiv 
ed  by  President  Roosevelt  at  Washington  concern 
ing  the  appointment.  He  was  offered  the  Arch  dea- 
conry  of  Colored  Work  in  Diocease  of  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  but  the  study  of  medicine  that  he  had 
done  when  a  lad  could  never  be  really  forgotten, 
and  so  although  rather  late  for  one  to  change  pro 
fessions,  Dr.  Bundy  entered  the  medical  college, 
and  gave  up  the  ministry. 

In  the  residence  district  of  Detroit,  Dr.  Bundy 
has  a  home  worth  $5,500.00  this  as  a  showing  for 
the  savings  during  the  years  of  his  practice  of  med 
icine.  Presiding  over  this  beautiful  home  is  Mrs. 
Bundy,  who  was  Miss  Evelyn  Tardif,  of  Columbia, 
South  Carolina.  They  were  married  April  26th, 
1905,  in  Springfield,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Bundy  has  been 
to  Dr.  Bundy  a  great  help  in  carrying  out  his  am 
bition  to  become  a  physician.  In  it  all  and  through 
it  all,  she  has  been  an  inspiration.  Now  she  helps 
make  life  pleasant  for  their  many  friends  at  their 
home. 

It  is  difficult  to  estimate  the  value  of  a  good 
wife  who  enters  sympathetically  and  actively  into 
the  plans  of  her  husband  and  helps  him  bear  the 
burdens  when  heavy  and  rejoice  with  him  when 
success  crowns  his  efforts. 

Dr.  Bundy  has,  along  with  all  other  whole  heart 
ed  Americans,  done  his  part  in  helping  win  this 
world  war.  Besides  contributing  freely  of  his 
means  in  the  cause  of  the  various  charities,  the 
Red  Cross,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  other  relief  funds,  he 
served  for  six  months  on  the  Draft  Board  for  the 
United  States  Army. 

Dr.  Bundy  has  become  a  part  of  the  community 
life  there  in  Detroit.  He  is  still  active  in  the  church 
of  his  profession  and  through  the  church  he  is  able 
to  reach  many.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Paul  Law 
rence  Dunbar  Memorial  and  Scholarship  Fund,  as 
he  was  a  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Dunbar.  Through 
this  organization  he  has  helped  not  only  in  honor 
ing  the  most  noted  of  our  Negro  poets,  but  in  aiding 
many  students. 

Dr.  Bundy  should  be  a  source  of  inspiration  to 
the  many  men  who  are  now  engaged  in  work  that 
is  not  altogether  to  their  liking.  Reading  of  his 
success  when  he  had  the  courage  to  give  up  a  work 
in  which  he  had  made  good,  but  which  could  never 
have  his  whole  heart,  one  should  take  courage  and 
try,  even  if  late  in  life,  for  the  one  thing  that  is  his 
heart's  ambition. 


193 


KENTUCKY   PYTHIAN  TEMPLE   BUILDING— LOUIS 
VILLE,    KENTUCKY— AND    THE    MEN    LARGELY 
RESPONSIBLE  FOR  ITS  ERECTION. 


Kentucky  Pythian  Temple 


HE  Kentucky  Pythian  Temple  is 
the  outgrowth  and  an  outward 
expression  of  a  deep  seated  idea 
which  had  taken  a  strong  hold  of 
the  Pythians  of  Kentucky  and 

which  was  born  of  the  conviction 

that  fraternal  organizations  could  and  should  make 
wider  use  of  their  strength  and  authority.  Once 
the  idea  had  been  presented  to  the  Pythian  Grand 
lodge,  jurisdiction  of  Kentucky,  it  would  not  down 
but  session  after  session  it  was  kept  to  the  front 
until  the  idea  took  concrete  form.  A  number  of 
prominent  knights  championed  it  and  fought  for 
it  until  the  temple  was  built.  Sir  Knight,  J.  L.  V. 
Washington  raised  his  voice  in  its  behalf  and  Sir 
Knight,  J.  H.  Garvin,  at  Mt.  Sterling,  fanned  the 
coals  into  a  blazing  fire  by  a  beautiful,  eloquent 
and  practical  speech  which  he  delivered.  The 
movement  took  form  in  the  appointment  of  a 
commission  whose  duty  was  to  formulate  and  sub 
mit  a  plan  for  securing  the  building.  It  was  sty 
led  the  "Kentucky  Pythian  Temple  Commission. 
Sir  Knight,  H.  Francis  Jones,  was  made  President 
of  the  commission.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  parts, 
of  propelling  energy  and  unselfishly  devoted  to  the 
task  assigned  him.  Under  the  leadership  of  Sir 
Knight  Jones,  the  commission  set  to  work  and 
after  a  season  of  patient  toil  they  worked  out  a 
plan  which  made  their  dream  of  a  temple  a  living 
led  the  "Kentucky  Pythian  Temple  Commission." 
was  presented  to  the  Grand  Lodge  at  its  meeting 
at  Winchester.  It  so  happened  that  the  Supreme 
Chancellor,  Sir  Knight  S.  W.  Starks,  visited  the 
Kentucky  jurisdiction  at  this  session  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  and  was  present  when  the  plan  was  sub 
mitted.  He  was  first  impressed  with  the  enthu 
siasm  with  which  the  plan  was  received,  but  after 
a  careful  consideration  of  it  he  caught  the  fever 
himself,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Charleston, 
West  Virginia,  a  strong  convert  to  the  plan  and 
fired  by  the  Kentucky  spirit.  He  procured  a  copy 
of  the  plans  and  immediately  started  a  similar 
movement  in  his  home  jurisdiction  and  within  a 
year  had  organized  his  forces  and  erected  the  first 
Pythian  Temple  of  the  colored  race.  The  temple 
idea  carried  with  it  not  accommodations  for  the 
lodge  alone,  but  suitable  quarters  for  the  colored 
men  to  carry  on  their  business  enterprises.  Fra 
ternity  is  the  spirit  of  the  order  and  its  policy  is 
to  encourage  the  negro  to  make  the  best  of  his  ta 
lents  and  opportunities  and  in  the  erection  of  their 
temple  this  idea  was  kept  in  mind.  So  much  for 
the  spirit  which  gave  vision  to  the  enterprise  and 

195 


inspired  the  erection  of  the  temple.  Now  for  a 
description  of  it : 

It  is  a  beautiful  seven-story  structure,  built  of 
reinforced  concrete  and  brick  crowned  with  a  roof 
garden.  It  is  situated  in  the  heart  of  a  Negro  set 
tlement — the  gateway  of  the  Metropolis  of  the 
South.  The  building  contains  five  business  rooms ; 
a  theatre,  operated  by  a  colored  man ;  twelve  offi 
ces  ;  fifty-two  sleeping  apartments,  and  a  commo 
dious  amusement  hall,  40x97  feet — which  cares  for 
the  needs  of  a  pleasure-seeking  public.  Besides 
these  it  has  a  kitchen,  dining  room,  pool  room, 
barber  shop,  buffet  and  cabaret.  It  is  lighted  with 
electricity  and  is  steam  heated,  has  elevator  ser 
vice,  and  has  bath  arrangements  for  the  use  of  ten 
ants.  The  building  cost  approximately  $150,000.00. 
This  sketch  could  not  be  properly  closed  without 
mentioning  a  few  of  the  men  who  have  brought 
the  enterprise  to  a  successful  issue. 

Sir  Knight  Jones  and  Grand  Chancellor  Garvin 
and  their  assistants  have  been  the  moving  spirits 
but  they  have  been  ably  assisted  by  the  following 
Knights:  J.  H.  Garvin,  J.  L.  V.  Washington,  W. 
W.  Wilson,  Rev.  J.  M.  Mundy,  B.  E.  Smith,  S.  H. 
George,  M  D.,  F.  C.  Dillon,  W.  H.  Wright,  Attor^ 
ney,  J.  A.  C.  Lattimore,  M.  D.  French  Thompson. 
Directors  and  Van  J.  Davis,  M.  D.,  G.  G.  Young, 
T.  T.  Wendell,  M.  D.,  Owen  Robinson.  Dr.  E.  E. 
Underwood,  M.  D.,  William  and  John  B.  Caulder, 
Grand  Lodge  Officers. 

The  vision  inspired  these  men  and  held  them 
to  their  task  was  not.  as  has  been  stated,  simply 
a  Pythian  Temple,  although  that  in  itself  was  a 
strong  incentive,  but  a  wider  outlook  which  took 
in  the  interests  of  their  race  in  all  departments  of 
their  life.  In  addition  to  the  accommodations  pro 
vided  for  the  business  enterprises  of  their  people 
and  for  their  social  pleasures,  they  kept  in  mind 
possibilities  not  yet  developed.  Among  the  things 
they  hope  for  at  an  early  date  is  a  Negro  bank,  to 
stimulate  their  people  to  lives  of  thrift  and  to  en 
courage  them  to  buy  their  homes.  Another,  being 
the  establishment  of  a  Negro  newspaper,  whose 
aim  and  purpose  will  be  to  influence  their  people 
to  higher  ideals  of  living  and  to  inform  the  world 
of  the  progress  being  made  by  the  Negro  race. 
When  this  portion  of  their  dream  is  realized  the 
mission  of  the  Pythian  Temple  will  very  nearly 
have  filled  its  place. 

Thus  a  building  has  been  erected  in  which  the 
Colored  Pythians  take  a  commendable  pride,  and 
which  forms  a  center  of  influence  for  the  colored 
race  which  will  work  for  their  good  for  many  years 
to  come. 


ALBERT  H.  JOHNSON,  M.  D. 


LBERT  H.  Johnson,  is  a  Can 
adian  by  birth.  He  was  born 
in  Windsor,  Ontario,  June  23, 
1870.  His  early  schooling  was 
had  in  the  public  school  system  of 
Canada.  After  leaving  Canada, 
the  young  man  attended  school  in  Detroit,  Michi 
gan.  From  the  Detroit  High  School  he  was  grad 
uated  in  1889.  From  the  Detroit  High  School  he 
entered  the  Detroit  College  of  medicine  and  sur 
gery,  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
in  1893. 

This  recital  of  the  school  training  gotten  by  Dr. 
Johnson  seems  simple  enough,  and  so  it  is  for  the 
young  man  with  ample  means  for  support.  But 
this  was  not  the  fact  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Johnson.  In 
order  to  get  his  education  he  had  to  work  his  way. 
He  started  his  career  as  a  newsboy.  In  this  he 
had  the  usual  life  of  the  newsboy.  He  learned  to 
give  and  take,  he  learned  human  nature  as  only  a 
newsboy  or  one  in  a  similar  line  can  learn  it.  From 
newsboy  he  next  became  a  news  agent.  In  this  oc 
cupation  he  continued  throughout  his  High  School 
career.  Dr.  Johnson  made  the  sale  of  news  items 
purchase  for  him,  in  a  large  measure  his  life  work. 

196 


After  receiving  his  M.  D.  from  the  Detroit  Col 
lege  of  Medicine  and  Surgery  Dr.  Johnson  hung 
out  his  shingle  in  the  City  of  Detroit.  At  first  he 
took  up  the  general  practice  of  medicine;  but  in 
19C9  he  was  appointed  Medical  Inspector  for 
schools.  This  caused  the  interest  of  Dr.  Johnson 
to  center  on  children  and  their  ailments.  For  the 
past  ten  years  he  has  given  most  of  his  time  to  the 
study  and  practice  of  this  branch  of  his  work.  This 
is  a  field  that  is  wide  and  is  not  as  yet  overcrowd 
ed.  In  this  line  Dr.  Johnson  has  made  a  marked 
success. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  also  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  W.  E.  &  A.  H.  Johnson,  Pharmacists. 
This  firm  is  doing  a  very  good  retail  drug  business. 
They  own  the  building  in  which  the  business  is 
housed  and  get  a  good  trade.  To  this  business  ven 
ture  as  to  his  practice,  Dr.  Johnson  has  applied 
himself  and  made  good.  The  wealth  of  experience 
that  falls  to  the  lot  of  the  physician  doing  a  good 
practice  is  enjoyed  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Johnson  has  taken  a  part  in  the  life  of  the 
city  of  his  choice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Mat 
thews  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  Of  this  Church 
he  is  vestryman  and  Senior  Warden.  He  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
of  the  Masonic  Order.  Dr.  Johnson  also  serves  as 
trustee  and  physician  to  the  Phillis  Wheatley 
Home  for  Aged  Women  of  Detroit,  Michigan.  The 
positions  held  by  him  show  the  breadth  of  the  in 
terest  of  Dr.  Johnson.  He  is  very  active  in  the 
National  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Col 
ored  People.  Of  this  organization  he  is  the  treas 
urer  of  the  Detroit  Branch.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Detroit  League  on 
Urban  Conditions  among  Negroes.  Dr.  Johnson 
also  has  the  honor  of  having  served  as  the  first 
president  of  the  Allied  Medical  Association,  an  or 
ganization  consisting  of  doctors,  dentists,  pharma 
cists  of  the  city  of  Detroit. 

During  the  years  he  has  been  out  of  school,  Dr. 
Johnson  has  saved  his  money  and  invested  it  wis 
ely.  He  owns  besides  half  interest  in  the  drug 
business  and  its  business  block  mentioned  earlier 
in  this  sketch,  a  six  family  apartment  house  and  a 
two  family  apartment  house.  The  home  in  which 
his  own  family  lives  is  also  his  property. 

For  business  and  for  pleasure  Dr.  Johnson  has 
traveled  extensively  in  the  United  States  and  in 
Canada,  lie  was  married  to  Miss  Lucile  Russell, 
of  Oberlin,  Ohio,  September  26th,  1900.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Johnson  are  the  proud  parents  of  one  beauti 
ful  young  daughter,  Phyllis  Mary  Johnson.  Little 
Miss  Johnson  is  ten  years  of  age  and  is  devoting 
her  time  time  to  the  duties  and  pleasures  of  child 
hood. 


EDWARD  WATSON 

DWARD  Watson,  was  born  July 
31.  1890,  in  Detroit,  Michigan.  He 
was  educated  in  thejniblic  schools 
of  his  native  city.  .  Mr.  Watson's 
father  died  before  he  had 
an  opportunity  for  college  work 
and  he  had  to  leave  school  in  order  to  help  his  mo 
ther  with  the  business.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
his  step-father  was  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business,  which  his  mother  decided  to  continue 
and  undertook  its  management.  This  she  found 
difficult  to  do  without  the  aid  of  her  son,  but  with 
his  assistance  the  business  was  continued  with 
great  success.  He  managed  the  business  jointly 
with  his  mother  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
four,  when  he  took  sole  charge  of  it  and  ran  it  suc 
cessfully  for  one  year.  At  the  end  of  that  period, 
Mr.  Watson  joined  Mr.  Gabriel  Davis,  as  a  partner 
in  the  undertaking  business.  The  firm  is  known  as 
Davis  and  Watson.  Together  they  have  done  a 
prosperous  business  and  have  very  good  prospects 
for  the  future. 

Mr.  Watson  is  an  active  member  of  the  St. 
Matthews  Episcopal  Church.  For  seven  years  he 
served  as  Altar  and  C'ross  Bearer.  He  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Masonic  Hiram,  Lodge  No.  1.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  lodge  for  eight  years. 

Mr.  Watson  is  not  married  and  has  only  twenty- 
eight  years  behind  him.  For  one  so  young  he  is 
doing  an  enviable  business. 


GABRIEL  DAVIS 

Gabriel  Davis  was  born  in  Uniontown,  Kentucky. 
May  22,  1872.  He  lived  on  a  farm  till  thirteen 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  Detroit, 
Michigan.  He  worked  for  his  father  till  1887,  and 
then  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Detroit  Street 
Railway.  He  worked  with  this  company  till  1897, 
and  then  took  up  the  duties  of  motorman,  till  1912. 

It  was  in  the  year  1912,  that  Mr.  Davis  decided 
to  start  in  business  for  himself.  He  chose  for  this 
the  Undertaking  Business  and  has  remained  true 
to  the  business  of  his  choice.  From  the  time  he 
established  his  business  he  has  made  it  earn  for 
him  a  good  living.  By  combining  with  the  Under 
taking  business  of  Edward  Watson  a  joint  interest 
of  decided  proportions  and  lucrative  nature  was  es 
tablished.  He  owns  his  place  of  business  and  three 
other  pieces  of  property. 

In  religious  belief,  Mr.  Davis  is  a  Baptist.  He 
is  liberal  when  it  comes  to  the  support  of  his  de 
nomination  and  he  also  gives  freely  of  his  time  in 
the  interest  of  the  work  of  the  church.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  and  the  Flks.  Mr. 
Davis  has  lived  in  Kentucky,  the  State  of  his  birth, 
in  Ontario,  the  State  in  which  he  got  his  education, 
and  in  Michigan,  the  State  in  which  he  has  become 
a  successful  business  man. 

It  is  his  success  in  business  that  earns  for  Mr. 
Davis  mention  in  these  pages.  In  education  he 
was  able  to  go  only  through  the  Grammar  school. 
But  he  is  one  of  the  many  who  demonstrate  the  fact 
that  business  ability  is  not  dependant  wholly  on 
education,  in  the  regular  school  courses. 


197 


WILLIAM   PAUL  KEMP 


ATE  in  life  some  men  find  their 
talent,  some  in  middle  age,  and  a 
few  glide  into  their  life  work, 
almost  unconsciously,  in  their 
youth.  Thus  its  was  with  Will 
iam  Paul  Kemp.  He  was  a  born 
editor,  and  he  commenced  his,  career  as  a  writer  at 
the  early  age  of  seventeen  years. 

Mr.  Kemp  was  born  in  Plattsmouth,  Nebraska, 
March  13th.,  1881,  but  moved  to  Lincoln,  Nebraska 
when  a  child  and  there  received  his  early  educa 
tional  training.  He  attended  the  Public  schools  of 
Lincoln,  and  for  two  years  studied  in  the  High 
school.  He  also  attended  the  University  of  Neb- 
braska  School  of  Music,  and  the  night  school  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  left  school  to  take  a 
position  on  Omaha  Bee  (White)  as  assistant 
Capital  correspondent.  This  was  in  1898.  From 
the  money  saved  during  his  connection  with  this 
paper  he  purchased  and  established,  April  29th, 
1899,  The  Lincoln  Leader.  He  gave  up  this  enter 
prise  for  a  time  to  become  assistant  correspondent 
for  the  Nebraska  State  Journal  (White),  at  Wash 
ington,  D.  C,  but  returned  to  Lincoln  the  latter 


part  of  1900,  where  he  resumed  the  publication  of 
the  Lincoln  Leader.  While  engaged  in  this  work 
he  became  active  in  politics,  affiliating  with  the  Re 
publican  party.  For  six  campaigns  he  was  connec 
ted  with  the  Nebraska  Republican  State  Central 
Committee,  rising  from  messenger  to  manager  of 
the  Literature  Department. 

October  8th.,  1907,  he  moved  to  Detroit,  Michi 
gan,  and  December  7th,  of  the  same  year,  he  start 
ed  the  Detroit  Leader.  It  had  a  short  life  and 
passed  out  February  13th.,  1908.  He  entered  the 
Mayor's  office  as  clerk  after  the  failure  of  his  pa 
per,  and  while  still  holding  his  position  as  clerk,  he 
started  in  January,  1909,  the  present  Detroit  Lead 
er.  November  1st.,  1909,  he  resigned  his  position 
in  the  Mayor's  office  and  devoted  his  entire  time 
to  his  business  venture. 

He  purchased  the  Owl  Printing  Co.  plant 
August  13th.,  1912,  which  he  consolidated  with  the 
Howitt  Printing  Co.,  September  26th,  1913,  con 
ducting  all  under  the  name  of  The  Detroit  Leader, 
of  which  he  is  the  sole  owner. 

In  addition  to  his  literary  attainments  Mr.  Kemp 
is  an  accomplished  musician  and  vocalist,  he  is  also 
an  athlete.  For  the  season  of  1902  he  coached  the 
Lincoln  Business  College  Football  team.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  Mathew's  Episcopal  church,  De 
troit,  and  five  times  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  Dio 
cesan  Convention.  He  is  Past  Master  in  Masonic 
Lodge  and  Ex-Officer  of  Masonic  Grand  Lodge, 
which  position  he  held  from  1905  to  1907;  Past 
Grand  Master  Council  of  G.  U.  O.  O.  F.,  Grand  Di 
rector  of  Michigan  D.  G.  L.,  Delegate  to  1918  B. 
M.  C;  Elk;  Deputy  Supreme  Chancellor  of  Knights 
of  Pythias  of  Michigan  and  Western  Canada  1917- 
1918;  Major  in  Uniform  Rank  Knights  of  Pythias 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  was  President  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  Political  Club.  He  was  First 
Vice-President  of  the  Republican  League  Clubs 
(White)  of  Nebraska;  only  Colored  member  of 
Delegation  from  Michigan  to  First  Good  Road 
Convention  of  United  States.  He  was  a  Director 
of  Kemp  Military  Band  of  Lincoln  Nebraska,  and 
Palestine  Commandry  Band,  of  Windsor,  Ontario. 
He  polled  the  largest  vote  of  any  colored  man  ever 
received  in  Detroit,  when  a  candidate  for  Board  of 
Estimators.  He  was  President  of  the  District 
Business  League ;  President  Soldier's  Welfare  Lea 
gue  of  Detroit ;  Chairman  of  Publicity,  N.  A.  A.  C. 
P.,  of  Detroit ;  First  Chairman  of  Detroit  Urban 
League  ;  Chairman  of  Negro  Committee  to  coope 
rate  with  National  League  of  Women's  service. 
These  are  but  a  few  of  the  honors  conferred  upon 
him.  To  mention  all  would  make  this  sketch  too 
lengthy  for  the  space  alloted  to  it. 

Mr.  Kemp  was  married  December  24th,  1900,  to 
Miss  Mary  Delia  Elder.     They  have  no  children. 


198 


REVEREND  AUGER  AUGUSTUS  COSEY 


EV.  A.  A.  Cosey,  born  in  Newellton 
County,  Louisiana,  July  2nd,  187d 
has  spent  a  long  and  useful  ca- 
reer  as  pastor  on  the  one  hand 
u  DL(\^?^  al1^  as  ')U"'der  an<l  promoter  on 
the  other.  His  early  days  were 
spent  on  the  farm  engaged  in  performing  such 
tasks  as  one  of  his  age  was  capable  of  performing 
and  attending  school,  when  such  was  possible. 

When  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  Rev.  Cosey 
leaving  both  the  farm  and  his  native  state,  en 
rolled  in  Natchez  College,  Natchez,  Mississippi. 
Following  the  example  of  the  vast  majority  who 
sought  education  in  the  nineties  Rev.  Cosey,  as  the 
phrase  goes,  had  to  work  his  way.  Happily  he  had 
so  well  mastered  his  subjects  that  he  could  teach. 
Thus  he  spent  his  summer  vacations  in  the  school 
room  earning  money  to  return  to  his  college.  Fin 
ishing  the  Natchez  College  Academic  course  in  1896 
he  again  went  out  to  teach,  teaching  for  six  years 
in  the  State  of  Mssissippi  before  engaging  exclus 
ively  in  his  chosen  profession.  While  attending 
Natchez  College,  Rev.  Cosey  devoted  much  time  to 
the  study  of  Theology,  having  decided  long  before 
to  enter  the  Baptist  ministry.  In  1896,  the  year  of 
his  graduation,  he  was  ordained  and  united  his 


work  as  school  teacher  and  minister.  One  year  af 
ter  ordination,  he  was  chosen  pastor  of  the  Metro 
politan  Baptist  Church,  Clarksdale,  Mississippi,  a 
post  he  filled  until  1905.  He  held  pastorates  also  at 
Greenville  and  at  Shelby.  For  the  last  ten  years, 
Rev.  Cosey  has  been  pastor  of  the  Green  Grove 
Baptist  Church,  at  Mound  Bayou,  the  famous  Ne 
gro  town,  where  he  has  not  only  been  perfoming 
duties  as  pastor,  but  has  been  lending  a  hand  in 
many  ways  to  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
town. 

From  the  beginnig  of  his  career  Rev.  Cosey 
proved  to  be  an  organizer  and  a  builder  as  well  as  a 
pastor.  He  was  really  the  organizer  of  the  Metro 
politan  Church  at  Clarksdale,  the  Church  in  which 
he  first  preached  as  pastor.  His  pastorate  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Mound  Bayou  over  which 
he  still  presides  took  on  again  the  form  of  builder. 
This  church  he  also  started,  giving  it  all  the  mod 
ern  equipment,  for  Sunday  School,  social  uplift  and 
communty  work.  Twelve  thousand  dollars  have 
already  been  put  into  this  building,  having  four 
thousand  more  to  be  raised. 

As  a  church  man  and  as  a  man  of  affairs,  Rev. 
Cosey  has  been  a  leader  not  only  in  Mound  Bayou 
but  in  Mississippi  for  many  years.  He  has  been 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  General  Misionary 
Baptist  Convention  of  the  state,  has  been  for  many 
years  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  National  Baptist 
Convention  and  served  for  a  number  of  years  as 
the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  National  Bap 
tist  Association. 

Powerful  as  well  as  useful  in  the  church,  Rev. 
Cosey  is  also  a  conspicuous  leader  in  fraternal  or 
ders.  He  is  a  Mason,  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a 
Knight  of  Tabor.  He  is  International  Chief  Grand 
Orator  of  the  Knights  of  Tabor  and  special  enlist 
ment  Master  for  Mississippi. 

When  the  people  of  Mound  Bayou  organized  a 
bank,  he  became  vice-president  and  stock  holder. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  organizing  and  promot 
ing  the  Mound  Bayou  Oil  Mill  Enterprise  and  lent 
his  influence  to  the  establishment  of  schools  and 
small  businesses  throughout  the  town. 

He  owns  a  splendid  two-story  residence  in 
Mound  Bayou  and  seven  rent  houses,  six  lots  and 
forty  acres  of  delta  farm  land. 

Rev.  Cosey  was  married  in  1901  to  Miss  Ida  Hope 
Carter,  of  Helena,  Arkansas.  Mrs.  Cosey  is  a  grad 
uate  of  A.  &  M.  College,  Normal,  Ala.  She  was 
for  years  a  teacher  both  in  Alabama  and  in  Arkan 
sas.  Throughout  Rev.  Cosey's  work,  she  has  been 
the  power  behind  the  throne.  Both  in  company 
with  Mrs.  Cosey  and  on  behalf  of  his  church  and 
fraternities,  Rev.  Cosey  has  traveled  over  the 
whole  of  the  United  States. 


199 


CHARLES  PRICE  JONES,  D.  D. 

ORN  in  Rome,  Georgia,  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  na 
tive  state  and  in  Arkansas  Baptist 
College,  Dr.  Charles  Price  Jones 
is  celebrated  as  a  writer  of  hymns 
and  as  a.  founder  of  a  religion 
But  he  disclaims  the  latter  title.  He  claims  only  to 
give  emphasis  to  an  old  neglected  doctrine.  He 
was  converted  in  1884,  and  baptized  in  1885  by  Rev. 
J.  D.  Petty.  Two  years  later  he  was  licensed  to 
preach,  and  in  1888  was  ordained  by  Rev.  Chas.  L. 
Fisher  However,  he  felt  that  a  higher  literary 
training  was  essential  to  one  who  has  visions  of  a 
useful  career  in  the  church.  It  was  with  this  in 
view  that  he  entered  Arkansas  Baptist  College,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  academic  Department  in 
1891. 

Dr.  Jones  began  to  ponder  more  deeply  the  words 
of  the  scripture.  To  him  all  things  seemed  possible 
in  Christ.  He  began  to  take  the  Bible  literally. 
Hence  arose  his  belief  in  holiness.  He  says,  "I  pas- 
tored  in  Arkansas  until  1892.  During  this  time  I 
was  corresponding  secretary  of  the  convention,  a 
trustee  of  the  Arkansas  Baptist  College  and  editor 
of  the  Baptist  Vangard. 

In  1892  I  accepted  a  call  fro  mBethlehem  Church, 


Searcy,  Arkansas,  where  I  had  pastored  18  months, 
to  the  Tabernacle  Baptist  Church,  Selma,  Alabama. 
Here  I  was  called  after  a  time,  to  the  life  and 
ministry  of  holiness,  but  had  no  idea  that  it  would 
result  in  a  disruption  with  the  Baptists  ;  for  I  be 
lieved  that  the  more  faithful  a  man  was  to  Christ 
in  his  daily  living  the  more  he  would  and  ought  to 
be  prized  by  the  people  of  God.  But  I  was  mistak 
en.  Yet  I,  myself  was  partly  to  blame.  Like  all 
who  get  an  important  vision,  I  was  extreme  in  my 
views  and  endeavors.  I  understood  it  to  mean, 
the  standing  of  every  believer  in  Christ  in  the  pres 
ence  of  God.  2nd,  the  condition  of  heart  that  the 
Holy  Ghost  imparts  to  make  us  delight  in  God's 
will,  the  daily  effort  of  the  believer's  faith  to  con 
form  to  that  will;  the  inevitable  result  of  living  in 
Christ  by  faith.  Indeed,  I  merely  conceived  it  to  be 
a  trust  in  God  that  obtained  grace  to  walk  before 
Him  in  all  pleasing,  trusting  the  blood  of  Christ 
to  deal  with  the  sin  of  our  nature.  I  do  not  teach  the 
impossibility  of  our  sinning,  but  the  necessity  of 
having  grace  to  live  Godly,  that  "the  wages  of  sin 
is  death," — (Romans). 

"In  Feberuary,  1895,  I  accepted  a  call  to  Mount 
Helm  Baptist  Church,  Jackson,  Miss.  In  1897  I 
called  the  first  Holiness  Convention  to  meet  at 
Jackson,  June  6th  and  study  the  Bible  two  weeks. 
There  were  present  at  this  convention  such  men 
as  Dr.  J.  A.  Jeter  of  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  Pastor 
W.  S.  Pleasant,  of  Hazelhurst,  Miss.,  and  many 
others. 

"In  1898  the  convention  was  more  largely  at 
tended  and  the  opposition  had  gathered  power ;  and 
in  1898  at  the  convention  at  Winona  steps  were  tak 
en  to  fight  our  extreme  attitude,  then  we  built  the 
present  commodious  building.  We  have  a  school  at 
Jackson  incorporated  as  Christ's  Missionary  and 
Industrial  College.  Through  the  efforts  of  Elders 
W.  S.  Pleasant,  J.  A.  Jeter,  L.  W.  Lee,  Thomas 
Sanders,  F.  S.  Sheriff,  G.  H.  Punches,  Deacon  Hen 
ry  Moore,  Clarke  Kendricks  and  others,  this  work 
was  established.  It  has  carried  in  prosperous  years 
200  students  and  12  instructors.  It  has  turned  a 
number  of  graduates  from  the  12th  grade  who  are 
making  good.  The  value  of  the  property  (encum 
bered)  is  $15,000." 

He  was  for  twenty-one  years  editor  of  the 
"Truth."  He  is  author  of  several  hymn  books, 
which  are  used  widely  by  ministers  and  members 
of  both  races.  In  1915  Arkansas  Baptist  College 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divin 
ity.  However,  in  his  own  words,  "I  attended  strict 
ly  to  my  own  business,  no  time  for  worldly  honors." 

He  was  married  in  1892  to  Miss  Fannie  A.  Brown 
of  Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  Mrs.  Jones  died  in  1916. 
Their  one  child  is  also  deceased. 

He  is  now  pastor  of  Christ  Tabernacle,  a  new 
church  at  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  and  is  General  Over 
seer  of  the  Holiness  work.  Jan.  4,  1918,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Pearl  Reed  of  that  city. 

The  school  at  Jackson  is  now  under  the  Presi 
dency  of  Dr.  J.  L.  Conic. 


2CO 


EPHRIAM   H.   McKISSACK.   A.   B.,   A.   M. 


OR  many  years  Kphriam  H.  Mc- 
Kissack  has  been  a  leader  in  the 
state  of  Mississippi.  This  lead- 
ershiu  has  radiated  in  many  direc 
tions.  It  first  asserted  itself  in  his 
work  as  a  school  man.  Well  edu 
cated  and  possessing  an  easy  adaptation  he  soon 
became  a  leader  in  business,  in  politics,  in  church 
and  secret  orders. 

Professor  McKissack  was  born  in  Memphis,  Ten 
nessee,  November  22,  1860.  His  parents  were 
William  and  Katie  Mitchell,  both  of  whom  died 
when  he  was  four  years  old.  The  young  lad  was 
adopted  and  reared  by  his  aunt,  Fannie  McKissack, 
from  whom  he  took  his  name. 

As  an  adopted  son  he  fared  well  in  the  home  of 
his  aunt.  He  had  ample  care,  was  provided  gen 
erously  with  clothing,  books,  indeed  everything  to 
encourage  him  to  achieve.  To  all  this  he  readily 
responded..  After  attending  the  public  schools  he 
entered  Rust  University.  From  this  institution  he 
gained  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  and  Master 
of  Arts;  the  former  in  1895,  the  latter  in  1898. 

Long  before  he  completed  his  course  Professor 
McKissack  had  become  active  in  the  affairs  of  his 


state.  He  had  joined  the  Methodist  Church  and 
had  become  one  of  its  leading  directors  and  work 
ers.  He  was  a  trustee,  a  steward  and  a  Sunday 
School  teacher  in  Asbury  Church ;  was  a  member 
of  the  upper  Mississippi  Conference  and  president 
of  the  Conference  Board  of  Church  Extensions.  In 
1896  he  was  a  member  of  the  Church  General  Con 
ference,  then  again  in  1900-1904,  1908-1912-1916. 
He  served  one  year,  the  year  following  his  at 
tainment  of  Master  of  Arts,  as  principal  of  the 
Holly  Springs  City  Schools.  Then  his  alma  mater 
called  him  to  a  chair  within  her  walls.  From  1890 
to  1911  he  was  a  member  of  the  Rust  University 
faculty.  In  1911  he  resigned  his  post  in  Rust  and 
became  manager  of  the  Union  Guaranty  and  In 
surance  Company  of  Holly  Springs. 

His  departure  from  the  schoolroom  did  not  sever 
his  connections  with  the  school,  it  did  signal  how 
ever,  a  wider  activity  in  his  business  and  in  other 
practical  matters.  He  entered  politics  and  became 
an  active  and  aggressive  Republican;  so  effective 
was  his  work  that  he  was  made  chairman  of  the 
seventh  Congressional  District  of  his  State,  and  in 
1908-1912,  he  was  made  delegate  to  the  Republican 
National  Convention.  For  twenty  years  Professor 
McKissack  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  Benefit  Association.  He  has  so  care 
fully  handled  his  accounts  and  adjusted  claims  that 
little  friction  has  ever  arisen,  a  thing  rare  indeed 
in  any  sort  of  benefit  or  insurance  organization 

I  romment  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Association  he  is  a 
conspicuous  worker  in  practically  all  Negro  lodges, 
in  the  state  of  Mississippi,  a  state  thoroughly  in 
fested  with  secret  orders.  He  is  a  Mason,  a  Knight 
of  Pythias,  a  member  of  the  United  Sons  and 
Daughters  of  Jacob,  of  the  Fastern  Star,  of  the  Im- 
maculates,  of  the  Reformers.  He  is  still,  as  in  form 
er  days,  a  pillar  in  the  church  and  in  the  school.  He 
keeps  up  his  connection  with  conferences  and  with 
the  Sunday  School  and  has  added  to  those  his  mem 
bership  in  the  Federated  Commission  of  Colored 
Churches.  Although  he  has  long  since  left  the 
school  room  he  still  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the 
schools  of  the  State,  with  the  schools  in  the  city, 
and  of  course  with  every  twist  and  turn  of  the  af- 
Rust  University.  In  Rust  he  has  reached  a  most 
honored  post,  he  has  not  only  been  elected  a  mem- 
be  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  he  is  vice-president  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees.  Professor  McKissack  has 
done  what  to  some  seems  the  incredible  thing.  He 
has  the  refusal  of  the  presidency  of  the  institution, 
He  had  served  Rust  as  head  of  the  Commercial  de 
partment,  as  professor  of  mathematics,  professor 
of  natural  science  and  as  secretary  of  the  faculty, 
when,  therefore,  Rust  needed  a  president  in  1909, 
the  office  was  tendered  Professor  McKissack  but 
he  declined,  preferring  business  and  a  more  general 
public  career. 

Professor  McKissack  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Fxtim  of  Yazoo  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKissack 
have  one  son.  Dr.  Autrey  C.  McKissack,  M.  D.  who 
is  a  successful  physician  of  Memphis,  Tennessee: 
Professor  and  Mrs.  McKissack  live  in  their  own 
home  in  Holly  Springs,  a  residence  second  to  but 
few  in  the  town. 


201 


WILLIAM    CLAUD   GORDON 


OMETIME  ago,  a  business  census 
of  St.  Louis,  Missiouri,  revealed 
the  fact  that  Mr.  W.  C.  Gordon,  a 
colored  undertaker  of  that  city, 
had  handled  the  largest  number 
of  bodies  of  any  undertaker,  re 
gardless  of  color,  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  For  this 
remarkable  fact,  those  who  knew  him  well  account 
ed  in  several  ways  ;  first,  they  say  that  he  is  a  good 
man,  and  they  give  great  stress  to  this  first  point ; 
then  the}'  say  he  is  fair  in  his  business  dealings, 
especially  in  his  dealings  with  the  widows  and  or 
phans  ;  and  the  third  point  on  which  they  lay  stress 
in  that  his  equipment  and  his  headquarters  are  such 
as  to  make  any  customer  proud  to  employ  his  ser 
vices. 

Risen  from  poverty  to  that  envious  stage  of  com 
petence,  if  not  wealth,  Mr.  Gordon  has  kept  an  op 
en  hand  for  aspiring  young  men  and  women,  and 
has  maintained  a  ready  sheckle  for  church,  orphan 
age,  school — indeed  he  has  been  ready  and  willing 
to  help  all  worthy  undertakings  for  the  advance 
ment  of  the  colored  people. 

Unlike  many  who  have  climbed  successfully,  he 
did  not  kick  the  ladder  down,  once  he  gained  the 
ascent  but  remembering  his  own  early  struggles  he 


has  been  always  ready  to  help  another  over  the 
first  rough  stretch.  Mr.  Gordon  was  born  in  Colum 
bia,  Tennessee,  March  15,  1862.  From  this  date, 
we  can  gather  that  Mr.  Gordon  as  a  very  small 
lad  saw  a  little  of  the  last  bitter  days  of  slavery 
and  all  of  the  struggles  for  freedom  and  readjust 
ment.  There  is  therefore  nothing  surprising  in  the 
fact  that  the  young  man  had  no  opportunity  to  de 
velop  his  mind  in  the  school  room.  While  still  a 
young  man,  Mr.  Gordon  went  to  St.  Louis.  Here 
he  found  himself  in  a  very  unfortunate  position — 
he  was  without  means,  without  education  and  with 
out  friends.  To  earn  a  living  for  himself  he  first 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Pullman  service,  where 
for  several  years  he  served  as  a  porter.  But  Mr. 
Gordon  was  an  ambitious  man,  and  so  was  not  sat 
isfied  with  being  a  porter  for  life.  When  he  had 
saved  a  small  sum  of  money,  he  quit  the  service  and 
went  into  the  undertaking  business  for  himself. 
His  first  business  was  on  a  very  small  scale,  and  as 
a  venture  it  was  feeble,  very  feeble.  But  putting 
all  his  mind  and  thought  on  his  work,  it  began  to 
develop  and  Mr.  Gordon  himself,  was  among  those 
who  was  surprised  at  the  very  great  rapidity  of  the 
growth  of  the  venture.  From  his  very  feeble  be 
ginning  his  business  has  developed  until  today  his 
is  among  the  best  equipped  and  largest  firms  of 
Negro  undertakers.  Indeed  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
he  is  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  undertaking 
business,  regardless  of  race.  He  gives  regular  em 
ployment  to  eight  persons. 

His  natural  habit  of  saving  did  not  leave  him, 
when  he  began  to  make  money  in  larger  sums,  and 
so  after  a  time,  Mr.  Gordon  had  enough  money 
saved  to  invest  in  some  other  line  of  work.  Cast 
ing  about  for  a  profitable  investment  for  this  sur 
plus,  and  investment  which  would  be  yielded  fair 
interest  and  at  the  same  time  give  employment  to 
a  large  number  of  colored  people  Mr.  Gordon  open 
ed  a  steam  laundry.  This  he  has  been  running  for 
the  last  seven  years,  The  laundry  is  equipped  with 
all  modern  appliances,  washers,  mangles,  driers, 
and  the  like.  In  St.  Louis  it  is  well  known  and 
is  liberally  patronized  for  its  prompt  and  efficient 
work.  In  the  operation  of  this  laundry  with  its 
great  number  of  patrons,  Mr.  Gordon  employs 
thirty-five  persons.  This  entails  -a.  payroll  of 
$335.00  per  week. 

A  conservative  valuation  of  the  two  businesses 
is  placed  at  $30,000.00.  Besides  this,  Mr.  Gordon 
owns  his  home,  much  real  estate  and  has  interest 
in  motor  hacks  and  vehicles.  In  all  Mr.  Gordon  is 
worth  about  $70.000.00  Mr.  Gordon  is  a  member 
of  the  National  Negro  Business  Men's  League,  an 
organization  in  which  he  has  taken  a  great  deal  of 
interest.  In  his  religious  belief  he  is  African  Me 
thodist  Episcopal.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
St.  Paul  Church,  of  St.  Louis. 

In  1908,  Mr.  Gordon  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Hunton,  of  Detroit,  Michigan.  Two  little  children 
have  come  to  help  make  the  home  of  the  Gordon's 
a  happy  one.  They  are  Charity,  age  six  years,  and 
Claud,  age  eight.  The  two  little  pupils  are  in  the 
public  school  of  St.  Louis. 


202 


JOHN  EDWARD   PERRY,  M.  D. 


R.  J.  Edward  Perry,  of  Kansas 
City,  Missiouri,  born  in  Clarks- 
ville,  Texas,  Red  River-  County, 
April  2nd,  1870.  His  parents  were 
ex-slaves  and  refugeed  from  Mis 
souri  and  Arkansas.  They  were 
remarkable  characters,  noted  for  their  integrity, 
industry,  courtesy,  generosity  and  honesty.  Their 
ambition  was  to  provide  a  home  for  their  children 
and  educate  them.  Johnny  had  no  opportunity  to 
go  to  school  until  he  was  nine  years  of  age.  He 
was  then  sent  to  a  log  cabin,  which  was  on  a  small 
plot  of  ground  given  by  his  father. 

His  early  days  were  spent  in  the  cotton  fields  of 
Texas,  going  to  school  about  three  months  in  a 
year  until  he  was  over  thirteen  years  of  age.  When 
he  entered  Bishop  College  he  earned  a  greater  por 
tion  of  his  expenses  by  doing  daily  services  for  the 
teachers  of  the  schools.  This  service  consisted  of 
duties  such  as — milking  the  cows,  scrubbing  floors, 
cutting  wood,  and  building  fires.  He  then  taught  a 
country  school  from  1891  until  1894,  making  and 
saving  sufficient  funds  to  graduate  from  Meharry 
Medical  College,  in  1895,  and  began  his  practice 
February  15,  1895,  and  made  a  competency  from 
the  first  week  of  his  practice.  This  was  begun  in 

203 


Mexico,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  six  months, 
then  moved  to  Columbia,  Missouri  where  the  great 
University  of  the  State  of  Missouri  is  located.  Giv 
ing  up  practice  in  1898,  he  served  his  Country  as 
1st  Lieutenant  in  7th  U.  S.  Vol.  Infantry.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Columbia,  re 
suming  his  practice. 

By  his  suave  nature,  genial  disposition  and  effec 
tive  work,  he  pushed  his  way  into  the  State  Hos 
pital  at  Columbia,  Missouri,  where  he  enjoyed  the 
professional  association  of  the  best  talent  that 
money  of  this  State  would  employ.  There  is  as 
much  prejudice  in  Missouri,  as  in  any  other  South 
ern  State,  and  when  those  in  authority  were  brought 
to  task  about  the  consideration  given  Dr.  Perry 
they  denied  the  fact  that  he  was  a  Negro  though 
he  is  extremely  dark  and  no  one  would  ever  think 
of  calling  him  even  a  mulatto. 

He  has  spent  considerable  time  working  for  pro 
fessional  uplift,  built  a  private  Hospital  in  1910, 
loaned  the  hospital  to  the  community  three  years 
later,  and  through  that  medium  created  sentiment 
sufficient  to  raise  quite  an  ample  sum  for  the  erec 
tion  of  an  Institution  for  the  people.  He  has  work 
ed  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  was  its  first  president  of  this 
city  and  he  works  in  every  avenue  for  racial  uplift. 
He  has  been  interested  in  a  number  of  business 
enterprises,  always  trying  to  provide  a  place  for 
young  men  and  women.  He  is  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  of  the  S.  P.  L.  Mercantile  and  Invest 
ment  Company,  a  firm  growing  out  of  the  People's 
Drug  Store,  a  very  successful  enterprise. 

He  married  Miss  Fredericka  D.  Sprague,  July  3, 
1912.  Mrs.  Perry  is  the  granddaughter  of  Frede 
rick  Douglass. 

Dr.  Perry  is  considered  the  leading  colored  phy 
sician  in  Kansas  City,  both  as  a  practititioneer  and 
as  a  surgeon.  In  these  later  years  he  has  given 
most  of  his  time  to  surgery,  both  in  connection 
with  the  General  Hospital  and  his  private  Sanita 
rium.  As  evidence  of  his  skill  in  surgery,  he  is 
frequently  called  to  operate,  as  far  south  as  Texas 
and  to  various  points  in  Missouri,  including  St. 
Louis.  He  is  regarded  the  leading  Negro  surgeon 
west  of  Chicago.  After  Dr.  Perry  had  practiced  a 
few  years,  he  sought  further  preparation  speciali 
zing  in  surgery  by  attending  the  Post  Graduate 
Hospital  of  Chicago,  Illinois. 

As  a  physician,  Dr.  Perry  is  progressive.  In  all 
matters  he  is  conservative  and  especially  frank.  He 
can  be  depended  upon  at  all  times  to  be  fair  in  deal 
ings  with  his  patients,  both  in  information  and 
treatment  and  in  his  business  dealings  with  them. 
The  new  hospital  which  has  just  been  acquired  bv 
the  colored  people  of  Kansas  City  is  largely  the 
result  of  Dr.  Perry's  untiring  labors  and  is  indeed 
a  fitting  reward  for  his  unselfish  devotion  to  the 
people  of  Kansas  City. 


ANDERSON  RUSSELL 

R.   Anderson    Russell   was   born   in 
Smith    County,    Mississippi,    April 
1st.,    1864,   and   died   in    St.    Louis 
Missouri,    September    2nd.,     1917, 
after   spending-  a   useful  and   suc 
cessful    life.     His    education    was 
confined  to  the  Rural  Schools    of 
his    neighborhood,    which       were 
greatly  inferior  to  such  schools  of  the  present  day, 
which  even  now  are    far    from    being    what    they 
should  be. 

If  the  schools  failed  to  give  him  a  high  standard 
of  learning  they  still  served  him  a  good  turn  for 
his  contact  with  books  set  his  active  mind  to  work 
and  caused  him  to  form  the  habit  of  thinking  clear- 
ly. 

When  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  his  parents 
left  Mississippi,  and  moved  to  Alton,  Illinois. 

In  his  new  home  he  entered  the  service  of  a  num 
ber  of  private  families.  Here  he  labored  until  1890, 
when  he  left  Alton,  and  went  to  St.  Louis,  to  enter 
the  service  of  the  Pullman  Palace  Car  Co.  His  con 
nection  with  this  company  continued  for  four  years 
At  the  end  of  this  term  he  had  saved  sufficient 
funds  from  his  wages  to  enter  a  business  of  his 
own. 

He  formed  a  co-partnership  under  the  firm  name 
of  Russell  and  Gordon,  and  conducted  an  undertak 
ing  business.  They  remained  together  and  did 
business  under  the  original  firm  name  until  in 
1902,  when  they  separated  and  each  opened  a  busi 
ness  of  his  own. 

Mr.  Russell's  business  continued  to  prosper  and 
he  soon  was  enabled  to  take  from  the  business 
funds  to  purchase  real  estate.  His  investments 
were  wisely  chosen  and  became  a  source  of  reve- 

204 


nue  to  him-  He  purchased  the  building  in  which 
his  business  was  located  and  adjusted  it  to  meet 
his  wants.  He  also  purchased  a  double  flat  and 
four  rent  houses. 

Mr.  Russell  was  a  religious  man,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  work  of  the  church.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Union  Memorial  Church,  which  he 
joined  in  1908. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Russell's  business  brought  him  into  inti 
mate  contact  with  the  home  life  of  many  families 
and  he  soon  formed  the  habit  of  thinking  and  plan 
ning  for  their  betterment.  He  saw  the  value  of 
many  of  the  societies  organized  for  their  benefit 
and  became  actively  identified  with  them.  He 
might  be  termed  a  Society  man  for  his  name  was 
on  the  roster  of  most  of  them. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Masons,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Odd  Fellows,  and  United  Brothers  of 
Friendship. 

His  service  in  the  Pullman  Palace  Car  Company 
gave  him  the  opportunity  for  travel  and  enabled 
him  to  visit  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  parts 
of  Mexico. 

He  met  his  life  companion,  Miss  Priscilla  Prim- 
gle,  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  married  to  her  June 
28,  1906.  Although  their  married  life  was  without 
issue  it  was  thoroughly  congenial  and  happy. 

Mr.  Russell's  health  began  to  fail  him  in  1916, 
and  he  soon  got  too  ill  to  give  attention  to  his  busi 
ness.  He  grew  weaker  continuously  and  was 
never  again  able  to  look  after  his  affairs,  lie  lin 
gered  until  September  2nd,  1917,  when  he  passed 
into  the  other  State. 

The  business  which  he  had  so  carefully  built  up 
and  to  which  he  had  given  so  much  of  his  time  and 
thought  did  not  die  with  him.  It  was  incorporated 
into  a  company,  known  as  the  "A.  Russell  Under 
taking  Company.  Incorporated."  His  sister,  An 
nie  K.  Russell,  was  elected  President  of  the  Com 
pany,  and  carries  on  the  business  along  the  same 
business  principles  employed  by  her  brother,  work 
ing  out  the  plans  outlined  by  him. 

Under  the  new  management  the  business  still 
continues  to  prosper. 


HOME  OF  A.  RUSSELL  UNDERTAKING  CO. 


CHARLES  HYMEN  TURPIN 

JrlARLES  Hymen  Turpin,  is  a  suc 
cessful  business  man  of  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  Mr.  Turpin  belongs  to 
the  class  of  men  who  do  things. 
He  is  a  man  who  will  meet  an  op 
portunity  squarely  and  use  it  ad 
vantageously.  He  has  a  natural  ability,  is  indus 
trious  and  persistent.  He  is  practical  and  never  en 
ters  a  project  without  first  weighing  that  keen 
competition  which  always  besets  every  venture 
worth  while.  He  is  not  the  type  of  man  who  will 
shrink  from  the  arrows  of  opposition,  but  is  spur 
red  on  by  them  to  the  accomplishment  of  his  aims. 
Once  started,  his  resolute  determination  and  in 
domitable  courage,  backed  by  explicit  confidence 
in  himself,  visually  carries  him  through  all  difficul 
ties  to  the  goal  of  his  ambitions. 

That  these  qualities  are  natural,  is  best  illustrat 
ed  by  a  few  incidents  in  his  boyhood  life.  At  the 
age  of  ten,  when  he  was  a  boot-black,  he  attempt 
ed  to  organize  a  union,  in  order  to  raise  the  price 
of  "shines".  Failing  to  interest  the  other  boys,  he 
aggressively  declared  the  "Union"  in  effect  with 
himself  as  the  only  member,  and  elected  him 
self  president,  secretary  and  treasurer,  raised  the 
price  of  "shines"  and  proceeded  to  monopolize  the 

205 


industry  to  the  detriment  of  his  faint-hearted  com 
petitors.  One  day  at  the  old  St.  Louis  Fairgrounds, 
he  noticed  that  the  paddock  was  not  being  used. 
He  immediately  appointed  himself,  "Paddock 
manager",  hired  a  few  boys  and  earned  $18.00  f 
himself  that  day.  His  first  real  salary  was  $1.00 
per  week  as  a  house  servant  and  since  drawing  his 
first  week's  pay  he  declares  he  has  never  been 
"broke." 

Mr.  Turpin  was  born  in  Columbus,  Georgia  and 
came  to  St.  Louis,  with  his  parents,  when  a  small 
boy.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
holds  two  diplomas  from  business  colleges.  At 
the  age  of  21  he  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the 
Assessor's  office  and  later  in  the  office  of  Record 
er  of  Deeds.  At  one  time  he  accepted  an  appoint 
ment  as  clerk  in  the  St.  Louis  Post  Office,  having 
been  second  on  a  list  of  89  eligibles.  His  progres 
sive  ambition,  however,  would  not  permit  him  to 
remain  long,  being  always  haunted  with  the  feeling 
the  service  meant,  "Abandon  hope  all  ye  who  en 
ter  here." 

In  the  year  1910  Mr.  Turpin  was  elected  Con 
stable  of  the  Fourth  District,  by  the  Republican 
Party,  St.  Louis.  His  election  was  an  agreeable 
surprise  to  even  his  dearest  friends  and  when  he 
took  the  office  he  had  the  distinction  of  being  the 
only  Negro  ever  elected  to  a  State  office  in  Mis 
souri.  He  served  a  four  year  term  with  efficiency 
and  credit;  raised  the  dignity  of  the  office,  increas 
ed  the  revenue  and  was  instrumental  in  establish 
ing  new  rules  more  favorable  to  the  poorer  classes. 
Mixed  juries,  of  white  and  colored,  were  also  es 
tablished  during  this  time. 

He  was  again  re-nominated  and  re-elected  in 
1914,  was  counted  out,  and  although,  after  a  con 
test  in  which  the  ballot  boxes  were  opened,  the  Su 
preme  Court  sustained  the  decision  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  that  he  was  duly  elected  and  was  entitled 
to  the  office,  that  tribunal,  failed  to  hand  down  the 
final  mandamus  that  would  permit  him  to  take  his 
seat.  He  has  announced  that  he  will  be  a  candidate 
again  in  1918. 

Mr.  Turpin  is  owner  and  manager  of  the  Book 
er  Washington  Theatre,  in  St.  Louis.  This  modern 
fire-proof  vaudevlle  and  picture  house,  with  a  seat 
ing  capacity  of  a  thousand,  is  the  first  in  the  coun 
try,  to  be  built  by  a  Negro  and  operated  by  and  for 
Negroes.  Mr.  Turpin  is  also  interested  in  the  mo 
tion  picture  business.  His  "Salambo,"  now  show 
ing  throughout  the  country,  is  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  spectacles  ever  filmed.  He  has  also 
personally  supervised  the  filming  of  many  notable 
events  of  the  race,  the  latest  being  complete  re 
production  of  the  Pythian  Parade  and  Encampment 
in  St.  Louis,  in  Aug..  1917.  Also  he  shows  the  color 
ed  drafted  men  at  Camp  Funston,  Kan.,  part  of  the 
92nd  Division.  This  is  the  only  moving  picture  of 
colored  troops  made  up  to  this  time  since  war  has 
been  declared  between  the  U.  S.  and  Germany.  This 
industrious  business  man  also  finds  time  and  is  en- 
tergetic  in  helping  to  stimulate  and  develop  interest 
in  race  pride,  co-operation  and  loyalty;  and  is  al 
ways  conspicuously  identified  with  every  move 
ment  for  the  advancement  of  colored  people. 


FORTUNE  J.  WEAVER 


HE  business  instinct  seems  born  in 
some  men  and  it  only  needs  a 
favorable  opportunity  to  bring  it 
into  the  light.  The  fire  may  burn 
low  for  a  while,  but  the  instinct 
will  show  itself  when  only  a  very 
small  breeze  of  prosperity  fans  the  embers  into  a 
flame.  It  was  so  with  Fortune  J.  Weaver,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  the  son  of  Fortune 
and  Millie  Weaver,  and  was  born  in  Council  Grove, 
Morris  County,  Kansas,  May  the  e  ighth,  1874. 
When  a  child  only  eight  years  of  age  his  father 
died  and  left  a  widow  and  eight  children.  The  bur 
den  of  their  support  made  it  necessary  to  send  For 
tune  to  a  neighboring  farm  to  live.  He  found  a 
home  with  Alfred  and  Emma  Smith,  who  owned  a 
small  farm  near  Council  Grove.  This  proved  a 
great  blessing  to  Fortune,  for  his  foster  parents 
treated  him  with  every  consideration  and  gave  him 
every  advantage  of  educaion  that  their  means 
would  admit.  Speaking  of  his  foster  parents,  he 
gives  them  the  credit  for  his  life  inspiration  and 
success  in  attaining  his  goal.  He  lived  with  his  fos 
ter  parents  on  the  farm  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  out  in  the  world  to  hus 
tle  for  himself.  The  common  school  education  he 


had  received  while  working  on  the  farm  and  a  de 
termined  spirit  was  his  full  equipment.  This  may 
appear  to  many  a  small  asset  with  which  to  begin 
life  but  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Weaver  it  proved  an 
ample  start.  With  it  he  went  forth  to  work  out 
his  destiny,  and  with  it  he  carved  his  way  to  sue. 
cess. 

Kansas  City,  Missouri  was  the  city  of  his  choice, 
and  to  reach  it  he  had  to  ride  on  a  freight  train. 
When  he  arrived  in  Kansas  City  it  was  with  an 
empty  pocket  book,  but  nothing  daunted  he  sought 
employment  which  partially  supplied  his  needs. 
For  two  weeks  he  worked  without  a  daily  square 
meals,  frequently  feeling  the  pangs  of  hunger  and 
consequently  the  lowering  of  his  vitality  for  lack 
of  sufficient  and  nourishing  food.  While  it  was 
hard  at  the  time  he  now  regards  the  experience  as 
a  blissing  for  it  taught  him  the  value  of  a  dollar 
and  inculcated  the  principle  of  economy,  a  principle 
which  has  stood  him  well  throughout  his  business 
career.  While  it  was  hard  at  the  time  he  now  re- 
througout  his  business  career,  causing  him  to  save 
the  dimes  and  accumulate  a  nice  fortune. 

Passing  over  the  period  of  his  development  as  a 
business  man  and  the  steps  by  which  he  has  reach 
ed  his  present  high  position,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
point  out  the  value  of  his  possessions,  which 
amount  to  $50.000.00,  and  which  consist  of  residen 
ces  and  apartment  buildings  in  Kansas  City,  and 
turn  to  the  institutions  which  he  heads  and  to 
which  he  has  given  his  best  thought  and  business 
talents.  He  is  the  President  and  founder  of  the 
Afro-American  Investment  and  Employment  Com 
pany,  Inc.  Through  this  Company,  he  has  made  a 
connecting  link  between  the  White  property  own 
ers  and  business  firms,  and  the  Negro  citizens  of 
greater  Kansas  City.  He  has  made  it  possible  for 
them  to  buy  modern  homes,  in  desirable  sections  of 
the  city,  on  the  easy  payment  plan,  and  employ 
ment  furnished  them  while  they  were  paying  their 
installments. 

He  is  the  President  and  Founder  of  the  Kansas 
City  branch  of  the  National  Negro  Business  Lea 
gue,  which  position  he  has  held  for  nine  years.  This 
institution  has  encouraged  hundreds  of  Negro  men 
and  women  to  embark  in  business  enterprises  of 
various  kinds. 

Seeking  the  co-operation  of  the  late  Booker  T. 
Washington,  he  succeeded  in  having  the  National 
Negro  Business  League  hold  its  annual  session  in 
Kansas  City  in  1916.  At  this  meeting  he  was  el 
ected  as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Mr.  Weaver  has  been  married  three  times — first 
to  Miss  Lizzie  Stewart  in  1890.  then  to  Miss  Stran- 
ella  Hoyl,  in  1895,  and  to  Miss  Bessie  Henderson, 
in  1901.  He  has  but  two  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl, 
Fortune  Weaver,  Jr.,  and  Cornaleta  Odessa  Weav 


er. 


206 


LEE  S.  WILLIAMS 

HEN  asked  to  write  of  his  life  so 
that  the  facts  of  his  rise  to  a  place 
of  importance  in  the  world  of  Ne 
gro  business  in  St.  Louis  might  be 
an  inspiration  to  Negro  youth  ev- 

erywhere.     Mr.     Williams,     after 

some  hesitation,  sent  this  report  of  his  life  work. 
In  this  report  he  goes  into  detail  about  the  steps 
that  marked  his  steady  growth.  Even  the  very 
young  lad  who  reads  this  will  be  led  to  aspire  to 
a  place  in  the  business  world. 

"I  was  born  at  Jonesburg,  Montgomery  Co., 
Missouri,  on  May  11,  1868.  My  mother  brought 
me  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  December,  1873,  and  I  en 
tered  the  public  school  in  1875 ;  at  the  age  of  eight 
years  I  was  errand  boy  for  the  neighborhood,  and 
did  chores  for  the  neighbors  such  as  cutting  kind 
ling  and  carrying  coal  before  and  after  school.  Dur 
ing  vacation  I  helped  my  mother  do  laundry  work 
and  continued  doing  chores  for  the  neighbors. 

At  the  age  of  ten  years,  during  my  vacation.  I 
secured  a  job  at  a  brick-yard  brushing  brick  at  a 
salary  of  forty  cents  per  day ;  worked  at  that  one 
month  and  then  was  promoted  to  driving  a  cart 
at  a  salary  of  fifty  cents  per  day.  and  worked  at 
that  until  school  opened  again.  I  again  started  at 

207 


my  old  job  of  doing  chores  for  the  neighbors  be 
fore  and  after  school  hours. 

The  next  vacation,  I  secured  a  position  in  a  rope- 
walk  and  made  rope  at  a  salary  of  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  per  week,  but  being  the  only  Negro  boy 
there,  and  not  getting  the  same  salary  for  the  same 
work  as  done  by  the  white  boys,  I  left  there  and 
secured  a  position  in  a  Nursery  at  a  salary  of  three 
dollars  per  week,  and  held  this  position  until  the 
fall  term  of  school,  when  I  again  started  doing 
chores  as  before. 

The  following  summer  I  began  driving  a  one- 
horse  coal  wagon  at  a  salary  of  three  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  per  week,  and  stayed  at  that  work  un 
til  school  opened  again  when  I  secured  a  position 
in  a  repair  shop  and  learned  to  repair  shoes  and 
cane  chairs  by  working  before  and  after  school 
hours,  and  I  sold  papers  on  Sunday  mornings.  I 
stayed  at  this  place  about  eighteen  months,  then 
secured  a  place  in  a  tobacco  factory,  at  a  salary  of 
four  dollars  per  week  and  after  being  there  six 
months  was  promoted  to  foreman  over  eight  boys, 
who  had  been  there  about  two  or  three  years. 

On  account  of  a  strike  the  factory  closed  and  I 
was  forced  to  find  other  employment  so  I  started 
as  a  delivery  boy  in  a  butcher-shop,  and  continued 
at  this  work  for  two  years,  attending  school  at 
night.  I  then  started  working  as  a  Pullman  por 
ter,  and  worked  at  that  for  three  years,  then  start 
ed  teaming  for  myself ;  business  became  dull,  so  I 
returned  to  the  Pullman  service  and  stayed  there 
another  year.  I  then  started  as  a  huckster  in  bus 
iness  for  myself  and  controlled  the  first  huckster 
business  owned  by  a  Negro  in  St.  Louis.  I  con 
tinued  working  for  the  Pullman  Company  during 
the  winter  season,  and  followed  my  huckster  busi 
ness  during  the  summer  months.  I  leased  twenty- 
one  acres  of  land  and  worked  it  for  three  years, 
to  keep  up  the  huckster  business,  and  still  worked 
for  the  R.  R.  Company.  From  that  I  went  to  work 
at  the  undertaking  establishment  of  A.  Russel,  and 
stayed  at  this  position  four  years,  and  then  start 
ed  the  undertaking  business  for  myself,  at  2317 
Market  Street.  I  stayed  at  that  location  about 
six  years  and  then  bought  the  property  and  built 
the  establishment  that  is  my  present  location  3232- 
34,  Pine  Street.  The  first  to  peddle  coal  in  St. 
Louis  ;  the  first  Negro  Huckster  in  St.  Louis ;  the 
first  Negro  to  own  and  operate  the  Monument 
business  in  St.  Louis ;  The  first  Negro  to  hold  the 
position  of  City  Undertaker ;  the  first  Negro  to 
run  an  automobile  funeral  in  St  Louis ;  .'First  in 
Everything." 

In  this  story  of  his  life,  showing  its  tips  and 
downs,  Mr.  Williams  reveals  a  wonderful  wealth 
of  energy,  patience  and  perseverance,  traits  which 
almost  invariably  lead  to  success  and  prosperity, 
and  accounts  for  his  being  listed  as  a  successful 
man. 


CLEMENT   RICHARDSON 


HE  Editor  of  this  Volume,  Clem 
ent  Richardson,  is  a  Virginian  by 
birth.  He  was  born  in  Halifax 
County,  in  1878,  where  for  a  num 
ber  of  years  he  tilled  tobacco  and 
attended  the  White  Oak  Grove 
country  school.  While  still  a  lad  he  went  to  Mass 
achusetts  to  seek  work,  and  to  further  his  educa 
tion.  After  spending  some  years  in  Winchester, 
Mass.,  where  he  worked  as  a  tanner  and  a  farmer, 
Mr.  Richardson  entered  Mt.  Hermon,  the  Boy's 
school  of  Dwight  L.  Moody.  "I  was  prep  of  Preps" 
says  Professor  Richardson,  "for  what  little  book 
knowledge  I  had  picked  up  back  there  in  Virginia 
had  been  lost  or  supplanted  by  the  rapid  change  of 
surroundings." 

From  Mt.  Hermon  Mr.  Richardson  entered 
Brown  University,  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  but 
changed  to  Harvard  after  three  years.  He  was 
graduated  from  Harvard  in  1907. 

Throughout  his  career  Professor  Richardson 
leaned  toward  English  studies.  He  recalls  for  you 
with  a  genial  smile,  one  or  two  thrilling  debates  he 
took  part  in  back  there  in  the  boyhood  days  in 
Halifax,  where  he  argued  that  women  should  not 
vote  and  that  the  wheelbarrow  was  more  essential 
to  the  farmer  than  the  ox.  He  was  one  of  the  ed- 

208 


itors  of  his  preparatory  school  paper,  the  reader 
for  the  Mt.  Hermon  Glee  Club,  president  of  the 
Pit-Hen  Literary  Society  of  that  institution  and 
f;  tqiient  winner  of  prizes  in  both  oratory  and  dec 
lamation  throughout  his  school  course.  The  same 
kind  of  work  was  kept  up  at  college,  where  he  pre 
ferred  to  pursue  extra  courses  in  literature  to  tak 
ing  extensive  part  in  college  activities. 

On  finishing  college  Mr.  Richardson  did  some 
work  for  the  Boston  Daily  Globe  and  corresponded 
for  several  colored  papers.  In  the  fall  of  1907  he 
filled  the  temporary  vacancy  made  in  Morehouse 
college,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  by  the  absence  of  Prof.  Braw- 
Icy.  In  1908  Professor  Richardson  accepted  work 
as  teacher  of  English  in  Tuskegee  Institute,  where 
for  the  last  nine  years  he  has  been  head  of  the  En 
glish  Department. 

At'.;  Tuskegee  Institute,  Professor  Richardson 
was  kept  in  close  touch  with  all  the  students  and 
teachers.  He  is  a  man  of  action,  as  well  as  one 
who  likes  to  dally  with  his  pen.  He  was  respon 
sible  for  all  the  public  speaking  at  the  famous 
Booker  T.  Washington  school.  During  the  year  he 
staged  in  dramatic  form  a  Halloween  exercise  and 
a  Thanksgiving  exercise  for  the  senior  class,  a 
drama  for  the  teachers  and  one  for  the  senior  class. 
One  year  he  put  on  the  Merchant  of  Venice  for 
the  teachers  as  actors  and  Mid-Summer  Night 
Dream  for  the  students.  He  staged  once  a  year  an 
exercise  by  the  African  students  to  raise  funds  to 
support  a  Tuskegee  chapel  in  Liberia.  Christmas 
1916,  Mr.  Richardson  established  at  Tuskegee  the 
Community  Christmas  tree,  bringing  joy  to  some 
three  or  four  hundred  students  who  otherwise 
would  have  had  no  pleasant  reminder  of  the  season. 

For  the  last  few  years  Mr.  Richardson  has  taken 
enthusiastic  interest  in  rural  education.  He  makes 
many  trips  into  the  country  with  the  agent  of  the 
Tuskegee  Entension  Department,  making  addresses 
to  the  people  and  writing  about  them  for  the  pa 
pers  and  magazines  on  his  return. 

During  all  these  years,  Mr.  Richardson  has  been 
a  frequent  contributor  to  magazines  and  daily  pa 
pers,  having  written  the  Country  Gentleman,  Amer 
ican  magazine,  Independant,  Survey,  Southern 
Workman  and  in  daily  and  weekly  papers.  He  was 
often  with  Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington  on  the  lat- 
ter's  tours,  as  a  writer  for  papers  and  magazines. 
He  is  the  author  of  several  booklets  and  phamplets. 

In  June,  1918,  Mr.  Richardson  was  chosen  by  the 
Board  of  Regents  of  Missouri  as  President  of 
Lincoln  Institute,  and  he  assumed  office  at  once. 
If  there  is  anything  in  the  expression  "First  im- 
presson  the  lasting  one,"  Mr.  Richardson  will  hold 
the  good  will  of  his  new  teachers  and  the  citizens 
of  the  town,  for  they  have  given  him  a  hearty  wel 
come  during  his  few  months  of  Presidency. 

Prof.  Richardson  was  married  Sept.  1st.  1908,  to 
Miss  Ida  J.  Rivers  of  Meridian.  Mississippi.  There 
are  four  daughters  in  the  Richardson  home:  Louise 
Elizabeth,  Ida  Mae,  Clementine  and  Evelyn  Adele. 
All  except  the  last  named  are  in  school. 


WALTER  G.  ALEXANDER,  A.  B.  M.  D. 


ALTER  G.  Alexander,  M.  D.,  of 
Orange,  New  Jersey,  prominent 
in  civil  and  business  progress  of 
Orange  and  a  conspicuous  leader 
in  politics  and  in  his  profession, 
was  born  in  Lynchburg,  Virginia, 
December  3,  1880.  His  father,  Royal  Alexander, 
had  seven  children  and  a  regular  income  of  $15 
a  month,  and  so  could  do  little  to  help  his  son 
through  school.  Young  Alexander  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Lynchburg  until  he  was  14  years 
of  age. 

From  the  public  schools  he  entered  Lincoln  Un 
iversity,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  rare  age  of  fourteen. 
At  Lincoln  he  became  distinguished  for  excellence 
in  scholarhsip  from  the  outset,  and  remained  so 
throughout  his  four  years  stay  there.  From  Lin 
coln  where  he  gained  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts  he  enrolled  in  the  Boston  College  of  Physi 
cians  and  Surgeons.  Against  even  a  keener  compe 
tition  than  he  had  met  at  Lincoln,  he  once  more 
carried  away  honors  in  scholarship.  He  had  been 
first  honor  man  throughout  his  course  at  Lincoln  ; 
had  won  the  Bradley  Medal  in  Natural  Science  and 
had  been  made  Latin  Salutatorian.  At  the  Boston 


College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  he  carried  off 
first  prize  for  his  thesis  on  "Cerebral  Localization" 
and  second  prize  on  an  essay  entitled,  "The  Social 
Aspects  of  Tuberculosis." 

Obtaining  his  doctor's  degree  in  1903,  he  served 
time  as  an  interne  in  the  Boston  North  End  Hos 
pital  and  Dispensary.  Completing  his  work  here 
he  began  his  career  in  West  Virginia.  After  spend 
ing  a  year  in  West  Virginia,  he  located  in  Orange. 

However,  the  doctor  has  by  no  means  ceased  to 
win  honors.  Almost  from  the  day  he  began,  he 
took  the  leading  part  as  a  citizen  as  well  as  a  phy 
sician  in  this  New  Jersey  City.  He  joined  the  Elks, 
>the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Sam 
aritans  and  Court  of  Calanthe.  He  allied  himself 
as  an  active  member  of  the  Essex  County,  Jersey 
State  and  American  Medical  Associations;  with 
the  William  Pierson  Medical  Library  Association, 
of  Orange;  with  the  North  Jersey  Medical  Society; 
with  the  National  Medical  Association ;  for  6  years 
Secretary  of  National  Medical  Association ;  with 
the  Orange  Civic  Society ;  with  the  Orange 
Board  of  Trade ;  with  the  Orange  Colored 
Citizens  Union ;  with  the  Federation  of  Colo 
red  Organizations  of  New  Jersey.  He  soon  be 
came  director  of  the  Progressive  Building  and 
Loan  Association,  director  of  the  Douglass  Film 
Company,  President  of  the  Home  Benefit  Associa- 
tionfi  and  a  member  of  the  Essex  County  Repub 
lican  Committee. 

In  all  these  organizations,  marvelous  to  relate, 
he  became  the  dominating  factor,  an  unquestioned 
leader.  He  became  Past  Noble  Father  of  the  Inde 
pendent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  past  chancellor  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  past  exalted  ruler  of  the 
Elks.  In  the  affairs  of  State  he  has  been  just  as 
conspicuous,  just  as  formidable.  In  1912  he  ran  for 
the  state  legislature  on  the  Progressive  Ticket,  re 
ceiving  more  than  22.000  votes,  running  fourth  in  a 
group  of  twelve.  In  1913,  he  was  "high  man"  in 
the  Progressive  Primary  for  the  state  Legislature, 
receiving  three  hundred  more  votes  than  the  can 
didate  for  governor. 

He  is  the  Alumni  member  of  the  Lincoln  Univer 
sity  Athlete  Association  and  spends  and  gives  much 
enthusiasm  to  Lincoln  sports. 

H'e  was  married  in  1914,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hem- 
mings  of  Boston.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  live  in 
their  own  residence  in  Webster  Place,  a  residence 
which  is  among  the  best  in  the  city  and  from  which 
pulsates  much  of  the  social  and  civic  life  of  Orange. 

In  a  word.  Dr.  Alexander's  marvelous  mind, 
which  he  has  continuously  developed,  his  social  dis 
position  which  has  enabled  him  to  influence  men 
for  their  good,  and  a  noble  ambition  for  his  race, 
causing  him  to  persistently  seek  their  uplift,  has 
made  him  a  great  and  useful  man. 


209 


GEORGE  E.  CANNON.  M.  D..  LL.  D. 

ULY  7,  1869  Dr.  George  E.  Cannon 
son  of  Barnett  G.  and  Mary  Can 
non,  was  born  in  Carlisle,  South 
Carolina.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Carlisle  and  in  the  Brainard  In 
stitute  at  Chester,  South  Carolina.  On  completing 
his  work  in  the  Brainard  Institute,  he  returned  to 
his  native  town  and  taught  schools  for  two  years. 
The  revenue  derived  from  this  source  enabled 
him  to  take  up  his  studies  again,  which  he  did  in 
Lincoln  University,  in  Pennsylvania  Here  he  ap 
plied  himself  with  great  diligence  and  graduated 
with  honors  in  1893.  Again  he  was  forced  to  give 
up  his  studies  because  the  care  of  his  family  called 
for  his  aid  and  support,  but  it  was  only  for  a  time. 
The  fires  of  ambition  having  once  been  kindled 
would  not  go  out  and  the  thirst  for  knowledge  in 
tensified  rather  than  diminished  by  his  forced  ab 
sence  from  school.  In  1896  the  way  opened  again 
for  him  to  continue  his  studies  and  as  he  had  de 
termined  upon  the  profession  he  would  adopt  he 
entered  a  college  which  would  prepare  him  for  his 
work.  He  enrolled  in  the  New  York  Homeopathic 
College,  from  which  Institution  he  graduated  in 
1900,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 


After  graduating  from  the  New  York  Homeopa 
thic  College  he  moved  to  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey 
where  he  immediately  took  up  the  practice  of  med 
icine.  Here  he  has  since  remained  and  pursued  his 
practice  and  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  busi 
ness.  His  reputation  as  a  physician  is  not  confin 
ed  to  the  community  in  which  he  lives,  but  he  also 
stands  high  in  the  professional  circles  of  the  State. 
He  has  achieved  much  distinction  as  a  physician, 
and  is  widely  known  throughout  the  country.  He 
is  ex-President  of  the  North  Jersey  Medical  Asso 
ciation  ;  a  member  of  the  Academy  of  Medicine  of 
Northern  New  Jersey;  President  of  the  North 
eastern  Medical  Association;  and  for  eight  years, 
chairman  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  National 
Medical  Association. 

During  the  past  five  years,  he  has  been  president 
of  the  Lincoln  University  Alumni  Association.  Un 
der  his  administraton,  a  handsome  bronze  tablet 
has  been  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  beloved 
President,  Isaac  N.  Randall ;  a  scholarship  has  been 
endowed  ($2500)  the  first  to  be  endowed  by  colored 
men  ;  and  funds  have  been  raised  to  erect  a  magni 
ficent  archway  over  the  main  entrance  to  the  Uni 
versity. 

He  is  an  extensive  writer  on  medical  and  civic 
subjects;  and  is  much  in  demand  as  a  public  speak 
er.  His  best  known  medical  article,  is  the  "Health 
Problems  of  the  New  Jersey  Negro." 

He  takes  a  strong  and  controlling  part  in  public 
affairs  as  well  as  in  medical  matters.  He  stands 
for  the  highest  type  of  leadership  in  all  that  per 
tains  to  a  good  citizen.  As  president  of  the  fa 
mous  Committee  of  One  Hundred  of  Houston 
County,  he  has  been  successful  in  advancing  the 
civic  interest  of  his  race  throughout  the  state  of 
New  Jersey.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  fore 
most,  if  not  the  foremost,  man  of  his  race  in  the 
State  of  New  Jersey. 

He  is  president  of  the  John  Brown  Building  and 
Loan  Association  ;  treasurer  of  the  Fredrick  Dou 
glass  Film  Company  (which  produces  high  class 
Negro  motion  pictures)  ;  treasurer  of  the  Home 
Benefit  Asociation ;  and  of  the  Negro  Welfare 
League  of  New  Jersey.  He  is  a  devout  church 
member  and  elder  in  the  Lafayette  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  1914,  Lincoln  University,  his  alma  ma 
ter,  conferred  on  him  the  honorary  degree  of  LL.  D. 
On  October  2,  1917,  Governor  Walter  E.  Edge 
commissioned  him  a  captain  in  the  New  Jersey 
State  Militia. 

In  1901,  Dr.  Cannon  was  married  to  Miss  Gene- 
vive  Wilkinson,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Unto  them 
two  children  have  been  born,  George  and  Gladys. 

Dr.  Cannon  is  one  of  the  few  men  of  the  race  to 
enjoy  a  wide  patronage  from  both  races.  His  in 
come  from  his  practice  is  far  above  the  average. 
His  investments  are  large  and  varied. 


210 


Norman  Therkield  Cotton,  A.  B.,  M.  D. 


HERE  are  those  who  hold  that  the 
Negro  should  be  educated  in  his 
own  schools  located  in  the  South, 
and  there  only.  They  further  con 
tend  that  having  received  his  ed 
ucation  in  the  South  that  he 
should  give  the  benefit  of  his  training  to  his  peo 
ple  located  in  that  section.  If  such  people  would 
read  the  story  of  Dr.  Norman  Therkield  Cotton,  of 
Patterson,  New  Jersey,  they  would  no  doubt 
change  their  minds  upon  this  subject. 

His  is  an  instance  of  what  hundreds  of  colored 
men  have  done  all  over  the  country,  and  what  they 
can  do  by  finishing  their  training  in  the  Northern 
schools.  These  Northern  schools  are  well  equip 
ped  and  give  facilities  for  education  along  certain 
lines  not  possessed  by  those  located  in  the  South 
though  many  of  the  Southern  schools  deservedly 
stand  high. 

Dr.  Cotton  won  his  degrees  of  Bachelor  of  Arts 
and  Doctor  of  Medicine. 

He  was  born  in  Greensboro,  North  Carolina, 
August  25th,  1885.  His  first  schooling  was  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city.  After  passing 
through  the  different  grades  and  completing  his 
course  in  the  public  schools  he  next  became  a  stu 
dent  in  the  A.  and  M.  College,  which  is  also  located 
at  Greensboro.  Completing  his  work  in  the  A.  and 
M.  College,  he  decided  to  finish  his  education  in  the 
North  and  accordingly  began  his  pilgrimage  to  the 
Northern  clime.  He  first  went  to  the  Lincoln  Uni 
versity,  in  Pennsylvania,  completing  his  course  and 
received  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  Up  to 
this  time  he  had  not  definitely  decided  upon  his 
life  work,  but  his  mind  was  now  made  up  and  he 
chose  medicine  and  surgery.  After  giving  the  mat 
ter  due  thought,  he  was  convinced  that  Boston  of 
fered  the  best  schools  and  environment  for  the 
training  he  desired,  so  he  enrolled  at  the  Boston 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  Here  he  ap 
plied  himself  with  diligence  and  completed  his 
course.  After  the  completion  of  his  course  he- 
served  an  internship  and  extended  training  in  the 
City  Hospital  of  Boston,  and  the  North  End  Dis 
pensary  and  Hospital,  Boston,  Mass.  It  was  while 
he  was  attending  the  medical  school  in  Boston  that 
his  ambition  was  fired  and  be  began  to  taste  the 

211 


fruits  of  place  and  honor.  Because  of  his  excel 
lent  and  enviable  record  in  scholarship  and  good 
standing  with  his  fellows  he  was  chosen  orator  of 
his  class.  He  acquitted  himself  well  and  the  well 
deserved  praise  showered  upon-  him  gave  him  a 
keen  relish  for  such  distinctions  and  since  then  he 
has  captured  one  post  of  honor  after  another. 
While  sojourning  in  the  Hub  he  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Boston  Gamma  Psi  Zeta  Society  of 
Boston. 

Beginning  his  work  in  Patterson,  he  soon  estab 
lished  himself  as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  and 
started  immediately  to  add  many  other  honors  to 
his  list.  He  is  President  of  the  North  Jersey  Med 
ical  Society,  of  New  Jersey ;  member  of  the  Society 
of  the  State ;  of  the  Passaic  County  Medical  So 
ciety;  of  the  National  Association,  and  of  the 
American  Medical  Association.  Dr.  Cotton's  unu 
sual  skill  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  soon  put  him 
in  the  front  ranks  along  with  the  leading  physi 
cians  of  New  Jersey.  Though  still  a  very  young 
man.  he  has  built  up  a  splendid  practice,  and  a  re 
putation  to  be  envied.  Dr.  Cotton  enjoys  as  large, 
if  not  the  largest  practice  of  any  physician  in 
North  Jersey.  White  patients  constitute  the  bulk 
of  his  practice.. 

Along  with  his  professional  work,  he  has  joined 
hands  with  the  church  and  with  secret  orders.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Saint  Augustine  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Patterson ;  he  is  Past  Master  of  the  En- 
tegrity  No.  51,  F.  A.  M.  of  Patterson;  of  Oceanic 
4559  G.  U.  O.  O.  F.  of  Atlantic  City,  and  of  the 
Good  Samaritans. 

Though  intensely  engaged  in  social  and  profes 
sional  life,  and  having  traveled  very  extensively, 
Dr.  Cotton  has  nevertheless  accumulated  property 
and  made  himself  comfortable  surroundings.  He 
owns  two  houses  on  Graham  Avenue  in  Patterson, 
the  one  his  own  home ;  the  other,  a  rent  house.  His 
home  is  valued  at  $9,000;  his  rent  house  at  $2,900. 
He  has  much  other  property  both  in  Patterson  and 
in  Greensboro,  North  Carolina,  his  native  home. 

Dr.  Cotton  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha  May 
Doyle  Lee  of  Boston  in  1911.  Their  home  is  a  sort 
of  proud  citadel  among  the  colored  people  of  Pat 
terson,  being  the  spot  from  which  radiates  good 
service,  genial  fellowship  and  prosperity. 


Dr.  J.  WILLIAM  FORD 

EXT  to  the  Negro  doctor,  or  rath 
er  along  with  the  Negro  physi 
cian,  the  dentist  is  doing  some  of 
the  most  helpful  service  to  the 
Negro  race.  He  himself  and  his 
office  with  its  equipment  are 
sources  of  courage,  ease  and  freedom ;  for  here  one 
enters  without  misgiving,  without  fear  of  slight 
or  discrimination ;  realizing  that  all  the  equipment, 
the  dentist's  best  skill  and  courtesy  are  all  his.  To 
this  very  valuable  service  the  dentist  adds  that  of 
a  teacher.  He  gives  lessons  to  the  patient  sitting 
in  the  chair ;  lessons  on  the  care  of  the  teeth,  on 
when  to  fill  instead  of  pulling,  on  the  use  of  the 
teeth ;  all  of  which  are  most  essential  and  none,  or 
very  few,  of  which  the  average  Negro  patient 
would  get  under  other  circumstances. 

Perhaps  this  cold  business  method  of  handling 
the  patient  is  no  where  more  common  than  in  the 
North,  where  competition  is  sharp,  sympathy  none 
too  common.  Happily  our  dentists  are  taking  their 
places  here  and  are  rendering  the  Negro  people 
good  service. 

Dr.  J.  William  Ford,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey,  is 
one  of  the  dentists  of  the  North  to  fill  just  such  a 
post  as  has  been  outlined.  His  high  grade  prompt 

212 


service,  his  office  equipment,  whch  after  a  time  the 
public  described  as  "ideal,"  soon  drew  to  him  an 
exceedingly  large  practice.  So  much  so  that  though 
he  left  college  in  1907  in  debt  to  the  instructors  and 
to  his  friends,  he  was  able  to  invest  $500  in  the 
First  Liberty  Loan  and  $500  in  the  Second  Liberty 
Loan,  also  $2,000  in  the  Third  Liberty  Loan  in  ad 
dition  to  having  accumulated  valuable  property 

holdings. 

Dr.  Ford  was  born  in  Williamsport,  Pennsyl 
vania,  September,  1877.  On  finishing  the  public 
schools  of  Williamsport,  he  entered  Howard  Uni 
versity,  and  was  graduated  from  the  preparatory 
department.  He  spent  two  years  in  the  College 
Department  of  Howard  and  then  made  dentistry  a 
specialty.  He  completed  his  course  in  Dentistry  in 
1907.  His  life  through  college,  however  had 
been  one  of  struggle  and  of  want  and  hard  work. 
He  left  the  University  in  debt,  for  which  his  diplo 
ma  was  withheld-  He  owed  his  friends,  he  had  a 
mother  to  support.  There  was  therefore  no  money 
to  buy  this  "ideal"  equipment  and  furnish  this  ideal 
office,  of  which  his  patrons  now  boast.  The  pro 
verbial  starvation  period  of  the  professional  man 
was  not  to  be  gone  through,  it  was  already  upon 
him.  And  so  for  six  years  he  worked  on  the  rail 
roads  to  pay  off  his  debts  and  work  had  its  happy 
side.  Working  on  the  railroads  both  in  the  East 
and  in  California,  gave  him  entensive  travel,  and 
contact,  two  invaluable  assets  for  a  professional 
man  ;  for  often  his  success  hangs  as  much  on  his 
good  conversation  as  it  does  on  his  excellent  work. 

It  was  only  in  1913  that  Dr.  Ford  was  able  to 
leave  the  railroads  and  begin  to  try  his  fortune  at 
his  profession.  In  spite  of  the  fact  he  had  been  out 
of  school  six  years,  he  succeeded  in  passing  the 
State  examinations,  and  at  one  trial,  something  un 
usual  for  New  Jersey,  and  was  able  to  enter  on  his 
professional  career. 

Two  years  after  beginning  his  practice  Dr.  Ford 
was  married  to  Miss  Edith  Anna  Braxton,  of  New 
York  City.  They  were  married  in  their  own 
church,  St.  Phillips  Episcopal  Church,  of  New 
York.  Mrs-  Ford  was  formerly  a  public  school 
teacher  of  New  York.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ford  live  in 
Newark,  but  they  own  a  very  handsome  Brown 
stone  front  residence  in  Brooklyn. 


DR.  FORD'S  OPERATING   ROOM. 


George  A.  Kyle,  D.  D.  S. 


EORGE  A.  Kyle,  D.  D.  S.,  of  Pat 
terson,  New  Jersey,  was  a  born 
athlete  and  early  began  to  devel 
op  his  powers  as  such.  His  career 
as  a  college  athlete  brought  him 
into  prominent  notice  and  gave 
him  a  wonderful  influence  with  the  students.  His 
reputation  was  not  confined  to  his  college  but 
went  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  campus  and  made 
him  known  throughout  the  country.  He  became 
very  popular,  especially  in  the  athletic  world.  He 
was  both  popular  for  his  personal  excellence  and 
for  the  variety  of  athletics  in  which  he  excelled. 
He  was  a  track  man  and  through  unquestioned 
merit  rose  to  be  captain  of  the  track  team.  He 
brought  his  team  up  to  a  state  of  marked  excel 
lence.  Football  and  basket  ball  were  games  in 
which  he  also  excelled  and  in  which  he  took  an  ac 
tive  interest.  He  was  elected  manager  of  the  foot 
ball  squad. 

In  Howard  University,  where  he  was  educated, 
there  were  few  activities  in  which  he  did  not  play 
a  conspicious  part. 

But  his  prowess  was  not  limited  to  the  gridiron, 
to  the  track  and  to  the  gymnasium,  it  was  recog 
nized  in  other  fields  of  endeavor.  As  a  rule  ath 
letes  are  not  given  to  literature  and  the  cultivation 
of  the  mind,  for  in  the  development  of  the  physical 
the  mind  is  neglected  and  it  is  hard  for  them  to 
concentrate  the  mind  upon  literary  matters.  Dr. 
Kyle  is  a  notable  exception  to  the  rule  and  was  re 
garded  at  college  as  much  for  his  literary  attain 
ments  as  for  his  athletic  renown.  His  counsel  and 
aid  was  sought  in  staging  college  plays  and  exer 
cises  of  that  character,  and  his  interest  in  them 
was  active  and  not  of  a  passive  nature.  In  a  num 
ber  of  the  college  plays  he  took  leading  parts 
throughout  his  career  at  Howard. 

Dr.  Kyle  was  born  and  lived  and  worked  wholly 
above  the  Mason  and  Dixon  Line.  None  of  his  suc 
cess  can  he  check  up  to  the  hardships  of  oppression 
which  sometimes  rush  in  to  claim  the  glory  of 
achievement  of  those  southern  Negroes  who  have 
conquered  in  spite  of  oppression.  He  was  born  in 
Mainesville,  Ohio,  July  20,  1881.  Much  of  his  early 
education  was  gained  in  the  public  schools  of  Cin 
cinnati,  Ohio,  which  is  not  a  southern  city,  geo 
graphically  speaking  at  any  rate.  However,  Dr. 

213 


Kyle  may  be  very  truly  set  down  as  educated  at 
Howard  University.  Leaving  the  public  schools  of 
Cincinnati,  he  entered  the  Howard  College  Prepar 
atory  Department.  Being  graduated  from  this  De 
partment  he  entered  the  college.  Completing  the 
college  course,  he  enrolled  in  the  Dental  School. 
Thus  completing  his  years  in  school  and  in  school 
activities.  Dr.  Kyle  will  go  down  in  a  literal  sense 
as  being  educated  at  Howard. 

On  graduating  from  the  Howard  Dental  School, 
Dr.  Kyle  gave  himself  to  serious  thought  as  to 
where  he  would  locate.  It  was  not  an  easy  ques 
tion  to  settle,  and  not  wishing  to  make  a  mistake 
he  did  not  act  in  the  matter  hastily.  Not  wishing 
to  remain  idle  while  determining  a  question  of  so 
great  importance  to  him  he  entered  the  service  of  a 
dental  firm  in  Buffalo,  New  York.  He  remained 
with  this  firm  several  years,  but  the  time  was  not 
lost  for  he  gained  from  them  a  practical  experience, 
confidence  in  his  own  ability  and  money  to  open 
an  office  when  he  ventured  for  himself. 

He  had  selected  Patterson,  New  Jersey,  as  a  de 
sirable  post,  and  here  he  began.  He  had  already 
many  friends  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  many 
of  them  Howard  graduates,  many  friends  whom 
he  gained  in  his  travels  as  an  athlete.  His  activities 
at  Howard  had  made  him  so  popular  that  he  be 
came  a  welcome  member  of  Patterson  circles,  and 
the  circles  round  about  Patterson,  reaching  New 
York. 

He  is  a  member  of  many  medical  organizations 
and  of  those  bodies  which  keep  alive  the  fraternal 
spirit  and  connection  which  meant  so  much  in  his 
college  days.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Alpha  Phi 
Alpha  Fraternity  and  of  the  College  Men's  Round 
Table  of  New  York  City.  He  belongs  to  the  North 
Jersey  Medical  Association,  and  to  the  National 
Medical  Association.  He  is  secretary  of  the  North 
Jersey  Medical  Association. 

Dr.  Kyle  was  married  July  16,  1916,  to  Miss 
Charlotte  McCracken  of  New  York  City.  Between 
his  profession  on  the  one  hand  and  his  many  social 
and  fraternal  connections  on  the  other,  Dr.  Kyle, 
with  Mrs.  Kyle  leads  an  exceedingly  busy  life. 


PETER  F.  GHEE,  M.  D. 

R.  Ghee  belongs  to  the  younger 
generation  of  Negro  physicians, 
or  rather  to  the  physicians  of  the 
transition  period.  In  the  olden 
days  the  idea  was  to  get  to  prac 
tice  and  gain  a  competence.  The 
modern  school,  with  its  glaring 
exceptions,  says  rather,  "Get  Ed 
ucation."  This  takes  time  and  patience.  It  goes 
to  one  school  for  one  kind  of  training  and  to  an 
other  for  another,  so  that  when  the  medical  stu 
dent  comes  forth  with  his  diploma,  he  comes  not 
only  a  technically  educated  doctor,  but  as  an  edu 
cated  and  cultivated  man,  fit  to  practice  medicine, 
to  teach  his  patience,  to  write  readable  articles  on 
various  topics  of  his  profession,  to  take  his  place 
as  a  citizen  as  well  as  a  physician. 

Dr.  Ghee  was  born  in  Luxenburg  County,  Vir 
ginia,  May  5,  1871,  and  is  the  son  of  Peter  Ghee,  a 
farmer.  He  had  as  a  lad  the  training  on  the  farm 
that  makes  in  so  many  instances  for  strong  man 
hood.  He  knew  the  use  of  the  axe,  the  hoe  and 
the  plow.  He  also  learned  to  appreciate  the  great 
out-of-doors — the  trees,  birds,  flowers  and  above 
all  the  great  distances  in  the  wide  open  country. 
His  preliminary  education  was  obtained  in  the  pub 
lic  schools  of  his  native  country,  where  he  laid  the 
foundation  for  his  later  success  in  the  literary  line. 
He  was  a  graduate  from  Boyaton  Institute  in  the 
class  of  1391.  He  thence  matriculated  at  Shaw  Un 
iversity,  from  which  having  taken  an  elective 

214 


course  instead  of  the  regular  one,  he  could  not  ob 
tain  his  Bachelor  of  Arts  Degree  when  he  graduat 
ed  in  1894.  Dr.  Ghee  next  entered  Leonard  Medical 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1898  with 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  During  his  sen 
ior  year  at  this  institution  he  was  engaged  in  prac 
tical  work  in  the  hospital,  and  after  graduation 
he  served  an  internship.  Upon  the  conclusion  of  this 
period  he  established  himself  in  active  practice  in 
Jersey  City,  New  Jersey,  which  has  since  that  time 
been  the  seat  of  his  professional  activity.  His  prac 
tice  is  a  large  and  widely  extended  one,  and  he  has 
the  affection  as  well  as  the  confidence  of  his  pa 
tients.  This  is  true  because  of  the  warm  hearted 
sympathy  always  apparent  in  his  ministrations,  and 
his  unselfish  manner  of  serving. 

Although  Dr.  Ghee  has  a  very  wide  practice  he 
has  still  taken  time  to  associate  with  and  work  for 
various  organizations  in  Jersey  City  and  the  state. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  North  New  Jersey  Medical 
Association;  the  National  Medical  Association; 
Hudson  Lodge,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
Progressive  Lodge,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Or 
der  of  Elks  of  Jersey  City.  In  all  of  these  he  is 
held  in  high  esteem  for  his  wise  counsel. 

Dr.  Ghee  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Boyd  of 
Washington,  D.  C.  Two  children  have  come  to 
bless  their  home ;  Euclid  and  Irven  Ghee.  The 
father  is  fond  of  all  out-door  sports  and  finds  his 
chief  recreation  in  automobiling.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  New  Jersey  Automobile  and  Motor  Club. 

In  political  matters  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Pro 
gressive  Party  of  Hudson  County  and  keeps  well 
in  touch  with  the  trend  of  public  events. 

The  greater  part  of  his  spare  time  is  devoted  to 
study  and  research  work  along  the  lines  of  his  pro 
fession,  which  appears  to  be  of  ever  increasing  in 
terest  to  him  as  the  years  advance. 

Dr.  Ghee  is  a  tireless  worker.  His  office  hours 
seem  to  know  no  limit.  Although  Dr.  Ghee  is  a 
very  busy  man,  he  is  extremely  modest  and  it 
was  only  with  the  greatest  persuasion  he  could  be 
prevailed  upon  to  give  even  a  meagre  account  of 
his  life  and  career. 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.   PETER  F.  GHEE 


REVEREND  FLORENCE  RANDOLPH 


O  full  of  experience,  service,  and 
promotion  has  been  the  life  of 
Rev.  Florence  Randolph  that 
nothing  more  than  a  catalogue  of 
her  career  can  be  offered  here. 
She  was  born  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  and  was  educated 
at  Avery  Normal  Institute,  after 
completing  the  course  in  the  public  schools  of 
Charleston.  Rev.  Randolph  was  converted  when 
she  was  about  thirteen  years  of  age.  She  joined 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  engaged  im 
mediately  in  active  service. 

On  finishing  her  studies  in  the  South  she  went  to 
Jersey  City,  where  she  allied  herself  with  the  A- 
M.  E.  Zion  Church  of  that  city.  Though  she  was 
following  dress  making  as  an  occupation,  she  early 
began  to  exhort  and  do  very  active  church  work. 

In  1897  she  was  granted  license  to  preach.  She 
began  immediately  to  preach,  addressing  crowded 
houses,  supplying  pulpits,  and  doing  evangelistical 
work  wherever  she  received  a  call.  For  fourteen 
years  she  served  Jersey  City  as  a  voluntary  and 
tin-salaried  missionary,  and  for  two  years  was  the 
superintendent  of  the  Negro  work  for  the  Chris 
tian  Endeavor  Society  of  the  State. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  late  Hi.-,hnp  .Alex 
ander  Walters,  she  was  admitted  to  the  Conference 
and  became  Conference  Evangelist.     In  the  mean 
time  she  was  chosen  pastor  of  several  churches — 
the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  of  Newark,  N-  J..  Little 

215 


Zion  A.  M.  E.  Church,  of  New  York  City,  and  the 
A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  Bish 
op  Walters  ordained  her  a  Deacon  in  1901,  and  an 
Elder  in  1903-  In  1901  Rev.  Randolph  was  chosen 
to  attend  the  Ecumenical  Conference,  which  met  in 
London. 

While  in  London,  Rev.  Randolph  preached  in  the 
Primitive  Methodist  Church,  of  Mattison  ,Road, 
where  she  won  the  highest  praise  from  the  congre 
gation  and  from  the  public  press.  Completing  -her 
Conference  duties  in  London,  R^v.  Randolph  made 
several  visits  on  the  continent.  She  traveled 
through  the  remainder  of  England,  through  Scot 
land,  Belgium  and  France. 

In  America  Rev.  Randolph's  work  falls  into  sev 
eral  groups.  She  is  a  well  known  social  and  club 
worker,  a  Christian  Endeavor  Worker,  a  Temper 
ance  Lecturer.  She  is  president  of  the  New  Jersey 
State  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  and  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  New  Jersey  State 
Suffrage  Association.  She  is  chaplain  of  the  North 
Eastern  Federation  of  Colored  Women's  Clubs,  and 
is  head  of  the  Religious  Department  of  the  National 
Association  of  Colored  Women's  Clubs.  She  works 
almost  constantly  in  the  prisons  of  her  city,  as 
well  as  in  the  prisons  of  New  York  and  in  other 
cities  and  towns  where  she  chances  to  have  a  mo 
ment  to  spare.  Rev.  Randolph  is  one  of  the  offi 
cial  lecturers  of  the  Women's  Christian  Temper 
ance  Union  of  New  Jersey.  In  this  capacity  she 
has  won  great  distinction  for  herself  and  for  the 
cause  of  Temperance.  Indeed  the  papers  in  and 
around  New  Jersey,  where  she  is  best  known  vie 
with  one  another  in  singing  her  praise  both  as  a 
worker  and  a  speaker. 

Of  equal  weight  with  Rev.  Randolph  in  the  cause 
of  foreign  missions.  All  through  her  course  as  a 
church  and  social  worker  she  has  kept  the  cause  of 
Africa  steadily  before  herself  and  before  the  pub 
lic.  Her  church  and  the  Conference  were  not  slow 
in  recognizing  her  as  a  most  valuable  asset  in  this 
branch  of  service.  Seventeen  years  the  Women's 
Foreign  Society  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey  has 
kept  her  as  its  president,  and  in  1916  the  general 
Conference,  which  asembled  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
made  her  president  of  the  Woman's  Home  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion 
Connection. 

Rev.  Randolph  comes  from  an  old  Charleston 
family,  her  father  being  John  Spearing  of  that  city. 
She  was  married  to  Hugh  Randolph,  of  Richmond, 
Va.,  May  5,  1886.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randolph  had  one 
daughter,  Miss  Leah  Viola.  She  is  now  Mrs.  J. 
Francis  Johnson,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  F.  Johnson  of  Jer 
sey  City.  Mr.  Randolph  died  February  13,  1913. 

In  Jersey  City  Rev.  Randolph  still  makes  her 
home.  She  is  one  of  the  few  prophets  to  reap  honor 
in  her  own  country.  White  and  black  alike  seek 
her  presence  whenever  she  is  in  the  city.  A  wel 
come  speaker  and  advisor,  she  is  nevertheless 
sought  for  her  conversation,  experience  and  her 
personal  charm.  On  many  occasions  she  has  been 
feasted,  tendered  gifts  and  testimonials  by  her 
fellow  citizens  of  both  races. 

TO  quote  the  Zion  Star,  "Truly  Rev.  Randolph 
by  her  life,  character  and  work  gives  substantial 
proof  against  the  pessimistic  views  of  those  who 
hold  the  Negro  race  incapable  of  higher  develop 
ment. 


Isaac  Henry  Nutter,  LL.  B.,  LL.  D. 


NE  of  Atlantic  City's  busiest  and      acquitted.     In  the  County  Court  of  Mays  Landing, 


most  successful  lawyers  is  Isaac 
Henry  Nutter.  Although  New 
Jersey  proudly  proclaims  him  her 
own,  he  was  born  August  20,  1878. 
at  Princess  Anne,  Maryland. 


His  parents  were  William  and  Emma  Nutter,  ex- 
slaves,  who  were  highly  respected  for  their 
strength  of  character  and  industry.  While  unedu 
cated  themselves,  they  were  great  lovers  of  educa 
tion  and  made  many  sacrifices  in  order  to  give  their 
children  an  education. 

Their  sacrifices  in  behalf  of  their  children  have 
been  amply  rewarded.  Two  of  their  boys,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  his  brother,  T.  Gillis 
Nutter,  have  risen  to  high  places  at  the  bar  and  are 
occupying  honored  positions  in  other  spheres  of 
life.  Other  children  have  also  reached  places  of 
honor  and  trust. 

While  his  father  was  a  great  believer  in  educa 
tion  he  did  not  believe  in  bringing  up  his  children 
in  idleness.  le  had  a  monopoly  of  the  saw  wood 
business  of  his  community  and  the  boys  were  re 
quired  to  help  him  in  his  work. 

As  a  youth  Isaac  H.  Nutter  made  remarkable 
progress  in  both  his  Preparatory  and  College 
Courses.  While  he  was  attending  the  Law  De 
partment  of  Howard  University,  he  convinced  all 
who  had  dealings  with  him  of  the  fact  that  he  had 
chosen  the  right  profession. 

He  was  even  at  this  early  age  both  a 
student  and  a  scholar,  showing  a  remarkable 
knowledge  and  appreciation  of  History,  Civil  Gov 
ernment  and  Economics.  He  was  naturally  en 
dowed  with  a  most  powerful  faculty  of  logical 
reasoning  and  he  used  every  opportunity  to  devel 
op  this  power.  Since  then  many  a  legal  battle  has 
been  won  by  his  exercising  this  power.  June,  1901 
he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  later 
in  the  year,  1913,  Wilberforce  University  conferred 
upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  LL.  D. 

Three  years  after  his  graduation,  that  is  in 
1905,  Mr.  Nutter  went  before  the  Board  of  Exam 
iners  of  New  Jersey,  and  passed  a  very  successful 
examination.  Since  that  time  he  has  practiced  in 
Atlantic  City.  For  some  time  he  was  associated 
in  his  practice  with  ex-Judge  John  J.  Crandall. 
This  helped  to  establish  his  place  in  the  legal  cir 
cle  but  his  own  power  has  held  him  there. 

His  court  practice  averages  about  twenty  civil 
and  criminal  cases  a  month.  Thus  far  Lawyer 
Nutter  has  defended  in  all  thirty  murder  cases, 
one  of  which  was  convicted  in  the  second  degree, 
four  sentenced  for  manslaughter,  and  twenty-five 

216 


New  Jersey,  in  less  than  four  days  he  secured  ac 
quittal  in  two  cases  and  in  the  middle  of  the  trial 
of  a  third  client,  had  a  "Not- Guilty"  of  murder  plea 
changed  to  "guilty"  of  manslaughter  with  impris 
onment  for  one  year. 

Mr.  Nutter  handles  all  cases  with  a  great  deal  of 
earnest  enthusiasm.  His  is  not  a  play  on  words 
nor  perplexing  ambiguity,  but  it  is  the  ultimate 
truth,  clean  cut  justice  and  overwhelming  logic 
clothed  in  a  most  fascinating  and  attractive  rhetr 
orical  eloquence. 

Aside  from  his  legal  business,  Mr.  Nutter  finds 
time  to  devote  himself  to  other  worthy  causes.  He 
is  solicitor  and  General  Advisor  of  the  New  Jersey 
State  Republican  League ;  Solicitor  of  Atlantic 
County  Republican  League,  and  President  of  Nut 
ter's  Real  Estate  Company,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  active  companies  of  the  State. 

His  fraternal  spirit  is  also  felt  in  the  State  of 
New  Jersey.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masons,  the 
Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the 
Elks.  Then  Mr.  Nutter  was  one  of  the  first  to 
catch  the  real  spirit  of  the  migration  of  the  Negro 
to  the  North,  and  with  a  keen  understanding  of  the 
situation  he  became  Director  of  the  Bureau  for 
Welfare  and  Employment  of  Negroes  migrating 
from  the  South.  This  Bureau  was  organized  in 
1917,  and  has  done  a  most  commendable  work. 

Lawyer  Nutter  is  a  member  of  the  Governor's 
Cabinet,  which  is  a  most  worthy  post.  Through 
his  influence  he  has  secured  the  following  ap 
pointments  for  Negroes ;  one  assistant  Supreme 
Court  Clerk,  one  Medical  examiner,  six  Inspectors 
in  Labor  Department,  one  Secretary  of  Bureau, 
and  one  chief  clerk  and  stenographer. 

One  year  before  beginning  his  legal  practice, 
April  26,  1904,  Isaac  Henry  Nutter  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Alice  E.  Reed,  of  Coatville,  Pa.,  who 
died  June  18th.,  1915.  In  a  most  beautiful  home 
on  Washington  Avenue,  Douglass  Park,  Pleasant- 
ville,  New  Jersey,  he  lives  free  from  many  of  the 
petty  cares  of  this  world,  secure  in  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  friends.  Mr.  Nutter 
attends  the  Methodist  church  and  takes  an  active 
part  in  its  activities. 

Lawyer  Nutter's  office  is  200-209,  Sheen  Build 
ing,  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey.  Here  he  works 
late  and  early,  thinking,  pondering,  weighing  his 
words.  On  these  thoughts  often  the  life  of  a  man 
hangs.  He  is  cool,  deliberate  and  when  a  client 
enters  his  office,  he  is  made  to  feel  that  on  the 
walls  of  Lawyer  Nutter's  office  is  written  in  big 
letters  one  word — justice. 


WILLIAM  H.  SUTHERLAND,  D.  D.  S. 

R.  William  H.  Sutherland,  one  of 
the  leading  and  most  prominent 
dentists  in  the  State  of  New  Jer 
sey,  was  born  August  9th,  1880, 
in  Camden,  South  Carolina.  As 
a  lad  he  attended  the  Public 
School  of  Camden  and  later  the 
Presbyterian  Parochial  School. 
He  had  small  means  to  pay  for  an  education,  but 
a  great  ambition  to  learn.  So  he  learned  the  bar 
ber's  trade  while  still  in  his  native  town.  In  this 
new  field  of  work  he  earned  only  twenty-five 
cents  per  week  at  first.  But  nothing  daunted,  he 
kept  at  this  trade  till  he  was  able  to  do  better 
work  and  therefore  earn  more  money.  With 
his  trade  for  his  bank  account,  he  entered  the  Av- 
ery  Normal  Institute  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina 
and  worked  at  off  hours  at  his  trade.  In  this  way 
he  earned  enough  money  to  complete  the  course 
there.  With  the  same  trade  as  his  banker  he  en 
tered  Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
earned  his  way  there.  Dr.  Sutherland  had  by  that 
time  fully  made  up  his  mind  what  he  wished  to  do 
in  life  and  so  he  entered  the  Dental  Department. 
From  Howard  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery,  in  1905. 

Since  that  time  Dr.  Sutherland  has  practiced  his 
profession  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  Newark,  and  Or 
ange,  New  Jersey.  He  makes  his  home  in  Orange, 
where  he  owns  his  home  at  75  Oakwood  Avenue. 

217 


In  his  home  he  has  offices  with  operating  room 
equipped  with  the  largest  modern  electrical  Den 
tal  appliances.  Dr.  Sutherland  also  maintains  an 
office  at  301,  Glenwood  Avenue,  Bloomfield,  New 
Jersey.  He  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice  which  is 
not  confined  wholly  to  his  own  people,  but  he 
numbers  among  his  patrons  many  prominent  busi 
ness  people  of  the  white  race  in  the  Oranges  and 
adjoining ,  towns.  To  keep  both  his  offices  open 
and  to  fill  all  his  engagements  with  his  patrons 
causes  Dr.  Sutherland  to  lead  a  very  busy  life. 

But  in  spite  of  the  very  stenuous  life  which  he 
leads  during  office  hours,  Dr.  Sutherland  still  has 
time  to  devote  to  the  social  and  religious  life  of  the 
community.  He  is  a  member  of  the  13th.  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  Newark.  In  this  church 
he  is  Elder  and  also  President  of  the  Brotherhood. 
He  is  chairman  of  the  board  of  management  of  the 
Orange  Branch  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  a  member  of 
the  National  Medical  Association  and  of  the  North 
Jersey  Medical  Association.  Of  the  last  named 
he  is  a  chairman  of  the  Dental  Section. 

And  still  Dr.  Sutherland  finds  time  to  really  en 
joy  his  home.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Reiter  L. 
Thomas,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  December  27,  1906. 
Their  home  life  is  most  ideal.  Mrs.  Sutherland 
presides  over  the  home  in  a  truly  charming  manner. 
She  is  a  graduate  of  the  Armstrong  Manual  Train 
ing  School  of  Washington  and  is  a  lady  of  an  op 
timistic  and  amiable  character.  To  her  Dr.  Suth 
erland  attributes  much  of  his  success.  The  family 
is  blessed  with  two  beautiful  children.  Reiter  L. 
Sutherland  is  ten  years  old  and  is  in  the  public- 
school.  Muriel  S.  Sutherland  is  still  a  baby  only 
twenty-two  months  old.  The  two  little  ones  add 
grace  and  charm  to  the  wedded  life  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Sutherland. 

Every  summer  for  about  four  weeks  this  ideal 
family  leaves  home  for  their  vacation.  With  his 
own  car,  Dr.  Sutherland  can  go  where  he  wills  and 
when  he  pleases.  Indeed  this  is  one  of  the  chief 
delights  in  the  life  of  this  very  busy  servant  of  the 
people.  On  one  of  these  trips  he  took  his  family 
to  Atlantic  City,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia  and  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  and  parts  of  Virginia. 

To  quote  Dr.  Sutherland's  own  words — "My 
pleasure  is  touring  with  my  car,  accompanied  with 
my  family.  In  this  way  we  get  much  needed  rest." 

In  no  profession  can  a  thoroughly  consecrated 
man  better  his  people  than  in  denistry.  Many  of 
the  ills  of  the  body  come  from  the  lack  of  proper 
care  of  the  teeth.  Of  course  only  one  thing  lies 
at  the  root  of  this  lack  of  care ;  and  that  one  thing 
is  ignorance.  The  Negro  dentist  has  a  wide  field 
before  him.  He  not  only  has  to  correct  the  faults 
already  caused  through  this  lack  of  knowledge, 
but  he  has  the  still  greater  field,  teaching  the  pro 
per  care  of  the  mouth  and  in  this  way  doing  pre 
ventive  dentistry.  This  Dr.  Sutherland  does.  As 
chairman  of  the  Dental  Section  of  the  Medical  As 
sociation  of  New  Jersey,  he  has  an  opportunity  to 
reach,  indirectly,  a  great  number  of  people.  Add 
his  work  as  a  dentist  to  the  great  number  of  things 
done  for  the  public  in  the  capacity  of  Elder  and 
President  of  the  Brotherhood  in  his  church  and 
chairman  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  we  are  compelled  to  num 
ber  Dr.  Sutherland  among  those  who  are  shining 
examples  of  the  best  type  of  public  men. 


WILLIAM    ROBERT   VALENTINE,   A.   B., 

PRESIDENT   OF   THE    MANUAL   TRAINING    INDUS 
TRIAL  SCHOOL  FOR  COLORED  YOUTHS— 
BORDENTOWN,  N.  J. 


ORTUNATE  indeed  was  the  sub 
ject  of  this  sketch  in  the  state  of 
his  birth  and  his  station  as  well. 


working  in  Indianapolis  we  have  just  the  man  we 
want." 

Mr.  Valentine  finished  the  High  School  of  Mont- 
clair,  New  Jersey,  in  June,  1900,  and  entered  Har 
vard  University  the  following  September,  graduat 
ing  with  A.  B.  degree  in  1904.     The  following  Sep 
tember  he  went     to  Indianapolis,     where     he  was 
made  principal  of  a  three-room  Public  school  build 
ing;  two  years  later  of  a  five-room  building,  and 
the   following  year   appointed   Supervising   Princi 
pal  of  a  group     of  buildings     having  about     fifty 
teachers  under  his  supervision.     His  office  building 
or  main  building  was  Public  School  No.  26.     It  was 
there  that  the  experiment  was  tried  of  making  the 
school   the   educational,   social,   and   economic   cen 
ter  of  all  the  people  in  the  community.     The  exten 
sive  community  work  was  made  possible  by  reason 
of  the  fact  that  the  School  Board  upon  the  advice 
of  Superintendent  C.  N.  Kendall,  bought  the  frame 
tenement   buildings     surrounding  the     main  brick 
structure,  which  were  remodelled  by  the  students 
as  a  part  of  their  industrial  training,     the  money 
furnished    largely   by    the    community    itself.     The 
men  of  the  community  also  donated  labor.     It  was, 
therefore  the  flexibility  of  the    plant    which  gave 
the  school  its  opportunity  and  "advantage  over  the 
usual  stereotype  elaborate  brick  city  Public  School 
building.     One   tenement  building  on   the   grounds 
was  converted  into  a  boys'  club  house,  which  was 


Mr.  Valentine    was    born    in    New      remodeled  and  equipped  by    the    contributions    of 


Jersey,  where  the  colored  youth 
are  given  equal  advantages  with 
the  youth  of  any  race.  This,  however,  was  not  the 
sole  reason  for  his  acquiring  his  thorough  training. 
Indeed  many  young  people  who  have  every  advan 
tage  take  no  thought  of  them.  But  Mr.  Valentine 
came  of  stock  that  saw  clearly  just  what  standing 
a  good  classical  education  would  give  to  him.  His 
later  record  in  the  educational  world  has  fully 
shown  that  they  were  not  wrong  in  their  estima 
tion.  When  the  State  of  New  Jersey  wanted  a 


money  and  labor  by  the  people  of  the  community 
itself.  The  .club  house  was  directed  and  supervised 
by  teachers  after  school  hours.  Another  large  ten 
ement  was  converted  into  an  industrial  building, 
and  included  all  of  the  industries  such  as  wood 
work,  sewing,  tailoring,  printing,  and  shoe-mak 
ing.  Another  building  was  used  wholly  for  Do 
mestic  Science  and  included  dining  room,  sitting 
room  and  bed  rooms  for  demonstration  purposes 
and  use.  This  house  was  helpful  in  carrying  on 
the  social  activities  of  the  school.  The  play  ground. 


head  for  the  school  at  Bordentown,  it  was  decided  covcrjng  about  one-half  acre  of  land,  was  part  of 

that  they  would  like  to  use  a  native  of  the  State  if  t]le  equipment  of  this  school.     About  three-fourths 

possible.     Immediately  Mr.  W.   R.  Valentine     was  of  an  acre  of  land,  consisting  of  vacant  lots  within 

mentioned   for   the  place.     "In  Valentine,   who     is  easy  reach  of  the  buildings,  were  available  for  gar- 

218 


den  purposes.  The  school  was  as  active  at  night  ample,  the  fertility  of  the  soil  has  been  greatly  in- 
as  it  was  in  the  day  time,  for  the  teaching  of  the  creased,  land  has  been  cleared  and  fenced  off,  roads 
adults  in  the  community,  of  all  the  branches  of  in-  repaired,  and  hedges  removed  in  order  that  the 
dustry  taught  in  the  day.  The  school  aimed  to  plant  may  present  a  well  kept  appearance.  New- 
reach  out  into  all  phases  of  the  life  of  the  commun-  buildings  have  been  constructed,  including  four 
ity  as  an  intensive  dynamic  force  for  its  uplift,  and  teachers'  residences,  costing  altogether  about 
improvement.  Dr.  John  Dewey,  of  Columbia,  has  $25,000.00.  The  new  trade  building  was  added  last 
devoted  a  whole  chapter  to  the  work  of  this  school.  year,  costing  $28,000.00,  including  equipment  The 
No.  26,  in  his  "Schools  of  Tomorrow."  addition  to  the  girls'  dormitory  costing  $39,00000 

He  came  to  the  Manual  Training  and  Industrial  ls  about  completed.  A  new  sewage  disposal  sys- 
School  in  the  summer  of  1915.  This  school  was  tem  has  been  installed,  a  domestic  water  supply 
started  as  a  private  school  by  its  founder,  the  Rev.  system  is  under  way.  The  Legislature  has  appro- 
W.  A.  Rice,  in  the  town  of  Bordentown,  New  Jer-  pnated  for  permanent  improvements  alone  within 
sey,  in  the  year  1886.  It  was  supported  entirely  the  la»t  three  years  $110,000.00.  Whereas  four 
by  such  voluntary  subscriptions  as  he  could  collect,  years  ago  there  were  about  100  students  in  attend- 
But  in  1894  the  school  passed  under  the  control  of  ance  •'  there  are  now  about  170.  The  demand  is  for 
the  State  and  later  in  1900  was  placed  under  the  twice  that  number  if  the  housing  facilities  were 
supervision  of  the  Sate  Board  of  Education,  form-  a£Iequate.  Whereas  the  State  appropriated  four 
ing  a  part  of  the  State  educational  system.  This  years  ago  only  $28,000.00  for  maintenance-  it  now 
was  the  year  that  Professor  James  M.  Gregory,  of  appropriates  $60,000.00. 

Washington,  D.  C,  took  charge  of  the  school  and  The  industrial  work  has  been  able  to  meet  the  re- 
gave  it  its  first  impetus  forward  after  its  founding.  fluirements  of  the  Feclaral  Board  of  Vocational 
This  was  the  year  also  that  the  State  purchased  Trade  and  as  a  result  benefits  from  the  Smith- 
the  Old  Parnell  estate  which  constitutes  its  pres-  H«ghes  bill.  It  is  hoped  to  enlarge  the  extension 
ent  site.  It  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  in  work  of  the  school  as  fast  as  possible  that  it  may 
the  country ;  on  a  high  bluff  overlooking  the  bend  reach  out  into  the  State.  Farmer's  conferences 
of  the  Delaware  River,  consisting  of  about  250  ac-  are  now  held  in  certain  communities  of  the  State 
res  of  land.  Professor  Gregory  resigned  in  May,  monthly.  Teachers  in  the  public  schools  in  the 
1915,  the  date  on  which  Mr.  Valentine  took  charge.  neighboring  cities  and  towns  hold  a  Study  Center 

The  property  at  Bordentown  is  valued  at  about  meeting  at  the  school  once  a  month  and  the  State 

$250,000.00.     The  main  buildings  are  of  brick,  with  °r£anization  meets  once  a  year.  It  is  hoped  finally 

hot  and  cold  water,  gas  and  electric  lights.     One  to  make  tne  Bordentown  School  do  for  the  people 

hundred   fifteen   (115)   acres  of  land  are  now  in  a  of  the  North   what   Hampton   and   Tuskegee   have 

high   state   of   actual    cultivation.     The   gross     re-  done  for  the  people  of  the  South.     Hand  in  hand 

ceipts  from  the  farm  for  the  year  1917-1918  were  WIth  the  inlPr°vement  and  extension  of  the  indus- 

$14,000.00.     We  are  able  to  produce  sufficient  sta-  trial  work  wil1  also  follow  the  improvements  and 

ble  products   to   sell   to  other     State     institutions.  extenslon  of  the  academic  work.     Such  colleges  as 

These  cash  sales  amounted  during  this  same  year  Radcliff-   Col«mbia,    Harvard  and  Oherlin    are    re- 

to  about  $1200.00.     There  is  a  herd  of  about  twen-  presented  °"  the  faculty. 

ty-five    (25)    Holstein   cows,  nine   (9)   horses,     one          The  encouraging  feature     of  the     work     is  the 

hundred   (100)   head  of  hogs     and  seven     hundred  Bowing  interest  which  the  State  officials  are  man- 

(700)    chickens.     Much    labor   has   been   placed   on  ifesting  towards  the  school,  and  the  confidence  in 

the   grounds   and   buildings   by   way   of   permanent  the   future  of  the  school  as  shown  by  the  colored 

improvements  within  the  last  four  years.     For  ex-  people  themselves. 

219 


William  Henry  Washington,  A.  B.,  M.  D. 


HE  Negro  race,  in  its  march  up 
ward,  has  developed,  as  has  the 
other  races,  different  types  of 
men.  That  race  has  even  de 
veloped  that  rare  type  of  men, 
known  throughout  the  world  as 
"college  men." 

Dr.  William  Henry  Washington,  of  Newark  New 
Jersey,  is  one  of  the  finest  of  the  type  of  the  young 
colored  college  man,  out  in  life's  busy  world  that 
one  can  meet.  He  has  the  bearing,  the  attitude, 
the  appearance,  the  culture,  the  stature  of  a  mod 
ern  college  man.  And  what  is  more,  Dr.  Washing 
ton  is,  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word,  a  college 
man,  and. just  such  a  college  man  as  to  reflect  cre 
dit  on  any  college  from  which  he  might  have  grad 
uated. 

Dr.  Washington  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  Vir 
ginia,  August  23,  1878.  He  began  his  education  in 
the  County  School,  Virginia,  and  attended  two 
years  the  Normal  and  Collegiate  Institute,  at  Pet 
ersburg,  Virginia.  From  there  he  went  to  Wash 
ington,  and  entered  the  preparatory  school  of 
Howard  University,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1900.  He  next  took  a  four  year  Collegiate  Course 
in  Howard  University,  and  followed  that  with  a 
four  year  Medical  course  in  the  same  institution. 
There  he  received  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts 
and  his  M.  D.  degree. 

He  has  the  same  interest  in  Howard  University, 
his  Alma  Mater,  that  he  had  while  attending 
that  famous  institution.  Ten  years  after  his  grad 
uation  from  the  Medical  School  of  Howard  Uni 
versity,  in  1908,  he  is  found  President  of  the  Al 
umni  of  that  school,  for  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
He  keeps  as  closely  in  touch  with  the  interests 
and  activities  of  that  school  today  as  he  did  in 
those  days  when,  as  captain  of  the  Howard  foot 
ball  eleven,  he  led  the  team  to  victory  after  vic 
tory  and  became  the  most  popular  foot-ball  cap 
tain  that  Howard  has  ever  had. 

A  leader  in  school  life,  he  has,  without  appar 
ent  effort,  gained  a  fine  place  of  vantage  in  the 
Medical  world.  This  young  man  who  was  for 
three  years  captain  of  Howard's  foot-ball  team, 
(the  most  highly  conveted  athletic  honor  in  a 
college,)  who  was  manager  of  the  varsity  base 
ball  nine,  who  was  business  manager  of  the  college 
newspaper,  and  president  of  the  exclusive  organi 
zation  known  as  the  Council  of  Upper  Classmen, 
is,  as  if  those  college  activities  prepared  him  for 
larger  activities,  now  actively  identified  with  pro 
fessional  and  civic  organizations,  of  city,  state  and 
nation.  The  New  Jersey  State  Medical  Society 

220 


— the  Essex  County  Medical  Association,  the  Am 
erican  Medical  Association,  the  North  Jersey  Med 
ical  Society,  the  last  of  which  organizations  he 
served  as  secretary  and  treasurer  for  several 
years,  are  among  the  many  professional  organiza 
tions  in  which  he  holds  membership. 

Coming  to  Newark,  New  Jersey  nine  years  ago, 
Dr.  Washington,  who  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  has 
built  up  a  splendid  practice.  His  medical  ability 
is  recognized  and  appreciated  not  only  by  his  many 
patients,  but  also  is  conceded  by  his  professional 
brethren. 

While  Dr.  Washington  is  now  well  advanced 
on  the  road  of  prosperity,  yet  it  has  not  al 
ways  been  thus  with  him.  He,  like  most  men  who 
have  amounted  to  anything,  has  also  encountered 
the  vicissitudes  of  life.  He  worked  his  way  through 
college,  through  the  medical  school,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  and  even  yet,  gave  financial  assistance 
to  dependent  relatives  who  aided  him  when  aid 
was  most  needed.  His  mother  and  father  died 
while  he  was  yet  in  infancy,  but  loving  relatives 
carefully  looked  after  him.  These  relatives  have, 
since  he  came  to  manhood,  been  the  object  of  his 
solicitude  and  beneficence. 

The  home  life  of  Dr.  Washington  is  sweetened 
and  made  happy  by  his  cultured  and  attractive  help 
meet,  who  was,  before  their  marriage,  Miss  Ardele 
Smith.  Mrs.  Washington  was  principal  of  a  pub 
lic  school  in  Roanoke,  Virginia,  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage.  She  too  is  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  is 
also  a  graduate  of  Howard  University.  In  their 
home  they  have  collected  a  beautiful  and  expen 
sive  library,  the  doctor  being  a  connoiseur  of  the 
best  literature  and  a  lover  of  fine  editions  in  mag 
nificent  bindings.  One  perusing  the  volumes  in  Dr. 
Washington's  library  will  see  some  of  the  rarest 
and  most  expensively  bound  books  that  have  come 
from  the  binders. 

Dr.  Washington  is  said  by  some  to  be  the  most 
widely  known  Alumnus  of  Howard  University, 
among  the  former  students  of  that  school.  He  is 
the  same  congenial  fellow  that  he  was  when  he- 
was  known  on  "Howard  Hill,"  as  "Cap,"  (football 
captain).  And  his  rise  should  be  an  inspiration  to 
the  aspiring  youth. 

When  quite  a  small  boy  his  aspiration  was  to  be 
a  soldier;  while  watching  the  drills  of  sailors  at 
Portsmouth,  it  almost  decided  him  to  be  a  sailor ; 
and  then  attracted  by  the  work  of  the  exponents 
of  the  law  he  thought  he  would  be  a  lawyer,  but 
no  doubt  chose  wisely  in  entering  the  Medical  pro 
fession. 


HARRY  RICHARDSON 

NOWN  as  the  friend  of  all  colored 
people  who  seek  pleasant  lodging 
and  wholesome  food  at  Cape  May, 
New  Jersey,  Harry  Richardson, 
proprietor  of  the  New  Cape  May 
Hotel,  and  one  of  the  leading 
Cape  May  Opera  houses  has  served  many  an  ap 
prenticeship  in  life's  great  factory.  Mr.  Richardson 
was  horn  in  Philadelphia,  November  3,  1867.  Al 
though  horn  in  a  locality  where  the  black  boy  had  a 
great  chance  to  educate  himself,  young  Richardson 
was  able  to  attend  school  but  a  limited  time.  This 
was  due  to  the  fact  that  very  early  in  life  he  had  to 
support  himself.  So  we  find  the  young  lad  after 
a  few  years  spent  in  Birds  Public  School,  leaving 
the  school  room  and  working  for  his  maintanence. 
The  first  work  that  was  tried  by  Mr.  Richardson 
Was  really  very  hard  labor.  This  was  in  a  brick 
yard.  He  was  still  but  a  boy,  and  the  work  was 
so  hard  that  when  an  opportunity  came  for  a  dif 
ferent  work,  he  was  very  glad  to  make  the  change. 
Thus  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen  he  left  the  brick 
yard  and  began  an  apprenticeship  at  electroplating 
and  stereotyping.  For  thirteen  and  a  half  years  he 
worked  at  this  trade  and  from  the  position  of  an 

221 


apprentice  he  rose  step  by  step  to  the  position  of 
foreman  of  the  shop  of  Hanson  Brothers,  Phila 
delphia.  He  changed  his  place  of  work  but  not 
the  kind  of  work  in  his  next  move.  He  went  to 
Boston  and  served  as  foreman  in  the  electroplate 
room  of  the  Boston  Globe. 

Leaving  Boston,  Mr.  Richardson  returned  to  his 
native  city,  and  went  in  business  for  himself.  In 
this  his  first  venture  he  chose  tobacco  as  the  com 
modity  to  handle.  Mr.  Richardson  succeeded  with 
his  tobacco  business  and  was  soon  able  to  ven 
ture  in  a  larger  business  concern.  He  then  opened 
a  hotel  for  the  colored  traveling  public.  And  for 
the  past  seventeen  years  he  has  been  the  owner  and 
manager  of  a  hotel  in  Cape  May,  New  Jersey.  In 
this  line  of  work,  Mr.  Richardson  has  been  very 
farseeing.  He  saw  that  the  best  class  of  colored 
people  had  no  place  of  amusement,  and  so  he  added 
an  Opera  House  to  his  list  of  business  ventures. 
He  saw  the  crying  need  of  a  good  hotel  for  the  Col 
ored  Man,  he  attempted  to  supply  that  need  in  his 
locality.  In  doing  this  he  has  served  his  race  while 
helping  himself.  Again  he  saw  the  need  of  a  place 
where  the  best  people  could  go  to  get  clean  amuse 
ment  and  again  he  attempted  to  supply  that  need. 
In  this  he  has  succeeded.  Both  his  places  of  busi 
ness  are  very  heartily  supported  by  his  patrons. 
His  hotel  is  celebrated  in  the  east  for  comforto- 
ble  rooms,  prompt  and  polite  service,  the  best  class 
of  guests,  and  the  most  congenial  surroundings. 
What  Mr.  Richardson  has  not  in  his  hotel,  he  mak 
es  it  a  point  to  get  even  though  he  sustains  a  loss 
in  doing  so. 

While  Mr.  Richardson  was  living  in  Philadelphia 
he  became  interested  in  politics.  He  was  presi 
dent  of  the  seventh  ward,  Executive  Committee, 
for  several  years,  was  appointed  delegate  to  many 
conventions,  and  was  one  of  the  State  commiss 
ioners  to  the  St.  Louis  World's  Fair.  Mr.  Richard 
son  served  also  as  an  employee  at  the  State  Senate 
House  in  Harrisburg  for  several  terms. 

All  through  his  life  the  proprietor  of  the  Cape 
May  Hotel  has  allied  himself  with  the  leading  or 
ganizations  of  his  community.  While  in  Phila 
delphia  he  was  President  of  the  Philadelphia  Turf 
Club,  and  was  nine  years  a  member  of  the  Mathew 
Stanley  Quay  Club.  Mr.  Richardson  is  a  member 
of  the  Friday  Night  Banquet  Association,  of  Phil 
adelphia,  a  member  of  the  Citizen's  Republican 
Club,  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Olive  No.  8. 

In  religious  belief,  Mr.  Richardson  is  a  Baptist. 
In  connection  with  his  business  and  for  pleasure 
Mr.  Richardson  has  traveled  all  over  the  eastern 
part  of  the  United  States.  Mrs.  Richardson,  like 
Mr.  Richardson  himself  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia. 
They  both  show  their  love  of  their  native  city  by 
the  number  of  times  they  return  to  its  hospitable 
gates.  But  Cape  May,  and  the  traveling  public 
that  passes  through  Cape  May,  know  Mr.  Richard 
son,  and  think  of  him  and  talk  of  him  as  the  pro 
prietor  of  the  Cape  May  Hotel  and  Opera  House. 


INTERIOR  VIEW  OF  ST.  PHILLIPS  CHURCH 


N  1818,  St.  Phillips  Church  was  or 
ganized  under  the  leadership  of 
Mr.  Peter  A.  Williams,  who  after 
being  admitted  to  the  order  of 
Deacons  and  advanced  to  the 
Priesthood  was  made  its  first  rec 
tor.  From  its  very  beginning  the 
parish  has  endeavored  to  do  two 
things : 

(a)  To  demonstrate  the  capacity  of  the  Colored 
man  for  leadership  and  group  action,  and : 

(b)  To  foster  his  sense  of  manly  independence, 
The  first  of  these  endeavors  has  been  abundantly 
justified  in  the  marvelous    work    which    has  been 
accomplished    during    these    one    hundred    years. 
From  a  very  modest  beginning  in  an  upper  room 
on  Cliff  Street  seeking  recognition  from  the  eccles 
iastical  authorities,    the  parish  has  developed  into 
one  whose  position  commands  the  approval  of  the 
diocesan    authorities-     The     upper     room     in     Cliff 
Street  is  today  the  magnificent  Gothic  structure  in 
West  One  Hundred  and  Thirty  Fourth  Street,  with 
a  seating  capacity  of    over    nine    hundred ;    a    well 
planned  Parish  House  of  four  floors  and  basement, 
which  houses  all  the  parochial  activities — adminis 
trative,    clerical,    recreational    an3    communal ;    a 
Home    for   Aged   Women   and  a    Rectory.     To  this 
must  be  added  the  endowment  painfully  accumula 
ted  but  wisely  managed,  which  consists  of  a  block 
of  ten  apartment  houses  in  West  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-Fifth  Street,  which  shelters  upward  of  two 
hundred     families.       This    achievement    in      some 
measure  demonstrates  the    capacity    of  the  colored 
man,  for  leadership  and  harmonious  group  action, 
for  it  has  all  been  wrought  under  the  management 

222 


of  Colored  men. 

(b)  In  the  working  out  of  the  second  endeavor 
the  Parish  has  been  equally  successful.  Bishop 
Hobart  in  his  Convention  address  of  1819,  says, 
"I  consecrated  the  new  church  of  St.  Phillip's  in 
Collect  Street,  designed  for  the  use  of  the  Colored 
people  of  our  Church  in  that  city.  To  its  creation 
they  contributed  largely  in  proportion  to  their 
means  and  the  trustees  were  unwearied  in  their  ex 
ertions  to  obtain  the  contributions  of  others,  and 
in  their  attention  to  the  building  while  it  was  erect 
ing,  in  which  their  own  mechanics  principally  were 
employed  and  which  they  finished  with  judgement 
and  taste." 

The  present  church  of  the  perpendicular  Gothic 
type  was  designed  by  a  firm  of  Colored  architects. 
Tandy  and  Foster.  It  is  cruciform  in  shape  and  is 
built  of  artificial  stone,  closely  resembling  lime 
stone  and  yellow  pressed  brick.  To  the  west  of 
the  chancel  and  sanctuary  are  the  vestry  room  and 
sacristy ;  while  on  the  east  are  two  choir  rooms, 
with  lockers  for  men  and  boys — an  ambulatory 
connects  these  east  and  west  rooms. 

In  the  basement  is  a  large  and  well  appointed 
room  used  for  the  Sunday  School,  a  neat  attractiv 
ely  equipped  chapel,  choir,  rehearsal  room,  work 
rooms  and  lavatories-  The  church  consists  in  part 
of  an  exquisite  altar  of  marble,  with  chastely  carv 
ed  grape  vines  and  panels  of  four  of  the  apostles, 
and  in  the  centre  the  Paschal  Lamb ;  surmounting 
the  altar  is  a  reredos  of  caen  stone,  and  a  back 
ground  of  blue  mosiacs  tinted  with  gold  in  the 
midst  of  which  and  looking  down  upon  the  altar 
are  figures  of  adoring  cherubim  and  seraphim  ;  a 
three  manual  pipe-organ  and  eagle  lectern  and  pul 
pit  of  brass. 

To  meet  the  needs  of  a  changed  environment 
there  are  many  institutional  activities  connected 
with  the  church,  but  all  the  club  and  guild  work 
which  is  done  has  for  its  sole  purpose  the  building 
of  permanent  Christian  character.  For  the  boys 
and  young  men  there  are  the  following  organiza 
tions  :  The  Knights  of  King  Arthur ;  St.  Christo 
pher,  Juniors  ;  St.  Christopher,  Intermediates  ;  St. 
Christopher,  Seniors;  St.  Phillip's  Men's  Giuld ; 
Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew ;  Men's  Bible  Class. 

The  activities  among  the  girls  and  women  are : 
St.  Mary's  Guild ;  St.  Agnes,  Juniors ;  St.  Agnes.  In 
termediates  ;  St  Agnes,  Seniors  ;  Alter  Guild  ;  Wo 
man's  Auxiliary  to  Board  of  Missions  ;  Dorcas  So 
ciety  ;  Woman's  Auxiliary  to  the  Parish  Home ; 
Women's  Bible  Class. 

Reverend  Hutchens  Chew  Bishop,  D.  D.,  went 
to  St.  Phillips  Church  January  1st,  1886.  where  he 
has  rendered  great  and  effective  work  and  for 
thirty-two  years  has  been  the  directing  genius  of 
the  Parish.  He  graduated  from  General  Theologi 
cal  Seminary,  N.  Y.  City  in  1881.  At  that  time-  there 
were  divisions  in  the  church  in  America  and  the 
parties  constituting  the  division  were  at  times  hos 
tile  to  each  other.  Mr.  Bishop,  as  he  then  was,  be 
longed  to  the  High  Church  party,  then  hopelessly 
in  the  minority.  Mt.  Calvary  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  member,  was  of  the  same  party.  Owing  to 
an  unusual  ill-feeling  on  the  part  of  the  diocesan 
authorities  towards  Mt.  Cavalry,  Mr.  Bishop  was 
denied  the  grace  of  orders  in  the  Diocese  of  Mary 
land.  He  was  afterwards  made  Deacon  and  Priest 
by  the  Diocese  of  Albany. 


WILLIAM   HENRY   BROOKS,  D.   D. 


ILLIAM  Henry  Brooks,  was 
born  in  Calvert  County, 
Maryland,  September  6,  1859.  Al 
though  this  date  was  just  before 
the  Emancipation  Proclamation, 
for  the  Negro  with  ambitious  pa 
rents  or  guardians  or  an  inborn 
ambition  for  himself,  no  better 
date  could  have  been  decided  upon  for  his  entrance 
upon  the  stage  of  life.  The  pendulum  swung  a  long 
way  in  favor  of  the  education  of  the  blacks,  and  in 
some  sections  where  the  prejudice  was  not  quite  so 
great,  their  educational  advantages  were  equal  or 
nearly  equal  to  those  offered  the  white  boys.  Thus 
we  see  Rev.  Brooks  with  a  chance  to  educate  him 
self. 

To  begin  his  training  he  entered  the  Public 
schools  of  the  county.  From  the  Public  Schools 
h&  entered  Morgan  College,  Baltimore.  Here  he 
applied  himself  to  his  books  in  a  most  scholarly 
manner  and  when  an  opportunity  came  to  him  he 
entered  Howard  University,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
Leaving  Howard  he  studied  in  turn  in  Union  Sem 
inary,  New  York,  and  in  New  York  University  and 
later  in  University-Dijon,  France.  Had  not  Rev. 
Brooks  been  a  close  student  of  books,  he  would  still 
have  been  benefitted  by  his  sojourn  in  these  insti 
tutions  of  learning.  But  being  of  a  scholarly  turn 
of  mind,  and  at  the  same  time  a  student  of  men  and 
events,  he  saw  a  great  opportunity  for  educating 
himself. 


At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  joined  the  Wash 
ington  Annual  Conference.  Then  he  'began  his 
round  of  charges.  His  first  three  charges  were 
all  in  West  Virginia ;  Spring  Creek,  Summers  Cir 
cuit,  and  Harpers  Ferry.  He  then  served  two  char 
ges  in  Maryland ;  Hartford  Circuit,  and  Frederick, 
in  Maryland.  He  then  served  Central  Church  in 
Washington  D.  C..  and  Wheeling,  West  Va.  Hav 
ing  served  all  these  minor  charges  and  served  them 
well  he  was  next  made  a  Presiding  Elder  in  the 
Washington  District.  He  was  transferred  to  St. 
Marks,  New  York.  In  the  last  named,  he  has  been 
actively  engaged  since  1897. 

Because  of  the  length  and  kind  of  the  work  done 
by  Rev.  Brooks,  he  has  been  shown  many  honors 
by  the  Denomination.  In  1896  he  was  a  Delegate 
to  the  General  Conference.  He  was  Fraternal  Del 
egate  to  the  General  Conference  of  C.  M.  E.  Church 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  in  1902.  Again  he  was 
honored  by  his  church  in  1910  when  he  was  sent  as 
a  Delegate  to  the  World's  Conference  at  Endin- 
burg,  Scotland.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Here  the  competition  for  the 
Bishopric  is  keener  because  of  the  many  men  with 
generations  of  training  and  culture  behind  them. 

Not  all  the  honors  which  have  come  to  him  have 
come  from  his  church.  This  is  due  no  doubt  to 
the  fact,  that  he  has  not  confined  all  his  efforts  to 
the  workings  of  the  church.  So  we  find  him  on 
the  Board  of  Control  of  the  White  Rose  Mission, 
Friendly  Shelter,  and  of  the  National  Urban  Leag 
ue.  In  this  last  named  he  has  been  able  with  his 
associates  to  do  considerable  good.  He  is  on  the 
Board  of  Managers  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  he  is  an  ac 
tive  worker  in  the  Musical  Settlement  and  is  Chap 
lain  in  the  15th  Regiment.  This  represents  a  very 
active  life  and  a  life  of  great  usefulness. 

In  connection  with  his  church  work,  while  get 
ting  his  education  and  for  pleasure  it  has  been  the 
privilege  of  Rev.  Brooks  to  travel  quite  extensively 
in  this  country.  In  fact  he  has  traveled  through 
out  the  United  States,  in  England,  in  Scotland, 
France,  Belgium,  Canada,  Switzerland,  Germany, 
and  Mexico.  This  has  helped  to  develope  the  man 
almost  as  much  as  did  his  years  spent  in  the  var 
ious  institutions  of  learning. 

The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred 
on  him  by  Wiley  University,  Marshall  Texas,  in 
1897,  and  also  by  Morgan  College,  Baltimore,  Md., 
in  1917. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Catherine  Car 
roll,  Nov.  2,  1882.  Mrs.  Brooks  is  the  daughter 
of  Rev.  N.  M.  Carroll,  D.  D.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Brooks 
were  married  in  Asbuy  Church,  Washington,  D.  C., 
where  her  father  was  at  that  time  pastoring.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  them  to  share  their 
home  and  help  make  it  a  bright,  happy  one.  Ma 
mie  V.,  is  married  to  Rev.  A.  A.  Brown,  of  Phila 
delphia  ;  Arthur  E.  is  a  physician  in  New  York ;  A. 
Clinton  is  a  clerk  in  Philadelphia  ;  Estelle  Beartrice 
is  a  nurse  in  New  York ;  and  N.  Cannon  is  a  ser 
geant  in  the  15th  Regiment.  All  of  these  children 
have  been  to  their  parents  a  great  blessing 

Rev.  Brooks  has  accumulated  some  of  this 
world's  goods  while  pastoring.  He  has  real  estate 
valued  at  about  $5,000.00.  In  all  that  he  has  un 
dertaken,  Rev.  Brooks  has  been  a  success.  His 
life  should  be  an  inspiration  to  any  young  man  who 
intends  to  be  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 


223 


Rev.  James  Walter  Brown— Mother  A.  M.E.  Zfon  Church 


HE  Reverend  Mr.  James  Walter 
Brown,  pastor  of  the  famous 
Mother  Zion  Church  of  New  York 
City,  was  born  in  Elizabeth  City, 
North  Carolina,  July  19,  1872.  He 
numbers  among  his  Alma  Maters 
both  Shaw  University  of  his  native  state  and  Lin 
coln  University  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania. 
However,  he  did  not  go  from  one  to  the  other  so 
rapidly  or  quickly  as  it  takes  to  tell.  Having  fin 
ished  his  public  school,  he  entered  Shaw  Univer 
sity.  On  completing  his  career  here  he  became  a 
school  teacher,  or  schoolman  for  several  years. 
From  1893  to  1899  he  was  the  assistant  principal 
of  the  State  Normal  School  of  Elizabeth  City.  In 
September  of  1900  he  became  a  student  at  Lincoln 
in  the  theological  Seminary. 

He  graduated  from  this  department  in  1903  and 
began  immediately  his  career  as  a  pastor.  His 
first  charge  was  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Zion  Church  of  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania.  He 
served  this  church  as.  pastor  from  1903  to  1905. 
From  Bethlehem  he  went  to  Rochester,  New  York, 
and  became  the  Pastor  of  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Zion  Church  of  that  city,  and  served 
them  from  1903  to  1913.  His  two  years  experience 
at  Bethlehem  not  only  gave  him  practical  training 
he  needed  for  pastoral  work,  but  also  kindled  his 
enthusiasm  as  a  worker  and  won  for  him  conside 
rable  reputation  as  a  pulpit  orator.  He  first  sur 
veyed  the  field  and  made  a  note  of  its  needs  and 
possibilities,  then  began  his  work  with  zeal  and 
soon  imparted  to  his  congregation  much  of  his  en 
thusiasm. 

He  pointed  out  to  them  the  need  of  a  new  and 
more  commodious  house  of  worship  and  influenced 
them  to  undertake  the  enterprise.  Under  his  direc 
tion  they  commenced  the  work  and  soon  had  a 
building  of  which  they  were  proud.  They  did  not 
stop  with  the  erection  of  the  church  building,  but 
while  the  spirit  of  enterprise  was  upon  them  they 
built  a  parsonage  also.  The  Value  of  their  church 
property  now  amounts  to  thirty-five  thousand  dol 
lars,  ($35,000.00). 

Reverend  Brown  learned  from  experience  that 
the  divinely  taught  principle  of  fidelity  in  small 
things  leads  to  larger  service  is  a  true  principle. 

The  fact  that  he  had  a  comparatively  small  field 
did  not  deter  him  from  doing  his  best  and  his  suc 
cess  in  Rochester  brought  him  into  prominent  no 
tice  and  into  a  larger  field  of  work.  The  large 
churches  began  to  take  note  of  him  and  he  was 
soon  occupying  their  pulpits.  Among  the  churches 
which  was  attracted  to  him  was  the  old  Mother 


African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  church  of  New 
York  City.  This  church  called  him  in  1913,  and 
since  that  period  he  has  been  its  pastor.  This 
church,  which  has  a  fame  co-extensive  with  Meth 
odism  in  this  country  made  no  mistake  in  its  esti 
mate  of  the  young  preacher.  He  has  not  only  sus 
tained  the  reputation  of  the  church,  but  has  raised 
it  to  a  higher  plane  of  usefulness  and  honor. 

He  has  introduced  modern  ideas  into  the  church 
life  and  has  inspired  them  with  a  new  vision  of  en 
deavor.  The  old  Gospel  message  is  the  same  in  all 
ages  but  the  method  of  presenting  and  disseminat 
ing  the  truth  changes  with  each  generation. 

The  Reverend  Brown  recognized  this  fact,  and 
organized  in  his  church  committees  and  clubs 
which  would  bring  the  members  into  closer  rela 
tions  and  cooperation  with  each  other.  Already 
the  effect  of  his  innovations  have  been  felt  in  the 
church  life,  and  it  is  advancing  to  larger  achieve 
ments. 

With  him  the  church  comes  first  and  even 
the  outside  enterprises  which  engage  his  in 
terest  fall  largely  within  religious  and  uplift  chan 
nels.  He  is  President  of  the  Board  of  Control  of 
the  Varicle  Christian  Endeavor  Society  of  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church,  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Board  of  Management  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  of  New  York;  Distric*- 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  Schorls  of  New 
York  City  for  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Ziun  Conference. 

To  these  and  to  activities  of  his  church  he  de 
votes  the  major  part  of  his  time  and  thought 
When  he  has  given  attention  to  his  duties  connect 
ed  with  these  he  has  but  little  time  left  to  devote  to 
other  interests,  yet  he  is  a  man  among  men  and 
finds  pleasure  in  mingling  with  them  outside  of  his 
church  life,  when  he  can  do  so  without  neglecting 
his  work. 

This  social  proclivity  has  carried  him  into  a  num 
ber  of  fraternal  orders.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  member 
of  the  Southern  Beneficial  League. 

Reverend  Brown  has  not  been  unmindful  of  his 
material  interests,  believing  that  it  is  a  man's  duty 
to  make  provision  for  his  family.  His  savings  he 
has  invested  in  property  in  Elizabeth  City,  North 
Carolina,  in  Rochester  and  in  New  York  City. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  in  1903  to  Miss  Martha 
Hill,  of  Philadelphia.  In  all  his  endeavors  Mrs. 
Brown  takes  a  helpful  and  leading  part,  relieving 
him  whenever  possible,  sharing  the  burden  and  re 
sponsibility  when  it  is  not  possible  wholly  to  re 
lieve  him. 


224 


EUGENE  P.  ROBERTS,  A.  B .,  M.  A.,  M.  D. 


UGENE  P.  Roberts,  of  New 
York  City  was  born  in  Louisburg, 
North  Carolina,  October  5,  1868. 
He  got  his  elementary  and  pre 
paratory  training  in  Louisburg, 
and  then  entered  Lincoln  Univer 
sity,  Pennsylvania.  From  this  institution  he  re 
ceived  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  1891,  and  later  the 
degree  of  M.  A.  Leaving  Lincoln  he  matriculated 
at  the  New  York  Homeopathic  Medical  Associa 
tion,  and  Flower  Hospital.  Here  he  received  the 
Degree  of  M.  D,  in  1894. 

Dr.  Roberts  began  his  career  as  a  physician  when 
but  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  he  has  enjoyed 
a  long  and  very  useful  career  in  his  profession.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  National  Medical  Association, 
New  York  County  Medical  Society,  New  York  Ma- 
teria  Medical  Society,  Medico-Chirugical  Society, 
Academy  Pathological  Science,  Durham  Medical 
Club,  Med'cal  Society  of  Inspectors  of  greater  New 
York.  He  is  inspector  of  the  Department  of 
Health,  lecturer  on  Care  of  Babies  in  Public  Schools 
of  New  York  City,  physician  in  charge  of  St.  Cy 
prian's  Babies  Clinic,  chairman  of  Colored  Men's 


Branch  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  member  of  the  Executive 
Board  of  National  League  on  Urban  Conditions 
Among  Colored  People,  committee  for  Improving 
the  Industrial  Condition  of  Negroes  in  New  York, 
and  the  National  League  for  the  protecion  of  Col- 
ered  Women. 

To  meet  all  the  demands  made  on  his  time  by 
these  various  duties  and  to  attend  to  his  practice, 
Dr.  Roberts  leads  a  very  busy  life.  Yet  he  takes 
time  to  meet  his  fellows  from  another  angle.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  the  St.  James  Presbyterian 
Church,  a  member  of  the  Southern  Beneficial  and 
Hotel  Bellmen's  Beneficial  Association.  Dr.  Rob 
erts  served  one  term  on  the  Board  of  Education  for 
New  York  City.  This  was  an  honor  well  deserved 
because  of  the  many  things  done  by  this  very  busy 
physician  for  his  people  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

Dr.  Roberts  has  made  a  special  study  of  the  di 
seases  of  children.  New  York  furnishes  a  good 
field  for  extensive  study  along  this  line.  Because 
of  the  special  skill  and  knowledge  along  this  line, 
Dr.  Roberts  has  been  frequently  asked  to  address 
the  National  Medical  Association  on  this  subject. 

Dr.  Roberts  has  traveled  very  extensively.  He 
has  covered  the  greater  part  of  his  own  country 
in  his  journeyings  and  has  been  three  times  abroad. 
He  visited  Spain,  Germany,  Austria,  France,  Italy, 
Switzerland  and  England.  The  time  spent  in  these 
travels  was  well  spent.  In  fact,  Dr.  Roberts  has 
made  all  the  events  of  his  life  help  him  along  in 
his  profession. 

Dr.  Roberts  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  MolUe  Beatty,  New  York  City, 
June  6,  1900.  He  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss 
Ruth  M.  Logan,  of  Tuskegee  Institute,  Alabama, 
December  4th,  1917.  The  present  Mrs.  Roberts  is 
the  daughter  of  Warren  Logan,  Treasurer  of  Tus 
kegee  Institute,  and  for  a  number  of  years  advisor 
and  friend  of  Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Roberts  live  in  their  beautiful  brown  stone 
dwelling  in  one  of  the  best  sections  of  New  York 
City.  Here  they  make  life  pleasant  for  their  many 
friends.  Besides  owning  the  home  in  which  he 
lives,  Dr.  Roberts  has  other  valuable  property  in 
the  city  of  New  York. 

Dr.  Roberts  is  a  man  worthy  of  emulation.  He 
is  a  competent  physician,  an  untiring  worker  for 
the  good  of  his  people  and  his  country,  a  conserva 
tive  Christian  gentleman. 

In  every  department  of  life  he  seeks  the  highest 
good  of  those  he  serves,  and  is  a  glowing  example 
of  what  a  man  can  accomplish  who  has  before  him 
a  high  ideal  of  life.  When  God  called  Moses  out 
of  Ur  of  Chaldee  he  called  him  to  be  a  blessing  to 
IT'S  race,  and  when  God  led  Dr.  Roberts  to  be  a 
Christian  physician,  he  made  h'm  a  channel  of 
blessing. 


225 


Fred  R.  Moore 


RED  R.  MOORE,  publisher  and 
editor  of  the  New  York  Age,  is 
generally  conceded  to  be  the  most 
fearless  as  well  as  the  most  in 
fluential  newspaper  man  in  Am 
erica.  "Fred  Moore,"  as  every 
body  speaks  of  him,  never  hesitates  to  take  a 
strong  stand  either  pro  or  con  on  any  public  ques 
tion,  and  there  is  never  any  doubt  as  to  his  posi 
tion  ;  for  he  either  is  for  or  against  you.  He  may 
be  found  at  any  time  on  the  firing  line,  and  noth 
ing  seems  to  please  him  better  than  to  be  in  what 
he  terms  "a  fight  for  principle." 

Owing  to  the  high  literary  value  of  The  Age  ed 
itorials  and  the  independence  of  thought  at  all 
times  expressed  on  questions  involving  the  rights 
and  progress  of  the  Negro,  be  it  in  America,  Haiti, 
the  West  Indies  or  in  Africa,  The  New  York  Age 
is  quoted  by  more  white  and  colored  papers  than 
any  other  publication.  The  recognition  paid  so 
widely-known  a  journal  naturally  helps  to  keep  its 
editor  in  the  limelight,  and  the  public  quite  often 
reads  in  the  daily  press  of  what  the  editor  of  the 
Age  has  to  say  on  this  or  that  subject. 

Fred  R.  Moore  is  a  self-made  man,  one  who  has 
made  his  way  to  the  top  and  become  a  national 
figure  mainly  through  dogged  determination  and 
an  unfailing  spirit  of  optimism.  One's  success  in 
life  largely  depends  on  himself-upon  the  amount 
of  effort  put  forth  in  spite  of  obtacles,  he  believes 
and  on  this  theory  Mr.  Moore  has  reached  his  pre 
sent  important  status  among  his  people. 

Receiving  only  a  common  school  education  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  where  he  spent  his  childhood 
days,  as  well  as  the  most  romantic  period  of  his 
life-courtship-Fred  R.  Moore  began  to  take  advan 
tage  of  close  contact  with  men  of  high  character 
and  prominence  when  in  his  teens.  While  living 
in  Washington,  D.  C,  he  spent  many  years  in  the 
Treasury  Department,  serving  as  confidential  mes 
senger  to  five  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury  during 
the  Grant,  Hayes,  Arthur  and  Cleveland  adminis 
trations.  Secretary  Daniel  Manning,  who  was  a 
member  of  Grover  Cleveland's  Cabinet  during  the 
first  administration,  was  very  much  attached  to 
Mr.  Moore  and  had  the  latter  accompany  him  to 
England,  treating  the  colored  man  as  a  companion 
and  friend  in  every  particular. 

In  1887,  Fred  R.  Moore  accepted  a  position  with 
the  Western  National  Bank,  where  he  worked  in 
all  of  the  various  departments  and  had  charge  of 
the  vault.  He  also  served  as  delivery  clerk  in  the 
Clearing  House.  The  Western  National  Bank  af 
terwards  merged  with  the  National  Bank  of  Com 


merce.  While  with  the  bank,  Mr.  Moore  purchas 
ed  the  Colored  American  Magazine,  and  in  1905, 
left  the  banking  institution  to  become  deputy  col 
lector  of  the  Internal  Revenue  for  the  Second  Dis 
trict  of  New  York.  A  few  months  later  he  resign 
ed  to  become  National  organizer  of  the  National 
Negro  Business  League. 

Fred  R.  Moore  acquired  the  controlling  interest 
in  The  New  York  Age,  of  T.  Thomas  Fortune,  and 
Jerome  B.  Peterson,  in  1907.  and  under  his  manage 
ment  the  paper  has  steadily  grown  in  influence 
and  circulation.  Mr.  Moore  was  known  as  a 
staunch  and  devoted  friend  of  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington,  and  the  renowned  Tuskegeean  placed  im 
plicit  confidence  in  his  New  York  friend,  who 
showed  a  disposition  to  go  to  the  front  for  the 
Negro  leader  at  any  and  all  times.  No  one  was 
more  profoundly  touched  by  Booker  T.  Washing 
ton's  death  than  Fred  R.  Moore. 

Just  at  the  close  of  the  Taft  administration  Fred 
R.  Moore,  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  as  United 
States  Minister  to  Liberia,  the  appointment  having 
been  made  some  months  before,  but  the  Democrat 
ic  Senators  had  shown  a  disposition  to  hold  up 
many  of  President  Taft's  last  appointments.  Al 
though  given  the  proper  credentials  by  the  State 
Department,  and  the  duly  accredited  representa 
tive  of  the  United  States  Government  to  the  black 
republic,  Mr.  Moore  never  went  to  Africa.  His 
resignation  was  accepted  by  William  Jennings  Bry 
an  about  three  months  later.  Minister  Moore  re 
ceived  the  emoluments  due  this  country's  diplo 
matic  representative  to  Liberia  for  the  three 
months. 

Mr.  Moore  has  been  active  in  politics  and  in  1902 
was  nominated  by  his  district  in  Brooklyn  for  the 
State  Legislature,  receiving  2,156  votes.  There 
were  150  colored  voters  in  the  district.  He  was 
an  alternate  delegate  to  the  Republican  National 
Convention  in  1908,  and  a  member  of  the  Advisory 
Committee  of  the  National  Republican  Committee 
in  1912  and  1916.  Mr.  Moore  is  deeply  interested 
in  civic  affairs  and  is  a  member  of  the  National  Ne 
gro  Business  League ;  Member  of  the  Executive 
Committee  National  League  on  Urban  Conditions 
Among  Negroes ;  Empire  Friendly  Shelter ;  Aux 
iliary  Member  Committee  of  Fourteen,  and  other 
organizations  for  the  betterment  of  race  condi 
tions.  In  his  church  affiliation,  Mr.  Moore  is  an 
Episcopalian. 

In  1879,  Fred  R.  Moore  and  Ida  Lawrence  were 
married  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  eighteen  chil 
dren  have  been  born  of  the  marriage.  Mr.  Moore 
was  born  Jun  16,  1857. 

226 


REVEREND   A.   CLAYTON   POWELL,   D   .D. 


LAYTON  Powell,  son  of  An 
thony  and  Sallie  Dunning  Powell, 
was  horn  in  a  one-room  log  cabin 
in  Franklin  County,  Va.,  May  5, 
1865,  near  the  spot  where  Booker 
T.  Washington  first  saw  the  light. 
In  his  tenth  year  he  moved  with  his  father  and 
mother  to  Knawha  County,  West  Virginia,  and 
later  to  Ohio.  He  received  his  early  training  in  the 
public  schools  of  West  Virginia  and  Ohio.  On 
March  8,  1885,  he  was  converted  and  baptised  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  of  Ren- 
dville,  Ohio.  A  year  later  he  went,  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  with  the  intention  of  studying  law,  but  be 
cause  of  a  deep  religious  experience  his  mind  was 
turned  to  theology.  He  holds  two  diplomas  from 
Virginia  Union  University,  Richmond  Virginia, 
and  spent  two  years,  1895-96,  at  Yale  University, 
New  Haven,  Conn. 

His  first  call  was  to  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
San  Diego,  California,  but  he  finally  accepted  the 
Ebenezer  Baptist  Church,  of  Philadelphia,  where 
he  served  for  one  year  and  was  then  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Emanuel  Baptist  Church,  New 
Haven,  Connetticutt.  Here  he  had  one  of  the 


most  successful  pastorates  of  the  country  for  fif 
teen  and  a  half  years.  The  membership  was  in 
creased  from  135  to  625 ;  the  church  building  was 
remodeled  at  a  cost  of  $10,000  and  every  cent  paid 
within  two  years,  and  a  splendid  piece  of  property 
adjoining  the  church  purchased.  In  1908  he  re 
signed  this  charge  to  accept  a  call  to  the  Abyssin 
ian  Baptist  Church,  New  York  City,  where  he  still 
serves.  During  his  nine  years  pastorate,  2200 
persons  have  been  added  to  the  membership.  This 
is  considered  the  wealthiest  Negro  Baptist  church 
in  America,  having  under  its  control  about  $350,000 
worth  of  property,  with  a  membership  of  3300. 

Rev.  Powell  uses    his  pulpit  every    Sunday,    not 
only  to  preach  the  gospel  but  to  secure  good  posi 
tions  for  the  members  of  his  congregation  and  to 
urge  them  to  support  Negro  business  enterprises. 
He  is  especially  interested  in  educational   and  so 
cial  service  work.     He  is  a  trustee  of  Virginia  Se 
minary  and  College,  the  National  Training  School 
for  Women  and  Girls,  Downingtown  Industrial  and 
Agricultural  College,    a  member    of  the  Board    of 
Directors  of  the  White  Rose  Industrial  Home,  the 
Young   Men's   Christian   Association,   the   National 
League    on    Urban    Conditions    Among     Negroes, 
member  of  the  National  Association   for   the   Ad 
vancement  of  Colored   People,   P   .N.   F.,     of     the 
Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  32nd  degree 
Mason,  and  Knights  of  Pythias.     He  received  the 
title   of   Doctor   of   Divinity   from   Virginia   Union 
University,  May  1904,  and  from  Virginia  Seminary 
and  College  ,the  same  month.     In  1900  he  was  del 
egate  to  the  World's  Christian  Endeavor  Conven 
tion,  in  London,  and  spent  two  months  abroad  vis 
iting   many  places   in   Great   Britian,   France     and 
Ireland.     He    has    also    travelled    through    Canada. 
Bermuda,  and  Mexico.     Very  few  public  speakers 
are  in  greater  demand  than  Rev.  Powell.     He  has 
crossed  the  American  continent  four  times  in  an 
swer  to  invitations  to  lecture  and  preach  in   Cali 
fornia  and  other  western   states.     He   has   spoken 
on   the  platform   with   such   men   as   Ex-President 
Taft  and   Governor  Charles   S.    Whitman,   of  New 
York.     He  has  been  invited  to  lecture  and  deliver 
commencement  addresses  at  several  of  the  leading 
universities  and  schools.     He  is  an  honorary  mem 
ber  of  the  Garnett  Society  of  Lincoln  University. 
Extracts    from    his    sermons    and    addresses    often 
appear  in  papers  like  the  New  York  Times,   Sun, 
Brooklyn  Eagle,    and    the    leading   dailies  of    New 
England. 

He  is  author  of  the  following  pamphlets :  Eman 
uel  Baptist  Church,  Pastor  and  Members ;  Some 
Rights  Not  Denied  the  Negro  Race  ;  A  Plea  for 
Strong  Manhood :  A  Three  Fold  Cord ;  Valley  of 
Dry  Bones ;  Power  of  the  Spirit  the  Need  of  the 
Church;  Significance  of  the  Hour;  Broken,  But 
Not  Off;  Watch  Your  Step.  The  pamphlets  are 
widely  read.  Some  of  them  have  run  into  the  sev 
en  thousandth  edition.  Proceeds  of  these  are  used 
to  educate  young  men  to  the  ministry. 

He  was  Chairman  of  the  Booker  T.  Washington 
Memorial  Committee  of  New  York  State. 

Rev.  Powell  was  married  to  Miss  Mattie  F.  Scha- 
fer,  of  Pratt,  West  Virginia.  Two  children, 
Blanche  F.  and  Adam  Clayton,  Jr.,  were  born  to 
bless  the  home  of  this  couple. 


227 


Lester  A.  Walton 


ESTER  A.  Walton,  journalist  and 
theatrical  promoter,  was  born 
at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  20,  1881, 
and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  A. 
Walton  and  Ollie  May  Walton ; 
old  and  highly  respected  residents 
of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Mr.  Walton  is  a  product  of  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city  and  is  a  graduate 
of  Summer  High  School. 

After  completing  a  business  course  in  a  local  bus 
iness  college,  Mr.  Walton  decided  to  take  up  jour 
nalism  as  a  profession  and  his  first  work  was  on 
the  St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat.  At  the  time  R.  A. 
Hudlin,  a  boyhood  friend  of  Mr.  Wralton's  parents, 
was  postmaster  of  Clayton,  Mo.,  and  had  for  years 
been  the  St.  Louis  County  reporter  for  the  Globe- 
Democrat  with  headquarters  at  the  county  seat, 
Clayton.  Taking  notice  that  young  Walton  poss 
essed  the  earmarks  of  a  newspaper  man,  Mr.  Hud 
lin  made  him  his  assistant  as  reporter  on  the  St. 
Louis  Globe  Democrat,  which  position  Lester  A. 
Walton  filled  until  he  become  "county  man"  for  the 
St.  Louis  Post-Despatch.  The  city  editor  of  that 
paper  and  the  young  reporter  did  not  get  along  very 
well  and  Mr.  Walton  resigned  after  a  short  time 
and  became  "county  man"  for  the  St.  Louis  Star 
Sayings,  another  evening  paper,  now  known  as 
the  St.  Louis  Star.  The  "county  men"  from  the 
St.  Louis  evening  papers  used  to  write  their  arti 
cles  and  then  dictate  their  articles  over  the  long 
distance  telephone  to  stenographers  in  the  local 
room.  It  was  not  until  the  young  colored  reporter 
was  summoned  one  Saturday  afternoon  to  report 
at  the  Star  Sayings'  office  and  write  a  detailed  ac 
count  of  a  big  elopement  to  Clayton  of  prominent 
'St.  Louisians  that  his  racial  identity  was  made 
known.  Clayton  was  known  as  the  "rural  Gret- 
na  Green"  That  Saturday  evening  Lester  A.Walton 
walked  into  the  local  room  of  the  Star  Sayings, 
going  up  to  John  W.  Kearney,  the  city  editor,  ex 
claimed :  "I  am  Walton."  "You  are  Walton?"  ask 
ed  Mr.  Kearney  in  surprise.  "Well,"  continued  the 
city  editor,  "if  you  are  game  enough  to  report  for 
us  and  continue  to  make  good  I  am  game  enough 
to  keep  you  on  the  staff."  From  that  day  the 
two  became  fast  friends. 

After  serving  for  nearly  a  year  as  "county  man" 
Lester  A.  Walton  was  brought  into  St.  Louis  and 
made  a  member  of  the  local  Staff.  He  was  assign 
ed  to  the  courthouse  as  Court  Reporter.  Together 
with  the  eight  divisions  of  the  Circuit  Court,  the 
Circuit  Clerk's  Office,  Sheriff's  Office,  Court  of 
Appeals,  Probate  Court,  Probate  Clerk's  Office, 
he  for  five  years  "covered"  the  Second  District 


Police  Court  in  the  morning  where  he  was  a  famil 
iar  figure.  No  matter  whether  the  judge  or  city  at 
torney  was  Republican  or  Democrat,  Lester  A. 
Walton  was  known  to  be  on  the  most  friendly 
terms  with  them.  The  spectacle  of  a  police  court 
judge,  known  to  many  in  the  neighborhood,  leav 
ing  the  Walton  home  on  Sunday  afternoon,  was 
a  mild  sensation  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

After  six  years  on  the  St.  Louis  Star  Sayings, 
serving  both  as  court  reporter  and  general  assign 
ment  man,  Lester  A.  Walton  went  to  New  York 
during  the  theatrical  season  of  1906-7,  to  write 
the  lyrics  for  the  Rufus  Rastus  Company,  of  which 
Ernest  Hogan  was  the  star.  In  St.  Louis  the  com 
edian  and  newspaper  man  had  formed  an  acquaint 
anceship  and  the  former  delegated  his  St.  Louis 
friend  to  write  the  lyrics  for  his  show.  When  the 
company  went  on  the  road,  Mr.  Walton  served  as 
personal  representative  for  Mr.  Hogan,  looking 
after  his  business  interests. 

The  following  season,  Lester  A.  Walton  put  out 
a  big  act  of  ten  people  with  Thomas  Johnson,  of 
Klaw  and  Erlanger,  and  in  February,  1908,  became 
dramatic  editor  of  the  New  York  Age,  which  had 
been  taken  over  by  Fred  R.  Moore,  some  months 
previous.  The  dramatic  department  was  an  in 
stantaneous  hit  with  both  public  and  performer, 
and  was  regarded  by  many  as  a  feature  of  the  pa 
per.  A  few  months  later,  Mr.  Walton  was  also 
made  managing  editor,  and  has  filled  the  respective 
position  ever  since.  He  is  regarded  as  an  author 
ity  on  colored  theatricals. 

On  June  29th,  1912,  Lester  A.  Walton  and  Miss 
Gladys  F.  Moore,  daughter  of  Fred  R.  Moore,  were 
joined  in  wedlock  and  two  fine  children  help  to 
make  the  Walton  household  a  happy  one. 

For  nearly  two  years  Mr.  Walton  and  associate 
was  lessee  and  manager  of  the  Lafayette  Theatre, 
located  in  Harlem.  The  undertaking  was  a  large 
one,  as  the  original  rent  asked  for  the  house  was 
$25,000  yearly.  Although  the  theatre  originally 
planned  primarily  for  white  people,  had  been  a 
rank  failure ;  it  was  a  success  under  the  Walton 
management. 

In  December,  1917,  Mr.  Walton  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  Military  Entertainment  Service 
by  Mr.  Marc  Klaw,  of  the  big  theatrical  firm  of 
Klaw  and  Erlanger,  to  supervise  theatricals  among 
the  colored  draftees  at  all  cantonments,  working 
under  the  direction  of  the  War  Department  Com 
mission  on  Training  Camp  Activities.  He  is  also 
connected  with  the  Walton  Publishing  Company, 
organized  to  publish  songs  and  instrumental  num 
bers  of  talented  and  ambitious  colored  writers,  en 
countering  difficulty  in  getting  their  compositions 
published  and  put  on  the  market. 


228 


WILLIAM   P.  HAYES,  JR.,  D.  D. 

NE  thing  that  is  being  pressed 
home  to  us  in  this  the  crisis  of 
the  world,  is  that  so  many  men 
have  had  no  chance  for  educating 
themselves.  Or  worse  still,  hav- 

ing  had   the   chance   neglected   it. 

This  fact  is  brought  out  by  the  government  records 
in  all  the  different  phases  of  life's  activities.  They 
want  men  trained  in  every  branch  and  in  every 
walk  of  life.  The  greater  portion  of  the  ministry 
would  be  turned  down  if  examined  by  Uncle  Sam 
for  work  in  his  department.  This  is  a  sad  state 
of  affairs,  and  yet,  not  such  a  surprising  one.  For 
the  life  of  the  race  as  a  free  people  is  not  yet  the 
length  of  the  life  of  a  man  who  considers  himself 
middleaged.  Maybe  the  greater  surprise  should 
be  shown  because  of  the  great  number  of  men,  who 
in  spite  of  hardships,  poverty,  back  sets  of  all 
kinds  still  persevered  and  are  today  thinkers — ed 
ucators — persons  of  note  and  of  weight.  Then 
there  is  the  class  of  young  men,  born  to  parents 
who  had  gotten  just  a  taste  of  slavery,  just  enough 
slavery  to  make  them  appreciate  the  privilege  of 
educating  their  children  and  themselves  at  the 
same  time.  Of  such  parents,  Rev.  William  P. 
Hayes,  D.  D.,  was  born. 


January  18,  1881,  in  Bullocks,  North  Carolina, 
there  was  born  in  the  family  of  Rev.  Hayes,  a  prom 
inent  Methodist  minister,  a  young  son.  From  the 
first  the  father  determined  that  the  young  lad 
should  have  every  advantage  which  he  had  enjoyed 
and  more.  So  at  an  early  age  we  find  young 
William  in  school,  where  he  made  for  himself  an 
enviable  record.  The  first  school  of  his  own 
choosing  was  Bennett  College,  Greensboro,  North 
Carolina.  Leaving  Bennett  he  went  to  Richmond, 
Virginia,  where  he  matriculated  in  the  Virginia 
Union  University. 

As  he  studied  and  worked  to  prepare  him 
self  for  life  out  in  the  world,  Rev.  Hayes  spent 
much  time  planning  and  deciding  just  what  work 
to  follow.  Medicine  was  alluring  as  was  also 
the '  remuneration  that  usually  goes  with  one  thor 
oughly  prepared  in  this  profession.  So  he  defin 
itely  decided  to  become  a  physician.  But  while  he 
was  still  very  young  the  call  of  the  ministry  was  so 
strong  that  he  had  to  give  up  his  idea  of  medicine 
and  take  up  the  study  of  theology  instead.  To  the 
mind  of  Rev.  Hayes  this  is  the  principal  episode  of 
his  life. 

After  leaving  school,  Rev.  Hayes  taught  in 
Boydton  Institute,  Boydton,  Virginia.  Leaving 
Boydton  he  went  to  the  Keysville  Industrial 
School,  and  taught  there  for  a  short  while.  Still 
using  teaching  as  his  point  of  contract  with  people 
and  their  development,  he  went  back  to  his  Alma 
Mater  and  taught  for  a  while  in  Virgnia  Union  Un 
iversity.  He  then  branched  out  into  his  real  life 
work — that  of  preaching.  For  six  years  he  served 
as  pastor  of  churches  in  Virginia.  He  then  accept 
ed  the  call  from  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptsit  Church, 
New  York  City.  Here  he  has  remained  for  the 
past  seven  years,  preaching  and  leading  his  people 
to  a  higher  plane  of  thinking  and  of  living. 

He  has  not  confined  his  work  to  the  church.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  of  the  Banquet 
Beneficial  League,  of  New  York,  and  of  the  South 
ern  Beneficial  League,  of  New  York,  and  the  In 
dependent  Order  of  St.  Luke.  He  serves  on  the 
committee  of  Management  of  the  Y.  M.  C  .A.,  of 
New  York  City ;  Music  School  Settlement  for  Col 
ored  People ;  Howard  Orphanage  and  Industrial 
Institute ;  Liberty  Loan  Committee,  New  York,  Se 
cretary  of  the  Trustee  Board,  Northern  Baptist 
University.  In  all  these  organizations  he  is  not 
just  a  member  but  is  active  in  the  development 
of  each. 

On  November  16,  1910,  Rev.  Hayes  was  married 
to  Miss  Carolyne  Amee,  of  New  York  City.  There 
are  no  children  in  the  family.  Mrs.  Hayes  is  ac 
tive  in  all  the  affairs  of  her  husband's  church.  She 
has  his  interest  at  heart  and  lends  her  aid  in  every 
place  where  she  can.  She,  with  her  husband  work 
together  for  the  social  uplift  of  all  who  are  around 
them. 


229 


ANDREW  N.  JOHNSON 

NDREW  N.  Johnson,  of  Nashville, 
is  a  business  man  from  tip  to  toe. 
As  such  he  has  his  own  notions  as 
to  the  way  of  conducting  business 
enterprises  and  one's  personal  af 
fairs.  He  believes  and  asserts  very 
emphatically  that  no  customer  should  be  asked  to 
spend  his  money  from  a  motive  of  sympathy  or 
race  loyalty,  but  that  rather  the  Negro  merchant 
should  bring  his  wares  up  to  the  standard  of  com 
petition  with  the  best  in  the  market.  Another  set 
policy  of  Mr.  Johnson's  is  that  he  never  goes  in 
debt,  does  not  believe  in  credit,  refuses  to  sign 
notes  and.  enter  into  any  of  that  form  of  pay-to 
morrow,  so  common  in  all  practices  of  business.  He 
pays  cash  or  refuses  to  buy. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  Marion,  Alabama,  in 
1866.  He  attended  the  public  schools  in  Marion 
and  then  the  Marion  State  Normal  School.  From 
the  State  Normal  Institution,  Mr.  Johnson  entered 
Talladega  College.  On  leaving  Talladega,  he  took 
Civil  Service  Examination  and  served  as  Postal 
Clerk  for  three  years,  being  retired  for  political 
activity,  then  he  went  to  Mobile,  Alabama  and  be 
gan  the  business  of  Undertaking,  and  publishing 


"The  Mobile  Press."  After  fourteen  years  of  re 
markable  success  here  he  moved  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  established  there  once  more  his  Under 
taking  house. 

Mr.  Johnson's  is  not  a  shop,  but  a  house  with  its 
waiting  rooms,  offices,  its  departments  containing 
all  classes  of  caskets  and  funeral  equipment ;  with 
its  gallant  span  of  horses  and  some  half  score  of 
limousines  backed  by  Winton,  McFarlan,  Hudson, 
and  other  high  grade  makes  of  cars,  lined  before 
the  door — all  owned,  paid  for  in  cash.  The  estab 
lishment  rises,  yes,  soars  far  above  the  level  even 
of  the  better  class  of  Undertaking  businesses.  In 
deed,  Mr.  Johnson  is  reported  by  reliable  author 
ities  to  own  the  finest  Undertaking  equipment  in 
the  South  ;  white  or  colored. 

The  late  Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington  was  exceed 
ingly  fond  of  preaching  from  the  text,  "To  him 
that  hath,,'  etc.,  which  appears  to  be  both  a  natural 
and  spiritual  law.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  conspicuous 
instance  of  the  truth  of  this  law.  With  all  of  this 
establishment  on  his  hands  he  does  not  cry,  "hold, 
enough",  but  rather  reaches  out  for  more  kinds  of 
business  to  master.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Republican  National  Convention,  which  nominated 
McKinley,  Roosevelt  and  Hughes.  He  was  also 
the  last  Negro  nominated  for  Congress  by  the  Re 
publican  party  of  Alabama.  He  is  President  of 
the  Nashville  Board  of  Trade,  which  organzation 
was  instrumental  in  building  a  Negro  Library, 
creating  blocks  and  playgrounds  and  civic  im 
provements  in  Nashville — especially  caring  for  the 
thousands  made  homeless  in  the  conflagration  in 
Nashville  in  the  spring  of  1918. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  the  owner  of  the  Johnson 
Block,  consisting  of  the  Lincoln  Theatre  and  a  half 
dozen  business  houses  in  the  centre  of  the  business 
district  of  Nashville,  one  block  from  the  State  Cap 
itol  Bukling  and  on  the  same  street.  He  is  also 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  a  member  of  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  managing  committee.  He  is  president  of 
the  Johnson- Allen  Undertaking  Co.,  of  Mobile,  Ala. 

With  all  this  responsibility  on  his  shoulders,  and 
he  attends  to  most  of  it  personally,  Mr.  Johnson 
finds  time  and  money  to  join  in  most  local  and  nat 
ional  enterprises  for  progress,  such  as  entertaining 
visitors,  giving  banquets,  aiding  in  handling  con 
ventions,  attending  sessions  of  business  leagues, 
and  of  Undertakers,  holding  and  playing  a  strong 
hand  in  local  political  and  projecting  quite  into 
national  politics.  In  all  situations,  he  is  ready  to 
be  energetic,  patient,  pugnacious,  hospitable  and 
generous  as  the  situation  may  demand. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in  1886  to  Miss  Lillie 
A.  Jones,  of  Marion.  Mrs.  Jonhson  is  a  graduate  of 
Talladega  college.  The  two  sons  of  the  family  are 
already  grown  and  in  business.  Mr.  L.  E.  Johnson 
is  Secretary  of  the  Johnson-Allen  Undertakng 
Company  of  Mobile,  and  Ur.  A.  N.  Johnson.  Jr.,  is 
a  practicing  physician  of  Nashville,  Tenn. 


230 


LEO  FRITZ  NEARON,  M.  D. 


N  recent  years  Colored  men  of  for 
eign  birth  have  taken  on  many  of 
the  traits  and  ambitions  of  the 
American.  This  is  especially  true 
in  regard  to  gaining  an  education 
and  making  a  career.  Time  was 
when  people  of  any  caste  whatsoever  in  the  foreign 
countries  regarded  work  as  a  calamity.  They 
were  satisfied  with  their  training,  with  their  own 
environment,  preferring  to  stay  at  home  and  hus 
band  out  their  fortunes,  small  or  large,  to  getting 
out  in  the  open  and  combating  for  a  place  in  the 
sun. 

Among  those  to  come  forth  and  out-American, 
the  Yankee  himself  for  education  and  career  is  Dr. 
Leo  Fitz  Nearon,  of  New  York  City.  Dr.  Nearon 
was  born  at  St.  George,  Bermuda,  July  17,  1881. 
His  early  days  were  spent  at  home,  where  he  at 
tended  the  public  schools  and  St.  George  Academy. 
His  academy  days  over,  he  began  his  struggle  for 
education  and  for  a  livelihood.  For  a  time  he 
worked  in  the  Bermuda  shipyards,  serving  an  ap 
prenticeship.  From  shipyard  apprentice  he  be 
came  a  school  teacher,  teaching  in  the  Bermuda 
public  schools  6  months,  when  he  was  but  seven 


teen  years  of  age.  School  teaching  failing  to  prove 
the  "Open  Seasame"  to  him,  as  it  has  to  many 
others  on  their  way  forward,  he  took  up  work  with 
the  St.  George  Bicycle  Company,  of  Bermuda. 
Again  wages  were  too  small. 

Working  here  and  there  he  finally  made  his  way 
to  America.  Here  he  set  out  to  complete  his 
education  and  to  become  master  of  a  profession. 
Working  summers  and  odd  times  during  his  school 
days,  he  managed  to  enter,  and  to  complete  the 
college  course  of  Lincoln  University  in  Pennsyl 
vania,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1903. 

What  he  had  done  to  defray  his  expenses  in  col 
lege  he  must  now  repeat  for  his  course  in  the 
study  of  medicine.  Only,  he  had  to  redouble  his 
efforts,  as  his  expenses  were  much  heavier.  Going 
into  New  York,  he  registered  in  the  New  York 
Medical  College.  He  completed  his  course  here  in 
1898.  His  internship  was  the  next  step  forward. 
He  was  fortunate  enough  to  become  an  interne  in 
New  York,  where  he  had  been  graduated.  He  did 
his  time  in  the  Flower  Hospital,  and  then  did  post 
graduate  work  in  the  Lying-in  Hospital,  in  the 
Flower  and  Metropolitan  Hospitals. 

New  York,  though  rife  with  competition,  ap 
pealed  to  him  as  a  desirable  place  in  whch  to  be 
gin  practice.  He  hung  out  his  sign  as  a  physician 
and  surgeon  and  began  his  work.  In  ten  years  he 
has  built  up  a  very  extensive  practice  and  made 
many  friends  in  Gotham.  He  owns  a  three-story 
residence,  a  residence  with  a  brown  stone  front, 
and  one  which  cost  $12,500. 

While  Dr.  Nearon  has  not  yet  taken  on  the  re 
sponsibilities  of  domestic  life,  he  has  allied  himself 
with  many  available  organizations  for  personal  up 
lift  and  professional  service.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  He  holds  mem 
bership  in  many  lodges  and  medical  organizations. 
He  is  Past  Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  I.  O.  U.  of 
M.  A.,  a  member  of  the  B.  K.  Bruce  8171,  G.  U.  O. 
of  O.  F.,  of  the  Juanita  Household  of  Ruth  4091; 
of  the  Lincoln  Tabernacle  6024,  G.  U.  O.  of  F.  G., 
and  Past  Grand  Master  of  Council  403,  of  New 
York  Patriarchs  Number  2 ;  Past  Exalted  Ruler  of 
Elks.  Professionally  he  is  a  physician  to  the  Day 
Nursery,  to  the  B.  K.  Bruce  Lodge,  to  the  Imperial 
Lodge  of  Elks,  to  the  St.  Manual  Lodge,  to  Eureka 
Temple,  Invincible  Temple,  and  to  Excelsior  Lodge. 

In  addition  to  his  affiliation  in  these  bodies  he 
carries  membership  in  seven  medical  bodies.  He 
belongs  to  the  County  Medical  Socety  of  New 
York,  to  the  State  Medical  Society,  to  the  Aescolo- 
pian  Medical  Society,  the  National  Medical  Society, 
to  the  Manhattan  Medical  Society,  to  the  Medical 
Clinical  Society.  In  all  these  organizations  he  takes 
an  active  part,  bringing  in  his  experiences,  throw 
ing  light  upon  many  of  the  vexing  problems  in  the 
practice  of  both  medicine  and  surgery. 


231 


THE  CLEF  CLUB   GRAND   ORCHESTRA,   N.   Y.   CITY 


ROBABLY  the  most  written  of 
and  deservedly  popular  Negro  or 
ganization  of  New  York  City  to 
day  is  the  Clef  Club.  Its  name 
is  a  synonoym  for  all  that  is  ex 
cellent,  original,  and  aristocrat 
ic  in  music  and  in  musical  and 
lighter  drama.  Whether  its  sig 
nature  stands  back  of  an  individual,  a  quartet,  a 
troup,  or  an  orchestra  of  one  hundred  pieces,  it 
means  finished  eclat. 

This  talented  body  was  incorporated  in  the  City 
of  New  York,  in  May,  1910.  Considering  the  ma 
terial  out  of  which  it  was  formed,  it  stands  as  a 
modern  miracle.  About  the  date  named,  a  number 
of  aspirants  to  musical  honors  met  with  James 
Reese  Europe,  to  learn  and  practice  note  reading. 
They  made  their  debut  at  the  Manhattan  Casino, 
under  the  direction  of  the  founder  and  president, 
James  Reese  Europe,  who  now,  by  the  way  is 
leading  a  band  "Somewhere  in  France,"  was  assis 
ted  by  William  H.  Tyler.  In  a  few  years  they  were 
in  Carnegie  Hall  and  in  about  any  other  Hall,  pri 
vate  or  public,  they  wanted  in  New  York. 

To  original  song  and  music,  meaning  thereby 
that  a  great  many  instrumental  and  vocal  selec 
tion  numbers  were  the  work  of  the  members  of  the 
company,  were  interspersed  with  very  entertain 
ing  and  original  dramatic  parts.  Confidence  and 
ambition  growing,  they  ventured  out  of  New  York. 
They  went  down  to  Pi  i'adelphia,  Washington,  and 
Richmond,  were  banqueted  and  applauded  to  their 
heart's  content,  and  returned  to  New  York  in  a 
halo  of  glory  and  inspiration,  the  organization  in 
tact  ;  the  railroad  fares  and  other  expenses  more 
than  generously  cared  for.  Perhaps  no  other 
summary  can  be  made  of  their  success  than  is  giv 
en  in  the  "Richmond  Times  Dispatch." 


"In  many  respects  the  most  remarkable  concert 
ever  given  in  Richmond  was  offered  at  the  City 
Auditorium  last  night  by  the  Clef  Club,  an  organi 
zation  of  Negro  singers  and  instrumentalists,  un 
der  the  direction  of  the  well  known  James  Reese 
Europe,  assisted  by  William  H.  Tyler." 

"An  orchestra  of  sixty  men,  playing  and  sing 
ing  fortissimo — remarkable  indeed ;  and  theirs  are 
not  the  rusty,  unused  voices  of  musicians  who  are 
instumentalists  alone,  but  those  of  strong,  vigorous 
young  Negro  men,  to  whom  singing  conies  as  na 
turally  as  breathing.  Nor  did  they  attempt  to  sing 
difficult,  elaborate  music,  though,  for  a  matter, 
Europe  is  abundantly  able  to  teach  them  anything 
he  might  select,  but  confined  their  choral  singing 
to  rousing,  melodious,  full-voiced  pieces  that  lent 
themselves  admirably  to  their  natural  style. 

"Practically  every  number  on  the  program  was 
the  composition  of  a  Negro,  from  Coleridge-Tay 
lor,  who  was  an  international  figure  in  the  world 
of  music,  to  lesser  but  competent  men.  Several 
of  the  pieces  were  written  by  Europe  himself,  and 
excellently  written,  while  the  work  of  the  assis 
tant  conductor,  Tyler,  was  also  represented." 

To  the  roles  of  leaders  in  music  the  Clef  Club 
has  added  another  feature  that  is  varying  with  its 
musical  reputation ;  that  is  the  social  feature.  New 
York  society  makes  it  as  a  gala  day  when  the  Clef 
Club  entertains.  Then  one  can  gain  a  glimpse 
of  the  elite  en  masse,  among  the  colored  people. 
Their  balls  at  the  Manhattan  Casino  have  become 
famous  throughout  the  country.  Mr.  Daniel  Kil- 
gore  succeeded  Mr.  Europe  as  President  of  the 
Club  and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Deacon  John 
son,  its  present  head. 

Its  policies,  though  undergoing  refinements,  re 
mains  the  same  to  produce  original  Negro  music 
and  to  place  deserving  talent  before  the  public. 


232 


BERRY  O'KELLY 

O  see  a  man  of  prominence  and  of 
comparative  wealth  who  has 
climbed  from  the  bottom  of  the 
ladder  unaided — a  man  who  does 
not  even  know  the  date  of  his 
birth  is  one  of  the  anomalies  of 
the  Negro  race.  No  where  else  in  the  world  in  this 
privilege  given  so  freely  to  the  common  man.  Mr. 
Berry  O'Kelly,  of  Method,  North  Carolina,  is  one 
of  the  many  Negroes  in  America  who  has  seized 
upon  this  opportunity  and  made  the  most  of  it. 

Mr.  O'Kelly  was  born  in  Chapel  Hill,  Orange 
County,  North  Carolina.  The  date  of  his  birth  he 
does  not  know.  He  never  saw  his  mother  or  his 
father  to  know  them,  his  mother  having  died  when 
he  was  still  an  infant.  As  a  lad  he  attended  the  pub 
lic  schools  of  Orange  and  Wake  Counties,  getting 
from  his  meager  chances  for  schooling  all  that  he 
could,  in  fact  getting  more  from  this  chance  than 
many  young  boy  of  his  day  got  from  much  better 
Opportunities.  So  we  find  Mr.  O'Kelly  as  a  man 
with  a  foundation  laid  in  childhood  and  in  young 
manhood  upon  which  he  has  builded  a  superstruc 
ture  of  culture  and  refinement.  This  has  been  done 
through  the  medium  of  contact  and  travel. 

At  the  early  age  of  sixteen,  Mr.  O'Kelly  started 
out  in  the  mercantile  business.  Tie  has  never 


changed  his  business.  He  has  only  added  to  it. 
So  today  we  find  Mr.  O'Kelly  in  the  mercantile  bus- 
siness  and  dealing  in  Real  Estate.  When  we  look 
at  all  that  this  man  stands  for,  all  that  he  owns  in 
his  own  name,  it  is  hard  for  us  to  look  back  and 
see  the  start  he  had.  He  worked  for  $5.00  to 
$12.00  a  month  until  he  had  saved  $100.00.  He 
never  had  but  two  employers.  This  took  time  and 
the  very  strictest  economy.  To  Mr.  O'Kelly  this 
was  no  real  hardship  for  he  had  his  goal  before 
him.  Having  gotten  trie  $100.00  he  went  into  bus 
iness  with  Mr.  C.  H.  Woods.  The  business  was 
known  as  Wood  and  O'Kelly.  After  a  short  time 
Mr.  Wood  wished  to  go  west  and  sold  out.  So  Mr. 
O'Kelly  came  into  the  possession  of  the  whole  bus 
iness.  Starting  with  the  small  capital  of  $100.00, 
the  business  has  grown  to  the  the  extent  that  two 
railroad  warehouses  are  used  constantly  for  the 
accomodation  of  it. 

In  addition  to  owning  his  business  and  business 
interests,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  accumulat 
ed  considerable  real  estate.  He  owns  over  1,000 
acres  of  farm  land,  and  a  lot  of  city  property,  bank 
stock  and  other  stock  of  value.  Mr.  O'Kelly  has 
continued  with  the  habit  formed  while  he  was  still 
very  young,  the  habit  of  saving  and  investing  wis 
ely. 

In  religious  belief,  Mr.  O'Kelly  is  a  member  of 
the  African  Episcopal  Church,  and  a  helper  in  all 
denominations.  He  is  a  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow. 
For  more  than  twenty-five  years  he  served  his 
town  in  the  capacity  of  Post-Master.  He  is  now 
the  Chairman  of  the  School  Committee  of  the 
Berry  O'Kelly  County  Teachers  Training  School. 
This  is  an  institution  which  because  of  the  very  li 
beral  way  in  which  Mr.  O'Kelly  gave  to  its  support 
bears  his  name.  The  Governors  of  North  Caro 
lina  have  given  him  many  appointments.  In  all 
the  duties  thus  thrust  upon  him  he  has  measured 
up  to  the  expectations  of  the  people.  On  several 
occassions  he  has  been  elected  a  delegate  to  Na 
tional  Bodies,  and  he  is  a  life  member  of  the  Na 
tional  Negro  Business  League. 

One  of  the  things  that  has  made  the  culture  of 
this  man  is  the  travels  it  has  been  his  opportunity 
to  enjoy.  He  has  traveled  all  over  this  country 
and  over  Europe,  Asia,  and  over  parts  of  Africa. 
The  effect  of  these  days  spent  in  travel  are  appar 
ent  in  the  talks  and  actions  of  Mr.  O'Kelly.  It  is 
this  that  has  made  the  superstructure  of  culture 
and  refinement  upon  the  foundation  laid  in  the 
little  country  school  back  in  Orange  and  Wake 
County,  North  Carolina. 

About  twenty  years  ago,  Mr.  O'Kelly  was  mar 
ried  to  Miss  Chanie  Ligon.  For  twelve  years  she 
was  to  him  a  helpmate  in  the  truest  sense  of  the 
word.  About  eight  years  ago  she  died.  There 
were  no  children  and  so  once  more  Berry  O'Kelly 
was  left  alone  in  the  world.  But  the  conditions 
are  so  different  from  the  other  time  when  both  his 
father  and  mother  left  him  to  the  mercies  of  the 
world.  The  man  himself,  has  been  the  sole 
cause  of  the  change  in  these  conditions — then  there 
was  nothing.  Today  he  is  a  man  of  means,  of  bus 
iness  ability,  of  social  prominence,  of  culture  and 
refinement. 


233 


Isaac  A.  Lawrence,  M.  D. 


ARCH  3rd,  1870,  there  was  born  at 
Morg  Neck,  Maryland,  a  baby 
boy,  whose  destiny  carried  him 
along  a  rocky  path  in  his  early 
life,  but  which  led  him  finally  to 
a  goal  which  any  one  might  envy. 
This  boy  was  Dr.  I.  A.  Lawr-ence  of  Elizabeth,  New 
Jersey.  His  father  died  when  he,  an  only  child, 
was  only  two  years  of  age,  leaving  his  mother  in 
abject  proverty.  This  entailed  upon  young  Isaac 
the  extreme  hardships  which  follow  in  the  wake  of 
poverty.  His  early  days  were  marked  with  great 
privations  and  suffering.  Frequently  during  se 
vere  winters  he  went  without  an  overcoat  and  with 
but  meager  garments  of  any  kind  to  protect  him 
tVom  the  cold.  The  dump  heap  became  his  friend, 
and  he  often  resorted  to  it  to  fish  out  the  old  and 
discarded  shoes  of  other  boys,  for  his  mother  was 
unable  to  buy  him  covering  for  his  feet.  His  feet 
would  present  an  odd  appearance  for  it  was  not  of 
ten  that  he  could  secure  mates  of  the  same  kind  of 
shoes.  Frequently  he  would  be  seen  with  a  lace 
shoe  on  one  foot  and  a  button  shoe  on  the  other. 
Necessity  knew  no  fashion  as  well  as  no  law  with 
h'm,  and  so  long  as  his  feet  were  fairly  well  pro 
tected  he  did  not  mind  the  smiles  of  the  passers  by. 
Adversity  did  another  thing  for  him — it  early 
developed  in  him  those  qualities  which  go  to  make 
up  the  man.  He  began  doing  his  part  in  sustaining 
the  family  at  the  early  age  of  six  years.  His  first 
(work  was  to  turn  bricks,  which  earned  him  five 
cents  per  thousand.  He  was  an  industrious  boy, 
and  very  frugal,  habits  which  aided  him  in  all  of 
his  life  struggles. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  a  boy  exhibiting  such 
grit  and  determination  should  elect  to  educate  him 
self  and  he  worked  and  saved  to  this  end.  His 
progress  through  school  was  marked  by  the  same 
hardships  that  characterized  his  early  boyhood.  To 
add  to  his  difficulties  him  money  was  frequently 
stolen  from  him  at  the  most  inopportune  times.  At 
one  time  after  working  all  summer  and  saving  his 
money  earned  as  waiter  at  a  seashore  resort,  the 
whole  sum  was  stolen  the  day  before  the  hotel 
closed  for  the  season. 

He  was  the  first  colored  pupil  admitted  to  the 
South  Chester  High  School,  from  which  he  gradua 
ted  in  1888.  To  do  this  he  was  compelled  to  work- 
in  a  mill,  from  six  in  the  evening,  until  six  in  the 
morning,  attending  school  during  the  day,  the  ses 
sion  being  from  9  A.  M.  to  2  P.  M.  In  this  way 
— working  at  night  and  studying  during  the  day,  he 
not  only  graduated  from  the  South  Chester  High 
School,  but  saved  enough  money  to  enter  the  Lin 


coln  University.  He  entered  the  University  in  1888, 
and  graduated  therefrom  in  1892.  His  first  idea 
was  to  practice  law  and  on  leaving  college  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law,  but  owing  to  the  death  of  his 
preceptor,  and  his  change  of  mind  regarding  the 
profession,  he  gave  up  this  study  and  turned  his 
mind  towards  medicine.  In  order  to  take  a  med 
ical  course  the  money  question  again  came  to  the 
front  so  he  was  compelled  to  teach  for  a  while  be 
fore  entering  college. 

He  matriculated  at  Howard  University  in  1893, 
and  remained  there  one  year,  when  he  went  to 
Shaw  University  and  finshed  the  medical  course. 

Pluck,  energy,  integrity  and  patience  are  sure  to 
bring  a  rich  reward,  not  only  in  the  development 
of  character,  but  in  material  blessings,  and  so  it 
was  with  Dr.  Lawrence.  The  day  of  his  prosper 
ity  dawned  when  he  completed  his  medical  course 
at  Shaw  University.  From  that  day  his  star  of 
hope  and  prosperity  began  to  rise. 

O"  completing  his  medical  course  at  Shaw  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.  From  this  time  fortune  began  to  smile  upon 
him  and  has  ever  since. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Ardelia  Matthews,  of 
Hawkinsville,  Georgia,  in  1902.  They  have  one 
daughter,  who  is  nine  years  old,  Hattie  Christine, 
a  musical  prodigy. 

Aside  from  the  practice  of  his  profession,  Dr. 
Lawrence  has  been  very  active  along  all  lines  that 
tend  to  uplift  his  people.  He  was  for  several  years 
the  Superintendent  of  Mt.  Teman  A.  M.  E.  Sunday 
School,  which  prospered  greatly  under  his  adminis 
tration.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the  North 
Jersey  Medical  Association.  This  is  perhaps  the 
best  and  most  widely  known  local  colored  medical 
society  in  the  United  States.  He  helped  to  organ 
ize  and  was  first  and  the  only  president  of  the  Al 
pha  Hen  Association  which  for  thirteen  years  has 
been  the  leading  insurance  company  among  the 
colored  people  of  the  North.  He  was  organizer 
of  the  Alpha  Investment  Company  and  its  only 
president.  This  is  the  leading  investment  company 
among  colored  people  in  the  United  States,  and  has 
been  in  existence  since  1905. 

In  fraternal  organizations  he  has  taken  a  promi 
nent  part,  being  Past  Chancellor  Commander  of 
Knights  of  Pyhias,  a  member  of  the  Elks,  and  Odd 
Fellows,  and  at  present  Grand  Master  of  Masons 
of  New  Jersey.  His  real  estate  holdings  are  ex 
tensive.  Indeed,  whenever  Dr.  Lawrence  casts  up 
his  accounts  and  estimates  his  holdings  he  smiles 
and  says  that  they  are  worth  far  more  than  all  the 
boys  whose  cast  off  shoes  he  wore  back  there  in 
his  day  of  want  and  poverty. 

234 


SAMUEL  H.  VICK 

CHOOL  man  and  public  servant, 
Samuel  H.  Vick  of  Wilson,  North 
Carolina  worked  his  way  from  the 
ground,  as  it  were,  to  a  place  of 
eminence  in  both  school  work  and 
in  the  service  of  his  government. 

born  in  Castalia,  North  Carolina, 
As  a  boy  he  attended  the  public 


Mr.  Vick  was 
April  1st,  1863. 
schools  of  Wilson,  the  town  to  which  he  was  to  re 
turn  and  in  which  he  was  to  make  for  himself  an 
enviable  career.  Completing  his  work  in  the  pub 
lic  schools  of  Wilson,  he  matriculated  in  Lincoln 
University,  in  Pennsylvana.  He  was  graduated 
from  Lincoln  in  1884. 

His  course  through  school  and  college  was  by  no 
means  one  of  ease  or  opulence.  Even  when  he  was 
very  young  he  must  needs  work,  not  only  to  go  to 
school,  but  for  his  own  sustenance.  When  he  was 
but  thirteen  years  of  age  he  found  employment  in 
a  grocery  store.  Here  he  worked  in  spare  hours 
and  went  to  school  during  school  session.  His  va 
cations  were  also  spent  in  working  in  this  grocery 
store.  Thus  as  a  grocery  clerk  he  made  his  way 
through  the  public  schools  and  through  Lincoln 
University. 

Graduating  from  Lincoln  in  1884  he  returned  to 


Wilson  and  secured  a  post  as  an  assistant  teacher 
in  the  city  graded  schools.  This  position  he  held 
for  one  year.  At  the  end  of  the  school  year  he  was 
promoted  to  a  principalship  in  Wilson.  For  the 
next  five  years  he  was  principal  of  the  Negro  pub 
lic  school  of  his  native  town.  It  was  at  that  time 
common  to  appoint  respectable  and  deserving  col 
ored  men  to  political  office  especially  when  the  Re 
publican  Party  was  in  power.  When  Benjamin  Har 
rison  came  into  office  several  of  these  more  de 
serving  positions  were  given  to  leading  Negroes. 
Among  those  to  fall  heir  to  one  of  these  posts  was 
Mr.  Vick,  who  was  made  postmaster  of  Wilson.  In 
many  sections  of  the  south  the  loud  complaints 
were  made  about  putting  Negroes  in  public  office  at 
all,  and  especially  in  office  where  they  would  be 
over  white  people,  and  would  be  brought  more  or 
less  in  social  contact  with  white  people.  But  Mr. 
Vick  managed  to  escape  most  of  this  protest,  and 
to  conduct  the  post  office  with  such  efficiency  that 
whatever  complaint  might  have  come  forth  at  first 
was  soo  stifled.  Indeed,  so  thoroughly  had  he 
administered  his  office  that  when  the  administra 
tion  changed  there  were  not  a  few  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Wilson  who  eagerly  desired  his  reten 
tion. 

However,  he  went  out  of  office,  and  sought  other 
fields  for  his  talents.  The  Presbyterian  church, 
which  had  given  Lincoln  University,  and  which  was 
working  among  the  churches  as  well  as  among  the 
schools  soon  enlisted  his  services.  This  body  put 
Mr.  Vick  in  the  field  to  labor  among  the  Sunday 
Schools,  working  as  a  Sunday  School  Missionary. 
His  own  home  town  had  not  however  forgot  his 
services  either  as  a  school  man  or  as  a  postmaster. 
He  had  not  therefore  been  out  of  the  post  office 
many  years  before  they  appointed  him  to  another 
post  of  public  service.  He  was  made  a  member  of 
the  County  Board  of  Education  of  Wilson  County, 
and  served  his  county  with  the  same  credit  to  him 
self  that  he  had  served  in  the  Wilson  Post  Office. 

Then  came  further  evidence  that  the  people  of 
Wilson,  white  as  well  as  black,  were  well  pleased 
with  the  service  he  had  given  them  as  postmaster. 
When  McKinley  was  elected  Mr.  Vick  was  once 
more  made  post  master  of  his  native  city.  Here  he 
served  a  second  time  for  a  period  of  five  years.  He 
was  now  ready  to  retire  from  active  service  which 
he  did,  devoting  his  time  to  public  service  and  to 
looking  after  his  personal  interests. 

During  his  early  days  in  Wilson  he  had  made 
some  investments  in  real  estate  and  in  land  im 
provement.  This  work  with  his  various  secret 
order  obligations  he  now  retired  to  superintend. 
Mr.  Vick  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Pythian.  In  the  first 
named  secret  body  he  is  First  Colonel  of  the  North 
Carolina  Patriarchy,  and  has  been  twice  Grand 
Master  of  the  Odd  Fellows  of  North  Carolina.  He 
has  traveled  very  extensively  in  America,  having 
toured  the  east,  and  much  of  the  west  and  south. 

Mr.  Vick  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  M.  Wash 
ington  of  Wilson,  in  May  1892.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vick 
have  seven  children. 


235 


WILLIAM  GASTON  PEARSON,  B.  S.,  A.  M.,  PH.  D. 


ILLIAM  G.  Pearson,  school  teach 
er,  business  man  and  educator,  is 
one  of  those  stalwart  men  of  Dur 
ham,  North  Carolina.  He  was  born 
in  the  days  of  slavery,  in  1859,  in 
the  place  which  is  now  known  as 
Durham,  but  unknown  then  as  anything  save  a 
semi-rural  settlement.  Of  course  early  education 
with  him  was  out  of  the  question,  except  that  se 
vere  brand  which  many  of  the  young  slaves  tasted 
on  the  plantations. 

When  public  schools  for  Negroes  were  establish 
ed  in  Durham,  Mr.  Pearson  enrolled  and  began  his 
education  in  books.  However,  these  schools  ran 
but  six  months  in  the  year  and  had  teachers  with 
only  meagre  preparation.  The  young  exslave  need 
ed  merely  to  get  a  start.  After  this  he  taught  him 
self  until  after  the  age  of  twenty-one  when  he 
entered  Shaw  University. 

Graduating  from  Shaw  in  1886,  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Science,  Mr.  Pearson  began  his  ca 
reer  as  a  teacher  in  public  schools.  From  that  time 
on  he  was  a  teacher,  principal,  worker  in  the  graded 
school  of  Durham  for  twenty  years.  However,  he 
did  not  cease  to  study.  He  did  not  only  continue  to 


labor  with  his  books  during  spare  hours  at  home 
but  pursued  courses  in  Cornell  University  and  in 
other  institutions  in  the  summer.  In  recognition  of 
his  continuous  growth  and  of  service  to  education, 
Shaw  University  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts,  in  1890,  and  in  1915,  Kittrel  College 
made  him  Doctor  of  Philosophy. 

Professor  Pearson  as  he  came  to  be  known,  has 
widened  his  influence  and  his  activities,  from  year 
to  year,  both  in  school  work  and  in  business.  He 
soon  became  a  trustee  of  Kittrell  College,  Secre 
tary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  National 
Training  School,  of  Durham,  and  a  director  of  the 
Mechanics  and  Farmers'  Bank  of  Durham,  trustee 
of  Lincoln  Hospital,  and  one  of  the  prime  movers 
in  practically  every  uplift  undertaking  of  Durham, 
indeed  of  North  Carolina.  In  this  respect  he  be 
came  not  only  a  worker,  but  a  giver  as  well.  The 
most  celebrated  donation  he  has  made,  though  he 
has  an  open  hand  for  all  good  causes,  was  the  giv 
ing  to  Kittrell  College,  a  model  school  building. 

Distinguished  as  are  Mr.  Pearson's  services  as 
teacher  and  Educator,  probably  his  most  lasting 
and  most  helpful  contribution  is  the  organization 
known  as  the  Royal  Knights  of  King  David.  This 
body,  which  is,  strictly  speaking,  an  insurance  or 
der,  operates  in  several  states,  and  has  deposits 
with  insurance  Commissioners  in  these  states  to 
protect  its  patrons.  Its  fees  are  small ;  it  insures 
men,  women  and  children ;  but  its  dividends  and 
benefits  are  sure  and  prompt.  It  ranks  as  one  of 
the  best  Negro  Insurance  companies  in  America. 
In  his  office  of  six  clerks,  graduates  from  the  best 
institutions,  Mr.  Pearson  keeps  in  intimate  touch 
with  all  the  branch  houses  and  orders  both  in 
North  Carolina  and  in  other  states. 

Mr.  Pearson  was  married  in  1893  to  Mrs.  Minnie 
S.  Summer  of  Charlotte,  North  Carolina.  Mrs. 
Pearson  is  a  graduate  of  Livingston  College,  at 
Salisbury,  and  a  woman  of  rare  talent.  She  has 
done,  much  as  Dr.  Pearson  will  very  frequently  tell 
you,  in  shaping  the  career  of  her  distinguished  hus 
band. 

Mr.  Pearson  is  an  ardent  church  worker,  being 
one  of  the  pillars  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  His  high 
standing  in  the  church,  coupled  with  his  clean  re 
putation  in  business  and  in  school  work  make  his 
word  his  bond  and  a  guide  to  all  who  know  him. 
The  records  show  that  Mr.  Pearson's  wealth  is  val 
ued  at  $75,000. 

William  G.  Pearson  is  a  many  sided  man  and 
every  aspect  of  his  attainments  and  service  shine 
forth  with  a  resplendance  so  great  that  it  has  at 
tracted  attention  to  him  near  and  far.  He  is  a 
schools  teacher,  an  educator  of  marked  ability  and 
a  business  man  and  in  all  of  these  lines  he  is  recog 
nized  as  a  man  of  great  intelligence  and  power. 
He  is  a  most  influencial  citizen  of  North  Carolina. 


236 


ALBERT  WITHERSPOON  PEGUES,  A.  B.,  B.  D. 

ORN  Nov.  25,  1859,  Albert  W.  Pe- 
gues,  had  a  little  taste  of  slav 
ery,  but  not  enough  to  effect  in 
any  way  his  ambitions  as  a  young 
man.  He  was  born  in  Raleigh, 
North  Carolina,  and  he  set  for 
himself  the  attainment  of  learning  and  a  distinct 
position  in  the  world  as  an  educator.  To  this  end 
he  sat  under  many  men  of  learning  and  made  in 
timate  acquaintance  with  a  very  large  number  of 
American  Colleges  and  Universities. 

Mr.  Pegues  is  a  Baptist  in  his  faith,  and  so  it 
was  that  in  choosing  his  first  school  he  made  one 
of  the  Baptist  schools  his  choice.  Thus  we  find 
him  first  as  student  at  Benedict  College,  Columbia, 
S.  C.,  where  he  stayed  for  a  time  and  then  changed 
to  Richmond  Institute — now  Union  University. 
We  next  find  the  young  student  enrolled  in  Buck- 
nell  University,  in  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  remained  till  he  received  his  Bachelor  Degree. 
Mr.  Pegues,  when  he  had  opportunity  to  pursue 
his  studies  further,  went  to  Chicago  and  attended 
lecture  courses  at  the  University  of  Chicago,  Illi 
nois. 

By  the  time  he  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age, 


Dr.  Pegues  was  ready  to  undertake  his  career  as 
an  educator.  His  first  post  of  responsibility  in 
school  was  that  of  Principal  of  the  Summer  High 
School,  of  Parkersburg,  West  Virginia.  This  po 
sition  he  accepted  in  1886  and  held  for  one  year. 
Then  he  got  an  appointment  to  a  larger  institu 
tion,  left  Parkersburg,  and  took  up  the  work  in  the 
new  field  which  was  in  Shaw  University,  in  Ra 
leigh,  North  Carolina.  Thus  we  have  the  young 
man  in  a  very  responsible  position  in  his  native 
town,  a  sight  which  is  altogether  too  rare.  In 
Shaw  he  labored  for  sixteen  years.  Owing  to  his 
very  thorough  preparation  he  was  able  to  serve 
in  the  capacity  of  Dean  of  the  College  Department 
and  in  that  of  Dean  of  the  Theological  Depart 
ment.  For  six  years  he  held  the  former  and  for 
ten  years  he  held  the  latter  position. 

At  the  end  of  sixteen  years  of  service  for  Shaw 
University,  Dr.  Pegues  resigned  to  accept  the 
Principalship  of  the  Colored  Department  of  the 
North  Carolina  State  School  for  the  Blind  and 
Deaf,  the  position  which  he  now  holds. 

Along  with  his  duties  as  an  educator.  Dr.  Pe 
gues  has  found  time  to  do  considerable  writing. 
About  twenty-five  years  ago  he  published  a  book 
"Our  Ministers  and  Schools."  This  book  was  very 
widely  read  and  it  did  a  great  deal  toward  making 
a  name  for  Dr.  Pegues.  He  has  also  been  a  very 
liberal  contributor  to  papers.  Then  Dr.  Pegues 
has  spent  much  time  and  thought  in  the  prepara 
tion  of  speeches,  for  in  connection  with  his  school 
work  he  has  been  in  constant  demand  as  a  speak 
er.  For  some  years  he  was  statistical  Secretary 
of  the  National  Baptist  Convention.  In  North 
Carolina  he  has  had  the  honor  of  serving  his  de 
nomination  in  every  capacity.  He  is  Secre 
tary  of  the  Lott  Carey  Baptist  Foreign  Mission 
Convention,  a  position  he  had  held  since  its  organi 
zation.  For  eighteen  years  he  has  been  Corres 
ponding  Secrtary  of  the  Baptist  State  Sunday 
School  Convention,  a  position  of  trust  and  one  in 
which  Dr.  Pegues  has  had  opportunity  to  do  great 
good. 

Severing  his  connection  with  Shaw  University  as 
Dean  did  not  really  sever  his  connections  with 
the  school,  for  Dr.  Pegues  still  serves  this  insti 
tution,  where  for  so  many  years  he  labored,  in  the 
capacity  of  Trustee.  He  is  also  a  Trustee  of  Girl's 
Training  School,  of  Franklinton,  North  Carolina. 
Dr.  Pegues  has  given  of  his  energy  and  strength 
in  still  one  other  direction.  He  has  taken  consi 
derable  interest  in  business.  During  the  years,  he 
has  been  out  of  school  and  at  work  for  himself  he 
has  been  able  to  accumulate  considerable  property. 
Dr.  Pegues  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  Mason.  In  1890. 
Dr.  Pegues  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Christian,  of 
Richmond,  Virginia.  They  have  two  children. 

237 


BISHOP  ALEXANDER   P.  CAMPHOR,  A.  B.,  B.  D. 

ISHOP     Alexander     P.     Camphor. 
Bishop   of  the  African   Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  was  born   in   a 
cabin    that    comprised    one    of    a 
group  of  shacks  known  as  "Negro 
Quarters,"    in     Jefferson    Parish, 
Louisiana,  on  a  large  sugar  plan 
tation  twelve  miles   east  of  New 
Orleans.     The    Bishop   has   told  his   own   story   so 
well  that  we  shall  read  as  he  has  written: 

"Both  my  parents,"  says  he,  "had  been  slaves,  the 
Emancipation  Proclamation  having  gone  into  ef 
fect  two  years  previous  to  my  birth.  My  mother 
is  still  living  but  my  father  died  when  I  was  an 
infant.  My  father  had  secured  knowledge  enough 
to  read  the  Bible  and  to  write  his  mother's  name. 
"Mother  made  a  solemn  pledge  to  father  before 
he  died,  that  she  would  spare  no  pains  in  giving  me 
an  education.  Being  unlearned  and  without  means 
she  decided  that  the  only  way  to  do  this  was  to 
give  me  away  to  one  whom  she  believed  could 
more  easily  educate  me  than  herself.  Accordingly 
when  eight  years  of  age  I  left  the  plantation  to  live 
in  the  city,  of  New  Orleans,  with  Stephen  Priestley. 
"It  seems  providential  that  I  should  have  fallen 
into  such  hands  as  those  of  Stephen  Priestley,  for 
in  my  foster  father  I  had  both  rigid  school-master 
and  a  rugged  old  fashioned  Methodist  preacher  to 
direct  my  feet  aright. 

I  attended  public  school  in  Carrolton,  and  after 
completing  the  work  there   entered  New   Orleans 


University,  where  I  graduated  in  1889,  receiving 
the  Bachelor  of  Arts  Degree.  During  the  greatest 
revival  in  the  history  of  the  University,  conducted 
by  the  Rev.  Wm.  R.  Webster,  D.  D.,  of  Massachu 
setts  ,1  was  converted  and  later  licensed  to  preach. 
I  was  then  16  years  of  age.  After  graduation  I 
taught  four  years  as  Professor  of  Mathematics  in 
my  Alma  Mater.  Completing  the  full  course 
there  and  securing  the  Bachelor  of  Divinity  degree, 
I  entered  the  ministry  and  was  appointed  pastor 
of  James  M.  E.  Church,  Germantown,  Pa.  My  next 
appointment  was  to  Orange,  N.  J.,  while  there  I 
received  an  invitation  from  Bishop  Hartzell  to  go 
as  missionary  to  Africa,  and  I  was  ready  to  go. 

"My  wife  and  I  were  the  first  regularly  appointed 
colored  missionaries  under  the  Prent  Board  to  the 
"Dark  Continent."  As  president  of  the  college  of 
West  Africa  and  superintendent  of  the  Methodist 
Schools  in  Liberia  from  1896  to  1907.  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  contributing  to  the  advancement  of  the 
work. 

"While  in  Liberia  I  gathered  original  material 
for  two  volumes  "Missionary  Story  Sketches  and 
Folklore  from  Africa"  and  "Liberia,  the  Afro- 
American  Republic."  Returning  to  America  in  1907 
I  was  persuaded  that  I  could  better  serve  Africa  by 
helping  to  educate  the  youth  of  my  race  in  Amer 
ica.  For  this  reason  I  accepted  the  presidency  of 
the  Central  Alabama  Institute  located  at  Birming 
ham,  Ala.,  where  I  have  labored  for  the  past  eight 
years. 

"I  was  three  times  elected  delegate  to  the  Gen 
eral  Conference  and  once  a  delegate  to  the  World's 
Missionary  Conference  at  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  At 
the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  that  met  at  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.,  by  an 
almost  unanimous  vote  of  that  body  I  was  elected 
Bishop  of  Africa.  In  this  office  I  succeeded  Bishop 
I.  B.  Scott  and  will  be  associated  with  Bishop  E.  S. 
Johnson.  These  evidences  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  the  church  have  only  served  to  intensify  and  in 
flame  my  zeal  for  unselfish  service,  that  the  cause 
of  education  and  Religion  might  be  all  the  more 
speedily  advanced." 

Bishop  Camphor  is  an  illustration  of  the  law  of 
service  as  laid  down  by  the  master  whom  he  serves 
—the  Lord  Jesus  Christ — who  said  that  the  road 
to  greatness  is  through  service.  "When  God  wants 
a  worker  He  calls  a  worker.  When  He  has  work 
to  be  done,  he  goes  to  those  who  are  already  at 
work.  When  God  wants  a  great  servant,  He  calls 
a  busy  man." 

Bishop  Camphor  is  not  only  a  busy  man  but  a 
very  busy  man,  just  such  a  man  as  God  can  use, 
and  his  remarkable  accomplishments  attest  to  the 
divine  guidance  and  help.  The  secret  of  his  suc 
cess  lies  in  his  great  love  of  humanity  and  his  love 
of  service.  It  is  this  spirit  that  makes  him  a  man 
beloved  by  all  who  come  in  personal  contact  with 
him  and  who  fall  under  the  spell  of  his  influence. 

Bishop  Camphor  could  say  with  Thomas  H.  Gill : 

"The  more  I  triumph  in  thy  gifts, 

The  more  I  wait  on  thee  ; 
The  grace  that  mightily  uplifts 

Most  sweetly  humbleth  me." 

Bishop  Camphor  was  married  to  Miss  Mamie 
Anna  Rebecca  Weathers  in  1893,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 
They  have  no  children. 


238 


LEWIS   GARNETT  JORDAN,   1).    I) 

R.  Lewis  Garnett  Jordan  in  one 
of  those  who  has  climbed  all 
the  way  from  the  abject  ignor 
ance  of  slavery  to  a  manhood  of 
travel  and  culture,  from  being 
the  property  of  his  master  to 
owning  property  in  his  own  name 
and  acquiring  great  property  for 
his  church.  He  was  born  a  slave  in  1853.  near  Me 
ridian,  Mississippi.  His  father  was  Jack  Gaddis, 
and  his  mother  Mariah  Carey,  but  when  be  be 
came  a  free  man  he  chose  a  name  for  himself  and 
so  we  have  Dr.  Jordan.  Although  born  when  it 
was  impossible  to  get  an  education  and  hard  to 
get  one  even  after  he  was  freed,  we  find  Dr.  Jor 
dan  as  a  lad  getting  all  that  he  could  in  the  way  of 
book  knowledge  in  the  public  schools  of  both  Me 
ridian  and  Natchez .  Mississippi.  He  also  spent 
some  time  as  a  student  in  Roger  Williams  Univer 
sity,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Here  in  Roger  Wil 
liams,  one  of  the  largest  and  oldest  institutions  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  Dr.  Jordan  got  an  insight  into 
things  and  an  inspiration  that  has  never  left  him. 
His  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  received 
from  Natchez  College  in  1880,  and  from  Gauda- 
loupe  in  1903. 

Merely  the  bare  facts  of  the  very  active  life  lead 
by  Dr.  Jordan  can  be  recorded  here.  He  was  or 
dained  to  the  Baptist  Ministry  in  1875.  He  built 
churches  while  pastoring  at  Yazoo  City,  Mississ 
ippi,  in  1878 ;  in  San  Antonio,  Texas,  in  1883  ;  in 


Waco,  Texas,  in  1886,  in  Hearne,  Texas,  in  1888; 
in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in  1893.  This  is  a 
great  service  for  any  man  to  render  to  his  church. 
Since  1896,  Dr.  Jordan  has  served  his  denomina 
tion  in  the  capacity  of  Corresponding  Secretary  of 
the  Foreign  Mission  Board,  of  the  National  Bap 
tist  Convention,  and  he  still  holds  this  position. 
He  is  the  Senior  Secretary  of  the  National  Bap 
tist  Convention  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  its  most 
influential  members. 

During  his  incumbency  in  office  more  than  for 
ty  missionaries  have  been  sent  into  its  field  in 
South  America,  the  West  Indies,  the  western, 
southern  and  central  parts  of  Africa.  During  this 
time  they  have  received  several  bequests,  the  lat 
est  of  importance  exceeding  $30,000.00.  Under 
his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  this  branch 
ci"  the  work  the  board  has  acquired  property  in 
its  fields  valued  at  about  $47,000.00.,This  includes 
the  land,  churches,  stations,  schools  and  homes. 
Dr.  Jordan  has  had  other  honor's  showered  upon 
him  by  his  denomination.  He  was  delegate  to  the 
World's  Baptist  Alliance,  England,  in  1904,  and  to 
t^he  World's  Missionary  Conference,  Edinburgh. 

Dr.  Jordan  has  not  confined  his  work  to  the 
church.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.,  and  active  in  the  Equal  Rights  of  League  Socie 
ty  for  the  Advancement  of  Colored  People.  He  13 

..sident  of  the  Douglass  Improvement  Company 
and  trustee  of  the  National  Baptist  Training 
School  for  Women  and  Girls  in  Washington,  D.  C. 
I  :  has  also  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  political 
life  of  his  country.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  and  has 
had  the  honor  of  being  delegate  to  nearly  every 
National  Convention  of  his  party  since  1888.  At 
one  time  he  was  candidate  for  Congresman-at- 
large  for  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a  life  member  of  the 
National  Negro  Business  Men's  League,  a  Mason, 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  St.  Luke 
and  a  member  of  the  American  Woodmen  of  the 
world. 

Dr.  Jordan  has  traveled  all  over  this  country  and 
has  visited  England  and  Scotland,  has  been  to  the 
West  Indies  twice,  to  Africa  three  times,  to  South 
America  once.  During  his  trip  to  Africa,  in  1917 
the  President  of  Liberia  conferred  upon  him  the 
Knighthood  of  the  Republic  "Knight  Commander 
of  the  Liberian  Humane  Order  of  African  Redemp 
tion."  The  effect  of  this  extensive  travel  is  seen 
in  the  writings  and  the  lectures  of  this  public  spi 
rited  man.  He  is  the  founder  and  Editor  of  the 
Mission  Herald,  outhor  of  "Up  the  Ladder  in  Mis 
sions,"  1908;  "Prince  of  Africa,"  1911;  "In  Our 
Stead,"  1913;  "Pebbles  from  an  African  Beach," 
1917.  This  represents  a  great  deal  of  work  on  the 
part  of  Dr.  Jordan  and  has  added  immeasurably 
to  his  usefulness  in  the  denomination. 

Dr.  Jordan,  while  not  a  man  of  means,  the  bulk 
of  his  earnings  having  been  contributed  to  further 
Religious  and  Civil  enterprises  for  national  and 
racial  uplift,  may,  however,  easily  be  rated  at 
$10,000.00  realty  holdings,  besides  several  thous 
and  dollars  interest  in  a  number  of  undeveloped 
enterprises. 

Dr.  Jordan  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Mrs.  Fannie  Armstrong.  They  were 
married  in  1880,  and  they  lived  together  till  her 
death,  thirty  years  later.  He  was  married,  May 
29,  1913,  to  Mrs.  M.  J.  Marquess,  of  Helena,  Ark. 


239 


BISHOP   WILLIAM    HENRY   HEARD 


HAT  the  life  of  Bishop  William 
Henry  Heard,  Bishop  for  Louis 
iana  and  Mississippi  has  been  one 
of  steady  climbing  is  seen  by 
a  simple  recital  of  the  main  facts 
in  his  life.  He  was  born  in  El- 
bert  County,  Georgia,  June  25, 
1850.  From  the  date  we  may  ga 
ther  the  facts  of  his  early  life.  Although  too  young 
to  know  many  of  the  horrors  of  slavery,  he  still 
knew  enough  of  that  period  to  appreciate  his  per 
sonal  freedom. 

One  of  the  blessings  that  came  to  him  was  that 
he  lived  with  people  who  had  ambition  for  his  bet 
terment.  So  the  young  man  had  plenty  of  oppor 
tunities  to  attend  school.  He  was  a  student  in  the 
South  Carolina  University,  Atlanta  University, 
Clark  University,  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  in  the  Re 
form  Divinity  School,  in  West  Philadelphia,  Penn 
sylvania.  In  all  of  these  institutions  he  distin 
guished  himself  both  by  his  good  scholarship  and 
by  his  manly  conduct. 

It  was  not  a  sudden  jump  to  the  Bishopric  for 
Bishop  Heard.  He  traveled  the  long  road  that 
has  to  be  taken  by  all  who  achieve  success.  He 
has  served  in  political  offices  of  various  kinds.  He 
was  at  one  time  a  Railway  Postal  Clerk,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  South  Carolina  Legislature  from 
Abbeville  County,  he  was  United  States  Minis 
ter  Resident  and  Council  General  to  the  Court  of 


Liberia,  Africa.  In  this  manner  he  has  been  able 
to  serve  his  government. 

At  the  age  of  thirty,  in  1880  Bishop  Heard  join 
ed  the  A.  M.  E.  Conference  of  North  Georgia. 
Thus  began  the  round  of  charges  that  fall  to  the 
lot  of  the  minister  of  any  denomination  and  espec 
ially  to  the  lot  of  the  Methodist  Minister.  He 
served  Johnston  Mission,  Athens,  Georgia ;  Mark- 
ham  Street  Mission,  Atlanta,  Georgia ;  Aiken  Sta 
tion,  Aiken,  South  Carolina ;  Mt.  Zion  Station, 
Charleston,  South  Carolina ;  and  Allen  Chapel,  Phi 
ladelphia,  Pennsylvania.  At  this  time,  having  ser 
ved  his  charges  so  very  well,  Bishop  Heard  was 
promoted  to  the  position  of  Presiding  Elder.  He 
was  at  this  time  working  in  the  Philadelphia  Con 
ference.  His  first  district  was  the  Lancaster  Dis 
trict.  He  pastored  the  Bethel  Church  at  Phila 
delphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Mother  Church  of 
the  Connection.  He  then  had  the  two  charges  of 
Wilmington  Station  and  Harrisburg.  At  this  time 
he  gave  up  the  work  in  this  country  and  served 
as  superintendent  of  Missions  in  West  Africa,  but 
returned  to  the  work  of  his  own  land  to  take  the 
Zion  Chapel,  at  Philadelphia,  and  Presiding  Elder 
of  Long  Island  District,  New  York  Conference. 
He  next  served  Phoenixville.  Pennsylvania  and 
Allen  Temple,  Atlanta,  Georgia.  This  represents 
working  with  a  great  number  of  people.  A  great 
many  souls  were  by  this  time  saved  through  the 
ministration  of  this  man. 

While  still  serving  in  the  capacity  of  pastor, 
Bishop  Heard  realized  the  need  of  the  Preachers' 
Aid  Society.  To  help  this  organization  along  he 
served  as  its  Secretary  for  four  years.  This  ser 
vice  was  given  freely  without  any  remuneration 
whatever.  As  a  culmination  of  the  long  years  of 
service  in  the  various  places  he  was  elected  Bishop 
of  his  church.  No  more  worthy  man  could  have 
been  found  to  fill  the  place.  May  20,  1908,  at  Nor 
folk,  Virginia,  he  was  ordained.  This  was  not  the 
end  of  his  very  active  career,  but  merely  a  broad 
ening  of  his  field  of  labor.  So  well  had  he  served 
in  the  small  fields  given  him  that  his  denomina 
tion  had  the  confidence  in  him  to  believe  that  he 
would  do  the  work  of  the  greater  fields. 

His  first  charge  in  the  capacity  of  Bishop  was  in 
Africa.  Here  he  remained  for  eight  years.  The 
Church  there  grew  under  his  ministration.  He 
added  materially  to  the  cause  while  serving  in  this 
post.  At  the  same  time  he  served  his  govern 
ment  in  an  official  capacity.  So  we  see  that  the 
name  of  Heard  is  well  known  in  West  Africa.  Re 
turning  to  this  country,  Bishop  Heard  was  made 
Bishop  of  Mississippi  and  Louisiana.  In  this  po 
sition  he  is  still  serving. 

The  life  of  this  man  should  be  an  inspiration  to 
any  young  man  who  has  for  his  aim  in  life  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel.  In  Bishop  Heard  we 
have  an  excellent  example  of  a  man  who  has  done 
what  he  set  out  to  do.  Helping  him  all  along 
the  way  in  every  step  of  the  journey  we  find  Mrs. 
Heard.  She  was  Miss  Josephine  D.  Henderson, 
daughter  of  Lafayette  and  Anna  Henderson.  The 
Heard's  were  married  in  1882,  in  their  Georgia 
home.  Both  Bishop  and  Mrs.  Heard  have  the  love 
and  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  them. 


240 


BIRDS-EYE    VIEW    OF    LINCOLN    UNIVERSITY,     PENNSYLVANIA 


[NCOLN  University  is  the  oldest 
Institution  for  the  Higher  Educa 
tion  of  the  Negro.  It  was  pledged 
to  God  in  an  ordination  service  in 
1849.  The  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  gave  its 
sanction  in  1853.  The  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania 
granted  a  Charter  to  Ashmun  Institute  in  1854.  A 
modest  building  was  erected  and  the  doors  were 
opened  to  four  students  in  1857.  The  Legislature 
changed  the  name  to  Lincoln  University  in  1866. 
The  Reverend  Mr.  John  Pym  Carter,  and  Reverend 
Mr.  John  Wynn  Martin,  D  D  .,  were  the  two  suc 
cessive  Presidents  and  the  whole  Faculty  in  them 
selves  from  1857  to  1865.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Isaac 
Norton  Rendall,  D.  D.,  was  President  from  1865  to 
1906  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  B.  Rendall.  D.  D., 
has  been  President  since  1906. 

The  University  owns  equipment,  buildings  and 
grounds,  costing  $350,000,  and  productive  endow 
ment  to  the  amount  of  $650.000.  Its  annaul  current 
expenditures  approximate  $50,000.  It  has  two  De 
partments,  a  College,  and  a  Theological  Seminary. 
In  its  60  years  of  history,  Lincoln  University  has 
had  1638  students  in  its  College,  and  628  in  its  Sem 
inary. 

The  Alumni  statistics  show  656  ministers  of  all 
denonmations ;  263  doctors  including  dentists  and 
druggists ;  255  teachers ;  227  in  business ;  and  86 
lawyers.  The  students  have  come  from  almost  ev 
ery  state  of  the  Union,  and  the  Alumni  have  gone 


to  virtually  every  state  of  the  Union,  as  well  as  to 
Africa,  South  America,  and  the  Isles  of  the  Sea, 

At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  most  of  the  stu 
dents  had  been  soldiers  in  the  United  States  Army ; 
and  in  the  world  war,  the  student  body  in  large 
number  again  wore  the  American  uniform  The 
University  is  proud  to  give  its  choicest  sons  in  this 
holiest  of  all  wars.  A  full  proportion  of  them  were 
commissioned  officers,  some  serving  in  France. 

The  general  control  is  vested  in  a  Board  of  21 
Trustees.  The  College  has  full  recognition  and 
membership  in  the  Association  of  the  Colleges  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Theological 
Seminary  is  under  the  full  control  of  the  Presby 
terian  General  Assembly. 

White  Institutions  have  since  taken  the  name 
of  Lincoln,  but  this  Institute  for  the  Higher  Chris 
tian  Education  of  the  Negro  was  the  first  to  bear 
the  name  of  the  Immortal  President.  This  Christ 
ian  school  was  also  the  first  to  establish  a  chair  of 
the  English  Bible  and  make  it  a  required  course  for 
every  student  in  every  class. 

Mrs.  Susan  Dod  Brown  endowed  this  chair  and 
also  gave  the  chapel  in  which  each  day  the  work  is 
opened  with  15  minutes  of  Devotional  Exercises, 
and  in  which  regular  preaching  services  are  held 
each  Sabbath. 

Lincoln  Unversity  is  not  a  rival  of  other  schools 
in  this  field.  She  never  advertises  for  students,  and 
cannot  receive  a  fourth  of  those  who  apply.  She 
has  nothing  but  a  good  will  and  a  God  speed  to  all. 


241 


Edwin  J.  Turner,  M.  D. 


HE  following  tribute  to  Dr.  Tur 
ner,  taken  from  the  Columbus, 
(Georgia)  Ledger,  is  a  most  ap 
propriate  introduction  to  the 
sketch  of  his  life  prepared  for  the 
Negro  Cyclopedia : 

"What  Daniel  Boone  and  other  pioneers,  who 
labored,  toiled  and  endured  hardships  which  would 
have  chilled  the  hearts  and  swerved  the  purpose  of 
less  earnest  and  able  men,  did  toward  peopling  the 
West,  and  toward  opening  up  a  hitherto  unknown 
country,  Dr.  Edwin  J.  Turner,  who  is  well  and  fav 
orably  known  by  all  but  a  very  few  of  the  people 
of  Columbus,  both  White  and  Colored,  has  done 
for  the  colored  race  in  this  section  of  the  State,  and 
the  United  States.  And  the  influence  of  his  life. 
and  possibly  the  measure  of  success  which  he  has 
wrought  has  inspired,  who  knows  how  many  of 
his  countrymen  and  members  of  his  race,  to  go  and 
do  likewise.  For  Dr.  Turner  has  the  heart  and  the 
ability  of  a  pioneer,  and  such,  literally  he  was  in 
the  field  of  education,  and  in  the  line  of  progress 
to  the  people  of  his  race  in  Columbus,  and  the  sur 
rounding  country — who  can  say  how  far  his  influ 
ence  has  spread  abroad  throughout  the  land." 

Dr.  Ttfrner  was  born  in  Meridian,  Mississippi,  in 
1876,  and  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fifteen  he  at 
tended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city. 

After  his  course  in  the  public  schools  he  entered 
the  Clark  University,  of  Atlanta,  Georgia,  where 
he  took  up  the  study  of  Pharmacy.  He  graduated 
from  this  Institution  and  then  entered  the  New  Or 
leans  University,  where  he  graduated  in  the  school 
of  medicine  in  1912. 

Having  prepared  himself  for  his  life  work  he 
chose  Columbus,  Georgia,  as  the  field  of  his  en 
deavors.  Here  he  soon  built  up  a  large  practice 
and  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  colored 
physician  to  locate  in  Muscogee  County.  He  soon 
established  himself  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  com 
munity  among  all  classes,  white  and  black,  and 
holds  an  enviable  position  in  the  ranks  of  his  col 
leagues  in  other  counties  and  other  states. 

Without  neglecting  his  practice,  which  always 
commands  his  closest  attention,  he  has  actively 
identified  himself  with  the  public  interest,  keep 
ing  always  in  mind  the  good  of  his  community  and 
especially  the  elevation  of  his  race. 

When  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
was  tottering  and  almost  ready  to  fall  under  the 
burden  of  debt  and  in-ability  to  keep  up  its  current 
expenses,  he  was  called  to  the  rescue.  He  prompt 
ly  accepted  the  Presidency,  went  thoroughly  into 
the  investigation  of  its  condition  and  intelligently 


addressed  himself  to  relieving  its  distressing  situa 
tion.  The  Association  under  his  direction  has  wea 
thered  the  financial  storms,  been  raised  to  a  paying 
basis  and  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition.  His 
ambition  is  to  have  his  people  so  live  as  to  com 
mand  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  citizens  and  by 
his  own  exemplary  life  he  has  set  them  the  exam 
ple.  He  has  possibly  done  more  to  raise  them  to 
this  high  place  in  the  public  estimation  than  any 
other  man  in  the  State. 

A  mere  list  of  accomplishments  of  Dr.  Turner 
would  be  indeed  a  bare  record  without  taking  into 
consideration  the  conditions  under  which  they 
were  accomplished.  When  convinced  that  a  course 
was  right  no  difficulties  could  prevent  him  from 
going  forward  in  the  accomplishments  of  the  ob 
ject  set  before  him.  He  was  not  reckless  in  meet 
ing  difficulties,  but  faced  them  patiently  and  firm 
ly  with  a  courage  born  of  a  deep  conviction. 

The  honors  which  have  been  conferred  upon  him 
are  insufficient  to  show  how  they  were  earned,  and 
how  worthy  he  is  to  bear  them. 

Dr.  Turner's  interest  in  his  people  has  led  him 
into  the  field  of  politics  and  there  as  elsewhere  he 
is  an  active  factor.  He  is  not  constituted  to  be 
passive  in  any  field  of  endeavor  he  enters. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party  and  a 
member  of  the  State  Republican  Executive  Com 
mittee,  representing  Muscogee  County.  He  was 
a  National  Delegate  to  the  Republican  Conven 
tion  which  nominated  Mr.  Taft  for  President,  and 
his  influence  and  vote  went  for  Mr.  Taft  at  that 
time.  He  was  the  first  colored  man  that  was  ever 
appointed  Notary  Public  in  Muscogee  County,  and 
throughout  his  term  of  office  he  has  demonstrated 
his  reliability  and  worth  in  that  capacity,  and  has 
fulfilled  his  duties  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
those  whom  he  serves. 

Dr.  Turner  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  where  his  disposition  for  work  is  also  man 
ifested  and  where  his  counsel  and  help  is  in  con 
stant  demand. 

He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity, 
a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Tabor.  He  is  the  Grand  Medical  Director  of  the 
Colored  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Georgia,  and  Grand 
Chief  Mentor  of  the  Knights  and  Daughters  of  Ta 
bor  of  Georgia. 

He  is  proprietor  of  the  10th  Street  Drug  Store, 
which  carries  a  stock  valued  at  $5000. 

In  _904  he  married  Miss  Lela  Benner,  of  Macon, 
Georgia,  and  they  have  but  one  child,  a  son,  ten 
years  of  age,  Benner  C.  Turner. 


242 


NORVAL  COBB  VAUGHAN,  A.  B,  M.  D. 

MONG  the  Negro  physicians  who 
have  won  laurels  in  the  West  and 
who  has  risen  to  a  high  place  in 
the  profession,    Dr.    Norval    Cobb 
Vaughan,     of    Cincinnatti,      Ohio, 
stands  as  a  brilliant  instance.     He 
exemplifies  the  very  spirit  of  loyalty  and  is  true  to 
his  fraternity  throughout  the  country  and  especial 
ly  so  to  the  Negro  fraternity.     Although  engaged 
in   active  practice   he   remains   the   hard   and   close 
student.     He   realizes   that   there   is   always   some 
thing  to  learn  in  his  profession  and  he  keeps  abreast 
of  the  times  and  for  this  reason  gives  all  the  time 
that  he  can  spare  from  his  work  as  a  physician  to 
reading  and  studying. 

Hacing  the  interest  of  his  race  at  heart  his  life 
has  been  given  in  unselfish  service  to  them  in  every 
way  where  he  could  lend  a  helping  hand.  It  is  the 
exhibition  of  these  traits  and  spirit  that  has  won 
him  distinction  and  praise. 

Dr.  Vaughn  is  a  native  of  Virgina.  He  was  born 
in  Farmvile,  Virgina,  August,  1867.  He  received 
his  early  school  training  in  another  State  but  re 
turned  to  "Old  Virginia"  for  finishing  touches.  He 
secured  his  elementary  training  in  East  Orange, 
New  Jersey,  attending  and  passing  through  the 

243 


public  schools  there.  After  his  course  in  the  pub 
lic  schools  of  Orange,  he  returned  to  his  native 
State,  Virgina,  and  entered  the  Richmond  Insti 
tute,  taking  the  Academic  course.  Completing  his 
course  at  the  Richmond  Institute,  he  enrolled  at 
the  Virginia  Normal  and  Collegiate  Institute,  at 
Petersburg,  Virginia,  where  he  was  graduated  as 
a  Bachelor  of  Arts. 

He  was  now  ready  to  give  thought  to  a  career 
and  after  due  consideration  of  the  various  calls 
held  out  to  men  he  decided  upon  medicine,  and 
having  determined  to  be  a  physician  he  entered  the 
Medical  Department  of  Howard  University,  to  get 
the  necessary  preparation  for  his  work.  He  grad 
uated  from  this  Institution  in  1897. 

Dr.  Vaughan  is  a  man  of  cool  calculation,  rather 
than  one  given  to  impulse  so  in  deciding  the  ques 
tion  of  a  location  he  surveyed  the  field  before 
coming  to  a  decision.  He  made  note  of  the  fact 
that  Cincinnati,  Ohio  was  not  only  a  large  and 
growing  city,  but  that  it  had  a  large  Negro  popu 
lation  and  that  this  class  of  its  population  was  con 
stantly  growing.  He  decided  that  this  was  a  most 
promising  field  so  in  this  city  he  pitched  his  tent, 
and  hung  out  his  shingle,  and  here  he  has  labored 
for  twenty-two  years.  He  has  demonstrated  the 
wisdom  of  his  choice  for  with  patience,  energy  and 
loyalty  to  his  profession  he  has  built  up  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice. 

Without  neglecting  his  special  work  he  his  inter 
ested  himself  in  welfare  work. 

His  spare  moments  have  been  devoted  to  uplift 
work  and  study  in  many  directions.  He  is  holder  of 
many  valuable  pieces  of  real  estate,  to  which  he  < 
gives  some  thought  and  study.  He  is  also  greatly 
interested  in  inventions  and  patents.  He  has  in 
vented  and  had  patented  a  bullet  proof  breast 
shield.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Academy  of  Medi 
cine  of  Cincinnati,  wherein  much  time  and  study 
are  devoted  to  modern  and  local  problems  in  medi 
cine.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Medical  Council  of 
Pensylvania ;  member  of  the  Council  of  Social 
Agencies  of  Cincinnati ;  and  Staff  Physician  of  the 
Evangeline  Home  and  Hospital  of  Cincinnati.  Be 
sides  this  he  is  a  member  of  and  in  close  contact 
with  every  local  organization  which  has  for  its  pur 
pose  Negro  uplift  or  advance  in  any  direction. 

On  entering  his  professional  career.  Dr.  Vaughan 
took  the  advice  of  those  modern  philosophers,  who 
say  that  the  first  step  in  a  successful  career  of  a 
young  man  is  marriage.  In  1899,  the  same  year  he 
opened  office  in  Cincinnati,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Victoria  Powell  of  Richmond,  Virginia.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Vaughan 
but  both  are  deceased.  One  died  when  it  was  a 
month  old;  the  other  at  the  age  of  five  and  a  half 
years. 


HON.  JOHN  P.  GREEN 

R.  John  P.  Green  was  born  in 
Newbern,  North  Carolina,  April 
2nd,  1845.  His  parents  John  R. 
Green  and  Temperance  Green 
were  both  free  and  honorable.  Mr. 
Green  was  educated  in  Common, 
High  and  Law  Schools,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  But 
this  education  came  to  him  through  his  own  ef 
forts.  Between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  twenty 
two,  Mr.  Green  worked  in  all  sorts  of  menial  em 
ployments,  buying  a  home  for  his  widowed  mother. 
After  that,  he  followed  the  same  pursuits  in  striv 
ing  for  an  education  for  himself. 

He  began  his  professional  career  in  1870,  when 
he  was  admitted  to  the  South  Carolina  Bar.  and. 
in  1872,  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  began  the  practice 
of  law,  in  Cleveland.  His  has  been  a  very  active 
life,  since  being  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  el 
ected  justice  of  the  .peace  of  the  city  of  Cleveland, 
in  1873,  and  served  for  three  terms,  (nine  years). 
During  this  time,  he  disposed  of  about  twelve 
thousand  cases.  In  1882  he  was  elected  to  the  low 
er  branch  of  the  Ohio  General  Assembly,  and  re- 
elected  in  1890.  In  1892,  he  was  elected  to  the 
Senate  of  Ohio.  He  is  the  first  and  only  colored 


man,  as  yet,  elected  to  the  Senate.  When  he  was 
in  the  Senate,  he  presided  over  that  body,  and  was 
for  that  space  of  time,  defacto  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor  of  Ohio.  When  he  was  in  the  Lower  House 
of  the  Ohio  General  Assembly,  Mr.  Green  wrote 
and  secured  the  passage  of  the  bill  creating  Labor 
Day  in  Ohio.  This  was  subsequently,  made  a  nat 
ional  Holiday,  by  Congress.  In  1897,  President 
McKinley  appointed  him  United  States  Postage 
Stamp  agent.  For  nine  years,  he  manufactured 
and  distributed  all  the  postage  stamps  for  the  gov 
ernment.  For  eighteen  months,  he  was  defacto 
Superintendent  of  Finance,  of  Post  Office  Depart 
ment  ;  during  which  time  he  signed  many  thousand 
warrants  for  money  due  to  mail  contractors. 

Mr.  Green  has  traveled  extensively.  He  has 
been  to  Europe  four  times.  In  1809  he  was  re 
ceived,  with  his  wife,  by  Pope  Leo;  he  was  also  re 
ceived  by  the  Lord  Bishop,  of  London,  and  the 
Dean  of  West  Minister  Abbey.  He  sat  with  his 
family  in  the  Choir  of  the  Abbey,  and  also  of  Saint 
Pauls  during  divine  services.  Mr.  Green  visited 
France,  Italy,  Austria,  also  the  Midera  Islands,  Gi- 
bralter  and  Scotland.  While  in  Scotland  he  lectur 
ed  eleven  times  to  large  audiences.  Another 
pleasant  memory  of  Mr.  Green  if  the  fact  that, 
while  in  Ireland,  he  visited  Blarney  Castle,  and,  by 
the  courtesy  of  fellow  tourists,  was  enabled  to 
kiss  the  Blarney  Stone. 

Mr.  Green  has  been  active  in  the  affairs  of  the 
nation  as  well  as  in  those  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  He 
has  been  Alternate  Delegate  at  large  to  National 
Republican  Conventions.  He  has  also  associated 
with  a  number  of  the  most  prominent  Republican 
statesmen. 

Mr.  Green  is  Junior  Warden  and  Lay-reader  in 
St.  Andrews  Episcopal  Church,  and,  in  eighteen 
years,  he  has  not  missed  attendance  at  church  in 
the  morning  or  been  late,  when  in  town.. 

At  the  age  of  seventy-four  he  is  still  engaged  in 
practice  of  law.  In  thirty-one  murder  cases,  he 
has  lost  but  one  client.  All  the  others  have  been 
either  acquitted  or  let  off  with  reduced  sentences. 
From  the  practice  of  his  profession,  Mr.  Green  has 
been  enabled  to  earn  not  only  a,  very  good  living 
for  himself,  and  family,  but  to  invest  in  Teal  estate. 

Mr.  Green  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Walker, 
in  Cleveland,  in  1869.  He  was  married  a  second 
time  to  Mrs.  Lottie  Mitchell  Richardson,  in  1912, 
with  whom  he  is  now  happily  living.  Four  chil 
dren  were  born  to  Mr.  Green  to  help  brighten  his 
home.  Captain  William  R.  Green,  lawyer;  Mr. 
Theodore  B.  Green,  lawyer;  Mr.  Jesse  B.  Green, 
Chef;  and  Mrs.  C.  C.  Johnson,  who  was  Miss  Clara 
Annie  Green. 

Mr.  Green  has  for  his  hobbies  the  reading  and 
reviewing  of  his  classical  school  studies,  with  the 
addition  of  French,  which  he  reads  almost  without 
effort.  During  the  two  years  just  passed,  he  has 
read  the  four  Gospels  in  Greek  twice.  In  this 
way  he.  at  his  ripe  age,  keeps  his  mind  in  good 

i    •  i  *  j  •      ..  —  J     1         ,-,.-,  -,  Kl^s-1     •f.-i     ti-i  ti  co  r"t     tlif 


working  condition,  and  is  enabled  to  transact  the 
large  amount  of  business  which  confronts  him. 


244 


JACOB  E.  REED 

ACOB  E.  Reed,  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania,  Dauphin  County, 
November  30th,  1852.  His  educa 
tion  was  limited  to  that  of  the 
Grammar  School.  For  the  first 
twenty  one  years  of  his  life  he  lived  on  a  farm, 
where  he  acquired  a  strong  body  that  has  been  one 
of  his  chief  assets  during  his  long  business  life. 

Because  of  his  mother's  interests,  Mr.  Reed  mov 
ed  into  the  town  of  Harrisburg,  when  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  Here  he  worked  first 
in  the  Harrisburg  Car  Works.  Then  for  a  number 
of  years  he  worked  at  Wheatland,  Pennsylvania, 
in  the  Weeds  Brothers  Iron  Works.  He  was 
maimed  while  engaged  with  the  firm  and  had  to 
give  up  his  work.  He  went  to  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
and  went  into  the  Barber  business  with  his  brother- 
in-law.  At  this  trade  he  worked  for  four  years, 
when  he  moved  once  more,  this  time  to  Cleveland. 
Here  he  has  remained  building  up  for  himself  a 
business  that  is  very  creditable. 

When  he  first  went  to  Cleveland,  Mr.  Reed  took 
a  position  as  a  waiter  for  a  year.  This  was  merely 
used  as  a  stepping  stone.  His  next  step  was  to  the 
position  of  conductor  and  motorman  for  the  East 


Cleveland  Street  Railway  Company.  Colonel  Louis 
Block,  one  of  the  regular  passengers  on  the  car  on 
which  Mr.  Reed  was  conductor,  opened  a  new  mar 
ket  and  gave  to  Mr.  Reed  the  position  as  special 
police  and  janitor.  The  new  undertaking  was  not 
a  success,  and  so  Mr.  Block,  who  felt  himself  re 
sponsible  for  getting  Mr.  Reed  out  of  a  job,  offer 
ed  him  the  chance  to  install  a  fish  market  in  the 
building,  rent  free  for  the  first  six  months.  Mr. 
Reed  recognized  the  fact  that  he  was  ignorant  of 
the  fish  business  and  so  took  a  partner  in  the  ubsi- 
ness  with  him.  The  partner  was  a  Mr.  Reitz,  a 
white  man.  Together  they  in  nineteen  years  built 
up  a  very  successful  business. 

At  the  death  of  Mr.  Reitz  the  interest  which 
was  his  was  purchased  from  his  widow  by  Mr. 
Reed.  So  after  a  number  of  years  in  various  call 
ings,  Mr.  Reed  found  himself  in  one  in  which 
he  was  very  successful.  Among  his  customers,  Ill- 
numbers  a  number  of  the  best  families  in  the  city 
of  Cleveland.  Besides  he  sells  to  some  of  the  lead 
ing  hotels  and  restaurants.  The  Hollenden  Hotel 
alone  runs  a  monthly  account  of  about  $700.00 
with  Mr.  Reed.  His  annual  business  is  from 
$15,000.00  to  $18,000.00.  This  is  no  small  achieve 
ment  for  one  who  started  with  almost  no  capital. 
One  of  the  secrets  of  Mr.  Reed's  success  is  the  fact 
that  he  never  lets  his  bills  run  any  time.  He  makes 
it  a  habit  to  pay  all  his  bills  weekly. 

Mr.  Reed  has  saved  considerable  from  his  bus 
iness.  He  owns  his  own  home  which  represents 
an  investment  of  $10,000.00  and  two  pieces  of  ren 
tal  property  that  represents  the  investment  of 
$10,000.00. 

Mr.  Reed  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Rebecca  Jackson,  of  Foxburg, 
I'ennysylvania.  They  were  married  June,  1874. 
She  died  October  20th,  1915.  He  was  married  a 
second  time  to  Mrs.  Emma  Clayge,  of  Chatta 
nooga,  Tennessee,  on  June  25th,  1918.  Mr.  Reed 
had  one  son,  Addison  D.  Reed,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  seven  years.  There  is  one  adopted  daughter  in 
the  family,  Miss  Byrdie  L.  Reed.  Miss  Byrdie  is 
now  eighteen  years  of  age  and  she  was  adopted 
at  the  age  of  nine  years. 

The  fish  business  does  not  take  up  all  of  Mr. 
Reed's  time.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Epis 
copal  Church,  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  Masons,  Elks, 
33  degree  Mason  and  Shriner.  For  eight  years  he 
served  as  treasurer  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  has 
been  appointed  delegate  to  both  national  State  con 
ventions  of  the  Elks,  Odd  Fellows  and  Masons. 

It  took  Mr.  Reed  more  than  thirty  years  to  find 
the  business  of  which  he  was  to  make  such  a  suc 
cess,  but  having  found  it,  he  has  not  changed,  but 
has  continued  26  years,  in  the  same  line  and  built 
up  for  himself  a  very  lucrative  enterprise. 


245 


JOHN  WILLIS  HUGHES 

R.  J.  W.  Hughes,  of  Tulsa,  is  one 
of  the  comparatively  few  colored 
men  of  this  country,  who  has  left 
his  native  State  and  gone  to  seek 
his  fortune  at  a  distance  without 
doing  it  of  his  own  free  will.  This 
in  the  mind  of  Mr.  Hughes  is  the  principal  episode 
in  his  life.  And  well  may  all  consider  it,  as  we 
shall  see. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  born  in  Rutherford  County, 
Tennessee,  April  30,  1865.  Here  he  spent  his  early 
childhood  on  the  farms  of  his  native  county,  work 
ing  hard  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year  and 
attending  school  during  the  short  winter  session. 
In  this  way  he  lived  till  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age.  At  that  time  he  left  the  farm  for  the  more 
lucrative  employment  of  the  railroad.  While  work 
ing  on  the  road  he  managed  to  save  enough  mon 
ey  to  enter  school  at  Fisk  University.  At  Fisk  he 
was  one  of  the  steady,  studious  boys,  and  when  he 
went  out,  he  left  the  class  room  as  a  student  to 
enter  it  as  a  teacher.  He  entered  the  public 
schools  of  his  State  and  served  as  principal  of  the 
city  school  at  Springfield,  and  later  at  Orlinda  for 
thirteen  years.  During  this  time,  Mr.  Hughes  had 
been  careful  of  the  money  he  earned  and  had  quite 


a  bit  invested  in  farm,  stock  and  all  the  things  that 
go  to  make  up  country  property. 

His  farming  operations  proved  unusually  pro 
ductive  and  brought  to  him  much  prosperity,  so 
much  so,  that  it  caused  his  neighbors  to  be  envious 
of  him.  The  enmity  between  him  and  his  neigh 
bors,  finally  reached  such  a  stage  that  he  decided 
to  sell  his  farm  and  change  his  location.  This  he 
did,  leaving  his  native  town  and  State  and  went  out 
to  begin  all  over  onte  more. 

Having  made  up  his  mind  to  sell  his  farm  and 
equipment,  he  acted  with  his  usual  promptness, 
and  disposed  of  same  at  a  loss  to  him  of  between 
three  and  four  thousand  dollars. 

Leaving  Tennessee  with  its  "Night  Riders"  Mr. 
Hughes  went  to  Oklahoma.  For  two  years  he  had 
a  partnership  in  a  store  and  then  he  accepted  the 
principalship  of  the  Dunbar  School.  This  was  in 
1911.  This  position  he  still  holds,  working  for  the 
education  of  the  young  people  in  that  part  of  the 
country  and  helping  uplift  all  about  him.  In  his 
endeavor  to  help  in  this  work  of  uplift,  Mr.  Hughes 
has  not  confined  himself  to  work  in  the  class  room. 
He  is  a  deacon  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  and  a 
teacher  in  the  Sunday  School.  Here  every  Sunday 
we  will  find  him  teaching  the  advanced  Bible 
Class  in  the  Sunday  School. 

In  fraternal  matters,  Mr.  Hughes  is  also  a  prom 
inent  man  in  his  section  of  the  country.  He  is 
Worthy  Master  of  Coal  Creek  Lodge  No.  88,  of  the 
Free  Masons,  he  is  Grand  High  Priest  in  the  Ro 
yal  Arch  Chapter,  and  in  the  Consistory  he  is 
Grand  Master  of  Ceremonies.  So  again  we  find 
Mr.  Hughes  taking  a  leading  part  in  matters  that 
certainly  work  for  the  betterment  of  the  people. 
Although  Mr.  Hughes  had  to  make  a  new  start 
when  he  was  forty-three  years  of  age,  and  make 
this  start  at  a  disadvantage,  he  has  been  able  to  ac 
cumulate  a  goodly  share  of  the  choice  property  in 
and  around  Tulsa.  He  owns  four  different  pieces 
of  property  in  the  business  district  of  the  town, 
his  own  home  and  three  rent  houses,  all  of  which 
is  in  a  good  section  of  the  town. 

Mr.    Hughes    has    traveled    extensively      in    this 
country  and  in  the  southern  part  of  Canada.  This 
has  served  to  broaden  him.     While  still  in  Tennes 
see,  in  1886,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Eliza 
beth  Owens,  at  Eglesville.     They  lived   very  hap 
pily  together  till  the  time    of  her  death,  Nov.  24, 
1907.     Three    children    were    born    of    this    union 
Miss  Annie  C.  Hughes  has  gone  back  to  her  fath 
er's  old  state  of  Tennessee,  where  she  is  an  excel 
lent  teacher.  Talmage  Cravath  Hughes  is  with  the 
United  States  Army  in  France,  and  Johnnie  Vista 
Hughes  died  while  still  very  young.     Mr.  Hughes 
was  married  a  second  time,  May  30,  1914,  to  Miss 
Nettie  A.  Ledsinger  of  Dyersburg,  Tennessee.     A 
graduate  of  Fisk  University,  Mrs.  Hughes  was  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage,  principal  of  the  Primary 
Department  of  the  City  school  of  Okmulgee,  Okla 
homa.         In  his  community  Mr.  Hughes  is  an  ex 
ample  in  all  matters  to  the  younger  people.     His 
work  in  the  school  room,  in    the    church,    in    the 
lodges  and  in  all  points  where  his  life  touches  the 
lives  of  others,  is  all  for  the  uplift  of  mankind.    He 
is  an  example  in  thrift  as  well  as  in  religious  mat 
ters.     He  and  his  family  like  to  help  make  the  so 
cial  life  in  Tulsa  pleasant. 

246 


FRENCH  WILSON  BRUNER 


NCE  the  Seminole  Nation  of  In 
dians  occupied  the  beautiful  land 
of  Florida.  Many  years  ago, 
they  moved  to  Oklahoma,  the 
land  of  the  Fair  Gods.  The  Se- 
minoles  held  slaves  in  Florida  be 
fore  the  Civil  war.  It  is  an  interesting  bit  of  his 
tory  to  know  that  the  Bruners  not  only  were  free 
men  and  women  all  of  their  lives,  but  are  descend 
ants  of  a  Seminole  chief.  Today  they  can  trace 
their  ancestors  seven  generations  to  the  good  old 
days  when  Seminoles  lived  happily  on  the  extreme 
peninsular  of  the  southland. 

Yesterday  in  the  old  Indian  Territory,  were  large 
ranches,  and  cornfields,  and  meadows  where  Na 
tives  and  Indian-wards  of  the  Federal  Government 
stood  together  like  free  men.  Nor  were  they  one 
whit  behind  civilization  in  lodges  and  other  fra 
ternal  organizations  for  free  Masonary  was  known 
and  practiced  by  all  upright  free  inhabitants.  And 
where  the  Federal  Government  failed  to  establish 
any  institution  for  the  betterment  of  society,  the 
Baptist  Missionaries  and  the  Presbyterian  Mission 
aries,  and  the  representatives  of  other  churches  es 
tablished  churches,  school  houses  and  academies. 
French  Wilson  Bruner,  was  born  January  13,  18- 
83.  He  cast  his  first  vote  in  Seminole  County, 
Oklahoma.  In  his  early  days  he  attended  the  Me- 


kusukey  Academy,  an  institution  which  belonged 
to  the  Seminole  Nation,  Indian  territory,  now  Sem 
inole  County,  Oklahoma. 

And  later,  finishing  his  course  at  Hampton,  he 
did  work  in  the  Summer  Schools  of  Chicago  Uni 
versity.  In  1908,  he  taught  a  common  school  on 
the  Bruner  estate  in  Oklahoma.  The  next  year  he 
took  charge  of  the  Manual  Training  Department 
of  Douglas  High  School,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 
For  ten  years  Mr.  F.  W.  Bruner  has  been  in  charge 
of  this  work  with  great  success  and  marvelous  ad 
vancement  from  a  small  uncouth  manual  training 
room  in  1909,  to  a  $10,000.00  structure,  in  1915, 
where  he  has  prepared  students  for  Pratt  Univer 
sity,  New  York,  and  other  institutions  of  learning. 

Mr.  Bruner  is  more  of  a  business  man  than  other 
wise.  In  Oklahoma  City  ,in  1909,  he  invested  with 
a  partner  in  the  drug  business.  Later,  he  interest 
ed  himself  in  the  oil  industry,  and  later  still  he  sold 
his  drug  interest  to  his  partner  and  turned  all  of 
his  attention  to  the  development  of  oils.  He  joined 
the  Springvale  Oil  and  Gas  Company,  and  is  now 
the  company's  Secretary.  Inheriting  some  money, 
he  become  very  well  off.  He  owns  lands  in  Sem 
inole  County,  land  in  Garvin  County,  a  residence  in 
Oklahoma  City,  a  stock  farm  in  Oklahoma,  and 
carries  investments  in  various  oil  companies. 

Again,  true,  to  the  Bruner  instinct,  French  Wil 
son  Bruner  takes  an  interest  in  all  form  of  life 
work  about  him.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  a  member  of  Knights  of  Pythias, 
CC  and  past  CC  of  star  Chamber  No.  23,  Past 
Master  of  Keystone  Lodge  No.  2,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  a  Shriner,  and  a  member  of  the  Great  Western 
Consistory,  Oklahoma  Jurisdiction.  Too,  he  is 
a  chairman  of  the  teachers  divisional  and  High 
School  faculty,  of  the  Oklahoma  Negro  Teachers 
Association.  Moreover  he  has  been  Vice  Presi 
dent  and  secretary  of  the  said  association. 

The  number  and  diversity  of  such  connections, 
all  of  them  highly  honorable  and  useful,  indicates 
the  regard  that  has  fixed  for  this  prominent  man  so 
high  a  measure  of  Civic  service,  and  he  has  nobly 
responded  to  the  call  in  every  phaze  of  the  duty 
that  this  draft  on  his  fidelity  and  capacities  has  im 
posed.  In  no  relation  has  the  worth  of  Mr.  Bruner 
been  more  strikingly  demonstrated  than  in  the 
manner  in  which  he  has  responded  to  these  high 
demands  which  lie  so  completely  out  of  the  narrow 
realms  of  self. 

Mr.  Bruner  was  married  to  Miss  Bloosie  Bell  of 
Muskogee,  Oklahoma,  Sept.  1914.  They  live  in 
their  beautiful  residence  in  Oklahoma  City;  a 
residence  which  is  valued  at  ten  thousand  dollars. 
The  one  thing  lacking  to  make  their  home  life  ideal 
is  the  absence  of  children. 


247 


WILLIAM  HARRISON 

EW  men  at  the  bar  have  attained 
the  distinction  of  Mr.  William 
Harrison  of  Oklahoma  City,  Ok 
lahoma.  A  southern  man  by  birth, 
rearing  and  education,  he  has 
so  conducted  himself  on  the  one 
hand,  and  has  been  so  thorough  a  master  in  his 
profession  on  the  other,  that  many  a  door  that  has 
been  shut  to  others  has  freely  opened  to  him. 
This  does  not  mean  that  others  do  not  deserve  all 
the  courtesies  of  the  courts,  without  any  special 
consideration,  save  the  stamp  of  merit,  but  we 
are  discussing  things  as  they  are  rather  than 
things  as  they  ought  to  be. 

Mr.  Harrison's  prestige  in  the  courts  has  been 
truly  remarkable,  not  only  for  a  Negro  of  the 
South,  but  for  a  man  of  any  section.  Admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1902,  he  was  first  permitted  step  by 
step  to  practice  in  all  the  state  courts  of  Okla 
homa.  Gaining  a  footing  here  he  steadily  made  his 
way  to  the  front  until  today  he  practices  in  all  the 
Federal  courts,  and  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  .States  . 

As  has  already  been  pointed  out,  Mr.  Harri 
son  is  out  and  out  a  southern  man.  He  was  born 


in  Mississippi,  in  Clay  County,  in  1874.  His  fa 
ther,  devoting  most  of  his  energies  to  the  raising 
of  cotton,  raising  starch  and  grain  as  supplement. 
For  a  number  of  years  the  son  served  an  appren 
ticeship  with  the  father.  But  somehow  the  quiet 
humdrum  of  the  farmers'  life  did  not  appeal  to 
him.  A  life  of  sharp  competition,  of  give  and 
take,  began  very  early  to  lure  him  from  behind 
the  plow,  from  the  hoe  and  the  wagon,  and  attract 
him  to  the  city. 

In  spare  months,  that  is  in  months  when  the 
crops  were  "laid  by,"  and  in  winter  when  there 
was  no  farm  labor  to  be  performed  the  future  law 
yer  attended  the  public  schools.  When  he  grew 
older  he  saw  that  he  would  never  reach  his  goal 
by  attending  school  one  fourth  or  one  third  of  the 
year.  And  so  the  day  came  when  he  took  leave 
of  the  farm  and  the  old  folks  and  sped  away  North 
ward,  from  Mississippi  to  Nashville.  He  entered 
Roger  Williams  and  completed  the  elementary 
education.  From  Roger  Wiliams,  he  went  to  Chi 
cago  University  where  he  pursued  a  college  course. 
Returning  to  Nashville,  he  marticulated  at  Wai- 
den,  where  he  completed  his  course  in  law.  In 
1902,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Oklahoma. 

He  was  not  long  in  becoming  known,  once  he 
had  gotten  before  the  courts.  Sound  reasoning, 
thorough  scholarship  and  common  sense  soon  gave 
him  extraordinary  prestige.  On  one  occasion  he 
was  chosen  special  judge  of  the  Superior  Court  in 
Oklahoma  County,  to  sit  in  judgment  on  a  case  in 
which  all  the  litigants  were  white. 

Mr.  Harrison  keeps  in  touch  with  practically  all 
the  activities  of  his  State,  and  indeed  of  the  whole 
country.  He  is  an  extensive  traveller,  having 
covered  the  whole  country  on  business  and  pleas 
ure  trips.  He  is  wide  awake  to  business  chances 
as  well  as  to  planning  out  a  suit.  He  owns  heavy 
interests  in  zinc,  lead  and  oil  companies,  as  well 
as  a  home  and  several  pieces  of  real  estate.  He 
is  a  good  Baptist,  a  Mason,  a  loyal  Knight  of  Py 
thias.  In  these  latter  organizations,  as  well  as  in 
others,  not  named,  he  has  taken  a  leading  part  in 
many  councils.  He  is  Past  Grand  Chancellor  of  the 
Oklahoma  Knights  of  Pythias,  former  attorney 
of  the  National  Baptist  Convention,  President  of 
the  Negro  Civic  League,  President  of  the  People's 
Protective  Circle,  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Com 
merce  of  Oklahoma  City,  being  the  only  colored 
man  to  hold  membership  in  this  body. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  married  in  Clanton,  Mississ 
ippi.  June,  1898,  to  Miss  Idella  B.  Carmichael.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harrison  have  two  children;  Wilhelmina. 
who  is  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  who  is  in  school; 
and  William  Alfred,  who  is  twelve  years  old,  and 
a  school  boy. 


248 


R.  W.  WESTBERRY 

OME  day,  R.  W.  Westberry  of 
Sumter,  South  Carolina,  should 
go  apart  and  set  down  in  some 
sort  of  form  a  few  of  his  exper 
iences  and  describe  the  types  of 
men  he  has  known  in  given  occu 
pations.  Was  the  account  a  mere  catalogue,  it 
would  prove  an  instructive  document,  in  that  it 
would  not  only  afford  an  engaging  panorama,  but 
would  demonstrate  how  wide  a  variety  of  tasks 
one  man  can  perform  passably  well. 

Mr.  Westberry  was  born  in  Sumter,  South  Car 
olina,  near  Horatio  Post  Office,  July  11,  1871.  A 
member  of  the  younger  generation,  he  managed  to 
eke  out  a  good  education.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Sumter  County,  then  went  to  Benedict 
College  at  Columbia,  S.  C.  and  finished  his  school 
career  at  Wilberforce  University,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Westberry  began  his  life  on  the  farm,  where 
as  a  lad  he  worked  for  his  father.  His  life  exper 
ience  widened  Summer  by  Summer  during  his 
school  life  and  year  by  year  after  his  graduation. 
For  a  time  he  was  a  waiter  in  a  Chicago  Hotel. 
From  this  he  took  up  the  task  of  odd  jobs.  Tn  a 
little  time  he  became  a  Chicago  letter  carrier, 


working  at  this  post  twelve  years.  For  two  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  letter  carrier's  Council, 
one  year  of  which  he  was  the  only  Negro  member 
of  the  body. 

Although  the  West,  especially  Chicago  had  many 
attractions  for  a  live,  wide-awake  man  like  Mr. 
Westberry,  he  could  not  resist  the  call  of  the  South 
and  hither  he  turned  his  steps  and  again  found 
himself  in  his  native  state  of  South  Carolina. 

The  first  five  years  after  his  return  South  he 
worked  as  a  United  States  Demonstration  Agent. 
He  gave  up  this  work  to  accept  the  Secretaryship 
of  the  South  Carolina  State  Fair,  which  position 
he  held  for  three  years,  when  he  was  elected  Sup 
erintendent  of  the  same  organization  and  served 
the  Company  three  years  more  in  that  capacity. 

At  the  end  of  his  six  year's  service  for  the  fair 
organization  he  decided  that  the  time  had  come  to 
strike  out  for  himself  so  he  organized  the  West- 
berry  Realty  Company,  and  became  its  President. 

To  this  variety  of  experiences  in  occupations,  he 
adds  a  career  fuller  still  in  honorary  pursuits.  In 
1909  he  was  one  of  the  leading  members  in  the 
Booker  T.  Washington  party  that  toured  South 
Carolina.  He  was  a  volunteer  soldier  in  the  Spanish 
American  War.  When  the  Negroes  of  South  Car 
olina  were  waging  a  campaign  for  a  boy's  reforma 
tory,  Mr.  Westberry  was  one  of  the  committee  to 
appear  before  the  Governor  in  the  interest  of  the 
cause.  Again  when  the  Negroes  of  the  State  were 
laboring  for  a  Colored  People's  Fair,  Mr.  West- 
berry  advocated  their  cause  before  the  State  leg 
islature. 

His  membership  in  Church  and  Lodge  and  on  va 
rious  boards  shows  how  wide  are  his  interests  and 
activities.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  a  Deacon  and  Trustee.  He  is  a  Mason,  Odd 
Fellow ;  a  Knight  of  Pythias ;  a  member  of  the 
Gospel  Aid  Society.  He  was  a  member  of  the  fi 
nance  committee  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  his  state 
three  years ;  a  state  officer  of  the  Odd  Fellows  two 
years,  a  Master  of  Finance  for  the  Knights  of  Py 
thias  one  year ;  Grand  Deputy  Archon  of  the  Wise 
Men  one  year ;  local  secretary  of  the  Gospel  Aid 
Society  one  year.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Mays- 
ville  Institute  and  of  Morris  College;  a  life  member 
of  the  National  Negro  Business  Men's  League ; 
President  of  the  South  Carolina  Farmer's  Confer 
ence  and  of  the  National  Farmer's  Asociation  and 
an  honorary  member  of  the  Sumter  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  the  only  Negro  member  of  that  body. 

Mr.  Westberry  is  an  extensive  property  holder 
in  South  Carolina,  and  in  other  places.  He  owns 
two  lots  on  Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island ;  three  lots 
and  two  two-story  buildings  in  Chicago,  and  his 
property  in  Sumter,  among  which  is  included  his 
two-story  house  valued  at  $30.000. 

He  was  married  in  1902,  to  Miss  Eva  Anderson. 
of  Chatham,  Canada. 


249 


JACOB  JAVAN  DURHAM,  A.   B.,  M.  D. 

ACOB  Javan  Durham,  famous  as 
an  orator  and  debater  was  born 
near  Spartanburg,  Sovtth  Carolina, 
April  13th,  1849.  He  attended  the 
public  school,  at  Greenville,  South 
Carolina.  From  the  public  school 
he  entered  the  State  University  of  South  Car 
olina,  remaining  in  that  institution  until  1877, 
when  it  was  closed  against  Colored  students. 
He  then  entered  Fisk  University,  Nashville,  Tenn 
essee,  where  he  was  graduated  two  years  later 
with  the  degree  A.  B. 

He  graduated  from  Meharry  Medical  College, 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  1880,  and  received  his  M.  D. 
degree.  At  his  graduation  he  won  the  honor  of 
being  the  class  valedictorian,  having  made  98^2  on 
his  final  examination.  Recognizing  his  great  abil 
ity  he  was  offered  a  professorship  in  the  college 
but  declined  the  honor  as  he  wished  to  enter  at 
once  upon  his  chosen  fields  of  labor — that  of  med 
icine  and  the  ministry. 

His  first  charge  was  the  Bethesda  Baptist  church 
at  Society  Hill,  which  was  one  of  the  largest 
churches  in  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  receiving 
and  accepting  a  call  to  this  church  immediately  up 


on  his  leaving  Meharry  Medical  College.  He  en 
tered  upon  his  work  both  as  a  preacher  and  a  phy 
sician  with  energy  and  zeal,  and  did  the  work  of 
both  with  marked  success. 

He  gave  up  his  work  in  Society  Hill  to  enter  a 
larger  field.  He  was  elected  Educational  Mission 
ary  of  the  Baptist  State  Convention  of  South  Car 
olina,  which  office  he  filled  so  ably  that  he  was  ad 
vanced  a  step  higher  and  made  the  Financial  Se 
cretary  of  the  Baptist  State  Convention.  Here  he 
had  a  wider  scope  for  the  exercise  of  his  gifts  and 
for  ten  years  he  applied  himself  to  his  work  with 
such  skill  and  tact  that  he  won  the  cooperation  of 
his  brethren  and  raised  large  sums  of  money  and 
paid  off  large  debts. 

He  was  especially  gifted  in  this  line,  an  illustra 
tion  of  which  is  seen  in  his  accomplishment  when 
pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church,  of  Savannah, 
Georgia.  In  one  rally  he  raised  for  this  church 
$3059.33. 

Dr.  Durham  was  then  recalled  to  South  Carolina 
to  become  educational  secretary.  At  the  close  of 
his  first  year's  work  as  Educational  Secretary  he 
recommended  among  other  things  the  establish 
ment  of  an  institution  of  learning  to  be  owned  and 
operated  by  the  Negro  Baptists  of  the  State.  The 
report  was  followed  by  an  eloquent  and  powerful 
speech  on  the  subject  by  the  Secretary,  and  in  a  few 
minutes,  more  than  $12,000  was  subscribed,  and 
Morris  College,  at  Sumter,  South  Carolina,  is  the 
result.  The  presidency  of  this  institution  was 
offered  him  but  he  declined  it.  Dr.  Durham  has 
been  often  referred  to  as  "the  Daniel  Webster  of 
his  race,"  because  of  his  unusual  ability  and  elo 
quence  as  a  debater. 

He  has  been  called  upon  to  introduce  some  of  the 
great  public  men  of  the  Nation.  Frederick  Douglas 
on  being  introduced  once  by  Dr.  Durham,  said: 
"That  was  the  most  eloquent  introduction  I  ever 
had.  That  man  ought  to  be  in  Congress  pleading 
the  cause  of  the  people." 

After  introducing  President  McKinley  on  one 
occasion,  the  President  remarked,  "That  was  the 
most  beautiful  and  eloquent  speech  I  ever  heard." 

Dr.  Durham  is  a  great  scholar  and  has  been  a 
hard  student.  He  reads  the  Bible  in  five  different 
languages — English,  German,  Latin,  Greek,  and 
Hebrew. 

Dr.  Durham  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Miss 
Ella  Simpkins,  and  from  this  union  there  was  one 
son.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Emma  Ramey  of 
Edgefield,  South  Carolina,  daughter  of  Judge  W. 
D.  and  Katie  Ramey. 

Dr.  Durham  is  a  man  of  considerable  wealth.  He 
is  public  spirited;  has  made  many  great  public  and 
patriotic  speeches ;  written  much  on  great  public 
questions.  He  stands  high  as  a  man  and  citizen  and 
has  received  many  honorary  degrees  from  repu 
table  institutions. 


250 


ROBERT  E.  L.  HOLLAND,  M.  D. 


OCTOR  Robert  E.  L.  Holland,  the 
eldest  of  eight  living  children  of 
Benjamin  and  Margaret  Holland, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  County, 
Texas,  November  eleventh,  1864. 
The  father  was  a  farmer ;  and  as 
such  set  a  glowing  example  of  hard  work  and 
thrift  for  his  son.  All  day  the  parent  would  labor 
in  the  field  and  then  at  night  time  split  rails  or  chop 
wood.  For  a  while  the  eldest  son  followed  this 
example.  He,  too,  labored  on  the  farm,  and  at 
night  split  rails,  chopped  wood  and  built  char-coal 
kilns  until  midnight.  He  attended  school  when 
time  permitted  and  when  the  two  or  three  months 
country  school  was  in  session.  As  he  was  ambi 
tious,  however,  he  studied  in  and  out  of  season. 

Such  close  application  to  his  studies  soon  began 
to  bear  fruit  and  note  was  made  of  his  mental  de 
velopment,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
was  advised  to  stand  for  a  teacher's  certificate,  and 
was  offered  the  position  of  assistant  teacher  if  he 
should  successfully  pass  the  teacher's  examination. 
He  passed  the  examination,  got  his  certificate  for 
second  grade  and  secured  the  teacher's  position. 
Thus  he  began  his  career  as  a  teacher.  He  had 


started  up  the  ladder  and  the  following  year  had 
advanced  so  far  as  to  be  made  principal  of  one  of 
the  largest  schools  of  his  county.  While  he  was 
teaching  he  continued  his  studies  and  in  two  years 
he  stood  his  examination  for  first  grade  license 
and  got  his  certificate.  After  receiving  this  certi 
ficate  he  continued  to  teach  and  applide  himself 
more  vigorously  to  his  studies.  Continuing  this 
course  for  seven  years  he  entered  a  competitive 
contest  for  a  scholarship  in  Prairie  View  State 
Normal  School  which  he  won  after  standing  a  most 
rigid  examination.  He  entered  the  Prairie  View 
State  Normal  School  with  his  ambition  whetted  by 
his  success  in  the  scholarship  competition  and  fin 
ished  his  course  with  honor,  in  1888. 

He  returned  home  and  taught  one  year  in  the 
school  in  which  he  taught  before  he  went  away  to 
Prairie  View.  In  1890,  on  passing  a  rigid  examina 
tion  he  was  made  principal  of  one  of  the  Ward 
Schools,  of  Austin.  However,  though  he  was  con 
tinually  climbing  as  a  teacher,  he  had  long  felt 
called  to  another  profession — that  of  medicine. 
And  so,  after  three  years  teaching  in  Austin,  he 
resigned  his  post  and  went  away  to  Meharry  Med 
ical  College,  Nashville,  and  then  to  the  University 
of  Vermont,  to  study  medicine,  obtaining  his  de 
gree  from  the  latter  school. 

Finishing  his  course  in  medicine  in  1895,  he  re 
turned  to  his  native  state  and  began  practice  in 
Temple.  Here  he  rapidly  gained  the  confidence 
of  all  the  people  and  soon  had  a  lucrative  practice. 
For  twenty-one  years  he  followed  his  profession  in 
Temple,  equipping  his  office  with  the  best  imple 
ments,  widening  his  services  and  usefulness  in 
many  drections. 

On  returning  to  Texas,  Doctor  Holland  decided 
to  affiliate  himself  with  all  local  organizations  that 
stood  for  the  good  of  his  race.  He  allied  himself 
with  the  Eighth  Street  Baptist  Church  at  Temple, 
became  a  Knights  of  Pythias,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a 
United  Brother  of  Friendship,  and  a  member  of  the 
Court  of  Calanthe.  At  one  time  he  was  a  past 
Grand  officer  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  joined 
the  Lone  Star  State  Medical  Association,  was  Sec 
retary  for  eight  years,  and  President  for  one  year. 

Dr.  Holland  was  married  in  1898  to  Miss  Mary 
B.  Pittman  of  Tavbora,  North  Carolina.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Holland  have  one  son,  Robert  E.  L.  Jr.,  who  is 
a  student  at  Tillotson  College,  Austin,  Texas. 

The  crowning  recognition  came  to  Dr.  Holland  in 
1916,  when  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Texas 
appointed  him  Superintendent  of  the  Texas  Deaf, 
Dumb  and  Blind  Institute  for  Colored  youths,  at 
Austin,  Texas.  Within  a  year  marked  signs  of  'im 
provement  had  already  become  manifested  under 
him.  The  attendance  has  increased  35  per  cent, 
the  teaching  force  has  been  enlarged,  new  indus 
tries  added  and  larger  appropriations  gained  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  institution. 


2S1 


JOHN  MARION  FRIERSON 


OMMENCING  at  the  bottom  in 
business,  John  M.  Frierson,  Un 
dertaker  and  Embalmer,  of  Hous 
ton,  Texas,  has  climed  steadily 
and  persistently  until  he  is  the 
leader  in  his  kind  of  business  in 
the  State  of  Texas.  With  no  special  training  for  his 
task  and  no  very  large  bulk  of  capital,  he  enter  a 
city  where  competition  was  sharp  and  rent  high  ; 
yet  he  has  never  moved,  never  failed.  He  has  only 
expanded.  The  room  which  once  held  the  business 
of  his  whole  plant  is  now  the  store  room  for  his 
caskets. 

Mr.  Frierson  was  born  in  Columbia,  Tennessee, 
June  10th,  1865.  He  was  born  in  a  period  which 
was  fraught  with  great  difficulties  for  the  colored 
race,  for  it  was  passing  through  the  transition 
from  slavery  to  freedom  and  had  to  encounter  the 
many  problems  which  opened  up  in  meeting  this 
crucial  test.  Trials  met  him  when  a  small  lad  and 
he  had  his  turn  at  hard  labor,  scant  food,  scant 
clothing,  and  very  meager  facilities  for  education. 
He  soon  learned  that  the  way  of  success  in  life 
was  not  a  path  of  ease,  but  a  way  of  thorns.  He 
aspired  to  make  something  of  his  life  and  had  an 
ambition  to  be  an  educated  man.  This  he  deter 


mined  to  be  and  he  never  took  his  eye  from  the 
goal  until  he  had  reached  it.  In  order  to  earn 
the  money  to  pursue  his  studies  he  toiled  as  a 
laborer,  as  a  carpenter's  helper  to  his  father,  as  a 
teacher  in  country  schools.  Sometimes  his  earn 
ings  amounted  to  two  dollars  per  week,  but  fre 
quently  fell  below  that  amount  and  occasionally 
went  above  it.  Frugality  and  perseverance  won 
their  reward  and  he  was  enabled  to  enter  college. 

Finally  he  was  able  to  enter  Roger  Williams  Uni 
versity,  Nashville,  Tenn.  Graduating  here  in  the 
spring  of  1891,  he  went  out  and  became  principal 
of  the  colored  school  in  Galletin,  Tenn.  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year.  Texas  at  that  time,  as  it  is  now, 
was  a  more  attractive  field  in  education  than  most 
of  the  Southern  States.  It  paid  better  salaries,  held 
longer  school  terms,  had  better  schools  and  proved 
more  respectable  for  a  teacher.  Hither  in  1892,  Mr. 
Frierson  went  to  take  charge  of  a  school  near  Wax- 
ahatchie,  in  Ellis  County.  The  next  year  he  be 
came  associate  principal  of  Hearne  Academy  in 
Roberson  County.  For  the  next  five  years  he 
taught  in  Hearne  Academy  and  in  the  County 
schools. 

Feeling  that  teaching  was  too  itinerant  and  in 
many  ways  too  restrictive  in  the  opportunities  foi 
advancement,  Mr.  Frierson  left  the  school  room 
and  began  his  present  business  of  Undertaking  in 
Houston,  Tejcas  He  opened  a  shop  at  203  San  Fe 
lipe  Street,  where  his  shop  still  stands,  though 
much  expanded.  His  was  the  first  Negro  Under 
taking  business  to  open  in  the  State  of  Texas. 
Hence  for  a  number  of  years  he  had  to  overcome 
the  obstacles  common  to  all  pioneers,  to  overcome 
prejudice  and  to  establish  confidence.  This  he  had 
to  do  while  buying  his  horses  and  equipment,  learn 
ing  those  detals  of  business  which  only  experience 
can  give  The  obstacles  overcome,  he  rose  rapidly, 
as  a  business  man.  Today  his  stock  room  which  as 
hasvbeen  said,  was  his  original  establishment,  is  full 
of  the  best  caskets  available.  He  is  accredited  with 
having  the  finest  outfit  of  horses  of  any  Negro  in 
Texas.  These,  however,  he  is  now  converting  into 
automobile  hearses.  In  addition  to  this  business  in 
Houston,  he  owns  interests  in  businesses  in  Tex- 
arkana  and  in  Brenham. 

Mr.  Frierson  stands  high  in  many  of  the  leading 
organizations  of  his  state.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  of  the  the  Masonic  Lodge,  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  of  the 
Knights  and  Daughters  of  Tabor  and  of  the  Amer 
ican  Woodman.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  members 
of  the  National  Undertakers'  Association  and  of 
the  National  Negro  Business  Men's  League.  He 
has  attended  every  meeting  of  the  two  latter  since 
their  founding.  He  has  traveled  over  practically 
the  whole  United  States,  on  business  and  on  pleas 
ure. 

Mr.  Frierson  was  married  to  Miss  Hattie  Esk- 
ridge  of  Atlanta.  Ga.,  December  23,  1906.  They 
live  in  their  own  home  on  San  Felipe  Street  in 
I  louston. 


252 


of  Knoxville,  Tenn.  For  six  years  Rev.  Bell  served 
his  home  congregation,  endearing  himself  to  them 
by  his  kind  ministrations  to  their  many  needs  and 
his  ready  help  in  time  of  great  trouble.  Rev.  Bell 
from  the  first  decided  that  he  could  best  serve  by 
remaining  long  enough  in  one  place  to  really  ac 
complish  some  good  in  the  community.  To  bear 
this  out,  he  has  during  his  nearly  twenty  years  of 
pastoring,  served  only  two  churches. 

After  leaving  Knoxville,  he  accepted  work  in 
Chattanooga,  Tennessee.  Here  he  has  remained, 
pastoring  the  First  Baptist  Church.  Rev.  Bell  is 
well  beloved  by  all  of  his  congregation.  He  has 
won  the  interest  and  co-operation  of  the  children, 
young  men,  and  women  as  well  as  that  of  the  old 
er  members  of  his  congregation.  To  do  this  has 
meant  work  on  the  part  of  the  pastor.  In  this 
work  he  has  shown  great  executive  ability.  He 
has  reorganized  his  church,  putting  it  on  a  work 
ing  basis.  Rev.  Bell  has  his  own  ideas  about  a 
church  and  its  functions.  He  believes  that  a 
church  is  not  merely  a  place  for  Sunday  meetings 
or  rather  he  believes  that  this  is  not  the  purpose 
at  all.  He  belives  that  a  church  is  a  center  for 
thought,  for  culture,  for  activities  of  all  kinds  for 
the  people.  He  believes  that  the  church  should 
train  the  young,  and  spur  up  the  old  in  things  tem 
poral  and  intellectural  as  well  as  in  things  which 
are  purely  spiritual. 

Thus  the  first  Baptist  Church  at  Chattanooga  is 
one  of  those  modern  churches.  It  is  organized 
upon  thoroughly  business  method,  and  it  seeks  to 
render  the  highest  possible  efficiency  in  the  church 
and  religious  work.  This  church,  under  the  direc 
tion  and  inspiration  of  Rev.  Bell  has  developed  a 
mission  and  Educational  Society.  This  organiza 
tion  is  an  auxiliary  to  the  Church  proper.  There 
are  several  other  organizations  that  are  auxiliaries 
EV.  Charles  Augustus  Bell  was  to  the  cnurch.  Among  these  are  the  Teachers' 
born  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  He  training  Class;  the  Christian  Culture  Class-  the 
was  of  poor  parentage  and  so  Dunbar  Literary  Society;  the  Young  Men's  auxi- 
had  to  work  at  an  early  age  to  Hary ;  a  corps  of  Boy  Cadets.  Rev  Bell  has  taken 
help  support  himself.  His  earliest  pleasure  and  pride  in  adding  these  branches  to  his 
school  days  were  spent  in  the  church.  They  have  added  much  to  the  life  of  his 
public  schools  of  Knox  County,  congregation  and  to  the  community  in  general  In 
where  he  applied  himself  dih-  these  organizations  Rev.  Bell  has  sought  to  pro 
mote  and  sustain  the  efficiency  of  the  church. 
One  direct  result  of  the  establishing  of  all  these 


REVEREND  CHARLES  AUGUSTUS  BELI. 


gently  and  secured  all  that  he  could.  Finishing  the 
course  offered  in  the  public  school,  the  young  man 
entered  Knoxville  College  and  by  working  at  odd 
jobs  he  was  able  to  remain  in  school  till  he  had  auxiliaries  to  the  First  Baptist  church,  is  the  di- 
completed  the  course  prescribed.  During  this  pe-  reeling  of  the  thoughts  and  actions  of  the  young 
riod  of  study  Rev.  Bell  spent  his  summers  in  teach-  and  the  adult  toward  the  good,  the  useful  and  the 
ing  in  the  rural  districts  of  his  state.  In  this  way  beautiful.  Through  them  the  people  are  kept 
he  kept  himself  in  funds  sufficient  to  keep  up  with  i)()Uvcd  up<  enthusiastic,  the  church  is  freely  sup- 


his  needs. 

Rev.   Bell  at  can  early  age  decided  to    take    up 
the   ministry   as   his   life    work.     To    this    end    he 


ported  and  the  pastor  encouraged.     By  reorganiz 
ing  his  church  Rev.   Bell  has  been  able  to  use  all 


LIH-.         1111111. ^LIVCUIlliJiIlV^  vvwirv.  J.  *-S  1*110  Vs  i  *  v.*.  »  t  \^  ^  f         1      •  ,  _  ,. 

spent  a  great  deal  of  time  in  study  with  corres-  the  members  of  his  congregation.  In  this  way, 
pondence  schools.  He  took  a  course  of  study  with  every  member  is  given  a  chance  for  growth  and 
the  Extension  Department  of  the  University  of  every  member  feels  that  he  is  of  use  to  the  church. 
Chicago,  and  later  took  a  course  with  the  Oska- 
loosa  College,  of  Iowa.  In  this  way  he  fitted  him 
self  very  thoroughly  for  the  work  he  had  before 

him,  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  and  a  servant  of      also'a  Mason  and  a  Rreat  traveler,    having    toured 
the  people. 

Feeling  himself  to  be  fairly  well  equipped  now 
for  his  life  work  he  entered  the  ministry  in  1899. 
His  first  charge  was  the  Rogers  Memorial  Church. 


Rev.  Bell  is  a  member  of  the  executive  board  of 
the  State  Convention  and  a  Trustee  of  the  Nelson 
Mary  Academy  of  Jefferson  City,  Tenn.  He  is 


the  whole  of  this  country  and  Canada. 

Rev.   Bell  was  married  in  1901  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Hell,  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee. 


253 


BISHOP   CHARLES   HENRY   PHILLIPS,   A.    B.,   A.    M., 
M.  D.,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 


ISHOP  Charles  Henry  Phillips, 
Bishop  of  the  4th  Episcopal  Dis 
trict,  Colored  Methodist  Episco 
pal  Church,  is  easily  one  of  the 
leading;  churchmen  of  his  genera 
tion.  He  was  born  in  Milledge- 
ville,  Ga.,  January  17,  1858.  His 
parents  the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  George 
Washington  Phillips,  were  devout  Christians. 

As  a  boy  young  Phillips  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  and  attended  the  common  schools.  Convert 
ed  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  four  years  later  he  was  li 
censed  to  preach  by  Rev.  R.  T.  White,  D.  D.,  one 
of  the  leaders  of  Georgia  Methodism. 

Seeking  a  higher  education  he  attended  first  At 
lanta  University,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  in  1880  graduat 
ed  from  Walden  University,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  "Cum  Laude."  Bishop  I. 
B.  Scott  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  the  late  Dr.  Rob 
ert  Fulton  Boyd  were  classmates,  and  both  declare 
Bishop  Phillips  to  be  an  expert  Linguist,  especially 
in  Hebrew,  Latin  and  Greek.  Studying  Theology 
at  Walden  he  also  graduated  from  Meharry  Med 
ical  College,  with  the  M.  D.  degree,  in  1882.  Since 
his  graduation  he  is  universally  recognized  a  bril 
liant  scholar.  Wiley  University,  of  Marshall,  Texas, 
and  Philander  Smith  College,  of  Little  Rock,  Ark., 
conferred  on  him  D.  D. ;  Walden  University,  M. 
A.,  and  Wilberforce  University  of  Ohio,  LL.  D. 


ferred  D.  D. ;  Walden  University,  M.  A.,  and  Wil 
berforce  University,  of  Ohio,  LL.  D. 

Bishop  Phillips  taught  school  a  few  years  and 
served  as  President  of  Lane  College,  of  Jackson, 
Tenn.  From  the  latter  position  he  was  called  to 
the  pastorate.  He  served  a  "circuit,"  a  "station" 
and  as  Presiding  Elder.  His  rise  was  rapid,  for 
soon  the  young  minister  was  pastor  in  charge  of 
Collins  Chapel,  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  one  of  the  larg 
est  and  most  aristocratic  congregations  in  the 
South.  From  here  he  was  sent  to  Israel  Metropol 
itan  C.  M.  E.  Church,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  where 
for  four  years  he  was  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
popular  ministers  of  the  Nation's  capital.  He  was 
in  constant  demand,  both  as  speaker  and  preacher, 
and  the  daily  press  often  reported  his  sermons  and 
addresses.  The  citizens  of  Washington,  in  1890. 
regardless  of  color  and  denomination,  sent  him  a 
delegate  to  the  First  World's  Sunday  School  Con 
vention,  which  convened  in  London,  England. 

At  the  farewell  reception  given  him  by  Israel 
and  citizens  when  transferred  to  Kentucky,  the 
Hon.  Frederick  Douglass,  John  Mercer  Langston, 
the  Rev.  J.  C.  Price  and  other  notables  were  on  the 
program.  It  was  pronounced  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  affairs  of  its  kind  ever  given.  From 
Washington  he  was  sent  to  old  historic  Center 
Street  C.  M.  E.  Church,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and 
serving  out  his  time  there,  he  was  made  presiding 
elder  of  the  Mt.  Sterling  District.  He  visited  Eu 
rope  a  second  time  in  1901,  when  his  church  sent 
him  a  delegate  to  the  Third  Ecumenical  Confer 
ence.  While  abroad  Bishop  Phillips  traveled  and 
lectured  in  England,  Scotland.  France,  Belgium, 
and  other  countries.  He  was  elected  editor  of 
the  Christian  Index  in  1894,  after  coming  within 
three  votes  of  the  Bishopric. 

In  1902,  after  serving  The  Index  two  terms  he 
was  elevated  to  the  high  office  of  Bishop,  with  the 
largest  majority  ever  given  a  Negro  for  that  office. 
At  the  Toronto  Ecumenical  Conference  in  1911 
Bishop  Phillips  served  as  assistant-secretary,  the 
first  time  a  Negro  ever  filled  so  distinguished  a 
position.  He  has  attended  every  General  Confer 
ence  since  1886  as  a  delegate ;  is  at  present  an  offi 
cial  member  of  the  Federal  Council  of  Churches, 
the  Ecumenical  Methodist  Conference,  the  Church 
Council  and  various  other  inter-racial  organiza 
tions,  and  was  recently  appointed  by  the  United 
State  Government,  one  of  its  spokesmen.  He  is 
called  the  scholar  of  the  bench  of  bishops  and  pio 
neer  bishop  of  the  church,  having  established  the 
C.  M.  E.  Church  in  Western,  Texas,  Arizona,  New 
Mexico,  California  and  sections  of  Ohio  and  In. 
diana.  He  is  author  of  the  History  of  the  C.  M.  E. 
Church  and  a  writer  of  great  force  and  power. 

Bishop  Phillips  married  Miss  Lucy  Ellis  Tappan 
in  1880,  who  was  a  graduate  of  Fisk  University. 
She  died  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  1913,  survived 
by  five  children :  Dr.  Chas.  Phillips,  Jr..  Dr.  Jas 
per  Tappan  Phillips ;  Miss  Lady  Emma ;  Mrs.  Lucy 
Phillips-Stewart,  and  Mrs.  Lottie  Phillips-James. 
Bishop  Phillips  was  married  a  second  time  in 
1918,  to  Miss  Ella  Cheeks,  of  Cleveland.  Ohio.  She 
is  a  very  charming  woman,  and  one  of  culture.  She 
graduated  from  Hampton  Institute  and  did  post 
graduate  work  in  Columbia  L'niversity  and  Cheney 
Institute.  Bishop  and  Mrs.  Phillips  reside  at 
"Sunshine,"  their  Nashville  home. 


254 


O.  W.  JAMES,  M.  D. 

HEN  the  people  of  Chattanooga 
want  a  man  to  head  a  list  of  don 
ors  to  a  good  cause,  someone 
whose  name  will  inspire  friends 
for  the  cause,  they  very  frequent- 

ly  seek  out  the  office  of  Dr.  O.  W. 

James.  This  is  particularly  the  case  if  the  cause 
for  which  they  are  working  is  that  of  education. 
Dr.  James  very  seldom  turns  a  deaf  ear  to  appeals 
of  help  for  schools.  This  he  does  because  he  likes 
to  and  because  of  what  the  schools  have  done  for 
him  For  in  point  of  education,  Dr.  James  is 
not  very  unlike  a  great  many  persons  whose  strug 
gle  for  book-learning  is  recorded  in  these  pages. 
The  great  majority  had  to  work  with  the  hands  in 
order  that  they  might  have  the  oportunity  to 
stud}-. 

Dr.  James  was  born  in  Missouri,  Warren  County, 
in  1868.  Because  he  was  born  in  1868,  he  had  the 
privilege  of  studying  and  becoming  a  great  man  in 
any  profession  he  might  choose.  But  because  he 
was  born  in  1868,  he  had  to  work  his  way,  for  very 
few  Negroes  had  gotten  together  means  enough  to 
educate  their  children  at  that  early  date.  But  in 
so  many  of  our  colored  families  the  lack  of  means 
was  made  up  by  the  great  desire  to  study,  and  the 


willingness  to  do  any  kind  of  work  in  order  to  sat 
isfy  that  desire.  So  we  find  Dr.  James  as  a  lad  at 
tending  the  public  schools  of  his  home  town,  studv- 
ing,  applying  himself,  and  getting  more  ambitious 
each  day  to  become  a  man  of  culture,  helpfulness, 
and  wealth. 

When  he  had  gotten  all  from  the  public  schools 
that  he  could,  he  made  up  his  mind  to  attend  col 
lege.  He  had  heard  of  Tougaloo  University,  an 
A.  M.  A.  school  about  seven  miles  out  of  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  enter  there. 
And  so  he  matriculated  at  Tougaloo  and  remained 
there  to  finish  his  literary  training.  On  leaving 
Tougaloo  he  entered  Meharry  Medical  College,  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  remained  to  complete 
his  course.  He  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.,  in  1890. 

After  graduating  and  giving  thought  to  the 
question  of  a  location,  Chattanooga  became  the 
City  of  his  choice,  and  he  moved  there  the  year  he 
graduated.  He  has  never  regretted  his  choice,  for 
he  has  built  up  a  good  practice,  and  has  become 
very  much  attached  to  its  citizens.  In  fact,  so  well 
pleased  is  he  with  Chattanooga,  that  during  his 
long  period  of  residence  in  that  city  he  has  never 
been  tempted  to  make  a  change.  He  feels  that  he 
is  located  there  for' life,  and  is  giving  his  best  ser 
vice  to  this  city  in  which  he  has  made  his  home. 

All  over  the  city  of  Chattanooga  ,Dr.  James  is 
well  known,  both  as  a  physician  and  as  a  man.  All 
Chattanooga  knows  and  speaks  of  the  James 
Building.  This  is  a  three-story  double  brick  build 
ing  which  stands  near  the  heart  of  the  city.  In 
this  building  is  one  of  the  big  drug  stores  of  the 
city,  spacious  ice  cream  parlors,  carrying  a  most 
elaborate  bill  of  sodas,  creams  and  ices.  It  is  the 
center  of  the  colored  population  of  the  city  and 
headquarters  of  most  of  the  colored  physicians.  It 
is  also  a  sort  of  bureau  of  information  and  sponsor 
for  all  things  pertaining  to  the  Chattanooga  Negro. 
Seeking  for  a  colored  man's  residence  or  his  stand 
ing  in  the  community,  you  are  instructed  to  "ask 
at  the  James  Building,  they  can  tell  you  if  anbody 
can." 

This  building  stands  as  a  monument  to  the  man 
who  began  life  almost  penniless  and  in  this  short 
time  has  acquired  so  choice  a  bit  of  property.  The 
building  is  used  for  offices  and  stores.  In  addition 
to  this  Dr.  James  owns  his  own  home  and  six 
rent  houses,  which  net  him  a  good  monthly  income. 

The  home  of  Dr.  James  is  without  a  mother, 
Mrs.  James  having  passed  away  in  June  of  1916. 
Mrs.  James  was  a  native  of  Chattanooga,  and  was 
beloved  by  the  many  friends  of  the  good  Doctor, 
There  is  one  child,  a  little  four-year-old  daughter. 
Charlotte.  She  is  a  bit  of  sunshine  in  the  home. 

Dr.  James  is  considered  the  leading  colored  phy 
sician  of  Chattanooga,  and  numbers  many  of  the 
best  people  among  his  patrons. 


255 


BISHOP  EVANS  TYREE,  D.  D.,  M.  D,  LL.  D. 

ISHOP  Evans  Tyree  of  the  A.  M. 
E.  Church  is  one  of  those  church 
fathers,  who  spends  all  of  their 
days  about  the  altar  and  wax  old 
slowly  in  the  service  for  men  and 
for  their  Maker.  Putting  aside 
the  finer  distinction  of  denominatons  and  proceed 
ing  rather  upon  the  basis  of  men,  Bishop  Tyrce  be 
longs  in  that  galaxy  of  giants  with  the  late  Bishop 
Grant,  Turner,  and  Gaines,  with  the  fine  veteran, 
— still  active — Bishop  Holsey. 

Bishop  Tyree,  the  twenty-sixth  bishop  of  the  A. 
M.  E.  Church,  the  son  of  Harry  and  Winifree  Tyree 
— both  African  Methodists,  was  born  a  slave,  in 
DeKalb  County  Tennessee,  in  1854.  He  was  one 
of  the  twelve  children.  He  began  attending  school 
in  1876,  and  received  about  ten  years  schooling  in 
all,  attending  principally  Central  Tennessee  Col 
lege,  Walden  University,  and  graduated  from  the 
theological  department  without  a  degree.  He  re 
ceived  D.  D.  degree  from  Livingston ;  M.  D.  from 
Louisville  Medical  School;  LL.  D.  from  Paul 
Quinn,  and  also  from  Wilberforce.  Most  of  his 
educational  struggle  was  outside  of  school,  by  pri 
vate  instructors.  He  was  converted  in  1866,  at 


Carthage,  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  the  same  year,  as  there  was  no  A.  M.  E. 
Church  then.  He  was  always  active  in  the  church, 
and  has  held  almost  every  office  in  the  body.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1869,  at  Hartscllc,  Tenn., 
by  Rev.  Jordon  W.  Earley. 

In  1872,  he  began  his  career  as  minister  .start 
ing  in  the  Alexandria  Mission,  Dekalb  County,  the 
place  of  his  birth.  For  28  years  he  followed  the 
humble  career  of  minister;  filling  posts,  raising 
collections,  moving  from  place  to  place,  organizing 
Sunday  Schools,  Conventions,  and  other  bodies 
necessary  for  the  uplift  of  the  people  . 

In  May  1900  came  his  promotion.  While  at  Col 
umbus,  Ohio,  he  was  consecrated  bishop.  Once 
more,  however,  he  began  to  go  from  place  to  place. 
On  election  to  the  bishopric  he  was  assigned  to  the 
8th  Episcopal  District,  comprised  (of  Mississippi 
and  Arkansas. 

Four  years  later  he  was  transferred  to  the  Dis 
trict  covered  by  Texas  and  Oklahoma  ;  over  which 
section  he  remained  until  1912. 

January  1912  Bishop  Gaines  having  died.  Bishop 
Tyree  was  called  to  fill  out  his  unexpired  term  in 
the  East  and  immediately  was  given  charge  of  the 
First  Episcopal  District  which  covers  one  half  of 
Pennsylvania,  all  of  Delaware,  New  Jersey.  New 
York  and  the  New  England  States. 

This  he  held  until  the  General  Conference,  which 
met  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  May,  1912,  when  he  was 
given  permanent  charge  of  the  First  Episcopal  Dis 
trict  and  remained  in  that  district  until  the  General 
Conference  of  1916,  when  he  was  returned  to  the 
First  District  for  a  second  full  term. 

Bishop  Tyree  holds  membership  of  a  fraternal 
nature  and  of  honor  in  several  bodies.  He  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Masons  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
in  the  fraternal  bodies.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Wilberforce  University,  Ohio ; 
chairman  of  the  Executive  Board  of  Payne  Theo 
logical  Seminary,  of  the  same  University,  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  One  Cent  Savings 
Bank  and  of  the  People's  Saving  Bank  and  Trust 
Co.  of  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Bishop  Tyree  makes  his  home  in  Nashville.  Tenn. 
Here  he  owns  his  home,  a  two  and  one-half  story 
brick  structure  on  North  Hill  St. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Thompkins  in 
Smith  County,  Tenn.,  in  1871.  Seven  children  were 
born  of  this  union.  Of  these  two  arc  deceased, 
namely:  Mattie  and  Wayman  Tyree.  Misses  Eu 
genia  and  Carrie  arc  married.  Miss  Alberta  is  em 
ployed  by  the  Sunday  School  Union  of  the  African 
Methodist  Church;  Evans,  Jr.,  is  a  printer  in  Chi 
cago,  and  Herman  is  a  minister  in  Texas;  all  show 
ing  their  splendid  home  training. 


256 


JAMES  WELDON  JOHNSON,  A.  B.,  A.  M,  LITT.  D. 


AWES  Weldon  Johnson,  writer  and 
poet,  was  born  in  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  where  he  attended  the 
Public  Schools.  In  1894  he  grad 
uated  from  Atlanta  University, 
with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  he 
received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from 
the  same  University  in  1904.  Mr. 
Johnson  also  spent  three  years  in  post  graduate 
work  at  Columbia  University,  in  the  City  of  New 
York.  In  1917,  the  honorary  degree  of  Litt.  D., 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  Talladega  College, 
Talladega,  Alabama. 

For  several  years,  Mr.  Johnson  was  princi 
pal  of  the  Colored  high  school  at  Jacksonville.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Florida  Bar  in  1897,  and  prac 
ticed  law  in  Jacksonville  until  1901,  when  he  re 
moved  to  New  York  to  collaborate  with  his  bro 
ther,  J.  Rosamond  Johnson,  in  writing  for  the  light 
opera  stage. 

In  1906,  he  was  appointed  United  States  Consul 
at  Pe.urto  Cabello,  Venezuela,  being  transferred  as 
Consul  to  Corinto,  Nicaragua,  in  1909,  and  to  the 
Azores  in  1912.  While  in  Corinto,  he  looked  after 
the  interests  of  his  country  during  the  stormy  days 
of  revolution  which  resulted  in  the  downfall  of 
Zelaya,  and  through  the  abortive  revolution  against 
Diaz. 

His  knowledge  of  Spanish  has  been  put  to  use 
in  the  translation  of  a  number  of  Spanish  plays.  He 
was  the  translator  for  the  English  libretto  of  "Goy- 


escas,"  the  Spanish  grand  opera  produced  by  the 
Metropolitan  Opera  Company  in  1915.  Mr.  Johnson 
also  has  several  French  translations  to  his  credit. 
Mr.  Johnson  is  well  known  throughout  the  coun 
try  as  the  Contributing  Editor  of  the  New  York 
Age.  He  added  to  his  distinction  as  a  newspaper 
writer  by  winning  in  an  editorial  contest,  one  of 
three  prizes  offered  by  the  Philadelphia  Public 
Ledger,  in  1916. 

During  the  fall  of  1916  Mr.  Johnson  went  on  a 
six  weeks  mission  throughout  the  South,  when  he 
interviewed  the  editors  of  the  leading  white  news 
papers  and  talked  with  them  regarding  the  atti 
tude  they  should  take  on  the  exodus  of  Negro  la 
bor,  which  was  then  reaching  its  height,  and  upon 
the  whole  Negro  question. 

Mr.  Johnson  contributes  to  various  magazines 
and  periodicals.  His  poems  have  appeared  in  the 
Century,  the  Independent,  the  Crisis  and  other  pub 
lications.  He  is  the  author  of  a  novel,  "The  Auto 
biography  of  an  Ex-Colored  Man,"  and  a  volume 
of  poems,  "Fifty  Years  and  Other  Poems."  He  is 
a  member  of  the  American  Society  of  Authors  and 
Composers,  the  American  Sociological  Society,  and 
of  the  Civic  Club  of  New  York,  and  is  the  Field  Se 
cretary  of  the  National  Association  for  the  Ad 
vancement  of  Colored  People. 

It  is  as  a  writer  that  Mr.  Johnson  is  best  known. 
His  novel,  "The  Autobiography  of  an  Ex-Colored 
Man"  aroused  considerable  comment,  and  his  re 
cent  volume  of  poems,  "Fifty  Years  and  Other 
Poems"  has  been  favorably  reviewed  by  a  num 
ber  of  the  best  critics  of  the  country  Professor 
Branden  Matthews,  of  Columbia  University,  in  his 
introduction  which  he  wrote  for  the  book,  says  of 
Mr.  Johnson  and  his  work,  "But  where  he  shows 
himself  a  pioneer  is  in  the  half-dozen  larger  and 
bolder  poems,  of  a  loftier  strain,  in  which  he  has 
been  -nobly  successful  in  expressing  amply  the 
higher  aspirations  of  his  own  people.  It  is  in  ut 
tering  this  cry  for  recognition,  for  sympathy,  for 
understanding,  and,  above  all,  for  justice,  that  Mr. 
Johnson  is  most  original  and  most  powerful." 

Mr.  Elias  Lieberman,  in  the  American  Hebrew, 
says  of  him,  "James  Weldon  Johnson  is  not  only 
versatile  but  more  than  that — sincere.  He  has  con 
tinued  to  do  for  the  Negro  race  what  Paul  Law 
rence  Dunbar  began  so  inimitably.  He  has  thrown 
the  illuminating  light  of  interpretation  upon  lives 
which  for  so  many  of  us  are  puzzles." 

The  following  was  taken  from  a  tribute  to  him 
in  the  Boston  Evening  Transcript : 

"And  in  other  verses  that  strike  a  universal  note 
there  is  more  often  both  felicity  of  conception  and 
expression.  Particular  reference  should  be  made 
to  .Mr.  Johnson's  poem,  "The  Young  Warrior," 
which,  set  to  music  by  Mr.  Harry  T.  Burleigh,  has 
been  sung  throughout  Italy  as  a  martial  song  in 
spiring  the  Italian  soldier  on  his  way  to  the  front. 
The  pieces  in  Negro  dialect  are  characteristic  of 
work  of  this  kind  and  Mr  .Johnson's  possesses  the 
usual  intensity  of  pathos  and  the  usual  humorous 
abandon.  One  notes  particularly,  however,  in  the 
dialect  verses  in  this  volume,  the  absence  of 
coarseness,  of  crudity,  in  the  humor  which  has 
more  or  less  pervaded  the  racial  writers  of  dialect 
since  Dunbar.  Mr.  Johnson,  if  he  has  done  noth 
ing  else  to  enhance  the  value  of  this  kind  of  speech 
in  verse,  has  given  it  a  quality  of  refinement." 


257 


PHILLIP  A.  PAYTON 

HE  late  Phillip  A.  Payton,  of  New 
York  City,  was  without  doubt  the 
greatest  Negro  real  estate  dealer 
that  ever  lived.  Measured  by  the 
competition  he  met,  by  the  con 
tracts  he  executed  and  consider 
ing  the  city  in  which  he  operated,  going  right  into 
the  lair  of  the  tiger,  he  has  up  to  this  time  not  even 
a  second. 

Mr.  Payton  was  born  in  Westfield,  Massachu 
setts,  February  27th,  1876.  Finishing  the  public 
and  high  schools  of  his  native  town,  he  went  down 
to  Livingston  College,  Salisbury,  North  Carolina, 
for  his  college  course.  Completing  his  college 
course,  Mr.  Payton  went  to  New  York  and  began 
a  career  of  want  and  penury  which  none  but  a 
stout  lu-art  like  his  could  endure.  Others  would 
have  succumbed  to  the  easy  living  in  the  hotel  or 
Pullman  Service.  Going  to  New  York  in  1899.  he 
found  a  job  as  penny-in-the-slot-man,  at  the  wage 
of  six  dollars  per  week — scarcely  board  money.  On 
losing  this  post,  he  took  up  barbering.  a  trade  he 
had  learned  from  his  father.  Again  his  earnings 
amounted  to  five  or  six  dollars  a  week.  In  1900  he 
secured  a  job  as  porter  in  a  real  estate  office.  His 


wages  here  were  eight  dollars  a  week,  but  his  time 
proved  an  investment,  for  here  he  conceived  the 
idea  of  going  into  the  real  estate  business  for  him 
self. 

Opening  his  real  estate  business  with  a  partner 
he  soon  found  that  his  former  job  had  been  a  lux 
ury.  The  business  began  in  October,  1900.  By 
spring  the  partner  had  grown  weary  and  quit.  A 
little  later,  Mr.  Payton  was  himself  dispossessed 
because  he  could  not  pay  his  rent.  In  a'l  these 
seven  months  the  gross  receipts  had  amounted  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars. 

Ousted  in  one  place  he  opened  another  office.  In 
a  few  months  he  was  again  put  out  for  his  inabil 
ity  to  pay  his  rent.  Three  times  he  suffered  this 
fate.  Then  a  grim  sort  of  fortune  held  out  her 
hand.  A  murder  had  been  committed  in  a  certain 
tenement.  Nobody  would  live  there.  Mr.  Payton 
agreed  to  take  charge  of  the  house.  He  soon  filled 
it  with  tenants.  This  gained  the  respect  and  grat 
itude  of  the  owner,  who  gave  him  more  houses  to 
rent. 

Mr.  Payton,  feeling  that  the  colored  people 
should  be  better  housed,  set  about  getting  them 
more  decent  homes  in  Harlem. 

The  "Outlook"  of  December  14.  1914  says  of  him, 
"It  was  Payton's  theory  that  equal  housing  condi 
tions  for  colored  people  as  for  white  would  make 
for  healthier  and  more  self-respecting  Negro  Cit 
izens." 

Working  day  and  night  at  this  idea  he  moved  to 
Harlem,  which  he  opened  up  for  the  colored  people. 
He  became  known  as  the  "Father  of  Harlem"  be 
cause  he  was  the  pioneer  in  securing  for  the  color 
ed  people  the  best  houses  in  this  district. 

His  last  and  greatest  effort  in  this  direction  was 
the  securing  of  six  elevator  houses  in  141st  and 
142nd  Street,  which  were  valued  at  more  than 
$1,500,000.00  and  which  are  now  known  as  the  Pay- 
ton  Apartments  Corporation.  These  houses  are 
among  the  most  modern  and  up-to-date  to  be 
found  anywhere,  and  are  the  largest  group  of  ele 
vator  houses  owned  by  Negroes  in  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Payton's  fearless  aggressiveness  and  thor 
ough  knowledge  of  his  business  earned  him  the  re 
spect  of  the  greatest  real  estate  dealers  of  the 
country.  Ninety-nine  per  cent  of  his  clients  were 
white,  and  he  necesarily  had  to  be  well  grounded 
in  his  business  to  retain  them. 

He  has  a  country  home  in  Allenhurst,  New  jer 
sey,  which  is  valued  at  $25,000.00.  Of  his  last  deal 
which  secured  him  the  141st  and  142nd  Street 
houses,  the  Press  of  the  city  had  the  following  to 
say : 

I'".vening  Mail.  (N.  Y.  :  "The  most  notable 
transaction  in  which  Negroes  have  ever  figured  in 
this  City." 

New  York  Sun :  "Reflects  progress  of  Negro 
Race  in  this  city.  Largest  deal  associated  with 
housing  of  colored  families  that  has  ever  been  con 
summated  in  this  city." 


258 


HENRY  PARKER 

HE  time  was  when  good  self-re 
specting,  well-to-do  colored  peo 
ple  could  not  find  a  decent  home 
in  which  to  dwell  and  rear  their 
children.  For  the  last  quarter  of 
a  century  New  York  has  been  un 
dergoing  a  very  wholesome  change  in  Negro  hous 
ing.  This  change  has  asserted  itself  for  the  most 
part  in  Harlem,  and  happy  to  relate  has  been 
brought  about  by  the  enterprising  colored  men 
themselves.  Philip  A.  Payton,  Jr.,  was  the  pioneer 
in  this  field.  Following  close  upon  his  trail,  and  in 
deed  associated  with  him  for  a  time  were  the  two 
real  estate  dealers,  Nail  and  Parker. 

The  firm  of  John  E.  Nail  and  Henry  Parker  op 
ened  its  doors  for  business  December  10th,  1907. 
They  began  in  a  one-room  apartment  on  West 
133rd  Street.  Harlem  then  had  a  Negro  population 
of  about  fifteen  thousand  people.  These  inhabi 
tants  dwelt  for  the  most  part  between  133th  and 
135th  Streets.  In  1900  the  white  population  began 
to  move  out  of  Harlem.  The  property  owners  were 
on  the  verge  of  realizing  a  panic.  But  the  colored 
people,  led  by  their  business  men,  saved  the  dealers 
and  at  the  same  time  gained  the  option  on  good 
comfortable  homes.  Nail  and  Parker  were  among 
the  few  astute  dealers  to  see  the  opportunity  for 
housing  respectable  colored  people.  They  combined 
as  a  firm  and  from  that  move  won  their  place  in 
the  real  estate  world.  Today,  thanks  to  their  en 
terprise  ,the  Negro  population  of  Harlem  numbers 
more  than  100,000  people.  These  inhabitants  have 


JOHN  E.  NAIL 

spread  themselves  in  two  directions.  From  133rd 
Street  they  have  pushed  their  way  all  the  way  up 
to  144th  Street,  and  back  to  131st  Street,  all  of  this 
turned  on  one  heroic  move,  the  opening  of  one  or 
two  houses  on  West  134th  Street. 

The  effecting  of  this  wholesale  change  was  a  ser 
vice  indeed,  but  it  wholly  pales  before  the  other  im 
petus  which  it  gave  the  colored  people.  Though 
they  were  realizing  fair  and  satisfactory  returns  as 
renters,  Nail  and  Parker  began  to  inspire  by  their 
dealings  the  desire  to  buy.  Thus  began  the  Negro 
home  owner  in  Harlem.  Before  the  change  in  1900 
the  colored  householder  was  very  rare  in  New  York 
perhaps  a  half  million  dollars  would  cover  all  their 
holdings.  It  would  take  twenty  millions  to  cover 
it  today. 

Among  the  big  realty  owners  in  this  section  is 
the  St.  Philip  P.  E.  Church.  This  church  controlled 
about  $1,500,000  worth  of  realty,  which  property 
is  controlled  wholly  by  Negroes.  In  1911  Nail  and 
Parker  made  an  exchange  of  properties  with  this 
church.  This  involved  the  sum  of  $1,700,000.  The 
firm  then  moved  into  its  present  spacious  office 
apartments  on  135th  Street,  where  they  have  ever 
since  been  established,  and  where  their  business 
has  steadily  developed.  They  manage  more  than 
fifty  buildings  and  do  a  monthly  business  amount 
ing  to  One  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars.  They  han 
dle  property  and  serve  in  advisory  capacity  for 
some  of  the  largest  mortgage  institutions  in  New 
York,  and  are  prime  movers  in  all  civic  and  up 
lift  work  of  the  city. 


259 


Photo  By  r.    M.   Tiattry 


WILLIAM  EDWARD  BURGHAKDT  DUBO1S,  A.  13.,  A.  M.,  I'll.  D. 


William  Edward  Burghardt  Dubois,  A.  B.,    A.  M.,  Ph.  D. 


O  history  of  the  Negro  race  is 
complete  without  a  sketch  of  the 
life  of  William  Edward  Burghardt 
Dubois.  His  place  in  the  litera 
ture  of  the  race  is  a  most  promi 
nent  one.  The  book  that  won  for 
him  fame,  was  the  first  he  published,  "The  Soul  of 
Black  Folk."  Of  this  book  Professor  Brawley, 
who  is  a  writer  of  no  mean  note  himself,  says : 
"The  remarkable  style  of  this  book  has  made  it  un 
questionably  the  most  important  work  in  Classic 
English  yet  written  by  a  Negro.  It  is  marked  by 
all  the  arts  of  Rhetoric,  especially  by  liquid  and  al 
literative  effects,  strong  anthithesis,  frequent  allu 
sion,  and  poetic  suggestiveness."  Had  Dr.  Dubois 
done  nothing  more  than  produce  this  master  piece 
of  English  he  would  have  a  place  in  any  history  of 
the  Race." 

W.  E.  H.  Dubois  was  born  February  23,  1868,  at 
Great  Barrington,  Massachusetts.  Here,  where 
most  of  his  associates  were  of  the  white  race,  the 
young  lad  was  slow  in  realizing  that  he  was  not 
one  of  them.  When  this  realization  came  he  says 
that  he  always  felt  himself  "the  superior,  not  the 
inferior,  and  any  advantages  which  they  had  were 
quite  accidental."  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
graduated  from  the  school  in  his  home  town  and 
upon  the  advice  of  friends  turned  his  face  South 
ward.  Here  he  entered  Fisk  University,  and  for 
the  first  time  came  to  know  his  own  people. 

From  Fisk  University  he  received  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  in  1888,  the  same  degree  from 
Harvard  in  1890,  and  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts 
from  Harvard  in  1891.  Thoroughly  a  student  and 
not  satisfied  with  his  attainments,  Mr.  Dubois  next 
spent  a  season  of  study  in  Berlin.  From  Harvard  he 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philsophy  in  1895. 

Dr.  Dubois  taught  for  a  short  time  in  Wilber- 
force  University,  and  also  for  a  time  as  assistant 
and  fellow  in  Sociology  at  the  University  of  Penn 
sylvania.  One  direct  result  of  the  work  in  Penn 
sylvania  was  his  study  "The  Philadelphia  Negro," 
which  he  produced  in  1899.  His  next  work  was  in 
Atlanta,  Georgia.  While  in  Atlanta,  Dr.  Dubois 
was  Professor  of  History  and  Economics  at  Atlan 
ta  University.  Of  this  work  during  this  period  Dr. 
Dubois  says : 

"My  real  life  work  was  done  in  Atlanta."  for 
thirteen  years,  from  my  twenty-ninth  to  my  forty- 
second  birthday.  They  were  years  of  great  spirit 
ual  upturning,  of  the  making  and  unmaking  of 
ideals,  of  hard  work  and  hard  play.  Here  I  found 
myself.  I  lost  most  of  my  mannerisms.  I  be 
came  more  broadly  human,  made  my  closest  and 


most  holy   friendships,  and  studied  human  beings. 

I  became  widely  acquainted  with  the  real  con 
dition  of  my  people.  I  realized  the  terrific  odds 
which  faced  them.  From  captious  criticisms  I 
changed  to  cold  science;  then  to  hot,  indignant 
defense. 

At  last,  forbear  and  waver  as  I  would  I  faced  the 
great  Decision.  Against  all  my  natural  reticence 
and  hatred  of  forwardness,  contrary  to  my  dream 
of  racial  unity  and  my  deep  desire  to  serve  and  fol 
low  and  think,  rather  than  to  lead  and  inspire  and 
decide,  I  found  myself  suddenly  the  leader  of  a 
great  wing  of  my  people,  fighting  against  another 
and  greater  wing.  I  hated  the  role.  For  the  first 
time  I  faced  criticism  and  cared.  Every  ideal  and 
habit  of  my  life  was  cruelly  misjudged.  I,  who 
had  always  over-striven  to  give  credit  for  good 
work,  who  had  never  consciously  stooped  to  envy, 
was  accused  by  honest  colored  people  of  every  sort 
of  small  and  petty  jealousy ;  and  white  people  said 
I  was  ashamed  of  my  race  and  wanted  to  be  white ! 
I  realized  the  real  tragedy  of  life.  We  simply  had 
doggedly  to  insist,  explain,  fight  and  fight  again, 
until,  at  last,  slowly,  grudgingly,  we  saw  the  world 
turn  slightly  to  listen.  My  Age  of  Miracles  re 
turned  again. 

My  cause  grew,  and  with  it  I  was  pushed  into  a 
larger  field.  I  was  invited  to  come  to  New  York 
and  take  charge  of  one  part  of  a  new  organization. 
I  came  in  1910.  It  was  an  experiment.  My  salary 
even  for  a  year  was  not  assured,  and  I  gave  up  a 
life  position.  I  insisted  on  starting  The  Crisis  as 
the  main  part  of  my  work,  and  this,  after  hesita 
tion  was  approved.  In  this  position  Dr.  Dubois 
has  been  able  to  make  many  investigations,  many 
of  them  for  the  United  States  Government.  He 
still  has  this  work. 

Dr.  Dubois  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  great  So 
ciologists  of  the  day.  His  articles  on  this  subject 
have  been  published  in  the  leading  magazines  of 
the  country.  He  more  than  any  one  else  has  given 
to  the  world  accurate  knowledge  concerning  con 
ditions  surounding  the  Negro.  He  is  also  one  of 
the  great  Negro  writers.  His  books,  "John  Brown," 
"The  Quest  of  the  Silver  Fleece,"  and  "Soul  of 
Black  Folk"  give  him  a  place  of  prominence  among 
the  writers  of  today. 

Dr.  Dubois  was  married  in  1896.  From  the  un 
ion  two  children  were  born.  The  oldest  passed 
away  at  an  early  age.  The  writing  "The  passing 
of  the  First-Born"  shows  plainly  the  soul  of  the 
parents  over  this.  The  other  child  is  a  beautiful 
young  daughter.  Miss  Yoland  Dubois.  The  Dubois 
family  are  at  present  residing  in  New  York,  where 
Dr.  Dubois  makes  his  headquarters. 

Dr.  Dubois  is  a  clear  thinker,  a  matchless  writer 
and  a  fearless  advocate  for  Negro  rights. 


261 


MADAM  C.  J.  WALKER 


Madam  C.  J.  Walker, 


OREMOST  among  the  few  wom 
en  who  have  membership  in  the 
National  Negro  Business  Men's 
League  is  Madam  Walker.  This 
is  the  place  for  her  by  (lint  of  her 
achievements.  The  work  that  she 
has  done  in  building  up  a  business,  the  manner  in 
which  she  has  made  use  of  the  deep  insight  that 
she  had  in  the  minds  of  her  fellows,  the  way  in 
which  she  has  handled  the  business  once  it  was 
started,  and  the  use  to  which  she  has  put  her 
funds,  all  claim  for  her,  a  place  among  the  noted 
business  characters  of  the  Negro  Race. 

A  few  years  ago  she  was  poor  and  unknown, 
save  to  her  neighbors,  and  those  for  whom  she 
toiled,  and  because  of  her  close  application  to  her 
work,  which  her  necessities  required,  she  had  but 
little  time  and  opportunity  to  cultivate  these  and 
consequently  had  but  few  friends.  Because  of  this 
the  wonderful  change  that  has  taken  place  in  her 
life  and  surroundings  within  twelve  years  is  in 
deed  most  remarkable.  From  obscurity  she  has 
jumped  into  great  prominence,  and  we  find  the 
iarge  newspapers  of  the  country  devoting  space  to 
her  accomplishments. 

Madam  Walker  is  one  of  the  few  persons  who 
having  a  vision  made  use  of  it.  The  vision  came 
to  her  thrice  repeated  and  left  no  doubt  upon  her 
mind  that  she  had  been  commissioned  to  confer  a 
benefit  upon  her  race.  She  realized  that  men  and 
women,  as  a  rule,  were  concerned  about  their  per 
sonal  appearance  and  that  one  of  the  objects  of 
special  care  was  the  head,  both  in  preserving'  and 
beautifying  the  hair.  She  felt  sure  that  sooner  or 
later  all  men  and  women  who  were  interest 
ed  in  their  personal  appearance  would  come  to  her 
or  to  some  one  else  for  help  for  their  dry  scalps, 
and  she  had  not  a  doubt  that  the  remedy  she 
would  place  upon  the  market  would  win  its  way 
to  popular  favor  because  of  its  great  merit. 

The  remarkable  thing  about  Madam  Walker  was 
that  she  persisted  in  trying  to  establish  a  business 
and  a  large  lucrative  one.  She  thought  in  terms  of 
thousands  of  boxes  of  her  preparations  and  to  go 
to  the  Indianapolis  Factory  and  see  those  thous 
ands  of  boxes  being  loaded  daily  into  her  private 
mail  truck  or  to  go  into  her  office  and  see  four 
or  five  office  girls — each  opening  letters  from  the 
same  mail,  and  see  the  large  baskets  being  piled 
high  with  postal  money  orders,  makes  one  feel 
that  she  has  created  that  for  which  she  has  striven. 
To  some  there  might  be  the  tendency  to  look 
down  upon  a  business  based  wholly  on  the 
sale  of  hair  goods,  but  as  John  D.  Rockefeller 
gained  his  fortune  by  the  sale  of  oil.  Madam  Wal- 

263 


ker  has  a  right  to  gain  her  fortune  by  the  sale  of 
(a  hair)  oil.  When  we  think  of  Mr.  Rockefeller, 
we  do  not  get  a  mental  picture  of  him  as  a  man 
with  a  kerosene  can  in  one  hand  and  a  jar  of  petro 
leum  in  the  other.  Thus  it  is  when  we  think  of 
Madam  Walker,  we  do  not  get  a  picture  of  her 
with  a  box  of  her  "grower"  in  one  hand  and  a 
"Pressing  comb"  in  the  other.  In  both  cases  we 
think  of  their  individual  fortune,  their  philanthropy 
and  their  ingenuity  as  Business  Magnates. 

How  many  a  poor  mortal  has  spent  his  whole  life 
In  the  vain  hopes  of  the  acquisition  of  a  fortune, 
and  after  having  arrived  at  the  desired  end  lost  it 
in  one  mad  play.  How  different  with  Madam  Wal 
ker.  In  a  space  of  fourteen  years,  she  by  her  dex 
terity  and  business  foresight,  has  acquired  a  for 
tune  and  serves  as  an  inspiration  for  others  to  feel 
that  truly,  "All  service  ranks  the  same  with  God." 
A  few  years  ago  she  was  poor  and  unknown,  save 
to  her  neighbors  and  those  for  whom  she  toiled. 
^ret,  on  September  2,  1917,  The  New  York  Times 
Magazine  gave  her  space  with  cuts  of  the  exterior 
and  interior  of  her  beautiful  New  York  home.  She 
is  easily  the  wealthiest  Negro  woman  in  the  coun 
try. 

Although  the  formula  for  the  "grower"  came,  as 
she  teLs  it,  to  her  in  a  dream,  her  fortune  has  not 
been  acquired  by  any  chance,  nor  did  she  have  any 
inherited  wealth,  with  which  to  start  in  business , 

Her  only  asset  was  her  unbounding  faith  in  her 
formula,  that  it  would  do  what  she  claimed  for  it, 
and  her  determination  to  make  the  public  regard 
it  in  the  same  light. 

She  began  in  a  small  way,  the  wash  tub  furnish 
ing  the  means  to  commence  her  enterprise. 

She  has  labored,  thought,  and  carried  out  her 
plans  with  such  business  tact  that  today  she  gives 
employment  to  a  thousand  Negro  women  and  to  a 
lawyer,  who  finds  all  his  time  taken  with  her  af- 
lairs. 

As  has  been  said,  Madam  Walker  began  with  no 
inherited  wealth  for  her  capital.  Her  birth  and 
early  life,  were  amid  the  most  humble  surround 
ings.  She  was  born  in  Delta,  Louisiana.  Her  par 
ents,  Owen  and  Minerva  Breedlove,  were  honest 
farmers.  At  the  age  of  seven,  Madam  Walker 
found  herself  an  orphan.  She  was  then  taken  to 
Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  to  live  wih  her  sister,  and 
a  none-too-kind  Brother-in-law.  Her  life  was  so 
miserable  that  at  the  age  of  fourteen  she  married 
in  order  to  get  a  more  comfortable  home.  The 
marriage  proved  a  happy  one  and  though  the  home 
was  humble  it  was  brightened  by  love  and  the  mer 
ry  laughter  of  their  only  child,  Leila.  The  family 


RESIDENCE  OF  MADAM  C.  J.  WALKER— IR  VINGTON.  ON  HUDSON,  N.  Y.— (FRONT  VIEW) 


circle  was  broken  by  the  death  of  the  husband, 
leaving  Madam  Walker  a  widow  at  the  age  of 
twenty.  She  moved  from  Vicksburg  to  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  where  she  lived  for  eighteen  years.  Here 
she  reared  and  educated  her  daughter  and  succeed 
ed  in  sending  her  to  Fisk  University.  In  order  to 
do  this  Madam  Walker  endured  many  harships  and 
much  toil. 

In  1905  came  the  turning  point  in  her  life ;  she 
discovered  a  remedy  for  growing  hair.  After  hav 
ing  tried  it  successfully  on  herself  and  family,  she 
decided  to  make  a  business  of  it.  Thus  July  19, 
1905,  she  left  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  for  Denver,  Col 
orado,  to  enter  upon  her  business.  She  was  called 
upon  to  face  many  obstacles  and  much  discourage 
ment,  but  these  she  over  came,  and  like  a  shrewd 
business  clerk,  she  succeeded  in  convincing  the 
people  that  she  was  offering  them  just  what  they 
wanted.  After  they  had  bought  once  they  contin 
ued  to  buy.  This  grew  into  a  fair  business  in  Den 
ver  in  the  space  of  a  year. 

While  the  people  in  Denver  were  convinced  the 
outside  public  was  prone  to  be  a  little  skeptical  re 
garding  this  new  wonder.  Here  again  her  clear, 
calm  mind  responded  to  the  situation.  She  started 
to  travel  in  the  interest  fo  her  work.  Many  of 
her  friends  told  her  that  she  would  not  make  fare 


from  one  town  to  the  other.  But  this  very  strong 
willed  woman  saw  only  success  ahead  of  her,  and 
she  went  out  to  claim  it.  She  started  out  on  this 
mission  September  15,  1906.  For  a  year  and  a 
half  she  traveled  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  the 
mail  order  business  had  become  so  large  that  she 
had  to  settle  somewhere  temporarily.  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania  was  selected  and  she  established  her 
business  there  and  left  it  in  charge  of  her  daughter 
and  again  started  out  to  travel.  Her  travels  led 
her  all  over  the  United  States,  Cuba,  Panama,  and 
the  West  Indies.  This  gave  her  an  excellent  op 
portunity  to  decide  on  a  permanent  place  for  a  fac 
tory.  It  so  happened  that  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
through  its  cordial  welcome  impressed  her  as  a 
most  favorable  place  for  home  and  factory.  Here 
she  has  since  purchased  and  paid  for  a  beautiful 
home,  valued  at  ten  thousand  dollars,  adjoining 
which  is  a  factory,  and  laboratory,  said  to  be  the 
most  complete  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States. 

For  a  number  of  years,  Madam  Walker  lived 
here,  managing  the  home  and  the  factory. 
Throughout  the  city  were  many  agents  and  where- 
ever  she  traveled  there  were  other  agents.  In  fact, 
Madam  Walker  had  to  employ  a  lawyer,  now  her 
business  combined  with  her  investments  and  real 
estate  demands  the  entire  attention  of  her  lawyer, 


264 


RESIDENCE   OF    MADAM    C.   J.    WALKER— IRVINGTON  ON  HUDSON,  N.  Y.— (REAR  VIEW) 


Mr.  F.  B.  Ransom.  The  business  is  incorporated 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $10.000,  with  an  income  of 
$1000.00  per  week. 

Since  coming  to  Indianapolis  she  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  active  in  its  commercial  life  and 
her  business  methods  are  unquestionable.  But  that 
which  has  endeared  her  even  more  to  the  people 
is  her  philanthropy.  Her  donations  to  Charity  are 
many  and  varied  and  one  perhaps  better  depicts  the 
real  soul  of  this  woman  from  her  annual  donations 
of  fifty  Christmas  baskets  to  poor  families  of  In 
dianapolis.  Many  of  these  people  Madam  Walker 
has  never  seen  and  even  though  she  no  longer  lives 
in  the  city,  she  has  arranged  that  this  annual  affair 
be  continued. 

Aside  from  the  annual  donations  to  the  Old 
Folk's  Home  and  Orphans'  Home  in  Indianapolis, 
St.  Louis,  and  other  cities,  Madam  Walker  donates 
largely  to  temperance  cause  and  gives  fifty  dollars 
annually  for  the  current  expenses  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  and  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  as  well  as  contributes  one  hun 
dred  dollars  a  year  to  the  International  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  Much  has  been  said  of  Madam  Walker  being 
the  first  to  donate  $1000.00  to  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  when 
she  made  this  contribution  to  the  Colored  Branch 
of  Indianapolis,  but  the  true  greatness  of  her  gift 


was  the  Christian  spirit  which  prompted  her  and 
the  inspiration  that  it  gave  to  others  of  her  race  to 
do  likewise. 

Madam  Walker's  philanthrophy  is  not  restricted 
to  Home,  but  extends  even  to  Africa.  She  has  es 
tablished  an  industrial  school  in  Africa  and  she  has 
set  aside  a  certain  percentage  of  her  annual  in 
come  for  its  upkeep.  She  also  maintains  many 
scholarships  at  Tuskegee  and  other  institutions. 

In  her  travels,  Madam  Walker  meets  many  who 
afterwards  seek  her  aid  and  after  she  has  carefully 
investigated  their  condition  she  lends  them  a  help 
ing  hand  in  one  way  or  another.  Surely  an  un 
biased  historian  will  record  her  as  a  shrewd  busi 
ness  manager,  a  broad  philanthropist  and  a  devoted 
Christian  worker. 


Since  writing  this  sketch,  Madam 
Walker  has  passed  to  the  "Great  be 
yond."  She  died  Sunday  morning,  May 
25th.  1919,  leaving  an  estate  valued  at 
$1,000.000.00.  The  estimated  value  of 
her  real  estate  was  about  $800,000.00 
and  the  other  was  in  personal  property, 
stocks,  bonds,  etc. 


imiiimimiuiimii 


iimillllm 


265 


GEORGE  HENRY  SIMS,  D.  D. 

R.  George  Henry  Sims,  D.  D.,  was 
born  in  a  double  log  cabin  in  Gum- 
land  County,  Virginia,  April  8th, 
1871.  His  parents  had  been  slaves. 
Set  free,  they  moved  into  Cum 
berland  County,  and  reared  their 
children  there.  Born  on  the  farm,  the  future 
pastor  of  popular  Union  Baptist  Church  of  New 
York,  spent  his  early  clays  with  the  mule  and  the 
plow  and  the  hoe.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of 
eleven  and  was  baptized  one  year  later. 

Coming  into  young  manhood,  Dr  Sims  left  the 
farm  and  began  to  work  on  the  railroads.  Here 
he  labored  for  seven  years.  On  going-  t3  New 
York  he  sought  and  obtained  employment  as  an 
elevator  runner.  Eager  to  push  ahead,  however, 
he  carried  his  books  with  him  and  studied  during 
his  ;  narf  moments  in  the  day  and  at  night.  !  [e  had 
from  his  experience  on  the  railroad  become  inter 
ested  in  stationary  engineering.  This  subject  he 
now  pursued,  and  in  a  little  while  obtained  a  li 
cense  as  a  mechanical  engineer,  a  license  which  he 
hi  Id  in  the  city  of  New  York  for  I  en  years.  This 
again,  however,  was  but  the  stepn  i'g  stone  to  a 
higher  calling.  He  had  long  yearned  to  preach.  1 1  is 


opportunity  to  study  theology  now  arrived.  While 
working  as  a  stationary  engineer  he  took  studies 
in  theology. 

By  1898  he  felt  himself  ready  to  follow  the  real 
life  mission  he  believed  he  was  called  to  perform. 
On  August  23rd,  1898,  he  was  ordained  at  Nyack, 
New  York.  Here  for  a  time  he  was  pastor  of  a 
small  church,  but  in  1898  he  went  to  New  York 
City  to  organize  the  present  Union  Baptist  Church, 
204-06  West  63rd  Street,  a  church  in  the  district 
much  neglected  by  church  workers ;  a  church, 
which,  as  an  organization,  had  nailed  up  its  doors 
for  want  of  a  congregation  and  for  need  of  support 
for  a  pastor. 

Opening  first  a  mission  here,  then  the  old  church, 
then  building  a  new  one,  Dr.  Sims  became  famous 
as  a  preacher  and  a  worker  in  New  York,  and  in 
the  country  round  about.  Honors  now  began  to 
come  to  him  from  nearly  every  section  of  the  coun 
try.  He  was  made  a  Doctor  of  Divinity  by  Guad- 
alupe  College  of  Seguin,  Texas,  in  1905.  He  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Vir 
ginia  Theological  Seminary,  a  member  of  the  board 
of  Managers  of  the  New  England  Baptist  Mission 
ary  Convention,  President  of  the  New  York  Color 
ed  Baptist  State  Convention,  Vice-President  of  the 
National  Baptist  Convention,  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Northern  University,  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Walton 
Kindergarden,  and  President  of  the  West  End 
Workers  Association  of  New  York. 

To  honors  in  service  and  uplift  work  have  been 
added  many  appointments  from  the  various  gov 
ernors  of  New  York.  The  governor's  party  politics 
seems  to  make  but  little  difference  in  his  case.  In 
1913  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Sulzer  as  a 
member  of  the  Emancipation  Proclamation  Com 
mission  ;  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  ap 
pointed  by  Governor  Glynn  a  delegate  to  the  Eman 
cipation  Proclamation  Commission  which  convened 
at  Atlantic  City,  New  J  ersey ;  he  was  also  appoint 
ed  by  Governor  Glynn,  as  a  delegate  to  the  fifth  an 
nual  convention  of  National  Educational  Congress, 
of  Oklahoma,  in  1914 ;  and  was  appointed  by  Gov 
ernor  Whitman,  as  a  delegate  to  attend  the  Negro 
National  Educational  Congress,  which  was  held  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  1916.  Thus  has  he  stood  with 
the  rulers  of  the  state  regardless  of  party  or  creed. 

Prominent  in  sacred  and  religious  work.  Dr. 
Sims  does  not  neglect  his  membership  and  stand 
ing  in  secret  bodies.  He  was  made  a  33rd  degree 
Mason  in  1911.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independ 
ent  Order  of  St.  Luke  and  of  the  Ancient  Daugh 
ters  of  the  Sphinx.  He  has  traveled  extensively 
in  the  United  States  and  in  Canada. 

Dr.  Sims  has  been  twice  married.  He  was  first 
married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Davis,  September  25th. 
1895.  Their  one  child,  Ethel,  lived  but  two  years. 
The  mother  died  in  August  1908.  The  second'  Mrs. 
Sims  was  Miss  Louise  D.  Russell,  to  whom  Dr. 
Sims  was  married  in  1909.  Five  children  have  been 
born  from  this  union,  of  whom  three  are  living: 
Edith  Thelma,  aged  seven;  George  II.,  Jr.,  aged 
five;  and  Arial  Louise,  aged  two  years. 


266 


FRANK  S.  HARGRAVE,  M.  D. 


F  the  professions  open  to  men,  the 
two  which  seem  to  appeal  to  the 
colored  man  more  than  others  is 
the  ministry  and  medicine.  Both 
of  these  look  to  the  betterment 
of  the  human  family.  One  has  the 
spiritual  interest  of  man  at  heart  and  the  other 
seeks  his  physical  well-being.  Both  are  high  call 
ings  and  both  occupy  important  places  in  the  af 
fairs  of  men. 

Dr.  Hargrave  is  an  honored  member  of  the  lat 
ter  profession,  and  has  reached  a  high  place  in  it. 
Dr.  Hargrave  was  born  in  Lexington,  North 
Carolina,  and  was  a  member  of  a  large  family, 
which  made  it  difficult  for  him  to  secure  help  in 
obtaining  his  education. 

In  his  early  days  he  attended  the  public  schools 
o'f  Lexington,  North  Carolina,  and  the  State  Nor 
mal  School,  of  Salisbury,  North  Carolina. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  assumed  the  responsi 
bility  of  his  further  education  and  in  order  to  meet 
the  expense  of  his  tuition  he  worked  in  tobacco 
factories  in  Western  North  Carolina.  The  money 
earned  in  this  way  carried  him  through  Shaw  Un 
iversity,  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina.  At  this  fam 
ous  institution  he  took  -both  the  Literary  and  Med 


ical  courses,  winning  his  degrees.  After  complet 
ing  his  work  at  the  University  he  immediately  took 
up  the  practice  of  medicine. 

He  first  located  in  Winston-Salem  North  Carolina, 
where  he  remained  from  1901  to  1903,  but  was  con 
vinced  that  he  had  made  a  mistake  in  the  location 
selected  and  so  decided  upon  a  change.  In  1903 
he  removed  from  Winston-Salem  to  Wilson,  North 
Carolina,  where  he  has  since  lived.  Here  he  has 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice  and  is  held  in 
high  esteem  by  all  classes. 

Very  few  men  have  greater  opportunities  for  do 
ing  good  than  the  Christian  physician,  and  Dr. 
Hargrave  is  not  only  a  Christian,  but  a  very 
active  one.  He  is  a  member  and  deacon  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Wilson,  North  Carolina, 
and  the  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  With 
him  the  offices  held  in  the  church  are  not  merely 
places  of  honor,  but  of  work,  and  he  is  giving  his 
best  efforts  to  the  cause.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  North  Carolina  Bap 
tist  Sunday  School  Convention,  and  is  thus  brought 
into  close  and  sympathetic  touch  with  the  religious 
sentiment  of  the  State. 

In  1912  he  was  elected  President  of  the  __orth 
Carolina  Medical,  Dental,  and  Pharmaceutical  As 
sociation.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  National  Medical 
Association. 

In  1914,  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina  Dr.  Hargrave 
had  the  honor  of  being  elected  President  of  the  Na 
tional  Medical  Association,  an  unusual  honor  as  he 
was  elected  practically  without  opposition.  This 
election  gave  the  Doctor  much  pleasure  and  was  a 
matter  of  commendable  pride  to  him.  Dr.  Har 
grave  does  not  confine  his  activities  to  his  profes 
sion,  and  the  interests  of  his  denomination,  though 
these  are  his  first  love,  but  ardently  labors  with  a 
number  of  secret  orders  fostered  by  his  people.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  is  the  President  of  the  Lincoln  Ben 
efit  Society,  of  Wilson,  North  Carolina.  He  is  ac 
tively  identified  with  all  of  these  orders.  While 
serving  the  public,  Dr.  Hargrave  has  not  neglected 
his  personal  affairs  and  by  close  economy  and  wise 
use  of  his  money  he  has  accumulated  quite  a  nice 
property  and  is  one  of  the  large  property  owners 
of  his  race  in  the  town  of  Wilson.  He  is  loyal  to 
the  town  in  which  he  located  and  believes  that  he 
helps  himself  when  he  invests  his  means  in  pro 
perty  in  his  home  city.  He  thus  sets  a  worthy  ex 
ample  to  others. 

Possibly  the  pride  of  his  heart,  as  the  inspiration 
came  from  his  heart,  is  the  "Verona  Cottage,"  the 
beautiful  home  he  erected  for  his  wife  in  Eastern, 
North  Carolina.  Here  they  find  great  joy  and 
pleasure  in  a  sweet  companionship  the  only  dreg 
in  their  cup  of  bliss  being  the  absence  of  children. 


267 


JAMES    EDWARD    SHEPHERD,    PH.  G.,    D.  D.,    A.  M. 

PRESIDENT  NATIONAL  TRAINING  SCHOOL 

—DURHAM,  N.  C. 


JIAT  the  good  work  being  clone  in 
the  many  institutions  in  the  South 
is  not  confined  to  the  schools  es 
tablished  right  after  Emancipa 
tion  of  the  Negro  or  soon  after, 
but  is  shared  by  the  younger  in 
stitutions,  is  brought  out  in  the  history  of  the  Na 
tional  Training  School,  at  Durham,  North  Carolina. 
This  institution  of  learning  was  established  in  1910. 
At  that  time  it  was  known  as  The  National  Reli 
gious  Training  School.  For  five  years  it  worked 
under  this  name  and  with  the  Religious  Training  as 
its  chief  aim.  In  1916  it  was  completely  reorgan 
ized  and  rechartered  under  the  laws  of  North  Caro 
lina,  as  the  National  Training  School. 

The  National  Training  School  stands  for  efficien 
cy ;  this  is  abundantly  proven  by  the  high  scholar 
ship  maintained  by  its  students  in  Northern  and 
Southern  Colleges,  as  well  as  by  the  work  done  by 
pupils  who  have  gone  out  into  the  active  affairs  of 
the  world.  In  1918  the  Institution  sent  out  from 
its  Theological  Department  three  thoroughly  pre 
pared  ministers;  from  the  Academic  department, 
eleven,  and  from  the  commercial,  nine :  Domestic 


Art,  two;  Domestic  Science,  two. 

The  school  is  still  young  and  is  still  forming  its 
courses.  In  the  near  future  it  hopes  to  number 
along  with  the  courses  already  mentioned  the  fol 
lowing: 

1.  A   thorough    teacher-Training    Course,    espe 
cially  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  rural  teacher. 

2.  A  bureau  of  investigation  to  study  the  social, 
moral,  physical  and  economic  conditions  of  the  Ne 
gro,  so  as  to  be  able  to  co-operate  in  an  intelligent 
manner  with  organized  bodies  and  civic  authorities 
so  as  to  really  better  the  condition  of  the  Negro. 

3.  Conferences  along  the  various   lines   as   sug 
gested  above. 

4.  Group  studies  in  various  sections  of  the  coun- 
try. 

5.  Extension  courses,  so  as  to  carry  the  idea  of 
this  school  into  every  section  of  the  country. 

One  of  the  prime  aims  of  the  school  is  to  lift  the 
race  into  racial  consciousness  thus  helping  it  to 
come  into  its  own.  In  this  way  it  hopes  that  by- 
lifting  and  serving  its  own  to  serve  and  aid  the 
State  and  the  nation.  One  of  the  particular  be 
liefs  of  those  in  authority  at  the  National  Training 
School  is  that  the  large  schools  cannot  reach  its 
students  in  the  close,  intimate  way  for  real  con 
structive  work  in  the  same  manner  as  the  smaller 
institutions.  Hence  one  of  the  aims  of  this  school 
has  been  to  gather  together  a  particular  group  of 
well-selected  persons,  train  them  and  send  them 
out  in  turn  to  train  others. 

In  order  to  put  the  school  within  the  means  of  all 
the  people,  the.  charges  are  very  small  indeed 
There  is  a  charge  of  only  ten  dollars  for  board, 
room  rent,  lights,  heat  and  tuition.  This  means 
that  the  school  must  be  supported  by  the  public. 
This  is  the  real  reason  why  this  institution  has  to 
keep  ever  before  the  public  its  many  needs.  But 
the  aim  of  the  institution  and  the  amount  of  good 
already  being  done  justifies  the  appeal  for  help. 

Look  at  the  Religious  Education  as  Set  Forth  by 
the  National  Training  School : 

1.  Awakens   the   dormant    energies    of   an    indi 
vidual  and  directs  these  aroused  forces  into  chan 
nels  of  usefulness  and  service. 

2.  Causes  a  man  to  see  himself  as  he  really  is ; 
no  man  is  worth  while  who  has  not  seen  himself, 
his  powers,  his  possibilities. 

3.  Reduces  crime,   stops  idleness,  prevents  vio 
lence,  thus  adds  to  the  peace    and   prosperity    of    a 
community. 

4.  Alleviates  race  prejudice. 

5.  Brings  about  at  all  times  a  peaceful  adjust 
ment  between  capital  and  labor. 

6.  Promotes    steadfastness    and    reliability,    be 
cause  it  is  a  character  builder. 

7.  Teaches  absolute  self-control. 


268 


8.  Makes  religion  a  practical  every-day  reality, 
not  simply  an  emotional  noise. 

9.  Will  promote  race  consciousness. 

10.  It  is  founded  on  the  Bible. 

The  National  Training  School  has  a  high  stan 
dard  for  its  students.  Students  are  received  from 
high  schools  and  academies  approved  by  the  facul 
ty  and  placed  in  corresponding  classes  without  ex 
amination.  This  is  done  only  on  the  presentation 
of  certificates  showing  their  rank  in  the  school 
which  they  are  leaving.  Others  are  admitted  to  the 
school  through  examination.  In  order  that  the  full 
stamp  of  the  spirit  of  the  school  may  be  made  upon 
each  person  leaving  her  doors  .there  is  a  rule  re 
quiring  students  to  spend  their  senior  year  as  res 
idents  of  the  dormitory.  Frequently  students  make 
application  for  special  courses.  To  supply  this  de 
mand,  the  National  Training  School  has  rulings 
iiiul  regulations  that  permit  such  persons  to  be 
come  students  there.  But  before  they  are  taken 
on  this  ground  they  have  to  satisfy  a  committee 
that  they  are  fitted  for  the  type  of  work  that  they 
are  preparing  to  do. 

These  special  courses  in  the  trade,  religious,  and 
academic  line  are  open  especially  to  persons  of  ma 
ture  years  and  judgement. 

One  of  the  theories,  and  it  is  working  out  well. 
of  this  school  is  this:  "Change  the  man  and  the 
man  will  change  the  environment."  Therefore, 
above  all  else  the  school  stands  for  a  sound  Chris 
tian  character,  a  sound  body,  a  trained  mind,  and 
well  directed  industrial  training.  To  fully  effect 
this  change  and  to  get  the  greatest  benefit  from 
the  change,  the  National  Training  School  uses  a 
system  of  self-government.  To  this  end  each  stu 
dent  is  al'owed,  as  far  as  possible,  to  regulate  h;s 
conduct  by  his  or  her  sense  of  honor,  justice  and 
propriety.  The  school  looks  to  the  self-control  of 
each  individual  student  in  the  end.  Their  regu'a- 
tions  are  such  as  have  been  tested  and  proven  of 
value  in  the  development  of  well-rounded  charac 
ter,  and  students  who  think  that  they  cannot  abide 
by  these  regulations  are  advised  not  to  seek  en 
trance  in  the  school  at  all.  In  all  things  the  student 
of  the  National  Training  School  is  'ooked  upon  and 
treated  as  a  gentleman  or  lady.  The  only  thing 
that  can  change  this  attitude  of  the  teachers'  and 
officers  toward  a  student  is  the  misbehavior  of  the 
individual  himself. 

The  students  maintain  numerous  organizations, 
religious,  athletic,  literary,  musical  and  social. 
Then  there  are  numerous  class  and  inter-class  or 
ganizations.  All  these  make  for  the  personal  ac 
quaintance  of  the  teachers  and  pupils.  The  socials 
of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  are  espe 
cially  attractive  to  the  new  students  and  to  the  old 
students  as  well.  The  officers  of  the  various  stu 
dent  organizations  can  be  held  only  by  students 
who  are  doing  their  work  in  a  satisfactory  manner. 


This  applies  to  the  athletic  teams  and  the  publish 
ing  board.  In  fact,  in  order  to  get  any  of  the  hon 
or  that  comes  from  representing  the  school  in  the 
athletic  world  or  the  literary  world,  good  work  in 
the  regular  class  room  regime  must  be  done.  In 
addition  to  this  ruling  there  is  another  which  is 
equally  as  good.  No  student  will  be  eligible  to  ac 
tive  participation  in  conduct  and  management  of 
more  than  two  such  organizations  during  the  same 
semester.  Any  time  that  a  student  begins  to  fail 
in  his  studies  he  is  notified  that  he  must  give  up 
some  of  his  outside  duties. 

Backing  this  institution  and  helping  shape  its 
courses  and  destinies  we  find  some  very  strong 
men.  On  the  Board  of  Trustees  arc:  Mr.  Howard 
J.  Chidley,  D.  D..  of  Winchester,  Mass.,  Judge  [eter 
C.  Pritchard,  Asheville,  North  Carolina;  James  E. 
Shepard,  Durham,  North  Carolina;  General  Julian 
S.  Carr,  Durham,  North  Carolina;  James  B.  Mason, 
Durham,  North  Carolina;  W.  Y.  Chapman,  Newark 
New  Jersey;  William  G.  Pearson,  Durham,  North 
Carolina;  J.  Elmer  Dellinger,  M.  D.,  Greensboro, 
North  Carolina ;  and  J.  Stanley  Durkee.  Ph.  D.  C., 
Mr.  Gordan  Parker,  Winchester,  Mass.;  and  F.  J. 
West,  N.  Y.  With  these  men  back  of  him  the 
president,  Mr.  James  E.  Shepard,  in  his  character 
istic  fearless  manner  is  establishing  this  school  and 
shaping  its  courses.  Somewhere  President  Shep 
ard  is  on  record  as  saying:  "The  Negro  begs  little 
fur  h'mself  as  an  individual,  but  he  does  beg  for  his 
schools  and  his  churches,  so  that  the  masses  may 
be  lifted  up." 

"The  home  field  cannot  be  neglected  and  the 
foundations  of  the  Government  remain  secure.  In 
a  Republic,  next  to  the  homes,  the  schools  are  the 
Nation's  bulwark  and  strength.  They  must  teach 
lessons  of  patriotism  and  lessons  of  self-control. 
Hence  they  must  be  fostered  and  supported." 

Before  taking  up  the  work  in  Durham,  President 
Shepard  spent  years  in  active  service  that  fully 
prepared  him  for  the  many  different  tasks  that  de 
volve  upon  the  President  of  an  institution  of  learn 
ing.  Indeed  President  Shepard  has  had  all  the  ex 
perience  necessary  to  make  him  a  real  guiding  star 
to  the  National  Training  School. 

President  James  Fdward  Shepard  was  born  at 
Raleigh.  N.  C.,  Nov.  3,  1875,  and  educated  at  Shaw 
University,  1883-90,  and  received  the  degree  of  Ph. 
G..  Department  of  Pharmacy,  same  college.  In 
1894  he  took  private  course  in  theology,  and  in 
1912  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity, 
Musgingum's  College,  Ohio;  and  has  A.  M.  degree 
from  Selma  University,  (Ala.)  in  1913. 

He  has  been  honored  with  many  positions 
of  trust  and  honor;  Comparer  of  deeds,  recroder's 
office.  Washington,  D.  C.,  1898;  deputv  collector 
U.  S.  Internal  Revenue,  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  1899-05: 
Field  Superintendent  International  Sunday  School 
Association  (work  among  Negroes)  1905-09;  Pres 
ident  National  Training  School  for  Colored  Race, 
Durham,  April  1910.  Director  Mechanics  and  Far 
mers  Bank,  State  Industrial  Association ;  President 
Interdenominational  Sunday  School  Convention, 
(Exec.  Com.  1909-14)  ;  Trustee  Lincoln  School  for 
Nurses,  Durham ;  Member  North  Carolina  Medical 
Association ;  Delegate  and  only  Negro  speaker 
World's  S.  S.  Convention,  Rome,  Italy,  1907;  a 
Mason  ;  Clubs  ;  Civic.  National  Arts,  Aerial  League. 
He  has  traveled  extensively  in  Europe,  Africa  and 
Asia ;  a  lecturer. 


269 


HENRY  LAWRENCE  McCROREY,  D.  D. 


EV.  H.  L.  McCrorey,  D.  D.,  is  one 
of  those  quiet  presidents  in  the 
smaller  Southern  College,  one 
who  is  doing  his  work  quietly, 
conscientiously,  effectively.  He 
was  born  in  Fairfield  County, 
South  Caroina,  March  2nd,  1863. 
As  a  boy  he  worked  on  the  farm 
and  attended  the  Richardson  school  at  Winnsboro, 
S.  C.  Finally,  in  1886,  he  enrolled  as  a  student  in 
Biddle  University,  North  Carolina.  This  marked 
the  turning  point  in  his  career.  Here  was  to  be 
laid  the  scene  of  all  his  achievements,  as  a  student, 
as  a  teacher,  as  an  executive.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  High  School  and  Collegiate  and  Theolog 
ical  departments.  Later  he  specialized  in  the  Sem 
itic  languages  in  the  University  of  Chicago.  He  was 
appointed  teacher  in  the  High  School  department 
of  his  alma  mater  after  this  special  preparation. 
Having  gained  a  reputation  here  as  a  teacher,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  position  of  Principal.  From 
here  he  was  moved  to  the  position  of  head  Latin 
teacher  in  the  Collegiate  department,  where  he 
made  a  good  record  as  a  teacher  of  the  classics. 
He  was  again  promoted,  this  time  to  the  chair  of 
Hebrew  and  Greek  in  the  department  of  Theology. 
This  postition  has  in  itself  an  interesting  and  help 
ful  phase.  As  is  well  known,  in  some  instances,  in 
the  denominational  schools  where  there  are  white 
teachers,  colored  teachers  will  be  and  are  substi 
tuted  whenever  available.  Riddle,  which  is  under 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  has  followed  this  policy, 


as  has  Morehouse  in  Atlanta  and  Jackson  College 
in  Jackson,  Mississippi,  the  two  latter  being  Bap 
tist  schools.  Dr.  McCrorey  enjoys  the  distinction 
of  succeeding  the  last  white  man  who  taught  in 
Biddle.  In  1907  he  was  again  promoted  to  the  pres 
idency  of  Biddle  University,  succeeding  the  late 
Dr.  Sanders. 

Dr.  McCrorey  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
work  of  uplift  in  the  church  and  among  the  people. 
He  was  delegate  in  1909  to  the  Pan-Presbyterian 
Alliance  in  New  York  City;  a  delegate  in  1915.  ap 
pointed  by  the  State,  to  the  Southern  Sociological 
Congress,  which  met  in  Houston,  Texas.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Political  and 
Social  Science,  and  of  a  committee  of  the  Federal 
Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America,  and 
a  member  of  the  Social  Service  Commission  of  the 
Northern  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  close'y  iden 
tified  with  the  local  uplift  work  in  Charlotte,  being 
the  president  of  the  colored  Chamber  of  Commerce 
in  that  city. 

Dr.  McCrorey  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Karie  N.  Hughes,  of  Mebane,  N.  C., 
who  died  in  1911.  His  present  wife  was  Miss  Mary 
C.  Jackson  of  Athens,  Ga.,  who  was  for  several 
years  a  close  co-laborer  with  Miss  Lucy  Laney  as 
Associate  Principal  of  Haynes  Institute,  Augusta, 
Ga.  To  the  first  wife  were  born  four  children,  one 
boy  and  three  girls.  The  boy  is  now  a  college  stu 
dent  in  Biddle  University.  The  oldest  girl  is  a  stu 
dent  in  Fisk  University,  the  next  a  student  in  Sco 
tia  College  for  Women,  and  the  third  is  attending 
public  school  in  Charlotte. 

As  president  of  Biddle  University,  Dr.  McCro 
rey  is  of  course  best  known. 

Biddle  University  is  located  in  Charlotte.  North 
Carolina.  It  owns  seventy  acres  of  land  and  four 
teen  buildings,  the  whole  being  valued  at  $225,000. 
It  has  four  departments :  High  School,  Arts  and 
Sciences,  Theological  and  Industrial.  It  is  conser 
vative,  thorough,  clean  and  straight-forward  in  its 
policy.  Many  leading  Negroes,  especially  in  the 
professions,  owe  all  they  have  become  to  Biddle. 

Biddle's  position  in  North  Carolina,  as  well  as 
that  of  Dr.  Crorey,  is  seen  happily  in  the  following 
clipping  from  a  column  editorial  appearing  in  the 
Charlotte  Observer,  November  16,  1911,  the  day 
following  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the 
splendid  new  Carnegie  Library  which  cost  $15,- 
000.00. 

"Biddle  University  is  now  in  its  forty-fourth 
year.  It  has  been  pursuing  its  mission  quietly  and 
without  any  blowing  of  trumpets,  preferring  to 
make  its  way  on  merit  rather  than  by  the  circus 
methods  adopted  by  some  schools,  and  encouraged 
by  the  success  it  has  attained.  Mr.  D.  A.  Tompkins. 
who  was  present  at  the  corner-stone  laying  yester 
day  and  who  was  highly  praised  by  Dr.  McCrorey 
for  the  unselfish  interest  he  has  always  taken  in 
the  school,  thinks  that  Biddle  is  a  model  school  and 
that  it  would  well  repay  those  who  are  interest 
ed  in  the  solution  of  race  questions  everywhere 
throughout  the  world  to  visit  this  place  and  study 
the  methods  that  have  made  this  institution  one 
of  the  most  conservative  influences  in  the  land.  In 
his  address,  Mr.  Clarkson,  who  for  seven  years  was 
solicitor  for  the  12th  Judicial  District,  said  yes 
terday  that  during  his  term  of  office  he  had  never 
been  called  upon  to  prosecute  any  man  who  had 
ever  attended  this  school.  " 


270 


ADMINISTRATION    BUILDING,   BIDDL  E    UNIVERSITY— CHARLOTTE,    N.     C. 

N  the  first  years  of  the  work  of  of  land,  14  buildings,  18  professors  and  other  teach 
ers,  and  combines  all  the  advantages  of  academic 
seclusion  and  easy  access  to  a  business  center. 
There  are  four  main  departments  in  the  University. 
The  Preparatory  trains  for  teaching  and  for  busi 
ness  and  for  college.  The  College  department  of 
fers  two  courses,  classical  and  scientific,  covering 
the  usual  four  years,  and  affording  the  advantages 
of  a  liberal  education. 

The  Theological  department  is  organized  on  the 
usual  plan  of  the  Seminaries  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  with  a  full  three  year's  course.  The  Indus 
trial  department  includes  training  in  carpentry, 
printing,  plastering,  tailoring,  bricklaying,  shoe- 
making,  black-smithing,  and  to  some  extent  agri 
culture. 

Biddle  has  sent  out  from  its  various  departments 
1433  graduates,  169  of  these  being  ministers  of  the 
gospel.  There  have  been  enrolled  over  10.000  stu 
dents,  of  whom  about  nine-tenths  became  profess 
ing  Christians,  mostly  Presbyterians. 

At  first  a  white  president  and  professors  presid 
ed  over  and  conducted  the  affairs  of  Biddle,  but  in 
1891,  the  entire  faculty  was  colored,  with  Rev.  D. 
J.  Sanders,  D.  D.,  as  president.  At  his  death  Dr. 
H.  L.  McCrorey  was  called  to  the  presidency. 


the  Presbyterian  Church  for  the 
Freed-Men  of  the  South,  a  special 
necessity  developed  the  need  of  a 
training  school  which,  with  God's 
blessing,  might  prepare,  for  the 
work  of  the  church  and  a  trained  ministry. 

Through  the  generous  gift,  in  memory  of  Maj. 
Henry  J.  Biddle  of  Philadelphia,  from  his  widow 
the  necessary  buildings  were  built  on  a  beautiful 
tract  of  eight  acres,  the  gift  of  Col.  W.  R.  Myers, 
a  citizen  of  Charlotte.  Biddle  Institute,  located  at 
Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  was  opened  for  students 
September  16th,  1867.  When  the  first  session  op 
ened  there  were  present  forty-three  students, 
twenty  of  these  candidates  for  the  ministry,  and 
the  others  seeking  preparation  for  the  work  of 
teaching. 

'"Riddle  Institute"  has  grown  into  "Biddle  Uni 
versity."  It  is  a  chartered  institution  with  prop 
erty  vested  in  a  Board  of  Trustees,  for  the  Pres 
byterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.,  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen,  and 
the  salaries  of  the  profess6rs  and  other  expenses  of 
this  institution  are  paid  out  of  the  board's  funds. 
Biddle  University  now  consists  of  about  80  acres 


271 


VIEW   OF   CAMPUS.   HENDERSON   NORMAL   AND   INDUSTRIAL  INSTITUTE— HENDERSON,  N.  C. 


N  1865,  in  Manchester,  Kentucky, 
was  born  Rev.  John  Adams  Cot 
ton,  A.  B.,  of  Henderson.  North 
Carolina.  Having  spent  some 
time  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town,  he  left  Manchester, 
and  entered  Berea  College,  Berea,  Ky.,  where  he 
studied  for  four  years  doing  preparatory  work, 
later  entering  Knoxville  College,  Tennessee.  Here 
he  received  his  Bachelor's  degree.  Long  before 
this  he  had  decided  to  enter  the  ministry.  Having 
now  finished  his  college  course,  he  turned  his  at 
tention  to  prepartion  for  his  chosen  life  work,  that 
of  the  Christian  Ministry.  He  enrolled  as  a  student 
of  Divinity  in  the  Pittsburg  Theological  Seminary, 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  until 
he  had  finished  his  course. 

Finishing  his  course  in  Theo'ogy,  Mr.  Cotton  de 
cided  that  though  he  would  preach,  he  would  put 
decided  emphasis  on  education  and  that  if  Provi 
dence  so  directed,  he  would  invest  his  energies  in 
school  work.  He  took  his  first  charge  at  Cleveland. 
Tennessee.  The  charge  was  significant  in  that  it 
represented  at  the  outset  the  very  dual  situation 
he  had  preferred — preaching  and  teaching.  In  1899 
he  took  charge  of  a  church  and  became  principal 
of  the  Cleveland  Academy  in  Cleveland,  Tennessee. 
From  Cleveland  he  was  called  to  the  head  of  the 
Henderson  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute,  Hen 
derson,  North  Carolina,  where  he  is  still  laboring. 

The  Henderson  Institute  is  one  of  those  strong 
conservative  Presbyterian  schools  under  the  con 
trol  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  It  is  an 
example  of  the  kind  of  work  this  church  is  trying 
to  do.  It  provides  buildings  and  grounds  as  com 
fortable  as  possible,  offers  courses  for  the  training 
of  the  hand  and  head,  and  seeks  to  mould  at  the 
bottom  sound  Christian  character.  Assuming  and 


planning  that  every  teacher  shall  be  a  Christian 
worker,  the  school  has  regular  training  classes  for 
student  teachers  in  Sunday  teaching  and  Bible 
study. 

While  planning  definitely  for  the  career  of  ser 
vice  for  the  teacher,  the  school  does  not  forget  the 
c!  ;  racter  and  development  of  the  every  day  stu 
dent.  It  maintains  a  flourishing  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and 
a  flourishing  Y.  W.  C.  A.  It  has  three  literary 
societies,  which  give  the  members  opportunity  for 
debate  and  for  general  training  in  public  speaking. 
Its  "Things  Required"  show  how  persistent  is  the 
endeavor  to  provide  men  and  women  of  clean 
character  and  lofty  ideals.  These  things  show  how 
close  and  careful  a  watch  is  kept  over  the  actions 
and  health  of  the  students. 

Of  equal  significance  is  the  school's  "Things  For 
bidden." 

THINGS  FORBIDDEN. 

1.  Unpermitted   association   of   ladies    and   gen 
tlemen,   communication   in   writing   between    them 
or  visiting  to  the  halls  or  rooms  of  the  other. 

2.  Boisterousness,  dancing,  running  in  the  build 
ings,  etc. 

3.  Games   of   chance,   profane    or   indecent   lan 
guage,  the  use  or  possession  of  tobacco,  snuff,  in 
toxicating  liquor  or  of  weapons  of  any  kind. 

4.  Calling,    conversing    or   /throwing    from    the 
windows. 

5.  No  light  literature  is  allowed  among  the  stu 
dents. 

6.  Visitors  cannot  be  received  during  school  or 
study  hours,  and  gentlemen,  unknown  to  the  Ma 
tron  or  Principal  are  not  permitted  to  see  lady  stu 
dents  at  any  time,  unless  they  bring  letters  of  intro 
duction  from  parents  or  guardians  to  the  Matron 
or  Principal,  and  then  subject  to  the  discretion  of 
the  Principal." 

Such  in  brief  is  the  school  over  which  Reverend 


272 


MAIN  BUILDING— HENDERSON  NORMAL  & 
INDUSTRIAL  INSTITUTE. 

Cotton  ])residos  and  to  which  he  gives  character. 
It  has  an  enrollment  of  461  students,  most  of  whom 
are  hoarders,  hut  all  of  whom  are  suhject  to  the 
regulations.  Principal  Cotton  has  heen  in  charge 
here  15  years.  L'nder  him  many  new  courses  have 
heen  introduced  and  many  reforms  made. 

Reverend  Cotton  was  married  in  1900  to  Miss 
Maud  R.  Brooks,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Carol  Blanche,  who  is  12  years  old. 

The  following  from  the  1916  U.  S.  Bulletin  No. 
39,  gives  a  more  complete  account  of  its  plans  and 
equipment : 

The  school  was  founded  in  1891,  hy  the  Board  of 
Freedmen's  Missions  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  is  owned  and  supported  hy  that  board. 

ATTENDANCE:  Total,  375;  elementary  334; 
secondary  41  ;  male  152,  female  223.  Of  those  re 
porting,  26  were  from  Henderson,  42  from  other 
places  in  North  Carolina,  and  eight  from  other 
States.  There  were  43  pupils  above  the  seventh 
grade  boarding  at  the  school. 

TEACHERS  AND  WORKERS:  Total  18;  all  col 
ored  ;  male  5,  female,  13 ;  academic  9,  music  1 ; 
girls'  industries  3.  boys'  industries  1,  matrons  2. 
superintendent  of  broom  factory  and  superinten 
dent  of  hospital. 

INDUSTRIAL:  The  industrial  course  for  boys 
are  limited  to  instruction  in  printing,  broommak- 
ing,  and  simple  manual  training.  The  girls  above 
the  seventh  grade  receive  good  instruction  in  cook 
ing  and  sewing  under  the  direction  of  three  teach 
ers. 

NURSE  TRAINING:  Nurse  training  is  provided 
in  a  well-equipped  hospital  built  by  the  women's 
board,  with  a  training  nurse  in  charge.  Students 
needing  medical  attention  and  patients  from  the 
community  or  surrounding  counties  are  admitted 
The  number  of  patients  is  comparatively  small. 

The  Financial  department  is  well  cared  for.  The 
accounts  are  carefully  kept  and  the  financial  man 
agement  appears  to  be  economical. 


SOURCES  OF  INCOME:  United  Presbyterian 
Board,  $8,000 ;  tuition  and  fees  $500.  The  non  edu 
cational  receipts  amounted  to  $4.100,  or  which 
$4,000  was  from  boarding  department  and  $100 
from  the  trade  school. 

PLANT:  Land:  Estimated  value,  $2,000.  The 
land  comprises  13  acres  just  outside  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  town.  About  half  of  the  land  is  used 
for  campus  and  recreation  purposes.  The  remain 
der  is  used  for  orchard,  pasture,  and  a  small  farm. 

BUILDINGS:  Estimated  value.  $41,500.  The 
main  building  is  a  frame  structure,  two  stories  high 
and  contains  class-rooms  and  a  chapel  seating  500. 
Fulton  Home  is  the  girl's  dormitory,  accommodat 
ing  75.  It  contains  the  dining  room,  domestic 
science  department,  laundry,  and  matron's  office. 
The  boys'  dormitory,  a  two-story  frame  building, 
accommodates  75,  also  houses  the  printing  office. 
The  teachers'  home  is  a  neat  two  story  building. 
Jubilee  Hospital  is  a  two-story  brick  building,  with 
wards  for  men,  women,  and  children,  an  operating 
room  and 'several  private  rooms.  There  are  also 
several  small  buildings,  including  the  janitor's  cot 
tage.  The  buildings  are  simple  in  construction,  in 
good  repair  and  neat  in  appearance. 

MOVABLE  EQUIPMENT:  Estimated  value  $6,900. 
$6.900.  Of  this  $5,700  was  in  furniture  and  hospital 
equipment,  $500  in  farm  implements,  and  live 
stock,  $450  in  library  books,  and  $250  in  shop  tools. 


i^l 


HOSPITAL     BUILDING— HENDERSON     NORMAL 
&  INDUSTRIAL  INSTITUTE 


273 


JAMES  B.  DUDLEY,  A.  M.,  LL.  D. 


HERE  are  those  who  drift  into  the 
work  of  education ;  those  who  are 
pressed  in  by  necessity,  and  those 
who  enlist  in  the  cause  by  choice. 
Dr.  James  B.  Dudley,  of  Greens 
boro,  North  Carolina,  is  one  of 
those  to  enter  and  to  remain  by 
choice.  Educated  when  learning 
was  rare  among  American  Negroes  ;  he  looked  up 
on  school  teaching  as  a  calling,  a  mission.  The 
idea  of  the  Quaker  and  of  the  Puritan,  that  being 
taught  you  should  go  teach  others,  took  possession 
of  Dr.  Dudley,  long  before  his  school  career  ended. 
Further  there  was  inculcated  into  his  education, 
that  one  should  not  go  to  Africa,  South  America, 
but  back  home,  to  lift  those  of  your  own  kith  and 
kin. 

Born  in  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  in  1859, 
Dr.  Dudley  received  his  first  training  through  pri 
vate  instruction,  public  education  for  the  colored 
youth  being  out  of  the  question  in  North  Caro 
lina  at  that  time.  From  Wilmington  Dr.  Dudley 
made  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  studied  at  the  Philadelphia  Institute  for  Colored 
Youths.  He  later  gained  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  at  Livingston  College,  Salisbury,  North  Caro 
lina,  and  LL.  D.,  from  Wilberforce  University. 

His  early  education  completed.  Dr.  Dudley  re 
turned  to  his  State  and  began  his  labor  as  a  school 
teacher.  He  began  in  the  rural  school,  where  his 
help  was  most  needed  and  where  he  gained  the  ex 
perience  which  was  to  serve  him  most  valuably  in 


his  work  as  college  president.  From  the  rural 
schools  he  was  called  to  the  principalship  of  the 
Peabody  Graded  School,  of  Wilmington.  Here  for 
sixteen  years  he  labored,  doing  much  toward  put 
ting  the  Negro  public  schools  here  on  a  solid  foot 
ing.  Sixteen  years  principalship  at  Wilmington, 
with  experience  in  the  rural  schools  and  among 
rural  folks  had  seasoned  him  for  larger  service. 
Thus  when  the  Agricultural  and  Technical  College, 
formerly  known  as  the  A.  &  M.  College,  began  to 
take  form,  choice  quite  readily  settled  upon  Dr. 
Dudley ;  he  who  had  been  an  educator  all  his  ca 
reer;  who  had  labored  in  city  and  in  country;  who 
was  a  native  of  the  soil  came  very  rightfully  to  the 
best  his  native  State  had  to  offer  for  one  of  his 
race. 

The  Negro  Agricultural  and  Technical  College 
was  founded  in  1891.  It  is  one  of  the  several  col 
leges  established  under  the  Morrill  Act.  To  the 
funds  authorized  by  the  Morrill  Act  were  added 
fourteen  acres  of  land  and  eleven  thousand  dollars 
by  the  citizens  of  Greensboro.  To  this  sum  again 
was  added  ten  thousand  dollars  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  North  Carolina.  Five  years  after  the 
founding  of  this  institution.  Dr.  Dudley  was  called 
to  its  presidency.  This  was  in  1896.  Thus  for 
twenty-three  years  he  has  administered  its  work. 
Under  him  new  buildings  have  been  erected,  old 
ones  renovated,  farms  cultivated,  courses  added 
and  adjusted  to  suit  the  demands  of  the  day.  True 
to  its  title  the  institution  has  courses  leading  to 
degrees  in  Agriculture  in  many  branches,  in  Me 
chanical  Arts  and  Technical  subjects.  Yet  has  nev 
er  lost  sight  of  the  fact  that  the  head  is  master  of 
the  hand,  indeed  of  the  whole  body.  To  this  end 
it  has  maintained  very  high  standards  in  literary 
branches. 

In  deportment,  as  well  as  in  scholarship,  A.  &  T. 
College  has  set  for  its  students  unusually  high  and 
rigid  standards.  Many  of  its  rules  are  worth  quot 
ing  and  worthy  of  emulation.  Thus  it  requires : 

1.  Regular   students   must   take   a   minimum   of 
fifteen  hours  of  credit  work  per  week  at  least  six 
of  which  shall  be  industrial  work. 

2.  Examinations  for  the   removal  of  conditions 
will  be  held  at  no  time  than  the  regular  term  ex 
amination   periods.     A   minimum   credit   of  85   per 
cent  must  be  made  to  remove  conditions. 

3.  Students  making  an  average  of  70  per  cent 
or  more   will  be  passed;  over  85  per  cent  passed 
honorably. 

4.  Student  candidates  for  graduation  will  be  re 
quired  to  pass  a  satisfactory  examination  in  all  the 
subjects  in  their  respective  courses. 

5.  Any  student  failing  to  secure  50  per  cent  of 
the  total  marks   obtainable   during  any  term,   will 
be  required  to  take  a  lower  class  or  sever  his  con 
nection  with  the  college  and  be  allowed  to  return 
the  following  session. 

It  is  the  aim  of  this  institution  to  send  forth  men 
who  are  fit  representatives.  To  this  end,  the  fa 
culty  reserves  the  right  to  refuse  to  admit  any 
student  to  the  senior  class  or  to  graduate  any  one 
who  though  qualified  by  class  record,  may  other 
wise  be  unfit. 

Again  to  influence  and  to  restrict,  the  institution 
rules  that  each  student  upon  applying  for  admision 
will  be  required  to  sign  a  pledge,  binding  obedience 
to  the  rules  of  the  college.  Parents  and  guard- 


274 


MAIN   BUILDING   STATE  AGRICULTURAL   &   TECHNICAL  COLLEGE— GREENSBORO,  N.  C. 


ians  are  particularly  requested  to  examine  our  rul 
es  and  regulations,  to  be  found  on  another  page  of 
this  catalogue. 

It  will  be  the  purpose  of  the  college  to  maintain 
a  high  moral  tone  and  to  develope  a  broad,  tole 
rant  religious  spirit  among  the  students.  In  this 
connection  there  is  a  well-organized  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
which  meets  twice  a  week  for  song  and  praise.  A 
special  service  will  be  conducted  in  the  chapel  each 
Sunday  by  pastors  representing  the  different  de 
nominations  of  the  city.  Sunday  School  is  con 
ducted  every  Sunday  during  school  year.  All  re 
ligious  services  will  be  free  from  sectarianism.  A 
flourishing  Temperance  Society  is  now  in  opera 
tion. 

All  this  system  has  taken  shape  under  the  hand 
of  Dr.  Dudley,  backed  by  the  State  Board  of  Trus 
tees  and  by  a  sympathetic  public. 

While  putting  his  school  on  an  up-to-date  basis, 
Dr.  Dudley  did  not  forget  the  demands  upon  the 
present  day  college.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Ne 
gro  educators  to  see  that  an  institution  must  go 
without  its  walls,  must  seek  to  educate  the  old  as 
well  as  the  young.  He  founded  the  Metropolitan 
Trust  Company,  of  Wilmington,  to  stimulate  and  to 
combine  Negro  business  and  established  the  Pion 
eer  Building  and  Loan  Association,  of  Greensboro, 
the  oldest  organization  of  its  kind  in  Greensboro. 

Beyond  local  services  he  has  taken  active  part  in 
many  educational  and  uplift  undertakings  in  other 
States  and  before  the  nation  and  in  so  doing  has 
been  recipient  of  many  honors.  For  nearly  thirty 
years  he  was  foreign  correspondent  for  the  Ma 
sonic  Grand  Lodge,  of  North  Carolina.  He  was 
delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Convention 
in  St.  Louis,  in  1896.  He  is  president  of  the  North 
Carolina  Teachers'  Association ;  trustee  of  the  An 
nual  A.  M.  E.  Conference ;  honorary  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Palmer  Institute  of  Se- 


dalia,  North  Carolina ;  president  of  the  North  Car 
olina  Anti-Tuberculosis  League ;  chairman  of  the 
Negro  Railroad  Commission ;  founder  of  the  Rural 
Extension  work  and  was  the  successful  champion 
against  lawful  segregation  in  North  Carolina. 

Dr.  Dudley  is  a  Mason,  and  a  Pythian,  and  an  ac 
tive  member  of  the  National  Association  for  Tea 
chers  in  Colored  Schools.  He  has  traveled  exten 
sively  in  America  and  to  some  extent  in  Canada. 
He  owns  property  in  Wilmington  and  in  Greens 
boro. 

The  Dudley  family  consists  of  three  members, 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Dudley,  and  Miss  Annie  Vivian.  Mrs. 
Dudley  was  Miss  Sampson,  of  Wilmington.  They 
were  married  in  1884.  Miss  Dudley  has  finished 
her  education  and  was  her  father's  bookkeeper,  un 
til  her  marriage  in  1917  to  Dr.  S.  B.  Jones,  Vice- 
President  and  physician,  of  the  A.  and  T.  College. 


GREEN  HOUSE,  STATE  A.  &  T.  COLLEGE. 


275 


JOHN  WAKEFIELD  WALKER,  A.   B.,   M.   D. 

F  humble  parentage,  John  Wake- 
field  Walker  was  born  Decem 
ber  26,  1872.  His  mother,  Mrs. 
Amanda  Walker,  was  refugeed 
from  eastern  North  Carolina,  to 

Salisbury,  during  the    Civil    War. 

There  were  six  children  in  the  Walker  family,  of 
whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest. 
Mrs.  Walker  was  a  woman  of  ambition  and  she 
succeeded  in  firing  her  young  son  with  a  zeal  to 
render  Christian  service  when  he  was  still  but  a 
lad.  She  died  September  23,  1897. 

From  his  early  childhood.  Dr.  Walker  had  the 
privilege  of  attending  school.  His  first  schooling 
was  received  in  the  city  schools  of  Asheville.  Hav 
ing  gotten  from  them  all  that  he  could  he  went  to 
Livingston  College.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Hester  Lee, 
was  largely  responsible  for  his  being  able  to  at 
tend  Livingston  College.  From  Livingston  he  was 
graduated  in  1898,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  Dr. 
Walker  lost  no  time  but  matriculated  at  the  Leon 
ard  'Medical  College,  Shaw  University,  Raleigh, 
North  Carolina.  From  Shaw  he  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  in  1902.  Not  yet  satis 
fied  with  his  preparation  for  his  life  work,  the 


young  doctor  served  an  internship  in  the  Freed- 
man's  Hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C,  before  he 
settled  down  to  his  work. 

The  path  of  Dr.  Walker  from  his  humble  home 
to  his  present  practice  was  not  wholly  strewn  with 
roses.  In  fact  he  had  to  work  a  great  deal  and  in 
many  kinds  of  jobs  in  order  to  get  the  training  he 
now  enjoys.  He  served  as  footman,  butler,  bell 
boy,  waiter,  office  boy,  sleeping-car  porter.  But 
his  ambition  had  been  fired  by  his  mother  and  he 
used  these  jobs  merely  as  means  to  an  end  and  was 
never  satisfied  with  them,  and  the  easy  money  they 
brought  in. 

Dr.  Walker  today  is  located  in  Asheville,  North 
Carolina.  Asheville  is  a  resort  for  patinets  suffer 
ing  with  pulmonary  troubles.  Here  from  all  parts 
of  the  south  and  the  east  persons  suffering  from 
this  disease  gather.  Dr.  Walker  owns  and  runs 
his  own  sanatarium  here  for  the  treatment  of  such 
cases.  In  fact,  Dr.  Walker  has  made  a  specialty 
of  this  type  of  tuberculosis.  Because  of  the  cli 
matic-  conditions  of  the  city  and  the  gathering  of 
patients  from  other  parts  of  the  United  States,  Dr. 
Walker  has  a  large  field.  He  does  not,  however, 
confine  himself  solely  to  this  work.  He  serves  as 
City  Inspector  of  the  Colored  Schools  of  Asheville. 
In  this  work  he  has  the  chance  of  preventing  manv 
a  case  of  this  sort  by  recognizing  early,  symptoms 
and  rendering  aid  before  the  real  disease  sets  in. 

Dr.  Walker  finds  time  to  take  part  in  all  the  va 
ried  activities  for  the  uplife  of  his  people.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  serving  as 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  "The 
Beauty  of  the  West  Lodge,"  and  of  the  Grand  Un 
ited  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  served  as  Presi 
dent  of  the  North  Carolina  Medical  Association,  as 
President  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  of  Asheville,  trustee 
of  the  Livingston  College,  delegate  to  the  General 
Conference  at  Charlotte  in  1912,  and  at  Louisville 
in  1916,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  National  Medi 
cal  Association.  In  all  the  lines  of  endeavor  that 
are  for  the  advancement  of  the  Colored  people 
there  you  will  find  Dr.  J.  W.  Walker  taking  an  ac 
tive  part. 

Dr.  Walker  was  married  to  Miss  Eleanor  Curtis 
Mitchell,  in  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  on  June  22, 
1904.  From  this  union  three  children  have  been 
born.  The  oldest,  John  Wakefield  Walker.  Jr.,  is 
a  lad  of  twelve  years.  Miss  Amanda  Lee  Walker 
is  in  her  tenth  year  and  little  Miss  Anna  Belle  Wal 
ker  is  still  a  baby,  being  but  four  years  of  age.  This 
happy  family  lives  in  their  own  home  on  College 
Street. 

Dr.  Walker  is  an  inspiration  to  the  young  men 
of  his  acquaintance.  He  has  risen  to  a  point  of 
prominence  through  his  own  efforts. 

Besides  owning  his  own  home  and  his  sanitarium 
he  owns  several  tenement  houses. 


276 


JOSEPH   LAWRENCE  JONES 


OUNDER  and  President  of  the 
Central  Regalia  Company,  Joseph 
Lawrence  Jones,  was  born  June 
12,  1868,  at  Mt.  Healthy,  Ohio, 
near  Cincinnati.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Cincinnati,  and 
graduated  from  Gaines  High  School,  in  1886,  after 
which  he  taught  school  in  Kentucky,  Texas  and 
Ohio.  He  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Sheldon  Busi 
ness  College. 

In  1902,  Mr.  Jones  established  the  business  which 
has  made  his  name  well  known  wherever  colored 
lodges  exist.  The  Central  Regalia  Company  is 
strictly  a  Negro  enterprise,  giving  employment 
to  our  own  men  and  women.  We  find  Mr.  Jones 
active  in  other  fields.  He  is  Vice  Supreme  Chan 
cellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Supreme  Worthy 
Counsellor  of  the  Order  of  Calanthe,  Vice-Presi- 
clent  of  the  Civic  Welfare  Committee  of  the  Coun 
cil  of  Social  Agencies  of  Cincinnati,  Chairman  of 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  National  Negro 
Press  Association,  a  Director  of  the  Fireside  Mu 
tual  Aid  Insurance  Co.,  Secretary  of  the  African 
Union  Co.,  Trustee  of  Colored  Industrial  School  of 
Cincinnati,  Secretary  of  the  Trustee  Board  of  the 


New  Orphan  Asylum,  for  Colored  Youth  and  Pres 
ident  of  the  National  Congress  of  Negro  Frater 
nities.  In  all  these  the  business  ability  of  Mr. 
Jones  is  very  apparent.  The  African  Union  Com 
pany  imports  mahogany  direct  from  Africa.  Mr. 
Jones  is  also  editor  in  chief  of  the  Fraternal  Mon 
itor,  a  monthly  fraternal  paper.  Mr.  Jones  exe 
cutes  his  varied  duties  with  singular  grace  and 
ease,  which  is  an  evidence  of  his  business  acumen 
and  rare  poise.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  and  belongs  to  the  leading  fraternities  of 
the  county.  In  the  interest  of  business  or  for 
pleasure,  Mr.  Jones  has  traveled  all  over  the  United 
States  and  consequently  is  .well  known  nationally. 
Mr.  Jones  is  happily  married.  Mrs.  Jos.  L. 
Jones,  (nee  Helena  Caffrey,)  is  the  proud  mother 
of  five  children,  four  girls  and  one  boy.  Myra, 
the  eldest  daughter,  being  the  wife  of  Dr.  Henry 
C.  Bryant,  of  Birmingham,  Ala.,  Joseph  Lawrence 
Jr.,  is  the  active  Manager  of  the  Central  Regalia 
Co.,  Helen,  is  a  teacher  of  Music  in  the  Colored 
Industrial  School ;  Ida  and  Martha  are  attending 
High  School.  Mr.  Jones  lives  in  a  well  appointed 
home  in  one  of  the  best  sections  of  the  city  and 
has  entertained  there  many  of  the  leading  men  and 
women  of  the  race.  For  a  man  of  good  advice  and 
sound  business  ability,  we  would  have  to  go  a  long 
way  to  find  a  more  successful  man  than  Mr.  Jones. 
He  is  worthy  of  emulation  by  any  young  man  who 
is  looking  forward  to  business  as  his  career.  For 
many  years  Mr.  Jones  was  very  active  in  local  Re 
publican  politics  and  served  several  years  as  Dep 
uty  County  Recorder  and  Deputy  County  Clerk.  He 
has  served  also  as  a  member  of  the  National  Negro 
Advisory  Committee  of  the  National  Republican 
Campaign  Committee. 


WORK-ROOM  OF  THE  CENTRAL  REGALIA 
COMPANY— CINCINNATI,   OHIO 


277 


GEORGE  A.  MYERS 


George  A.  Myers 


N  1859,  on  March  5th,  George 
A.  Myers  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  being  the  eldest  of  the 
three  children  of  Isaac  and  Km  ma 
V.  Myers.  In  May,  1868,  he  had 
the  misfortune  to  lose  his  mother 
and  consequently  never  had  the 
full  advantage  of  a  loving  moth 
er's  care.  He  was  sent  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  en 
tered  the  public  schools ;  from  there  to  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.  where  he  also  attended  the  public  schools 
and  then  to  Preparatory  Department  of  Lincoln 
University,  Chester  County,  Pa.  His  father,  in  the 
meantime  married  Miss  Sarah  E.  Deaver,  and  he 
returned  to  Baltimore  that  he  might  he  near  his 
father,  and  entered  the  First  Grammar  School  for 
Colored  Children,  graduating  therefrom ;  he  at 
tempted  to  gain  admission  to  the  Baltimore  City 
College,  but  was  refused  by  reason  of  his  color. 

In  1875  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  Veteran  Paint 
er  of  Washington.  S.  C.,  Mr.  Thomas  James  but  the 
trade  not  being  to  his  liking,  he  returned  to  Bal 
timore  and  took  up  the  barber  trade  with  Messrs. 
George  S.  Ridgeway  and  Thomas  Gamble. 

In  1879,  he  settled  in  Cleveland  and  was  for  nine 
years  foreman  for  Mr.  James  E.  Benson,  at  the 
Weddell  House.  Being  of  an  affable  nature,  he 
made  many  friends  and  in  1888  opened  the  now 
famous  Hollenden  Hotel  Barber  Shop,  which  was 
styled  by  his  friend,  Klbert  Hubbard,  as  "the  best 
barber  shop  in  America,"  and  at  present  numbers 
27  employees. 

Growing  up  as  he  did  with  the  City  of  Cleveland 
and  having  the  benefit  of  a  large  acquaintance  he 
became  very  active  in  politics  and  matters  of  race 
advancement.  In  1892,  he  was  elected  as  an  al 
ternate  delegate  from  the  21st  District  of  Ohio, 
to  the  Republican  National  Convention,  at  Minnea 
polis.  His  vote  in  the  delegation  elected  William 
M.  llahn,  national  committeeman  from  Ohio,  and 
it  was  largely  instrumental  in  assisting  the  Mc- 
Kinley-Hanna  organizaton  into  being,  and  made 
M.  A"  Hanna  and  William  McKinley  his  life-long 
friends. 

During  the  McKinley  pre-convention  campaign 
of  1896  he  materially  assisted  Mr.  Hanna  and  his 
home  was  always  open  to  those  of  our  people  who 
came  to  Cleveland  to  consult  with  Mr.  Hanna. 

At  St.  Louis  he  had  charge  of  the  Ohio  delega 
tion  that  so  ably  looked  after  and  cared  for  those 
of  our  people  who  were  delegates.  After  the  con 
vention  Mr.  McKinley  personally  thanked  him  for 
his  efforts  in  assisting  Mr.  Hanna,  and  tendered 
him  whatever  place  within  reason  he  desired.  He 
declined  to  accept  any  office.  Through  his  in 
stigation  and  recommendation,  the  now  Major  W. 
T.  Anderson,  was  appointed  Chaplain  of  the  10th 
U.  S.  Cavalry,  Hon.  John  R.  Lynch,  Paymaster  in 
the  U.  S.  Army,  and  Hon.  B.  K.  Bruce,  Registrar 
of  the  U.  S.  Treasury.  In  later  years  he  secured 
the  appointmet  of  Hon.  Chas.  A.  Cottrell  as  Col 
lector  of  Internal  Revenues  at  Honolulu.  He  was 
Senator  M.  A.  Hanna's  personal  representative  on 
the  Republican  State  Executive  Committee,  (of 
seven),  for  1897-1898,  which  eventually  proved  to 


be  the  most  important  State  Committee  in  the 
history  of  the  Republican  Party,  of  Ohio.  In  the 
bitter  Senatorial  campaign  that  followed,  Mr.  My 
ers  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray.  It  was  he  who 
settled  the  doubt  when  anxiety  had  settled  on  ev 
ery  countenance  by  bringing  in  the  72nd  vote  and 
thereby  asured  Senator  Hanna's  return  to  the  U. 
S.  Senate. 

In  1900  he  was  elected  by  the  Republican  State 
Convention  as  an  Alternate-Delegate-at  Large  to 
the  Republican  National  Convention  at  Philadel 
phia,  and  through  his  instrumentality  the  resolu 
tion  of  Senator  Quay  reducing  southern  represen 
tation  was  defeated.  After  serving  three  terms 
as  a  member  of  the  Rpublican  State  Executive 
Committee,  and  following  the  death  of  President 
McKinley  and  Senator  M.  A.  Hanna,  Mr.  Myers 
voluntarily  retired  from  active  politics  and  is  now 
devoting  his  whole  time  to  business. 

In  1912,  through  the  instigaton  of  Dr.  Booker 
T.  Washington,  Mr.  Myers  was  tendered  the 
management  of  the  entire  organization  among  the 
Negro  voters  of  the  country,  by  Mr.  Charles  D. 
Hilles,  Chairman  of  the  Republican  National  Com 
mittee,  having  in  charge  President  Taft's  cam 
paign.  For  business  reasons  only  he  declined.  This 
was  the  first  and  only  time  that  the  full  conduct 
of  this  work  among  the  Negroes  for  a  national 
campaign  was  ever  tendered  to  a  single  individual. 
A  fitting  recognition  of  his  politcal  worth  and  abil 
ity. 

It  was  Mr.  Myers,  at  St.  Louis,  who  referred  to 
Mr.  Hanna,  as  "Uncle  Mark."  This  was  taken  up 
by  the  Cleveland  Plain  Dealer,  and  Columbus  Dis 
patch  and  stuck  to  Mr.  Hanna  so  long  as  he  lived. 

Mr.  Myers,  though  not  identified  with  the  active 
management,  is  a  member  of  St.  John  A.  M.  K. 
Church,  and  has  done  much  to  promote  its  inter 
est.  He  is  a  Past  Master  of  Masons  and  Past  Ex 
alted  Ruler,  Cuyahoga  Lodge  No.  95.  of  the  I.  B. 
P.,  of  Elks  of  the  World  At  present  he  is  act 
ively  identified  with  The  Caterers'  Association,  the 
leading  and  best  Club  of  its  kind  among  our  people 
in  this  country.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  City 
Club  of  Cleveland,  and  actively  identified  with  ev 
ery  civic  movement  of  importance  to  his  people. 
He  has  a  beautiful  and  well-furnished  home  on  one 
of  the  best  avenues  and  a  wife  and  two  children. 

In  1896  he  married  Miss  Maude  E.  Stewart.  His 
son,  Herbert  D.  Myers,  is  a  mechanic  with  The 
White  Automobile  and  Truck  Company,  and  his 
daughter,  Dorothy  Virginia  Myers,  is  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  Cleveland. 

Mr.  Myers  attributes  much  of  his  success  to  the 
tireless  teachings  of  his  stepmother  and  the  friends 
acquired  through  the  same.  There  is  no  man  of 
his  race  that  can  boast  of  more  intimate  and  per 
sonal  friendships  among  both  races  and  no  man 
who  more  unselfishly  loves  to  serve  his  people. 


279 


WILLIAM   R.  GREEN 


I  L  L  I  A  M  R.  Green,  is  a  man 
who  was  born  educated  and  made 
good  in  his  profession  in  the  same 
place.  He  was  born  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  on  November  10th,  1872. 
Here  in  Cleveland  he  attended 
the  Public  Schools,  the  High  School  and  later  the 
Law  School.  In  all  of  these  distinct  steps  in  his 
training  he  applied  himself  most  diligently  to  his 
tasks.  He  was  always  ambitious  and  it  was  this 
that  carried  him  on  through  the  law  school  in  spite 
of  the  fact  that  the  colored  man  as  a  usual  thing 
has  a  hard  time  in  this  profession. 

June  8,  1895,  Mr.  Green  was  admitted  to  the 
Practice  of  Law  and  since  that  time  he  has  prac 
ticed  continually  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  That  he  has 
made  a  good  living  from  his  practice  and  been  able 
to  save  something  out  of  it  for  the  proverbial 
rainy  day  is  seen  from  the  fact  that  he  owns  his 
own  home  and  two  other  houses  and  lots,  all  of 
which  are  in  the  city  of  Cleveland.  There  is  a 
tendency  on  the  part  of  some  to  try  to  starve  out 
the  colored  lawyer.  The  sense  of  justice  makes 
them  admit  one  to  the  practice  of  law  but  then  the 
prejudice  steps  in.  It  is  all  this  that  Mr.  Green 
has  succeeded  in  overcoming.  To  him  and  to  oth 


er  young  colored  men  of  his  time  who  have  had  the 
courage  to  face  the  situation  as  it  was  and  still  is 
in  some  places,  great  credit  is  due,  for  they  are  in 
the  true  meaning  of  the  word  "pioneers." 

Mr.  Green  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  Party, 
and  on  two  different  occasions  he  was  nominat 
ed  by  the  Republicans  of  Cuyahoga  County, 
Ohio.  On  both  of  these  occasions  the  entire  Re 
publican  ticket  was  defeated  by  the  Democratic 
Party.  Mr.  Green  was  not  defeated  by  another 
man  on  the  same  ticket,  but  because  the  whole 
party  was  unable  to  swing  things.  Mr.  Green  has 
long  interested  in  military  affairs,  and  is  regarded 
as  a  well  equipped  military  man.  He  has  also 
been  a  Captain  in  the  United  States  Army.  For 
twelve  years  he  was  Captain  in  the  Ohio  National 
Guard,  and  was  highly  regarded  by  the  men  of 
his  command,  as  is  shown  by  his  long  services  as 
their  Captain.  On  July  15th,  1917  he  was  mustered 
into  the  Federal  Service.  He  served  as  Captain 
of  372  Infantry  in  the  United  States  National 
Guard  until  January  12,  1918.  At  this  time  he  was 
honorably  discharged  for  physical  disibility. 

In  Religious  belief,  Mr.  Green  is  a  Catholic.  Like 
all  men  of  this  faith  he  is  an  earnest  and  faithful 
worker  in  the  interest  of  his  church.  He  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Catholic  Mutual  Benefit  Association, 
and  also  of  the  Knights  of  St.  John.  In  all  the 
things  pertaining  to  the  members  of  his  race,  Mr. 
Green  is  deeply  interested,  showing  his  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  his  people  by  giving  to  them  his 
best  and  continuous  service.  He  is  willing  to  spend 
and  be  spent  in  their  behalf,  if  thereby,  he  can  raise 
them  to  a  higher  standard  of  living.  There  is  in 
the  City  of  Cleveland  an  Association  of  Colored 
men.  Of  this  organization,  Mr.  Green  is  an  in 
teresting  member,  always  doing  all  that  is  in  his 
power  for  the  organization  and  the  people  for 
whose  help  it  was  organized.  For  two  terms  he 
served  this  organization  in  the  capacity  of  Pres 
ident. 

Mr.  Green  has  been  an  extensive  traveler,  his 
travels  covering  the  greater  part  of  America  and 
Europe.  He  has  been  abroad  three  times.  His 
first  trip  to  Europe  was  in  1893,  when  he  visited 
England  and  Scotland.  He  next  crossed  the  ocean 
in  1907,  when  he  again  traveled  in  England  and 
visited  Ireland.  His  last  trip  was  made  in  1908, 
and  this  time  he  revisited  England  and  extended 
his  travels  to  France,  visited  Paris  and  other  points 
of  interest.  His  travels  have  not  only  been  to  him 
excursions  of  pleasure,  but  have  broadened  his 
mind,  and  have  given  him  a  larger  view  of  life. 

Mr.  Green  was  married  to  Miss  Agnes  C.  Bold- 
en,  September  19,  1900,  at  Niagra  Falls,  New  York. 
Mrs.  Green  presides  over  the  home  with  charm, 
and  with  her  husband  helps  make  life  pleasant  for 
their  many  friends. 


280 


GEORGE  W.  CRAWFORD,  A.  B.,  LL.  B. 

R.  George  W.  Crawford  is  a  good 
example  of  the  man  born  in  the 
South,  reared  there,  and  become 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  its 
views,  who  has  gone  North  and 
made  a  place  for  himself.  Born 
in  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  October  21,  1877,  he  spent 
his  earliest  years  in  the  public  schools  of  this  place. 
Tuscaloosa  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  Southern 
towns  as  regards  the  harmonious  relations  of  the 
races.  Many  of  the  young  sons  of  Tuscaloosa  go 
out  to  prominence.  In  1886  Mr.  Crawford  moved 
to  Birmingham.  Here  he  had  another  influence 
enter  his  life.  It  was  almost  the  reverse  of  that  of 
Tuscaloosa.  Birmingham  is  a  city  of  bustle  and 
progress.  To  keep  abreast  of  things  in  Birming 
ham  one  has  to  think  and  move  quickly.  This  had 
its  influence  on  the  growing  young  lad. 

When  he  first  left  home  for  study  in  boarding 
school,  the  school  of  his  choice  was  Tuskegee  In 
stitute.  From  this  school  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1896.  The  learning  received  here  but 
whetted  the  appetite  of  Mr.  Crawford  for  more. 
And  so  we  find  him  at  school  in  Tallaclega  College, 
Talladega,  Alabama  shortly  after  finishing  at  Tus 
kegee.  From  Talladega  he  was  graduated  in  the 


class  of  1900.  Talladega  is  one  of  the  oldest  of 
the  A.  M.  A.  Schools  and  is  one  of  the  most  thor 
ough  in  its  preparation  of  students.  Mr.  Crawford 
was  a  good  student  while  at  Talladega,  where  he 
made  a  good  record.  He  was  elected  to  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  this  Institution,  in  1905,  and  is  at 
present  Chairman  of  its  Fxecutive  Committee. 

After  graduating  at  the  Talladega  College,  in 
1900,  Mr.  Crawford  decided  to  enter  the  profession 
of  law,  and  in  order  to  secure  as  good  a  prepara 
tion  for  his  work  as  possible,  he  entered  the  Yale 
Law  School.  Here  he  applied  himself  with  great 
diligence,  and  won  distinction.  From  this  course  he 
was  graduated  with  high  honors,  in  the  class  of 
1903.  The  same  year  he  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
Probate  Court  for  the  District  of  New  Haven  Con- 
neticut,  and  formed  many  warm  friendships  and 
strong  connections  among  the  people  of  that  city. 
In  this  position  he  served  until  1907.  During 
the  time  he  served  as  clerk,  he  had  the  opportunity 
to  get  the  confidence  of  the  New  Haven  public. 
When  he  gave  up  the  work  of  clerk  he  had  already 
acquired  a  substantial  clientele,  which  has  been 
greatly  extended  under  demonstrated  proofs  of  his 
eminent  abilities  to  serve  it.  Since  that  time 
Mr.  Crawford  has  been  engaged  in  the  successful 
practice  of  the  law  in  New  Haven,  where  he  has 
been  a  conspicious  figure  in  the  public  life,  serving 
on  many  of  its  important  commissions,  and  active 
generally  in  the  affairs  of  the  City. 

Mr.  Crawford  has  found  leisure  from  his  many 
and  varied  activities,  to  indulge  his  taste  for  lit 
erature  and  in  its  pursuit  has  achieved  distinction, 
having  one  excellent  book  to  his  credit.  He  is  the 
author  of  "Prince  Hall  and  his  Followers."  His 
interest  in  altruistic  and  benevolent  work  is  evi 
denced  in  his  connection  with  numerous  organic 
bodies  of  that  nature  and  the  prominent  part  he 
takes  in  their  affairs.  He  is  a  Thirty-third  degree 
Mason,  an  active  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  and 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Forresters.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  Sigma  Psi  Phi. 

The  interest  of  Mr.  Crawford  in  his  people  is 
genuine.  He  serves  as  a  director  of  the  National 
Association  for  the  Advancement  of  the  Colored 
People.  This  organization  has  done  a  great  deal 
for  the  Negro  by  taking  up  the  various  questions 
that  come  before  them.  The  subject  of  lynch  Law, 
employment  of  colored  people  in  cities,  etc. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  married  to  Miss  Sedella  M. 
Donalson,  of  Aberdeen,  Mississippi,  in  1911.  Mrs. 
Crawford,  like  her  husband,  has  a  prideful  record 
in  educational  training,  being  a  graduate  of  Teach 
er's  College  of  Columbia  University,  and  before  her 
marriage  was  a  teacher  of  F.nglish  at  Tuskegee 
Institute.  The  Crawford's  have  one  child.  Char 
lotte  Elizabeth,  a  beautiful  little  girl  of  six. 


281 


HENRY   M.   MINTON.   PH.  G.,  M.  D. 

R.  Henry  M.-  Minton,  one  of 
Philadelphia's  most  prominent 
physician,  was  born  in  Colum 
bia,  South  Carolina.  December 
25,  1871.  His  father,  Thophiluy  J. 
Minton,  and  his  mother,  Mrs. 
Martha  McKee  Minton,  were  both  natives  of  Phil 
adelphia.  It  has  been  in  the  native  city  of  his  pa 
rents  that  Dr.  Minton  has  lived  and  made  his  suc 
cess.  He  was  educated  in  the  Grammar  schools  of 
Washington.  Here  he  laid  a  foundation  and  form 
ed  habits  of  study  that  have  helped  him  in  all  his 
later  life.  Leaving  school  Dr.  Minton  entered  the 
Preparatory  Department  of  Howard  University, 
and  later  the  Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  in  New 
Hampshire.  From  the  latter  institution  lie  was 
graduated  in  1891.  The  record  for  good  scholar 
ship  which  had  been  his  in  the  schools  of  Washing 
ton  was  kept  up  throughout  his  career  in  Exeter. 
He  was  the  Orator  of  the  class  at  graduation,  man 
aging  editor  of  the  Literary  Monthly,  and  Assis 
tant  Managing  Editor  of  the  Exonian.  The  Exon- 
ian  was  the  semi-weekly  paper  of  the  school.  Ev 
en  with  all  these  outside  duties,  his  scholarship  ne 
ver  was  in  any  way  lowered. 


Dr.  Minton's  first  venture  in  the  world  of  med 
icine  was  in  the  capacity  of  Pharmacist.  He  stu 
died  at  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  fin 
ishing  the  prescribed  course  in  1895,  with  the  de 
gree  of  Graduate  in  Pharmacy,  (Ph  G.).  Having 
obtained  his  degree  Dr.  Minton  opened  a  drug 
store.  This  was  the  first  venture  of  the  young 
man  in  the  business  world  and  his  venture  was  the 
first  of  any  colored  man  in  the  state  of  Pennsyl 
vania  in  drugs.  In  this  respect  Dr.  Minton  was 
a  pioneer.  He  made  a  success  of  his  undertaking 
and  continued  therein  till  1903. 

Dr.  Minton  gave  up  the  drug  business  to  enter 
the  medical  profession  as  a  practicing  physician.  In 
1906  he  was  graduated  from  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia.  He  began  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  Philadelphia  the  same  year  and  has 
continued  there.  To  him  have  come  many  oppor 
tunities  for  service.  And  through  service  has 
come  honor.  He  is  physician  to  Mercy  Hospital, 
and  at  the  present  time  he  is  acting  Superinten 
dent  ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Direc 
tors  of  this  institution. 

Dr.  Minton  has  given  a  great  deal  of  his  time 
to  the  study  of  Tuberculosis.  He  is  an  authority 
on  the  subject  and  is  Dispensary  Physician  to  Hen 
ry  Phipps  Institute  for  study  and  treatment  of 
Tuberculosis,  (University  of  Pennsylvania.)  He 
is  author  of  Causes  and  Prevention  of  Tuberculo 
sis,  having  published  the  volume  in  1915. 

Dr.  Minton  does  not  confine  his  interests  to 
purely  medical  matters,  but  is  interested  in  all 
things  that  look  toward  the  uplift  of  the  colored 
man.  He  is  Treasurer  of  Downington  Industrial 
School ;  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
Whittier  Center.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sigma 
Pi  Phi ;  of  the  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows ; 
and  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He  has 
made  an  exhaustive  study  of  the  conditions  sur 
rounding  the  Negroes  in  Philadelphia  and  is  auth 
or  of  "Early  History  of  Negroes  in  Business  in 
Philadelphia." 

Dr.  Minton  is  still  studying  the  subject  of  Tuber 
culosis  as  it  pertains  to  the  Negro  in  Philadelphia. 
He  is  chairman  of  a  committee  of  representative 
colored  persons  who  are  working  under  the  auspic 
es  of  the  Pennsylvania  Society  for  the  Prevention 
of  Tuberculosis.  This  Society  has  for  its  aim  an 
extensive  survey  of  this  problem  in  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  Minton  was  married  in  1902,  to  Miss  Edith 
G.  Wormley,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  They  live  at 
1130  S.  18  St.,  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  Minton  has  accumulated  several  pieces  ot 
valuable  real  estate  in  Philadelphia. 


282 


lilSHOP   GEORGE   LINCOLN   BLACKWELL,   A.   B., 
S.  T.  B.,  A.   M.,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 


EORGE  Lincoln  Blackwell  was 
born  at  Henderson,  N.  C.,  July  3, 
1861.  His  father  was  Hailey  and 
his  mother  was  Catherine  (Wy- 
che)  Blackwell.  Young  Blackwell 

was  reared  on  Tar  river,  in  Gran- 

viile  County,  and  about  the  plantation  known  as 
"Squire  William  Blackwell's."  School  facilities 
were  very  poor,  the  terms  were  three  and  four 
months  in  the  year  and  the  quality  of  teachers  was 
mediocre,  hence  young  Blackwell's  opportunities 
for  an  elementary  education  was  very  meagre. 
Whey  he  was  seventeen  he  became  a  night  pupil  of 
Joseph  Blackwell,  who  would  have  been  his  young 
master  had  slavery  held  on,  and  thus  prepared  him 
self  to  acquire  a  third  grade  teacher's  certificate. 
Tlii'  examiner  frankly  told  him  that  it  was  not  his 
literary  qualifications  that  caused  him  to  grant  the 
certificate  but  the  recommendation  of  good  charac 
ter  by  Squire  William  Blackwell.  Obtaining  the 
certificate,  young  Blackwell  taught  four  months, 
and  studying  hard  himself  during  the  same  time  he 
returned  and  made  a  good  second  grade.  Deeply 
impressed  of  his  call  to  preach  (having  professed 
faith  in  God  and  joined  the  church  at  the  age  of 


fifteen)  he  connected  himself  with  the  North  Caro 
lina  Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  in 
1881  at  Beaufort,  N.  C.  After  one  year's  success 
ful  service  he  realized  the  need  of  further  prepara 
tion,  so  he  was  relieved  of  regular  pastoral  duty 
and  entered  Livingston  College,  from  which  after 
six  years,  he  graduated  (1888)  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts.  After  one  year's  intermission,  he 
entered  Boston  University  School  of  Theology, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1892  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Sacred  Theology  in  class  with  Edwin 
H.  Hughes  and  F.  F.  Hamilton,  both  of  whom  are 
now  bishops  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Young  Blackwell  (who  had  already  married  Miss 
Annie  E.  Walker,  daughter  of  the  late  D.  I.  Walk 
er,  Chester,  S.  C.)  was  called  to  Livingston  Col 
lege,  his  alma  mater,  to  teach  theology,  and  enter 
ed  upon  that  duty  Oct.  1893,  just  three  weeks  after 
the  lamented  president  Dr.  J.  C.  Price,  passed  away, 
so  that  Rev.  W.  H.  Goler,  D.  D.,  succeeded  to  the 
presidency  and  young  Blackwell  was  made  dean  of 
the  Theological  Department  which  position  he  held 
for  three  years.  His  church  called  him  in  1896  to  be 
come  manager  of  the  publication  house,  Charlotte, 
N.  C.,  and  the  editor  of  the  Sunday  School  litera 
ture.  This  dual  office  he  held  for  four  years.  He 
then  became  the  pastor  of  the  foremost  church  of 
the  connection,  Wesley,  Philadelphia,  for  four  years 
following  which  he  was  made  the  Secretary  of 
Missions  and  Editor  of  the  Missionary  Seer,  a 
monthly  magazine.  After  four  years  service,  satis 
factory  to  the  whole  church,  George  Lincoln  Black- 
well,  was  elected  and  consecrated  bishop  of  tTie  Af 
rican  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church  in  1908  in 
his  own  home  town.  Since  being  elevated  to  this 
high  and  important  post  of  duty,  the  Bishop  has 
given  good  account  of  himself.  In  the  west  where 
he  served  for  eight  years,  he  and  his  men  erected 
forty  seven  churches  and  he  organized  two  new 
annual  conferences  and  three  new  presiding  elder 
districts.  His  district  now  takes  in  a  part  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  Michigan  and  a  part  of  Illinois 
including  Chicago ;  it  also  includes  Virginia  and 
two  conferences  in  North  Carolina. 

Bishop  Blackwell  is  known  in  his  church  both  as 
the  Editor  of  the  Book  of  Discipline  and  as  authori 
ty  on  ecclesiastical  law.  He  is  an  aggressive  and 
tireless  worker  and  wherever  he  presides  the  men 
quicken  their  pace  and  do  a  third  more  work  and 
yet  he  never  scolds  nor  quarrels  with  his  men  ;  his 
stock  in  trade  is  to  make  each  man  feel  that  he  is  a 
man  and  that  he  can  do  a  man's  part. 

Bishop  Blackwell  has  received  the  following  lit 
erary  degrees:  A.  M.,  Livingston  College  1894; 
D.  D.,  Kansas  Wesleyan  University  1896:  LL.  D., 
Campbell  College  1913. 

He  and  his  estimable  wife  live  happily  in  their 
own  well  appointed  home  624  South  Sixteenth 
Street,  Philadelphia. 

283 


JOHN  MILLER  MARQUESS,  A.  B.,  F.  A.  G.  S. 

OHN  Miller  Marquess— 
President  of  the  Colored  Agri 
cultural  and  Normal  University, 
at  Langston,  Oklahoma,  has  had 
a  very  thorough  preparation  for 

his  work.     In  his  life  as  a  student 

and  in  his  first  years  out  of  school,  while  he  serv 
ed  as  teacher  in  various  institutions,  he  was  un 
consciously  getting  just  the  training  that  he  need 
ed  to  make  him  an  all-round  man  for  the  Presi 
dency  of  some  institution. 

He  was  born  in  Helena,  Arkansas,  February  23, 
1882,  and  here  he  received  his  early  school  train 
ing,  and  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  attending  school 
regularly,  a  privilege  denied  many.  So  well  did 
young  Marquess  apply  himself  while  in  Helena, 
that  we  find  him  at  the  tender  age  of  thirteen  leav 
ing  home  and  entering  the  preparatory  department 
of  Fisk  University,  Nashville.  Tennessee.  Here 
he  remained  from  1895  till  1902,  when  he  was 
graduated  from  the  college  department  of  Fisk, 
with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  At  this  time  President 
Marquess  was  only  twenty  years  of  age. 

While  in  Fisk,  although  he  spent  a  great  deal  of 
his  time  on  his  books  and  kept  himself  up  with  his 
class  in  every  respect,  he  still  found  time  to  take 


a  very  active  part  in  all  the  life  of  the  institution. 
He  won  his  letters  in  football  and  was  captain  of 
the  team  for  two  years.  He  was  also  one  of  the  star 
players  on  the  base  ball  team.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Glee  Club,  Jubilee  Club,  and  Bass  soloist  for 
four  years.  In  1902,  he  traveled  with  the  Fisk 
Quartett  during  the  summer. 

Still  not  satisfied  with  his  preparation  and  be 
ing  just  a  young  man,  we  find  President  Marquess 
leaving  Fisk  and  matriculating  at  Dartsmouth. 
Here  he  remained  for  two  years,  receiving  the  de 
gree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  from  the  University  when 
he  kft.  In  Dartmouth  we  find  him  as  active  as 
he  was  in  Fisk.  He  was  a  member  of  the  track 
team,  football  squad  and  of  the  Glee  Club.  He 
won  his  letters  on  the  track  team.  Again  we  find 
him  a  soloist,  this  time  in  the  Dartmouth  Choral 
Club. 

On  leaving  school  President  Marquess  served  first 
as  Instructor  in  Mathematics  and  Languages  in 
Shorter  College,  Argenta,  Arkansas,  for  two  years  ; 
then  he  held  the  same  work  in  Kittrell  Col 
lege,  North  Carolina,  for  two  years.  The  next 
change  gave  him  a  chance  to  develop  his  executive 
ability.  This  opportunity  came  to  him — as  prin- 
'cipal  of  .the  Summer  High  School,  Kansas  City, 
Kansas.  Here  for  eight  years,  Mr.  Marquess 
worked,  training  the  young  people  who  came  un 
der  his  care  directly  and  so  directing  the  teachers 
in  his  school  that  each  child  in  the  school  was  ben- 
efitted  by  the  presence  of  the  principal.  In  1916,  he 
was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  State  University  for 
Colored  People,  in  Oklahoma.  Mr.  Marquess 
served  one  year  as  President  of  the  Citizen's 
Forum,  of  Kansas  City.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  and  Daughters  of  Tabor,  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias — in  this  last  named  he  is  the  present  Chan 
cellor  Commander,  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accept 
ed  Masons,  of  which  organization  he  is  serving  as 
Past  Grand  Secretary  for  the  State  of  Kansas,  of 
the  United  Brothers  of  Friendship  and  of  the  Royal 
Circle  of  Friends  of  the  World.  He  is  also  Past 
Potentate  in  Shrine,  a  member  of  Royal  Arch 
Chapter  Commandery,  (Knight  Templar),  and 
Scottish  Rite  consistory,  with  32nd  degree.  In  re 
ligious  belief  and  church  affiliation,  Mr.  Marquess 
is  African  Methodist  Episcopal.  At  present  Mr. 
Marquess  is  Vice-President,  a  director  and  mem 
ber  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Oklahoma 
Negro  State  Fair  Association.  This  is  a  char 
tered  organization.  He  is  also  a  Fellow  in  Amer 
ican  Geographical  Society.  He  has  traveled  ex 
tensively  in  the  United  States  and  has  been  also  in 
Canada  and  Mexico. 

August  28,  1908,  President  Marquess  was  mar 
ried  to  Miss  Anna  Fdna  Dickson,  of  Springfield,  O. 
Three  children  have  come  to  bless  their  home. 


284 


MAIN  BUILDING,  COLORED  AGRICULTURAL  A  ND    NORMAL    UNIVERSITY-    LANGSTON.    OKLA. 


HE  Colored  A.  &.  N.  University, 
of  Oklahoma,  is  situated  in  the 
town  of  Langston.  No  better 
site  could  have  been  chosen  for 
the  establishment  of  this  insti 
tution,  --  for  here  in  Langston, 
the  Negroes  have  the  whole  town 
to  themselves  and  get  all  the  les 
sons  in  self-government  that  come  with  the  man 
agement  of  a  town.  The  University  has  in  all 
thirteen  buildings.  There  is  the  Main  Building, 
which  is  the  largest  and  most  important  of  the 
group.  The  other  buildings  are  dormitories,  trades 
buildings,  etc.  All  the  buildings  are  heated  and 
lighted  from  a  central  plant.  To  make  the  Col 
ored  Agricultural  and  Normal  University  even 
more  sustaining  they  have  their  own  water  and 
sewerage  system. 

The  University  was  established  at  Langston  by 
an  act  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  in  1897.  The 
purpose  of  the  University  is  to  give  the  colored 
people  of  Oklahoma  an  opportunity  to  get  within 
the  State  a  very  thorough  training  for  life's  work. 
Here  they  may  receive  Collegiate,  Mechanical  and 
Agricultural  training  without  the  expense  of  trav 
eling  to  distant  States  for  the  purpose,  and  at  a 
minimum  cost  per  month  for  board,  lodging,  etc. 
Forty  acres  of  land  were  donated  by  the  Negroes 
of  Langston  and  its  immediate  vicinity.  As  the 
school  grew,  they  became  pressed  for  space  for 
farm  demonstration,  actual  farm  land,  etc,  and  so 
the  acreage  was  increased.  Today  they  have 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land. 

The  support  of  the  University  is  derived  from 
three  distinct  sources.  Yearly  they  have  appro 
priated  for  their  support  a  sum  from  the  State 
Treasury.  Then  they  receive  one  third  of  one 
tenth  of  the  proceeds  from  the  rental  of  Section 
Thirteen  which  was  reserved  by  Congress  for  the 
benefit  of  institutions  of  higher  learning.  They 
also  get  one  tenth  of  the  Morrill  Fund,  a  fund  ap 


propriated  by  the  United  States  government  for  the 
teaching  of  trades  to  its  citizens.  This  one  tenth 
received  by  the  Colored  Agricultural  and  Normal 
University  represents  the  amount  due  the  Colored 
people  in  the  State  of  Oklahoma;  the  division  be 
ing  made  according  to  the  population. 

The  piant  of  the  University  is  How  valued  at 
about  $225,000.00. 

The  Faculty  of  A.  &  N.  University  is  composed 
of  thirty-two  individuals.  All  of  these  teachers 
have  had  very  thorough  preparation  for  their 
tasks.  All  are  graduates  of  some  standard  College 
or  Normal  and  several  have  their  masters  degrees 
from  institutions  like  Yale  and  Columbia  Univer 
sity  of  New  York  City.  Among  the  schools  repres 
ented  on  the  faculty  of  the  University  are  Fisk,  Ho 
ward,  Tuskegee,  Hampton,  Oberlin,  Pratt,  Touga- 
loo,  Bennett,  Wilberforce,  Walden,  University  of 
California,  Spelman  Seminary,  Wiley,  and  Tillot- 
son. 

In  addition  to  the  College  work  leading  the  de 
gree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  the  Teacher  Training 
Course  and  Agricultural  Course,  the  school  offers 
training  in  all  the  mechanical  trades.  The  equip 
ment  for  the  work  is  complete.  The  school  has 
not  forgotten  to  develop  the  asthetical  side  of  its 
students.  There  is  a  musical  department  that  in 
cludes  instrumental  and  vocal  music.  It  has  its 
Glee  Club,  Jubilee  Clubs,  Band  and  Orchestra.  Spe 
cial  emphasis  is  laid  on  the  training  of  Sunday 
School  workers.  The  development  of  the  physi 
cal  side  of  the  students  is  looked  after  in  the  ath 
letics  which  are  endorsed  and  encouraged. 

No  tuition  is  charged  students  who  reside 
in  the  the  State  of  Oklahoma.  Eleven  dollars 
mental  music  lessons  there  is  placed  an  extra 
charge  of  one  dollar  per  month. 

The  graduates,  for  the  most  part,  are  engaged 
in  teaching.  The  demand  for  them  is  much  larger 
than  the  supply. 


285 


JAMES  ROYAL  JOHNSON 

R.  Johnson,  Superintendent  of  Ok 
lahoma  State  Institute  for  Deaf, 
Blind  and  Orphan  Colored  Chil 
dren,  was  born  in  Washington, 
Wilkes  County,  Georgia,  Sep 
tember,  1870.  He  is  the  son  of 
Johanna  and  Amos  Johnson,  who  were  slaves  of 
Senator  Robert  Toombs.  Secretary  of  State  in  Jeff 
Davis'  Cabinet. 

His  early  life  as  a  boy  was  like  that  of  other  Ne 
gro  boys  of  his  time  and  section,  only  distinguished 
by  his  intense,  longing  for  an  education.  H.  H.  Wil 
liams,  prosperous  business  man,  of  Atlanta,  Geor 
gia,  and  R.  R.  Wright,  President  of  the  Georgia 
State  Industrial  College,  Savannah,  were  among 
his  teachers.  Completing  his  education,  Mr.  John 
son  taught  school  in  Georgia  for  a  number  of  years 
and  then  went  west.  After  teaching  in  Mississippi 
Arkansas  and  Texas,  he  landed  in  Oklahoma  City, 
April,  1905.  His  first  and  only  public  school  work 
was  near  Edmond,  a  town  then  and  now  without 
a  single  Colored  inhabitant.  Here  Mr.  Johnson 
lived  for  two  years.  During  his  sojourn  here  the 
citizens  united  in  a  monster  petition  to  the  Re 
gents  of  Langston  University,  that  he  be  given  a 
place  on  the  faculty  of  that  Institution.  Where 
upon  he  was  elected  Assistant  Professor  of  Math 
ematics,  and  two  years  later  Vice-President  of  the 
University.  In  this  capacity  he  was  in  absolute 
control  of  the  Langston  Literary  activities.  Lang 
ston  University  reached  its  highest  place  as  a  use 
ful  factor  in  race  life  while  Mr.  Johnson  was  its 
Vice-President. 


Thus  it  was  that  when  Oklahoma  came  into 
Statehood,  and  founded  an  Institute  for  the  deaf, 
blind  and  orphan,  her  officials  elected  Mr.  Johnson 
to  preside  over  the  institute.  What  he  is  doing  at 
this  post  can  be  seen  from  two  excerpts  from  the 
Muskogee  Times-Democrat,  a  white  daily  paper. 

MANAGEMENT  OF  TAFT  INSTITUTION 

"It  is  very  gratifying  to  learn  that  the  State 
Board  of  Education  and  the  Legislative  Committee 
on  Appropriations,  after  having  gone  over  the  re 
ports  of  the  various  educational  and  elemosyn- 
ary  institutions  of  the  State,  unite  in  saying  that 
the  Institution  that  makes  the  best  showing,  as  to 
business  management,  is  the  institution  for  col 
ored,  at  Taft,  of  which  J.  R.  Johnson  is  Superin 
tendent.  Johnson's  management  of  this  Institu 
tion  deserves  the  highest  commendation  and  his 
record  ought  to  be  a  matter  of  very  great  pride  to 
the  members  of  his  race." 

INVITE  BAPTISTS  TO  TAFT  SCHOOL 
ON  A  BUSINESS  BASIS 

"President  Johnson  has  the  unique  distinction  of 
conducting  his  institution  on  what  is  admitted  by 
all  to  be  the  best  business  basis  of  any  institution 
in  the  State.  Johnson  not  only  looks  after  the  ed 
ucational  features  of  the  school,  but  keeps  the 
school  absolutely  free  from  criticism  and  scandal ; 
but  he  teaches  the  students  to  work,  and  produce 
on  the  farm  owned  by  the  State  and  on  land  which 
he  personally  rents,  crops  which  go  far  toward 
paying  the  living  expenses  of  200  pupils." 

"President  Johnson  is  a  most  remarkable  man. 
It  is  not  generally  known  that  early  in  this  year, 
feeling  the  positive  necessity  of  having  a  large 
sanitary  barn,  he  undertook  to  build  the  barn  out 
of  savings  from  his  appropriation  for  maintenance. 
The  cost  exceeded  the  estimate  and  in  order  not 
to  have  a  deficit,  Johnson  waived  three  months 
salary.  This  does  not  mean  that  he  passed  it  up 
for  future  payment,  but  it  means  that  he  just  gave 
the  State  three  months  of  his  salary  in  order  to 
have  the  barn. 

PAYS  FROM  OWN  POCKET 

"Appropriation  has  been  made  for  more  land 
but  the  land  has  not  been  purchased.  Johnson 
rented  160  acres,  paid  the  rent,  bought  the  seed 
and  fertilizer  out  of  his  own  pocket  and  has  141 
acres  of  as  fine  cotton  as  is  in  the  State.  The  State 
will  realize  after  reimbursing  Johnson  for  the  rent, 
a  net  profit  of  twice  the  value  of  the  land.  Not 
many  State  officials  would  do  this.  If  the  crop 
had  been  a  failure  Johnson  would  have  lost  what 
he  put  into  it.  The  State  stood  to  win  but  not  to 
lose.  Many  people  believe  that  President  John 
son  of  the  Taft  Institute,  measured  by  results  of 
his  work,  is  the  biggest  Afro-American  in  Okla 
homa." 

The  size  of  the  institute  and  what  it  is  doing  can 
be  best  judged  by  two  reports,  one  from  the  State 
Superintendent  of  Education,  the  other  from  Su 
perintendent  Johnson : 


286 


STATE  INSTITUTE  FOR   DEAF,  BLIND  AND  ORPHAN    COLORED    CHILDREN— TAFT,    OKLAHOMA. 


INDUSTRIAL    INSTITUTE    FOR    DEAF,    BLIND    AND 
ORPHANS— S.   DOUGLASS   RUSSELL  PRES 
IDENT— TAFT,  OKLAOHMA. 

Land    $  5.000.00 

One   frame   building   $  1.000.00 

One  brick  building   $35.000.00 

One  power  house  and  boiler $  3.000.00 

Furniture  and  equipment  in  two  buildings  $  3,000.90 

STATE  INSTITUTE  FOR   DEAF.   BLIND   AND   COLO 
RED  ORPHANS— TAFT,  OKLAHOMA—  J.  R. 
JOHNSON,  SUPERINTENDENT. 

1.     Property: 

1.     Total   acreage   belonging   to   Institution    101, 
valued  at   '_ $  5,000.00 

Buildings : 

Girl's   dormitory,   brick $35.000.00 

Boy's   dormitory,    frame    1,000.00 

Superintendent's   residence,  frame 1,800.00 

Light    and    heating   plant    3,000.00 

Modern  barn,  valued  at  .  3,100.00 


Total   $43,900.00 

As  shown  above,  the  farm  consists  of  101  acres 
and  is  entirely  too  small  to  give  proper  employ 
ment  to  the  large  number  of  boys  living  at  this  in 
stitution.  The  Superintendent,  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  State  Board  of  Public  Affairs  and 
Dr.  F.  B.  Fite,  resident  member  of  the  State  Board 


of  Education,  rented  180  acres  of  land  which  he 
planted  in  wheat  and  oats.  We  have  harvested 
from  this  land  2,467  bushels  of  oats  and  809  bushels 
of  wheat,  a  plentiful  supply  for  all  our  wants. 

In  addition  to  wheat  and  oats  we  have  raised  300 
bushels  of  Irish  potatoes.  400  bushels  of  sweet  po 
tatoes,  380  gallons  of  syrup,  canned  452  gallons  of 
tomatoes,  and  10  barrels  of  kraut.  We  have  62 
hogs,  and  will  kill  5000  pounds  of  meat  this  winter. 

Because  of  the  abundance  of  our  farm  and  gar 
den  produce,  we  have  been  able  to  furnish  food  for 
an  average  of  186  children  at  an  average  cost  of 
thi;ee  and  six  mills  per  day. 

While  we  are  able  to  furnish  healthful  and  prof 
itable  employment  for  our  boys,  the  same  condi 
tion  does  not  obtain  with  regard  to  the  girls.  We 
are  doing  something  toward  training  them  to  be 
come  bread  winners,  but  not  enough.  We  need'an 
Industrial  building  wherein  our  girls  will  receive 
practical  training  in  every  day  house  work ;  clean 
ing,  cooking,  sewing,  etc.  This  is  not  possible  as 
we  are  now  situated. 

To  have  invested  his  own  money  to  make  the 
farm  feed  his  school,  to  have  built  up  sources  and 
increased  the  general  usefulness  of  this  Institute 
would  seem  a  good  life  work  for  any  one  man. 
But  to  this  Superintendent  Johnson  adds  the  re 
sponsibility  of  caring  for  the  State  Reformatory  of 
Negro  Boys  and  the  Home  for  incorrigible  Girls. 
These  he  is  shaping  and  giving  character  just  as  he 
is  doing  for  the  institute  for  the  Deaf,  Blind  and 
the  Orphans. 


287 


SAMUEL  I.  MOONE.  A.  B.,  M.  D. 

F  we  stop  to  note  the  list  of  great 
men  who  have  been  born  on  the 
farm  and  who  spent  their  early 
life  in  tilling  the  soil,  we  are 
forced  to  conclude  that  there  is 
something  in  such  a  life  which 
lays  a  strong  foundation  for  a  successful  career. 
It  may  be  due  to  the  discipline  of  early  rising  and 
hard  physical  labor  which  develops  the  body,  or  the 
opportunity  for  quiet  contemplation  which  helps  to 
develop  the  mind,  but  whatever  the  cause  it  is  a 
fact  that  many  of  our  great  men  come  from  the 
country. 

Dr.  Samuel  I.  Moone  was  born  on  a  farm  and 
passed  his  early  days  working  as  a  farm  laborer. 
He  was  born  in  Spartanburg  County,  South  Caro 
lina.  January  6th.,  1874.  He  attended  the  County 
schools,  when  they  were  in  session. 

School  terms  in  the  County  were  short ;  the 
hours  of  labor  on  the  farm,  even  for  a  lad,  were 
long.  Tiring  of  this  life,  seeing  that  he  made  but 
little  headway  in  gaining  an  education,  the  young 
man  sought  to  try  his  fortune  elsewhere. 
Leaving  his  native  home  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  he 
went  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  and  found  em 


ployment  as  a  day  laborer  in  the  rolling  mills.  The 
work  was  hard,  too  hard  for  one  so  young,  but  he 
kept  in  mind  his  goal,  that  of  getting  an  education, 
of  being  a  man  of  service  and  distinction  among 
his  fellowmen. 

Finally  he  was  able  to  pursue  his  course.  Leav 
ing  the  rolling  mills,  he  entered  Biddle  University, 
Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  in  1890.  Working  at  any 
task  he  could  find  both  in  vacations  and  at  odd 
times,  he  completed  the  Normal  and  Collegiate 
Courses  in  1898. 

After  teaching  through  the  winter  of  1898  and 
the  spring  of  1899,  he  left  the  school  room  and 
sought  harder  but  surer  means  of  pursuing  his 
course.  Once  more  he  resorted  to  the  rolling  mills, 
going  to  Pittsburg.  Pennsylvania,  for  the  purpose. 
This  hard  and  arduous  labor  provided  him  with 
sufficient  money  to  take  up  the  study  of  medicine. 
In  1899  he  entered  the  Leonard  Medical  School, 
completing  his  course  in  1904.  He  had  worked 
hard,  had  suffered  privations,  but  he  could  now 
see  the  horizon,  and  he  went  out  to  begin  life  as  a 
professional  man. 

Fixing  upon  Norfolk,  Virginia,  as  a  desirable 
place,  he  opened  an  office  and  put  up  his  shingle. 
As  is  true  of  most  doctors  and  professional  men,  he 
waited  a  short  while  before  patronage  became 
sufficiently  large  to  insure  a  living.  However,  he 
had  courage  and  the  confidence  to  labor  and  wait. 
In  due  time  the  public  found  him  out.  and  his  suc 
cess  as  a  physician  was  assured.  A  practice  of 
fourteen  years  has  yielded  him  a  comfortable  liv 
ing  for  himself  and  for  his  family,  has  enabled  him 
to  provide  himself  with  a  home  and  several  valuable 
pieces  of  property  in  the  city  of  Norfolk. 

Dr.  Moone  was  wise  enough  at  the  beginning  not 
to  keep  to  himself.  Experience  in  life  had  taught 
him  how  to  mingle  quite  at  ease  with  his  fellows 
and  his  success  was  due  largely  to  the  fact  that  he 
had  the  welfare  of  his  people  at  heart  and  be 
ing  willing  to  lift  while  rising.  He  joined  the  Pres 
byterian  Church  of  Norfolk  and  became  an  elder. 
He  joined  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  became  one  of 
the  leading  members  of  the  body.  He  soon  came 
to  be  sought  out  for  all  big  undertakings  among 
the  colored  people  of  Norfolk.  He  is  a  director  and 
a  stockholder  in  Brown  Savings  and  Banking  Com 
pany,  of  __orfolk.  He  is  a  director  and  a  stock 
holder  in  the  Seaside  Building  Association  of  Nor 
folk,  and  a  stockholder  in  the  Bayshore  Summer 
Resort,  at  Hampton. 

Dr  .Moone  has  been  twice  married.  The  first 
Mrs.  Moone  was  Miss  Susie  Fox,  of  Charlotte. 
North  Carolina.  She  died  in  1907.  The  present 
Mrs.  Moone  was  Miss  Jessie  E.  Stoney,  who  for 
several  years  was  a  teacher  in  Claflin  University, 
Orangeburg,  South  Carolina. 


288 


GIRLS'   DORMITORY,   STATE   COLLEGE— ELIZABE  TH    CITY,   N.    C— PETER    W.     MOORE.     PRESIDENT. 


"FER  W.  Moore,  of  Elizabeth 
City,  North  Carolina,  was  born 
near  Clinton,  Sampson  County, 
North  Carolina,  June  1859.  His 
early  education  was  received  in 
the  rural  school  of  this  county. 
Here  he  applied  himself,  getting 
from  his  books  all  that  the 
teacher  could  explain  to  him,  and  reading  into 
them  a  great  deal  from  his  own  mind. 

While  in  the  rural  schools  he  led  the  life  of  a  farm 
boy.  Here  he  had  all  the  toil  of  the  farmer,  and 
he  had  also  the  joys  that  come  to  the  farm  lad.  So 
although  he  had  to  hoe  and  plow  and  milk  cows 
and  catch  the  horses  and  feed  them,  the  young  lad 
also  had  time  off  here  and  there  to  enjoy  a  fishing 
trip  and  to  go  hunting,  and  look  after  his  traps.  It 
is  this  diversion  that  comes  with  the  farm  life  that 
keeps  it  from  breaking  the  ambition  of  those  who 
are  born  to  become  leaders,  although  born  in  out- 
of-the-way  places. 

Leaving  the  farm  in  1879,  Mr.  Moore  entered 
Shaw  University.  Here  for  eight  years  he  re 
mained,  making  for  himself  a  record  as  a  student 
and  as  a  man  at  the  same  time.  In  order  to  re 
main  in  school,  each  summer  he  returned  to  the 
farm  and  worked  at  all  the  odd  jobs  and  hard  labor 
as  well,  to  which  he  had  become  so  accustomed  and 
which  he  had  not  as  yet  out-grown.  Mr.  Moore 
went  to  the  North  Carolina  State  Normal  school, 
located  at  New  Bern.  Here  he  trained  for  the  de 
finite  work  of  teaching. 

After  his  graduation  in  1887,  he  was  elected  Vice 
Principal  of  the  State  Normal  school,  at  Plymouth, 
North  Carolina.  Here  he  remained  for  four  years, 
serving  in  this  capacity.  During  these  years  he  got 
the  practical  experience  of  an  executive  in  the 
school  world.  These  four  years  only  helped  fit 
him  for  the  more  responsible  position  which  await- 


c-d  him.  In  1892  Mr.  Moore  was  elected  principal  of 
the  State  Normal  and  Industrial  School,  at  Eliza 
beth  City,  North  Carolina.  Here  he  has  remained. 
When  he  took  the  work,  January,  1892,  he  had  an 
enrollment  of  64  pupils  and  one  assistant.  In  1918 
he  had  an  enrollment  of  473  and  a  faculty  of  thir 
teen.  This  growth  has  been  due  not  only  to  the 
untiring  efforts  of  Mr.  Moore,  in  advertising  his 
school,  but  to  the  good  work  done  there.  The 
fact  of  this  good  work  has  been  told  by  the  many 
pupils  going  out,  and  so  the  work  has  grown. 

Mr.  Moore  has  not  confined  his  efforts  to  the 
running  of  his  school  alone.  In  fact,  he  has  had 
a  conspicious  place  in  the  educational  world  in  his 
State.  He  served  as  Teachers'  Institute  Conduc 
tor  and  as  Assistant  Superintendent  of  Public 
Schools.  He  has  served  as  President  of  theNorth 
Carolina  Teachers'  Association,  and  is  at  present 
serving  that  organization  in  the  capacity  of  Secre 
tary.  Because  of  the  prominent  place  he  held  in 
the  educational  circles  of  his  state,  when  the  Gov 
ernor  wanted  a  representative  in  the  National  Ed 
ucational  Congress  on  two  occasions  he  chose  Mr. 
.Mi iore  for  the  job. 

In  1889  Mr.  Peter  W.  Moore  was  married  to 
Miss  S.  T.  Rayner,  at  Windsor,  North  Carolina. 
To  them  have  been  born  two  daughters.  Miss 
Ruth  S.  Moore  is  married  to  Mr.  Henry  Games. 
Although  married,  she  still  teaches.  Miss  Bessie 
V.  Moore  is  still  a  student. 

No  better  prepared  man  could  be  found  to  serve 
at  the  head  of  the  institution  over  which  Mr.  Moore 
is  now  President.  His  training  in  early  youth  fits 
him  to  sympathize  with  the  students  from  the  rural 
districts  of  North  Carolina.  He  knows  their  prob 
lems  and  can  help  solve  them.  And  then,  going  out 
from  his  school,  his  pupils  carry  with  tbem  the  en 
thusiasm,  and  high  ideals  of  service  which  they 
have  imbibeJ.  under  the  influence  of  Mr.  Moore. 


2S9 


CAPTAIN   J.    E.   HAM  LIN 


MONG  the  few  mer  who  passed 
through  the  schools  and  secured  a 
thorough  education  and  chose  a 
business  career  instead  of  enter 
ing  the  professions,  is  James  Ed 
ward  Hamlin,  of  Raleigh,  North 
Carolina.  He  not  only  chose  a  business  career,  but 
made  a  conspicious  success  of  the  business,  which 
finally  claimed  his  attention.  He  did  not  find  the 
line  of  endeavor  which  gripped  his  interest  and 
awakened  his  business  talent  and  energies  until  af 
ter  he  had  tried  several  different  ventures. 

He  turned  instinctively  from  tailoring,  and  the 
pressing  club,  and  all  the  other  easier,  self-running 
enterprises  failed  to  attract  him.  The  business  in 
stinct  in  him  was  strong  and  he  sought  an  occupa 
tion  which  would  give  free  play  to  his  gifts.  For  a 
time,  on  leaving  school  he  worked  in  the  Raleigh 
Post  Office.  This  gave  him  time  to  cast  about  for 
a  business  of  his  own.  He  soon  noticed  that  there 
was  a  good  opening  for  a  Negro  fish  market,  a 
business  in  which  but  few  Negroes  are  engaged  in 
even  today.  The  business  did  not  suit  him  alto 
gether  so  he  yielded  to  the  lure  of  travel,  disposd 
of  his  stand,  and  went  to  New  York,  where  he 
secured  a  position  in  the  dining  car  service.  Again 
his  mind  turned  towards  Raleigh,  and  a  business 
career.  This  time  he  opened  a  restaurant  which  he 
conducted  with  marked  success,  but  the  call  of  his 
Government,  just  when  his  restaurant  had  reached 
a  high  point  of  prosperity,  caused  him  to  give  it  up 
and  lay  himself  upon  the  altar  of  his  country.  The 


war  with  Spain  was  announced  and  Mr.  Hamlin 
was  quick  to  volunteer  for  service.  He  was  made 
Captain  of  Company  B.,  of  the  North  Carolina 
Thirty-Second  volunteers. 

He  served  through  the  Spanish-American  war 
and,  won  the  respect  of  his  commanding  officers 
and  love  and  confidence  of  the  men  of  his  company, 
and  merited  the  gratitude  of  his  country  to  which 
he  gave  his  loyal  support.  After  returning  from 
the  Spanish-American  War,  Captain  Hamlin  de 
cided  to  remain  in  the  army  and  enlisted  for  service 
in  the  Phillipines.  and  served  in  those  Islands  as 
Captain  of  the  Forty-eighth  Infantry  Volunteers 
for  two  years. 

After  remaining  in  the  Phillipines  for  the  term 
of  his  enlistment  he  received  his  honorable  dis 
charge  from  the  army,  and  returned  to  the  United 
States.  For  the  time  that  he  was  in  the  army  all 
thoughts  of  business  were  dismissed  from  his  mind, 
but  immediately  after  ^|hs  retirement  his  mind 
again  reverted  to  it,  and  his  face  was  turned  again 
towards  Raleigh.  This  time  he  ventured  into  the 
drug  business,  and  in  that  he  found  a  business  to 
his  liking,  although  he  still  had  a  leaning  to  the  res 
taurant.  He  opened  his  first  drug  store  in  1904. 

Today  he  owns  two  drug  stores,  and  a  lunch 
room  in  Raleigh,  a  large  farm  not  far  from 
the  city,  and  has  interest  in  a  drug  store  in  Blue- 
field,  North  Carolina.  All  of  these  business  ven 
tures  have  proved  successful  and  very  remunera 
tive,  the  earnings  from  same  he  very  wisely  invest 
ed  in  real  estate,  which  in  turn  has  added  to  his  in 
come. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  African  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church. 

Though  he  has  moved  several  times,  Mr.  Hamlin 
has  been  a  very  useful  citizen.  He  was  Secretary 
of  the  Negro  State  Fair  of  North  Carolina  for 
twelve  years,  during  which  period  he  lifted  the  or 
ganization  out  of  confusion  and  loss  to  one  of  the 
best  Negro  Fairs  in  the  country.  He  is  a  notary 
public,  the  only  Negro  Notary  in  Raleigh.  He  is 
connected  with  the  North  Carolina  Mutual  Indus 
trial  Association.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree 
Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  Knight  of  Pythias, 
Knight  of  Gideon,  and  a  Good  Samaritan. 

Mr.  Hamlin  has  traveled  very  extensively,  hav 
ing  gone  all  over  the  United  States,  in  the  Philli 
pines  and  in  Europe.  For  all  his  travel  he  has  ac 
cumulated  a  comfortable  sum  of  money  and  large 
property  holdings.  He  owns  his  home,  a  store 
building  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  and  fourteen  rent 
houses,  and  a  farm  valued  at  $6,800.  His  wealth 
is  estimated  at  from  $65,000  to  $78,000. 

Mr.  Hamlin  was  married  in  1885  to  Miss  Annie 
W.  Foushee,  of  Raleigh.  There  are  two  children, 
Miss  Annie  Ethel,  now  Mrs.  Rogers,  and  Dr.  V.  C. 
Hamlin,  of  Raleigh. 


290 


JONAH  EMANUEL 

ANY  a  man  has  gone  from  the 
farm  to  carve  his  way  to  high  po 
sitions  of  honor  and  proficiency 
in  his  chosen  profession.  We  find 
such  an  instance  in  the  career  of 
Dr.  Jonah  Emanuel.  Dr.  Eman- 
uel  was  born  in  Bible  County,  Georgia,  September 
9th,  1858.  He  removed  from  Georgia  with  his  pa 
rents  at  the  age  of  seven  years  and  located  in  the 
State  of  Arkansas.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Arkansas  for  three  years. 

His  father,  Benjamin  Emanuel,  was  a  farmer,  for 
some  years,  and  in  fact  until  he  was  twenty  one 
years  of  age,  Dr.  Emanuel  worked  with  his  father 
on  the  farm.  When  he  reached  his  majority  he 
decided  to  shift  for  himself,  and  his  eyes  turned 
towards  the  city. 

He  left  the  farm  and  came  to  the  city  of  New 
York.  When  he  reached  Jersey  City,  he  had  ex 
hausted  his  funds  and  found  that  he  did  not  have 
sufficient  money  to  pay  his  way  from  that  city  to 
the  point  of  his  destination.  Nothing  daunted  he 
continued  his  way  on  foot  and  reached  Bedford, 
New  York,  where  he  obtained  work  at  one  dollar 
and  a  half  a  day. 


Remaining  a  few  months  in  Bedford  he  saved 
enough  money  to  continue  his  way  to  New  York 
City  where  he  obtained  employment  at  four  dollars 
per  week.  For  two  years  he  labored  hard  during 
the  day  and  attended  school  at  night.  He  applied 
himself  diligently  to  his  studies  and  built  largely 
upon  the  foundation  he  had  received  at  the  public  . 
schools. 

He  chose  Chiropody  as  his  profession  and  set 
about  preparing  himself  for  his  work.  He  served 
three  years  under  a  most  proficient  Chiropodist, 
and  when  he  acquired  sufficient  skill  he  opened  an 
office  for  himself  in  the  Windsor  Hotel,  and  then 
located  at  46th  Street  and  5th  Avenue. 

For  the  first  two  or  three  years  he  averaged 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  month;  this 
was  much  below  the  amount  he  hoped  to"  realize 
but  his  disappointment  did  not  discourage  him,  it 
only  made  him  more  determined  to  succeed.  He 
applied  himself  more  diligently  and  worked  hard 
day  and  night  to  improve  his  knowledge  of  his  pro 
fession,  and  to  give  perfect  satisfaction  to  his  pa 
tients  ;  and  in  the  course  of  time  increased  his  in 
come  to  more  than  five  thousand  dollars  per  an 
num. 

Some  of  the  richest  and  best  families  of  New 
York  and  i  any  other  cities  are  to  be  found 
among  his  large  and  ever-increasing  number  of 
patients,  about  ninety-nine  per  cent  of  which  are 
white.  He  has  the  reputation  of  having  no  super 
ior  in  his  profession,  the  character  of  his  patients 
bearing  testimony  to  the  correctness  of  this  esti 
mate  placed  upon  his  ability.  He  has  the  distinc 
tion  of  being  the  one  Colored  charter  member  of 
the  New  York  State  Pedic  Society. 

Dr.  Emanuel  has  been  thrice  married ;  the  first 
time  to  Miss  Susie  Johnson,  of  Virginia,  in  1888; 
in  1899  he  married  Miss  Louise  Dyer,  of  Virginia, 
by  whom  three  children — Gussie,  Blanch,  and  Viola 
were  born.  In  1909  he  married  Miss  Bertha  B. 
Harper,  of  South  Carolina. 

Dr.  Emanuel  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Marks  Me 
thodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is  actively  and  offi 
cially  identified  with  its  work.  He  is  also  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  He 
is  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a 
Master  Mason. 

Dr.  Emanuel  is  deeply  interested  in  the  develop 
ment  of  his  race,  and  in  every  way  possible,  accord 
ing  to  his  ability,  contributes  to  their  uplift,  both 
in  time,  talent  and  money. 

Notwithstanding  his  most  generous  contribu 
tions  to  the  various  enterprises  of  his  people,  and 
the  making  of  investments  to  his  own  disadvantage 
in  order  to  encourage  them  along  business  lines, 
he  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  considerable 
wealth  and  is  now  well  fixed  financially. 


291 


Zion  Baptist  Church,  Churchview,  Va.  Four  years 
labor  in  these  churches,  which  he  pastored  jointly, 
gained  him  the  call  to  the  Calvary  Baptist  Church, 
Danville,  Va.  Here  he  has  labored  for  twenty-two 
years,  making  the  Calvary  Baptist  Church  a  pow 
er  in  the  state,  making  it  also  the  center  from 
which  he  radiated  into  other  kinds  of  needed  ser 
vices. 

To  pastor  a  big  church  as  Dr.  Goode  has  done  is 
ample  work  for  the  average  minister.  To  Dr. 
Goode.  so  thoroughly  prepared,  so  rich  in  the  com 
mon  man's  experience,  it  was  an  item  in  a  big  ca 
reer.  He  founded  the  P.  I.  N.  and  C.  Institute,  and 
has  been  its  president  for  fifteen  years.  He  was 
president  of  the  General  Baptist  Association  of 
Virginia  for  seven  years ;  secretary  of  the  Cherry 
Stone  Baptist  Association  for  eighteen  years,  mem 
ber  of  the  Fxecutve  Board  of  the  State  Sunday 
School  Convention;  treasurer  and  Board  member 
of  the  B.  Y.  P.  U. ;  member  of  the  Lott  Carey  For 
eign  Missionary  Convention;  member  of  the  Ne 
gro  Organization  Society  and  of  the  State  Teach 
ers'  Association ;  chairman  of  the  Executive  Board 
of  the  United  Charity  and  Welfare  League,  an  or 
ganization  which  supports  a  sick  nurse  in  the  city 
of  Danville.  No  wonder  he  bewails  the  days, 
months  and  years  as  being  too  short  to  do  all  the 
tasks  before  him. 

Dr.  Goode  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  L.  Gaines, 
who  was  formerly  a  school  teacher  of  Richmond, 
Virginia,  in  1896.  To  her  he  cheerfully  owns  that 
he  is  indebted  for  much  of  his  success.  There  have 
been  no  children  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Goode,  but 
they  have  turned  this  seeming  misfortune  into  a 
blessing.  They  have  taken  into  their  home  and 
educated  five  children:  Miss  Rosa  B.  Gaines  they 
have  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Richmond, 
then  at  Hartshorn  College ;  Caleb  S.  Mahlemgara, 
an  African,  they  have  had  for  ten  years,  taking  him 
drectly  from  Africa.  He  has  been  graduated  from 
the  P.  I.  N.  and  C.  Institute,  from  the  Virginia 
Goode  spent  the  larger  part  of  the  first  seventeen  Union  University 'Academic  Department,  and  is 

*-»j~i-iir     t*4-mAiTii~if-r    iri-t-i/""iilt-iif£i     i  n     +ri£*     '••it^'i  fr»     Am"wiilfiif]l 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  GOODE,  B.  D.,  D.  D. 

O  day,  no  month,  no  year  is  long 
enough"  to  accomplish  the  tasks 
that  devolve  upon  Dr.  George 
Washington  Goode,  B.  D.,  D.  D.. 
of  Danville,  Virginia,  so  he  states 

it  himself,  and  so  it  is.     Born  in 

Patrick    County,    Virginia,    March    14th,    1865,    Dr. 


.;..,          ,.      ( 
years  of  his  life  c 


now  studying  agriculture  in  the  State  Agricultural 
College  at  Columbus,  Oh\o.  Warner  H.  Gaines  is 


,  .  . 

Completing    the    High    School    Course    in    Mar-      the  third  cnjjd  to  receive  parental   care   from  Dr. 

n  Virginia,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  taught  ancl  Mrs.  Goode.  This  young  man  is  now  a  finish- 
school  in  his'  home  County,  in  Smyth,  in  Bedford  ed  carpenter  in  Richmond,  Virginia.  George  W. 
and  Montgomery  for  seven  years.  Converted  about  Goode  Jr.  is  now  in  their  care.  Margaret  Smith, 

ctuu   j.niiiiL£,winv_._y  t  ,i        fffh    -irlnntpr!    rViilrl     is    nko    with    them 


on 


the  age  of  twenty  one,  he  felt  his  call  to  the  min 
istry.  His  first  charge  was  at  Red  Hill,  Pulaski 
County,  Va.,  a  mining  town.  Here  he  organized  a 
church  and  was  the  means  of  forty  souls  being  con 
verted.  From  Red  Hill,  where  he  gathered  his 
strength  and  established  his  fame  as  a  coming 
preacher,  he  entered  the  Richmond  Theological 
Seminary.  Here  he  spent  six  years;  three  in  com 
pleting  the  institute  course  and  three  in  the  theolo 
gical,  graduating  from  the  full  Greek  and  Hebrew 
course  in  1895. 

For  three  years  he  was  student  teacher  of  arith 
metic  and  beginnner's  Greek.  Dr.  Goode  pastored 
the  Salem  Baptist  Church,  West  Point,  and  the  Mt. 


the  fifth  adopted  child,  is  also  with  them. 

Along  with  all  these  responsibilities  at  home  and 
abroad  Dr.  Goode  has  kept  upon  his  heart  one  great 
task  for  mankind,  that  of  bringing  about  Temper 
ance.  For  twenty  years  he  has  labored  in  and  out 
of  season  at  this,  taking  active  part  in  all  meetings 
and  campaigns  in  its  behalf.  He  is  an  aggressive 
and  fearless  fighter,  yet  much  loved  for  his  gen 
uineness  and  for  his  services  throughout  Virginia. 
He  wears  one  of  the  finest  gold  medals  available, 
given  by  the  Baptist  Association  of  his  state. 

He  owns  a  beautiful  ten  room  residence  in  the 
residential  section  of  Danville,  a  farm  of  one  hun 
dred  acres,  with  other  city  and  country  property. 
He  is,  as  has  been  said  of  him,  "a  busy  man  with  a 
willing  spirit,  with  hands  and  heart  open  to  help 
everybody  that  he  can." 


292 


John  P.  Morris,  A.  B.,  B.  D. 


N  educator  of  no  mean  attainment 
and  a  church-man  of  deep  conse 
cration  and  abiding  faith.  Reve 
rend  John  P.  Morris,  of  Greens 
boro,  North  Carolina,  has  devoted 
a  full  quarter  of  a  century  in  ac 
tive  service  to  his  people,  giving  especial  attention 
to  the  advancement  of  the  Negro  along  lines  of  ed 
ucation  and  religion.  His  work  has  carried  him 
into  the  remote  districts  of  his  native  state,  and  he 
is  tireless  in  his  efforts  to  help  uplift  the  Negro 
race. 

While  he  is  more  concerned  about  their  religious 
and  educational  advance  he  is  not  unmindful  of 
their  physical  welfare. 

Rev.  Morris  was  born  in  Caswell  County,  North 
Carolina.  January  23rd.  1861.  His  early  school  days 
were  far  from  pleasant  and  were  fraught  with 
many  discouragements,  and  indeed,  he  met  with 
so  many  rebuffs  and  deep  privations  that  a  spirit 
less  courageous  than  his  would  have  lost  his  am 
bition.  He  would  not  have  been  human  had  he  not 
felt  the  pressure  of  these  trials,  which  at  times  al 
most  suppressed  his  ambition  to  be  a  scholar,  but 
grit  and  determination  won  out,  and  the  flame 
while  it  flickered  at  times,  continued  to  burn  and 
never  went  out. 

Overcoming  all  obstacles  and  pressing  forward 
towards  his  goal,  perseverance  at  last  rewarded 
him  and  he  was  enabled  to  attend  Bennett  College. 
It  was  at  this  college  that  he  secured  his  prepara 
tory  work  which  enabled  him  to  move  with  greater 
freedom  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  fixed  purpose 
to  obtain  an  education.  It  may  be  said  that  here 
the  shackles  fell  from  him  and  he  progressed  rap 
idly  in  completing  his  education. 

He  remained  at  Bennett  College  until  he  had  fin 
ished  his  preparatory  course,  when  he  left  that  in 
stitution  and  entered  Clark  University,  Atlanta, 
Ga.  He  continued  at  Clark  University  until  he 
received  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  then 
enrolled  in  Gammon  Theological  Seminary,  an  in- 
stituton  with  a  large  endowment  devoted  entirely 
to  the  training  of  ministers,  and  with  an  equipment 
and  teaching  force  capable  of  standard  theological 
work.  He  remained  in  this  institution  for  three 
years,  where  he  applied  himself  diligently  to  his  du 
ties  and  where  he  gained  some  practical  experience 
as  a  preacher.  This  Institution  bestowed  upon  him 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Divinity.  During  his  pre 
paration  in  other  schools,  the  Bennett  College  had 
never  lost  trace  of  him,  for  his  personality  had 
been  deeply  impressed  upon  this  school,  and  it 
was  not  long  after  his  graduation  before  he  was 


called  to  a  post  on  the  faculty.  He  accepted  the 
call  and  for  twenty-three  years  served  the  college 
with  distinction.  His  teaching  and  executive  abil 
ity  was  recognized  by  the  college  and  he  was  pro 
moted  to  the  office  of  Vice-President. 

Mr.  Morris  felt  that  the  finger  of  Providence 
pointed  him  to  educational  work  and  impressed 
upon  his  mind  this  as  a  great  field  of  endeavor  for 
the  development  of  his  people,  at  the  same  time 
keeping  before  him  their  spiritual  needs,  so  while 
he  devoted  the  best  of  his  life  to  the  college  work, 
he  never  neglected  his  church  work,  but  made  them 
work  together  for  the  one  purpose  of  his  life  to 
help  his  people.  His  labors  in  the  interest  of  his 
denomination  have  been  marked  by  long  and  effi 
cient  service.  For  four  years  he  served  as  Secre 
tary  for  the  North  Carolina  Conference  and  for 
sixteen  years  he  was  the  Conference  statistican. 
While  he  is  an  earnest  believer  in  Methodism,  and 
adheres  strictly  to  its  principals,  he  is  big  enough 
to  work  for  the  good  of  all  people  regardless 
of  creed.  As  the  years  went  by  the  church  be 
gan  to  lay  heavier  duties  upon  him  which  finally 
claimed  all  of  his  time.  It  was  not  an  easy  thing 
for  him  to  give  up  the  school  room  and  especially 
the  college  which  had  sheltered  his  struggling 
youth  and  fostered  his  maturer  dreams,  and  to 
which  he  had  devoted  so  many  years  of  his  life,  but 
the  call  of  duty  was  stronger  with  him  than  perso 
nal  desires,  so  he  gave  up  the  school  and  devoted 
his  entire  time  to  the  work  of  the  church.  Rev. 
Morris  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  K.  Waugh,  of 
Salem,  North  Carolina,  September  fifteenth,  1889. 
They  have  seven  children  of  which  they  are  very 
proud.  There  is  Robert  Gammon,  who  is  a  gra 
duate  of  Bennett  College,  of  Gammon  Theological 
Seminary,  and  of  the  North  Western  College;  Miss 
Lucy  L.  Tillman,  who  holds  a  diploma  from  Ben 
nett  College,  and  from  the  Musical  department  of 
Fisk  University ;  Mrs.  Agnes  P.  Whiteman,  who 
graduated  at  the  Bennett  College  and  then  finish 
ed  a  course  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Department  of 
Meharry  Medical  College,  of  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
and  then  the  younger  children,  John  P.  Jr.,  Elsie 
Gladys,  Mary  Esther  and  Frank  Bristol,  are  still 
doing  college  preparatory  work. 

It  is  too  often  the  case  where  men  are  so  much 
engaged  in  work  outside  of  the  family  that  they 
neglect  the  training  of  their  children,  but  not  so 
with  Mr.  Morris,  he  wishes  his  children,  like  him 
self,  to  find  some  useful  occupation  in  life,  and  he 
wishes  them  well  equipped  for  their  work,  and 
to  this  end  he  has  wisely  directed  and  prepared 
them  for  their  life  work. 


293 


JOHN   THOMAS   WILSON,   M.   D. 

T  is  no  mean  satisfaction  to  the 
Black  Race  that  it  has  men  in  the 
medical  profession  who  can  be 
classed  with  Verchow,  Pasteur, 
or  the  Mayo  Brothers.  Such  a 
man  is  Dr.  J.  T.  Wilson,  of  Nash 
ville,  Tennessee. 

Dr.   Wilson  was  born   in  Atlanta,  Georgia.     His 
mother  died  when  he  was  but  a  year  old  and  his 


After  having  eked  out  a  common  school  educa 
tion,  he  entered  Atlanta  University,  where  he  stu 
died  not  only  books,  but  also  his  teachers  and  his 
fellow  students.  He  learned  that  his  life  affected 
theirs  and  and  their  lives  affected  his.  This  made 
him  sure  that  there  was  a  real  place  in  the 
universe  for  him. 

From  Atlanta  University  he  went  to  Roger  Wil 
liams  University,  in  Nashville,  Tennesse,  and  it 
was  here  that  he  decided  to  study  medicine.  In 
1889  he  went  to  Mcharry  Medical  College.  He 
kept  up  his  expenses  by  running  a  grocery  and 
huckster.  He  put  as  much  effort  in  his  work  as  in 
his  study.  In  1895  he  was  graduated  and  after 
having  practiced  three  years  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  Meharry's  staff. 

He  realized  his  own  deficiencies  when  he  began 
to  teach.  So  to  broaden  his  store  of  knowledge  he 
entered  the  Post  Course  in  the  Chicago  Medical 
College.  Here  he  remained  two  years  and  finished 
two  courses.  He  was  then  elected  Head  of  tin- 
Hospital  of  Hydrotheropy  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
which  is  a  branch  of  the  Battle  Creek  Hospital. 
This  position  he  resigned  after  a  year  to  go  to 
Philadelphia.  In  this  city  he  made  a  study  of  the 
work  of  three  hospitals,  Poly-Clinic,  Jefferson 
Hospital  and  Medicochirugical.  From  Philadel 
phia  he  went  to  Canada  to  study,  and  he  then  spent 
eleven  years  at  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  under  the  su 
pervision  of  the  Mayo  Brothers.  Dr.  Wilson  next 
went  to  Clyde  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  do  research 
work  and  to  make  an  exhaustive  study  of  the 
nerves. 

The  next  five  years  Dr.  Wilson  served  as  Chief 
Surgeon  at  Collins  Chapel,  Home  and  Hospital, 
Memphis,  Tennessee.  He  left  this  in  March  of 
1917,  to  establish  a  hospital  of  his  own.  This  is 
known  as  the  Wilson  Surgical  Hospital  and  Nurse 
Training  School.  The  hospital  is  a  large,  well 


father  survived  but  a  few  years,  leaving  young  Wil-      equiPPed  one.  sanitary  throughout  and  located  in  a 


son  an  orphan. 

The  first  fourteen  years  of  his  life  were  spent  on 
a  farm  ten  miles  outside  of  Atlanta.  Here  he 
knew  no  luxury.  The  bare  necessities  of  life  were 
all  he  coveted.  Out  in  this  hard  life  the  young  lad 
learned  three  lessons :  industry,  obedience,  and 
punctuality.  On  this  farm  he  toiled  early  and  late, 
yet  he  found  time  to  attend  the  short  term  summer 
school.  This  was  his  only  opportunity  to  learn  to 
read  and  write.  Coupled  with  this  he  found  time 
to  attend  the  rude  log  church.  Here  he  listened 
most  attentively  to  the  preacher  expound  the  gos 
pel,  and  having  given  himself  to  God  he  lifted  up 
his  heart  in  hymns  of  praise.  Here  he  laid  the  firm 
foundation  for  the  kind,  sympathetic  doctor  he  was 
to  become. 


quiet,  healthful  district. 

Many  and  varied  are  the  operations  that  have 
established  the  reputation  of  Dr.  Wilson.  One  is 
truly  remarkable.  A  man  was  dead  from  a  shot 
near  the  heart.  Dr.  Wilson  cut  a  window  through 
the  man's  fourth  rib,  cleansed  the  heart  of  the  clot 
of  blood,  started  the  heart  to  moving,  and  this  man 
now  moves  among  his  fellow  men. 

Dr.  Wilson  was  naturally  endowed  with  the  ten 
dencies  to  heal  the  ills  of  the  body.  Not  content 
with  this  gift  of  nature  he  has  spent  years  and 
years  in  study  as  we  have  already  pointed  out. 
And  his  mind  is  still  open  and  ready  to  receive  in 
formation  about  the  human  body.  Then  his  un 
bounded  faith  in  God  has  played  a  great  part  in  the 
work  of  this  great  and  good  man. 


294 


W.  Curtis  Reid 


CURTIS  Reid,  of  Muskogee,  Okla 
homa,  is  by  birth  a  Texan.  Some 
of  the  sterling  qualities  that  are 
the  birthright  of  most  of  the  sons 
of  this  broad,  liberal  state  are  to 
be  found  in  Mr.  Reid.  The  abil 
ity  to  go  ahead  and  get  for  himself  the  things  de 
sired  is  not  the  least  developed  of  these  traits  in 
the  character  of  this  young  man.  Mr.  Reid  is  from 
one  of  the  best  families  in  the  State  of  Texas.  In 
his  native  state  he  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  later  at  the  Prairie  View 
State  Normal  School.  Throughout  his  school  ca 
reer  he  was  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  brightest 
students.  This  was  particularly  true  of  his  work 
in  the  State  Normal  School. 

He  went  to  Muskogee,  Oklahoma  in  1909,  for  the 
purpose  of  attending  school  and  completing  his 
education.  Here  he  met  Miss  Sallie  Hodges, 
whom  he  later  made  his  wife.  They  were  mar 
ried  in  July  1912,  Mr.  Reid  thereby  securing  a  com 
panion  for  his  home  and  a  helper  in  his  business. 
In  both  spheres  she  has  proved  a  help-meet  indeed 
and  her  husband  praises  her.  Mrs.  Reid  was  born 
in  Taft,  Oklahoma,  and  received  her  education  in 
her  native  state.  She  has  received  a  thorough 
training  and  because  of  this  she  has  been  enabled 
to  render  her  husband  great  assistance  in  his  bus 
iness  affairs.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reid  are  very  con 
genial  in  their  ideas  of  life  and  consequently  have 
made  their  home  an  ideal  one.  They  have  two  lit 
tle  girls  who  add  sunshine  to  their  home,  and  ce 
ment  more  strongly  the  bond  which  binds  their  pa 
rents  to  each  other.  The  names  of  these  little 
girls  are  Velma,  five  years  of  age,  and  baby  Jack. 
While  attending  school  at  Muskogee,  Mr.  Reid 
noticed  that  the  city  was  growing  at  a  rate  which 
made  real  estate  investments  very  profitable  and 
this  suggested  to  him  the  idea  of  establishing  a 
ral  astate  business.  He  had  already  formed  a 
great  liking  for  the  place,  so  it  was  not  hard  for 
him  to  make  up  his  mind  to  locate  here.  He  ma 
tured  his  plans  so  there  was  no  delay  in  starting  his 
business  after  he  had  finished  his  school  course. 
He  opened  his  real  estate  and  loan  office  imme 
diately  and  went  to  work. 

With  a  good  mental  equipment,  and  energy  born 
of  a  fine  physical  condition  he  set  out  to  win  his 
way  which  he  did  by  giving  close  and  faithful  at 
tention  to  his  business,  ft  was  not  long  before  his 
business  began  to  grow  and  it  continued  to  develop 
until  it  soon  was  a  large  and  lucrative  affair.  His 
clientile  grew  with  his  business  for  his  fidelity  to 
their  interest  made  them  his  friends  and  through 
them  added  others  to  his  list.  In  selecting  an  of 


fice  he  chose  one  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  where  he 
would  be  in  the  midst  of  business  activities,  at  115 
Court  Square.  Here  he  delights  to  receive  friends 
but  they  know  his  rule  not  to  neglect  his  business 
interests,  so  they  are  not  offended  when  he  excuses 
himself  from  time  to  time  to  look  after  his  affairs. 

Mr.  Reid,  so  ably  assisted  by  his  good  wife,  has 
succeeded  far  beyond  his  most  sanguine  expecta 
tions,  and  is  now  classed  among  the  wealthy  citi 
zens  of  his  community,  and  is  one  of  the  wealthiest 
colored  men  in  his  State.  He  and  his  wife  hold 
their  possessions  jointly  and  are  pleased  to  point  to 
them  as  their's  rather  than  his.  Their  realty  and 
other  holdings  are  valued  at  about  three  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  In  the  list  of  their  as 
sets  may  be  found  eleven  hundred  acres  of  farm 
lands,  oil  lands  and  city  property. 

They  own  a  beautiful  home  containing  all  the 
modern  conveniences,  with  surroundings  conducive 
to  a  pleasant  home  life.  The  home  is  only  valued 
at  $5600.00,  their  plan  being  to  make  it  home-like 
rather  than  expensive. 

His  personal  interests  do  not  claim  all  of  the 
time  and  energy  of  Mr.  Reid;  he  is  one  of  those 
men  who  recognizes  the  right  of  a  community  to 
require  tribute  from  its  citizens,  not  alone  in  taxes, 
but  in  the  support  of  all  its  interests;  and  though 
he  is  yet  a  young  man,  he  is  conspicious  for  his 
public  spirited  activities.  His  activities  are  es 
pecially  notable  when  the  enterprises  look  to  the 
advancement  of  his  race.  He  is  deeply  interested 
in  the  Negro  State  Fair  Corporation  and  is  among 
its  most  ardent  supporters.  The  Automobile  dis 
play  at  the  Fair  is  under  his  control  and  direction. 

Mr.  Reid,  like  so  many  men  has  becon:  t  an  auto 
enthusiast,  and  is  the  owner  of  three  of  these  fast 
moving  vehicles.  He  owns  a  Ford  runabout,  a  Hud 
son  Super-Six,  and  a  1917  model  Morman. 

In  their  religious  belief,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reid  are 
united  as  they  are  in  every  department  of  their 
lives,  and  are  ardent  supporters  of  the  First  Bap- 
list  Church,  of  which  they  are  members.  They  not 
only  contribute  their  money  to  its  support,  but 
qive  t>,  it  their  time  and  talent,  and  are  numbered 
among  its  most  active  members. 

Mr.  Reid  is  a  Mason  (thirty-second  degree).  Odd 
Fellow,  U.  B.  F.  and  K.  of  P. 

With  a  growing  real  estate  business,  income 
bearing  property  and  oil  wells  spouting  thousands 
of  dollars  in  the  much-sought-for  liquid  gold,  Mr. 
Reid  has  the  prospect  of  becoming  a  very  rich  man, 
I .ut  he  considers  that  the  greatest  blessing  that 
Fortune  has  bestowed  upon  him  is  his  wife  and 
children. 


295 


JOHN  HARRIS  HENDERSON,  B.  D. 


HE  life  of  John  Harris  Henderson 
has  been  one  of  action  and  of  de 
cision.  He  has  been  able  to  ac 
complish  things  and  to  accomplish 
them  with  dispatch.  Born  on  a 
plantation  near  Bayou,  Sara, 
Louisiana,  December  23rd,  1872,  he  had  the  start  of 
the  average  boy  with  his  environment.  When  nine 
years  old  he  entered  the  public  school  and  re 
mained  there  for  ten  years  getting  what  he  could 
from  the  poor  teaching  which  was  to  be  had  at  that 
time  in  that  section.  In  1891  he  entered  Howe  In 
stitute,  New  Iberia,  Louisiana,  and  remained  in 
this  institution  for  three  years. 

After  leaving  Howe  Institute'  he  entered  Leland 
University,  and  spent  four  years  in  study  there. 
Rev.  Henderson  was  still  not  satisfied  with  his  pre 
paration  for  his  life  work,  and  so  we  find  him  once 
more  entering  a  new  school.  The  one  of  his  choice 
was  this  time  Virginia  Union  University,  at  Rich 
mond.  Here  he  remained  for  three  years  and  re 
ceived  the  degree  of  B.  D. 

To  read  about  the  school  life  of  Rev.  Henderson 
one  would  suppose  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  but 
attend  the  various  schools  of  his  choice.  This  how 
ever  was  not  the  case.  During  his  early  school 


days,  in  fact  all  through  his  school  career,  he  was 
a  young  man  who  worked  with  his  hands  in  order 
that  he  might  have  the  privilege  of  studying.  The 
one  form  of  work  that  Rev.  Henderson  remembers 
most  distinctly  is  that  of  rail  splitter.  At  this 
task  he  became  quite  accomplished.  In  fact  he 
could  split  as  many  as  410  rails  per  day. 

Having  received  his  degree  in  1902  and  having 
been  ordained  the  year  previous,  Rev.  Henderson 
went  out  into  life  well  equipped,  able  to  hold  his  po 
sition  and  make  good  at  any  place.  Thus  we  find 
him  in  1902  teaching  theology  in  Coleman  College, 
Gibsland,  La.,  from  1903  to  1906  President  of  the 
Thirteenth  District  Normal  and  Collegiate  Insti 
tute,  Shreveport,  La.  Here  in  this  institution  he 
did  such  effective  work  that  for  the  first  time  the 
school  became  self  supporting,  He  bought  and 
paid  for  120  acres  of  farm  land  for  the  school  while 
serving  at  its  head. 

At  the  same  time  that  Rev.  Henderson  was  serv 
ing  as  President  of  the  Institute  in  Shreveport,  he 
was  pastoring  the  Trinity  Baptist  Church  of  that 
city.  Here  he  added  $8000  to  its  property  and  200 
members  to  its  roll.  In  1908  Rev.  Henderson 
Founded  the  Henderson  Chapel  Baptist  Church,  to 
which  he  was  elected  Pastor  for  life,  and  the  same 
year  organized  the  Baptist  Ministers  Union  in. 
Shreveport.  In  1910  he  was  called  to  pastor  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  Minden,  Louisiana,  where  he 
erected  a  new  house  of  worship  at  a  cost  of  $4000. 
In  the  year  1911  the  state  of  Louisiana  honored 
him  by  electing  him  Vice-President  of  the  Baptist 
Convention  of  that  State.  In  1913  Rev.  Henderson 
answered  a  call  which  came  to  him  from  Hot 
Springs,  Arkansas.  He  resigned  his  important 
posts  in  the  State  of  Louisiana  and  went  to  Arkan 
sas  where  he  pastored  the  Roanoke  Baptist  Church. 
While  pastoring  this  charge  he  erected  a  new  edi 
fice  at  a  cost  of  $35,000.00.  Of  this  amount  in  a 
single  effort  he  raised  with  the  strong  support  of 
all  his  people,  the  sum  of  $4,619.11. 

In  the  year  1917  Rev.  Henderson  was  appointed 
General  Field  Secretary  by  the  Educational  Board 
of  the  National  Baptist  Convention  of  the  United 
States  ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Federal  Alliance 
of  the  Church  as  of  Christ  in  America.  This  or 
ganization  had  honored  him  before  by  giving  him 
very  responsible  work  to  do.  The  same  year  he 
was  made  field  Secretary ;  he  was  called  to  the  pas 
torate  of  Mt.  Zion  Baptist  Church  of  Knoxville, 
Tennessee.  Already  he  has  canceled  the  debt  on 
the  church,  and  the  Baptists  of  the  State  have 
made  him  Vice-President  of  the  State  Convention. 

December  30,  1902,  Rev.  Henderson  was  married 
to  Miss  Rairiey  F.  Butler,  of  Arnandville,  Louis 
iana.  There  are  four  children  who  have  conic  to 
bless  the  home — Leona  B.,  Joseph  L.,  Harvey  A., 
and  John  H.  Jr. 


296 


JOSEPH  SAMUEL  CLARK,  A.  B. 

OSEPH  Samuel  Clark,  President 
of  Southern  University,  and  Ag 
ricultural  and  Mechanical  Col- 
ler;-  ,  was  born  on  a  cotton  farm 
in  Bienville  Parish,  near  Sparta, 
La.,  in  1871.  His  early  educa 
tion  consisted  of  three  months  in 
a  private  school  and  from  two 
to  three  months  during  the  year  in  the  little  pub 
lic  schools  of  that  time.  Fortunately  his  parents 
were  of  that  sterling  stock  from  which  have  sprung 
so  many  of  our  best  men.  They  taught  him  many 
good  lessons  of  thrift  and  industry  during  the  day, 
and  many  lessons  in  character  before  the  fire  at 
night. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  entered  Colemen 
College,  at  Gibsland,  Louisiana,  where  he  remained 
three  years.  During  this  time  he  filled  every  po 
sition  from  janitor  to  student  teacher.  The  in 
dustrious  habits  he  had  acquired  in  his  home  train 
ing  never  forsook  him  and  stood  him  well  when  he 
entered  the  Coleman  College.  These  coupled  with 
grace  of  manners  and  sterling  character  made  col 
lege  life  easy  and  pleasant  for  him.  He  won  the 
confidence,  respect  and  admiration  of  schoolmates 
and  teachers  and  added  them  to  his  long  list  of 
friends. 

In  the  fall  of  1896  his  ambition  was  gratified  by 
entering  Leland  University.  In  the  first  sesr,!on 
there  he  graduated  from  the  nonr.al  and  prepara 


tory  courses.  Immediately  he  entered  the  four- 
year  college  course,  taking  his  A.  B.  degree  in  1901. 

Closely  following  his  graduation  he  was  elected 
President  of  Baton  Rouge  College,  where  his  re- 
1-utation  as  an  educator  and  an  administrator  was 
soon  established.  For  thirteen  years  he  presided 
over  this  college  and  gave  to  it  the  service  of  a 
wise  and  intelligent  head.  His  administration  was 
such  as  to  win  the  approval  of  his  people  who  were 
quick  to  realize  that  they  had  made  no  mistake  in 
calling  him  to  the  presidential  chair.  It  was  his 
service  in  this  institution  that  led  to  his  election  to 
the  position  he  now  occupies.  He  did  not  rest  upon 
his  laurels  when  called  to  preside  over  this  college, 
but  took  advantage  of  every  opportunity  to  im 
prove  his  mind  and  add  to  his  fund  of  information. 
He  studied  in  summer  at  Harvard  and  other  great 
Universities,  and  especially  made  a  close  study  of 
human  nature. 

So.  when  there  was  to  be  a  cul  red  man  chosen 
for  Southern  University,  there  was  but  one  man  in 
the  minds  of  all  concerned— and  that  was  Dr.  Clark. 
His  election  was  appreciated  by  both  races,  an  1 
while  he  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  school'  but 
four  years,  the  wisdom  of  the  selection  is  amply 
shown  by  the  wonderful  progress  the  institution 
is  making. 

Dr.  Clark  is  a  big-hearted,  big-brained  man. 
Both  as  a  speaker  and  writer  he  has  done  much  in 
the  State  to  encourage  his  people  in  making  for 
themselves  names  worthy  of  consideration. 
^  In  addition  to  being  the  leading  educator  in  his 
State  he  may  be  considered  among  the  leading  pro 
perty  holders  among  the  pedagogues.  He  "owns 
valuable  property  in  Baton  Rouge  and  New  Orleans 
—Outside  of  a  small  heritage  through  his  grand 
mother  he  has  accumulated  most  of  this  propertv 
since  being  out  of  school.  He  is  a  stockholder  iii 
one  of  the  leading  banks  of  Baton  Rouge.  Be 
sides,  he  has  shares  in  the  Building  Loan  Associa 
tion  and  other  firms  of  financial  standing. 

For  eight  years  he  was  president  of  the  Louis 
iana  Colored  State  Teachers  Association.  He  led 
the  movement  for  the  establishment  of  a  State 
school;  served  six  years  as  registrar  of  the  Nation 
al  Association  of  Teachers  in  Colored  Schools  and 
is  at  present  president  of  that  organization. 

While  he  is  a  staunch  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  he  is  broad  enough  to  worship  freely  with 
all  denominations.  He  is  loved  and  admired" by  all 
of  the  denominations  in  the  State. 

He  has  been  initiated  as  a  Pythian  and  a  Mason. 

At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the 
American  Georgraphical  Society.  He  is  an  hon 
orary  member  of  the  State  Medical  Association, 
and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  chairm  i  of  the 
Louisiana  Council  of  Defense  for  Colored  People. 
r.o  man  in  the  State  is  asked  to  serve  in  more  ca 
pacities  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Clark  has  traveled  extensively,  though  his 
travels  have  been  confined  to  the  United  States. 
He  is  following  the  injunction  to  'see  your  own 
country  before  going  abroad.' 

He  married  Miss  Octavia  Head,  December  29, 
1901,  West  Monroe,  La.  Miss  Head  is  the  daugh 
ter  of  Rev.  W.  G.  Head,  a  prominent  Baptist  min 
ister  of  Louisiana.  He  has  a  son  of  fifteen,  a  very 
promising  young  man.  He  is  a  devoted  father  and 
an  ideal  companion. 


297 


WILLIAM  THOMAS  FULLER,  M.  D. 


R.  William  Thomas  Fuller  was 
born  in  Caswell  County,  North 
Carolina,  on  January  the  twenty- 
fourth,  1886.  Although  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  at  an  early  age 
he  went  to  Virginia.  Here  in  the 
city  of  Danville  he  got  his  early  training.  He  was 
a  pupil  in  the  public  schools  of  the  city  for  a  num 
ber  of  years.  He  applied  himself  diligently  to  his 
tasks,  and  even  as  a  boy  gave  promise  of  becoming 
a  man  of  power.  When  he  had  completed  the  work 
of  the  public  schools  of  Danville  young  Fuller  went 
to  Hampton  Institute.  Here  he  studied  long 
enough  to  get  the  real  spirit  of  the  school.  In 
all  his  after  life  the  real  spirit  of  service,  of  help 
fulness  to  others,  of  making  the  most  of  opportun 
ities,  of  improving  ones  self  and  ones  surroundings, 
has  been  with  him  to  spur  him  on  to  good  deeds. 

Having  completed  the  work  of  Hampton  Insti 
tute,  Mr.  Fuller  returned  to  his  native  State  and 
matriculated  in  the  Leonard  Medical  College,  at 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina.  Here  he  remained  to  com 
plete  the  work  of  his  profession.  In  1895  Dr.  Ful 
ler  opened  office  for  practice  in  Reedville,  North 
Carolina.  Finding  the  place  not  altogether  to  his 


liking  he  moved  the  next  year  to  Winston-Salem. 
North  Carolina.  Here  he  remained  for  five  years. 
Still  Dr.  Fuller  was  not  satisfied  with  his  location, 
and  the  opportunity  offered  him  for  service  and 
progress.  So  for  a  third  time  we  find  him  remov 
ing  his  sign  and  journeying  to  another  town.  This 
time  he  left  his  native  State  altogether  and  return 
ed  to  the  State  of  his  early  adoption.  1 1  ere  in  Suf 
folk,  Virginia,  Dr.  Fuller  started  out  anew,  and 
here  he  has  remained. 

For  the  past  seventeen  years  the  practice  and 
business  of  the  subject  of  the  sketch  has  grown 
steadily.  In  1903  he  opened  a  Drug  Store.  This 
he  has  maintained  since  that  date  with  the  help  of 
his  wife.  Mrs.  Fuller  is  a  woman  of  unusual  abil 
ity  and  she  has  done  her  part  toward  making  the 
life  of  Dr.  Fuller  in  Suffolk  a  success.  Although 
Dr.  Fuller  is  not  affiliated  with  any  church  in  parti 
cular  he  is  a  thorough  believer  in  Christianty  and 
gives  of  his  means  to  the  support  of  all  denomina 
tions.  He  also  gives  liberally  to  all  the  move 
ments  for  the  uplift  of  his  people.  He  is  a  public 
spirited  man,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the 
local  white  bankers  and  is  a  credit  to  any  commun 
ity. 

Dr.  Fuller  was  among  the  men  who  made  it  pos 
sible  for  the  late  Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington  to  go 
to  Suffolk.  This  Dr.  Fuller  did  in  the  interests  of 
his  own  race,  and  in  the  interest  of  the  people  of 
Suffolk  in  general.  The  visit  left  a  lasting  feeling 
of  good  will  and  better  understanding  between  the 
white  and  the  colored  people  of  that  section.  While 
Dr.  Fuller  will  not  take  the  credit  of  this  to  him 
self,  he  is  in  a  large  measure  responsible  for  it. 

Dr.  Fuller  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Alberta  F.  Boyd,  of  Asheville,  North 
Carolina.  They  were  married  May  25,  1895.  She 
died  September  13,  1896.  Eleven  years  later  he 
was  again  married;  this  time  to  Miss  Lavonia  A. 
Carter,  of  Petersburg,  Virgina.  It  is  she  who  so 
ably  administers  the  business  of  the  drug  store 
when  Dr.  Fuller  is  out  making  calls.  There  are  two 
daughters  in  the  family,  Cory  L.  and  Goler  Mae. 
Both  are  young  misses  in  school. 

Dr.  Fuller,  with  his  family  lives  in  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  homes  in  the  country.  Nor  does 
the  beauty  of  this  home  stop  with  the  beauty  of 
the  structure.  The  home  life  is  also  beautiful. 
Mrs.  Fuller  makes  a  very  charming  hostess  on  all 
occasions  and  manages  the  home,  along  with  the 
Drug  Store  and  at  the  same  time  in  no  way  ne 
glects  the  young  girls. 

During  the  years  Dr.  Fuller  has  spent  in  Suffolk 
he  has  managed  to  save  from  his  practice  and  from 
the  business  conducted  in  his  Drug  Store,  enough 
money  to  invest  in  and  around  the  city.  He  is 
rated  as  one  of  the  very  substantial  citizens  of  the 
place.  A  conservative  estimate  of  the  value  of  his 
holdings  is  placed  at  $50,000.00. 


298 


REVEREND  JOHN   EDMUND  WOOD 

ORN  in  Kentucky  shortly  after 
slavery,  Reverend  John  Edmund 
Wood  has  clung  tenaciously  to  his 
native  soil,  attending  school  there, 
working  there,  and  becoming  a 

power  there.    He  was  born  in  Ba- 

ren  County,  May  21,  1867.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and'  in  the  state  schools.  Finish 
ing  at  the  State  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute, 
he  decided  at  first  upon  a  life  work  in  the  class 
room.  As  the  harvest  was  ripe  in  the  rural  com 
munities  he  went  out  into  the  country  schools  and 
began  his  labors.  Here  for  sixteen  years  he  put 
his  life  into  instructing  the  country  youth  of  his 
state ;  teaching  in  Baren,  his  native  County ;  in 
Metcalf  and  in  Hardin  Counties.  Meantime  he  be 
gan  to  find  himself  as  a  speaker,  leader  and  organ- 
i/.er.  More  and  more  also  he  began  to  realize  that 
his  place  was  in  the  pulpit  alone,  directing  the  spir 
its  and  minds  of  old  and  young  rather  than  in  the 
class  room  instructing  only  the  young.  Sometimes 
he  preached  and  taught  but  he  soon  found  that 
each  task  was  likely  to  be  half  performed,  owing  to 
the  energy  expended  on  the  other.  He  was  called 
to  Bardstown,  Kentucky,  in  1891.  Leaving  here  he 


went  in  response  to  a  call  to  Elizabeth  Town, 
where  he  spent  seven  years  and  where  he  estabish- 
ed  his  reputation  state-wide  as  a  speaker,  thinker 
and  presiding  officer. 

His  last  charge  is  Danville.  Here  he  has  spent 
the  last  eighteen  years  of  his  life,  pastoring.  organ 
izing,  and  for  the  last  year,  being  elected  in  1916, 
serving  as  state  moderator  of  the  Baptist  denomin 
ation  of  his  state. 

Reverend  Wood  is  allied  with  many  strong  or 
ganizations  outside  the  church.  He  is  a  Mason  ;  an 
Odd  Fellow;  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  a  Good  Sa 
maritan.  He  is  National  Chief  Good  Samaritan  in 
the  last  named  body.  He  has  traveled  all  over  the 
eastern  part  of  the  United  States  ;  over  the  middle 
west  and  south,  mainly  on  business  in  connection 
with  Lodge  and  Church  duties. 

He  owns  his  residence  and  several  pieces  of  rent 
property  in  Danville,  his  home.  Married  in  1891  to 
Miss  Ella  B.  Reid,  he  is  the  father  of  a  large  fam 
ily.  Miss  lola  is  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Berryville;  John  Franklin  is  a  student  at  Linco'n 
Institute  of  Simpsonville  ;  Miss  Frances  Ophelia  is 
attending  the  National  Training  school  for  women 
at  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Simon  Flsworth,  Margaret 
and  Virginia  are  pupils  in  the  public  schools  of  Dan 
ville. 

Next  perhaps  to  the  Pullman  service  the  Negro 
school  room  has  been  one  of  the  strongest  agencies 
in  the  advancement  of  our  able  men.  Some  might 
argue,  "Yes,  much  to  the  detriment  of  the  public." 
Such,  however,  is  most  likely  not  the  case.  Our 
young  men  have  come  out  of  college  and  prepara 
tory  school  full  of  enthusiasm,  full  of  zeal  to  do. 
They  were  to  our  people  like  pilgrims  from  a  far 
country,  bringing  fresh  cargoes  of  rich  lore.  More 
over,  had  they  not  taught  our  children  and  our  pa 
rents  in  the  early  days,  there  would  very  likely  have 
been  but  little  teaching.  Thus  while  these  young 
teachers  gained  a  few  sheckles  to  advance  their 
education  they  left  behind  them  a  precious  heritage 
of  enthusiasm  and  scholarship  which  more  than 
paid  for  the  mere  pittance  of  a  salary  which  they 
received. 

Moreover,  such  time  and  energy  were  a  splendid 
investment  for  the  race ;  for  whereas  these  men  af 
terwards  w  -'it  to  advanced  schools,  completed  their 
courses  and  took  their  places  in  community  life, 
they  carried  with  them  experiences  that  have  tided 
many  over  its  roughest  seas.  These  Doctors  and 
ministers  were  able  from  experience  thus  gained  to 
direct  school  activities,  to  build  new  schools,  to  ad 
vise  in  business,  to  save  the  community  from  no 
end  of  fatal  disasters,  in  health,  in  business,  in  so- 
ciaLand  racial  affairs. 

Such  was  the  help  gained  by  John  E.  Wood,  and 
such  returns  he  has  been  able  to  give  to  his  com 
munity,  church,  and  lodge  wherever  he  has  made 
his  home. 

299 


SOLOMON  HENRY  THOMPSON,  M.  D. 


HEN  a  boy  wishes  an  education 
and  wants  it  bad  enough  to  work 
for  it  he  is  certain  to  get  that  for 
which  he  seeks.  Education  does 
not  come  easy,  even  under  the 
most  favorable  conditions,  and  is 
intensely  hard  when  the  student  has  to  add  to  the 
mental  labor  necessary  to  pay  his  own  way.  This 
was  the  lot  of  Solomon  Henry  Thompson,  M.  D. 
He  worked  his  way  through  school  from  the  time 
he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  until  he  graduated  in 
medicine.  He  first  passed  through  the  schools  of 
his  native  town  and  then  Storer  College,  Harpers 
Ferry.  From  Storer  he  went  to  Howard  Univer 
sity,  D.  C.,  and  graduated  in  medicine  in  1892. 

In  all  this  time  and  in  all  the  v  ^rs  it  took  to 
obtain  this  education,  for  with  the  Doctor  it  was 
a  case  of  work  a  while  and  study  a  while,  he 
never  once  faltered  or  gave  up  hope  of  one  day 
ranking  with  the  best  physicians  and  surgeons  in 
the  land.  He,  however,  determined  that  if  ever 
he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  be  blessed  with  a  fam 
ily,  his  children  should  never  have  to  suffer  the 
hardships  endured  by  their  father.  It  was  this 
spirit  of  pluck  and  perseverance  of  the  men  of 
a  generation  back  in  overcoming  difficulties  of  a 
hundred  fold  greater  than  encountered  at  the  pres 


ent  day,  that  should  serve  as  an  inspiration  to  fu 
ture  generations,  and  spur  them  on  to  greater 
achievements. 

Realizing  that  the  greatest  need  of  his  people 
was  highly  skilled  physicians  with  practical  ex 
perience,  that  would  be  qualified,  not  only  to  aid 
in  sickness  and  distress,  but  to  act  as  instructors 
and  leaders  in  matters  of  home  hygiene,  and  civic 
sanitation.  Feeling  the  technical  knowledge  gleaned 
from  the  medical  department  of  Howard,  while  un 
surpassed  an  so  far  as  it  went  was  not  all  that  was 
needed,  he  served  a  full  internship  in  the  Freed- 
man's  Hospital  at  Washinyton,  D.  C.  Then  tak 
ing  Horace  Greely's  advice  he  "went  West,"  and 
settled  in  Kansas  City,  Kansas. 

So  highly  had  his  sense  of  Racial  and  Civic 
Pride  been  developed  that  he  attracted  the  atten 
tion  of  his  fellow  citizens  from  the  start.  Soon, 
no  movement  for  social  or  public  uplift  was  start 
ed  without  Dr.  S.  H.  Thompson  being  consulted, 
lie  was  elected  chief  surgeon  of  Douglass  Hos 
pital  ;  The  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  K.  of  P's  and 
Knights  of  Tabor,  vied  with  each  other  in  elect 
ing  him  to  honorary  positions  Today  he  ranks 
Pre-Eminently  as  one  of  the  strongest  charac 
ters  as  well  as  the  most  brilliant  Negro  Sur- 
geans  and  Physicians  in  Kansas. 

He  has  held  the  position  of  Grand  Commander  of 
the  Grand  Commandery  of  Kansas,  and  Grand 
Chancellor  of  the  K.  of  P.'s.  Dr.  Thompson  has  not 
been  an  extensive  tralever,  these  having  been  con 
fined  to  this  country  and  from  Colorado  to  the  ex 
treme  East.  He  is  following  the  advice  to  see  the 
United  States  before  visiting  Europe.  Dr.  Thomp 
son  married  June  1st,  1898,  Miss  Belle  J.  Arm 
strong,  og  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  making  their  home 
life  bright  and  happy  beyond  the  companionship 
of  their  own  congenial  spirits.  Always  bearing  in 
mind  the  difficulties  he  struggled  under  in  obtain 
ing  his  own  education,  the  Doctor  is  determined  to 
aid  his  children  in  fitting  themselves  to  meet  life's 
battle  by  giving  them  the  best  education  obtain 
able.  One,  a  girl  of  seventeen,  is  a  student  of  Kan 
sas  University,  two  boys  are  in  High  School,  and 
the  baby,  a  girl  of  ten,  is  in  the  graded  schools. 
Parents  cannot  do  a  better  part  for  their  children 
than  to  give  them  a  good  education.  What  they 
leave  them  in  material  wealth  may  be  swept  away 
but  what  they  put  into  their  minds  is  there  for 
ever.  This  is  especially  true  when  the  religious 
training  of  children  keeps  pace  with  their  mental 
development.  In  this  home  the  value  of  both  are 
recognized  and  encouraged. 

In  Church  affiliation,  Dr.  Thompson  is  a  member 
of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal.  He  and  his 
family  occupy  a  handsome  residence  in  Kansas 
City,  Kansas,  where  one  is  impressed  that  they  are 
in  a  home  of  culture  and  refinement,  where  hospi 
tality  is  a  gift  rather  than  a  study. 


300 


Isaac  Napoleon  Porter,  M.  D. 


R.  I.  N.  Porter,  of  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  is  a  striking  exam 
ple  of  a  man  who  has  made  good 
in  his  profession,  regardless  of 
color.  The  fact  that  he  is  a  man 
of  the  Negro  race  has  not  militat 
ed  against  his  success  and  in  fact  is  not  to  be  con 
sidered  in  connection  with  his  achievement  in  his 
chosen  Hue  of  work.  In  spite  of  his  color  he  has 
risen  to  his  high  place  because  of  merit  alone, 
which  is  recognized  by  the  white  as  well  as  the  col 
ored  citi/ens  of  New  Haven,  the  former  constitut 
ing  the  vastly  larger  number  of  his  patron:'. 

Dr.  Porter  was  born  October  15th,  1865,  in  Sum 
mit  Bridge,  Delaware.  He  was  born  at  a  time 
when  the  attention  of  Negroes  everywhere  was  di 
rected  to  the  subject  of  education.  The  Negro, 
having  had  but  little  or  no  opportunities  to  secure 
an  edm.ai.ion  had  learned  considerable  from  obser 
vation,  and  he  was  quick  to  see  what  education  had 
done  for  the  white  race,  and  reasoned  that  it  would 
also  help  to  elevate  the  colored  race  so  that  the 
subject  of  mind  development  became  one  of  the  ut 
most  thoughts  of  his  mind.  Even  in  the  ex 
treme  South  men  of  color  at  this  time  were 
thinking  in  terms  of  books  for  their  children.  Dr. 
Porter  had  the  advantage  over  many  in  the  place 
of  birth.  Here  the  question  of  his  color  was  not 
one  of  such  great  importance  after  all.  He  had 
the  opportunity  to  attend  school  with  all  the  other 
boys  and  girls  of  the  town.  This  he  did,  getting 
from  the  public  school  system  of  Delaware  all  that 
he  could.  Having  finished  the  public  schools  at 
his  home,  he  matriculated  at  Lincoln  University. 
This  was  in  the  year  1886  and  four  years  later  he 
was  graduated  from  this  institution.  Lincoln  Uni 
versity  leaves  its  stamp  of  good  scholarship  and 
true  manhood  on  all  who  go  from  her  doors.  Dr. 
Porter  went  from  her  with  this  stamp  and  also 
with  the  ambition  to  increase  his  store  of  learning, 
lie  went  the  fall  of  the  same  year  to  Yale,  where 
he  entered  the  medical  department.  From  Yale 
he  was  graduated  in  1903. 

Feeling  that  his  student  days  were  at  last  behind 
him.  Dr.  Porter  immediately  settled  down  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  New  Haven.  Here  he 
has  made  a  place  for  himself.  He  enjoys  a  large 
and  remunerative  practice.  The  number  of  color 
ed  families  in  New  Haven  is  not  great  when  com 
pared  to  the  number  of  white  families.  But  in  spite 
of  this  fact,  Dr.  Porter  has  built  up  for  himself  a 
large  practice,  90%  of  which  is  white.  He  stands 
as  a  proof  of  the  fact  that  a  well  trained  colored 
physician  can  get  and  hold  the  trade  of  the  white 


people  by  competence.  The  position  of  this  young 
physician  was  very  similar  to  that  of  a  number  of 
young  colored  men  who  found  it  necessary  to  look 
to  the  white  race  for  support.  Great  merit  in  their 
line  of  endeavor  overcame  race  prejudice  and  won 
their  favor.  But  he  has  had  the  experience  that  has 
come  to  many  others.  When  the  white  man  finds 
cut  that  the  colored  man  can  do  what  he  wants  and 
needs  done,  the  question  of  his  color  is  entirely  for 
gotten  and  the  quality  of  his  work  takes  prece 
dence  over  all  other  facts.  Because  of  this  fact, 
Dr.  Porter  has  been  enabled  to  build  for  himself  a 
line  practice. 

As  evidence  of  his  large  and  remunerative  prac 
tice  no  less  than  his  thrifty  habits.  Dr.  Porter  has 
met  all  the  demands  of  his  various  interests  and 
lias  been  able  to  invest  in  property  to  the  amount 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars.  He  has  made  all  of 
his  investments  in  the  city  of  New  Haven,  where 
he  could  give  them  his  personal  attention. 

Dr.  Porter  while  giving  strict  attention  to  his 
business  has  not  been  unmindful  of  the  general  in 
terests  of  his  people  and  works  untiringly  in  their 
behalf.  All  organizations  which  have  for  their  aim 
the  uplift  of  the  colored  race  receive  his  earnest 
cooperation.  He  is  actively  identified  with  the 
cause  of  religion  and  has  found  his  place  as  a 
church  worker  in  the  Baptist  Church  of  which  he 
is  a  member.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order,  of  the  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  of  the  Elks.  Through  these  organizations  he 
has  had  ample  opportunity  to  touch  the  lives  of 
men  along  lines  other  than  those  strictly  held  to 
by  physicians. 

His  home  city  has  not  been  slow  to  recognize  Dr. 
Porter's  ability  and  sterling  worth  and  on  a  num 
ber  of  occasions  has  called  him  to  positions  of  hon 
or  and  trust,  in  the  various  city  organizations. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Historical  Society.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  New  Haven  Medical  Society,  and 
he  is  also  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  So 
ciety.  Membership  in  these  organizations  indi 
cate  the  interest  he  takes  in  civic  matters  and  his 
desire  to  contribute  to  his  city's  advance  in  its 
higher  ideals  of  service,  and  is  also  a  tribute  to  his 
thorough  training  for  service  and  recognition  < 
his  obligations  as  a  citizen. 

In  1908  Dr.  Porter  was  married  to  Miss  Gertrude 
C.  Ward,  of  St.  Joseph.  Michigan.  There  are  no 
children  in  the  Porter  family.  Dr.  Porter  has  trav 
eled  through  Canada  and  in  some  parts  of  the  Un 
ited  States.  The  record  of  this  man's  life  since 
leaving  school  speaks  for  itself. 


301 


ALBERT  BRYSON  SINGFIELD 

OR  all  the  scoffs  hurled  at  her, 
Georgia,  as  far  as  the  Negro  is 
concerned,  is  making  her  mark  in 
some  praiseworthy  things.  Geor 
gia  is  distinguished  for  a  large 
number  of  very  good  Negro 
schools,  there  being  a  cluster  of  colleges  in  Atlanta, 
and  good  colleges  and  secondary  schools  in  every 
city  and  town  of  any  considerable  size.  If  she  ex 
cels  in  good  schools,  she  goes  a  step  further  in  Ne 
gro  Insurance.  The  Standard  Life  weathered  the 
storm  and  kept  its  mooring  in  Atlanta.  The  North 
Carolina  Mutual  has  in  Atlanta  a  branch  office  that 
competes  for  distinction  with  the  home  office  in 
Durham. 

If  Atlanta  surpasses  in  the  old  line  companies, 
Savannah  takes  the  lead  in  Benefit  Insurance.  Of 
these  the  Pilgrim  Health  and  Life  Insurance  Com 
pany  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  substantial.  To 
use  its  own  wording  is,  "The  oldest,  ablest  and 
safest  of  all." 

Mr.  Albert  B.  Sing-field  is  General  .Superinten 
dent  of  this  company  for  the  State,  and  is  manager 
of  the  Savannah  District.  Mr.  Singfield  was  born  in 
Harlem,  Georgia.  March  15,  1876.  Mr.  Singfield 
went  to  school  in  Columbia  County,  at  a  very 


early  age,  and  received  a  Normal  education.  After 
taking  a  Normal  course  he  entered  the  insurance 
business. 

Augusta  is  twenty-five  miles  from  Mr.  Sing- 
field's  birthplace.  There  was  difficulty  in  getting 
in  touch  with  the  city  life  and  city  opportunities 
from  Mr.  Singfield's  native  home.  In  1903  he  be 
gan  business  in  Augusta  for  the  Pilgrim  Health 
and  Life  Insurance  Company.  For  six  years  he 
was  the  Augusta  local  agent.  From  the  first  Mr. 
Singfield  and  the  company  grew  hand  in  hand,  as 
it  were.  Taking  over  the  business  in  Savannah  he 
found  but  few  agents  and  few  members.  He  stu 
died  the  field  and  how  to  handle  soliciters,  becom 
ing  himself  an  active  worker. 

He  began  in  1903 ;  and  traveled  for  years  thru 
the  State;  in  1909  he  was  called  to  Savannah  to  be 
come  Manager  of  that  District.  Immediately  the 
business  took  on  new  life.  Its  reputation  spread 
its  force  rapidly  increased.  He  knew  the  field 
back  there  in  Augusta  ;  and  though  he  had  left  it 
himself,  he  worked  it  over  harder  than  when  he 
was  there.  The  result  was  that  wheareas  Savan 
nah  was  supporting  but  five  agents  in  1909,  when 
Mr.  Singfield  took  the  Superintendency  of  the  Pil 
grim,  as  it  is  called,  it  now  supports  twenty-one 
agents.  Again,  in  1909,  one  person  constituted  the 
office  force  of  Savannah,  today  five  persons  are 
necessary  to  do  all  the  office  work  entailed  in  the 
employment  of  twenty  one  agents. 

There  are  several  reasons  for  the  wonderful 
strides  of  the  Pilgrim  Health  and  Life,  under  Su 
perintendency  of  Mr.  Singfield.  In  the  first  place 
Mr.  Singfield  knew  the  game  of  soliciting  at  first 
hand.  His  own  knowledge  gained  in  the  field 
taught  him  how  to  handle  agents  ;  but  more  impor 
tant  still  it  gave  him  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
situations  which  would  confront  the  agents.  He 
knew  the  weakness  of  the  agents  demands.  He 
knew  their  inspirations.  He  knew  the  weak  points 
and  the  strong  points  in  a  prospective  member's 
argument.  When  therefore  he  talked  with  his 
men  he  did  not  have  to  read  theory ;  he  knew,  and 
his  men  knew  that  he  knew  all  the  highways  and 
byways  of  the  territory.  It  is  this  that  enabled 
him  to  add  so  quickly  four  to  an  office  force  of  one, 
and  eighteen  agents  to  an  agent's  force  of  five. 

Mr.  Singfield  made  Savannah  his  home.  He  un 
ited  with  the  First  Baptist  Church,  and  he  and  Mrs. 
Singfield  began  immediately  to  take  an  active  part 
in  church  work.  He  bought  a  home  for  his  family 
in  Savannah,  and  then  he  became  a  tax  payer  and 
a  promoter  of  civil  life;  he  is  a  Deacon  of  his 
church,  and  he  joined  all  worthy  local  lodges,  lie 
is  a  Mason,  Odd  Fellow  and  Knight  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Singfield  was  married  in  1894  to  Miss  Anna 
Wilson,  of  Harlem  Georgia.  They  have  two  daugh 
ters,  Misses  Mary  Bertha  and  Nellie  Louise. 


302 


Reverend  Archibald  James  Carey 


KV.  Archibald  James  Carey,  was 
the  son  of  the  Rev.  Jefferson  and 
Anna  B.  Carey,  both  members  of 
the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  was  born  in  Atlanta, 

Georgia,    August  25th,    1868.  and 

was  one  of  three  children. 

His  educational  training  began  when  he  was 
quite  young,  having  entered  school  at  the  early 
age  of  four  years.  From  the  beginning  and  end 
ing  of  his  school  days  he  made  continuous  pro 
gress  and  upon  the  completion  of  his  course  of 
training  he  was  thoroughly  equipped  for  his  life 
work.  In  the  course  of  his  educational  career  he 
has  attended  Atlanta  University,  Chicago  Theolo 
gical  Seminary,  and  the  University  of  Chicago,  and 
is  a  graduate  of  Chicago  Theological  Seminary  and 
has  received  the  honorary  degrees  of  A.  M.,  D.  D., 
and  Ph.  D. 

Like  his  school  days,  his  religious  life  began 
when  he  was  a  mere  child.  He  was  converted  when 
nine  years  of  age  and  joined  the  African  Metho 
dist  Episcopal  Church,  and  at  once  became  incor 
porated  in  its  activities.  He  has  held  nearly  every 
office  .in  the  local  church  to  which  he  belongs,  and 
made  his  influence  felt  in  its  work  and  life. 

He  received  his  license  to  preach  in  Atlanta, 
Georgia  in  1888,  when  he  was  twenty  years  of  age, 
and  the  following  year  was  ordained  a  deacon  at 
Washington,  Georgia.  In  1890,  he  was  made  an 
Elder  at  Monticello,  Georgia.  Bishop  Gaines  offi 
ciated  at  all  of  these  services. 

In  1888  he  joined  the  North  Georgia  Annual  Con 
ference,  under  Bishop  Gaines,  and  has  held  the  fol 
lowing  appointments :  Bethel,  Athens,  Georgia, 
1891-1895;  Mt.  Zion,  Jacksonville,  1895-1898;  Quinn 
Chapel,  Chicago,  1898-1904;  Bethel,  Chicago,  1904- 
1909;  Institutional,  Chicago,  1909  to  1918,  when  he 
was  appointed  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Chicago  dis 
trict. 

He  built  Bethel,  Athens,  Georgia,  at  a  cost  of 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars  ($2500),  in  1892;  lifted 
a  mortgage  on  Quinn  Chapel,  to  the  amounty  of 
twenty-three  thousand  dollars  ($23,000.),  in  1898- 
1904 ;  on  Bethel,  Chicago,  to  the  amount  of  twelve 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars  ($12.500),  in  1904- 
1909.  and  has  taken  about  five  thousand  people  in 
to  the  church. 

He  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of 
1904.  1908,  1912,  and  1916.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Financial  Board  from  1904  to  1912 ;  member  of 
the  Commission  on  Federation  of  Methodist  chur 
ches,  1915 ;  and  was  voted  for  for  Financial  Secre 
tary  in  1912,  and  for  Bishop  in  1916. 


Dr.  Carey  is  as  gifted  with  his  pen  as  he  is  on  the 
platform,  which  he  uses  for  the  good  of  his  people ; 
he  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  newspapers  and  his 
articles  command  attention  and  are  read  with  much 
interest;  as  a  platform  speaker  his  ability  is  recog 
nized  by  all  who  have  enjoyed  his  appealing  elo 
quence  and  he  is  in  great  demand  for  public  ad 
dresses. 

Being  a  man  of  friendly  disposition  and  a  sym 
pathetic  spirit  he  found  pleasure  in  mingling  with 
his  fellows  not  only  in  their  church  life,  but  in  their 
social  activities. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of 
I'ythias,  Foresters,  Elks,  and  Tabor,  and  is  prom 
inently  connected  with  these  orders.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican  and  stands  high  in  the  councils 
of  his  party  in  his  city. 

In  1890  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Davis,  of  Ath 
ens,  Georgia,  who  has  borne  him  five  children — 
Eloise,  22  years;  Annabell,  21;  Madison,  19;  Dor 
othy,  10;  and  Archibald,  Jr.,  7  years.  Eloise  and 
Anabel  are  graduates  of  Chicago  University,  and 
received  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  I  Mi.  B.  respectively. 
This  sketch  would  be  incomplete  without  re 
cording  additional  honors  conferred  upon  Dr. 
Carey,  which  show  that  his  rare  gifts  were  known 
and  appreciated  outside  of  his  church  and  local 
community. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  contennial  celebration  of 
Perry's  victory  on  the  Lakes,  he  was  chosen  by  the 
International  Commission  to  deliver  the  oration  for 
the  Negroes,  which  he  did  with  great  credit  to 
himself  and  the  race  he  represented. 

All  states  participating  in  the  War  of  1812,  made 
appropriations  and  were  represented  on  the  pro 
gram.  Other  speakers  were :  President  Wilson, 
Ex-Presideht  Taft,  Dr.  McDonald,  of  Montreal, 
and  Governor  Cox,  of  Ohio.  To  sit  on  the  plat 
form  with  such  distinguished  characters  is  an  hon 
or  which  any  man  might  covet  and  which  comes  to 
but  few. 

Dr.  Carey  was  appointed  by  Governor  Dunn  as 
Commissioner  of  Half-Century  Negro  Freedom 
Celebration  held  in  Chicago ;  he  was  appointed  by 
Mayor  Harrison,  member  of  the  Chicago  Board  of 
Moving  Picture  Censors,  and  appointed  by  Mayor 
Thompson,  Chief  Examiner  of  Law  Claims. 

Besides  his  rich  mental  endowment  and  magnetic 
manner.  Dr.  Carey  possesses  a  good  physique 
which  added  to  the  impressiveness  of  his  pulpit 
work  has  made  him  conspicuous  among  men. 

A  life  consecrated  to  religion  and  elevation  of 
his  people,  his  influence  is  felt  in  every  circle  in 
which  he  moves. 


303 


ISAIAH  MONTGOMERY 

R.  Montgomery  was  born  a  slave 
His  name  will  ever  inspire  a  cer 
tain  degree  of  romance  because 
of  his  close  association  with  Jef 
ferson  Davis,  the  President  of  the 
Confederacy.  He  was  the  prop 
erty  of  Joseph  E.  Davis,  Jefferson 
Davis'  elder  brother,  being  born 
on  the  Hurricane  Plantation,  in  1847.  His  father 
came  from  Virginia,  where  through  his  young  Thas- 
ter  he  picked  up  a  knowledge  of  the  alphabet  and 
the  rudiments  of  spelling  and  writing ;  his  fondness 
for  education  was  encouraged  by  Mr.  Davis  until 
he  obtained  a  good  knowledge  of  English,  and  be 
came  a  fair  accountant,  mechanical  engineer,  and 
architect.  The  son,  Isaiah,  and  an  elder  brother, 
William  Thornton,  and  two  sisters  were  carefully 
instructed  by  their  father  during  his  spare  time. 

At  the  age  of  nine  years  the  slave  lad  became  the 
master's  office  boy,  carried  the  mails  for  New  Or 
leans  and  Vicksburg  steamers. 

Shortly  after  Admiral  Porter  ran  part  of  his 
Fleet  past  the  Vicksburg  batteries,  he  came  into 
contact  with  Isaiah  through  making  inquiries  in  re 
gard  to  the  Gunboat  Indianola,  which  had  been 
sunk  at  the  Hurricane  landing.  The  Admiral  per 
suaded  Isaiah's  parents  to  let  him  go  as  his  cab 
in  boy,  and  also  advised  them  to  leave  the  south 
for  a  time,  predicting  that  times  would  be  very 
rough  for  a  period.  The  Admiral  supplied  trans 
portation  to  Cincinnati. 


Isaiah  participated  in  the  battle  of  Grand  Gulf, 
went  with  the  Gunboat  expedition  up  Red  River  as 
far  as  Fort  De-Russey,  and  took  part  in  the  bom 
bardment  of  Vicksburg  on  several  occasions,  and 
was  at  the  capitulation  of  that  famous  city  in  Julv, 
1863. 

After  the  war,  Isaiah,  and  his  brother  with  their 
father,  agreed  to  purchase  the  plantation  of  Jo 
seph  Davis  and  that  of  his  Brother  Jefferson  Davis, 
altogether  some  four  thousand  acres,  for  $300,000 
in  gold.  Mr.  Montgomery  signed  the  purchase 
notes  before  he  had  reached  his  majority.  Gen. 
Grant  had  been  using  the  places  for  headquarters 
of  refugees.  The  Government  accounted  for  the 
rents  amounting  to  $26,000.00.  Ben  Montgomery 
acted  as  Mr.  Davis'  auditor  and  approved  the  set 
tlement.  The  Montgomerys  occupied  the  Davis 
properties  for  thirteen  years,  part  of  the  time  rank 
ing  third  among  the  largest  cotton  raisers  of  tb- 
south. 

It  was  the  dream  of  Joseph  that  the  Negroes  of 
his  plantation  be  kept  together  making  the  old 
plantation  their  permanent  home.  Catching  the 
vision  of  the  Master  the  young  ex-save  book-keep 
er  went  into  the  wilderness  of  the  great  Yazoo. 
Miss.,  Delta  in  Bolivar  County,  and  began  a  Negro 
Colony.  On  reaching  the  chosen  spot,  Isaiah  Mont 
gomery  said  to  the  few  men  who  followed  him  : 
"You  see  this  is  a  pretty  wild  place.  But  this  whole 
country  was  like  this  once.  You  have  seen  it 
change.  You  and  your  fathers  for  the  most  part 
performed  the  work  that  has  made  it  what  it  is. 
You  and  your  fathers  did  this  for  some  one  else. 
Can't  you  do  the  same  for  yourselves?" 

This  was  the  way  he  went  forth  to  found  a  town. 
Here  Mr.  Montgomery  has  worked  ever  since.  In 
1872  he  had  married  Miss  Martha  Robb,  whose 
mother  was  a  favorite  servant  in  the  family  of  Mrs. 
Sallie  Bridges.  Mrs.  Bridges  was  very  much  at 
tached  to  Miss  Robb  and  gave  her  careful  training. 
Mr.  Montgomery  brought  his  young  wife  and 
growing  family  to  Mound  Bayou  in  the  early  spring 
of  1888.  Out  of  a  number  of  children  born  to  them, 
only  four  are  now  living,  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Booze, 
Misses  Estella  and  Lillie  Belle  and  Mrs.  Eva  Pearl 
Canton,  the  latter  is  her  father's  private  secretary. 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  the  only  colored  member 
of  the  Mississippi  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1890  and  delivered  a  noted  speech  on  the  adoption 
of  the  new  Constitution.  The  same  year  he  head 
ed  a  committee  of  Negroes,  who  called  on  Presi 
dent  Harrison  and  Speaker  Reed ;  also  appeared  be 
fore  the  Senate  Committee  on  Rivers  and  Harbors, 
where  he  summed  up  the  evidence  and  quoted 
authorities  in  behalf  of  levee  building  to  withstand 
the  floods  of  the  Mississippi  River.  And  during 
the  early  fall  he  was  called  to  New  York  to  appear 
before  the  U.  S.  River  Commission  to  assist  in  se 
curing  the  largest  possible  allotment  for  levees  in 
the  Yazoo-Mississippi  Delta.  He  assisted  in  found 
ing  the  National  Negro  Business  League  at  Boston, 
and  became  one  of  its  earliest  life  members.  He 
is  considerably  interested  in  planting,  operates  a 
Gin  and  Saw  Mill,  is  President  of  the  Farmers  Co 
operative  Mercantile  Co.,  the  largest  business 
house  in  Mound  Bayou,  is  one  of  the  leading  Di 
rectors  in  the  Mound  Bayou  State  Bank,  and  gives 
much  time  to  Church  and  School  work. 


304 


William  J.  Tompkins,  M.  D.  and  Old  City  Hospital 


HEN    a    magnificent    new   building 
was  erected  in  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
in    1906,    for    a    general    Hospital, 
and  the  white    patients    transfer 
red    there,    the    old    building    was 
thrown   open   to    Negro    patients, 
where    they    had    formerly    only 
been    allowed    in     the    basement. 
But  the  institution  remained  under  white  manage 
ment  with  white  doctors,  nurses  and  employees. 

Some  of  the  Negro  physicians  saw  how,  since  this 
segregation  could  not  be  avoided,  it  might  be  used 
to  the  advantage  of  their  race.  They  saw  that  not 
(inly  would  the  Negroes  receive  more  considerate 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  their  own  people,  but 
also  vast  opportunities  would  be  open  to  the  Negro 
physicians  in  the  forum  of  hospital  experience  and 
the  direct  association  with  white  surgeons  who 
had  had  greater  advantages,  and  also  that  great 
facilities  would  be  afforded  Negro  girls  for  becom 
ing  proficient  nurses.  They  worked  perservering- 
ly  toward  the  accomplishment  of  this  hope,  but  it 
was  not  until  1911,  that  the  first  tangible  results 
of  these  efforts  became  evident.  In  October  of 
that  year  Negro  nurses  and  internes  entered  the 
Old  City  Hospital  (as  it  was  now  called)  to  care 
for  their  own  people,  and  four  Negro  physicians 
and  surgeons  were  appointed  as  assistants  to  the 
various  chiefs  on  the  visiting  staff. 

Dr.  Thompkins  succeeded  in  convincing  a  broad- 
minded  President  of  the  Hospital  and  Health 
Board,  and  a  sympathetic  Mayor  of  the  city  that 
it  would  be  best  for  all  concerned  to  place  the  in 
stitution  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  Negroes. 

Consequently,  in  November,  1914,  whites  were 
removed,  and  all  positions  filled  by  Negroes.  So 
that  now  the  Institution  affords  thirty-five  (35) 
pupil  nurses,  a  Superintendent  of  Nurses,  and  five 
assistants,  a  Superintendent,  Matron,  Pathologist 
and  assistant,  three  clerks,  eight  internes  and 
twenty-five  employees. 

This  hospital  is  in  A  Class,  and  is  the  largest  Ne 
gro  hospital  in  the  country.  It  consists  of  four 
buildings,  including  a  main  brick  building  that  ac- 
comodates  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  (225)  pa 
tients,  a  tuberculosis  pavilion  of  forty  (40)  beds,  an 
isolation  cottage  of  forty  (40)  beds,  and  a  two- 
story  Nurses  House.  To  this  was  added  this  year 
(1918),  a  beautiful  stone  building,  accomodating 
one  hundred  and  eighty-five  (185)  patients,  that 
is  used  for  United  State  Government  detention  pa 
tients,  which  department  has  three  nurses,  a  visit 
ing  physician,  clinic,  and  clinician,  a  Matron  and 
twelve  employees,  all  under  the  same  administra 
tion. 

The  training  school  of  this  hospital  offers  a  three 
year  course  of  instruction,  graduates  from  which 
are  eligible  to  State  registration  and  enrollment 
in  the  National  Red  Cross  organization.  In  re 
cognition  of  the  needs  of  the  government  for  more 
nurses  in  time  of  war,  the  hospital  instituted  an 
auxiliary  school  for  nurses  assistants  which  gives 
an  eight  week  course  in  Elementary  Hygiene  and 
Home  Care  of  the  sick. 

Dr.  Wm.  Thompkins  was  born  in  Jefferson  City, 


Missouri,  July  6,  1878.  He  finished  the  course  giv 
en  in  the  public  school ;  and  then  completed  the 
Academic  and  Normal  course  at  Lincoln  Institute, 
in  1901.  After  spending  two  years  of  study  in  the 
College  of  Medicine  at  the  University  of  Colorado, 
he  went  to  Howard  University,  in  Washington,  D. 
C.,  where  he  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  in  1905. 
After  a  year's  internship  at  the  Freedmen's  Hos 
pital,  in  Washington,  he  located  in  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  in  1906,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine. 

Dr.  Thompkins  was  the  first  Negro  Medical  In 
spector  of  schools  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  at  that 
time  being  city  physician  for  Negroes,  all  of  which 
work  was  later  divided  among  three  men,  he  re 
taining  one-third  of  the  work  at  the  same  salary 
for  which  he  had  done  it  all. 

Through  his  efforts  the  St.  Simon  Nursery  -4.  as 
established,  an  institution  which  cared  for  between 
four  and  five  hundred  children  annually.  There 
he  established  the  first  Child  Hygiene  Department 
among  Negroes  in  Kansas  City,  a  work  that  was 
later  taken  over  and  maintained  by  the  city.  He 
was  also  for  seven  years  physician  to  the  Old  Folks 
and  Orphans  Home. 

He  was  President  of  the  Kansas  City  Medical 
Society,  is  Secretary  of  the  Pan-Missouri  State 
Medical  Association,  a  charter  member  of  the  Tri- 
State  Medical  Society,  of  Missouri,  Kansas  and 
Oklahoma  and  an  honorary  member  of  the  Okla 
homa  State  Medical  Asociation.  So,  when  a  City 
Hospital  was  given  to  the  Negroes  of  Kansas  City, 
for  their  own,  Dr.  Thompkins  was  naturally  the 
logical  one  decided  upon  to  manage  the  institu 
tion,  which  he  took  charge  of  in  November,  1914. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Allen  Chapel  A.  M.  E.; 
Church,  a  thirty-third  degree  Mason,  a  U.  B.  F., 
an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  In  the 
last  named  organization  he  was  for  seven  consecu 
tive  years  Grand  Medical  Registrar  of  Missouri.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Educational  and  Industrial 
Commission  of  Missouri,  and  was  recently  appoint 
ed  by  the  Governor  of  Missouri,  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Educational  Congress,  to  meet  in  New 
York  City.  He  has  been  a  member  of  all  State 
delegations  appearing  before  the  Governor  or  Leg 
islature  of  iiis  State  for  the  past  ten  years  in  the 
interest  of  his  people.  He  has  also  been  interested 
in  all  civic  movements  for  his  people,  being  instru 
mental  in  securing  for  them  the  Garrison  Square 
Field  House  and  Play  Ground. 

At  one  time  he  was  endorsed  for  the  position  of 
Surgeon-in-chief  at  the  Freedmen's  Hospital  by 
the  State  Medical  Association  of  Missouri,  Speak 
er  Champ  Clark,  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
and  both  United  States  Senators  from  the  State  of 
Missouri,  and  the  Missouri  State  Legislature  for 
the  first  time  in  its  history  gave  him  unanimous 
endorsement. 

He  owns  a  beautiful  residence,  valuable  property 
in  Spring  Valley  Park  of  Kansas  City  and  oil  land 
in  Oklahoma  and  land  in  Mexico. 

In  1913  Dr.  Thompkins  was  married  to  Miss  Jes 
sie  Embry,  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  They  have  one 
daughter,  three  years  old. 


305 


CLINTON  METROPOLITAN  A.  M.  E.    ZION    CHURCH.    CHARLOTTE,    N.    C. 


This  church  has  had  a  long  and  glorious  history. 
It  was  organized  fifty  one  years  ago,  and  has  num 
bered  among  its  pastors  some  of  the  most  promi 
nent  ministers  of  the  denomination.  Several  of 
them  have  advanced  to  the  office  of  Bishop.  Bish 
op  James  Walker  Hood;  Bishop  Andrew  Jackson 
Warner;  Bishop  Lomax.  This  beautiful  church 
edifice  was  erected  during  the  pastorate  of  Dr. 


Warner,  (now  Bishop).  It  has  a  large  member 
ship  ;  pays  a  salary  of  $1800,  and  has  a  splendid  par 
sonage.  The  present  Board  of  Trustees  are :  W.  P. 
Robinson,  President ;  Col.  C.  S.  L.  A.  Taylor,  Secre 
tary-Treasurer  ;  W.  R.  Moore,  J.  R.  Funderburk, 
John  Gray,  Thomas  Davis,  James  Taylor,  W.  M. 
Peoples,  and  Walter  Fronabarger.  M.  D.  Smith, 
D.  D.,  is  Pastor. 


306 


Dinwiddie  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute 


N  1898  the  Dinwiddie  Agricultural 
and  Industrial  School  was  organi- 
ized.  It  was  incorporated  in 
March,  1899,  as  the  John  A.  Dix 
Industrial  School.  Under  this 
name  the  school  continued  to 
grow  and  develop  till  1907,  when  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  Dinwiddie  Agricultural  and  Indus 
trial  School.  The  first  purchase  of  land  for  the 
school  was  a  tract  of  114  acres.  On  this  land  they 
erected  a  building  40x50  with  six  large  rooms  in 
which  school  was  opened  in  1900.  Later  the 
Board  purchased  and  increased  the  farm  tract  to 
250  acres. 

One  man  who  played  a  large  part  in  the  develop 
ment  of  the  school  was  Mr.  Alexander  Van  Rans- 
sellaer,  a  philanthropist  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl 
vania.  He  was  a  staunch  friend  of  the  colored  peo 
ple  and  assisted  in  the  development  of  the  Dinwid 
die  School  till  he  brought  it  up  to  a  high  degree  of 
efficiency.  When  the  school  was  fully  established 
and  running  smoothly,  Mr.  Ranssallaer  decided  to 
place  the  school  in  the  custody  of  the  colored  peo 
ple.  With  this  in  view  he  conveyed  it  to  the  Board 
of  Education  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Zion  Church,  in  1908. 

PROPERTY  AND  LOCATION 

The  property  of  the  school  consists  of  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  the  Southern  part  of 
which  borders  on  a  creek.  There  is  also  a  stream 
running  through  the  farm  from  which,  with  the 
use  of  a  reservoir,  the  grounds  and  buildings  are 
supplied  with  water.  There  is  a  large  two-story 
dormitory  with  an  airy  basement.  This  is  in  real 
ity  the  Boys'  Building,  but  the  girls  are  using  it  at 
present,  their  own  building1  having  been  destroyed 
by  fire.  The  boys  are  using  a  two-story  cottage 
for  dormitory.  There  is  a  cottage  used  as  the  home 
for  the  farm  manager,  and  the  Principals'  Home. 
Aside  from  these  buildings  there  are  several  wagon 
sheds,  barns,  two  industrial  shops  and  the  poultry 
houses.  The  property  is  valued  at  $18.750.  The 
school  owns  a  number  of  hogs,  chickens,  cattle, 
two  mules,  and  a  horse. 

The  property  is  situated    on    the    Seaboard    Air 
Line   Railway,   fifteen   miles   South   of   Petersburg, 
in   a   most  healthful   and   appropriate   locality,   ahd 
is  accessible  to  a  large  Negro  population. 
GENERAL  AIM 

The  general  aim  of  the  school  is  to  develop  men 
and  women.  It  offers  Negro  youth  an  opportunity 
to  build  a  foundation  for  useful  life.  This  is  done 
through  moral,  literary  and  manual  training.  The 


Normal  Training  is  given  to  all  who  are  preparing 
to  teach.  The  Preparatory  Training  is  given  those 
who  expect  to  go  to  college  and  the  Comprehen 
sive  High  School  Course  is  designed  especially  for 
those  who  plan  to  leave  school  early  for  business 
careers. 

With  Agriculture  as  a  central  thought  such  in 
dustries  are  taught  as  are  closely  related  to  agri 
culture.  C'arpentry  and  blacksmithing  are  given. 
not  only  for  their  training  values,  but  also  because 
they  are  closely  related  to  the  work  of  the  farmer. 
Gardening,  dairying,  poultry  raising,  cooking,  sew 
ing  and  laundrying.  The  school  seeks  to  teach  boys 
and  girls,  not  only  books  and  trades,  but  how  to 
live  and  become  a  vital  part  of  the  community  life. 

ADVANTAGES 

Some  of  the  advantages  of  the  school  are  the 
healthfulness  of  the  location  and  the  wholesome 
rural  surroundings,  the  literary  and  industrial 
courses  offered;  the  personal  attention  given  each 
student ;  and  the  earnest,  conscientious,  Christian 
teachers.  The  pupils  while  in  the  school  live  in  the 
dormitories  and  take  up  the  regular  life  of  the  well 
regluated  Christian  home.  Another  homelike  fea 
ture  of  the  school  plan  is  that  every  student  bears 
a  portion  of  the  burden  of  the  household. 

In  the  development  of  Christian  character  the 
schools  puts  great  emphasis.  There  are  distinct 
ive  religious  services,  attendance  upon  which  is 
required.  There  is  the  Sunday  School,  preaching 
services  and  the  Sunday  evening  services  as  well 
as  the  regular  student's  Prayer  Meeting.  In  this 
way  the  students  are  trained  to  do  active  work  in 
the  religious  life  of  their  communities  when  they 
leave  school. 

The  Present  Principal  of  the  Dinwiddie  Normal 
School  is  Mr.  W.  E.  Woodyard.  Under  his  effi 
cient  management  the  school  has  developed  great- 

iy. 

ORGANIZATION 

Elementary — The  elementary  work  covers  the 
three  upper  elementary  grades,  with  liberal  time 
for  physiology  and  hygiene. 

Secondary  -  The  preparatory  course  of  three 
years  includes  the  usual  secondary  subjects  with 
three  years  of  Latin  and  two  years  of  Greek  or 
German.  The  teachers'  course  differs  from  the 
preparatory  course  in  the  omission  of  languages 
and  the  institution  of  science,  animal  husbandry, 
and  principles  of  teaching. 

Industrial — Four  hours  a  week  of  industrial  work 
is  required  of  all  pupils.  A  little  training  in  carpen 
try  and  blacksmithing  is  provided  for  the  boys  and 
co'oking  and  sewing  for  the  girls.  The  farm  is 
maintained  on  a  commercial  basis. 


307 


HENRY  FLOYD  GAMBLE,  M.  D. 


HOUGH  born  in  1862,  when  edu 
cation  was  almost  impossible  for 
the  Negro.  Dr.  Henry  F.  Gamble, 
of  Charleston,  West  Virginia, 
managed  to  gain  the  best  of  both 
literary  and  professional  training. 
He  was  born  on  the  farm  at  North  Garden,  Alber- 
marle  County,  Virginia,  January  16th,  1862.  For  a 
good  while  the  road  to  learning  and  attainment 
seemed  as  dark  and  impossible  as  it  was  to  the 
millions  of  other  colored  people. 

Working  and  hoping  and  trying,  working  on  the 
farm  in  the  day  and  making  what  headway  he  could 
at  night,  he  at  length  found  someone  to  teach  him 
at  night.  He  now  began  to  master  his  books  and 
was  soon  able  to  enter  Lincoln  University  in  Penn 
sylvania.  His  drawbacks  of  early  days  appeared 
now  to  have  been  a  spur  rather  than  a  hindrance ; 
for  though  his  early  education  had  been  irregular, 
he  was  able  to  graduate  with  honors  in  1888.  and 
this,  even  though  he  had  to  earn  his  way.  From 
Lincoln  University  he  entered  the  Medical  Depart 
ment  of  Yale  University,  where,  in  1891,  he  gained 
his  doctors'  degree. 

He  began  to  practice  at  Charlottsville,  Virginia. 


Here  he  remained  but  one  year,  moving  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  1892  to  Charleston,  West  Virginia, 
where  for  a  little  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
he  has  been  practicing,  to  use  his  own  modest 
words,  "with  a  reasonable  amount  of  success." 

Dr.   Gamble   has  been  according  to  professional 
men  who  know  and  honor  him.  an  intensely  hard 
worker  and  a  close  student  in  his  profession,  study 
ing  not  only  books  and  treatises,     but     everyday- 
cases  that  come  under  his  observation. 

His  work  engages  almost  his  exclusive  time  and 
attention  and  has  kept  him  from  entering  the  mys 
tic  doors  of  the  secret  orders.  His  ear  is  ever  at 
tuned  to  the  cry  of  distress  and  the  call  of  the  suf 
fering  and  he  holds  himself  in  readiness  to  quicklv 
respond  when  the  summons  comes. 

When  Dr.  Gamble  in  1911-12  was  elected  Pres 
ident  of  the  National  Medical  Association,  the  daily 
papers  of  his  home  city  showed  how  very  much 
the  laity  agreed  with  the  medical  profession.  'Hit- 
Charleston  Gazette  said:  "The  Gazette  desires  to 
extend  to  Dr.  Gamble  its  heartiest  congratulations 
upon  his  election  to  the  presidency  of  the  National 
Medical  Association. 

"Dr.  Gamble,  alone,  however,  should  not  be  con 
gratulated.  The  Medical  Association  should  come 
in  for  its  share  of  felicitations.  To  the  people  of 
Charleston  the  choice  seems  to  have  been  a  fitting 
and  a  splendid  one.  Dr.  Gamble  is  a  man  \vho  has 
reflected  credit  upon  his  race  and  profession.  He  is 
an  educated  man,  who,  by  his  ability  and  personal 
ity  has  earned  many  friends  and  much  admiration 
here.  It  is  in  men  of  the  stamp  and  character  of 
Dr.  Gamble  that  the  Negro  race  will  find  its  real 
salvation.  Charleston  is  glad  that  Dr.  Gamble  has 
been  honored." 

To  win  such  an  endorsement  from  his  home  peo 
ple  is  an  honor  that  any  man  may  covet  and  is  a 
reward  worth  striving  for.  The  Doctor  accepts 
the  honor  with  commendable  pride  but  with  a 
modesty  which  itself  is  an  evidence  of  greatness 
coming  from  such  a  source. 

Dr.  Gamble  was  married  in  1894,  to  Miss  Gilmer 
of  Charleston,  West  Virginia.  Miss  Gilmer  was  a 
graduate  of  Storer  College.  She  died  in  1901.  Dr. 
Gamble  was  again  married  in  1917,  to  Miss  Nina 
H.  Clinton  of  Zanesville,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Gamble  is  a 
graduate  of  Wilberforce  University.  Dr.  Gamble's 
two  children,  Catherine  Lee  and  Henry  Floyd,  Jr., 
are  both  in  school.  The  former  is  a  Freshman  in 
Oberlin  College ;  the  latter  attending  school  in 
Charleston. 

Dr.  Gamble  owns  his  home,  office  and  office 
equipment.  He  is  a  Baptist  in  his  religious  beliefs, 
being  a  faithful  member  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Charleston. 


308 


John  C.  Asbury,  LL. 'B.,  LL.  M. 


T  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  edu 
cated  Negro,  as  a  rule,  has  aspi 
rations  looking  to  the  betterment 
and  elevation  of  his  race,  and 
wherever  the  interests  of  the  race 
are  concerned  you  will  find  him 
at  work. 

His  operations  are  not  confined  to  the  church, 
the  school  and  the  medical  profession,  but  reach 
out  and  touch  the  home  life  of  their  people,  and 
has  regard  to  their  social  comforts  and  recreation 
al  diversions. 

They  have  learned  in  their  own  experience  that 
education  not  only  enlightens  the  mind  but  broad 
ens  the  concept  of  life,  and  excites  the  ambition  to 
rise  to  higher  attainments  in  the  higher  ideals  of 
life.  Feeling  these  impulses  in  their  own  souls  they 
wish  the  same  for  their  people  and  almost  as  a 
natural  instinct  they  are  led  to  work  for  race  ele 
vation. 

John  C.  Asbury  is  among  this  class,  and  his  in 
tensive  habits  of  mind  have  caused  him  to  consider 
the  interests  of  the  Colored  citizens  of  his  com 
munity  from  every  aspect  of  their  lives.  This  was 
carried  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  living  to  con 
template  the  resting  place  of  the  dead.  The  out 
come  of  this  investigation  is  told  elsewhere  in  this 
sketch. 

Mr.  Asbury  is  a  native  of  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  he  received  in  large 
part  his  education.  He  got  the  ground  work  of  his 
education  from  the  public  schools  of  Washington 
County,  and  after  finishing  at  these  schools  he  en 
tered  the  Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  lo 
cated  at  Washington,  Pennsylvania. 

Choosing  Law  as  his  profession,  he  next  enrolled 
at  Howard  University,  Washington  ,D.  C.  and  took 
the  law  course.  Here  he  won  the  degress  of  LL. 
B.  and  LL.  M.  In  June,  1885,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  of  the  district  of  Columbia,  but  began  his 
practice  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  He  opened  his 
office  in  Norfolk,  Virginia,  in  1885,  and  soon  won 
recognition  which  brought  him  into  prominent  no 
tice. 

In  May,  1887.  he  was  elected  Commonwealth 
(District)  Attorney,  of  Norfolk  County,  in  which 
office  he  served  four  years.  During  his  term  of 
office  he  had  no  assistant  but  conducted  the  busi 
ness  of  the  Court  alone. 

Among  the  many  cas'es  prosecuted  by  him  there 
were  eleven  murder  cases  which  he  handled  with 
consummate  skill.  Mr.  Asbury  takes  a  deep  in 
terest  in  the  political  questions  which  stir  the  coun- 
trv  and  true  to  his  nature  he  lets  his  interest  take 


active  form.  In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Republi 
can,  and  he  gives  to  his  party  the  best  that  is  in 
him. 

In  January,  1892  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Nat 
ional  Republican  Convention,  at  Minneapolis,  rep 
resenting  the  Second  Congressional  District  of 
Virginia. 

In  January,  1897,  Mr.  Asbury  left  Virginia,  and 
located  in  Philadelphia,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  an  active  practitioner  at  the  Philadelphia  Bar. 

While  investigating  the  conditions  of  his  people 
Mr.  Asbury  made  a  note  of  the  very  inadequate 
provision  made  for  their  burial,  and  set  about  to 
work  a  change  to  give  them  pleasanter  surround 
ings  for  their  dead. 

It  is  one  thing  to  see  a  need  but  quite  another 
thing  to  undertake  the  task  of  supplying  it.  Mr. 
Asbury  did  both  and  succeeded  beyond  his  expec 
tation  in  the  effort.  He  organized  the  Eden  Cem 
etery  Company,  of  which  he  is  the  President  and 
directing  head,  and  it  has  the  reputation  of  being 
the  most  beautiful  and  best  managed  Negro  cem 
etery  in  America.  It  comprises  fifty-three  acres 
(53),,  and  it  is  estimated  that  it  will  furnish  graves 
for  the  colored  population  of  Philadelphia  for  the 
next  ^hundred  years.  While  the  enterprise  was 
born  of  a  desire  to  help  the  colored  race  to  find  an 
attractive  place  to  bury  their  dead,  it  has  proved  a 
fine  investment  for  the  stockholders.  They  have 
already  received  a  dividend  upon  their  stock  ex 
ceeding  the  cost  of  the  shares  and  the  great  bulk 
of  the  property  yet  remains  to  be  disposed  of. 

The  cemetery  was  established  in  1902.  This 
Company  is  not  the  extent  of  his  activities  for  his 
people.  He  is  connected  with  other  institutions 
which  seek  their  good.  He  is  President  of  the 
Keystone  Beneficial  Society,  the  largest  institution 
of  its  kind  among  colored  people  in  the  North.  He 
is  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Union 
Baptist  Church,  among  the  largest  of  Baptist 
Churches,  having  a  membership  of  thirty-five  hun 
dred  (3500). 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  .Fraternity,  the 
Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Elks. 

Notwithstanding  the  demands  upon  his  time 
which  his  connection  with  these  various  institu 
tions  call  for,  he  never  neglects  his  business  as  an 
Attorney.  His  large  and  lucrative  practice  attest 
it.  He  has  made  a  good  record  in  the  trial  of  the 
cases  assigned  him,  being  many  times  compliment 
ed  by  the  trial  judge  in  open  Court. 

In  February  1916.  he  was  appointed  Court  as 
sistant  in  the  Municipal  C'ourt  by  City  Solicitor 
Connelly. 


309 


The  Virginia  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute 


HE  Virginia  Normal  and  Indus 
trial  Institute  owns  seventy-two 
acres  of  land,  forty-two  are  un 
der  cultivation  and  twenty-six 
make  up  the  Campus  and  Athele- 
tic  Field.  There  are  twelve  per- 

manent  buildings  --  five  cottages 

for  married  teachers,  a  residence 
for  the  President,  the  main  building,  three  smaller 
buildings,  a  boiler  house,  and  a  laundry.  The  In 
stitution  is  beautifully  located  on  the  top  of  a  high 
hill  over-looking  the  surrounding  country.  The 
land  has  a  natural  drainage  and  the  health  condi 
tions  are  excellent. 

The  Institute  is  primarily  a  Normal  School,  pre 
paring  teachers  for  the  Colored  public  schools  of 
Virginia.  It  has  graduated  1477  men  and  women. 
These  graduates  are  engaged  in  practically  all  the 
pursuits  of  life.  Some  of  them  are  physicians,  law 
yers,  preachers,  farmers,  business  men,  home- 
keepers  and  the  like.  Most  of  them  however  are 
engaged  as  teachers  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
State  and  as  social  workers  in  various  centers. 

The  program  of  studies  of  the  Institute  compris 
es  a  High  School,  a  Normal  School,  a  Normal  In 
dustrial  School,  and  departments  in  Agriculture, 
Domestic  Science,  Manual  Training,  business,  and 
music.  The  high  school  comprises  four  years  of 
high  school  work  above  the  eighth  grade.  The 
Normal  School,  two  years  of  professional  work 
above  the  four  year  high  school,  and  the  Normal 
Industrial,  two  years  of  industrial  work  and  teach 
er  training  above  the  first  two  years  of  the  high 
school.  This  last  course  is  to  train  teachers  for  the 
rural  public  schools.  The  High  school  and  Normal 
School  are  accredited  by  the  State  in  their  respect 
ive  classes. 

Industrial  work  in  conducted  with  a  view  to  the 
training  of  young  people  to  teach  the  subject  in  the 
schools  of  the  State.  Particularly  strong  courses 
in  household  arts  and  agriculture  are  given.  The 
agricultural  department  has  the  distinction  of  be 
ing  run  on  a  "paying  basis."  The  Manual  Train 
ing  Work  leads  to  practical  skill  in  handling  situa 
tions  around  the  home  and  on  the  farm.  The  do 
mestic  science  is  correlated  with  the  student's  and 
teachers'  kitchen  and  dining  rooms. 

Physical  training  receives  special  attention. 
There  is  a  coach  for  the  athletic  interest  of  the 
boys  and  a  physical  director  for  the  girls.  Military 
drill  is  given  the  boys  under  the  direction  of  a  com 
petent  drill  master. 

The  religious  life  receives  emphasis  in  the  acti 
vities  of  the  Christian  Associations,  Bible  Classes, 
weekly  prayer  meetings,  daily  devotional  exer 
cises,  and  annual  week  of  prayer  and  Sunday  af 
ternoon  preaching  services. 

The  faculty  is  composed  of  thirty-seven  officers, 
teachers  and  workers.  Of  this  number  twelve  are 


men  and  twenty-five  are  women.  Most  of  these 
men  and  women  were  trained  in  the  best  Negro 
Colleges  of  the  South ;  some  of  them  come  from 
the  larger  institutions  of  the  North.  Practically 
all  of  them  have  studied  in  the  Summer  Schools  of 
the  large  institutions  of  the  North. 

For  the  session  1916-1917  nine  hundred  and  nine 
teen  studejits  were  enrolled  in  the  regular  session 
and  three  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  summer  ses 
sion,  making  a  total  of  one  thousand  two  hundred 
and  sixty-nine  instructed  in  the  Institute  during 
the  year.  Of  the  nine  hundred  and  nineteen  in  the 
regular  session  two  hundred  and  twenty-six  were 
boys  and  six  hundred  and  ninty-three  were  girls. 
The  enrollment  was  distributed  as  follows ;  pro 
fessional  department  146;  Senior  High  School  388; 
Junior  High  School  198;  and  training  school  117. 

JOHN  MANUEL  GANDY,  A.  B. 

John  Manuel  Gandy,  President  of  the  Virginia 
State  Normal  School,  was  born  near  Starkesville, 
Mississippi.  He  began  his  educational  career  early 
in  life  in  the  rural  public  schools  of  Oktibba  County, 
Mississippi,  where  the  strong  intellect  which  char 
acterized  his  later  life,  thus  early  began  to  unfold. 

In  1889  he  left  his  rural  home  and  went  to  the 
Capitol  of  the  State,  where  he  entered  Jackson  Col 
lege,  remained  there  two  years,  graduating  from 
the  Normal  Department  in  1892.  Due  to  the 
shortage  of  money,  he  left  Oberlin  and  entered 
Fisk  University  in  1894,  and  was  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  1898.  Before  graduation  he 
was  offered  a  position  as  instructor  of  Latin  and 
Greek  in  the  Virginia  Normal  and  Collegiate  Insti 
tute,  and  also  the  secretaryship  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
in  New  Haven,  Conn.  He  accepted  the  latter.  After 
serving  for  a  couple  of  months  he  discovered  that 
it  was  hardly  possible  to  develop  a  work  in  New 
Haven.  He  then  accepted  the  first  position  offered 
him  as  it  was  at  that  time  open. 

President  Gandy  went  to  Virginia  and  put  his 
life  into  his  work.  He  allied  himself  with  the  so 
cial  uplift  movements  of  the  State,  attending  most 
of  the  State  meetings.  His  value  became  gradual 
ly  known  and  when  the  Negro  Organization  So 
ciety  looked  around  for  an  Executive  Secretary 
the  mantle  fell  on  him.  This  position  took  him 
into  practically  every  County  of  the  State.  He 
gave  himself  freely  in  helping  the  people  into  new 
ideas  and  practices  of  health,  education,  and  farm 
ing.  He  introduced  the  Negro  Organization  So 
ciety  to  the  people. 

When  the  President  of  the  State  Normal  School 
died  Mr.  Gandy  was  elected  his  successor.  H£  has 
had  phenomenal  success  as  an  administrator  and 
educator.  Practically  every  feature  of  the  school 
has  been  reorganized.  The  courses  of  study  have 
been  raised ;  the  equipment  and  plant  greatly  im 
proved  ;  the  student  body  and  teaching  force  nearly 
doubled. 


311 


MISS  EMMA  J.  WILSON 

AYESVILLE  Educational  and  In 
dustrial  Institute  is  Miss  Emma 
Wilson's  monument,  her  life 
story.  Born  in  the  days  border 
ing  on  slavery,  Miss  Wilson  early 
grew  eager  for  an  education.  In 
making  known  her  desire  to  her 
slave  mother,  the  latter  replied, 
"Why  you  are  crazy  child,  you  can't  go  to  school. 
Only  white  children  go  to  school."  Since  this  was 
so  the  child  did  the  next  best  thing.  She  got  three 
little  white  children  to  teach  her.  Having  learned 
her  alphabet,  she  got  hold  of  a  speller  and  began  to 
master  the  big  words.  Later  she  attended  a  Mis 
sion  School  taught  by  Northern  women.  From 
here  she  enrolled  at  Scotia  Seminary,  at  Concord, 
North  Carolina. 

When  she  was  planning  and  praying  that  she 
might  go  to  Scotia,  she  promised  the  Lord  that  she 
would  go  to  Africa  as  a  Missionary,  if  that  was  his 
will.  Finishing  her  course  at  Scotia,  she  returned 
to  Mayesville,  her  birth  place,  and  found  her  Afri 
ca  at  her  own  door."  That  is  she  found  her  home 
viliage  without  a  Negro  school  building  or  any  one 
to  teach.  Securing  the  use  of  an  old  abandoned 
cotton  gin  house,  she  opened  school  with  ten  pu 
pils.  Books  were  donated,  children  paid  tuition  in 
eggs,  chickens  and  provisions.  However,  Miss 
Wilson  did  not  accept  these  as  her  pay.  She  had 
her  mother  cook  these  and  sell  them.  The  pro 
ceeds  she  turned  in  to  the  work  of  her  cotton  gin 
•-thool  house. 

In  a  short  time  the  school  outgrew  the  gin  house. 
Believing  in  her  work,  Dr.  Mayes,  for  whom  the 
little  town  was  named  influenced  the  County  Board 
of  Education  to  grant  her  forty-five  dollars  a  year 
to  aid,  in  her  work.  This  she  invested  in  an  Assis 
tant  Teacher,  and  then  used  for  a  school  house  any 
building  she  could  secure  free  of  rent  charges.  Pu 
pils  now  began  to  pour  in  from  the  surrounding 
country.  To  meet  the  increasing  demand.  Dr. 
Mayes  advised  her  to  go  north  and  solicit  funds. 
She  started  her  journey  North  by  asking  the 
minister  in  her  church  for  the  Sunday  night  col 


lection.  This  he  granted.  The  sum  amounted  to 
fifty  cents.  With  this  she  rode  to  the  next  town 
where  she  found  a  camp  meeting.  Given  the  col 
lection  here,  she  raised  seventy-five  cents.  In  this 
way  she  made  her  way  North,  where  she  often  suf 
fered  rebuffs  and  extreme  hunger.  Sometimes  she 
washed  and  ironed  by  'the  day  to  earn  her  food. 
Finally,  however,  she  got  the  ear  of  Lloyd  Garri 
son  and  Richard  H.  Dana,  who  investigated  her 
work  and  pronounced  it  sound  and  deserving.  She 
remained  in  the  North  three  years,  sending  back 
funds  to  keep  the  school  going.  When  she  re 
turned  she  had  money  enough  to  put  up  a  ne\v 
school  building. 

This  marked  the  formal  beginning  of  the  Mayes 
ville  Institute.  From  this  point  it  grew  in  num 
ber,  in  standing,  in  building,  in  land,  in  friends,  in 
money.  In  1896  it  obtained  a  charter  from  the 
State  of  South  Carolina.  Its  trustee  Board  is  com 
posed  of  Northern  white  men,  Southern  white  men 
and  Southern  colored  men.  Mr.  Richard  H.  Dana 
subsequently  became  the  school's  Treasurer,  other 
representative  people  of  the  North,  Reverend  Ho 
ward  Brown,  Mrs.  Quincy  Shaw,  Mrs.  Paul  Revere 
Frothington,  Mrs.  R.  R.  Booker,  joined  the  Board 
of  Trustees. 

The  school  is  now  well  equipped  and  has  sub 
stantial  courses  for  teachers,  and  for  industrial 
students.  It  has  an  enrollment  of  500  students, 
150  of  whom  are  boarders;  40  are  orphans.  It 
teaches  Agriculture  in  all  its  forms,  giving  theory 
and  practice  on  the  school's  farm,  in  the  Truck 
Garden,  Orchard,  and  in  Diary.  Among  the  Me-- 
chanical  and  Domestic  Arts  are  taught  Carpentry, 
Shoe-making,  Brick-making,  Tailoring,  Sewing, 
Cooking,  Nursing  and  House  Work.  Miss  Wilson 
herself  is  the  founder  of  the  course  in  brick-mak 
ing.  Having  found  clay  on  her  farm,  she  went  to 
Pittsburg  and  learned  brick-making  first  hand. 
The  institution's  running  expenses  are  $9000,  $200 
t,f  which  is  given  by  the  State  of  South  Carolina. 
The  rest,  save  the  proceeds  from  the  truck  garden 
and  from  a  few  rented  cottages,  is  raised  by  Miss 
Wilson.  She  has  an  annual  Farmers'  Conference, 
of  which  she  is  President.  The  United  States  Gov 
ernment  has  established  an  Experiment  Station 
here. 


JOSLYN   HALL  AND   HARRIET   JOSLYN   HALL 


312 


Will  Henry  Bennett  Vodery 


S  a  musical  prodigy,  Will  Henry 
Bennett  Vodery,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  may  be  properly 
classed,  for  he  wrote  music  and 
played  upon  musical  instruments 
at  a  very  early  age.  He  played 
the  piano  in  the  Sunday  School  when  only  nine 
years  of  age,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  he  was  the 
church  organist.  He  wrote  the  song,  "My  Country 
I  Love  Thee,"  when  he  was  twelve  years  old. 

His  musical  talent  showing  itself  thus  early  in 
life,  being  developed  by  Master  instructors,  has 
brought  him  much  fame  in  his  later  years  and  has 
made  him  a  notable  character. 

Mr.  Vodery  is  a  native  of  Pensylvania.  He  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  October  8,  1885,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city, 
graduating  from  the  Central  High  School  in  1902. 
Unlike  a  great  many  men,  he  was  quick  to  dis 
cern  his  talent  and  to  determine  upon  his  life  ca 
reer.  He  was  a  born  musician  and  with  a  soul 
fully  attuned  to  music's  melody,  it  was  natural  that 
he  should  surrender  to  the  compelling  call  of  the 
Divine  Muse. 

After  graduating  from  the  Central  High  School, 
he  immediately  entered  upon  the  study  of  music  at 
the  Hugh  A.  Clark  University,  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  under  the  instruction  of  Louis  Koemmenick, 
Grand  Director  of  the  University  of  Leipsic. 

He  commenced  his  professional  career  in  1904, 
in  the  City  of  New  York,  arranged  for  M.  Whit- 
mark  &  Sons  their  play,  "A  Trip  To  Africa,"  and 
accompanied  the  show  on  its  tour  through  the  mid 
dle  West  and  the  South.  He  wrote  the  music  for  the 
plays,  "South  Africa,"  and  "Time,  Place  and  Girl." 
The  music  was  inspiring  and  fun-provoking. 

Leaving  New  York  in  1905,  he  went  to  Chicago, 
and  was  made  custodian  for  theTheodore  Thomas 
Orchestra.  While  serving  in  this  capacity  he  stu 
died  symphony  under  the  concert  manager. 

In  addition  to  his  duties  in  connection  with  the 
Theodore  Thomas  Orchestra,  he  managed  the  Pro 
fessional  Department  of  Charles  K.  Harris. 

While  in  Chicago  he  wrote  the  song,  "After  The 
Ball  Was  Over,"  which  made  a  decided  'hit'  with 
the  public  and  became  very  popular.  It  was  sung 
in  every  part  of  the  country,  in  the  theatres,  in 
the  homes  and  upon  the  streets.  The  street  ur 
chins  whistled  it  and  young  men  and  maidens  danc 
ed  to  its  catchy  music. 

He  left  Chicago  in  1907,  and  returned  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  wrote  "Oyster  Man,"  and 
many  other  popular  songs.  He  also  arranged  the 
music  for  Williams  and  Walker's  "Bandanna 


Land,"  and  traveled  with  the  show  as  musical  di 
rector,  going  with  it  to  Europe.  It  gave  an  exhi 
bition  in  Shaftes  Bury  Theatre,  London. 

In  1908  he  managed  a  show  in  which  the  famous 
comedian,  Hogan,  featured  and  scored  so  great  a 
success  that  the  next  season  he  secured  control  of 
the  show  for  himself,  making  an  eighteen  weeks 
tour  which  added  to  its  popularity. 

After  this  he  wrote  a  number  of  songs,  among 
which  were  "Too  Much  Isaacs,"  "Girls  From  Hap 
py  Land,"  "Saucy  Maid,"  and  "Me  Hun  And  I." 

From  New  York  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C, 
to  take  charge  of  the  Vaudeville  show  of  Rosen- 
thald  &  Benedict,  which  was  afterwards  changed 
to  a  stock  company.  The  first  play  of  the  new 
company  was  "My  Friend  From  Dixie."  The  play 
was  well  received  and  proved  a  great  financial  suc 
cess.  His  satisfactory  management  of  this  ven 
ture  added  to  his  reputation  and  brought  about  a 
business  connection  between  him  and  J.  Lubrie 
Hull,  who  formed  a  partnership  and  traveled  to 
gether  during  the  season  1910-1911.  Their  itine 
rary  covered  the  entire  country — their  show  was 
highly  pleasing,  as  was  its  financial  outcome.  Mr. 
Vodery  was  in  constant  demand  and  his  talent  as 
a  song  writer  generally  recognized.  He  wrote  the 
music  for  "Dr.  Beans  From  Boston,"  a  show  in 
which  S.  H.  Dudley  was  the  commedian. 

For  the  season  of  1912-1913,  he  took  charge  of 
the  Overtoil  &  Walker  enterprise,  a  Vaudeville 
show,  and  wrote  the  music  for  "Porto  Rico  Girls," 
and  "Happy  Girls."  The  show  proved  a  drawing 
card  and  was  so  well  received  on  the  coast  that  a 
second  trip  was  made  there.  He  also  did  special 
work  in  1913  for  Florence  Ziegfield,  writing  seve 
ral  successes  for  Bert  A.  Williams,  among  them, 
"Can't  Get  Away  From  It,"  "Dark  Town  Poker 
Club,"  and  "Land  Lady." 

Mr.  Vodery's  ability  as  a  song  writer  is  recog 
nized  by  all  of  the  big  Broadway  producers,  such 
as  Klaw  &  Erlanger,  Schubert,  Ziegfield  and  oth 
ers,  and  he  is  often  engaged  by  them  to  arrange 
and  construct  the  music  of  their  plays.  He  is  a  pro 
lific  writer  of  songs  and  music,  some  of  his  most 
popular  pieces  being — "Dearest  Memories,"  "West 
Virginia  Dance,"  and  "Carolina  Fox  Trot,"  this  lat 
ter  being  a  musical  innovocation,  being  the  first 
fox  trot  ever  written.  It  was  published  by  Joseph 
Stern  &  Co. 

Mr.  Vodery  has  traveled  extensively,  both  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe. 

Mr.  Vodery  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  a  member  of  the  Masons,  the  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  Elks. 


313 


RT    REV.   WILLIAM    DAVID    CHAPPELLE,   A.    P... 
A.   M.,  D.  D..  LL.  D. 


ILLIAM  David  Chappelle  was  born 
a  slave  in  or  about  the  year  1857, 
November  16th,  and  began  school 
in  the  Fairfield  Normal  school  in 
1869.  His  parents  Henry  and  Pat- 
sey  Chappelle,  were  slaves  and 
belonged  to  one  Henry  McCrorey. 
They  had  thirteen  children,  Wil 
liam  being  the  sixth  child  and  as  a  child  was  feeble  ; 
but  was  keen  in  intellect  and  always  eager  to  go 
to  school. 

He  finished  his  Normal  or  English  course  under 
the  Rev.  Willard  Richardson  and  began  teaching  in 
a  country  school  near  Winnsboro.  To  secure  his 
first  book,  he  dug  up  a  stump  of  kindling  wood 
from  his  father's  field  and  carried,  in  turns  of  ten 
cent  bunches  to  town  a  mile  away  at  night  and 
sold  it,  this  was  done  for  four  nights  to  secure 
forty  cents  with  which  to  buy  a  book  that  he  might 
have  something  to  study  from  to  get  his  lessons. 
After  this  struggle  he  secured  a  certificate,  sec 
ond  grade,  but  it  was  the  highest  marked  second 
grade  in  the  county  white  or  black,  so  said  the 
school  supervisor.  His  school  was  five  miles  in 
the  country  to  which  he  walked  daily  that  he  might 
save  his  money  and  enter  college. 

In  1875  he  was  converted  and  finding  that  he  was 
not  prepared  to  preach  he  joined  the  Columbia  An 
nual  Conference  and  was  sent  to  the  Pine  Grove 
Mission,  at  the  same  time  he  entered  Allen  Univer 
sity  and  kept  up  his  studies  while  preaching  at  this 
Mission;  but  it  was  not  long  before  his  money  gave 
out  and  he  had  to  stop  and  go  to  teaching  that  he 
might  better  support  his  wife  and  child,  having 
married  in  December  1875  and  had  at  this  time  one 
child. 

After  three  months  he  re-entered  school  and 
made  his  classes  and  continued  until  1887,  at  which 
tune  he  graduated  from  the  college  Department, 
with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  He  led  his  class.  He  was 
ordained  Deacon  in  1883,  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  Church, 


Columbia,  S.  C.,  by  Bishop  W.  F.  Dickerson.  Or 
dained  Elder  by  Bishop  James  A.  Shorter,  Green 
ville,  S.  C.,  in  1885.  He  served  in  the  Pastorate 
eight  years,  pastoring  the  following  places :  Pine 
Grove  Mission,  two  years,  1882-83  ;  Lexington  Cir 
cuit,  1884;  Rockhill  Circuit,  1885-87;  Pendleton 
Station,  1889-1900.  He  served  as  P.  E.  eleven 
years;  Manning  District,  1889-93;  Orangeburg  Dis 
trict,  1893-98;  Sumter  District,  1899-1900. 

At  the  General  Conference  which  met  in  Colum 
bus,  Ohio,  in  1900,  he  was  elected  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Sunday  School  Union  with  Head 
quarters  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  prepared 
and  Edited  the  Sunday  School  literature  for  eight 
years.  When  he  took  charge  of  the  S.  S.  Union  of 
the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  South,  was  doing  the  printing.  Dr.  Chap 
pelle  after  figuring  out  the  cost  of  printing  the  lit 
erature  himself  and  also  the  income  of  the  circu 
lation  of  his  periodicals,  ventured  to  do  the  work 
himself,  which  was  a  successful  venture.  Thus, 
he  built  for  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  one  of  the  best 
Negro  Printing  Houses  in  the  country.  Leav 
ing  there,  when  he  left,  about  fifty  thousand  dol 
lars  worth  of  assets  consisting  of  a  complete  outfit, 
machinery,  type  and  fixtures  and  the  plant  out  of 

debt. 

In  June  1908  he  was  re-elected  President  of  Al 
len  University,  a  position  which  he  occupied  for 
two  years,  1898-99,  before  he  was  elected  General 
Officer.  He  served  Allen  University  as  President 
for  four  years,  1908-12.  At  the  General  Conference 
in  1912  he  was  elected  Bishop  with  406  votes,  the 
largest  amount  of  ballots  ever  cast  for  a  bishop  in 
the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  As  Bishop  he  was  assigned  to 
Arkansas  and  Oklahoma,  the  twelfth  Episcopal 
District  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  In  1916  at  the  Gen 
eral  Conference  which  met  in  Philadelphia,  he  was 
assigned  by  that  body  to  his  home  State,  South 
Carolina,  the  seventh  Episcopal  District  of  the  A. 
M.  1C.  Church.  He  received  the  degrees  of  A.  M.,  D. 
D  from  Allen  University  and  the  degree  LL.  D. 
from  Campbell  College,  Miss.  He  was  elected 
President  of  Allen  University  twice,  elected  Irus- 
tee  of  A.  U.  1887,  and  elected  to  the  General  Con 
ference  the  same  year,  to  which  position  he  has 
been  elected  for  thirty  consecutive  years.  He  is 
now  President  of  the  Educational  Board  of  the  A. 
M.  E.  Church,  and  President  of  the  Trustee  Board 
of  Allen  University. 

ALLEN  UNIVERSITY 

Allen  University,  a  Co-educational  Institution, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  African  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church,  was  founded  in  1881. 

Departments:  College,  Normal  Grammar  School, 
Music,  Sewing,  Theological,  and  Printing. 

During  the  thirty  seven  years  existence  of  this 
institution  over  two  thousand  graduates  have  gone 
forth  into  public  service  from  the  various  depart 
ments,  reflecting  credit,  upon  themselves,  the  race, 
and  the  institution. 

The  yearly  enrollment  is  approximately  six  hun 
dred  and  fifty. 

The  denomination,  in  this  State,  raises,  yearly, 
between  twenty-five  and  thirty  thousand  dollars 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  school. 


314 


ROBERT  WESTON  MANSE.  A.  B,  A.  M.,  D.  D. 

EV.  Robert  Weston  Manse  was 
born  at  Coksbury,  S.  C,  Sep 
tember  27th,  1876,  in  the  Old 
Paine  Institute,  an  institution  op 
erated  under  the  auspices  of  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  South  Carolina. 
His  father  was  the  station  pas 
tor  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  at  Coksbury  during  the 
operation  of  the  Paine  Institute  and  was  a  charter 
member  of  Allen  University  that  grew  out  of  the 
Paine  Institute. 

The  mother  of  this  subject  was  Charity  Ann 
Nash,  the  youngest  daughter  of  the  historic  Nash 
family  of  Coksbury,  Abbeville  County,  who,  alone, 
struggled,  after  the  death  of  her  husband  to  se 
cure  funds  with  which  to  educate  Robert,  her 
eldest  son. 


His  early  training  was  had  in  the  Public  School 
at  Newberry,  S.  C.,  subsequently  entering  Claflin 
University,  Orangeburg,  S.  C.,  and  graduating 
from  the  Collegiate  Department,  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  in  the  year  1899. 

Shortly  after  his  graduation,  he  was  elected 
Principal  of  the  Newberry  High  School,  which  po 
sition  he  held  for  eight  consecutive  years. 

He  was  converted  in  1889,  joined  Miller  Chapel 
A.  M.  E.  Church,  Newberry,  S.  C.,  joined  the  min 
istry  at  Greenville,  S.  C.,  December  1902  and  served 
the  following  charges : 

New  Miller  Mission,  Sulada  Old  Town,  S.  C, 
1904;  Jalapa  Mission,  Jalapa,  S.  C.,  1904,  six 
months;  Enoree  Mission,  1905;  St.  Paul  Circuit. 
Chapin,  S.  C.,  1906;  South  Carolina  Conference; 
Georgetown  Station,  Georgetown,  S.  C.,  1907-9; 
Presiding  Elder,  Beaufort  District,  1910-15;  Pastor 
Mt.  Zion  Station,  Charleston,  S.  C,  1915-16;  Pres 
ident  Allen  University,  S.  C.,  1916-18. 

Dr.  Manse  was  elected  Chairman  of  the  South 
Carolina  Conference  delegation  to  the  General 
Conference  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  1912,  a  delega 
tion  to  the  Centennial  General  Conference  at  Phil 
adelphia,  Pa.,  1912,  and  Chairman  of  the  State  del 
egation. 

He  is  now  President  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Connection- 
al  Council,  which  position  he  has  held  for  the  past 
two  years. 

He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Clara  Grimes,  of 
Newberry,' S.  C.,  April  12th,  1902,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  five  children ;  Evelyn  Frederica,  Robert 
Weston,  Jr.,  Charity  Marguerite,  Nerissa  Terrell, 
and  Mercer  Montgomery,  the  first  four  of  them 
being  under  fifteen  years  of  age  and  now  in  school. 

Other  positions  which  he  has  held  are  Past  Chan 
cellor  Meridian  Lodge  Masonry,  Grand  Prelate  K. 
of  P..  Jurisdiction  of  South  Carolina. 


COPPIN   HALL— ADMINISTRATION   BUILDING  ALLEN  UNIVERSITY— COLUMBIA,  S.  C. 

315 


J.  W.  WILLIAMS 

ULY  third,  1884,  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  there  was  born  a 
little  boy  who  was  destined  to 
use  all  three  sections  of  this  great 
country  in  getting  his  training 
for  life.  This  lad  was  J.  W.  Wil 
liams.  While  he  was  born  as  far 
North  as  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
it  was  in  the  extreme  south,  Holly  Springs,  Miss 
issippi,  that  he  received  his  education.  Here  in 
Mississippi  he  took  his  chances  at  education  with 
the  other  colored  boys  of  Holly  Springs.  While  the 
school  lasted  he  received  pretty  good  instruction, 
but  it  was  soon  closed  and  the  boy  was  thrown  up 
on  his  own  resources,  and  received  a  great  portion 
of  his  education  in  the  school  of  experience. 

At  an  early  age  he  developed  an  aptness  with 
mechanical  tools.  But  he  was  unable  to  enter  a 
trade  for  his  training.  This  did  not  restrain  him 
from  following  the  bent  of  his  inclination  and  de 
veloping  the  talent  he  felt  that  he  possessed.  Be 
ing  denied  the  privilege  of  obtaining  it  in  the  in 
dustrial  schools,  he  sought  it  in  the  various  work 
shops  where  he  served  as  a  laborer.  He  made  the 
best  of  his  opportunities  and  in  time  received  a 
pretty  thorough  education  in  mechanism. 

He  lost  his  parents  while  quite  young.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  only  two  years  of  age,  and  his 
mother  followed  his  father  to  the  grave  when  he 
reached  his  thirteenth  year.  Thus  early  in  life  he 
was  left  to  shift  for  himself,  so  his  training  in  the 
practical  school  of  the  every  day  work  shop  was 
rather  an  advantage  than  otherwise  as  it  provided 
fur  his  sustenance  while  he  learned  his  trade.  His 
mother  had  trained  him  to  stick  to  his  task  until  he 
had  mastered  it,  and  the  memory  of  this  training  to 
gether  with  his  natural  ability  caused  him  to  hold 
to  his  work  with  great  tenacity  until  he  became 
proficient  in  the  line  in  which  he  was  engaged.  The 
exhibition  of  these  qualities  in  either  man  or  boy 
usually  bring  a  sure  reward  and  it  was  so  with 


young  Williams  for  today  he  is  highly  regarded  as 
a  very  thorough  and  reliable  mechanic. 

Having  in  mind  the  desire  to  learn  the  art  of 
mechanism  rather  than  earning  a  livelihood,  Mr. 
Williams  did  not  confine  himself  to  one  city  or  to 
any  section  of  the  country,  but  went  from  place  to 
place  as  his  judgement  and  opportunity  dictated, 
finally  locating  in  the  far  West,  not  as  a  laborer, 
but  as  the  owner  of  a  large  Auto  shop,  where  he 
is  putting  into  practical  use  the  information  he 
learned  in  the  various  shops  where  he  had  worked. 
It  is  now  his  turn  to  employ  labor  and  to  direct  it 
which  he  does  with  a  master  hand,  but  with  a  con 
sideration  he  did  not  always  enjoy.  He  keeps  in 
his  employ  six  men  as  master  mechanics.  But  re 
membering  his  own  boyhood  and  young  manhood, 
he  gives  employment  to  the  unskilled  and  allows 
them  to  gather  from  watching  the  others  as  much 
as  possible.  In  this  manner,  Mr.  Williams  endeav 
ors  to  help  others  along,  as  his  own  experience  had 
taught  him  that  a  kind  and  encouraging  word  is  a 
help  to  any  man  who  is  trying  to  rise. 

This  auto  shop  of  which  Mr.  Williams  is  the 
owner  and  manager  is  fifty  feet  by  ninety  feet. 
Here  he  has  sufficient  space  to  do  a  great  deal  of 
work.  Besides  being  interested  in  his  work  at  the 
shop  and  the  work  of  the  men  under  him,  Mr.  Wil 
liams  has  taken  time  to  do  some  real  estate  work. 
In  1914,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Town  Site  Com 
pany  to  sell  the  Skidmore  addition  at  Tulsa,  Okla 
homa.  This  he  did  at  a  great  profit  to  himself. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  member  of  the  A.  M.  E.  church. 
Here  he  gives  of  his  time  and  of  his  means  to  the 
support  of  the  Gospel.  In  all  the  undertakings  of 
the  denomination  he  is  ever  ready  with  his  support. 
In  fraternal  orders  he  is  a  Mason.  This  as  else 
where  is  in  itself  a  recommendation  for  the  worth 
of  the  man  in  the  community. 

Ably  assisted  by  Mrs.  Williams,  Mr.  Williams 
has  been  successful  in  starting  other  business  con 
cerns  that  come  more  directly  under  the  control  of 
Mrs.  Williams.  There  is  the  Dreamland  Theatre 
and  the  Williams  Confectionery.  These  are  told 
of  more  fully  in  the  sketch  of  Mrs.  Williams. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  to  Miss  Lula  Cotton, 
March  10,  1901,  at  Tulsa,  Oklahoma.  There  is  one 
son  who  is  now  a  high  school  student.  He  helps 
to  make  life  happy  for  his  parents  and  lends  incen 
tive  to  their  working  so  hard  in  their  various  lines 
of  business. 


WILLIAMS  AUTO  REPAIR  SHOP 


316 


MRS.  J.  W.  WILLIAMS 

HAT  hack  of  every  man  who  is 
succeeding,  either  in  the  business 
world,  the  literary  world,  or  poli 
tical  world,  there  is  an  efficient 
woman,  is  one  of  the  sayings  that 
we  hear  a  great  deal.  Whether 
this  be  true  or  not  it  is  not  for  us 
to  decide.  But  it  does  hold  good 
in  the  case  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  W.  Williams,  of  Tul- 
sa.  Oklahoma.  Mrs.  Williams  was  born  February 
12,  1878,  at  Jackson,  Tennessee,  Madison  County. 
Here,  as  Lola  Thomas  Cotton,  she  spent  her  child 
hood  and  young  womanhood.  In  Madison  County 
she  attended  the  public  school  till  she  had  gotten 
from  them  all  that  they  could  give  her.  She  then 
entered  Lane  College,  where  she  remained  to  com- 
p'ete  the  course  of  study  offered  there.  June  2nd, 
1898,  she  was  graduated  from  this  institution. 

Not  entirely  satisfied  with  her  training,  Mrs. 
Williams  went  to  the  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 
College,  at  Normal,  Alabama.  Here  she  took  her 
industrial  training.  She  entered  the  classes  offer 
ed  in  dressmaking  and  in  millinery.  From  these 
she  received  her  certificate  in  1903. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mrs.  William  taught 
school  in  the  rural  districts  of  her  native  State. 
She  had  an  abundant  chance  to  develop  her  powers 
as  an  executive.  Not  only  as  an  executive  was  she 
developed  in  the  rural  work,  but  as  a  close  business 
woman  as  well.  For  the  teacher  in  the  rural  dis 
trict  has  to  be  all  things  to  the  people  with  whom 
she  makes  her  home.  After  a  number  of  years  she 
left  Tennessee  and  went  out  to  Oklahoma.  Here 
she  taught  for  some  time.  But  after  working  for 
a  time  in  the  school  rooms  of  Oklahoma,  she  decid 
ed  that  she  could  do  more  with  her  life  in  the  mil 
linery  and  dressmaking  trade.  To  this  end  she 
worked  in  this  line  for  three  years.  In  the  mean 
time  she  had  married  Mr.  Williams,  and  they  were 
anxious  to  go  in  business.  From  the  proceeds  of 
the  millinery  and  dressmaking  establishment  she 


managed  to  save  enough  to  open  a  large  moving 
picture  house.  This  they  have  run  ever  since.  At 
present  they  own  and  operate  the  Dreamland  The 
atre.  This  is  in  a  large  two-story  brick  structure, 
at  127  N.  Greenwood  Avenue,  Tulsa,  Oklahoma. 

But  the  running  of  the  Dreamland  has  not  taken 
all  the  time  of  Mrs.  Williams,  nor  all  of  their  mon 
ey  and  so  she,  with  the  aid  of  her  husband  have 
opened  the  Williams  Confectionery  Store,  on  one 
of  the  prominent  streets  of  Tulsa.  This  store  is 
housed  in  a  three-story  brick  building,  which  is 
owned  by  the  Willams'.  In  addition  to  the  two 
businesses  mentioned  here  in  which  Mrs.  Williams 
is  interested,  there  is  the  Auto  business  that  be 
longs  strictly  to  her  husband  and  seven  lots  in  the 
city  which  have  not  as  yet  been  improved. 

To  the  church  of  her  choice,  Mrs.  Williams 
brings  her  business  ability  and  her  strong  perso 
nality.  She  is  a  member  of  the  C.  M.  F.  Church, 
and  is  ever  ready  to  do  for  it.  She  gives  her  time, 
her  money  and  her  influence  to  the  betterment  of 
this  church.  She  is  Captain  of  the  Lane  College 
Club.  In  this  organization  she  is  able  to  render 
aid,  both  directly  and  indirectly  to  the  College, 
which  is  in  a  large  measure  responsible  for  her 
training.  Not  to  cut  herself  off  from  her  people, 
in  any  line  of  endeavor,  we  find  Mrs.  Williams 
working  as  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star  Lodge. 
She  is  also  a  member  of  the  S.  M.  T.  Lodge.  In 
both  of  these  lodges  she  has  held  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  And  in  them  she  has  proven  herself 
worthy  of  the  trust  put  in  her. 

For  her  health  and  on  business  trips,  Mrs.  Will 
iams  has  traveled  over  the  greater  portion  of  the 
United  States.  This  travel  has  served  to  broaden 
her  and  render  her  of  greater  service  to  her  people 
wherever  she  has  worked. 

She  was  married  to  Mr.  J.  W.  Williams,  in  Tulsa, 
Oklahoma,  March  10.  1909.  To  them  has  been 
born  one  son.  He  is  now  a  young  man  in  the  High 
School.  To  her  husband,  Mrs.  Williams  has  always 
been  a  very  great  help.  In  all  matters  of  business 
she  has  been  able  to  give  advice. 

Though  still  a  young  woman,  Mrs.  Williams  has 
spent  a  great  number  of  years  serving  in  the  inter 
est  of  her  race.  She,  through  her  teaching  has  been 
able  to  reach  hundreds  of  young  people,  who  are 
better  off  for  having  come  in  contact  with  one  of 
so  positive  a  character. 


WILLIAMS'  DREAMLAND  THEATRE 


317 


WILLIAM  H  .CROGMAN,  A.  M.,  LITT.  D. 

R.  Crogman  was  graduated  from 
Atlanta  University  in  1876,  hav 
ing  made  an  enviable  record  for 
industry  and  thorough  scholar 
ship.  He  has  since  been  honored 
by  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Let 
ters,  the  only  degree  of  the  kind 
ever  bestowed  by  Atlanta  Univer 
sity.  About  the  time  of  his  graduation  there  was 
established  in  South  Atlanta  Clark  University, 
which  was  destined  to  become  one  of  the  strongest 
and  most  influential  of  the  schools  of  the  Metho 
dist  Church  for  the  Negro  race.  He  was  immedia 
tely  called  to  a  position  on  the  facu'ty  of  this  insti 
tution,  where  he  has  remained  working  quietly  and 
faithfully  until  this  day.  For  seven  years,  1903- 
10,  he  was  President  of  Clark  University,  and  un 
der  his  wise  and  careful  administration  the  work 
grew  continually  in  numbers  and  strength. 

Affiliated  with  Clark  University  and  located 
nearby  is  Gammon  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Dr.  Crogman  is  a  charter  mem 
ber  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Boards  of  Trustees  of 
both  these  institutions,  the  only  Secretary  they 
have  ever  had.  The  records  have  been  kept  with 
great  accuracy  and  in  a  marvelously  regular  and 
beautiful  hand.  For  twenty-nine  years  he  was  also 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School  of  Clark  Uni 
versity  and  during  all  that  time  was  not  once  tardy. 
His  work  brought  him  into  relationship  with  tin- 
larger  field  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  was 


three  times  a  member  of  the  General  Conference. 
He  was  also  for  eight  years  a  member  of  the  Uni 
versity  Senate  of  this  church,  and  afterwards  a 
member  of  the  commission  for  the  Unification  of 
the  Book  Concern. 

In  1878  he  married  Lavinia  C.  Mott,  a  graduate  of 
the  Normal  School  of  Atlanta  University  of  the 
class  of  1877.  They  have  a  family  of  eight  chil 
dren,  for  all  of  whom  their  parents  have  provided 
a  good  education.  Their  family  life  has  had  a 
beautiful  influence  upon  the  institution  in  which 
their  life  work  has  centered. 

As  a  teacher  Dr.  Crogman  has  been  remarkably 
successful.  He  is  a  born  teacher,  loving  his  work. 
and  his  power  rests  not  only  in  his  thorough  fami 
liarity  with  the  subjects  but  in  his  strong  personal 
ity.  During  the  past  thirty-five  years  thousands 
of  students  have  come  under  his  influence,  and 
many  lives  have  been  strengthened  for  useful  ser 
vice. 

As  a  public  speaker.  Dr.  Crogman's  power  rests 
in  his  quiet  dignity,  the  beauty  of  his  diction  and 
the  clear  and  forceful  treatment  of  his  subject.  He 
has  a  dee])  and  musical  voice  and  an  irresistible 
sense  of  quiet  humor.  His  addresses  have  been 
collected  into  book  form  under  the  title  of  "Talks 
for  the  Times."  When  a  new  edition  was  brought 
out  in  1897,  many  favorable  book  notices  appeared 
in  the  press.  The  Atlanta  Journal  for  ebruary  13. 
1897,  comments  as  follows: 

"All  the  subjects  of  these  talks  relate  to  the  Ne 
gro  race.  They  show  marked  ability,  research,  ex 
cellent  literary  finish  and  have  the  ring  of  sincer 
ity  from  end  to  end." 

Perhaps  no  stronger  evidence  of  the  force  of  Dr. 
Crogman's  character  can  be  found  than  the  high 
esteem  in  which  the  citizens  of  Atlanta  of  both 
races  hold  him.  There  is  absolutely  nothing  un 
dignified  or  servile  in  his  speech  or  bearing.  He  is 
fearless  in  his  denunciation  of  all  unfairness  to  the 
Negro  race  and  vet  seems  never  to  have  aroused 
the  antagonism  of  the  white  South. 

Who  can  measure  the  good  which  a  man  of 
this  stamp  accomplishes?  In  him  are  combined 
the  qualities  of  courage  and  of  faith.  In  the  pre 
face  of  his  volume  of  addresses  as  well  as  its  dedi 
cation  to  his  children,  he  has  given  utterance  to  the 
principles  which  have  characterized  his  life  work 
and  which  make  him  so  powerful  an  influence  for 
good.  In  the  preface  he  says :  "All  the  subjects 
treated  are  such  as  relate  to  the  race  with  which  I 
am  identified.  In  the  discussion  of  these  subjects 
I  have  endeavored,  whatever  may  have  been  my 
success,  to  use  candor  and  moderation,  to  condemn 
the  wrong  where  I  have  seen  the  wrong,  and  com 
mend  the  right  where  I  have  seen  the  right,  re 
gardless  of  the  section  of  country  in  which  the  one 
or  the  other  has  appeared." 


318 


T.  GILLIS  NUTTER 

Gillis  Nutter  was  born  at  Princess 
Anne,  Ivlcl.,  June  15,  1876.  His  pa 
rents    were    William    and    Emma 
Nutter,  ex-slaves,  who  were  high 
ly  respected  for  their  strength  of 
character    and    industry.       While 
uneducated  themselves  they  were 
great     lovers     of     education     and 
made  many  sacrifices  in  order  to  give  their  child 
ren  an  education. 

T.  Gillis  Nutter  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Princess  Anne  and  graduated  from  the  high  school 
thereof,  in  1892.  Being  one  of  eight  children,  he 
was  put  to  work  at  the  early  age  of  nine  years, 
splitting  wood  with  his  father,  who  had  a  monoply 
on  sawing  fire-wood  in  his  native  town.  Young 
Nutter  soon  became  the  champion  wood-sawyer  in 
his  town,  sawing  a  cord  of  wood  a  day  and  attend 
ing  school.  He  would  go  to  work  at  five  in  the 
morning  and  saw  until  8:35,  run  all  the  way  to 
school,  about  a  mile  from  his  home,  eating  break 
fast  as  he  ran,  and  return  to  his  saw-horse,  immed 
iately  after  school  was  out.  He  decided  to  give  up 
"Old  Pomp,"  as  he  called  his  old  saw-horse,  and 
left  for  Philadelphia.  June  4.  1896,  and  worked  at 
Old  Gerard  Hotel  until  the  fall  of  1897,  when  he 
entered  Howard  University  Law  School,  having 
been  inspired  to  take  up  the  study  of  law  by  the 
eloquent  apeals  of  Judge  Walter  L.  Dixon  and  Jos 
hua  W.  Miles,  to  hear  whom  argue  a  case,  he  would 
steal  away  from  school.  He  was  graduated  from 


Howard  in  the  class  of  1899,  being  one  of  the  big 
four  of  his  class. 

His  father  having  died  a  few  months  after  his 
graduation,  he  was  forced  to  return  to  Princess 
Anne  to  look  after  his  mother,  to  whom  he  was 
greatly  devoted.  He  was  principal  of  one  of  the 
graded  schools  of  Fairmont,  Md.,  for  two  years, 
declining  the  third  appointment  in  order  to  enter 
upon  his  profession,  lie  was  admitted  to  the 
Marion  County  (Ind.)  Bar  Nov.  13,  1901,  but  being 
without  sufficient  means  to  carry  him  through  the 
starvation  period,  he  was  forced  to  return  to  the 
hotels  for  a  short  time.  On  March  12,  1903,  he  re 
ceived  a  telegram  from  his  boyhood  friend  and 
classmate,  R.  S.  King,  to  come  to  Charleston,  W. 
Va.,  to  assist  in  the  trial  of  the  famous  Guice  mur 
der  case.  Guice's  friends  felt  confident  that  he 
would  go  to  the  gallows,  but  the  brilliant  defense 
of  his  young  attorneys,  reduced  his  offense  to  vol 
untary  man-slaughter.  The  eloquent  and  forceful 
plea  of  Nutter  attracted  wide  attention  and 
brought  him  quite  a  clientele.  His  rise  dates  from 
the  Guice  case  and  today  he  enjoys  a  lucrative 
practice. 

His  greatest  criminal  triumph  was  the  skillful 
handling  of  the  Campbell  Clark  rape  case.  For 
four  days  he  faced  a  seething-blood-thirsty  mob, 
but  with  unfailing  courtesy  and  a  fearlessness  that 
challenged  admiration,  he  calmed  the  mob  and  got 
his  client  off  with  conviction  of  attempted  assault. 

Only  one  poor  white  man  in  the  entire  town 
dared  face  the  mob,  aside  from  Nutter. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  Gov.  Samuel  W.  Mc- 
Call,  of  Massachusetts  was  greatly  influenced  in 
reaching  his  decision  in  the  Johnny  Johnson  ex 
tradition  case  by  the  State  of  public  mind  in  the 
Clark  case. 

He  has  appeared  as  Chief  Counsel  in  the  three 
most  noted  murder  cases  tried  in  Kanawha  County 
in  the  last  fourteen  years. 

His  work  has  not  been  confined  to  the  criminal 
side  of  the  court  as  he  has  appeared  as  advocate  in 
numbers  of  chancery  and  land  cases  involving  thou 
sands  of  dollars  and  has  been  generally  successful. 
He  is  Grand  Attorney  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  numbers  of  other  corporations,  including  the 
Peoples  Exchange  Bank,  white,  for  which  institu 
tion  he  has  made  a  number  of  investments. 

He  is  a  Mason,  Knight  of  Pythias  and  an  Elk. 
For  three  years  he  was  Grand  Exalted  Ruler  of  the 
Elks  of  the  World,  and  the  Order  witnessed  a  won 
derful  growth  under  his  administration.  He  is 
quite  active  in  civic  matters,  having  led  the  fight 
against  the  Birth  of  a  Nation,  taking  the  case  to 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Appeals,  which  court,  by  an 
evenly  divided  vote,  over-ruled  his  motion  to  dis 
solve  the  injunction  granted  by  the  Circuit  Court, 
prohibiting  the  Mayor  and  Chief  of  Police  of  Char 
leston  from  interferring  with  the  exhibtion  of  the 
photo-play. 

He  edited  the  Mountain  Leader,  of  Charleston, 
W.  Va.,  for  several  years  and  gave  the  paper  a 
standing  in  the  journalistic  field. 

He  is  a  Methodist  and  founded  the  first  colored 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  in  the  city  of  Charleston  and  was  its 
president  for  several  years. 

Mr.  Nutter  owns  a  beautiful  home  on  one  of  the 
aristocratic  streets  of  his  home  city,  as  well  as 
other  valuable  property  in  Kanawha  County. 


319 


Payne  University,  Selma,  Alabama 


AYNE  University,  Selma.  Ala 
bama,  is  owned  by  the  six  Ala 
bama  Conferences  of  the  African 
Methodist  Church.  It  is  a  State 
Institution  to  the  extent  that  it  is 
supported  wholly  by  the  Colored 
Methodists  of  the  State  in  which  it  is  situated. 
Governing  this  school  there  is  a  Board  of  Trustees 
that  numbers  125  members.  Each  Trustee  is  ex 
pected  to  contribute  at  least  ten  dollars  a  year 
toward  the  support  of  this  institution.  This 
yearly  donation  from  the  Trustees,  the  support 
of  the  A.  M.  M.  Conference  and  Sunday  Schools 
and  the  tuition  fees  represent  the  total  income  of 
the  school.  This  amounts  to  about  $6.500.00  yearly. 
The  school  was  founded  in  1888,  and  has  grown 
to  be  such  a  large  and  notable  institution  that  it 
stands  today  as  a  monument  to  the  Self-Help  of 
the  Colored  people.  It  originated  with  them — they 
built  it  and  they  have  maintained  it,  and  they  may 
be  excused  for  pointing  to  it  with  a  commendable' 
pride  at  what  they  have  achieved. 

The  courses  offered  to  the  people  are  ele 
mentary  and  secondary.  The  elementary  work  is 
done  in  the  sixth  grades  and  in  two  additional 
years.  Of  the  attendance  the  greater  portion  of 
the  pupils  are  in  the  elementary  classes.  These 
students  are  for  the  most  part  children  of  public 
school  age  who  live  in  Selma.  In  the  Higher  class 
es  are  about  sixty  pupils.  There  are  seventy-five 
boarding  pupils  in  the  dormitories  of  the  school. 
The  pupils  above  the  eighth  year  are  designated  as 
"Normal"  or  "College"  students.  The  course  in 
cludes  :  Latin,  4  years ;  Greek,  1  year ;  German,  1 
year;  English,  4  years;  Mathematics,  7  years;  His 
tory,  2  years ;  Economics,  1  year ;  Psychology,  1 
year;  Education,  1  year;  Physiology,  1  year;  Ele- 
mentar  Science,  3  years. 

The  land  owned  by  the  school  comprises  a  city 
block  conveniently  located  for  school  purposes. 
There  are  two  large  buildings  and  several  small 
cottages  on  the  grounds.  They  have  a  total  val 
uation  of  $24.000.00.  The  academic  building  is  a 
t\v» -story  brick  structure  and  contains  classrooms, 
chapel  and  offices.  The  girls'  dormitory  is  a  three- 
story  fr:.me  building.  The  smaller  cottages  are 

used   for  teachers'  homes  and   for  dormitories  for 
the  boys.     The  school  is  managed  by  the  President 

and  seven  teachers.     This  represents  a  great  deal 
of  work  on  the  part  of  all    the    people    connected 


with  the  institution.  Each  person  is  called  upon 
to  do  more  than  one  distinct  thing  in  the  running 
of  this  organization. 

Being  a  church  school,  Payne  is  also  a  school  in 
which  young  men  aspiring  to  the  ministry  can  go 
'f'.T  training.  The  course  offered  to  the  young 
minister  is  such  that  while  getting  the  theolog'cal 
tnining  needed,  he  can  at  the  same  time  get  ;• 
more  thorough  preparation  in  the  other  branches 
•f  study  that  go  to  make  up  the  well-rounded  min 
ister.  Because  of  this  fact,  a  man  is  not  barred 
from  the  theological  course  because  of  lack  of  book 
knowledge,  but  is  taken  in  and  trained  in  all  the 
subjects  at  one  and  the  same  time.  This  makes 
the  course  of  study  more  or  less  complicated,  but 
even  in  spite  of  this  the  teaching  in  this  branch  of 
the  school  is  effective. 

At  the  head  of  this  institution  and  responsible 
for  its  development  to  his  church  and  for  its  finan 
ces  to  the  trustees  is  Professor  H.  E.  Archer. 
President  Archer  is  a  man  well  fitted  to  the  duties 
that  have  been  his  since  he  took  charge  of  this 
school.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Olivet  College,  Olivet, 
Michigan.  From  this  College  he  took  the  degree 
of  B.  S.  He  later  took  a  post  graduate  course  and 
received  the  degree  of  M.  S.  Not  satisfied  with 
his  preparation  he  then  took  special  work  in  the 
University  of  Chicago.  After  leaving  school  he 
went  to  the  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College, 
at  Normal,  Alabama.  Here  for  a  number  of  years 
he  served  as  head  of  the  Department  of  Science, 
and  at  the  same  time  was  special  assistant  to  Dr. 
Council,  the  founder  of  that  Institution.  Under 
Dr.  Council  he  got  the  training  that  fitted  him  for 
the  duties  of  an  Executive.  At  the  death  of  Dr. 
Council,  Professor  Archer  was  considered  for  the 
Presidency  of  that  school,  but  went  instead  to  take 
the  Presidency  of  Payne  University,  in  Selma,  Ala 
bama. 

Mrs.  Archer  is  a  very  capable  woman.  She  has 
been  of  great  service  to  her  husband  in  his  work  in 
the  Payne  University.  She  is  also  connected  with 
the  National  Colored  Woman's  Association.  To 
the  school  she  brings  the  experience  of  years  of 
teaching  in  the  Agricultural  and  Normal  College  at 
Normal,  Alabama. 

Payne  University  stands  as  a  monument  to  the 
Colored  people  of  Alabama,  especially  to  the  A.  M. 
K.  Church.  They  do  a  very  effective  work  that  is 
felt  all  over  the  State. 


320 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  BROWN  BELL 

OMN  Brown  Hell,  business  man 
and  public  servant,  was  born  in 
Tombabaro  County,  Georgia,  De 
cember  25,  1858.  In  his  early 
youth  he  migrated  to  Houston, 
Texas,  and  attended  the  public 
school  for  a  while  in  that  city. 
In  1881,  after  spending  a  few 
months  in  Tennison  College,  of  Austin,  Texas,  he 
withdrew  and  entered  business. 

His  apprenticeship  in  business  was  spent  be 
hind  the  counters  of  the  grocery  store  of  Rubin 
and  Thorton,  in  Houston.  At  the  end  of  one  year, 
Mr.  Thornton,  having  died  and  his  wife  wishing 
to  sell,  Mr.  Bell  bought  the  business  for  $315.00. 
Now  when  Mr.  Bell  came  to  Houston  he  had  work 
ed  for  a  man  for  $5.00  per  month.  From  this  em 
ployer,  Mr.  Bell  borrowed  $250.00  to.  invest  in  the 
business.  In  three  years  and  four  months  he  had 
made  enough  from  this  undertaking  to  purchase 
property,  which  brought  him  $200.00  a  month,  not 
counting  a  number  of  vacant  lots.  This  opened  his 
eyes  to  the  possibilities  of  real  estate.  Hence  he 
sold  his  grocery  business,  geting  $500.00  for  it,  and 
staked  his  future  on  dealing  in  real  estate  and  in 
building  and  selling  houses  and  stores.  Today  he 
owns  forty  nine  rent  houses,  which  include  the 
store  in  which  he  made  his  first  business  venture 
as  a  grocery  clerk.  These  buildings  are  valued  at 
$125,000,  and  yield  him  an  income  of  $500.00  per 
month. 

Looming  far  above  this  is  John  B.  Bell,  the  pub 
lic  servant.  He  appears  to  have  taken  a  sort  of 
an  inspired  view  of  his  talents  in  business  and  of 
his  wealth,  looking  upon  it  all  as  merely  a  fee  in 


trust.  This  contact  in  business  and  the  position 
gained  by  his  wealth  soon  set  him  apart  in  Hous 
ton,  giving  him  a  hearing  and  an  entre,  not  accor 
ding  to  the  common  run  of  men  of  either  race.  In 
this  he  was  as  quick  to  see  the  opportunity  to  serve 
his  people  as  he  had  been  to  detect  a  good  sale  in 
real  estate. 

Probably  in  no  one  part  of  his  career  does  this 
appear  clearer  than  in  his  dealing  with  the  Emanci 
pation  Park,  a  Negro  City  Park,  of  Houston.  For 
fourteen  years  he  was  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  this  park.  In  1915  Mr.  Bell  and  others 
entered  suit  against  the  park  Board,  alleging  that 
the  ground  was  insolvent  and  would  be  sold  for 
debt,  thus  being  lost  to  the  colored  people.  In  the 
meantime,  the  Mayor  of  Houston,  Ben  Campbell, 
who  is  a  close  friend  of  Dr.  Bell,  appointed  him 
manager  of  the  park  for  two  years.  As  soon  as 
this  appointment  became  effective,  things  at  the 
colored  park  took  on  new  life.  At  the  solicitation 
of  Mr.  Bell,  the  Mayor  authorized  the  building  of 
a  park  house  with  cement  floors  and  drop  curtains 
all  around  to  shield  the  people  in  case  of  bad  wea 
ther,  also  the  building  of  three  restaurants,  the 
establishment  of  public  sanitary  toilets  and  the 
construction  of  gravel  walks.  Plans  for  all  this 
have  been  drawn  up  awaiting  the  approval  of  the 
City  before  the  work  is  begun. 

In  1910,  E.  J.  Scott,  of  Tuskegee  Institute  in 
formed  certain  citizens  of  Houston  that  Mr.  Car 
negie  would  give  the  city  a  $15.000  Colored  Li 
brary  if  the  city  would  guarantee  $1500  a  year  for 
up-keep.  Once  more  Bell  was  called  into  service 
and  delegated  to  see  the  Mayor  of  the  City,  then 
Mayor  Rice.  The  Mayor  agreed  if  the  Negroes 
of  Houston  would  buy  the  ground,  the  city  would 
vote  the  up-keep  fund.  Mr.  Bell  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  committee  to  raise  the  money  to 
purchase  the  site.  The  colored  people  appointed 
him  chairman  of  the  committee  to  raise  the  money 
to  buy  the  ground.  In  six  months,  Mr.  Bell  had 
received  $500.00.  He  loaned  the  $1000  necessary 
to  hold  the  property.  In  six  months  he  had  raised 
the  $1000  to  repay  the  loan.  On  April  fourth, 
1913.  the  library  was  dedicated.  L  B.  Bell  was 
made  treasurer  of  the  Library  Association. 

Houston  now  discovered  another  demand  for  this 
public  servant.  In  1915  the  Mayor  of  the  city  ap 
pealed  to  the  colored  people  at  the  Carnegie  Li 
brary  to  aid  the  city  in  doing  charity  work.  Im 
mediately  Bell  was  made  chairman  of  the  Negro 
branch  of  this  undertaking.  He  leased  the  for 
mer  home  of  Emmett  J.  Scott,  fitting  it  up  as  a 
modern  hospital  and  established  there  a  clinic  for 
the  colored  people.  In  this  way  he  divided  his 
time  and  his  energies,  giving  about  one  third  to 
his  own  personal  affairs  and  two-thirds  to  the 
public  service.  No  wonder  when  Booker  T. 
Washington  was  to  tour  Texas.  J.  B.  Bell  was 
chosen  from  among  the  able  Negroes  of  the  "lone 
star  state"  to  manage  the  trip. 

Mr.  Bell  was  married  in  1900  to  Miss  V.  Nora 
Allen,  the  daughter  of  Hon.  Richard  Allen.  Since 
the  above  was  written,  Mr.  Bell  has  passed  away. 


321 


JOHN  T.  GIBSON 


LOBBY  ENTRANCE  &  TIIKET  SELLER'S  BOOTH 


WO  cities  of  America  will  always 
be  historic  for  the  Negro ;  they 
were  among;  the  earliest  places  of 
refuge,  they  have  fostered  his 
welfare  even  to  this  clay.  One  of 
these  is  Boston,  the  other  Phila 
delphia.  The  "Hub"  early  had  Negroes  within  her 
precincts,  and  though  the  Puritan  was  a  stickler 
for  the  letter  as  well  as  for  the  spirit  of  the  law, 
he  almost  invariably  gave  in  a  bit  when  the  Negro 
was  involved.  So  true  did  this  become  in  Boston 
that  at  times  it  appeared  to  one's  advantage  to  be 
colored. 

Philadelphia,  however,  proved  a  happier  home 
for  the  Negroes.  There  they  had  a  wider  range  of 
intellectual  and  social  freedom.  A  great  many  re 
mained  there  and  established  themselves  as  leading 
citizens,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  they  were 
persons  of  color. 

Coming  thus  to  the  front  they  put  up  stores,  es 
tablished  businesses,  took  an  active  part  in  city 
government,  built  handsome  churches,  hospitals 
and  schools  ;  with  this  result,  the  Negroes  of  the 
Quaker  City  usually  get  a  representative  not  only 


in  the  city,  but  in  the  State  government.     Here  in 
Philadelphia  he  stands  upon  his  merit  alone. 

A  product  of  this  environment,  one  who  stands 
as  an  example  of  the  type  of  business  men  possi 
ble  to  the  race  we  have  John  T.  Gibson,  who  is  one 
of  the  remarkable  men  of  modern  times,  who  with 
in  a  very  short  time  and  with  a  small  capital  has 
made  for  himself  a  fortune  that  is  rated  at  $600.- 
000.00.  This  is  indeed  a  very  great  achievement. 
Born  in  Maryland  in  1878,  he  received  his  education 
in  Baltimore.  He  finished  the  courses  offered  by 
the  public  schools  of  that  city  after  which  he  en 
tered  Morgan  College.  While  there  he  applied 
himself  diligently  to  his  studies,  and  even  then  was 
a  young  man  of  great  promise.  Well  may  Mor 
gan  be  proud  of  this  son  who  received  his  inspira 
tion  within  her  walls. 

After  leaving  Morgan  College,  Mr.  Gibson  en 
gaged  in  a  number  of  business  enterprises  before 
he  decided  upon  his  present  career.  He  was  al 
ways  successful  in  whatever  he  undertook,  and 
when  one  day  it  came  his  chance  to  purchase  a 
small  theatre  he  grasped  the  opportunity,  for  he 
saw  far  in  the  future,  and  right  from  the  first,  be 
gan  to  lay  plans  that  meant  the  development  of  the 
finest  theatre  in  the  country  owned  and  managed 
by  a  colored  man. 

Mr.  Gibson  has  one  trait  of  character  which 
served  him  well  in  the  development  of  his  scheme. 
He  is  a  patient  man.  So  step  by  step  he  develop 
ed  his  idea,  never  hurrying  things  but  always  di 
recting  the  course  they  took,  so  to-day,  after  his 
first  venture  he  has  invested  in  the  Gibson  New 
Standard  Theatre  half  a  million  dollars !  The 
building  in  which  this  sagacious  man  invested  his 
money  and  is  making  100  per  cent  on  the  invest 
ment  has  helped  make  a  world-wide  reputation  for 
him.  It  is  located  on  South  street  at  twelfth,  the 
third  greatest  business  street  in  the  city,  and  this 
great  big  structure  can  be  seen  glowing  with  its 
myriad  of  lights,  throwing  into  bold  relief  the 


EAST  PROMENADE 


WEST  PROMENADE 


323 


GIBSON'S    ,NEW    STANDARD    THEATRE— EXTERIOR  FRONT  VIEW— INTERIOR  VIEW  FROM    STAGE- 
INTERIOR   VIEW  FROM   ORCHESTRA 


JOHN  T.  GIBSON'S   PRIVATE  OFFICE 

beautiful  design  of  the  exterior  while  the  interior 
with  its  beauty  of  gold,  purple,  marble,  and  tints 
of  rose,  looks  like  fairy  land.  Out  of  all  the  thea 
tres  in  the  city,  of  which  there  are  59,  Gibson's 
New  Standard  Theatre  is  the  only  one  owned  and 
run  by  a  single  person,  and  he  is  also  the  first  col 
ored  business  man  in  the  history  of  the  city  to 
make  so  great  an  investment  in  property.  The 
theatre  has  an  ideal  location  as  it  is  accessible  to 
all  lines  of  cars  which  radiate  in  every  direction. 

Mr.  Gibson  in  his  social  hours  is  a  good  compan 
ion  and  a  humorous  one.  He  is  very  clever  in  ap 
plying  his  jests  to  illustrate  a  point.  His  shrewd 
ness,  sagacity  and  promptness  have  won  for  him 
an  enviable  reputation  and  many  seek  his  counsel. 

Mr.  Gibson  married  Miss  Ella  Lewis,  of  Ches 
ter  County,  Pennsylvania,  a  highly  cultured  wo 
man,  coming  from  one  of  the  oldest  families  in 
the  state,  and  with  her  tender,  lovable  disposition 
and  business  acumen  she  makes  an  ideal  help-mate ; 
she  surrounds  her  husband  with  ties  that  are  the 
truest  and  most  tender  that  a  noble  woman  can 
create  about  a  home.  Indeed  the  home  of  the 


TREASURER'S  OFFICE 

Gibsons  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  north 
ern  part  of  the  city.  Its  beauty  of  architecture  is 
not  surpassed  by  the  beautiful  home  life  within. 

Mr.  Gibson  is  a  public  spirited  citizen.  Every 
thing  for  the  betterment  of  his  people  always  in 
terest  him.  As  his  means  grow  so  he  continues 
to  grow  and  shares  his  fortune  with  others.  His 
hand  is  open  and  his  heart  is  warm. 

What  a  difference  a  few  years  makes  in  the  ca 
reer  of  an  ambitious  and  energetic  man.  A  few 
short  years  ago  John  T.  Gibson  was  practically 
unknown,  to-day  he  is  known  all  over  the  world 
having  reached  the  top  round  of  his  managerial 
career.  It  is  not  often  it  can  be  said  with  genuine 
verity  that  an  event  marks  an  epoch.  The  peo 
ple  of  Philadelphia  bow  at  the  shrine  of  the  man 
who  has  made  it  possible  for  them  to  have  the  fin 
est  play-house  in  the  country  to  witness  the  best 
that  the  amusement  world  affords  and  out  of  which 
he  has  made  a  name  and  a  fortune.  Mr.  Gibson  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  a  true  Mason 
at  heart. 


STENOGRAPHER'S  OFFICE 


LADIES'   ROOM— SECOND   FLOOR 


325 


THOMAS   H.    PINCKNEY 

HOMAS  H.  Pinckney  was  born 
in  Columbia,  in  1863,  on  the  cam 
pus  of  the  old  South  Carolina 
College.  As  early  as  age  would 
permit,  he  entered  the  Howard 
Public  School,  of  Columbia,  and 
continued  his  course  until  he 
was  ready  to  enter  South  Caro 
lina  College,  where  he  remained  until  the  law  of 
separating  the  races  in  school  compelled  him  to 
leave. 

Somehow,  he  grasped  the  principle  that  any 
work  was  honorable,  that  only  idleness  was  a 
curse.  For  a  while  he  shined  shoes ;  then  he  sold 
newspapers;  then  he  bought  and  sold  rags  and 
bones,  an  occupation  sneered  at  by  the  masses  of 
men.  From  this  he  took  to  peddling.  He  would 
go  hunting  and  catch  rabbits,  squirrels  and  birds. 
Immediately  he  dressed  these,  put  them  in  a  bas 
ket  and  peddled  them  out.  He  went  fishing.  Once 
more  he  filled  his  basket  and  became  a  walking 
fish  wagon.  Then  his  ingenuity  discovered  a  way 
to  coin  extra  pennies  while  an  apprentice  in  a  white 
barber  shop.  Mr.  Pinckey  found  himself  getting 
theory  on  the  front  and  practice  out  back  in  the 
wood  shed.  Working  for  the  white  people  in  the 
front  he  would  every  little  while  step  out  in  the 

326 


back  and  cut  the  hair  of,  and  shave  his  Negro 
friends  at  half  price.  In  a  little  while  his  clientele 
in  the  wood  shed  yielded  him  not  only  a  larger  in 
come  than  that  he  received  in  the  shop,  but  larger 
than  that  of  any  man  working  in  the  shop. 

He  then  opened  a  shop  for  Negro  customers.  A 
few  years  proved  that  his  first  shop  was  too  small. 
He  sought  larger  quarters.  Again  his  shop  be 
came  too  small  and  again  he  changed.  This  was 
repeated  several  times  before  he  could  accommo 
date  the  hosts  of  customers  who  poured  into  his 
parlors. 

The  shop  made  another  contribution  to  the  life 
of  Thomas  H.  Pinckney.  In  the  old  shop  lay  a 
fiddle.  It  was  stroked  by  musicians  and  no  musi 
cians.  Mr.  Pinckney  took  his  turn  at  this  violin, 
in  a  little  while  he  discovered  that  he  had  musical 
talent  of  the  first  order.  He  cultivated  his  talent 
in  music  and  soon  he  was  not  only  training  young 
Negro  barbers,  but  also  Negro  musicians.  He  or 
ganized  choruses,  he  conducted  orchestras,  both 
of  which  brought  snug  sums  to  his  coffers  and 
more  business  to  his  establishment. 

Known  widely  as  a  man  of  business  and  of  talent 
he  began  to  receive  suggestions  for  local  improve 
ments  in  business  and  in  accomodation.  One  day 
a  young  man  noticed  at  a  funeral  that  the  White 
undertaker  was  none  too  considerate.  This  was  the 
basis  of  an  argument  for  a  Negro  undertaking 
firm,  with  Mr.  Pinckney  as  the  senior  member. 
Forthwith  the  young  man  was  dispatched  to  New 
York  to  learn  the  business.  He  returned,  passed 
the  required  State  examination,  and  organized  the 
firm  of  Harly,  Pinckney  and  Briggs,  whose  capital 
was  $1,500.  The  firm  was  soon  able  to  buy  its 
own  building  and  established  a  branch  at  Green 
ville,  S.  C,  and  already  plans  other  branch  houses. 
Finding  this  buisiness  very  attractive,  Mr. 
Pinckney  has  made  a  special  study  of  embalming, 
and  in  1915  passed  the  State  examination  as  an 
emba  liner. 

From  his  business  he  has  accumulated  some 
ready  money  and  much  real  estate  in  his  native 
city.  He  owns  his  home,  several  vacant  lots  and 
rent  houses.  With  his  business  and  real  estate 
he  finds  time  for  membership  in  several  organiza 
tions  and  for  some  volunteer  services.  He  is  a 
Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  Good  Samaritan.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  the  Zion  Baptist  church  and 
a  clarinet  player  in  the  choir. 

Mr.  Pinckney  was  married  in  1885  to  Miss  Lot 
tie  M.  Howell,  of  Conguill,  South  Carolina.  Two 
daughters  have  been  born  and  reared  in  the  Pinck 
ney  family.  Miss  Beatrice  Pinckney  is  now  Mrs. 
Alonzo  Hardy  and  Miss  Theosina  is  now  Mrs. 
Louis  Gaten.  Fifty  odd  years  lie  upon  Mr.  Pinck 
ney  as  he  keeps  in  close  contact  with  all  the  Negro 
life  in  Columbia. 


ALEXANDER  ARTHUR  GALVIN,  D.  D. 

LEXANDER  A.  Galvin,  was  born 
May  12th.,  1869,  on  a  farm  near 
New  Glasgow,  Amherst  County. 
Virginia.  Prior  to  his  birth  his  fa 
ther  followed  the  carpenter  trade, 
but  having  a  large  family,  most  of 
whom  were  boys  he  decided  that  he  could  sustain 
and. rear  them  better  in  the  country  than  he  could 
in  town,  so  he  gave  up  the  hammer  and  saw  for 
the  plow.  Thus  it  was  that  Alexander  Galvin  was 
country  bred  and  got  his  early  training  on  the 
farm.  Here  he  learned  to  follow  the  plow,  swing 
the  axe,  and  form  an  intimate  acquaintance  with 
animals,  plants,  streams  and  mountains  and  here 
he  formed  those  habits  of  thought  which  finally 
led  to  his  conversion  and  entrance  into  the  minis 
try.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
and  early  felt  the  call  to  preach,  but  his  father 
needed  him  on  the  farm,  so  he  had  to  be  satisfied 
for  a  while  with  such  preparation  as  he  could  get 
from  the  public  school  at  New  Glasgow.  He  made 
the  most  of  this  and  laid  a  good  foundation  upon 
which  he  built  until  better  educational  advantages 
were  within  his  reach. 

He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until 


he  reached  his  majority,  and  then  decided  to  yield 
to  the  divine  call  to  preach,  and  left  home,  in  order 
to  earn  the  money  to  pay  his  way  through  college. 
He  realized  that  he  could  not  do  his  best  work 
without  a  course  of  preparation  and  he  determined 
to  use  every  exertion  to  secure  it. 

That  he  succeeded  is  not  surprising,  and  in  the 
course  of  time  he  was  enabled  to  enter  the  Vir 
ginia  Theological  Seminary  and  College,  at  Lynch- 
burg,  Virginia,  where  he  graduated  with  honors 
from  the  Academic  and  Theological  courses  in  May 
1897. 

Shortly  after  graduation,  Dr.  Galvin  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  Ebenezer  Baptist  Church 
Staunton,  Va.  In  this  field  he  labored  until  June 
1902  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Loyal  Street 
Baptist  Church,  Danville,  Virginia,  where  he  still 
pastors.  Thus  Dr.  Galvin  has  spent  twenty  years 
in  two  pastorates,  which  puts  him  on  the  exception 
al  list  from  the  viewpoint  of  long  pastorates.  He 
has  worked  intensively  rather  than  extensively,  be 
coming  one  of  the  people,  and  not  a  sojourner, 
where  he  has  preached. 

He  and  his  wife  are  property  owners  in  Dan 
ville,  having  a  city  lot  there  on  which  is  built 
a  two  story  tenement  house.  As  he  worked  in  the 
city  so  has  he  worked  in  his  state.  He  was  Moder 
ator  of  the  Berean  Valley  Baptist  Association  four 
years  and  has  been  the  President  of  the  Virginia 
Baptist  State  Convention  four  years.  The  latter 
position  he  still  holds. 

President  Galvin  presided  at  the  golden  jubilee 
meeting  of  the  Virginia  Baptist  State  Convention, 
July  10th-15th,  1917,  on  Seminary  Hill,  Lynchburg, 
when  the  Woman's  State  Educational,  the  Sunday 
School  and  Baptist  Young  People's  Union  State 
Conventions  all  met  in  joint  sessions  and  $13,698.31 
was  raised,  in  cash,  for  education  and  missions. 

While  Doctor  Galvin  has  not  been  an  extensive 
traveler,  other  than  much  travel  in  his  native  state 
upon  business  incident  to  his  interest,  office  and 
calling,  short  trips  into  the  middle  west,  the  far 
south,  and  the  eastern  states  constitute  his  record 
in  this  direction. 

In  Clifton  Forge,  Virginia  in  1897,  Doctor  Galvin 
was  married  to  Miss  Janie  Penn  Toles  of  Lexing 
ton,  Va.  They  have  three  children,  in  the  persons 
of  Misses  Susie  C.  and  Elizabeth  and  Master  G. 
Alexander.  In  May  1,917  Miss  Susie,  at  the  age  of 
18  years,  graduated  from  the  Normal  Department 
of  the  Virginia  Theological  Seminary  and  College, 
while  G.  Alexander  a  lad  of  thirteen  and  Elizabeth 
a  child  of  seven  are  attending  the  High  School  and 
graded  school  respectively  in  the  city  of  Danville. 

In  1906,  Rev.  Galvin  was  honored  by  his  Alma 
Mater  with  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  And  he 
is  generally  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  preach 
ers  of  his  race  and  denomination. 


327 


WILLIAM  VIVIAN  CHAMBLISS 


William  Vivian  Chambliss 


OONER  or  later  most  people  visit 
Tuskegee.  That  this  is  true  is 
due  to  the  fact  that  from  its 
founding  it  has  stood  for  things 
of  an  advanced  nature  for  the  col 
ored  people  of  this  country.  It  is 
the  greatest  institution  operated 
by  Negroes  in  the  world  and  has 
from  the  first  used  a  system  of  education  that  is 
now  being  copied  by  schools  in  all  parts  of  this 
country  and  other  countries.  And  so  daily  there 
are  men  and  women  who  seek  the  school.  Some 
seek  inspiration,  some  knowledge,  that  they  may 
run  a  school  on  similar  plan;  some  seek  informa 
tion  on  how  to  handle  colored  men  in  mass  and 
some  seek  to  know  how  the  much  advertised  agri 
cultural  department  is  run,  and  how  well  the  men 
who  have  gone  out  from  this  departmet  have  been 
able  to  fit  into  rural  life.  Whenever  the  question 
of  rural  life  comes  up  and  a  concrete  example  is 
wanted  of  a  Tuskegee  man  who  has  made  a  suc- 
jess  of  his  life  in  the  country — those  in  authority 
point,  and  they  point  with  pride,  to  W.  V.  Cham- 
bliss,  who  lives  only  a  few  miles  from  the  school. 

Mr.  Chambliss  is  an  example  of  the  man  who 
made  a  success  of  his  life  on  his  native  soil.  He 
was  born  in  Macon  County,  Alabama,  Dec.  4th, 
1866.  He  received  his  early  training  in  the  rural 
schools  of  his  country  and  then  entered  Tuskegee 
Institute.  From  this  school  he  was  graduated  in 
1890.  As  a  lad,  Mr.  Chambliss  was  poor.  He  not 
only  did  odd  chores,  but  during  the  summer  he 
mined  coal  at  the  tender  age  of  seventeen,  and 
worked  in  the  steel  plants  as  well.  In  this  way 
Mr.  Chambliss  got  his  first  lessons  in  handling 
money. 

The  summer  after  his  graduation,  he  taught 
school  in  Macon  County.  The  school  term  was 
short  and  the  pay  small.  He  was  then  employed 
by  Tuskegee  Institute  as  an  instructor  in  the  brick 
masonry  division.  This  work  was  not  to  the  liking 
of  Mr.  Chambliss  either.  When  the  school  stood 
in  need  of  a  trained  man  to  take  charge  of  the  live 
stock  that  they  were  gradually  acquiring,  Mr. 
Chambliss  was  chosen  as  the  man  who  had  natural 
ability  along  this  line.  He  was  sent  to  Hampton 
Institute  where  he  received  a  special  training  in 
the  subject.  He  then  returned  to  Tuskegee  and 
took  charge  of  the  live  stock  of  the  school.  In  this 
capacity  he  served  the  school  for  ten  years.  Dur 
ing  this  time  he  so  conducted  his  division,  and  so 
handled  his  duties  that  he  had  the  implicit  confi 
dence  of  Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington,  the  Founder 
of  the  school.  Because  of  this  confidence,  which 
he  won  by  marked  ability  and  faithfulness  to  duty, 
Mr.  Chambliss  stands  today  an  example  of  the  suc 
cessful  planter  and  a  successful  business  man  as 
well.  Mr.  Robert  C.  Ogden  and  Mr.  Alexander 
Purvis,  two  Northern  philanthropists,  organized  a 
stock  company  under  the  laws  of  New  York  and 
purchased  several  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Macon 
County.  This  land  was  to  be  sold  on  easy  terms, 
long  time  payments,  to  colored  people.  They  open 
ed  a  general  store  where  these  farmers  could  fade 
and  they  bought  up  the  necessary  stock  to  work 


the  land.  Five  thousand  acres  of  land  represent 
a  big  tract  and  $75,000.00  represents  a  big  invest 
ment.  These  men,  Mr.  Ogden  and  Mr.  Purvis, 
sought  the  advice  of  Dr.  Washington  when  they 
wanted  a  man  to  take  entire  charge  of  this  under 
taking.  Dr.  Washington  recommended  Mr.  Wil 
liam  Vivian  Chambliss,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
That  he  made  a  success  of  the  undertaking  the  re 
cords  of  the  company  will  show. 

The  plan  was  to  sell  off  the  land  in  forty  acre 
lots  to  colored  farmers.  Not  only  did  Mr.  Cham- 
bliss  seek  the  purchasers  and  sell  the  land,  but  he 
served  in  the  capacity  of  general  guardian  and  ad 
visor.  He  supplied  them  with  live  stock,  tools,  farm 
implements,  fertilizer,  groceries  and  other  supplies. 
He  built  their  homes,  marketed  their  produce  for 
them  and  helped  them  settle  their  accounts.  As 
Superintendent  of  the  Southern  Improvement 
Company,  the  name  of  the  organization,  he  became 
responsible  for  the  people  living  on  the  land.  The 
unsold  land  was  cultivated  by  him  and  by  renters. 
In  his  management  of  the  enterprise  he  evinced 
great  executive  ability.  Although  the  Company 
was  of  philanthropic  nature,  he  paid  the  stock 
holders  6%  annual  dividends,  and  received  himself 
a  salary  and  5'/f  of  the  net  earnings  of  the  com 
pany.  He  bought  and  operated  with  a  partner,  A. 
].  Wilborn,  a  colored  man  of  Tuskegee,  1700  acres 
of  land.  From  time  to  time  he  invested  in  other 
tracts  of  land.  In  1913  he  bought  from  the  com 
pany  1000  acres  of  the  land  owned  by  the  Southern 
Improvement  Co. 

After  eighteen  years  the  company  dissolved.  At 
that  time  Mr.  Chambliss  bought  all  the  unsold  land 
that  remained  of  the  original  tract.  He  bought  the 
store,  the  gin,  all  the  live  stock,  implements,  equip 
ment,  etc.,  and  assumed  all  the  company's  liabili 
ties.  Thus  after  eighteen  years  of  service  for  the 
Company  we  find  him  sole  owner  of  the  Company's 
holdings. 

In  all  his  business  dealings  Mr.  Chambliss  never 
once  gr>ve  a  mortgage  and  only  once  in  his  life  bor 
rowed  money  from  a  bank.  In  the  Liberty  Loan 
Drive  Mr.  Chambliss  bought  $30,000  in  Bonds  and 
$1000.00  in  War  Savings  Stamps.  He  was  the  lar 
gest  purchaser  of  bonds  in  Macon  County  regard 
less  of  color.  He  owns  3000  acres  of  land,  2000 
acres  of  which  he  cultivates  and  advances  to  120 
plows ;  operates  a  general  store  that  does  between 
$20,000  and  $24,000  business  annually ;  owns  and 
operates  a  cotton  gin  that  handles  as  high  as  11,000 
bales  of  cotton  annually. 

Mr.  Chambliss  is  a  member  and  a  trustee  of  the 
A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  of  Tuskegee,  and  served  for 
a  long  time  as  steward  of  the  church.  He  is  a  Ma 
son,  he  was  several  times  State  delegate  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention ;  he  was  speaker 
for  the  graduates  of  Tuskegee  Institute  at  the 
First  Memorial  Exercise  held  in  honor  of  Dr.  B.  T. 
Washington.  He  subscribed  $800.00  to  the  Booker 
T.  Washington  Memorial  Fund,  which  was  one  of 
the  largest  donations  made  by  colored  people.  Ik- 
has  traveled  in  all  parts  of  the  U.  S.,  and  to  some 
places  in  Canada.  He  is  unmarried;  he  lives  in  his 
own  home  with  his  sister. 


329 


JOHN  I.  STARKS.  D.  D. 


T  falls  to  the  good  fortune  of  but 
few  to  found  and  establish  on  a 
sound  business  basis  one  institu 
tion,  administer  its  affairs  for  a 
long  time,  then  take  over  the 
presidency  of  another.  Such,  how 
ever,  has  been  the  fortune  of  President  John  J. 
Starks,  President  of  the  Morris  College,  at  Sum- 
ter,  South  Carolina.  Leaving  his  Alma  Mater  on 
graduating  in  1898,  he  went  into  South  Carolina, 
•and  one  year  later,  1899,  founded  the  Seneca  Insti 
tute,  at  Seneca,  South  Carolina. 

The  founding  of  Seneca  Institute  was  no  easy 
task.  There  was  no  money,  no  building,  no  land 
on  which  he  could  begin  to  build.  The  school  was 
opened  in  a  frame  building  which  measured  thirty- 
six  feet  by  forty  feet.  It  had  but  a  handful  of 
students  and  exceedingly  meagre  equipment.  For 
thirteen  years  the  young  founder  worked  away, 
now  begging  for  land,  now  for  money,  for  a  build 
ing,  now  for  equipment,  now  for  students,  now  for 
salary  for  teachers.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he 
had  accumulated  property  and  buildings  for  the 
Seneqa  Institute,  worth  thirty  thousand  dollars. 
He  had  an  enrollment  of  two  hundred  and  thirty- 


five  students,  one  hundred  of  whom  were  in  the 
boarding  department.  He  left  the  institute  ,at  the 
close  of  a  thirteen  years  administration,  free  of 
debt.  In  1912,  he  was  elected  President  of  Morris 
College,  in  Sumter,  the  position  which  he  still 
holds. 

President  Starks  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in 
Greenwood,  April  fifteenth,  1872.  He  attended 
school  in  his  native  state  until  he  was  ready  to  go 
nway  to  further  his  education.  Choosing  More- 
house,  in  Atlanta,  he  was  graduated  there  in  1898. 
Ten  vears  after  graduation,  in  view  of  his  service 
of  education,  Benedict  College  conferred  upon  him 
the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Board  of  the  Baptist 
State  Convention,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  denomi 
national  educators  and  thinkers  of  South  Caro 
lina.  President  Starks  was  married  in  1897,  to 
Miss  Julia  A.  Sherard,  of  Anderson,  South  Caro 
lina.  She  has  been  a  strong  second  in  all  the  uplift 
works  of  her  husband. 

MORRIS   COLLEGE 

This  Institution  was  founded  in  1905,  by  the  Bap 
tist  Missionary  and  Educational  Convention,  of 
South  Carolina.  It  is  controlled  bv  a  Board  of 
Trustees  elected  by  the  Convention.  It  is  a  school 
of  elementary  and  secondary  grade.  The  elemen 
tary  work  covers  the  usual  elementary  grades.  In 
the  secondary  work  emphasis  is  placed  on  the  an 
cient  languages  and  mathematics.  One  teacher 
gives  all  his  time  to  languages,  teaching  Latin, 
Greek  and  German.  The  other  subjects  offered  in 
the  four-year  "preparatory"  course  and  the  two- 
year  "college"  course,  are  English,  History,  Bible, 
and  Chemistry.  A  few  of  the  girls  take  sewing. 

The  school  has  twelve  teachers,  all  colored;  three 
male  and  nine  female,  the  teachers  are  well  trained. 
It  has  an  enrollment  of  about  sixty.  In  addition 
a  few  ministers  attend  irregularly.  Its  sources  of 
income  are  from  Baptist  Churches,  tuition  and  fees 
and  from  the  boarding  department. 

The  plant  consists  of  eight  acres  of  land  on  the 
outskirts  of  Sumter,  valued  at  $5,000,  part  of  which 
is  used  for  truck  gardening ;  buildings  valued  at 
$18,500,  consisting  of  three  large  frame  buildings, 
one  comparatively  new  and  the  others  in  fairly 
good  condition,  and  the  movable  equipment,  which 
consists  of  furniture  for  class  rooms  and  dormito 
ries  and  a  few  farm  implements.  The  movable 
equipment  is  valued  at  $1,500. 

President  Starks  is  giving  to  the  college  the  ben 
efit  of  his  fine  executive  ability  and  profound  men 
tal  training,  and  under  his  management  the  school 
is  showing  marked  signs  of  development.  It  is  his 
purpose  and  plan  to  make  it  one  of  the  best  schools 
in  the  land. 


330 


REVEREND    EPHRIAM    MELMUM    SEYMOUR 


EVEREND  Ephriam  M.  Seymour, 
pastor  of  the  Rogers  Memorial 
Baptist  Church,  Knoxville,  Ten 
nessee,  was  born  in  Fayette  Coun 
ty,  Tenn.,  in  1873.  When  yet  a 
small  boy  he  was  possessed  of  the 
desire  to  do  something  for  his  people  that  would 
be  worth  while.  For  a  desire  of  this  character  to 
enter  the  heart  and  brain  of  a  mere  lad  bespoke  a 
career  of  great  usefulness  and  was  prophecy  of  a 
life  of  note.  This  desire  became  intensified  with 
his  growing  years,  and  after  a  careful  survey  of  the 
field  which  offered  to  the  colored  youth  avenues 
of  service,  he  was  led  to  concentrate  his  mind  upon 
the  Gospel  ministry.  He  realized  that  Christian 
religion  was  the  foundation  stone  upon  which  to 
build  character  and  that  if  built  upon  any  other  it 
could  not  stand  the  test  of  temptation  and  adver 
sity.  He  wished  the  best  for  his  people  and  felt 
that  if  he  could  help  them  lay  a  good  foundation 
for  their  life  work,  he  would  make  a  contribution 
for  their  development  which  would  be  worth  while 
and  meet  the  dream  of  his  early  childhood.  It  was 
this  line  of  reasoning  together  with  the  influence 
of  the  church  which  led  him  to  his  life  work. 


He  had  seen  the  evil  effects  of  ignorant  preach 
ers  presiding  over  the  churches  of  his  people  and 
was  fully  persuaded  that  the  time  had  come  when 
the  men  who  offered  themselves  for  that  sacred 
office  should  be  prepared  for  their  work.  He  knew 
that  he  was  not  prepared  educationally  for  the 
work  of  a  minister  and  he  decided  that  his  first 
step  was  to  secure  an  education. 

The  fact  that  his  parents  were  not  in  a  position 
to  give  him  financial  aid  and  the  knowledge  of  the 
hardships  which  faced  those  who  had  to  educate 
themselves,  did  not  deter  him  from  his  purpose, 
but  rather  served  to  strengthen  his  determination 
and  nerve  him  to  his  task,  encouraged  and  sus 
tained,  no  doubt,  by  the  noble  end  he  had  in  view. 

He  began  his  school  life  in  the  public  schools 
of  Sommersville.  From  here  he  made  his  way 
in  the  Baptist  College,  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1900.  On  finishing  from 
the  college,  he  entered  Roger  Williams  in  Nash 
ville,  for  a  course  in  theology.  None  of  these 
courses  came  to  him  without  struggle.  All  through 
his  school  life  he  worked  early  in  the  morning  and 
late  in  the  evenings  and  at  spare  times  to  earn 
money  for  his  board  and  lodging. 

Completing  his  college  work  and  his  studies  in 
theology  he  began  pastoral  duties  at  Franklin, 
Tenn.,  occupying  the  pulpit  here  in  the  First  Bap 
tist  Church.  Spending-  two  years  in  Franklin,  he 
was  called  to  Shelbyville,  Tenn.,  where  he  remain 
ed  one  year.  From  Shelbyville,  Rev.  Seymour 
went  to  Mt.  Olive,  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  where  he 
was  pastor  for  five  years.  Thence  he  accepted  the 
pastorate  of  Holly  Grove  Baptist  Church,  Ripley, 
Tenn.  From  Ripley,  he  came  to  Knoxville  to  the 
Rogers  Memorial  Church,  where  he  is  now  pas 
tor. 

The  bulk  of  his  work  has  been  done  at  the  Roger 
Memorial  Church,  of  Knoxville.  He  accepted  the 
call  here  when  every  thing  about  the  church  was 
ebbing  rather  low.  The  old  church  had  gone,  the 
new  was  started,  merely  started.  Enthusiasm  and 
money  were  rapidly  diminishing.  Rev  Seymour 
.took  hold,  rallied  the  forces,  organized  communi 
ties  to  secure  more  funds,  and  completed  the  Mem 
orial  Church.  This  task  he  looks  upon  as  coming 
nearer  to  fulfilling  his  early  visions  of  service  than 
anything  else  he  has  thus  far  undertaken. 

Mr.  Seymour  was  married  in  1906.  Mrs.  Sey 
mour  was  formerly  Miss  Lizzie  Saunders,  of  Mem 
phis,  Tenn.  Sadie  B.  is  the  only  child  in  the  Sey 
mour  household.  She  is  eight  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Seymour  has  translated  his  vision  which 
came  to  him  in  early  life,  into  an  effective  and  lov 
ing  service  for  his  people. 


331 


GASTON  ALONZO  EDWARDS,  M.  S. 


E  hear  of  Negro  physicians,  Negro 
school  teachers,  Negro  dentists, 
Negro  merchants  etc,,  but  seklqm 
find  one  who  has  made  his  mark 
as  an  architect. 

Professor  Edwards  is  a  notable 
exception,  his  gifts  as  an  architect  being  recog 
nized  by  both  white  and  black.  While  occupying 
a  high  place  in  architecture  he  also  stands  high  as 
a  scholar. 

Professor  Edwards  was  born  in  Belvoir,  North 
Carolina,  April  12th,  1875.  Passing  through  the 
common  schools  he  entered  the  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  College  at  Greensboro,  North,  Carolina, 
and  completed  his  education  at  Cornell  University, 
Ithaca,  New  York. 

In  1901-1902,  he  established  the  Mechanical  De 
partment  of  the  N.  C.  D.  D.,  and  B.  Institute,  at 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina.  In  October  of  1902,  he 
accepted  the  position  as  teacher  of  Natural  Science 
and  Superintendent  of  Men's  Industrial  Depart 
ment  of  Shaw  University,  which  position  he  held 
for  fifteen  years. 

While  at  Shaw  University  his  fame  as  an  archi 
tect  spread  throughout  the  country  and  brought 


him  into  conspicious  note  as  a  designer  of  build 
ings.  He  was  the  first  Negro  to  design  and  con 
struct  buildings  for  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society. 

His  work  as  an  architect  is  not  confined  to  his 
own  race,  but  because  of  his  strict  adherence  to 
the  three  F's  in  architectture.  fit,  firm  and  fair,  he 
enjoys  a  liberal  patronage  of  the  white  race  as  well. 

On  March  9th,  1915,  by  an  act  of  the  General  As 
sembly  of  North  Carolina,  all  architects  were  re 
quired  to  be  examined,  licensed  and  registered  in 
order  to  practice  Architecture  in  the  State  of  North 
Carolina. 

He  successfully  passed  the  Board  and  has  the 
distinction  of  being  the  only  licensed  colored  ar 
chitect  in  the  State. 

On  June  12th,  1912  he  was  commissioned  by  Hon. 
W.  W.  Kitchen,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  as  a 
delegate  to  the  third  annual  session  of  the  Negro 
National  Educational  Congress  held  in  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  July  1st.,  1912. 

He  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Science 
from  his  Alma  Mater,  May  27th,  1909,  being  the 
first  graduate  of  that  school  to  be  so  honored. 

In  the  spring  of  1917,  by  unanimous  vote  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Kittrell  College,  he  was 
elected  President,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

Under  his  administration  the  school  has  taken  on 
new  life  and  is  destined  to  become  one  of  the  great 
est  schools  for  higher  education  of  the  Negro. 

Kittrell  College  is  located  on  the  historic  place 
known  as  "Kittrell  Springs,"  in  Vance  County, 
North  Caroling,  on  the  main  line  of  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line  Railway,  eight  miles  south  of  Henderson, 
and  thirty-six  miles  north  of  Raleigh,  the  Capital, 
on  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  in  the  country. 
It  is  480  feet  above  sea  level  on  a  hill  that  slopes 
gently  to  the  north  and  west,  affording  perfect 
drainage.  The  site  contains  240  acres,  with  two 
streams  flowing  through  it.  Upon  the  school  prem 
ises  are  two  mineral  springs,  which  prior  to  its  pur 
chase  for  a  school  site  was  known  as  a  health  re 
sort  attracting  hither  hundreds  of  tourists  in 
search  of  health  and  rest. 

Touching  the  history  of  Kittrell  College,  it  is  re 
lated  that  several  years  previous  to  the  purchase 
of  the  property,  Miss  Louise  Dorr,  a  faithful 
teacher  from  the  North,  conducted  a  Bible  Train 
ing  Class  in  connection  with  her  school  work  in  the 
city  of  Raleigh. 

Several  of  the  young  men  became  enthusiastic 
over  the  studies  and  started  to  talk  of  better  facili 
ties.  The  matter  was  taken  to  the  North  Carolina 
Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  and  at  once  as 
sumed  definite  shape,  resulting  in  the  proposition 
to  establish  a  school  at  Kittrell,  N.  C'.  In  1885  the 
North  Carolina  Conference  passed  a  resolution  au- 


•        • •        * 


DUKE  MEMORIAL  HALL— GIRLS'  DORMITORY— KITTRELL  COLLEGE,  KITTRELL,  N.  C. 


thorizing  the  establishment  of  a  Normal  and  In 
dustrial  School,  and  appointed  a  Committee  to  se 
lect  a  suitable  site.  In  the  selection  of  Kittrell  the 
Committee  secured  one  of  the  most  desirable  lo 
calities  in  North  Carolina.  The  leading  spirit  in  the 
organization  of  the  school  was  Rev.  R.  N.  W.  Leak. 
D.  D.,  and  associated  with  him  were  such  men  as 
Rev.  George  D.  Jimmerson,  Rev.  J.  W.  Telfair,  Rev. 
J.  E.  C.  Barham,  Rev.  George  Hunter,  Rev.  W.  D. 


Brown,  Allen  University  and  Paul  Quinn ;  these 
five  forming  the  first  group  of  connectional  schools. 
Its  students  come  from  several  States. 

The  outlook  is  that  Kittrell  is  destined  to  be 
come  a  great  educational  centre,  attracting  hither 
not  only  hundreds  of  boys  and  girls,  but  families 
who  wish  to  locate  where  the  best  educational  ad 
vantages  may  be  enjoyed. 

BUILDINGS 
At  present  it  has   seven  buildings :     Shady   Side 


C'ook,    Rev.   W.   H.   Giles,   Rev.   Henry   Epps.    Rev.      Cottage,  Northside  Cottage,  Orient  Cottage,  Fair- 
Cornelius    Sampson,    Rev.   W.    H.    Bishop,    Rev.    R.      view  Cottage- 

DUKE-MEMORIAL    HALL    js    a    large    four  story 


Lucas  and  Rev.  J.  C'.  Fry,  who  were  under  the  Es- 


brick    structure    with    ample    accommodations    for 


.  ,  ..  l-T-1'1  TT  T  I  -<  T-v  •       1  fc«  *•*»»          h>I.A  M\.l.MA  V  VV  I  III          Cl  111  I/I  I,          CH~\_t.MlllllUtlell,H.MIft  1(!| 

piscopal    supervision    of    Bishop   W.    K    Dickerson.      two   hundred   gir,Si   has   n:odern   conveniences   and 


The   first  session  began  February  7th.,   1886,   with      the   very  best  arrangements   for  home   and   school 
three  teachers,  Prof.  B.   B.  Coins,   Principal;   Mrs.      life.     It  contains  the  college  chapel,  dining  room, 

music  room,  parlor  and  offices. 

THE    PEARSON   O'KELLY    MODEL   SCHOOL 


M.  A.   Coins,   Matron,  and   Prof.    J.   R.     Hawkins, 

Business    Manager.     The   charter   was   granted   by 

the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina  March  7th,  1887. 

The  first  Commencement  exercises  were  held  in 


is    a 


beautiful    structure    made    of    native    stone. 

THE  MARTHA   MERRICK   LIBRARY   js   a   modern 
building  erected  by  the  banker-philanthropist,  John 


1890.     In   1888,  the  Virginia  Conference  agreed  to      Merrick,   President  of  the  North  Carolina   Mutual 


support  this  school  and  transferred  its  school  in 
terest  from  Portsmouth,  Va.,  to  Kittrell,  said  Con 
ference  being  given  equal  representation  on  the 
Trustee  Board. 

In  1892,  the  General  Conference  in  session  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  changed  the  Educational  Dis 
tricts  so  as  to  add  the  State  of  Maryland  and  the 
District  of  Columbia  to  the  territory  supporting 
Kittrell  Institute,  and  it  now  receives  liberal  pat 
ronage  and  support  from  the  entire  Second  Episco 
pal  District,  viz :  North  Carolina,  West  North  Car 
olina,  Virginia  and  Baltimore  Conferences. 

The  school  had  a  steady  growth  and  its  present 
status  ranks  it  along  with  Wilberforce,  Morris 


Provident  Association. 

THE  BOYS'  DORMITORY  AND  CHAPEL  BUILD 
ING.  The  plans  for  these  buildings  to  be  con 
structed  of  brick  and  stone  at  a  cost  of  $50,000.00 
has  been  raised  already.  When  completed  the  dor 
mitory  will  accommodate  two  hundred  and  fifty 
young  men. 

The  Institution  has  its  own  water  and  sewerage 
systems  extending  through  all  the  buildings. 

LIBRARY — The  Library  contains  many  import 
ant  works  of  reference  and  is  open  daily. 

ORGANIZATIONN— Elementary,  normal  com 
mercial,  industrial,  college,  music  and  theological 
departments. 

The  elementary  department  comprises  eight 
grades.  The  secondary  work  is  done  in  the"  Nor 
mal"  department. 


333 


REVEREND   PRESTON  TAYLOR 


E  often  hear  of  self-made  men  and 
sometimes  wonder  what  the  ex 
pression  really  means.  In  essense 
it  means  that  a  man  who  in  spite 
of  adverse  circumstances  and  mea 
gre  advantages  has  made  a  suc 
cess  of  life  and  left  an  impress  upon  the  world. 
Such  a  man  is  Rev.  Preston  Taylor,  an  eloquent 
preacher  and  a  marvelous  successful  business  man. 
Rev.  Taylor  was  born  in  Shreveport,  La.,  Novem 
ber  7th,  1849,  of  humble  parentage,  in  fact  he  was 
born  into  slavery.  Little  did  his  parents  think 
when  their  baby  came  that  they  had  given  birth  to 
a  child  who  was  destined  to  occupy  a  high  place 
in  the  church  and  influence  the  business  world. 
When  one  year  of  age  he  was  moved  from  Louis 
iana  to  Lexington,  Ky.,  the  resting  place  of  Henry 
Clay.  ,  , 

At  the  early  age  of  four  he  sat  in  the  First  Bap 
tist  Church,  Lexington,  Ky.,  under  the  sound  of  the 
pious  and  impressive  voice  of  Rev.  Ferrell,  which 
deeply  impressed  his  youthful  mind.  He  gave  ex 
pression  to  this  impression  in  a  remark  made  to 
his  mother,  "Some  day  I'll  be  a  preacher."  His 
wise  and  good  mother  used  every  influence  to 


deepen  the  impression.  Under  the  fostering  care 
of  parents  and  religious  friends  he  grew  in  the 
knowledge  of  the  scriptures  and  was  filled  with 
the  spirit  of  Christ.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
ranks  high  in  that  denomination. 

For  fifteen  years  he  was  Pastor  of  a  church  in 
Sterling,  Ky.  When  he  took  charge  of  the  church 
it  was  in  its  infancy,  and  when  he  left  it  the  mem 
bership  had  reached  about  eight  hundred.  Under 
his  ministry  the  church  erected  one  of  the  finest 
church  edifices  of  the  colored  race  in  Kentucky. 

His  ability  was  so  marked  that  his  denomination 
felt  that,  he  should  fill  a  larger  field  and  so  elected 
him  as  General  Evangelist,  a  position  he  held  for 
many  years.  About  eight  years  ago  he  gave  up 
his  office  as  Evangelist  to  take  charge  of  the  Gay 
Street  Church,  in  Nashville,  and  now  in  his  declin 
ing  years,  he  is  the  beloved  and  zealous  leader  of 
Lee  Avenue  Christian  Church. 

Like  a  number  of  great  men  his  educational  fa 
cilities  were  small,  much  of  his  information  and 
knowledge  having  been  acquired  from  observation 
and  experience,  and  such  helps  as  he  could  master 
himself.  In  a  large  degree  his  education  is  practi 
cal  and  his  knowledge  experimental. 

In  preparation  for  his  ministerial  work  he  re 
ceived  a  few  month's  training  in  the  Bible  School 
in  Louisville.  Even  this  training  was  marked  with 
great  hardships  which,  however,  were  propellers 
rather  than  a  hindrance  to  his  development  and 
advance. 

We  turn  now  to  his  business  career,  through 
out  which  you  can  trace  the  pride  of  race  and  a  de 
sire  to  help  his  people.  When  the  "Big  Sandy" 
railroad,  now  operated  by  the  Chespeake  &  Ohio 
Railroad,  was  being  built  the  contractors  refused 
to  hire  colored  men,  preferring  white  labor.  Mr. 
Taylor,  being  a  man  of  nerve  and  iron-will  deter 
mined  to  pave  the  way  for  his  people.  He  made 
a  bid  and  fortune  crowned  his  effort.  He  received 
the  contract  and  then  the  difficult  task  was  begun. 
It  was  one  of  the  most  hazardous  undertakings  ev 
er  attempted  by  a  man  of  color.  As  is  his  usual 
custom  he  invoked  the  help  of  his  Maker,  and  then 
with  determination  and  energy  he  completed  the 
job.  He  erected  a  large  commissary  and  quar 
ters  for  his  men ;  bought  75  head  of  mules  and 
horses,  carts,  wagons,  cars  and  all  the  necessary 
implements  and  tools  and  with  150  men  he  went  to 
work.  He  completed  his  contract  in  less  time  than 
the  contract  called  for,  receiving  the  contract  price 
of  $75.000.00,  and  the  following  words  of  praise 
from  Mr.  C.  P.  Huntington.  President  of  the  road: 
"I  have  built  thousands  of  miles  of  road  but  I 
never  before  saw  a  contractor  who  finished  his  con 
tract  in  advance. 


334 


This  removed  the  prejudice  of  Negro  labor  and 
from  that  time  it  was  sought  instead  of  being  re 
jected.  He  won  his  fight  and  enshrined  himself 
in  the  affection  and  memory  of  the  150  men  who 
he  had  succored  by  his  resolute  action. 

Another  evidence  of  his  great  business  ability  is 


on  the  Lebanon  Pike.  Electric  cars  run  to  it  on 
regular  scheduled  time  with  privileges  of  transfer 
ring  to  all  parts  of  the  city  for  five  cents  fare.  The 
situation  of  Greenwood  Park  is  ideal  for  such  an 
enterprise.  It  comprises  forty  acres  of  hills  and 
dales,  surrounded-  by  clusters  of  ever-green  that 


the  large  undertaking  business  he  has  established.      adorn  the  hills,  for  which  Nashville  is  so  famously 


In  the  face  of  great  opposition  and  acting  under 
an  impulse  to  see  that  his  people  were  amply  pro 
vided  for  in  this  line  of  their  need,  he  opened  his 
undertaking  establishment.  He  now  has  the  larg 
est  establishment  of  its  kind  and  does  the  largest 


noted,  and  is  well  shaded  with  numerous  forest 
trees.  A  number  of  limpid  streams  flow  through 
it,  giving  coolness  to  the  atmosphere  and  adding  to 
its  beauty.  These  streams  also  afford  abundance 
of  refreshing  drinking  water,  thus  combining 


business  of  any  man  of  his  race  in  the  county.     He      pleasure   with   utility.     Besides   the   many   inviting 


iias  purchased  for  his  business  a  large  two-story 
brick  building  42x180  feet,  which  he  has  converted 
into  a  model  undertaking  establishment. 

Dr.  Taylor  married  Miss  Georgia  Gordon,  one  of 
the  original  Fisk  Jubilee  Singers,  who  presides 
with  grace  and  dignity  over  his  home. 

In  1866,  Dr.  Taylor  started  without  a  dollar.  Ik- 
is  now  said  to  be  worth  not  less  than  $350.000. 

It  seems  that  Dr.  Taylor  never  tires  of  working, 
and  planning  for  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  his 
people.  This  sketch  would  be  incomplete  if  ref 
erence  was  made  to  another  enterprise  of  his  which 


walks  and  shady  nooks  provided  by  nature,  provis 
ion  has  been  made  for  those  who  desire  other 
forms  of  recreation.  A  club  house,  with  restau 
rant  and  refreshment  stand ;  a  theatre,  skating 
rink,  roller  coaster,  shooting  gallery,  box  ball, 
knife,  cane  and  baby  rack,  merry-go-round,  a  zoo, 
and  a  base-ball  park.  A  grand  stand  has  been  erec 
ted  at  the  ball  park  which  will  seat  several  thous 
and  persons. 

This  park  is  the  home  of  the  "Greenwood  Giants" 
one  of  the  "crack"  baseball  teams  of  the  South. 
This  team  has  crossed  bats  with  some  of  the  best 


has  done  much  to  elevate  the  ideals  of  his  race.  teams  of  the  country.  The  park  is  open  day  and 
No  people  can  rise  to  a  high  state  of  refinement  night  and  is  made  unusually  attractive  at  night  by 
who  neglect  the  resting  place  of  their  dead.  Dr.  the  glare  and  glimmer  of  hundreds  of  electric- 
Taylor  recognized  this  fact  and  determined  to  pro-  lights.  The  park  is  regarded  with  much  pride  by 
vide  a  resting  place  for  the  colored  people  which  the  colored  population  of  Nashville,  who  give  it 
would  be  keeping  with  the  high  ideals  which  he 
was  trying  to  bring  them  up  to. 

He  secured  a  plot  of  ground,  close  by  Greenwood 
Park,  which  he  had  provided  for  their  recreation, 
and  laid  out  a  cemetery  which  will  compare  in  ar 
rangements,  and  beautiful  surroundings  with  any 
in  the  land.  It  is  Sodded  with  grass  and  subdivided 
into  lots  and  shaded  with  beautiful  trees,  and  is 


cordial  support,  visiting  it  in  large  numbers.  The 
park  is  highly  appreciated  by  the  colored  people 
generally  and  many  important  functions  of  the 
colored  race  are  held  there. 

The  "Tennessee  Colored  Fair  Association"  holds 
its  annual  meeting  at  Greenwood  Park.  For  its 
accomodation  a  splendid  track  has  been  built  for 
exhibiting  stock  and  sufficient  stable  room,  erect- 


conceded  to  be  one  of  the  most  beautiful  cemeter-      eel   for  the  accomodation  and  housing  of  stock  i 
ies  in  the  whole  country.     An  attractive  arch  way 
spans  the  entrance  to  the  cemetery  which  makes  a 
fitting  entrance  to  this  beautiful  though  silent  city. 


in 


GREENWOOD   PARK,   NASHVILLE,   TENNESSEE 


large  numbers. 

The  design  of  the  Park  is  not  alone  for  pleasure 
but  also  has  an  educational  feature.  A  Chatauqua 
for  teachers  is  planned  for  the  summer  season 
which  will  bring  together  a  great  crowd  of  the  best 


All    men    need    recreation    which    applies    with      educators  and  workers  of  the  race.     It  is  expected 

that   this   feature   will   attract   teachers   from   near 
and  far,  as  well  as  others  interested  in  educational 
matters.     Then    the    "Good    Old-Fashioned    Camp 
Meeting"    has    not    been     overlooked.     Provisions 
have  been  made  for  that  which  lends  additional  at 
tractions  for  this  pleasure  and  educational  resort. 
Nashville  has  a  Negro  population  of  about  forty 
thousand,   who  will   compare   favorably    with    any 


equal  force  to  women  and  children,  for  the  well- 
known  aphorism,  "All  work  and  no  play  makes 
Jack  a  dull  boy,"  is  a  well  recognized  truth.  There 
must  be  moments  in  the  life  of  every  one  when 
work  and  the  many  cares  of  life  can  be  set  aside 
for  a  while  and  the  mind  given  over  to  ease  and 
diversion. 

Possibly   no  better   source   of   recreation   can   be 


found  than  a  well  regulated  park  with  its  attendant  community  for  industry  and  wealth,  and  who  ap 
preciate  the  value  of  such  a  Park  as  has  been  out 
lined.  Their  support  of  the  enterprise  has  been 
so  genuine  and  hearty  that  it  has  greatly  pleased 
the  management. 


amusement  auxiliaries.  Such  a  pleasure  resort  is 
Greenwood  Park.  It  is  situated  in  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  suburban  portions  of  Nashville,  Tennes 
see,  at  a  distance  of  only  three  miles  from  the  city, 


335 


THOMAS    PRYOR   TURNER 


HOMAS    Pryor    Turner,    Principal 


High  School.  Here  he  served  first  as  Assistant 
Principal,  and  was  later  given  the  Principalship. 
Here  for  twenty-seven  consecutive  years  Prof. 
Turner  has  labored  with  the  young  people  of  Pu- 
laski,  and  surrounding  country,  and  here  he  still 
works. 

That  Professor  Turner  was  bound  to  make  a 
success  of  his  life  was  evident  from  his  early  boy 
hood.  He  was  willing  to  do  any  sort  of  work  that 
would  turn  an  honest  penny,  and  having  taken  hold 
of  any  given  work,  he  kept  at  it  till  success  was  his. 
He  was  at  one  period  a  book  agent.  This  is  one 
of  the  most  difficult  of  all  the  known  kinds  of  work 
and  yet  he  made  a  success  at  it.  He  never  let  him 
self  get  out  of  touch  with  public  affairs.  To  this 
end  he  spent  his  money  for  daily  papers,  and  took 
the  time  to  read  them  in  order  that  he  might  know 
all  that  was  happening  in  the  world.  Even  after 
he  took  up  the  work  of  teaching,  Professor  Turner 
did  other  kinds  of  work.  He  deals  largely  in  real 
estate  and  is  the  owner  of  property  valued  at  more 
than  $20,000.00. 

He  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Fraternal  Or 
ders  of  his  section  of  the  country.  He  is  Worthy 
Master  of  the  St.  John  Lodge  No.  19,  of  the  An 
cient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Member  and  C. 
C.  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Member  and  P.  S.,  of  the  Giles  County 
L'nion  Lodge,  Member  and  C.  S.  of  the  Zephoiraii 
Lodge  of  Pulaski.  Not  only  has  he  served  these 
fraternal  orders  in  their  local  meetings,  but  he 
has  been  for  eighteen  years  Grand  Secretary  of  the 
Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  for  four 


of    the    High    School,    at    Pulaski,      years  Grand  Auditor  of  this  same  order  in  America 

at    Philadelphia,   Pennsylvania.     He   is   also   Grand 
Auditor  of  the  Masonic  Order  for  Tennessee. 

Professor  Turner  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Bulah  Baptist  Church.  Here  he  serves  as  a  dea 
con  and  as  the  clerk.  In  the  Sunday  School  he  is 
the  Superintendent.  All  the  people  of  Pulaski  know, 
love  and  respect  Professor  Turner.  His  influence, 


Tennessee,  was  born  near  Selma, 
Alabama,  in  August,  1867.  His 
parents  were  very  poor.  After 
his  father  died  in  South  Alabama, 
his  mother,  with  her  five  children,  moved  to  Giles 
County,  Tennessee.  Thus  at  a  tender  age  we  find 


Thomas  P.  Turner  with  his  mother,  sister  and  bro-      however,  is  not  confined  to  the  limits  of  his  adopt- 


thers  trying  to  earn  a  living  from  the  soil.  Young 
Turner  remained  on  the  farm  till  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  working  at  all  the  jobs  of  a  farm  boy 
when  school  was  not  in  session,  and  getting  a 
chance  to  attend  the  county  schools  whenever  they 
were  being  taught. 

Having  gotten  all  in  the  way  of  book  learning 
from  the  County  Schools  that  he  could,  the  young 
man  entered  Roger  Williams  University,  at  Nash 
ville.  Tennessee.  While  in  Roger  Williams  he 
earned  his  way  by  teaching  country  school  in  the 
summer.  In  this  way  he  managed  to  get  his  edu 
cation.  He  was  still  in  his  teens  when  he  began 
earning  his  living  by  teaching.  So  when  he  came 
out  of  Roger  Williams  he  was  already  a  teacher 
of  experience.  He  secured  work  in  the  Pulaski 


ed  town.  He  is  known  throughout  the  State  of 
Tennessee,  and  in  many  parts  of  the  country.  He 
has  traveled  extensively  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada. 

Professor  Turner  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Agnes  Bramlett,  of  Pulaski,  Tennessee,  on  Novem 
ber  24th.  1892.  Four  children  have  been  born  to 
them.  Three  of  whom  are  living,  and  the  second 
one,  Willis  James  Turner,  died  when  only  three 
years  old.  Miss  Mamie  A.  Turner  is  a  graduate 
from  Fisk  University.  She  finished  the  classical 
course  and  received  the  degree  of  A.  B.  At  the 
same  time  she  specialized  in  Education  and  so  fit 
ted  herself  very  definitely  for  the  task  of  school 
teaching.  At  present  she  is  teaching  in  the  Topeka 
Industrial  and  Educational  Institute,  Tokepa,  Kan 
sas.  Thomas  Pryor.  Jr.,  is  a  Junior  College  stu 
dent  in  Union  University,  at  Richmond,  Virginia. 
Edward  Roosevelt  s  still"  a  High  School  student. 


336 


BURRELL  HAEMAN  MORRELL 

T  is  no  disadvantage  but  rather 
the  reverse  for  a  man  to  be  born 
in  the  country  and  spend  his  early 
days  upon  the  farm.  Cultivating 
the  soil  and  breathing  the  fresh 
country  air  develops  him  physi 
cally  and  brings  him  into  closer  touch  with  nature 
and  nature's  God.  It  is  a  fact  often  noted  that 
many  of  our  great  men  came  from  the  farm. 

Mr.  Burrell  Haeman  Morrell  was  born  on  a 
farm  and  spent  his  early  life  in  the  country  and  the 
love  of  the  soil  has  clung  to  him  through  all  his 
years.  He  was  born  near  Elkton,  in  the  Southern 
part  of  Giles  County,  Tennessee,  December  the  2nd, 
1863,  and  this  county  has  always  been  his  home. 
His  father  died,  when  he  was  quite  young,  at  a 
Federal  prison  in  Mobile,  Alabama,  during  the  Civil 
War,  and  left  him  and  his  brother  Albert  a  soldier's 
bounty  of  eleven  hundred  and  forty  dollars  and  a 
Government  pension  for  their  support.  This  bounty 
was  a  monthly  payment  from  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  to  the  guardian  of  the  heirs  of  the  deceased 
soldier.  The  guardian  paid  out  this  money  for  the 
education  and  support  of  these  children  until  they 
were  sixteen  and  when  they  reached  the  age  of 


twenty-one  the  balance  was  paid  to  them  in  full. 
The  portion  coming  to  Burrell  Haeman  was  four 
hundred  dollars. 

While  working  upon  the  farm  he  took  advantage 
of  the  opportunity  the  rural  schools  offered  for  an 
education.  While  these  did  not  carry  him  very  far 
in  mental  development  the  training  created  in  him 
a  greater  thirst  for  knowledge  which  took  him 
temporarily  from  the  farm  to  Fisk  Unversity.  He 
entered  this  Institution  when  he  was  sixteen  years 
of  age.  He  completed  the  College  course,  with  the 
exception  of  Greek,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven, 
having  attended  the  college  about  eight  years. 
Three  years  of  his  time  after  first  entering  Fisk 
Unversity  was  lost  from  school  on  account  of  poor 
health.  He  adopted  teaching  as  his  life  work, 
though  the  lure  of  the  farm  was  still  upon  him  and 
claimed  a  portion  of  his  time. 

After  graduating  from  the  Fisk  University  he 
was  for  five  years  the  Principal  of  the  McMinnville 
City  school  and  for  twenty  years  he  has  been  and 
is  now  an  assistant  in  the  Pulaski  High  School. 

When  he  was  twenty  years  old  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  eighty-five  acres,  which  he  operated  for 
twenty-one  years  and  sold  for  twice  its  cost.  While 
actively  working  this  farm  he  taught  in  the  coun 
try  school. 

He  is  still  a  land  owner  and  has  two  farms  of 
considerable  value.  One  of  101  acres  he  values  at 
$8000.00  and  the  other  of  178  acres  at  $6000.00.  In 
addition  to  these  he  owns  three  houses  and  two  va 
cant  lots  in  the  town  of  Pulaski,  and  one  vacant 
lot  in  Washington.  D.  C.  The  value  of  his  town 
property  is  about  $2000.00. 

With  the  exception  of  a  homestead  inherited  by 
his  wife  from  her  parents,  their  property  was  ac 
quired  by  the  practice  of  the  closest  economy  and 
self  denial. 

Mr.  Morrell  points  with  much  pride  to  the  part 
his  wife  has  taken  in  aiding  him  to  acquire  proper 
ty.  They  worked  together  with  a  unanimity  of 
purpose  and  have  sacrificed  the  comforts  of  youth 
that  they  might  provide  for  the  necessities  of  old 
age.  Their  aims  and  hopes  were  realized  while 
still  in  their  prime  and  they  now  enjoy  not  only  the 
comforts  of  life,  but  many  of  its  luxuries  and  are 
able  to  gratify  a  desire  to  make  contributions  for 
the  uplift  of  their  people. 

Mr.  .Morrell  was  married  to  Miss  Addie  Florine 
Taylor,  of  Giles  County,  Tennessee,  September 
24th,  1896,  which  has  proved  a  most  happy  mar 
riage,  the  only  cloud  upon  their  union  being  the 
death  of  two  of  their  children.  One  child,  a  boy, 
E.  M.  Morrell,  has  been  spared  to  them,  and  they 
are  giving  to  him  the  best  of  educational  advan 
tages. 


337 


.TAMES   DELBRIDGE  RYAN 


AMES  Delbridge  Ryan  was  born 
October  25,  1872,  in  Navasota, 
Grimes  County,  Texas,  being  the 
second  of  four  children  born  to 
Huldah  and  James  Ryan.  He  at 
tended  the  Public  Schools  of 
Navasota,  then  administered  by  very  excellent 
teachers,  and  entered  the  Prairie  View  Normal  and 
Industrial  College  in  September,  1889.  From  this 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  June  1890.  In  Oc 
tober  of  the  same  year  he  was  elected  a  grade- 
teacher  in  the  Public  Schools  of  the  City  of  Hous 
ton,  where  he  has  beq'n  continuously  employed 
since  that  time. 

When  the  Colored  High  School  was  reorganized 
on  the  Departmental  basis  in  September,  1900,  he 
was  selected  as  the  teacher  of  Mathematics,  and 
having  thoroughly  qualified  himself  by  close  appli 
cation  to  study  under  private  tutors  and  in  Summer 
Schools,  when  a  vacancy  occurred  in  1912,  he  was 
elected  to  the  Principalship,  with  the  distinction  of 
having  taught  in  every  grade  in  the  system 
through  the  four-year  High  School  Course,  except 
ing  the  first  Primary  Grade  only. 

During  his  administration  the  enrollment  of  the 


school  has  increased  from  212  to  446,  the  number 
of  teachers  doing  High  School  work  only  from  7 
to  11,  and  the  graduates  of  the  school  make  the 
Freshman  Year  in  some  of  the  best  Colleges  and 
Universities  in  the  Country.  In  a  system  that 
prides  itself  on  being  one  of  the  best  in  the  South, 
Mr.  Ryan  easily  ranks  among  the  first,  and  because 
of  his  ability  as  a  school  man  he  was  elected  Presi 
dent  of  the  Colored  Teachers'  State  Association  in 
November,  1916. 

His  property  holdings,  excluding  exemptions, 
consists  of  improved  and  unimproved  city  property, 
and  securities,  which  are  conservatively  estimated 
at  Ten  Thousand  Dollars.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Park  Commissioners  for  Colored  people 
through  appointment  by  the  Mayor,  and  is  a  mem 
ber  of  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  now 
serving  his  fourteenth  year  as  Superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  School. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  the  Colored  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  United 
Brothers  of  Friendship  and  the  Sisters  of  the  Mys 
terious  Ten,  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Pilgrims. 

During  the  past  21  years  Mr.  Ryan  has  been  the 
guiding  genius  in  the  development  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Pilgrims,  a  Fraternal  Beneficiary  Asso 
ciation  founded  by  Henry  Cohen  Hardy,  who  was 
joined  in  the  incorporation  thereof  by  Reuben 
Thornton  and  Joseph  I.  Rogers,  October  23,  1882. 
The  purpose  of  this  organization  is  thus  stated  in 
the  articles  of  incorporation : 

"To  promote  industry,  temperance  and  economy ; 
to  enable  us  to  assist  ourselves  and  each  other  and 
every  member  of  said  corporation  while  living ;  to 
provide  for  the  increased  expenses  of  life,  the  des 
titution  of  old  age,  sickness,  misfortune,  calamity 
and  death  ;  to  leave  our  widows,  mothers  sisters, 
and  children  adequate  support ;  to  promote  charity 
and  benevolence,  and  to  build  and  furnish  halls  for 
the  use  of  this  Order  for  these  purposes." 

The  principal  officers  are  B.  H.  Grimes,  Prin 
cipal  of  Dunbar  School.  President;  James  D.  Ryan, 
Secretary ;  Jesse  Washington,  President  of  Gaud- 
alupe  College,  Treasurer ;  Dr.  W.  F.  Warren,  Tyler, 
R.  G.  Lockett  and  W.  C.  Conway.  Houston,  Trus 
tees ;  L.  D.  Lyons  of  Austin,  B.  J.  Mathis  of  Marlin, 
Texas,  T.  D.  Mitchell,  E.  P.  Harrison,  and  Van  H. 
McKinley,  members  of  the  Supreme  Council. 

The  Order  has  a  membership  of  5,600;  Assets, 
$24,80481;  Surplus  of  $4,068.51,  and  has  paid  to 
beneficiaries  of  deceased  members  $297.099.60  with 
in  the  past  21  years.  A  cash  benefit  is  paid  to  mem 
bers  during  illness,  and  at  death  a  mortuary  benefit 
of  $480.00. 

The  last  Actual  Valuation  of  its  Certificates  in 
force  December  31,  1916,  indicates  that  the  future 
net  premiums  to  be  collected,  together  with  the 
invested  assets,  are  sufficient  to  meet  all  certificates 
as  they  mature,  by  their  terms,  with  a  margin  of 
safety  of  $90,486.14  (or  16  per  cent.)  over  the  sta 
tutory  requirements. 

Mr.  Ryan  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Sims  in  June, 
1896.  Mrs.  Ryan  is  a  native  of  Houston.  She  is  a 
strong  support  to  her  husband  in  all  his  arduous 
undertakings. 


338 


WILLIAM  LEONARD  DAVIS 


RACE  advances  only  as  far  as  its 
individuals.  The  colored  people 
have  been  held  down  by  the  mass 
es,  because  of  their  ignorance  and 
their  indifference  to  all  the  de 
tail  that  make  for  a  higher  civili- 

zation.       Very    rapidly    now    this 

condition  of  affairs  is  being 
changed.  This  is  being  done  through  the  schools, 
the  churches  and  the  fraternal  organizations  as 
well  as  through  the  influence  of  the  better  homes. 
One  man  who  has  done  his  share  of  this  work  in  all 
of  these  lines  is  William  Leonard  Davis,  of  Hous 
ton,  Texas. 

William  L.  Davis,  prominent  in  Texas  as  an  edit 
cator  and  as  a  leader  in  secret  orders,  conspicuous 
in  a  state  of  conspicuous  leaders,  was  born  in  La- 
vaca  County,  Texas,  January  6th.,  1873.  Receiv 
ing  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  La- 
Grange,  Texas,  he  entered  Paul  Quinn  College,  at 
Waco,  Texas.  To  finish  his  training  for  the  pro 
fession  of  school  teaching,  he  enrolled  in  the  Prai 
rie  View  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute,  at  Prai 
rie  View,  Texas. 

Completing  his  studies  while  still  young,  Mr. 
Davis  went  out  as  a  teacher  in  the  rural  schools. 
Rural  school  teaching  in  Texas  in  those  days  yield 
ed  very  good  salaries,  better  by  far  than  are  paid 
today  for  the  same  work  in  other  states.  Out  there 
among  the  country  folk  Mr.  Davis  soon  became 


interested  and  active  in  the  business  undertakings 
of  farmers  and  of  all  people  who  were  working  to 
invest  in  land.  Soon  he  was  promoted  from  teach 
er  of  rural  schools  to  principal  of  the  Hempstead 
City  School.  It  was  then  he  became  Grand  Secre 
tary  of  the  Farmers  Improvement  Society  of  Tex 
as.  This  post  he  held  for  twelve  years.  This  post, 
like  the  teaching  in  rural  schools,  served  to  place 
him  in  more  important  places.  Resigning  his  po 
sition  in  the  Hempstead  City  School  and  the  Secre 
taryship  of  the  Farmers  Improvement  Society,  he 
became  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  United  Brothers  of  Friendship  of  Texas,  and 
Assistant  Principal  of  the  Emancipation  School  at 
Houston. 

School  work  now  appears  to  give  way  to  the 
thing  the  man  seemed  born  to;  namely  .the  job  of 
Secretary.  For  twelve  years  he  served  as  Secre 
tary  of  the  F.  I.  S.,  at  Waco.  Then  in  1915.  he 
left  Waco,  and  became  Secretary  of  the  State 
Grand  Lodge  United  Brothers  of  Friendship,  at 
Houston,  a  post  which  means  the  keeping  track  of 
ten  thousand  state  members.  He  also  accepted  the 
nort  folio  as  secretary  of  the  Baptist  Sunday- 
School  State  Convention 

In  order  to  be  given  the  post  of  Secretary  of 
the  State  Baptist  Sunday  School  Convention,  Mr. 
Davis  had  to  be  a  very  active  member  of  the  church. 
This  he  is  beyond  doubt.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  and  an  active  member  of  the  local 
Sunday  School.  Here  he  takes  a  great  interest  in 
the  religious  development  of  the  younger  genera 
tion,  and  all  the  young  people  love  and  respect  him. 
To  him  they  go  with  their  questions  and  doubts 
and  Mr.  Davis  never  fails  to  give  them  the  aid  they 
seek. 

His  is  a  labor  for  humanity,  a  labor  for  the  bet 
terment  of  all  his  people.  As  secretary  of  the  Un 
ited  Brothers  of  Friendship  he  has  many  an  oppor 
tunity  to  lend  aid  to  the  bereaved  and  to  give  sym 
pathy  and  good  cheer  to  the  sick.  In  fact  all  the 
activities  of  Mr.  Davis  have  been  of  a  nature  to 
endear  him  to  people ;  for  years  in  the  school  room, 
in  the  lodges  and  in  the  Sunday  School  work. 

In  changing  from  place  to  place,  Secretary  Davis 
accumulated  some  valuable  holdings  in  both  towns 
and  country.  He  owns  his  residence  in  Houston, 
one  of  the  best  colored  homes  in  the  city.  Back  in 
Hempstead,  the  scene  of  his  earlier  activities,  he 
owns  city  property  and  a  farm,  consisting  of  seven 
ty-five  acres  of  land.  He  is  also  a  stock  holder  in  an 
overall  factory  in  Waco,  Texas. 

In  addition  to  his  membership  in  the  F.  I.  S.,  and 
U.  B.  F.,  Mr.  Davis  is  a  Mason,  Odd  Fellow  and  a 
Knight  of  Pythias. 

Secretary  Davis  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  R 
Sampson,  of  Carmine,  Texas,  in  1906.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis  live  in  their  own  home  in  the  city  of  Hous 
ton.  Here  they  help  make  life  pleasant  for  their 
many  friends.  Although  there  are  no  children  in 
the  Davis  family,  they  take  great  interest  in  other 
people's  children  and  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
their  young  friends  in  large  numbers  at  least  on 
Sunday. 


339 


REVEREND    S.   A.   BROWN 

HOSE  who  jest  at  the  perennial 
"split"  going  on  in  the  Baptist 
Church  must  pause  when  they 
come  face  to  face  with  the  Gill- 
field  Baptist  Church  at  Peters 
burg,  Virginia.  Organized  in  1803, 
it  has  had  but  six  pastors,  having  never  had  a  divis 
ion,  and  maintains  to  this  day  the  practice  of  receiv 
ing,  disciplining  and  expelling  its  members.  It  has 
a  membership  of  1500,  among  which  are  many  of 
the  most  substantial  Negro  citizens  of  Petersburg, 
It  carries  a  Sunday  School  of  six  hundred,  under 
twenty-four  teachers.  It  has  a  library  of  eight 
hundred  volumes.  Recently  the  church  bought  a 
parsonage  for  which  it  paid  four  thousand  dollars. 
Its  remodeling  now  under  way  will  cost  fifteen 
thousand  dollars.  It  has  no  indebtedness  and  is 
valued  at  seventy-seven  thousand  dollars. 

The  history  of  the  pastorates  in  the  Gillfield 
Church  is  short,  there  having  been  but  three  pas 
tors  from  1803  up  to  the  close  of  the  civil  war  and 
but  three  since  the  close  of  the  civil  war.  The  first 
pastor,  Dr.  Henry  Williams,  after  the  civil  war 
served  for  thirty-four  years.  He  was  followed  by 
Reverend  G.  B.  Howard,  who  served  eleven  vears. 
In  1913  the  present  pastor,  Reverend  S.  A.  Brown 
accepted  the  call  to  this  venerable  pulpit.  He  came 


of  Baptist  preachers,  his  father  having  been  the 
first  Negro  minister  in  Virginia  to  be  ordained. 
Unlike  his  predecessors,  Reverend  Brown  is  on 
his  native  heath.  He  was  born  in  Ruthsville. 
Charles  City  County,  February  twenty-seventh, 
1876.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he  attended  the  pub 
lic  schools,  until  he  was  nineteen  when  he  left  to 
seek  funds  to  further  his  education.  However, 
from  his  early  youth  he  has  had  to  earn  a  livli- 
hood,  for  his  father  had  died,  leaving  the  mother 
with  eight  children,  Mr.  Brown  being  at  the  time 
but  five  years  old.  Reaching  the  Petersburg  Nor 
mal  and  Collegiate  Institute,  he  took  both  prepa 
ratory  and  college  courses.  Meantime  he  read 
theology  under  a  private  tutor.  He  commenced 
his  ministerial  work  in  1902.  For  ten  years  he 
was  principal  of  a  school  in  Fredericksburg,  Va., 
serving  three  country  churches  at  the  same  time. 

When  he  came  to  the  Gillfield  Church  in  1913,  he 
was  ripe  for  the  kind  of  work  that  lay  before  him. 
He  had  built  one  church,  remodeled  two,  and  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  dealing  with  people  who  called 
a  spade  a  spade.  Thus  when  it  became  necessary  to 
remodel  the  Petersburg  building  he  knew  what  to 
ask  for  and  how  to  go  about  the  work  of  getting 
the  money  and  plans. 

During  his  career  Reverend  Brown  has  been  able, 
though  working  against  heavy  odds,  to  purchase 
some  property  and  join  many  helpful  organiza 
tions. 

He  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow  and  District  Moder 
ator  of  the  Baptist  Association. 

Reverend  Brown  was  married  in  1903  to  Miss 
Clementine  Poole,  of  Hampton.  Six  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown :  Mildred  O. 
Brown,  age  13  ;  Anna  E.  Brown,  10  years  ;  Samuel 
H.  Brown,  9  years ;  Lucile  Brown,  7  years  ;  Wilbur 
Hughes  Brown,  5  years ;  Abraham  L.  Brown,  2 
years.  They  are  all  in  school,  except  the  last 
named. 


GILLFIELD  BAPTIST  CHURCH 


340 


BISHOP  ELIAS  COTTRELL,  D.  D. 


Bishop  Elias  Cottrell,  D.  D. 


OT  to  many  men  is  it  given  tc 
have  the  wonderful  experience  of 
Bishop  Elias  Cottrell,  of  the  Col 
ored  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
When  a  lad  of  only  four  years  of 
age  he  was  placed  on  the  block  in 
Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  and  sold  .at  auction.  He 
with  all  the  other  members  of  his  family,  was  tak 
en  to  the  auction  block.  The  father,  mother  and 
seven  children  were  all  sold  at  the  same  time,  and 
as  was  so  often  the  case,  they  were  sold  to  five  dif 
ferent  masters,  and  separated.  Thus  the  lad  was 
brought  face  to  face  with  one  of  the  direful  effects 
of  slavery.  Some  of  these  members  of  his  fam 
ily  Bishop  Cottrell  has  never  since  seen.  Young 
as  he  was  this  scene  was  never  effaced  from  his 
memory  and  had  its  influence  upon  his  after  life. 
In  fact  it  was  the  most  vivid  memory  which  clung 
to  him,  and  later  in  life  when  he  came  to  do  a  no 
ble  work  for  his  people  in  the  establishment  of 
a  college,  the  site  selected  was  within  four  blocks 
of  the  spot  where  he  was  sold  at  auction.  The 
presence  of  this  institution  so  near  the  spot,  which 
marked  the  sparation  of  his  family,  has  no  doubt 
mitigated  the  intense  feeling  of  resentment  which 
has  rankled  in  his  brain  against  an  institution 
which  caused  his  people  so  many  heart  aches. 

Standing  over  against  the  block  is  the  college, 
and  the  close  proximity  of  the  two,  is  a  constant 
reminder  to  his  people  of  the  great  change  that  has 
taken  place  in  their  condition.  It  is  a  contrast  to 
the  surroundings  of  his  own  youth  and  the  oppor 
tunities  to  the  colored  children  of  today.  He  has 
no  doubt  pointed  out  to  the  students  attending  the 
college,  the  spot  where  he  was  sold,  and  urged 
them  to  take  advantage  of  their  improved  condi 
tions  and  make  the  most  of  their  lives. 

This  one  fact  shows  that  during  his  lifetime  he 
has  used  every  opportunity  that  has  come  his  way 
for  his  personal  development  and  for  the  develop 
ment  of  his  people. 

Bishop  Elias  Cottrell  was  born  a  slave  in  Mar 
shall  County,  Mississippi,  January  31,  1867.  His 
father  came  from  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  and 
while  living  in  that  State,  he  had  been  given  an  op 
portunity  to  gain  some  knowledge  of  reading, 
writing  and  arithmetic.  Being  of  a  bright  mind  he 
had  made  the  most  of  his  opportunity  and  was  thus 
providently  prepared  to  instruct  his  young  son, 
who  inherited  his  wonderful  mental  endowment. 
His  father  taught  him  habits  of  stucliousness  that 
have  served  him  well  in  his  future  development.  It 


was  fortunate  for  Bishop  Cottrell  that  in  the  se 
paration  of  the  family  he  remained  with  his  father, 
and  received  his  early  training  under  his  eye  and 
guidance.  As  stated  his  father  had  secured  some 
learning  and  this  he  imparted  to  his  son,  and  when 
he  had  carried  him  as  far  as  he  was  able,  he  aided 
htm  to  obtain  additional  knowledge  from  other 
sources.  For  two  years  he  attended  a  night  school 
that  was  taught  by  a  white  man  of  German  ex 
traction.  Little  progress,  however,  could  be  made 
in  this  school  for  the  facilities  were  very  poor  in 
deed.  In  the  early  seventies  a  number  of  well  pre 
pared  teachers  came  into  that  section  of  Missis 
sippi  and  Bishop  Cottrell  took  advantage  of  this  to 
get  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  common  branches. 
Under  their  instruction  he  made  such  rapid  pro 
gress  that  his  thirst  for  knowledge  was  greatly 
stimulated  and  he  determined  to  seek  wisdom  from 
other  and  higher  sources.  To  decide  with  him  was 
to  act,  so  he  entered  the  Central  Tennessee  Col 
lege,  now  Walden  University,  and  took  a  two  years 
course  in  English  Theology.  After  finishing  this 
course  he  did  not  consider  himself  an  educated  man 
but  only  beginning.  He  had  acquired  sufficient 
equipment  to  start  upon  his  life  work,  but  his  ca 
reer  as  a  student  would  never  end  until  his  mind 
ceased  to  act.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  most  of  his 
hardest  work  along  educational  lines  has  been  done 
since  he  left  the  class  room.  He  has  worked  in 
cessantly  under  private  instructors  until  he  has  a 
good  knowledge  of  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  and 
German,  as  well  as  ability  along  other  lines. 

In  the  year  1876  Bishop  Cottrell  began  his  ca 
reer  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel.  From  this  year 
to  1894,  when  he  was  made  Bishop,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  worked  with  a  good  will  ih  all  the  capa 
cities  that  are  offered  in  his  branch  of  the  church. 
He  was  elected  delegate  to  the  first,  second  and 
third  Ecumenical  Conferences,  and  he  has  been  el 
ected  to  every  General  Conference  of  his  church 
since  he  was  eligible  for  membership  in  the  year  of 
1878 

He  was  for  four  years  the  one  to  collect  all  mon 
eys  that  were  used  for  schools  under  the  jurisdic 
tion  of  his  church.  This  brought  him  very  closely  in 
touch  with  all  the  educational  interests  of  his  de 
nomination.  One  direct  result  of  this  great  inter 
est  in  the  uplift  of  his  people  through  education  is 
Mississippi  Industrial  College,  which  stands  as  a 
monument  to  Bishop  Cottrell. 

The  school  is  located  at  Holly  Springs,  Mississ 
ippi,  and  has  three  very  beautiful  and  substantial 


342 


BI,SHOP  J  EU 

TREASURER. 


COLORED  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


buildings  in  which  to  work.  These  three  buildings 
were  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $85,000.00.  In  ad 
dition  to  these  three  main  buildings  there  are  sev 
eral  smaller  houses  on  the  campus.  In  land  the 
school  owns  two  hundred  ten  acres  which  are  val 
ued  at  $30,000.00.  The  college  has  courses  leading 
to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  Bachelor  of 
Science,  Thelogical  course,  business  course,  and  in 
dustrial  courses.  In  this  school  Bishop  Cottrell 
has  been  able  to  gather  many  men  and  women  of 
great  worth,  to  associate  with  him  in  this  work. 

Throughout  his  life,  Bishop  Cottrell  has  been  a 
good  business  man.  He  has  managed  his  own  af 
fairs  and  now  is  worth  several  thousands  of  dol 
lars.  He  is  a  good  farmer  as  well  as  a  great  edu 
cator  and  a  great  Bishop.  To  him  many  honors 
have  come.  The  degree  of  D.  D.  was  given  him 
by  Rust  University,  Holly  Springs,  because  of  his 
great  worth  to  the  -community,  to  the  church  and 
to  the  country  at  large.  He  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  great  leaders  of  the  race  and  in  this  capacity 
has  done  a  wonderful  work  for  the  down-trodden 


race. 


Bishop. Cottrell  was  married  June  6th,   1880,    to 


Miss  Catherine  Davis,  of  Columbia,  Tennessee.  To 
him  she  has  been  a  wonderful  helpmate.  Through 
all  the  steps  that  led  to  the  present  exalted  posi 
tion  now  held  by  him  she  has  been  a  great  source 
of  inspiration  and  to  her  he  gives  credit  for  much 
of  his  success.  One  daughter,  Mrs.  C.  Gillis,  Jr., 
has  been  to  the  Cottrells  a  constant  source  of  de 
light.  She  was  educated  in  Holly  Springs,  and  at 
Walden  University,  Nashville,  Tennessee.  She  'is 
now  the  teacher  of  music  in  the  Mississippi  In 
dustrial  College. 

At  this  writing  Bishop  Cottrell  is  in  the  early 
sixties.  In  this  time  he  has  been  able  to  accom 
plish  a  great  deal  for  the  uplift  of  colored  people. 
He  can  be  pointed  out  as  an  example  to  men  in 
many  walks  in  life.  To  the  farmer  he  is  a  good 
farmer,  to  the  business  man,  a  successful  example 
of  business  management,  to  preachers  a  good 
preacher,  and  to  all  his  people,  a  great  Bishop. 

He  has  put  his  best  into  every  undertaking  and 
has  conducted  his  work  with  characteristic  energy 
and  uprightness  and  has  won  the  respect  and  love 
of  all  whose  lives  he  touches. 


343 


CHARLES   C.    SPAULDING— JOHN    MERRICK —AARON    McDUFFIE   MOORE,   M.   D.,   LL.   D. 


O  find  a  better  locality  than  Dur 
ham,  North  Carolina,  for  the  be 
ginning  of  a  Negro  business  con 
cern  of  any  high  standard,  would 
be  a  difficult  task.  Here  the  col 
ored  people  work  together  and 
help  build  up  all  worthy  causes  among  this  peo 
ple  ;  here  the  relation  between  the  races  is  exceed 
ingly  good,  with  the  result  that  a  number  of  good 
business  men  and  women  too,  have  been  encourag 
ed  to  establish  themselves  in  Durham. 

The  North  Carolina  Mutual  and  Provident  Asso 
ciation  with  its  home  office  at  112-122  West  Par- 
rish  Street,  was  founded  by  John  Merrick,  in  1898. 
When  they  opened  their  office  for  business  it  was 
without  capital  and  in  a  rented  office  furnished  at 
a  cost  of  $15.00,  and  paying  a  rental  of  $2.00  per 
month.  This  was  in  1899.  Six  years  later  they 
erected  the  present  home  office  at  a  cost  of  $35,000- 
00.  When  the  company  began  business  it  was  as 
a  Mutual  assessment  life  insurance  company,  but 
in  1909  the  charter  was  amended  and  the  assess 
ment  feature  eliminated  and  the  business  placed  on 
the  regular  old  line  legal  reserve  basis. 


In  1899,  the  company  had  a  weekly  debit  of 
$29.00.  Today  it  collects  on  industrial  business 
alone  over  $12,000.00  per  week  and  on  ordinary 
premiums  over  $100,000.00  per  year.  For  the 
year  1917,  the  company  collected  over  $625,000.00, 
paid  out  in  sick  and  death  claims,  $231,283.83,  and 
closed  the  year  with  essets  amounting  to  $372,000.- 
00,  and  with  liabilities  amounting  to  $270,000.00. 
This  figure  includes  the  net  reserve  according  to 
the  American  Experience  Table,  and  3  1-2  per  cent 
interest,  $258,918.00.  This  leaves  in  unassigned 
funds  or  surplus,  $87,562.46,  and  Insurance  in  force, 
$11,157,472.00. 

The  company  has  not  confined  its  operations  to 
Durham  nor  to  North  Carolina.  But  as  the  busi 
ness  grew  it  sought  larger  territory.  So  we  find 
the  North  Carolina  Mutual  now  operating  in  both 
North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Virginia,  the 
District  of  Columbia,  Maryland,  and  Tennessee. 

The  company  issues  policies  from  $5.00  to 
$5,000.00  and  in  a  few  years  will  be  able  to  get  up 
a  table  of  Mortality,  of  purely  Negro  risks. 

The    Company   is   officered    by     John      Merrick, 


344 


VICE    PRESIDENT   AND   GENERAL   MANAGER, 
C.  C.  SPAULDING'S  OFFICE 

Founder  and  President ;  A.  M.  Moore,  Secretary- 
Treasurer  and  Medical  Examiner;  C.  C.  Spaulding, 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  E.  R.  Mer- 
rick,  Assistant  Secretary;  J.  M.  Avery,  Assistant 
Manager. 

The  company  has  prospered  because  is  was 
founded  upon  correct  business  principles  and  be 
cause  it  was  managed  by  men  of  great  business  and 
executive  ability  who  have  given  their  best  thought 
and  effort  to  its  development.  They  have  made 
no  move  without  wise  consideration  and  when  a 
policy  was  decided  upon  they  have  given  their  time, 
and  energy  to  its  presecution.  While  the  officers 
are  busy  men  and  it  would  seem  had  enough  in 
their  business  life  to  engage  their  whole  time  and 


CASHIER'S  OFFICE. 

In  1898,  he  founded  the  North  Carolina  Mutual 
and  Provident  Association,  at  Durham,  and  he 
still  serves  as  the  chief  executive  of  this  company. 
In  addition  to  looking  after  the  affairs  of  the  Mu 
tual,  he  is  also  president  of  the  Mechanics  and 
Farmers  Bank,  Supreme  Grand  Treasurer  of  the 
Royal  Knights  of  King  David,  and  President  and 
Director  of  the  Lincoln  Hospital  Board. 

Mr.  Merrick  does  not  give  all  his  time  to  busi 
ness.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  St.  Joseph 
A.  M.  E.  Church.  In  this  church  he  serves  as 
president  of  the  Allen  Christian  Endeavor,  and  as 
a  Trustee.  In  fraternal  matters,  Mr.  Merrick  is  a 
Mason.  He  has  traveled  to  all  points  of  impor 
tance  in  the  United  States  and  in  Cuba.  In  1879  he 


thought,   they  are  also  Christian  men   and  promi-      was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Hunter,  at  Raleigh, 
' ' ~  '  North  Carolina.     Five  children  were  born  to  them 


nent  in  church  work,  uplift  work,  and  civic  affairs, 
and  recognize  that  they  owe  an  obligation  to  the 
church,  and  the  community  in  which  they  live. 

JOHN  MERRICK 

John  Merrick,  the  man  whose  brain  conceived 
and  whose  energies  made  possible  the  North  Car 
olina  Mutual  and  Provident  Association,  was  born 
in  Clinton,  Sampson  County,  North  Carolina,  in 
1859.  He  did  not  have  the  advantages  of  much 
training  in  the  school  room,  but  got  his  training  in 
the  school  of  experience.  He  began  his  career  as 
a  brick  mason,  but  moved  to  Durham  at  the  age 
of  22,  and  started  in  the  barber  business.  Of  this 
work  he  made  a  great  success.  In  fact  success 
seems  to  be  the  keynote  of  Mr.  Merrick's  charact 
er.  He  was  considered  one  of  the  most  successful 
barbers  in  the  South,  having  amassed  quite  a  for 
tune  from  this  trade. 


to  give  them  an  incentive  for  better  living— Mrs. 
Dr.  P.  H.  Williams,  Raleigh,  North  Carolina;  Mrs. 
Dr.  Wm.  H.  Bruce,  Winston-Salem,  North  Caro 
lina;  Mr.  E.  R.  Merrick,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the 
North  Carolina  Mutual  and  Provident  Association; 
Mr.  John  T.  Merrick,  Jr.,  Real  Estate  Agent,  Dur 
ham,  North  Carolina;  and  Miss  Martha  C.  Merrick, 
Durham. 

In  establishing  the  widely  known  company  of 
which  he  is  president,  Mr.  Merrick  became  a  great 
benefactor  to  the  race.  Not  only  does  he  make  it 
possible  for  men  of  color  to  obtain  insurance  with 
ease,  but  he  has  furnished  good  employment  to 
many  of  our  young  men  and  women. 

AARON  McDUFFIE  MOORE,  M.  D.,  LL.  D. 
Dr.  A.  M.  Moore,  Secretary-Treasurer  and  Med 
ical  Examiner  of  the  North   Carolina   Mutual  and 


345 


GENERAL   OFFICE 

Provident  Association,  was  born  near  Whiteville, 
Columbus  County,  North  Carolina,  September  6, 
1863.  As  a  lad  he  attended  the  Public  Schools  of 
Columbus  County,  the  State  Normal,  Fayetteville, 
North  Carolina.,  and  later  entered  the  Leonard 
Medical  School,  of  ^Shaw  University,  Raleigh, 
North  Carolina.  From  this  school  he  was  grad 
uated  with  the  degree  M.  D.,  in  1887,  having  com 
pleted  the  four  years  course  of  study  in  three 
years.  That  he  was  thoroughly  prepared  for  the 
profession  of  his  choice  was  shown  when  he  went 
before  the  board  of  examiners.  He  stood  second 
in  a  class  of  forty-two.  He  is  a  very  successful 
physician. 

Dr.  Moore  was  in  the  organization  of  the  North 
Carolina  Mutual  and  Provident  Association  and  has 
been  one  of  its  officers  ever  since.  He  is  the  foun 
der  and  Superintendent  of  the  Lincoln  Hospital,  of 
Durham,  Director  of  the  Mechanics  and  Farmers 
Bank,  Durham ;  Director  of  the  Oxford  Orphan 
Asylum,  Oxford;  Secretary  of  the  Extension  De 
partment  of  the  State  Teachers'  Association ;  mem 
ber  of  the  Executive  Board  of  Shaw  University ; 
Founder  and  Superintendent  of  the  Durham  Col 
ored  Library. 

Dr.  Moore  is  an  active  member  of  the  White 
Rock  Baptist  Church,  one  of  the  most  successful 
churches  of  the  denomination.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  Deacon  Board,  and  Superintendent  of  the  Sun 
day  School.  Through  the  medium  of  the  Sunday 
School  he  is  able  to  come  in  contact  with  many  of 
the  young  people  of  Durham,  and  so  to  impress 
them  with  his  excellent  example.  Dr.  Moore  is  a 
Mason.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  the  Un 
ited  States,  Cuba  and  Haiti. 


In  1889,  Dr.  Moore  was  married  to  Miss  Cottie 
S.  Dancy,  at  Tarboro,  North  Carolina.  There  are 
two  beautiful  daughters  in  the  family,  Miss  Mattie 
Louise  Moore,  Durham,  and  Mrs.  E.  R.  Merrick, 
also  of  Durham. 

CHARLES  C.  SPAULDING 

Mr.  C.  C.  Spaulding,  Vice  President  and  General 
Manager  of  the  North  Carolina  Mutual  and  Provi 
dent  Association,  was  born  near  Whiteville,  Co 
lumbus  County,  North  Carolina,  in  1874.  He  at 
tended  the  Public  Schools  of  Columbus  County  and 
the  Whitted  High  School,  at  Durham.  After  gra 
duating  from  the  high  school  course,  Mr.  Spauld 
ing  was  for  years  a  merchant,  doing  at  the  same 
time,  agency  work  for  the  North  Carolina  Mutual 
and  Provident  Association.  In  1900  he  was  elec 
ted  Director  and  General  Manager  of  this  Associa 
tion.  In  this  capacity  he  served  for  five  years, 
when  he  was  elected  Vice-President.  Mr.  Spauld 
ing  serves  also  as  a  member  of  the  Finance  com 
mittee  and  a  Director  and  Cashier  of  the  Mechan 
ics  and  Farmer's  Bank  and  lie  is  a  director  of  the 
Lincoln  Hospital  Board. 

Mr.  Spaulding  is  a  Deacon  and  Treasurer  of  the 
White  Rock  Baptist  Church  and  Assistant  Superin 
tendent  of  the  Sunday  School.  In  1900  Mr.  Spauld 
ing  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  Jones  of  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.  There  are  four  children  in  the  Spauld 
ing  home.  Miss  Margaret  Louise  Spaulding,  age 
16,  is  a  student  at  Scotia  Seminary,  Concord,  North 
Carolina;  Charles  Spaulding,  Jr.,  age  11,  and  John 
Aaron  Spaulding,  age  8,  are  pupils  in  the  Durham 
public  schools.  Booker  B.  Spaulding  is  still  a  baby 
at  home,  being  but  three  years  of  age. 

His  wife  is  not  only  a  congenial  companion  but 
has  been  a  great  help  to  him.  She  is  in  full  sym 
pathy  with  his  efforts  to  rear  their  children  so  that 
they  will  fill  positions  of  honor  and  usefulness. 

It  can  be  said  without  fear  of  contradiction  that 
the  foregoing  triumvirate  not  only  set  a  splendid 
example  for  members  of  their  race,  but  have  prov 
ed  to  be  a  powerful  force  for  the  elimination  of 
racial  prejudice  and  gaining  the  respect  and  co 
operation  of  the  white  citizens.  And  it  is  by  se 
lecting  such  men  as  leaders,  that  the  Merchant 
Princes  of  Durham  have  been  induced  to  contribute 
so  liberally  to  colored  hospitals  and  educational  in 
stitutions. 


346 


CHARLES  WADDELL  CHESTNUT 


HARLES  Wacldell  Chestnut,  au 
thor,  was  born  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
June  20th,  1858,  son  of  Andrew 
J.  and  Maria  (Sampson)  Chest- 
nutt.  Both  his  parents  were  na 
tives  of  North  Carolina.  He  at 
tended  the  public  schools  of  Cleve 
land  until  his  father,  after  serv 
ing  four  years  in  the  Union  Army,  returned  to  the 
South.  In  North  Carolina,  Charles  attended  the 
Public  schools,  and  began  to  teach  at  a  very  early 
age,  first  as  a  pupil  teacher,  then,  successively,  in 
primary  and  grammar  schools  at  various  points  in 
North  and  South  Carolina.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  was  appointed  a  teacher  in  the  State  Colored 
Normal  School  at  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  and  upon  the 
death  of  the  principal  several  years  later  was  chos 
en  to  fill  his  place,  in  which  he  served  acceptably 
for  three  years.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  re 
moved  to  New  York  City,  where  he  found  employ 
ment  in  a  Wall  Street  News  Agency,  contributing 
at  the  same  time  a  daily  column  of  Wall  Street 
gossip  to  the  "Mail  and  Express." 

After  a  brief  sojourn  in  New  York  he  resigned 
and  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  became  a 
stenographer  and  bookkeeper  in  the  accounting  de 
partment  of  the  New  York,  Chicago  &  St.  Louis 
Railroad  Co.  A  year  and  a  half  later  he  was  trans 
ferred  to  the  legal  department,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  during  which  time  he  studied  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar  in  1887.  He  has 
never  practiced  his  profession  of  the  law  very  ac 


tively,  his  principal  occupation  having  been  that  of 
a  court  and  convention  shorthand  reporter,  ^for 
which  business  he  has  for  many  years  conducted  an 
office  with  a  staff  of  assistants. 

Mr.  Chestnutt's  first  story  was  written  at  four 
teen,  and  was  published  in  a  North  Carolina  news 
paper.  It  was  intended  to  show  the  evil  effects 
upon  the  youthful  mind  of  reading  dime  novels. 
Beginning  in  1884  he  contributed  many  stories  and 
articles  to  the  periodical  press.  His  best  short 
story,  "The  Wife  of  His  Youth,"  appeared  in  the 
Atlantic  Monthly,  in  1898,  since  which  he  has  pub 
lished  "The  Conjure  Woman,"  (1899),  a  volume  of 
dialect  stories  of  plantation  life  in  North  Carolina, 
most  of  which  had  appeared  in  the  Atlantic;  "The 
Wife  of  His  Youth,"  and  "Other  Stories  of  the  Col 
or  Line"  (1899)  ;  "The  House  Behind  the  Cedars" 
(1900);  "The  Marrow  of  Tradition"  (1901);  and 
"The  Colonel's  Dream"  (1905).  All  of  these  books 
deal  with  race  problem  motives.  Mr.  Chestnutt 
is  also  the  author  of  "The  Life  of  Frederick  Doug 
lass,"  which  forms  one  of  the  volumes  of  the  Bea 
con  Series  of  Biographies  of  Eminent  Americans. 
He  was  married  at  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina, 
in  1897,  to  Susan,  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Catherine 
Perry,  who  has  borne  him  four  children.  Two  of 
his  daughters  are  graduates  of  Smith  College,  an 
other  of  the  College  for  Women  of  Western  Re 
serve  University. 

His  only  son  is  a  graduate  of  Harvard  Univer- 
versity,  studied  dentistry  in  Northwestern  Univer 
sity,  Chicago,  and  is  practicing  his  profession  in 
Chicago.  One  of  his  daughters,  Mrs.  Ethel  C.  Wil 
liams,  is  the  wife  of  Professor  Edward  C.  Williams, 
of  Howard  University;  another,  Miss  Helen  Chest 
nut  is  a  teacher  in  Central  High  School,  Cleve 
land,  and  the  third,  Miss  Dorothy  Chestnut,  is  a 
teacher  in  the  Cleveland  public  schools. 

Mr.  Chestnut  is  a  member  of  the  Rowfant  Club, 
The  Chamber  of  Commerce,  The  City  Club,  The 
Western  Reserve  Club,  The  Cleveland  Bar  Asso 
ciation,  The  Church  Club,  and  the  Council  of  Socio 
logy,  of  which  latter  body  he  served  one  year  as 
President.  He  and  his  family  are  connected  with 
Emanuel  Episcopal  Church,  on  Euclid  Avenue. 

Mr.  Chestnut  has  appeared  upon  the  platform  as 
a  reader  of  his  own  writings  and  has  charmed  large 
audiences  with  the  rare  skill  with  which  he  handles 
the  dialect  of  the  North  Carolina  Negro. 

The  Washington  Times  says:  "There  was  not 
a  dull  moment  in  the  two  hours  spent  with  Mr. 
Chestnut  last  evening,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
program  he  received  the  hearty  applause  and  indi 
vidual  congratulations  of  his  auditors." 

From  The  Augusta  Ga.,  Chronicle:  "There  have 
arisen  many  interpreters  of  the  Negro  character, 
but  none  have  made  him  more  humorous  than 
Charles  W.  Chestnut  in  the  various  stories  brought 
together  in  'The  Conjure  Woman.'  The  'Uncle  Ju 
lius'  who  relates  these  stories  of  Negro  supersti 
tion  bids  fair  to  become  as  popular  as  'Uncle  Re 
mus'  because  of  his  rich,  lazy  dialect,  his  character 
istic  dark  garrulousness,  and  his  cunning  con 
sciousness  of  effect  his  yarns  have  upon  his  hearers." 
The  Christian  Register,  Boston,  says:  "They 
are  like  none  of  the  other  Negro  stories  with  which 
we  are  familiar,  and  take  an  exceptionally  high 
place  both  as  a  study  of  race  characteristics  and 
for  genuine  dramatic  interest. 


347 


MACK   MATTHEW  RODGERS 


OME  men  fall  far  behind  the 
times ;  while  there  are  others 
ahead  of  the  times ;  then,  too, 
there  are  many  right  along  with 
the  times.  It  is  to  this  latter 
class  belongs  the  subject  now- 
claiming  our  attention.  His  mind  is  ever  opened 
to  light  and  old-time  dogmas  are  feasible  to  him 
only  as  they  apply  to  the  greater  enlightenment  of 
the  present. 

Mack  Matthew  Rodgers  first  saw  the  light  of  day 
July  13th,  1859,  in  Wharton  County,  Texas,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  He  is  the  only  surviving 
child  of  Stephen  and  Lucinda  Rodgers. 

In  1878  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Jackson,  and  of 
the  union  were  born  six  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  the  fall  of  1878  Mr.  Rodgers  removed  to  Fay- 
ette  County,  graduating  in  1881,  with  honors,  from 
the  Prairie  View  State  Normal  School.  In  1887, 
having  located  at  LaGrange,  he  was  elected  prin 
cipal  of  the  city  school.  His  career  as  a  teacher 
commenced  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 

Mr.   Rodgers  became  interested   in   politics,   and 


for  three  successive  terms — twice  from  his  ward 
and  once  from  the  city  at  large — he  was  elected 
alderman  of  the  city  of  LaGrange. 

His  political  service  and  reputation  soon  extend 
ed  over  the  state,  and  he  was  elected  in  1888,  1892, 
1900,  1904,  and  1912,  to  the  National  Republican 
Convention.  In  1897  he  resigned  the  position  of 
Principal  of  the  LaGrange  City  School  to  accept  the 
appointment,  under  Collector  Webster  Flanagan, 
of  deputy  collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for  the 
Third  District  of  Texas.  He  was  the  first  Negro 
in  Texas  to  hold  such  an  office. 

Mr.  Rodgers  is  regarded  as  a  good  business  man, 
a  deep  thinker,  a  close  writer,  a  fearless  but  conser 
vative  debater,  a  sane  and  safe  leader  and  a  smooth 
but  reliable  politician.  It  is  because  of  his  manly 
qualities  that  he  is  recognized  and  respected  by  the 
people  of  his  state. 

He  accepted  Christ  in  1879  and  was  baptized  by 
Elder  James  Davenport.  In  religion,  as  in  politics, 
he  became  active  and  manifested  a  lively  interest 
in  the  work  of  the  Church  and  in  the  development 
of  denominational  principles.  In  1883  he  was  made 
secretary  of  the  LaGrange  Baptist  Association— a 
position  which  he  still  holds— and  in  1889  he  became 
secretary  of  the  Baptist  Missionary  and  Educa 
tional  Convention  of  Texas.  To  both  organizations 
he  has  given  his  best  thought  and  energies.  For  the 
last  eighteen  years  he  has  striven  to  systematize 
the  business  and  improve  the  financial  status  of  the 
Convention  and  of  its  institutions  of  learning.  To 
him,  more  than  to  any  other  person,  credit  should 
be  given  for  incorporating  the  Convention.  Its 
present  healthy  condition  and  splendid  school  reg 
ulations  are  also  due  to  his  efforts. 

Mr.  Rodgers  is  Auditor  of  the  National  Baptist 
Convention  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  is 
giving  much  attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  Na 
tional  Baptist  Convention,  and  his  opinions  are  at 
tracting  the  attention  not  only  of  that  body,  but 
of  Baptists  throughout  the  country. 

TEXAS  PYTHIAN  TEMPLE 

About  1912  a  peculiar  current  shot  through 
nearly  all  big  organizations  of  Negroes,  especially 
in  the  fraternal  bodies.  This  current  asserted  it 
self  in  the  form  of  big  buildings.  In  Atlanta,  it 
was  the  Odd  Fellows  Building ;  in  Macon,  Geor 
gia,  the  Masonic  Temple ;  in  Little  Rock,  the  Mo- 
siac;  in  Dallas,  Texas,  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  It 
was  a  capital  instance  of  Negro  readiness,  of  the 
Negro  acting  when  he  was  equipped.  The  Archi- 


348 


PYTHIAN  TEMPLE  BUILDING, 
DALLAS.  TEXAS. 


tects  and  Contractors  were  Negroes,  Negro  money 
paid  the  bills.  Negro  bookkeepers  and  business 
men  managed  the  business,  Negro  business  men, 
merchants  and  professional  men  occupy  the  rooms 
in  these  temples.  Very  clearly  these  structures 
represent  a  mile  stone  in  Negro  progress. 

The  Pythian  Temple,  at  Dallas,  is  one  of  the  bril 
liant  mile  stones.  W.  Sydney  Pittman,  son-in-law 
of  Booker  T.  Washington,  designed  the  sructure. 
S.  A.  Harper  was  the  contractor,  Dr.  A.  N.  Prince, 
the  Grand  Chancellor,  M.  M.  Rodgers.  Secretary 
and  Grand  Keeper  of  Records  and  Seals.  Grand 
Worthy  Councellor,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Key,  Dr.  J.  W. 
Anderson,  J.  M.  Frierson,  G.  M.  Guest,  J.  H.  Hinds, 
Commissioners. 

The  entire  building  rising  76  feet  in  the  air  above 
sidewalk  level,  is  constructed  from  the  founda 
tion  to  the  roof  with  a  complete  non-vibratory 
steel  frame  and  brick  walls  securely  laid  in  cem 
ent  mortar.  The  stairway  and  elevator  hall  is  en- 


ception  office.  Ninety  percent  of  the  partition 
wall  space  on  this  floor  is  taken  up  with  Florentine 
glass  sash  and  transom.  Spacious  Corridors  and 
Lobby  provide  ample  means  of  exit  and  inter  com 
munication. 

On  the  third  floor  are  three  large  rooms  and  An 
terooms,  four  robin  rooms,  ten  sets  of  lockers,  and 
corridors,  and  Lobby  similar  to  those  on  second 
floor.  One  of  these  Lodge  rooms  is  devoted  mainly 
to  the  Dallas  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge.  Another 
(the  largest),  is  set  aside  for  the  use  of  the  Grand 
Court  of  Calanthe,  and  the  third  to  be  rented  to 
lodges  of  other  Orders.  The  Lodge  rooms  are 
equipped  wih  individual  locker  rooms  for  each  ten 
ant  Lodge. 

On  the  fourth  floor  is  located  the  Grand  Lodge 
(K.  of  P.)  Auditorium,  with  its  Committee  Rooms, 
Ante-rooms,  stairs,  hall,  lobby,  rostrum  and  Mez 
zanine,  toilet  and  dressing  room.  The  Auditorium 
extends  through  the  fourth  and  fifth  floors — the 
clear  height  of  the  ceiling  from  main  floor  being 
twenty-five  feet. 

On   all    floors   are   provided    separate    toilets    for 
men    and    women,    conveniently   arranged    in   plain 
view   on   all   corridors.     On   the    second   and   third 
floors  in  the   lobbies  is  installed  a  drinking  foun 
tain  for  the  benefit  of  the  patrons.     All  offices,  all 
stores,  shops,  lodge  rooms,  Ante-rooms,  cafe,  etc., 
are   equipped  with  a  lavatory  and  running   water. 
The  building  throughout,  is  lighted  with  the  "Re- 
flecto-lite"   system    fixtures,   the   very   latest   elec 
tric    light    fixtures    on     the     market.     All     electric 
wires  are  laid  in  conduits  arranged  so  as  to  pro 
duce  the  least  friction  possible   to  tenants.     Elec 
tric  fans  are  provided  in  all  lodge  rooms,  exit  lights 
at   all   exterior   doors   and   two   handsome   bracket 
lamps  on  either  side  of  the  Main  Entrance  on  Elm 
Street.     All  offices  are  also  provided  with   a  wall 


tirely  fire-proof  from  to])  to  bottom.     In  this  hall      socket  for  buzz  fan  attachment. 


way  are  two  sets  of  iron  stairs,  each  five  feet  wide 
all  the  way  up.  and  a  twelve  passenger  standard 
Otis  Electric  Elevator  installed  in  a  fire-proof  en 
closure.  In  addition  to  these  stairway  and  eleva 
tor  services  there  are  also  two  sets  of  approved 
fire  (stairway)  escapes,  located  at  two  separate 
and  distinct  places  of  escape  in  case  of  panics  or 
other  emergencies. 

Properly   speaking,    the    building    is    five    stories 


Other  special  interior  features  include  the  beaut 
iful  color  scheme  on  all  floors  and  especially  in  the 
Grand  Lodge  Auditorium,  also  the  great  stage 
and  its  procenium,,  and  the  seventeen  large  8x15 
feet  windows  in  this  Auditorium.  This  stage  is 
typical  of  all  theatre  stages  in  essentials,  including 
foot  lights,  border  lights,  scenery,  dressing  rooms, 
fly  gallerys,  electric  switch  board,  etc. 

A   special   feature   on   this   floor   is   the   separate 


high  ;  the  first  floor  containing  two  large  stories,      Department   (a  suite  of  rooms)    set  apart   for  the 

Grand  Lodge  officers.  It  includes  a  private  lobby, 
or  reception  hall,  a  private  entrance  and  other  ap 
purtenances  necessary  in  creating  a  distinct  and 
separate  grouping  of  rooms  for  its  State  Head 
quarters,  particularly  requested  in  the  original  con 
ditions  submitted  to  the  architect. 


three  small  "shops"  and  a  large  spacious  cafe  in  the 
rear.  On  this  floor  is  also  a  large  well-lighted 
corridor  and  lobby  leading  from  the  beautiful  stone 
and  marble  vestibule  entrance. 

On    the    second    floor    are    seventeen    suites    of 
offices,  each  containing  a  private  office  and  a  re- 


349 


COLONEL   JAMES    HUNTER    YOUNG 


Colonel  James  Hunter  Young 


ORN  in  Henderson,  North  Caro 
lina,  in  1860,  Colonel  James  Hun 
ter  Young  has  served  in  and  wit 
nessed  the  deeds  of  well  nigh  two 
generations  of  American  History. 
The  young  man  got  all  he  could  in 
the  way  of  book-learning  in  his  home  town  and 
then  entered  Shaw  University.  Here  he  remained 
for  five  years.  During  this  time  he  gave  good 
account  of  himself,  and  although  he  left  the  insti 
tution  before  he  finished  his  course  of  studv,  he 
now  serves  as  President  of  the  Alumni  Association. 
This  is  indeed  a  great  tribute  to  the  time  spent  in 
the  school  and  to  the  life  of  the  man  after  leaving. 

Young  left  Shaw  in  1877,  and  immediately  ac 
cepted  employment  as  a  federal  officer.  He  be 
came  deputy  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue,  hold 
ing  the  position  for  eight  years.  In  1886  he  re 
signed  the  post  and  was  made  Registrar  of  Deeds 
at  Wake  County,  North  Carolina,  which  position  he 
held  for  three  years.  The  next  four  years  saw 
him  Special  Inspector  of  Customs  in  the  districts 
of  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia. 
In  1895,  he  became  a  member  of  the  State  Legis 
lature  from  Wake  County,  North  Carolina.  Two 
years  later  he  was  State  Inspector  of  Agriculture. 
This  position  he  held  till  the  Spanish-American 
War  caused  him  to  go  to  the  front  and  here  he 
was  Colonel  of  the  Thirty-second  North  Carolina 
Volunteers. 

After  giving  his  country  such  long  service  in  the 
army,  Colonel  Young  once  more  returned  to  private 
life,  but  he  was  not  destined  to  give  up  the  service 
of  "Uncle-Sam,"  for  he  was  immediately  called  in 
to  another  branch  of  work  by  the  United  States 
Government.  The  excellent  record  he  made  in  the 
Internal  Revenue  Department  in  1877  had  not  been 
forgotten  and  he  was  again  called  to  enter  the  rev 
enue  service  as  a  Deputy  Collector  of  Internal  Rev 
enue,  a  position  he  held  from  1899  to  1913. 

Although  he  has  far  passed  the  half  century 
mark,  he  is  ever  ready  to  respond  to  his  country's 
call.  He  rendered  valuable  aid  in  the  Selective 
Draft,  and  did  his  "Hit"  to  win  the  World  War  for 
Democracy. 

Thus  we  have  recorded  the  work  of  a  public  man 
in  a  very  brief  form.  Indeed  from  the  entrance  of 
the  United  States  in  the  World  War,  this  public 
spirited  man  gave  freely  of  his  time. 

He  was  one  of  the  Advisors  and  Workers  in 
the  Selective  Draft,  and  he  made  one  of  the  best 
speeches  delivered  in  his  section  in  the  interest  of 
the  war.  On  this  occasion  he  addressed  a  Mass 
Meeting  of  both  white  and  colored  citizens  and  he 
had  for  his  theme  "Co-operation  in  the  War."  Thus 


the  veteran  of  the  Spanish-American  War  served 
in  the  World  War  in  a  different  way,  but  never-the 
less  he  served. 

In  religious  belief,  Colonel  Young  is  a  Baptist. 
He  is  very  active  in  Sunday  School  work.  For 
over  thirty  years  he  has  served  his  denomination 
in  an  official  capacity.  He  is  the  Clerk  of  the 
Baptist  church  and  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School.  His  interest  in  Sunday  School  work  has 
caused  him  to  go  beyond  the  limits  of  his  home 
and  take  up  the  broader  work  of  the  State.  Thus 
we  find  him  Treasurer  of  the  State  Sunday  School 
Convention  of  North  Carolina. 

Colonel  Young  has  had  time  to  devote  to  other 
organizations  that  work  for  the  bettermeat  of  the 
colored  race  also.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  serv 
es  this  organization  as  District  Grand  Master.  He 
is  a  Mason  and  serves  the  Masons  of  his  town  and 
State  as  Endowment  Secretary  and  as  Past  Grand 
Master.  He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  in  this  body  he  served  as 
Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee.  Colonel 
Young  is  also  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star  and 
of  the  Household  of  Ruth.  Thus  he  gives  his  time 
to  many  organizations  which  work  for  the  better 
ment  of  his  people. 

In  business  matters,  Colonel  Young  is  as  wide 
awake  and  as  active  for  the  good  of  his  people  as  he 
is  in  Church  and  Fraternal  matters.  So  we  find 
him  serving  as  President  of  the  Raleigh  Under 
taking  Company,  acting  as  a  director  of  the  Mal- 
lette  Drug  Company,  President  of  the  Masonic 
Benevolent  Company  and  Director  of  the  North 
Carolina  Industrial  Association.  To  carry  on  all 
these  responsible  positions,  Colonel  Young  has  to 
husband  his  strength  and  his  energies.  But  he  is 
always  ready  to  serve  when  he  is  needed. 

Colonel  Young  has  been  three  times  married. 
His  first  and  second  wives  were  natives  of  Ra 
leigh.  Miss  Bettie  Ellison  and  Mrs.  Mary  Christ 
mas.  Both  are  dead.  The  present  Mrs.  Young 
was  Miss  Lula  Evans,  also  of  Raleigh.  The  third 
marriage  took  place  July  27,  1913.  Colonel  Young 
has  one  child  a  daughter.  Miss  Maud  Electa  Young. 
She  is  now  married  and  is  Mrs.  Carter,  of  Win- 
ston-Salem,  North  Carolina. 

Colonel  and  Mrs.  Young  live  in  their  handsome 
two-story  residence.  Here  they  receive  their  many 
friends  and  help  make  life  pleasant  for  Colored 
Raleigh.  Colonel  Young,  a  soldier,  a  Federal  of 
ficer,  in  many  positions ;  a  leading  church  worker, 
a  distinguished  Mason  and  Odd  Fellow,  a  mem 
ber  of  the  State  legislature,  a  man  of  great  busi 
ness  ability  and  a  natural  leader  of  men,  is  a  man 
worthy  of  our  praise  and  emulation. 


351 


iert  Williams 


HO  in  America  has  not  heard  of 
the  "Follies?"  Who,  having  heard 
of  the  "Follies"  does  not  lean 
hack  and  chuckle  or  laugh  out 
right  at  the  drollery,  the  wit,  the 
surprising  turn  of  humor,  both  in 
phrase  and  incident?  The  leading  spirit  of  this 
company  is  Bert  Williams.  Now  it  is  a  song  talked 
or  chanted,  now  a  dialogue,  now  an  anecdote,  now 
mere  humorous  manner.  Address  a  letter  to  him 
in  care  of  the  Follies,  or  to  the  Follies  in  the  care 
of  him.  Each  would  reach  its  proper  destination. 
Each  has  contributed  to  the  making  of  the  other. 
It  is  a  sort  of  compact — the  "Follies"  is  one  mem 
ber  of  the  firm,  Bert  Williams  is  the  other. 

The  critics  say  that  one  evidence  of  the  immor 
tality  of  author's  comes  when  the  latter  are  quoted. 
If  this  be  so  the  comedian  of  the  Follies  and  of  the 
famous  Williams  and  Walker  troupe  can  already 
lay  claim  to  living  beyond  his  generation.  The 
Scotchman  counts  it  a  special  mark  of  patriotism 
to  preface  his  remarks  with  a  quotation  from 
"Bobbie  Burns."  The  American  Negro  is  no  less 
proud,  when  wishing  to  embellish  a  jest  to  intro 
duce  or  conclude  with  a  saying  or  a  situation  from 
Bert  Williams. 

One  has  to  speak  of  situation  in  discussing  Bert 
Williams ;  for  many,  many  times  the  whole  success 
of  the  piece  hangs  upon  the  comical  picture  that 
he  is  able  to  conjure  before  the  mind.  Thus  the 
parody  on  "Woodman  spare  that  tree"  hangs  upon 
the  vision  of  the  rude  male  of  the  home  rapidly 
ascending  the  tree  to  escape  the  dire  punishment 
of  an  irate  spouse.  So  with  the  goat  story,  "Wait 
Till  Martin  Comes  and  you  aint  Gwine  Play  'dis 
game  'cording  to  Hoyle,  but  Cordin'  to  ME." 

Harlenguin  was  comical  on  the  stage,  but  a  poor 
melancholy  creature  when  left  to  himself.  Not  so 
is  it  with  this  man  of  the  "Follies."  In  the  street, 
in  the  office,  everywhere,  Mr.  Williams  bounteous 
ly  gifted  with  good  health,  is  always  brim  full  of 
fun  and  good  humor.  And  then  that  accent,  who 
can  immitate  it?  It  is  original  with  Mr.  Williams. 
He  is  one  of  the  hardest  workers  on  the  stage. 
To  see  him  toss  off  his  jest  one  would  think 
that  the  whole  thing  was  easy  and  had  come 
to  him  in  a  moment.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  he  tra 
vels  about  with  his  note  book  constantly  jotting 
down  whatever  chance  remark  he  hears  from  pass 
ers  by,  and  also  the  scraps  of  stories  or  plot  sug 
gestions  that  are  brought  to  him  as  he  goes  about 
the  city  in  the  day. 

Moreover,  Mr.  Williams  has  gone  abroad  to 
study  under  the  world's  best  artists  and  keeps 


in  close  touch  with  these  and  with  all  the  modern 
changes  on  the  stage.  It  is  thus,  and  not  by  dint 
of  good  health  and  ready  and  fertile  wit,  that  he 
has  been  able  to  hold  thus  securely  his  enviable 
post  with  the  world  famous  "Follies". 

Mr.  Williams  came  upon  his  vocation  by  chance. 
He  had  shaped  for  himself  a  wholly  different  ca 
reer.  He  was  born  a  British  subject,  being  a  na 
tive  of  New  Providence,  Nassau,  in  the  British  Ba 
hama  Islands.  When  he  was  two  years  old  his 
family  moved  to  New  York.  His  father  was  a 
maker  of  Papier  mache.  This,  of  course,  brought 
the  father,  and  through  him  the  son,  into  contact 
with  the  stage.  In  this  way  the  young  lad  came 
to  know  at  least  some  of  the  mechanics  of  the 
stage.  The  family  later  moved  to  California,  where 
the  son  was  graduated  from  High  School.  At  this 
time  young  Williams  decided  that  he  wanted  to  be 
a  civil  engineer,  and  he  left  home  and  went  to  San 
Francisco,  to  study. 

However,  falling  in  with  some  youths  who 
wished  to  do  some  local  stage  work,  he  became  a 
member  of  a  mountebank  minstrel  show,  who 
toured  the  lumber  camps  and  the  mining  camps, 
making  fun  for  themselves  and  for  the  rough  work 
men  on  the  frontiers  years  ago.  It  was  in  this  rude 
work  that  Mr.  Williams  discovered  his  talent,  and 
was  drawn  upon  the  stage.  Next,  he  discovered 
George  Walker.  These  two  later  formed  the  cel 
ebrated  company  of  Williams  and  Walker,  which 
with  the  fine  dancing,  melodious  singing,  and  clev 
er  jokes,  held  them  in  vogue  on  the  stage  till  Wal 
ker  died. 

After  the  death  of  his  partner  Williams  struck 
out  alone.  For  a  long  time  he  fought  an  uphill 
conflict.  The  play  houses  and  managers  who  wel 
comed  a  whole  company  of  Negro  stars,  because 
they  would  do  their  play  and  pass  on,  were  at  a 
loss  to  use  a  lone  Negro  star.  Of  course  the  color 
question  frequently  bobbed  up.  White  stars  and 
near  stars,  too,  did  not  wish  to  appear  on  the  same 
bill  with  a  black  man.  However  his  own  good  na 
ture,  his  splendid  candor  and  above  all,  his  genuine 
worth,  gradually  wore  down  the  timidity  of  the 
manager  as  well  as  the  resentment  of  fellow  play 
ers,  so  that  today  few  players  are  more  popular  in 
New  York  or  elsewhere,  on  the  stage  or  with  the 
public,  than  Bert  Williams.  He  has  been  with  the 
Follies  for  about  ten  years. 

The  Negro  of  America  owes  Mr.  Williams  much. 
He  has  portrayed  Negro  humor  without  burles 
quing  it  and  without  teaching  the  public  to  des 
pise  the  black  man.  He  has  made  it  easier  for  any 
talented  Negro  actor  to  gain  the  hearing  of  manag 
ers,  and  he  has  by  his  clean  living,  demonstrated  to 
both  the  Negro  and  the  White  public,  that  a  col 
ored  actor  can  be  sane,  decent,  and  straight  for 
ward  in  every  day  civilian  life. 


352 


COLLEGE    CHAPEL— BRANCH    NORMAL    COLLEGE 


HE  Branch  Normal  College,  lo 
cated  at  Pine  Bluff,  Jefferson 
County,  Arkansas,  is  a  branch  of 
the  University  of  Arkansas,  it 
was  established  pursuant  to  an 
act  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
Arkansas,  approved  April  27.  1873,  and  has  been  in 
operation  since  April,  1875.  Its  primary  object  is 
to  provide  practical  instruction  in  agriculture,  me 
chanical  arts,  home  economics,  and  such  branches 
of  learning  as  relate  thereto  and  to  train  teachers 
for  efficient  service  in  public  school  work. 

The  school  property  consists  of  a  beautiful*  tract 
of  twenty  acres  of  ground  in  the  western  suburbs 
of  the  city  of  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas,  on  which  are 
located  the  main  building,  the  dormitory  for  young 
women  and  the  mechanical  arts  building.  The 
school  building,  completed  in  1881,  and  occupied  in 
January,  1882,  is  a  two-story  edifice,  containing  an 
assembly  hall  on  the  second  floor  with  a  seating 
capacity  for  four  hundred  students. 

GOVERNMENT 

The  government  of  the  school  is  vested  primar-  . 
ily  in  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Unversity  of 
Arkansas.  The  administration  of  the  school  is 
vested  in  the  Superintendent  and  the  Prudential 
Committee.  The  Superintendent  is  the  adminis 
trative  head  of  the  school.  The  directors  of  the 
departments  are  responsible  to  the  Superintendent 
for  carrying  out  the  policies  and  rules  of  the  col 
lege  in  their  departments  and  for  the  development 
and  efficiency  of  the  work. 

By  the  laws  of  the  state  the  appointment  of  stu 
dents  to  the  Branch  Normal  College  in  numbers 
from  each  county  in  the  State,  is  the  same  as  to 
the  University  of  Arkansas  at  Fayetteville.  The 
power  to  make  appointments  is  vested  in  the  coun 
ty  judge  of  each  county.  Students  so  appointed 
are  entitled  to  four  years'  free  tuition,  upon  the 
payment  of  ($5.00)  five  dollars  matriculation  fee, 
in  advance. 

The   departments   maintained   in   the   School   are 

353 


Preparatory,  High  School,,  Normal,  Mechanical 
Home  Economics,  Agricultural  and  Music.  In 
all  the  departments  of  the  school,  the  aim  is  to 
prepare  the  student  for  life.  To  that  end  the 
teaching  in  one  department  is,  as  far  as  possible 
correlated  with  that  of  another.  The  religious  life 
of  the  student,  the  general  health  and  all  points 
in  which  young  people  need  supervision  are  looked 
out  for  by  the  authorities. 

The  Superintendent  of  Branch  Normal  College, 
and  the  man  directly  responsible  for  all  the  affairs 
of  the  institution  is  Jefferson  G.  Ish,  Jr.,  B.  S.,  A. 
B.  Mr.  Tsh  is  a  native  of  the  city  of  Little  Rock. 
Both  his  father  and  his  mother  are  teachers  and 
they  gave  him  a  very  early  start  in  school.  He  is 
a  graduate  of  the  High  School  of  Little  Rock,  of 
Talladega  College,  (Alabama),  and  of  Yale  Univer 
sity.  His  preparation  for  the  post  he  now  fills  has 
been  very  thorough  indeed.  Mrs.  Ish  was  Miss 
Florence  Ross,  of  Oklahoma.  She  is  a  graduate  of 
Fisk  University,  from  both  the  College  and  Mus 
ical  departments.  One  little  daughter,  Marietta, 
aged  six  years,  completes  the  Ish  family. 

Ably  seconding  Superintendent  Ish  in  all  affairs 
pertaining  to  the  school,  we  find  Professor  Frede 
rick  T.  Venegar.  He  is  Director  of  the  Normal  De 
partment.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Wilberforce  Univer 
sity,  and  has  for  the  past  fifteen  years  been  con 
nected  with  Branch  Normal  College.  He  teaches 
the  Pedagogy,  Geometry  and  Physical  Science. 

During  the  world  war.  Branch  Normal  was  used 
as  one  of  the  schools  in  which  soldiers  were  trained 
in  the  mechanical  arts.  In  this  way  she  served  her 
government.  At  present  the  school  is  greatly  over 
crowded  and  could  easily  get  many  more  students 
if  they  had  the  room  to  accommodate  them.  But 
full  use  is  made  of  all  the  facilities  at  hand.  Branch 
Normal  is  considered  one  of  the  best  of  the  Land 
Grant  Schools. 


MECHANICS  ARTS  BUILDING-BRANCH 
NORMAL   COLLEGE 


MAIN  BUILDING— CLARK  UNIVERSITY,  ATLANTA,  GA. 


LARK  University  is  a  Christian 
school,  founded  in  the  year  1870, 
by  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  From  the  beginning  it 
has  been  open  to  all  classes,  re 
gardless  of  sex,  color  or  creed.  The  sole  condi 
tions  of  admission  being  a  desire  to  learn,  good 
moral  character,  and  obedience  to  lawfully  consti 
tuted  authority. 

The  prime  object  in  the  founding  of  this  institu 
tion  was  to  furnish  to  the  newly  emancipated  peo 
ple  an  open  door  into  the  higher  and  broader 
realms  of  learning,  where  they  might  have  an  op 
portunity  to  develop  whatever  in  them  is  poten 
tially  best  mentally  and  spiritually. 

The  institution,  though  at  present  largely  de 
pendent  upon  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  for  fi 
nancial  support,  has,  nevertheless,  a  large  prospec 
tive  endowment  in  the  four  hundred  acres  of  land 
it  possesses  on  the  outskirts  of  the  growing  city 
of  Atlanta.  In  fact,  more  than  one  hundred  acres 
of  this  lanct  is  already  within  the  corporate  limits. 
This  property,  it  should  be  said,  was  largely  se- 

354 


ci  ;-ed  through  the  persistent  and  untiring  efforts 
of  Bishop  Gilbert  Haven,  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church.  With  prophetic  insight  he  saw  At- 
Ir.nta  then  as  Atlanta  is  today — a  large,  thriving, 
progressive  city,  spreading  out  in  every  direction, 
and  by  its  salubrious  climate  attracting  people  to  it 
from  all  sections  of  the  country.  This  was  the  place 
for  a  large  school.  When  most  of  the  trustees,  the 
writer  included,  expressed  fears  lest  by  locating 
the  school  so  far  beyond  the  city  limits,  few  stu 
dents  would  come  to  it,  the  good  Bishop  re 
plied,  "The  city  will  come  to  you."  and  with  his 
hand  pointing  down  what  was  then  called  McDon- 
nough  Street,  said :  "Georgia  is  on  the  eve  of 
building  a  new  capitol.  It  will  be  built  at  the  end 
of  this  street,  and  this  street  will  then  be  called 
Capitol  Avenue,  leading  straight  to  the  front  en 
trance  of  this  campus."  It  is  interesting  to  note 
how  these  predictions  have  been  fulfilled. 

Few  schools  have  l-een  favored  with  a  more  de 
sirable  location  for  the  ends  to  be  reached.  Of  all 
the  states  Georgia  has  one  of  the  largest  Negro 
populations,  and  by  its  central  position  places  the 
other  states  within  easv  reach  of  the  institution, 


while   the   numerous   railroads   radiating  from   At 
lanta  render  it  easy  of  access  to  students. 

The  campus,  beautiful  for  situation,  consisting 
of  fifty  acres  .heavily  wooded  with  oak  and  pine, 
and  hickory  and  other  trees  native  to  the  South, 
occupies  one  of  the  highest  points  around  Atlanta, 
and  because  of  its  elevation,  has  a  perfect  natural 
drainage  on  all  sides.  A  more  healthful  location  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find.  At  first,  more  than  a 
mile  outside  the  corporate  limits,  today  the  elec 
tric  cars,  communicating  with  all  parts  of  the  city, 
pass  by  the  campus  gates. 

There  are  three  substantial  brick  buildings — • 
Chrisman  Hall.  Warren  Hall,  and  Ballard  Hall. 
Chrisman  Hall  was  named  for  Mrs.  Eliza  Chris 
man.  of  Topeka,  Kansas,  who  furnished  the  larger 
part  of  the  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  for  its 
construction.  Burnt  down  in  1892,  it  was  immed 
iately  rebuilt  and  somewhat  enlarged.  Used  for 
administration  purposes,  it  also  furnishes  dormi 
tory  accommodations  for  boys.  In  it  are  the  of 
fices,  class  room,  reading  room,  library,  and  a  cha 
pel,  with  seating  capacity  of  six  hundred  . 

Warren  Hall,  a  girls'  dormitory,  accommodating 
approximately  one  hundred  girls'  contains  also  a 
dining  room  for  the  whole  student  body.  This  hall 
was  named  for  Bishop  Henry  W.  Warren,  who 
spent  the  first  four  years  of  his  Bishopric  on  the 
University  campus,  and  whose  presence  was  a 
constant  benediction  to  both  students  and  teach 
ers.  Noticing  the  crowded  condition  of  things, 
consequent  upon  the  growth  of  the  school,  he  un 
dertook  to  raise  half  the  amount  for  the  erection 
of  another  building.  This  he  did.  The  other  half 
was  given  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Gammon,  the  generous 
founder  of  the  Gammon  Theological  Seminary. 
The  building  cost  twenty-seven  thousand  dollars. 
As  a  matter  of  history,  and  to  the  credit  of 
Bishop  Warren,  it  ought  also  to  be  said  that  with 
Bishop  Warren  originated  the  idea  of  the  "Model 
Home,"  the  institution  that  today,  under  the  man 
agement  of  the  Woman's  Home  Missionary  So 
ciety,  is  found  in  every  State  of  the  union,  where 
womanhood  needs  to  be  helped  and  elevated.  The 
original  conception  of  Bishop  Warren  was  to  have 
a  cottage  connected  with  the  school  in  which,  under 
the  direction  of  a  matron,  a  few  girls  at  a  time 
might  live  and  be  instructed  in  all  matters  per 
taining  to  a  well  ordered  home.  Timber  was  cut, 

355 


a  small  cottage  erected,  and  a  good  Christian 
woman;  in  the  person  of  Miss  Flora  Mitchell,  took 
upon  herself  the  responsibility  of  this  new  venture. 
Her  success  may  be  seen  in  the  fact,  that  she  is 
still  in  charge ;  but  not  of  that  little  cottage.  In 
deed,  it  is  a  far  cry  from  that  humble  beginning  to 
the  now  imposing  and  spacious  Thayer  Home  with 
its  modern  appointments,  giving  instruction  in  do 
mestic  Science  to  hundreds  of  young  women.  No 
young  woman  is  allowed  to  graduate  from  Clark 
University,  from  any  course,  without  knowledge 
of  Domestic  Science,  and  no  young  woman  is  al 
lowed  to  graduate  without  spending  her  senior 
year  in  residence  in  the  Thayer  Home.  A  number 
of  young  women  thus  trained  have  gone  to  Africa 
as  Missionaries,  and  the  wives  of  Missionaries. 

Credit  should  also  be  given  to  Bishop  Warren  for 
the  emphasis  placed  on  the  necessity  of  industrial 
training  for  the  youth.  It  was  under  his  direction 
that  a  little  carpenter's  shop  and  blacksmith  shop 
were  called  into  existence.  From  this  as  a  nucleus 
was  envolved  that  trades  department  which  at 
tracted  the  attention  of  Dr.  Atticus  G.  Haygood. 
at  that  time  agent  of  the  Slater  Board.  This  man, 
generous,  sympathetic,  with  a  heart  large  enough 
to  include  all  mankind,  and  with  an  ardent  desire 
for  the  prosperity  of  the  "New  South,"  wished  to 
see  in  Atlanta  a  large  industrial  school  that  would 
be  an  object  lesson  to  the  whole  South;  but  such 
a  school  he  wished  to  see  connected  with  a  large 
literary  institution  as  a  part  of  it ;  for  Dr.  Haygood 
believed  in  the  education  of  the  whole  man.  Hence 
it  was  through  the  influence  of  Dr.  Haygood  that 
the  Slater  Board  was  led  to  give  to  Clark  Univer 
sity  for  several  years,  for  its  industrial  department, 
an  annual  appropriation  of  five  thousand  dollars. 
With  the  withdrawal  of  this  appropriation  the  in 
terest  in  the  department  waned.  The  building  in 
which  the  industries  were  conducted  is  now  the 
home  of  the  Science  department.  This  building 
was  the  gift  of  Mr.  Stephen  Ballard.  of  Brooklyn. 
N.  Y..  for  whom  it  was  named.  The  University 
was  named  for  Bishop  D.  W.  Clark,  who  shortly 
after  the  close  of  the  War  visited  this  section  and 
organized  the  work  of  the  church. 

Clark  University  has  had  many  Presidents.  Any 
information  needed  now  with  a  reference  to  the 
school  may  be  had  by  addressing  President  Harry 
Andrew  King. 


THOMAS  W.   FLEMING,  LL.   B. 


HOMAS  W.  Fleming  was  born  on 
May  13th,  1874,  in  Mercer,  Mer 
cer  County,  Pennsylvania.  He 
commenced  earning  money  in 
early  life.  First  he  worked  on 
the  farm  where  he  labored  for  a 
while  and  then  went  to  the  city.  He  located  in 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  became  a  news 
boy,  and  a  shoeblack.  While  pursuing  his  work  he 
attended  the  Common  school  and  High  School  and 
received  a  fairly  good  education.  In  1892  he  left 
Meadville  and  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Here  he 
entered  a  barber  shop  and  followed  his  trade  as  a 
barber  for  twelve  years.  His  aspirations  rose 
higher  than  the  barber  shop,  and  he  decided  to  en 
ter  the  profession  of  law. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  entered  the  Cleve 
land  Law  School  and  took  up  the  study  of  law. 
Having  put  his  hand  to  the  plow  he  did  not  turn 
back  until  he  had  accomplished  his  purpose.  He 
was  graduated  from  Baldwin,  Wallace  College, with 

356 


the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  in  1906,  passed  the  Ohio  Bar 
examination  the  same  year  and  started  to  practice 
law  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  His  interest  in  civic  mat 
ters  led  him  into  politics  and  he  became  active  in 
municipal  political  affairs.  In  1907  he  was  nomi 
nated  by  the  Republicans  of  Cleveland,  as  Coun 
cilman  at  Large,  being  defeated  with  his  ticket.  In 
1909  he  was  again  nominated  for  Councilman  at 
Large  and  was  elected,  being  the  first  Colored  man 
to  ever  occupy  a  seat  in  the  City  Council  of  Cleve 
land.  In  1911  he  was  again  nominated  for  Coun 
cilman  at  Large,  but  was  defeated  with  the  bal 
ance  of  the  Republican  ticket.  In  1914  he  was  ap 
pointed  as  Deputy  State  Oil  Inspector,  by  Gover 
nor  Frank  B.  Willis.  In  1915.  Mr.  Fleming  was 
nominated  over  five  white  opponents  for  Coun 
cilman  of  Ward  Eleven  (11),)  and  was  elected, 
being  the  first  Colored  man  to  ever  represent  a 
Ward  in  the  City  Council  of  Cleveland.  In  1917, 
he  was  again  nominated  and  elected  to  the  City 
Council  from  his  Ward  and  is  now  serving  his  third 
term  as  member  of  that  body.  He  is  a  member  of 
several  of  its  most  important  committees.  This 
action  of  the  citizens  of  Cleveland  in  placing  Mr. 
Fleming  in  the  Council  and  of  that  body  in  plac 
ing  him  upon  its  most  important  committees  is 
stronger  testimony  than  mere  words  of  his  ability 
and  worth  as  a  leader  in  municipal  affairs. 

Mr.  Fleming  is  Congregational  in  his  church  af 
filiation,  and  is  connected  with  one  of  the  leading 
Congregational  churches  of  Cleveland.  He  is  so 
cial  in  his  disposition  and  is  connected  with  several 
of  the  Clubs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Tippecanoe 
Club,  The  Western  Reserve  Club,  and  is  President 
of  the  Attucks  Club.  He  is  a  member  of  and  ex- 
President  of  The  Cleveland  Association  of  Colo 
red  Men,  a  member  of  the  local  branch  of  the  Na 
tional  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Colored 
People,  and  a  director  in  several  business  concerns. 

Mr.  Fleming  is  a  man  of  family  and  lives  in  a 
beautiful  home  at  2342  East  40th  Street  with  his 
wife  and  three  sons.  Here  he  finds  sweet  comfort 
and  rest  from  the  heavy  burdens  of  professional 
and  civic  duties.  While  devoting  his  energy  of 
brain  to  his  work  he  has  not  been  unmindful  of  the 
future,  when  advanced  age  will  weaken  his  efforts, 
and  is  making  provision  for  that  period  of  his  life. 
He  has  already  accumulated  a  nice  property,  which 
he  hopes  to  add  to  as  the  days  go  by. 


j-  - 

•  **•*• 


VIEW  OF  LINCOLN  INSTITU  TE— JEFFERSON  CITY,  MO. 


INCOLN  Institute  is  one  of  the 
few  State  schools,  if  not  the  only 
one,  to  owe  its  origin  to  the  con 
tribution  of  Negroes.  Shortly  af 
ter  the  Civil  War,  the  soldiers  of 
the  Sixty-second  and  Sixty-fifth 
Regiments  of  the  United  States  Colored  Infantry 
contributed  a  fund  of  $6,379.00  to  establish  a  Negro 
school  in  the  State  of  Missouri. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  was  organized  on  June 
eighth,  and  incorporated  on  the  twenty-fifth  of 
the  same  month,  1866.  In  the  same  year  on  the 
seventeenth  of  September  school  opened. 

The  first  President  of  Lincoln  Institute  was  Rich 
ard  Baxter  Foster,  of  Hanover,  N.  H.  He  was  born 
October  25,  1826,  and  died  April  26,  1901.  He  was 
the  first  and  only  white  president  of  Lincoln  Insti 
tute. 

"The  Legislature  of  1879  appropriated  $15,000 
for  the  support  of  the  Institute,  provided  $5,000 
should  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  its  indebted 
ness.  This  appropriation  was  contained  in  the  gen 
eral  appropriation  bill,  and  was  a  grant  to  a  cor 
poration  managing  a  charity. 

The  school  could  not  accept  the  money,  however, 
till  the  board  met  and  transferred  the  entire  school 
property  to  the  State.  Since  that  time  the  school 
has  been  the  State  School  for  the  Colored  people  of 
Missouri. 

The  main  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the 
first  of  August,  1894,  but  was  soon  replaced  by  a 
far  more  commodious  structure,  for  the  erection  of 
which  the  Legislature  appropriated  the  sum  of 
$40,000. 

Since   then  the   Legislature   has   appropriated   at 


different  times  money  to  erect  a  dormitory  for 
young  men,  one  for  the  young  women  and  a  cen 
tral  heating  plant. 

Lincoln  Institute  has  a  high  school  department,  a 
normal  department,  a  college  department,  a  pre 
paratory  department,  departments  of  mechanical 
industries,  a  musical  department,  a  model  school, 
and  a  farm. 

Dr.  Inman  Page  was  for  eighteen  years  at  the 
head  of  this  School.  Under  him  sat  some  of  the 
men  who  are  now  men  of  importance  in  the  State 
of  Missouri,  and  of  other  States.  Among  those 
who  have  gone  out  from  Lincoln  might  be  men 
tioned  Dr.  A.  Wilberforce  Williams  of  Chicago. 
He  is  a  physician  of  note,  and  has  made  a  place  for 
himself  in  the  medical  world.  Dr.  I.  T.  Vernon  is 
another  man  who  received  training  in  Lincoln  In 
stitute,  Dr.  Vernon  was  at  one  time  Registrar  of 
the  Treasury  of  the  United  States.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  of  the  sons  who  have  gone  forth 
from  Lincoln. 

Following  Dr.  Page,  Dr.  B.  F.  Allen  was  at  the 
head  of  the  school  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years. 
Dr.  Allen  resigned  his  post  in  1918,  and  accepted 
the  Presidency  of  Turner  College,  in  Tennessee. 

Clement  Richardson,  the  editor  of  this  work,  is 
the  present  President  of  Lincoln  Institute.  Since 
he  took  charge  in  June,  of  1918,  President  Richard 
son  has  taken  a  firm  hold  of  the  situation  at  the 
school,  and  is  trying  to  re-shape  its  policies  to  fit 
the  needs  and  wants  of  the  people  of  Missouri.  For 
the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  school  the  farm 
is  in  the  control  of  the  school  authorities  for  edu 
cational  purposes.  Prior  to  President  Richardson's 
administration,  the  farm  was  under  a  white  man, 
and  only  a  small  part  of  the  land  was  given  the 
school  for  the  teaching  of  gardening.  For  the  first 
time  in  seventeen  years  the  College  department  is 
once  more  open.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  present 
President  to  build  up  a  strong  college  course  lead 
ing  to  the  A.  B.  Degree. 


357 


Isaac  Fisher 


HE  University  Editor  at  Fisk  Un 
iversity,  Mr.  Isaac  Fisher,  holds 
a  rather  unique  position  in  the  list 
of  persons  who  have  attracted 
public  attention  because  of  unu 
sual  services  rendered  the  public. 
In  the  first  place,  although  not  a  college  grad 
uate,  he  holds  one  of  the  most  responsible  posi 
tions  in  Fisk  University,  that  of  Editor  of  the 
school's  official  organ — "Fisk  University  News," 
and  of  all  the  publications  of  the  University.  The 
way  Mr.  Fisher  came  to  be  called  to  such  a  posi 
tion  is  the  story  of  his  public  services  for  his  race. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  Tuskegee  Institute, 
Alabama,  in  1898,  after  having  won  the  admira 
tion  of  the  late  Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington  for  his 
persistence  in  working  to  pay  his  education,  and 
for  his  great  ability  as  a  speaker.  As  soon  as  Mr. 
Fisher  received  his  diploma,  Dr.  Washington  sent 
him  to  the  Schofield  School  in  Aiken,  South  Caro 
lina,  to  teach  in  the  class-room  and  to  organize 
conferences  of  farmers  in  that  State ;  called  him 
from  this  position  to  present  the  cause  of  the  Tus 
kegee  Institute  in  New  England ;  transferred  him 
from  the  East,  upon  Mr.  Fisher's  request,  to  or 
ganize  farmers'  conferences  for  Tuskegee,  in  Ala 
bama  ;  and,  to  meet  an  emergency  call  for  an  able 
disciplinarian,  sent  him  to  fill  out  an  unexpired 
term  of  principal  of  Swayne  High  School,  in  Mont 
gomery,  Alabama.  Mr.  Fisher  was  re-elected  to 
this  position  at  the  close  of  the  short  term  for 
which  he  had  been  elected,  only  to  find  that  Dr. 
Washington,  asked  to  name  a  man  to  go  to  Arkan 
sas  to  become  President  of  the  State  Agricultural 
and  Mechanical  College  for  Negroes,  at  Pine  Bluff 
— "A  man  who  is  without  fear  and  thoroughly  pro 
gressive,"  had  recommended  him  for  the  place.  Al 
though  but  twenty-five  years  of  age,  Mr.  Fisher 
accepted  the  call. 

He  held  this  position  for  nine  years — from  1902 
to  1911 — giving  the  school  new  dignity  and  stand 
ard;  but  he  resigned  in  1911.  It  was  while  he  was 
at  the  head  of  this  school  that  the  country  discov 
ered  that  he  was  an  essayist  of  the  first  rank.  In 
a  series  of  essay  contests  open  to  the  entire  na 
tion,  Mr.  Fisher  began  taking  the  highest  prize  in 
each  case.  The  subject  made  no  difference — he 
generally  succeeded  in  writing  the  best  essay  on 
the  subject  given.  For  example,  when  Missouri 

358 


wished  to  have  drafted  the  "Ten  Best  Reasons 
Why  Persons  Should  Go  to  Missouri"  Mr.  Fisher 
gave  the  best  reasons  although  he  had  never  even 
passed  through  the  State.  When  Everybody's 
Magazine  wanted  to  have  the  last  word  about  the 
liquor  question,  Mr.  Fisher  gave  that  last  word, 
although  he  has  always  been  a  total  abstainer  from 
alchoholic  drinks. 

Thirty  or  more  times  he  won  in  these  nation 
wide  contests  and  the  colored  people  of  the  coun 
try  began  to  see  that  he  was  in  his  quiet  way  dem 
onstrating  the  possibilities  of  the  Negro  mind  to 
all  the  people  of  the  earth. 

In  1914,  the  Tuskegee  Institute  called  him  back 
again  to  become  the  first  editor  of  "The  Negro 
Farmer;"  and  he  had  made  this  journal  take  a 
commanding  position  in  its  field  when  the  newly- 
elected  President  of  Fisk  University,  Dr.  Fayette 
Avery  McKenzie,  who  had  been  watching  Mr.  Fish 
er's  literary  career  for  several  years,  called  him 
to  become  University  Editor  at  Fisk.  It  was  a 
bold  step  to  take;  but  Dr.  Washington  had  been 
willing  to  say  over  his  signature  in  Everybody's 
Magazine,  that  if  a  position  required  tact,  ability, 
fearlessness  and  devotion,  he  never  hesitated  to 
recommend  Mr.  Fisher  for  it,  knowing  that  if  he 
were  not  the  equal  of  some  others,  when  he  accept 
ed  the  work,  within  a  short  time  he  would  fully 
qualify  for  the  tasks  given  him.  And,  so,  Dr.  Mc 
Kenzie  took  the  risk  of  calling  this  young  writer- 
educator  to  his  present  work. 

In  his  position  at  Fisk  University,  Mr.  Fisher 
has  justified  Dr.  Washington's  estimate  and  Dr. 
McKenzie's  judgment,  for  his  editorials  in  the  Fisk 
University  News  attracted  national  attention  from 
the  first,  and  that  magazine  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  constructive  forces  of  journalism  because  ot 
the  national  outlook  which  its  editor  takes;  and 
as  a  professor  at  Mt.  Holyoke  College  remarks,  "It 
is  the  one  college  journal  which  is  of  interest  to 
persons  outside  of  college  circles."  In  addition  to 
his  other  duties  at  Fisk,  Mr.  Fisher  gives  instruc 
tion  in  argumentation,  and  under  his  direction, 
Fisk's  debating  teams  have  der€tope<l  astonishing 
strength  in  intercollegiate  debating  contests. 

Mr.  Fisher  was  married  in  1901,  to  Miss  Sallie 
A.  McCann,  of  Birmingham,  Alabama  .and  has  one 
daughter,  Constance.  At  forty,  he  is  one  of  the 
quiet  and  effective  workers  of  his  clay. 


Fisk---Past,  Present  and  Future 


FISK— PAST 

At  a  time  when  all  Americans  were  not  'agreed 
that  the  colored  people  in  the  United  States  had 
sufficient  mental  capacity  to  profit  by  any  formal 
education  above  the  most  elementary  grades,  the 
American  Missionary  Association  founded  in  the 
City  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  a  school  for  Freed- 
men,  under  the  exalted  name  of  Fisk  University,  a 
school  which  was  to  become  "in  time  a  first  class 
college" — a  great  university  that  should  adequately 
provide  for  the  newly  emancipated  people  and  their 
descendants  forever  the  advantages  of  Christian 
education,  to  whatever  extent  the  capacity  and 
energy  of  the  race  should  in  the  future  demand. 

On  January  9,  1866,  this  University  of  "faith" 
was  formally  opened  in  an  old  Government  hospi 
tal  building — a  frame  shanty. 

When  the  complete  story  of  Fisk  University  is 
told,  the  facts  following  will  not  be  forgotten : 

The  University  was  founded  by  a  religious  organ 
ization,  which  has  distinguished  itself  for  the  brave 
Fight  it  has  made  for  the  highest  interests  of 
the  colored  race ;  one  of  the  two  men  who  were 
sent  in  1865  to  select  a  site  for  the  new  school — 
Rev.  E.  M.  Cravath — was  a  Soldier;  the  Universi 
ty  was  opened  in  hospital  buildings  and  on  land 
which  had  been  used  by  Soldiers ;  Fisk  was 
named  for  a  Soldier,  Gen.  Clinton  B.  Fisk,  then 
chief  of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  for  Tennessee  and 
through  whose  efforts  and  interest  the  buildings 
and  the  ground  on  which  they  stood  were  turned 
over  to  the  A.  M.  A.,  for  the  school;  and,  finally, 
the  first  President  and  the  great  outstanding  figure 
in  the  history  of  Fisk  University,  Dr.  Erastus  Milo 
Cravath,  was  a  Soldier. 

If  these  facts  possess  no  significance  out  of  the 
ordinary,  it  remains  true,  nevertheless,  that  Fisk 
from  the  first,  Has  Fought — Is  Fighting  Still  for 
the  very  highest  standards  of  scholarship  and  char 
acter,  in  the  face  of  persistent  efforts,  some 
times  open  and  oft-times  concealed,  to  reduce  these 
standards  for  colored  people  below  those  demand 
ed  by  and  for  the  white  race. 

JUBILEE  SINGERS.  At  one  time  of  darkness 
and  doubt,  it  was  decided  to  close  the  "Univer 
sity  ;"  but  a  few  brave  souls  thought  otherwise. 
Head  of  this  small  number  was  Professor  George 
L.  White,  teacher  of  Music,  who  conceived  the 
plan  of  training  a  body  of  students  to  sing  the 
slave  songs  of  their  fathers  before  such  bodies  as 
would  hear  them,  in  tin-  hope  that  friends  might 
thereby  be  raised  up  for  the  school.  It  was  a 
daring  project,  no  precedent  being  known  for 

359 


such  a  course ;  and  it  was  only  because  Professor 
White  could  not  be  made  to  see  the  obstacles  in 
the  way  nor  to  give  weight  to  the  objections  of 
his  friends  that  the  tour  was  finally  begun.  With 
practically  no  funds  against  heavy  odds  and  in 
the  face  of  prophecies  of  failure,  Professor  White, 
with  his  unmovable  faith  in  the  future  of  the  col 
ored  people  and  the  providence  of  God,  left  the 
University  in  1871,  carrying  with  him  the  little 
group  of  students  whom  he  had  trained  in  song. 

Thus  was  begun  the  work  of  the  famous  "Jubilee 
Singers,"  who  first  brought  the  folk  songs  of  the 
colored  people  to  the  attention  of  the  world.  Tour 
ing  New  England  and  Great  Britian,  they  earned 
enough  money  to  purchase  the  present  site  of  the 
University  and  to  erect  its  first  building,  Jubilee 
Hall. 

PRESIDENTS.  From  its  beginning  until  1875,  the 
School  and  University  were  under  the  charge  of 
Prof.  John  Ogden  (1866-1870)  and  Prof.  A.  K. 
Spence  (1870-1875).  Under  Prof.  Spence  began 
the  real  development  of  the  college  work  of  the 
University. 

In  1875,  Dr.  E.  M.  Cravath  was  elected  President 
of  the  University.  Simple  justice  demands  the 
statement  that  he  stamped  Fisk  with  its  present 
high  ideals,  and  under  his  guidance  was  builded  the 
visible  university  as  well  as  the  one  "not  made  with 
hands."  Of  the  eleven  buildings  comprising  the 
school,  eight  were  erected  during  his  administra 
tion.  He  was  a  soldier  and  statesman  with  the 
type  of  courage  needed  to  build  and  defend  a  school 
of  highest  standards  for  an  unpopular  race  at  a 
time  when  a  member  of  the  white  race  who  was 
identified  with  such  a  work  paid  a  bitter,  bitter 
price. 

President  Cravath  fell  asleep  in  1900.  He  was 
succeeded  by  President  James  G.  Merrill,  in  1901. 
Gentle,  loving,  and  lovable,  he  took  up  the  work  of 
his  great  predecessor  and  prosecuted  it  with  the 
same  faith  as  had  moved  the  founders.  Three  new 
buildings  were  added  during  his  Presidency.  He 
resigned  his  work  in  1908,  and  was  succeeded  in 
1909  by  Dr.  Geo.  A.  Gates.  On  account  of  ill  health 
this  splendid  scholar  and  executive  remained  but 
a  short  time  with  the  University — from  1909  to 
1912.  Fisk's  present  executive,  Fayette  Avery  Mc- 
Kenzie,  Ph.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  elected  in  1915.  Dr. 
McKenzie  is  a  close  student  of  social  questions  and 
a  man  thoroughly  saturated  with  the  ideals  which 
have  made  Fisk  University  synonymous  with  cul 
ture — with  the  higher  education  of  the  colored 
people  in  the  United  States. 


BIRD'S-EYE  VIEW  OF  FISK  CAMPUS— FISK   UNIVERSITY 


FISK— PRESENT 

WHAT  FISK  IS.  "Fisk  University,"  to  quote 
President  McKenzie,  "is  the  symbol,  the  corporate 
realization  of  education  and  culture  for  the  Negro 
race  in  the  South."  The  United  States  Commis 
sioner  of  Education,  Dr.  Philander  P.  Claxton,  said, 
recently,  that  Fisk  "is  a  great  national  institution," 
and  that  the  ten  millions  of  colored  people  in  the 
United  States  "look  to  Fisk  University  very 
largely  for  the  leadership  that  will  enable  them  to 
develop  in  all  of  their  lines." 

Stated  in  more  concrete  terms,  Fisk  is  the  sec 
ond  largest  arts  college  for  colored  people  in  the 
world.  Its  faculty,  taken  from  the  best  schools  of 
the  United  States,  numbers  40;  and  it  has  upward 
of  560  students  in  all  departments.  The  school 
owns  thirty-five  acres  of  land,  fourteen  buildings, 
including  Jubilee  Hall  for  Women ;  Livingstone 
and  Bennett  Halls  for  men  ;  Chase  Hall  for  Science  ; 
Fisk  Memorial  Chapel;  Daniel  Hand  Training 
School ;  Carnegie  Library ;  a  Gymnasium  and 
Workshop;  and  Magnolia  Cottage  for  the  Music 
Department. 

In  the  past  the  College  has  offered  four  courses 
of  study,  all  leading  to  the  degree  of  BACHELOR 
OF  ARTS,  i,  e.,  classical,  scientific,  education,  and 
home  economics.  But  the  requirements  have  now 
been  so  liberalized  that  those  who  desire  may  spe 
cialize  along  with  the  fixed  requirements  essential 
to  general  culture,  in  practically  any  subject  they 
may  choose. 

In  the  Graduate  Department  courses  are  offered 
leading  to  the  degree  of  MASTER  OF  ARTS.  Many 

360 


of  the  best  northern  colleges  accept  Fisk  students, 
class  for  class,  on  a  parity  with  their  own. 

Fisk's  major  work  has  been  the  training  of 
teachers,  but  she  has  sent  a  host  of  graduates  into 
practically  all  of  the  learned  professions. 

The  Department  of  Music  at  Fisk  has  been  and 
still  remains  of  such  a  character  that  the  Univer 
sity  has  come  to  be  recognized  as  the  leading  con 
servatory  of  music  for  colored  people  in  the  whole 
country.  A  large  number  of  the  most  successful 
musical  artists  of  the  race  received  their  training 
in  this  department. 

FISK— FUTURE 

President  McKenzie  thus  defines  the  ideals  for 
the  future :  "We  are  working  every  year  to  reach 
the  best  standards  of  scholarship.  But  we  are  not 
content  with  mere  book  learning.  Character  is 
still  the  first  object  of  the  University.  Honesty, 
truthfulness,  morality,  and  economy  are  constantly 
urged  upon  the  students.  As  of  old,  so  now  it  is 
and  in  the  future  it  will  be  that  "Fisk  Stands  for 
Mind,  for  Life,  for  Divinity,  and  for  Eternity." 

RECENT  DEVELOPMENTS  AT  FISK 
Under  the  brief  administration  of  the  present 
President,  Dr.  McKenzie,  there  has  been  maintain 
ed  the  best  traditions  of  the  past,  and  new  steps  of 
considerable  importance  have  been  taken.  The 
plant,  by  reason  of  lack  of  funds,  had  for  many 
years  remained  without  adequate  repairs.  Through 
the  generosity  of  the  General  Education  Board  and 
the  Carnegie  Corporation,  and  a  number  of  other 
friends,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 


BIRD'S-EYE  VIEW  OF  FISK  CAMPUS     FLSK  UNIVERSITY 


dollars  was  made  available  in  the  summer  of  1917. 
This  money  made  possible  the  installation  of  a 
modern  and  efficient  central  heating  plant,  located 
upon  a  spur  of  the  railroad,  thus  providing  coal 
without  the  cost  of  hauling  by  wagon.  The  build 
ings  were  wired  for  electricity,  which  replaced  the 
old  kerosene  lamps  in  lighting  the  dormitories. 
Practically  all  the  floors  of  the  main  buildings  were 
relaid  in  hard  wood,  and  the  walls  and  ceilings 
were  repaired  and  repainted  in  beautiful  tan 
shades.  Student  toilet  and  bathing  facilities  of  the 
most  modern  approved  type  were  installed  on  every 
floor  of  all  the  dormitories.  With  these  improve 
ments  the  University  plant  was  put  into  unusually 
splendid  condition. 

During  the  same  period  of  time  the  University 
has  taken  over  the  house  known  as  the  Waterman 
house,  has  purchased  four  acres  of  land  upon  which 
there  stood  three  buildings,  once  the  property  of 
the  Nashville  Institute  and  has  bought  a  little  house 
and  some  adjoining  land,  in  order  to  provide  a  right 
of  way  for  the  pipe  lines  connecting  the  campus 
with  the  power  plant  on  the  railroad  track.  One 
of  the  three  buildings  purchased  from  the  Nashville 
Institute  has  been  turned  into  a  teachers'  dormi 
tory,  where  a  very  considerable  number  of  our 
teachers  are  given  very  comfortable  quarters.  Not 
only  are  there  dormitorv  rooms,  but  there  are  one 
or  more  general  assembly  rooms,  a  dining  room,  a 
kitchen,  and  a  small  laundry.  Another  of  the  houses 
has  been  turned  into  a  two-apartment  house.  The 
third  has  been  converted  into  a  modern  laundry, 
equipped  with  electrically  run  machinery,  and  sup 
plied  with  hot  water  from  the  central  heating 

361 


plant.  The  removal  of  the  boilers  and  laundry 
from  Jubilee  Hall  has  made  that  building  far  safer 
and  has  opened  up  new  spaces  for  additional  ac 
tivities  in  that  building.  The  girls  have  a  splendid 
little  laundry  for  themselves,  the  music  depart 
ment  has  at  least  seven  additional  music  rooms  in 
the  basement,  and  a  large  recreation-study  hall  has 
been  provided  for  the  girls.  In  the  kitchen  there 
has  been  placed  five  new  ranges ;  a  dishwashing 
machine,  and  a  number  of  other  modern  conven 
iences.  The  kitchen  and  diningroom  are  thorough 
ly  clean,  and  every  precaution  is  taken  to  protect 
the  health  of  the  students. 

New  offices  have  been  provided  for  the  Presi 
dent,  and  for  the  registrar,  and  thus  the  adminis 
trative  details  of  the  University  have  been  made 
much  easier  to  handle. 

All  these  changes  have  been,  in  a  way  and  to  a 
large  degree,  merely  the  background  and  founda 
tion  for  the  more  important  work  of  the  Univer 
sity.  Once  the  physical  foundation  has  been  thor 
oughly  provided,  the  attention  of  the  administra 
tion  was  turned  to  developments  of  a  more  imme 
diate  educational  character.  Already  a  number  of 
very  important  changes  have  been  made.  The  work 
of  physical  education  has  been  very  greatly 
changed  and  enlarged.  The  University  believes  that 
health  is  a  prerequisite  for  good  mental  effort,  and 
also  believes  that  regular,  systematic  exercise  in 
the  gymnasium  and  on  the  campus  will  not  be  an 
encroachment  upon  the  time  for  study,  but  a  means 
of  increasing  the  efficiency  and  enlarging  the  pro 
duct  of  mental  effort.  It  is  hoped  to  place  all  the 
physical  and  athletic  activities  upon  the  highest 


standards  which  modern  thought  can  suggest.  The 
standards  of  the  best  institutions  of  the  world  are 
the  standards  which  Fisk  aims  to  establish  and 
maintain.  Nothing  less  than  the  best  is  satisfac 
tory  to  the  University. 

One  of  the  most  important  changes  of  the  recent 
years  has  been  the  new  emphasis  placed  upon  the 
monthly  publication  of  the  University.  The  Fisk 
News,  under  the  editorship  of  Mr.  Isaac  Fisher, 
has  made  a  splendid  national  reputation  for  itself 
and  for  the  University. 

Increased  variety  of  subjects  for  study  has  also 
marked  the  policy  of  President  McKenzie.  New 
courses  have  been  added  in  Greek,  in  history,  in 
modern  languages,  in  social  science,  in  physics,  in 
chemistry,  in  agriculture,  in  manual  training,  in 
music  and  in  various  other  lines.  In  order  to  get  the 
most  benefit  out  of  such  a  wide  range  of  electives 
the  University  has  adopted  a  scheme  of  majors,  by 
which  each  student  is  allowed  and  requred  to  con 
centrate  to  the  extent  of  one-fourth,  or  possibly  to 
even  one-third,  of  his  full  four  years,  upon  one  sub 
ject  or  specially  related  group  of  subjects.  In  ad 
dition,  he  is  required  to  take  a  certain  range  of  sub 
jects  which  will  assure  him  a  liberal  point  of  view 
Every  effort  is  being  made  to  standardize  the  me 
thods  of  marking  among  the  various  teachers,  so 
that  full  credit — and  uniform  credit — shall  be  given 
to  the  work  of  all  students  in  every  department. 

In  the  crisis  years  of  the  war,  Fisk  has  not  failed 
to  play  its  part  among  the  institutions  of  the  coun 
try.  Early  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Ger 
many  telegrams  went  from  the  University  offering 
the  services  of  the  students.  Since  that  time  more 
than  one  hundred  alumni,  former  students  and  stu 
dents  of  the  present  year,  have  volunteered  or  been 
drafted  into  the  army  of  the  republic.  Many  of 
them  are  already  in  France ;  some  of  them  may  al 
ready  have  taken  part  on  the  battle  line.  Among 
them,  there  is  one  major,  in  the  medical  service ; 
several  captains,  many  first  lieutenants,  and  still 
more  in  other  official  positions.  In  fact,  there  are 
very  few  who  have  been  at  Fisk  who  remain  pri 
vates  very  long  after  entering  military  service. 
The  training  which  they  have  secured  in  the  Uni 
versity  has  prepared  them  for  larger  service  even 
in  the  army. 

In  contributions  of  money  to  the  Army  Y.  M.  C. 
A.,  to  the  Red  Cross,  to  Armenian  Relief,  Fisk  has 
not  failed  to  show  its  loyalty  in  large  degree. 
Thrift  stamps  have  been  purchased  in  large  num 
bers  and  the  faculty,  and  some  students,  have  pur 
chased  liberally  of  Liberty  Bonds.  The  girls  and 
women  have  not  forgotten  that  even  knitting  can 
be  made  a  patriotic  service. 

The  University  has  not  forgotten  that  it  can 
serve  by  sacrifice  of  its  own  working  force.  It 
has  sent  into  the  army,  and  into  the 'various  war 

362 


work  activities,  a  considerable  proportion  of  its 
teaching  force.  Mr.  Dexter  Lutz  is  in  the  Avia 
tion  Corps,  Dr.  L.  E.  Welker  in  the  Medical  Corps 
in  France ;  Professor  A.  F.  Shaw  is  a  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Secretary  with  the  Portugese ;  Professor  J.  W. 
Chambers  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Secretary  with  the  Irish 
in  Ireland;  Professors  J.  N.  Haskell  and  G.  D.  Yoa- 
kum  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  in  France;  Professor 
Messenger  and  Professor  Belsinger  are  among  the 
drafted  men  in  camp.  Dr.  George  E.  Haynes  has 
been  lent  to  the  government  for  the  period  of  the 
war,  as  Director  of  Negro  Economics  and  Advisor 
to  the  Secretary  of  Labor,  on  the  question  of  Ne 
gro  Labor  and  Negro  migration,  thus  providing 
one  of  the  most  important  national  services  any 
one  of  the  'Negro  race  could  possibly  render.  The 
Jubilee  Singers,  who  are  travelling  on  the  road, 
have  given  without  price,  of  their  time  and  services 
that  the  soldiers  of  the  various  camps  scattered 
over  the  country  might  enjoy  their  singing  for  an 
evening. 

The  last  service  which  the  government  has  asked 
— and  one  which  the  University  was  glad  to  render 
— was  to  open  the  campus  as  a  receiving,  or  con 
centration,  cam])  for  six  hundred  soldiers  for  the 
period  of  mobilization.  This  plan  has  meant  the 
giving  over  to  the  army  of  practically  three  of  the 
buildings  of  the  University ;  it  has  meant  the  feed 
ing  of  six  hundred  soldiers  in  the  dining  room 
where  formerly  less  than  three  hundred  students 
were  ordinarily  fed ;  it  has  meant  the  putting  of  all 
our  male  students  in  one  building  where  formerly 
they  occupied  two ;  it  has  meant  crowding  to  a 
very  unusual  degree ;  it  has  meant  the  limitation  of 
activities  of  the  University  life  in  many  respects. 
It  has  all  been  done  gladly,  that  the  University 
might  serve  with  her  fellow  institutions  in  what 
ever  way  would  contribute  to  the  success  of  the 
great  struggle  which  the  allied  nations  are  now 
waging  for  the  liberty  of  the  world. 

All  these  things  suggest  clearly  the  fact  that 
Fisk  University,  which  started  at  the  close  of  the 
great  Civil  War,  which  was  in  some  senses  the 
outcome  of  that  War,  has  labored  in  season  and 
out  of  season  for  half  a  century  so  that  she  might 
be  prepared  to  render  a  new  service — a  large  one 
—to  the  nation  and  to  the  world,  in  a  new  war  of 
larger  significance  to  the  liberties  of  mankind 
Fisk  hopes  to  continue  to  fight  for  liberty  ,not 
long  upon  the  battlefields  of  military  force,  but  for 
ever  in  the  arena  where  the  struggle  is  made  for 
the  liberty  of  the  mind.  Fisk  will  always  struggle 
for  that  "truth  which  shall  make  men  free,"  and 
which  shall  make  not  only  men  free,  but  races  free, 
and  nations,  and  which  shall  establish  peace  on 
earth  as  it  is  also  in  Heaven. 

Written  for  year  1917-1918. 


CHARLES  VICTOR  ROMAN,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  PH.  D., 
LL.  D. 

HOEVER  has  heard  the  resonant 
voice  of  C.  V.  Roman,  A.  M.,  M. 
D.,  LL.  D.,  sound  from  pulpit  or 
platform,  dropping  now  a  classical 
allusion,  now  bits  of  history,  now 
logic,  would  never  set  him  down 
as  the  great  eye,  ear,  nose  and 
throat  specialist  of  the  Meharry 
Medical  College.  It  would  be  thought  that  he  had 
given  days  and  nights  to  the  study  of  the  poets  and 
philosophers  rather  than  to  the  ailments  of  the  deli 
cate  organs  of  the  human  body. 

Born  in  Williamsport,  Pennsylvania,  July  4,  1864. 
Dr.  Roman  migrated  to  Ontario,  Canada  when  but 
eight  years  of  age.  His  mother,  a  Canadian,  was 
the  daughter  of  a  fugitive  slave.  His  father  also 
anticipated  Lincoln's  proclamation  by  more  than  a 
score  of  years. 

Dr.  Roman  attended  the  Ontario  public  schools, 
graduating  from  the  Hamilton  Collegiate  Institute, 
of  Hamilton,  Ontario.  Then  he  returned  to  the 
United  States  to  make  his  way  in  the  world.  He 
planned  to  enter  the  medical  profession,  but  means 
were  lacking  to  pursue  his  course.  He  turned  aside 
and  taught  school  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  in 
both  of  which  states  he  taught  on  his  first  grade 
licenses.  He  then  enrolled  as  a  student  of  medicine 
in  Meharry  Medical  College  receiving  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  in  1890. 


•  The  same  year  he  opened  office  in  Clarksville, 
Tennessee,  where  he  remained  three  years  and  was 
successful  from  the  outset.  He  removed  to  Texas, 
where  he  continued  his  practice  for  eleven  years. 
In  1904  he  was  called  to  Meharry  to  accept  the 
chair  of  instruction  in  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  dis 
eases.  Here  as  a  professor  and  specialist  in  his 
subject  he  has  remained,  teaching,  practicing  and 
delivering  popular  lectures,  working  in  the  church 
and  joining  energetically  in  uplift  work  of  every 
kind  for  the  race. 

He  is  one  of  the  strongest  laymen  in  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  and  wherever  members  of  the  African 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  are  assembled  in  large 
numbers,  there  will  you  find  Dr.  Roman,  making- 
addresses  and  joining  in  counsel.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Southern  Sociological  Congress  and  has  ad 
dressed  that  body  on  nearly  every  occasion  of  its 
gathering. 

To  satisfy  a  youthful  ambition,  he  studied  at  Fisk 
University  and  gained  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts,  in  philosophy  and  history.  He  took  post 
graduate  courses  in  Chicago,  in  Philadelphia  and  in 
London,  England.  On  his  accepting  the  chair  at 
Meharry  Medical  College  in  1904,  Paul  Quin  Col 
lege  honored  him  with  the  degree  of  Ph.  D.,  and 
seven  years  later,  in  1911,  Wilberforce  University 
conferred  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 

He  has  been,  three  times,  a  delegate  to  the  Gen 
eral  Conference  of  his  church.  He  was  delegate  to 
the  Ecumenical  Conference  of  Methodism  which 
met  in  Toronto,  Canada,  in  1911,  and  was  widely 
credited  as  making  the  ablest  address  of  the  occas"- 
ion.  In  1903  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Na 
tional  Medical  Association  and  in!909  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  National  Medical  Journal,  of 
which  he  is  still  editor-in-chief.  He  has  been  hon 
ored  as  the  guest  of  the  medical  societies  of  Phila 
delphia,  New  York,  Chicago,  New  Orleans  and  Dal 
las,  Tex. ;  and  the  invited  guest  of  the  State  Asso 
ciations  of  New  Jersey,  Alabama,  Mississippi, 
South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Texas.  He  is  the  au 
thor  of  "American  Civilization  and  the  Negro,"  the 
most  comprehensive  work  of  the  kind  written  by  a 
Negro.  He  is  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow  and  Knight 
of  Pythias  and  a  man  much  traveled  in  America 
and  in  Europe. 

He  is  one  of  the  advisors  and  associate  editors  of 
these  pages,  one  whose  advice  and  good  judgment 
are  highly  prized  on  all  social  and  racial  questions. 
Dr.  Roman  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Lee 
Voorhees  of  Columbia,  Tennessee,  in  1891.  The 
family  lives  in  Nashville,  surrounded  by  a  host  of 
friends  and  admirers. 

Intellectual  pursuits  and  altruistic  efforts  engage 
his  mind  so  completely  that  he  has  but  little 
room  for  the  consideration  of  material  things.  He 
is,  however,  a  good  provider  though  he  has  accum 
ulated  but  little  of  the  world's  goods.  Having  no 
children,  and  with  a  mind  centered  upon  the  wel 
fare  of  others  the  incentive  to  save  was  not  strong 
in  him. 

Dr.  Roman  has  been  one  of  the  strongest  per 
sonalities  in  America  so  far  as  influencing  the  re 
ligious  life  of  young  Negro  professional  men,  by 
thousands  of  whom  in  every  part  of  the  new  World 
he  is  sincerely  loved. 


363 


WILLIAMS  HAYNES,  B.  TH.,  D.  D. 

PEAKING  of  the  good  deeds  of 
Dr.  William  Haynes  on  the  occa 
sion  of  his  election  as  correspond 
ing  secretary  of  the  Sunday- 
school  Publishing  Board  of  the 

National   Baptist   Convention,   Dr. 

Sutton  E.  Griggs  says— "As  a  worker,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Haynes  has  been  a  success  in  his  personal  and 
public  undertakings.  He  has  massed  some  amount 
of  property  for  himself  and  he  did  this  in  a  thor 
oughly  open  and  honest  way  by  unceasing  labor 
and  strict  economy. 

On  the  east  bank  of  the  Cumberland  river,  just 
North  of  the  city  of  Nashville,  situated  on  a  high 
ground,  you  will  see  some  of  the  finest  brick  build 
ings  to  be  found  anywhere  in  the  South.  Here 
stands  Roger  Williams  University.  Some  years 
ago,  this  school  located  elsewhere,  was  burned.  Jts 
rise  from  the  ashes  and  its  journey  to  the  present 
location  and  stage  of  development,  are  to  be  at 
tributed  in  a  large  measure,  to  the  firmness,  en 
ergy  and  integrity  of  Rev.  William  Haynes,  another 
founder  of  Roger  Williams  University.  This  is 
high  praise  for  any  one  man  and  such  praise  stands 
as  a  substantial  monument  to  so  hard  a  worker  as 
Rev.  Haynes.  The  beauty  of  his  service  to  Roger 
Williams  was  that  he  was  doing  all  this  for  his 
Alma  Mater,  discharging  a  moral  debt,  which  all 
men  feel  toward  the  school  which  <>'ave  them  a 

364 


grip  on  things.  Dr.  Haynes  graduated  from  the 
Normal  Department  of  Roger  Williams  University 
in  1889,  and  the  Theological  Department  in  1899. 
He  did  not  wait  until  his  graduation  to  begin 
preaching  the  Gospel,  but  started  preaching  as 
early  as  1881.  Unlike  many  ministers,  Rev.  Haynes 
has  been  a  sticker. 

He  has  been  in  Nashville  for  more  than  20  years. 
He  has  spent  most  of  his  time  pasturing  two  or 
three  churches.  Two  of  the  churches  he  really 
built  and  for  that  purpose,  he  raised  a  total  amount 
of  $15,000,  and  he  stood  by  each  of  these  churches 
until  they  were  freed  of  debt.  While  engaged  in 
church  work,  his  heart  was  also  in  Roger  Williams. 
He  is  the  chairman  of  the  Trustee  Board  of  Roger 
Williams  University,  and  when  he  was  Educational 
Secretary,  he  paid  $10,000.00  for  the  new  site  of 
that  institution.  This  Dr.  Haynes  considers  as  the 
principal  episode  in  his  life. 

As  Secretary  of  the  Sunday  School  Publishing 
Board,  Dr.  Haynes  is  doing  a  good  work  in  trying 
to  hold  together  the  Baptists  of  the  country.  He 
also  served  as  pastor  of  the  old  celebrated  Spruce 
Street  Baptist  Church,  and  is  now  serving  as  pas 
tor  of  the  Sylvan  Street  Baptist  Church. 

In  1890,  Dr.  Haynes  was  married  to  Miss  Anna 
R.  Wilson,  of  Davidson  County,  Tenn.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Haynes  have  a  large  family  of  happy  sons 
and  they  all  show  the  early  training  received  in  a 
good  Christian  home.  One  of  his  sons,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Haynes,  is  a  teacher  as  well  as  a  minister.  Ano 
ther  son.  W.  H.  Haynes,  is  a  professor  in  More- 
house  College,  Atlanta,  Ga.  The  younger  sons 
are  students. 

In  conclusion,  Dr.  Haynes  is  a  man  who  has  done 
a  great  deal  of  traveling  over  the  country  as  Edu 
cational  Secretary  of  Roger  Williams,  and  his 
name  will  never  die.  He  leaves  too  great  a  monu 
ment  behind  him  and  especially  will  he  be  remem 
bered  by  Roger  Williams  University. 

THE  TRUSTEES  OF  ROGER  WILLIAMS 
UNIVERSITY 

On  the  thirteenth  day  of  February,  1883,  the 
Nashville  Normal  and  Theological  Institute  was 
incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Tenn 
essee,  as  Roger  Williams  University.  The  follow 
ing  are  the  trustees  in  1918  and  1919,  Win.  Haynes, 
B.  Th.,  D.  D.,  who  is  at  this  writing  the  chairman  of 
the  Board  and  was  efficient  in  re-establishing  New 
Roger  Williams  University  after  the  burning  of 
"Old  Roger,"  and  made  the  first  payment  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  ($10,000.00)  for  the  site.  Dr.  G. 
H.  Bandy  is  the  Secretary  of  the  Trustee  Board 
and  one  of  the  most  proficient  practitioneers  in 
medical  profession.  He  is  also  an  alumnus  of 
Roger  Williams  University,  who  has  given  much 
of  his  valuable  time  to  the  University.  A.  B.  Hill, 


INMAN  E.  PAGE,  A.  M.,  A.  B.,  LL.  D. 

Esq.,  (white),  has  been  of  great  help  to  the  Uni 
versity,  as  he  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
the  city  of  Nashville.  Dr.  J.  B.  Singleton,  now 
President  of  the  Peoples  Savings  Bank  and  Trust 
Co.,  and  one  of  the  leading  dentists  in  the  City  of 
Nashville,  has  deep  interest  in  the  University,  and 
he  has  shown  a  willingness  to  be  on  hand  at  all  of 
the  meetings  to  advise  as  his  experience  would  al 
low  him.  Rev.  A.  D.  Hurt,  D.  D.,  is  Superintend 
ent  of  Missions  in  Tennessee,  and  is  doing  much  to 
make  the  University  a  success.  Dr.  A.  M.  Town- 
send,  A.  B.,  is  the  Ex-President  of  the  University. 
He,  having  resigned  last  year,  was  among  the  most 
proficient  presidents  that  the  University  has  ever 
had.  He  is  now  pastor  of  the  Metropolitan  Bap 
tist  Church,  in  Memphis,  Tenn.  As  an  educator, 
he  is  splendid;  as  a  pastor  he  is  kind,  as  a  Gospel 
preacher,  he  is  effective.  He  did  much  to  bring 
Roger  Williams  University  upon  a  level  with  other 
schools  of  its  kind. 

E.  M.  Lawrence,  B.  Th.,  D.  D.,  is  an  alumnus  of 
Roger  Williams  University,  and  is  among  the  old 
est  trustees  of  the  University.  He,  having  been 
elected  long  before  "old  Roger"  burned,  was  in 
strumental  in  creating  enthusiasm  among  the  con 
stituents  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  After  the 

365 


burning  of  the  University,  as  he  was  superinten 
dent  of  Missions  at  that  time,  he  gave  Rev.  Haynes 
who  was  President  of  the  Missionary  and  Educa 
tional  Baptist  Convention  at  that  time,  substantial 
help.  Rev.  A.  O.  Kenney,  B.  Th.,  D.  D.,  is  also  an 
alumnus  of  the  University  who  has  been  about  the 
University  for  thirty  odd  years  as  a  teacher.  He 
has  been  a  great  asset  to  the  success  of  the  school. 
Dr.  Chas.  A.  McMurry,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  (white),  is 
a  teacher  at  Peabody  who  came  to  us  recently  and 
is  intensely  interested  in  the  education  of  the  Ne 
gro.  Rev.  Peter  Vetrees,  D.  D.,  is  one  of  the  oldest 
teachers  of  Sumner  County.  He  taught  thirty  odd 
years  in  Gallatin.  Tenn.,  the  county  seat  of  the 
above  named  county.  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Weaver,  Th. 
D.,  D.  D.,  resigned.  Dr.  H.  M.  Green.  Ph.  D.,  of 
Knoxville,  Tenn..  is  one  of  the  leading  physicians 
of  that  city,  and  a  staunch  friend  to  "Roger  Wil 
liams  University."  B.  J.  Carr,  Esq.,  of  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  is  a  farmer  of  enormous  capacity,  having 
owned  two  or  three  farms  and  success  has  attended 
him  as  such.  He  has  the  courage  of  his  convic 
tion,  contending  what  he  believes  to  be  right.  He 
is  loyal  to  Roger  Williams  University,  and  believes 
in  the  rights  of  the  Trustee  Board. 

A  STATEMENT  CONCERNING  THE  LIFE  AND 

WORK  OF  PROF.  JOHNSON  BY  MRS.  ANNA 

R.  HAYNES. 

Prof.  J.  W.  Johnson,  first  president  of  new 
Roger  Williams  University  ,was  born  in  Columbia, 
Tenn.,  June  23,  1863.  After  receiving  his  public 
school  education  in  Columbia,  he  entered  Roger 
Williams  University,  in  September,  1882,  under  Dr. 
Daniel  Phillips,  first  President  of  Roger  Williams 
University. 

He  graduated  from  the  Classical  Department  in 
May,  1889,  receiving  an  A.  B.  degree.  He  was  an 
energetic  young  man  and  taught  in  the  rural  schools 
during  his  vacation  and  in  that  way,  helped  himself 
through  school.  After  he  had  completed  his  grad 
uation,  he  taught  two  years  in  Hopkinsville,  Ky. 
While  there  without  any  solicitation  on  his  part,  he 
was  elected  as  a  Professor  in  Roger  Williams  Uni 
versity,  which  place  he  held  with  credit  to  himself 
for  eight  years.  During  his  vacation,  he  spent  a 
deal  of  his  time  in  county  institutes  helping  to  pre 
pare  teachers  for  their  work. 

From  1900  to  1907,  he  was  principal  of  the  pub 
lic  school,  at  Martin,  Tenn.,  and  while  there  he  or 
ganized  the  Educational  Congress  of  West  Tennes 
see.  This  great  work  gave  him  prestige  with  tin- 
teachers  of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  and  especially 
the  alumni  of  Roger  Williams  University,  which 
caused  him  to  be  elected  as  the  first  President  of 
the  new  Roger  Williams  University,  in  1905.  He 
willingly  came  on  the  scene  under  very  discourag 
ing  features  and  made  a  great  success  out  of  what 
many  of  his  friends  thought  an  impossibility.  But 


BIRD'S-EYE  VIEW  OF  ROGER   V/ILLIAMS   UNIVERSITY 


he  had  won  the  hearts  of  the  alumni  of  Roger  Wil 
liams  University,  and  many  of  the  best  friends, 
both  white  and  colored,  and  especially  Dr.  More- 
house,  who  was  at  that  time  corresponding  secre 
tary  of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  So 
ciety.  With  the  unfaltering  confidence  in  these 
friends,  he  and  four  other  teachers  entered  Roger 
Williams  University.  As  they  labored,  the  school 
grew  in  number  from  four  teachers  and  thirty- 
eight  students  in  1907,  to  twelve  teachers  and  one 
hundred  eighty  students  in  1913. 

The  property  of  the  school  at  that  time  was  val 
ued  at  $10,000.00,  and  rose  to  $65.000.00.  The  girls' 
building  was  completed  and  is  now  called  Phillips 
Hall.  Many  other  improvements  were  added  dur 
ing  the  presidency  of  Prof.  Johnson. 

DR.  INMAN  EDWARD  PAGE 

In  August  1918,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Roger 
Williams  University  elected  as  President  of  that 
Institution,  Dr.  Intnan  Edward  Page,  then  Presi 
dent  of  Western  College,  Macon,  Mo.  This  elect 
ion  was  the  result  of  the  resignation  of  Rev.  A.  M. 
Townsend,  who  had  been  at  the  head  of  the  insti 
tution  the  past  five  years,  and  who  had  resigned  to 
accept  the  pastorate  of  the  Metropolitan  Baptist 
Church,  of  Memphis,  Tenn. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  was  fortunate  indeed  to 
secure  the  services  of  a  man  so  able  as  Dr.  Page, 
a  man  of  a  broad  and  ripe  experience  bringing  to 
the  University  an  experience  of  forty  years  in  edu 
cational  work.  Dr.  Page  is  not  only  a  man  of  edu 
cation,  but  is  an  educator,  a  fact  well  attested  by 
his  Alma  Mater,  Brown  University,  in  conferring 
upon  him  in  May,  1918,  the  honorary  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts,  in  recognition  of  his  services  in  his 
chosen  field  of  labor.  Dr.  Page  had  long  since  re 
ceived  in  cursu  this  degree  from  his  Alma  Mater. 
But  this  last  act  of  honor  was  given  in  true  recog 
nition  of  his  long  and  imminent  service  as  an  edu 
cator,  and  at  a  time  when  honorary  degrees  were 
conferred  upon  Senator  Henry  Cabet  Lodge,  Presi 
dent  William  A.  Neilson  and  many  other  distin 
guished  men. 

At  the  time  this  honor  was  conferred  upon  him. 
The  Evening  Bulletin,  Providence,  R.  I.,  had  this 
to  say :  "Inman  Edward  Page  was  graduated  from 
Brown  University,  with  the  class  of  1877,  receiving 

366 


the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  A.  M..  upon  completing 
his  course.  At  Commencement  he  was  chosen  by 
his  class  to  be  class  orator. 

In  the  Fall  of  1877.  he  became  a  teacher  at  Natchez 
Seminary,  Natchez,  Miss.  Soon  after  he  was  called 
to  become  Vice  President  of  Lincoln  Institute,  Jef 
ferson  City,  Mo.  At  the  end  of  two  years  in  that 
position,  he  was  made  President  and  was  at  the 
head  of  the  institution  which  is  the  State  institu 
tion  of  Missouri,  for  the  collegiate,  normal  and  in 
dustrial  education  of  the  Negro  for  18  years.  In 
1898,  Mr.  Page  became  President  of  the  Agricultu 
ral  and  Normal  University,  at  Langston.  Okla.  He 
was  there  for  seventeen  years,  resigning  to  become 
head  of  the  Western  College,  at  Macon,  Mo. 

Dr.  Page  had  been  previously  honored  twice,  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Law  having  been  conferred 
upon  him  by  Howard  University  and  Wilberforce 
University.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Roger  Wil 
liams  has  before  it  a  bright  future,  having  at  its 
head  an  upright  and  Christian  gentleman,  and  a 
man  of  broad  experience  in  matters  in  general,  but 
particularly  in  matters  educational. 

DR.  A.   M.  TOWNSEND— AS   PRESIDENT   OF   ROGER 
WILLIAMS  UNIVERSITY 

It  is  said  in  speaking  of  Jesus,  John  21  :25 :  "And 
there  are  also  many  other  things  which  Jesus  did, 
the  which,  if  they  should  be  written  every  one,  I 
suppose  that  even  the  world  itself  could  not  con 
tain  the  books  that  should  be  written."  I  hope  we 
do  not  border  upon  sacrilege  by  our  comparison 
here,  but  these  who  have  taken  note  of  Dr.  Town- 
send's  work  and  labor  of  love,  as  the  efficient  pres 
ident  of  Roger  Williams  University,  will  agree  that 
it  would  require,  at  least,  many  books  to  contain 
the  deeds  of  daring,  love  and  sacrifice  during  his 
incumbency  as  President  of  Roger  Williams  Uni 
versity. 

Dr.  Townsend  was  first  a  student  of  that  insti 
tution,  and  then  an  alumnus,  and  then  a  trustee, 
and  on  he  went,  becoming  President  of  that  insti 
tution  in  1913. 

After  five  years  of  arduous  toil  as  President,  he 
retired  from  the  scene,  leaving  a  splendid  faculty, 
student  body,  president's  mansion,  and  other  ade 
quate  facilities,  coupled  with  the  love  and  esteem 
of  the  Baptists  of  Tennessee. 


MATHEW  W.  DOGAN,  A.   B.,  D.   D. 

OR  the  last  quarter  of  a  century 
Mathew  W.  Dogan,  President  of 
Wiley  University,  has  been  a  con 
spicuous  figure  in  Negro  educa 
tion,  and  in  the  work  of  the  Me 
thodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  has 
kept  up  a  close  relationship  with  all  educational 
movements,  both  in  the  church  and  in  the  secular 
world,  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  men  and 
women  together  from  many  various  organizations, 
and  has,  to  keep  himself  fresh  in  school  matters, 
slipped  away  to  attend  summer  schools  whenever 
he  could  spare  the  time. 

Dr.  Dogan  was  born  in  Pontotoc,  Mississippi, 
December  21st.,  1863  His  early  years  were  spent 
in  want,  so  much  so  that  any  sort  of  education 
seemed  for  a  long  time  absolutely  beyond  his  reach. 
Such  meagre  educational  advantages  as  his  home 
town  offered  he  embraced,  when  he  could  spare 
the  time  from  the  task  of  earning  his  bread.  Dur 
ing  those  days  of  hardship  he  worked  at  whatever 
task  he  could  find.  For  a  time  he  was  a  boot-black 
in  his  father's  shop.  The  few  pennies  he  gathered 
here  were  put  to  a  very  practical  use,  not  squan 
dered  as  spending  change.  He  had  heard  of  Rust 

367 


University  ,at  Holly  Springs,  and  was  determined 
to  complete  a  course  there.  Thus  the  boot  black 
money  was  used  to  pay  his  way  in  this  school. 

He  was  not  of  those  to  be  satisfied  with  a  little 
education,  however.  He  wanted  a  college,  as  well 
as  preparatory  course.  Thus  the  finishing  of  the 
one  only  gave  thirst  for  the  other.  To  stem  the 
tide  of  want  he  at  one  time  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business.  But  the  gods  of  merchandise  would  not 
yield  him  the  coveted  crown  of  wealth  and  pros 
perity,  may  be  they  knew  he  was  marked  for  ano 
ther  career.  When  all  seemed  fair  to  succeed  the 
flames  came  and  swept  all  away,  his  dreams  of 
wealth  as  well  as  his  world's  goods.  With  all  his 
struggling  and  economy  he  was  not  able  to  stem 
the  tide  of  circumstances  in  college.  And  so  for 
two  years  he  bade  his  alma  mater  adieu.  In  the 
interim  he  turned  his  undertakings  to  school  teach 
ing,  at  which  he  so  well  succeeded  that  he  was  able 
to  return  to  college  and  complete  his  course  with 
out  further  interrupt'on. 

Clearly  the  President  of  Wiley  was  no  mean  pu 
pil  ;  for  in  spite  of  money  worry,  in  spite  of  inter 
ruptions,  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1886, 
from  the  full  college  course  and  what  is  more  to 
the  point,  at  the  head  of  his  class.  Wras  he  better 
or  worse  for  the  hardships,  for  the  interruptions, 
for  the  concern  over  the  money  to  defray  his  ex 
penses? 

It  is  one  thing  to  win  distinction  as  a  scholar ; 
it  is  quite  another  thing  to  win  a  place  as  a  man 
worthy  to  conduct  classes  and  to  take  a  hand  in 
the  management  of  a  college.  Dr.  Dogan  had  won 
both  of  these  distinctions  in  graduating  from  Rust 
University.  In  the  fall  term  following  his  grad 
uation  from  Rust  he  was  elected  to  a  place  on  the 
Rust  University  faculty,  a  place  which  he  held  for 
the  next  five  years.  In  1891,  he  was  elected  as  a 
teacher  of  mathematics  in  the  Central  Tennessee 
College,  at  Nashville.  This  institution  is  now  Wai- 
den.  Five  years  later  he  was  chosen  President  of 
Wiley  University,  the  position  which  he  still  holds. 

Under  Dr.  Dogan's  Administration  many  chang 
es  for  the  better  have  taken  place  in  Wiley  Uni 
versity.  While  this  is,  of  course  a  church  school, 
and  while  it  is  true  that  church  leaders  and  classical 
scholars  are  expected  to  come  out  of  this  and  other 
schools  of  a  like  character,  yet  Wiley,  like  many 
other  institutions,  has  so  shaped  its  courses  under 
Dr.  Dogan's  presidency  that  it  can  meet  the  de 
mands  of  modern  times,  as  well  as  supply  courses 
for  those  who  wish  to  pursue  the  more  formal  stu 
dies  for  church  and  school.  It  has  added  science, 
and  those  industrial  phases  which  fit  students  for 
a  practical  and  immediately  useful  life.  It  has  put 
new  life  into  its  whole  student  body  by  lending  all 
possible  encouragement  to  the  various  kinds  of 


MAIN  BUILDING— WILEY  UNIVERSITY 


athletics  and  sports  ;  teaching  that  these  features 
are  also  very  essential  elements  in  modern  life. 
For  all  these  more  modern  phases  of  adaption, 
Wiley  is  very  largely  indebted  to  her  President, 
Dr.  Dogan. 

As  -a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Dr.  Dogan  is  almost  as  active  as  he  is  in  the  school. 
He  belongs  to  the  General  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  of  his  church.  This  post  he 
has  held  for  twelve  years.  In  secret  orders  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  been 
Prsident  of  the  Texas  State  Teachers'  Association, 
and  President  of  the  National  Association  for 
Teachers  in  Colored  Schools.  He  is  still  active  in 
both  of  these  bodies,  being  on  the  Executive  com 
mittee  of  the  latter  and  a  frequent  attendant  at 
the  meetings  of  the  former.  He  has  traveled  very 
extensively,  having  been  into  most  of  the  States  of 
the  Union,  on  pleasure  and  on  educational  tours. 

Dr.  Dogan  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  F.  Falk- 
ner,  of  Memphis,  Tenn..  in  1888.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Dogan  have  five  children — four  girls  and  one  boy. 
The  oldest  daughter  attended  Oberlin.  but  had  to 
drop  out  in  her  Junior  year  because  of  poor  health. 
The  second  daughter  finished  college  at  Wiley  this 
year.  The  other  children  are  in  the  preparatory 
course,  at  Wiley. 

With  all  his  handicaps  at  the  outset,  Dr.  Dogan 
has  managed  to  accumulate  a  goodly  share  of  the 
world's  goods.  He  now  pays  taxes  on  $7,000  worth 
of  property. 


Of  all  the  States  of  the  South  and  Southwest, 
Texas  has  the  fairest  record  in  good  schools  and 
high  educational  standards  for  the  Negro.  Gal- 
veston.  Houston,  Dallas,  Beaumont,  and  many 
other  of  the  big  cities  of  the  State  boast  of  the 
High  Schools  ;  schools  with  the  best  equipment  and 
the  ablest  teachers  that  can  be  found.  Flanking 
these  all  about  the  State  are  the  colleges  and  nor 
mal  schools.  The  colleges  are  for  the  most  part 
fostered  by  denominational  boards.  The  oldest  of 
these,  oldest  not  only  of  Texas,  but  west  of  the 
Mississippi,  is  Wiley  University. 

Wiley  was  founded  by  the  Freedmen's  Aid  So 
ciety,  of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  the  year  1872. 
It  received  its  charter  nine  years  later,  in  1882.  As 
has  been  stated  it  is  the  oldest  institution  of  col 
lege  grade  open  to  Negroes  west  of  the  Mississ 
ippi  River.  From  its  beginning  it  has  carried  a 
good  record  for  scholarship,  sound  business  prin 
ciples  and  clean  religious  teachings.  During  its 
history  of  nearly  fifty  years  it  has  graduated  more 
than  five  hundred  students  and  has  taught  and  in 
fluenced  and  directed  the  lives  of  thousands  of  un 
dergraduates.  Some  years  ago  the  question  as  to 
the  standing  and  the  rating  of  various  Negro  col 
leges  was  widely  discussed.  Many  of  the  so-called 
colleges  received  the  black  eye.  Not  so  with  Wiley 
University.  Many  experts  from  the  North  gave  it 
a  high  rating,  and  four  state  boards  of  education, 
among  which  is  Texas,  placed  her  on  the  roll  of 
first  class  colleges. 


368 


CARNEGIE  LIBRARY— WILEY  UNIVERISTY 

While  the  institution  was  begun  as  a  University, 
yet  it  lias  so  adjusted  its  courses  to  the  needs  of 
the  people  and  the  times  that  a  student  may  re 
ceive  a  complete  course  for  almost  any  career  he 
wishes  to  follow.  Due  to  the  early  needs  of  the 
people,  Wiley  opened,  and  continues  to  maintain, 
a  grammar  school  department  and  a  college  prep 
aratory  department.  Thus  one  can  enter  at  the 
bottom  of  the  intellectual  ladder,  and  ascend  all  the 
way  through  his  college  course. 

In  the  college  department  are  a  classical  course, 
a  course  in  Education,  in  Music  and  in  Commerce. 
Along  with  these  Wiley  maintains  an  industrial 
course  for  girls.  This  course  covers  the  various 
forms  of  housekeeping,  needle  work,  and  many  of 
the  handicrafts.  These  are  all  furnished  by  the 
King  Industrial  Home,  which  is  just  across  the 
street  from  the  University,  and  is  under  the  direc 
tion  of  the  Woman's  Ho'me  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

As  her  course  has  grown  to  meet  the  demands  of 
the  times  so  have  her  buildings.  Wiley  University 
riant  consists  of  a  Main  Building,  of  the  Pres 
ident's  Home,  a  Carnegie  Library,  two  Recitation 
Malls,  a  Science  Hall,  a  Laundry,  Coe  Hall,  which 
is  a  dormitory,  and  four  cottages,  which  are  frame 
structures.  It  carries  a  full  nine  months  session, 
has  recitation  periods  of  fifty  minutes,  and  main 
tains  all  the  clubs,  athletic  teams,  and  debating  ac 
tivities  common  to  the  college  of  the  first  rank. 
Three  new  buildings  are  to  grace  her  campus  next 
year. 

Having  a  faculty  of  moderate  size,  Wiley  num 
bers  among  her  teachers  men  and  women  from 
many  of  the  leading  institutions  of  the  country. 

369 


Its  staff  numbers  twenty-four  teachers.  It  has 
an  income  of  $56,932  dollars.  This  sum  comes  larg 
ely  from  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society,  which,  in  ad 
dition  to  paying  salaries  and  providing  money  for 
current  expenses,  keeps  a  field  Secretary  on  the 
road  looking  after  the  interest  of  Wiley,  and  other 
institutions  under  its  charge.  Deserving  young 
men  and  women,  who  demonstrate  that  they  are 
really  in  earnest,  and  who  are  willing  to  work  sel 
dom,  if  ever,  have  to  leave  school  on  account  of 
lack  of  funds.  Employment  about  the  campus,  in 
the  dormitories,  in  the  dining  room,  and  in  the  of 
fice  of  the  school,  as  well  as  work  in  the  town  pro 
vide  ways  for  industrious  students  to  earn  a  good 
deal  of  their  expenses  through  school. 

The  President  of  Wiley  University  is  Dr.  M.  W. 
Dogan.  D.  D.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Walden  Uni 
versity  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  a  former  Professor 
in  that  institution.  Dr.  Dogan  is  responsible  for 
many  of  the  changes  in  the  University  during  the 
twenty-two  ^ears  he  has  been  at  the  head.  Of 
these  the  adjustment  of  courses  and  the  increase 
of  buildings  and  courses  have  been  the  most  im 
portant 

Some  time  ago  several  experts  in  school  matters 
visited  Wiley  and  examined  her  work.  Here  is 
their  verdict : 

"W'iley  is  an  example  of  the  best  work  done  by 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  the  Negro." 

Mr.  W.  T.  B.  Williams.  Agent  for  the  Jeanes  and 
Slater  Funds,  said :  "Wiley  is  one  of  the  three 
schools  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  that  should 
do  full  college  work." 

Of  like  character  was  the  testimony  of  President 
Holgate,  of  North  Western  University,  and  of 
President  Plantz,  of  Lawrence  College. 


PRESIDENT'S  HOME-  WILEY  UNIVERSITY 


KENT  HOME— BENNETT  COLLEGE— GREENSBORO,  N.  C. 


ENNETT  College  v^s  founded  in 
1873,  by  the  Freedmen's  Aid  So- 
ciet} .  Located  at  Greensboro, 
North  Carolina,  which  is  situated 
in  Guilford  County,  it  has  a  very 

SK^^y  J  I      large  colored  population  to  draw 
^    ^^^^SM    on.       In    Guilford    County    alone,  ' 

there  are  more  than  fifteen  thous 
and  colored  people,  a  large  percent  of  them  being 
illiterate.  In  fact  considering  the  condition  of  the 
colored  people  in  that  section,  the  founders  of  Ben 
nett  College  could  not  have  chosen  a  more  appro 
priate  place  in  which  to  build  a  school.  Although 
Bennett  carries  a  College  department  and  a  Normal 
department,  its  greatest  number  of  pupils  is  en 
rolled  in  the  primary  department. 

Bennett  College  owns  thirty-seven  acres  of  land 
within  the  city  limits  of  Greensboro.  Of  this 
amount  about  twenty  are  under  cultivation.  This 
furnishes  not  only  a  source  from  which  to  get  fresh 
vegetables,  but  also  a  place  where  a  practical  edu 
cation  in  Agriculture  may  be  had.  The  rest  of  the 
land  is  used  for  a  campus.  On  this  campus  there 
are  several  buildings.  Central  Building  is  four 
stories  high  and  is  used  for  office,  Library,  class 
rooms,  dining  room  and  girls'  dormitory.  The 
President's  house  is  a  new  building  and  suited  to 
its  use.  Carolina  Hall  contains  the  chapel  and  the 
boy's  dormitory.  Besides  the  three  main  buildings 
there  are  two  frame  structures  that  are  in  use  for 
industrial  work  and  laundry.  The  valuation  of  the 
buildings  is  $30,000.  The  value  of  the  land  is  $35,- 
000.  and  movable  equipment  $5,000. 

The  attendance  at  Greensboro  is  between  300 
and  350.  More  than  half  of  these  are  in  the  ele 
mentary  grades  due  in  part  to  lack  of  room  in  the 
public  school.  The  greater  portion  of  the  pupils 
are  from  Greensboro,  but  the  entire  State  of  North 
Carolina  is  fairly  well  represented. 

370 


In  addition  to  the  regular  subjects  taught  in  the 
course  of  study  there  are  offered  sewing  and  cook 
ing  for  girls  and  gardening  has  been  recently  add 
ed.  The  girls  have  in  connection  with  the  school 
Kent  Home.  This  home  is  owned  and  supported  by 
the  Woman's  Missionary  Society,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  The  finances  of  the  Kent  Home 
are  entirely  separate  from  those  of  the  College,  but 
the  home  is  a  vital  part  of  the  school  and  the  train 
ing  received  by  the  young  women  who  are  enrolled 
in  the  Home  is  very  thorough  and  is  what  is  needed 
by  the  young  women  of  the  race.  The  teachers  in 
charge  of  the  Home  are  three  white  women  who 
see  to  it  that  the  girls  take  good  care  of  their 
rooms,  and  personal  surroundings  and  that  they 
are  well  trained  in  all  the  domestic  virtues 

The  teachers  at  Bennett  College  are  twelve  in 
number.  All  of  them  are  colored.  They  are  equally 
divided  as  to  sex  and  they  enter  into  the  work  of 
the  school  and  in  the  training  of  the  young  with 
enthusiasm.  The  President  of  the  school  is  Mr. 
Frank  Trigg,  A.  M.  President  Trigg  has  had 
charge  of  the  school  since  1916  and  is  developing 
the  school  along  progressive  lines. 

Most  of  the  funds  for  the  maintenance  of  Ben 
nett  are  derived  from  the  Freedmen's  aid  Society, 
$3,800  being  the  sum  that  is  given  by  this  body 
for  the  support  of  the  institution.  The  next  larg 
est  income  is  from  the  tuition  and  fees.  This 
amounts  to  over  $1500  annually.  Money  derived 
from  other  sources  amounts  to  very  little.  Non- 
educational  receipts  were  received  from  the  board 
ing  department  and  amounted  to  $3,720. 

Bennett  College  is  placed  where  it  can  be  a 
mighty  force  for  good  in  the  up-lift  of  the  Negro 
race.  That  the  work  of  the  institution  has  been 
hampered  to  some  extent  in  the  past  is  true.  But 
Bennett  has  in  spite  of  all  this  accomplished  a  lot 
for  our  people. 


REVEREND  D.  J.  JENKINS 


HE  founder  of  the  lenkins  Or 
phanage  and  Reformatory  was 
born  near  Bamberg,  South  Caro- 
ina,  in  April,  1865.  He  was  reared 
by  a  careful,  prayerful  mother, 
aided  by  Mrs.  Dickerson,  in  whose 
home  he  was  placed.  He  got  such  education  from 
the  public  schools  as  he  could  in  those  days. 

He  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss  Lena  James  of 
Barnwell.  County.  Eight  years  later  he  entered 
Benedict  College  to  study  theology  and  at  the  same 
time  was  assistant  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Baptist 
Church. 

One  cold  winter  morning  on  passing  the  railroad 
track  he  saw  some  half  dozen  naked  children  hud 
dled  together  in  a  freight  car  where  they  had  taken 
refuge  for  the  night.  He  reasoned  that  these  were 
but  a  remnant  of  what  were  cast  about  in  cellars, 
and  alleys  and  corners — yes,  and  in  jail.  Thus  on 
December  16,  1891,  he  opened  his  orphanage  in  an 
old  shed  at  666  King  Street,  Charleston,  with  three 
boys  and  one  girl.  In  a  few  months  the  number 
had  increased  to  96.  The  next  year.  1892,  the  or 
phanage  moved  to  Franklin  Street  and  increased  its 
number  of  waifs  to  360.  In  the  same  year  it  be 
came  regularly  incorporated,  and  by  1898  it  had  en- 

371 


rolled  536  pupils,  with  very  little  funds,  food  or 
clothing  to  make  the  children  comfortable. 

To  meet  all  their  needs  Rev.  Jenkins  had  but  one 
combined  recourse — prayer  and  toil.  By  persist 
ent  struggle  he  caught  the  ear  of  the  white  people 
and  the  colored  people  of  his  State,  and  here  and 
there  gained  a  friend  in  the  North.  The  former 
gave  him  130  acres  of  land  with  the  equipment  of 
a  blacksmith  shop,  saw  mill  and  farm.  Deacon 
Wild,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  added  one  hundred  acres 
to  this,  making  230  acres  available  for  training  the 
children. 

The  names  of  all  donors  with  the  amount  given 
is  published  in  the  "Charleston  Messenger,"  a 
weekly  published  by  the  Jenkins  Orphanage  with 
Rev.  Jenkins  as  Editor.  The  City  Council  has 
granted  the  orphanage  a  sum  of  money  each  year 
for  the  last  fifteen  years.  Beginning  with  a  grant 
of  $200  in  1897,  it  increased  the  amount  year  by 
'year  until  in  1904  it  gave  $1,000,  in  1914  it  gave 
$2,500,  which  sum  it  has  continued  to  grant. 

There  is  also  in  addition  to  the  orphanage  a  Jen 
kins  Reformatory  which  is  located  at  Ladson, 
South  Carolina.  Here  children  are  kept  free  or  at 
a  small  cost,  educated  in  books  and  manners  and 
taught  one  or  more  trades.  In  all  cases,  in  the 
Orphanage  and  in  the  Reformatory,  Agriculture  is 
made  a  specialty. 

The  school  is  supported  mainly  by  donations.  Se 
curing  these,  falls  wholly  upon  the  shoulders  of  the 
founder  and  such  friends  as  he  may  draw  to  him, 
North  and  South.  He  travels  much,  writes  many 
letters  and  has  many  workers  in  the  field.  One  of 
his  most  popular  means  of  making  known  the  needs 
and  merits  of  his  school  is  with  the  Jenkins'  Band. 
With  this  he  has  traveled  much,  both  in  America 
and  in  Europe.  The  Little  Musicians  are  a  crown 
ing  and  shining  light  of  the  kind  of  pupils  that  are 
taken  in  and  an  indisputable  instance  of  what  one 
consecrated  man  can  do  in  the  hands  of  his  Maker. 

Five  years  ago  he  resigned  the  pastorate  of  the 
Fourth  Tabernacle  Baptist  Church  in  order  to  give 
his  entire  life  to  the  cause  of  the  Orphanage.  But 
the  church  would  not  accept  and  passed  a  resolution 
unanimously  electing  him  for  life  and  doubling  his 
salary  accordingly. 

His  first  wife  was  a  mother  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  nine  are  dead,  only  two  survivors,  namely : 
Edward  T.  Jenkins,  who  won  his  scholarship  in 
the  Royal  Academy,  London,  England  in  every  con 
test  that  he  entered,  and  is  now  20  years  of  age. 
Little  Mildred,  the  baby  daughter,  is  the  only  girl 
living.  Dr.  S.  If.  Jenkins,  his  odest  son,  came  out 
at  the  head  of  his  class  in  Penssylvania  Dental  Col 
lege.  His  oldest  daughter,  Lena  came  out  head  in 
her  class  in  Howard  University.  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  most  regretted  part — his  older  children  after 
attaining  years  of  usefulness  and  help  to  his  work, 
departed  this  life. 


SCENE  OF  ROYAL  UNDERTAKING  COMPANY— SAVANNAH,  GA. 


R.  L.  M.  Pollard  is  one  of  those  big 
enterprising  Negro  business  men, 
of  Savannah.     Like   Messrs   Scott 
and     Sherman,     men     whom     he 
works  with,  and  like  many  other 
men  of  large  vision  in  Savannah. 
Mr.  Pollard  believes  in  and  prac 
tices  co-operative  business.     With 
him,  opportunities  for  the  Negro  business  are  too 
numerous,  the  race  too  young,  and  modern  compe 
tition  far  too  keen  in  the  business  world  today. 

Mr.  Pollard  is  among  the  comparatively  few 
men  anywhere  to  see  opportunity  near  at  hand. 
This  is  true  of  his  life  in  Savannah.  All  his  ener 
gies  have  been  spent  here ;  all  his  successes  attain 
ed  here. 

He  was  born  in  Savannah,  December  12,  1867. 
He  was  educated  here,  having  attended  the  public 
schools  and  Beach  Institute,  which  is  also  in  Sa 
vannah.  On  finishing  his  school  career,  Mr.  Pol 
lard  turned  his  attention  to  civil  service ;  for  here 
an  uneducated  colored  man  found  employment  that 
compared  most  nearly  with  his  training,  with  a 
faint  hope  of  advancement.  And  this,  by  the  way, 
explains  the  presence  of  so  large  a  number  of  edu 
cated  colored  men  in  government  service.  It  ex 
plains  also  why  Negroes  often  pass  the  Civil  Ser 
vice  Examinations  when  white  people  fail.  White 
people  with  an  equal  grade  of  training  have  larger 
opportunities  open  to  them,  while  the  educated  col 
ored  man  was  and  is  limited  largely  to  teaching  in 
six  months  schools,  on  a  pittance  for  a  salary,  or 
preaching  in  four  country  churches  per  month  for 
sustenance.  Happily  the  growing  love  of  the  old 
black  man  for  his  son  is  rapidly  opening  the  door 
of  business  for  the  educated  Negro. 

Mr.  Pollard  entered  the  civil  service  in  1890.  For 
twelve  years  he  was  a  letter  carrier  for  Savannah. 
By  this  time  he  had  put  by  a  few  dollars  and  felt 
himself  ready  to  venture  forth  in  business.  In 
1912,  he,  with  his  partners  began  the  Royal  Under- 

372 


taking    Company.     Mr.    Pollard     became     general 
manager. 

In  the  life  of  Savannah  and  in  the  organization 
of  the  State  Mr.  Pollard  is  also  a  useful  and  lead 
ing  member.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  his  city.  In  his  church  he  takes  an  ac 
tive  part  in  the  Church  and  in  the  Sunday  School. 
In  the  latter  he  is  especially  interested,  being  par 
ticularly  fond  of  working  with  children  and  with 
those  who  have  the  children  in  charge.  He  is  Sen 
ior  Warden  in  the  Saint  Stephens  Episcopal  church 
and  director  of  the  Primary  school  and  kindergar 
ten. 

The  experience  with  the  Royal  Undertaking 
Company  opened  Mr.  Pollard's  eyes  to  the  many 
business  chances  that  lay  right  at  his  door.  There 
fore  as  capital  increased  rapidly  he  joined  in  open 
ing  other  business  houses  of  one  kind  or  another. 
In  a  little  while  the  Savannah  Savings  and  Realty 
Corporation  swung  open  the  doors  for  business. 
Mr.  Pollard  was  one  of  the  charter  members  and  is 
today  one  of  the  directors  of  the  bank.  Then 
came  the  Guaranty  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Com 
pany.  Mr.  Pollard  was  made  treasurer  and  is  still 
treasurer  of  this  organization,  one  of  the  safest 
companies  of  its  kind  in  Georgia. 

Mr.  Pollard  is  a  Mason,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  an 
Odd  Fellow.  Indeed,  he  is  an  active  member  of  all 
local  lodges. 

Mr.  Pollard  was  married  in  Savannah,  on  No 
vember  28,  1901.  Mrs.  Pollard  was  Miss  Nellie 
Scott,  of  Savannah.  Two  children,  Miss  Eleanor 
Scott  and  Miss  Susan,  have  been  reared  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pollard.  They  have  been  educated  in 
their  home  and  in  the  South,  and  are  now  pursu 
ing  courses  in  New  York  City. 

WALTER  SANFORD  SCOTT 

Mr.  Walter  Sanford  Scott,  banker  and  prime 
mover  of  a  long  list  of  Negro  enterprises  in  Savan 
nah,  Georgia,  is  an  apostle  of  the  doctrine,  "Cast 
down  your  bucket  where  you  are."  To  be  sure. 


there  is  something  peculiarly  apt  in  his  adopting 
this  principle ;  for  he  not  only  sat  at  the  feet  of  the 
man  who  made  this  doctrine  famous,  but  was  gra 
duated  from  Tuskegee  in  1895,  the  year  that  Dr. 
Washington  made  this  address  at  Atlanta  Exposi 
tion. 

Mr.  Scott  was  born  in  Savannah,  July  26th,  1877. 
After  spending  the  years  of  his  youth  in  Savannah, 
he  went  to  Tuskegee,  where  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Academic  Department  and  from  the  trade 
of  Printing,  in  1895.  Mr.  Scott  then  lost  no  time 
in  putting  into  application  the  theory  of  Dr.  Wash 
ington.  He  returned  to  Savannah  and  for  several 
years  worked  at  his  trade. 

Seven  years  after  his  graduation  from  Tuskegee 
Institute,  Mr.  Scott  made  his  appearance  as  one  of 
the  business  men  to  be  reckoned  with  in  Savannah. 
In  1902  he  became  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of 
the  Wage  Earners'  Loan  and  Investment  Company. 
The  next  year  he  opened  an  ice  cream  parlor  and  a 
dry  goods  store.  The  year  following,  the  leading 
thinkers  of  Savannah  felt  the  need  of  a  health  ben 
efit  insurance.  This  company  was  organized  un 
der  the  name  of  Life  and  Health  Insurance  Com 
pany.  Mr.  Scott,  who  by  this  time  had  become 
known  as  a  sort  of  genius  in  Secretary -Treasurer 
posts,  was  made  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  this 
company.  Savannah,  by  the  way,  is  now  perhaps 
the  leading  city  of  the  world  for  successful  Negro 
Insurance  Companies. 

Organizing  and  promoting  business  enterprises 
now  became  with  Mr.  Scott  a  habit.  In  1906  the 
Royal  Undertaking  Company,  a  firm  that  has  long 
since  become  established  is  one  of  the  big  Negro 
businesses  of  Savannah.  Mr.  Scott  was  made  treas 
urer  of  the  firm.  With  this  he  appears  to  have 
graduated  from  Secretary-Treasurerships  and  to 
have  gone  to  higher  honors.  In  1913  he  was  elec 
ted  President  of  the  Mutual  Health  Insurance 
Company,  a  post  which  he  still  holds.  The  next 
year,  1914,  he  was  elevated  to  the  Presidency  of 
the  Royal  Undertaking  Company.  This  post  he 
still  holds  also.  Mr.  Scott  organized  the  Savannah 
Savings  and  Real  Estate  Corporation.  Of  this  he 
was  made  President  in  1915. 

Thus  very  literally  he  has  cast  down  his  bucket 
in  his  native  city ;  and  then  too,  when  it  came  up 
it  has  had  clear,  cool,  fresh — gold  and  satisfaction 
of  doing  a  constructive  service  for  his  neighbors 
and  for  his  race.  Mr.  Scott  owns  his  home,  a  beaut 
iful  residence  on  East  Taylor  Street,  in  Savannah. 
He  has  under  way  plans  and  specifications  for  a 
country  home.  He  is  a  good  active  church  mem 
ber,  being  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He 
is  a  Mason,  Odd  Fellow  and  Knight  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Scott's  reputation  for  handling  and  organiz 
ing  business  long  ago  became  both  State  wide  and 
National.  His  talent  was  soon  sought  everywhere, 
by  those  who  needed  business  methods.  He  is 
Vice-President  of  National  Negro  Bankers'  Asso 
ciation.  A  member  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  Standard  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Atlan 
ta,  Georgia,  Associate  member  of  the  State  Council 
of  Georgia,  a  council  which  has  for  its  purpose  the 
production  and  conservation  of  food.  He  has  been 
appointed  I)/  the  Governor  of  Georgia  as  the  direc 
tor  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Former  Governor  Harris 
appointed  him  during  his  administration  and  now 
Governor  Dewey  has  reappointed  him. 

373 


Mr.  Scott  was  married  on  December  26th,  1910. 
to  Miss  Laura  McDowell,  of  Savannah.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Scott  have  three  children,  Laura,  Gertrude 
and  Walter  S.  All  are  little  folk  in  school.  Mr. 
Scott  is  still  young,  still  vigorously  active  in  pion 
eering  in  business. 

EDWARD  WINIFRED  SHERMAN 

Somebody  has  written  a  lecture  on  the  heroism 
of  a  private  life.  Herein  the  quieter,  constructive 
virtues  were  extolled.  The  hero  was  lorded  not 
for  the  peaks  he  scaled  or  for  the  armed  foes  he 
vanguished,  but  for  living  his  opinions,  rearing  his 
family  and  for  being  a  law-abiding,  loving  citizen 
and  a  good  neighbor. 

Such  have  been  the  virtues  of  Edward  W.  Sher 
man,  of  Savannah,  Georgia.  Mr.  Sherman  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Georgia,  March  17, 
1868.  He  attended  the  public  schools,  gaining 
what  training  he  could  from  these  and  worked  at 
home  until  he  was  ready  to  advance  training  else 
where.  Mr.  Sherman  then  went  to  Atlanta  Uni 
versity,  completed  his  education  and  settled  down 
immediately  to  his  life  work. 

On  leaving  Atlanta  he  secured  employment  with 
the  Government  and  has  been  in  its  employ  ever 
since,  never  having  sought  any  other  employment. 

However,  he  has  quietly  lent  his  influence,  in 
terest  and  means  to  many  phases  of  Negro  ad 
vancement.  He  has  always  been  interested  in  ed 
ucation  of  Negro  children,  and  both  from  the 
child's  side  and  from  the  view  point  of  the  school 
has  been  a  ready  and  eager  helper.  In  like  manner 
he  has  seen  a  big  future  for  the  black  man  in  bus 
iness.  To  this  end,  once  more  he  has  been  a  ready 
helper  with  money  and  time  and  influence.  He 
has,  therefore,  been  a  sort  of  charter  member  or 
prime  mover  in  many  of  the  business  endeavors  of 
Savannah — in  Savannah  where  Negro  Grocery 
.stores,  dry  goods  houses,  insurance  offices  and 
banks  are  common.  Mr.  Sherman  is  himself  a 
member  of  several  of  these  concerns.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Guaranty  Mutual  Insurance 
Company,  in  the  Savings  Bank,  and  is  one  of  the 
Real  Estate  Corporations.  He  has  also  several 
pieces  of  valuable  real  estate  in  very  desirable  lo 
cations  of  Savannah.  In  this  last  however,  he  takes 
no  special  delight ;  that  is,  none  compared  with  the 
satisfaction  of  having  seen  Negro  business  grow 
from  nothing  to  such  gigantic  proportions,  as  it 
has  done,  in  Savannah,  and  to  know  that  he  him 
self  has  given  some  little  impetus  to  it. 

Mr.  Sherman  belongs  to  several  organizations 
of  uplift.  In  these  he  gives  his  quiet  but  sure  and 
substantial  support.  He  is  a  Congregationalist  be 
ing  a  member  of  the  First  Congregationalist 
Church  of  Savannah.  He  is  also  a  Knight  of  Py 
thias,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Endowment  Board 
of  this  body.  He  holds  membership  in  and  gives 
support  to  the  N.  A.  C.  P.,  National  Association  for 
the  Advancement  of  Colored  People.  This  organi 
zation  he  believes  in  and  has  great  hopes  for.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Negro  Protective  Associa 
tion. 

Mr.  Sherman  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Eliza 
beth  Harne  of  Hawkinsville  Georgia.  Their  chil 
dren  are  deceased.  The  eldest,  Miss  Alberta  Win 
ifred,  died  during  her  first  year  as  a  student  at  At 
lanta  University. 


THOMAS   ALEXANDER   CARR 


O  win  distinction,  it  is  not  neces 
sary  for  a  man  to  live  in  the  lime 
light.  Many  a  man  who  has  pur 
sued  his  course  in  a  quiet  and  un 
ostentatious  manner  has  left  his 
mark  upon  the  world  for  its  good. 
Thomas  Alexander  Carr  belongs  to  this  class. 

Mr.  Carr  was  born  October  26th,  1868,  in  Orange 
County,  in  the  State  of  Texas.  He  attended  the 
common  school  until  he  was  twelve  years  of  age. 
After  that  date  he  gained  such  additional  infor 
mation  as  he  could  absorb  from  reading  at  nights 
and  at  odd  times  during  the  day. 

There  are  two  ways  of  learning — one  from  study 
and  the  other  from  observation.  Mr.  Carr,  while 
denied  the  former  strictly  adhered  to  the  latter, 
and  was  not  slow  to  imitate  the  strong  points  he 
saw  in  others. 

At  an  early  age  he  entered  the  employment  of 
the  Morgan  Line  of  Steamships,  then  plying  their 
trade,  along  all  of  the  Southern  ports.  While  this 
work  took  him  away  from  home,  it  gave  him  an  op 
portunity  to  see  many  interesting  places  and  to  en 
joy  a  rich  and  varied  experience. 

374 


During  his  cruises  he  visited  Galveston,  Texas, 
Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  Havana,  and  Morgan  City. 

After  five  years  service  with  the  Morgan  steam 
ship  Line,  he  located  in  New  Orleans  and  took  up 
steamboating.  From  steamboating  he  went  to 
work  in  a  boarding  house  at  a  salary  which  never 
exceeded  twenty  dollars  per  month.  He  finally 
landed  the  job  of  janitor  for  the  Southern  Athletic 
Club,  of  New  Orleans,  which  lie  held  for  fifteen 
years.  Here  he  made  a  record  for  punctuality  of 
which  he  is  very  proud.  During  his  entire  term  of 
service  he  never  missed  but  sixteen  days  from  his 
work,  and  that  was  clue  to  sickness. 

It  has  been  his  privilege  to  serve  all  the  first- 
class  Prize  Fighters,  like  Corbett,  Killrain,  and  oth 
ers  of  that  day.  He  also  served  the  first  Foot  Ball 
team  of  the  S.  A.  C.,  and  went  with  their  Battalion 
to  Chicago  during  the  World's  fair. 

Mr.  Carr  had  long'  desired  to  enter  the  arena  of 
business,  and  first  thought  of  entering  the  dry 
goods  business,  but  his  sympathetic  and  loyal  dis 
position  frequently  called  him  to  the  bed  side  of  the 
sick,  and  to  the  house  of  mourning.  This  service 
brought  him  into  constant  touch  with  undertakers, 
one  of  whom,  Jas.  H.  Taylor,  formed  a  strong 
friendship  for  him,  which  resulted  in  his  becoming- 
connected  with  the  Boyne  &  Taylor  Co.,  Ltd.,  and 
finally  its  sole  owner  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Taylor. 
In  1918,  he  dissolved  the  Company,  and  formed  a 
co-partnership  with  R.  ].  LLopis,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Carr  and  LLopis,  which  is  now  doing  a 
good  business. 

Mr.  Carr  is  emphatically  a  man  of  peace  and 
honesty.  He  never  gets  in  broils  and  has  steered 
away  from  Courts.  He  cannot  ever  recall  having 
been  before  the  court  even  as  a  witness. 

Mr.  Carr  is  a  strong  advocate  of  athletics  but 
he  believes  it  is  not  inconsistent  with  the  life  of  a 
Christian,  so  he  found  his  place  in  the  church.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  First  Street  Methodist  Episco 
pal  Church,  of  New  Orleans. 

He  is  also  a  member  of  a  number  of  Negro  So 
cieties,  such  as  Cresent  City  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Past  Superior  of  Pilgrim  Tabernacle,  G. 
G.  A.  A.  B.  and  S.  of  L.  and  C,  and  now  Chairman 
of  the  Order's  Burial  Board;  a  member  of  Cresent 
Lodge,  G.  N.  O.  O.  Fellows;  a  member  of  Grand 
Council  M.  O.  H.,  of  La.,  Past  Grand  Treasurer  of 
Supreme  Council  of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  A.  O. 
Order  Scottish  Rite  of  Free  Masonry,  and  various 
other  benevolent  orders  and  clubs. 

He  married  Marst  31st,  1885,  Miss  Octavia 
Carter,  and  the  only  cloud  upon  an  unusual  happy 
married  life  was  the  death  of  their  only  child,  Oc 
tavia  Caroline  Carr,  who  died  in  1892. 


MAIN  BUILDING— CENTRAL  ALABAMA  INSTITUTE 


EN'TRAL  Alabama  Institute  is  lo 
cated  in  Birmingham,  Alabama. 
It  was  founded  in  1872,  at  Hunts- 
ville,  Alabama.  In  1904,  it  was 
moved  to  Birmingham.  Here  in 
Birmingham  it  has  a  larger  num 
ber  from  which  to  draw  students.  The  school  is 
owned  by  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society,  but  the  Cen 
tral  Alabama  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church  co-operates  with  the- Freedmen's  Aid 
Society  in  the  support  and  supervision  of  the  work. 
Central  Alabama  Institute  offers  elementary 
courses,  college,  preparatory,  and  normal  courses. 
Although  the  school  is  small,  it  fills  a  place  much 
in  need,  in  that  it  trains  teachers  for  the  rural 
districts.  The  pupils  who  attend  the  elementary 
department  could  be  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
city,  but  in  this  Modal  school  they  are  being  train 
ed  to  teach. 

The  courses  followed  in  the  preparatory  and 
Normal  courses  are  outlined  by  the  Freedmen's 
Aid  Society.  In  this  particular  the  school  co-ope 
rates  with  all  the  other  institutions  directly  under 
the  supervision  of  this  society.  It  has,  however, 
the  opportunity  to  do  individual  work  as  far  as  do 
ing  the  work  thoroughly  is  concerned.  This,  the 
President,  Mr.  J.  B.  F.  Shaw  and  his  corp  of  work 
ers,  endeavor  to  do. 

Provision  is  made  for  sixty  boarding  pupils. 
Here  in  the  school,  the  pupils  who  make  it  their 
home  are  taught,  no  only  the  books  prescribed  by 
the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society,  but  they  are  given  les- 

375 


sons  in  "How  to  Live."  They  are  required  to  care 
for  the  .buildings  in  which  they  live  and  for  the 
grounds  around.  In  this  way  the  boys  and  the 
girls  get  valuable  lessons  in  home  making.  The 
girls  are  taught  plain  sewing  by  one  of  the  mat 
rons.  All  the  pupils,  whether  they  have  money  or 
not,  are  required  to  give  one  hour  each  day  in 
work.  In  this  way  the  interest  of  each  student  is 
kept  up  in  the  general  appearance  of  the  buildings 
and  grounds.  This  hour  of  work  is  aside  from  car 
ing  for  their  own  personal  rooms. 

The  school  owns  forty  acres  of  valuable  land  in 
Mason  City,  a  few  miles  from  Birmingham.  There 
are  six  buildings  on  the  grounds.  Two  of  these  are 
large  brick  structures.  The  buildings  are  new  and 
are  in  good  repair.  They  are  worth  $25,000.  The 
value  of  the  entire  plant  is  about  $42,500.00.  The 
Freedmen's  Aid  Society  gives  to  the  school  $29,000 
yearly,  but  this  is  not  enough  to  run  the  plant. 
From  other  sources  they  receive  about  $1500.00. 
With  this  and  the  tuition  money,  they  manage  to 
keep  the  school  in  good  shape. 

The  faculty  consists  of  eleven  teachers.  Three 
of  these  do  the  grade  work  and  three  do  the  Acad 
emic  work.  There  is  a  strong  music  department. 

That  the  entire  plant  is  doing  good  work  is  seen 
from  the  work  of  those  who  go  out  from  the  school. 
In  the  report  of  the  Commission  of  specialists  who 
made  an  exhaustive  study  of  all  Negro  schools, 
they  recommend  "That  the  training  of  teachers  for 
rural  districts  be  made  the  main  object  of  the 
school. 


MINOR   FRANCIS    McCLEARY,    M.    D. 


FTEN  it  happens  that  an  incident, 
frequently  in  early  life,  determ 
ines  a  man's  life  work.  He  catch 
es  an  inspiration  from  it  which 
grips  his  soul  and  moulds  his  af- 

ter  career.     It    was    so    with    Dr. 

McCleary.  When  a  boy,  only  ten  years  of  age,  he 
witnessed  the  amputation  of  a  man's  leg.  He 
watched  the  physicians  as  they  skillfully  removed 
the  injured  member  and  was  so  impressed  with  it 
that  then  and  there  he  decided  to  enter  the  medical 
profession.  He  adhered  to  the  decision  thus  early 
formed,  and  in  due  course  of  time  had  the  satisfac 
tion  of  having  M.  D.  written  after  his  name. 

There  was  a  long  stretch  from  the  formation  of 
his  purpose  and  its  accomplishment  and  the  way 
was  hard  for  it  called  for  years  of  study  and  pre 
paration  which  he  obtained  mainly  through  his 
own  efforts. 

Dr.  McCleary  was  born  January  22nd.,  1876.  in 
Fernandina,  Florida.  Here  in  the  land  of  sunshine 
and  flowers,  where  Jaun  Ponce  de  Leon  sought 
"the  fountain  of  perpetual  youth,"  he  spent  his 
early  days  and  to  this  state  he  returned  to  spend 
his  remaining  days  in  the  service  of  his  people. 


He  began  his  educational  development  in  the 
Public  Schools  of  his  native  City,  and  after  com 
pleting  his  course  he  entered  the  Central  Tennessee 
College.  Finishing  his  course  here,  he  went  to 
Meharry  Medical  College,  to  perfect  himself  for  his 
life  work.  His  boyhood  dream  was  now  about  to 
be  realized,  and  he  applied  himself  while  at  this 
college  with  a  zeal  born  of  an  intense  desire  to  suc 
ceed  in  a  profession  which  he  had  chosen  in  his 
youth. 

He  had  to  rely  upon  his  own  exertions  to  raise 
the  money  to  pay  his  tuition,  but  this  was  a  slight 
obstacle  to  a  man  who  had  purposed  in  his  heart 
that  he  would  be  a  physician.  The  difficulties  add 
ed  greater  zest  to  his  efforts.  After  finishing  at 
Meharry  he  took  a  Post-graduate  course  at  the 
Rush  Medical  College. 

He  began  his  practice  in  1901.  in  Kansas  City. 
Missouri,  and  for  one  year  worked  in  the  Medical 
College.  For  five  years  he  was  the  assistant  to  the 
Marine  Physician  at  Key  West,  Florida,  and  in 
1907,  he  moved  to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  where  he 
hung  out  his  shingle  and  soon  established  himself 
in  his  profession.  While  he  does  a  general  practice 
surgery  is  his  specialty,  and  he  takes  great  pride 
and  pleasure  in  his  work.  No  doubt  he  often  re 
calls  the  incident  of  his  boyhood,  when  dressed  in 
the  surgeon's  garb,  and  holding  the  keen  blade 
knife  ready  to  operate  upon  some  unfortunate  pat 
ient.  Aside  from  the  opportunity  to  serve  which 
his  profession  has  brought  him,  it  has  enabled  him 
to  accumulate  quite  a  handsome  property.  The 
value  of  his  realty  holdings  is  estimated  to  be 
thirty  thousand  dollars.  This  is  evidence  that  Dr. 
•McCleary  has  a  turn  for  business,  as  well  as  medi 
cine,  and  speaks  well  for  his  business  sagacity,  and 
thrift. 

Dr.  McCarty's  family  consists  of  a  wife  and  two 
children.  He  was  married  September  16th,  1908, 
to  Miss  Margaret  Anna  Daunt,  of  Washington, 
Penn.  There  was  born  to  them  two  children — 
Margurite  Grace,  and  Minor  Francis,  Jr. 

He  is  ambitious  that  these  children  shall  find 
their  places  in  life  in  some  honorable  and  useful 
occupation. 

In  religious  belief,  Dr.  McCleary  is  a  Romanist, 
and  in  respect  to  the  policy  of  his  church  has  re 
frained  from  joining  secret  societies. 

While  the  Doctor  has  not  crossed  the  briny  deep 
he  is  nevertheless  something  of  a  traveler.  He  has 
traveled  in  Cuba,  Canada,  and  the  greater  part  of 
the  United  States.  He  has  followed  the  plan  to  see 
America  first,  and  as  he  is  yet  a  young  man,  he  will 
no  doubt  visit  Europe,  and  the  battlefields  of  the 
great  war. 


376 


MRS.    MARY    McLEOD    BETHUNE 


HE  Daytona  Normal  and  Indus 
trial  Institute  for  Negro  Girls 
stands  as  a  monument  to  Mrs. 
Mary  McLeod  Bethune.  Mrs. 
Bethune  is  a  woman  of  faith  and 
of  works.  The  institution  of 
which  she  is  still  principal  is  evidence  of  that. 

Mrs.  Bethune  was  born  in  South  Carolina.  Here 
she  received  her  early  training.  She  not  only  got 
all  that  she  could  from  the  public  school  system, 
but  attended  and  was  graduated  from  the  Scotia 
Seminary,  Concord,  North  Carolina.  Her  work  in 
Scotia  but  whetted  her  appetite  for  more  learning. 
She  entered  the  Moody  Bible  School,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois,  and  once  more  applied  herself  to  acquir 
ing  knowledge.  Here  in  the  Moody  School  she 
had  her  religious  life  deepened,  and  all  through 
her  teaching,  the  influence  of  this  institution  is 
felt. 

Having  completed  the  work  at  Chicago,  Mrs. 
Bethune  began  teaching.  For  a  number  of  years 
she  taught  in  the  missionary  schools  and  in  the 
public  school  system.  But  there  was  a  greater 

377 


work  for  this  Christian  woman,  and  in  1904  she 
made  the  first  step  in  its  development.  In  October 
of  that  year  Mrs.  Bethune  started  the  Daytona 
Normal  and  Industrial  Institute  for  Negro  Girls, 
in  a  rented  cabin.  She  had  as  her  first  class,  five 
little  girls.  She  had  as  assets  $1.50,  firm  faith  in 
God  and  determination  to  make  a  success  of  the 
effort.  How  well  the  school  has  succeeded  is  told 
in  the  history  of  the  school.  This  history  is  in  a 
large  measure  the  personal  history  of  the  founder. 
The  two  cannot  be  very  well  separated. 

In  the  interest  of  her  school,  Mrs.  Bethune  has 
traveled  over  the  greater  part  of  this  country.  In 
her  travels  she  has  made  many  friends  for  herself 
and  for  the  school.  Because  of  the  school,  Mrs. 
Bethune  had  to  develop  her  powers  as  a  speaker. 
She  has  made  many  notable  addresses.  On  a  num 
ber  of  occasions  she  has  appeared  before  large  aud 
iences  of  prominent  speakers  when  she  was  the 
only  colored  speaker.  Among  these  may  be  men 
tioned  an  address  in  Waldorf-Astoria,  before  the 
Colony  Club,  in  the  Belasco  Theatre,  Washington. 
D.  C.  Her  ability  along  this  line  has  won  for  her 
a  number  of  honorary  positions.  She  was  a  Red 
Cross  Lecturer  of  the  Potomac  Division.  She  was 
also  an  Officer  of  the  Circle  of  Negro  War  Relief 
of  New  York  City.  Indeed  Mrs.  Bethune  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  this  last  named  organization. 
Another  position  which  Mrs.  Bethune  has  held  and 
still  holds  is  that  of  President  of  the  Florida  Fede 
ration  of  Colored  Women's  Clubs.  Through  this 
organization  she  has  been  able  to  reach  most  of  the 
women  of  the  State  in  which  she  has  located  her 
school. 

At  the  dedication  of  one  of  her  buildings,  Mrs. 
Bethune  was  able  to  assemble  a  very  noted  crowd 
of  speakers.  Among  them  were  Vice-president 
Marshall,  Governor  Catts  and  'his  staff,  and  the 
Mayor  of  Daytona.  This  gathering  of  very  busy 
men  goes  to  show  with  what  esteem  and  with  what 
interest  the  work  of  Mrs.  Bethune  is  held. 

Mrs.  Bethune  is  a  member  of  the  A.  M.  F. 
Church.  In  this  church  she  is  an  active  worker. 
But  her  endeavor  along  Christian  lines  can  be  more 
readily  seen  through  her  students  than  through  her 
church.  Mrs.  Bethune  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Albert 
Bethune.  There  is  one  son  who  is  a  student  in  the 
Army  Training  Corps,  Morehouse  Cain]).  More- 
house  College,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

The  good  that  Mrs.  Bethune  has  done  can  never 
be  estimated.  She  could  not  have  chosen  a  more 
needy  spot  in  which  to  plant  her  school.  Through 
faith  and  prayer  she  has  been  enabled  to  develop 
this  institution  from  its  small  beginning  to  the 
place  where  it  is  a  real  factor  in  the  advance-mem 
of  the  colored  people  of  Florida. 


DAYTONA    NORMAL    AND    INDUSTRIAL    INSTITUTE 


N  October,  1904,  Mrs.  Mary  Mc- 
Leod  Bethune,  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  established  in  a  little 
rented  cabin  the  Daytona  Nor 
mal  and  Industrial  Institute.  She 
had  five  little  girls  for  pupils, 
$1.50  for  cash  and  a  firm  faith  in  God  and  a  great 
deal  of  grit  as  resources.  Since  that  time  the 
school  has  grown  in  size  and  in  usefulness  till  today 
it  is  one  of  the  widely  known  schools  for  Negro 
girls  in  the  South.  By  means  of  concerts,  festivals 
and  the  like  Mrs.  Bethune  was  enabled  to  purchase 
the  land  on  which  the  school  now  is  located. 

In  all  the  school  now  owns  twenty  acres  of  land, 
In  1907  a  four  story  frame  structure  was  "Prayed 
up,  sung  up  and  talked  up."  The  name  of  this 
building  is  Faith  Hall.  Back  of  this  was  placed  a 
two  story  frame  building  which  is  used  for  kitchen, 
etc,  In  1918  the  new  $40,000.00  auditorium  was 
completed  and  dedicated.  Mrs.  Bethune  was  able 
to  assemble  many  people  of  note  for  this  service. 
The  vice-President  Marshall  of  the  United  States, 
the  governor  of  Florida,  the  Mayor  of  Daytona  and 
many  other  White  men  of  prominence.  Kmmett 
J.  Scott,  Special  Assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
and  Dr.  J.  W.  E.  Bowen  of  Gammon  Theological 
Seminary  were  both  on  the  programme.  Such  an 
assembly  of  prominent  men  and  women  show  in 
a  measure  the  esteem  in  which  Mrs.  Bethune  is 
held  and  the  regard  that  is  given  her  work. 

378 


The  school  stands  for  broad,  thorough,  practi 
cal  training.  Its  purpose  is  to  train  its  students  to 
become  strong,  useful,  Christian  women,  to  afford 
them  an  opportunity  to  learn  a  vocation,  so  that 
when  they  leave  the  school  they  may  be  self  sup 
porting,  and  by  precept  and  example,  in  a  very  de 
finite  way  help  to  improve  the  communities  in 
which  they  live.  A  sound  body,  a  trained  mind, 
hand  and  heart,  is  Mrs.  Bethune's  idea  of  a  com 
plete  education. 

For  the  training  of  the  mind  the  courses  offered 
are  from  the  primary  through  high  school  and  then 
special  studies  for  teacher  training.  This  work  is 
done  in  a  thorough  manner.  For  the  hand  there 
are  offered  sewing,  dressmaking,  domestic  science, 
gardening,  poultry  raising,  raffia  work,  rug  weav 
ing,  chair  caning,  broom  making  and  nurse  train 
ing.  For  the  training  of  the  heart,  the  Bible  is 
studied  throughout  the  school  and  twice  a  day  a 
short  time  is  set  aside  for  "quiet  hour."  This 
time  is  devoted  to  personal  devotion.  Then  there 
is  the  musical  department  and  the  business  course, 
both  of  which  train  the  head  and  the  hand. 
Throughout  all  that  section  of  Florida  there  is  no 
other  school  that  compares  with  the  Daytona  Nor 
mal  and  Industrial  Institute  in  the  training  that  is 
given  to  the  Negro  girls. 

The  work  of  the  Institute  is  made  so  practical 
that  when  the  pupils  go  out  they  fit  into  the  life  of 
the  community.  They  do  not  have  to  go  through 


A  FIELD  OF  EARLY  PEAS  ON  THE  INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL  FARM 


the  period  of  once  again  adjusting  their  lives  to 
the  rural  life.  Mrs.  Bethune  never  lets  the  young 
people  who  came  under  her  care  get  too  far  away 
from  practical  life.  This  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
the  book  training  is  thoroughly  done. 

One  of  the  ways  in  which  the  school  becomes  a 
very  definite  part  of  the  community  of  Daytona  is 
through  its  hospital  and  nurses.  In  the  hospital 
a  three  years  course  is  offered.  After  three  months 
probation  and  then  one  year  of  training,  the  nurses 
in  the  McLeod  Hospital  are  permitted  to  take  cases 
in  the  city.  In  this  way  the  school  becomes  an  as 
set  in  the  health  of  the  community.  The  hospital 
sends  out  a  community  nurse,  who  helps  in  the 
care  of  the  sick  children  and  of  the  old  people  and 
of  young  mothers.  To  give  some  idea  of  the 
amount  of  work  done  the  report  of  the  hospital  for 
1917-1918  follows: 

Number  of  patients  cared  for 230 

Number  of  Dispensary  patients 518 

Number   of   Operations    38 

Number   of   free   patients   84 

Another  extension  work  that  is  carried  on  from 
the  Daytona  Institute  is  the  Public  Building  for 
men  and  boys.  There  is  no  adequate  educational 
system  for  the  boys  and  men  of  that  section.  Mrs. 
Bethune  seeing  this  need  has  in  a  way  tried  to  -help 
the  young  men.  A  building  has  been  obtained  some 
distance  from  the  campus.  This  has  been  fitted  up 
for  the  boys  and  men.  Much  good  has  come  from 
this.  They  have  improved  in  manners  and  have 
learned  to  enjoy  reading  good  books.  The  spirit 
of  saving  and  investing  money  has  gotten  abroad. 

379 


Although  there  is  no  extensive  training  for  the 
men  and  boys  the'use  of  this  building  has  improved 
the  manhood  of  Daytona. 

This  school  stands  as  a  monument  to  the  found 
er.  Faith  is  indeed  the  chief  corner  stone  of  this 
institution  of  learning.  Beginning  with  $1.50  fif 
teen  years  ago  the  work  has  developed  to  this  ex 
tent.  The  needs  of  the  school  are  still  many,  but 
with  the  Faith  of  Mrs.  Bethune  and  of  her  Christ 
ian  workers  they  have  gone  forward  and  developed 
the  school  to  the  point  where  it  can  offer  to  the 
colored  girls  of  that  section  a  training  that  com 
pares  favorably  with  that  offered  by  similar  schools 
anywhere.  The  girls  who  have  already  gone  forth 
justify  all  that  has  been  done  for  this  institution. 


TEACHING  DOMESTIC  SCIENCE 


JAMES  SETH  HILLS,   M.  D. 

MONG  the  professions  it  seems 
that  medicine  appeals  most  to 
the  colored  man,  and  a  number  of 
them  have  taken  a  high  stand  in 
this  profession.  Among  this  num 
ber  and  one  who  stands  at  the 
very  head  of  the  profession  is  Dr.  James  Seth  Hills. 
Fired  by  ambition,  a  thirst  for  knowledge  and  a 
determined  spirit,  causes  such  men  to  reach  their 
goal.  Dr.  Hills  is  of  that  class. 

Dr.  Hills,  now  a  resident  of  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
was  born  in  Gainesville,  this  State,  May  19th,  1872. 
His  early  environments  and  the  influences  at  work 
upon  him  had  a  tendency  to  turn  his  mind  to  a  bus 
iness  rather  than  a  professional  career,  but  a  good 
Providence  was  at  work  upon  him  too,  and  he  was 
finally  led  into  a  profession  that  has  given  him  an 
unbounded  field  for  usefulness. 

When  a  boy,  only  eleven  years  of  age,  he  entered 
a  cigar  factory  and  learned  the  cigar  maker's  trade. 
This  he  followed  for  seven  years,  earning  money  to 
pursue  his  studies.  He  attended  the  Public  School 
of  his  native  city,  but  before  and  after  school  hours 
he  worked  at  the  factory. 

During  the  vacation  months  he  helped  his  father. 
His  father  was  a  builder  and  had  built  up  a  large 

380 


business,  which  he  no  doubt  hoped  to  lead  his  son 
into,  but  his  son  had  ideas  of  his  own,  and  it  was 
not  in  the  contracting  line,  However,  he  worked 
with  his  father  and  learned  both  the  carpenters  and 
and  plasterers  trade.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  he 
did  his  work  well  and  was  dependable  in  this  as  in 
all  of  his  occupations.  By  means  of  his  work  he 
was  enabled  to  send  himself  to  school,  paying  all  of 
his  expenses  except  his  course  in  the  Long  Island 
College  Hospital. 

While  acting  as  Secretary  to  the  head  waiter  of  a 
Long  Island  Hotel,  his  affable  manner  made  him 
many  friends  among  the  guests.  One  of  them,  a 
lady  guest,  brought  him  to  the  attention  of  Mr.  S. 
V.  White,  of  New  York,  a  promnient  Wall  Street 
business  man. 

Mr.  White  took  a  great  liking  to  him,  and  was  so 
impressed  with  his  keen  and  active  mind  that  he 
interested  himself  in  his  education.  He  gave  ex 
pression  to  his  interest  in  the  young  man  by  direct 
ing  that  all  of  the  expenses  of  young  Hills'  tuition 
as  well  as  his  personal  expenses  he  sent  to  him  for 
payment.  As  stated  the  foundation  of  his  educa 
tion  was  laid  at  the  Public  School  of  his  native 
city,  and  here  he  made  the  most  of  his  opportunity 
and  paved  the  way  for  further  advance  in  other  in 
stitutions. 

From  the  Public  School  he  entered  the  Cookman 
Institute,  a  school  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Freedmen's  Aid  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Finishing  his  course  in  the  Cookman  In 
stitute  he  entered  the  Walden  College,  located  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee.  From  here  he  entered  the 
Long  Island  College  Hospital,  and  took  the  medical 
course.  Not  satisfied  with  even  the  fine  training  he 
received  here,  his  next  move  was  to  take  a  Post- 
Graduate  Course  in  several  of  the  European  coun 
tries.  He  took  these  courses  in  England,  Ireland, 
France  and  Germany.  Returning  to  this  country, 
he  was  for  several  years  intern  at  the  Freedmen's 
Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

In  1896  he  moved  to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and 
began  his  practice  of  special  and  general  surgery. 
For  thirteen  years  he  was  surgeon  for  the  Clyde 
Steamship  Line,  and  for  eleven  years  surgeon  for 
the  Jacksonville  Traction  Company. 

He  has  practiced  in  Jacksonville  for  twenty  years 
and  is  recognized  as  a  surgeon  of  marked  ability. 
Dr.  Hills  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  is  Secretary  to  the  Board  of  Vestrymen. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  City,  State  and  National 
Medical  Associations.  He  has  traveled  extensively, 
and  has  seen  much  of  this  country  and  Europe. 

Although  a  single  man,  Dr.  Hills  owns  and  occu 
pies  a  very  handsome  residence  in  Jacksonville.  His 
possessions  mark  him  as  a  success  in  business  as 
well  as  in  his  choen  profession. 


JOSEPH  NEWMAN  CLINTON 

OSEPH  N.  Clinton,  of  Tampa, 
Florida  has  spent  about  his  whole 
life  in  the  services  of  the  United 
States  Government.  Change  of 
administrations,  war  and  locality 
have  not  affected  apparfently  his 
hold  upon  his  position. 

Mr.  Clinton  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl 
vania  in  1854.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Bishop  Clin 
ton,  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  one  of  the  pioneer 
Hishops  who  established  and  planted  this  church, 
lie  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
city,  and  in  Lincoln  University.  Graduating  from 
Lincoln  in  1873.  he  taught  school,  and  finally  en 
tered  the  service  of  his  government. 

As  a  school  teacher,  he  used  his  spare  moments 
and  midnight  oil  to  prepare  himself  for  a  better 
place.  Strange  enough  to  read  like  fiction,  Mr. 
Clinton  believed  his  opportunity  lay  in  the  South, 
and  he  determined  to  emigrate  to  the  land  of  flow 
ers  and  sunshine.  To  this  end  he  secured  a  posi 
tion  as  teacher  in  the  schools  of  Florida.  As  it 
turned  out  this  was  but  the  mildest  of  a  series  of 
shocks  Mr.  Clinton  was  to  administer  to  his  friends. 
Progressive  and  Aggressive  to  a  marked  degree. 


he  soon  secured  a  position  as  clerk  in  the  land  office 
at  Gainesville,  Florida.  When  Mr.  Clinton's  Pitts 
burgh  friends  heard  this,  they  were  thunder  struck. 
Already  amazed  at  the  success  of  the  young  ped 
agogue,  they  thought  it  the  height  of  foolhardiness, 
for  him  to  tempt  a  kind  providence  further  by  ac 
cepting  a  Federal  position  in  the  untamed  South. 
But  Mr.  Clinton  had  learned  better.  He  saw  that 
while  his  path  was  no  bed  of  roses,  as  long  as  a 
Negro  was  law-abiding  and  self  respecting  he  was 
as  safe  from  physical  violence  in  Florida  as  he  was 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  held  this  clerkship  at  Gaincs- 
vil'e  through  two  Presidential  administrations, 
Benjamin  Harrison  and  James  A.  Garfield.  lie 
was  then  promoted  and  transferred,  though  he  re 
mained  in  the  State  of  Florida.  He  was  sent  to 
Pensacola.  where  he  was  made  inspector  of  cus 
toms.  This  post  he  held  under  President  Harrison, 
which  was  nothing  more  than  his  friends  back 
home  expected  at  this  time  from  his  past  remarka 
ble  record.  However,  they  received  their  final 
shock  when  Mr.  Clinton  was  reappointed  by  Dem 
ocratic  President  Grover  Cleveland. 

This  successful  record  of  a  Northern  Negro  in 
the  South  stamps  Joseph  M.  Clinton  as  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  characters  in  public  life.  He  af 
terwards  worked  fifteen  years  for  the  treasury  de 
partment  of  the  Government  as  Revenue  Collector 
of  the  Tampa  District,  in  Tampa,  Florida.  This 
position  he  held  until  after  the  inauguration  of 
President  Wilson. 

During  his  many  years  of  public  service,  Mr. 
Clinton  conducted  himself  in  a  manner  that  re 
flected  credit  on  himself  and  on  his  people.  Al 
ways  remembering  that  not  only  he  himself,  but 
through  him  the  Negroes  as  a  race  were  on  trial 
before  the  most  critical  jury  in  the  world,  his  every 
action  bespoke  the  studied  consideration  of  a  high 
ly  trained  public  servant,  towards  the  public  he  was 
appointed  to  serve.  He  was  just  as  considerate 
of  those  serving  under  him  and  they  felt  a  distinct 
sense  of  loss  upon  his  retirement  from  public  life. 

Mr.  Clinton  has  erected  for  himself  and  his  wife. 
formerly  Miss  Agnes  Stewart,  of  Atlantic  City,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1882.  an  elegant  bungalow 
in  Tampa,  Florida.  Mr.  Clinton  has  accumulated 
a  fine  property  consisting  of  some  nine  rent  houses 
in  Tampa,  and  holdings  in  two  other  counties.  The 
Clintons  are  members  of  the  A.  M.  F.  Church,  and 
take  an  active  part  in  all  religious  and  civic  work. 

They  were  not  only  liberal  contributors  to  the 
Red  Cross,  Y.  M.  C.  A..  Salvation  Army,  and  all 
War  Camp  Community  service,  but  bought  liberal 
ly  of  Liberty  Bonds  and  Thrift  Stamps  during  the 
World  War.  Mr.  Clinton  also  gave  freely  his  ser 
vices. 


381 


JOHN  T.  T.  WARREN 

R.  Warren,  born  in  Hot  Springs, 
Arkansas,  and  starting  life  under 
the  greatest  handicap  possible, 
the  loss  of  both  parents  before 
he  was  a  week  old,  Mr.  Warren 
lived  to  reach  a  pinnacle  of  com 
mercial  success  and  Fraternal  popularity,  attained 
by  few  and  surpassed  by  none. 

The  death  of  his  mother  when  he  was  two  days 
old  and  of  his  father,  a  captain  in  the  U.  S.  Army 
two  days  later,  left  him  in  the  care  of  his  grand 
mother,  who  died  when  he  was  nine  years  old.  For 
a  while  he  lived  with  an  aunt,  whose  only  interest 
in  him  was  to  get  all  the  work  out  of  him  possi 
ble. 

Even  at  this  early  age  he  displayed  that  spirit 
of  independence  and  grit,  that  was  in  later  years 
to  make  him  famous.  He  had  been  delivering  bas 
kets  of  clothes  to  his  aunt's  patrons  and  becoming 
tired  of  this  servitude,  he  set  the  basket  in  tin- 
street  and  struck  out  for  himself. 

Although  he  missed  many  a  meal,  and  had  only 
the  sky  for  a  canopy  night  after  night,  he  never 
faltered  in  his  determination  to  make  good. 

Accepting  odd  jobs  as  porter  and  errand  boy  he 
finally  landed  as  a  waiter  in  the  Waverly  Hotel. 
This  was  the  turning  point  in  his  career.  By  care 
ful  study  of  the  wishes  of  those  he  served,  he  rose 


in  a  short  time  to  the  position  of  Head  Waiter. 
From  there  he  went  to  the  Park  Hotel  as  a  bath 
house  attendant,  and  soon  saved  enough  to  start 
in  the  Undertaking  business.  While  he  always  de 
voted  a  great  deal  of  his  time  to  this  business,  and 
conducted  it  in  a  manner  that  made  him  many 
friends,  he  also  developed  into  a  realty  operator  of 
no  mean  ability.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  besides  his  undertaking  establishment  and 
an  elegant  home,  twenty-eight  rent  houses  in  Hot 
Springs,  two  farms  near  there,  and  property  locat 
ed  in  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.,  Chicago,  111.,  Parigona, 
Okla.,  and  Phoenix,  Arizona. 

In  spite  of  his  many  financial  interests,  and  the 
numberless  calls  on  his  time,  he  was  never  too  busy 
to  respond  to  requests  for  assistance  in  forward 
ing  the  interests  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  was 
not  only  a  member  of  every  fraternity  that  a  Ne 
gro  could  join  in  the  State  of  Arkansas,  (eighteen 
in  number)  and  of  the  Chicago  Elks,  but  an  active 
participant  in  their  work  and  a  liberal  contributor 
to  all  of  their  charities.  He  went  through  every 
elective  station  in  each  lodge  of  which  he  was  a 
member  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  Grand 
Worthy  Councillor  of  the  Court  of  Calanthe  of  the 
State  of  Arkansas,  and  Dictator  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor  of  Arkansas. 

He  was  made  manager  of  the  K.  of  P.'s  bath 
house  at  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas,  and  conducted 
that  resort  in  a  manner  that  gave  it  a  national  rep 
utation. 

An  astute  politician,  he  was  made  chairman  of 
the  Republican  State  Executive  Committee.  En 
joying  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  white  cit 
izenship,  he  was  appointed  a  deputy  sheriff.  This 
gives  evidence  of  his  executive  ability  and  no  less 
evidence  of  his  personal  magnetism  and  popularity. 
Large  as  were  his  commercial  interests  and  strong 
as  his  fraternal  ties,  he  always  put  his  religion  and 
his  home  first.  He  married  Miss  Mamie  Hancock, 
who  dying,  left  him  one  son  Lance  Warren,  the 
idol  of  his  eye,  who  died  April  17,  1918.  Mr.  War 
ren  married  Miss  Laura  J.  Curtis  of  Hot  Springs, 
Jan.  22nd,  1919,  only  a  few  months  before  his 
death.  He  was  a  trustee  and  a  consistent  member 
of  Tanner  Chapel  A.  M.  E.  Church. 

Mr.  Warren  died  in  the  month  of  June,  1919,  and 
his  funeral,  which  was  held  from  Visitor's  Chapel, 
A.  M.  E.  Church  June  29th,  was  said  to  be  the 
greatest  tribute  ever  paid  a  citizen  of  Hot  Springs. 
Not  only  did  his  associates  come  from  all  parts  of 
the  country  to  pay  their  last  respects,  but  the 
white  citizens,  headed  by  the  Hon.  Walter  M.  Ebel 
of  the  Business  Men's  League,  joined  in  honoring 
a  man  that  was  a  credit  to  his  country  and  to  his 
people. 


382 


HON.   ROBERT  L.   SMITH 


ONORABLE  R.  L.  Smith,  as  he  is 
commonly  known,  is  one  of  the 
few  genuine  leaders  of  business 
and  uplift  enterprises  among  Ne 
gro  farmers.  Thoroughly  trained 
to  what  is  often  termed  as  the 
higher  things,  such  as  school  teaching,  business, 
politics,  he  has  preferred  to  put  all  these  behind 
him  and  to  cast  in  his  lot  working  among  men  of 
the  soil. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Charleston,  South  Caro 
lina,  January  eighth,  1861.  He  was  educated  in  the 
city  schools  of  Charleston,  at  Avery  Institute,  and 
at  Atlanta  University.  Finishing  his  education  he 
decided  to  enter  the  profession  of  school  teaching. 
Texas  at  that  time  offered  the  fairest  field  for  the 
aspirant  for  distinction  in  the  schoolroom ;  and  so 
in  1885  he  went  to  the  "Lone  Star"  state  and  began 
his  career. 

Before  leaving  for  Texas' he  had  gone  back  to 
Charleston  from  school  and  had  after  the  collapse 
of  the  Reconstruction  Government  run  a  Republi 
can  paper.  His  journal  went  down  with  the  final 
defeat  of  the  government  it  supported.  It  was 
then  he  bade  adieu  to  his  state  and  moved  to  Texas. 
However,  having  been  nominated  in  his  absence 


much  to  his  astonishment,  he  ran  for  the  Texas 
Legislature  in  1895.  Supported  by  a  large  number 
of  white  voters  he  won  his  seat,  served  his  first 
term  and  was  re-elected  by  an  increased  majority 
for  a  second  term. 

His  election  to  the  legislature  did  not,  however, 
divert  him  from  his  real  chosen  profession  in  Tex 
as.  He  had  begun  to  work  among  farmers  a  system 
of  personal  improvement,  which  looked  to  inde 
pendence  and  to  the  accumulation  of  property  and 
wealth. 

When  Mr.  Smith  landed  in  Oakland  and  began 
teaching  in  Freedsmanstown,  which  was  the  color 
ed  section  of  Oakland.  He  found  the  farmer's  land 
mortgaged  and  they  heavily  in  debt.  This  condi 
tion  of  affairs  caused  him  no  little  worry  and  he 
determined  to  correct  it.  He  put  his  mind  to  work 
and  developed  a  plan  which  he  put  into  successful 
operation  and  which  has  brought  about  changes 
beyond  his  most  hopeful  expectation  and  to  the 
lasting  benefit  of  his  people.  And  so  Mr.  Smith 
organized  the  Farmers'  Improvement  Society.  The 
organization  saved  money  for  its  members  by 
purchasing  all  kinds  of  products  in  large  quan 
tities  and  distributing  them  pro  rata,  but  its 
chief  features  were  its  fight  against  the  mortgage 
system,  its  improvement  of  methods  of  farming 
and  the  establishing  of  business  enterprises  on  the 
principle  of  co-operation.  To  this  Mr.  Smith  added 
a  plan  of  a  general  improvement  of  the  homes  of 
its  members.  To  accomplish  this  he  made  the  or 
ganization  fraternal  and  gave  degrees  on  the  fol 
lowing  basis.  The  first  degree  was  conferred  upon 
him  who  kept  out  of  debt  for  three  months  ;  the 
second,  to  him  who  kept  out  of  debt  for  nine 
months ;  and  so  on  through  the  year.  Other  de 
grees  required  a  surplusage  of  money,  or  land  or 
some  possessions  in  addition  to  keeping  clear  of 
debt.  To  this  Mr.  Smith  has  added  a  bank,  which 
is  located  in  Waco,  and  a  school,  which  is  known  as 
the  F.  I.  S.  Agricultural  College  located  in  North 
Texas,  near  Ladonia.  The  members  of  the  order  in 
addition  to  adhering  to  the  first  principles  of  the 
order,  keeping  out  of  debt,  own  some  80,000  acres 
of  farm  land,  which  is  estimated  at  one  and  a  half 
million  dollars,  and  live  stock  valued  at  $300,000. 

He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Negro  Business 
League,  the  Farmers'  Conference  and  a  member  of 
the  Anna  T.  Jeans  Board.  He  is  president  of  the 
Farmers'  Improvement  Bank  at  Waco,  the  head  of 
an  Overall  factory  and  president  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  Agricultural  School.  He  success 
fully  inaugurated  the  Agricultural  Extension  Work. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  1890  at  Oakland.  Tex 
as,  to  Miss  Isabella  Isaacs.  There  are  two  children. 
Mr.  Roscoe  Conkling  Smith,  the  son,  is  cashier  of 
the  Farmers'  Improvement  Bank  at  Waco.  Miss 
Olive  Bell  is  a  teacher  in  the  Farmers'  Improve 
ment  Agricultural  College. 


383 


JACOB   AUGUSTUS  WHITE,   M.   D. 

R.  Jacob  A.  White,  of  Tampa,  Fla., 
love?  the  soil  of  his  nativity.  He 
in  one  of  those  who  see  opportun 
ities  near  at  hand  instead  of  far 
away.  Not  many  miles  from 
where  he  now  labors,  he  was 
born  and  to  some  extent  educated.  Had  there  been 
a  good  Negro  school  of  medicine  near  at  hand  it  is 
doubtful  if  he  would  have  gone  beyond  the  confines 
of  the  land  of  flowers  to  complete  his  training. 

Dr.  White  was  born  in  Marianna,  September  19. 
1876.  His  youth  wa^  spent  in  and  about  his  nat 
ive  city,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  and 
worked  at  odd  times.  His  public  school  career 
ended.  IT;  went  to  Florida  State  College.  Complet 
ing  his  work  at  the  Florida  State  College  he  enter 
ed  Howard  University,  in  Washington.  D.  C.  Hav 
ing  long  before  decided  to  study  medicine,  he  took 
the  Howard  Medical  course,  and  graduated  in  1903. 
Going  back  to  Florida  and  passing  the  State  ex 
amination,  he  opened  office  first  in  Apalachicola. 
Here  he  practiced  for  thirteen  years,  then  moved 
to  the  city  of  Tampa,  where  his  reputation  as  a 
physician  is  being  made. 

Long  before  he  returned  to  his  native  state.  Dr. 
White  had  thoroughly  diagnosed  Florida.  He  knew 


her  needs  for  a  physician  or  physicians  ;  he  knew 
her  need  for  competent  sane  leadership ;  and  he 
knew  what  opportunities  lay  everywhere  for  a 
hardworking,  competent  man.  In  Tampa,  there 
fore,  he  began  not  only  to  practice  medicine,  but 
enter  the  lives  of  the  people  and  to  take  interest  in 
their  affairs,  to  establish  such  organizations  as 
would  promote  the  general  good.  In  1917,  he  es 
tablished  in  Tampa  a  sanitarium  which  served  not 
only  for  the  ailing  and  tired  out  people  of  Tampa, 
but  for  colored  people  everywhere.  This  sanitar 
ium  sent  abroad  not  only  its  presence  as  a  bene 
factor  but  the  reputation  of  Dr.  White,  as  a  sur 
geon  Foreseeing  the  grave  crisis  that  was  coin 
ing  upon  the  people  because  of  the  shortage  of  food, 
Dr.  White  began  to  preach  Agriculture  along  with 
health.  All  through  South  Florida,  indeed  where 
ever  he  went  he  made  Agriculture  his  theme,  stim 
ulating  the  people  to  raise  more,  preserve  more 
food.  In  1917.  he  was  President  of  South  Florida 
Fair,  which  brought  to  a  very  happv  climax,  all  the 
good  things  he  had  been  preaching. 

Much  of  his  influence  is  due  to  the  fact  he  has 
allied  himself  with  most  of  the  worth  while  bodies 
in  Florida,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church 
in  his  community,  and  gives  as  much  time  as  his 
busy  life  will  permit,  to  his  church  work.  He  is 
a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  an 
American  Woodman,  a  member  of  the  Household 
of  Ruth,  and  of  the  Court  of  Calanthe.  Holding 
active  membership  in  all  these  bodies,  he  does  not 
find  it  difficult  to  secure  cooperation  for  any  up 
lift  undertaking  which  one  may  set  apart. 

Working  hard  for  the  public  weal.  Dr.  White  has 
realized  returns  in  many  ways.  His  financial  re 
turns  have  been  moderate;  his  returns  in  grati 
tude  of  the  people  and  in  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
needed  service  rendered  and  the  results  gained  have 
been  large ;  and  his  returns  in  honors  bestowed  and 
in  confidence  entrusted  are  perhaps  his  dearest  re 
wards.  The  Household  of  Ruth  has  entrusted  to 
him  the  examination  of  all  candidates  and  mem 
bers,  he  being  the  Medical  Director  for  that  body 
throughout  the  State  of  Florida.  He  is  interested 
in  the  movement  for  the  betterment  and  defense  of 
colored  people.  He  has  been  made  President  of 
the  Tampa  branch  of  the  National  Association  for 
the  Advancement  of  Colored  People.  Founder  of 
the  South  Florida  Fair,  he  was  chosen  President  of 
that  organization.  He  is  also  President  of  the  (ias- 
pariles  Carnival,  and  banker  for  the  American 
Woodmen.  This,  his  life  in  his  native  state,  grows 
each  day  richer  in  service,  in  opportunity,  in  satis- 
facton  at  seeing  things  accomplished. 

Dr.  White  was  married  in  Tampa,  in  1915.  to 
Miss  Sarah  Stanley,  of  Sanford.  They  have  one 
son.  Jacob  Augustus,  Jr. 


384 


CAMPUS  SCENE— SCHOFIELD  NORMAL  AND  INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL. 


CHOFIELD  Normal  and  Industrial 
School  of  Aiken,  South  Carolina, 
is  one  of  those  score  or  more  in 
stitutions  to  spring  up  immediate 
ly  after  the  Civil  War.  Inspired 
with  zeal  to  give  all  black  men 
training  in  skilled  labor,  Miss  Martha  Schofield  of 
Pennsylvania  went  to  South  Carolina  in  1865  and 
began  to  teach  among  the  freedmen.  For  three 
years  Miss  Schofield  taught  on  the  coast.  In  1868 
she  made  her  way  into  Aiken,  and  there  began  to 
assemble  the  colored  people,  for  a  school. 

Like  Hampton,  like  Fisk,  Atlanta  University  and 
many  other  institutions  of  this  period,  the  school 
had  little  trouble  with  enrolling  enough  students 
to  insure  a  school.  Like  most  of  the  institutions 
referred  to,  Schofield  was  dependent  largely  upon 
voluntary  contributions.  Its  staunchest  friends 
were,  and  are.  the  Society  of  Friends.  Backed  by 
these  and  by  public  donations.  Miss  Schofield  added 
now  an  acre  or  two  of  land,  now  a  building  or  two, 
now  a  teacher  or  a  trade.  Today  it  has  three  large 
and  substantial  brick  buildings,  and  several  frame 
structures,  four  hundred  acres  of  farm  land,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  which  are  under 
cultivation.  It  has  a  faculty  of  twenty  members 
and  is  teaching  six  trades.  It  carries  a  registra 
tion  of  600  students  and  has  an  endowment  of 
$106,000.  The  value  of  the  property  is  $50,0.0.  It 
is  free  from  debt. 

Much  of  the  history  of  the  school  has  been  de 
stroyed  or  lost,  especially  pertaining  to  the  early 
offices  of  the  school.  However  the  school  enjoys 
an  unusual  distinction  in  having  at  its  head  a  lady, 


who  is  a  Bachelor  of  Arts  and  a  minister  of  long 
and  varied  experiences.  The  Reverend  Miss  L. 
Louise  Haight  is  the  Superintendent  of  Schofield. 
The  Rev.  Miss  Haight  was  educated  at  Alma  Col 
lege,  Saint  Thomas  County,  North  Carolina,  at 
Swathmore  College,  Swathmore,  Pennsylvania,  and 
at  the  Meadville  Theological  School,  Meadville, 
Pennsylvania.  Miss  Haight  preached  for  twelve 
years.  After  this  she  left  the  pulpit  and  engaged 
in  educational  and  social  work  in  Chicago  and  Phil 
adelphia.  It  was  from  this  work  that  she  was  call 
ed  to  the  head  of  the  Schofield  Normal  and  Indus 
trial  School. 

Schofield  points  with  pride  to  many  milestones  in 
her  career.  She  rejoices  that,  thanks  to  her  influ 
ence,  Aiken  is  one  of  the  most  peaceful  spots  on 
earth  for  anybody,  especially  the  Negro.  She  is 
rather  proud  that  on  her  farm,  in  the  gardens  and 
shops  many  students  who  would  remain  in  darkness 
are  given  a  chance  to  earn  their  way  through 
school.  Finally,  she  is  exceedingly  gratified  by  the 
records  made  by  her  seven  hundred  or  more  grad- 
utes.  She  numbers  principals  and  founders  of 
schools,  business  men,  clergymen,  physicians, 
among  whom  is  a  woman  physician  and  surgeon, 
successful  farmers,  missionaries  to  Africa,  on  the 
list  of  her  alumni.  This  is  her  ideal : 

"The  first  and  constant  aim  of  the  school,  is  to 
give  such  moral,  mental  and  industrial  training  as 
will  fit  them  to  take  their  respective  places  in  the 
world  as  intelligent,  self-supporting,  self-respect 
ing  citizens,  to  prepare  young  men  and  young  wo 
men  to  be  better  husbands,  wives,  farmers,  artisans, 
skilled,  conscientious  in  their  duties  and  obligations. 


385 


ST.  LUKE  PENNY  SAVINGS  BANK— MISS  MAGGIE  L.  WALKER  AND  OTHER  OFFICERS. 


HAT  a  prophet  is  without  honor  in 
his  own  country  is  a  saying  that 
does  not  hold  good  in  the  case  of 
Mrs.  Maggie  L.  Walker.  She  was 
born,  educated  and  worked  her 
way  to  prominence  in  the  same 
town.  She  must  be  the  exception 
that  proves  the  rule. 

Mrs.  Walker  was  born  in  Richmond,  Virginia. 
Here  she  attended  the  public  school,  the  High 
School  and  the  Normal  School,  finishing  each  in 
turn.  After  she  had  completed  her  course  of  study 
she  took  up  the  work  of  teaching.  She  taught  in 
the  Public  Schools  of  Richmond  till  her  marriage 
in  1890,  when  she  gave  up  the  work  in  the  public 
school  system  and  began  teaching  in  a  private 
school.  The  life  of  Mrs.  Walker  has  been  a  very 
active  one.  While  still  teaching  she  became  the 
agent  for  the  Woman's  Union.  This  is  an  insur 
ance  company  that  looks  solely  after  the  interest 
of  women.  Then  in  1900  she  accepted  the  very 
important  post  of  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  In 
dependent  Order  of  St.  Luke.  This  is  a  fraternal 
organization  that  operates  in  several  states  and 
has  at  present  many  thousand  members.  When 
Mrs.  Walker  took  up  the  work  it  was  given  up  by 
a  man  because  of  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the 
order.  These  are  the  reasons  why  he  declined  to 
serve  the  order  further:  the  order  was  at  its  low 
est  ebb ;  there  was  no  money  in  the  treasury ;  the 
order  was  not  spreading  as  it  should ;  there  was  a 
lack  of  co-operation  between  the  Grand  Officers 
and  the  Officers  and  members  of  the  Subordinate 
Councils  and  the  salary  paid  for  the  work  ($300.00) 
per  year  was  not  justifiable. 

To  take  up  any  work  after  the  person  leaving  it 


has  given  it  such  a  reputation  shows  courage  of  the 
highest  order.  This  courage  Maggie  L.  Walker 
had  and  she  assumed  the  responsibilities  of  the  of 
fice  and  the  steadiness  of  its  growth  is  a  monu 
ment  to  her  ability  as  an  organizer  and  as  an  exe 
cutive.  In  the  Building  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  St.  Luke  the  experiences  of  Mrs.  Walker  have 
been  such  as  all  pioneer  workers  encounter.  The 
organization  numbered  less  than  one  thousand 
when  she  took  up  the  work.  Today  it  has  a  list 
of  fifty  thousand  financial  members. 

The  organization  had  no  assets  whatever.  Today 
it  has  assets  to  the  amount  of  $150,750.00.  All  this 
marvelous  growth  is  due  directly  to  the  untiring 
efforts  of  Mrs.  Walker  and  to  her  great  ability  and 
charming  personality.  She  has  been  able  to  reach 
the  people,  as  they  had  not  been  reached  before, 
by  the  appeals  of  other  secretaries.  When  a  bank 
was  opened  in  connection  with  the  order  Mrs.  Wal 
ker  was  the  one  chosen  to  serve  in  the  capacity  of 
President. 

Mrs.  Walker  has  taken  an  active  part  in  every 
organization  in  the  city  of  Richmond  that  is  man 
aged  be  persons  of  color.  Among  these  are  the 
Eastern  Star,  Household  of  Ruth,  Court  of  Calan- 
tha,  Richmond  Benefit  Insurance  Company,  and 
the  American.  Mrs.  Walker  is  deeply  religious  in 
her  make  up.  She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Old 
Historic  First  African  Baptist  Church  from  early 
childhood. 

''  hroughout  the  State  of  Virginia,  Mrs.  Walker 
is  honored  in  the  various  organizations  among  col 
ored  women.  She  is  president  of  the  Council  of 
Colored  Women,  Auditor  of  the  Virginia  State 
Federation,  Trustee  of  Girls'  Home  School,  Peake. 
Virginia,  Grand  Matron  of  the  Juvenile  Depart- 


386 


ST.  LUKE  PENNY  SAVINGS  BANK 

nicnt  of  the  Independent  Order  of  St.  Luke.  Vice- 
President  of  the  Richmond  Branch  of  the  National 
Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Colored  Peo 
ple.  Vice-President  of  the  Negro  Organization  So 
ciety  of  Virginia,  and  one  of  the  Advisory  Com 
mittee  of  the  National  Training  School,  Lincoln 
Heights,  D.  C. 

September  14,  1890  she  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Mr.  Armstead  Walker.  Jr..  of  Richmond.  There 
are  two  sons  in  the  family.  The  older,  Russell  E. 
T.  Walker,  is  in  the  work  of  the  Independent  Order 
nf  St.  Luke,  serving  the  organization  in  the  capa 
city  of  auditor.  The  second  son,  Melvin  DeWitt 
\\  aiker,  is  a  student  in  the  College  Department  of 
Shaw  University,  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

The  Independent  Order  of  St.  Luke  has  recently 
passed  its  fifth  anniversary.  At  this  time  they  held 
quite  a  gathering  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  And 
the  occasion  was  one  worthy  of  honor,  for  the 
amount  of  good  done  by  and  through  this  organiza 
tion  cannot  be  estimated.  The  Order  was  first 
started  in  the  City  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  by 
Miss  Prout,  in  1867.  Looking  about  her  and  see 
ing  the  suffering  among  the  sick  and  aged  of  our 
race,  and  seeing  the  distress  in  some  of  the  fam 
ilies  for  lack  of  means  with  which  to  bury  their 
dead,  this  sainted,  Christian  woman  conceived  the 
idea  of  a  fraternal  Order.  The  first  thought  was 
for  women  only  as  members,  but  as  the  work  grew, 
men  were  admitted.  She  carried  the  work  from 
Baltimore  into  Norfolk,  Portsmouth,  Peters 
burg,  and  Richmond.  Virginia,  accepting  as  mem 
bers  of  the  council  some  of  the  best  men  and  wom 
en  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Faith. 

As  the  Order  was  started  in  Maryland  it  was  the 
Grand  United  Order  of  St.  Luke.  Mr.  Richard 
Forrester  led  in  a  movement  to  pull  the  Virginia 
Councils  out  of  the  Grand  body.  This  was  done 
and  it  became  known  as  the  Independent  Order 
of  St.  Luke.  He  proved  his  worth  to  the  order  by 
revising  and  compiling  the  Ritual  of  the  Order. 
Those  who  know  the  merit  of  the  work  say  of  it : 
"It  was  declared  perfect,  and  will  live  to  honor  his 
name  after  we  all  have  passed  away.  This  Grand 
piece  of  work  proved  his  worth  to  the  Order  and  to 
the  community  at  large."  Mr.  W.  T.  Forrester 
was  the  active  Secretary  for  thirty-five  years. 


But  in  1899  he  refused  to  serve  longer  because,  as 
is  stated  elsewhere  in  these  pages,  the  work  had 
ceased  to  develop  under  his  leadership.  The  order 
was  turned  over  to  Mrs.  Maggie  L.  Walker,  with 
fifty-seven  benefited  Councils,  1,080  financial  mem 
bers,  $31.61,  turned  over  from  the  Grand  Treasurer 
J.  J.  Carter,  and  bills  amounting  to  $400. 

One  year  after  the  Order  was  turned  over  to 
Mrs.  Walker,  it  had  doubled  itself.  Mrs.  Walker 
gathered  around  herself  advisors  of  good  sound 
judgment  and  they  took  steps  that  were  for  the 
betterment  of  the  whole  organization.  The  order 
spread.  It  was  taken  into  New  York  and  the  Dis 
trict  of  Columbia.  By  careful  handling  of  the 
funds  they  accumulated  money  enough  to  invest 
500  dollars  in  the  St.  Luke  Asociation  in  1902,  and 
at  the  same  time  they  made  a  first  payment  of 
$5.00  on  the  printing  press,  from  each  of  the  two 
branches  of  the  order.  With  the  press  purchased 
they  started  the  St.  Luke  Herald,  which  was  the 
mouthpiece  of  the  Order. 

The  next  year  the  amount  paid  into  the  St.  Luke 
Association  was  $2000.00.  The  Grand  Secretary 
reported  4,101  new  members  added  during  the  year 
and  a  total  financial  membership  of  10,200  adults. 
While  the  Grand  Chief  changed  from  time  to  time, 
Mrs.  Maggie  L.  Walker  continued  to  hold  the  posi 
tion  of  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Order.  And  under 
her  direction  it  grew  from  year  to  year.  The 
growth  was  rapid.  Space  forbids  that'we  recount 
all  the  steps  in  the  progress  of  this  upward  growth. 
In  1907  the  report  included  the  statement  that  the 
Order  had  in  the  Penny  Savings  Bank  over  on 
Broad  Street,  the  sum  of  $7200.00.  This  was  un 
der  the  head  of  Emergency  Fund,  and  was  held  to 
await  the  orders  of  the  Subordinate  Councils.  It 
was  in  this  year  that  the  laws  of  various  States  in 
which  the  Order  was  being  operated  made  it  im 
perative  for  them  to  have  a  large  reserve  fund. 
Had  these  laws  been  passed  the  year  that  the  Or 
der  changed  Secretaries  it  would  of  necessity  have 
gone  under.  But  under  the  new  order  of  things 
they  were  prepared  for  the  emergencies  that  con 
fronted  them.  This  was  done  by  building  up  an 
order  that  was  able  to  weather  all  financial  storms. 

April  1,  1911,  they  began  using  a  new  system  of 
Book-keeping,  which  had  been  installed  at  "a  cost  of 
$1000.  With  the  new  system  the  whole  business 
end  of  the  Order  was  put  on  an  up-to-date  footing. 
With  the  use  of  this  system  it  was  an  easy  matter 
to  keep  track  of  all  the  money  paid  in  and  of  each 
individual  member. 

To  estimate  the  good  of  this  organization  is  be 
yond  us.  They  have  provided  work  for  a  large 
number.  They  have  looked  after  the  interest 
of  many  bereaved  persons.  They  have  developed 
the  business  ability  of  the  people  who  came  to 
work  for  them.  They  have  acquired  property— 
they  own  a  large  building  in  which  they  have  their 
offices,  meetings,  etc.,  and  a  building  in  which  they 
operate  the  Penny  Savings  Bank.  Through  the 
administration  of  their  affairs,  they  have  compelled 
the  respect  of  the  best  people  of  both  races.  They 
are  never  afraid  to  open  their  books  to  the  inspec 
tion  of  others,  for  they  keep  their  affairs  in  per 
fect  order.  This  is  the  record  of  the  I.  O.  of  St. 
Luke. 


387 


REV.  JOHN  O.   WILLIAMS,  A.   B.,   B.   D., 
AND  TRINITY  CHURCH 


EVEREND  Mr.  Joshua  O.  Wil 
liams,  of  Marshall,  Texas  ,is  one 
of  those  ministers  who  set  educa 
tion  ahove  riches  and  placed 
learning  as  the  only  true  founda 
tion  of  genuine  achievements.  To 
him  no  hardships  were  too  severe,  no  privation  too 
sharp,  if  only  he  could  make  his  way  into  the 
schools  to  drink  from  the  fount  of  knowledge. 

Mr.  Williams  is  in  hone  and  fibre  a  Texan.  He 
was  born  at  Montgomery,  Montgomery  County, 
Texas.  He  appeared  for  advanced  work  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  county  and  town. 
From  the  public  schools  of  Montgomery  County 
he  went  to  the  State  Normal  School,  to  Prairie 
Normal  and  Industrial  Institute,  at  Prairie  View. 
From  Prairie  View  he  went  to  Wiley  University, 
at  Marshall.  Here  he  received  his  Bachelor  of 
Arts  degree,  and  completed  in  a  fair  measure  all 
of  the  courses  Texas  could  give  him  for  his  parti 
cular  purpose  in  life. 

He  had  long  before  made  up  his  mind  to  enter 
the  ministry.  He  had  been  converted  and  had 
joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Leaving 
Marshall  he  entered  Gammon  Theological  Semi 
nary,  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  where  he  received  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Divinity.  He  spent  some 
time  as  a  school  teacher  both  in  Georgia  and  in  his 
native  State. 

However,  his  great  work  has  been  done  in  his 
chosen  calling,  the  ministry.  This  too,  like  the 


most  of  his  schooling,  has  been  done  in  Texas.  He 
has  held  some  of  the  largest  appointments  in  the 
Texas  Methodist  Episcopal  Conference.  Among 
these  are  numbered  Ebenezer,  at  Marshall,  Texas  ; 
Mount  Vernon,  at  Houston,  Texas ;  Tabernacle,  at 
Galveston,  Texas  ;  Trinity,  at  Houston,  Texas,  and 
the  District  Superintendent  of  Paris,  Texas. 

Recognized  as  a  leader  and  an  unselfish  worker, 
he  has  been  placed  at  the  head  of  many  organiza 
tions  in  his  state.  He  has  been  president  of  the 
Preachers'  Aid  Society,  of  the  Texas  Conference ; 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  his  alma  ma 
ter.  Wiley  University;  president,  and  this  in  the 
business  world,  of  the  Boley  Light  and  Power 
Company  of  Boley.  Oklahoma.  Boley  it  will  be  re 
membered,  is  a  Negro  town.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  last  General  Conference,  which  met  at  Sara 
toga  Springs,  New  York,  in  1916.  He  has  traveled 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  from  the  Lakes  to 
the  Gulf,  and  into  Canada.  He  is  a  Knight  of  Py 
thias,  a  member  of  the  Mosiac  Templars  and  of  the 
Court  of  Calanthe.  In  these  bodies,  as  in  the  church 
and -in  business  organizations,  he  is  regarded  by  his 
fellows  as  a  man  of  universal  power  and  leadership. 

Rev.  Williams  has  twice  been  married.  The  first 
Mrs.  Williams  was  Miss  Katie  Kendall,  of  Atlanta, 
Georgia.  They  were  married  in  1894.  To  them 
three  children— one  son  and  two  daughters  were 
born.  But  only  two  are  living.  The  mother  her 
self  soon  passed  away. 

Rev.  Williams  was  married  the  second  time  to 
Miss  Lenora  B.  Green,  of  Galveston,  Texas.  They 
were  married  in  1900.  There  are  two  children  in 
the  Williams  home,  a  young  lady  and  a  young  man. 
Through  these  the  father  is  establishing  a  family 
tradition,  as  it  were,  by  sending  them  along  the 
paths  which  he  trod,  both  in  education  and  in  vo 
cation.  Miss  Lillian  Katy  Williams,  the  daugh 
ter,  is  a  student  at  Wiley  University,  like  her  fath 
er  years  ago,  she  is  a  candidate  for  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts.  Robert  M.  Wrilliams,  the  son, 
has  already  run  the  early  gauntlet  in  preparing  for 
a  career.  Like  his  father  back  there  in  the  eight 
ies,  he  is  now  a  student  at  Gammon  Theological 
Seminary,  and  is  a  candidate  for  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Divinity. 

Rev.  Williams  own  a  handsome  residence  in 
Marshall,  Texas,  has  valuable  property  in  Hous 
ton,  and  owns  an  apple  farm  in  the  State  of  Wash 
ington. 


088 


State  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College 


HE  State  Colored  Normal  Indus 
trial,  Agricultural  and  Mechani 
cal  College,  at  Orangeburg,  South 
Carolina,  was  founded  in  1896,  by 
the  State  of  South  Carolina.  It  is 
supported  partly  by  the  State  and 
partly  by  the  'Federal  government.  The  Federal 
money  drawn  is  from  the  funds  set  aside  for  agri 
cultural  and  mechanical  training.  The  board  of 
trustees  that  governs  the  affairs  of  the  institution 
is  elected  by  the  Legislature.  Of  this  Board  the 
Governor  of  the  State  is  ex-officio  chairman. 

The  courses  of  study  offered  by  the  State  Color 
ed  Normal,  Industrial,  Agricultural  and  Mechani 
cal  College  are  elementary,  preparatory  and  Nor 
mal.  Doing  this  work  there  are  fourteen  teachers, 
in  Academic  work.  The  other  teachers  on  the  fa 
culty,  thirteen  in  number,  devote  their  time  to 
teaching  the  trades  and  agriculture. 

The  attendance  at  this  college  is  very  good. 
There  are  about  700  pupils  in  all  of  the  courses.  Of 
this  number  the  greater  portion  is  enrolled  in  the 
Flementary  Course.  In  the  Secondary  Courses 
there  are  enrolled  only  197.  The  school  does  good 
work  with  the  equipment  they  have.  But  the 
teaching  force  is  small  for  so  large  a  number  of 
pupils. 

The  Industrial  work  is  in  charge  of  teachers  well 
prepared  in  the  lines  they  teach.  An  interest  in  the 
work  is  shown  by  all  the  students.  The  system 
used  in  the  State  Colored  Normal,  Industrial,  Ag 
ricultural  and  Mechanical  College  in  combining  the 
industrial  work  with  that  of  the  academic  depart 
ment  is  the  part  time  system.  The  classes  are 
required  to  devote  one  day  each  week  to  the  trade 
work. 

The  shop  in  which  this  trade  work  is  taught  is 
well  fitted  up  for  teaching.  Carpentry,  bricklay 
ing,  tailoring,  plumbing,  blacksmithing,  wheel- 
wrighting,  painting,  and  harness  making  are  the 
mechanical  trades  offered  to  the  young  men. 

The  young  women  of  the  -school  are  offered  two 
trades,  sewing  and  cooking.  The  work  is  in  charge 
of  two  well  prepared  teachers.  The  girls  are 
taught  these  subjects  not  from  the  standpoint  of 
using  them  as  trades,  but  every  girl  in  the  school 
is  required  to  take  up  the  two  trades  because  they 
should  be  a  part  of  a  normal  woman's  knowledge. 

The  agricultural  department  has  a  farm  of 
eighty-five  acres,  an  agricultural  building,  dairy 
and  stables.  The  work  is  in  charge  of  four  teach 
ers.  Aside  from  the  actual  work  done  on  the 
farm  there  is  some  class  room  work  in  the  sub 


ject  of  agriculture.  The  work  on  the  farm  is  done 
largely  by  the  students  under  the  direct  super 
vision  of  the  teachers  in  charge.  The  course  in 
agriculture  begins  in  the  senior  preparatory  class. 
In  this  class  they  have  to  do  two  hours  each  week 
in  market  gardening.  The  Normal  classes  have 
two  courses  in  agriculture  besides  one  in  rural  so 
ciology  and  one  in  agricultural  economics. 

The  State  College  at  Orangeburg  is,  besides  be 
ing  a  State  College,  a  Land  Grant  School.  From 
the  Land  Grant  Fund,  it  draws  the  greater  portion 
of  its  support.  The  amount  from  this  source  is 
$30,754.00.  The  State  appropriations  are  $12,614.00. 
Then  the  fees  paid  by  the  students  and  money 
from  farm  and  shops  raised  the  amount  more  than 
two  thousand  dollars. 

The  school  owns  130  acres  of  land.  Of  this  num 
ber  only  eighty-five  acres  are  under  cultivation. 
The  entire  tract  of  land  is  valued  at  $50,000.00. 
The  buildings  on  the  place  are  valued  at  $227,000.00 
The  two  larger  buildings  are  Morrill  Hall,  boy's 
dormitory,  and  Bradham  Hall,  the  girl's  dormi 
tory.  The  latter  is  a  large  two  story  brick  struc 
ture  with  rooms  to  accommodate  400  girls  and  the 
administrative  offices.  The  dining  hall  is  a  one- 
story  building  which  accomodates  750.  Industrial 
Hall  is  a  large  two-story  brick  building.  It  contains 
all  the  shops  and  is  well  equipped  throughout. 
There  are  smaller  buildings — the  President's  home, 
six  teacher's  houses,  agricultural  building,  the 
dairy,  two  barns  and  a  heating  and  electrical  buil 
ding. 

The  man  at  the  head  of  this  State  College  is 
President  R.  S.  Wilkinson.  Mr.  Wilkinson  belongs 
to  that  type  of  instructors  whose  success  has  been 
won  by  their  combining  a  splendid  education,  and 
a  natural  talent  for  educational  leadership,  with 
a  gift  of  diplomacy  that  enables  them  to  not  only 
successfully  manage  the  affairs  of  their  colleges, 
but  to  obtain  the  maximum  allowances  from  the 
State  at  large  for  the  support  and  extension  of 
Negro  educational  enterprises.  Mr.  Wilkinson  has 
made  a  record  at  the  head  of  State  A.  &  M.  Col 
lege  that  has  not  only  gained  the  commendation 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  but  established  for  him 
a  reputation  as  an  educator  and  constructive  lead 
er  throughout  the  country.  Mr.  Wilkinson  is  not 
only  a  leader  along  educational  lines,  but  takes  a 
prominent  part  in  all  civic  and  religious  move 
ments.  He  proved  himself  a  power  for  good  in  the 
world  war,  and  placed  his  services  unreservedly  at 
the  disposal  of  his  country. 


389 


PICKFORD    HALL— LECTURE    HALL— VIRGINIA  UNION  UNIVERSITY 


MONG  the  first  schools  organized 
for  the  training  of  freedmen  by 
the  Christian  people  of  the  North 
were  those  which  were  later  un 
ited  into  Virginia  Union  Univer 
sity.  Both  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society  and  the  National  Baptist 
Institute  and  University  began  work  in  Washing 
ton  and  Richmond,  immediately  after  the  close  of 
the  war. 

In  1865,  Maryland  Seminary  was  opened  as  well 
as  the  National  Theological  Institute  in  Washing 
ton.  After  a  few  years  the  latter  was  merged  with 
the  former,  and  under  Dr.  G.  M.  P.  King,  the  new 
Maryland  Seminary  became  a  prosperous  and 
strong  Normal  School  and  Academy,  at  which  hun 
dreds  of  young  men  and  women  prepared  for  use 
ful  and  honored  service  especially  in  teaching  and 
preaching.  Dr.  King  was  President  from  1867  to 
1897,  and  gave  untiring  zeal  and  unstinted  devotion 
to  his  work. 

In  1865,  a  theological  school  was  opened  in  Rich- 


L 


COBURN  HALL— CHAPEL  AND  LIBRARY 


mond,  Va.,  known  successively  as  Colver  Institute, 
Richmond  Institute,  and  Richmond  Theological 
Seminary.  Among  its  earliest  teachers  were  Dr. 
J.  C.  Binney,  Dr.  Nathaniel  Colver,  the  famous  ab 
olitionist  and  preacher,  Dr.  Robert  Ryland,  for 
many  years  President  of  Richmond  College,  and 
Dr.  C.  H.  Corey,  President  from  1868  to  1898.  Af 
ter  1886  this  school  limited  its  work  strictly  to 
those  preparing  for  the  Christian  ministry,  and 
trained  many  of  its  leadng  colored  preachers. 

Virginia  Union  University,  combining  these  two 
schools  was  opened  in  the  Fall  of  1899  in  new  gran 
ite  buildings  on  the  outskirts  of  Richmond,  as  an 
Academy,  College  and  Theological  Seminary  for 
young  men. 

The  campus  and  farm  comprises  about  50  acres 
of  land  on  a  gentle  elevation  in  the  Northwestern 
part  of  the  city.  Here  250  years  ago  was  Nathan 
iel  Bacon's  quarters,  and  here  60  years  ago  Con 
federate  soldiers  encamped  and  defended  the  cap- 
itol  of  the  Confederacy  at  Battery  number  9. 

The  buildings  include  ten  substantial  and  beaut 
iful  granite  structures  and  four  frame  teachers  res 
idences.  Most  of  the  buildings  were  erected  with 
money  secured  by  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society.  Their  cost  was  about  $300,000. 
The  main  group  consists  of  Library  and  Chapel, 
Lecture  Hall,  two  Dormitories,  and  Dining  Hall. 
A  subordinate  group  includes  Industrial  Hall.  Pow 
er  House  and  Barn. 

The  University  is  controlled  by  a  Board  of  Trus 
tees  composed  of  Northern  and  Southern  White 
and  Colored  men  in  about  equal  numbers.  The 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  of  New 
York  which  at  present  contributes  three  fourths  of 
the  cost  of  the  school  outside  the  boarding  depart- 


390 


HUNTLEY  HALL— DORMITORY— VIRGINIA  UNION  UNIVERSITY 


ment  has  large  influence  in  determining  the  policy 
of  the  University. 

Three  purposes  are  prominent  in  the  establish 
ment  and  management  of  the  school.  (1)  To  train 
Christian  leaders — especially  preachers  and  teach 
ers,  with  the  emphasis  on  Christian.  (2)  To  give  to 
colored  young  men  of  ability  the  opportunity  to  se 
cure  in  the  South  a  higher  education  equal  to  that 
open  to  white  young  men.  (3)  To  secure  the  co 
operation  of  both  races  and  all  parts  of  the  country 
in  giving  the  highest  education  to  colored  men. 

The  faculty  consists  of  seventeen  professors  and 
teachers,  graduates  from  the  best  Normal  schools 
and  colleges  North  and  South.  The  Library  con 
tains  13000  bound  volumes,  and  is  open  for  consult 
ation  twelve  hours  each  day.  The  science  labora 
tories  are  well  equipped  for  the  work  given.  The 
Industrial  Hall  is  fitted  out  with  anvils,  forges,  car 
penters  benches,  turning  lathes,  tools,  and  a  twenty 
horse  power  gasoline  engine.  The  buildings  are 
heated  by  steam  and  lighted  by  electricity.  The 
dormitories  accomodate  about  two  hundred-fifty 
voting  men.  in  rooms  provided  with  the  necessary 
heavy  furniture.  The  Dining  Hall  seats  about  two 
hundred  and  seventy-five.  A  farm  of  about  twenty 
acres,  cultivated  largely  by  students,  furnishes  a 
large  part  of  the  vegetables  and  the  milk  for  the 
table.  A  fenced  athletic  field  gives  space  for  sports 
and  recreation. 

The  University  comprises  a  standard  four  year 
College  Course,  requiring  fifteen  units  of  secondary 
work  for  entrance,  with  school  year  of  thirty-six 
weeks,  and  an  enrollment  (1916-17)  of  sixty-five 
students;  a  standard  three  year  theological  course 
with  college  graduation  as  entrance  requirements 
for  the  degree  of  B.  D.,  and  fifteen  secondary  un 


its  as  entrance  requirement  for  regular  students, 
and  an  enrollment  of  thirty.  In  addition  to  these, 
eighty  five  in  other  departments  are  preparing  to 
preach  ;  and  a  four  year  high  school  academy  course 
with  manual  training,  and  an  enrollment  of  234. 
The  total  enrollment  for  the  school  year  was  350. 

A  summer  Normal  under  the  State  Board  of  Ed 
ucation,  is  held  for  six  weeks.  Last  year  the  en 
rollment  was  298  teachers. 

In  fifty  years  this  school,  with  its  predecessors, 
Maryland  Seminary  in  Washington,  and  Richmond 
Theological  Seminary,  has  trained  about  4000  col 
ored  students  of  all  grades,  about  1500  preachers 
about  1000  teachers  ;  12  foreign  missionaries,  many 
physicians  and  hundreds  of  leaders  of  the  race  in 
other  professions  and  occupations.  The  full  grad 
uates  from  the  different  departments  number  near 
ly  1000.  They  are  to  be  found  in  positions  of  prom 
inence  and  leadership  in  the  ministry,  in  education, 
in  medicine,  in  editorship,  and  in  social  service. 
Whatever  the  profession  they  naturally  take  a 
leading  part  in  temperance  and  health  and  moral 
movements  for  the  betterment  of  the  people. 


MARTIN   E.   GRAY   HALL— DINING   HALL. 


391 


WESLEY  WARREN  JEFFERSON,  D.  S. 

MONG  the  professions  which  have 
come  into  very  great  prominence 
lately,  because  of  the  number  of 
young  men  who  have  entered 
them,  and  because  of  the  good  be 
ing  accomplished,  Dentistry  ranks 
high.  For  years,  colored  people  everywhere  suf 
fered  from  all  the  ills  directly  traceable  to  bad 
teeth,  without  having  Dentists  of  their  own  race 
to  teach  them  proper  tooth  care,  or  to  remedy  the 
ill  from  this  lack  of  care.  But  of  recent  years, 
such  great  stress  has  been  laid  on  this  particular 
branch  of  work,  that  many  of  our  young  men  have 
taken  up  the  profession.  Among  these  is  Wesley 
Warren  Jefferson. 

Dr.  Jefferson  was  born  in  Florence,  South  Caro 
lina,  on  July  25,  1879.  As  lad  he  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Florence.  Mr.  Jefferson,  like 
many  another  lad,  was  ambitious  enough  to  over 
come  the  obstacle  of  no  cash ;  and  so  he  pressed  on 
to  his  goal  of  a  thorough  education  by  earning  with 
his  hands,  during  vacations  and  before  and  after 
schools  hours,  money  enough  to  support  himseii. 
When  he  finished  the  public  school  course  in  Flor 
ence  he  was  ambitious  to  be  a  thorough  trades 
man,  and  so  he  entered  Tuskegee  Institute.  Tus- 


kegee  was  just  coming  into  prominence  at  that 
time,  and  the  young  man  went  with  the  crowds 
that  were  beginning  to  throng  its  halls.  Dr.  Jef 
ferson  was  graduated  from  Tuskegee  Institute  in 
1899.  Throughout  his  after  life,  Dr.  Jefferson 
found  that  the  general  training  at  working,  whicli 
he  received  while  in  Tuskegee,  as  well  as  the  rigid 
ly  taught  habits  came  to  his  aid  many  times. 

On  leaving  Tuskegee  Institui-.1,  Dr.  Jefferson 
went  to  the  West  Indies,  and  taught  school  there 
for  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  the  United 
States.  He  had  tried  teaching  and  did  not  like  it 
well  enough  to  make  it  his  life  work.  So  when  he 
returned  to  this  counry  he  matriculated  at  Howard 
University,  as  a  student  in  Dentistry.  Dr.  Jef 
ferson  needed  to  earn  his  way  through  school  and 
so  he  took  the  Civil  Service  examination  and  se 
cured  a  position  with  the  government,  and  earned 
enough  to  pay  his  way  through  college. 

He  was  graduated  from  the  Howard  course  of 
Dentistry  with  the  degree  of  D.  S.,  in  1904.  After 
graduation,  Dr.  Jefferson,  realizing  that  all  profes 
sional  men  go  through  the  "starvation  period"  if 
they  have  no  money  for  the  start,  decided  to  con 
tinue  in  his  government  work  for  a  period.  For 
three  years  Dr.  Jefferson  therefore  worked  in 
Washington,  and  thus  eliminated  the  period  of 
pinched  circumstances  suffered  by  most  profes 
sional  men  while  the  public  gets  used  to  the  sign. 

In  1910,  Dr.  Jefferson  opened  his  office  in  Nor 
folk,  Virginia.  In  the  same  year  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Geraldine  Merriam  Muldraw,  of  Florence, 
South  Carolina.  The  young  couple  made  their 
home  in  Norfolk  and  began  to  make  friends.  They 
joined  the  Baptist  Church  of  Norfolk,  and  began 
to  take  part  in  all  the  activities  of  the  people.  It 
was  not  long  before  the  new  dentist  and  his  wife 
had  many  friends  and  the  former  a  very  large  prac 
tice.  For  seven  years,  Dr.  Jefferson  has  practiced 
in  Norfolk,  and  during  that  time  he  has  made  for 
himself  a  great  reputation  and  he  stands  out  as  a 
leader  of  his  people  and  as  a  worker.  Dr.  Jeffer 
son  has  also  the  respect  and  good  will  of  the  white 
people. 

Dr.  Jefferson  has  traveled  extensively.  While 
still  a  student,  he  began  his  travels,  having  to  go 
about  at  times  in  connection  with  his  work.  He 
has  traveled  over  the  United  States,  both  North 
and  South,  and  in  the  West  Indes. 

By  hard  work  and  very  careful  economy,  Dr. 
Jefferson  has  been  able  to  live  comfortably,  to 
equip  and  keep  up-to-date  his  large  office,  and  at 
the  same  time  accumulate  a  goodly  number  of  pro 
perty  holdings.  He  owns  his  own  home,  which  is 
a  very  attractive  residence  on  Queen  Street.  He 
owns  two  rent  houses,  and  several  vacant  lots. 
Thus  Dr.  Jefferson  is  numbered  not  only  among 
the  leading  professional  Negroes  of  Norfolk,  but 
among  the  most  substantial  business  men. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Jefferson  have  no  children  of  their 
own,  nevertheless  their  home  is  a  happy  one,  and 
is  presided  over  very  charmingly  by  Mrs.  Jefferson. 


392 


Robert  Horace  Brooks,  M.  D. 


HILE  much  has  been  written  der 
ogatory  to  the  State  of  Georgia, 
in  the  treatment  of  Negroes,  a 
study  of  the  colored  citizens  that 
are  making  good  will  convince 
the  most  skeptical,  that  while 
conditions  are  by  no  means  ideal,  there  is  no  state 
in  the  union  where  there  is  greater  opportunity  for 
the  self-respecting  and  law-abiding  citizen  to  make 
good.  A  splendid  example  of  this  is  shown  by  the 
success  of  Dr.  Brooks,  in  Rome,  Ga.  The  citizens 
of  this  beautiful  and  aristrocratic  old  Southern 
town  point  with  genuine  pleasure  and  pride  to  the 
success  of  Dr.  Brooks.  His  reputation  as  a  success 
ful  practioner,  is  only  equalled  by  his  record  as 
a  business  man,  and  his  credit  rating  the  equal  of 
almost  any  merchant  in  the  city. 

In  spite  of  all  that  has  been  said  and  written, 
the  Georgia  Negro  has  made  giants  strides,  espec 
ially  in  the  cities.  You  will  go  far  and  look  wth 
argus  eyes  to  find  a  state  with  so  much  Negro  bus 
iness  enterprise,  refinement,  talent  and  education. 
Take  Atlanta  for  an  example.  It  flourishes  with 
handsome  Negro  homes.  It  is  the  home  of  the 
famous  Odd  Fellows  Building,  the  still  more  fam 
ous  Standard  Insurance  Company,  writing  its  pol 
icies  like  the  best  of  the  old  line  companies,  send 
ing  forth  its  agents  and  establishing  branch  houses 
in  the  leading  cities  over  the  land.  Education  is  in 
the  keenest  competition  here.  Morehouse  College 
stands  on  one  hill ;  Atlanta  University  on  another ; 
Clark  University  and  Morris  Brown  University  in 
other  parts  of  the  city ;  Spelman  Seminary,  the  lar 
gest  school  in  the  world  for  the  education  of  Negro 
girls  is  here  sending  out  all  over  the  South  and  into 
foreign  lands,  especially  into  Africa,  her  well- 
rounded  students.  Atlanta  is  not  in  a  class  to  her 
self.  Close  to  her  come  Savannah,  Athens,  Bruns 
wick  and  other  cities  in  which  we  find  many  re 
fined  Negroes — all  this  goes  to  show  that  where 
determination  abounds,  success  does  also  abound. 

It  is  here  that  one  of  the  most  scholarly  of  the 
Negroes  lives  and  follows  his  calling  in  all  safety- 
day  by  day.  This  man  is  Dr.  Robert  Horace  Brooks 
who  is  known  as  the  Scholarly  Physician."  Re 
gardless  of  race  or  creed  he  wears  and  defends  this 
title.  On  questions  of  History,  of  literature,  of 
Geography,  of  War  and  Peace,  and  of  education,  as 
well  as  of  the  medical  profession,  he  is  very  often 
referred  to  as  the  final  arbiter,  because  his  judg 
ment  is  sound  and  his  reading  and  study  wide  and 
thorough. 

Unlike  many  of  his  brother  practioneers,  he  had 


the  advantage  of  a  splendid  early  education.  Born 
in  Trinidad  British  West  Indies,  his  parents  from 
the  first  inbued  him  with  the  spirit  of  thorough 
ness,  typical  of  the  British  subject  wherever  he  is 
found. 

Education  under  the  British  Flag  is  by  no  means 
so  general,  certainly  higher  education  is  not  so 
popular,  but  the  training  in  the  literary  branches 
is  most  exhaustive,  so  much  so  that  your  lad  of 
fifteen  is  already  a  scholar  in  his  habit  of  mind  and 
as  thoroughly  a  Britisher  as  your  decendant  of 
Plantagenet — wiry,  confident,  unpeturbed. 

Having  gone  to  and  finished  the  public  schools 
uf  Trinidad  he  entered  Queens  College.  Finishing 
here  he  came  to  America,  in  1900,  and  enrolled  in 
the  medical  department  of  Howard  University, 
Washington,  D.  C.  His  course  was  broken  into  on 
account  of  the  serious  illness  and  death  of  his  mo 
ther  which  called  him  home.  In  1902,  he  returned 
to  America  to  take  up  again  his  duties  in  medicine. 
Instead  of  returning  to  the  Howard  University  he 
entered  as  a  student  of  medicine  Shaw  University, 
Raleigh,  N.  C.  Dr.  Brooks  was  graduated  from 
the  Shaw  Medical  College  in  1906.  After  graduat 
ing  at  Shaw  Medical  College  he  took  a  Post  Grad 
uate  course  at  Jefferson  College  and  from  there 
went  to  Tuskegee  and  served  as  an  intern  in  the 
hospital  at  Tuskegee  Institute,  gaining  experience 
of  people  of  this  country,  as  well  as  practice  in 
medicine.  His  year  of  internship  ended,  Dr.  Brooks 
began  practice  in  Madison,  Ga.  Here  he  remained 
for  five  years.  In  1912,  he  moved  to  Rome,  Geor- 
gie,  where  he  is  now  practicing  and  where  he  is 
held  in  such  high  esteem  as  a  doctor  and  a  scholar. 
While  he  is  an  able  practitioneer  and  well  versed 
in  medical  science,  his  natural  aptitude  and  inclina 
tion  leads  him  to  surgery,  in  which  branch  he  is 
an  expert.  Dr.  Brooks  is  known  not  only  in  Rome 
and  surrounding  country,  but  pretty  generally 
through  the  State  of  Georgia.  He  is  a  Roman 
Catholic  in  Faith.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma 
sonic  Lodge  and  of  the  Pythians.  He  is  medical 
examiner  of  his  town  for  the  Standard  Life  Insur 
ance  Company,  of  Atlanta,  for  the  Columbia  Life 
and  for  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Companies. 

Dr.  Brooks  is  much  traveled,  having  in  addition 
to  spending  time  in  North  Carolina  and  in  Alabama 
as  -  student,  traveled  through  the  Eastern  states, 
through  the  South  and  on  many  of  the  Islands. 

Dr.  Brooks  was  married  in  1907,  to  Miss  Anita 
Rochon,  of  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  There  are 
two  sons  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks,  Robert 
Horace.  Jr.,  and  Frederick. 


393 


UNDERTAKING   ESTABLISHMENT  OF 
W.  I.  JOHNSON  &  SONS 

R.  William  Isaac  Johnson  was  born 
of  slave  parents  in  1852,  in  Char 
lotte  County,  Virginia.  At  the 
close  of  the  Civil  War  he  attend 
ed  the  free  schools  that  had  been 
started  for  the  freedom  of  the 
South,  in  the  city  of  Richmond.  He  finished  the 
Richmond  Normal  School  course  and  taught  for 
two  years.  His  next  work  was  that  of  letter  car 
rier,  in  which  work  he  was  engaged  for  twelve 
years.  But  Mr.  Johnson,  like  a  great  number  of 
our  men,  saw  no  future  for  himself  in  the  work  of 
letter  carrier.  So,  with  no  previous  training  in 
business,  he  gave  up  his  steady  income  and  launch 
ed  out  into  business  for  himself.  With  undaunted 
courage  and  energy,  he  has  forged  ahead  until  to 
day  he  is  one  of  the  leading  undertakers  of  his  race 
in  this  country. 

The  firm  first  opened  in  1886,  at  23  West  Broad 
Street,  where  for  five  years  they  did  a  prosperous 
business.  Outgrowing  this  establishment,  Mr. 
Johnson  bought  property  at  207  N.  Foushee  St., 
where  he  conducted  the  business  for  twenty  years. 
In  1911  once  more  Mr.  Johnson  considered  his 
quarters  unsuitable,  and  so  he  sold  the  property  on 
Foushee  Street  for  the  sum  of  $25,000.00.  and 
bought  and  built  his  present  commodious  establish 
ment  at  10  West  Leigh  Street,  and  two  residences 
adjoining.  The  building  is  a  three-story  brick  and 
is  well  equipped.  On  the  first  floor  are  the  offices, 
show  room,  stock  room,  ware  room  and  the  mor 
gue.  The  second  floor  is  taken  up  by  an  auditorium 
which  is  used  as  a  chapel  and  for  various  other 
public  functions.  The  third  floor  is  divided  into 
four  beautiful  lodge  rooms  which  are  used  by  va 
rious  fraternal  societies  throughout  the  city.  The 


entire  building  is  heated  by  steam  and  lighted  by 
electricity. 

In  addition  to  the  Undertaking  business  and  en 
tirely  separate  from  it  is  the  Garage,  owned  and 
managed  by  this  firm.  The  Garage,  formerly  the 
stable,  is  a  two-story  brick  structure,  that  extends 
from  one.  street  to  the  other.  It  was  formerly 
equipped  with  a  full  line  of  horse-drawn  vehicles 
for  the  conduct  of  their  business.  Most  of  these 
have  been  recently  disposed  of  and  replaced  by 
auto  vehicles,  a  black  and  grey  motor  hearse, 
four  seven  passenger  limousines,  three  seven  pas 
senger  touring  cars,  one  Ford  sedan,  two  Ford 
touring  cars,  and  two  motor  delivery  wagons. 
Their  equipment  is  sought  by  the  leading  funeral 
directors  of  the  city. 

In  building  up  this  business  for  himself,  Mr. 
Johnson  has  made  a  place  for  his  sons.  In  1911, 
he  took  the  two  sons  into  the  business  with  him. 
One  of  them  serves  as  his  father's  principal  assist 
ant.  The  other  is  now  in  he  Army,  and  has  for  the 
time  given  up  his  active  work  with  the  firm.  The 
business  methods  of  the  firm  are  of  the  highest  or 
der,  their  equipment  up-to-date,  and  they  enjoy  the 
confidence  and  the  highest  respect  of  all  classes  of 
citizens,  both  in  their  own  locality  and  in  the  un 
dertaking  profession  at  large. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  taken  time  from  his  business 
to  serve  in  other  concerns.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Henrico  Lodge  of  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted  Ma 
sons.  He  is  director  of  the  St.  Luke  Penny  Saving 
Bank,  of  Richmond,  and  a  Director  of  the  Crown 
Savings  Bank,  of  Newport  News.  To  these  organi 
zations  he  brings  his  great  business  ability  and 
helps  to  hold  the  confidence  of  the  public.  Many 
honors  have  been  shown  to  Mr.  Johnson  because 
of  the  great  work  he  has  done  and  is  doing  in  the 
colored  business  world.  Among  these  might  be 
mentioned — he  was  President  of  the  Negro  exhibit 
of  the  Jamestown  exposition  and  he  is  a  trustee  of 
the  Negro  Reformatory  of  Virginia. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the  National  Negro 
Business  Men's  League.  He  has  been  present  at 
most  of  their  gatherings.  Most  of  the  traveling 
that  Mr.  Johnson  has  taken  the  time  to  do  has  been 
in  going  from  one  section  of  the  country  to  another 
while  in  attendance  upon  the  National  League. 

In  May,  of  1889,  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to 
Miss  Maria  Cooley,  of  Richmond,  Virginia.  To 
them  have  been  born  three  children.  Mrs.  Tar- 
quinia  A.  Middleton  is  a  daughter  who  now  resides 
in  Chicago.  W.  I.  Johnson,  Jr.,  is  his  father's 
mainstay  in  the  undertaking  and  livery  business, 
and  the  other  son,  Jas.  A.  C.  Johnson,  is  a  Ser 
geant  in  the  United  States  Army.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  live  in  one  of  the  new  residences  which 
they  have  recently  built  and  the  sons,  with  their 
wives,  live  in  the  other.  It  is  a  far  cry  from  the 
poverty-stricken  boyhood  of  this  man  to  the  place 
he  now  occupies  in  the  world  of  business  and  in  the 
social  world.  He  has  shown  what  one  who  has 
made  up  his  mind  to  succeed,  can  really  do  in  thir 
ty-two  years. 


394 


Reverend  John  Franklin  Drane 

HEN  you  think  of  Kentucky,  your  when  the  school  house  doors  nor  the  theological 
mind  is  likely  to  go  out  to  the  school  doors  did  not  swing  so  easily  on  the  hinge 
Cobbs.  the  Watersons,  Brecken-  as  they  do  now.  Rev.  Drane  was  born  in  Washing- 
bridges  and  others  of  that  noble  ton  County.  He  spent  some  time  in  the  country 
strain  which  makes  the  blue  grass  schools  and  then  went  to  Louisville,  where  he  at- 
state  so  universally  popular  and  tended  the  Central  High  School  for  eight  years, 
lovable.  When  you  add  to  this  her  fame  for  beau-  For  a  long  time  he  worked  and  studied.  It  was  not 
tiful  ladies  you  might  well  wonder  why  everybody  for  him  to  go  away  to  take  formal  courses  in  theo- 
doesn't  pull  up  and  go  clown  there  to  live.  Per-  logy  and  in  the  doctrines.  He  had  to  fight  the  bat- 
haps  this  would  be  so  were  it  not  that  men  are  so  tie  for  daily  sustenance  where  he  was  and  study 
devoid  of  the  spirit  of  adventure  and  of  romance.  his  theology  when  and  where  he  could, 
both  being  wholly  eclipsed  by  the  everlasting  tug-  To  educate  himself  for  the  ministry,  which  he 
ging  after  sordid  gains.  was  resolved  to  enter,  he  made  various  shifts.  For 
The  Negroes  of  the  state  are  no  less  famed  a  good  while  he  had  a  private  tutor,  J.  T.  Sullivan, 
among  their  brothers  than  are  the  whites  among  Then  he  applied  himself  much  alone;  then  he  stu- 
theirs.  Kentucky  has  a  high  scale  of  general  edu-  died  by  correspondence,  taking  courses  in  the  Mc- 
cation,  good  taste  and  refinement.  Perhaps  in  no  Kinley  Extension  University  of  Oak  Park.  Ill  Fin- 
other  Southern  state  or  semi-Southern  state  does  ally  when  thirty  years  of  age,  feeling  that  he  was 
one  hear  so  little  of  that  modern  epedemic,  race  in  a  measure  prepared  to  do  the  work  to  which  he 
friction.  This  is  without  doubt  due  to  the  high  aspired,  he  entered  the  ministry.  He  began  at 
standards  of  both  the  races,  for  almost  without  ex-  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1898.  with  the  church  of  the 
ception,  when  misunderstandings  come  they  are  Good  Shepherd.  In  a  few  years  he  was  in  Cov- 
started  by  the  lower  element  of  one  race  or  the  ington,  where  he  purchased  the  Ninth  Street  Bap- 
other-  tist  church.  From  Covington  he  went  to  May's 
Kentucky  is  a  sort  of  Baptist  strong-hold.  In-  I-ick,  where  he  inaugurated  the  Building  Fund  for 
deed  the  Baptists  feel,  and  not  without  considera-  <i  church  there.  On  January  1st,  1915,  he  was  calle  1 
ble  warrant  in  this  case,  that  they  lead  the  race,  to  take  charge  of  the  big  church  at  Bowling- 
They  have  more  schools,  better  schools  and  hand-  Green,  Thus  in  fifteen  years,  Rev  Drane  1  - 
somer  churches  than  do  the  others.  They  have  climbed  to  the  highest  round  of  the  ladder  as  a 
keener  competition  for  places  of  leadership  in  the  tor  in  his  native  State. 

schools,  in  the  churches,  in  the  clubs  and  civic  bod-  As  a  pastor  and  as  a  citizen  he  has  c-irri  >  1  I'  • 

ies  than  do  most  of  the  other  sects.     Their  papers  full  quota  of  extra  duties  outside  of  the  church    In 

and   their  journals   are    more    numerous    and    are  Lodge  affiliations   he   is  a   Mason,   an   Odd  F  11 

longer  lived.  and  a  Good  Samaritan.     In  religious  bodies  he  is  a 

'therefore,  to  be  pastor  of  one  of  the  largest  and  member  of  the  Baptist  Foreign  Mission    Bo-     1     f 

most  costiy  churches  in  one's  state  is  no  ditinction  the  National  Convention  and  chairman  of  th     TT 

to  be  passed  over  lightly.    Such  is  the  good  fortune  ion   District  Association   and   Sunday  School   Con- 

uf  Rev.  John  F.  Drane,  of  Bowling  Green,  Ky.  The  vention.     He  is  editor  of  the  "Blaze,"  a  weekly  pa- 

ehurch  oi  winch  he  is  pastor  is  known  as  the  State  per  of  Bowling  Green,  and  past  Grand  Chaplain  of 

1'irst  Baptist  Lhurcii.     it  has  a  seating  capacity  of  the  F.  and  A.  M. 

eleven  hundred  and  cost   twenty   thousand  dollars.  Rev.  Drane  has  traveled  much,  having  toured  the 

Rev.  Drane's  ascent  to  his  post  has  been  steady  whole  country  on  business  or  pleasure  trips      He 

and  unwavering,  though  born  in  a  state  where  the  was  married  in   1910,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Jordan    of 

Baptists  are  legion  and  where  the  Baptist  preach-  May's  Lick,  Ky.  They  have  one  son,  Joseph  Fraiik- 

ers   are  among  the   giants   in   the   pulpit.      He   was  ]jn    Drane,   who  will   soon   be  a  pupil  in   the  public 

born  shortly  after  the  war.  in   1866,  to  be  explicit,  school. 

.195 


JOHN  B.  KEY. 


HE  life  of  John  B.  Key,  should  be 
an  inspiration  to  any  boy  who  has 
for  his  ambition  the  acquiring  of 
a    good    share      of      this      world's 
goods ;  for  in  this  story  we  have 
a  lad  who  earned  his  way  in  the 
common  schools  by  shining  shoes 
— advanced  to  the  position  of  ow 
ner  of  Real  Estate  and  Oil  Lease   Business,     and 
worth  in  his  own  right  over  one  million  dollars. 

John  B.  Key  is  a  southerner  by  birth.  He  was 
born  in  Florence  Alabama,  June  10,  1867.  Here 
he  lived  with  his  parents  till  he  was  nine  years  of 
age.  Up  to  that  time  he  was  a  little  farm  lad,  at 
tending  school  during  the  short  sessions  held  in  the 
rural  districts.  At  the  age  of  nine  he  was  sent  to 
his  first  cousin  in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  Mr.  Ran 
dall  Clay,  who  was  a  finished  mechanic  in  the 
James  and  Graham  Wagon  Factory.  Here  his  op 
portunities  for  getting  an  education  were  greater. 
He  entered  the  Clay  Street  Public  School.  Here 
he  remained,  applying  himself  to  the  work  in 
hand  till  he  completed  the  English  branches. 
In  order  to  remain  in  school  for  this  length  of  time 
he  had  to  work  at  something  that  would  take  only 
out  of  school  time.  For  this  purpose  he  chose 
shoe-shining.  After  leaving  school  he  tried  work 
ing  successively  in  Foundry,  Hotel  and  Wagon 
Factory. 

While  still  a  young  man,  Mr.  Key  worked  his 
way  from  the  position  of  porter  to  that  of  clerk 


in  one  of  the  best  white  hotels  of  that  period,  and 
operated  the  United  States  Barber  Shop,  at  Hot 
Springs,  Arkansas.  Later  he  moved  to  Port  Ar 
thur,  Canada,  and  clerked  in  the  Northern  Hotel. 
But  Mr.  Key  was  not  altogether  satisfied  with  the 
life  of  a  hotel  clerk.  He  felt  that  there  were  big 
ger  things  and  better  opportunities  in  store  for 
him.  So  once  more  we  find  him  moving.  This 
time  he  moved  out  to  the  territory  of  Oklahoma, 
in  1891.  Here  he  got  a  farm  for  himself  and  set 
for  himself  the  task  of  learning  to  run  it.  This 
was  a  farm  of  160  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Key  has 
never  since  given  up  his  interest  in  farms  and  farm 
ing.  At  present  he  own  2800  acres  of  farm  land. 
Later  he  engaged  in  the  Mercantile  business.  In 
this  business  he  continued  till  1917,  when  he  open 
ed  up  a  real  estate  and  oil  lease  business.  In 
this  business  he  is  still  engaged  and  it  is  growing 
rapidly  under  his  direction.  He  organized  a  com 
pany  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,000  under  the 
corporate  name  of  J.  B.  Key  Oil  &  Gas  Company, 
which  has  secured  some  of  the  best  oil  leases  in  the 
Peoner  Oil  Fields,  and  is  now  drilling  in  the  fam 
ous  Willcox  Pool,  in  the  heart  of  production.  In 
addition  to  this  lease  the  company  owns  leases  on 
several  thousand  acres. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  company  to  erect  a  re 
finery  and  conduct  a  banking  business  in  addition 
to  boring  for  oil  and  gas.  In  addition  to  the 
land  owned  by  Mr.  Key  he  has  several  blocks  of 
improved  real  estate  and  considerable  interests  in 
valuable  oil  production,  to  the  amount  of  over  one 
million  dollars.  He  has  just  finished  two  more 
blocks  of  fine  three-story  brick  buildings  contain 
ing  128  rooms  and  6  stores,  25  by  100  feet, 

Mr.  Key  is  a  member  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church, 
being  a  Trustee  and  Steward  of  the  Church  of 
which  he  is  a  member.  But  in  religious  matters, 
Mr.  Key  is  broad  and  liberal.  He  visits  all  the 
Churches  of  the  colored  people  of  Okmulgee  and 
contributes  liberally  to  the  support  of  them  all. 
In  this  manner,  Mr.  Key  shows  that  he  is  broad 
er  than  any  creed.  In  fraternal  matters,  Mr.  Key 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the  Mo- 
siac  Templars  of  America  and  of  the  United  Bro 
thers  of  Friedship.  In  the  order  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  he  serves  as  Grand  Master  of  EXQ. 

Mr.  Key  is  the  President  of  Flipper-Key-Davis 
University,  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  board 
of  Trustees.  This  school  is  maintained  by  the 
A.  M.  E.  Church  in  the  State  of  Oklahoma.  The 
school  has  his  name  as  a  part  of  its  own.  lie  is 
not  only  President  and  Trustee  but  a  very  liberal 
supporter  of  this  institution  of  learning. 

As  recorded  in  the  first  part  of  this  sketch,  Mr. 
Key  went  with  his  work  from  place  to  place.  And 
so  in  travels  he  has  gone  over  the  whole  of  the 
United  States,  over  part  of  Canada,  and  has  trav 
eled  extensively  in  Mexico. 

Mr.  Key  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  B.  Collins 
on  the  22nd  day  of  February,  1888.  She  has 
been  a  true  helpmate  to  him.  In  all  his  business 
undertakings  he  has  asked  for  and  gotten  her  ad 
vice  and  very  frequently  it  was  the  joint  plans, 
rather  than  the  plans  of  one  that  have  made  the 
successful  business  deals. 

There  are  no  children  in  the  family,  but  the 
Key's  have  made  up  for  this  by  loving  and  rearing 
the  children  of  relatives. 


396 


Thomas  F.  Parks 


<)f 


R.  Parks  was  born  in  Albany,  Ga.,  Mr.  Parks  once  started  a  dairy  business,  but 
in  1864.  When  a  child  his  parents  a|K,ut  the  time  he  was  beginning  this,  he  was  ad- 
moved  to  Greensboro,  Gi.,  where  vocating  tllat  the  dty  a])])oint  a  truant  officer  to 
he  received  his  first  school  train-  k)ok  after  absent  co]ored  chndren  who  gtay  from 
ing.  This  was  very  meagre  and  schoo,  Ag  he  ha(,  bepn  chjef  adv()Cate  hfi  ^  ap_ 
when  he  moved  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  pointed  Thus  he  haf, 

he  brought  with  him  the  determination  to  succeed.      workjng  as  truant  offjcer  he  f()un(,  tha't  the 

Unable  to  go  to  school,  in  the  day  time  as  he  was      rpn  werp  not  on] 

coni])elled   to   earn   his    living,   he    entered    a    night      )1orant_  thev  and 

school  where  in  a  remarkably  short  time  he  became      f(>r 

proficient  in  all  branches  necessary  to  business  suc 
cess.  Quick  to  see  and  grasp  an  opportunity,  Mr. 

I 'arks  was  impressed  with  the  fact  that  there  was 

a  splendid  field  for  the  development  u'  an  insurance 

agency    that    catered    exclusively    to    the    Negroes. 

He  became  identified  with   the   Insurance   l-usines? 

in  1S99.  and  is  today  special  agent  for  the  National 

Benefit  Association  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  one 

of    the    leading   producers    for    that    company.     In 


se 


education. 

Thoroughly  engrossed  in  business  and  uplift 
work.  Mr.  Parks  has  given  but  little  t;me  to  other 
"-p-anizations.  He  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow  and 
•i  Knight  of  Pythias.  He  once  served  for  nine 
vears  as  Vice-President  of  the  Board  of  Guardians 
for  Children. 

Beyond  membership  in  these  bodies  and  his  bus 
iness,  Mr.  Parks  devotes  most  of  his  time  to  his 

ttling  the  death  claims  incident  to  this  business,  family.  He  was  married  in  1887,  to  Miss  Tola  May 
he  saw  the  need  of  a  cemetery  where  his  peoples  Lewis,  of  Louisville.  Two  boys  and  a  Girl  coin- 
last  resting  place  would  be  a  beautiful  tribute  of  P"se  the  family  circle  in  the  splendid  Parks  brick 
the  love  and  affection  of  those  left  behind.  It  was  home  on  Chestnut  Street.  They  are  Lewis  Parks, 
with  this  idea  in  view  that  he  organized  a  stock  who  was  formerly  a  student  at  Ohio  State  Univer- 
company  and  purchased  the  site  for  beautiful  *ity,  but  had  to  cease  studying  on  account  of  ill 
Greenwood  Cemetery.  A  park  located  right  in  the  health  ;  Miss  Margaret,  who  was  graduated  from 
city,  and  one  that  could  hardly  be  purchased  to-  the  Louisville  High  School,  and  from  Fisk  Univer- 
day  sity,  carrying  off  at  Fisk  the  highest  honors,  and 

To  quote  the  Company's  circular:  "About  twelve  Albert  Paul,  who  is  associated  with  the  father  in 
years  ago  the  Greenwood  Cemetery  was  opened;  business. 


since  that  time  more  than  three  thousand  of  our 
relatives  and  friends  have  been  buried  there,"  a 
statement  that  shows  what  the  cemetery  has 
meant  to  the  colored  people  of  Louisville. 

Quite  different  were  the  impulses  which  prompt 
ed  Mr.  Parks  to  enter  the  real  estate  business.   He 


Mr.  Parks  realizes  keenly  that  this  is  the  day  of 
the  highly  developed  specialist  and  of  the  thor 
oughly  trained  business  man  and  is  determined  to 
hold  what  he  has  so  successfully  fought  to  gain. 
With  this  end  in  view  he  has  taken  his  son.  Albert 
Paul,  into  business  with  him  and  is  giving  him  the 


was  paying  rent.  He  figured  that  if  he  could  only  advantage  of  his  practical  experience.  Many  boys 
get  the  first  house  he  could  make  one  building  pay  are  given  the  advantage  of  a  thorough  education, 
for  the  other.  and  many  are  given  the  advantage  of  a  practical 
To  accomplish  this  he  joined  a  building  and  loan  training,  but  fortunate  is  the  boy  that  has  the  ben- 
association,  paying  $50.00  per  month  for  mem-  efit  of  both  under  the  care  of  a  loving  father, 
bership  fee.  then  he  borrowed  $800.00  from  the  Desirous  of  securing  a  first  hand  estimate  of  Mr. 
company  and  $200.00  from  a  bank  and  put  up  for  Parks  as  a  public  servant  from  the  officers  of  the 
himself  a  two  and  a  half  story  brick  house.  Then  city  of  Louisville,  the  authors  interviewed  several, 
he  began  to  put  up  other  houses  until  today  he  which  resulted  in  convincing  them  that  Mr.  Parks 
owns  and  collects  rents  from  eight  houses,  this  in  record  had  given  the  officials  a  very  high  regard 
addition  to  his  two  and  half  story  residence. 


for  him  both  as  an  officer  and  a  man. 


397 


GEORGE   CLAYTON   SHAW,   D.   D. 

HE  Mary  Potter  Memorial  School, 
founded  in  1910,  by  the  present 
principal,  Rev.  G.  C.  Shaw.  Rev. 
Shaw  is  a  graduate  of  Lincoln 
University,  (Pa.),  class  of  1886, 
and  of  Auburn  Theological  Semi 
nary,  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  in  1890.  He  also  studied  one 
year  at  Princeton,  Theological  Seminary,  N.  J.  He 
was  born  at  Louisburgh,  N.  C,  in  1863,  being  next 
to  the  youngest  of  six  children.  His  parents  were 
slaves  but  his  mother  was  given  a  fairly  good  edu- 


cation  by  her  mistress.  Also  his  two  oldest  sisters 
who  were  eight  and  six  years  old,  respectively,  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  were  taught  to  read  and  write 
and  were  among  the  first  colored  teachers  of 
North  Carolina,  having  begun  to  teach  in  1872. 
Each  of  the  six  children  began  to  teach  as  soon  as 
they  were  old  enough  and  there  has  not  been  a 
year  since  1872  that  some  of  them  have  not  been 
teaching  in  North  Carolina. 

Rev.  Shaw  married,  in  1890,  Miss  Mary  E.  Lewis, 
of  Penn  Valley,  Pa.,  a  highly  educated  woman. 
She  has  been  a  faithful  worker  with  her  husband 
in  establishing  and  developing  Mary  Potter  School. 

While  a  student  at  Auburn,  Rev.  Shaw  attracted 
the  attention  of  Mrs.  Mary  Potter  of  Schenectady 
who  became  very  much  interested  in  him.  Through 
her  influence  he  went  to  Oxford,  N.  C.  In  addition 
to  establishing  the  school  which  bears  the  name  of 
his  friend  Mrs.  Mary  Potter,  he  organized  a  Pres 
byterian  Church.  He  is  still  pastor  of  the  church  and 
has  organized  in  the  county  two  other  Presbyter 
ian  churches  and  one  in  the  adjoining  county 
(Vance).  Mrs.  Potter  died  soon  after  the  work 
was  started.  Through  her  friends  and  the  Freed- 
men's  Board  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Rev. 
Shaw  has  been  able  to  develop  the  work  to  its  pres 
ent  proportions.  It  has  485  students. 

The  school  is  conducted  by  Rev.  Shaw  along 
carefully  conceived  lines  that  not  only  equip  the 
students  for  business  and  home,  but  impress  upon 
them  the  beauties  of  a  Christian  life.  A  born  ped 
agogue,  and  a  forceful  speaker.  Rev.  Shaw  is  at  all 
times  the  kindly  gentle  leader  and  instructor  of 
youth.  His  sound  judgment  and  wise  policies  have 
made  him  a  capable  leader  of  the  older  element  in 
his  community,  and  Dr.  Shaw  has  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  both  races.  No  man  of  any  people  could 
wish  for  a  higher  eulogy  than  was  paid  him  by  a 
prominent  white  citizen  of  Oxford,  N.  C.,  who  said, 
"Dr.  G.  C.  Shaw  is  a  citizen  that  any  town  would 
be  proud  to  claim." 


MARY  POTTER  MEMORIAL    SCHOOL 
398 


Reverend  Mansfield  Temple  Cooper 


I 


EVEREND       Mansfield       Temple 
's  a  native  °f  Mississippi. 
was   born    m    Hinds    County, 


"*J 

li    fa\\f      ^e   was   born 

Kd  K^  ^X\  Mississippi,  in  the  year  1866. 
His  father  lived  in  the  country, 
and  the  early  life  of  Mansfield 
was  spent  on  the  farm.  While  he  did  his  share  of 
the  farm  work  and  was  being  trained  in  handling 
the  hoe  and  plow  the  training  of  his  mind  was  be 
ing  neglected  for  want  of  the  proper  facilities  for 
educational  development.  He  early  evinced  a  de 
sire  to  learn  and  to  the  credit  of  his  father,  this  de 
sire  was  enlarged  rather  than  held  back.  To  give 
him  the  proper  mental  training  meant  the  loss  of 
a  worker  on  the  farm,  but  this  wise  father  saw  the 
possibilities  of  a  greater  life  for  his  son,  if  he  was 
trained  for  service,  and  he  cheerfully  made  the  sac 
rifice  in  the  interest  of  his  son's  education.  When 
about  twelve  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him  to 
town  where  he  could  obtain  better  educational  fa 
cilities  than  the  country  afforded. 

Leaving  the  farm,  he  went  to  the  town  of  Ed 
wards,  where  he  entered  the  public  school.  He  ap 
plied  himself  diligently  to  his  books  and  proved  a 
good  student.  By  hard  work  he  passed  through 
the  public  schools  ending  with  his  course  in  the 
high  school.  After  finishing  at  Edwards  he  went 
to  Jackson,  Mississippi,  the  capital  of  the  state,  and 
entered  the  High  School  there.  He  finished  his 
course  at  the  Jackson  High  School  when  he  reached 
the  age  of  nineteen,  and  then  entered  college.  He 
first  attended  the  Granada  and  Zion  College,  then 
entered  Princeton  University  and  Tougaloo  Col 
lege.  At  all  of  these  institutions  he  applied  him 
self  diligently,  paying  his  way  by  hard  work. 

While  his  father  helped  him  to  secure  an  educa 
tion  he  did  not  depend  upon  him  altogether,  but 
worked  to  help  himself.  During  the  progress  of 
his  education  and  for  some  years  after  his  grad 
uation  he  followed  the  profession  of  teacher  and 
at  one  time  it  seemed  that  this  would  be  his  life 
work,  but  God  had  other  work  for  him,  and  laid 
its  call  upon  his  heart  and  conscience  and  finally 
led  him  to  the  ministry.  He  began  to  teach  when 
he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  before  he  had  fin 
ished  his  High  School  Course.  He  left  school  when 
he  was  about  twenty-two  years  old  and  first  took 
up  the  occupation  of  teaching.  His  first  appoint 
ment  was  that  of  principal  of  the  public  school  at 
Charleston,  Mississippi,  which  he  served  for  four 
years.  He  next  served  the  school  at  Harrison 
Station.  Mississippi,  as  principal  for  three  years. 
This  station  is  now  known  as  Einid.  His  work  at 
these  schools  was  of  the  best  and  the  schools 
flourished  under  his  management. 


From  Harrison  Station  he  went  to  Memphis, 
Tennessee.  There  he  continued  teaching  for  a 
short  while,  but  gave  it  up  to  engage  in  manual 
labor.  He  continued  at  hard  labor  for  sometime 
when  he  recognized  the  call  to  preach  and  then 
gave  it  up  to  prepare  for  the  ministry. 

He  entered  the  ministry  in  the  year  1895  and 
since  that  date  has  been  actively  engaged  in  church 
work.  When  he  gave  himself  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry  he  made  a  complete  surrender  of  all  per 
sonal  ambition  and  sought  only  to  serve  God  and 
humanity.  He  went  where  duty  called  and  regard 
ed  not  the  field  from  the  standpoint  of  self.  He 
was  satisfied  it  he  could  serve  and  the  larger  the 
service  the  greater  joy  he  experienced.  In  the 
course  of  his  labors  he  has  served  some  of  the 
humblest  mission  stations  and  some  of  the  leading 
churches  in  the  State  of  Tennessee. 

Thirteen  years  out  of  the  twenty-one  years  he 
has  spent  in  Tennessee,  he  has  lived  at  Memphis. 
There  he  was  pastor  of  Providence  three  years 
and  accomplished  a  good  work  for  his  charge.  He 
paid  off  a  mortgage  on  the  church  property  of  over 
$2,000.  During  his  pastorate  at  Tyler  Chapel,  he 
built  a  church  edifice  at  a  cost  of  $1500.  He  was 
pastor  at  St.  Andrews  for  five  years,  and  when  he 
retired  from  that  pastorate  he  had  raised  $5,000 
with  which  to  erect  a  new  building. 

In  1917  he  returned  to  Providence  church  and 
is  today  the  pastor  of  that  people. 

It  is  not  often  that  a  pastor  can  return  to  a 
church  that  he  formerly  served  and  do  his  best 
work,  but  Rev.  Cooper  is  an  exception.  He  not 
only  keeps  up  the  interest  of  his  flock  in  many 
lines  of  church  work,  but  has  reduced  the  debt  on 
the  church  property  from  $4,000  to  $1500.  In  1916 
he  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  which 
met  in  Philadelphia. 

He  has  served  on  the  board  of  trustees  of  Wil- 
berforce  University,  and  is  now  a  trustee  of  Tur 
ner  College,  and  has  held  the  position  for  ten  years. 
He  was  the  Statistical  Secretary  of  the  West 
Tennessee  Conference  for  seven  years  and  could 
have  continued,  but  resigned  in  favor  of  another. 

In  1892,  he  married  Miss  Clara  Key,  of  Rober- 
sonville.  Mississippi.  They  have  one  child,  Mans 
field  Temple  Cooper,  Jr.  Rev.  Cooper's  travels 
have  been  confined  to  the  South  and  East.  His 
extensive  labors  in  connection  with  his  church  life 
have  not  prevented  him  from  taking  an  active  in 
terest  in  a  number  of  fraternal  organizations. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Masons,  Knights  of  Py 
thias,  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Tabor.  For 
several  years  he  was  the  Chancellor  Commander 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


399 


HARRY   C.  SMITH 

ON.  Harry  C.  Smith,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  a  native  of  West  Vir 
ginia,  has  lived  for  half  a  cen 
tury  in  Ohio,  at  Cleveland,  where 
he  secured  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city.  It 
was  in  August,  1883,  that  Mr.  Smith  and  three 
other  members  of  the  race  started  The  Cleveland 


-^•^r' 

IM! 


This  position  he  held  for  four  years.  In  1893 
Mr.  Smith  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Leg 
islature  ;  in  1895  and  1899  he  was  re-elected  to  a 
second  and  third  term  , serving  six  years  in  all.  His 
most  conspicious  work  as  a  Legislator  in  the  inter 
est  of  his  people  was  the  passage  of  Ohio's  Civil 
Rights'  Law.  in  1884.  and  Ohio's  Ariti-Lynching 
Law  in  1896.  New  York  State's  "Malhy  Civil 
Rights  Law"  and  Illinois'  Anti-Lynching  Law  are 
largely  copies  of  Ohio's.  Illinois  and  Ohio  are  the 
only  States  in  the  Union  that  have  affective  laws 
against  mob  violence  and  both  were  introduced  by 
Afro-American  Legislators. 

Editor  Smith,  though  a  member  of  the  Legis 
lature  and  a  very  busy  one,  too,  continued  his 
newspaper  work.  In  recent  years  thrice  Mr.  Smith 
has  successfully  called  upon  the  State  Railroad 
Commission  of  Ohio  to  stop  Southern  railroads 
from  running  coaches  bearing  "Jim  Crow"  car 
signs  into  Ohio. 

The  following  tribute  was  paid  to  him  by  W.  S. 
Scarborough,  President  of  Wilberforce  University : 

"This  paper  (Mr.  Smith's  paper — The  Gazette) 
has  proven  a  success  and  is  now  by  far  the  best 
Colored  paper  published  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and 
is  one  among  the  best  edited  by  Colored  journalists 
in  the  United  States.  It  is  vigorous  in  tone,  fear 
less  in  its  defense  of  right,  a  strong  advocate  of 
equal  rights  to  all  men  without  any  distinction,  an 
uncompromising  enemy  of  prejudice  in  all  its 
forms,  and  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics — with 
principle  rather  than  expediency  as  the  basis. 

Mr.  Smith  has  always  wielded  an  able  pen  for 
right  and  truth.  He  has  fought  squarely  in  be 
half  of  his  race,  demanding  for  it  recognition  vvher- 


(Ohio)  Gazette,  which  he  has  edited  and  managed  ever  denied.  No  other  proof  of  this  is  needed  than 
from  the  beginning  and  owned  for  more  than  twen 
ty-five  years.  It  is  the  one  race  weekly  newspaper 
in  this  country  that  has  been  issued  every  week  on 
time  since  its  birth  twenty-six  years  ago — and  has 
done  such  good,  consistent  and  constant  work  for 
the  colored  people  that  it  is  known  to  Afro-Amer 
ican  readers  throughout  the  country  as  one  of 
their  truest  and  best  race  newspapers  and  advo 
cates,  and  its  editor  as  one  of  their  most  aggress 
ive  and  successful  race  leaders. 

When  Senator  Joseph  Benson  Foraker  was  Gov 
ernor  of  Ohio,  many  years  ago,  he  caused  Harry  C. 
Smith  to  be  appointed  a  Deputy  State  Oil  Inspect 
or,  the  first  time  in  their  history  the  colored  race 
had  been  so  honored  in  this  country. 


The  Gazette  itself." 

Hon.  Frederick  Douglas  pays  him  this  tribute 
a  few  years  prior  to  his  death  : 

"In  the  midst  of  hurried  preparations  for  a  long 
tour  in  Europe  I  snatched  my  pen  and  spend  a  few 
moments  to  tell  you  how  completely  I  sympathize 
with  your  political  attitude."  Then  again  he  adds : 
'I  do  exhort  your  readers  to  stand  by  you  in  your 
efforts  to  lead  the  Colored  citizens  of  Ohio  to  wise 
and  successful  political  action." 

Tributes  such  as  the  above  are  well  worth  striv 
ing  for,  and  when  deserved,  speak  volumes  as  to 
the  character  and  ability  of  the  one  to  whom  they 
are  paid.  Mr.  Smith  is  eminently  deserving  of  the 
tribute. 


400 


Charles  Banks 


HE  fact  that  he  engineered  the 
tour  of  the  Tuskegee  "Wizard" 
through  Mississippi  is  sufficient 
proof  that  Mr.  Banks  stands  far 
above  the  ordinary  man.  Booker 
T.  Washington  made  mistakes,  as 
who  does  not.  h'lt  in  some  things  he  was  exceed 
ingly  sure.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  Founder  of  Tuske- 
gee  ever  made  a  bad  speech  or  made  a  bad  select 
ion  of  a  man  to  do  a  particular  job.  Banks  is  cer 
tainly  a  demonstration  of  Dr.  Washington's  ability 
to  select  men  who  could  combine  action  with 
thought.  He  was  Dr.  Washington's  special  choice 
because  the  Tuskegean  discerned  that  Charles 
Banks  could  stem  the  tide  of  prejudice  of  the  white 
Mississippian.  the  tide  of  superstition  of  the  black 


to  1903,  Mr.  Banks  was  engaged  in  a  mercantile 
business  in  Clarksdale,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Banks  &  Bro.  ;  they  did  a  general  merchandise  bus 
iness. 

In  1903.  he  made  his  home  in  Mound  Bayou,  and 
organized  the  Bank  of  Mound  Bayou,  which  is 
capitalized  for  $100,000.  He  served  the  bank  as 
Cashier  for  eleven  years.  In  1907,  he  organized 
the  Mound  Bayou  Oil  Mill  and  Manufacturing 
Company,  a  corporation  of  $100.000  capital.  It  is 
the  only  manufactory  of  such  proportion  owned  by 
the  colored  race  in  America.  He  is  general  man 
ager  of  the  company. 

He  also  organized  the  Mound  Bayou  Land  and 
Investment  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $50.000, 
which  has  for  its  aim  the  keeping  of  the  farm  lands 


Mississippian,  the  tide  of  competition  of  the  Negro      in  and  around  Mound  Bayou  in  the  ownership  of 


banker  and  the  tide  of  jealousy  of  the  politician. 

Another  reason  Dr.  Washington  clung  to  Charles 
Banks  was  that  the  latter  was  an  instance  of  one 
of  Dr.  Washington's  theories.  Not  a  pure  blooded 
Negro  himself,  he  nevertheless  believed  in  the  abil 
ity  of  men  of  genuine  African  blood,  so  that  he 
could  point  to  these  and  no  one  could  say,  "An  well 
it's  the  white  blood  that's  in  him  that  accounts  for 
his  success."  Thus  it  was  he  was  fond  of  having 
ever  ready  men  like  Dr.  Moton,  Bishop  Clinton,  and 
Charles  Banks  to  prove  beyond  a  doubt  that  the 
Negro  race,  regardless  of  individual  complexion 
was  capable  of  the  highest  degree  of  civilization 
and  refinement. 

There  is  as  great  a  variety  of  business  men  as 
there  are  differences  in  men  generally.  Some  men 
have  only  one  idea  and  bend  all  of  their  energies 
to  working  it  out  ;  some  men  can  only  see  beyond 
their  nose,  and  are  too  timid  to  venture  out  of  their 
sight  —  some  men  have  visions  of  large  ventures, 
but  lack  the  ability  to  work  them  out  ;  others  have 
the  visions  and  the  skill  to  execute  and  become  the 
founders  of  great  enterprises.  Of  this  latter  class 
belongs  Charles  Banks,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Banks  was  born  at  Clarksdale,  Mississippi, 
March  25,  1873,  and  has  spent  his  life  in  his  native 
State.  He  is  the  son  of  Daniel  A.  and  Sallie  Ann 
Banks.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  Rust  College,  Holly  Springs,  Miss 
issippi. 

In   1893,  he  married  Miss  Trenma  O.   Booze,  of 


the  Negro. 

He  is  a  director  of  the  Union  Guaranty  Company 
of  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  of  the  Mississippi  Beneficial 
Insurance  Company,  of  Indianola.  In  a  word  he 
stands  in  the  front  rank  of  the  progressive  and  in- 
fluencial  citizens  of  the  Negro  town  of  Mound  Ba 
you. 

In  1901  he  was  elected  third  Vice-President  of 
the  National  Negro  Business  League,  and  in  1907 
was  elected  first  Vice-President. 

He  is  a  trustee  of  Wilberforce  University,  and  of 
Campbell  College. 

Mr.  Banks  is  a  Republican  and  has  taken  an  ac 
tive  part  in  politics.  In  1904  and  again  in  1908.  he 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Con 
vention.  and  in  1912  he  was  a  delegate  at-large.  He 
was  the  original  Taft  supporter  in  Mississippi,  and 
at  the  Chicago  Convention  was  the  choice  of  the 
Negroes  to  second  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Taft.  He 
had  charge  of  the  tour  of  the  late  Dr.  Booker  T. 
Washington,  through  Mississippi,  which  was  con 
sidered  by  many  to  be  the  most  elaborate  demon 
stration  ever  given  the  distinguished  educator. 

Mr.  Banks  is  a  member  of  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  is  active  in  its  work  and 
support.  Mr.  Banks  owns  the  controlling  interest 
in  the  Mound  Bayou  Bank  and  is  a  large  owner  of 
town  property  and  of  the  surrounding  farm  lands. 

He  is  connected  with  the  leading  fraternal  or 
ganizations  among  the  Negroes.  He  is  a  Mason, 


Natchez.  Mississippi.  She  has  contributed  largely  member  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  of  Knights  of  Py- 
to  the  wonderful  .success  of  her  husband's  career,  thias. 

She  is  a  woman  of  high  character  and  culture  and  Mr.  Banks  is  not  only  a  business  man  of  high 
deservedly  takes  a  position  of  leadership  among  character,  and  remarkable  executive  ability,  but  he 
the  women  of  her  race  in  Mississippi.  From  1889  is  a  public  speaker  of  unusual  talent, 

401 


WILLIAM  A.  CREDITT,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  S.  T.  B., 
D.  D.,  LL.  D. 


ILLIAM  A.  Creditt  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  July  14th, 
1864.  His  parents,  Bushrod  Cre 
ditt  and  Mary  L.  Creditt,  were 
considered  people  of  means  and 
they  were  also  free  born.  Mr. 
Creditt  had  all  the  advantages  of 
the  public  schools  of  the  city  of 
Baltimore.  He  was  very  studious,  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  had  finished  the  public  school 
course.  He  then  matriculated  at  Lincoln  Univer 
sity.  From  this  institution  he  was  graduated  with 
honor  before  he  reached  his  twenty-first  birthday. 
All  through  his  college  course  he  was  an  honor  stu 
dent  and  he  had  the  honor  of  the  philosophical  Ora 
tion. 

Dr.  Creditt  looked  forward  to  the  Gospel  Min 
istry  from  his  earliest  childhood.  After  finishing 
his  college  course  he  entered  the  post  graduate 
course  of  the  same  institution,  and  upon  the  com 
pletion  of  this  course  entered  the  old  Newton  The 
ological  Institution  of  Newton  Center,  Massachu 
setts.  This  is  the  oldest  and  most  renowned  The 
ological  Institution  among  the  White  Baptists  of 
America.  From  this  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  1899,  with  the  honor  of  delivering  the  Class  Ora 
tion  to  the  Boston  Social  Union,  at  Tremont  Tem 
ple. 

Dr.  Creditt  then  entered  upon  a  long  life  of  use 


fulness.  He  was  President  of  the  Normal  Depart 
ment  and  University  Preacher  for  a  year.  He 
served  as  pastor  for  the  Corinthian  Baptist  Church, 
Frankfort,  Kentucky,  during  the  same  year.  He 
next  took  examination  for  professorship  at  the 
State  Normal  Institution  in  1890.  He  retained  the 
pastorate  at  Frankfort  and  at  the  same  time  served 
as  Professor  at  the  State  Institution.  In  1892  he 
accepted  the-  pastorate  of  the  Berean  Baptist 
Church,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  held  this  posi 
tion  for  five  years.  One  of  the  things  in  which 
Dr.  Creditt  takes  pride  is  that  while  pastoring  in 
Washington  he  frequently  had  in  his  audience  at 
the  same  time,  Hon.  Frederick  Douglass.  Hon. 
John  R.  Lynch,  Senator  B.  K.  Bruce,  and  men  of 
kindred  significance  While  in  Washington  he  did 
not  confine  his  efforts  to  his  church.  He  was  in 
charge  of  the  University  Extension  Course  of 
Wayland  Institution  and  lectured  frequently  at 
Howard  University.  He  organized  an  Evening 
Bible  Class.  Upon  leaving  Washington  he  turned 
this  class  over  to  Howard  University.  Out  of  this 
class  has  grown  the  present  evening  class,  at  How 
ard,  for  the  training  of  young  ministers. 

In  1897  he  became  pastor  of  the  old  Cherry 
Street  Baptist  Church,  of  Philadelphia.  Under  his 
leadership  the  church  grew  and  purchased  new 
property  on  16th  and  Christian  Streets.  This  was 
a  step  in  the  development  of  the  church  and  a 
step  in  the  advancement  of  the  colored  people  of 
Philadelphia  as  well,  for  this  purchase  opened  up 
to  them  one  of  the  finest  residential  sections.  Dr. 
Creditt  kept  the  charge  of  this  church  till  1915, 
when  he  gave  it  up  to  devote  more  of  his  time  to 
the  Downingtown  School.  During  his  pastorate  he 
added  to  the  membership  of  the  church  an  average 
of  100  members  per  year. 

One  of  the  characteristics  of  this  church  and 
school  worker  is  that  of  an  organizer.  He  or 
ganized  the  Reliable  Mutual  Aid  Society  of  Phila 
delphia,  one  of  the  strongest  Industrial  Insurance 
companies  of  the  country.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Cherry  Building  and  Loan  Associa 
tion.  Through  these  organizations  he  influenced 
a  great  number  of  people  to  buy  their  own  homes. 
Not  satisfied  with  working  with  the  older  people. 
Dr.  Creditt  with  Mr.  John  S.  Trower,  his  faithful 
friend,  decided  to  found  an  Industrial  School  for 
the  training  of  Colored  Youths  of  the  North,  along 
industrial  lines.  Elsewhere  in  these  pages  the 
story  of  his  school  is  told.  It  stands  as  a  monu 
ment  to  this  man,  who  has  never  once  lost  courage 
during  the  years  of  the  development  of  this  school. 
Many  honors  have  been  showered  upon  Dr. 
Creditt  because  of  his  long  years  of  usefulness.  He 
has  the  degrees  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  S.  T.  B.,  D.  D.,  and  in 
the  year  1909  Lincoln  University,  his  Alma  Mater, 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  LL.  D.  Dr.  Creditt 
was  the  fifth  man  in  the  institution  to  receive  this 
degree.  The  National  Baptist  Convention  invited 
him  to  deliver  the  Booker  T.  Washington  Oration 
before  that  body  in  1917.  He  is  noted  for  his  ser 
mons  and  orations  and  is  much  in  demand  as  a  lec 
turer  and  preacher.  He  has  potential  influence 
with  the  white  citizens  of  this  country  and  espe 
cially  the  people  of  Pennsylvania  ,and  is  one  with 
marked  influence  among  his  own  people. 


402 


DOWNINGTOWN   INDUSTRIAL  AND  AGRICULTURAL   SCHOOL 


OWNINGTOWN  Industrial  and 
Agricultural  School  grew  out  of 
the  recognized  need  of  training  in 
these  subjects  for  the  colored 
Northern  Youth.  In  the  year 
1905,  John  S.  Trower  and  William 
A.  Creditt  of  Philadelphia,  called  together  a  number 
of  leading  colored  men  of  various  religious  deno 
minations  from  every  section  of  the  state  of  Penn 
sylvania,  and  laid  before  them  this  great  need.  Af 
ter  consideration  those  present  decided  that  the 
school  be  established.  The  charter  of  the  Down- 
ingtown  Industrial  and  Agricultural  School  was 
granted  the  same  year  and  Dr.  Creditt  was  pre 
vailed  upon  to  accept  the  presidency. 

The  property  now  owned  by  this  school  was 
paid  for  by  Mr.  J.  S.  Trower,  and  his  heirs  still  hold 
mortgages  on  the  property.  The  property  of  the 
school  consists  of  110  acres  of  land  valued  at  $8.250 
— one  hundred  acres  of  this  land  is  cultivated  as  a 
school  farm  and  ten  acres  are  used  as  a  campus. 
There  are  two  large  stone  buildings  used  for  dor 
mitories,  administration,  and  class  rooms ;  two 
small  stone  buildings ;  a  stone  barn  and  two  frame 
buildings.  The  total  value  of  the  buildings  amounts 
to  $44,850.00.  In  addition  to  this  property  there 
is  movable  property  owned  by  the  school  which  is 
valued  at  $9,000.00. 

The  institution  receives  some  aid  from  the  State, 
which  therefore  has  supervision  of  the  financial  af 
fairs  of  the  school.  The  State  of  Pennsylvania  do 
nates  to  the  upkeep  of  the  school  the  sum  of 
$10,000.00.  This  amount,  with  the  general  dona 
tions  received  and  the  money  received  from  the  va 


rious  departments  of  the  institution  form  the  bulk 
of  the  income  for  this  plant. 

The  motto  of  the  institution  is  "Self  Help 
Through  Self  Work."  To  further  the  aims  of  the 
school  the  courses  are  planned  to  give  to  the  indi 
vidual  student  the  studies  that  will  best  fit  him 
for  what  he  plans  for  his  life  work.  In  this  way 
the  student  who  has  for  his  object  the  work  in 
trade  is  given  more  time  in  trade  work  and  the 
minimum  of  work  in  the  literary  subjects.  The 
reverse  is  true  when  the  student  is  striving  toward 
a  vocation  in  the  professional  world.  In  this  case 
the  maximum  of  literary  work  is  given  and  the 
minimum  of  trade  work. 

The  Downington  Industrial  and  Agricultural 
School  fills  a  unique  place  in  tlie  State  in  which  it 
is  located.  All  the  opportunity  necessary  for  a  cer 
tain  kind  of  education  was  already  provided  by  the 
State.  But  this  institution  has  its  place  in  the 
training  of  the  Northern  youth,  along  industrial 
lines.  That  the  school  is  on  the  hearts  of  the  col 
ored  people  of  Pennsylvania  is  shown  by  the  num 
ber  of  colored  churches  and  organizations  of  one 
kind  or  another  that  help  the  school.  The  Auxi 
liary  that  gives  the  greatest  amount  of  help  is  the 
Fanny  Coppin  Association.  This  is  a  body  of  two 
hundred  women.  They  have  rallied  to  the  needs 
of  the  institution  and  have  been  instrumental  in 
getting  a  great  deal  of  aid  for  it. 

There  are  a  number  of  influential  people  who  are 
personally  interested  in  the  success  of  this  venture 
to  give  industrial  training  to  the  colored  youth  of 
the  North. 


403 


REVEREND   CALVIN   SCOTT   BROWN 

EV.  Calvin  Scott  Brown  was  born 
in  Salisbury,  N.  C,  March  23, 
1857.  His  early  days  were  spent 
amid  the  trying  scenes  which  fol 
lowed  the  Civil  War,  a  period  of- 
ten  referred  to  as  "Reconstruct 
ion  days,"  and  which  was  fraught  with  grave  prob 
lems  for  white  and  black  to  solve.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  a  mere  lad,  leaving  his  mother  depen 
dent  upon  her  son  for  a  support.  To  assume  such 
a  responsibility  at  such  a  time  was  a  man's  work, 
but  young  Brown  went  to  his  task  with  a  brave 
heart  and  a  strong  affection  for  his  widowed  mo 
ther. 

When  the  soldiers  were  relieved  of  the  care  of 
the  Federal  Cemetery  at  Salisbury,  this  young 
boy  was  employed  to  look  after  it,  which  he 
did,  among  his  duties  being  that  of  keeping  the  re 
cord  of  those  buried  there.  The  placing  of  such  a 
task  upon  such  young  shoulders  speaks  highly  of 
his  ability  no  less  than  his  reliability. 

The  first  school  he  attended  was  one  opened  by 
the  Friends  Association  of  Philadelphia,  at  Salis 
bury.  Here  he  made  remarkable  progress  and  in 
the  end  of  his  course  he  received  a  first  grade 


teacher's   certificate.     This   was   in   the   year    1878, 
when  he  had  reached  his  twenty-third  birth-day. 

In  1879  he  entered  Shaw  University  and  gradua 
ted  from  both  the  college  and  theological  depart 
ments  in  1886.  When  he  entered  Shaw  University 
he  had  only  $5.00  in  his  pocket,  but  he  made 
a  start  with  this  small  sum  and  a  brave  heart  and 
worked  his  way  through.  He  took  part  in  a  de 
bate  which  held  out  a  scholarship  as  the  prize  and 
came  out  victor.  This  helped  him  through  col 
lege. 

His  diligent  and  commendable  demeanor  won  for 
him  the  close  friendship  of  President  Tupper,  who 
made  him  his  private  Secretary. 

He  started  upon  his  career  as  a  school  teacher 
and  in  1886  he  founded  and  became  President  of  the 
Waters  Normal  School,  a  rural  school  of  elemen 
tary  grade.  He  is  still  the  head  of  this  Institu 
tion.  Rev.  Brown  is  a  Baptist,  and  for  twenty- 
two  years  he  has  held  the  office  of  President  of  the 
Lott  Carey  Foreign  Mission  Convention  and  for 
thirty-four  years  he  has  held  the  position  of  Cor 
responding  Secretary  of  the  North  Carolina  Bap 
tist  State  Convention.  He  is  pastor  of  four  large 
country  churches  and  moderator  of  the  Baptist  As 
sociation  of  which  his  churches  arc  members. 

His  work  in  connection  with  the  Lott  Carey  Con 
vention  has  caused  him  to  become  a  great  traveler. 

He  made  an  inspection  trip  to  Hayti  in  an  effort 
to  organize  the  Baptist  interest  there ;  he  visited 
Liberia  to  bring  about  the  centralization  of  the 
Baptist  missions  in  that  country ;  he  attended  the 
World's  Baptist  Congress,  which  met  in  London, 
and  made  an  address  in  Albert  Hall.  He  made 
two  tours  of  Europe  and  has  visited  the  principal 
countries  and  cities  of  Northern  Africa ;  he  has  vis 
ited  Hayti,  Santo  Domingo  and  Porto  Rico.  He 
has  served  as  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Good  Temp 
lars  ;  Grand  Chief  and  Supreme  Grand  Secretary  of 
the  Good  Samaritans ;  and  is  now  officially  con 
nected  with  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights 
of  Pythias.  He  was  for  several  years  a  member  of 
the  County  Board  of  Education. 

Rev.  Brown  was  married  in  December,  1886  to 
Amaza  J.  Drummond,  of  Lexington,  Virginia.  She 
has  borne  him  eight  children,  four  -of  which  are 
boys  and  four  girls;  William  D;  Flora  B.  Joyner ; 
Julia  A.  Delaney  ;  Calvin  S.  Jr.;  Marie  E. ;  Purcell 
T. ;  Knice  H. ;  and  Schley  Brown.  Those  (that  are 
grown)  are  filling  useful  places  in  life.  No  great 
er  joy  can  come  to  parents  than  to  see  their  chil 
dren  walking  uprightly  and  working  industriously 
Rev.  Brown  owns  his  own  home,  situated  in  Win- 
ton,  North  Carolina,  and  worth  $3500;  also  two 
farms,  one  valued  at  $6000.  and  one  at  $1500;  in  ad 
dition  to  these  he  owns  other  buildings  of  less  val 
ue. 


404 


PARTIAL   VIEW    OF    CAMPUS— INDUSTRIAL   AND    EDUCATIONAL    INSTITUTE. 


N  1895  two  colored  workers  seeing 
the  need  of  some  training  for  the 
very  young  colored  children  in 
and  around  Topeka  founded  a 
kindergarten  and  sewing  school. 
The  work  was  one  that  was  need 
ed.  The  children  continued  to  come  and  still  needed 
the  training  after  they  had  passed  the  kindergarten 
age.  In  1900  the  work  was  placed  under  a  board  of 
trustees.  Seven  years  later  the  State  Agricultural 
and  Industrial  Department  was  created  and  appro 
priations  made  for  the  erection  of  buildings.  The 
schools  were  then  taken  over  by  the  State  and  put 
under  a  board  of  regents  appointed  by  the  Gover 
nor.  There  is  still  an  independent  board  of  trus 
tees,  but  they  act  in  an  advisory  capacity  only. 

For  a  number  of  years  Prof.  Wm.  R.  Carter  was 
at  the  head  of  this  institution.  But  in  1918  he  re 
signed,  and  Prof.  G.  R.  Bridgeforth  was  given  the 
presidency.  Mr.  Bridgeforth's  training  for  the  po 
sition  has  been  a  very  thorough  one. 

His  early  training  was  received  in  the  A. 
M.  A.  Schools  of  Alabama,  the  last  of  which 
was  Talladega  College.  From  Talladega  he  went 
to  the  Amherst  Agricultural  College,  in  Massachu 
setts.  After  graduating  from  Amherst,  Prof. 
Bridgeforth  went  to  Tuskegee  Institute,  Alabama. 
Here  for  a  number  of  years  he  served  as  the  head 
of  the  Agricultural  Department.  In  this  work  at 
Tuskegee  he  got  all  the  training  that  is  necessary 
for  him  to  make  a  success  of  his  new  field.  He  had 
under  him  a  number  of  teachers  and  had  all  the  du 
ties  that  devolve  upon  the  head  of  such  a  large  de 
partment.  Leaving  Tuskegee  in  1918,  Mr.  Bridge- 
forth  assumed  the  duties  of  the  President  of  To 
peka  Industrial  and  Educational  Institute. 

The  enrollment  of  the  Kansas  Industrial  and  Ed 
ucational  Institute  ranges  from  128,  to  175  with  20 
teachers.  Of  this  number  about  half  are  from  Kan 
sas,  and  the  rest  from  other  states.  In  this  school 


only  a  few  students  below  the  seventh  grade  are 
admitted.  There  has  been  constantly  an  effort  to 
keep  the  elementary  work  confined  to  the  seventh 
and  eighth  grades.  In  the  secondary  work  there 
are  four  years. 

In  the  Industrial  courses,  Laundrying,  cooking, 
and  sewing  are  provided,  for  the  girls  ;  and  tailor 
ing,  woodworking,  printing,  blacksmithing  and 
auto  repairing  for  the  boys.  In  the  Agricultural  de 
partment  a  genuine  effort  is  made  to  give  thorough 
instruction  in  Agriculture.  All  the  pupils  below 
the  Senior  class  are  required  to  pursue  the  full 
course  in  market  gardening  and  poultry  raising. 

The  School  was  made  a  State  Institution  by  the 
Kansas  Legislature  of  1919.  The  State  made  an 
appropriation  of  $90,700  for  two  years  support. 
The  value  of  the  plant  is  estimated  at  $225.000.  The 
sources  of  income  are  State  appropriations,  $90,700 
for  two  years;  tuition  and  fees,  $1,359;  donations, 
$1,351;  special  receipts  $408;  miscellaneous  $712. 
This  money  is  spent  wisely  for  the  various  needs  of 
the  school,  and  the  accounts  turned  over  to  the 
board  of  regents. 

The  school  owns  105  acres  of  land,  some  two 
miles  out  of  Topeka.  Of  this  80  acres  are  under 
cultivation,  15  acres  are  in  pasture,  and  10  acres  in 
the  campus. 

This  land  is  valued  at  $21,000.  The  school  has  its 
own  water  system,  and  the  whole  plant  is  in  a  well 
kept  condition.  The  buildings  are  well  construct 
ed  and  very  attractive.  They  are  all  made  from 
stone,  which  was  quarried  on  the  place.  There  are 
five  buildings,  three  cottages  and  a  stone  barn.  The 
cottages  are  used  as  homes  for  the  teachers.  The 
other  buildings  are  Boys'  dormitory,  Girls'  dormi 
tory,  Boys'  Industrial  Building,  Administration  and 
Class  room  building,  and  Girls  trade  building.  The 
first  three  named  are  three-story  buildings,  and  the 
last  two  are  only  two-stories  high.  The  plant  is 
attractive,  well  kept,  and  used  to  good  advantage. 


405 


BENJAMIN  BRAWLEY 


HE  subject  of  this  sketch  is  class 
ed  by  Dr.  John  Hope,  President 
of  Morehouse  College,  as  the  best 
posted  English  scholar  of  the 
Race.  Not  many  young  men  with 
the  great  advantages  of  birth  and 
education,  enjoyed  by  Benjamin  Brawley,  have 
made  the  most  of  them  in  the  thorough  manner 
that  he  has.  It  was  his  good  fortune  to  have  for  his 
father.  Dr.  E.  M.  Brawley.  who  was  at  that  time, 
and  still  is,  one  of  the  greatest  teachers  the  race 
has  produced. 

Although  his  training  was  not  confined  to  the 
home,  this  added  to  his  public  school  instruction, 
accounts  for  the  early  age  at  which  Mr.  Brawley 
finished  his  college  work. 

Born  in  Columbia,  S.  C.,  April  22,  1882,  Mr. 
Brawley's  parents  moved  with  him  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  then  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  when  he  was  a 
mere  lad,  and  in  both  places  he  was  sent  to  the 
public  schools.  Mr.  Brawley  proved  such  an  apt 
pupil,  that  he  soon  entered  Morehouse  College, 
where  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  in 
1901.  Although  he  had  not  reached  his  20th  birth 
day  the  work  done  by  him  in  the  class  room  was 


so  exceptional,  the  president  of  the  college  asked 
him  to  return  to  the  school  as  instructor  in  En 
glish.  This  offer  was  accepted  by  Mr.  Brawley  and 
this  position  held  by  him  for  five  years. 

Mr.  Brawley  then  took  a  literary  course  in  Chi 
cago  University.  On  receiving  his  degree  of  A.  B., 
in  1906,  he  returned  to  Morehouse  as  professor  of 
English,  which  position  he  held  until  1910.  Mr. 
Brawley  then  accepted  a  position  as  professorship 
of  English  at  Howard  University,  Washington,  D. 
C.,  and  at  the  same  time  served  as  head  of  the  de 
partment  of  English  for  two  years.  The  President 
of  Morehouse,  however,  had  no  idea  of  losing  this 
brilliant  young  instructor,  so  persuaded  him  to  re 
turn  to  his  Alma  Mater  in  1912,  as  Dean,  which 
position  Mr.  Brawley  still  holds. 

In  1907,  1908,  Mr.  Brawley  studied  a  year  at  Har 
vard  University,  where  he  won  his  Masters  De 
gree.  Since  that  time  he  has  spent  a  year  of  study 
in  Chicago  University.  While  serving  as  Dean  of 
Morehouse,  Mr.  Brawley  has  spent  the  summers 
of  1912,  1914,  1915  as  an  instructor  in  the  summer 
school  at  Hampton  Institute. 

He  is  a  lecturer  of  note  and  a  man  interested  in 
all  the  problems  pertaining  to  college  work  and  col 
lege  life.  At  present  he  is  serving  as  President  of 
the  Association  of  Colleges  of  Negro  Youth.  In 
this  capacity  he  has  the  opportunity  to  influence 
for  good  the  work  of  all  the  institutions  for  the 
higher  training  of  young  people  of  the  colored  race. 

Not  only  is  Mr.  Brawley  known  to  all  educated 
Negroes  as  a  good  teacher  and  an  .authority  on 
questions  of  English,  but  he  is  widely  known  as  an 
author.  His  "History  of  the  American  Negro  is  be 
ing  used  as  a  text  book  in  some  of  the  schools 
where  the  wish  is  to  have  Negro  children  know  all 
about  the  lives  and  the  works  of  their  people. 
Among  the  works  published  by  Mr.  Brawley,  are: 

"A  Short  History  of  the  American  Negro,"  Mac- 
Millan,  1913-revised  1919;  "History  of  Morehouse 
College,"  1917;  "The  Negro  in  Literature  and 
Art",  Duffield  &  Co.,  1918;  "Our  Negro  Neigh 
bor,"  MacMillan,  1918;  "Africa  and  the  War,"  Duf 
field,  1918;  "New  Era  Declamations,"  Sewanee  Un 
iversity  Press,  1918;  "Women  of  Achievement,"  W. 
A.  B.  H.  M.  Society,  Chicago,  1919.  This  is  a  not 
able  list  of  work  from  the  pen  of  one  so  young  as 
Mr.  Brawley.  He  has  given  himself  unreservedly 
to  the  work  of  a  man  of  close  studious  habits. 

In  July,  of  1912,  Mr.  Brawley  married  in  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  Miss  Hilda  Demaris  Prowd,  of 
Kingston,  Jamaica,  B.  W.  I.  Mrs.  Brawley  is 
a  woman  of  great  personal  charm  and  one  who 
takes  pride  in  the  literary  attainment  of  her  hus 
band,  giving  to  him  the  moral  support  that  has 
helped  him  in  his  achievements  in  recent  years. 


406 


,4 


TINGLEY   MEMORIAL  HALL— CLAFLIN  UNIVERSITY 


T  the  close  of  the  war  between  the      of  land,  seven  brick  and  five  frame  school  buildings 


States  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  foremost  in  establish 
ing  missions  and  schools  both 
among  the  Freedmen  and  the  ru 
ral  white  people.  As  a  result  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  now  has  one  or  more 
Conferences  in  each  of  the  Southern  States  and 
more  than  forty  schools. 

Claflin  University,  founded  in  1869  by  the  Claflin 
family  of  Boston,  is  one  of  this  system  of  schools. 
Courses  of  study  have  been  provided  with  wise  ref 
erence  to  the  needs  of  the  many  in  the  most  useful 
subjects. 

Teacher  training,  manual  training  and  Christian 
training  have  been  especially  emphasized.  A  full 
College  course,  however,  has  been  maintained  for 
the  few  who  desired  to  enter  professional  life. 

Claflin  University  being  under  the  control  and 
supported  very  largely  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  has  stressed  the  training  of  its  youth  for 
efficient  service  in  the  Church  as  well  as  in  the 
world.  Its  motto  has  been,  "Training  for  Charac 
ter".  This  is  in  accordance  with  the  teaching  of 
the  Book  of  Books.  "Seek  ye  first  the  Kingdom  of 
God  and  his  righteousness  and  all  these  things  shall 
be  added  unto  you."  Learning,  wealth  or  promi 
nence  are  of  little  value  unless  they  are  re-inforced 
by  enlightened  and  sturdy  character. 

The  Claflin  University  plant  consists  of  220  acres 


all  valued  at  about  $300,000. 

The  Institution  employs  25  teachers  and  enrolls 
about  600  students  annually. 

On  account  of  the  lack  of  rural  schools  for  color 
ed  youth,  the  Institution,  like  most  others  of  its 
kind,  is  obliged  to  maintain  Grades  for  the  majority 
of  its  students.  These  are  followed  by  two  paral 
lel  courses,  Teacher  Training  and  College  prepara 
tory.  Then  follows  a  four  years  College  course 
leading  to  the  degrees  A.  B.  and  B.  S. 

The  Institution  also  maintains  a  large  Industrial 
plant,  a  business  course,  and  cultivates  a  well 
equipped  farm. 

RESOURCES 

Claflin  University  is  supported  in  part  by  Annual 
appropriations  from  the  Freedman's  Aid  Society  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  by  the  John  F. 
Slater  fund,  by  the  S.  C.  Annual  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  by  special  dona 
tions  from  friends  North. 

The  Institution  now  has  a  productive  endow 
ment  of  $60,000,  and  has  on  hand  a  lively  campaign 
for  an  additional  forty  thousand.  It  is  probable 
that  no  school  in  the  South  has  a  stronger  local 
backing.  The  friends  of  higher  Christian  education 
in  South  Carolina  are  determined  to  place  the  Insti 
tution  not  only  in  class  A,  but  among  the  very  best 
of  its  kind.  L.  M.  Dunton  has  been  its  President 
for  thirty-four  years. 


407 


G.  W.  FRANKLIN 

few  years  ago  a  colored  undertak 
er,  of  Chattanooga,  Term.,  sold  a 
piece  of  city  property  for  four 
teen  odd  thousand  dollars.  He 
took  some  of  the  payments  in 

cash,  the  others  in  notes.     As  the 

notes  fell  due  the  undertaker  cashed  them  at  the 
bank.  "What,  you  mean  to  say,  you  are  holding 
those  notes  and  cashing  them  when  they  fall  due? 
They  had  been  used  to  having  colored  business 
people  cash  their  notes  at  a  discount,  not  to  hold 
them  for  time  and  interest.  The  owner  of  these 
notes  was  G.  W.  Franklin  of  Chattanooga,  Ten 
nessee,  undertaker,  business  man,  farm-owner  and 
President  of  the  Negro  National  Undertakers'  As 
sociation. 

Mr.  Franklin  began  his  career  as  a  poor  farm  lad 
in  Georgia.  His  education  was  meagre.  Singu 
larly  enough  his  system  of  training  was  like  that 
now  in  vogue  in  Tuskegee  Institute.  Mr.  Frank 
lin's  father  was  a  blacksmith.  Me  was  ambitious 
to  educate  his  two  sons,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
train  them  in  some  useful  occupation.  Thus  he 
employed  them  on  alternate  weeks  paying  the  one 
who  worked  50c  per  week. 


Having  learned  his  trade,  Mr.  Franklin  came  to 
Chattanooga,  and  began  the  struggle  for  himself. 
While  following  the  blacksmith  trade,  he  took  up 
the  study  of  undertaking.  In  a  little  while  he 
was  starting  his  business  on  a  small  scale.  Now 
he  added  a  horse,  now  a  vehicle,  most  of  the  vehi 
cles  however  he  made  himself,  as  they  were  too 
expensive  for  his  very  small  purse — small  at  that 
time. 

Though  he  made  most  of  the  vehicles,  Mr.  Frank 
lin  found  with  buying  lumber  the  process  was  very 
expensive.  Thus  instead  of  purchasing  lumber, 
lie  turned  his  attention  to  farms.  He  searched 
out  a  farm  with  plenty  of  timber  on  it,  bought  the 
tools  for  his  shop  and  began  the  task  of  making 
hearses  and  carriages,  indeed  practically  every 
kind  of  woodwork  used  in  his  business. 

"Yes  sir,"  said  Mr.  Franklin,  "I  lie  on  my  bed  at 
night  and  work  out  all  my  designs.  I  rent  my 
farms  and  use  the  timber  as  lumber  for  my  vehi 
cles." 

Mr.  Franklin  keeps  a  stable  of  40  odd  horses, 
with  plenty  of  carriages  and  hearses  to  match.  He 
has  educated  his  son  and  so  taught  him  the  bus 
iness  that  the  son  can  manage  almost  as  well 
as  the  father.  A  New  York  paper  places  Mr. 
Franklin's  worth  at  $52,000,  which  is  very  conser 
vative. 

Hut  G.  W.  Franklin  is  a  good  deal  more  than 
a  maker  of  money.  He  is  a  most  useful  citizen. 
Every  Sunday  finds  him  in  the  choir  of  the  Chat 
tanooga  M.  E.  Church,  where  he  faithfully  plays 
the  cornet  for  religious  services.  He  has  been 
President  of  the  Negro  Undertakers'  Association 
for  many  years.  More  than  this  he  .  is  a  good 
speaker. 

"Dr  Washington  swung  me  off,"  he  says,  "I 
was  timid,  afraid,  but  Dr.  Washington  told  me  to 
just  get  up  and  tell  what  I  did.  I  followed  his 
advice  and  I  have  been  speaking  to  all  kinds  of 
audiences  ever  since. 

Mr.  Franklin  has  continually  improved  on  his  ed 
ucation  by  travel  and  contact  until  he  is  not  only 
one  of  our  best  business  men,  but  a  man  of  edu 
cation  and  refinement. 

Working  up  from  a  boyhood  of  poverty  and 
want  to  a  manhood  where  command  of  thous 
ands  of  dollars  is  his,  to  a  manhood  where  the 
respect  and  the  esteem  of  the  people  of  his 
community  are  given  unreservedly,  this  is  the 
life  of  Mr.  Franklin  in  a  nut-shell.  A  man  with 
the  determined  character  of  G.  W.  Franklin  would 
make  good  in  any  line  he  cared  to  undertake  for 
his  life  work.  One  of  the  things  that  has  contri 
buted  largely  to  the  success  of  this  man  in  his  line 
of  business  is  his  careful  attention  to  detail. 


408 


liVRD   PRILLERMAN,  B.   S.,  M.  A.,  LITT.  D. 

YRD  Pillerman  was  born  in  Frank 
lin   County,   Virginia,   October    19, 
1859.     He  now   lives  at   Institute, 
West    Virginia.      He    was    born    a 
slave,   being  the  youngest   of   the 
seventeen     children     of     Franklin 
and      Charlotte      Prillerman.     He 
takes   his   surname    from   his   ma 
ternal    grandfather,    Jacob    Prillerman,    who    was 
the   owner   as   well   as    the    father    of    his   mother. 
The  Prillermans  came  from  Holland  about   1760, 
and  settled  in  Franklin  County,  Virginia. 

In  1868,  young  Prillerman,  then  eight  years  of 
age,  walked  with  his  parents  and  other  members 
of  the  family  from  Franklin  County,  Virginia,  to 
Kanawha  County,  West  Virginia,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Charleston.  The  distance  walked  was 
250  miles.  The  journey  was  taken  in  March. 

Byrd  first  attended  school  in  Charleston,  in  1872, 
after  the  death  of  his  father.  He  then  attended 
school  at  his  home,  Sissonsville,  West  Virginia,  un 
til  he  was  twenty-years  of  age,  when  he  became  a 
teacher  of  the  same  school  November  10,  1879.  Af 
ter  teaching  three  or  four  terms  he  entered  Knox- 
ville  College,  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  September  3, 
1883.  He  graduated  from  this  institution  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science  in  May,  1889.  He 
returned  to  his  home  in  West  Virginia,  and  became 
a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Charleston,  West 
Virginia.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in  the 


building  up  of  the  West  Virginia  Collegiate  Insti 
tute  and  became  the  first  assistant  teacher  in  this 
institution  in  1892.  He  has  been  connected  with 
this  institution  as  teacher  and  president  since  that 
date.  On  the  death  of  President  J.  McHenry  Jones, 
September  22,  1909,  he  was  the  next  day  made 
President  of  the  State  Board  of  Regents,  in  which 
capacity  he  has  served  with  a  marked  degree  of 
success.  Under  his  administration  the  course  of 
study  has  been  so  improved  that  graduates  from 
the  secondary  course  of  the  institution  enter  the 
best  colleges  and  universities  of  the  West  without 
examination.  The  name  of  the  school  has  been 
changed  from  the  West  Virginia  Colored  Institute 
to  the  West  Virginia  Collegiate  Institute,  and  was 
raised  to  college  rank  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
in  1915. 

He  owns  a  farm  near  Sissonsville,  where  he  was 
reared,  a  house  and  lot  in  Charleston,  a  small  farm 
at  Institute,  and  several  vacant  lots.  He  is  a  lay 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  has  served  as 
moderator  and  clerk  of  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist 
Association,  of  which  Booker  T.  Washington  was 
clerk  from  1872  to  1875.  Mr.  Prillerman  has  the 
distinction  of  being  the  only  lay-man  in  West 
Virginia  to  serve  as  moderator  of  an  association. 
He  is  now  President  of  the  West  Virginia  Sunday 
School  Convention.  Mr.  Prillerman  became  a 
member  of  the  Fxecutive  Committee  of  the  West 
Virginia  Sunday  School  Association  in  1918.  In 
the  same  year,  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  Ex 
ecutive  Committee  of  the  International  Sunday 
School  Association  and  attended  the  session  in  To 
ronto.  Canada,  February,  1919. 

He  is  a  Republican  and  was  an  alternate  Delegate 
to  the  Republican  National  Convention  in  Chicago, 
which  nominated  Theodore  Roosevelt  for  Presi 
dent.  He  has  served  as  a  Notary  Public  since 
March  17,  1897. 

He  has  taught  some  in  each  year  since  1879.  He 
was  largely  instrumental  in  organizing  the  West 
Virginia  Teachers'  Association,  which  he  served  as 
President  for  nine  years.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the 
National  Training  School  for  Women  and  Girls  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  In  1895,  Westminster  College 
New  Wilmington,  Pa.,  conferred  upon  him  the  de 
gree  of  M.  A.  In  1916  Selma  University  (Ala 
bama)  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Litt.  D. 
He  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  National  Ed 
ucation  Association  since  1891. 

Mr.  Prillerman's  travels  have  been  principally 
connected  with  the  work  of  education.  He  has 
visited  most  of  the  schools  in  this  country  for  the 
education  of  Negro  youth  and  has  been  a  regular 
attendant  upon  the  National  Education  Association 
and  the  Association  of  Agricultural  Colleges  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  attended  the  reception  of 
President  McKinley,  in  the  White  House  in  1898, 
and  of  President  Woodrow  Wilson  in  1914,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  the  President  by  President 
W.  O.  Thompson,  of  the  Ohio  State  University. 
He  was  an  honorary  pall-bearer  at  the  funeral  of 
Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington,  with  whom  he  was 
very  intimately  associated. 

Mr.  Prillerman  married  Miss  Mattie  E.  Brown, 
a  graduate  of  Wayland  Seminary,  July  24,  1893. 
They  have  two  boys,  Delbert  McCullouch  and 
Henry  Laurence,  and  two  girls,  Ednora  Mae  and 
Myrtle  Elizabeth. 


409 


JAMES  C.  NAPIER 

AMES  C.  Napier,  was  born  in 
Tennessee,  near  Nashville,  June  9, 
1848.  He  received  his  early  edu 
cation  in  the  public  schools  and  in 
1859  went  to  Wilberforce  Univer 
sity,  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Oberlin 
College,  Oberlin,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
near  the  completion  of  his  junior  college  year, 
when  he  left  school  to  accept  a  position  in  the  gov 
ernment  service  war  department,  in  Washington. 

While  in  Washington  he  took  a  course  in  the  law 
department  of  Howard  University,  and  graduated 
from  that  Institution  in  1873.  His  residence  in 
Washington  also  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  study 
the  methods  of  the  world's  greatest  debaters  and 
to  note  the  different  styles  of  oratory.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  conceive  what  influence  they  had 
upon  his  future  career. 

While  still  in  the  government  service  he  passed 
a  civil  service  examination  and  became  a  clerk  in 
the  bureau  of  the  sixth  auditor,  the  first  of  his  race 
in  that  branch  of  the  government  service. 

After  one  promotion  he  was  appointed  revenue 
agent  for  Kentucky,  Alabama,  Tennessee,  and 


Louisiana,  and  later  returned  to  Nashville  to  be 
come  an  internal  revenue  department  gauger. 

When  Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  President 
of  the  United  States,  the  change  in  administration, 
brought  about  his  retirement  from  office. 

Immediately  after  his  retirement  he  began  the 
practice  of  law  in  Nashville,  and  has  been  engaged 
therein  ever  since.  He  has  taken  a  conspicuous  part 
in  the  municipal  affairs  of  Nashville,  and  was  four 
times  elected  a  member  of  the  City  Council.  While 
a  member  of  the  Council  he  succeeded  in  securing 
the  appointment  of  Negro  teachers  in  the  Negro 
public  schools,  and  the  erection  of  new  and  ad 
ditional  school  buildings,  and  the  increase  of  the 
educational  and  financial  condition  of  the  colored 
people. 

Mr.  Napier  reached  the  height  of  his  govern 
ment  service  when  he  was  appointed  Register  of 
the  Treasury  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  which  position 
he  held  for  a  long  period. 

Mr.  Napier  is  not  only  a  lawyer  of  high  standing 
and  ability,  but  a  business  man  of  judgment  and 
fine  executive  turn.  He  is  cashier  of  the  Penny 
Savings  Bank,  of  which  Rev.  Dr.  R.  H.  Boyd  is 
President,  and  he  has  been  for  several  years  chair 
man  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  National 
Negro  Business  League. 

He  is  a  large  property  owner  in  Nashville,  and 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  substantial  colored 
citizens  of  Tennessee. 

In  1878  he  married  a  daughter  of  Hon.  John  M. 
Langston,  then  United  States  minister  to  Hayti. 
Mr.  Napier  is  active  in  political  affairs.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Executive 
Committee  nearly  twenty  years,  and  has  four  time? 
been  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Conven 
tion,  an  unusual  honor.  Mr.  Napier  is  not  only  in 
terested  in  the  busin?ss  movements  of  his  race,  but 
is  keenly  alive  to  every  movement  which  has  for 
its  object  their  uplift  and  betterment. 

Though  pushing  his  three  score  alotment  of 
years,  J.  C.  Napier  is  still  exceedingly  active  in  all 
his  work.  He  runs  his  bank,  keeps  up  his  business, 
church  and  social  relations,  and  still  carries  heavy 
cares  of  the  race.  Along  with  all  his  daily  routine, 
which  is  tedious  even  for  a  young  man,  Mr.  Na 
pier  took  over  the  Presidency  of  the  National 
Negro  Business  Men's  League,  the  largest  organi 
zation  of  its  kind  among  colored  people  in  the 
world.  Booker  T.  Washington,  the  founder  and 
till  his  death  the  president  of  this  organization,  has 
let  this  part  of  his  mantle  fall  upon  the  shoulders 
of  his  life  long  friend.  And  he  upon  whom  even 
the  hem  of  the  mantle  of  Booker  T.  Washington 
falls,  needs  to  be  a  patient  and  stalwart  worker. 
Mr.  Napier  is  this.  As  president  of  this  organi 
zation  he  has  been  able  to  keep  the  organization 
in  all  of  its  units  thoroughly  alive  and  active  and 
this  too  in  the  turmoil  of  war  times  when  counter 
interests  shut  the  door  of  so  many  men's  shops. 


410 


Miss  Nannie  H.  Burroughs 


OW  is  the  age  when  woman  is 
coming  into  her  own,  and  the 
world  is  fast  recognizing  her  ca 
pacity  for  labor  in  all  depart 
ments  of  life,  religious,  mental 
and  physical.  In  that  department 
of  life  which  requires  physical  strength  and  endur 
ance  man  has  the  advantage  but  in  religious  and 
mental  endeavor  she  is  his  equal.  Because  of  long 
training  man  may  appear  to  excell  woman  in  these 
departments  but  in  reality  he  does  not,  and  he  is 
being  brought  face  to  face  with  that  fact. 

Miss  Nannie  H.  Burroughs  is  a  striking  illustra 
tion  of  woman's  capacity  for  labor  in  these  new 
fields.  She  is  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
Women's  Convention,  Auxiliary  of  the  National 
Baptist  Convention  and.  President  of  the  National 
Training  School  for  Women  and  Girls  at  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.,  the  only  vocational  training  school  for 
colored  women  in  the  world  and  is  a  writer  and 
lecturer  of  rare  powers,  and  a  leader  of  unusual 
gifts  and  influence  among  the  colored  Baptists, 
who  number  nearly  two  thirds  of  the  membership 
of  the  Negro  churches  in  the  land. 

Miss  Burroughs  was  born  in  Orange,  Va.,  May 
2,  1878.  Her  parents  had  been  slaves,  and  her 
grandfather  was  known  as  "Lizah,  the  Slave  Car 
penter." 

At  the  age  of  seven  she  was  striken  with  typhoid 
fever,  and  remained  out  of  school  four  years.  On 
her  return,  for  several  years  she  made  two  grades 
a  year,  graduating  from  the  high  school  and  from 
the  academic  course  in  the  Washington  High 
School,  making  a  good  record  in  deportment  and 
scholarship  in  both  departments. 

On  account  of  her  remarkable  oratorical  powers 
and  executive  ability,  she  was  soon  after  head  of  a 
Girls'  Literary  Society,  and  participated  in  all  pub 
lic  debates.  She  took  an  active  part  in  the  church 
and  Sunday  School  work. 

Leaving  Washington,  she  became  associate  ed 
itor  of  the  Christian  Banner,  of  Philadelphia.  Re 
turning  to  her  home,  she  took  a  position  as  book 
keeper  for  a  manufacturing  house. 

Her  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Church  brought 
her  in  contact  with  the  officers  of  the  National 
Baptist  Convention.  She  was  for  several  years 
private  Secretary  for  Dr.  L.  G.  Jordan,  Secretary 
of  the  Foreign  Mission  Board,  and  when  the  Wo 
men's  Convention  Auxiliary  was  organized,  Miss 
Burroughs  was  selected  to  take  part  in  the  work. 
She  lectured  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and 
wrote  very  much  for  denominational  papers.  New 
life  came  into  the  churches,  and  Missionary  work 


was  stimulated  as  never  before.  In  the  ten  years 
since  the  Auxiliary  was  organized  much  good  has 
been  done,  and  in  1908,  the  colored  women  gave 
more  than  $13,000  for  missionary  and  educational 
work.  Many  girls  and  boys  have  been  brought 
from  Africa  to  be  educated  by  the  National  Bap 
tist  Convention  and  have  returned  home  to  work 
among  their  own  people.  Miss  Burroughs  says : 
"We  do  this  because  it  strengthens  our  sympathy 
and  makes  us  more  convinced  of  our  duty  to  our 
brothers  who  are  bone  of  our  bone  and  flesh  of  our 
flesh." 

The  work  that  perhaps  will  reflect  the  greatest 
credit  upon  this  young  woman  as  leader  and  or 
ganizer,  able  to  bring  things  to  pass,  is  the  estab 
lishment  of  the  National  Training  School  for  Wo 
men  and  Girl's,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  This  school 
was  opened  October  19,  1909.  It  is  national  in 
scope,  and  opened  to  women  and  girls  of  all  de 
nominations.  Miss  Burroughs  is  President,  find 
directs  the  affairs  of  this  school.  She  says  the 
prospects  are  very  bright  for  its  success. 

"Two  thirds  of  the  colored  women  must  work 
with  their  hands  for  a  living,  and  it  is  indeed  an 
oversight  not  to  prepare  this  army  of  breadwinners 
to  do  their  work  well. 

In  July,  1905,  Miss  Burroughs  attended  the 
World's  Baptist  Congress,  in  London.  She  gave 
an  address  at  the  Congress  on  "Woman's  Part  in 
the  World's  Work,"  which  caused  favorable  com 
ment  from  delegates  from  all  parts  of  the  world. 
The  London  Mirror  said:  "She  was  one  of  the  most 
notable  personages  at  the  meeting.  She  addressed 
thousands  at  a  great  mass  meeting  in  Hyde  Park, 
London." 

A  friend  writing  of  Miss  Burroughs,  says:  "She 
lives  a  simple  life,  and  is  free  from  vanity  and  af 
fection.  She  has  a  head  full  of  common  sense,  and 
that  head  is  well  pinned  on.  Success  does  not  turn 
it.  Women  in  all  walks  of  life  admire  her.  She 
is  not  affected  by  praise.  Here  is  a  story  of  a  young 
woman  who  is  just  beyond  thirty  and  has  come 
from  the  bottom  of  the  round  to  the  position  of 
President  of  the  only  school  of  national  character 
over  which  a  Negro  woman  presides." 

Miss  Burroughs  is  part  owner  of  the  Douglass 
Building,  Walnut  Street,  Louisville,  a  fine  office 
building,  headquarters  of  the  Women's  Auxiliary, 
the  Foreign  Mission  Board,  and  other  work  of  the 
National  Baptist  Convention.  She  is  the  origina 
tor  and  successful  promoter  of  the  "Negro  Picture 
Calendar,"  which,  with  its  pictures  of  homes  and 
incidents  in  the  lives  of  colored  people,  has  met 
with  large  success. 


411 


BISHOP  GEORGE  WYLIE  CLINTON 


NK  of   the   self   made   men 
is     Bishop     George 


of  our 

race,  is  Bishop  Ueorge  Wylie 
Clinton.  He  was  born  of  poor 
parentage,  slave  parents  as  a  mat 
ter  of  fact,  and  his  father  died 
when  he  was  hut  two  years  of 
age.  This  put  the  matter  of  his  education  squarely 
up  to  the  young  fellow.  But  attend  school  he  did 
and  for  a  number  of  years. 

During  his  early  life  he  lived  on  a  farm  doing  the 
chores  of  a  farm  lad  and  taking  advantage  of  the 
country  schools  that  were  near  him,  both  public 
and  private.  Part  of  the  time  he  walked  to  the 
nearest  school,  a  distance  of  seven  miles.  This  dis 
tance  seems  great,  but  when  you  remember  that 
he  was  a  farm  lad  and  that  he  had  to  milk  the  cows, 
three  in  number,  before  he  could  start  on  the  jour 
ney  it  seems  a  little  harder.  But  Bishop  Clinton 
was  even  then  a  man  of  determination.  In  order 
to  get  a  chance  to  study  he  had  to  gather  pine 
knots  that  he  might  have  light  to  read.  Part  of  the 
time  he  attended  night  school.  This  work  went  on 
till  the  young  man  was  fifteen  years  of  age. 


Under  the  tutorage  of  J.  H.  Stewart,  Bishop 
Clinton  was  prepared  for  college.  In  October  of 
1874  he  entered  South  Carolina  University,  where 
he  took  up  the  classical  College  Course,  going  as 
far  as  the  Junior  Class.  He  also  studied  at  Brain- 
ard  Institute,  at  Chester,  South  Carolina,  and  for 
two  years  in  Theological  Department,  in  Living 
stone  College,  Salisbury,  N.  C.  Because  of  lack  of 
funds  Bishop  Clinton  through  all  these  years  had 
to  work  and  work  hard.  He  worked  before  and 
after  school,  he  taught  school  during  the  summer 
vacations,  he  studied  hard  and  entered  the  com 
petitive  examinations  of  scholarship  in  the  State 
school  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  This  he  won  and  so 
his  education  was  assured. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  Bishop  Clinton  taught 
his  first  school.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
began  the  study  of  law  under  a  white  firm.  This 
he  gave  up,  however,  when  he  felt  that  he  was 
called  to  be  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  then  took 
up  the  study  of  the  ministry  and  at  the  age  of  nine 
teen  was  preaching.  For  thirteen  years  Bishop 
Clinton  served  as  a  pastor,  for  six  years  he  served 
as  an  editor  and  for  twenty-three  years  he  has 
served  as  a  Bishop  in  the  African  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Zion  Church. 

Bishop  Clinton  for  the  past  twenty-five  years  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  every  movement  for  the 
betterment  of  the  Negro  race.  He  is  widely  known 
as  a  lecurer.  He  has  for  years  lectured  at  Tuske- 
gee  Institute,  Alabama,  he  worked  in  the  Campaign 
for  War  Funds,  he  has  served  in  Educational  Com- 
paigns  conducted  by  his  church,  he  has  served  three 
times  in  the  Ecumenical  Conference,  he  has  served 
as  President  of  Atkinson  College,  Madisonville, 
Kentucky.  Everywhere  he  has  gone  and  at  all 
times  he  has  worked  for  the  betterment  of  the  race. 

Bishop  Clinton  has  been  twice  married.  There 
is  one  son  in  the  family,  Geo.  William  Clinton,  who 
is  now  a  student  in  the  Dental  College  of  Philadel 
phia.  Bishop  Clinton  has  traveled  extensively,  both 
in  this  country  and  abroad.  He  toured  five  states 
with  Dr.  B.  T.  Washington,  has  traveled  in  Canada, 
and  while  in  Europe  he  visited  Belgium,  France, 
England,  Ireland,  Wales  and  Holland. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  property  holdings  of 
Bishop  Clinton  amount  to  between  $18,000.00  and 
$25,000.00.  The  home  is  valued  at  $10,000.00. 

Bishop  Clinton  has  interested  himself  in  all  the 
lines  of  work  taken  up  by  the  Colored  people.  I  It- 
has  also  interested  himself  in  the  organizations 
that  are  conducted  by  them.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows,  and  of  the  Masons.  He  is  a  man 
full  of  energy  that  he  puts  to  work  for  his  people 
and  for  his  church. 


412 


George  C.  Hall,  M.  D. 


fl 


TARTING  out  in  his  public  life  with 
"A  man  can  be  whatever  he 
chooses  to  be  if  he  is  willing  to 
pay  the  price,"  for  a  motto,  Dr. 
George  C.  Hall  has  made  the 
statement  come  true.  The  thing 
that  he  chose  to  make  of  himself  was  a  great  sur 
geon,  a  surgeon  that  would  be  known  for  his  good 
work  regardless  of  color.  He  was  willing  to  pay 
the  price,  the  price  of  constant  attention  to  duty, 
the  price  of  never  ceasing  to  study,  the  price  of 
taking  great  care  in  the  smallest  detail,  the  price  of 
serving  all  who  came — he  was  willing  to  pay  this 
price  and  he  is  today  one  of  the  most  eminent  sur 
geons  in  the  country.  So  far  has  his  fame  spread 
as  a  great  surgeon  that  in  every  part  of  the  coun 
try  there  are  persons  who  bare  the  mark  of  his 
knife  on  their  bodies,  and  because  of  these  scars 
they  enjoy  good  health. 

Not  only  has  Dr.  Hall  developed  himself  along 
the  line  of  the  surgeon,  but  he  is  a  great  teacher 
of  surgery  as  well.  To  so  many  of  the  young  men 
of  the  colored  race  who  are  aspiring  to  the  medical 
profession,  he  is  an  inspiration.  It  is  an  inspira- 
toin  to  them  to  watch  this  great  surgeon  at  his 
task.  Me  has  the  patience  to  show  and  to  teach 
them  just  how  each  step  is  taken  in  the  work.  Dr. 
Hall  even  goes  one  step  farther — he  can  write  in 
detail  just  how  he  has  accomplished  an  end.  This 
gives  him  a  place  among  the  few  great  surgeons  in 
the  country,  for  from  three  standpoints  he  can  sec 
and  perform  his  work — for  himself  alone,  the  swift, 
clean,  sure  work :  for  the  student  standing  by  and 
watching  him — each  step  distinct  and  yet  not  slow; 
for  the  medical  journals — where  older  doctors  may 
see  just  how  he  has  done  the  work  and  come  back 
to  him  with  criticisms  and  suggestions. 

Dr.  Hall  was  born  in  Ypsilamti,  Michigan,  in 
1864.  His  father  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in 
the  Baptist  Church.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  but  five  years  old  his  father  moved  to 
the  city  of  Chicago.  Here  he  had  advantages  of 
good  educational  systems  that  gave  him  habits  of 
close  studiousness.  From  the  Chicago  High  School 
he  went  to  Lincoln  University  in  Pennsylvania. 
From  this  school  he  was  graduated  with  honors  in 
the  year  1886.  The  young  student  had  his  mind 
already  made  up  as  to  the  calling  he  wished  to  fol 
low  and  so  he  lost  no  time  when  he  returned  to 
Chicago,  in  matriculating  at  the  Bennett  Medical 
College.  He  was  not  from  a  family  that  had  wealth 
enough  to  support  him  through  school  for  this 
great  number  of  years,  and  so  we  find  him  working 
his  way  through  college.  For  half  the  day  he 


worked,  the  other  half  he  devoted  to  study.  So 
well  did  he  apply  himself  to  the  tasks  that  were 
set  for  him  that  at  the  end  of  the  course  he  was 
at  the  head  of  his  class.  This  rank  made  him  best 
out  of  a  class  of  fifty-four  young  men  who  were 
about  to  begin  the  practice  of  medicine. 

After  completing  the  course  of  study,  Dr.  Hall 
spent  a  great  deal  of  time  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  before  he  decided  to  specialize  in  surg 
ery.  For  this  work  he  studied  under  Dr.  Byron 
Robinson  and  later  under  Dr.  T.  J.  Watkins.  He 
has  operated  in  Chicago  and  out  of  the  city.  He 
has  been  before  a  number  of  the  state  Medical  As 
sociations  where  he  has  held  surgical  clinics,  thus 
bringing  to  a  great  many  of  the  doctors  in  the 
South,  opportunities,  here-to-fore  denied  them. 
Among  these  states  are  Alabama.  Tennessee,  Ken 
tucky,  Virginia,  Georgia,  and  Missouri.  Wher 
ever  Dr.  Hall  has  gone  his  work  has  been  eagerly 
received. 

Since  the  founding  of  Provident  Hospital,  Dr. 
Hall  has  been  one  of  its  main  supporters.  While 
still  a  physician  he  took  his  patients  to  the  hospital 
and  then  helped  plan  for  places  for  them.  He 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  board  of  trust 
ees  since  1897,  he  was  twice  elected  president  of 
the  medical  staff  and  later  he  was  chosen  a  mem 
ber  of  the  surgical  staff.  The  hospital  is  dear  to 
the  heart  of  Dr.  Hall  and  he  gives  to  it  some  of  his 
very  best  work. 

Not  only  is  Dr.  Hall  interested  in  the  Negro  and 
his  welfare  from  the  standpoint  of  his  health,  but 
wherever  there  are  movements  for  the  improve 
ment  of  the  colored  man,  Dr.  Hall  is  ready  and  will 
ing  to  take  a  part.  He  is  a  director  and  treasurer 
of  Frederick  Douglass  Center;  a  member  of  the 
Western  Economic  Society;  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  in  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Building;  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Association  of 
Commerce ;  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Local 
Medical  Association  and  for  a  number  of  years  a 
willing  worker  in  the  National  Medical  Associa 
tion  of  Colored  men.  One  of  the  pieces  of  work 
for  which  he  deserves  great  credit  is  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  Civic  League  of  Illinois.  Through  this 
organization  he  has  been  enabled  to  bring  about 
many  improvements  in  the  housing  conditions  of 
the  colored  people  of  Chicago. 

Dr.  Hall  has  managed  to  save  and  invest  some  of 
the  money  he  has  earned  in  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession,  and  he  is  considered  one  of  the  substantial 
Colored  citizens  of  the  city  of  Chicago.  Working 
with  the  advancement  of  his  people  ever  in  his 
mind  and  the  development  of  his  own  skill  as  a  sur 
geon  ever  before  him,  Dr.  Hall  has  made  a  place 
for  himself  that  is  enviable.  "A  man  can  be  what 
ever  he  chooses  if  he  is  willing  to  pay  the  price," 
was  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Hall,  an  excellent  motto. 


413 


REV.  R.  H.  BOYD 

HE  work  of  Rev.  R.  H.  Boyd,  for 
the   development  of  his   people   is 
one     of     the      most     remarkable 
achievements  in  the  history  of  the 
Race.     Although  past  74  years  of 
age    he    is    still    active    in    all    the 
affairs    of    the    National     Baptist 
Publishing    House,    which    is    the 
outgrowth  of  his  well  laid  plans.     This  mammoth 
institution,  owned  and  controlled  and  operated  by 
Negroes  stands  as  a  monument  to  this  ex-slave. 

Rev.  Boyd  does  not  like  to  talk  about  himself 
so  a  great  deal  of  the  personal  history  of  the  man 
is  not  to  be  had.  He  was  born  a  slave.  He  stood 
by  and  watched  the  dying  groans  of  his  master.  He 
had  left  the  home  in  Texas  and  gone  with  the  mas 
ter  into  the  army.  Here  he  saw  some  of  the 
struggle  between  the  North  and  the  South  that 
was  the  battle  for  his  freedom.  When  his  master 
died,  he  took  the  body  and  returned  to  Texas  with 
it.  He  then  took  upon  himself  the  man's  tasks  of 
disposing  of  the  farm  produce  and  making  the 
necessary  purchases  for  the  family  of  his  dead 
master.  It  is  this  slave,  this  property  of  a  Con 
federate  soldier,  this  man  unlearned  in  books  with 
out  the  knowledge  of  the  textbook  itself,  but  true 
to  every  principle  of  the  Southern  home  ;  this  slave 
who  stood  by  his  master  till  his  death  and  then 
went  to  the  assistance  of  the  widow;  it  is  this 
slave  who  had  the  sterling  qualities  needed  to  es- 


tablish   such   a   wonderful   organization 
as  the  National  Publishing  House. 

Rev.  Boyd  was  married  to  Miss  Har 
riet  Moore,  of  Texas,  in  1868.  Mrs. 
Boyd  has  been  to  him  in  every  sense  of 
the  word  a  helper.  Through  her  very 
strict  economy  the  education  which 
Rev.  Boyd  had  the  privilege  ot  secur 
ing  late  in  life  was  made  possible.  She 
even  surpassed  most  of  her  sisters  in 
this  respect  and  was  one  with  her  hus 
band  in  all  his  efforts.  From  this  union 
there  came  six  children:  Mrs.  Annie 
Boyd-Hall,  Galveston,  Texas,  wife  of 
undertaker  and  embalmer ;  Mrs.  Mattie 
Boyd-Bennefield,  Nashville,  Term. ; 
Rev.  Henry  Allen  Boyd,  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  Secretary  Sunday  School  Con 
gress,  Assistant  Secretary  National 
Baptist  Publishing  Board,  Manager 
Nashville  Globe,  Secretary  National 
Negro  Press  Association;  Mrs.  Lula 
Boyd-Landers,  Nashville,  Tenn.  Mr. 
J.  Garfield  Elaine  Boyd,  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  general  foreman  National  Bap 
tist  Publishing  Board's  plant;  Mr.  The- 
ophilus  Bartholomew  Boyd,  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  Linotype  operator  and  machin 
ist  at  the  National  Baptist  Board's 
plant. 

The   plant   itself   fills   a   niche    in    the 
commercial  life  of  Nashville,   that   is  a 
credit    to    the    city,    the    State    and    the 
nation.    All  who  know  Dr.  R.  H.  Boyd, 
regardless  of  race,  regard  him  as  a  con 
scientious,   honest,    well-thinking,    well 
meaning,       industrious       citizen       who 
knows  how  and  who  really  does  make 
the   conditions   between   the   races   more   tolerable, 
for  he  spends  no  time  in  attempting  to  solve  the 
race  problem.     He  abhors  any  inference   at  social 
equality,    believes    implicitly    in    the    fact    that    the 
Negro  should  work  out  his  own  salvation  and  be- 
ccme  a  worthy  citizen  in  his  own  city,  in  his  own 
community   and   in   his   own    State,    and    that    he 
should  uphold  the  flag  of  the  nation  and  march  un 
der  the  principles    of    their    respective    denomina 
tions. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  achievements  of  the 
institution  of  which  this  ex-slave  is  the  founder.  It 
in  inspiring  to  see  his  devotion,  even  to  the  cause 
that  his  old  master  fought  so  nobly  for.  Without 
any  show  of  demonstration,  he  has  fought  the  busi 
ness  fights  that  must  be  fought  by  large  concerns, 
succeeding  without  any  philanthropic  effort,  with 
out  a  donation  of  as  much  as  one  dollar  from  the 
treasury  of  the  National  Baptist  Convention  for 
the  maintenance  and  operation  of  the  plant  or  the 
purchase  of  property  and  machinery,  he  has  in 
some  way  and  somehow  managed  to  keep  this  in 
stitution  going  and  to  make  steady  and  constant 
improvements  from  time  to  time  and  from  year  to 
year.  The  past  quarter  the  institution  broke  all 
former  records  in  the  receipt  of  mail  and  the  dis 
patch  of  the  output  of  the  product  of  the  institu 
tion.  For  instance,  from  Monday  morning,  March 
20.  up  to  Saturday  afternoon.  March  25,  the  letter 
carrier  on  that  route  delivered  to  the  National  Bap- 


414 


PLANT  OF  NATIONAL  BAPTIST   PUBLISHING  HOUSE 


list  I'ublishing  Board,  of  which  Rev.  R.  H.  Boyd  is 
Secretary,  7,657  letters.  On  one  of  the  days,  Wed 
nesday.  March  22,  2,221  of  these  letters  were  de 
livered.  This  is  a  record  unequaled  during-  the 
years  that  the  concern  has  been  in  operation. 

There  are  many  interesting  facts  about  the  plant 
managed  by  Dr.  Boyd  which  make  it  one  of  the 
plants  of  interest  for  the  sightseer  and  visitor  to 
this  city.  The  secretary  and  the  employes  are  in 
tensely  religious  in  their  work  and  in  their  every 
day  life,  but  the  most  interesting  feature  about  the 
work  of  the  National  Baptist  Publishing  House  is 
the-  steady  and  persistent  advancement  that  it  has 
made  as  a  substantial  institution,  measuring  up  to 
similar  concerns  operated  in  this,  the  capital  city 
of  the  Volunteer  State.  It  is  interesting  to  read  of 
the  National  Baptist  Publishing  Board's  success. 
To  know  what  has  been  accomplished  by  an  ex- 
slave  for  the  Negro  Baptists  of  the  United  States 
within  a  decade,  and  an  inside  glimpse  of  the  life 
of  a  constructive  genius  and  his  contribution  to 
race  development ;  to  see  what  he  has  been  able  to 
do  for  the  Baptist  Churches  and  Sunday  Schools, 
at  the  same  time  soliciting  their  patronage  to  an 
institution  where  members  of  his  race  have  made 
good  as  skilled  artisans,  and  then  to  see  the  gigan 
tic  scores  of  members  of  the  race  who  send  out 
millions  of  copies  of  religious  literature  annually, 
is  inspiring  to  the  Negro  youth.  The  success  that 
the  Rev.  R.  H.  Boyd  has  achieved  is  nothing  less 
than  marvelous. 

Tall  and  commanding  of  stature,  very  intelligent 
in  conversation,  he  makes  friends  and  holds  them. 
In  a  recent  publication  there  appeared  the  follow 
ing  concerning  the  institution : 

Were  some  one  to  put  the  National  Baptist  Pub 
lishing'  Board's  plant  in  this  city  on  a  moving  pic 
ture  film,  showing  the  wonderful  achievements  and 
the  accomplishments  of  the  gigantic  institution 
that  has  been  built  up  for  the  Negro  Baptists  of 
the  United  States,  and  for  their  posterity,  it  would 
take  a  film  hundreds  of  yards  long,  which  would 
entertain  thousands  of  people.  The  National  Bap 
tist  I'ublishing  House  has  come  into  existence 
within  the  past  twenty-one  years,  and  today  tow 
ers  magnificently  over  anything  which  has  been 
accomplished  by  the  race,  whether  it  be  in  the  re 
ligious,  educational  or  in  the  business  world. 

"It  has  furnished  and  is  furnishing  employment 


to  scores  of  Negro  boys  and  girls 
that  hitherto  were  shut  out  of  what 
is  commonly  known  as  the  art  pre 
servative  among  printers  and  pub 
lishers.  It  has  given  a  rating  in 
the  commercial  world  to  the  race 
and  denomination  that  has  no  par 
allel.  It  has  put  the  Negro  Bap 
tists  on  an  equal  footing  with  the 
denominations  of  other  races  be 
cause  of  the  creative  genius  dis 
played  in  operating  and  maintain 
ing  the  institution.  It  has  forged  a 
link  in  racial  pride  that  has  brought 
together  more  support  for  one  in 
stitution  than  has  ever  been  at 
tempted  before.  It  has  outstripped 
Jack's  bean  stalk  story  in  its 
growth  and  development.  It  has 
served  as  an  opener  of  the  "door  of 


lope"  to  the  ambitious  and  deserving  members  of 
the  race  that  has  been  closed  to  them  by  labor  un 
ions,  which  refuse  to  allow  members  of  the  race 
to  acquire  certain  knowledge  in  printing  and  book 
binding.  It  has  put  the  race  on  the  map  in  the 
theological  world  as  producers  of  a  religious  litera 
ture  distinctively  their  own.  It  has  installed  and 
is  operating  printing  machinery  of  the  most  com 
plicated  and  intricate  designing  and  this,  too,  with 
amateur  help  that  has  been  found  in  the  race.  It 
has  helped  to  make  intellectual  lights  out  of  what 
has  been  regarded  as  a  race  of  hewers  of  wood  and 
drawers  of  water. 

"This  institution  was  founded  by  an  ex-slave, 
the  Rev.  R.  H.  Boyd,  who  still  lives,  and  who  is 
secretary  and  manager.  Many  say  that  Rev.  Dr. 
1'oyd  saw  the  invisible  in  his  early  pioneer  days, 
and  that  after  operating  on  a  very  small  scale  in 
his  Texas  home  he  succeeded  in  convincing  the  Ne 
groes  to  see  the  wisdom  of  supporting  a  plant  on 
a  national  scope.  It  was  the  latter  part  of  1896, 
when  he  began  his  pilgrimage  to  Nashville,  Tenn., 
after  having  looked  all  over  the  United  States  for 
a  location  that  would  be  suitable  for  his  work.  It 
has  been  said  that  he  was  directed  by  God  from  his 
Texas  home,  like  Abraham,  of  the  Chaldeans,  when 
God  said  to  him:  "Get  thee  out  of  thy  country 
and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy  father's  house, 
unto  a  land  that  I  will  shew  thee."  Whatever  way 
it  was,  it  is  a  known  fact  that  the  Negro  Baptists 
had  no  publishing  plant  and  were  preparing  and 
sending  out  no  Sunday  school  literature ;  they 
were  giving  no  employment  to  the  Negro  boys  and 
girls,  doing  nothing  tangible  until  Dr.  Boyd  came 
upon  the  scene. 

"His  book,  The  Story  of  the  Publishing  Board,' 
which  has  just  been  issued  and  is  now  in  great  de 
mand  has  proven  one  of  the  most  interesting  nar 
ratives  that  has  come  from  the  lips  of  any  man. 
Stranger  than  fiction,  and  yet  as  real  as  the  gos 
pel  itself,  the  story  is  told  and  then  the  thousands 
of  wheels  that  revolve  at  the  plant  and  the  millions 
of  copies  of  books  and  publications  that  are  sent 
out  each  quarter,  together  with  the  magnificent 
institution,  standing  like  the  pyramids  of  Egypt, 
attest  the  substantial  part  of  the  story.  The 
founder  of  the  institution  has  often  been  referred 
to  as  a  giant  oak  in  a  forest  among  the  Negro 
Baptists  of  the  United  States.  His  far-sighted 


415 


REVEREND  HENRY  ALLEN  BOYD 

business  tact  in  building  up  the  institution  has  at 
tracted  the  attention  of  the  entire  business  world 
as  well  as  the  entire  race  to  which  his  denomina 
tion  belongs,  and  who  feel  indebted  to  him  and  are 
standing  loyally  by  the  institution  which  has  been 
built  up  for  them,  and  which  will  stand  for  ages  to 
come  by  the  support  that  is  being  given  from  every 
quarter  of  the  globe.  At  the  close  of  the  last  fiscal 
year,  Dr.  Boyd  showed  in  his  report  the  work  of 
the  institution  for  the  past  eighteen  years.  The 
figures  themselves  are  staggering.  In  this  num 
ber  of  years  the  institution  has  written  and  circu 
lated  136,794,339  copies  of  religious  literature, 
which  does  not  include  the  thousands  of  volumes 
of  books  which  have  been  made  up  and  distributed 
throughout  the  civilized  world.  They  have  writ 
ten  and  received  3,684,149  letters,  and  it  is  said  that 
sometimes  as  high  as  2,000  letters  are  received  in 
a  single  day." 

"It  developed  that  the  National  Baptist  Publish 
ing  Board  furnishes  employment  to  more  Negro 
men  and  women,  boys  and  girls,  than  any  other 


institution  of  a  commercial  nature  ope 
rated  by  the  race.  Very  little  is  said  to 
be  known  of  Dr.  Boyd,  who  has  refused 
all  along  to  allow  anything  to  be  written 
about  his  life.  Jrle  knows  that  he  was 
born  a  slave  and  he  was  40  years  old  be 
fore  he  went  to  school,  and  that  his 
mother,  who  died  only  a  few  months  ago, 
was  over  95  years  of  age. 

"The  publishing  house,  his  life's  work, 
is  looked  upon  as  a  monument  that  he  has 
built  as  an  humble  worker  in  his  denom 
ination  and  as  his  contribution  to  the  race 
as  a  constructive  genius.  Nashville,  Ten., 
the  home  of  the  institution,  is  now  as 
well  known  as  a  religious  publishing  cen 
ter  as  it  is  an  educational  center,  having 
been  made  possible  by  the  millions  of 
pages  of  religious  tracts  and  literature 
that  have  been  issued  from  this  gigantic 
religious  and  commercial  business  institu 
tion." 

Upon  investigation  it  has  been  found 
that  one  of  the  great  achievements  of  Dr. 
Boyd  was  the  bringing  out  and  setting  to 
music  the  Negro  plantation  melodies,  the 
songs  that  were  sung  in  the  days  of  slav 
ery  by  his  parents  and  their  ancestors.  In 
the  preparation  of  this  work.  Dr.  Boyd 
says  that  he  has  given  a  rich  heritage  to 
unborn  generations.  Thus  National  Jubi 
lee  Melody  Song  Book,  as  it  is  called,  has 
met  a  popular  demand. 
Other  publications  turned  out  by  the  institution 
include  a  full  line  of  literature,  a  complete  line  of 
church  helps  for  Baptist  Sunday  Schools  and 
churches,  among  which  are  to  be  found  Boyd's  Pas 
tors'  Guide,  Boyd's  Church  Record,  Theological 
Kernels,  a  National  Baptist  Sunday  School  Lesson 
Commentary,  Boyd's  Record  and  Roll  Book,  An 
Outline  of  Negro  Baptist  History,  and  twenty- 
three  different  song  books.  In  fact,  the  plant  is 
able  to  print  anything  from  a  calling  card  to  an 
encyclopedia,  or  from  a  postal  card  to  a  Bible. 

The  plant  is  estimated  to  be  worth  over  a  quart 
er  of  a  million  dollars.  The  operating  expenses 
are  estimated  at  $400.00  per  day.  Dr.  Boyd  de 
clared  that  the  prayer  service  held  each  morning  at 
9 :30  o'clock  in  their  own  chapel,  where  each  em 
ploye  is  required  to  be  present,  and  which  costs 
$17.50  per  day,  is  his  collection  to  the  Lord.  This 
"hour  of  prayer,"  as  they  call  it,  has  proven  of 
great  benefit  to  the  employees.  At  these  meetings 
Dr.  Boyd  often  delivers  an  address,  the  Bible  is  al 
ways  read,  and  good  singing  is  indulged  in. 

As  a  religious  publishing  plant  their  printing  de 
partment  is  complete  in  every  particular. 


416 


WILLIAM  TAYLOR  BURWELL  WILLIAMS,  A.   B. 

1LLIAM  Taylor  Burwell  Williams, 
was  born  at  Stonebridge,  Clarke 
County,  Virginia.  He  attended 
the  public  school  at  Millwood,  in 
this  county,  and  at  seventeen,  be 
came  a  teacher  in  one  of  its  pub 
lic  schools.  Later  he  spent  two  years  at  Hampton 
Institute,  Hampton,  Va.,  graduating  in  the 
class  of  1888.  He  then  taught  a  year  in  the  Whit- 
tier  School,  the  elementary  department  of  this  in 
stitution.  His  next  step  was  to  enter  Phillips  Aca 
demy,  Andover,  Mass.,  from  which  he  was  gradua 
ted  in  the  class  of  1893.  From  Phillips  Academy 
he  went  to  Harvard  University,  where  he  took  his 
A.  B.  degree  with  the  class  of  1897. 

Upon  the  completion  of  his  college  course,  Mr. 
Williams  was  appointed  principal  of  School  No.  24, 
subsequently  named  the  McCoy  School,  Indian 
apolis,  Indiana.  Here  he  served  with  conspicious 
merit  for  five  years,  when  he  resigned  to  accept 
work  at  his  Alma  Mater,  Hampton  Institute,  as 
field  agent  for  the  school  and  for  the  Southern  Ed 
ucation  Board.  His  first  duty  was  to  make  a  study 
of  educational  conditions  in  Virginia,  and  in  the 
other  Southern  States,  and  to  help  relate  Hamp 
ton  Institute  effectively  with  its  field. 


He  soon  became  the  field  agent  also  of  the  Gen 
eral  Education  Board,  the  John  E.  Slater  Fund,  and 
finally  of  the  Negro  Rural  School  Fund,  popularly 
known  as  the  Jeanes  Fund.  Since  all  of  these  foun 
dations  are  either  primarily  for  Negro  education 
or  are  greatly  interested  in  promoting  education 
among  colored  people,  Mr.  Williams'  work  has 
brought  him  constantly  for  years  into  direct  con 
tact  with  every  phase  of  Negro  education  in  the 
South.  And  he  has  played  a  helpful  constructive 
part  in  the  education  of  Negro  youth.  He  has  been 
especially  active  in  promoting  industrial  training 
in  the  private  schools  and  colleges,  in  directing 
the  work  of  the  Jeanes  Industrial  teachers,  and  in 
building  up  the  recently  created  County  Training 
Schools  in  all  the  Southern  States. 

Mr.  Williams'  work  has  also  brought  him  into 
direct,  sympathetic  contact  with  such  noted  white 
educators  as  Dr.  Wallace  Buttrick  of  the  General 
Education  Board,  Dr.  H.  B.  Frissell,  of  Hampton 
Institute,  and  Dr.  James  H.  Dillard,  President  of 
the  Jeanes  and  Slater  Funds  as  well  as  with  the 
leading  Negro  schoolmen  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Williams  has  been  one  of  the  most  active 
and  serviceable  members  of  the  National  Associa 
tion  of  Teachers  in  Colored  Schools.  He  served 
this  organization  as  President  for  two  terms  and  is 
a  member  of  its  executive  committee.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  National  Education  Association. 
And  he  is  a  leader  in  the  work  of  the  Virginia  State 
Teachers'  Association.  He  was  one  of  the  organi 
zers  of  the  Negro  Organization  Society,  of  Vir 
ginia.  He  served  this  body  as  Secretary,  and  is 
now  its  treasurer.  And  in  addition  to  his  regular 
duties  as  field  agent  for  Hampton  Institute,  direc 
tor  of  the  Jeanes  and  Slater  Funds,  Mr.  Williams 
has,  during  the  fall  of  1918,  acted  as  Assistant  sup 
ervisor  of  vocational  training  in  colored  schools  for 
the  Committee  on  Education  and  Special  Training 
of  the  War  Department,  and  aided  in  the  work  of 
establishing  vocational  units  of  the  Students  Army 
Training  Corps. 

Mr.  Williams  is  thoroughly  a  school  man.  It  is 
safe  to  say  that  he  is  the  best  informed  man  there 
is  on  the  subject  of  Negro  education.  Mr.  Wil 
liams  has  gotten  this  information  at  first  hand. 
He  has  for  a  number  of  years  traveled  all  over  the 
United  States  in  the  interest  of  Negro  education. 
He  has  visited  all  the  schools,  has  met  and  known 
personally  the  teachers  in  the  schools  and  colleges. 
Wherever  men  are  gathered  together  in  the  inter 
est  of  Negro  Education  there  Mr.  Williams  is  sure 
1o  be  giving  freely  of  his  advice  and  store  of  infor- 
mat-r.n  when  he  is  asked,  but  never  trying  to  show 
that  he  is  superior  in  knowledge  of  facts  on  the 
subject.  He  is  an  Associate  Editor  of  the  Cyclo 
pedia  of  the  Colored  Race, 


417 


HUBBARD    HOSPITAL— MEHARRV    MEDICAL  COLLEGE 


HE  Meharry  Medical  College  was 
organized  as  the  medical  depart 
ment  of  Central  Tennessee  Col 
lege,  in  1876,  with  two  teachers 
and  eleven  students.  It  was  the 
first  institution  in  the  South  to 
open  its  doors  for  the  education  of  Negro  physi 
cians. 

It  was  named  for  the  five  Meharry  Brothers  who 
contributed  largely  to  its  establishment  and  sup 
port. 

The  Dental  Department  was  opened  in  1886,  and 
the  Department  of  Pharmacy  in  1889. 

The  Medical  Faculty  consists  of  26  members, 
Dental  10,  and  Pharmacy  4,  making  a  total  of  40. 

During  the  40  years  of  its  existence  there  has 
been  1450  graduates  in  medicine,  325  in  dentistry, 
233  in  pharmacy  and  55  in  nurse  training,  making 
2063  in  all.  These  graduates  constitute  about  one- 
half  of  the  regular  colored  members  in  these  pro 
fessions  in  the  Southern  States.  They  have  been 
well  received  by  the  white  professional  brethren, 
and  they  have  met  with  good  success  both  pro 
fessionally  and  financially.  A  large  proportion 
have  comfortable,  and  many  elegant  homes,  and 
they  have  been  potent  factors  in  establishing  kind 
ly  feeling  between  the  two  races. 

A  unique  feature  of  Meharry  is  the  perfect  re 
cord  kept  of  all  the  alumni  after  they  leave  school. 
One  can  get  a  complete  professional  record  of  the 


success  of  nearly  every  man  and  woman  that  holds 
a  diploma  from  this  school. 

The  courses  are  well  planned,  and  the  addition 
of  the  Anderson  anatomical  laboratory  makes  the 
equipment  as  complete  as  is  possible  with  the  funds 
available. 

Medical :  The  medical  department  requires  for 
admission  graduation  from  an  approved  high 
school  and  one  year  of  college  work  in  physics, 
chemistry,  and  biology.  The  regular  course  for 
the  degree  of  M.  D.  covers  a  period  of  four  years 
of  32  weeks  each. 

Dental:  The  dental  department  requires  for  ad 
mission  graduation  from  an  accredited  high  school. 
The  degree  of'D.  D.  S.  is  granted  upon  the  satis 
factory  completion  of  the  course,  which  covers 
four  years  of  28  weeks  each. 

Pharmacy :  The  pharmacy  department  requires 
for  admission  two  years  of  high  school  work,  in 
cluding  one  year  of  Latin  and  physics.  Three  years 
of  28  weeks  each  are  required  for  graduation  from 
this  course.  Those  who  comply  with  the  require 
ments  receive  the  degree  of  pharmaceutical  chem 
ist  (Ph.  C.) 

Nurse  Training:  A  good  nurse-training  course 
is  provided  at  Hubbard  Hospital.  The  requirement 
for  admission  is  graduation  from  a  four-year  high 
school.  The  course  covers  three  years  of  eight 
months  each. 

Every  one  of  these  departments  furnished  their 
quota  of  graduates  in  the  world's  war. 


418 


MEHARRY   MEDICAL  COLLEGE 

The  buildings,  5  in  number,  consist  of  the  Me- 
harry  Medical  College,  the  Meharry  Dental  and 
Pharmaceutical  Hall,  the  Auditorium,  the  Dormi 
tory  and  the  George  W.  Hubbarcl  Hospital.  The 
(leo.  \Y.  Hubbarcl  Hospital  is  of  sufficient  size  to 
accommodate  from  75  to  100  patients. 

The  .Anderson  Anatomical  Hall,  the  gift  of  Dr. 
J.  \Y.  Anderson  and  wife  of  Dallas,  Texas,  was 
completed  in  time  for  use  for  the  session  of  1917- 
1918.  This  gift  is  of  especial  interest  because  it 
was  given  by  one  of  Meharry's  own  sons,  and  lie- 
cause  it  is  among  the  few  buildings  of  the  kind  to 
be  given  by  any  colored  person.  The  value  of  the 
buildings  and  grounds  is  about  $140.000.00.  The 
Library,  furniture  and  apparatus  $10,000.00. 

Meharry  Medical  College  is  a  member  of  the 
Association  of  American  Medical  Colleges,  of  the 


National  Association  of  Dental  Faculties  and  of 
the  American  Conference  of  Pharmaceutical  Fa 
culties. 

GEORGE  WHIPPLE  HUBBARD 

George  Whipple  Hubbard,  the  President  of 
Meharry,  was  born  in  North  Charleston,  N.  H., 
August  llth,  1841.  Was  educated  in  the  public- 
schools  of  New  Hampshire,  New  Hampshire  Con 
ference  Seminary,  and  New  London  Literary  and 
Scientific  Institute. 

He  was  delegate  of  the  Christian  Commission 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  also  in  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  in  1864.  Taught  a  regiment 
School  in  the  110th  LT.  S.  C.  I.,  in  1865-6,  Principal 
of  the  Belle  View  public  School  of  Nashville,  1867 
to  1874 

Graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of 
Nashville  University,  1876.  and  from  Vanderbilt 
University  1879. 


MEHARRY    MEDICAL    &    PHARMACEUTICAL    HALL 


MEHARRY    AUDITORIUM 

In  1876  he  was  appointed  by  the  Freedmen's  Aid 
Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  or 
ganize  a  Medical  Department  at  Central  Tennessee 
College,  Nashville,  Tenn.  This  school  was  opened 
in  October,  1876.  and  was  the  first  school  establish 
ed  in  the  South  for  the  education  of  colored  physi 
cians.  More  than  one-half  of  the  regularly  educat 
ed  Negro  physicians  of  the  South  are  graduates  of 
this  school.  He  served  as  Dean  for  40  years. 

I)r  Hubbard  was  Professor  of  Natural  Science 
at  Central  Tennessee  College,  from  1876  to  1891, 
and  from  1889  to  1894  was  acting  Dean  and  Pro 
fessor  of  Hygiene  and  Toxicology  in  the  Medical 
Department  of  New  Orleans  University. 

In  1916  a  Separate  Charter  for  Meharry  Medical 
College  was  procured  and  in  October,  1916,  he  was 
inaugurated  as  its  President. 


419 


\ 


NATHAN  B.  YOUNG 

ATHAN  B.  Young,  President  of 
the  State  School  for  Negroes,  at 
Tallahassee,  Florida,  like  many 
other  of  our  prominent  men  had  a 
poor  start  in  life.  He  was  born 
in  Newbern,  Alabama,  in  1862. 
Here  on  a  farm  he  worked  in  the  fields  and  with 
the  stock,  and  enjoyed  at  the  same  time  the  simple 
pleasures  of  country  life.  When  there  was  nothing 
urgent  to  be  done  on  the  farm  he  was  permitted 
to  attend  school,  provided  there  was  a  school  in 
session  within  walking  distance.  Even  though  he 
attended  school  but  irregularly  he  got  a  taste  for 
knowledge  and  when  the  chance  came  for  him  to 
attend  better  schools  he  had  the  desire  within  him. 
In  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  he  attended  a  private 
school,  getting  all  he  could  from  the  course  of 
study  offered  there.  Later  he  matriculated  at  Tal- 
ladega  College,  Talladega,  Alabama.  Here  in  Tal- 
ladega,  he  obtained  a  real  thorough  training  in  the 
branches  he  chose.  Later  he  entered  Oberlin  Col 
lege,  Ohio.  As  Mr.  Young  went  through  these 
schools  he  gathered  not  only  a  knowledge  of  books 
and  things,  but  a  knowledge  of  men.  Because  of 
this  in  his  life  as  a  teacher,  he  has  been  able 
to  gather  around  him  some  of  the  best  teachers 


that  the  race  affords  and  he  has  been  able  to  so 
organize  them  that  the  work  goes  on  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  be  a  pleasure  to  all,  both  teachers  and 
pupils.  In  speaking  of  the  difficulties  that  con 
fronted  him  in  obtaining  his  education,  Mr.  Young 
said  "I  had  no  special  difficulty  to  speak  of — I 
worked  a  bit,  paid  in  cash  a  bit,  borrowed  the  rest." 
Practically  all  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Young  has  been 
spent  in  the  school  room.  First  as  a  student,  then 
as  a  teacher.  While  making  up  his  mind  as  to  his 
life  work  between  his  work  at  Talladega  and  his 
work  at  Oberlin,  Mr.  Young  taught  in  Mississippi. 
Since  his  graduation  he  has  worked  in  Alabama, 
Georgia,  and  now  he  is  located  in  Florida.  Where- 
ever  he  was  working  there  he  was  a  leader  among 
the  school  people.  He  was  at  one  time  President 
of  the  Alabama  State  Teachers  Association,  and 
later  of  the  Florida  State  Teachers'  Association. 
So  high  was  Mr.  Young  held  in  the  educational  cir 
cles  of  our  people  that  the  National  Association  of 
Teachers  in  Colored  Schools  also  had  him  as  its 
President. 

In  church  affiliation,  Mr.  Young  is  a  Congrega- 
tionalist.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  support 
ed  by  that  denomination  and  has  at  all  times  been 
a  faithful  worker  in  the  churches.  He  is  now  serv 
ing  as  the  acting  President  of  the  Congregational 
Workers.  Through  his  work  in  the  church  and 
through  his  work  in  the  schools,  Mr.  Young  conies 
in  direct  contact  with  thousands  of  people  during 
the  course  of  several  years — but  through  his  lead 
ership  in  the  national  organizations  his  influence  is 
greatly  enlarged  and  widened.  In  the  cause  of  ed 
ucation  and  for  pleasure  he  has  traveled  over  the 
greater  part  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Young  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Emma  M.  Garrette,  of  Selma,  Ala 
bama.  They  were  married  in  1892.  In  1905,  Mr. 
Young  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Bulkly,  at 
Charleston,  S.  C.  There  are  five  children  in  the 
Young  family.  Nathan  B.  Young.  Jr.,  is  a  lawyer 
in  Birmingham,  Alabama.  Frank  Deforest,  Wil 
liam  Henry,  Emma  Garrette,  and  Julia  Bulkly  are 
in  school  in  Tallahassee.  The  young  people  make 
the  home  a  happy  and  an  interesting  one. 

Through  the  Presidency  of  the  Florida  Agricul 
tural  and  Mechanical  College  for  Negroes,  Mr. 
Young  has  done  his  greatest  work.  He  has  the 
work  thoroughly  organized  and  his  knowledge  of 
men  and  women  has  enabled  him  to  choose  a  good 
faculty  and  to  get  them  to  work  with  him  for  one- 
end.  Through  the  school  he  is  awakening  an  in 
terest,  not  only  in  the  study  of  books,  but  the  prob 
lems  that  will  confront  the  students  when  they  go 
out  from  the  school.  Mr.  Young  might  be  taken 
for  an  example  of  a  good  organizer,  and  thorough 
school  man. 


420 


John  Mitchell,  Jr. 


OHN  Mitchell,  Jr.,  is  one  of  the  The  interest,  next  to  the  Planet  that  marks  Mr. 
Negroes  who  should  be  known  to  Mitchell  a  man  of  action  is  the  Mechanic's  Savings 
all  our  young  people.  One  of  the  Bank.  This  bank  was  organized  by  Mr.  Mitchell 
reasons  that  his  life  should  be  in  1901.  The  need  of  the  bank  was  felt  by  him. 
known  to  them  is  his  fearless-  This  in  itself  was  reason  enough  for  its  establish 
ment.  The  bank  owns  property  valued  as  high  as 
six  figures,  and  the  aggregate  deposits  of  this  bank 


ness.     Another   is   his    manner    of 
using  one  step  to  go  on  up  to  a  higher  plane.  Born 


of  slave  parents,  he  has  steadily  made  his  wav  to 

,.  ...  .       .  t.    a  •  *i       when  written  run  into  seven  figures.     The  building- 

the  front  till,   today,  he  is  a  man  of  affairs,  both 

in  the  financial  world  and  in  the  world  of  journal-      in  which  this  business  is.  housed  is  owned  by  the 

institution  and  is  one  that  is  a  credit  to  the  race  and 


ism. 


John  Mitchell,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Henrico  County,  an  ornament  to  the  city  in  which  it  is  placed.     Just 

Virginia,  in  1863.     He  received  his  early  education  as    Mr.    Mitchell   was   a    leader   among   newspaper 

in  the  public  schools  of  the  State,  graduating  from  men,  in  just  the  same  manner  is  he  a  leader  in  the 

the  High  and  Normal  School  at  Richmond,  in  1881.  banking  world  of  the  colored  people.     At  one  time 

Like   most  men  who   received    training,    he    went  he  attended  the  banking  association  in  New  York 

through  the  period  of  teaching.     This  period  with  (jity.     He   was    asked   to   make   an   address.     This 

Mr.   Mitchell  lasted  but  three  years.     At  the   end  was   favorably  received  and  was  commented  upon 

of  that  time  he  gave  up  the  work  to  connect  him-  all  over  the  country.     He  is  the  only  colored  mar 

self  with  the  Planet.    The  Planet  is  a  weekly  jour-  who  has  had  the  honor  of  occupying  a  seat  in  the 

ual  that  is  published  in  the  interest  of  the  Colored  body. 

Race.    After  working  on  the  staff  of  the  Planet  for          In  church  affiliation,  Mr.  Mitchell  is    a    Baptist, 

some  time,  Mr.  Mitchell  became  the  owner  of  the  He  brings  to  the  church  that  same  enthusiasm  that 

sheet.  Through  this  means  some  of  the  best  things  jlas  characterized  his  efforts  in  the  financial  world 

in  the  life  of  Mr.  Mitchell  have  come  and  through  and  in  the  world  of  journalism.     Mr.  Mitchell  is  a 


it  some  of  the  hardships. 


large   property   holder   and   through    his    life    and 


At  one  time  when  a  lynching  had  taken  place,  works  he  has  won  the  esteem  and  the  good  will  of 
Mr.  Mitchell  condemned  the  act  in  no  uncertain  a)1  the  peopie  who  know  him,  be  they  white  or 
verms,  through  tne  coiumns  of  his  paper.  This  of-  black.  Some  one  in  writing  about  Mr.  Mitchell 
tended  the  persons  most  concerned  in  the  lynching.  savs  Q£  m'm  that  his  success  is  due  to  three  things— 
Une  result  was  a  threat  to  Mr.  Mitchell.  An  un-  his  application  to  business,  his  strict  integrity  and 
signed  letter  containing  a  piece  of  hemp  and  a  to  his  always  keeping  his  word  and  his  engage- 
urawin0-  of  a  skull  and  cross  bones  was  sent  to  him.  meiits  with  others.  Any  one  who  can  have  these 
This  in  no  way  kept  Mr.  Mitchell  from  doing  his  three  things  truthfully  said  concerning  him,  is  in- 
duty.  He  visited  the  place  where  the  lynching  had  deed  a  person  who  is  worthy  of  emulation, 
occured,  in  this  way  showing  that  he  did  not  re-  Mr.  Mitchell,  born  of  slave  parents  has  this  long 
gard  the  threat  on  his  life.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  for  ijne  Of  accomplishments  to  his  credit:  President  of 
a  number  of  years  President  of  the  National  Afro-  the  Mechanic's  Savings  Bank,  proprietor  of  the 
American  Press  Association.  All  through  the  Richmond  Planet,  former  President  of  the  Nat- 
South  Mr.  Mitchell  is  known  to  the  reading  public  ional  Afro-American  Press  Association,  member  of 
through  his  paper,  and  one  of  the  things  that  stamp  the  Common  Council  for  two  years,  member  of  the 
him  a  man  is  the  fearless  manner  in  which  he  Board  of  Aldermen  for  eight  years,  worker  in  the 
speaks  out  where  the  interest  of  the  colored  man  is  interest  of  the  colored  man,  man  of  means,  a  man 
at  stake.  of  great  fearlessness  and  a  man  of  his  word. 

421 


PANORAMIC   VIEW     AGRICULTURAL   AND   INDUSTRIAL   STATE   NORMAL   SCHOOL 


HE  State  Normal  Schools  -  -  one 
each  in  East,  Middle  and  West 
Tennessee,  and  the  Agricultural 
and  Industrial  State  Normal 
School  for  Negroes — were  autho 
rized  by  Chapter  26  of  the  Acts  of 
1909,  popularly  known  as  the  "General  Education 
Bill  "  This  hill  set  aside  twenty-five  per  cent  of 
the  gross-revenue  of  the  State  for  public  Educa 
tional  purposes,  ancf  was  amended  by  Chapter  23  of 
the  Acts  of  1913,  by  the  increase  of  this  appropria 
tion  to  thirty-three  and  one-third  per  cent. 

PURPOSE:  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Agricultural 
and  Industrial  State  Normal  School  to  practically 
train  its  students  that  they  may  better  grasp  their 
great  economic  opportunity  in  becoming  commun 
ity  leaders,  farmers  and  teachers. 

The  school  recognizes  the  fact  that  scientific 
farming  and  other  industries  pursued  on  a  scien 
tific  basis  is  the  hope  of  the  South,  and  it  is  en 
deavoring  to  fulfill  its  place  in  furnishing  better 
farmers  and  mechanics  as  well  as  teachers  who 
are  able  to  instruct  the  children  of  our  different 
communities  in  both  literary  and  industrial  pur 
suits. 

The  Academic  Department  will  take  those  who 
have  finished  the  grammar  grades  in  the  county 
or  city  schools  and  prepare  them  for  the  Normal  or 
Professional  courses.  In  the  Normal  or  Profes 
sional  Department  the  prescribed  literary  course  is 
taken  with  the  choice  of  electives.  The  electives 
are  Teaching,  Agriculture,  Domestic  Science,  Do 
mestic  Art,  Manual  Arts,  Trades  and  Business.  In 
dustrial  training  is  given  all  students.  Instruction 
in  domestic  science  and  domestic  art  is  given  ac 
cording  to  the  latest  scientific  methods  with  special 
reference  to  their  practical  application  in  the  home. 


The  buildings  of  the  Agricultural  and  Industrial 
State  Normal  School  are  ideally  located  on  a  bluff 
overlooking  the  Cumberland  River.  The  campus 
proper,  consisting  of  35  acres  is  within  the  corpor 
ate  limits  of  the  city  of  Nashville,  "the  Athens  of 
the  South,"  and  is  furnished  with  water  and  elec 
tric  lights. 

The  farm  is  located  just  outside  the  city  limits 
at  the  foot  of  the  bluff  on  which  the  buildings  are 
situated  and  slopes  gradually  to  the  Cumberland 
River.  The  farm  consists  of  135  acres  adjoining 
the  campus.  Students  taking  Agriculture  do  not 
have  to  waste  an  hour  or  more  of  time  in  going 
to  a  farm  a  mile  or  two  away,  as  is  the  case  in  a 
great  many  agricultural  schools,  but  can  change 
clothing  and  go  immediately  from  the  class  room 
where  the  theory  is  taught,  to  the  farm  where  they 
learn  also  the  practical  side. 

The  control  of  the  Colored  Normal  as  in  the 
case  of  all  Tennessee's  State  Normal  Schools,  is 
vested  in  the  State  Board  of  Education  and  it  is 
due  to  their  wisdom  and  liberal  spirit  that  this 
school  is  so  well  located  and  its  material  equipment 
is  so  thoroughly  modern  and  well  appointed  that 
the  general  health  of  the  student  body  is  w  11  con 
served. 

BUILDINGS  AND  EQUIPMENT:  The  buildings 
include  a  main  or  Academic  Building,  two  dormi 
tories  for  women  and  men,  the  trades  building  with 
heating  plant,  residence  for  the  President,  two  cot 
tages,  three  barns  and  several  farm  houses.  The 
main  building  is  a  modern  brick  and  stone  structure 
three  stories  in  height.  In  it  are  the  offices,  lab 
oratories,  recitation  rooms.  Library,  reading  room, 
auditorium,  dining  hall,  kitchen,  laundry  and  wo 
men's  rest  room — in  all  forty  rooms. 

The  Auditorium,  with  gallery  will  accommodate 


422 


PANORAMIC  VIEW— AGRICULTURAL   AND   INDUSTRIAL  STATE   NORMAL   SCHOOL 


nine  hundred  persons.  The  class  rooms  are  fur 
nished  with  modern  desks  and  recitation  seats  and 
the  laboratories  are  fully  equipped  with  all  needed 
apparatus  and  supplies.  The  Industrial  Training 
Department  occupies  commodious  quarters.  The 
Manual  Training  rooms  are  fitted  up  with  the  most 
modern  initial  equipment,  and  the  students  in  this 
department  are  taught  to  make  additional  equip 
ment  as  it  is  needed.  The  Trades  building  is  fitted 
out  with  its  necessary  machinery  which  is  run  by 
two  big  electric  motors.  A  large  dairy  barn  with 
modern  equipment  was  built  by  students  during  the 
school  term  of  1915,  and  a  dairy  herd  has  been  pur 
chased.  The  school  is  well  fitted  to  teach  scienti 
fic  methods  in  dairying. 

The  school  has  more  than  2000  books  listed  in  its 
library.  These  books  have  been  selected  to  meet 
the  peculiar  needs  of  instruction  and  to  suit  the 
conditions  of  the  rural  communities  from  which  the 
students  are  selected.  Over  seventy-five  leading 
magazines  and  periodicals  are  on  file  for  the  use 
of  the  students.  A  spacious,  excellently  lighted 
and  ventilated  reading  room  is  accessible  to  all  who 
use  the  library  and  a  competent  librarian  has  been 
placed  in  charge.  The  young  men  and  women  are 
exceptionally  fortunate  in  having  modern  and  com 
fortable  quarters.  The  dormitory  buildings  are 
three-story  brick  with  steam  heat,  electric  lights, 
bathrooms,  with  hot  and  cold  water,  large,  bright 
and  well  ventilated  outside  bed  rooms. 

All  the  work  in  the  building  is  done  by  the  stu 
dents  under  the  supervision  of  two  excellent  ma 
trons,  who  rotate  the  work  so  as  to  give  complete 
round  of  housekeeping  and  nurse  training  exper 
ience  to  each  student,  and  at  the  same  time  hold 
before  them  a  high  standard  of  living. 


The  laundry,  which  is  under  an  experienced  ma 
tron,  has  been  fitted  with  machinery,  steam  wash 
er  extracter,  mangle,  and  electric  irons.  The  ma 
chinery  is  operated  by  the  students. 

Special  attention  is  given  the  girls  in  order  to 
train  them  in  matters  pertaining  to  dress,  health, 
physical  development  and  the  simple  rules  of  good 
manners.  They  are  under  the  constant  care  of 
the  preceptress  and  other  female  teachers  who  give 
them  kind  and  helpful  instruction  as  needed. 

The  men's  dormitory  is  also  in  charge  of  an  ex 
perienced  preceptress  kwho  sees  that  the  rights  of 
the  young  men  are  carefully  guarded  and  their 
needs  faithfully  met.  A  school  physician  may  be 
called  whenever  necessary. 

It  has  an  "Aesthetic  Club"  to  promote  correct 
standards  of  life. 

Societies :  It  has  four  Literary  Societies ;  an 
Athletic  Association ;  society  of  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  Students ;  and  numerous  clubs  organ 
ized  for  mutual  welfare  and  enjoyment  of  the  stu 
dents. 

The  school  gives  special  attention  to  the  religi 
ous  training  and  life  of  the  students.  Every  third 
Sunday  services  are  held  at  the  school  and  Sunday 
school  is  held  every  Sunday.  A  Bible  Training 
Class  is  maintained  in  connection  with  the  Sun 
day  school. 

W.  J.  HALE,  the  President  of  the  Institution,  has 
the  honor  of  being  the  first  president  of  the  First 
State  Normal  School  for  Negroes  in  the  State  of 
Tennessee.  He  was  elected  again  last  year  for  an 
other  term,  which  was  a  year  before  the  expira 
tion  of  his  previous  election.  President  Hale  stands 
high  not  only  as  an  educator,  but  as  a  man  of  ster 
ling  worth,  a  genuine  friend  of  his  race,  and  a  wise 
and  safe  leader. 


423 


HARRY  T.  BURLEIGH,  A.  M. 

ELF  made  men  in  this  country  are 
not  so  rare  in  the  business  world, 
but  in  the  world  of  music  the  self 
made  man  is  an  object  of  wonder. 
Harry  T.  Burleigh  has  the  dis 
tinction  of  being  a  self  made  mu 
sician.  He  was  born  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  attended  the  high  school  of  the  city.  Here  in 
Erie  Mr.  Burleigh  was  fired  with  the  ambition  that 
has  never  died  within  him,  the  ambition  that  has 
spurred  him  on  and  on  to  higher  endeavor  in  his 
line  till  today,  he  is  not  only  a  great  singer,  but  a 
great  composer  as  well.  The  opportunity  to  hear 
real  music  came  to  him  through  service.  His  mo 
ther  worked  in  the  family  of  a  lady  who  was  fond 
of  music  and  who  often  entertained  the  great  mu 
sicians  when  they  visited  that  city.  He  heard  them 
at  times  and  realized  that  music  was  in  his  soul 
and  that  he  wanted  to  hear  and  to  produce  good 
music.  On  one  occasion  when  a  great  artist  was 
coming  to  town,  young  Burleigh  stood  out  under 
the  drawing  room  windows  in  order  that  he  might 
hear  the  concert  at  any  cost.  The  snow  was  deep 
— up  to  his  knees.  As  a  result  of  this  exposure  for 
the  love  of  music  he  became  ill.  When  questioned, 
his  mother  found  out  what  he  had  done.  After 


that  she  obtained  for  him  the  permission  to  help 
serve  the  guests  in  order  that  he  might  hear  the 
music. 

Through  serving  in  this  home  there  came  to 
Harry  Burleigh  a  few  years  later  the  great  chance 
for  his  advancement  in  the  musical  world.  Hear 
ing  that  there  were  to  be  scholarships  in  the  Na 
tional  Conservatory  of  Music,  he  went  up  to  try  for 
one.  After  trying  out  his  voice,  he  went  away  to 
await  the  decision  of  the  judges.  He  went  back 
the  next  day  for  the  decision.  He  had  fallen  a  little 
below  the  mark  required.  The  registrar  was  a 
lady  whom  he  had  served  at  one  of  the  musical 
festivals  back  in  his  home  town  of  Erie.  He  re 
cognized  her,  told  her  who  he  was  and  she  was  not 
only  interested  and  sympathetic,  but  she  went  to 
work  and  secured  for  him  the  scholarship  that  he 
so  much  wanted,  the  scholarship  that  gave  him  his 
chance  to  become  the  great  musician  that  we  now 
know. 

Although  his  tuition  was  free,  his  living  expenses 
caused  him  much  concern,  and  it  was  through  hard 
work  that  he  was  enabled  to  continue  his  studies. 
In  1894,  competing  with  sixty  applicants,  he  won 
the  position  of  baritone  soloist  at  St.  George's 
Church  in  New  York — a  position  which  he  has  held 
for  twenty-five  years.  Speaking  of  his  work  on 
the  completion  of  his  twenty-fifth  year,  the  Bul 
letin  of  the  church  said  of  him — "Through  all  these 
years,  with  their  inevitable  changes,  he  has  been 
a  faithful  and  devoted  helper,  friend  and  worker  in 
the  varied  activities  of  this  church." 

Although  Mr.  Burleigh  says  of  himself  that  he  is 
a  singer,  not  a  composer,  he  is  known  to  more  peo 
ple  as  a  writer  of  music  than  as  a  singer  of  songs. 
Thousands  of  people  who  have  never  heard  him 
sing,  who  do  not  even  know  that  he  is  a  man  of 
color,  sing  his  compositions  and  enjoy  them.  One 
of  these  in  particular  has  won  for  him  great  pop 
ularity — "Deep  River."  It  is  one  of  the  most  pop 
ular  of  the  concert  pieces.  Many  of  the  songs  from 
his  pen  are  popular.  Among  these  are  "The  Grey 
Wolf,"  "Ethiopia  Saluting  the  Colors,"  "The  Young 
Warrior,"  "The  Soldier"  and  "Jean."  These  are 
only  a  few  of  the  songs  that  have  been  arranged 
by  Mr.  Burleigh.  In  choosing  his  texts  he  is  al 
ways  careful  to  choose  poems  with  big  meanings. 
He  says  "The  text  determines  the  character  of 
the  song."  Mr.  Burleigh  has  remembered  this 
himself  in  his  own  musical  compositions. 

February  1898,  Mr.  Harry  T.  Burlegh  was  mar 
ried  to  Miss  Louise  Alston  in  Washington,  D.  C. 
There  is  one  son  in  the  family,  Alston  Waters  Bur 
leigh  who  is  a  student  in  Howard  University. 

Mr.  Burleigh  has  traveled  in  England,  in  1908 
and  1909.  In  1917  he  was  awarded  the  Springarn 
prize.  Another  honor  that  has  come  to  him  is  the 
Master  of  Arts  Degree  from  Atlanta  University. 


Austin  M.  Curtis,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  M.  D. 


R.  A.  M.  Curtis  is  a  man  who  while      race  to  hold  the  position  on  the  Cook  County-  Hos- 
he  has  won  distinction  in  the  pro-      pjtal  Staff.     In  1898.  Dr.  Curtis  was  appointed  Sur- 

geon-in-Chief  of  Freedmen's  Hospital,  Washing 
ton,  District  of  Columbia.  He  gave  up  the  work- 
in  Provident  Hospital  in  Chicago  and  took  the- 
work  in  Freedmen's,  the  most  noted  of  all  the  hos 
pitals  in  the  country.  Here  at  Freedmen's  Dr. 


fession  of  his  choice  has  also  had 
time  to  engage  in  other  duties 
that  make  for  the  uplift  of  the 
whole  people.  Thus  while  a  man 
whose  time  has  many  calls  upon  it  for  its  skilled 
work,  we  still  see  him  with  time  to  go  to  the  va 


rious  churches  and  deliver  lectures  to  the  masses  Curtis  made  a  national  reputation    as    a    surgeon, 

on  "Sanitation  and  Hygiene."     In  this  manner  he  many  of  his  cases  receiving  mention  in  surgical  lit- 

has  clone  much  to  bring  about  better  health   con-  erature.     After  four  years  Dr.  Curtis  gave  up  the 

ditions  in  all  the  communities  in  which  he  has  lived,  work  to  take  up  a  private  practice.     He  still  serves 

Another  phase  of  work  that  has  taken  much  of  his  Freedmen's  in  the  capacity  of  attending  Surgeon 

time  is  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.     In  Washington,  District  however,  and  at  the  same  time  is  consulting  sur- 

of  Columbia,  when  funds  were  needed  to  complete  geon  at  the  Provident  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Marv- 

the  $100,000.00  building  that  they  had  under  way,  land,   and  of   Richmond    Hospital,    Richmond,   Vir- 

it  was  Dr.  Curtis  who  was  made  chairman  of  the  ginia.     In    addition    to    these    duties,    Dr     Curtis 

campaign  committee,  because  of  his  ability  to  or-  makes  frequent  trips  into  the  South  to  perform  op- 

ganize  men  and  get  them  to  respond  to  his  plans.  erations  in  various  cities. 

Dr.  Austin  M.  Curtis  was  born  in  Raleigh,  North  Dr.  Curtis  also  serves  as  a  teacher  of  his  science 

Carolina,  in  1868.     He  was  one  in  a  family  of  ten.  He  is  Associate  Professor  of  surgery,  Howard  Med- 

The   schools  of   Raleigh   were   pretty   good   and   in  ical  School,  and  clinical  professor  of  surgery  in  the 

them  Dr.  Curtis  proved  himself  to  be  a  pupil  so  apt  Post  Graduate   School  of  Howard  University.     In 

and   so  willing  to  apply  himself  that  through   the  this   manner.   Dr.   Curtis   has   hopes   of  passing  on 

kindness  of  a  Northern  lady  teaching  in  the  schools  some  of  the  knowlege  that  he  has  gained  from  his 

of   Raleigh,   he   obtained   a   scholarship   in    Lincoln  extensive  practice.     And  those  who  see  the  work 

University,    Pennsylvania.     Although   this   scholar-  of  the  young  men  who  go  out  from  under  his  in- 

ship  made   life  a   little    easier    for    the    ambitious  struction  realize  that  he  has   had  his   hopes   come 
young  man,  he  still  had  to  work,  and  work  hard  to 
keep   himself   in    funds    during   the   winter   month. 

Thus  we  find  him  during  the  summer  months  en-  charge  of  the  medical  exhibit  of  the  Negroes.  He 
gaged  in  some  sort  of  lucrative  work.  installed  a  model  hospital  and  had  it  in  good  work- 
After  four  years  of  college  work  in  Lincoln  Uni-  ing  order.  Here  he  was  able  to  show  the  progress 
versity,  Dr.  Curtis  was  graduated  with  the  well  of  the  medical  science  among  his  people  and  to 
earned  degree  of  A.  B.  Later,  because  of  the  good  show  the  best  methods  of  management  of  the  hos- 


true. 

At   the  Jamestown   exposition,    Dr.    Curtis    had 

oes. 


work  that  he  had  done  after  leaving  school  the  Un 
iversity  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  A.   M. 


pital. 


Dr.  Curtis  has  an  interesting  family.     The  sons 


But  on  leaving  Lincoln,  Dr.  Curtis  was  still  unsat-      in  the  family  are  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their 

father  and  are  one  by  one  taking  up  the  practice 
of  medicine  as  a  profession.  To  the  father  this  is 
most  gratifying  for  it  shows  that  to  his  own  fam 
ily  he  has  been  their  ideal  of  a  man.  No  greater 
honor  can  be  done  any  man  than  to  have  his  own 
children  take  him  for  a  model. 

Dr.  Curtis  is  a  man  who  has  traveled  extensively 
and  the  contact  that  he  has  gotten  from  this  travel 
shows  in  his  bearing,  he  is  thoroughly  at  home  in 
any  emergency,  is  a  good  friend  and  is  always 
ready  to  help  those  who  need  him. 


isfied  with  his  training.  He  wanted  to  be  a  profes 
sional  man.  Once  more  he  matriculated,  this  time 
in  Northwestern  University  Medical  School,  Chi 
cago.  From  this  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1891  with  honors. 

For  seven  years  after  his  graduation  he  practiced 
his  profession  in  Chicago. 

During  this  time  he  served  as  attending  surgeon 
to  Provident  Hospital  and  for  one  year  he  served 
mi  the  staff  of  the  Cook  County  Hospital  of  that 
city.  Dr.  Curtis  was  the  first  physician  of  the  Negro 


425 


MAJOR   ROBERT   R.   JACKSON 

AJOR  Robert  R.  Jackson  was  born 
in  Malta,  Illinois,  September  1st., 
1870.  At  an  early  age  he  entered 
the  public  schools  of  Chicago,  and 
remained  in  them  till  he  complet 
ed  the  High  School  Course.  While 
still  in  school,  Major  Jackson  served  as  a  newsboy. 
From  this  work  he  gained  a  business  training  that 
has  served  him  in  all  his  after  life.  After  leaving 
school,  Major  Jackson  took  the  Civil  Service  Ex 
amination  and  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the 
Chicago  Postoffice.  In  this  capacity  he  served  for 
twenty-one  years.  For  twelve  years  he  served  as 
Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  Armour  Station 
Post  Office.  This  is  the  highest  position  ever  held 
by  any  member  of  the  Colored  Race,  in  the  Post 
Office  System  of  Chicago. 

During  his  life  as  a  public  man  Major  Jackson 
has  served  in  a  number  of  capacities.  He  has 
worked  in  the  Civil  Service,  he  has  served  as  a  sol 
dier  and  he  has  done  good  work  as  a  politician.  As 
a  soldier  he  has  made  a  splendid  record.  He  served 
in  the  Spanish-American  War  in  1898,  and  on  the 


Mexican  border  in  1916.  In  all  he  served  his  coun 
try  as  a  soldier  for  twenty-five  years.  He  was 
given  his  honorable  discharge  in  1917.  Major  Jack 
son  did  his  part  to  bring  fame  to  the  Illinois  Nat 
ional  Guard,  Eighth  Regiment.  Of  this  regiment 
he  was  a  charter  member  and  with  it  he  worked  for 
the  twenty-five  years  that  he  put  in  the  service. 

In  the  political  life  of  the  city  of  his  adoption 
lie  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  very  prominent. 
He  was  elected  to  the  forty-eighth  General  Assem 
bly  and  was  seated  just  a  short  time  before  the 
Legislature  adjourned  sine  die.  He  was  re-elect 
ed  to  the  forty-ninth  General  Assembly  and  once 
more  to  the  Fiftieth  General  Assembly.  He  had 
the  opportunity  to  get  in  some  good  work  for  the 
colored  people  while  serving  these  three  terms. 
For  one  thing,  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  em 
ancipation  of  the  slaves  claimed  his  attention  and 
he  supported  a  bill  appropriating  $25,000.00  for  that 
purpose.  After  his  re-election  he  passed  a  bill  for 
an  additional  $25,000.00  for  the  Half  Century  Ex 
position.  It  was  through  his  tireless  endeavor  that 
the  famous  Jackson  law  was  passed  which  put  the 
Birth  of  a  Nation  out  of  business.  In  1918,  Major 
Jackson  was  elected  Alderman  from  the  Second 
Ward  to  the  City  Council  of  Chicago.  This  elec 
tion  was  for  two  years. 

In  church  affiliation  Major  Jackson  is  an  African 
Methodist  Episcopal.  His  membership  is  in  the 
Quinn  Chapel,  of  Chicago.  He  is  a  Knight  of  Py 
thias,  a  Mason,  An  Odd  Fellow,  an  Elk  and  a  mem 
ber  of  the  United  Brothers  of  Friendship.  In  the 
first  named  of  these  secret  orders  he  holds  high 
rank,  being  the  Major  General  Uniform  Rank  of 
Knight  of  Pythias.  This  position  he  has  held  for 
the  past  twenty  years. 

Major  Jackson  owns  a  Fraternal  Press,  Printing 
and  Publishing,  which  is  conservatively  valued  at 
$55,000.00.  This  is  one  of  the  largest  printing  es 
tablishments  of  Chicago.  Through  his  press  he  is 
able  to  reach  many  people. 

In  May,  1888,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Annie 
Green,  of  Chicago,  Illinois.  To  them  two  children 
have  been  born.  George  Jackson  is  a  clerk  in  the 
City  of  Chicago,  and  the  daughter,  Naomi,  is  now 
married  and  busy  making  a  home  of  her  own. 

In  the  interest  of  his  work,  and  a  soldier,  Major 
Jackson  has  traveled  all  over  the  United  States. 
To  him  came  the  chance  to  train  during  his  twenty- 
five  years  of  service,  forty  thousand  men  for  mil- 
itary  service.  This  work  he  did  willingly  and  well. 
In  summing  up  what  he  had  tried  to  do  in  his  long 
life  of  usefulness  Major  Jackson  says  that  the  prin 
cipal  episodes  of  his  life  have  come  in  "Fighting 
for  the  Race  and  for  the  Flag  of  our  Country." 


426 


William  A.  Warfield,  M.  D. 


R.  Warfield  is  a  good  example  of 
the  man  who  has  stayed  in  one 
place  and  steadily  worked  his  way 
up  from  the  ground  floor  to  the 
top.  That  he  has  done  this  has 
been  due  to  perseverance  and  to 
real  merit.  Dr.  Warfield  was  born  at  Hyattstoen, 
Maryland,  in  1866.  In  the  public  schools  of  his 
county  he  received  his  early  training,  and  then  he 
entered  Morgan  College,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 
From  Morgan  he  was  graduated  in  1890  and  ever 
since  that  time  he  has  done  honor  to  the  school  that 
gave  him  his  grasp  on  things.  And  Morgan  is  just 
ly  proud  of  this  son  of  hers  that  has  won  so  much 
distinction  in  the  profession  that  he  made  his  life 
work.  After  completing  the  course  at  Morgan  Dr. 
Warfield  entered  the  Howard  School  of  Medicine 
and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  M.  D.,  in  1894. 
Since  that  time  Freedmen's  Hospital,  the  hospital 
connected  with  the  medical  school  of  Howard  Un 
iversity  has  been  the  scene  of  Dr.  Warfield's  labors. 
He  first  entered  the  hospital  as  an  intern.  In 
this  capacity  he  served  in  1894  and  1895.  His  next 
stej)  in  the  ascent  was  to  that  of  school  assistant 
surgeon.  At  this  post  he  served  from  1895  to  1896, 
when  he  was  once  more  promoted,  this  time  to  the 
work  of  First  Assistant  Surgeon.  As  first  assist 
ant  surgeon  he  served  from  1897  to  1901.  At  this 
time  he  was  appointed  surgeon-in-chief,  which  po 
sition  he  still  holds.  When  Dr.  Warfield  was  serv 
ing  his  internship  at  Freedmen's  he  was  under  Dr. 
Dan  Williams,  of  Chicago,  who  was  at  that  time 
surgeon-in-chief  of  Freedmen's  Hospital.  He  could 
not  have  chosen  a  better  man  to  work  under  if  he 
had  had  the  power  of  choice,  for  Dr.  Williams  has 
given  to  the  medical  science  some  points  that  will 
make  him  a  name  forever  in  the  medical  and  sur 
gical  world. 

Since  1901,  Dr.  Warfield  has  been  at  the  head  of 
Freedmen's.  During  that  time  the  work  of  the  in 
stitution  has  grown,  the  plant  has  been"  enlarged, 
and  the  work  strengthened.  Much  of  the  credit  for 
this  is  due  Dr.  Warfield.  With  untiring  effort  he 
has  wisely  administered  the  affairs  of  the  Hospital 
and  has  brought  it  up  to  the  point  where  it  serves 
a  large  number  of  persons,  not  only  persons  from 


the  District  of  Columbia  but  people  from  all  over 
the  United  States,  who  go  there  to  take  advantage 
of  the  skill  of  the  staff  employed  in  the  work  there. 

Dr.  Warfield  is  Professor  of  abdominal  surgery 
at  Howard  Medical  School.  Indeed  Dr.  Warfield 
is  inclined  to  make  a  specialty  of  this  line  of  work 
and  has  won  rank  among  the  most  noted  of  our 
clever  operators  in  this  work.  The  interest  of  Dr. 
Warfield  is  in  all  lines  of  work  of  his  profession  as 
is  easily  shown  by  the  organizations  with  which  he 
has  affiliated  himself.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Am 
erican  Hospital  Association,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
National  Medical  Association  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Medico-Chururgical  Society  of  the  District 
of  Columbia. 

Dr.  Warfield  has  found  time  to  serve  in  other 
capacities  that  are  not  strictly  in  his  profession. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Childrens'  Guard 
ians  in  the  District  of  Columbia  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order.  In  church  connection,  Dr. 
Warfield  is  a  Methodist  and  in  political  belief  he  is 
a  Republican.  During  the  crisis  through  which 
our  country  has  just  passed,  Dr.  Warfield  gave 
freely  of  his  time  and  energies  and  ripe  wisdom  to 
the  service  of  his  country.  Early  and  late,  even 
when  he  was  needed  to  see  after  the  affairs  of  the 
Hospital  he  was  off  to  serve  on  the  Exemption 
Board,  or  to  help  with  a  drive  or  in  some  way  to 
help  keep  the  work  of  the  war  under  way. 

In  Baltimore,  Maryland,  Dr.  Warfield  was  mar 
ried  to  Miss  Violet  B.  Thompson,  in  1891.  From 
this  union  two  children  have  been  born  to  help  the 
parents  enjoy  life  and  to  make  the  life  worth  living 
for  them.  These  two  young  people,  William  and 
Violet  are  being  given  opportunity  to  take  advan 
tage  of  all  the  educational  facilities  that  are  afford 
ed  in  such  an  abundance  in  the  Capitol  City. 

Dr.  Warfield  still  remains  in  the  place  where  he 
begun  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  started 
at  the  bottom,  as  an  intern.  Step  by  step,  and 
through  years  of  self  development  and  self  applica 
tion  he  has  continued  up,  till  now  he  is  at  the  head 
of  Freedmen's  and  since  Freedmen's  is  the  largest 
and  best  institution  of  her  type,  we  might  say  that 
Dr.  Warfield  stands  in  the  medical  profession  to 
day  without  a  peer. 


427 


C.  H.  JAMES 

ISTORY  centers  around  the  name 
of  C.  H.  James  of  Charleston, 
West  Virginia.  His  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  Army.  Hon 
orably  discharged  in  West  Virgi 
nia  in  1865  the  father  set  to  work 
to  make  a  career  for  himself  and  for  his  family. 
Before  entering  the  war  he  had  made  up  his  mind 
to  preach.  He  now  began  his  chosen  work.  He 
was  the  first  colored  ordained  minister  in  West  Vir 
ginia  ;  and  he  and  his  sister  Lucy  were  the  first 
public  school  teachers  of  West  Virginia.  Thus  does 
the  son,  C.  H.  James  come  into  an  envious  heritage. 
Mr.  C.  H.  James  was  born  in  Gallia  County,  Ohio, 
The  father  having  gone  to  the  war,  the  son  lived 
with  and  was  reared  by  his  grandfather. 

lie  remained  with  his  grandfather  until  In- 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  when  he,  with  other 
members  of  the  family,  joined  the  father  in  West 
Virginia.  When  he  reached  his  new  home  he 
thought  to  follow  the  steps  of  his  father  and  so  en 
tered  upon  a  career  of  teaching  but  the  school  room 
was  not  to  his  liking,  his  taste  and  inclantion  lead 
ing  in  another  direction.  The  game  of  buying  and 
selling  appealed  to  him  and  the  counter  and  cash 


register  held  a  facination  for  him,  so  he  determined 
to  become  a  mercant. 

There  being  no  money  to  back  him  and  no  stores 
in  which  he  could  get  an  apprenticeship,  he  bought 
such  articles  as  he  could  afford  from  his  teacher's 
wage,  packed  them  in  a  sack  and  started  forth  a 
peddler.  The  thing  was  a  novelty,  goods  were 
scarce ;  and  so  the  business  prospered.  It  grew 
too  large  to  carry  on  his  back.  Profits  increased 
until  the  young  peddler  felt  able  to  pay  rent  and 
to  buy  a  fairly  large  assortment  of  goods.  Thus 
was  begun  on  a  small  scale  the  well  known  firm 
of  C.  H.  James  and  Sons,  wholesale  commission 
merchants. 

The  business  has  been  continuous  in  its  growth 
and  while  he  has  kept  a  stock  adequate  to  meet 
the  greater  demands  of  his  business,  he  has  been 
enabled  to  use  a  good  per  cent  of  his  profits  in  en 
joying  the  comforts  of  life  and  in  making  good  real 
estate  investments.  He  owns  his  residence,  which 
is  a  handsome  structure  and  has  invested  largely 
in  other  real  estate.  His  possessions  embrace  im 
proved  and  unimproved  lots  valued  at  $130.0fP. 

Mr.  James  is  every  inch  a  business  man  and  he 
has  made  such  a  great  success  of  his  business  by 
giving  it  his  strict  and  constant  attention,  so  much 
so,  that  he  has  resisted  the  temptaton  of  outside 
attractions.  In  early  years  there  was  no  part 
ner,  no  one  to  share  the  responsibilities,  hence 
he  must  needs  be  on  hand  by  day  and  by  night.  In 
later  years  his  son  has  come  in  to  share  the  bur 
dens  as  well  as  the  earnings  of  the  firm.  He  is  a 
good  and  loyal  Baptist,  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a 
Mason.  Here  and  there  he  has  had  a  L'vv  hours 
to  devote  to  political  interests.  (If  course  he  is  a 
Republican.  In  1912  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  con 
vention  at  Chicago,  to  nominate  Colonel  Theodore 
Roosevelt  on  the  Progressive  Ticket.  This  was  one 
of  the  big  events  of  his  career,  not  only  in  politics, 
but  in  being  away  so  long  and  care-free  irom  his 
business. 

In  civic  life,  however,  he  never  permits  politi 
cal  prejudice  to  influence  him  in  the  least  and  al 
ways  stands  for  the  right  regardless  of  party  af 
filiation.  There  is  no  public  movement  started  in 
Charleston  without  his  being  consulted. 

Mr.  James  was  married  to  Miss  Roxie  A.  Clark, 
of  Meigs  County,  Ohio,  September  24.  1884.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  and  rented  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  James.  Mr.  Edward  L.  James  is  the  partner 
in  the  firm  of  C.  H.  James  and  Sons.  M>ss  Kstella 
A.  is  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Ch  irleston, 
Miss  Carrie  B.  is  now  Mrs.  B.  A.  Crichiov.',  being 
the  wife  of  Dr.  B.  A.  Crichlow  of  the  Criehlow 
Hospital.  Mrs.  Crichlow  was  formerly  of  the  C. 
1 1.  James  and  Sons,  having  served  as  the  bookkeep 
er  for  this  firm  for  several  years. 


428 


ni/.ccl  the  call  to  the  ministry  and  announced  his 
purpose  to  enter  the  sacred  office.  He  joined  the 
then  famous  Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church,  pastored 
by  Dr.  Daniel  W.  Wisher,  who  took  note  of  the 
young  man  and  gave  him  frequent  opportunities 
for  the  exercise  of  his  gifts.  It  was  apparent  from 
the  start  that  he  was  endowed  with  unusual  gifts 
as  an  orator  and  he  was  encouraged  to  go  forward 
in  his  chosen  profession.  Although  a  young  man 
his  reputation  began  to  spread  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he  received  a  call  to  a  church.  Returning 
home  when  about  twenty-one  or  two  years  old  the 
young  Mr.  Bowling  received  his  first  call  to  a 
church  from  the  little  Baptist  church  in  Waynes- 
boro,  Virginia,  at  a  salary  of  hut  $15  per  month. 
Then  followed  in  quick  succession  brief  pastorates 
in  Harrisonburg.  Va.,  where  he  drew  great  crowds 
of  both  races  to  hear  his  eloquent  preaching,  and  in 
Steelton.  Pa.,  where  he  built  a  comfortable  church 
house. 

While  on  a  visit  to  his  old  home  in  Hampton  in 
December  1889,  he  heard  of  the  efforts  then  being 
made  by  the  historic  old  First  Church  of  Norfolk. 
Va.,  to  secure  a  pastor.  His  engagement  with 
them  was  filled  so  acceptably  that  on  Jan.  1st.  1890 
he  received  a  unanimous  call.  The  twenty-three 
years  that  followed  the  acceptance  of  this  call  un 
til  his  death  in  July  1913  were  busy  and  filled  with 
successful  labors.  During  his  Norfolk  pastorate  .he 
conducted  a  number  of  unprecedented  revivals, 
added  large  numbers  to  the  church,  encouraged  his 
people  by  precept  and  example  to  buy  homes,  edu 
cate  their  children  and  live  soberlv  server!  -.« 
RICHARD  H.  BOWLING.  D.  D,  LL.  D,  AND  FIRST  p  .  '  ''V  ;"*• 

BAPTIST  CHURCH— NORFOLK.  VA.  the  Y-  M-  C.  A.,  helped  organize  a  col 

ored  insurance  company,  and  gave  himself  unsel- 
EV.  Richard  Hausber  Bowling,  D.      fishiy  to  every  civic  and  philanthropic  movement. 


D.,  LL.  D.,  church  builder,  preach 
er  and  religious  leader,  was  born 

Sept.  4,  1864,  in  a  rude  cabin  be-      graduate   of   Fisk   and   also   a   young   woman    nat- 
tween    Old    Point    and    Hampton,      uraiiv    endowed    with    a    sweet "  disposition  and  the 


In     October,     1890,     he     married     Miss     Haynes 
whom    he   had    met   some   years    before.      Being   a 


Va.  The  first  fifteen  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  farm  work,  fishing  and  helping 
out  in  his  father's  little  store.  It  was  then  his 
good  fortune  also  as  a  student  to  come  under  the 
influence  of  the  noted  General  Armstrong,  found 
er  and  principal  of  the  Hampton  Normal  School. 

When  about  fifteen  years  old  in  December  1879 
"Fighting  Dick,"  as  he  was  then  called,  ran  away 
from  his  home  in  Hampton.  From  Norfolk  he  g'ot  a 
chance  to  work  his  way  on  a  boat  to  Boston,  Mass. 
After  a  year  in  Boston  he  went  West  for  some 
eighteen  months.  The  next  year  he  spent  in  New 
York  working  as  butler  and  attending  school.  Dur 
ing  the  next  three  years  he  worked  in  the  Summer 
as  a  waiter  on  Shelton's  Island  and  in  the  Winter 
as  a  farm  hand  in  Connecticut.  That  he  did  not 
relax  in  his  efforts  for  an  education,  however,  is 
evident  in  the  story  he  used  to  tell  of  himself,  of 
how  he  fell  asleep  one  night  while  studying  and 
awoke  to  find  that  his  candle  had  burned  low  and 
set  fire  to  his  little  soap-box  bookcase  and  all  its 
precious  contents. 

It  was  during  these  last  few  years  that  he  recog- 


power  of  convincing  speech  she  proved  to  him  a 
helpmate  indeed.  To  them  were  born  seven  child 
ren,  four  of  whom  are  still  living.  His  first  wife 
having  died  in  February  1905,  he  was  married  again 
in  1907  to  Miss  Grace  P.  Melton  of  Winton,  N.  C. 
To  them  were  born  three  chidren. 

For  fourteen  years  he  was  the  president  of  the 
Virginia  Baptist  State  Convention,  which  under 
him  paid  for  and  operated  successfully  the  Virginia 
Theological  Seminary  and  College  at  Lynchburg, 
Va.  As  an  orator  and  preacher  he  was  well  and 
favorably  known  all  through  the  South  and  in  the 
larger  cities  of  the  East. 

The  crowning  achievement  of  his  life  perhaps 
was  the  building  and  paying  for  in  the  last  seven 
years  of  his  life  of  the  beautiful  stone  church,  now 
pastored  by  his  son,  Richard  Hausber  Bowling,  Jr., 
at  a  total  cost  of  a  little  over  $72,000. 

He  was  a  hard  worker  and  a  close  student.  He 
strove  for  a  better  feeling  between  the  races  and 
thereby  won  the  love  and  respect  of  them  both. 
Above  all  he  was  honest,  dependable  and  of  a  spot 
less  character. 


429 


HEMAN  E.   PERRY 

EM  AN  E.  Perry,  born  in  Hous 
ton,  Texas,  March  5,  1873,  his  ear-- 
ly  experience  was  not  unlike 
many  of  the  colored  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  huts  of  pov 
erty  and  traversed  the  roads  of 
hardships  to  the  high  positions 
they  have  filled  in  the  affairs  of 
men.  lie  did  not  enjoy  a  finished  education, 
his  schooling  carrying  him  only  through  the 
seventh  grade  of  the  public  school,  but  what  he 
lacked  in  this  particular  he  more  than  made  up  in  a 
natural  adaptibility  for  business,  and  in  gifts  along 
this  line  he  seems  to  have  received  a  double  portion. 
Coupled  with  his  keen,  active  business  mentality, 
he  possessed  an  indomitable  will,  which  would  not 
yield  to  the  most  discouraging  conditions.  His 
business  career  started  when  quite  young  as  a  clerk 
in  his  father's  grocery  store,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years.  His  father  gave  up  the  grocery 
business  and  went  to  the  farm,  taking  his  son  with 
him. 

Here  he  engaged  in  general  farm  work  and  in  the 
harvest  season  peddled  the  farm  products  from 
door  to  door. 

He  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  he  went  to  the 
farm,  and  he  continued  there  for  about  two  years, 
when  he  returned  to  the  city  and  spent  the  next 
ten  years  working  for  a  cotton  firm,  during  which 
time  he  became  an  expert  cotton  sampler  and  clas- 


ser.  Having  learned  the  business  he  decided  to 
shift  for  himself,  so  he  gave  up  the  position  he  had 
filled  for  so  long  a  period,  and  offered  his  services 
to  the  trade  as  an  expert  in  the  lines  above  men 
tioned. 

His  ability  as  a  sampler  and  classer  was  general 
ly  recognized  and  he  had  no  trouble  in  securing 
contracts  from  the  large  and  well  known  firms, 
such  as  George  H.  McFadden  and  Hooper  &  Co. 

He  eventually  gave  up  the  cotton  business  and 
sought  a  wider  field  in  which  to  develop  his  talent. 

He  commenced  as  a  life  insurance  solicitor  and 
worked  for  the  Equitable,  Manhattan  Life,  Fidel 
ity  Mutual  and  the  Mutual  Reserve.  He  spent 
about  twelve  years  as  a  solicitor  and  the  experience 
he  gained  in  the  field  was  of  great  help  to  him  when 
he  organized  the  company  which  has  established 
his  reputation  as  an  insurance  man.  To  gain  fur 
ther  knowledge  of  the  business  he  went  to  New 
York  and  obtained  employment  in  the  home  offices 
of  several  of  the  companies  he  had  worked  for  in 
the  field.  While  thus  employed  he  formed  the  ac 
quaintance  of  actuaries  of  national  reputation. 

When  he  worked  he  dreamed,  and  he  saw  in  his 
minds  eye  an  insurance  institution  owned  and  op 
erated  by  Negroes.  After  a  while  his  dream  began 
to  take  concrete  form,  and  he  left  New  York  and 
came  to  Atlanta,  Georgia,  to  launch  his  enterprise. 
STANDARD  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY 

The  organization  of  this  company  did  not  have 
easy  sailing,  in  fact  the  first  attempt  met  with  fail 
ure,  and  had  another  hand  been  at  the  helm  instead 
of  that  of  Mr.  Perry,  it  would  no  doubt  have  sunk 
to  rise  no  more. 

In  1908  he  gathered  together  a  group  of  bus 
iness  men  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa 
tion  hall  at  Atlanta,  and  unfolded  to  them  his  pur 
pose  and  plan  to  organize  a  Life  Insurance  Com 
pany  among  the  Negroes  and  to  start  with  a  cap 
ital  of  One  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars.  Some  of 
those  who  were  present  sat  up  and  gasped,  and 
others  thought  that  the  young  man  was  crazy. 
Some  of  them  did  not  hesitate  to  say  so.  They 
could  hardly  believe  their  ears  when  he  told  them 
in  a  frank,  straight  forward  way,  that  the  least 
amount  with  which  they  could  begin  business 
would  be  $100,000  paid  in  capital  which  must  be  in 
vested  in  bonds  and  deposited  with  the  State  Trea 
surer  for  the  protection  of  the  policy  holders  of  the 
company. 

These  men  who  had  been  in  business  and  in  the 
professions  in  Atlanta  for  many  years,  a  number 
of  whom  had  grown  wealthy  thr.mgh  real  estate 
investments,  and  who  had  been  accustomed  to  se" 
things  clone  on  a  large  scale  by  the  white  citizens 
of  Atlanta,  were  not  prepared  to  see  a  Negro  with 
an  idea  as  big  as  this.  They  plied  him  with  ques 
tions  and  thought  they  must  have  misunderstood 
his  proposition,  that  he  meant  $10,000.  and  not 
$100.000  and  then  they  did  not  know  the  meaning 
of  some  of  the  technical  insurance  terms  he  used, 
which  he  had  to  explain.  He  finally  convinced 
them  that  he  was  in  sober,  serious  earnestness,  and 
while  he  succeeded  in  enthusing  them  a  little  with 
the  enterprise,  they  left  the  hall  without  committ 
ing  themselves,  and  went  home  to  think  it  over. 

While  it  burned  with  but  a  faint  glow  at  first  the 
fire  kindled  at  that  meeting  never  went  out.  Lit- 


430 


tit  by  little  the  idea  grew  and  men  and  women  in 
every  walk  of  life  became  interested  in  what  this 
stranger  was  trying  to  do.  He  opened  a  subscrip 
tion  list,  which  provided  that  not  one  penny  of  the 
money  paid  in  should  be  used  for  the  expenses  of 
the  organization ;  that  if  the  Company  was  not 
launched  every  dollar  received,  with  4  per  cent  in 
terest,  should  be  returned  to  the  subscriber. 

A  charter  of  incorporation  was  secured  in  Jan 
uary.  1909.  Then  began  the  real  struggle,  for  the 
charter  was  granted  with  the  provision  that  the 
company  should  begin  business  within  two  years 
from  the  date  of  issuance  or  the  money  received 
for  subscriptions  be  refunded  to  subscribers  and 
the  charter  revoked.  January  28.  1911,  was  the 
last  day  on  which  the  Standard  Life  Insurance 
Company  could  begin  to  do  business  under  the 
charter. 

After  two  years  of  the  hardest  kind  of  work,  and 
the  greatest  of  sacrifices,  in  the  closing  days  of 
1910,  there  was  little  more  than  $60,000  in  hand, 
and  'it  needed  $40,000  more  before  anything  could 
be  done.  Mr.  Perry  was  a  man  of  faith  as  well  as 
determination  and  energy,  and  by  herculean  efforts 
within  the  next  thirty  days  he  raised  another 
$10,000.  but  when  the  llth  -of  January  dawned,  it 
became  apparent  to  him  that  the  remaining  $30,000 
necessary  could  not  be  raised  from  subscribers,  so 
he  made  an  effort  to  borrow  the  amount.  While 
those  to  whom  he  applied  recognized  his  absolute 
integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose,  and  sympathized 
with  his  intense  earnestness,  he  only  found  en 
couragement  from  one  banker,  and  as  he  required 
time  to  consult  his  lawyer  and  board,  his  enterprise 
was  placed  in  great  jeopardy,  for  the  28th  of  the 
month  was  rapidly  approaching,  when  either  bus 
iness  must  begin  or  the  charter  surrendered.  The 
fatal  day  finally  arrived  and  he  had  not  accom 
plished  his  purpose,  and  with  a  keen  disappoint 
ment,  but  a  brave  heart  he  gave  up  his  charter  and 
paid  the  subscribers  back  their  money  with  4'/r  in 
terest  as  promised.  He  had  borne  the  burden  of 
the  fight,  defrayed  his  own  expenses,  and  hired  oth 
ers  to  help  him,  using  up  his  own  resources  and 
going  in  debt  to  others  for  means  necessary  to 
carry  on  the  work. 

It  would  seem  that  the  end  of  the  Standard  Life 
Insurance  Company  had  come.  It  would  have  been 
the  end  to  an  ordinary  man.  It  would  have  crushed 
a  weak  man.  But  the  man  who  had  worked  for 
two  years  making  untold  sacrifices  was  made  of 
sterner  stuff. 

After  the  sting  of  the  crushing  defeat  had  lost 
its  pain,  he  set  about  the  task  of  doing  it  all  over 
again,  and  this  time  he  succeeded. 

Long  before  the  time  limit  of  his  charter  had 
expired,  he  had  sold  the  1000  shares  of  stock  at 
$125  to  $150  per  share,  collected  over  $50,000  in 
cash  and  had  taken  notes  for  the  balance  of  $80.000, 
and  with  the  cooperation  of  his  associates  m  the 
organization  had  borrowed  on  the  notes  of  the 
stockholders  $50,000  more,  and  purchased  and  de 
posited  with  the  treasurer  of  the  State  of  Georgia 
$100,000  in  bonds.  The  company  was  born,  but  it 
was  only  in  its  swaddling  clothes,  only  a  beginning 
—much  work  still  remained  to  be  done,  and  it  had 
to  be  developed.  The  man  who  founded  the  en 
terprise  was  equal  to  the  task  of  developing  it.  It 
has  succeeded  marvelously.  The  policy  of  the  com 


pany  from  the  beginning  was  to  give  full  publicity 
to  its  affairs,  so  that  both  the  public  and  those  fi 
nancially  interested  might  have  complete  confi 
dence  and  security.  It  has  been  examined  by  a 
number  of  expert  accountants  and  actuaries  and 
their  reports  given  wide  publicity. 

The  death  claims  paid  in  1918  amounted  to 
$79.733.47,  and  the  total  amount  of  beneficiaries 
paid  since  organization  is  $145,353.78. 

In  1913,  the  insurance  in  force  was  $381,500  and 
the  premium  income  $10,293.68;  in  1918  the  insur 
ance  in  force  amounted  to  $8.208,720  and  the  Prem 
ium  income  to  $339.327.77.  It  bears  the  distinction 
of  being  the  only  Old  Line  Negro  Life  Insurance 
Company. 

OFFICERS  : 

Heman  E.  Perry,  President :  Harry  H.  Pace,  Se 
cretary-Treasurer ;  J.  A.  Robinson,  Auditor;  C.  C. 
Cater,  M.  D..  Medical  Director;  Wm.  H.  King,  Di 
rector  of  Agencies ;  D.  P.  Cater,  Cashier ;  C.  A. 
Shaw,  Director  of  Inspection  ;  I.  S.  Blocker,  Supt. 
Policy  Division;  Geo.  Dyre  Eldridge,  (Boston, 
Mass.,)  Actuary;  Candler,  Thomson  and  Hirsch, 
Counsel. 

DIRECTORS: 

Henry  A.  Boyd,  Nashville  ;  E.  C.  Brown.  Phila 
delphia ;  Walter  S.  Buchanan,  Normal;  B.  J.  Davis, 
gusta ;  J.  F.  Dugas,  Augusta;  A.  D.  Hamilton,  At 
lanta;  Thos.  H.  Hayes,  Memphis;  J.  W.  Huguley. 
Americus  ;  R.  L.  Isaacs,  Prairie  View;  Sol.  C.  John 
son,  Savannah ;  R.  E.  Jones,  New  Orleans ;  A.  L. 
Lewis,  Jacksonville;  Harry  H.  Pace,  Atlanta;  J.  O. 
Ross,  Atlanta;  Emmett  J.  Scott,  Washington:  Wal 
ter  S.  Scott,  Savannah  ;  N.  B.  Young,  Tallahassee. 

In  addition  to  the  officers  mentioned  the  Com 
pany  has  an  advisory  board  composed  of  the  lead 
ing  financiers,  educators  and  religious  teachers  of 
the  Negro  race,  who  live  in  different  sections  of 
the  country,  where  they  are  easily  accessible  for  in 
formation  and  advice. 

The  organization  of  the  Standard  Life  Insurance 
Company  is  not  the  only  achievement  of  Mr.  Perry. 

He  organized  the  Citizens  Trust  Company,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $250,000,  and  a  surplus  of  $250,- 
000.  This  Company  is  located  in  Atlanta,  Georgia. 
The  company  bears  the  distinction  of  being  the 
only  one  passing  the  Capitol  Issues  Committee, 
Sixth  Federal  Reserve  District  and  in  Washing 
ton. 

He  also  organized  "The  Service  Company,"  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  The  purpose  of  this 
organization  is  to  equip  and  operate  a  chain  of 
laundries  and  dry  cleaning  plants  in  different  cit 
ies.  It  now  has  two  plants  in  successful  operation  ; 
one  in  Atlanta,  another  in  Augusta,  Ga. 

Mr.  Perry  organized  the  hospital  association 
which  purchased  the  Old  Bishop  Turner  home  for 
fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and  obtained  the  promise 
of  $150,000  from  Eastern  Philanthropists  contin 
gent  on  a  certain  sum  being  raised  by  the  associa 
tion,  for  the  erection  of  a  hospital  in  Atlanta.  Ga. 

He  has  recently  purchased  the  Old  Calico  House, 
Atlanta,  at  present  occupied  by  the  Wesley  Mem 
orial  Hospital,  and  the  two  adpoining  lots,  and  will 
construct  here  a  handsome  office  building  for  col 
ored  tenants.  This  project  will  involve  several 
hundred  thousand  dollars. 


431 


REVEREND  FREDERICK  LEE  LIGHTS 


IKE  many  who  have  risen  from 
the  ranks  of  the  colored  race  to 
occupy  places  of  distinction,  Dr. 
Lights  was  reared  in  the  lap  of 
poverty  and  passed  through  a 
stage  of  trial  and  tribulation  bc- 
for  he  reached  his  goal.  He  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Louisiana,  where  his  boyhood  struggles  began. 
His  parents  were  poor,  his  father  being  a  Baptist 
minister,  whose  labors  extended  back  to  1859,  who 
appreciated  the  value  of  an  education  but  was  un 
able  to  give  his  son  Frederick  the  benefit  of  one. 
Young  Fredrick  had  the  ambition  and  desire  to 
learn  and  the  grit  and  energy  to  seek  an  education 
which  he  finally  secured  by  the  labor  of  his  hands. 
At  the  age  of  twelve,  he  left  his  native  State  and 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Bayou,  Texas.  Here 
he  enrolled  in  the  public  schools  and  was  permitted 
to  attend  them  for  a  while  without  undue  anxiety 
and  care.  Mis  respite  from  struggle  was  of 
short  duration  for  in  a  little  while  his  father  died 
and  placed  upon  his  shoulders  the  care  and  respon 
sibility,  not  of  himself  alone,  but  in  a  large  meas 
ure  the  entire  family.  He  met  the  burden  with 
fortitude  and  strength  and  at  once  addressed  him 


self  to  the  problems  thus  thrust  upon  him.  To 
meet  the  situation  he  found  it  necessary  to  devote- 
his  days  to  labor  but  he  robbed  work  of  its  fatigue 
and  night  of  its  repose  and  spent  many  of  the 
hours  which  should  have  been  devoted  to  sleep  in 
hard  study.  He  finished  his  course  in  the  public 
schools  and  then  entered  the  Hearne  Academy.  He 
was  among  the  first  to  enter  this  institution  of 
learning,  remaining  there  until  lie  had  completed 
his  course. 

While  at  Bayou  he  was  converted  and  joined  tin- 
Baptist  Church,  being  the  church  his  father  organ 
ized. 

The  dee])  religious  impressions  made  upon  him 
in  his  youth  continued  to  grow  until  they  finally 
decided  him  upon  his  life  work.  When  he  com 
pleted  his  work  at  the  Hearne  Academy  he  went  to 
Edge,  Texas,  and  was  there  ordained  as  a  minis 
ter.  This  was  in  1882,  and  immediately  after  his 
ordination  he  began  his  ministerial  work.  Among 
the  churches  he  served  as  Pastor  was  the  Baptist 
church,  at  Hearne,  the  church  at  Bavou.  his  old 
home  ;  the  church  at  Franklin,  at  Dremond,  at  Can 
non,  at  Rockdale,  at  Hamstead,  at  Harmon  Colony, 
at  Allen  Farm,  and  at  Wellsburn.  At  three  of 
these — Edge,  Franklin  and  Cannon,  he  built  houses 
of  worship. 

From  the  beginning  of  his  ministerial  career  he 
has  grown  in  wisdom  and  popularity  and  has  been 
enabled  to  accomplish  a  large  work.  His  record 
shows  that  he  has  received  into  the  church  more 
than  five  thousand  members  and  has  united  in  mar 
riage  more  than  one  thousand  couples. 

His  labors  have  not  been  confined  to  the  local 
church  but  have  also  been  of  an  international  char 
acter. 

In  1905  he  was  a  messenger  to  the  World's  Bap 
tist  Congress,  which  met  in  England. 

He  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  while  in 
Europe  to  make  a  tour  of  England,  Ireland,  Scot 
land  and  France.  Again  in  1910  he  visited  Europe 
as  a  delegate  to  the  World's  Mission  Congress, 
which  met  in  Edinburgh.  This  time  he  visited 
Germany,  Belgium  and  Wales,  and  revisited 
France. 

He  also  took  an  active  part  in  the  National  meet 
ings  of  his  denomination  and  was  instrumental  in 
a  large  measure,  for  the  National  Baptist  Conven 
tion,  being  held  in  Houston  Texas,  in  1912. 

Dr.  Light  was  married  in  1895,  to  Miss  Pearl 
Augustus  Reed,  of  Houston.  Texas.  At  the  time 
of  their  marriage  she  was  a  teacher  in  the  Public- 
Schools  of  Houston.  Six  children  have  been  born 
to  them,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Freddie  Lee, 
Ada  Estelle,  Emerson  Augusta,  Roger  Williams, 
Pearl  Emma  Eduara,  and  Louise  Venara,  deceased. 


432 


S.  W.  Bacote,  B.  D.,  M.  A.,  I).  D.,  and  Second  Baptist  Church 


HOEVER  visits  Kansas  City,  Mis-      church  is  in  a  way  the  history  of  the  work  of  Rev. 
souri.  for  any  length  of  time  will,      Bacote. 

\X7Kai 

if  he  wishes  to  know  anything'  at 
all  about  the  religious  life  of  the 


people,  come  very  soon  to  the  Se 
cond  Baptist  Church  and  its  pas 
tor,  Rev.  S.  W.  Bacote.  The  Second  Baptist  Church 
building  is  one  that  will  make  a  stranger  enquire 
about  it,  the  pastor  of  the  second  Baptist  Church 
is  one  who  will  make  the  stranger  feel  at  home 
within  his  city. 

Rev.  Bacote  was  born  at  Society  Hill,  South  Car 
olina.      Here   in  the  public   schools  he   received  his 


When  he  took  charge  of  the  work  of  that  church 
in  1895  the  basement  of  the  new  church  was  built 
and  had  been  built  for  some  time,  but  there  it  stood, 
doing  good  to  no  one,  depreciating  in  value  with 
the  passing  of  time,  yet  the  people  of  the  church, 
without  the  proper  leader,  had  not  the  will  to  carry 
the  structure  to  completion.  Rev.  Bacote,  like  the 
good  business  man  that  he  is,  said  to  his  people — 
"We  will  pay  as  we  go."  So  they  set  to  work  to 
raise  the  funds  for  the  church.  When  they  had 
funds  they  were  spent  carefully,  so  that  all  might 


see  the  work  go  up  another  step.     So  with   each 

e-irliest  trainin<T  for  his  life  work.     He  next  enter- 

rally  of  the  people  the  building  went  up.     Not  till 

cd    Benedict   College,   where   he    remained   for   five  . 

they  came  to  the  roof  did  they  seek  aid  from  bor 
row  rs      Benedict  is  one  of  those  schools  supported  . 

rowed  money.     But  when  they  reached  this  point. 

hv  the  Bantists  of  the  North  in  which  such  thor-  " 

the  money  necessary  to  hurry  it  through  was  bor- 

ouo-h  training-  is  offered  to  our  voung  people.  Rev.  . 

rowed  and  the  congregation   moved  in.     But  they 


Bacote  next  entered  Shaw  University,  Raleigh, 
North  Carolina.  Here  he  remained  for  one  year 
and  then  entered  Richmond  Theological  Seminary, 
from  which  he  received  the  degree  of  B.  D.,  in  1891, 
he  received  his  master's  degree  in  1900  and  the 


did  not  wait  to  get  the  money  together  to  pay  off 
this  bill.  That  was  one  thing  that  Rev.  Bacote  ab- 
hored  and  it  was  one  of  the  things  that  he  tried  to 
teach  his  people  to  look  upon  with  disfavor.  So 
the  sum  that  was  necessary  to  cover  the  Second 


lec-ree  of  D    D.  in  1904.     Thus,  Rev.  Bacote  went  ". 

Baptist  Church  was  soon  paid  back. 

.  1  r 


from   one   school   to  another,   from   one   degree   of 

I  he  edifice  stands  as  a  monument  to  the  tireless 

training-  to  another  till  he  was  fitted  for  the  work  . 

endeavor  of  this  man  and  his  faithful  workers.     It 

he  had  in  his  heart  and  in  his  mind  to  do. 

In    1902   Rev.    Bacote   married   Miss   Lucy   Jean- 
ette  Bledsoe,  of  Topeka,  Kansas.     Mrs.   Bacote  is 


is  well  planned,  well  built,  and  is  kept  in  the  best 
of  order.     The  church  is  worth  $100,000.00. 

Rev.   Bacote  does  not  spend  all  of  his  energies 


as  much  of  a  help  to  her  husband  as  his  very  thor-  jn  thc  wQ].k  of  the  peop]e  of  Kansas  city.  He  has 
ough  training.  She  is  active  in  every  line  of  work  alsQ  a  national  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  Bap- 
that  is  taken  up  by  the  church,  knows  just  how  to  tistg  Re  wag  e,ected  statjstician  of  the  National 
make  the  people  feel  at  home  in  the  church  and  Ba])tist  Convention  in  1902.  In  this  work  he  con- 
stands  in  all  matters  right  with  Rev.  Bacote,  ready  tinued  for  a  number  Of  years  organizing  it  so  thor- 
to  help  him  wherever  a  woman's  help  is  needed.  oughly  that  an  the  facts  could  be  seen  at  a  glance. 
To  the  Bacote  home  four  children  have  come;  Among  the  thjng.s  that  have  been  written  by  Rev. 

Bacote  are  "Who's  Who  Among  the  Colored  Bap 
tists  of  the  United  States,"  and  The  National  Bap 
tist  Year  Book.  The  interests  of  Rev.  Bacote  are 


Samuel   and   Geraldine    (deceased)  ;    and    Clarence 
and  Lucille. 

Rev.  Bacote  is  a  man  who  has  chosen  to  work 


in  a  few  places  and  who  has  done  his  work  so  well      jn  tln>  work.     He  has  the  work  in  his  heart  as  can 

in  those  places  that  he  is  wanted  there  permantly.      be  secn  from  his  talks,  his  work  in  his  church  and 

His  first  pastorate  was  in  Alabama,  where  he  pas-      his  work  in  the  national  organizations  and  in  his 

tored  the  Second   Baptist  Church,   at   Marion,   and 

at  the  same  time  served  as  President  of  the  Marion 

Baptist   College.     He   left   this   work   to   enter   the 

field   at    Kansas    City,    Mo.      Here    he    is   pastor   of 

the   Second    Baptist   Church.     The    history   of   this      him  for  an  example," 

433 


Rev.  Bacote  is  the  type  of  minister  to 
whom  we  can  point  with  pride  and  say:  "There  is 
a  man,  thoroughly  trained,  with  the  interest  of  the 
work  and  the  people  upon  his  heart,  Let  us  take 


EDWARD   RANDOLPH  CARTER.  D.  D. 

ROM  the  shoemaker's  bench  there 
has  gone  forth  many  illustrious 
men  who  have  made  themselves 
felt  in  the  world's  progress. 
Since  the  days  of  William  Carey, 
men  have  turned  from  their  work 
upon  the  soles  of  shoes  to  labor  for  the  salvation  of 
the  souls  of  men. 

Rev.  Edward  Randolph  Carter,  D.  D.,  was  once 
a  cobbler,  but  like  Carey,  he  cobbled  for  a  living 
while  his  real  work  was  the  carrying  on  the  work 
of  his  Lord.  Dr.  Carter  was  born  in  Athens,  Geor 
gia,  about  the  year  1867,  being  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Sibble  Carter. 

After  the  foundation  of  his  education  was 
laid  in  the  public  schools,  he  attended  Morehouse 
College.  The  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  this  college  and  the  Gaudeloup  College, 
Texas. 

He  took  a  course  in  Hebrew  at  the  Chicago  Uni 
versity.  While  securing  his  education  he  followed 
the  shoemakers  trade  and  gave  some  time  to  teach 
ing.  Atlanta,  Georgia,  has  been  the  seat  of  his 
ministerial  work  and  in  fact  the  center  of  his  active 
life. 


Since  1882  he  has  been  the  pastor  of  the  Friend 
ship  Baptist  Church,  Atlanta,  and  while  serving  this 
church  as  pastor  he  has  been  actively  identified 
with  a  number  of  denominational  institutions  and 
enterprises.  He  is  a  trustee  and  secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Morehouse  College ;  for  a 
number  of  years  he  has  been  President  of  the  Bap 
tist  Educational  Convention  of  Georgia ;  was  Pres 
ident  of  the  Baptist  State  Convention,  of  Georgia 
a  number  of  years  ;  is  editor  of  Reflections  of  Nat 
ional  Baptist  Convention  Teacher. 

Through  his  efforts  a  home  for  the  old  folks  was 
established  in  Atlanta,  and  he  is  now  building  a 
home  for  boys  and  girls. 

For  nine  years  he  was  Vice-President  of  the  In 
ternational  Baptist  Association. 

He  was  a  pioneer  in  the  prohibition  campaign  in 
the  South  among  the  Negroes.  He  made  speaking 
tours  in  all  of  the  counties  of  Georgia.  Tennessee, 
the  Carolinas  and  Virginia.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  National  Baptist  Publication  Board,  and  of  the 
founder's  committee  of  this  board. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Southern  Sociological 
Congress.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  World's  Mis 
sionary  Congress,  which  met  in  Edinburgh  Scot 
land  in  1910.  He  is  Lecturer  of  West  side  Baptist 
Ministers'  Union,  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

Dr.  Carter  has  been  a  great  traveler  and  has  seen 
more  of  the  world  than  is  the  privilege  of  but  feu- 
men.  He  has  visited  the  countries  of  Europe,  Pal 
estine,  Syria,  Asia,  Asia  Minor,  Africa  and  Egypt. 
In  1876  Dr.  Carter  married  Miss  Obeie  Ceicil 
Brown,  at  Athens,  Georgia.  She  has  borne  him 
five  children:  Edward  Randolph,  Jr.,  M.  D. ;  Capt. 
Raymond  H.,  M.  D. ;  Earnest  Mays,  Ph.  D. ;  James 
B.  Electrician ;  and  Madam  Tola  Rogers. 

Dr.  Carter's  manifold  duties  have  occupied  so 
much  of  his  time  that  he  has  had  but  little  oppor 
tunity  to  devote  to  his  secular  interests  though  he- 
has  accumulated  property  to  the  value  of  $5000. 

A  recent  honor  conferred  upon  Dr.  Carter  and 
one  which  speaks  highly  of  his  ability  and  worth, 
was  being  selected  by  the  personal  war  council  to 
go  to  France  to  lecture  to  the  colored  soldiers. 

The  offices  held  by  Dr.  Carter  are  not  mere  posi 
tions  of  honorary- distinction,  but  call  for  much  lo- 
bor.  and  the  fact  that  he  fills  them  so  acceptably 
goes  to  show  that  he  is  a  man  of  work. 

To  be  elected  to  an  office  and  then  neglect  the 
duties  connected  therewith,  is  to  strip  the  position 
of  its  honor,  for  the  honor  lies  in  duty  well  per 
formed. 

Taking  this  view  of  place,  Dr.  Carter  is  entitled 
to  all  the  honors  attaching  to  the  positions  he  holds. 
Dr.  Carter  is  yet  in  his  prime  and  hopes  to  accom 
plish  much  for  his  people  before  he  encounters  the 
feebleness  of  old  age. 


434 


JOSEPH  HAYGOOD  BLODGETT 


HAT  a  man  of  energy  and  talent 
should  rise  above  his  obscure  sur 
rounding's  and  become  a  factor  in 
the  world's  progress  and  make  a 
name  for  himself,  is  no  argument 
against  education  but  is  an  en 
couragement  to  those  who  are  denied  the  great 
benefits  of  an  education. 

Joseph  Haygood  Blodgett  was  denied  the  ad 
vantages  of  a  mental  training,  such  as  is  supplied 
bv  the  common  schools  and  colleges  and  yet  he  has 
made  a  success  of  his  life. 

He  spent  his  early  years  upon  the  farm  where 
the  strength  of  his  youth  was  employed  in  tilling 
the  soil. 

He  was  born  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  February  8th.. 
1858,  and  remained  on  the  farm  until  young  man 
hood  when  he  moved  to  Summerville,  South  Caro 
lina.  I  lere  he  began  as  a  common  laborer  but  soon 
branched  out  for  himself.  His  first  venture  was  a 
hauling  contractor  for  delivering  phosphates  from 
the  mines  and  then  for  four  years  he  furnished 
cross-ties  and  wood  to  the  South  Carolina  Railroad 
Company.  After  this  he  engaged  in  farming  upon 
an  extensive  scale  and  succeeded  in  sinking  all  the 
money  he  had  saved. 


The  loss  dissapointed  him,  but  did  not  discourage 
him — it  only  served  to  stimulate  his  energies  for 
another  effort.  Leaving  Summerville,  he  went  tu 
Jacksonville,  Florida,  and  arrived  there  with  only 
one  dollar  and  ten  cents  in  his  pocket.  For  six 
months  he  worked  for  the  Railroad  Company  at 
one  dollar  and  five  cents  per  day  after  which  he 
again  ventured  for  himself.  He  went  into  the  dray- 
age  business  and  started  with  one  team.  He  added 
to  this  a  wood  yard  and  ran  a  farm.  He  also  ope 
rated  a  restaurant.  From  this  he  went  into  build 
ing  contracting,  which  he  began  in  1898.  The  great 
fire  of  1901  swept  away  his  buildings  and  left  him 
only  vacant  lots. 

The  State  Bank  of  Florida,  came  to  his  rescue 
and  loaned  him  five  thousand  dollars  to  improve  his 
vacant  lots,  payable  in  five  years.  With  this  assist 
ance  he  went  to  work  and  was  soon  doing  a  large 
business  in  improving  vacant  lots  and  selling  them. 
He  has  built  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  houses, 
one  hundred  of  which  he  now  owns. 

To  J.  H.  Blodgett  is  due  the  credit  for  the  beau 
tiful  residence  section  of  elegant  homes  for  Jack 
sonville's  colored  population — a  section  that  is  un 
surpassed  for  beauty. 

His  home.  "Blodgett  Villa,"  is  one  of  the  show 
places  of  Florida.  It  is  a  fine  two  story  brick 
residence,  beautifully  finished  inside  and  out  and 
is  elegantly  furnished  in  the  best  of  taste.  His 
home  is  one  of  the  finest  owned  by  colored  people 
anywhere.  In  it  he  has  entertained  the  late  Book 
er  T.  Washington,  and  many  other  notables.  It  is 
his  ruling  passion,  and  since  his  retirement  from 
active  business,  he  spends  most  of  his  time  with 
his  garden  and  flowers.  Although  ill  health  keeps 
him  at  home,  of  recent  years,  he  is  still  a  power  in 
the  business  world  of  Jacksonville,  and  his  advice 
is  eagerly  sought  on  nearly  all  matters  of  busi 
ness.  He  is  a  great  lover  of  the  State  of  his  adop 
tion,  and  is  fond  of  recounting  his  conversations 
with  John  Wannamaker  and  that  merchant  prince's 
astonishment  at  a  southern  Negro  being  able  to 
accumulate  a  fortune  in  the  South.  Without  capi 
tal  and  without  education.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact 
that  there  are  very  few  men  of  any  race  in  Jack 
sonville  today  who  could  borrow  more  from  tin- 
banks  on  an  unendorsed  note,  than  J.  H.  Blodgett. 
In  fact  he  has  so  conducted  himself  and  his  busi 
ness  that  his  credit  is  almost  without  limit. 

Mr.  Blodgett's  business  engagements  do  not  con 
sume  so  much  of  his  time  that  he  cannot  give  at 
tention  to  religious  matters.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  .Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  contributes  to 
its  support,  both  in  time  and  money. 

In  1894.  he  married  Miss  Sallie  O.  Barnes,  of 
Bamburg,  South  Carolina,  who  has  been  a  potent 
factor  in  Mr.  Blodgett's  success. 


435 


ROBERT   C.   WOODS,  A.   M. 

IRGINIA  Theological  Seminary 
and  College,  located  at  Lynch- 
burg,  Virginia,  was  founded  in 
1887,  as  Virginia  Seminary.  In 
a  session  of  the  Virginia  Baptist 
State  Convention,  convened  in  Al 
exandria,  Va.,  May  1887,  the  plans  for  the  estab 
lishment  of  the  Institution  were  perfected,  the 
Trustee  Board  elected  and  immediate  work  start 
ed.  It  was  incorporated  February  24,  1888,  by  the 
act  of  the  General  Assembly.  July.  1887,  the  cor 
ner  stone  of  the  Main  Building  was  laid.  The  class 
room  work  began  in  1890  and  the  first  class  was 
graduated  in  1894.  In  1899  the  charter  was  revised 
and  college  and  theological  departments  were 
added.  The  name  was  then  changed  to  Virginia 
Theological  Seminary  and  College. 

COURSES:  The  courses  offered  are  Normal-In 
dustrial,  Academic,  College  and  Theological.  The 
Normal-Industrial  Course  is  especially  adapted  to 
the  work  of  teacher  training,  the  course  being  the 
uniform  course  recommended  by  a  committee,  un 
der  the  supervision  of  the  State  Board  of  Public 
Instruction.  The  Academic  Course  is  four  years  in 
length,  modern  in  its  appointments  and  prepares 
for  College  and  Professional  schools.  The  College 


Course  is  a  standard  Bachelor  of  Art  Course,  (A. 
B.),  covering  a  period  of  four  years,  doing  special 
work  in  the  Social,  Moral  and  Physical  Sciences, 
Languages,  with  other  standard  college  outlines. 
The  Theological  Course  embraces  three  years, 
leading  to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Theology  (B. 
Th.)  and  Bachelor  of  Divinity  (B.  D). 

The  Bachelor  of  Divinity  Degree  is  award 
ed  only  to  those  who  offer  as  entrance  units  a  min 
imum  of  two  years  college  work  and  upon  com 
pletion  of  the  full  outline  course.  The  Bachelor  of 
Theology  degree  is  awarded  to  those  that  have  not 
the  college  credits  and  who  do  not  cover  the  lan 
guage  courses  in  the  department. 

Among  some  of  the  comments  of  educators  on 
the  class  of  work  done  at  this  institution  is  one 
submitted  from  Junior  Dean  G.  W.  Fiske  of  the 
Graduate  School  of  Oberlin  College. 

"Allow  me  to  say  that  I  held  Mr.  *  *  *  *  's 
application  in  abeyance  for  about  ten  weeks,  dur 
ing  the  summer,  while  I  investigated  the  standing 
of  the  institution  at  Lynchburg  (Virginia  Theolo 
gical  Seminary  and  College.)  Having  satisfied  my 
self  the  course  which  Mr.  *  *  *  *  completed 
was  of  college  grade.  His  scholarship  is  fully 
equal  to  that  of  graduates  from  Fiske  University 
and  Lincoln  University." 

The  work  of  the  Institution  receives  full  credits 
from  the  leading  universities  of  the  country.  Stu 
dents  go  from  here  to  such  universities  as  Oberlin, 
Syracuse,  University  of  Michigan.  Bucknell  and 
others,  to  do  professional  and  graduate  work  and 
receive  the  very  best  rating. 

FACULTY:  Beginning  with  the  Academic  year 
of  1917-18,  the  faculty  numbers  twenty-one  active 
professors  and  instructors,  fifteen  male  and  six  fe 
male,  who  come  from  the  leading  American  insti 
tutions.  Among  the  institutions  represented  in 
the  faculty  at  present  are,  Yale.  Oberlin,  Univer 
sity  of  Pittsburgh,  Hillsdale  College,  and  other 
leading  institutions.  All  members  of  the  faculty 
are  Christians,  being  well  trained  and  with  years  of 
experience. 

GROUNDS  AND  BUILDINGS:  The  Institution  owns 
on  the  City  limits  an  immediate  campus  of  six  acres 
— in  addition  it  has  other  properties  consisting  of 
houses  and  lots  in  this  city  and  in  other  cities,  left 
from  estates  to  the  Institution.  The  buildings  on 
the  grounds,  which  are  all  brick,  consist  first,  of  the 
Main  Building,  four  story  which  includes  recita 
tion  ha'll,  with  fine  spacious  class  rooms,  library 
and  reception  rooms,  with  two  additional  stories 
for  dormitories  used  for  young  men.  To  this  main 
building  is  attached  an  annexed  three-story  which 
includes  laboratory  for  Physical  and  Biological 
Sciences,  Domestic  Science  Department,  the  other 


436 


MAIN    BUILDING— VIRGINIA    THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  AND  COLLEGE. 


story  used  as  a  dormitory  for  men.  Fox  Hall  is 
three-story  building  above  basement,  which  In 
cludes  Chapel,  offices  and  dormitory  for  young 
women.  The  Board  authorized  for  immediate  erec 
tion,  in  its  past  session,  of  dining  hall  and  hos 
pital.  These  buildings  which  were  completed  dur 
ing  the  year  1917-18,  are  each  two-story  brick, 
with  such  facilities  as  are  needed.  The  President's 
home  is  a  large  frame  structure.  All  these  build 
ings  are  modernly  equipped  with  steam  heat,  elec 
tric  light,  hot  and  cold  water.  Many  members 
of  the  faculty  live  adjacent  to  the  Institution  on 
property  owned  by  themselves. 

The  Board  authorizes  the  buying  of  a  farm, 
where  the  Institution  will  begin  upon  a  new  field 
of  endeavor,  such  as  farming  and  dairying,  etc. 

The  valuation  of  the  property  at  present  is 
$175,000.00  (One  hundred  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars)  free  of  all  indebtedness.  The  additional 
buildings  added  $25,000.00  (Twenty-five  thousand 
dollars)  to  the  property  valuation. 

STUDENTS  AND  GRADUATES:  The  institution 
had  on  attendance  in  the  1916-17  session,  three 
hundred  ten  students,  one  hundred  sixty  young 
men  and  one  hundred  fifty  young  women.  These 
were  distributed  in  all  departments,  with  twenty- 
seven  in  College  and  sixty-seven  in  Theological  de 
partments.  These  students  represent  twenty-two 
states  and  four  foreign  countries.  There  are  four 
hundred  graduates.  Of  this  number  118  are  activ 
ely  engaged  in  the  ministry,  pastoring  leading 


churches  in  every  city  in  Virginia  and  leadirg  cit- 
ties  of  the  United  States,  including  many  of  the 
Southern  cities  in  the  far  South.  Eight  ;ire  mis 
sionaries  of  foreign  fields,  twenty  doctors  of  med 
icine,  ten  pharmacists,  ten  dentists,  ten  lawyers, 
thirty  academy  and  college  professors,  two  college 
presidents,  two  principals  of  academies,  eighteen 
civil  service  workers,  four  trained  nurses.  Of  the 
two  hundred  eight  remaining,  they  chiefly  fill  posi 
tions  as  teachers  in  the  public  school  system  in  the 
cities  and  rural  districts. 

The  graduates  hold  prominent  places  as  officials 
in  leagues,  conventions,  and  take  active  part  in 
civic  and  religious  life  of  the  people. 

The  first  president  was  Phillip  F.  Morris,  D.  D., 
from  1888  to  1891,  the  second  president  was  Greg 
ory  W.  Hayes,  A.  M.,  from  1891  to  1906,  from  1906 
to  1908,  there  was  an  acting  president,  Mrs.  G.  W. 
Hayes,  the  third  president  was  Jas.  R.  L.  Diggs, 
A.  M.,  1908  to  1911,  the  fourth  and  present  pres 
ident  is  Robert  C.  Woods,  A.  M.,  from  1911. 

SOURCES  OF  SUPPORT :  The  Institution  is  sup 
ported  by  the  Virginia  Baptist  State  Convention  of 
Virginia,  the  Baptist  State  organizatons  from  Vir 
ginia  to  Maine  and  personal  donations.  The  annual 
subscription  for  the  present  year  will  amount  to 
twenty  five  thousand  dollars.  There  is  a  small  en 
dowment  and  small  income  from  properties.  The 
Institution  is  denominational,  but  is  open  alike  to 
students  of  all  denominations. 

There  are  more  than  two  thousand  former  stu 
dents. 


437 


PRESIDENT  L.   E.  WILLIAMS  IN   PRIVATE  OFFICE— WAGE   EARNERS   SAVINGS   BANK 


AGE  Earners  Savings  Bank,  of 
Savannah,  Georgia,  reputed  to 
be  the  leading  Negro  Savings 
Hank  in  America,  has  truly  served 
as  a  mighty  stimulating  agency. 
For  the  thoughful  Negroes  were 
only  waiting  for  the  formation  of  such  an  institu 
tion  to  he  promoted  and  led  on  by  such  men  of 
their  race  as  heads  the  Wage  Earners  Savings 
Bank  today. 

Miraculously  as  it  may  seem,  about  ten  or  a  doz 
en  ambitious  Negroes  met  in  the  home  of  one  of 
their  number  in  the  year  1900  for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  a  bank,  and  the  magnificient  sum  of 
One  Hundred  and  Two  Dollars  was  all  they  could 
raise.  But  it  was  a  bank  that  these  Negroes 
wanted  for  themselves  and  their  race,  and  today, 
a  bank  they  have,  domiciled  in  their  own  build 
ing,  which  is  said  to  be  the  finest  banking  building 
owned  by  Negroes  in  the  United  States. 

Through  the  careful  management  of  the  officers 
of  this  Negro  Bank,  it  has  been  able  to  declare  a 
divident  of  12  per  cent  per  annum  for  a  number  of 
years.  Deposits  payable  on  demand  earn  5  per 
cent,  per  annum,  compounded  quarterly.  Deposits 
of  One  Hundred  Dollars  or  over,  when  left  for  a 
year  earn  6  per  cent.  The  slogan  of  the  Wage 
Earners  Savings  Bank  to  the  Negroes  everywhere 


is  "Own  Your  Own  Home,"  and  since  this  bank 
started  in  business  they  have  built  or  otherwise 
aided  the  people  of  its  race  in  Savannah  to  obtain 
more  than  1000  homes.  Its  officers  and  directors 
are :  L.  E.  Williams,  President ;  Sol  C.  Johnson, 
Vice-President ;  R.  A.  Harper,  Cashier ;  E.  C.  Black- 
shear,  Asst. -Cashier ;  Mrs.  R.  L.  Barnes,  G.  H.  Bo- 
wen,  E.  Seabrook,  J.  M.  Ferreebee,  Thos.  M.  Holly, 
Dr.  J.  W.  Jamerson,  Jno.  F.  Jones,  J.  C.  Lindsay. 
Nathan  Roberts,  A.  B.  Singfield,  W.  J.  Williams,  H. 
B.  Wright. 

Through  well  directed  plans  and  efforts,  and 
down-right  rugged  honesty,  the  Wage  Earners 
Savings  Bank  has  grown  from  $102.00  in  1900  to  a 
volume  of  business,  as  shown  by  the  files  of  the 
State  Bank  Examiner  of  Georgia,  of  the  condition 
of  the  Bank  at  the  close  of  business  November  21st, 
1917,  as  follows : 

RESOURCES 

Loans   and   discounts   $233.33,3.82 

Stocks,    Bonds    and    Investments 37,828.08 

Banking    House    and    Fixtures 72,554.20 

Cash  on  hand  &  due  from  Banks 33,016.66 


$376.732.76 
LIABILITIES 

Capital    stock   paid    in $  50.000.00 

Surplus    &    undivided    profits 25,066.33 

Unpaid    dividends    27120 

Deposits    271,395.23 

Bills    Payable   .    30,000.00 

$376.732.76 


438 


Simmeon  L.  Carson,  M.  D. 


R.  Simmeon  L.  Carson  was  born  at 
Marion,  North  Carolina.  His  par 
ents  had  been  slaves  and  had 
been  denied  the  advantages  of 
education  and  the  very  fact  that 
they  had  been  deprived  of  the 
blessing's  and  opportunities  which  come  to  the  ed 
ucated  man,  made  them  more  determined  that  their 
children  should  have  the  proper  chance  to  rise  to  a 
higher  plane  of  usefulness  and  honor  in  the  battle 
of  life. 

After  giving  the  matter  mature  thought  they  de 
cided  that  they  could  best  secure  an  education  for 
their  children  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  so  they  left 
their  home  in  North  Carolina  and  went  to  the  State 
of  Michigan  and  located  in  the  City  of  Ann  Arbor. 
It  was  here  in  Ann  Arbor  that  Dr.  Carson  began 
that  preparation  which  fitted  him  for  his  life  work ; 
it  was  here  that  he  discovered  the  possibilities  that 
were  wrapped  within  himself  and  it  was  here  that 
he  gave  himself  up  to  hard  work  and  earnest  study 
to  fan  into  a  flame  the  embers  of  genius  which 
lay  dormant  in  his  soul.  His  entire  educa 
tional  training  was  received  in  this  city  and  that 
it  was  thoroughly  done  his  after  life  has  fully  clem-, 
onstrated.  He  was  at  first  a  student  in  the  public 
schools,  completing  all  the  courses  they  had  to  of 
fer  and  later  entered  the  medical  college  of  that 
place  and  graduated  with  honors. 

His  ability  as  a  physician  was  early  recognized 
bv  those  who  were  close  to  him  and  when  the  op 
portunity  offered  he  was  not  slow  in  convincing 
others  of  that  fact. 

In  1904,  Dr.  Carson  was  appointed  government 
physician  to  Lower  Brule,  Indian  Reservation,  at 
Lower  Brule,  South  Dakota.  He  received  this  ap 
pointment  as  a  result  of  a  competitive  examination. 
For  four  years  Dr.  Carson  remained  on  this  reser 
vation  doing  the  medical  work  that  was  required 
of  him  and  gaining  much  knowledge  along  his  line. 
When  he  was  appointed  to  this  position  his  services 
in  the  main  were  devoted  to  medicine  and  reliev 
ing  the  sick  of  the  ordinary  ailments,  but  the  time 
came  when  his  ability  as  a  surgeon  was  put  to  the 
test  and  he  came  out  of  the  ordeal  with  flying  col 
ors  and  his  surgical  skill  was  generally  admitted. 
Mis  success  as  a  surgeon  has  continued  to  grow 
until  today  he  enjoys  a  national  reputation. 
liis  first  operation  was  the  removal  of  an  incipient 
cancer  from  the  face  of  a  woman  on  the  reserva 
tion.  Having  performed  this  operation  successfully 
and  receiving  praise  from  the  State  Board  of 
1  lealth  for  removing  the  cancer  while  it  was  in  that 
stage  made  Dr.  Carson  ambitious  for  other  work 


along  surgical  lines.  He  made  a  close  study  of 
many  books  written  about  the  science  and  thereby 
obtained  a  great  knowledge  of  the  theory  of  sur 
gery  to  which  he  added  the  practical  knowledge 
secured  by  experience.  At  first  his  operations 
were  performed  more  from  the  standpoint  of  pro 
fessional  pride  than  of  remuneration,  the  fee  be 
ing  a  secondary  consideration,  and  it  is  no  doubt 
due  to  this  spirit  that  he  has  taken  such  high  rank 
in  the  profession. 

In  1908  he  once  more  entered  a  competitive  ex 
amination.  This  time  it  was  for  the  position  of  As 
sistant  Surgeon  in  the  Freedmen's  Hospital,  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  Once  more  he  was  successful, 
and  in  October  of  that  year  he  received  his  appoint 
ment  to  the  position.  Here  for  the  past  ten  years 
Dr.  Carson  has  labored,  gaining  experience  every 
day  and  growing  more  skillful  all  the  time. 

Today  Dr.  Carson  stands  as  one  of  the  best  sur 
geons  in  the  country.  He  does  not  restrict  his 
work  to  any  one  portion  of  the  body,  but  pays  spe 
cial  attention  to  neck,  stomach  and  intestinal  sur 
gery.  He  is  frank  with  his  patients  and  treats  them 
in  such  a  manner  that  they  have  the  utmost  con 
fidence  in  him.  And  through  the  trying  period  of 
convalescence,  Dr.  Carson  still  puts  thought  into 
the  work  he  has  done  and  by  his  general  atmos 
phere  of  good  cheer  and  good  will  helps  his  patients 
on  to  a  thorough  recovery.  At  no  place  in  the  Un 
ited  States  could  a  colored  Surgeon  get  a  greater 
amount  of  practice  than  he  can  get  in  Freedmen's 
Hospital. 

Dr.  Carson  is  just  opening  up  for  himself  in  the 
city  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  a  sanitarium.  To  this 
work  he  brings  a  rich  experience.  With  this  ex 
perience  he  brings  also  to  this  endeavor  of  his  own, 
one  of  the  most  perfectly  controlled  nervous  sys 
tems  possible  for  man.  He  can  go  into  an  opera 
tion  without  a  quaver  and  without  stimulant  of  any 
kind.  This  great  steadiness  of  nerve  he  attributes 
to  the  clean,  simple  life  that  he  has  led. 

In  June  of  1905,  Dr.  Carson  was  married  to  Miss 
Carol  Clark,  of  Detroit,  Michigan.  Mrs.  Carson  is 
a  woman  of  great  charm  and  pleasing  personality. 
To  the  Carsons  have  been  born  twins,  a  boy  and  a 
girl,  Carol  Carson  and  Clark  Carson.  These  two 
little  folks  are  now  twelve  years  of  age  and  they 
are  a  great  source  of  joy  to  their  parents. 

In  speaking  of  Dr.  Carson,  Dr.  Kenney,  in  his 
book,  "The  Negro  in  Medicine"  says:  "He  is  among 
the  best  of  the  race  in  this  field,  and  while  he  has 
already  made  his  mark,  we  feel  sure  that  great 
things  are  in  store  for  him." 


439 


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3 


Thomas  H.  Henry  and  South  Carolina  Pythians 


HOMAS  H.  Henry,  Grand  Chan 
cellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
of  South  Carolina  is  pointed  to  by 
his  fellow  Knights  as  well  as  by 
his  neighbors  as  the  man  who  cre 
ated  and  multiplied  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  as  an  organization  in 
South  Carolina,  giving  it  confi 
dence,  popularity,  and  strength.  This,  however, 
was  an  instance  of  achieved  distinction  in  this  di 
rection,  as  nothng  was  farther  from  his  thought 
at  the  beginning  of  his  career,  than  a  Grand  Chan 
cellorship  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  or  of  any 
other  organization. 

Mr.  Henry  was  born  in  Dallas,  Gaston  County, 
North  Carolina,  August  19,  1871.  His  education 
was  acquired  here  and  there  as  the  opportunity 
presented  itself  he  having  been  compelled  to  go  to 
work  at  an  early  age. 

When  he  was  twenty  six  years  of  age,  in  1899. 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States  Gov 
eminent,  as  a  mail  weigher.  This  position  he 
gained  in  Wheeling,  West  Va.,  running  from 
Wheeling  to  Kenova. 

In  1901,  changing  his  position  and  place  of  res 
idence,  he  moved  into  South  Carolina  as  a  locomo 
tive  fireman  on  the  Southern  Railroad.  The  next 
year  found  him  a  letter  carrier  in  Columbia,  having 
made  the  highest  grade  of  thirty-five  who  took  the 
examination.  It  was  at  Columbia,  and  as  a  letter 
carrier,  that  he  began  his  active  career  as  a  Knight 
of  Pythias. 

In  1902  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Supreme  Chan 
cellor  by  Supreme  Chancellor  S.  W.  Starks.  In 
this  position,  he  went  into  Greenwood,  South  Caro 
lina,  and  organized  the  first  lodge  there,  with  thirty 
members.  This  one  act  established  him  immed 
iately  as  an  organizer.  In  a  few  years,  being  given 
free  rein  because  of  his  aptness  in  organizing,  he 
had  organized  216  lodges,  with  a  membership  of 
8.000.  No  wonder  his  fellow  Pythians  elected  him 
Grand  Chancellor  in  1906,  and  still  honor  him  with 
this  post,  for  who  is  so  fit  to  hold  an  organization 
together  as  he  who  made  it? 

Mr.  Henry  was  married  in  1894,  to  Miss  Rosa  A. 
Davis,  of  Carlisle,  South  Carolina.  Loys  Ernest 
ine,  Mildred  Anita,  and  Thomas  Houston  are  their 
three  children.  The  two  younger  are  still  in  school. 
The  oldest.  Loys  E.,  is  a  teacher  in  the  public- 
schools  of  Columbia.  * 

HISTORY  OF  THE  PYTHIAN  ORDER   IN  SOUTH 
CAROLINA. 

The  first  Negro  Pythian  Lodge  in  South  Carolina 
was  Ionic  No.  1,  at  Charleston,  organized  by  Prof. 
S.  H.  Hlocker,  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  June,  1888.  This 
Lodge  and  Vashti  No.  2,  located  at  Charleston  also, 
had  among  its  membership  some  of  the  leading  col 
ored  men  of  the  race.  A  roster  of  the  membership 
of  these  Lodges  show  that  Dr.  W.  D.  Crum.  Mr. 
F.  P.  Crum,  Col.  W.  H.  Robertson,  Colonel  Com 
manding  a  Regiment  of  State  Militia,  Rev.  J.  H.  M. 
Pollard,  an  Episcopal  clergyman  were  prominent 
advocates  of  the  principles  of  Pythianism. 

The  Order  soon  after  its  advent  in  the  State  be 
came  one  of  the  most  popular  in  South  Carolina, 


and  in  a  short  while  nearly  every  town  of  any  size 
boasted  of  a  Pythian  Castle.  In  the  year  189l'there 
arose  a  controversy  about  the  conduct  of  the  En 
dowment  Department  by  the  Supreme  Lodge,  the 
membership  in  this  State  was  not  satisfied  with 
some  features  of  the  Endowment  Law,  this  caused 
an  upheaval  in  the  State  and  resulted  in  the  with 
drawal  of  all  the  subordinate  Lodges  from  the  par 
ent  body.  Under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  J.  H.  M. 
Pollard,  the  seceding  Lodges  affiliated  with  an  or 
ganization  known  as  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  the 
Eastern  &  Western  Hemisphere,  this  name  being 
assumed  to  distinguish  the  organization  from  the 
parent  body  the  "Knights  of  Pythias  of  North  Am 
erica,  .South  America,"  etc. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  E.  &  W.  H.  Order 
flourished  and  became  a  power  in  the  coast  counties 
invaded  middle  and  Piedmont  Carolina,  establish 
ed  a  Grand  Lodge  and  numerically  ranked  with  the 
Odd  Fellows. 

The  parent  body  was  apparently  dead  and  there 
was  not  a  single  advocate  in  the  State  until  T.  H. 
Henry,  of  Columbia,  holding  a  deputy's  commission 
from  Supreme  Chancellor  S.  W.  Starks.  organized 
Greenwood  Banner  Lodge  No.  1,  at  Greenwood, 
November  4,  1902.  This  date  marks  the  renais 
sance  of  Pythianism  in  South  Carolina. 

Soon  after  the  institution  of  Greenwood  Banner 
Lodge  No.  1,  fifteen  others  were  organized.  The 
E.  &  W.  H.  Order  began  to  decline  and  it  was  not 
long  before  the  entire  membership  of  this  branch 
of  Pythianism  consolidated  with  the  parent  body. 
A  Grand  Lodge  was  organized  in  Charleston,  Nov. 
4,  1904,  by  Supreme  Chancellor  S.  W.  Starks,  as 
sisted  by  Grand  Chancellor  Chas.  D.  Creswell,  of 
Georgia,  and  the  following  Deputy  Supreme  Chan 
cellors :  F.  M.  Cohen;  John  Bollen,  of  Ga. ;  and  T. 
H.  Henry,  with  the  following  officers:  Julius  A. 
Brown,  Grand  Chancellor,  Robt.  P.  Scott.  Grand 
Vice  Chancellor,  Win.  11.  Houston,  Grand  K.  R. 
&  S. 

Mr.  Brown  served  two  terms  as  Grand  Chan 
cellor;  T.  H.  Henry,  was  elected  Grand  Chancellor 
in  1906,  and  still  holds  this  post. 

The  growth  of  the  Order  since  the  organization 
of  Greenwood  Banner  Lodge  No.  1,  has  been  phe- 
nominal.  On  the  first  day  of  October,  1907,  the 
Grand  Lodge  assumed  control  of  the  Endowment 
Rank  of  Insurance  without  a  penny  and  with  a 
number  of  death  claims  due,  determined  to  win  its 
way  into  the  hearts  of  the  people  by  living  up  to 
the  principles  of  the  Order,  has  demonstrated  its 
ability  to  redeem  every  promise  by  raising  $203,- 
543.26  for  the  mortuary  department,  and  have  paid 
to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  its  deceased  mem 
bers  $131,431.48. 

There  is  connected  with  the  Order  a  branch 
known  as  the  Uniformed  Rank,  comprising  twenty 
two  companies  and  two  cadet  organizations  and  at 
their  annual  military  display  prizes  are  given. 

Another  healthy  branch  is  the  Woman's  Auxil 
iary  known  as  the  Court  of  Calanthe,  with  a  mem 
bership  of  thirty-five  hundred.  It  has  collected 
$30.000,  since  organization  and  has  an  Endowment 
Fund  of  $10,000.00  to  its  credit. 


441 


HOTEL  DALE— CAPE  MAY,  N.  J. 


HE  Colored  people  have  long  felt 
the  discomforts  of  traveling  ac 
commodations  and  adequate  ar 
rangements  for  their  needs  when 
visiting  cities  and  pleasure  re 
sorts.  The  demand  for  better 
quarters  has  been  met  in  at  least  one  instance  in 
the  establishment  of  Hotel  Dale,  at  Cape  May,  an 
ideal  all  the  year  recreation  resort. 

About  seven  years  ago  the  management  of  the 
Hotel  Dale  undertook  the  gigantic  responsibility  to 
submit  to  the  traveling  public  the  opportunity  to 
choose  as  a  place  of  abode,  during  their  vacation  in 
the  summer  season,  a  first-class  hotel,  to  supplant 
the  old  custom  of  being  crowded  into  small  lodg 
ing  and  boarding  houses,  where  the  sanitary  con 
ditions,  as  a  rule,  were  not  conducive  to  good 
health.  In  so  doing  the  management  was  confront 
ed  with  a  number  of  problems  to  solve  to  insure 
the  confidence  of  the  public  in  general,  that  success 
might  be  attained.  The  Hotel  Dale  is  not  a  pic 
torial  structure  on  paper,  but,  in  reality,  an  archi 
tectural  building — a  work  of  art,  a  monument  to 
good  taste. 

Every  known  device  which  makes  for  safety 
and  comfort  has  been  introduced  to  make  this  as 
complete  a  living  place  as  possible,  for  the  accom 
modation  of  the  colored  race,  where  they  can  en 
joy  the  pleasure  of  life,  with  pleasant  surroundings 
and  the  demands  of  all  classes  met.  The  interior 
of  the  hotel,  conceived  in  perfect  taste,  even  in 
seemingly  insignificant  details,  cannot  be  surpassed. 
The  rooms  are  light,  airy  and  luxuriously  furnished 
and  contain  every  modern  convenience,  suites  with 
bath.  The  dining  room  is  operated  on  the  Europ 
ean  system,  and  its  cuisine  rivals  that  of  the  finest 
hotels  of  record.  It  is  a  place  where  those  who  ap 
preciate  simple  elegance  of  service  and  all  that 
makes  for  ease  of  living  may  have  their  desires  sat 
isfied  without  extravagance. 

The  Abyssinian  Orchestra  renders  afternoon  and 
evening  concerts  daily  during  the  season.  The  op 


en-air  amusements  are  numerous,  with  lawn  ten 
nis  courts  on  the  premises. 

The  moral  status  of  the  hotel  is  above  reproach, 
and  reflects  credit  on  the  management,  who  have 
passed  the  crucial  period  and  stood  the  test  of  thr 
most  profound  critics,  and  today  it  is  the  most  pop 
ular  hostelry  of  color  in  the  country. 

Until  one  has  seen  for  himself  the  charming 
rooms  in  this  palatial  building,  it  is  not  possible  to 
conceive  the  grace  and  elegance  of  the  decorations 
— lighting  and  furnishing  of  the  room  floors.  The 
dining  room,  halls  and  public  parlors  are  handsom 
ely  decorated  and  adorned  with  works  of  art.  In 
the  decoration  of  these  rooms,  an  air  of  elegance 
has  been  maintained,  that  never  has  been  attempt 
ed  at  the  shore.  Another  important  feature  of 
Hotel  Dale  is  the  large  and  spacious  reception 
room,  well  furnished  and  a  model  of  beauty  and 
comfort.  The  hotel  hae  fifty  sleeping  chambers 
and  ten  baths.  The  furniture  of  these  rooms  is 
of  the  best  and  they  are  equipped  with  hot  and  cold 
water  and  with  telephones.  Recreation  features 
are  provided  for  both  in  and  out  door  pleasures. 

The  success  of  his  hotel  enterprise  has  been  very 
gratifying  to  Mr.  Dale,  and  he  realizes  that  he 
made  no  mistake  in  the  opening  of  this  gem  of  sea 
shore  resorts.  The  hotel  is  personally  managed  by 
Mr.  Dale,  with  a  corps  of  attendants,  who  are  tho 
roughly  experienced  in  every  department,  and  their 
efficiency  of  service  enables  them  to  give  satisfact 
ion  to  the  guests  without  friction. 

Cape  May  is  an  ideal  all-the-year  recreation  re 
sort.  It  is  at  the  extreme  southern  point  of  New 
Jersey;  with  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean  on 
the  South  and  East,  and  the  Delaware  bay  on  tin- 
west.  Its  proximity  to  the  Gulf  stream  tempers 
the  severity  of  the  northern  winter.  The  location 
of  Hotel  Dale  is  superb,  on  the  highest  point  in 
Cape  May,  and  directly  opposite  the  Cape  May  Golf 
Club  links,  which  are  unsurpassed  in  the  country. 
The  golf  games  can  be  viewed  from  the  hotel  ver 
anda. 


BED  ROOM— HOTEL  DALE 


442 


Kelly  Miller,  A.  B. 


man  who  is  outspoken  when  the 
interest  of  the  Negro  is  in  ques 
tion,  a  man  who  can  speak  upon 
anv  given  subject  with  all  the  ease 
and  grace  of  an  accomplished  or 
ator  a  man,  who  in  the  class  room 
and  in  all  college  activities  is  an  inspiration  to  the 
voting,  a  man  who  is  thoroughly  at  home  with  all 
people,  this  is  Professor  Kelly  Miller. 

Kelly  Miller  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in  1867. 
llis  early  training  in  schools  was  like  that  of  most 
of  our  people  who  made  their  homes  in  the  coun 
try.  The  schools  lasted  but  a  short  time,  three  or 
four  months  a  year,  but  for  that  time  Kelly  Miller 
was  a  studious  person  and  used  his  mind.  From 
his  early  childhood  he  showed  a  fondness  for  arith 
metic  and  his  mind  developed  unusual  clearness 
from  following  his  inclination  in  this  direction. 
When  school  was  not  in  session,  Kelly  Miller  had 
to  do  the  usual  work  of  the  farm  boy.  Here  on 
the  farm  he  learned  to  love  the  animals,  the  cows, 
the  horses  and  the  dogs.  He  was  even  as  a  child  a 
good  example  of  the  kind  of  workman  a  really  clear 
minded  person  can  make.  He  did  not  leave  his 
wits  behind  him  in  the  school  room  but  took  them 
with  him  to  his  daily  tasks.  Through  this  applica 
tion  to  the  task  in  hand  he  earned  the  distortion 
of  being  the  fastest  cotton  picker  among  the  boys 
of  his  neighborhood. 

When  Kelly  Miller  was  thirteen  years  of  age  he 
left  the  country  school  that  he  had  attended  and 
went  to  the  Fairh'eld  Institute.  Kvery  morning 
and  every  afternoon  he  walked  the  distance  of  two 
miles  in  order  that  he  might  learn.  From  Fair- 
field  he  went  to  Howard  University.  In  this  justly 
famous  school  he  was  one  of  the  banner  pupils.  He 
was  graduated  from  Howard  in  1886,  with  the  de 
gree  of  A.  B.  Still  seeking  knowledge  he  went  to 
John  Hopkins  University,  Baltimore,  after  com 
pleting  his  course  in  Howard.  Here  he  spent  two 
years.  We  cannot  say  that  his  school  days  really 
ended  here.  Kelly  Miller  has  never  left  the  school 
room.  And  although  his  position  now  is  that  of 
teacher,  he  is  himself  a  deep  student  of  books,  of 
men  and  of  conditions. 

In  1889  Professor  Miller  was  appointed  teacher 
of  mathematics  in  the  Washington  High  School. 
Here  he  served  only  one  year  for  the  next  year  he 
was  asked  to  return  to  his  Alma  Mater.  Here  he 
was  given  the  Chair  of  Mathematics:  This  posi 


tion  he  still  holds.     In  addition  to  this  work  in  the 

/  » 

mathematical  courses  of  Howard  Universty,  Pro 
fessor  Miller  has  served  as  Dean  of  the  College  of 
Arts  and  Sciences  since  1906. 

But  the  activities  of  Kelly  Miller  have  not  been 
confined  to  the  work  of  Howard  University.  He  is 
a  man  of  great  activity  and  a  tireless  worker.  Be 
cause  of  this  he  has  found  time  to  take  a  deep  in 
terest  in  the  affairs  of  the  race  at  large.  He  has 
taken  up  his  pen  in  the  behalf  of  our  people  and 
has  written  some  things  that  will  live  on  and  on. 
One  of  these  is  an  open  letter  to  Thomas  Dixon, 
Jr.,  written  in  1905,  "As  to  The  Leopard's  Spots." 
This  is  considered  the  greatest  single  contribution 
that  has  been  made  to  the  literature  of  the  race 
problem.  Through  this  work  and  through  other 
similar  works,  through  his  many  addresses  in  var 
ious  parts  of  the  country.  Kelly  Miller  has  made 
his  influence  felt  in  all  sections  of  the  country.  As 
a  matter  of  fact  he  is  called  upon  to  travel  all  over 
the  country,  both  North  and  South  to  fill  engage 
ments  on  the  lecture  platform.  His  contributions 
to  the  leading  magazines  and  periodicals  are  ac 
cepted  and  read.  This  broadens  his  influence.  One 
of  his  writings,  "Race  adjustment,"  which  is  a  book 
published  in  1908  is  referred  to  as  an  "authority 
to  all  serious  students  of  the  problems  growing 
out  of  the  contact  and  attrition  of  the  races." 

Kelly  Miller  was  born  in  the  South,  but  has  lived 
in  Washington,  D.  C.,  longer  than  in  any  other  sec 
tion  of  the  country.  He  has  had  the  oportunity  to 
study  the  facts  concerning  the  relation  of  the  races 
at  first  hand.  He  has  had  the  clear  brain  develop 
ed  by  years  of  study  along  general  lines  and  spe 
cial  training  in  mathematics,  to  see  these  facts  in 
their  right  relationship.  He  has  the  literary  skill 
to  give  these  facts  in  a  pleasing  and  logical  manner. 
All  that  he  has  written  in  the  interest  of  the  race 
has  been  right  to  the  point,  and  all  that  he  has 
written  has  been  for  the  uplift  of  the  Negro  and  to 
help  him  bear  his  burden. 

The  influence  of  Kelly  Miller  is  far  reaching. 
Hundreds  of  young  people  come  under  his  direct 
instruction  during  the  year  and  hundreds  of 
others  hear  him  talk  and  see  him  in  every  day  life, 
thousands  of  people  go  to  hear  him  lecture  and 
others,  by  the  thousands  read  his  articles  in  the 
magazines  and  read  his  books.  Surely  he  has  done 
what  he  could  to  help  in  the  uplift  of  the  Negro 
race. 


443 


THIRKIELD   SCIENCE  HALL— HOWARD  UNIVERSITY. 


N  1865  General  W.  T.  Sherman 
wrote  Major  General  O.  O.  How 
ard  assuring  him  of  sympathy 
with  his  projects  for  the  spiritual 
and  intellectual  redemption  of  the 
four  million  Negroes  of  America, 
and  expressing  confidence  in  his  sincerity  and  abil 
ity.  "But,"  said  General  Sherman,  "you  have  a 
Hercules'  task."  In  the  light  of  this  sincere  hut 
very  discouraging  letter,  it  is  interesting  to  reflect 
that  within  less  than  two  years  from  the  date  on 
which  he  received  it,  General  Howard  was  instru 
mental  in  establishing  a  University  which  on 
March  2,  1917,  celebrated  its  Fiftieth  Anniversary, 
a  monument  to  the  faith,  the  wisdom  and  the  cour 
age  of  its  founders. 

The  Institution  was  incorporated  under  an  act  of 
the  United  States  Congress. 

Without  one  cent  in  the  treasury,  the  normal 
and  preparatory  departments  opened  on  May  1, 
1867,  in  a  rented  frame  building,  with  five  students, 
and  the  authorities  arranged  for  the  purchase  of 
150  acres  of  land  at  $100  per  acre. 

Like  many  similar  institutions,  the  first  ten  years 
of  its  life,  were  of  feverish  growth.  Its  first  struc 
tures  were  the  main  building  of  the  University,  a 
woman's  dormitory,  and  dining  -  room,  a  men's 
dormitory,  the  Medical  Building,  and  the-  Profess 
ors'  homes.  The  departments  too,  multiplied  rap 
idly,  so  that  by  1872,  the  original  Theological  Sem 
inary,  which  existed  on  paper  only  in  1866,  had  ex 
panded  into  Normal,  Preparatory,  Military,  Musi 
cal,  Industrial,  Commercial,  Collegiate,  Law,  and 
Medical  Departments,  with  a  Library  and  a  Mu 


seum.  The  money  which  later  sustained  the  first 
decade  of  the  work  came  by  accident — through  the 
refusal  of  another  school  to  accept  it. 

$500,000  received  from  the  Freedmen's  Bureau, 
together  with  the  income  from  the  sale  of  much  of 
the  150  acres  of  land  at  four  times  its  cost,  cleared 
the  University  of  debt  and  started  an  endowment 
fund.  Thus  was  faith  justified. 

The  panic  of  '73  gave  the  University  a  severe 
set-back,  but  it  soon  recovered.  Its  first  twenty- 
seven  years  was  a  period  of  consolidation  ;  the  last 
twelve  a  period  of  material  expansion.  This  first 
period  was  inaugurated  by  Dr.  Patton,  the  first 
President  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  the 
University. 

It  was  during  his  presidency  that  the  United 
States  Congress  began  to  make  annual  appropria 
tions  to  assist  the  University. 

President  Thirkfield  pursued  a  policy  of  mater 
ial  expansion.  During  his  term  of  office,  he  se 
cured  from  Congress  $675,700.  With  this  income 
a  Science  Hall,  an  Industrial  Building,  and  a  cen 
tral  heating  and  lighting  plant  were  added. 


444 


BIRD'S-EYE  VIEW  OF  HOWARD   UNIVERSITY— WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


In  conformity  with  the  spirit  of  the  charter  of 
the  University,  the  Medical  School,  including  the 
Medical,  Dental  and  Pharmaceutical  colleges,  is 
open  to  all  persons,  without  regard  to  sex  or  race, 
who  are  qualified  by  good  moral  character,  proper 
age  and  suitable  preliminary  education. 

In  addition  to  individual  instruction  in  vocal  and 
instrumental  music,  there  are  various  classes  in 
which  careful  trailing  is  given.  A  vested  choir  of 
about  fifty  voices  is  maintained.  There  are  also 
Young  Men's  and  Young  Women's  Glee  Clubs  thor 
oughly  drilled  by  instructors  of  the  University. 
The  University  Chorus  has  given  Mendelssohn's 
"Elijah,"  "Handel's  "Messiah,"  and  Coleridge-Tay 
lor's  "Hiawatha." 

The  charter  contains  no  religious  test  or  limita 
tion.  The  University,  however,  is  distinctly  Chris 
tian  in  its  spirit  and  work.  It  is  not  denomination 
al,  and  its  students  are  drawn  from  all  churches,  in 
cluding  the  Roman  Catholic. 

Washington  has  been  called  a  university  in  itself. 
To  live  in  such  an  atmosphere  is  a  liberal  educa 
tion  to  an  eager,  receptive  mind.  Students  of  all 
departments  have  unusual  opportunities  for  gen 
eral  culture  and  the  larger  outlook  upon  life  gained 
through  lectures,  concerts  and  entertainments  of 
an  elevating  character.  On  the  floors  of  the  Sen 
ate  and  House  of  Representatives,  leaders  in  nat 
ional  thought  and  statesmanship  may  be  heard  on 
vital  questions.  Many  lectures  of  fine  order  are 
given  in  the  city,  and  not  a  few  of  them  are  free. 

The  University  buildings  are  all  located  on  the 
main  campus  with  the  exception  of  the  Law  School 
building,  which  is  on  Judiciary  Square.  They  are 
heated  with  steam  and  lighted  by  electricity.  They 
are  in  charge  of  a  superintendent  of  buildings  and 


grounds  and  a  competent  engineer.  Pains  are  tak 
en  to  keep  the  buildings  always  in  a  sanitary  con 
dition,  and  the  healthfulness  of  the  campus  and  sur 
roundings  is  well  known. 

On  the  square  adjacent  to  that  on  which  the 
Medical  College  Building  stands  have  been  erected, 
hospital  buildings  at  a  cost  of  $600,000. 

The  hospital  has  the  advantage  of  being  design 
ed  primarily  for  teaching  purposes,  as  practically 
all  the  patients  admitted  are  utilized  freely  for  in 
struction. 

Each  student  is  obliged  to  attend  80  per  cent  of 
the  exercises  in  every  course  of  study  for  which  he 
seeks  credit.  Students  must  obtain  a  passing 
grade  in  each  study  in  order  to  receive  credit  for 
the  same.  A  student  whose  work,  for  any  reason 
is  not  satisfactory,  will  be  notified,  and  if  no  im 
provement  is  noted,  he  will  be  asked  to  terminate 
his  connection  with  the  school.  The  advantages 
stated  and  the  strict  rules  governing  the  institu 
tion  have  made  Howard  one  of  the  best  Medical 
schools  in  the  land.  Its  lecture  courses  embrace 
many  subjects  and  lists  speakers  and  lecturers  of 
national  reputation. 

Howard  University  took  a  most  active  part  in 
the  establishment  of  an  officer's  training  camp  for 
colored  men  during  the  war  at  Fort  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  made  a  large  contribution  of  men  who 
entered  the  training.  Approximately  200  Howard 
men  joined  the  cam]).  Of  the  659,  who  were  com 
missioned  from  this  camp  ninety-five  were  sons  of 
Howard. 

It  has  sent  forth  nearly  four  thousand  gradu 
ates  to  every  state  in  the  Union,  to  the  Islands  of 
the  Sea  and  to  Africa,  Asia,  Europe,  and  South 
America. 


FREEDMEN'S    HOSPITAL.    HOWARD  UNIVERSITY— WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

445 


Judge  Robert  H.  Terrell  and  Mary  Church  Terrell 

OBERT  H.  Terrell,  Washington.  many  of  the  things  denied  most  of  our  young  wo- 
District  of  Columbia,  .has  a  long  men.  She  was  educated  in  Oberlin  College,  re- 
line  of  achievements  in  the  liter-  ceiving  both  the  Bachelor  and  the  Master  of  Arts 
ary  world  to  his  credit.  He  was  Degree.  After  leaving  schools,  Mrs.  Terrell  was 
born  in  1857,  in  Virginia.  His  appointed  teacher  of  languages  in  the  Colored  High 
early  training  was  received  in  the  School,  of  Washington.  Here  she  worked  for  a 
public  schools  of  Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  short  time  and  then  went  abroad  to  further  pre- 
He  went  to  Massachusetts  for  his  academic  work  pare  herself  for  the  school  work.  She  spent  two 
and  received  his  bachelor  of  arts  degree  from  Mar-  years  abroad  spending  the  time  in  France,  Switzer- 
vard  in  1884.  In  1889  he  received  the  degree  of  land,  Germany  and  Italy.  In  1890  she  returned  to 
LL.  H.,  from  Howard  University,  LL.  M..  in  1893.,  the  work  in  the  High  School  of  Washington.  The 
A.  M.,  in  1900,  and  LL.  1).,  from  Livingstone  Col 
lege.  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  in  1913. 

Robert  H.  Terrell  is  one  of  the  Negroes  to  whom 

the   rest   of   the   colored  people    point    with    great  decline   the   position,   however,   because   of   her   ap- 

pride.     He  is  municipal  judge  and  has  held  this  po-  proaching  marriage, 
sition  since  1909. 


next  year  she  was  offered  the  position  of  Regis 
trar  of  Oberlin.  She  was  the  first  Colored  woman 
to  whom  this  work  had  been  offered.  She  had  to 


Under  Roosevelt,  Taft  and  Wil 
son,  he  has  received  this  same  appointment.  All 
the  life  of  Judge  Terrell  is  one  of  action.  He  be 
gan  his  career  as  a  teacher  and  was  soon  made 


Mrs.  Terrell  has  never  given  up  her  work  for 
the  public  good.  She  was  for  three  terms  pres 
ident  of  the  National  Asociation  of  C'olored  Wo 
men's  Clubs  and  after  that  time  she  was  made  Hon 


principal  of  the  Colored  High  School  of  Washing-  orary  President  of  the  organization.  She  has  trav- 
ton.  1  lis  next  work  was  that  of  Chief  of  the  Divis-  cled  all  over  the  country  as  a  lecturer  and  her 
ion  of  the  Treasury.  This  position  he  held  from  speeches  are  listened  to  with  great  interest.  She 


1889  to  1893.  At  this  time  he  was  admitted  to  tin- 
Bar  of  the  District.  For  five  years  he  was  in  bus 
iness  with  John  M.  Lynch. 

From  1902  to  1909  he  served  as  Civil  Magistrate 
and  at  that  time  he  was  appointed  Judge  in  Muni 
cipal  Court.  In  this  manner  has  the  time  of  Judge 


is  the  only  woman  who  ever  held  the  position  of 
President  of  the  Bethel  Literary  and  Historical  As 
sociation  of  Washington.  D.  (_'.,  and  this  position 
she  filled  with  such  marked  ability  that  it  helped 
her  in  other  work  later. 

When  it  was  decided  to  appoint  two  women  on 


Terrell  been  spent  since  completing  his  studies.  the  board  of  Education  for  the  District  of  Colum- 
One  thing  that  might  be  pointed  out  as  contribu'  bia,  Mrs.  Terrell  was  one  of  the  women  appointed, 
ing  to  the  success  of  Judge  Terrell  is  this — his  very  On  this  Board  she  served  for  five  years  doing  credit 
thorough  preparation  before  he  entered  any  line  to  her  own  training  and  to  the  race  in  general, 
of  work.  This  was  an  uncommon  thing  in  the  day  Mrs.  Terrell  is  a  woman  in  public  affairs,  but 
which  Judge  Terrell  began  his  work,  and  it  is  she  has  a  home  and  a  home  life  that  is  ideal.  She 

is  also  a  mother.     The  daughter  is  named  for  Phil- 
lis   Wheatlev.     In    this   name,    Mrs.    Terrell   shows 


n 


still  rare  for  our  people.     But  where  the  time  and 
the  means  are  to  be  had  this  should  be  encouraged 


and  the  success  which  has  attended  all  the  efforts  honor  to  the  Negro  poetess  who  helped  make  an 
of  Judge  Terrell  could  be  pointed  to  as  an  example  opening  for  the  black  women  of  America.  Mrs. 
of  the  type  of  work  that  can  be  done  by  the  thor 
oughly  prepared  man. 

In  church  work  Judge  Terrell  is  a  Congregation  - 


Terrell  has  done  much  for  the  advancement  of  her 
sisters.  Through  her  many  honors  have  come  to 
the  race  that  would  not  have  come  to  us,  but  for 


alist.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Sigma  Pi   Phil.     He      her  great   tact  and  great  ability.     One   thing  that 


is  a  member  of'the  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Masons. 
Of  the  last  named  organization  he  has  served  as 
Grand  Master  of  his  lodge  for  four  terms. 

In  1891  Judge  Terrell  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Church,  of  Memphis,  Tennessee. 

Mrs.  Mary  Church  Terrell  was  born  of  well-to- 
do  parents  and  had  therefore  as  her  birthright 


was  said  of  her  in  the  press  when  she  was  lectur 
ing  before  the  Chautauqua  of  Danville,  Illinois. 
was  "She  should  be  paid  to  travel  as  a  model  of 
good  English  and  good  manners."  Mrs.  Terrell  is 
a  woman  of  high  ideals,  thorough  education,  and 
action,  when  that  action  means  the  advancement 
of  her  sisters  of  her  race. 


446 


Charles  William  Anderson 


HARLES  William  Anderson  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  was  reared 
under  conditions  quite  different 
from  those  which  faced  many  of 
the  colored  race  living;  in  the 
_  South.  He  had  better  educational 
advantages  and  his  surroundings  were  different. 
He  was  born  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  April  28,  1866,  where 
he  spent  his  early  life,  passing  through  the  public 
schools.  From  Oxford  he  went  to  Middleton, 
Ohio,  and  took  a  course  in  the  High  School.  He 
took  a  course  in  Cleveland  Spencerian  Business 
College.  He  also  attended  the  Berlitz  School  of 
Language,  located  at  Worcester,  Massachusetts. 

In  1890  he  was  appointed  United  States  guager, 
for  the  Second  District  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
which  office  he  held  for  three  years.  For  two  years 
from  1893  to  5,  he  was  the  private  secretary  to  the 
state  treasurer  of  New  York.  From  1895  to  8,  he 
was  the  chief  clerk  in  the  State  Treasury.  He 
was  the  ^supervisor  of  accounts  for  the  New  York 
Racing  Commission  during  the  years  of  1898-1905. 
In  1905,  he  was  made  collector  of  Internal  Revenue 
in  the  Second  District  of  New  York,  and  continued 
in  this  office  until  1915. 

New  York  World  pays  him  this  glowing  tribute: 
"Charles  W.  Anderson  goes  out  of  office  today 
after  holding  for  ten  years  this  responsible  post 
under  the  Treasury.  Many  millions  of  dollars  have 
passed  through  his  hands.  His  dealings  have  been 
practically  all  with  white  men  of  the  keenest  in 
tellect  and  of  substantial  business  standing.  Ca 
pacity  and  courtesy  have  been  the  qualities  most 
remarked  in  his  conduct  of  an  office  maintained  al 
ways  in  the  highest  efficiency.  In  Collector  An 
derson's  time,  three  complicated  and  important 
new  revenue  measures,  in  income  tax,  the  corpora 
tion  tax  and  the  war  revenue  tax,  have  made  this 
office  the  most  difficult,  as  it  is  the  most  important 
ever  held  by  a  colored  man  under  the  Government. 
He  has  stood  the  test.  No  race  is  fairly  judged  by 
holding  up  as  types  for  reprobation  its  most  de 
graded  speciments.  Every  race  has  the  right  to 
be  judged  by  its  patient,  toiling,  useful  average,  and 
its  best." 

He  was  President  of  the  New  York  Commission 
to  the  Tennessee  Centennial  Exposition,  at  Nash 
ville,  in  1897,  appointed  by  Governor  Morton. 

When  the  Columbia  Post,  G.  A.  R.  tendered  a 
banquet  to  President  William  McKinley,  at  Buf 
falo.  N.  Y.,  Aug.  4,  1897,  he  was  selected  as  one  of 
the  speakers. 

He  was  also  a  member  of  the  citizens  committee 
of  the  Hudson  Fulton  Celebration  Committee  to 
welcome  Admiral  George  Dewey  and  the  fleet  on 


its  return  from  the  Phillipine  Islands,  and  a  mem 
ber  of  the  citizens  committee  to  welcome  Admiral 
William  T.  Sampson  and  Winfield  S.  Schley  when 
the  fleet  returned  from  Cuba. 

He  was  a  member  of  a  committee  appointed  to 
welcome  Theodore  Roosevelt  on  his  return  from 
Africa.  He  was  an  honorary  pall  bearer  at  the  fun 
eral  of  Mayor  William  J.  Gaynor,  of  New  York.  At 
the  Peace  Banquet  of  Citizens  representing  fifty 
foreign  nations  at  Hotel  Astor,  New  York,  Jan.  4, 
1914,  he  was  one  of  the  speakers. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  citizens  committee  ap 
pointed  to  receive  the  bodies  of  the  United  States 
Marines  killed  at  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  in  1914.  Ik- 
is  a  permanent  member  of  the  New  York  City  In 
dependence  Day  Commission;  Director  of  the  Col 
ored  Advisory  Committee  of  The  National  Repub 
lican  Committee,  1916;  member  of  the  Mayor's 
Committee  to  entertain  the  Right  Honorable  Ar 
thur  J.  Balfour  and  the  English  High  Commission 
at  official  banquet  at  the  Waldorf-Astonia,  in  1917; 
member  of  Mayor's  Committee  to  entertain  Mar 
shal  Joffe,  Mons.  Viviani  and  the  French  Commis 
sion,  at  official  banquet  at  Waldorf-Astoria.  1917; 
member  of  Mayor's  Committee  to  entertain  His 
Royal  Highness,  Prince  Ferdinand,  of  Savoy,  Sig- 
nor  Marconi.  Prime  Minister  Francesco  Nitti,  and 
the  Italian  Royal  Commission,  at  official  Ban 
quet  at  Waldorf-Astoria,  1917 ;  member  of  Mayors' 
Committee  to  entertain  Viscount  Ishii.  and  the  Im 
perial  Japanese  Commission  at  official  Banquet  a: 
The  Wraldorf-Astoria,  1917 ;  member  of  Mayors'' 
Committee  to  entertain  the  Russian  High  Com 
mission  at  official  Banquet  at  the  Ritz-Carlton  Ho 
tel,  1917;  member  of  the  Catskill  Aqueduct  Cele 
bration  Committee.  1917;  Chairman  of  Local  Board 
(Draft)  No.  139,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of 
the  draft ;  Honorary  Colonel  of  the  367  Infantry, 
(The  Buffaloes)  ;  now  serving  as  Supervisory 
Agent  of  the  Department  of  Farms  and  Markets 
of  the  State  of  New  York. 

He  served  on  the  Republican  State  Committee 
sixteen  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  National 
Geographical  Society,  the  Metropolitan  Museum 
of  Art,  Institute  of  Art  and  Sciences  of  Columbia 
University,  Academy  of  Political  Science,  New 
York  Peace  Society,  Japanese  Franchise  League. 

Appointed  by  Mayor  Hylan,  a  member  of  "May 
or's  Committee  on  Receptions  to  Distinguished 
Guests.'  Among  those  expected  are:  His  Royal 
Highness,  The  Prince  of  Wales;  His  Majesty,  King 
Albert  of  Belgium,  Marshal  Foch  ;  General  Persh- 
ing,  and  Mis  Majesty,  the  Shah  of  Persia. 

He  married  Miss  Emma  Lee  Bonaparte,  of 
Hampton,  Va. 


447 


JOSEPH  ALBERT  BOOKER,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  D.  D. 

OSEPH  Albert  Booker,  was  born 
at  Portland,  Ashby  County,  Ark 
ansas,  before  the  Civil  War.  He 
was  early  left  an  orphan,  his  mo 
ther  dying  while  he  was  in  his  se 
cond  year  and  his  father  followed 
his  mother  to  the  grave  when  he  was  only  four 
years  of  age.  After  the  death  of  his  parents  he 
went  to  live  with  his  grand-mother  (Amy  Fisher,) 
who  had  the  care  of  him  until  he  reached  his  six 
teenth  year.  She  reared  him  with  the  tenderest 
care  and  consideration  and  used  he  best  endeavor 
to  prepare  him  for  life. 

She  taught  him  the  alphabet  and  spelling,  which 
was  as  far,  as  she  could  carry  him,  which  the  chil 
dren  of  her  former  owner  supplemented  by  teach 
ing  him  the  elements  of  Geography,  Arithmetic  and 
Grammar.  His  high  school  training  was  received 
at  the  Branch  Normal  College,  Pine  Bluff,  Arkan 
sas,  and  his  college  and  theological  training  was 
secured  at  the  Roger  Williams  University,  at  Nash 
ville,  Tennessee. 

While  those  who  taught  him  in  his  boyhood  days 
were  willing  and  did  the  best  they  could  to  instruct 
him  he  was  greatly  handicapped  for  want  of  books, 
etc..  he  frequenty  used  charcoal  instead  of  pen 


cils  for  writing  and  in  working  his  sums  in  arith 
metic.  When  he  entered  college  he  again  encoun 
tered  difficulties  for  lack  of  funds  and  found  it  nec 
essary  to  pay  his  way  by  manual  labor.  He  washed 
the  dishes,  chopped  the  wood  and  made  the  fires 
at  the  college  and  in  this  manner  he  worked  his 
way  through. 

During  his  early  years  and  in  fact,  until  he  was 
19  years  of  age,  his  life  was  spent  on  the  farm. 
Here  he  learned  to  till  the  soil,  look  after  the  stock 
and  perform  other  farm  duties,  but  during  this  pe 
riod  his  mind  was  active  and  was  employed  in  the 
interest  of  his  people. 

When  only  ten  years  old  he  taught  a  night  school 
—giving  the  daylight  hours  to  farm  work.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  public  school. 

After  graduation  he  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  and  for  a  while  was 
pastor  of  a  church,  but  Providence  pointed  to  an 
other  sphere  of  work  which  has  proved  his  life  call 
ing. 

For  thirty  two  years  he  has  been  the  President 
of  the  Arkansas  Baptist  College,  and  as  he  ex 
pressed  it  himself,  he  has  been  so  enthused  with 
his  work  that  he  has  had  but  little  time  to  bestow 
upon  his  worldly  affairs.  For  thirty  years  he  has 
edited  a  paper  known  as  the  "Baptist  Vanguard.-' 

Dr.  Booker  has  figured  conspiciously  in  tin- 
councils  of  his  denomination  and  is  a  frequent  at 
tendant  of  its  conventions,  both  state  and  National. 
He  was  a  messenger  to  the  Baptist  European  Con 
gress  in  1913.  He  has  traveled  extensively  over 
the  United  States  and  North  Western  Europe. 

June  28.  1887,  he  married  Mary  J.  Cover,  in  Hel 
ena,  Ark.,  who  has  borne  him  eight  children,  four 
boys  and  four  girls. 

While  his  time  and  talents  have  been  devoted  al 
most  exclusively  to  the  development  of  the  Arkan 
sas  Baptist  College,  Dr.  Booker  has  acquired  some 
property.  He  owns  a  few  houses  and  lots  in  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  and  a  small  farm.  He  has  also  iden 
tified  himself  with  a  number  of  the  secret  orders 
of  his  race.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masons,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Mosiac  Templars  and  others.  Dr. 
Booker  has  been  brought  face  to  face  with  death 
on  three  occasions,  and  he  attributes  his  deliver 
ance  to  an  over-ruling  Providence.  When  a  boy 
he  was  in  bathing  with  his  companions  when  lie 
got  beyond  his  depth  and  was  going  under  for  the 
last  time  when  rescued ;  again  he  was  in  a  burning 
building  where  a  number  were  injured  before  being 
delivered;  and  on  his  way  home  from  Europe,  the 
train  on  which  he  was  traveling,  when  nearing 
Malmo,  Sweden,  was  wrecked,  and  about  twenty 
around  him  were  killed  and  he  escaped  with  but  a 
slight  hurt.  He  felt  that  the  Lord  had  a  use  for 
him  and  preserved  his  life. 


448 


REVEREND  RICHARD  CARROLL 


KV.  Richard  Carroll  was  horn  in 
Barmvell  County,  South  Carolina, 
just  when  the  slave  regime  was 
making  place  for  the  freedom 
which  came  to  the  black  race  af 
ter  the  war.  His  mother  was  a 
trusted  house-servant  in  the  home  of  a  prominent 
South  Carolina  family  and  as  was  often  the  case  an 
attachment  grew  up  between  the  servant  and  the 
family  she  so  faithfully  served.  The  interest  in 
the  mother  extended  to  the  son  and  no  doubt  ac 
counts,  in  a  measure,  for  the  influence  he  exerted 
in  later  life  in  bringing  about  a  better  understand 
ing-  between  the  two  races. 

Richard  Carroll  grew  up  on  the  plantation  and 
was  afterwards  educated  at  Benedict  College,  South 
Carolina.  He  developed  early  unusual  gifts  of  elo 
quence  in  public  speech.  When  he  came  to  man 
hood,  he  distinguished  himself  by  his  interest  in  all 
that  contributes  to  the  welfare  of  his  race  and  in 
bringing  about  a  better  and  more  helpful  under 
standing  between  the  whites  and  the  blacks. 


He  became  a  Baptist  minister  and  developed  at 
Columbia,  South  Carolina,  a  home  for  Negro  or 
phans  and  youthful  delinquents.  In  order  to  do 
this  he  resigned  his  commission  as  chaplain  in  the 
army  during  the  Spanish-American  War,  which  in 
fluential  white  leaders  desired  him  to  hold.  He 
took  up  the  scheme  of  the  orphanage  without  a 
dollar  in  sight  with  which  to  build  it.  He  proposed 
to  build  it  on  faith  and  through  prayer  to  God.  He 
did  build  it  on  this  foundation,  and  accomplished 
through  it  a  great  amount  of  good,  confirming  the 
good  opinion  which  both  white  people  and  black 
people  were  forming  of  him  in  his  native  State. 

During  this  period,  it  was  my  privilege  to  help  in 
opening  the  way  for  the  subject  of  this  sketch  to 
appear  before  the  white  Baptist  District  Associa 
tion  in  South  Carolina  and  present  his  Institution 
and  also  make  an  appeal  for  better  race  relations. 

This  campaign  strengthened  and  confirmed  his 
hold  among  white  people  and  he  became  one  of  the 
most  influential  Negro  leaders  in  South  Carolina 
or  the  South.  He  made  frequent  trips  to  the  North 
for  funds  to  aid  his  uplift  enterprises,  but  he  always 
seemed  to  prize  most  the  good  will  and  encourage 
ment  of  Southern  white  people.  He  had  learned 
that  they  were  the  friends  of  his  people  and  that 
they  really  had  their  interest  at  heart  and  were 
willing  to  aid  him  in  his  efforts  to  help  them. 

It  was  about  1908  when  Mr.  Carroll  instituted  a 
race  conference  in  South  Carolina  which  has  since 
met  annually.  The  propaganda  which  eventuated 
in  this  conference  was  conducted  in  the  paper  the 
"Plowman,"  which  he  edited  for  a  number  of  years. 
This  Annual  Conference  is  still  conducted  and  is 
accomplishing  most  helpful  results. 

In  1913  Brother  Carroll  accepted  a  position  as 
Evangelist  to  Negroes  of  the  South  under  the  pay 
of  the  white  Baptist  Home  Mission  Board  of  At 
lanta.  He  is  holding  this  position  still  and  has  add 
ed  to  his  reputation  as  a  wonderful  organizer  of 
men  and  as  a  trusted  Negro  leader.  Mis  outstand 
ing  popular  gift  is  that  of  oratory  and  there  are 
surely  few  public  speakers  in  the  South  more  gifted 
It  is  a  difficult  thing  for  a  Negro  leader  to  tell 
white  people  the  truth  about  certain  significant 
things  in  the  relation  of  the  two  races  without  giv 
ing  offense.  Dr.  Carroll  has  done  this  repeatedly 
and  with  such  wonderful  tact  that  his  white  aud 
iences  always  want  to  hear  him  again.  Mr.  Vic 
tor  I.  Masters,  Supt.  of  Publicity,  of  the  white  Bap 
tist  Home  Mission  Board  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  prepared 
this  sketch  by  special  request,  as  a  token  of  the  es 
teem  in  which  the  subject  is  held. 


449 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HOLTZCLAW 

T  is  no  mean  distinction  to  be  call 
ed  a  "Second  Booker  T.  Washing 
ton,"  for  it  argues  great  poise  of 
mind  and  intellectual  ability  and 
carries  with  it  the  idea  that  the 
man  who  has  this  distinction,  like 
the  illustrious  head  of  the  Tuske- 
gee  Institute,  has  devoted  his  life 
to  the  uplift  of  his  race.  William  Henry  Holtz- 
claw  is  so  designated.  Having  come  into  personal 
touch  with  Booker  Washington  he  no  doubt  caught 
his  spirit  and  went  forth  from  the  Tuskegee  Insti 
tute  to  follow  his  example. 

Professor  Holtzclaw  was  born  in  Roanoke,  Ala 
bama,  but  the  date  of  his  birth  is  unknown.  His 
father  and  mother  could  not  write  and  for  this  rea 
son  a  record  of  his  birth  was  not  kept. 

He  received  his  education  in  the  main  from  the 
Tuskegee  Institute  and  Harvard  College.  While 
at  the  Tuskegee  Institute  he  was  greatly  impressed 


with  the  work  being  done  for  the  colored  race  by 
that  institution  and  the  spirit  of  it  remained  to  in 
fluence  his  life  work.  After  completing  his  edu 
cation  or  rather  graduating,  for  he  is  still  a  learn 
er,  he  set  about  the  establishing  of  an  educational 
institute  somewhat  after  the  pattern  of  his  alma- 
mater. 

He  established  his  school,  the  Utica  Normal  and 
Industrial  Institute,  in  1903,  and  has  been  its  prin 
cipal  since  its  organization.  It  is  an  elementary 
school  with  a  few  pupils  in  secondary  subjects.  It 
is  located  in  a  rural  community  and  has  done  much 
good  work  in  the  county.  It  has  an  attendance  of 
376;  male  154,  and  female  222.  Of  these  241  are 
boarders.  It  has  twenty-seven  teachers  and  n  >rk- 
ers,  all  colored.  Of  these  .ten  are  male  and  seven 
teen  are  female.  The  school  owns  about  two  hun 
dred  and  ten  acres  of  land,  ten  of  which  are  in  the 
campus  and  two  hundred  in  the  school  farm.  In 
addition  the  school  owns  1390  acres  of  land  which 
was  given  as  an  endowment.  The  land  holdings 
of  the  school  are  estimated  to  be  worth  $48.800.  The 
estimated  value  of  the  buildings  is  $77,230.  All  the 
buildings  except  one  are  frame  structures.  The 
exception  is  a  three  story  concrete  structure.  Of 
the  frame  buildings  three  are  used  for  dormitories, 
and  one  each  for  trades,  offices,  hospitals,  and  ag 
riculture.  There  are  also  two  barns  and  a  number 
of  small  cottages  and  houses.  The  equipment,  in 
cluding  furniture,  shop  equipment,  farm  equipment, 
electric  plant,  saw  mill,  etc..  is  valued  at  $28,000. 

This  school  is  the  largest  Industrial  School  in  the 
State  of  Mississippi  and  is  a  monument  to  the  en 
ergy,  wisdom  and  patient  and  persevering  efforts 
of  Professor  Holtzclaw.  Professor  Holtzclaw  is 
an  orator  of  considerable  force  and  the  forceful 
speech  he  made  in  1908  in  the  interest  of  his  school 
at  Bar  Harbor  Maine  secured  a  collection  for  his 
school  of  $5000,  while  Booker  Washington  who 
presented  the  claims  of  his  institution  only  got 
$3000.  This  incident  caused  Booker  Washington 
to'  remark :  "It  will  not  require  a  prophet  to  tell 
of  the  future  of  young  Holtzclaw." 

Professor  Holtzclaw  is  a  member  of  the  Bap 
tist  Church,  and  takes  an  interest  in  religious  work, 
but  is  not  connected  with  any  of  the  secret  orders. 
His  time  is  so  much  taken  up  in  the  work  of  his 
school  and  organizations  related  to  education  that 
he  has  so  far  refrained  from  joining  the  secret  or 
ders  of  the  race.  He  is  a  member  of  American 
Academy  of  Political  and  Social  Science,  Black 
Belt  Improvement  Society,  Geographic  Society. 
etc. 

He  has  traleved  extensively  in  this  country  and 
in  Canada.  His  property  holdings  amount  to  some 
few  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Holtzclaw  was  married  in  1901,  to  Miss 
Mary  Ella  Patterson.  They  have  five  children. 


BIRD'S-EYE  VIEW  OF  UTICA  INSTITUTE,  UTICA  INSTITUTE,  MISS. 

450 


Daniel  Hale  Williams,  M.  D. 


O  record  of  the  achievements  of 
the  Negro  along  lines  of  medical 
science  would  be  complete  with 
out  mention  of  the  life  of  our  pio 
neer  Negro  surgeon.  Dr.  Daniel 
Hale  Williams,  of  Chicago,  nei- 
would  a  record  of  the  works  of  Negroes  in 
all  lines  of  endeavor  be  complete  without  his  per 
sonal  history. 

Dr.  Williams  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  at 
an  early  age  moved  to  the  Northwest,  where  he 
received  his  early  training.  Even  when  in  the  sec 
ondary  schools,  Dr.  Williams  showed  a  fondness 
for  science  and  things  pertaining  thereto.  Finish 
ing  his  academic  work  he  entered  Northwestern 
University  and  graduated  from  this  institution  in 
1883.  The  institution  from  which  he  was  graduat 
ed  saw  in  him  a  young  man  of  great  promise  and 
gave  to  him  the  position  of  demonstrator  of  an- 
tomy.  In  this  place  he  served  for  six  years  doing 
credit  to  the  position  and  gaining  a  richer,  broader 
foundation  for  his  work  in  the  world. 

It  was  during  the  early  years  of  his  practice  that 
Dr.  Dan  Williams  made  for  himself  the  name  of  a 
great  surgeon.  That  place  he  has  kept  and  has  im 
proved  in  his  work  with  each  passing  year,  till  to 
day  he  is  recognized  among  the  leaders  of  the  pro 
fession  without  regard  to  color.  From  1884  to 
1891  Dr.  Williams  was  so  placed  that  he  received 
an  abundance  of  practice  in  the  line  he  wished  to 
perfect.  He  was  surgeon  at  the  Chicago  South 
Side  Dispensary.  At  the  same  time  he  was  sur 
geon  and  physician  in  the  Chicago  Protestant  Or 
phan  Asylum.  In  these  two  places  he  laid  the 
foundation  for  his  very  great  skill  along  surgical 
lines. 

Seeing  the  need  of  better  hospital  facilities  for 
colored  people.  Dr.  Williams,  with  prominent  col 
ored  citizens  organized  the  Provident  Hospital,  of 
Chicago.  The  hospital  has  grown  along  with  the 
surgeon  who  helped  found  it  and  who  never  lost 
interest  in  it,  even  during  the  five  years  he  spent 
as  surgeon-in-chief  of  Freedmen's  Hospital,  in 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 

During  the  five  years  that  Dr.  Williams  spent  in 
Washington,  he  was  able  to  better  organize  the 
plant  at  the  Freedmen's  Hospital.  It  was  he  who 
installed  the  first  corps  of  colored  interns  in  this  in 
stitution  and  it  was  he  who  organized  the  first 
training  school  for  colored  nurses  in  connection 
with  the  hospital. 


Dr.  Williams  is  a  member  of  the  American  Med 
ical  Association,  the  Chicago  Medical  Society  and 
the  Illinois  Medical  Society.  For  three  years  he 
served  on  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Health  and 
he  has  served  as  attending  physician  at  the  St. 
Luke's  Hospital  of  Chicago,  and  as  a  member  of 
the  International  Medical  Congress.  As  a  matter 
of  fact.  Dr.  Williams  has  his  profession  very  much 
on  his  heart  and  wherever  he  can  either  give  inspi 
ration  or  knowledge  or  receive  either  of  these  there 
you  may  find  him  busily  engaged.  He  is  professor 
of  clinical  surgery  at  Meharry  Medical  College, 
and  each  year  holds  a  surgical  clinic  at  this  school 
that  benefits  a  great  number,  both  patients  and 
young  doctors. 

But  the  thing  that  will  claim  for  Dr.  Dan  Wil 
liams  the  lasting  gratitude  of  all  surgeons  all  over 
the  world  is  his  creation  of  a  method  by  which  the 
heart  can  be  sutured.  Everywhere  he  is  looked  up 
on  as  a  wonder  because  of  this  discovery.  Still  one 
other  thing  will  keep  him  ever  alive  in  the  minds 
of  men  of  his  profession.  He  invented  "a  peculiar 
ly  arranged  'cnot,  by  which  the  delicate  tissues  of 
the  spleen  can  be  ligated  to  prevent  hemorrhage  of 
that  onyan."  While  this  last  named  invention  is 
one  of  great  importance,  it  has  not  won  for  Dr. 
Williams  the  distinction  that  the  other  did.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  when  you  say  Dr.  Dan  Williams, 
even  to  a  layman,  he  immediately  says  "The  heart 
specialist." 

> 

While  Dr.  Williams  has  spent  a  great  deal  of 
time  on  this  organ  and  while  he  has  the  honor  of 
being  the  first  to  operate  upon  this  most  delicate 
and  most  important  organ  of  the  whole  system,  he 
still  works  upon  other  portions  of  the  body  and  is 
a  well  rounded  surgeon  that  would  be  a  credit  to 
any  people,  to  any  city,  to  any  country. 

Not  only  does  Dr.  Williams  operate,  both  privat 
ely  and  for  the  benefit  of  young  doctors,  but  he 
writes  out  the  things  of  importance  that  he  finds, 
thus  giving  to  a  larger  number  of  doctors  the  ben 
efit  of  his  ripe  wisdom.  All  men  in  the  profession 
look  up  to  him.  He  is  a  man  who  has  honor  not 
only  in  his  profession,  but  in  the  social  world  as 
well.  Mrs.  Williams,  formerly  Miss  Alice  John 
son,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  is  in  all  these  matters 
his  helper.  They  live  in  their  beautiful  home  in 
Chicago,  where  she  is  a  charming  hostess. 

Dr.  Williams  is  to  all  Negro  Doctors,  old  as  well 
as  young,  a  source  of  inspiration. 


451 


EDWARD   C.   BROWN 

HILE  the  Negro  has  proved  him 
self  to  be  enterprising  in  many 
fields  of  endeavor,  there  are  still 
some  that  only  few  have  entered. 
In  nearly  every  kind  of  business 
the  black  man  has  been  able  to 
succeed  in  a  one-man  concern.  He  has  run  his  tailor 
shop,  his  restaurant,  or  hotel,  his  dry  goods  store, 
his  shoe  shop,  as  the  case  may  be,  but  rare  indeed 
is  the  Negro  who  in  any  sense  has  become  a 
"Kress,"  a  "Woolworth,"  a  "Fred  Harvey,"  or  any 
of  these  leading  men  who  have  been  able  through 
far  sighted  planning  to  establish  a  chain  of  busi 
ness  stretching  throughout  the  United  States. 

When  Edward  C.  Brown,  who  was  born  in  Phila 
delphia,  in  1877,  and  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  Spencerian  Business  College  of  that  city,  start 
ed  in  to  emulated  these  mighty  captains  of  indus 
try,  with  a  chain  of  banks,  a  business  requiring  the 
highest  type  of  business  skill,  the  colored  business 
world  was  amazed. 

Mr.  Brown  first  came  into  public  notice  through 
the  Philadelphia  banking  firm  of  Brown  and  Ste 
vens,  of  which  he  is  President  and  founder.  Al 
ways  a  firm  believer  in  co-operation,  and  knowing 
that  in  Union  there  is  strength,  Mr.  Brown  has 


dreamed  and  worked  always  with  plans  that  were 
nation  wide  in  their  scope.  While  others  have 
been  busy  organizing  and  successfully  launching 
local  enterprises,  he  has  been  working  and  laying 
the  foundation  of  a  financial  organization  suffi 
ciently  strong  to  furnish  backing  for  national  hold 
ing  companies  that  could  take  over  local  business 
throughout  the  country,  susceptible  of  being  or 
ganized  and  conducted  in  a  manner  that  would  not 
only  increase  their  earnings,  but  put  sufficient  cap 
ital  behind  them  to  insure  their  being  developed 
to  their  highest  degree  of  efficiency.  Mr.  Brown 
in  1909,  organized  the  Brown  Savings  Bank,  of 
Norfolk,  Va.,  of  which  he  is  President.  This  bank 
has  grown  under  his  direction  to  a  position  of  fi 
nancial  strength  and  state-wide  influence.  It  has 
a  paid  in  capital  stock  of  $50,000.  and  the  last  state 
ment  to  the  state  comptroller  shows  $341,000  as 
sets,  which  are  growing  at  a  rate  that  will  put 
them  over  the  half  million  mark  in  the  near  future. 
Mr.  Brown  is  also  President  of  the  Beneficial  In 
surance  Co.,  of  Norfolk,  and  of  a  bank  in  Newport 
News,  Va.  His  main  interests  and  work  for  some 
time,  however,  lay  in  Philadelphia,  where  he,  with 
his  associate,  Andrew  F.  Stevens,  conduct  a  bank 
ing  and  realty  business.  Mr.  Brown's  outside  in 
vestments  in  Virginia  seem  to  have  been  "Feelers," 
and  were  so  successful,  that  his  reputation  as  a 
financier  was  firmly  established. 

On  the  death  of  Philip  A.  Payton,  of  New  York, 
which  occurred  Aug.  29th,  1917,  Mr.  Brown  was 
the  main  figure  in  forming  the  Payton  Apart 
ments  Corporation  in  order  to  perpetuate  the 
work  started  by  that  noted  realty  dealer.  The  fol 
lowing  clipping  from  the  New  York  Times  gives 
some  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  this  undertaking: 
"The  Payton  Apartments  Corporation,  formed  at 
Albany,  a  few  days  ago,  with  a  capital  of  $250,OCO 
has  identified  with  it  Edward  C.  and  W.  H.  C. 
Brown,  and  Andrew  F.  Stevens,  bankers,  of  Phila 
delphia  and  Washington;  Emmett  J.  Scott,  Sec 
retary  of  the  Tuskegee,  Normal  and  Indusrial  In 
stitute  of  Tuskegee,  Ala.,  and  Heman  F..  Perry. 
President  of  the  Standard  Life  Insurance  Company 
of  Atlanta,  Ga.  Its  purpose  is  to  take  over  the  six 
story  modern  elevator  apartments  at  Nos.  117  to 
143  W.  141  St.,  and  Nos.  130  to  148  W.  142nd  St., 
which  were  bought  last  year  by  the  late  Phillip  A. 
Payton  from  the  New  York  Title  and  Mortgage 
Company.  The  houses  were  valued  at  $1.000.000 
in  that  deal." 

The  most  recent  and  bv  far  the  greatest  of  Mr. 
Brown's  undertakings  is  the  organization  of  a  the 
atrical  syndicate  for  the  leasing  and  operating  of  a 
chain  of  colored  theatres  and  picture  houses  in 
every  city  in  the  United  States  having  a  large  Ne 
gro  population. 


452 


Brown  Savings  Bank,  Norfolf,  Va. 


HE  Brown  Savings  and  Banking 
Co.,  incorporated,  of  Norfolk,  Va., 
was  organized  April  10,  1909.  It 
was  the  second  link  in  a  chain  of 
banks  being  established  by  that 
financial  genius  E.  C.  Brown,  of 
Philadelphia  and  New  York,  Mr.  Brown  was  elect 
ed  president  ani  had  associated  with  him  one  of  the 
most  prominent  physicians  in  the  country,  Dr.  An 
drew  J.  Strong,  who  has  shown  marked  ability  as 
a  financier.  The  entrance  of  Negroes  into  the 
banking  world,  being  at  that  time  in  its  infancy,  the 
officers  were  unable  to  secure  a  cashier  with  prac 
tical  banking  experience,  so  President  Brown  with 
his  usual  sagacity  fell  back  on  an  institution  with 
world  wide  reputation  for  turning  out  graduates, 
that  not  only  "made  good"  but  were  invariably  re 
cognized  as  leaders  in  their  chosen  professions. 
Crossing  Hampton  Roads  to  the  Alma  Mater  of  Dr. 
Booker  T.  Washington  and  Major  R.  R.  Moton, 
Mr.  Brown  was  fortunate  in  securing  the  services 
of  William  M.  Rich.  Trained  in  the  unexcelled 
Commercial  Department  of  Hampton  Institutte, 
Mr.  Rich  combined  a  keen  business  sagacity  with  a 
pleasant  personality,  that  enables  him  not  only  to 
attract  patrons  to  the  bank,  but  to  hold  them  by 
successfully  managing  the  banks  affairs  in  such 
manner  as  to  enable  it  to  fill  a  long  needed  place  in 
financing  worthy  colored  business  enterprises.  Fol 
lowing  the  footsteps  of  his  illustrious  fellow  grad 
uate  Major  Moton,  he  is  devoting  his  talents  to  aid 
in  establishing  for  the  Negroes  successful  enter 
prises  of  their  own.  In  this  connection  it  might  be 
stated  he  even  followed  the  Major  in  choosing  a 
wife  from  the  same  family,  although  there  is  room 
for  argument  as  to  whether  he  was  following  the 
Major,  or  it  "just  happened."  The  bank  has  been 
so  successfully  conducted,  that  two  years  ago  the 
directors  were  compelled  to  grant  Mr.  Rich  an  as 
sistant  cashier,  and  it  speaks  volumes  for  Mr.  Rich 
and  his  Alma  Mater  that  they  elected  Edward  H. 
Vaughn,  another  Hampton  graduate  to  the  posi 
tion.  The  bank  has  not  only  grown  to  a  position 
of  financial  power  in  Norfolk,  but  did  yeomans  ser 
vice  during  the  world  war  in  handling  Liberty 
Bonds  and  Thrift  Stamps.  The  bank  as  an  institu 
tion,  and  its  personnel  as  individuals,  were  always 
to  the  forefront  in  all  war  work,  and  liberally  con 
tributed  to  all  Red  Cross,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Salvation 
Army  and  Camp  Community  Service  Drives.  The 
bank  is  establishing  a  pride  of  race  and  a  spirit  of 
thrift  in  the  Negroes  of  Norfolk,  that  makes  it  a 
distinct  gain  to  the  community,  and  there  is  a  care 
fully  nourished  spirit  of  fellowship  between  the  de 


positors  and  officers  that  causes  these  depositors  to 
come  to  the  bank  with  all  of  their  financial  troubles 
for  advice,  and  in  this  way  the  laboring  class  as 
well  as  the  merchants  are  being  taught  that  thrift 
means  independence  and  independence  means  self 
respect.  This  institution  and  its  work  has  also 
gained  the  respect,  and  increased  the  co-operation 
between  the  white  and  Negro  business  elements  of 
Norfolk,  and  is  bringing  about  a  friendlier  spirit 
which  is  enabling  the  Negroes  to  secure  better 
schools  and  other  civic  improvements.  Nothing  will 
show  more  clearly  the  very  remarkable  growth  of 
the  bank  in  the  last  two  years  than  an  advertise 
ment  which  appeared  in  "The  Journal  Guide." 

"BROWN    SAVINGS    AND    BANKING    COMPANY    IN 
CREASES    ITS    CAPITAL    STOCK 

Capital  Paid  In   $       50,000 

Surplus    20,900 

Resources 341,047.53 

Beginning  ten  years  ago  with  a  paid  in  capital  of 
$10,000,  by  faithful  application  of  sound  business 
methods,  Brown  Savings  and  Banking  Company 
has  enjoyed  phenominal  growth  and  attained  re 
sources  that  are  today  over  a  quarter  of  a  million 
dollars. 

ENLARGED   FACILITIES. 

To  handle  our  increasing  volume  of  business  and 
to  render  our  patrons  and  the  community  at  large 
the  best  possible  service  our  directors  at  a  recent 
session  authorized  an  increase  of  the  bank's  capital 
to  $50,000.  This  remarkable  growth  is  an  evidence 
of  the  hearty  co-operation  which  we  have  received 
from  the  public,  and  in  return  we  have  endeavored, 
and  will  continue  to  render  the  best  service  con 
sistent  with  sound  business  principles." 

(Signed), 

BROWN  SAVINGS  &  BANKING  CO.,  INC., 

NORFOLK,  VA. 

E.  C.  BROWN,  Pres. 
A.  J.   STRONG,  Vice-Pres. 
Win.  M.  RICH,  Cashier. 
E.  H.  VAUGHN, 
Asst.   Cashier. 

The  increase  of  $234,000  in  the  bank's  resources 
in  three  years  as  shown  by  the  bank's  statement 
speaks  for  itself. 

"Efficiency"  and  "courtesy"  is  the  bank's  motto, 
and  embraces  every  department.  Misses  Reddick 
and  Tolson  insure  sympathetic  assistance  to  any 
ladies  having  business  dealings  with  this  institu 
tion.  The  stockholders  are  to  be  congratulated  on 
the  first  ten  years  growth  which  bids  fair  to  put 
the  resources  of  the  bank  over  the  half  million 
mark  in  the  near  future. 


453 


LACY  KIRK  WILLIAMS,  A.  B.,  D.  D. 

EV.  Lacey  Kirk  Williams  was  horn 
in   a    one-room    cabin    in    Kufaula, 
Alabama,  where  he  spent  his  baby 
hood    days    and    in    a    two    room 
cabin  later  until  he  was  six  years 
of  age,  when   he   moved   with   his 
father  to  Texas. 
When    12    years    of    age    he     was 
converted  and  baptized  into  the  Thankful    Baptist 
Church,  by  its  pastor,  Rev.  A.   Rivers. 

In  securing  an  education  he  passed  through  the 
public  schools  of  Texas,  and  then  attended  respect 
ively,  Hearne  College,  Hearne,  Texas ;  Bishop  Col 
lege,  Marshall  Texas,  where  he  finished  the  Theo 
logical  and  Academic  courses,  and  then  the  Arkan 


sas  Baptist  College,  where  his  A.  B.  course  was 
finished. 

In  1914  the  Selma  University  conferred  upon  him 
the  degree  of  D.  D. 

in  1894,  he  organized  his  first  church,  which 
started  with  four  members.  It  was  located  at  Col 
lege  Station,  Brazos  County,  Texas. 

He  built  church  edifices  at  Lyons  Station,  Cam 
eron,  Macedonia,  Dallas,  Mt.  Gilead  and  Ft.  Worth, 
Texas.  The  church  at  Ft.  Worth  cost  $95.000,  and 
is  a  most  beautiful  structure. 

He  is  now  pastor  of  Olivet  Baptist  Church,  Chi 
cago,  Illinois.  1  his  church  has  a  membership  of 
8600;  it  collected  and  spent  in  1918,  $64,000.  To 
accommodate  its  large  membership  requires  three 
places  of  worship,  and  every  Sunday  it  is  necessary 
to  hold  three  to  four  overflow  services. 

He  has  held  many  honorary  positions  ;  Chairman 
of  the  State  Prohibition  Association  of  Texas ; 
President  LaGrange  District  Baptist  Sunday- 
School  Convention ;  President  for  12  years  of  the 
Baptist  Missionary  and  Educational  Convention  of 
Texas;  President  of  the  I.  &  M.  College,  Fort 
Worth,  a  Dean  of  Theology  of  the  same  school 
prior  to  being  elected  President ;  Editor  Western 
Star,  official  organ  of  the  Colored  Baptists  of 
Texas;  and  now  President  of  the  Baptist  State 
Convention  of  Illinois. 

Mr  .Williams  was  the  only  minister  appointed 
by  Governor  Lawnden  to  serve  on  a  mixed  board  of 
prominent  citizens  to  study  and  report  on  inter 
racial  relations  in  Chicago. 

August  16,  1894,  he  married  Miss  Georgia  Lewis, 
of  Pitt  Bridge,  Texas.  They  have  one  child,  a  boy 
13  years  old. 

Many  regard  Dr.  Williams  as  the  foremost 
speaker  and  leader  of  the  Negro  Baptists  since  tin- 
death  of  the  lamented  Booker  T.  Washington. 


CABIN  IN  WHICH  DR.  WILLIAMS  WAS  BORN 


W.  CURTIS   REID 


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PETER  JAMES  BRYANT.  D.  D. 

ETER  James  Bryant,  is  what  is 
often  termed  a  precocious  youth, 
but  in  reality,  with  him,  it  was 
the  early  unfolding  of  a  strong 
and  active  brain.  He  was  born  in 
Sylvania,  Screven  County,  Geor 
gia,  April  13,  1872.  At  the  early  age  of  four  he 
gave  evidence  of  that  characteristic  which  finally 
led  to  his  life  work.  While  yet  on  the  borderland 
of  babyhood  he  would  call  the  children  about  him 
and  preach  to  them.  His  gift  was  so  pronounced 
that  the  older  people  had  him  preach  to  them  and 
listened  attentively  to  his  messages. 

His  parents,  though  poor,  had  an  ambition  to  ed 
ucate  their  children,  numbering  nine,  and  made 
great  sacrifices  to  send  them  to  school. 

At  the  age  of  six  years  Peter  was  sent  to  the 
Public  Schools  at  Guyton,  Georgia,  and  after  fin 
ishing  at  the  lower  school  he  entered  the  Pilgrim 
High  School,  of  the  same  town.  He  was  an  apt 
student  and  led  his  classes.  After  finishing  at  tlv 
Pilgrim  High  School,  he  went  to  Atlanta,  Georgia. 
and  entered  Morehouse  College.  Here  .again 
he  applied  himself  diligently,  and  advanced  rapidly. 
While  in  Atlanta,  he  also  took  a  course  in  the 


American  Normal  Correspondence  School,  of  Dan 
ville,  New  York.  When  ten  years  of  age,  he  was 
converted  and  joined  the  Macedonia  Baptist  Church 
of  Guyton,  Ga.,  and  he  developed  such  an  aptitude 
for  religious  work,  that  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
he  was  made  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School. 

When  fourteen  years  of  age  he  took  up  the  work 
of  teaching,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  rural 
school.  From  the  rural  school  he  advanced  to 
teacher  in  the  public  school  of  Madison,  Georgia, 
and  of  Jonesboro,  Georgia. 

He  began  his  ministerial  work  among  the  coun 
try  churches,  which  he  served  faithfully,  but  a  man 
of  his  ability  was  needed  in  the  larger  fields  and 
it  was  only  a  few  years  before  he  had  charge  of 
the  Wheat  Street  Baptist  Church  of  Atlanta.  Un 
der  his  able  leadership  the  congregation  has  grown 
until  it  ranks  among  the  largest  in  the  United 
States.  The  church  was  burned  in  the  big  fire  that 
swept  Atlanta  in  1918.  Dr.  Bryant,  nothing  daunt 
ed  is  raising  the  funds  with  which  to  build  a 
greater  and  grander  edifice;  one  that  will  in  every 
way  measure  up  to  the  high  religious  ideals  of  the 
congregation  and  minister.  Needless  to  say  the 
work  will  succeed,  for  this  noted  divine  doesn't 
know  the  meaning  of  the  word  failure. 

His  ability  as  a  pulpit  orator  is  only  second  to 
his  ability  as  a  successful  pastor,  and  many  mem 
bers  of  other  congregations  frequent  his  church. 

He  is  deeply  interested  in  the  Baptist  Young 
People's  Union,  and  served  as  President  of  the 
Georgia  State  Convention  of  this  Union  and  also 
President  of  the  National  Baptist  Young  People's 
Union.  He  served  as  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  the  Young  People's  Christian  and  Eucational 
Congress  of  America,  representing  forty  denomi 
nations,  at  Guyton,  Georgia,  and  at  Atlanta.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Commission  of  Church  and 
Country  Life  of  American  Federation  of  Churches  ; 
Chairman  of  Colored  Department  of  Associated 
Churches,  Atlanta,  Georgia ;  and  a  member  'of  the 
Executive  Committee  both  of  the  Georgia  and 
National  Baptist  Conventions.  He  has  traveled 
over  America,  England,  Scotland,  Wales,  Ireland, 
France,  Italy,  Switzerland,  Greece,  Egypt,  Pales 
tine,  and  Syria. 

October  26,  1892,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sylvia 
Cecil  Jenkins,  of  Savannah,  Georgia.  They  have 
PO  children.  He  owns  his  residence  and  several 
lots  valued  at  $6000.  He  is  a  Mason,  member  of 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Supreme  Circle. 

He  rendered  patriotic  service  during  the  war  and 
was  one  of  the  four  minute  speakers.  He  also 
took  part  in  the  War  Workers  Campaign  and 
raised  $60,000  in  ten  days. 

During  his  ministerial  work  he  has  baptised  more 
than  8000  converts. 


456 


W.  H.  Harris,  M.  D. 


R.  W.  H.  Harris,  Grand  Secretary 
of  the  Improved  Order  of  Samar 
itans  is  a  man  who  has  helped  his 
people  from  three  different  an 
gles — doing  all  of  the  work  well. 
His  first  endeavor  along  the  line 
of  public  uplift  was  made  as  a  teacher,  his  next  as  a 
doctor  und  his  present  as  a  lodge  man  where  he 
helps  to  look  out  for  the  fatherless  and  the  widows. 

In  all  of  these  endeavors  he  has  taken  front  rank 
and  has  made  his  influence  felt  in  the  lives  of  those 
he  has  touched,  and  has  already  made  a  record 
which  will  keep  him  in  fond  remembrance  and  of 
which  any  man  could  well  be  proud,  though  his 
work  is  still  in  its  active  stage. 

Dr.  Harris  was  born  in  Augusta.  Georgia,  im 
mediately  after  the  days  of  slavery,  when  the 
South  was  in  the  throes  of  reconstruction,  and 
when  the  transition  from  slavery  to  freedom  was 
attended  with  many  trials  and  great  hardships.  He 
was  one  of  fourteen  children  and  his  father  found 
it  difficult  to  provide  them  with  bread  and  was  in 
no  postion  to  have  him  educated.  He  early  felt  the 
cravings  for  an  education  and  notwithstanding  his 
environment  which  seemed  an  impassable  barrier 
to  his  ambition,  he  determined  to  secure  one. 

He  studied  alone  and  with  such  help  as  he  could 
get  for  a  time.  He  then  entered  Clark  University. 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  1886.  Here  he  remained  till 
1890.  His  next  studying  was  done  in  Meharry 
Medical  College  from  which  institution  he  received 
a  degree  in  1893.  Since  that  time  he  has  done  post 
graduate  work  in  both  Harvard  and  New  York 
Clinical  School  and  so  prepared  himself  thoroughly 
for  the  profession  of  his  choice. 

Before  taking  up  the  study  of  medicine,  still 
a  young  man  in  his  teens,  Dr.  Harris  taught  school 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  taught  in  a  number 
of  places  in  the  Northern  part  of  Georgia.  After 
he  finished  his  medical  course  he  settled  down  to 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  the  city  of  Athens. 
Here  for  twenty-five  years  he  followed  this  profes 
sion  of  his  choice.  Like  most  conscientious  Doc 
tors,  his  was  the  opportunity  to  learn  of  the  inside 
lives  of  his  patients,  his  was  the  chance  to  send 
them  on  a  higher  endeavor  after  relieving  their 
bodily  suffering,  his  was  the  duty  to  show  nobler 
ways  of  living.  During  the  twenty-five  years  that 
Dr.  Harris  spent  in  this  work,  he  did  great  good 
along  all  these  lines.  He  also  served  as  the  first 
President  of  the'  Georgia  State  Medical  Associa 
tion  of  Colored  Doctors. 

His  duties  as  Grand  Secretary  and  Chief  Medi 
cal  Examiner  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Samaritans 


claimed  so  much  of  his  attention,  as  to  finally  cause 
him  to  give  up  his  active  practice  of  medicine,  and 
to  this  order  he  is  giving  his  time  and  talent. 

Under  his  wise  and  conservative  management 
the  order  is  making  great  progress  and  gaining 
much  strength.  Through  his  untiring  efforts  and 
leadership  the  order  has  built  a  magnificent  tem 
ple,  costing  $50,000,  which  is  a  modern  structure 
in  all  of  its  appointments. 

Dr.  Harris  is  well  prepared  for  this  work. 
As  a  teacher  he  became  well  acquainted  with  the 
working  of  the  mind,  as  a  Doctor  he  became  well 
acquainted  with  the  functioning  of  the  parts  of  the 
body,  and  also  with  the  ideals  and  aspirations  of 
our  people.  To  the  widows  and  the  orphans  he  is 
one  who  understands  and  one  who  can  advise. 
Through  the  organization,  Dr.  Harris  has  been  able 
to  continue  the  uplift  work  that  he  began  while 
still  in  his  teens — that  of  helping  others. 

In  line  with  his  other  work,  he  organized  the  E. 
D.  Harris  Drug  Company,  of  which  he  is  president, 
which  conducts  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equip 
ped  drug  stores  for  the  colored  people  in  the  whole 
country. 

In_  church  connections  he  is  an  African  Methodist 
Episcopal,  being  a  member  of  the  Pierce  Chapel  of 
the  faith  in  Athens,  Georgia.  Besides  being  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Good  Samaritans,  Dr.  Harris  is  an  Odd 
Fellow,  a  Mason,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  an  Elk. 
Through  these  organizations  he  has  come  in  con 
tact  with  many,  of  the  problems  that  con 
front  colored  people  everywhere.  Not  all  of  his 
time  and  interest  have  gone  into  the  school,  the 
church,  the  practice  of  medicine  and  the  lodges. 
Dr.  Harris  has  also  been  interested  in  the  National 
affairs.  He  is  chairman  of  the  Ninth  Republican 
Congressional  District  and  he  has  been  elected  del 
egate  to  the  Republican  National  Convention  four 
times.  His  old  interest  in  schools  stills  holds  as 
is  seen  from  the  fact  that  he  now  serves  as  trustee 
of  Morris  Brown  University. 

In  the  Harris  family  there  are  five  children,  Hat- 
tie,  Marie,  Roderick,  Percival,  and  Taliaferro  Har 
ris.  The  oldest  son  is  General  Manager  in  Frater 
nal  Insurance  work  and  the  oldest  daughter  is  chief 
book-keeper.  Another  of  the  sons  is  a  pharma 
cist.  Mrs.  Harris  was  Miss  Mary  Jane  Badger. 
They  make  an  interesting  family  and  have  served 
to  keep  Dr.  Harris  with  a  keen  interest  in  the  lives 
of  young  people. 

Dr.  Harris  has  succeeded  in  saving  a  competence 
for  the  care  of  his  family  and  to  meet  the  de 
mands  of  old  age.  He  is  estimated  to  be  worth 
$50.000. 


457 


JUDGE  SCIPIO  A.  JONES 


Judge  Scipio  A.  Jones 


WENTY,  even  ten  years  age,  tc 
speak  of  illiteracy  or  of  a  back 
ward  country,  was  to  conjure  uji 
a  picture  of  the  Arkansas  made 
famous  by  Opie  Read.  A  country 

that  from  the  Mississippi  delta  to 

the  Ozarks,  was  supposed  to  be  people  by  a  semi- 
civilized  people,  the  height  of  whose  ambition  was 
to  gather  at  some  out  of  the  way  community  store 
and  talk  politics.  Such  a  type  could  be  found  in 
Arkansas,  and  can  still  be  found  there  as  they  can 
in  every  other  state  in  the  Union,  but  they  are  not 
types  of  the  state's  citizens,  but  of  a  small  minor 
ity,  too  remotely  located  from  schools,  to  receive 
any  educational  advantages.  There  is  another  type 
in  Arkansas,  that  is  representative  of  the  ma 
jority  of  her  citizens.  It  is  this  type  that  is 
draining  the  immensely  fertile  Mississippi  delta 
lands  that  comprise  a  big  part  of  the  Eastern  half 
of  the  state,  and  putting  them  in  a  state  of  produc 
tivity  that  is  bringing  untold  riches  to  her  farmers 
and  merchants.  It  is  this  class  of  men  that  have 
changed  the  picturesque  Ozark  Mountains  from  a 
vast  wilderness  to  the  greatest  apple  producing 
country  in  the  world.  It  is  this  type  of  citizens  that 
have  made  such  modern  cities  as  Little  Rock,  Hot 
Springs,  Ft.  Smith.  Pine  Bluff,  and  Helena  possible, 
and  it  is  all  these  as  a  whole  that  are  fast  putting 
Arkansas  in  the  forefront  of  progressive  states.  It 
has  been  truthfully  said  that  a  chain  is  as  strong 
as  its  weakest  link.  Therefore  in  judging  the  pro 
gress  of  a  state  or  community,  any  one  at  all  quali 
fied  for  the  task,  would  at  once  seek  to  find  the  re 
sults,  being  obtained,  not  by  those  with  the  great 
est  opportunities,  but  those  who  were  overcoming 
the  greatest  difficulties.  The  splendid  record  of 
the  Arkansas  Negroes  in  the  professional,  commer 
cial,  rural  and  religious  life  of  the  State  has  con 
tributed  wonderfully  to  the  State's  development. 
There  are  quite  a  number  of  colored  citizens,  whose 
records  are  a  source  of  pride  to  the  communities 
in  which  they  reside  and  to  the  State  at  large,  ir 
respective  of  race.  Prominent  among  these  is 
Judge  Scipio  A.  Jones,  of  Little  Rock. 

Admitted  to  the  Pulaski  Circuit  Court,  June  15th, 
1889,  Attorney  Jones  began  the  practice  of  law  at 
a  time  when  conditions  necessarily  made  a  great 
part  of  his  work  pure  charity,  his  only  reward  be 
ing  the  knowledge  that  he  was,  in  a  measure,  pro 
tecting  his  people  and  aiding  them  in  getting  jus 
tice. 

His  ability  became  so  marked  that  he  attracted 
the  attention  of  J.  E.  Hush,  of  Little  Rock,  Pres 
ident  and  founder  of  the  Mosiac  Templars.  Mr. 


Bush,  who  has  been  likened  to  Andrew  Carnegie  in 
his  ability  to  find  and  develop  talented  heads  of  de 
partments  for  his  interests,  in  or  about  1895,  ap 
pointed  Judge  Jones,  National  Attorney  General 
for  the  Mosiac  Templars.  It  is  sufficient  to  state 
that  for  the  last  twenty  years  Judge  (ones  has 
guided  this  remarkably  successful  organization 
through  the  shoals  of  legal  entanglements,  in  a 
manner  that  stamps  him  as  a  corporate  attorney 
of  exceptional  ability.  Many  members  of  the  bar 
are  ever  on  the  alert  for  personal  publicity  and  rush 
their  clients  into  court  on  the  slightest  provocation. 
It  has  always  been  the  Judges'  principle  to  appeal 
to  the  courts  only  as  a  last  resort.  He  has  un 
bounded  confidence  in  the  integrity  of  his  fellow 
man  and  goes  on  the  principle  that  calm  reasoning, 
and  common  sense  save  court  costs.  Judge  Jones' 
position  with  the  Mosiac  Templars  requires  only- 
part  of  his  time,  and  he  has  builded  a  private  prac 
tice  in  Arkansas,  second  to  none.  His  offices  are 
located  at  Little  Rock,  where  his  work  necessitates 
him  having  a  large  corps  of  highly  trained  assist 
ants.  Judge  Jones  was  admitted  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Arkansas,  Nov.  26th,  1900.  To  the  U.  S. 
District  Court  for  the  Western  Division  of  the 
Eastern  District  of  Arkansas,  and  the  U.  S.  Circuit 
Court  for  Arkansas  October  30,  1901.  To  the  U. 
S.  Supreme  Court,  May  29th,  1905,  and  to  the  U. 
S.  Court  of  Appeals,  Dec.  10,  1914. 

The  Judge's  personal  popularity  in  his  home 
town  was  shown  by  his  election  as  Special  Judge  in 
the  Municipal  Court  of  Little  Rock,  April  *8th, 
1915,  which  position  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  his  people. 

The  Judge  is  not  only  National  Attorney  for  the 
Mosaic  Templars,  but  an  active  member  of  all  of 
the  strongest  fraternities  with  lodges  in  Little 
Rock,  and  attends  the  State  and  National  Conven 
tions  whenever  possible. 

No  greater  tribute  can  be  paid  to  the  Judge's  pa 
triotism  than  to  quote  from  his  speech  to  the  Na 
tional  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Mosaic  Templars  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  world's  war. 

"These  are  perilous  times.  Among  those  who 
will  march  under  the  flag  of  the  United  States  will 
be  true  and  tried  Mosaics.  These  Mosaics  will 
leave  their  families  and  go  to  fight  and  die  for  you 
and  for  me.  Your  Executive  Committee  bought 
thirty  thousand  dollars  ($30,000.00)  worth  of  Lib 
erty  Loan  Bonds,  but  we  ought  to  go  further,  as 
the  "end  is  not  yet."  If  you  can't  fight  with  vour 
musket  you  can  fight  with  your  dollars !  There  arc- 
no  cowards  among  us — no  slackers  on  our  rolls." 


459 


State  Normal  School,  Normal,  Ala. 


HE  oft-quoted  saying  of  Emerson, 
that  an  "institution  is  the  length 
ened  shadow  -of  one  man,"  is  es 
pecially  applicable  in  the  case  of 
the  State  Agricultural  and  Me 
chanical  College,  at  Normal,  Ala 
bama,  Normal,  as  the  institution  is  common  y 
designated,  is  the  lengthened  shadow  of  the  late 
William  Hooper  Council,  ex-slave,  legislator,  edu 
cator  and  author. 

Dr.  Council  was  born  in  Fayetteville,  North  Car 
olina,  in  1848.  Sold  through  the  famous  "Rich 
mond  Slave  Pen,"  he  was  shipped  into  Alabama  in 
1857,  when  a  lad  of  but  nine  years.  Young  though 
he  was,  he  was  put  to  work  in  the  cotton  fields, 
where  he  toiled  till  the  Emancipation  Proclamation 
severed  his  bondman's  shackles.  His  freedom 
gained,  he  looked  about  for  a  place  to  improve  his 
mind.  It  chanced  that  missionaries  from  the  North 
had  come  down  to  Stevenson,  Alabama,  in  1865  to 
open  a  school.  Dr.  Council  was  one  of  the  first 
pupils  to  enter.  He  remained  at  Stevenson  three 
years,  which  though  a  short  time  within  itself, 
gave  the  young  ex-slave  habits  of  study  and  of 
thought  and  aided  him  much  in  mapping  out  a  fu 
ture  career. 

Leaving  school  but  still  studying  hard,  Dr.  Coun 
cil  taught,  preached,  and  indeed  threw  the  weight 
of  his  strong  personality  into  many  channels  of 
service  for  the  benighted  colored  people  of  his 
state.  His  rise  in  the  public  activities  of  Alabama 
was  rapid,  yet  secure ;  for  the  footing  which  he 
gained  in  those  early  days  of  Reconstruction,  he 
held  and  expanded  to  the  day  of  his  death. 

Four  years  after  leaving  the  school  at  Stevenson 
saw  him  a  prominent  figure  in  the  state.  He  was 
Enrolling  Clerk  in  the  Alabama  Legislature  from 
1872  to  1874.  In  1875  he  was  appointed,  by  Pres 
ident  Grant,  as  Receiver  of  the  Land  Office  for  the 
Northern  District  of  Alabama.  Two  years  later 
he  founded  the  "Huntsville  Herald,"  which  he  ed 
ited  for  seven  years  and  through  which  he  did  much 
to  educate  his  people  and  to  shape  their  thoughts 
properly  on  public  matters. 

Though  he  gave  much  time  to  public  service, 
Dr.  Council  never  neglected  to  improve  himself. 
Continuing  his  studies  under  private  instruction,  he 
developed  a  rare  proficiency,  regardless  of  race  and 
previous  limited  advantages,  in  the  modern  lan 
guages,  in  the  sciences,  in  higher  mathematics,  in 
the  classics,  and  in  history.  He  was  an  authority 
on  race  history  and  conditions  as  is  well  attested 
bv  his  "Lamp  of  Wisdom,"  a  splendid  compendium 
of  Negro  history,  published  in  1898.  He  studied 


law  and  was  admitted  to  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Alabama,  in  1883.  For  his  rare  scholarship  he  was 
honored  by  Morris  Brown  College,  with  the  de 
gree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy.  He  was  an  orator 
much  in  demand  and  widely  known;  so  well  known 
indeed  that  when  he  traveled  in  Europe  he  was 
most  cordially  received  by  Hon.  William  E.  Glad 
stone,  and  by  King  Leopold  of  Belgium,  lie  spoke, 
wrote  and  labored  incessantly  for  industrial  edu 
cation,  for  African  Missions,  and  for  better  trained 
teachers  and  workers.  He  was  a  strong  advocate 
of  temperance,  and  contributed  many  helpful  race 
articles  to  magazines  and  newspapers.  Among  his 
published  works  are  two  books :  "The  Lamp  of 
Wisdom,"  mentioned  before,  and  "The  Negro  La- 
borer-A  Word  to  Him."  He  left  in  manuscript 
form  three  books :  "The  History  of  My  Life," 
"The  Teacher's  Manual,"  and  "The  Silver  Lining." 
He  ranked  high  as  a  churchman  and  was  an  im 
portant  factor  in  our  fraternal  organizations. 

However,  through  all  his  activities,  he  remained 
what  he  began,  a  school  teacher,  an  educator.  Nor 
mal  was  founded  by  him  in  1875,  the  same  year  that 
he  was  made  Receiver  of  the  Land  Office  in  North 
Alabama.  The  school  through  his  powerful  influ 
ence  secured  substantial  financial  backing  from  the 
beginning,  receiving  from  the  state  an  annual  ap 
propriation  of  $1000.  It  opened  in  May,  1875. 
with  sixty-one  pupils  and  two  teachers,  and 
in  rented  quarters.  The  large  property  now  owned 
by  the  College  had  its  origin  in  the  self-sacrificing 
labors  of  Dr.  Council,  assisted  by  a  devoted  faculty 
that  taught  with  him  in  the  first  few  years  of  the 
institution's  existence.  Under  his  inspirational  in 
fluence,  the  teachers  signed  with  him  a  contract  do 
nating  a  certain  percentage  of  their  salaries  to  be 
used  in  the  purchase  of  a  school  site.  The  site  was 
purchased  in  Huntsville,  Alabama,  and  deeded  to 
the  state  for  the  exclusive  use  of  furthering  the 
education  of  the  Negro  youth.  This  was  the  first 
property  owned  by  the  College  and  it  formed  the 
nucleus  and  the  incentive  for  all  that  followed.  In 
1878,  the  annual  state  appropriation  was  raised  to 
two  thousand  dollars. 

Self-made,  knowing  the  struggles,  needs  and 
yearnings  of  his  people,  Dr.  Council  sought  to 
shape  the  policies  of  the  institution  to  help  as  many 
classes  of  people  as  possible.  In  1885  the  State 
increased  the  grant  from  two  thousand  to  four 
thousand  dollars  per  year,  to  which  was  added  later 
help  from  the  Slater  and  Peabody  Funds,  and  from 
private  donors  who  gave  at  the  solicitation  of  Dr. 
Council. 

In    1891    the   Legislature   of   Alabama    made   this 


460 


ar 

VARSITY  BASEBALL  TEAM  1019. 


ESERVE  OFFICERS'  TRAINING 


REPAIRING  ABi&  GASOLINE  ENGINE 


A  CLASS  IN  FANCY  SEWING 


A  CLASS  IN  COOKING. 


DEPARTMENT  VIEWS— STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL— NORMAL,  ALA. 


school  the  beneficiary  of  the  fund  granted  by  Act  has  twenty-one  buildings,  and  a  total  property  val- 

of   Congress,    approved   on    August    30,    1890,    "for  nation  of  $185,000.     It  has  one  hundred  eighty-two 

the  more  complete  endowment  and  the  support  of  acres  of  land,  ninety  of  which  are  under  cultivation 

the  colleges  for  the  benefit  of  agrculture  and  me-  for    educational    purposes,    and  to   aid   in   running 

chanic  arts."  lnc  school.     It  has  twenty-nine  instructors,  twenty 

Thus  supported,  Normal  was  not  long  in  bccom-  four  students  taking  the  college  course,  and  three 

ing  an  important  educational  factor  in  the  state  of  hundred   seventy-nine    taking   other   courses,    most 

Alabama.   One  by  one  brick  buildings  went  up,  s'u-  of  which  are  practical  in  their  training. 

dents  increased  and  courses   were   added  until   the  It    is    in    offering   courses   of    study    that   Normal 

school  was  numbered  with  the  larger  Negro  insti-  has    shown    itself   the    most    useful   and   adaptable, 

tutions  of  the  nation.  Seeking  as  it  did  under  its  founder  to  fit  the  young 

Happily,  Dr.  Council  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age.  and  for  all  pursuits,  Normal,  in  addition  to  its  college 
was  able  to  see  the  institution  thoroughly  estab-  courses,  has  departments  giving  Mechanical,  Ag- 
lished  in  equipment,  in  courses  and  in  practical  use-  ricultural.  Domestic,  Commercia1  and  Nurse  Train- 
fulness  in  the  state.  For  more  than  a  third  of  a  ing  Courses  in  all  their  various  detail.  Thus  in  tlr- 
century  he  served  as  its  head,  and  died  in  office.  Agricultural  Department  are  taught  Truck  Farm- 
April  14,  1909.  ing.  Dairying  and  the  like  ;  in  the  Department  of 

His  successor,  Mr.  Walter  S.  Buchanan,  is  carry-  Mechanical  Industries,  Steam  and  Electrical  F.n- 
ing  out  and  re-enforcing  all  the  policies  laid  down  gineering,  Carpentry,  Wheelwrighting  and  Black- 
In-  the  founder.  Mr.  Buchanan  is  thoroughly  smithing.  Shoe-making.  Printing,  Tailoring,  etc. : 
trained  for  the  office  to  which  he  succeeds.  He  in  Domestic  Arts:  Cooking,  Sewing,  Dress-making, 
was  born  and  reared  in  Troy,  Alabama.  Having  Millinery  and  Handicrafts.  The  Department  of 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Troy,  he  entered  Commercial  Arts  gives  instruction  in  Typewriting. 
Tuskegee  Institute,  where  he  was  graduated  in  Shorthand,  and  Bookkeeping.  Normal  is  one  of 
1899.  the  few  Negro  Colleges  that  offers  a  thorough 

From    Tuskegee,    President    Buchanan    went     to  business  course. 

Aiken,  S.  C,  where  he  taught  for  two  years  in  the  But  the  school   realized  years   ago  that  it   must 

Schofield   School  before   going  to   Boston,    Massa-  go  outside  of  the  class  room  to  give  the  full  meas- 

chusetts,  where  he  enrolled  in  the  Sloyd  Training  ure  of  service.     Hence  for  years.  Normal  has  been 

School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1902.  Af-  the   North  Alabama  center   for   farmers'   institutes 

ter  preparing  with  the  help  of  private  tutors  and  and  Conferences,  rural  club  meetings  for  farmers' 

the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  night  school  of  Boston,  he  entered  ,    (                ,      ,  •  ,  , 

wives,    and    for    rural    children.     When    the    Corn 

Harvard    University    in    1904,    and    was    graduated 

Club.   Pig  Club  and  Tomato  Club   idea   struck   the 
with  the  degree,  B.  A.  S.,  in  1907.     On  graduating 

,                              ,,  South,  Normal  was  one  of  the  first  institutions  to 
from   Harvard,   Mr.    Buchanan   served  two  months 

as   Southern   Agent   for   Tuskegee   Institute.       He  1nlt   an  a-ent  in   the   field-   to  establish   such   clubs 

was  called  from  Tuskegee  to  accept  the  principal-  among   Negroes.     Under   the    Smith-Lever   Bill,    it 

ship    of    the    Corona    Industrial    Institute,    Corona,  has  been  able  to  extend  its  services  as  well  as  pro- 

Alabama.  Here  he  remained  for  two  years,  becom-  long  them   among  the  Negro    boys    and    girls    of 

ing  President  of  Normal  in  1909.  It  was  during  this  North  Alabama.     To  perpetuate  and  improve  these 

year  that  he  married  Miss  Ida  Council,  the  daugh-  endeavors   among  rural   folk,  the   college   is   train- 

ter   of   the   founder.     Three   children   have   blessed  ing  students   in   all   the   phases  of   rural   extension 

the  union.  work.     In  summer  and  in  winter  it  keeps  open  its 

Under  him  Normal  is  now  realizing  to  the   full  doors   to   instruct   both    students   and   teachers    to 

the  meaning  of  the  dreams  of  its  founder.     It  has  teach   others.     This  holds  not  only  in  giving  spe- 

added  many  new  buildings,  the  most  important  of  cial  instruction  from  texts  and  in  trades,  but  also 

which  is  perhaps  the  new  hospital  which  serves  as  in   showing  the  student  how   to  organize   and   lead 

a  health  center  not  only  for  the  student  body,  but  communities   and  to  touch   their   lives   for  good  in 

for  the   whole   community.     In   all,   the   institution  material  progress  and  in  clean  living. 

462 


CHARLES  HARRY  ANDERSON 

HE  subject  of  this  sketch  who  to 
day  ranks  as  one  of  the  foremost 
Negro  financiers  of  the  Country, 
inherits  his  ability  from  his  moth 
er.  Charlotte  (Lewis)  Anderson. 

This  remarkable  woman  was  left 

heavily  in  debt  and  with  seven  little  children  to 
support.  By  taking  in  washing  and  working  al 
most  day  and  night  she  managed  to  not  only  sup 
port  the  children  but  pay  the  indebtedness  left  by 
her  husband.  As  the  children  grew  older,  she 
started  a  little  store  and  a  truck  garden,  in. this 
way  they  not  only  aided  in  making  a  living,  but 
were  given  the  practical  training  that  was  to  serve 
them  so  well  in  later  years. 

Charles  Harry  Anderson,  her  mainstay,  was  born 
in  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  July  25,  1879.  He  was  educa 
ted  at  the  Florida  Baptist  Academy  of  that  place, 
and  took  a  business  course  in  a  Philadelphia  Bus 
iness  College. 

His  first  independent  business  venture  was  in 
1902.  buying  fish  by  the  barrel  and  peddling  them 
from  a  street  corner.  So  well  did  he  succeed  that 
it  was  only  a  short  time  before  he  rented  a  store 
and  opened  a  fish  and  oyster  business.  By  close 
attention  to  detail,  and  carefully  studying  the 
wants  and  needs  of  his  customers,  he  has  built  up 
l IK-  present  splendid  business  of  the  Anderson  Fish 
and  Oyster  Co.,  of  which  he  is  proprietor.  This  es 
tablishment  is  located  on  Broad  Street,  and  here  is 
installed  the  most  modern  cold  storage  and  sani 
tary  equipment  throughout. 

Mr.  Anderson   makes   it   a   rule   to   employ   only 


clerks,  whose  unfailing  courtesy  make  them  an  as 
set  to  his  business  and  he  has  made  the  motto  of 
the  Anderson  Fish  &  Oyster  Co.,  "sell  goods  that 
won't  come  back,  to  customers  that  will." 

From  his  very  first  business  venture,  he  saw  the 
need  of  a  banking  institution  that  would  serve  a 
two  fold  purpose  in  teaching  his  people  to  have  and 
to  aid  them  in  starting  businesses  of  their  own.  It 
was  here  that  the  early  training  he  received  from 
his  mother  stood  him  in  good  stead,  as  the  exper 
ience  of  his  own  family  had  demonstrated  to  him 
that  by  application  to  business  and  square  dealing. 
Negroes  could  succeed  in  business  for  themselves, 
and  all  they  needed  was  encouragement  and  a-  lit 
tle  help  in  starting.  It  was  the  knowledge  of  this 
need  and  the  confidence  he  had  in  the  ability  of  his 
people  to  succeed  that  caused  him  in  1914,  to  start 
a  private  banking  institution  under  the  name  of 
Anderson  Tucker  &  Co. 

One  year  later,  Mr.  Tucker's  interest  was 
bought  by  Mr.  Anderson's  Brother,  Richard,  and 
the  firm  name  changed  to  Anderson  and  Co.  This 
banking  institution  is  located  on  the  main  corner, 
ground  floor  of  the  magnificent  Masonic  Temple 
Building  on  Broad  Street.  It  is  here  that  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  belonging  to  the 
Negroes  of  Jacksonville  is  handled  with  an  efficien 
cy  that  is  attracting  the  attention  of  the  business 
interest  of  the  whole  State  of  Florida  and  the  Bank 
bids  fair  to  develop  into  a  state  wide  institution  for 
the  promotion  of  Negro  business  enterprises. 

With  a  paid  in  Capital  of  $15,000.00,  the  esteem 
in  which  these  bankers  are  held  by  the  Negroes  of 
Jacksonville  is  best  shown  by  the  fact  that,  al 
though  the  bank  has  still  to  be  nationalized,  the 
last  statement  to  the  comptroller  of  the  State  of 
Florida,  made  June  30,  1919,  shows  Deposits  of 
$217,029.82,  with  additional  deposits  in  the  Xmas 
Savings  Club,  of  $16,932.14.  No  greater  endorse 
ment  could  be  given  any  men  by  their  people.  Hun 
dreds  of  depositors  in  this  bank  are  laborers  who 
cannot  reach  the  bank  during  regular  banking 
hours  and  the  officers,  in  keeping  with  their  policy 
of  accommodating  their  clients  first,  keep  the  doors 
open  for  deposits  until  six  P.  M.  daily  and  9  P.  M. 
Saturday. 

Mr.  Chas.  H.  Anderson  was  married  to  Margaret 
H.  Myatt,  of' Jacksonville,  Fla..  Sept  18,  1907.  They 
have  four  children:  Hodge,  Seattle,  Chas.  H.  Jr., 
and  Joseph  M.  The  Andersons  occupv  their  own 
home,  an  elegant  residence  on  8th  and  Centre 
Streets.  An  atmosphere  of  quiet  refinement  per 
vades  the  home,  and  serves  as  an  inspiration  to 
those  fortunate  enough  to  be  guests  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  an  active  member  of  the  A.  M. 
F..  Church,  and  is  also  an  active  member  of  the  K. 
nf  P's,  and  Odd  Fellows. 


-J63 


MASONIC  TEMPLE  BUILDING-JACKSONVILLE,    FLA. 


Union  Grand  Lodge  of  Masons,  Florida  Jurisdiction 


HE  present  Union  Grand  Lodge  of 
Masons  in  the  State  of  FloriJa 
was  formed  in  1879,  by  consoli 
dating  the  then  Union  Grand 
Lodge  and  the  Sovereign  Grind 
Lodge.  The  committee  designat 
ed  to  draw  up  terms  of  union  be 
tween  the  two  Grand  Lodges  was 
composed  of  Charles  H.  Pearce,  Tillman  Valentine, 
and  Edward  A.  Brown,  from  the  Union  Grand 
Lodge ;  and  Richard  L.  Jones,  Jasper  N.  Tully,  Al- 
onzo  R.  Jones  and  James  A.  Meadows  from  the 
Sovereign  Grand  Lodge.  The  report  rendered  by 
the  committee  was  the  basis  of  union  of  the  two 
grand  bodies,  thus  making  the  beginning  of  the  ca 
reer  of  the  present  Most  Worshipful  Union  Grand 
Lodge  whose  former  grand  masters  have  been: 
Most  Worshipful  John  R.  Scott,  Most  Worship 
ful  Tillman  Valentine,  Most  Worshipful  S.  H.  Cole- 
man.  Most  Worshipful  R.  S.  Mitchell,  Most 
Worshipful  John  H.  Dickerson,  and  the  Most  Wor 
shipful  D.  D.  Powell,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  organization  and  successful  operation  of 
the  Masonic  Benefit  Association,  the  more  perfect 
working  of  the  large  corps  of  deputies  whose  du 
ties  cover  a  jurisdiction  now  comprising  a  mem 
bership  of  nearly  twelve  thousand  Master  Masons, 
not  including  the  hundreds  who  hold  membership 
in  the  Royal  Arch,  Knights-Templar,  and  Mystic 
Sliriners  division.  The  affiliated  branches  of  the 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and  the  Heroines  of 
Jericho  are  also  reckoned  in  the  growth  of  the 
craft  in  this  jurisdiction  in  the  past  decade. 

The  Masonic  Temple  at  the  corner  of  Duval  and 
Broad  Sts.,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  is  one  of  the  best 
edifices  of  its  kind  owned  by  colored  people  in  this 
country.  All  clases  of  our  citizens  irrespective  of 
their  affiliation,  point  with  pride  to  the  Masonic 
Temple.  It  is  the  one  thing  in  Jacksonville  which 
stands  ahead  of  all  others,  demonstrating  what 
our  people  can  do  when  we  marshal  our  resources, 
combine  our  forces  and  work  unitedly  for  one  end, 
In  the  erection  of  this  splendid  building,  of  which 
Rev.  John  H.  Dickerson,  ex-Grand  Master  of  the 
Most  Worshipful  Union  Grand  Lodge  of  Florida, 
was  the  projector,  it  was  not  only  necessary  to  ov 
ercome  the  incredulity  which  is  peculiar  to  our  peo 
ple,  but  with  the  elements  of  character  which  ex- 
Grand  Master  Dickerson  possessed  to  a  marked 
degree  to  push  forward  and  overcome  obstacles 
which  were  in  his  pathway.  This  he  did,  which  re 
sulted  in  the  completion  of  the  building  in  the  fall 
of  1913. 

The  temple  is  located  in  the  heart  of  the  city  and 
is  a  six  story  massive  structure  of  reinforced  con 
crete  and  steel,  and  is  finished  with  fine  pressed 
brick  and  marble.  The  corridors  are  twelve  feet 
wide,  with  tiled  floors.  There  are  forty-six  of 
fice  rooms,  which  are  used  for  business  purposes 
by  some  of  the  leading  colored  men  of  Jackson 
ville,  whose  offices  are  splendidly  furnished  and 
well  equipped  for  their  different  lines  of  business, 
and  which  are  heated  by  steam  in  winter  and  light 
ed  by  electricity.  The  ground  floor  has  six  com 
modious  store  rooms,  all  of  which  are  occupied. 
The  offices  and  reception  room  of  the  Grand 


Master  are  located  on  the  fifth  floor,  and  are  ele 
gantly  furnished.  It  is  from  these  apartments 
with  the  aid  of  his  private  secretary,  stenographers 
and  clerks  that  he  directs  the  Masonic  forces  of  the 
State,  and  makes  plans  to  advance  the  interests  of 
the  craft.  The  director's  room  adjoins  the  apart 
ment  of  the  grand  master  and  is  splendidly  fur 
nished  in  keeping  with  the  dignity  of  the  order. 
On  the  sixth  floor  is  the  beautiful  Eastern  Star 
Chamber  and  the  lodge  room  of  the  Mystic  Shrin- 
ers  and  Sublime  Princess  of  the  Royal  Secret. 
Above  all  this  is  an  elaborate  roof  garden,  where 
in  summer  evenings  300  guests  may  enjoy  the  cool 
atmosphere  that  wafts  with  the  breeze  that  is  al 
ways  to  be  felt  at  a  high  attitude. 

The  basement  of  this  magnificant  building  is 
splendidly  furnished,  and  it  is  here  that  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Masonic  Clubs  meet  and  "jolly"  each 
other  concerning  their  last  experience  in  "riding 
the  goat."  Set  basins  are  in  every  office  in  the 
building,  two  elevators  are  operated  to  carry  per 
sons  to  different  floors  janitor  service  is  furnished 
to  keep  the  offices  and  apartments  clean,  and  ev 
ery  modern  convenience  which  goes  to  make  a  first 
class  business  is  to  lie  found  in  this  splendid  edi 
fice.  The  furnishings,  equipments  and  parapher 
nalia  used  in  the  lodge  rooms  and  departmental 
quarters  are  also  first  class  and  up-to-date  and 
"goat  riding,"  which  is  still  hazardous,  is  conduct 
ed  with  just  a  bit  more  dignity,  pomp  and  splendor 
than  it  used  to  be  by  the  brethren  of  the  craft  in 
the  task  of  inducting  "raw  recruits"  into  the  sub- 
iime  mysteries  of  the  degree  of  the  fraternity. 

A  sketch  of  Florida  Masonry,  however,  brief, 
would  not  be  complete  without  special  mention  of 
the  present  most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  D.  D 
Powell,  and  Rt.  Worshipful  Grand  Secretary,  Wil 
liam  A.  Glover. 

Grand  Master  Powell  first  came  into  the  lime 
light  when  he  organized  Solomon  Lodge  166  and 
was  elected  first  Worshipful  Master.  He  quickly 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  State  officers  by  his 
ability  a«  an  organizer,  and  was  elected  District 
Deputy  Grand  Master.  He  was  elected  Junior 
Grand  Warden  in  1909,  Deputy  Grand  Master  in 
1910,  and  Grand  Master  in  1916.  Mr.  Powell  still 
occupies  this  position  with  a  brilliancy  that  is  add 
ing  luster  to  the  Masonic  body  of  Florida.  He  is  a 
33rd  degree  Mason,  Royal  Arch  Mason,  Knight 
Templar,  Shriner  and  member  of  the  Eastern  Star. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P's  and  Odd  Fel 
lows  and  a  Deacon  in  the  Spring  Hill  Baptist 
Church. 

William  A.  Glover,  Grand  Secretary,  is  also  a 
33rd  degree  Mason,  Royal  Arch  Mason.  Knight 
Templar.  Shriner,  Member  of  Eastern  Star,  and 
Master  of  Finance  of  M.  C.  B.  Mason  Lodge  No. 
97  K.  of  P's.  Secretary  Glover  enjoys  the  distinc 
tion  of  being  the  oldest  officer  in  the  Masonic  body 
of  Florida.  He  joined  the  Masons  in  1894.  and  has 
served  continuously  since.  He  organized  Myrtle 
Lodge  136,  organized  the  Masonic  Benefit  Associa 
tion  and  served  as  its  first  Secretary.  Served  as 
Grand  Chancellor  K.  of  P's.  of  Florida  from  1896 
to  1903,  and  is  now  serving  fourth  term  as  Grand 
Secretary  of  the  Masons. 


465 


LAWTON  LEROY   PRATT 


AWTON  Leroy  Pratt,  proprietor 
of  the  L.  L.  Pratt  Undertaking 
Co.  was  born  in  Lake  City,  Flor 
ida,  Dec.  23,  1885.  Mr.  Pratt 
came  to  Jacksonville  when  a 
mere  lad,  and  got  his  first  bus 
iness  experience  selling  papers  on  the  street  cor 
ners. 

Mr.  Pratt  always  ambitious  to  rise  saved  and 
skimped  to  pay  his  way  through  Cookman  Insti 
tute.  After  finishing  here  he  continued  to  sell 
papers  until  he  had  saved  sufficient  funds  to  take 
a  course  in  Parks  School  of  Embalming  at  Cincin 
nati,  Ohio.  On  receiving  his  diploma  he  returned 
to  Jacksonville  where  he  started  in  the  Undertak 
ing  business  for  himself  with  a  capital  of  $60.00. 
Mr.  Pratt's  personality  from  the  very  start  made 
him  many  friends.  Always  courteous  and  unas 
suming,  being  ever  alert  to  protect  the  feelings  and 
sensibilities  of  bereaved  relatives  in  the  hours  of 
deepest  sorrow,  he  soon  drew  to  himself  a  patron 
age  that  taxed  his  establishment  to  the  utmost  to 
handle. 

Thoroughly  trained  himself  in  the  most  modern 
schools,  he  is  a  firm  believer  in  modern  method? 
and  modern  equipment.  While  occupying  the 


building  at  416  Broad  Street,  he  conceived  the  idea 
of  building  an  establishment  that  would  be  not  only 
the  most  complete  undertaking  and  embalming 
plant  owned  and  operated  by  Negroes,  in  connect 
ion  with  splendid  stables  for  his  horse  drawn  vehi 
cles  and  garage  for  his  magnificent  hearses,  but  to 
have  the  upper  floors  fitted  up  with  every  modern 
home  convenience  so  that  he  might,  at  all  hours  of 
the  day  and  night,  be  in  close  personal  touch  with 
his  business.  In  this  he  was  aided  by  the  advice  of 
his  talented  wife,  who  was  Mrs.  Mamie  L.  Ander 
son,  of  New  York  City.  Mrs.  Pratt  is  a  graduate 
of  Barnes  School  of  Anatomy,  Sanitary  Science  and 
Embalming,  having  received  her  diploma  in  1909. 

Immediately  after  their  marriage  in  1913  they 
began  the  study  of  the  plants  and  methods  of  the 
finest  undertakers  in  both  the  South  and  East. 
They  determined  that  the  best  was  none  too  good 
for  Jacksonville,  and  that  the  Pratts  were  going  to 
furnish  that  best.  They  even  made  special  trips 
East  in  order  to  study  the  equipment  and  arrange 
ment  of  the  newest  plants.  When  fully  satisfied, 
plans  were  drawn  for  the  present  modern  building 
on  West  Beaver  Street.  The  main  building  is  of 
pressed  brick  two  stories  in  height.  On  the  first 
floor  are  the  offices  and  private  reception  rooms. 
Just  back  of  these  are  the  casket  rooms.  On  the 
side  of  the  building  leading  back  to  the  garage  and 
stables,  is  a  broad  concrete^drive.  The  stables  and 
garage  are  kept  as  scrupulously  clean  as  the  rest 
of  the  place.  There  are  three  horse  drawn  hearses, 
that  five  years  ago  would  have  been  sufficient  for 
the  most  up-to-date  establishment,  but  the  Pratts 
have  so  educated  their  clientile  up  to  expecting  the 
latest  that  they  have  been  compelled  to  buy  three 
auto  hearses.  On  the  second  floor  is  located  the 
living  apartments  of  the  Pratts,  and  it  is  here  that 
many  noted  Northerners  and  Easterners  are  guests 
in  the  tourist  season,  and  are  entertained  in  a  man 
ner  that  sends  them  home  with  pleasant  memories 
of  Southern  hospitality.  The  real  record  of  the 
Pratts  success  is  best  given  in  Mr.  Pratts  own 
words :  "Years  ago,  in  my  school  days,  I  learned 
the  motto,  'Aim  at  a  definite  end."  This  motto 
made  a  special  impression  on  me.  Whatever  suc 
cess  I  have  achieved  in  my  profession  has  been 
through  observing  this  motto,  and  aiming  at  a  def 
inite  end — giving  the  best  possible  service  to  our 
patrons.  I  realized  that  to  succeed  we  must  do 
things  different  from  others,  and  better  than  oth 
ers.  When  I  think  of  the  small  way  in  which  we 
started  eleven  years  ago,  in  an  obscure  room,  I  be 
lieve  that  our  efforts  have  really  met  with  success, 
for  our  present  establishment  provides  facilities 
not  found  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

In  our  Chapel  there  is  nothing  to  remind  one  that 
it  is  a  funeral  home.  The  utmost  care  is  shown 


466 


UNDERTAKING   ESTABLISHMENT  OF  L.  L.  PRATT 


to  remove  from  grief  stricken  people  any  reminder 
of  this  nature.  The  same  care  is  taken  to  secure 
the  utmost  privacy  so  that  the  remains  of  loved 
ones  shall  not  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  the  mer 
ely  curious.  In  our  embalming  room  where  prepa 
rations  are  made  for  burial  including  embalming  by 
the  most  scientific  methods  special  attention  is  giv 
en  to  the  Sanitary  features.  Refined  and  tender 
natures  only  should  ever  attempt  this  delicate  ser 
vice.  In  view  of  this  fact,  only  men  of  experience 
and  ability,  and  who  are  qualified  to  perform  in  a 
proper  and  respectful  manner  the  sacred  duties  of 
this  profession,  have  been  selected. 

Some  thought  at  first  that  the  motor  funeral 
was  introduced  as  a  matter  of  style.  But  this  is 
not  the  case.  The  motor  funeral  is  not  for  style, 
speed  or  fashion,  but  is  simply  the  result  of  the  era 
of  the  automobile.  The  motor  car  has  succeeded 
the  family  carriage  everywhere.  Practically  no 
one  rides  in  carriages  any  more.  Liverymen  have 
been  selling  out  for  years  as  a  result  of  lack  of  bus 
iness.  When  all  pleasure  vehicles  and  most  bus 
iness  vehicles  are  motor  driven,  the  time  is  cer 
tainly  here  for  us  to  offer  our  patrons  at  least  the 
choice  of  horse-driven  or  automobile  service.  The 
automobile  funeral  has  several  distinct  advantages 
— it  is  the  most  comfortable,  and  owing  to  absence 
of  noise  it  is  also  the  most  dignified.  The  charge 
for  motor  equipment  is  just  the  same  as  for  horse 


drawn  equipment,  and  it  often  actually  saves  ex 
pense  by  enabling  the  family  and  friends  who  have 
cars  to  use  them.  It  is  the  most  simple  and  natu 
ral.  Persons  are  accustomed  nowadays  to  ride  in 
motor  cars,  they  feel  more  at  ease  under  such  con 
ditions.  The  motor  funeral  does  not  hurry  and  on 
the  other  hand  it  does  not  waste  time,  or  needless 
ly  prolong  the  strain  to  which  friends  and  relatives 
are  subjected.  We  have  no  desire  to  urge  our  pa 
trons  to  use  motor  equipment  against  their  wish. 
Our  experience  leads  us  to  suggest,  however,  that 
it  will  be  found  more  satisfactory.  One  rule  we  in 
sist  upon,  service  must  be  all  horse  drawn  or  all 
automobile.  It  cannot  satisfactorily  be  part  one 
and  part  the  other.  We  know  that  the  life  of  loved 
ones  does  not  end.  It  simply  goes  on.  Its  work 
is  done  here  only  to  take  up  its  work  in  "the  other 
room,"  and  our  work  is  modeled  with  this  know 
ledge  always  to  the  fore." 

With  such  sentiments,  it  is  small  wonder  that 
from  a  mere  pittance  Mr.  Pratt's  holdings  have 
grown  until  he  is  ranked  with  the  foremost  of 
Jacksonville's  business  men.  He  is  a  member  of 
all  the  leading  Fraternal  orders  of  Jacksonville,  a 
member  of  the  National  Negro  Business  League. 
and  a  consistent  churchman.  He  is  a  liberal  con 
tributor  to  every  movement  having  for  its  object 
the  betterment  of  his  country  or  his  people.  As  a 
citizen  he  is  a  credit  to  his  home  and  country. 


467 


W.  W.  ANDREWS 


NOW,  which  melts  on  ridges, 
peaks  and  sides  of  mountains  on 
account  of  its  consequent  slope 
runs  down  the  mountain  side. 
This  little  stream,  while  wending 
its  way  downward,  meets  a  num 
ber  of  other  little  streams.  A  confluence  takes 
place.  A  larger  stream  is  formed,  which  continues 
its  course,  meeting  other  streams,  it  joins  them, 
which  is  ladened  with  greetings  and  contributions 
from  contiguous  mountain  sides.  Then  a  mighty 
stream  is  formed,  which,  with  many  meanderings, 
wends  its  way  to  the  sea,  where  it  contributes  some 
matter  in  solution,  others  in  solidity,  but  at  the 
same  time  bearing  upon  the  bosom  of  its  waters 
numerous  craft  loaded  with  products  of  commerce 
to  be  distributed  into  the  diversified  channels  of 
trade. 

The  coining  of  Columbus  to  an  unknown  world  ; 
the  discovery  of  the  Land  of  Flowers  by  Ponce  de 
Leon  in  search  of  a  Fountain  of  Youth,  the  con 
fluence  of  those  mountain  streams,  of  which  men 
tion  has  been  made  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  to 
form  the  rivulet,  and  the  rivulets  to  form  the  slug 
gish  or  impetuous  river,  are  of  no  greater  value  or 
import  to  the  populace  of  Florida  than  the  visit  to 


our  Fair  Florida  of  Sir  S.  W.  Green,  the  present 
Supreme  Chancellor  of  New  Orleans,  La.,  and  Sir 
Bell,  of  Mississippi,  in  the  Spring  of  1886.  These 
two  Pythian  Knights  came  to  Jacksonville  with.  I 
am  told,  a  complete  set  of  Lodge  Paraphernalia  to 
be  given  as  a  premium  to  the  first  person  who 
formed  a  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge.  A  few  gen 
tlemen  were  initiated  into  the  work  in  Jackson 
ville  among  whom  was  D.  M.  Pappy,  of  St.  Augus 
tine.  Upon  returning  to  his  home  city,  the  said  D. 
M.  Pappy  proceeded  to  organize  a  Pythian  Lod^c. 
In  a  short  time,  during  the  month  of  June,  the  Py 
thian  banner  was  unfurled  to  the  breeze  in  the 
State  of  Florida;  San  Marco  Lodge  No.  1  was  or 
ganized  with  the  following  officers :  Alfonso  Pap 
py,  C.  C. ;  William  Pappy,  V.  C. ;  D.  M.  Pappy,  M.  of 
W. ;  John  Williams,  K.  of  R.  and  S. ;  Lee  Saunders, 
M.  of  F. ;  James  Mongum.  M.  of  Ex.;  S.  Martin,  1. 
G. ;  Pierce  Redclick.  O.  G. ;  Frank  Johnson,  M.  of 
O.  Having  been  created  a  P.  C.,  along  with  a  Bro 
ther  McGinniss,  of  Jacksonville,  to  whom  the  in 
formation  was  imparted  by  Sir  Green,  that  the  par 
aphernalia  which  he  had  brought  into  the  state  was 
to  be  given  to  the  first  Past  Chancellor  who  or 
ganized  a  lodge,  Mr.  Pappy  returned  to  Jackson 
ville,  received  the  paraphernalia  and  delivered  the 
same  to  San  Marco  Lodge  No.  1.  This  parapher 
nalia  was  used  by  San  Marco  Lodge  No.  1  for  many 
years. 

With  the  melting  of  the  snow  in  the  organiza 
tion  of  San  Marco  Lodge,  followed  by  a  sufficient 
number  of  Subordinate  Lodges  to  form  the  Grand 
Lodge,  the  Order  of  Knights  of  Pythias  in  this 
State  started  as  a  little  stream  down  the  mountain 
side.  In  due  course  of  time  other  little  streams 
were  met,  and  with  the  election  of  J.  C.  Jordan  in 
Pensacola  three  years  after  the  organization  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  there  were  ten  votes  in  the  Grand 
Lodge.  D.  M.  Pappy  was  again  elected  in  Ocala, 
then  the  little  streams  began  to  form  a  little  rivu 
let.  The  little  rivulets  began  to  form  a  little  larger 
rivulet  when  W.  A.  Glover  was  elected  for  the  first 
time  in  Fernandina.  Then  Col.  H.  James,  who  is 
now  the  Supreme  Outer  Guard,  took  hold  of  affairs, 
convoked  the  Grand  Lodge  at  St.  Augustine,  where 
C'ol.  D.  G.  Aclger.  the  present  Past  Grand  Chan 
cellor,  was  elected.  Then  the  little  rivulets  began 
to  form  larger  rivulets,  the  rivulets  began  to  unite 
to  form  a  river,  the  Order  began  to  take  on  flesh. 
took  her  place  among  leading  secret  organizations 
of  the  State,  caused  men  and  women  to  recognize 
it  and  see  that  it  had  to  be  reckoned  with.  With 
the  election  of  W.  W.  Andrews,  the  present  Grand 
Chancellor  at  the  Apalachicola  session,  a  new  era 
dawned  upon  the  Pythian  horizon.  The  streams, 
rivulets  and  rivers  began  to  form  into  one  mighty 
and  powerful  river,  and  with  velocity  safe,  certain 


468 


HOME  OFFICE  OF  FLORIDA   PYTHIANS   AND  RESIDENCE  OF  GRAND  CHANCELLOR 


and  sure,  noiselessly  but  steadily  made  its  way  into 
the  great  sea  of  progress,  took  its  place  at  the  head 
of  all  secret  organizations  in  this  State,  causing 
persons  who  formerly  looked  upon  the  order  as  a 
pigmy  to  now  recognize  it  as  a  giant  and  bow  as 
suppliant  minions  before  its  shrine. 

K.   OF   P.'S   FLORIDA. 

Any  one  who  studies  the  records  of  Colored  Fra- 
ternalism,  will  be  impressed  with  the  fact  that  the 
K.  of  P.'s  have  been  remarkably  fortunate  in  the 
selection  of  their  officers.  A  splendid  example  of 
this  is  shown  in  the  elevation  of  W.  W.  Andrews  to 
the  post  of  Grand  Chancellor  of  the  Jurisdiction  of 
Florida. 

Born  in  Sparta,  Ga.,  Feb.  4,  1874,  Mr.  Andrews 
worked  in  the  cotton  fields  to  earn  the  money  to 
pay  for  his  early  education.  As  soon  as  he  was  old 
enough,  he  secured  a  position  in  the  barber  ship  of 
Angelo  Harden  &  James  F.  Reeves.  It  was  only 
a  short  while  before  he  had  mastered  the  trade  and 
saved  enough  to  move  to  Apalachicola,  and  open 
his  own  shop.  It  was  here  in  1901  that  he  joined 
the  order,  the  upbuilding  of  which  in  future  years 
was  to  become  his  life's  work.  The  order  who's 
membership,  always  quick  to  recognize  exceptional 
executive  ability,  has  promoted  him  through  suc 
cessive  steps  to  the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of  the 
State  Jurisdiction. 


Mr.  Andrews  was  elected  State  Grand  Lecturer 
of  the  K.  of  P's  in  1905,  State  Grand  Keeper  of  Re 
cords  &  Seals  in  1907,  and  State  Grand  Chancellor 
in  1910.  The  Florida  Jurisdiction  has  grown  under 
his  chancellorship  until  today  it  embraces  220  lodg 
es  with  a  membership  of  thirteen  thousand.  The 
endowment  bureau  has  paid  since  1912,  $200,000.00, 
to  widows  and  orphans  and  has  assets  of  $160,000.00 
fifty  thousand  of  which  are  in  Liberty  Bonds  and 
seven  thousand  in  Thrift  Stamps. 

Mr.  Andrews  has  served  in  the  Uniform  Rank 
from  private  to  brigadier  general.  He  is  also  a 
32nd  degree  Mason,  having  joined  the  order  in  1899, 
and  is  a  consistent  member  and  trustee  of  the  C. 
M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Andrews  was  married  to  Miss 
Henrietta  G.  Smith  of  Apalachicola,  Fla.,  Sept.  15, 
1900,  and  has  two  sons,  Cyril  B.  and  W.  W.,  Jr., 
both  school  boys.  Although  Mr.  Andrews  has  a 
home  in  Apalachicola,  a  plantation  near  Jackson 
ville  and  a  handsome  two  story  mansion  in  Jack 
sonville,  he  spends  most  of  his  time  on  the  road  in 
the  interest  of  the  order  so  dear  to  his  heart  and 
leaves  his  efficient  wife  in  charge  of  the  Home  of 
fice,  the  results  of  whose  work  speaks  for  itself. 
Mrs.  Andrews,  a  highly  trained  and  efficient  bus 
iness  woman,  is  to  the  Grand  Chancellor  what 
Emmett  Scott  was  to  the  late  Booker  T.  Washing 
ton. 


469 


A.   L.    LEWIS,    PRESIDENT 
AFRO-AMERICAN    INSURANCE    CO. 

HE  editor  once  heard  the  Pres 
ident  of  one  of  the  South's  largest 
Banking  Institutions,  state  that 
Negro  insurance  companies  were 
doing  more  in  building  the  com 
munities  in  which  they  were  lo 
cated  than  all  other  colored  businesses  combined. 
He  stated  that  ten  years  ago  there  were  millions 
of  dollars  annually  collected  by  insurance  com 
panies  centered  in  the  east,  that  left  the  country 
never  to  return,  while  now,  the  vast  bulk  of  this 
business  was  underwritten  by  local  companies,  and 
invested  in  local  securities,  and  he  believed  these 
companies  should  have  the  hearty  co-operation  of 
both  the  white  and  Negro  business  organizations 
whereever  they  were  located. 

It  is  the  work  being  done  by  such  institutions 
as  the  Afro-American  Industrial  Insurance  Co.,  of 
Jacksonville,  Florida,  that  called  forth  this  com 
ment.  This  company  was  founded  in  March,  1901, 
by  Messrs.  E.  J.  Gregg,  D.  D.,  A.  W.  Price,  Dr.  A. 
W.  Smith,  J.  E  Spearing,  W.  H.  Hampton,  Geo.  W. 
Branning,  J.  Milton  Waldron,  D.  D.,  A.  L.  Lewis, 
Tillman  Valentine,  K.  W.  Latson,  L.  H.  Myers  and 
Dr.  Thos.  E.  Butler.  These  citizens  determined  to 


organize  an  industrial  insurance  company  that 
would  give  the  Negroes  of  the  state  the  greatest 
protection  possible,  for  their  money.  Rev.  E.  J. 
Gregg,  was  elected  first  President,  Rev.  J.  Milton, 
Secretary,  and  Dr.  A.  W.  Smith,  Medical  Director. 
Offices  were  opened  at  number  14  Ocean  St., 
April  1st,  1901.  These  offices  were  destroyed  by 
the  great  tire  in  May  of  the  same  year,  and  the 
company  moved  to  the  residence  of  A.  L.  Lewis,  at 
621  Florida  Ave.  In  two  years  time  the  company 
had  outgrown  these  quarters,  and  moved  to  609 
Main  Street.  They  remained  here  about  four  years. 
In  the  mean  time,  their  success  had  been  so  pheno- 
minal  the  company  paid  $10,000.00  for  the  property 
at  722  Main  St.  The  soundness  of  this  investment 
was  demonstrated  when  they  later  sold  it  for 
$40,000.00. 

They  erected  the  present  building  at  105  East 
Union  Street,  in  1908  This  property,  besides 
giving  ample  office  room  for  the  company  brings 
sufficient  rentals  to  pay  good  interest  on  the  in 
vestment.  The  company  itself  has  grown  from  a 
one-room  office  to  an  organization  owning;  its  own 
office  buildings  in  Jacksonville,  Tampa  and  Miama, 
having  81  branch  offices  throughout  the  state  and 
giving  employment  to  178  people,  all  colored.  The 
capital  stock  of  $20,000.00  is  fully  paid  in  and  the 
company  bought  and  owns  $10,000.00  in  Liberty 
Bonds.  The  present  President,  Mr.  A.  L.  Lewis, 
born  in  1864,  and  now  just  in  the  prime  of  life,  de 
serves  a  big  share  of  the  credit  for  making  the  Af 
ro-American  what  it  is  today.  Mr.  Lewis  married 
Mary  F.  Samis,  of  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  and  has  one 
Ron,  James  H.  Lewis,  33  years  of  age,  and  an  able 
assistant  in  his  fathers'  office. 

Mr.  Lewis  along  with  a  group  of  progressive, 
constructive  citizens,  has  set  an  example  in  home 
building  for  Negroes  that  is  at  once  the  admiration 
and  envy  of  every  other  city  in  the  country.  They 
have  done  more  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  Northern 
tourist  to  the  real  ability  of  the  colored  people  to 
make  good,  than  all  the  publicity  from  other  sour 
ces  combined.  Northern  tourists  are  anxious  to 
see  for  themselves  how  Southern  Negroes  live,  and 
homes  of  the  Lewis  type  are  a  revelation  to  them. 
Mr.  Lewis  is  not  only  a  man  of  splendid  executive 
ability,  but  possesses  a  pleasing  personality  that  is 
worth  many  dollars  to  any  organization  fortunate 
enough  to  have  his  services  as  an  officer.  In  fact, 
the  company  has  been  exceptionally  fortunate  in 
the  selection  of  its  officers.  Mr.  Lewis  has  in 
Messrs.  J.  E.  Spearing,  Vice-Pres.,  L.  D.  Ervin. 
Gen.  Mgr.,  T.  W.  Bryan,  State  Supt.,  and  Wash 
Hampton.  Secretary,  a  quartette  hard  to  equal  and 
gives  the  company  a  well  rounded  force  and  a  com 
bination  of  brains  and  capital  that  are  bound  to 
succeed. 


470 


W.  S.   SUMTER 

ECORDS  of  the  Union  Mutual 
and  William  Seymour  Sumter,  its 
founder  and  first  president  are  so 
blended,  and  interwoven,  that  it 
is  impossible  to  write  a  historical 
sketch  of  one  without  the  other 
Incorporated  under  the  State  laws  of  Florida,  in 
1904,  this  company  under  the  able  leadership  of 
President  Sumter,  began  business  in  February  of 
that  year  and  has  enjoyed  continuously  great  pros 
perity  during  this  period  of  time  and  has  found  its 
way  into  thousands  of  homes  of  the  good  people 
of  this  fair  State. 

When  first  organized  the  company  employed 
about  ten  persons,  from  the  President  to  the  Solici 
tors.  This  has  grown  until  the  company  has  more 
than  40  agencies  throughout  the  state  employing 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  people.  The 
Sumters  from  the  President  down  have  a  record 
truly  remarkable  for  the  combined  co-operation  of 
the  family  in  both  their  home  and  business  life. 
Mr.  Sumter  married  Henrietta  Albertina  Ewart. 
a  graduate  of  Cookman  Institute.  He  was  strong 
ly  opposed  to  his  wife's  participation  in  the  wor 
ries  of  business  life,  and  made  a  studied  effort  at 
all  times  to  keep  their  home  life  free  from  care. 
A  devoted  father,  he  gave  his  children  the  benefit 
of  the  best  education  obtainable.  A  true  son,  he 
placed  his  father  in  the  position  of  sick  claim  ad 
juster  for  the  company. 

When  Mr.  Sumter  died  Aug.  27,  1918,  he  left  be- 


MRS.  HENRIETTA  E.  SUMTER 

sides  his  widow,  four  daughters,  Aline,  who  at  the 
age  of  22  is  head  clerk,  Irene  at  19  cashier  of  the 
company  which  he  founded.  The  other  two  girls, 
Wilhelmina  and  Julia,  age  16  and  11,  respectively, 
are  still  school  girls,  although  Wilhelmina  has  in 
herited  her  parents'  business  ability  to  such  a  mark 
ed  degree  that  she  was  able  to  take  her  sister's 
place  as  cashier  during  the  summer  vacation.  Al 
though  Mrs.  Sumter  had  been  carefully  guarded 
from  the  cares  of  the  business  during  the  life  of 
her  husband,  after  six  months  deliberation  and  care 
ful  consideration,  the  Board  of  Directors  voted  un 
animously  to  elect  her  to  succeed  him  as  President 
of  the  company.  Mrs.  Sumter,  public  spirited  to 
a  marked  degree,  and  with  an  undying  pride  in  the 
work  her  husband  had  so  painstakingly  builded, 
agreed  to  accept  the  responsibility  and  to  per 
petuate  his  memory  by  continuing  the  company 
along  lines  that  made  it  a  public  benefaction. 

The  Sumters  in  their  work  have  been  ably  assist 
ed  by  an  exceptionally  strong  directorate,  compos 
ed  of  the  President,  F.  J.  Thorington,  Vice- 
President;  M.  S.  Adams,  Secretary;  W.  W.  Par 
ker,  Gen-Mgr. ;  and  J.  M.  Sumter  sick  claim  ad 
juster.  When  seen  at  the  home  office  411  Broad 
Street,  Jacksonville,  Florida.  The  President,  II.  K. 
Sumter,  on  being  asked  to  give  a  brief  statement 
of  the  aims  of  the  company,  said :  "It  is  our  aim 
to  build  an  institution  that  will  enable  the  educated 
colored  youth  to  find  employment  that  gives  him 
an  opportunity  to  take  advantage  of  his  training." 


471 


REVEREND  JOHN   ELIJAH   FORD,   D.   D., 
PRESIDENT  LELAND  UNIVERSITY 


ELAND  University  was  located  on 
St.  Charles  Ave.,  New  Orleans,  La. 
until  1916.  It  was  founded  in 
1869,  by  Holbrook  Chamberlain, 
a  philanthropist  of  Brooklyn,  N. 
N.  Y.,  who  purchased  the  land  and 
erected  the  buildings.  It  was  incorporated  in  1870. 
Title  to  the  property  is  invested  in  an  in 
dependent,  self  perpetuating  board  of  trustees. 
The  act  of  incorporation  provides  that :  The  trus 
tees  shall  not  have  the  power  to  encumber  by  mort 
gage,  the  whole,  or  any  part  of  the  property  or  to 
use  the  principal  of  any  endowment  funds  for  the 
current  expenses  of  its  work."  The  last  scholastic 
year,  there  was  a  total  attendance  of  300  pupils. 
There  were  fourteen  teachers,  six  men  and  eight 
women.  The  sources  of  income  at  that  time  were : 
Endowment  fund  $8,000.  tuition  and  fees  $2,240. 
Alumni  and  Baptist  Associations  $362.00.  The  non- 
educational  receipts  were  from  the  boarding  de 
partment,  and  amounted  to  $5,760.00.  The  school 
was  closed  in  1916,  and  the  plant  sold,  as  the  trus 
tees  had  decided  to  move  to  Alexandria,  La.,  where 
they  could  obtain  sufficient  land  to  build  and  operate 
an  Industrial  College  in  keeping  with  the  need  and 


training  of  present  conditions  of  this  section  of  the 
country.  To  this  end,  258  acres  of  land  has  been 
bought  and  paid  for  ;  $75,000.00  added  to  the  endow 
ment  fund.  A  plant  which  will  be  a  model  in  ev 
ery  respect  is  in  course  of  construction.  The  trus 
tees  have  taken  a  long  step  forward  in  electing 
Kev.  John  E.  Ford,  D.  D.,  of  Jacksonville,  Pres 
ident  and  assuring  him  their  support  in  the  select 
ion  of  an  able  faculty.  He  is  splendidly  endowe.l, 
both  by  education  and  native  ability  to  fill  the 
chair  of  President  of  the  new  and  finer  Leland 
University.  Born  in  Owensboro,  Ky.,  his  parents 
moved  to  Chicago,  while  he  was  yet  a  child,  lie 
obtained  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Chicago,  under  the  most  adverse  and  trying  cir 
cumstances.  His  parents  were  twice  burned  out. 
once  in  the  great  fires  of  1871.  and  again  in  187-1. 
Nothing  daunted,  young  John  not  only  continued 
his  duties  but  working  out  of  school  hours,  aided 
his  parents  in  rebuilding  their  home  and  in  educat 
ing  his  younger  brothers  and  sisters.  Determined  to 
have  a  thorough  training  at  all  cost,  he  worked  his 
way,  with  the  aid  of  one  white  friend,  successively 
through  Fisk  University,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Beloit 
College,  Wisconsin,  and  the  University  of  Chicago. 
Not  satisfied  with  this  he  took  a  post  graduate 
course  at  the  University  of  Denver.  Most  of  his 
college  courses  were  paid  for  by  money  earned 
while  working  as  a  stenographer  in  Chicago.  Af 
ter  graduating  from  Chicago  University  Divinity 
School,  Dr.  Ford  Pastored  the  Bethesda  Church, 
Chicago,  Tabernacle  Church,  Los  Angeles,  Cal., 
Zion  Church,  Denver,  Col.,  and  is  at  present  pastor 
of  Bethel  Institutional  Church,  Jacksonville,  Fla. 
He  served  one  year.  1906,  as  President  of  State  Un 
iversity  of  Kentucky.  Was  delegate  in  1907  to  the 
World's  Sunday  School  Convention,  at  Rome,  Italy. 
While  there  he  visited  England,  France,  Spain  and 
Switzerland.  Dr.  Ford  has  also  visited  Cuba  and 
South  Amerca.  He  is  president  of  the  Progressive 
Baptist  State  Convention  of  Florida,  and  Chairman 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Florida  Baptist  Col 
lege.  Dr.  Ford  is  also  a  member  of  the  American 
Geographical  Society  of  Applied  Science.  By  this 
it  will  be  seen  that,  to  one  of  the  finest  academic 
educations  obtainable,  Dr.  Ford  has  added  a  won 
derful  course  of  practical  experience  in  the  schools 
of  travel  and  human  nature.  In  him  is  found  a 
combination  of  the  highly  educated,  aggressively 
constructive  Yankee,  and  the  whole-souled  sympa 
thetic  Southerner.  He  has  the  knack  of  spurring 
his  co-workers  on  to  a  pitch  of  enthusiastic  energy 
that  makes  him  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  task  of 
presiding  over  a  southern  college.  Dr.  Ford  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Walker  Wilson,  of  Ral 
eigh.  N.  C.,  in  1918. 


472 


CLASS   ROOM— WALKER  BUSINESS  COLLEGE 


HIS  institution  enjoys  the  unique 
distinction  of  being  one  of  the 
youngest  and  the  largest  exclus 
ive  Negro  business  colleges  in  the 
United  States.  Prof  R.  Wendell 
Walker,  President,  is  a  graduate 
of  the  High  School  and  Fairmont  College  at  Wich 
ita,  Kansas,  and  the  Topeka  Business  College,  at 
Topeka,  Kansas.  He  has  also  taken  post  graduate 
courses  in  several  other  colleges  in  Michigan  and 
Ohio  (all  white  schools  and  colleges).  He  served 
five  years  as  a  stenographer  in  the  United  States 
Department  Service,  and  has  therefore  had  the 
necessary  practical  experience  to  qualify  him  to  be 
a  successful  teacher  and  a  prctical  business  man. 
He  established  the  Walker  Business  College  in 
Jacksonville  a  little  more  than  four  years  ago — be 
ginning  in  one  rented  room  with  five  pupils,  and 
himself  as  the  only  teacher.  Today  the  college 
owns  its  own  building  valued  at  $50,000.00;  a  fac 
ulty  of  eight  competent  teachers  and  over  1,000 
students  enrolled. 

The  remarkable  success  of  the  college  is  attribu 
ted  by  those  who  know,  to  the  thorough  training 
of  the  President  combined  with  an  abundance  of 
"Pep,"  and  enthusiasm  so  necessary  to  success  in 
these  clays  of  specialization  and  keen  competition. 
He  is  thoroughly  modern  in  his  methods  and  beliefs 


and  keeps  consistenly  and  continuously  driving  to 
get  hold  of  raw  material,  and  turn  out  a  finished 
product  that  will  prove  an  endless  chain  of  suc 
cess  and  an  ever-growing  practical  testimonial  to 
the  thoroughness  of  the  college  work.  Even  now, 
with  only  four  short  years  elapsed  since  the  foun 
dation,  graduates  are  filling  responsible  positions 
all  over  the  country,  and  the  demands  on  the  school 
so  great  that  lucrative  positions  are  always  wait 
ing  graduates. 

The  Walker  College  is  filling  a  long  felt  want  in 
establishing  a  summer  course,  as  it  enables  gram 
mar  students  to  save  time  and  money  by  getting  a 
business  training  even  before  finishing  their  reg 
ular  school  work. 

As  the  college  grew,  President  Walker  found 
many  Negroes  wished  to  take  a  business  course, 
but  were  unable  to  attend  day  school  as  they  were 
compelled  to  make  their  own  living.  To  enable 
these  men  and  women  to  take  advantage  of  the  col 
lege,  Prof.  Walker  established  night  classes,  where 
a  full  course  in  all  branches  of  the  day  courses  are 
taught. 

The  rapidly  developing  business  interests  of  the 
Negroes  requiring  trained  help,  make  the  Walker 
Business  College  a  welcome  addition  to  the  educa 
tional  institutions  of  the  country. 


473 


James  W.  Ames,  M.  D. 


HE  lives  of  men  differ  in  many 
ways  and  their  paths  are  devious, 
yet  in  many  respects  they  have 
the  same  experience.  This  is  par 
ticularly  so  regarding  the  Negro 
race.  Most  of  them  are  born  in 
poverty  and  are  reared  amidst  great  hardships. 
Looking  at  them  in  early  life  the  imagination  can 
hardly  picture  them  as  men  who  would  win  dis 
tinction  in  the  various  departments  of  life.  Yet 
this  book  is  full  of  sketches  of  boys  who  have  risen 
above  the  discouraging  environments  which  sur 
rounded  their  youth  and  have  made  for  themselves 


the  character  of  work  he  engaged  in,  for  here  as 
elsewhere  he  paid  his  own  way. 

From  1890  to  1894,  he  worked  as  clerk  in  the 
War  Department,  serving  in  the  Record  and  Pen 
sion  Division.  From  his  salary  he  saved  sufficient 
money  to  enable  him  to  attend  the  Medical  School 
of  the  Institution  during  the  spring  months. 

By  close  application  to  his  studies  he  completed 
his  course  in  1894,  and  June  5th,  of  that  year  he- 
went  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  entered  upon  his 
career  as  a  physician.  His  rapid  rise  in  the  pro 
fession  attest  how  well  he  had  applied  himself  dur 
ing  the  days  of  his  preparation.  He  was  appointed 
physician  to  the  United  States  prisoners  and  served 
the  Government  in  this  capacity  for  one  year,  lie 


sixteen  years   he   served  on  the   Detroit   Board   of 


names  which  will  live  in  the  history  of  their  race. 

Tames  W    Ames  is  one  of  the  boys.     His  early  . 

was  recognized  as  an  expert  diagnostician,  and  for 

life  was  not  marked  with  many  thrills  and  yet  his 

path  was  far  from  being  strewn  with  flowers.     He      Health  ag  such 

fought  his   way  through  the   ordinary  vicissitudes 

incident  to  the  Negro  youth  and  forged  ahead  step 

by  step  until  he  reached  his  goal. 

A  double   demand  was   made   upon   his   energies 


While  holding  these  public  positions  he  has  con 
tinued  his  private  practice,  and  has  won  a  large 
clientile  and  built  up  a  lucratve  business.  With 
out  apparent  effort  he  has  ingratiated  himself  into 


and  strength,  for  while  he  was  securing  an  educa-      thg  gQod  graces  of  the  dtizens  and  commands  the 


tion  he  had  to  work  hard  to  meet  his  physical  de 
mands.     He  had  to  eat  and  sleep  and  obtain  clo- 


respect  and  confidence  of  all  classes. 

In  September,  1898,  he  married  Miss  Florence  P. 


thing  decent  to  appear  at  school,  besides  the  cost      Cole>   who   djed   after   bearing   him    {our   chiidren . 
of  education,  and  to  provide  for  these  required  in-      ch'ester  Qj  who  is  a  medicai  stUclent ;  William  E., 


cessant  labor. 


who  is  studying  electrical  engineering;  Marion  (_'.. 


His  first  schooling  was  in  the  public  schools  of      a   musjc   and  pedagogic   student,   and   Florence   F., 


New   Orleans,   Louisiana.       While   attending  these 
schools  he  worked  at  the  Cooper's  trade.     When  he 


who  is  a  student  of  Domestic  Science.     Thus  it  will 
be   seen  that  he  has  ambition   for   his   children   to 


finished  the  public  school  he  entered  Straight  Col-  occupy  useful  places  in  life. 

ege,  an  institution  founded  by  the  American  Mis-  jn  j9Qg  ]ie  agajn  married  and  this  time  to  Miss 

sionary  Association  of  the  Congregational  Church,  Norma  Alembro. 

from  which  he  graduated,  in  the  Literary  Depart-  He  is  the  secretary  of  the  Cole  Realty  Company, 

ment,  with  the  class  of  1888.     He  also  took  a  year's  a  family  corporation  capitalized  at  $95,000,   which 


course 


in  the  law  school  and  a  year's  course  in  the      represents  the  family  real  estate  interests. 


Theological  School  of  the  same  Institution.     Here,         jjr  Ames  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
too,  it  was  work  and  study,  for  his  tuition   must      and   while   interested   in   religious   work   he   is   not 

officially  identified  with  the  church,  lie  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  body,  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  Elks.  He  has  held  official  positions  in  several 
orders  of  which  he  is  connected;  he  is  Past  Grand 
Secretary  of  I.  B.  P.  O.  C. ;  Past  Grand  Secretary 


be  paid  and  he  had    no    other    way    to    raise    the 
money  but  by  his  own  exertions. 

During  the  summer  months,  he  taught  a  rural 
school  which  enabled  him  to  continue  at  college 
during  the  winter  months. 


After  finishing  his  course  in  Straight  College,  he  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the  State  of  Michi 
gan  ;  alternate  delegate  to  the  National  Republican 
Convention  since  1908;  and  a  member  of  the  Mich 
igan  State  Legislature  1901-1902. 


went  to  Washington,  and  entered  the  Medical  De 
partment  of  the  Howard  University.  His  exper 
ience  here  to  advance  his  education  differed  only  in 


474 


Honorable  James  Thomas  Peterson 


HEN  in  the  course  of  human 
events  an  individual,  born  under 
circumstances  the  most  unfavora 
ble,  and  struggling  against  diffi 
culties  too  numerous  to  be  men 
tioned,  by  force  of  charagter  and 
a  dogged  determination  to  rise  in 
spite  of  environments  and  opposi 
tions,  lifts  himself  from  the  poverty  in  which  he 
was  born  to  a  commanding  position  in  the  affairs  of 
the  nation,  that  individual's  life  should  be  held  up 
before  the  adolescent  youth  as  a  worthy  example, 
and  his  career  may  be  studied  with  profit  by  all 
ambitious  young  people  who  are  struggling  against 
odds  to  prepare  for  a  life  of  efficient  service,  for 
the  Poet  Longfellow  very  tritely  said  in  his  "Pslam 
of  Life",  "lives  of  great  men  but  remind  us,  we  can 
make  our  lives  sublime ;  and  departing,  leave  be 
hind  us,  footprints  on  the  sand  of  time." 

Such  is  example  we  have  in  Hon.  James  Thomas 
Peterson,  who  was  born  near  Calhoun  Station, 
Lowndes  County,  Alabama,  June  22,  1867. 

Patsy  Peterson,  his  mother,  prayed,  as  did  Hagar 
in  the  wilderness,  for  God's  blessing  upon  her  and 
her  child,  who  though  not  daring  to  tell  it,  had  the 
blood  of  royalty  coursing  through  his  veins. 

She,  with  her  boy,  moved  to  Greenville,  in  order 
that  he  might  have  a  chance  for  an  education  and 
for  several  years  he  attended  the  public  school 
there. 

When  James  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  his 
mother  moved  with  him  to  Pensacola,  Florida, 
where  he  entered  the  Black  Public  School,  which 
he  attended  for  two  years,  when,  with  her,  he  came 
to  Mobile,  where  he  found  it  necessary  to  begin 
life  for  himself.  He  secured  a  position  as  buss  boy 
at  the  Point  Clear  Hotel  at  a  salary  of  $2.50  per 
week  and  his  board.  Here  he  attracted  the  atten 
tion  of  Mr.  George  C.  Bennett,  who  at  an  increase 
of  wage,  employed  him  as  a  porter  in  the  club 
rooms  then  conducted  by  him  at  No.  6  North  Roy 
al  Street. 

The  energy  and  enthusiasm  of  James  attracted 
the  attention  of  General  James  E.  Slaughter,  Post 
Master  of  Mobile,  who  felt  that  so  intelligent  a 
boy  should  be  given  a  chance,  and  employed  him  as 
a  sustitute  letter  carrier.  He  served  in  this  capa 
city  for  eighten  months,  when,  not  receiving  the 
promotion  which  he  felt  was  him  due,  to  be  ap 
pointed  as  a  letter  carrier,  he  left  the  service, 
and  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  engaged 
as  a  Pullman  porter  over  the  Iron  Mountain  Route, 
which  gave  him  a  splendid  opportunity  for  enlarg 
ing  his  knowledge  by  travel  through  various  parts 
of  Texas  and  intervening  places.  In  1892,  he  re 
turned  to  Mobile  and  again  served  as  a  letter  car 
rier  under  Colonel  P.  1).  Barker,  who  had  become 
postmaster. 

Under  Postmaster  Barker,  Mr|  Peterson,  by 
dint  of  hard  .earnest,  consecrated  devotion  to  duty 
worked  himself  into  the  body  of  the  office,  then 
later  to  a  clerkship,  thence  to  the  General  Delivery 
Clerk,  then  Foreman  of  the  carriers,  and  lastly  to 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Post  Office. 

Shortly  after  his  appointment  as  a  letter  carrier, 


Mr.  Peterson  had  the  good  fortune  to  become  ac 
quainted  with  Hon.  Allen  Alexander,  at  that  time 
the  most  influential  Negro  politician  in  Southern 
Alabama.  It  was  througn  the  efforts  of  Hon.  Al 
exander  that  Mr.  Peterson  was  elected  as  alternate 
delegate  to  the  National  Republican  Convention, 
which  met  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Mr.  Peter 
son  displayed  such  rare  political  ability  at  the  1896 
Convention  that  in  1900  he  was  elected  a  delegate 
to  the  National  Convention  which  met  in  Philadel 
phia.  At  this  Convention  he  taught  the  world  to 
know  him  by  his  uncompromising  stand  for  the 
nomination  of  Messrs.  William  McKinley  and  The 
odore  Roosevelt  for  President  and  Vice-President 
respectively. 

He  was  elected  without  opposition  to  the  Nat 
ional  Republican  Convention,  which  met  in  1904, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  aggressive  of  the  support 
ers  of  Mr.  Roosevelt  for  President.  In  1908,  he 
was  again  elected  to  the  National  Convention, 
which  met  in  Chicago,  and  was  a  conspicious  char 
acter  among  those  whose  efforts  resulted  in  the 
nomination  of  Mr.  William  Howard  Taft.  His 
aggressiveness  made  him  such  a  necessary  factor 
in  the  National  political  affairs  of  the  Republican 
Party  that  he  was  constrained  to  drop  out  of  the 
post  office  and  serve  as  a  member  of  the  Republi 
can  National  Executive  Council  which  met  in  the 
tower  of  the  Metropolitan  Building  on  the  tenth 
floor. 

In  1912  Civil  Service  Rules  inaugurated  prevent 
ed  Mr.  Peterson  from  leaving  his  positions  in  the 
Post  Offce  to  attend  the  National  Convention  and 
he  nominated  Hon.  C.  W.  Allen,  who  was  elected 
as  his  choice. 

In  1915,  he  again  severed  his  relations  with  the 
Post  Office  of  Mobile  and  engaged  actively  in  real 
estate,  a  business  which  had  always  appealed  to 
him  because  of  the  many  successful  transactions 
which  he  had  made  from  time  to  time. 

In  1918  he  purchased  a  complete  job  and  news 
paper  office  outfit  and  organized  a  company  which 
does  a  very  thriving  job  printing  business  and  be 
sides,  publishes  a  weekly  newspaper,  "The  Forum," 
which  is  the  largest  Negro  Paper  in  the  South. 

Mr.  Peterson  has  never  been  married,  but  is  very 
fond  of  children,  whom  he  delights  to  assist  and 
make  happy. 

He  is  very  active  in  all  public  affairs  for  the  up 
building  of  the  race,  and  during  the  world  war  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Four  Minute  Organization,  a 
member  of  the  Advisory  Committee  to  the  Draft 
Board,  and  is  now  an  active  member  of  the  War 
Cam])  Community  Service  Executive  Committee. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Louis  St.  Baptist  Church 
P.  N.  F.,  of  Thompkin  Lodge  No.  1521  G.  U.  O.  of 
O.  F.  P.  M.,  of  St.  John  No.  2  Free  &  Accepted 
Masons,  is  Chairman  of  the  War  Council  Recon 
struction  Work  Committee  of  Mobile,  President  of 
the  Union  Mutual  Aid  Insurance  Co.,  and  President 
of  the  Forum  Publishing  Co. 

He  is  said  to  pay  tax  on  more  real  estate  than 
any  Negro  in  Southern  Alabama,  and  his  wealth  is 
variously  estimated  at  from  two  to  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 


475 


Edward  Thomas  Belsaw,  D.  S. 


R.  Belsaw  is  the  son  of  Rev.  J.  T. 
and  Mary  Chambers  Belsaw.  His 
father  was  an  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  minister,  which  caused 
Belsaw  to  live  in  a  number  of  dif 
ferent  localities.  He  was  born  in 
Madison,  Georgia  and  when  eight  years  of  age  he 
had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  mother.  His  father 
being  engaged  in  his  ministerial  duties.  Edward 
was  to  a  large  extent  left  to  shift  for  himself.  His 
school  life  and  working  hcurs  became  so  correlated 
that  he  was  soon  enabled  to  support  himself.  He- 
was  educated  in  the  Public  Schools  of  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  and  after  his  course  there  he  entered  Dick- 
e-.-son  Institute,  however,  he  did  not  enter  Dick- 
erson  Institute  immediately,  but  during  the  inter 
val  he  was  not  idle  with  his  books.  He  studied  un 
der  many  private  tutors,  notably  among  them  be 
ing  Professor  G.  E.  Masterson,  of  Morris  Brown 
Co  lege.  who  trained  him  for  quite  a  while  in  High 
er  Mathematics  and  Languages.  He  also  took  a 
course  in  dentistry  in  the  Meharry  Dental  College 
where  he  applied  himself  with  such  diligence  as  to 
win  distinction  among  his  fellow  students  and 
paved  the  way  to  the  honors  bestowed  upon  by  the 
dental  organizations  after  he  established  himself  in 
business. 

Instead  of  spending  his  vacation  in  rest  and  t'.ie 
pursun  of  recreational  diversions,  a  so  many  of 
his  companions  were  privileged  to  do,  he  had  to 
center  his  mind  and  his  time  in  making  provision 
for  the  next  session,  so  his  vacations  instead  of 
being  given  over  to  pleasure,  were  spent  in  various 
occupations  to  earn  the  money  to  pay  his  way 
through  school.  In  the  accomplishment  of  this 
end  he  did  not  confine  himself  to  any  one  line  of 
work.  Like  many  successful  Negroes  who  have 
worked  their  way  to  distinction  and  left  their  mark 
upon  the  world,  he  served  a  time  in  the  Pullman 
Car  Service,  working  in  the  Dining  Car  Depart 
ment.  Here  he  was  uniformly  courteous  and  at 
tentive  to  the  passengers  and  made  many  friends. 

Then  he  spent  a  time  in  the  school  room  and 
stood  at  the  school  master's  desk  and  taught  in  the 
State  of  Georgia ;  and  then  he  entered  the  arena  of 
business  and  hung  out  his  shingle  as  a  Real  Estate 
dealer  in  the  city  of  Birmingham. 

During  all  this  time  he  kept  his  mind  centered 
upon  the  career  he  had  decided  upon  and  let  all  of 
these  occupations  contribute  a  mite  to  the  desired 
end. 

In  1908  he  went  to  Mobile,  Alabama,  and  opened 


an  office  in  that  city  for  the  practice  of  dentistry 
and  is  now  there,  where  he  has  built  up  a  good  and 
lucrative  business. 

As  an  evidence  of  his  prosperity  he  has  purchas 
ed  a  home  in  Mobile,  and  is  the  owner  of  other  pro 
perty.  On  the  25th  of  August,  1901,  he  was  mar 
ried  to  Miss  Marie  V.  Lowell. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Street  African  Me 
thodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church,  Mobile,  Ala. 

Dr.  Belsaw  is  a  man  of  social  instincts  and  like;- 
to  mingle  with  his  fellow  men.  He  is  a  member  of 
many  benevolent  societies  and  social  organiza 
tions,  both  local  and  national  in  character, 
membership,  in  which  he  takes  an  active  interest. 
He  is  a  Mason  and  is  now  Past  Master  of  that  or 
der.  He  is  also  a  Past  Chancellor  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Mo- 
siac  Templars.  Dr.  Belsaw  has  held  miiny  honor 
ary  positions,  among  which  might  be  mentioned, 
that  he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  National 
Convention,  in  1916;  President  of  the  Alabama 
Medical,  Dental  and  Pharmaceutical  Association  in 
1915;  Executive  Secretary  National  Medical  Asso 
ciation  since  1912;  Member  Inter-State  Dental  As 
sociation;  Member  Missouri  Pan-Medical  Associa 
tion  ;  member  United  States  Navy  League ;  and  a 
member  of  the  National  Geographic  Society. 

Dr.  Belsaw  has  traveled  extensively,  both  in  this 
country  and  in  foreign  lands,  which  has  enlarged 
his  vision  of  human  family  and  has  added  to  his 
equipment  for  service. 

Dr.  Belsaw  has  held  the  honorary  positions  men 
tioned  above,  not  through  favor,  but  because  of  his 
personal  ability  and  character,  which  is  generally 
recognized  and  appreciated.  He  is  loyal  to  his  par 
ty  and  friends  and  conscientious  in  the  perform 
ance  of  duty.  He  has  the  interest  of  his  people  at 
heart  and  never  tires  in  working  for  their  better 
ment.  The  same  honest  and  capable  service  ren 
dered  in  his  dental  parlor,  which  has  won  him  such 
large  patronage,  is  shown  in  his  relation  to  the  dif 
ferent  orders  and  associations  of  which  he  is  a 
member  and  which  makes  him  so  popular  among 
his  fellows.  He  is  a  man  of  good  physique  and 
pleasing  address  and  with  a  dignity  of  bearing 
which  commands  respect,  while  at  the  same  time 
he  has  a  cordiality  of  manner  which  makes  it  easy 
to  approach  him. 

He  is  a  man  who  makes  friends  and  having  made 
them  holds  them.  The  man  is  fortunate  who  poss 
esses  this  gift.  It  is  a  gift  which  many  covet  but 
few  possess. 


476 


Walter  Thomas  Woods 


'  often  happens  that  a  man's  tal 
ent  as  a  financier  is  brought  to 
light  through  other  agencies  than 
through  the  marts  of  trade.  It 
was  so  with  Walter  Thomas 
Wood.  He  came  into  light  as  a 
financial  genius  by  reason  of  his  connections,  in 
the  main,  with  a  number  of  fraternal  organizations. 
Mr.  Wood  was  born  in  Mobile,  Alabama,  February 
14.  1872,  which  city  is  still  his  place  of  residence. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Mobile, 
but  his  way  to  learning  was  marked  .with  many 
hardships  and  intense  labor. 

At  the  age  of  twelve  he  was  forced  to  give  up 
school  and  go  to  work,  and  during  the  period  that 
lie  attended  school  his  morning  and  afternoon 
hours,  before  the  opening  and  closing  exercises, 
he  devoted  to  manual  labor. 


Grand  unior  Warden  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  was 
re-elected  to  the  same  position  in  1900. 

In  1907,  he  was  elected  Grand  Senior  Warden, 
and  was  continuously  re-elected  to  this  office  until 
the  Lodge  met  at  Tuskegee  Institute  in  1911,  when 
he  was  chosen  Deputy  Grand  Master. 

When  the  Mobile  Masons  decided  to  erect  a  tem 
ple,  a  building  committee  was  formed  consisting 
of  one  member  from  each  lodge.  Mr.  Wood  re 
presented  his  lodge  upon  this  committee.  LTnder 
the  guidance  of  this  committee  the  temple  was 
built  at  a  cost  of  $24,000. 

In  1916  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  Inter 
national  Conference  of  Grand  Masters  which  met 
in  Chicago.  He  was  elected  First  Vice-President 
of  the  Conference,  a  position  he  still  holds. 

When  he  was  elected  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Alabama  Masons,  the  lodge  was  one  hun 
dred  thousand  dollars  in  debt,  which  debt  he  has 


In   May,    1908,   he   was   married   to   Miss   Louise 

Harney,  a  teacher  in  the  public  school.     From  this  removed.     He  wears  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure 

union  was  born  two  sons  and  a  daughter :  W.  T.  and  pride  a  beautiful  32nd  degree  watch  charm  pre- 

Woods,   Jr..   James    Harney   Wood,    and    Claribelle  sented  to  him  by  St.  Johns  Lodge  upon  his  election 


Fmma  Woods. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  African  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church,  of  Mobile. 

We  now  come  to  consider  the  distinguishing  fea 
ture  of  his  career,  which,  as  has  been  suggested, 


as  Grand  Master.  Mr.  Wood  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows.  For  four  years  he  was  Deputy 
Grand  Master  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  represent 
ed  this  lodge  at  the  eleventh  B.  M.  C.  1904.  at  Co 
lumbus,  Ohio;  at  the  twelfth  B.  M.  C.,  Richmond. 


grew  out  of  his  connection  with  fraternal  organi-      Va..  j»   1906:  and  at  the  thirteenth  B.   M.  C..   1908 
nations,  especially  that  of  the   Masonic  order.     In      »*  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey. 


1892,  when  he  was  twenty  years  old.  he  became  a 
Mason.  His  first  official  position  in  the  lodge  was 
that  of  Senior  Deacon. 

In  1894,  he  was  admitted  to  the  St.  John  Lodge 
No.  2,  in  which  he  was  soon  elected  Senior  War 
den,  an  office  he  held  for  one  year  and  was  then 
elected  to  the  office  of  Worshipful  Master — which 
position  he  filled  for  seven  years. 

He  declined  to  serve  longer  in  this  office  for  the 
reason  that  the  law  of  the  Grand  Lodge  would  not 
permit  him  to  continue  as  Worshipful  Master  and 
at  the  same  time  hold  an  office  in  the  Grand  Lodge. 
When  he  was  first  elected  Worshipful  Master  of 
the  lodge  the  lodge  did  not  have  a  penny  in  the 
treasury  and  was  in  debt.  Under  his  wise  and 
skillful  administration  of  seven  years  service,  when 
he  voluntarily  surrendered  the  gavel,  the  lodge  was 
free  of  debt  and  had  to  its  credit  in  bank  one  thous 
and  dollars.  In  addition  to  this  the  membership 
of  the  lodge  had  been  increased  by  twenty  mem 
bers.  In  token  of  its  appreciation  of  his  valuable 
services  the  lodge  presented  him  with  a  beautiful 
Masonic  apron. 

In    1905,   at    Selma,     Alabama,    he    was    elected 


While  the  fraternal  orders  no  doubt  awakened 
his  financial  and  executive  ability  his  services  in 
this  line  did  not  end  with  them. 

From  1899  to  1906  he  served  as  President  of  Pro 
tector  Fire  Company  No.  11.  When  he  took  charge 
of  the  company  it  was  in  debt  but  under  his  man 
agement  the  debt  has  been  paid,  their  hall  remodel 
ed,  the  sidewalk  paved ;  with  a  balance  in  the  treas 
ury  of  $2400. 

When  he  resigned  the  company  presented  him 
with  a  beautiful  watch  and  chain,  valued  at  $150, 
in  recognition  of  his  services  and  as  a  mark  of  high 
appreciation. 

In  1898  he  stood  and  passed  the  Civil  service  ex 
amination  and  was  appointed  a  mail  carrier  in  the 
Mobile  Post  Office,  a  position  he  still  holds.  Mr. 
Wood  takes  deep  interest  in  matters  looking  to  the 
improvement  and  development  of  the  colored  race 
and  encourages  his  people  in  their  efforts  to  estab 
lish  business  enterprises. 

He  is  a  stockholder  and  director  of  Mobile's  only 
shoe  store  owned  and  operated  by  Negroes,  and 
Chairman  of  Board  of  Directors  of  Mobile  Forum, 
a  colored  newspaper. 


477 


H.  Roger  Williams,  M.  D. 


N  the  balmy,  gulf-cooled  atmos 
phere  where  flows  the  "Bayou  La 
Teche,"  made  famous  by  Longfel 
low  in  his  "Fvangeline,"  just  as 
the  sugar-laden  stalks  of  cane 
were  ripening  into  liquid  sweet 
ness,  and  the  multitudinous  crops 
from  the  fertile  soil  of  Southern  Louisiana  were 
being  gathered,  on  the  fourth  day  of  September. 
1869*  was  born,  in  a  dirt-floored  two  roomed 
plantation  cabin,  Henry  Roger  Williams,  whose 
name  was  destined  to  be  a  household  word  and 
whose  life  was  to  be  inspiration  for  multitudes  of 
struggling  Negro  children. 

His  babyhood  was  not  unlike  that  of  thousands 
of  other  plantation  Negro  children.  He  was  the 
eighth  of  the  thirteen  children  born  to  his  parents, 
both  of  whom  were  sold  into  Louisiana  as  slaves— 
his  father  from  Tennessee  and  his  mother  from 
Virginia.  In  1876  his  parents  moved  to  Baldwin, 
five  miles  West  of  their  home,  and  invested  their 
savings  in  a  ten  acre  farm.  Here  the  children  were 
sent  to  a  school  taught  by  Northern  White  teach 
ers,  who  had  come  South  as  missionaries  to  the 
Negroes. 

In  1880.  Henry,  with  thirteen  other  children  of 
the  school  were  taken  North  as  a  band  of  singers, 
in  the  interest  of  the  institution,  by  Dr.  W.  D.  God- 
man  and  his  family.  Their  tour  through  the  New 
England  States  was  so  successful,  and  the  impres 
sion  they  made  was  so  favorable,  that  Mr.  W.  L. 
Gilbert,  of  Winsted,  Connecticut  gave  to  the  school 
his  check  for  $10,000,  in  honor  of  which  the  name 
of  the  institution  was  changed  to  Gilbert  Academy. 
In  the  spring  of  1881  these  same  children  were 
taken  North  and  placed  in  homes  of  culture  and  re 
finement  to  test  the  value  of  environment  in  their 
development.  Henry  had  the  good  fortune  to  be 
placed  in  the  home  of  the  Godman  family  in  Mich 
igan,  and  attended  the  public  schools  at  Dexter  and 
Lansing. 

In  the  summer  of  1885,  he  was  sent  by  the  God- 
man's  to  Connecticut  and  finished  a  course  in  print 
ing  at  New  Haven.  In  1888  he  was  called  to  his 
home  town  and  taught  his  trade  in  the  same  insti 
tution  which  he,  by  his  vocal  talent  had  helped  to 
create.  While  teaching,  he  continued  his  studies 
preparing  for  college. 

In  1890,  his  mother  died,  and  he  resigned  his  po 
sition  at  Baldwin,  and  entered  the  Walden  Univer- 
sty  (then  known  as  Central  Tennessee  College,) 
Nashville,  Term.  While  here  he  pursued  the  study 
of  sacred  theology  in  connection  with  his  college 
work. 

In  1897  he  entered  the  Meharry  Medical  Depart 


ment  of  the  same  school  and  graduated  a  Doctor 
of  Medicine  with  the  class  of  1900. 

His  travels  in  connection  with  entertainment 
troupes  during  the  summer  enabled  him  to  visit 
practically  every  city  of  note  in  the  United  States. 
After  graduating  at  Meharry  he  went  to  Mobile 
and  opened  an  office  in  the  year  1900.  In  Septem 
ber  of  the  same  year  he  married  Miss  Fannie  Bran 
don,  of  Huntsville,  Alabama,  a  graduate  of  the  A. 
&  M.  College  there,  and  who  at  the  time  was  a 
teacher  in  the  public  school  of  her  home  town.  They 
have  two  children,  Hirschell  and  Ariel,  whom  they 
look  upon  as  jewels  beyond  the  value  of  money. 
They  inherit  their  father's  musical  talent.  Hirsch 
ell  is  a  master  of  the  violin  and  Ariel  is  a  pianist  of 
considerable  gifts. 

In  connection  with  his  practice  as  a  physician, 
Dr.  Williams  owns  a  large,  well  stocked  drug  store. 
His  drug  store  is  located  on  one  of  Mobile's  prin 
ciple  thoroughfares  and  his  home  is  situated  across 
the  street  from  it. 

He  has  a  large,  growing  practice  and  has  made  a 
success  of  his  drug  business.  He  takes  <T<>-it  pride 
in  his  library  which  is  worth  exceeding  $2,000.  His 
library  is  not  for  show  but  is  a  collection  of  rare 
volumes  which  afford  him  great  delight  and  recrea 
tion.  He  also  possesses  property  in  value  about 
$20,000.  Dr.  Williams  is  a-  clear  thinker,  a  forceful 
speaker,  a  sound  advisor  and  a  thoughtful  and  tal 
ented  writer.  His  best  known  published  works  are 
"The  Blighted  Life  of  Methuselah."  "Isaac  and  His 
Two  Sons  of  Different  Nationalities,"  "Fifty  Years 
of  Freedom,"  and  "The  American  Negro." 

He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Warren  St.  M.  K. 
Church,  for  which  he  secured  an  organ  by  setting 
aside  $300  a  year  from  his  income.  He  represented 
the  Alabama  Churches  as  a  lay  delegate  to  the  Gen 
eral  Conference  which  met  in  Los  Angeles.  Califor- 
ia.  He  is  a  Mason  and  member  of  Knights  of  T'v- 
thias. 

Seventeen  times  his  local  church  recommended 
him  for  deacon's  order,  but  he  declined  the  honor, 
preferring  to  work  in  the  humble  sphere  of  a  lay 
man. 

He  is  President  of  the  Mobile  Medical  Society, 
President  of  the  Mobile  Negro  Business  League, 
General  Chairman  of  the  Mobile  Emancipation  As 
sociation,  and  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Commit 
tee  of  the  War  Camp  Community  Service.  He  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  active  Negroes  taking 
a  conspicuous  part  in  all  the  various  drives,  and 
was  the  organixer  of  the  Red  Cross  Society  among 
the  Colored  women  of  the  city. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Advisory  Committee  of 
the  draft  Board  and  chairman  of  the  Four  Minute 
Men. 


478 


Thomas  H.  Hayes 


so  many  other 


R.  Hayes  was  horn  in  the  suburbs 
of  Richmond,  Virginia,  Aug.  15th, 
1868.  When  only  three  years  old, 
his  parents  moved  to  the  western 
part  of  Tennessee  and  located  on 
a  plantation  near  LaGrange.  Like 

great  men,  he  spent  his  childhood 


days  on  the  farm.  He  continued  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  but  as  he  thirsted  for 
knowledge  and  there  was  no  means  of  obtaining 
it  where  he  was,  he  moved  to  Memphis,  Tenn.  Like 
so  many  country  boys,  Mr.  Hayes  thought  that  all 
he  had  to  do  to  acquire  knowledge  was  to  move  to 
the  city.  His  first  position  was  with  the  Millburn 
Iron  Works  Co.  Here  he  saved  a  bit  of  money  and 
returned  to  the  farm  but  only  for  a  short  whiK 
On  his  return  to  Memphis,  he  worked  as  a  porter 
on  Front  Street  for  ten  years.  His  first  business 
venture  was  a  grocery  on  Gholston  Street,  which 
proved  a  failure.  He  next  opened  a  grocery  on 
Real  Ave.  which  also  failed.  His  third  attempt  was 
on  South  Second  Street  and  went  the  way  of  its 
predecessors. 

Believing  he  had  as  much  native  ability  as  any  of 
the  men  who  were  succeeding  where  he  failed,  Mr. 
Hayes  began  to  hunt  for  cause  of  his  lack  of  suc 
cess.  He  was  convinced  a  lack  of  education  was 
one  reason,  and  entered  Howe  University,  where 
he  was  assigned  to  the  lowest  classes.  From  the 
beginning  his  success  was  remarkable,  and  he  was 
promoted  so  rapidly  that  he  reached  the  eighth 
grade  in  two  years.  In  order  to  complete  his  edu 
cation,  Mr.  Hayes  bought  an  outfit  and  opened  a 
barber  shop,  although  he  had  never  worked  as  a 
barber.  This  shop  was  located  on  Poplar  Street 
and  was  a  success  from  the  first.  There  is  some 
thing  insipiring  in  the  superb  confidence,  of  this 
comparatively  uneducated  boy  in  his  ability  to  suc 
ceed  in  business  for  himself.  Failure  served  only 
to  strengthen  his  determination.  On  leaving  school 
he  sold  clocks  and  Bibles  for  the  Red  Star  Supply 
Company,  of  Memphis,  Tenn.  While  on  the  road 
forthis  firm,  Mr.  Hayes  developed  his  ability  as  a 
salesman  until  he  felt  competent  to  succeed  in  the 
business  that  had  previously  proved  his  "Jonah." 
He  organized  the  Central  Grocery  Company,  which 
soon  not  only  swept  away  his  savings,  but  left  him 
heavily  in  debt.  Thoroughly  honorable,  his  next 
step  was  the  liquidation  of  this  indebtedness,  which 


he  accomplished  by  returning  to  hard  work  on 
Front  Street.  As  soon  as  he  was  free  from  debt, 
Mr.  Hayes  started  his  fifth  grocery.  However,  he 
this  time  had  gained  the  knowledge  he  heretofore 
lacked,  that  is.  if  you  want  a  thing  well  done,  do  it 
yourself. 

He  started  this  venture  on  a  capital  of  thirty-five 
dollars,  but  with  a  line  of  credit  that  en 
abled  him  to  stock  his  store,  Mr.  Hayes  successfully 
conducted  this  store,  until  by  a  mere  accident,  he 
entered  the  undertaking  business.  On  account  of 
the  death  of  a  local  undertaker,  leaving  a  vacancy 
in  that  fie'd,  and  knowing:  M<-.  Haves  had  a  large 
barn  that  could  be  quickly  utilized,  a  friend  per 
suaded  him  to  form  a  partnership,  which  was  the 
real  foundation  on  which  Mr.  Hayes  fortune  has 
been  built.  He  was  at  that  time  as  iernorant  of  the 
undertaking  businesh.  as  he  was  of  the  grocery 
business  when  he  started  his  first  store,  but  he  wns 
now  thoroughly  aware  of  the  value  of  knowledge 
of  ones  business  and  immediately  began  to  study 
his  new  venture.  Today,  Mr.  Hayes  is  one  of  the 
best  posted  undertakers  in  the  business.  Begin 
ning  in  1902,  with  a  capital  of  $1400.00,  his  under 
taking  company  is  pronounced  today  by  impartial 
commercial  travellers  as  one  of  the  most  substan 
tial  and  best  equipped  plants  in  the  country.  It 
has  a  commodious  chapel,  and  the  morgue,  embal 
ming  rooms,  stables  and  garages  are  modern  in  ev 
ery  'detail. 

From  1902,  Mr.  Hayes'  financial  success  has  been 
nothing  short  of  marvelous.  He  is  today  a  stock 
holder  of  the  Mississippi  Beneficial  Life  Insurance 
Co..  and  officer  and  heavy  stockholder  in  the  Sol 
vent  Savings  Bank  &  Trust  Co.,  of  Memphis,  Tenn., 
and  a  stockholder  in  the  Standard  Life  Insurance 
Co.,  of  Atlanta,  Ga. 

In  addition  to  his  handsome  residence  he  has 
valuable  rental  property  all  over  the  city  and  su 
burbs.  Mr.  Hayes  is  an  active  member  of  all  lead 
ing  colored  fraternities  represented  in  his  home 
town,  and  a  substantial  and  consistent  member  of 
St.  Johns  Baptist  Church.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Florence  Taylor,  of  Covington,  Tenn.,  March 
31,  1898,  and  several  children  have  blessed  this  un 
ion.  Mrs.  Hayes  has  proven  a  wise  counsellor  for 
her  husband  in  his  business  undertakings,  whose 
advice  receives  careful  consideration. 


479 


Willie  Lee  Harnblin,  D.  D. 


EV.    Hamblin,  born    near    Camden 


'kid"  to  pastor  a  charge  where  he  had  to  meet 


in  Madison  County,  Miss.,  May  the  critical  approval  of  a  highly  educated  and  in- 
19th,  1878.  He  received  his  first  telligent  class  of  Northerners,  who  were  not  only 
educational  training  from  Liberty 
Chapel  Public  School  to  which  he 
was  sent  until  ten  years  of  age. 


frequent  attendants  and  supporters-  of  this  church, 
but  exerted  a  strong  influence  over  its  members. 

On  his  first  Sunday  the  church  was  crowded, 
many  coming  out  of  curiosity  to  see  what  that 
"kid"  would  have  to  say.  It  can  be  said  to  his  ev- 


He  is  said  to  have  shown  marked  ability  as  a  scho 
lar  from  the  time  he  entered  school,  and  was  con 
sidered  an  infant  prodigy.  His  teachers  were  com-  erlasting  credit  that  the  "kid"  met  this  trying  or- 
pelled  to  advance  him  time  and  again,  in  the  mid-  deal  in  a  manner  that  won  the  friendship  and  ap- 
dle  of  school  periods,  bcause  he  would  master  his  proval  of  the  most  skeptical.  From  Citronelle. 
lessons  so  far  ahead  of  his  classes.  His  parents  Hr.  Hamblin  was  sent  to  Meridian,  where  he  pas- 
moved  to  Canton,  Miss.,  and  he  entered  Lincoln  tored  two  years.  But  Alabama  was  not  to  be  de- 
High  School.  Mr.  Hamblin  proved  such  an  apt  nied,  and  he  was  called  to  Clinton  Chapel,  of  Selma. 
pupil  he  was  appointed  an  assistant  teacher  four  Ala.,  where  he  remained  three  years.  After  his 
months  before  he  graduated.  It  is  the  good  for-  Selma  charge,  Dr.  Hamblin  pastored  Hunter's  Cha- 
tune  of  some  men  to  succeed  in  everything  they  pel  of  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  for  three  and  a  half  ve.-i 


ears. 


undertake.  Nature  seems  to  have  given  them  a  From  this  place  he  was  moved  to  the  Historical 
greater  scope  of  vision  and  foresight  than  she  has  Old  Ship  Church  of  Montgomery,  Ala.,  where  he 
'bestowed  on  the  generality  of  men,  and  this  in  a  was  kept  until  made  a  Presiding  Elder  five  years 
great  measure  accounts  for  their  uniform  success.  later.  In  the  interval  between  charges,  he  coin- 
After  all,  the  ability  to  succeed  lies  in  a  mans  char-  pleted  a  course  in  Livingston  College,  where  he 
acter.  Real  success  comes  from  within  the  incli-  graduated  with  honors  in  1909.  In  about  1917,  Dr. 
vidual.  and  must  be  attained  by  the  individual  him-  Hamblin  was  made  presiding  elder  of  the  Mobile 
self.  The  life  story  of  Dr.  Hamblin  is  the  story  of  District,  under  Bishop  Caldwell,  which  important 
a  successful  man  and  one  who  is  proud  to  be  identi-  position  he  now  holds. 

fied  with  the  Negro  race.     It  is  the  story  of  a  man  During  the  World  War,  Dr.  Hamblin  used  every 

whose  success  is  not  the  result  of  a  patrimony  or  ounce  of  his  intellect  and  ability  as  an  orator,   in 

of  any  other  external  cause,  but  of  his  own  strong  guiding  his  people  in  the  path  that  would  immor- 


mind  and  indomitable  energy  of  action. 

Dr.  Hamblin  entered  the  ministry  in  1895,  when 


talize  them  in  the  years  to  come. 

Dr.    Hamblin   married   Miss   Minnie   M.   Bennett, 


he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  Bishop  J.  B.  Small,  June  28th,  1899.  This  estimable  couple  have  three 
at  Durant.  Bishop  Small  passed  on  twelve  appli-  girls,  all  of  whom  inherit  their  parents  brilliant  in 
tellect  to  a  marked  degree.  Dr.  Hamblin  is  giving 
these  talented  young  ladies  every  educational  ad 
vantage  possible.  Gladys,  although  only  19  is  a 
graduate  of  and  has  finished  the  sewing,  nursing, 


cants  at  this  time,  and  stated  that  Dr.  Hamblin 
stood  by  far  the  best  examination  of  them  all.  At 
this  time  he  was  still  nothing  but  a  boy.  He  was 
ordained  an  elder  at  Meridian,  Miss.,  about  1898. 


just  as  he  was    rounding    out    his    majority.     Dr.      and   Literary   courses   at   State   Normal,   of   Mont- 


Hamblin's  first  charge  was  at  Harpersville,  in  Scott 
County,  Miss.     From  there  he  moved  to  Koscius- 


gomery,  Ala.     The  other  two,  Fostina  and  Bernice, 
aged  16  and  11,  respectively  are  still  students;  one 


ko.   Miss.,  where  he  was  principal  and  teacher  of      at   State   Normal    and    the    other    in    the    graded 


Theology  in  Hazley  Institute,  a  graded  school.  He 
was  transferred  from  the  South  Mississippi  to  the 
West  Alabama  Conference  and  sent  to  Citronelle, 
Ala.  At  that  time,  it  was  a  thriving  winter  resort 
for  Northern  people,  with  plenty  of  life  and  wealth. 
When  Dr.  Hambln  arrived  there  were  many  who 
wanted  to  know  why  the  powers  that  be,  had  sent 


schools.  During  the  world  war.  Dr.  Hamblin  wield 
ed  the  influence  and  power  his  position  gave  him. 
in  a  manner  that  aided  in  no  small  way,  his  county 
and  his  people. 

It  is,  no  doubt,  only  a  question  of  time  as  to 
when  the  Bishop's  mantle  will  be  bestowed  on  this 
Eminent  Divine  and  Christian  Citizen. 


480 


E.  W.  D.  Isaac,  D.  D. 


HE  subject  of  this  sketch  is  high 
ly  endowed  with  the  three  talents 
most  essential  in  a  man  of  his 
calling.  Fortunate  indeed  is  the 
possessor  of  a  combination  such 
as  Dr.  Isaac  is  endowed  with.  His 
gift  of  making  friends  and  holding  them,  enables 
him  to  fill  the  churches  when  he  occupies  the  pulpit. 
His  gift  of  explaining  the  teachings  of  Christ,  en 
ables  him  to  use  his  gift  of  oratory  in  a  manner 
that  is  at  once  instructive  and  inspiring  to  his  hear 
ers.  His  gift  of  music  enables  him  to  build  choirs 
that  are  glorious.  Not  only  a  wonderful  speaker,  he 
is  d<  ubly  gifted  in  being  able  to  write  as  well  as  he 
speaks  and  thereby  thousands  are  reached  that 
would  never  have  the  opportunity  to  hear  him. 

Dr.  Isaac  has  been  for  ten  years  corresponding 
Secretary  of  the  National  Baptist  Young  People's 
Union  Board  of  the  National  Baptist  Convention, 
and  editor  of  the  National  Baptist  Union,  the  or 
gan  of  the  denomination. 

He  was  born  in  Marshall,  Texas,  January  2,  1863. 
His  early  home  was  fifteen  miles  from  the  county 
seat  on  the  banks  of  the  Sabine  River,  where  his 
father,  a  pioneer  Baptist  preacher,  lived  and  was 
permitted  'to  conduct  religious  services  among  his 
people,  enjoying  the  privilege  of  a  gospel  minister, 
during  the  days  of  slavery. 

He  first  attended  school  at  Marshall  Academy, 
and  then  went  to  Wiley  University,  a  Methodist 
school  at  Marshall,  and  Bishop  College,  one  of  the 
schools  of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  So 
ciety.  After  his  graduation  from  Bishop  College, 
he  served  as  Missionary  of  the  Louisiana  and  Texas 
Associations,  and  was  then  called  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Tyler,  Texas,  where 
he  served  six  years  in  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
progressive  Baptist  Churches  in  Western  Texas. 
During  his  residence  at  Tyler,  he  taught  music  in 
the  public  schools  and  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  the  colored  teachers 
in  Smith  County. 

At  the  close  of  his  Sunday-School  pastorate,  he 
was  elected  State  Sunday-School  Missionary  and 
served  the  Texas  Baptist  State  Sunday-School 
Association  in  co-operation  with  the  American 
I'-aptist  Publication  Society  for  several  years. 


He  served  ten  years  as  pastor  of  the  New  Hope 
Baptist  Church,  Dallas,  Texas,  the  largest  Negro 
church  in  the  State.  During  his  pastorate  the 
membership  was  increased  from  900  to  2,000.  The 
first  pipe  organ  that  was  installed  in  a  Negro 
church  in  Texas,  was  put  in  the  New  Hope  Church. 
He  served  three  years  in  the  Missionary  and  Edu 
cational  Convention  of  Texas,  as  editor  of  the  de 
nominational  paper,  the  Baptist  Star.  For  the  past 
ten  years,  he  has  been  connected  with  the  success 
ful  work  of  the  Young  People's  Union  Board  of  the 
National  Baptist  Convention. 

So  much  for  the  record  of  Dr.  Isaac.  He  was 
doubly  fortunate  in  having  a  Christian  father  and 
mother  and  in  being  born  near  such  a  noted 'seat 
of  learning  as  Marshall,  Texas.  Something  in  the 
atmosphere  of  the  Grand  old  State  of  Texas  seems 
to  imbue  her  native  sons  with  the  fighting  spirit  so 
necessary  to  the  success  of  leaders  in  any  line  in 
these  days  of  turmoil  and  strife.  Like  M.  M.  Rog 
ers,  of  Dallas,  Texas,  Emmett  J.  Scott,  of  Tuskegee 
Institute.  Ben  J.  Davis,  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  other 
noted  Texans  by  birth.  Dr.  Isaac  is  always  select 
ed  as  a  leader  of  any  movement  be  becomes  iden 
tified  with.  Like  them  in  another  respect,  he  never 
confines  his  sphere  of  action  to  local  issues.  Dur 
ing  all  his  pastorates,  he  was  continually  working 
and  planning  for  the  success  of  the  National  Bap 
tist  Convention.  His  election  as  corresponding 
secretary  of  the  National  Baptist  Young  People's 
Union  Board  and  editor  of  the  Baptist  Union  gave 
him  the  opportunity  he  had  so  long  desired,  and 
his  ability  as  a  writer  of  national  reputation  was 
soon  established.  Dr.  Isaac  played  a  prominent 
part  in  helping  his  country  support  "the  men  be 
hind  the  guns."  And  his  influence  and  advice  set 
a  splendid  example  for  his  people  in  the  trying 
times  of  German  Propaganda. 

Personally,  Dr.  Isaac  is  one  of  the  most  mag 
netic  men  in  public  life.  Wielding  a  virile  pen,  he 
is  no  less  a  forceful  speaker  and  talented  musician 
He  is  a  powerful  and  uncompromising  fighter  for 
any  cause  that  he  believes  is  right  and  just,  yet  he 
is  always  ready  and  willing  to  lend  a  sympathetic 
ear  to  any  one  in  trouble  and  distress.  The  State 
of  Tennessee  is  fortunate  in  the  acquisition  of  this 
gifted  son  of  Texas. 


481 


NATHAN  W.  COLLIER.  A.   B.,  A.  M  ,  Litt.  D. 

ATHAN  W.  Collier,  A.  B.  A.  M., 
Litt.  D.,  is  a  native  of  Augusta, 
Georgia,  and  came  from  one  of 
the  best  known  and  most  highly 
esteemed  families  of  that  city.  In 
his  early  boyhood  days  and 
through  most  of  his  public  school  career  he  worked 
under  his  father  who  followed  the  brick  mason's 
trade.  Under  the  direction  of  his  father  he  became 
quite  proficient  as  a  brick  mason.  He  did  not 
choose,  however,  to  follow  this  trade  for  his  inclin 
ations  led  in  other  directions. 

After  graduating  at  Ware  High  School,  a  public 
institution  of  his  native  city,  he  became  an  appren 
tice  at  the  Georgia  Baptist  Printing  Office,  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  reliable  printing  establish 
ments  among  colored  people  in  the  South.  He  ap 
plied  himself  diligently  to  his  new  trade  and  devel 
oped  into  a  first  class  printer. 

In  1890,  Mr.  Collier  entered  the  Atlanta  Univer 
sity,  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  remained  in  that  insti 
tution  until  he  had  completed  his  college  course, 
and  graduated  with  high  honor.  He  received  the 


degree  of  A.  B.,  in  the  class  of  1894.  Mr.  Collier, 
while  at  the  University,  became  noted  as  an  orator 
and  as  a  scholar.  On  two  occasions  he  won  the 
Boston  Quizz  Club  prize  for  oratory  and  stood 
among  the  best  in  his  class  for  scholarship. 

In  1894  he  was  called  to  Florida  as  assistant  prin 
cipal  of  the  Florida  Baptist  Academy  at  Jackson 
ville.  In  1896,  he  was  unanimously  elected  Pres 
ident  of  the  same  Institution,  which  position  he 
has  held  for  twenty-four  consecutive  years,  and  is 
now  its  President,  honored  and  beloved  by  thous 
ands  of  young  people  whose  lives  he  has  touched, 
and  who  are  now  settled  all  over  this  country. 

Mr.  Collier  has  traveled  extensively  over  this 
country  and  Canada,  speaking  before  large  au 
diences,  presenting  his  work  and  pressing  the 
claims  and  interests  of  his  people.  In  Florida, 
where  he  has  done  most  of  his  life's  work  in  build 
ing  up  one  of  the  leading  secondary  schools  in  this 
Southland  and  from  which  many  of  the  leading 
men  of  Florida  have  gone  forth  into  larger  institu 
tions,  the  business  world,  and  the  professions  Mr. 
Collier's  name  is  a  household  word.  He  is  known 
everywhere  as  a  polished  Christian  gentleman.  He 
numbers  his  friends  by  the  hundreds  among  both 
races. 

One  of  the  most  notable  addresses  delivered  by 
Mr.  Collier,  was  the  one  before  the  World's  Inter 
national  Sunday  School  Convention  held  in  Atlanta, 
some  years  ago.  He  sat  on  the  platform  with 
Governor  Chandler  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  and 
representatives  from  this  country,  Canada,  England 
and  other  foreign  countries.  He  represented  the 
colored  people  of  America.  Of  this  address,  Mr. 
W.  S.  Witham,  a  millionaire  representative  of  the 
International  Association,  said,  "Your  speech  is  the 
best  I  have  ever  heard  in  my  life  and  I  have  heard 
thousands." 

Mr.  Collier  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Lit 
erature  from  Selma  University,  Selma,  Alabama, 
in  May,  1916. 

June  5,  1918,  one  of  the  greatest  audiences  ever 
assembled  in  Jacksonville  was  to  present  an  Honor 
Flag  to  the  colored  citizens  of  that  city  in  recog 
nition  of  the  splendid  work  they  had  done  in  the 
sale  of  Third  Liberty  Loan  Bonds,  raising  the  mag- 
.nificent  sum  of  $298,000.  The  hall  was  packed  with 
both  white  and  colored  citizens,  and  it  fell  to  the 
honor  of  this  scholarly  man,  Nathan  W.  Collier, 
to  make  the  speech  of  acceptance.  This  is  the  first 


482 


honor  flag  ever  presented  to  the  Negro  race  in  the 
United  States. 

Mr.  C 'oilier  feels  that  he  can  best  serve  his  race 
by  helping  the  youth  of  his  people  to  acquire  an  ed 
ucation  and  does  not  consider  an  education  com 
plete  that  does  not  deal  with  the  moral  and  spirit 
ual,  atid  so  he  is  devoting  his  life  through  the  in 
stitution  over  which  he  presides  in  educating  the 
whole  man.  That  he  is  succeeding  in  his  under 
taking  is  attested  by  the  noble  band  of  young  men 
and  women  that  are  going  out  from  this  school  to 
fill  places  of  trust  and  usefulness. 

Not  alone  does  his  denomination  serve  and  hon 
or  him  but  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  members 
of  the  Negro  race  and  maintains  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  the  white  race. 

FLORIDA   BAPTIST  ACADEMY 

The  Florida  Baptist  Academy  was  founded  in 
1892,  by  the  Florida  Negro  Baptist  Convention.  It 
is  owned  and  controlled  by  a  Board  of  nine  trus 
tees,  of  whom  four  are  white.  The  American  Bap 
tist  Home  Mission  Society  gives  it  aid  and  super 
vision.  It  is  a  secondary  school  with  large  ele 
mentary  enrollment.  Training  in  gardening  and 
simple  industrial  work  is  provided.  The  manage 
ment  is  very  effective.  It  has  a  large  enrollment 
of  between  four  and  five  hundred  students,  who 
come  from  a  number  of  states  other  than  Florida. 
The  teaching  force,  numbering  eighteen,  is  all 
colored ;  four  are  male  and  fourteen  female.  The 
elementary  work  is  done  in  eight  grades  by  five 
regular  teachers.  Two  of  the  academy  teachers 
give  part  time  to  the  grades.  The  Secondary  work 


outlined  in  the  catalogue  is  divided  into  "college 
preparatory"  and  "normal"  courses.  In  practice 
the  majority  of  the  pupils  combine  the  essential 
studies  of  the  two  courses. 

Manual  training  in  wood  and  iron  is  provided  for 
boys ;  cooking,  sewing,  dressmaking,  millinery,  and 
house  cleaning  for  girls.  The  Industrial  teachers 
are  well  trained. 

While  the  Institution  had  a  splendid  plant  at 
Jacksonville,  valued  at  $75.000.  it  was  thought  best 
for  the  school  to  change  its  location.  October  1, 
1918,  this  was  done,  when  the  institution  found  a 
new  home  at  St.  Augustine,  Florida.  Here  it  has 
acquired  a  thousand  acres  of  land  and  has  started 
on  a  new  career,  with  promise  of  becoming  one  of 
the  greatest  schools  for  colored  people  jn  all, the 
Southland. 

The  encouragement  and  support  received  by  the 
school  and  the  hearty  endorsement  given  the  trus 
tees  in  their  efforts  to  build  a  bigger  and  better 
school  were  so  spontaneous  and  unanimous  that  a 
drive  is  now  being  conducted  for  funds  with  which 
to  complete  the  plant  on  a  scale  that  will  be  in 
keeping  with  the  high  type  of  institutions  for 
which  the  state  of  Florida  is  noted  ;  the  splendid 
faculty,  has  been  secured,  and  the  many  students 
who  have  expressed  a  desire  to  enroll  for  a  course 
in  this  noted  seat  of  learning. 

The  success  of  Dr.  Collier  at  the  start,  gives  pro 
mise  of  putting  "Florida  Baptist"  over  the  top  in  a 
manner  that  will  be  a  splendid  Institute  to  all  con 
cerned. 


•  -..-': 

'.    ••      -;    •  '  '—    •  ""    .-,  ,  i,-. 
*,    -        '        * 


PARTIAL  VIEW  OF  THE  NEW  HOME  OF   FLORIDA   BAPTIST   ACADEMY 


483 


J.  R.  E.  Lee 


ROBABLY  no  Negro  in  America, 
certainly  in  modern  times,  has 
been  flattered  with  as  many  of 
fers  for  presidencies  of  schools  as 
has  J.  R.  E.  Lee.  These  offers 
have  come  as  the  result  not  of 
wire-pulling  or  because  Profes 
sor  Lee  has  in  any  way  gone 
aside  to  make  special  friends,  rather  they  have 
come  because  for  nearly  a  half  century  Professor 
Lee  has  made  himself  indispensable,  as  nearly  so 
as  the  average  man  does  in  the  whole  field  of  edu 
cation. 

Born,  reared  and  educated  in  Texas,  Mr.  Lee  was 
fortunate  enough  to  fall  heir  to  the  training  given 
by  the  early  graduates  of  the  Mission  schools,  that 
is,  graduates  of  Fisk  and  other  such  Institutions. 
Inspired  by  the  personality  as  well  as  the  teaching 
of  the  Missionaries  from  the  North  who  went  into 
the  South  to  teach  these  graduates  carried  with 
them  not  merely  a  good  store  of  book  learning,  but 
the  zeal  for  service.  It  is  to  these  that  J.  R.  E.  Lee 
owes  much  of  his  zeal  for  school  work  and  for  so 
cial  work. 

Graduating  from  Bishop  College,  Marshall,  Tex 
as,  Mr.  Lee  spent  several  years  teaching  in  his  na 
tive  state.  From  Texas  he  went  over  into  the 
south,  taking  the  professorship  of  mathematics  at 
Tuskegee  Insttiute. 

Literally  by  dint  of  hard  work  Mr.  Lee  outgrew 
the  position  as  the  head  of  the  division  of  mathe 
matics  at  Tuskegee  Institute.  From  Tuskegee  In 
stitute  he  went  to  Benedict  College,  South  Caro 
lina.  From  Benedict  he  went  to  Corona,  Ala.  In 
both  of  these  he  was  the  booster  of  education  in 
all  its  forms  as  he  afterwards  became  nationally. 
From  Corona  Professor  Lee  was  recalled  to  Tus- 
kege  Institute  to  become  head  of  the  Academic 
Department  of  that  Institution.  It  was  during  his 
half  score  or  more  years  here,  that  Mr.  Lee  ren 
dered  yeoman  service  not  only  to  Tuskegee  Insti 
tute  as  an  educator  but  to  the  whole  South.  In 
the  Institution  Professor  Lee  developed  to  its 
highest  pitch  the  Tuskegee  Educational  Scheme  of 
Correlation ;  that  is,  the  teachers  under  him  so  man 
aged  their  Geography,  English  and  Mathematics 
as  to  give  them  a  particular  naming  in  every-day 
life.  The  mathematics  for  example  dealt  with  ac 
tual  measurements  and  weights  ;  the  English,  with 
the  daily  occurrences  both  local  and  national. 

While  pushing  this  scheme  at  Tuskegee  Mr.  Lee 
at  various  intervals  travelled  over  the  whole  south 
boosting  the  cause  of  education.  He  was  instru 
mental  if  not  pioneer  in  establishing  and  putting 
on  its  feet  the  State  Teachers  Association  of  Ala 
bama.  He  was  organizer  and  promoter  of  the  Na 
tional  Association  for  Teachers  in  colored  schools. 
He  was  chief  organizer  and  booster  under  Dr. 
Washington  for  the  National  Negro  Business 
Mens'  League.  Of  the  first  two  bodies  he  was 
president  and  secretary  for  a  number  of  years.  As 
president  of  the  National  Association,  he  travelled 
from  state  to  state  even  paying  his  own  expenses, 
to  inspire  various  state  organizations  to  fall  in  line 
with  the  National  Organizations.  In  the  same  way 


he  assumed  the  personal  responsibility  for  publish 
ing  minutes  and  various  kinds  of  data  for  both  the 
State  Teachers  Association,  and  the  National  Body. 
He  corresponded  at  his  own  expense  and  at  the 
expense  of  Tuskegee  Institute  with  all  the  lead 
ing  teachers  of  the  country  to  get  them  in  line 
with  the  current  thoughts  in  education.  It  will  be 
a  long  time  before  the  South  appreciates  fully  the 
service  rendered  to  education  by  J.  R.  E.  Lee. 

From  Tuskegee  Institute  Professor  Lee  went  to 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  he  became  principal  of 
the  Lincoln  High  School.  It  is  difficult  at  this 
time  of  writing  to  determine  whether  Professor 
Lee  has  excelled  the  more  by  putting  the  school 
on  a  higher  educational  plane,  or  at  social  service 
work  in  Kansas  City.  In  the  latter  he  has  organ 
ized  Mothers'  C'lubs,  hospital  clubs,  savings  clubs, 
indeed  an  almost  innumerable  list  of  social  service 
bodies  to  promote  better  living  in  the  City.  At  the 
same  time  he  is  a  big  Church  worker  in  Kansas 
City,  and  is  very  active  on  the  hospital  board  of 
the  Phyllis  Wheatley  Hospital.  Though  Mr.  Lee 
has  left  the  South,  the  States  and  schools 
have  not  forgotten  him.  Each  summer  during  his 
vacation  time  he  has  been  called  back  to  work 
either  for  the  schools,  or  for  the  summer  schools  in 
the  states.  One  summer  the  state  of  Arkansas  en 
gaged  him  to  intruct  its  teachers  in  public  schools. 
Another  summer  the  State  of  Louisiana  engaged 
his  services ;  a  third,  he  was  called  back  to  Alabama 
to  lecture  at  Tuskegee  Institute,  at  Miles  Memo 
rial  College  and  at  Normal,  Ala. 

With  all  the  experience  coming  from  contact  and 
from  service  Professor  Lee  has  nevertheless  kept 
the  student's  mind.  Travelling  here  and  there  and 
working  endlessly  he  has  nevertheless  found  time 
to  go  to  school.  He  has  attended  Summer  school 
at  Chicago  University,  at  the  University  of  Michi 
gan,  and  at  other  places  even  after  making  his 
trips  south  and  lecturing  and  teaching  for  the  va 
rious  states  and  Institutions. 

Professor  Lee  has  reared  and  educated  a  large 
family.  He  had  four  sons  enlisted  in  the  recent 
war.  His  eldest  son,  Edwin,  is  a  practicing  physi 
cian  in  Kansas  City,  having  graduated  from  Tuske 
gee  Institute,  from  Columbia  University,  where  he 
was  an  honor  man,  and  from  the  Medical  College  of 
Howard  University.  The  second  oldest  son,  George, 
was  graduated  from  Tuskegee  Institute  and  from 
the  School  of  Pharmacy  at  Howard  University. 
Robert  E.  is  a  student  at  Virginia  Union  Univer 
sity  in  Richmond,  Va.  Maurice  is  a  student  in 
Morehouse  College,  Atlanta,  Ga.  Ralph,  the 
youngest  son,  is  in  public  school  in  Kansas  City, 
Mo.  There  are  also  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Birdie 
Lee  Jones  and  Miss  Beatrice  Lee.  Mrs.  Birdie  Lee 
Jones  is  at  Tuskegee  Institute  and  Miss  Beatrice 
is  a  teacher  of  music  at  Lincoln  Institute.  Both 
were  graduates  of  Tuskegee  and  Spellman. 

Professor  Lee  was  recently  offered  the  presi 
dency  of  the  State  School  in  WestVirginia  and  was 
also  offered  the  post  to  go  to  France  to  do  educa 
tional  work  there.  Both  of  these  he  declined,  pre 
ferring  to  develop  the  many  schemes  he  has  set 
afoot  in  Kansas  City. 


484 


LANE  COLLEGE— JACKSON,  TENNESSEE 


T  Lane  College  the  literary  and 
religious  ideas  of  education  are 
emphasized  and  harmoniously 
blended.  Founded  in  1882  by  the 
Colored  Methodist  Church,  it  was 
the  first  to  be  made  a  connection- 
al  school  of  that  denomination  and  is  .one  of  the 
most  representative  of  its  denomination  in  enter 
prise. 

Bishop  Isaac  Lane,  in  whose  honor  the  institu 
tion  is  named,  at  one  time  a  slave,  was  denied  the 
advantages  of  education.  Largely  through  his  own 
efforts  he  learned  to  read  and  write  and  acquired  a 
good  education  that  placed  him  in  the  front  ranks 
among  his  brothers.  After  his  election  as  bishop  he 
was  impressed  with  the  idea  of  establishing  an  in 
stitution  for  the  training  of  the  youth  of  his  race. 
His  untiring  efforts,  splendid  leadership,  and  self- 
sacrifice  brought  the  results  within  a  few  years 
that  stand  to  his  credit  today, — for  it  is  to  him  that 
the  institution  owes  its  success  and  usefulness.  The 
school  began  in  November,  1882,  under  Miss  Jen 
nie  E.  Lane,  who  continued  it  until  January.  Prof. 
j.  H.  Harper  finished  the  unexpired  term. 

Lane  College  is  located  in  a  railroad  and  manu 
facturing  town  in  western  Tennessee,  where  the 
colored  population  is  greatest  and  where  there  is 
a  lack  of  higher  institutions  of  learning.  The  col 
lege  has  seven  buildings,  located  on  a  campus  of 
about  seven  acres.  These  serve  as  administration 
hall,  reading  room,  chapel,  lecture  hall,  class  rooms, 
laboratories,  and  teachers'  cottage  and  dormitor 
ies.  The  school  owns  a  farm  of  about  forty-two 


acres,  about  half  a  miie  from  the  institution.  It  is 
well  cultivated,  well  watered,  and  is  a  large  profit 
to  the  college.  In  addition  to  the  regular  college, 
normal,  teacher-training,  college,  preparatory,  nor 
mal  preparatory,  English,  and  music  courses,  the 
theological  course  of  four  years  is  maintained.  Bet 
ter-prepared  ministry  is  one  of  the  great  demands 
today,  and  Lane  College  is  doing  everything  pos 
sible  to  prepare  the  young  men  for  this  work,  as 
well  as  fit  others  to  be  more  useful  in  churches,  the 
Sunday-school,  the  Epworth  League,  and  other  de 
partments  of  religious  work. 

The  college  seeks  to  qualify  these  students  to  be 
come  leaders  in  thought.  It  is  strictly  religious  in 
its  work,  and  everything  else  is  made  subsidiary 
to  this  one  idea.  Graduates  of  Lane  College  are  to 
be  found  in  all  ranks, — in  the  ministry,  in  the  school 
room,  as  president,  principal,  and  teachers,  in  the 
office,  and  in  the  other  lines  of  professions  and  bus 
iness  ;  on  the  farm,  in  the  shop,  and  in  stores  of 
their  own.  As  a  rule  they  strive  to  cultivate  peace. 

November  4,  1904,  fire  destroyed  the  girls'  dor 
mitory  building  and  the  main  hall,  a  beautiful  three- 
story  brick  structure.  By  reason  of  much  self-sac 
rifice  among  the  people,  contributions  have  been  se 
cured,  so  that  the  buildings  destroyed  by  fire  have 
been  replaced  by  commodious  ones  at  a  cost  of 
about  $42,000.  One  of  these  and  a  steam  heating 
plant,  was  installed  at  a  cost  of  $7,200.  A  strong 
asset  of  the  college  is  a  complete  commercial 
course. 

The  Negroes  have  given  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars  to  this  institution. 


485 


Robert  Elijah  Jones  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  B.  D.,  LL.  I). 


MIDST  the  commercial,  industrial 
and  literary  progress  of  the 
South,  there  has  also  come  up  a 
younger  crop  of  men  who  while 
while  grasping  the  hand  of  their 
sires  nevertheless  are  squinting 
their  eves  into  the  future.  This  generation  of 
younger  men  has  retained  a  great  deal  of  the  old 
sentiment  for  the  South,  of  the  politeness  if  not 
the  humility  of  their  sires. 

At  the  same  time  it  has  not  hesitated  to  go 
forward  in  all  those  ideals  which  make  a  finer 
grade  of  American  citizenship.  They  have  recog 
nized  the  value  of  money,  the  value  of  religion,  the 
value  of  education,  the  value  of  social  contact,  the 
value  of  a  decent  environment.  Appreciating  these 
in  their  highest,  they  have  come  out  and  asked 
for  them  with  a  positiveness  that  almost  belies 
their  modesty  under  more  ordinary  circumstances. 
Robert  Elijah  Jones,  Clergyman  and  Editor, 
stands  in  the  vanguard  of  this  generation.  With 
headquarters  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  where  men  still 
revel  in  many  of  the  older  theories,  Dr.  Jones  has 
been  outspoken  on  all  the  leading  questions  that 
bear  upon  the  interest  of  the  Negro. 

R.  E.  Jones  was  born  at  Greensboro,  North  Car 
olina,  on  the  19th  of  February,  1872.  He  is  the 
son  of  Sidney  Dallas  and  Mary  Holly  Jones.  North 
Carolina  is  far  from  being  one  of  the  backward 
states  of  the  South.  Greensboro  is  one  of  the  more 
liberal  cities  of  this  fairly  liberal  southern  state. 
Here  in  Greensboro,  Dr.  Jones  received  a  good  ele 
mentary  education.  Later  he  attended  Bennett 
College  in  his  native  city,  receiving  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1895.  Three  years  later  he  re 
ceived  from  the  same  institution  the  degree  of  Mas 
ter  of  Arts.  Working  and  studying  in  turns  Dr. 
Jones  later  attended  Gammon  Theological  Semi 
nary  where  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Divinity.  Howard  University  made  him  L.L.D.  in 
1911. 

Dr.  Jones  began  his  career  as  a  local  preacher  at 
Leeksburg,  N.  C.,  in  1891.  He  was  ordained  in  the 
M.  E.  Ministry  in  1892  and  was  made  Elder  in  1896. 
From  the  Leeksburg  ordination,  Dr.  Jones  pastorec'. 
successfully  a  number  of  churches.  These  were 
in  Lexington,  in  Thomasville,  and  in  Reidsville  of 
his  native  state. 

Beginning  with  1897.  Dr.  Jones  entered  upoi: 
new  fields  of  religious  work.  For  a  time  he  was 
assistant  manager  of  the  South  Western  Christian 
Advocate  in  New  Orleans,  La.  Later  he  served  as 
field  Secretary,  of  the  Board  of  Sunday  Schools  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  This  work  he  did  between  the 


years  of  1901-04.     In   1904  he  was  made  editor  of 
the  South  Western  Christian  Advocate. 

For  the  past  15  years  he  has  edited  this  now 
celebrated  periodical.  This  paper's  reputation  for 
clean,  straight-forward  Christianity,  is  in  itself  a 
splendid  monument  to  Dr.  Jones. 

As  editor  of  the  Advocate  Dr.  Jones  has  traveled 
much  over  the  country  attending  conventions,  not 
only  of  the  church,  but  of  all  bodies  which  mean  the 
development  of  the  Negro  race.  In  the  same  way- 
he  has  served  in  whatever  capacity  he  could  to  im 
prove  the  religious  and  social  life  of  the  black  man. 
He  has  been  President  of  the  Negro  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
in  New  Orleans,  Vice-President  and  Trustee  of  New 
Orleans  University,  Vice  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  Bennett  College.  He  is  a  trustee  of 
Gammon  Theological  Seminary,  and  President  of 
the  colored  Travellers  Protection  Association.  He 
is  first  Vice-President  of  the  National  Negro  Press 
Association  and  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Com 
mittee  of  the  National  Negro  Business  League. 

His  efforts  are  not  confined  to  service  of  this 
kind  or  to  religious  work.  He  is  a  platform  speak 
er  much  in  demand.  One  of  his  addresses  "A  Few 
Remarks  on  Making  Good  in  Life"  is  illustrated  in 
the  Masterpieces  of  Negro  eloquence. 

Dr.  Jones  was  married  January  2nd,  1901,  to  Miss 
Valena  T.  MacArthur,  of  Bay  St.  Louis,  Mississip 
pi.  He  is  the  father  of  a  happy  family  living  on 
Constant  St.  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  There 
are  few  men  in  the  church,  be  the  denomination 
what  it  may,  who  do  more  of  the  kind  of  service 
which  usually  falls  under  the  head  of  secular ;  there 
are  fewer  men  classed  as  secular,  who  throw  them 
selves  into  the  church  with  the  abandon  of  Rob 
ert  E.  Jones. 

The  following  excerpt  from  the  Southeastern 
Christian  Advocate,  shows  clearly  Dr.  Jones'  broad 
mindedness  and  level  headedness : 

"There  is  grave  danger  in  the  position  that  some 
of  our  race  leaders  are  taking  in  charging  that  the 
white  race  as  a  whole  is  an  enemy  to  the  Negro 
race,  and  therefore  such  race  leaders  are  seeking 
to  array  race  against  race  and  to  meet  prejudice 
with  prejudice,  hatred  with  hatred,  and  bitterness 
with  bitterness.  This  position  is  wrong.  In  the 
first  place,  it  is  wrong  as  a  matter  of  policy.  We 
will  get  nowhere  in  our  effort  to  secure  justice  and 
equity  if  we  array  ourselves  as  a  race  against  a 
race  that  has  superior  numbers,  intelligence  and 
wealth,  and  social  and  political  advantage.  1 1 
would  be  far  better  to  seek  to  show  the  white  peo 
ple  themselves  and  the  world  the  fairness  of  our 
appeal. 


486 


ARNETT  HALL— WILBERFORCE  UNIVERSITY— GALLOWAY  HALL 


HE  institution  traces  its  history 
to  1847,  when  the  Ohio  Confer 
ence  of  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  opened  Union 
Seminary,  twelve  miles  west  of 
Columbus,  Ohio. 

The  present  site  of  Wilber- 
force  University  was  purchased 
in  1856  by  the  Ohio  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

The  conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and 
the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  then 
formed  a  corporation  and  appointed  a  board  of  trus 
tees  for  the  new  institution.  Both  schools  were 
closed  by  the  war.  In  1863  Bishop  Payne,  of  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  purchased  the 
Wilberforce  property ;  the  Union  Seminary  proper 
ty  was  sold  and  the  two  schools  combined.  In  1870 


The  languages  and  mathematics  receive  greater 
emphasis  than  the  other  courses. 

While  the  theological  seminary  has  a  separate 
board  of  directors,  it  is  supported  by  the  African 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  its  management  is 
closely  related  to  that  of  the  university.  It  offers 
two  three-year  courses  in  theological  subjects. 

Its  sources  of  income  are  from  Church  confer 
ences,  tuition  and  fees,  state  appropriations,  gen 
eral  donations  and  from  other  sources. 

Wilberforce  University  stands  for  the  united  ed 
ucation  of  head,  heart  and  hand,  and  is  located  to 
do  this  work  to  a  decided  advantage.  It  is  contigu 
ous  to  a  territory  of  three  states,  each  having  a 
large  Negro  population.  It  draws  from  these  and 
the  entire  belt  of  southern  states,  together  with 


an  appropriation  of  $26,000  was  made  to  the  insti-      the  immediate  iarge  Negro  belt   in  Ohio.     It  pre- 


tution  by  the  United  States  Congress  and  legacies 
were  bequeathed  by  Chief  Justice  Chase  and  the 
Avery  estate, 

The  institution  is  managed  by  a  board  of  trus 
tees  elected  by  the  church  conference. 

In  1889  the  Ohio  legislature  passed  a  law  estab 
lishing  the  "combined  Normal  and  Industrial  De 
partment." 

This  department  is  practically  a  separate  institu 
tion.  Payne  Theological  Seminary  was  founded  in 
1891  with  a  separate  board  of  directors. 

The  pupils  of  the  preparatory  and  collegiate  de 
partment  of  the  university  are  not  required  to  take 
industrial  courses  in  the  "C.  N.  and  I."  department, 
and  those  electing  such  courses  receive  no  credit 
for  these  electives  toward  graduation  in  the  univer 
sity  proper.  Classes  in  elementary  subjects  are  pro 
vided  for  the  few  pupils  not  prepared  for  second 
ary  classes. 

The  secondary  course  covers  four  years.  The 
following  subjects  are  taken  by  all:  English,  Latin, 
Elementary  Sciences,  Mathematics,  Chemistry  and 
Physics.  The  college  subjects  are  Mathematics, 
English,  Latin,  Greek,  German,  French,  Spanish, 
Biology,  Chemistry,  Physics,  History  and  Philoso 
phy. 


sents  to  its  patrons  an  exceptional  race  environ 
ment,  where  high  ideals  and  practices  obtain,  where 
race  social  life  is  on  a  high  plane,  where  evil  sur 
roundings  are  few,  where  country  air  and  influ 
ences  do  their  healthful  work,  where  race  friction 
is  quite  unknown,  where  is  found  on  every  hand  for 
youth  the  greatest  possible  inspiration  to  right  liv 
ing,  right  thinking,  industry,  sobriety,  and  success 
in  life. 

It  has  illustrated  to  the  world  what  the  race  can 
do  for  itself.  For  over  fifty  years  the  work  has 
continued  and  President  Scarborough  is  now  reach 
ing  out  in  a  broad  endeavor  to  expand  its  useful 
ness. 

With  its  continuous  growth,  its  needs  have  kept 
pace,  so  to-day  the  school  faces  pressing  necessi 
ties.  It  needs  $100,000  added  to  its  small  endow 
ment.  It  cannot  accommodate  the  numbers  apply 
ing  for  admission,  and  more  room  must  be  pro 
vided. 

Wilberforce  University  is  doing  a  noble  work 
lor  both  sexes.  The  number  of  students  who  have 
received  instruction  in  this  intitution  go  into  the 
thousands,  and  some  of  the  ablest  preachers  in  the 
denomination  are  proud  of  Wilberforce  as  their 
Alma  Mater. 


487 


MISS   EVA   D.   BOWLES 

ISS  Bowies'  record  as  a  war  sec 
retary  for  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association  not  only  in 
the  selection  of  well  trained 
women  to  take  charge  of  hostess 
houses  that  were  provided  at  va 
rious  camps  and  cantonments, 
but  in  keeping  alive  the  fires  of 
patriotism  among  the  colored  women  of  the  coun 
try,  entitles  her  to  rank  with  the  greatest  war  he 
roes  the  country  produced.  Working  day  and 
night,  going  from  place  to  place,  lecturing  and 
otherwise  working  for  the  betterment  of  social 
conditions  in  army  camps,  she  brought  order  out  of 
chaos,  and  set  a  standard  of  patriotic  effort  that 
hardly  has  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  colored 
women. 

Miss  Bowles  brought  to  the  place  an  experience 
gained  by  many  years  work  in  associated  charities 
and  Y.  W.  C.  A.s'  and  this  experience  was  gladly 
welcomed  by  a  board  that  had  offers  of  service 
from  many  volunteers  but  very  few  of  them  were 
experienced  workers.  Miss  Bowles  is  a  native  of 
Columbus,  Ohio,  where  for  four  years  she  was  dis 
trict  visitor  of  associated  charities.  Her  early  edu 
cation  was  obtained  from  the  public  schools  of  Co 
lumbus.  After  finishing  high  school,  she  entered 
and  completed  the  literary  course  in  Ohio  State 
University.  After  graduating,  Miss  Bowles  taught 
for  ten  years  in  the  schools  of  the  South.  She  is 


a  member  of  St.  Philips  Episcopal  Church,  Colum 
bus,  Ohio,  and  an  ardent  church  worker.  It  was 
her  love  of  religious  life  that  led  her  to  become  af 
filiated  with  the  active  work  of  the  Colored  Young 
Women's  Christian  Association.  Her  ability  as  an 
organizer  and  lecturer  is  so  marked  that  she  was 
appointed  to  the  position  of  General  Secretary, 
Colored  Women's  Branch,  Young  Women's  Chris 
tian  Association  of  New  York  City  and  Executive 
Secretary  of  Colored  Work  in  cities,  under  Nat 
ional  Board  of  Y.  W.  C.  A.  When  war  was  de 
clared  she  was  proffered  the  position  of -Executive 
Secretary  for  colored  work,  under  the  War  Work 
Council  of  the  National  Board  of  the  Young  Wom 
en's  Christian  Association.  It  was  in  the  last  nam 
ed  place  that  she  became  nationally  famous.  Miss 
Bowles  is  a  profound  scholar  of  human  nature,  a 
tireless  worker  and  magnetic  speaker. 

Since  her  election  to  the  Young  Women's  Chris 
tian  Association  Secretaryship  in  1913,  there  has 
been  a  steady  increase  in  the  number  of  city  asso 
ciations,  and  they  are  rapidly  being  affiliated  with 
the  National  organization.  Miss  Bowles  has  the 
happy  faculty  of  gaining  and  holding  the  best 
wishes  of  the  white  people  as  easily  as  she  does  the 
colored.  She  has  long  since  realized  the  benefits 
which  always  accrue  by  cultivating  the  good  will 
and  friendship  of  all  that  she  comes  in  contact  with, 
irrespective  of  race  or  creed,  with  the  result  that 
she  is  in  position  to  be  and  is  of  inestimable  ser 
vice  to  her  people. 

Miss  Bowles  had  associated  with  her  in  the  War 
Work  Council  as  heads  of  departments  a  splendid 
galaxy  of  patriotic  workers.  The  heads  of  the  de 
partments  assisting  her  were  Miss  Mary  E.  Jack 
son,  Special  Industrial  Worker  among  the  Colored 
Women  for  the  War  Work  Council ;  Miss  Crystal 
Bird,  Girls'  Worker;  Mrs.  Vivian  W.  Stokes,  who 
at  one  time  was  associated  with  the  National  Ur 
ban  League  and  assisted  in  making  a  survey  of 
New  York  City  in  connection  with  the  Urban 
League  of  New  York;  Mrs.  Lucy  B.  Richmond, 
special  worker  for  town  and  country;  Miss  Mabel 
S.  Brady,  recruiting  secretary  in  the  Personnel  Bu 
reau ;  Miss  Juliette  Dericotte,  special  student 
worker;  Mrs.  Cordelia  A.  Winn,  formerly  a  teach 
er  in  the  public  schools  of  Columbus,  Ohio;  Mrs. 
Ethel  J.  Kindle,  special  office  worker.  Miss  Jose 
phine  V.  Pinyon  was  appointed  a  special  war  work 
er  in  August,  1917.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Cornell 
University,  a  former  teacher,  and  a  student  Y.  W. 
C.  A.  Secretary  from  1912  to  1916.  She  is  a  tire 
less  worker  and  her  services  were  invaluable. 

The  field  workers  were  Mrs.  Adele  Ruffin,  South 
Atlantic  Field,  appointed  in  October,  1917.  Mrs. 
Ruffin  was  a  teacher  for  some  years  at  Kittrell 
College,  and  then  secretary  of  the  Y  .W.  C.  A. 
branch  at  Richmond,  Virginia.  Miss  May  Belcher 
had  charge  of  the  South  Central  field  and  Miss 
Maria  L.  Wielder  of  the  Southwestern  field.  Miss 
Elizabeth  Carter  was  loaned  to  the  Association 
work  by  the  Board  of  Education  of  New  Bedford, 
Massachusetts,  where  she  is  the  only  colored 
teacher  in  the  city.  She  is  chairman  of  the  North 
eastern  Federation  of  Colored  Women's  Clubs,  and 
former  President  of  the  National  Association  of 
Colored  Women's  Clubs.  She  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  center  in  Washington,  D.  C. 


488 


Mrs.  Alice  Dunbar  Nelson 


T  is  not  often  that  famous  men 
wed  famous  wives ;  that  is,  wom 
en  who  are  able  to  maintain  a  so 
cial  and  intellectual  position  in 
the  world  without  the  borrowed 
light  of  their  husbands.  Among 

ave   been    able   to   do    this    is    Mrs.. 


the    fe\v    \vh 

Alice  Dunbar  Nelson. 

Mrs.  Nelson  was  formerly  Mrs.  Paul  Laurence 
Dunbar.  However,  long  before  she  met  the  poet, 
she  had  a  popularity  and  a  standing  all  her  own, 
having  achieved  an  enviable  record  in  her  school 
life  and  made  for  herself  a  more  enviable  career 
afterwards  as  school  teacher,  writer  and  social 
worker. 

Mrs.  Nelson,  who  was  Miss  Alice  Ruth  Moore, 
was  born  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  July  19th,  1875.  She 
attended  the  public  schools  of  her  native  city  and 
afterwards  Straight  University.  She  was  grad 
uated  from  Straight  University  in  1892.  Upon 
graduation  she  taught  for  a  number  of  years  in 
the  public  schools  of  her  native  city.  She  belonged 
to  that  class  of  progressive  teachers  who  strive 
eagerly  to  improve  themselves,  and  who  work  to 
increase  their  efficiency  in  some  one  chosen  sub 
ject. 

In  1896,  Mrs.  Nelson  went  to  Boston  and  then 
to  New  York  to  study  Manual  Training.  In  New 
York  she  pursued  her  course  at  Teachers  College 
in  Columbia  University.  The  East  quickly  learn 
ed  to  appreciate  the  services  of  this  daughter  of 
the  fair  South.  In  1897,  she  became  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  She  had  met  the 
poet  laureate  of  his  race,  Paul  Laurence  Dunbar, 
in  the  year  following  in  March,  1897.  As  has  al 
ready  been  said,  Mrs.  Nelson  had  made  for  herself 
a  career.  While  she  was  teaching  in  Brooklyn,  she 
took  active  part  in  many  forms  of  real  life.  She 
was  then  as  she  is  now  a  worker  in  Missions  and 
in  social  settlements.  On  the  east  side  in  New 
York  she  taught  manual  training  classes  and 
classes  in  kindergarten  work  in  the  evenings  and 
after  school  hours  also.  Born  Missionary  that  she 
was,  she  did  this  and  many  other  kinds  of  work 
without  pay  save  the  consolation  of  rendering 
needed  services. 

But  Mission  work  and  teaching  were  not  the 
only  fields  in  which  Mrs.  Nelson  excelled.  Though 
she  could  not  sing  as  could  her  poet  husband,  she 
could  wield  her  pen  with  great  ease  and  she  could 
picture  life  and  make  plots.  Thus  while  the  poet 
sang  and  loved  because  God  gave  him  "The  gift 


of  Song,"  the  wife  was  weaving  her  plots  and 
making  for  herself  a  name  and  place  in  the  mag 
azines  as  a  writer  of  short  stories.  While  still  in 
New  York,  she  contributed  many  stories  to  the 
newspapers  and  magazines.  Among  the  latter  are 
numbered  such  publications  as  the  McClure's  Mag 
azines,  Smart  Set,  Ladies'  Home  Journal  and  Les 
lie's  Weekly. 

Upon  her  marriage  with  the  poet,  Mrs.  Nelson 
moved  to  Washington,  where  she  continued  her 
work  as  story  writer,  article  writer,  helper,  in- 
spirer  and  secretary  to  the  great  Negro  poet. 
However,  she  has  several  books  to  her  credit.  In 
1895  appeared  her  first  effort  entitled,  "Violets  and 
other  Tales."  Her  second  publication  was  the 
Goddess  of  St.  Roque,"  which  appeared  in  1899. 
Both  of  these  publications  were  most  kindly  re 
ceived  by  the  public. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  the  poet,  Mrs.  Nelson 
again  entered  upon  more  active  public  life.  She 
compiled  an  authentic  volume  of  Dunbar's  poems 
along  with  his  Biography  and  some  stories.  She 
has  also  put  together  the  most  serviceable  of  the 
master  pieces  of  Negro  Eloquence.  Mrs.  Nelson 
was  thus  engaged  in  writing  and  publishing  when 
the  great  war  in  Europe  broke  out. 

Widely  known  as  a  social  worker  she  became  in 
dispensable  in  leading  and  directing  the  war  work 
campaign  among  the  colored  women.  In  the 
newspapers  and  in  the  reports  of  the  Red  Cross, 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  and  other  such  organizations,  Mrs 
Nelson's  name  frequently  appears ;  indeed,  in  the 
East,  and  especially  in  and  around  New  York  she 
is  regarded  as  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  social  and 
religious  work  for  the  Negro  soldiers.  Her  chap 
ter  in  a  recent  book  by  Emmett  J.  Scott  on  the 
American  Negro  in  the  World  War,  is  one  of  the 
most  enlightening  and  instructive  on  the  Negro 
Women's  share  in  that  great  unheaval. 

Mrs.  Nelson  writes  with  a  grasp  not  only  upon 
the  specific  work  in  which  she  and  her  sisters  are 
engaged,  but  with  an  intimate  touch  upon  peoples 
and  movements  everywhere.  Though  her  specific- 
work  was  that  of  mobilizing  colored  women  for 
the  United  States  war  work  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Council  of  National  Defence,  yet  her  pen  ap 
pears  only  to  have  to  be  prompted  in  order  to  re 
cite  all  the  names  and  actions  of  the  colored  women 
in  every  section  of  the  country  and  in  every  line 
of  endeavor. 

Mrs.  Nelson  is  easily  reckoned  as  one  of  the 
race's  greatest  and  noblest  women. 


489 


Solomon  Porter  Hood  A.  M.,  D.  D. 


LERGYMAN,  teacher,  writer,  Dr. 
Hood  ranks  high  in  all  these  call 
ings,  and  has  a  splendid  record  in 
the  diplomatic  service  of  his  coun 
try,  in  addition  to  his  other  lau 
rels.  He  is  the  son  of  Lewis  P. 
and  Matilda  Hood  and  was  born  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
July,  1853.  Although  there  were  eight  children  in 
the  family  his  parents  managed  to  give  them  an 
education.  He  entered  the  public  schools  when  he 
was  eight  years  of  age.  He  graduated  from  Lin 
coln  University  with  the  degree  of  A.  M.  and  Liv 
ingstone  College  with  degree  of  D.  D.  He  studied 
at  both  Princeton  and  Columbia  University.  Took 
an  extension  course  at  the  University  of  Pennsyl 
vania.  He  was  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Middleton,  Pa.,  from  1873  to  1877,  in  the  prepara 
tory  department  of  Lincoln  University,  from  1877 
to  1880.  Was  principal  of  Beaufort  (S.  C.)  Normal 
and  Industrial  Academy  from  1883  to  1887. 

He  was  converted  and  joined  the  Presbyteian 
Church  in  1869 ;  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1880  at 
Lincoln  University  by  the  Presbytery  of  Chester 
and  ordained  deacon  at  the  same  time.  He  joined 
the  annual  conference  of  the  A.  M  .E.  Church  in 
1887  at  Georgetown,  S.  C.,  under  Bishop  Arnett ; 
has  received  the  following  appointments  in  the  A. 
M.  E.  Church;  Port  au  Prince,  Haiti,  1889;  Morris 
Brown,  Phila.,  1893;  Lamott,  Pa.,  1895;  Reading, 
Pa.,  1896;  Frankfort,  Pa.,  1900;  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
1904;  Orange,  N.  J,  1907;  Trenton,  N.  J.,  since 
1911.  He  remodeled  church  and  built  parsonage  at 
Reading  at  a  cost  of  $5,000  in  1897  and  1898;  re 
modeled  the  church  at  Frankfort  at  a  cost  of  $3,000 
in  1901  and  1902 ;  has  taken  about  400  people  into 
the  church.  He  has  been  delegate  to  one  general 
conference  in  1904.  He  was  a  member  of  the  edu 
cational  board  from  1904  to  1908. 

The  political  experience  of  the  Doctor  and  the 
consequent  national  renown  he  gained  therefrom, 
was  when  he  was  acting  as  under  secretary  in  the 
American  Legation  at  Haiti  in  1890.  He  carried 
the  message  of  peace  under  the  United  States  flag, 
out  of  Port  au  Prince  from  Legitime  to  Hypolyte. 
He  was  the  chief  organizer  and  Director  General 
of  the  Emancipation  Exposition  of  New  Jersey  in 
1913  under  the  auspices  of  the  State  Legislature. 
These  in  brief  are,  the  cold  facts  of  Dr.  Hood's 
career  as  a  teacher,  minister,  writer  and  public 


official.  As  a  teacher  he  began  his  career  in  the 
public  schools  of  Middletown,  Pa.,  in  1873.  He 
taught  here  for  four  years  until  1877,  when  he  re 
signed  to  accept  a  position  with  the  noted  Lincoln 
University,  Pa.  Dr.  Hood  taught  here  for  thre" 
years.  The  rest  of  his  time  as  an  educator  was 
given  to  the  Beaufort  Normal  and  Industrial 
Academy  which  he  founded  at  Beaufort,  South 
Carolina,  and  which  he  remained  principal  of  until 
1887.  Doctor  Hood's  career  as  a  clergyman  in 
cludes  the  assistant  pastorate  of  Shiloh  Presbyte 
rian  Church,  New  York  City,  under  Rev.  Henry 
Highland  Garnet  and  the  organization  of  the  Be- 
reau  Presbyterian  Church  at  Beaufort,  S.  C. 

He  then  joined  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Conference  in  1887  and  was  sent  as  a  missionary 
to  Haiti.  In  1889  he  returned  to  this  country  and 
has  since  confined  his  labors  to  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey.  Among  his  most  prominent  works 
as  an  author  are  Sanchfred  Dollars,  published  in 
1910,  and  What  Every  African  Methodist  Should 
Know,  published  in  1913. 

His  writings  are  chaste,  scholarly,  instructive 
and  entertaining.  They  flow  from  a  heart  full  of 
tenderness  and  love  toward  mankind  and  show  a 
simple  faith  in  Christ,  which  is  touching  and  ten 
der.  He  longs  for  a  higher  spirituality  himseh, 
and  seeks  to  impress  the  same  earnestness  of  sou. 
into  the  minds  of  others. 

There  is  much  that  is  potential  in  one's  person 
ality,  for  an  agreeable  personality  is  one  of  t._ 
most  valuable  assets  in  the  character  of  any  one. 
There  is  something  wholesome  and  refreshing  in 
the  personality  of  this  man.  The  hearty  hand 
shake,  the  wreathing  smile  demonstrate  the  fact 
that  nature  was  in  her  best  humor  when  she  pro 
duced  him.  He  is  one  of  the  most  popular  as  we  . 
as  one  of  the  most  capable  ministers  of  the  race. 

Dr.  Hood  has  been  for  some  time  literary  editor 
,of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Sunday 
School  Teachers'  Quarterly,  and  is  a  valued  con 
tributor  to  other  church  magazines  and  periodi 
cals.  He  was  made  a  Presiding  Elder  of  the  A.  M. 
Iv  Church  in  1916. 

He  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Davis  of  New  York 
City,  in  1880.  They  have  one  adopted  daughter. 
'His  present  home  is  Trenton,  N.  J. 


490 


JOHN  WESLEY  E.  BOWEN,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  B.  D 
Ph.  D.,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  S.  T.  D. 


IIS  noted  theologian,  the  son  of 
Edward  and  Rose  Bowen,  was 
born  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  Dec. 
3rd,  1855.  He  received  the  de 
gree  of  A.  B.,  from  New  Orleans 
University  in  1878  and  the  degree 
of  A.  M.  in  1882.  From  New  Or 
leans  he  went  to  Boston,  Mass., 
where  he  entered  Boston  University.  He  received 
the  degree  of  B.  D.  in  1885  and  Ph.  D.  in  1887.  He 
afterwards  entered  the  Theological  Department  of 
Gammon  where  he  earned  his  D.  D.  in  1893. 

Thus  equipped,  Dr.  Bowen  began  the  career  of 
minister,  orator,  theologian  scholar,  author  and 
publicist  that  was  to  bring  him  world-wide  fame. 
Doctor  Bowen  has  served  in  the  pastorates  of 
churches  in  Boston,  Newark,  N.  J.,  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  Washington,  D.  C. 

In"  his  professional  work,  Doctor  Bowen  serv 
ed  as  follows:  In  Walden  University,  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  four  years  professor  of  Ancient  Lan 
guages  and  Literature ;  Morgan  College,  Balti 
more,  Md..  professor  of  Systematic  Theology  and 
Historical  Theology;  Howard  University,  Wash 
ington,  I).  C.,  Professor  of  Hebrew;  Gammon  The 
ological  Seminary,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  twenty-six  years, 
Professor  of  Historical  Theology  and  religious  ed 
ucation,  four  of  these  years  he  was  President  of 
the  Seminary  and  is  now  its  Vice-President,  occu 
pying  his  same  chair.  He  is  a  contributor  to  relig- 


ious  and  social  periodicals  of  the  day,  and  one  of 
the  contributing  editors  of  the  National  Cyclopedia 
of  the  Colored  Race. 

He  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  General  Confer 
ence  of  his  church  in  1896;  1900,  1904,  1908;  1916. 
He  was  also  a  delegate  to  represent  his  church  to 
the  Ecumenical  Conference  of  Methodism  in  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  1891  ;  and  London,  1901. 
He  is  author  of  the  following  books: 
(1)  National  Sermons;  (2)  Africa  and  the  Ame 
rican  Negro;  (3)  'I  he  United  Negro;  (4)  Appeal  to 
the  Kind;  (5)  Appeal  for  Negro  Bishops;  (6)  Psy 
chological    Process  of   History;   (7)   The  Negro    A 
Missionary    Investment;    (8)    The    Theolocial    and 
Philosophy  of  the   Negro    Plantation   Melodies,    In 
preparation ;    Pastoral   Theology   "The   Psychology 
of  Personality  Teaching."     Dr.  Bowen  has  lectured 
and  is  still  lecturing  before  chautaugua  Assembles 
and  literary  gatherings  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
Mr.  Cyrus  C.  Adams,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  New 
York  Sun  speaking  of  Doctor  Bowen  in  an  article 
to  the  Sun  says:  "It  is  doubtful  if  there  is  another 
man  of  his  race  in  this  country  who  combines  in  a 
higher    degree    than    Doctor    Bowen    ripe    scholar 
ship,  intellectual  vigor  and  the  gift  of  eloquence." 
The  editor  of  the   Valley  Tribune  in  Washington, 
writes  in  his  paper  this  estimate :  "It  was  thought 
by  many  that  the  representations  of  his  oratorical 
powers  were  exaggerated.     Now  that  he  has  come 
and  gone,  we  have   to  say  that  those   representa 
tions   were   not   extravagant   and   that   they   might 
very  well  have  been  supplemented  by  the  assurance 
that  he  was  not  only  a  man  of  extraordinary  gifts 
in  public  speech,  but  a  scholar,  a  trained  intellect, 
a    man    of    wide    culture,    familiar    with    the    best 
thought  of  our  day  and  especially  profoundly  vers 
ed  in  political  philosophy  of  the  times  in  which  we 
live.    He  is  an  orator  equal  to  the  best  this  country 
has   produced,   an   orator   after   the   style    of    that 
grand  galaxy  of  orators  of  the  ante-bellum   fame 
with    Brother    Beecher   in   the   lead.     He    has    the 
strong  rich  mellow  voice  that  the  great  Brooklyn 
divine  is  said  to  have  possessed;  he  has  the  same 
flow  of  invective  when  that  is  needed  in  the  unin 
terrupted  flow  of  chaste  exuberant  English.     He  is 
an  orator,  scholar  and  statesman  combined. 

He  had  the  honorary  degre  of  LL.  D.,  conferred 
on  him  by  Wilberforce  in  1917  and  the  S.  T.  D.  by 
Lincoln  University,  Penn.,  in  1918.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Control,  secretary  of  the 
committee  on  Episcopacy,  and  secretary  of  the 
Stewart  Missionary  foundation  for  Africa,  (all  of 
the  M.  E.  Church),  for  eight  years.  He  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Masons,  The  American  Negro  Academy, 
American  Academy  of  Political  Science,  and  the 
Burbank  Scientific  Association.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  speakers  division  in  the  late  world  war,  and 
was  elected  to  go  to  France  to  conduct  institutes 
among  the  Negro  soldiers. 

Dr.  Bowens  first  wife,  Miss  Ariel  S.  Hodegs,  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  died  in  1904.  She  was  a  woman  of 
refinement,  and  a  talented  musician.  This  union 
was  blessed  with  four  children:  Irene  Theodosia, 
John  E.  E..  Jaunita  and  Portai  Edmonia.  The  last 
name  died  in  1900. 

Dr.  Bowens  present  wife,  who  was  Miss  Irene 
Smallwood,  was  a  prominent  leader  in  the  social 
and  club  life  of  Atlanta. 


491 


iilC**kt  •"  —  V 

Dormitories  an 

Lecture! 

Gt 


Librarij  of  Gammon  Theological  Semina 


GROUP  OF  BUILDINGS  OF  GAMMON  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY,   ATLANTA,   GA. 


HE  Rev.  Bishop  Gilbert  Haven,  D. 
D.,  LL.  D.,  the  resident  Bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
residing  in  Atlanta,  at  the  time, 
sat  under  a  famous  Oak,  at  the 
East  End  of  Christman  Hall,  and 
saw  with  the  vision  of  a  seer,  a 
great  University  and  Theological 
Seminary  rising  up  upon  these  hills  and  amid  the 
wooded  forests  of  South  Atlanta,  for  the  Educa 
tion  of  the  Negro  race  and  its  leaders.  That  Oak 
is  called  by  Bishop  Walden — "The  Gilbert  Haven 
Oak." 

The  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  took  up  the  thought 
of  Bishop  Haven  and  saw  his  vision  also  and  coop 
erating  with  the  Bishop,  purchased  500  acres  of  this 
land  and  in  1881  ,with  Bishop  D.  W.  Clark,  then 
resident  in  Atlanta,  moved  Clark  University  from 
its  cramped  quarters  in  Atlanta  to  this  new  site, 
The  Rev.  Richard  S.  Rust,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  at  the  time 
and  contributed  heartily  in  all  these  plans  of  his 
rich  store  of  knowledge  and  wisdom. 

In  the  early  Spring  of  1882,  the  Rev.  Bishop 
Henry  W.  Warren,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  the  resident  Bish 
op  in  Atlanta  at  the  time,  presented  the  case  of  the 
necessity  for  a  trained  Ministry  for  the  Negro  peo 
ple's  to  the  Rev.  Elijah  H.  Gammon,  of  Batvaria, 


Illinois,  a  retired  minister  of  the  Rock  River  Con 
ference,  and  set  forth  this  large  opportunity  for 
him  in  the  use  of  his  consecrated  wealth.  After 
deliberation  and  prayer  and  in  consultation  with 
Mrs.  Gammon,  who  with  her  usual  womanly  saga 
city  had  sensed  the  Bishop's  errand  'ere  he  had 
spoken  and  who  saw  the  path  of  divine  opportunity 
with  the  swiftness  of  characteristic  instinct,  Mr. 
Gammon  gave  $20,000.00  to  endow  a  Chair  of  The 
ology  in  Clark  University,  and  a  pledge  of  $5,000.00 
towards  a  new  hall  with  only  two  conditions,  viz : 
the  professor  should  be  a  young  man,  and  that 
Bishop  Warren  should  raise  $20,000.00  more  to 
complete  the  New  Hall  of  Theology. 

Bishop  Warren  went  to  his  task  with  faith,  fer 
vor  and  untiring  effort  and  more  than  met  Mr. 
Gammon's  requirement. 

The  Corner  Stone  of  Gammon  Hall  was  laid  May 
12.  1883,  and  the  Rev.  Wilbur  P.  Thirkield,  A.  M.. 
B.  D.,  was  elected  Dean  of  the  Gammon  School  of- 
Theology  in  June,  1883,  and  began  his  work  with 
the  school  Oct.  3,  1883. 

Allied  by  marriage  with  the  cultured  daughter  of 
Bishop  Haven,  and  by  natural  instinct,  sympathy 
and  broad  vision  with  the  colored  people.  Dean 
Thirkeld  took  up  the  work  of  his  life  for  the  train 
ing  of  the  Negro  ministry,  and  has  made  Gammon 
Theological  Seminary  the  chief  corner  stone  of  the 


492 


splendid  arch  of  his  valuable  service  to  the  church, 
and  mankind. 

The  building  was  formally  dedicated  Dec.  18, 
1883,  and  named  Gammon  Hall,  to  the  surprise  of 
Mr.  Gammon  but  to  the  delight  of  the  vast  con 
course  of  interested  friends. 

THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  FOR  THE  WHOLE 
SOUTH. 

Early  in  1887,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Gammon,  the 
Society  purchased  about  seven  acres  additional  to 
give  a  suitable  frontage  for  the  campus  on  Mc- 
Donough  road.  Mr.  Gammon  had  been  for  a  great 
many  years  a  trustee  of  Garrett  Biblical  Institute, 
which  was  entirely  separate  from  the  adjoining  lit 
erary  institution,  the  Northwestern  University. 
About  this  time  he  proposed  to  set  aside  property 
conservatively  valued  at  $200,000  as  the  endow 
ment.  It  was  to  be  held  in  trust  by  the  trustees 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  its  income 
paid  to  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society,  which  was  to 
administer  it  in  maintaining  the  school.  During 
Mr.  Gammon's  lifetime  he  was  himself  to  admin 
ister  the  income  for  the  purpose  of  further  accum 
ulation  and  for  additional  buildings  and  equipment. 
During  the  same  time  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society 
was  to  pay  the  salaries  of  the  professors  except  the 
one  provided  for  by  Mr.  Gammon's  first  gift.  The 
only  condition  was  that  the  school  should  be  purely 
theological  and  entirely  separate.  He  desired  it  to 
sustain  the  same  relation  to  all  the  schools  of  Ihe 
Freedmen's  Aid  Society.  The  charter  was  granted 
March  24,  1888.  In  drawing  it  the  Hon.  Grant 
Goodrich,  of  Chicago,  who  had  drawn  the  charter 
of  Garrett  Biblical  Institutte  and  had  been  one  of 
its  trustees  from  its  founding,  was  consulted.  The 
charter  provides  for  a  Board  of  Trustees  of  nine, 
of  which  the  President  and  Corresponding  Secre 
tary  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  and  the  Pres 
ident  of  the  Seminary  are  ex-officio  members.  The 
board  of  trustees  acts  conjointly  with  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society.  But  in 
most  matters  the  former  alone  has  the  initiative. 

In  April,  1887,  the  official  connection  of  the 
school  with  Clark  University  dissolved,  and  it  was 
placed  upon  an  independent  basis  with  its  own 
Charter  and  Board  of  Trustees  and  the  "Dean"  was 
elected  President  under  the  new  Charter.  This 
Charter  was  printed  March,  1888. 

On  April  3,  1891,  Mr.  Gammon  passed  to  his  re 
ward.  He  had  made  the  Seminary  a  legatee  to 
one  half  of  the  residuary  portion  of  his  estate.  This 
was  in  addition  to  what  he  had  given  during  his 
life-time.  Next  to  Mr.  Gammon's  death  the  great 
est  loss  the  Seminary  ever  suffered  was  in-  the  sud 
den  death  of  Mrs.  Gammon,  December  22,  1892. 
During  all  the  years  she  had  heartily  co-operated 
with  Mr.  Gammon  in  his  gifts  and  plans  for  the 
Seminary. 

The  following  comprise  the  building  of  the  Sem 
inary.  Aside  from  the  main  hall,  Mr.  Gammon 
gave  funds  for  the  erection  of  four  modern,  well- 
equipped  residences  for  the  professors :  1886,  Pres 
ident  Thirkield's  residence;  1887-1888,  Doctor's 
Murray's  and  Parks'  residences ;  in  1888,  the  Li 
brary  building,  and  in  1888-1889,  Doctor  Crawford's 
residence.  In  March,  1915,  the  new  and  artist-c 
Gammon  Refectory  was  erected  under  Bishop  F. 
D.  Leete  and  President  P.  M.  Watters,  D.  D. 


STEWART   MISSIONARY  FOUNDATION 
FOR  AFRICA. 

This  Foundation  is  in  the  interest,  especially 
among  American  Negroes,  of  missionary  work  for 
Africa.  It  has  been  established  by  Rev.  W.  F.  Ste 
wart,  A.  M.,  of  the  Rock  River  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  It  is  the  outgrowth 
of  many  years  of  thought  in  the  consecration  of  a 
large  portion  of  his  property. 

THE  ADMINISTRATIONS  OF  THE  SEMINARY   MAY 
BE  SUMARIZED  AS  FOLLOWS: 

1883-1887— Rev.  Wilbur  P.  Thirkield,  D.  D.,  dean 
of  "Gammon  School  of  Theology,"  a  department 
of  Clark  University. 

1887-January,  1900— The  Rev.  Wilbur  P.  Thirk 
ield,  D.  D.,  president  of  Gammon  Theological  Sem 
inary. 

January,  1900-May,  1901— The  seminary  admin 
istered  by  the  remaining  members  of  the  Faculty, 
each  member  serving  a  portion  of  the  time  as 
"Chairman  of  the  Faculty." 

May,  1901 — January  19,  1906— The  Rev.  L.  G. 
Adkinson,  O.  O.,  president. 

January,  1906-October,  1906— The  seminary  ad 
ministered  by  the  remaining  members  of  the  Facul 
ty ;  Doctor  Bowen,  the  office  and  treasury;  Doctor 
Trever,  general  correspondence;  Doctor  Yates, 
students,  buildings,  and  grounds. 

October,  1906-August  16,  1910— The  Rev.  J.  W. 
E.  Bowen,  Ph.,  D.  D.,  president. 

August,  1910-March,  1914 — The  Rev.  Silas  E. 
Idleman,  D.  D.,  president. 

March,  1914— The  Rev.  Phillip  M.  Watters,  D. 
D.,  president. 

This  Seminary  has  had  upon  its  records  from  its 
beginning  nearly  3,000  students  and  has  graduated 
over  500  men  and  through  the  work  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  Missions,  has  sent  into  the  home  field  and 
foreign  field  nearly  50  men  and  women. 

These  men  and  women  are  found  doing  yeoman 
service  for  mankind  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church;  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church; 
the  Zion  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ;  the 
Colored  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;  the  Baptist 
Congregational,  Episcopal,  Presbyterian  Churches. 

Remove  Gammon  Theological  Seminary  from 
the  life  of  the  Negro  race  and  you  cripple  and  im 
poverish  the  moral  forces  at  work  for  the  stability 
of  our  democratic  institutions  in  the  South,  and  you 
stunt  or  handicap  the  Negro  race  in  its  steady 
March  towards  the  best  things  in  the  Kingdom  of 
God.  For  this  institution  perhaps  more  than  any 
other  in  the  South,  represents  the  pulsating  son- 
science  of  Christianity  upon  the  ethics  of  the  Bible. 

Faculty :  Rev.  Philip  Melancthon  Watters,  D. 
D.,  President  and  Professor  of  Apologetics  and 
Christian  Ethics. 

Rev.  J.  W.  E.  Bowen,  Ph.  D.,  S.  T.  D,  LL  D— 
Vice-President  and  Professor  of  Church  History 
and  Religious  Education. 

Rev.  Geo.  H.  Trever,  Ph.  D.,  D.  D.— Professor  of 
New  Testament  and  Christian  Doctrine. 

Rev.  Chas.  H.  Haines,  D.  D. — Professor  of  Pub 
lic  Speaking  and  Sacred  Rhetoric. 

Rev.  Dempster  D.  Martin,  D.  D. — Professor  of 
Christian  Missions. 

Rev.  Willis  J.  King.  S.  T.  B.,  D.  D.— Professor  of 
Old  Testament  and  Christian  Sociology. 


493 


ROBERT  ROBINSON  TAYLOR,  B.  S. 

OBERT  Robinson  Taylor  was  born 
in  Wilmington,  North  Carolina. 
His  father  was  a  building  con 
tractor  and  from  his  earliest  years 
he  was  brought  in  contact  with 
building  matters.  He  attended 
Gregory  Institute,  a  school  maintained  by  the  Am 
erican  Missionary  Association  in  Wilmington,  gra 
duating  from  that  school  at  the  head  of  the  class. 
With  the  necessary  preparation  he  went  to  Bos 
ton  and  entered  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology,  graduating  from  that  Institution  in 
the  year  1892,  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.,  being  the 
first  colored  graduate  from  this  school. 

After  working  in  some  architectural  offices  he 
yielded  to  the  persuasion  of  Dr.  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington,  and  accepted  a  position  at  the  Tuskegee 
Normal  &  Industrial  Institute  as  instructor  of  Ar 
chitectural  and  Mechanical  drawing  and  architect 
for  the  Institution.  After  remaining  at  the  Insti 
tution  for  a  number  of  years  during  which  he  de 
signed  and  super  in  tended  the  construction  of  all  of 
its  buildings^  he  resigned  and  went  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  four  years,  working  in  an 
architects'  office  and  later  engaging  in  private 
work. 


He  was  asked  to  return  to  Tuskegee  as  Head  of 
the  Mechanical  Industries  and  accepted  this  posi 
tion  which  he  has  since  held.  Mr.  Taylor  has  de 
signed  and  superintended  the  construction  of  most 
of  the  buildings  at  the  Tuskegee  Institute  and  has 
had  charge  of  the  other  mechanical  trades  which 
have  been  largely  developed  under  his  direction. 

In  addition  to  his  work  at  the  Tuskegee  Insti 
tute  he  has  done  a  large  amount  of  private  archi 
tectural  work  in  many  states  including  school 
houses,  churches,  libraries,  residences,  etc.  His 
work  has  been  most  favorably  spoken  of  by  great 
numbers  of  persons  who  have  seen  it  and  for  whom 
he  has  executed  work. 

Mr.  Taylor  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Arts 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  of  the  American  Economic  So 
ciety,  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  the  Local  Bus 
iness  League  of  Tuskegee,  the  Educational  Asso 
ciation  of  Teachers  and  of  other  educational,  bus 
iness  and  technical  associations. 

He  was  invited  and  delivered  an  address  at  the 
fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  founding  Of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  in  Boston,  and 
has  appeared  before  educational  societies,  schools 
and  organizations  of  various  kinds. 

Mr.  Taylor  has  been  asked  to  take  responsible 
positions  in  other  places,  among  these  the  Pres 
idency  of  a  College,  but  preferred  to  remain  at 
Tuskegee  believing  that  he  could  be  of  more  service 
to  the  race  in  helping  to  develop  this  Institution  in 
its  industrial  side  than  in  other  places  and  has  held 
to  this  belief  in  spite  of  more  lucrative  offers. 

Tuskegee  Institute  was  selected  as  one  of  the 
schools  to  train  soldiers  in  vocational  work  during 
the  great  war.  As  Head  of  the  Mechanical  Indus 
tries,  Mr.  Taylor  was  in  charge  of  this  work  with 
the  soldiers  and  it  was  so  well  organized  and  con 
ducted  as  to  draw  forth  most  complimentary  com 
ments  from  the  inspecting  officers.  He  is  chair 
man  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Local  Red 
Cross  Society.  This  chapter  of  which  he  is  chair 
man  is  the  only  distinctive  colored  chapter  in  the 
United  States. 

He  was  also  very  active  in  the  drives  for  Liberty 
Loans,  being  asked  to  assume  chairmanship  of  the 
local  committee  for  one  of  these  drives  among 
colored  people. 

His  home  life  is  particularly  happy.  His  wife  is 
most  helpful  and  there  is  a  family  of  five  children 
consisting  of  three  boys  and  two  girls.  The  oldest 
son  and  daughter  have  finished  school  at  Tuskegee 
and  are  now  attending  college. 

Mr.  Taylor  has  served  on  many  occasions  as 
Acting  Principal  of  the  Tuskegee  Institute,  in  the 
absence  of  the  Principal,  and  Vice-Principal  which 
positions  he  regularly  fills  when  the  two  are  away 
from  the  school. 


494 


BALLARD    INDUSTRIAL    BUILDING— LIVINGSTONE   COLLEGE 


EADING  educational  institution 
of  the  African  Methodist  Episco 
pal  Zion  Denomination,  "The 
finishing  school"  of  the  church. 
It  was  incorporated  in  1879,  and 
the  first  session  was  held  in  one 
room  of  a  colored  minister's  par 
sonage,  the  late  Bishop  C.  R.  Har 
ris,  in  Concord,  N.  C.,  in  1880,  but  was  more  defin 
itely  organized  in  1882,  and  moved  to  the  present 
premises  the  first  Wednesday  in  October  of  that 
year.  The  new  site  consisted  of  one  building  and 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Salisbury.  N.  C.  The  school 
opened  with  three  teachers,  three  pupils  and  a  ma 
tron.  It  was  chartered  as  a  college  in  1885.  The 
idea  of  an  educational  institution  for  the  train 
ing  of  colored  youths  was  the  result  of  a  confer 
ence  of  colored  ministers  for  the  promotion  of  self- 
reliant  education  among  the  colored  people. 

Livingstone  College  has  gradually  increased 
from  year  to  year  in  numbers,  efficiency  and  the 
list  of  substantial  friends.  During  the  thirty-seven 
years  it  has  had  in  attendance  students  from  near 
ly  every  State  in  the  Union,  Canada,  Central 
America,  the  West  Indies,  and  Africa. 

It  has  now  five  large  buildings  on  the  campus,  a 
small  one  and  an  auditorium.  Huntington  Hall 
was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  December  31,  1819. 

Hood  Theological  Seminary  was  regularly  open- 
en  with  competent  instructors  in  1911.  Quite  a 
number  of  young  men  have  entered  and  are  in 
training  for  the  ministry.  Advantages  are  offered 


also  for  persons  to  be  trained  for  Home  and  For 
eign  Missions.  The  first  floor  has  four  large  recita 
tion  rooms,  a  practice  chapel  and  offices  for  the 
President  and  Dean  of  the  Theological  Depart 
ment.  The  second  floor  affords  dormitory  accom 
modation  for  persons  in  direct  training  for  the 
ministry. 

The  new  Girls'  Dormitory,  Goler  Hall,  a  magnifi 
cent  and  imposing  structure  recently  completed,  is 
named  in  honor  of  ex-President  W.  H.  Qpler.  It 
is  a  three-story  and  basement  brick  structure  with 
102  dormitory  rooms,  music  rooms,  reception 
rooms,  a  large  and  commodious  as  well  as  light 
and  airy  dining  hall,  steam  heated,  lighted  by  elec 
tricity,  and  with  all  modern  conveniences  attached. 
Each  room  is  an  outside  room. 

The  teaching  force  now  numbers  about  twenty- 
four  persons  and  the  pupils  more  than  five  hundred 
annually. 

Starting  with  forty  acres  and  property  valued  at 
$4,600,  the  plant  at  this  time  consists  of  310  acres 
of  land  and  nine  buildings  valued  at  $250.000. 

D.  C.  Suggs,  Ph.  D.,  succeeded  Dr.  W.  H.  Goler 
as  President  of  the  college  in  1917.  He  is  assisted 
by  an  exceptionally  strong  faculty,  that  has  been 
carefully  selected  for  the  qualifications  necessary 
to  success  in  their  respective  departments. 


LIBRARY-   LIVINGSTONE  COLLEGE 


DODGE  HALL— LIVINGSTONE  COLLEGE 


495 


ADMINISTRATION  BUILDING.. 


GROUP  OF  BUILDINGS  OF  ST.  JOSEPH   COLLEGE,   MONTGOMERY.   ALA. 


T.  Joseph's  College  is  a  Boarding 
School  for  Catholic  colored  boys. 
It  is  located  five  miles  from 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  on  Mt.  Meigs 
Road.  The  premises  include  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixteen 
acres,  and  a  healthier  or  prettier  site  for  an  In 
stitution  could  hardly  be  found. 

The  Institute  is  owned  and  controlled  by  a  So 
ciety  of  Missionary  priests,  with  Headquarters  in 
Baltimore,  Mel.  This  Society  works  exclusively 
among  the  Negroes.  It  has  churches  and  schools 
in  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  N.  Carolina.  Flor 
ida,  Tennessee,  Arkansas,  Alabama,  Mississippi. 
Louisiana  and  Texas.  Of  the  six  colored  priests 
listed  in  the  American  Catholic  Eclesiastical  Di 
rectory,  three  owe  their  promotion  to  this  Society. 
St.  Joseph's  College  was  founded  in  1901,  and  in 
corporated  in  1911.  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Donovan,  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  pioneered  the  undertaking,  fol 
lowed  in  succession  by  Fathers  Kellogg,  Tobin, 
Butscb.  and  McNamara.  The  present  incumbent 
is  Rev.  J.  St.  Laurent,  who  took  charge  in  1909. 
The  Institution  consists  of  several  frame  buildings, 
put  up  tentatively,  with  a  view  to  permanent  re 
building  when  circumstances  permit  the  expansion. 


The  accompanying  cut  shows  some  of  the  build 
ings  and  the  style  of  construction. 

The  Institute  is  neither  a  Trade,  nor  Divinity 
School.  Its  aim  is  to  prepare  bright  boys,  from 
good  homes,  for  entrance  into  professional  schools, 
by  forming,  along  with  the  Christian  character,  the 
student  type,  and  laying  the  foundation  required  by 
post  graduate  studies.  The  discipline,  while  se 
vere,  is  paternal,  and  no  corporal  punishment  is  al 
lowed.  A  certain  amount  of  manual  labor  is  re 
quired  of  all  students,  both  for  its  moral  effect  and 
for  economic  reasons.  No  charges  are  made  for 
tuition,  but  a  fee  of  five  dollars  a  month  is  asked 
for  bed  and  board.  This  requirement  is  more  a 
matter  of  principle  than  of  income,  as  may  readily 
be  inferred  from  a  knowledge  of  the  heavy  expen 
ses  to  which  a  boarding  school  is  put.  For  its 
maintenance  the  Institution  chiefly  depends  on  the 
voluntary  contributions  of  its  friends  and  the  as 
sistance  given  by  the  Catholic  Mission  Boards. 

The  Institution  carries  about  fifty  students,  hail 
ing  from  seven  Southern  States.  The  Administra 
tion  is  hopeful  of  success,  and  while  busy  with 
matters  of  fundamental  import,  is  accumulating 
the  funds  that  will  enable  it  to  take  care  of  three 
hundred  students. 


496 


C    First  Johnson 


S  the  years  succeeding  the   eman 
cipation  of  the  Negro  have  drift- 


pense.     Mr.  Johnson  organized  the  Union   Mutual 
Aid  Association  and  in   this  work  as  its   first  and 


ed  into  the  dim  mists  of  the  past,  only  general  manager  he  has  demonstrated  his  ex- 

and  the  race  has  gained  in  exper-  ectitive    and    financial    ability.      The    company    nn- 

ience  and  knowledge  of  the  world,  der  his   management  blazed  the  pathway  through 

it   has   been   able   to   pause    in    its  doubt  and  prejudice,  demonstrated  the  administra- 

take   an   inventory   of  its   stock   in   the  tive    ability    of    the    Negro,    inspired    confidence    in 

material  world.     When   it  is   considered   that    four  the  company's  stability  by  being  faithful  to  every 

million   ex-slaves,   wholly    unprepared    for  citizen-  promise,  and  establishing  its  operation  upon  such 


career   an< 


ship,  were  literally  turned  loose  in  all  of  their 
ignorance  and  poverty  on  the  cold  charity  of  the 
master  classes  and  the  philanthrophy  of  the  world 
at  large,  the  Negro  has  made  marvelous  progress. 
Not  only  has  the  percent  of  illiteracy  been  de 
creased  many  fold,  but  all  of  the  evils  that  follow 
in  the  wake  of  illiteracy  and  ignorance  have  de 
creased  in  like  ration.  The  great  increase  in  intel 
ligence  on  the  part  of  the  Negro  is  reflected  in  the 
business  life  of  the  race,  for  it  is  in  the  domain  of 
business  life  that  all  knowledge  is  most  effective 
and  serviceable. 

The  commercial  life  of  every  race  is  a  matter 
of  evolution  and  comes  only  with  increased  knowl 
edge  of  the  world,  and  confidence  in  the  members 
of  the  race  in  their  relationship  with  each  other. 
The  progress  of  the  Negro  in  business  life  in  the 
past  few  years  has  been  indeed  highly  gratifying, 
and  there  seems  to  be  at  hand  a  regular  tidal  wave 
of  business  prosperity  unprecedented  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  race.  If  the  signs  of  the  times  look 
auspicious  for  the  business  life  of  the  Negro  it  is 
due  to  the  indefatigable  efforts  of  the  premier  busi 
ness  men  of  the  race,  who  have  labored  unceasing 
ly  to  promote  the  business  interests  of  their  peo 
ple. 

High  up  among  these  men  ranks  C.  First  John 
son  of  Mobile,  Ala.  Born  in  Hayneville,  Ala.,  of 
former  slave  parents,  he  received  his  first  educa 
tion  from  the  "blue  back  speller  down  on  the 
farm."  His  first  view  of  Montgomery  was  from 
the  to])  of  a  bale  of  cotton  ,on  which  he  ate  and 
slept  as  his  father  drove  in  from  the  far-away 
country  home.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Montgomery  from 
which  he  graduated.  He  left  school  and  entered 
politics.  He  became  secretary  of  the  Republican 
Executive  Committee  of  the  State ;  was  at  one 
time  employed  at  the  Mobile  Custom  House,  and 
received  minor  appointments,  among  them  a 
chance  to  run  the  Custom  House  elevator.  He 
gave  up  politics  to  enter  business. 

The  successful  launching  of  a  great  insurance 
company  is  not  only  a  matter  of  unremitting  labor 
for  a  period  of  many  years,  but  it  entails  great  ex- 


a  high  plane  as  to  merit  the  confidence  and  pat 
ronage  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  State  of  Ala 
bama. 

In  the  truest  sense  of  the  word  is  Dr.  Johnson  a 
race  man.  There  is  no  Negro  in  the  South  that 
has  done  more,  according  to  his  means,  towards 
getting  young  men  and  women  started  on  success 
ful  careers.  His  company  gives  employment  to 
hundreds  of  clerks  and  solicitors.  Many  success 
ful  teachers,  physicians,  and  others  have  graduated 
from  their  ranks.  He  exhibits  a  keen  sight  into 
the  psychology  of  business,  and  all  of  his  letters 
bear  a  purpose,  carry  a  message  of  straightfor 
ward  business  dealing. 

Trite  and  bromide  are  many  of  his  expressions 
in  the  weekly  letters  he  sends  all  of  his  men,  and 
that  appear  in  some  of  the  books  he  has  written. 

For  example : 

"God  never  made  a  man  for  failure.  In  this  land 
of  opportunity  it  is  a  disgrace  for  a  man  to  live 
in  poverty." 

"Men  who  exercise  initiative  are  builders  of  em 
pires.  All  others  are  merely  tenants,  janitors  and 
followers." 

These  epigrams  are  a  part  of  the  man.  A  part 
of  his  daily  work,  of  his  daily  life.  He  is  and  al 
ways  has  been  a  leader  in  the  religious  and  civic 
life  of  the  community.  He  stands  high  in  the  coun 
cils  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  which  he  is  a  deacon. 
He  is  a  Past  District  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand 
United  Order  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  one  of  the 
best  fixed  Negroes  financially  in  the  country.  Some 
time  ago  he  purchased  as  a  home  for  his  parents, 
who  are  still  living,  a  part  of  the  old  plantation  of 
their  former  master. 

Verily,  C.  First  Johnson  is  a  man  with  a  mes 
sage  for  his  people.  He  delivers  that  message  in 
season  and  out  of  season.  Surely  in  the  life  of  the 
people  of  the  South  there  is  a  place  for  many  more 
such  men.  Men  who  are  getting  their  larger  sat 
isfaction  in  the  knowledge  of  duty  well  done.  Not 
only  does  Mr.  Johnson  rank  with  the  foremost 
among  the  colored  people,  but  stands  high  in  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  the  business  leaders  of  his 
state,  and  his  war  work  ranks  him  a  patriot  of  the 
purest  type. 

It  might  be  of  interest  to  add  that  the  associa 
tion  founded  by  Mr.  Johnson  was  recently  made  a 
stock  company  under  the  name  of  the  Union  Mu 
tual  Insurance  Co.,  with  a  paid  in  capital  of  $25,- 
000.00. 


497 


: 


"BIG  ZION,"  A.  M.  E.   ZION  CHURCH,   MOBILE,  ALA. 


Reverend  Green  W.  Johnson 


H  KN  a  great  preacher  becomes  the  Rev.  Johnson  is  a  forcible,  eloquent  speaker,  and 

pastor  of  a  great  and  historical  always  brings  something  to  his  audience  that  is 

church,  and  the  leader  of  a  large  worth  listening  to.  In  his  sermons  there  is  a  happy 

and  influential  congregation,  noth-  mixture  of  scholarship  and  spiritual  fervor.  He 

ing  but  great  results  are  looked  has  never  forgotten  the  fact  that  the  primary  ob- 

for.  "Big  Zion"  A.  M.  E.  Zion  ject  of  all  preaching  is  the  conversion  of  souls  to 

Church  of  Mobile,  Alabama,  is  just  what  its  name  Christ,  and  that  is  the  great  ambition  of  his  life. 

implies:     Big  in  every  sense  of  the  word.     Found-  He  is  a  profound  theologian,  but  he  does  not  put 


ed  in  the  days  of  slavery,  it  has  grown  in  power 
and  influence,  until  today,  it  ranks  with  the  strong 
est  churches  in  the  state,  financially,  numerically, 


this  power  in  as  much  evidence  as  he  does  that 
spiritual  power  which  for  years  has  made  him  one 
of  the  most  effective  preachers  in  his  church.  He 


and   in    moral   influence.     Therefore    in    calling    a  js  a  great  preacher,  and  to  be  a  gifted  preacher  of 

leader,   a    man    had    to   be    sought    that    was    thor-  the   gospel   is   to   rank   not   subordinate   even   to   a 

oughly  trained  and  mentally  equipped  to  adminis-  bishop. 

ter  not  only  to  the  moral  welfare  of  his  charges,          Wherever   Rev.    Johnson    goes   he   preaches    and 

but  to  manage  the  finances  of  an  organization  that  iectures  on   the   necessity    of    education,,  morality 

requires  the  raising  and  expenditures  of  thousands  amj    reijejon    for    t|le 

of   dollars     annually.      The    present    pastor,     Rev.  thoughtflllt    his    advice    timely,    and    his    counsel 

Green  W.  Johnson,  not  only  has  the  requisite  qual-  WJse      He   hag    a|1   the    equipment   f)f   the    forcefu1 


race.     His    discourses    are 


ifications  to  a  marked  degree,  but  is  a  leader  in  all 
civil  movements  in  Mobile,  having  for  their  object 
the  betterment  of  his  country,  his  town,  and  his 
people.  He  is  a  splendid  example  of  the  highly 


educated  religious  leader  that  has  done  so  much 
for  the  advancement  of  the  Negro  in  the  last  fifty 
years.  Rev.  Johnson  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina, 
where  he  first  saw  the  light  of  day  about  sixty 
years  ago.  When  quite  a  youth  he  moved  to  Char- 


public  speaker.  He  is  entertaining,  witty,  elo 
quent  and  profound  at  will.  He  is  not  an  extremist 
along  any  line  that  would  provoke  fierce  antagon 
ism  either  in  the  ranks  of  the  race  or  outside. 


He  is  temperamentally  sound  on  all  questions  af 
fecting  the  welfare  of  his  people,  and  is  thus  fitted 
by  nature  for  leadership. 

His  lectures  throughout  the  country  are  always 
lotte,  North  Carolina.  While  living  here  he  at-  noted  for  his  vigorous  treatment  of  the  social  evils 
tended  Biddle  University  where  he  received  the  of  the  times.  He  is  constantly  exhorting  his  peo 
ple  to  make  themselves  decent,  industrious,  re 
spectable  .law-abiding  citizens,. so  that  they  may  be 


foundation  of  his  mental  training  that  was  to  serve 
him  so  well  in  later  years.  He  later  did  active 
work  as  a  minister  but  was  not  satisfied  until  he 


had   taken   a   course   in  the   "Finishing   School"   of 


worthy  of  the  respect  of  all  classes  of  people  white 
and  black   alike.     He   exhorts   them   to  buy  lands, 


his  church.  While  preaching,  he  attended  Living 
stone  College  until  he  was  thoroughly  equipped  for  build  homes  and  live  lives  of  industry  and  sobriety, 
the  minitsry.  About  twenty-three  years  ago,  he  He  wants  the  race  to  wake  up  from  its  Rip  Van 
became  pastor  of  a  church  at  Citronellc,  a  winter  Winkle  sleep  and  take  hold  of  the  inheritance  that 
resort  for  Northern  tourists,  located  a  few  miles  every  man  has  left  to  them,  the  opportunity  to 


north  of  Mobile.  His  reputation  as  a  leader  spread 
and  he  went  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.  From  there  he  went 
to  Boston,  Mass.,  and  afterward  to  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.  However,  the  call  of  the  South  was  too  strong 
to  be  denied  and  he  returned  to  Mobile  as  the  pas- 


work  and  make  a  living  by  the  sweat  of  their  own 
brows,  to  be  honest  men  and  women  and  respect 
themselves  in  the  laws  of  common  sense  and  com 
mon  decency. 

Rev.   Johnson's   course    during    the   World  Wai- 


tor  of  the  A.  M.  K.  Zion  congregation  whose  splen-'  gained  for  him  an  added  love  and  admiration  from 
did  house  of  worship  is  pictured  on  the  opposite  his  own  people  and  the  respect  and  friendship  of 
page.  the  white  people  of  Mobile. 


499 


Sunday  School  Union  of  A.  M.  E.  Church 


UNDAY  School  Union  of  A.  M.  E. 
Church  was  organized  August  11, 
1882,  at  Cape  May,  N.  J.,  by 
Bishops  Daniel  A.  Payne,  Alexan 
der  W.  Wayman,  Jabez  P.  Camp 
bell,  John  M.  Brown,  Thomas  M. 
D.  Ward,  William  F.  Dickerson, 
Richard  H.  Cain  and  Rev.  Chas. 
S.  Smith.  Bishop  Payne  was  the  first  president 
and  Rev.  C.  S.  Smith  was  its  first  corresponding 
secretary  and  prepared  its  constitution.  Its  pur 
pose  was  the  organization  and  development  of  Sun 
day  Schools.  It  was  first  located  at  Bloomington, 
111.,  and  here  the  first  publication— "Our  Sunday 
School  Review"— was  published  in  January,  1883. 
In  January,  1886,  it  was  moved  to  Nashville.  Tenn., 
and  in  April  the  Teachers'  and  Scholars'  Quarter 
lies  were  published.  The  publication  of  these  was 
followed  by  the  Juvenile  and  Gem  Lesson  Papers 
in  July  of  the  same  year.  February  28.  1886.  Rev. 
C  S  Smith  purchased  at  206  Public  Square.,  Nash 
ville  for  $9.000,  a  brick  and  stone  building,  five 
stories  high,  including  the  basement.  The  Sunday 
School.  Union  was  then  incorporated,  the  incorpo- 
rators  being  Chas.  S.  Smith,  Henry  M.  Turner, 
Fvans  Tyree,  Green  L.  Jackson  and  Louis  Winter. 
An  outlay  of  printing  material  was  bought  in  Feb 
ruary  1889.  over  $5,000  being  expended  for  this 
purpose.  In  order  that  the  work  might  be  festered, 
there  was  set  aside  a  special  day,  known  as  Oul- 
dren's  Day"  first  observed  in  October,  1882,  and 
thereafter  the  second  Sunday  in  every  June,  when 
the  whole  connection  rallied  to  the  support  of  the 
Sunday  School  Union.  From  1884  to  1900  Rev.  C, 
S  Smith  served  as  secretary-treasurer,  pushing 
the  work  forward  for  the  good  of  the  Sunday 
Schools  throughout  the  Church  In  1900  he  was 
elected  to  the  bishopric  and  Rev.  Win.  D.  Chappelle 
of  South  Carolina,  was  elected  to  succeed  him  and 
served  from  1900  to  1908.  In  the  meantime, 
Children's  Day  collections  were  increased  and  the 
work  kept  alive  by  the  rallies  .every  June,  of  the 
army  of  loyal  Allenites  throughout  the  Connection. 
The  Sunday-School  Union  had  now  been  running 
as  an  organization  (1882-1908)  for  twenty-six 
years,  and  as  an  incorporated  institution  nearly 
twenty  years.  The  subsidy  known  as  Children's 
Day  money  had  been  sent  to  the  Union  for  all  these 
years  and  the  time  was  ripe  when  there  was  to  be 
demonstrated  the  truth  that  an  institution  running 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  should  now  be  self-sup 
porting. 

In  1908  the  general  conference  elected  Mr.  Bry 
ant  as  secretary-treasurer,  without  Children's  Day 
funds  or  financial  assistance.  His  first  task  was  to 
organize  a  competent  working  force.  Then  came 
the  task  of  building  the  foundation  of  a  pub 
lishing  plant  which  would  be  able  to  print  anything 
needed  by  the  Church  or  race.  And  so,  as  the  pro 
ceeds  increased,  the  result  of  Mr.  Bryant's  tact  and 
economy,  modern  machinery  was  installed.  A  com 


plete  typesetting  and  typemaking  department  was 
put  in  at  a  cost  of  thousands  of  dollars.  Presses, 
folders,  binders,  feeders,  stitchers  and  trimmers 
were  purchased  and  the  building  at  206  Public 
Square  became  too  small  to  meet  the  needs  of  the 
department.  Over  $50,000  worth  of  machinery  has 
been  purchased,  and  paid  for  from  the  proceeds 
from  the  work  done  by  the  plant.  The  literature 
issued  compares  favorably  with  this  class  of  mat 
ter  published  by  any  other  publishing  house  in  the 
country.  The  Richard  Allen  Monthly,  a  magazine 
for  teachers,  is  the  latest  addition.  At  the  Young 
People's  Congress,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  July,  1914, 
hundreds  of  preachers  and  laymen  saw  the  Sunday 
School  Department  in  another  light. 

All  the  helps  and  printed  matter,  vari-colored  and 
illustrated,  from  cradle  roll  to  home  department, 
such  as  any  Sunday  school  might  need,  were  on 
exhibition,  and  represented  advancement  along 
this  line  made  by  the  Sunday  School  Union.  The 
biggest  achievement  of  Mr.  Bryant  has  been  the 
purchase  and  building  in  1914  of  the  most  commo 
dious  and  well-designed  publishing  plant  owned  by 
colored  people.  This  building  is  valued  at  more 
than  $50,000  and  contains  an  automatic  fire  sprink 
ler  system,  valued  at  $5,000.  The  entrance  to  the 
building  brings  to  view  the  main  office  where  the 
clerical  force  receive  orders  upon  top  of  orders 
daily,  and  after  recording  them  pass  them  on  to  the 
well-arranged  mailing  room  just  to  the  rear.  Here 
tons  of  mail  of  all  description  are  sent  down  the 
chute  to  the  auto  trucks  waiting  in  the  subway  to 
transfer  it  to  the  main  post  office.  In  this  part  of 
the  building  are  located :  on  the  second  floor  the 
editorial  rooms,  offices  of  the  Allen  C.  E.  League, 
evangelical  bureau  and  Secretary  Bryant.  The  re 
ception  room,  the  display  room  and  the  beautiful 
"Bishops'  Room" — an  assembly  room  where  serv 
ices  or  meetings  may  be  held — are  also  located  on 
this  floor.  The  rest  room  is  adjacent,  and  is  fitted 
up  with  swings,  improvised  tables  and  kitchen,  all 
used  for  entertainment  and  refreshment.  The  third 
floor  is  a  large  hall  in  which,  if  need  be,  large  gath 
erings  may  be  had.  But  the  department  which 
most  interests  the  visitors,  is  the  mechanical  divi 
sion,  all  situated  in  well-lighted  and  freely  ventil- 
lated  apartments.  From  the  street  one  views  the 
mammoth  cylinder  presses,  turning  out  the  large 
contracts  .the  job  presses,  trimmers  and  folders, 
all  working  with  clocklike  regularity.  To  the  rear 
is  the  wonderful  monotype  plant  where  the  young 
ladies  may  be  seen  operating  the  typesetting  key 
boards,  with  skill  and  dexterity,  while  the  casting 
machines  are  noisily  transforing  molden  lead  into 
type,  ready  for  the  printer's  use.  The  bindery  is 
another  beehive.  Here  a  big  force  of  girls  is  con 
tinually  folding,  stitching,  binding,  pasting  and 
trimming  books  and  periodicals  of  all  sizes  and  fo 
lios. — From  Encyclopaedia  of  African  Methodism, 
by  R.  R.  Wright,  Jr. 


500 


TWO   OF   THE   SIXTEEN   BUILDINGS   OF   ST.   AUGUSTINE   SCHOOL. 


HE  school  was  founded  in  1867  by 
Dr.  J.  B.  Smith.  It  is  owned  by 
an  independent  board  of  trustees 
and  is  supported  and  supervised 
by  the  Board  of  Missions  and  the 
American  Church  Institute  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

The  school  is  located  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
and  the  principal  is  A.  B.  Hunter. 

It  is  a  school  of  elementary  and  secondary  grade 
with  provision  for  industrial  training,  and  its  influ 
ence  on  the  character  of  the  pupils  is  very  effect 
ive.  The  Institution  is  accomplishing  a  good  work 
and  is  commended  by  the  United  States  Depart 
ment  of  the  Interior  who  recommends  that  it  re 
ceive  encouragement. 

The  attendance  is  about  264  divided  among  the 
elementary  and  secondary  grades  and  boarders.  Of 
the  elementary  pupils  about  30  were  in  the  "even 
ing  school."  Of  the  secondary  and  night-school 
pupils  about  39  were  male  and  55  were  female. 

The  teaching  force  is  divided  between  white  and 
black,  being  ten  male  and  eighteen  female  teach 
ers. 

Nine  of  the  teachers  are  white  and  nineteen  col 
ored.  They  embrace  teachers  in  all  departments 
of  the  school,  grades,  academic,  industries,  music, 
drill,  bookkeeping  and  nurse  training. 

Good  elementary  work  is  done  in  the  eight  grades 
of  the  day  school.  The  evening  school  has  three 
classes  corresponding  roughly  to  the  fourth,  fifth 
and  sixth  grades.  The  pupils  work  during  most  of 
the  day  and  go  to  school  from  4  to  6:10  p.  m. 

Secondary  work  is  done  in  the  "normal"  course 
and  covers  a  period  of  three  years.  The  collegiate 
course  includes  Latin,  French,  Greek.  Mathematics, 
English,  Elementary  Science,  History,  Economics. 
Bible  and  Psychology. 

A  few  pupils  take  a  half  year  of  history,  soci 
ology,  and  geometry. 


Considerable  provision  is  made  for  industrial 
training.  The  required  courses  are  cooking,  sew 
ing,  printing,  woodworking  or  bricklaying. 

There  are  also  classes  in  basketry,  chair  caning, 
and  weaving.  The  time  given  to  this  work  varies 
from  seven  to  nine  periods  per  week. 

The  work  in  cooking  and  sewing  for  girls  is  well 
planned  and  effective. 

A  two-year  course  is  given  in  a  well-equipped 
hospital  under  the  direction  of  competent  instruc 
tors. 

The  resident  staff  consists  of  a  physician  and  a 
head  nurse. 

The  school  property  consists  of  $163,000  in  the 
plant  and  $37,000  in  endowment. 

The  value  of  the  land  is  estimated  at  $22,000.  The 
land  comprises  one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  of  which 
seventy-five  are  used  for  the  farm.  The  school  har 
a  beautiful  campus  of  over  twenty  acres. 

The  buildings  are  estimated  to  be  worth  $123,000. 
There  are  sixteen  buildings,  including  the  hospital, 
chapel  and  library. 

Eight  of  the  buildings  are  of  stone  or  brick;  the 
others  are  of  frame  construction.  Three  are  four 
stories  high  and  five  are  of  three  stories.  The 
buildings  are  in  good  condition  and  the  rooms  are 
well  kept. 

A  large  part  of  the  equipment  is  in  hospital,  in 
dustrial,  and  farm  equipment  and  is  valued  at 
$18,000. 

An  excellent  system  of  accounting  has  been  in 
stalled  and  the  books  are  audited  annually. 

It  receives  its  income  from  the  Episcopal  Board 
of  Missions,  American  Church  Institute,  general 
donations,  special  donations  and  scholarships,  en 
dowments,  special  funds,  Slater  Fund  and  rent  of 
house. 

The  income  from  the  St.  Agnes  Hospital  amount 
ed  to  approximately  $12,000  practically  all  of  which 
was  used  for  maintenance. 


501 


MAIN   BUILDING,   IIAINES   NORMAL   AND   INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL 


McGRKGGOR    HALL,   HAINES  NORMAL   AND   INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL 


HAINES    NORMAL    SCHOOL    AND   MISS   LUCY   LANEY,   FOUNDER. 


NE  of  the  schools  in  Georgia  that 
has  done  such  effective  work  as 
to  win  the  confidence  of  the  peo 
ple,  all  the  people,  regardless  of 
race,  color  or  creed  is  the  Haines 
Normal  and  Industrial  Institute, 
located  in  Augusta,  Georgia.  The  school  was 
founded  by  Miss  Lucy  Laney,  the  present  principal, 
in  1886.  It  is  affiliated  with  the  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen ;  in  fact  the  prop 
erty  is  vested  in  the  Presbyterian  Board.  But  the 
school  is  not  run  by  this  organization.  It  has  a 
separate  board  of  trustees.  Haines  School  has  an 
attendance  that  runs  near  900  pupils.  By  far  the 
larger  number  are  registered  in  the  elementary 
work,  though  the  secondary  grade  work  has  about 
150  pupils  registered  for  subjects  in  that  depart 
ment.  Some  of  these  students  are  boarders  and 
a  great  number  who  attend  the  school  live  in  the 
City  of  Augusta.  The  courses  are  well  planned 
and  the  teachers  are  well  prepared  and  the  teach 
ing  thorough.  Because  of  all  these  conditions  the 
reputation  of  the  school  is  very  high. 

Most  of  the  pupils  are  girls.  Indeed,  one  of  the 
aims  in  the  mind  of  Miss  Laney  in  founding  this 
school  was  the  betterment  of  the  Negro  woman 
hood.  That  she  has  accomplished  this  in  so  many 


being  done  by  all  members  of  the  faculty.  There 
are  twenty-two  teachers.  All  colored,  and  most 
of  them  women.  These  teachers  were  chosen  be 
cause  of  their  preparation  for  work  of  this  kind. 

Along  with  the  work  in  the  academic  department 
there  is  carried  on  an  industrial  department.  For 
the  girls  instruction  in  cooking  and  in  sewing  is 
provided.  For  the  boys,  manual  training  and  gar 
dening.  The  funds  for  the  support  of  the  indus 
trial  courses  in  Haines  Normal  and  Industrial 
School  are  inadequate.  But  as  far  as  they  allow, 
the  training  is  thorough.  The  school  proper  is  on 
a  tract  of  land  comprising  a  city  block.  On  this 
are  two  large  brick  structures  and  several  smaller 
ones,  arranged  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  the 
maximum  light  and  ventilation.  In  these  buildings 
are  class  rooms,  a  model  kitchen  and  a  well  equip 
ped  sewing  department,  where  the  girls  are  not 
only  taught  to  be  self-supporting  but  are  given  in 
structions  in  many  of  the  finer  crafts  that  go  to 
make  the  model  housewife.  Here  also  are  located 
the  carpenters  shop  for  the  boys.  A  model  garden 
is  run  in  connection  with  the  school  for  the  benefit 
of  both  boys  and  girjs.  Across  the  street  are  lo 
cated  the  cottages  of  the  teachers,  which  were  ar 
ranged  with  the  view  of  making  Haines  School  a 
real  home  for  them.  Miss  Laney,  the  founder  and 


cases  is  due  to  the  very  conscientious  work  that  is      principal   of   the    school   is   a   graduate   of  Atlanta 


502 


University.  On  completion  of  her  studies,  she 
taught  in  several  different  schools  in  the  State. 
Like  many  others  of  her  people.  Miss  Laney  felt 
keenly  the  need  of  more  institutions  for  training 
of  girls  and  boys  to  become  useful  men  and  women. 
She  realized  the  terrible  handicap  of  illiteracy  bad 
to  be  met  and  overcome  before  her  people  could 
advance  very  far,  and  with  an  impulsive  generosity 
that  is  characteristic  of  her  every  act,  she  deter 
mined  to  devote  her  life  to  the  establishment  of  an 
institution  that  would  equip  boys  and  girls  for  life's 
battles  and  teach  them  to  lead  the  lives  of  Chris 
tian  men  and  women. 

In  1886,  she  gave  up  her  position  as  teacher,  and 
on  her  own  volition,  without  backing  of  any  sort, 
went  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  with  the  fixed  determination 
of  starting  the  work  she  had  so  long  dreamed  of. 
It  has  been  truthfully  said  that  no  cause  involving 
the  welfare  and  uplift  of  humanity  can  well  suc 
ceed  without  the  efforts  of  a  woman.  In  all  ages 
of  the  world  women  have  worked,  played  and  made 
every  possible  human  sacrifice  for  the  cause  of  hu 
man  progress,  and  none  are  more  potential  today 
in  the  affairs  of  the  world  than  that  noble  band  of 
pioneers  in  the  development  of  Negro  schools.  Con 
secrating  her  life  to  the  betterment  of  her  people  is 
the  noblest  contribution  one  can  ma'ce  to  human  so 
ciety.  The  very  earnestness  of  Miss  Laney  made 
her  many  friends  from  the  very  start,  and  gained 
their  support  in  getting  the  school  started.  A  de 
voted  Christian  she  interested  the  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  she  was  a  member 
in  aiding  her  to  secure  the  support  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen.  Grad 
ually  building  the  school,  step  by  step.  Raising  the 
money  by  every  honorable  means ;  by  lecture  tours, 
by  entertainments,  by  soliciting  private  contribu 
tions,  Miss  Laney  can  look  today  upon  a  work  that 
represents  a  money  value  of  around  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  with  an  income  running  into  the  thousands. 
But  who  can  estimate  the  value  of  the  good  accom 
plished  for  the  race  and  for  humanity?  Only  those 
that  have  been  lifted  from  depths  of  poverty  and 
illiteracy,  and  given  an  opportunity  to  become  part 
of  a  better  and  brighter  world,  can  even  remotely 
estimate  this.  One  need  not,  however,  rely  on  the 
eulogies  of  the  students  and  alumni  of  Haines  Col 
lege.  All  one  needs  to  be  convinced  of  the  high 
character  of  the  work  being  accomplished  by  Miss 
Laney,  is  to  ask  any  citizen  of  Augusta,  irrespect 
ive  of  race,  or  pay  a  visit  to  the  school,  where  the 
work  speaks  for  itself. 

Hon.  William  H.  Taft,  shortly  before  his  inaugu 
ration  as  President  of  the  United  States,  visited 
Haines  School,  and,  speaking  of  Miss  Laney.  who 
is  considered  one  of  the  most  brilliant  daughters 
of  the  colored  race — said  to  the  friend  with  him: 


"That  a  colored  woman  could  have  constructed  this 
great  institution  of  learning  and  brought  it  to  its 
present  state  of  usefulness  speaks  volumes  for  her 
capacity.  Therefore,  I  shall  go  out  of  this  meet 
ing,  despite  the  distinguished  presence  here,  carry 
ing  in  my  memory  only  the  figure  of  that  woman 
who  has  been  able  to  create  all  this." 

The  faculty  and  pupils  of  Haines  College,  from 
the  Principal  down,  took  a  prominent  part  in  all 
world  war  work ;  always,  oversubscribing  their 
quota  of  Bonds  and  Thrift  Stamps,  as  well  as  be 
ing  liberal  contributors  to  the  Red  Cross,  Y.  M.  C. 
A.,  Salvation  Army,  and  all  War  Community  Ser- 
•";<-es.  Haines  always  answered  "Ready"  when  our 
country  called. 

Vol  2  of  Negro  Education,  published  by  the  gov 
ernment  makes  the  following  statement  of  Haines 
Normal  and  Industrial  School: 

A  secondary  school  with  a  large  elementary  en 
rollment.  Two-thirds  of  the  pupils  are  girls.  The 
management  is  effective.  The  wise  administration 
of  the  principal  has  won  for  the  school  the  confi 
dence  of  both  white  and  colored  people. 

It  is  affiliated  with  the  Presbyterian  Board  of 
Missions  for  Freedmen,  but  has  an  independent 
board  of  trustees.  Title  to  the  property  is  vested 
in  the  Presbyterian  Board. 

Attendance — Total,  860;  elementary  711,  secon 
dary  149;  male  289,  female  571.  Of  the  pupils 
above  the  eighth  grade  84  were  boarders.  Of  those 
reporting  home  address  65  were  from  Augusta,  47 
from  other  places  in  Georgia,  and  35  from  other 
states ;  17  were  from  farm  homes  and  132  from 
city  homes. 

Teachers — Total  22 ;  all  colored ;  male  4,  female 
18;  academic  19,  industrial  2,  music  1.  The  teach 
ers  are  well  prepared  and  doing  thorough  work. 

Organization — Elementary  :  There  are  eight 
grades  and  kindergarten. 

Secondary :  The  secondary  course  requires  En 
glish,  4  years;  Mathematics,  4;  and  History  3. 
Elective  subjects  included:  Latin,  taken  by  91  pu 
pils;  French,  taken  by  31;  German,  26;  Greek,  17; 
psychology,  21;  physics,  16;  physiology,  14;  chem 
istry,  9;  history  and  civics,  19;  sociology,  6. 

Financial — The  accounts  of  the  school  are  hon 
estly  kept. 

Sources  of  income  :  Presbyterian  Board,  $4,595 ; 
tuition  and  fees,  $1,680;  general  donations,  $1,561; 
entertainment,  $989.  The  non-educational  receipts 
were  from  the  boarding  department  and  amounted 
to  $3,751. 

Items  of  Expenditure :  Supplies  for  boarding 
and  other  departments,  $6,751;  salaries,  $4,554; 
fuel,  light,  and  water,  $976;  equipment,  $596;  labor, 
$480 ;  repairs,  $86. 


503 


Thomas  T.  Pollard 


HOMAS  T.  POLLARD,  a  Texan  vention,  in  Saint  Louis,  which  gave  the  country 
by  birth,  rearing  and  occupation.  William  McKinley,  for  President. 
is  one  of  the  men  who  made  the  Active  in  politics  and  in  sports,  he  takes  also  a 
"Lone  Star  State"  famous  in  ed-  leading  part  in  church  and  secret  orders.  He  is  a 
ucation.  Mr.  Pollard  was  born  in  Missionary  Baptist,  a  Free  and  Accepted  Mason, 
Danville,  Montgomery  County,  &  ^.^  ^  Pyth{^  an(,  an  American  Woodman. 
Texas,  February  22nd,  1866.  Having  spent  suf-  He  .^  ^  _m  cxtensive  travder  havi,]R  cuvered  (jn]y 
ficient  time  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  conn-  &  ^  <>f  ^  Southern  and  Western  states,  but  like 
ty,  spending  his  spare  hours  on  the  farm,  he  matri 
culated  at  the  Prairie  View  Normal  and  Industrial 
Institute.  Graduating  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  June, 
1888,  he  immediately  entered  the  profession  of 
school  teaching.  Mr.  Pollard  was  fortunate  enough 
to  be  elected  to  a  principalship  at  the  outset.  He 
became  the  head  of  one  of  the  ward  schools  of 
Beaumont,  and  has  remained  in  his  post  these  thir 
ty  years.  He  has  grown  with  educational  ideas, 
introducing  into  his  school  new  methods  as  the  conscientious  energies  of  his  life  to  the  profes. 


n 


fields 

Professor  Pollard  was  married  June  30th,  1892, 
at  Beaumont,  to  Miss  Francis  Ventun  Charlton. 
Mr.  Pollard  owns  personal  property,  valued  at 
$10,000. 

He  is  one  of  the  veteran  educators  of  his  state, 
dedicated   the   best   and 


time  demanded  such. 


sion  of  teaching.     He  is  an  affable,  congenial  and 


Further   finding   that   the   school   teacher   should  llnassumjng  malli  and  enjoys  universal  appreciation 
take  the   lead  not  only  in  the  progress  of  educa-  and  C(mfidence.     Success  has  crowned  his  efforts  in 
tional  ideas,  but  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  life  of  a  the  past  an(,  the  future  will  ))Ut  the  more  empiiat. 
community,    he    has    several    times    ventured    into  -}Cil\\y   ])estow   upon   him   the    rewards   and   glories 
business,   and   into  plans    for   the   improvement   of  whjch    ;m   honorabie;   uprjght   and    useful    life    will 
his  community.  always  merit.     With  him  the  profession  of  teach- 
in  1900  he  organized  the  People's  Drug  Company  jng  js  a  jai,or  of  iove      jne  almjghty  dollar  influ- 
of  Beaumont,  having  seen  a  crying  need  for  a  con-  ences   him   not,   for   in   continuing   to   teach    school 
genial  place  where  his  people  could  buy  drugs  and  ]1e  ;s  realiy  making  a  sacrifice  instead  of  a  gain  of 
sodas    unmolested.     The    business    was    a    success  dollars;   but   it   is   his   love    for   the    work   and   his 
from  the  day  it  opened  its  doors.     Foreseeing  that  earnest  desire  to  do  good  for  the  race  that  cause 
everyone  must  live  more  and  more  out  of  his  own  njni   to  continue   to  pull    in    pedagogical    harness, 
garden,   Professor   Pollard   introduced   Home   Gar-  Prof.  Pollard  is  not  of  a  grasping,  avaricious  na- 
dening  into  his  school.     From  here,  he  took  it  into  ture,   nor  does  he  consider  the  dollar  as   the   sum 
the  city  homes.     This  he  has  been  making  a  spec-  total  of  human  existence.     He   realizes   that  there 
iality,  thereby  training  the  people  to  cope  with  the  is  a  serious  responsibility  devolving  upon  the  edu- 
stringency  of  the  times.  cated  colored  man  of  the  South,  and  that  it  is  the 
Few  school  men  allow  more  real  life  to  come  in-  bounden  duty  of  the  educated  colored   man  to  do 
to  their  routine  than  does  this  principal  at  Beau 
mont.     He  is  classed  among  the  most  daring  and 
yet  the  safest  bear  and  deer  hunters  in  Fast  Texas. 
He  had  at  one  time  a  hand  to  hand  encounter,  so 
to    speak — no — not    with    a    bear — but    with    a    140 
pound   buck,   which   had   been   wounded.     His   rifle  vantages    that    he    has    received    as    a    dispensation 
being  inaccessible,  he  had  to  despatch    the    beast  from  Providence  to  enable  him  to  help  his  strug 
gling  and  benighted  people,  and  for  this  reason  he 
has  found  the  attraction  of  service  and  hard  work 


his  part  in  the  great  work  of  uplifting  his  be 
nighted  people.  Personally  he  is  in  practically  in 
dependent  circumstances,  but  it  has  ever  been  his 
earnest  desire  to  lift  others  up  with  him  while  he 
was  climbing.  lie  considers  the  educational  ad- 


with  his  hunter's  knife. 

He  is  like  many  a  Texan,  a  live  politician.  In 
1896,  he  was  a  delegate  from  the  fourteenth  Con 
gressional  district  to  the  Republican  National  Con- 


in   the   school   room   to  be   greater   than   any  other 
attraction  in  life. 


504 


Rev.  William  Thomas  Silvey 


EV.  William  Thomas  Silvey  has 
studded  ris  whole  crown  of  life 
with  church  buildings.  He  cares 
not  for  the  size  of  the  church,  the 
grade  of  the  congregation,  the 
large  salary,  the  brilliant  choir; 
that  is  these  things  are  not  the  main  ideal  with 
him.  His  ambition  throughout  his  career  has  been 
to  see  the  people  housed,  to  watch  the  building  rise 
from  the  ground.  All  the  struggle  at  campaigning 
for  funds,  the  holding  of  suppers,  giving  concerts, 
using  collection  cards  and  the  thousand  other  de 
vices  resorted  to  for  the  raising  of  funds  have  been 
to  him  so  many  thrilling  detail  by-plays  of  the 
game. 

Rev.  Silvey  began  life  in  Ohio.  He  was  born  in 
Greene  County  in  1853,  when  slavery  held  his 
brothers  in  bondage  in  the  South  and  when  Ohio 
was  doing  yeomen  service  as  a  haven  of  refuge 
and  a  way  station  for  the  run-a-away  slave.  For 
several  years  he  attended  the  common  schools  of 
the  county,  making  his  way  slowly  as  the  boy  of 
his  race  had  to  do  in  those  trying  days. 

However,  he  could  not  remain  in  school  very 
long ;  neither  did  the  way  appear  whereby  he  could 
study  and  work.  Thus  he  soon  bade  farewell  to 
the  school  room  and  sought  employment  on  the 
farm.  Forty-five  years  ago  saw  him  a  farm  labor 
er  earning  his  bread,  with  only  hopes  and  ambi 
tion  to  lead  him  to  a  higher  position  of  service  to 
himself  and  to  others.  In  1877  he  left  the  farm, 
having  studied  and  thought  as  best  he  could,  and 
entered  the  Baptist  ministry.  For  all  he  had  not 
been  able  to  specialize  to  any  great  degree,  he  nev 
ertheless  had  a  great  advantage  of  the  mass  of  his 
brethren  of  the  cloth,  many  of  whom  had  had  but 
little  schooling  of  any  kind  and  that  under  the  most 
trying  circumstances. 

His  first  charge  was  given  him  at  Fddyville,  Ky. 
Immediately  he  saw  the  crying  need  for  the  Negro 
churches.  Moving  now  and  then,  but  working  fer 
vently,  he  has  built  during  his  forty  years  in  the 
ministry,  fourteen  churches  in  the  State  of  Ken 
tucky.  The  last  was  indeed  worthy  of  his  crown 
ing  effort.  It  was  the  handsome  modern  brick 
building,  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Frankfort, 
Ky.  Over  this  church,  though  he  is  well  into  his 
sixties,  he  still  presides,  in  many  ways  as  vigorous 
and  as  ambitious  as  in  the  early  davs  of  his  career. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Rev.  Silvev  is  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  and  an  eloquent  divine,  yet 
his  very  life,  humble  in  origin,  filled  with  strug 
gles  and  hardships  in  its  early  days,  and  now  beau 
tified  and  glorified  with  unbound  success,  is  the 


most  eloquent  sermon  that  he  has  ever  preached  in 
the  course  of  his  brilliant  career.  By  reading  his 
life  and  comparing  his  humble  origin  with  his 
present  position  of  influence,  dignity  and  power, 
every  ambitious  youth  of  the  race  may  be  encour 
aged,  stimulated  and  inspired  to  persevere  until 
he  reaches  the  gcml  of  his  ambition.  From  an  un 
tutored,  hard-working  boy  on  a  farm  to  the  lead 
ership  of  one  of  the  great  churches  of  the  race  is 
a  sublime  height  to  climb,  and  this  great  honor  is 
a  fitting  monument  to  his  patience,  perseverance 
and  determination  to  make  himself  serviceable  to 
his  race,  to  the  cause  of  humanity  and  to  the  Cre 
ator  of  mankind.  The  Rev.  Silvey  is  really  a  bea 
con  light  of  inspiration  that  lights  up  the  pathway 
of  hope  for  the  youth  of  the  whole  race,  and  no 
son  or  daughter  of  Africa  should  be  discouraged  in 
the  ambition  to  aspire  to  the  best  and  the  greatest 
in  American  life.  Whether  as  plowboy  on  the 
farm,  or  hard  laborer  in  the  ditch,  or  student  in 
the  school  room,  or  teacher  in  the  small  churches, 
or  an  inspired  minister  of  the  gospel,  the  life  of 
Rev.  Silvey  is  worthy  of  emulation  by  the  aspiring 
youth  of  the  race,  and  should  be  treasured  by  them 
as  one  of  their  most  precious  legacies. 

The  leadership  of  a  race  is  something  that  can 
not  be  assumed  by  any  man,  for  it  is  an  attribute 
that  results  from  the  mental  attitude  of  those 
whose  prerogative  it  is  to  accord  or  withdraw. 
Rev.  Silvey  has  every  requisite  and  every  equip 
ment  for  the  ideal  leader  of  the  race  that  he  is. 
He  is  one  of  the  best  prepared  men  in  the  galaxy 
of  the  race's  greatness,  and  his  many  years  of  con 
secrated  effort  for  the  advancement  and  uplift  of 
the  race  is  worthy  of  the  race's  greatest  appre 
ciation.  He  is  one  of  the  pillars  of  his  branch  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  his  clarion  notes  have  been 
heard  in  a  majority  of  the  churches  of  Kentucky, 
exhorting  the  race  to  take  a  stand  against  vice, 
corruption  and  iniquity,  and  to  show  to  the  world 
that  it  stands  for  education,  morality,  religion  and 
everything  that  will  help  the  world  to  move  ever 
upward,  onward  and  heavenward 

Rev.  Silvey  owns  his  residence  and  one  other, 
which  he  rents.  These  are  valued  at  $5,000.  He 
was  married  in  Lime  County  in  1878.  one  year 
after  entering  the  ministry,  to  Miss  Ida  Holland. 
There  have  been  eight  children  born  into  Rev  Sii- 
vey's  family.  One  of  these,  Miss  Virginia,  is  de 
ceased.  Two  others,  Marion  and  Fd,  are  coal 
miners.  Miss  Gertrude  and  Bessie  are  married. 
Miss  Catherine  is  a  seamstress  and  Miss  Lutitia 
and  Willie  are  engaged  in  school  teaching. 
505 


TYPE  OF  GRADUATES   OF   PHILANDER 
SMITH  COLLEGE 

HILANDER  Smith  College,  a 
school  offering  elementary  and 
secondary  grade  as  well  as  col 
lege  courses  is  located  in  Little 
Rock,  Arkansas.  The  school  is 
owned  and  controlled  by  the 
Freedmen's  Aid  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episco 
pal  Church.  The  school  owes  its  existence  chiefly 
to  the  generosity  of  the  family  of  Philander  Smith 
of  Oak  Park,  Illinois.  He  gave  the  first  ten  thous 
and  dollars  toward  the  present  main  building.  This 
gift  was  made  in  the  early  part  of  1883.  The  school 
was  at  this  time  six  years  old. 

In  connection  with  the  Philander  Smith  College 
the  Adeline  Smith  Home  for  Girls  is  maintained. 
The  Home  is  the  property  of  the  Woman's  Home 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  was  dedicated  in  1884.  In  this  home 
for  girls  the  true  principles  that  underlie  strong, 
honest  womanhood,  are  taught,  and  daily  practiced. 
The  Home  is  strictly  religious,  giving  much  time 
to  the  teaching  of  the  Bible  and  requiring  each 
girl  to  get  a  good  portion  of  it  in  her  memory. 
In  the  Home  the  courses  offered  are  cooking,  or 
ganization  of  home,  sewing,  fancy  work.  In  all 


these  branches  of  Domestic  Art  the  teaching  is 
thorough  and  is  so  taught  as  to  make  it  a  real  part 
of  the  lives  of  the  students. 

In  the  government,  appeal  is  made  direct  to  the 
students'  sense  of  right.  In  so  far  as  possible  self- 
government  is  practiced.  Hut  the  rules  and  regu 
lations  of  the  institution  are  rigid  and  all  must 
obey.  All  the  work  and  activities  of  the  Adeline 
Smith  Home  is  a  part  of  the  educational  activities 
of  Philander  Smith  College.  Although  the  work 
of  the  two  plants  is  separate  in  some  things,  the 
real  school  work  is  together. 

The  land  owned  by  the  Phiiande  •  Smith  College 
is  valued  at  $15,000.  It  is  in  two  separate  lots. 
The  main  building  is  located  on  a  lot  which  com 
prises  about  half  a  city  block.  The  Girls'  Home  is 
on  a  large  city  lot  some  distance  from  the  Main 
Building.  The  Main  Building  is  a  four-story  brick 
structure  that  is  used  for  offices,  classrooms  and 
boys'  dormitory.  The  girls'  dormitory  is  a  three- 
story  brick  building  and  is  a  new,  well  constructed 
one.  There  are  in  addition  to  these,  two  frame 
buildings  used  for  classes  in  grade  work  and  for 
shops. 

The  course  of  study  is  based  largely  on  the 
Freedmen's  Aid  Society  course.  Strong  emphasis 
is  placed  on  the  classical  languages.  The  courses 
include  the  Elementary,  with  industrial  work  for 
the  girls  in  the  Adeline  Smith  Home  ;  College  Prep 
aratory  and  Normal  courses  ;  and  a  College  course. 
In  industries  the  work  is  limited  to  the  Domestic 
Art  work  in  the  Home  for  the  Girls. 

In  offering  a  thorough  Teachers'  Normal  Course 
the  school  fills  a  great  need  of  the  state.  Like 
most  of  the  Southern  States  the  teachers  in  the 
rural  districts  are  lacking  in  thorough  training.  In 
establishing  this  course  the  authorities  of  Philan 
der  Smith  had  in  mind  the  preparation  of  well- 
trained  and  efficient  teachers  for  public  and  rural 
schools.  The  course  of  study  was  so  arranged  as 
to  meet  the  needs  of  the  Normal  Training  High 
Schools  of  the  State.  Along  with  the  regular 
studies  required  in  this  course  there  are  several 
literary  and  social  activities  that  are  compulsory 
upon  students  taking  this  course.  These  are  the 
Literary  Society,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Y.  W.  C.  A.  and  the 
lecture  course  Although  in  most. schools  these  or 
ganizations  exist  they  are  not  compulsory.  Reali/.- 
ing  the  needs  of  all  teachers  of  well  rounded  lives, 
this  school  has  made  the  attendance  upon  these  or 
ganizations  compulsory. 

The  man  at  the  head  of  this  school  is  Mr.  J.  M. 
Cox.  Through  his  efforts  he  has  brought  the  school 
up  to  a  good  standard.  Mrs.  H.  M.  Masmyth,  a 
white  woman,  is  superintendent  of  the  Girls'  Home 
that  is  connected  with  this  college. 


506 


George  L.  Knox  and  W.  A.  Attaway  M.  D. 


GEORGE  L.  KNOX 

UK  veteran  editor  and  publisher  of 
the  Indianapolis  Freeman  first 
saw  the  light  of  clay  in  Wilson 
County,  Tenn.,  during  the  days 
of  slavery.  For  many  years  while 
a  slave  he  worked  as  a  plantation 
laborer.  He  was  afterwards  transferred  by  his 
master  as  an  apprentice  in  the  shoe  makers  busi 
ness.  He  served  in  the  Union  Army  for  one  year 
and  after  the  war  took  up  the  barber's  trade.  From 
the  barber  shop  he  entered  the  journalistic  field  and 
became  publisher  of  the  Indianapolis  Freeman. 
This  paper  under  Mr.  Knox  has  grown  to  be  a  pow 
er  to  be  reckoned  with. 

Mr.  Knox  is  a  self-made  man  in  every  sense  of 
the  word ;  he  educated  himself  and  at  the  same 
time  supported  his  family.  He  is  a  staunch  mem 
ber  of  the  M.  K.  Church. 

Mr.  Knox  married  Miss  Aurrila  Harvey  of  In 
dianapolis,  Indiana  in  1866.  This  couple  have  five 
children,  four  boys  and  one  girl.  The  only  sur 
viving  boy,  TCdward  C  .,  is  the  business  manager  of 
the  Freeman. 


Dr.  Attaway,  has  been  a  factor  in  the  profes 
sional  and  financial  life  of  the  State  of  Mississippi 
for  a  number  of  years,  yet  he  is  still  a  man,  in  the 
very  prime  of  life.  He  has  been  tried  in  the  cruci 
ble  of  business  responsibility,  and  has  demonstated 
to  the  world  his  ability  to  make  good.  His  suc 
cess  as  a  business  promoter  in  the  State  of  Mis 
sissippi  has  been  phenomenal  and  few  other  mem 
bers  of  the  race  have  been  endowed  with  the  same 
degree  of  confidence  to  bring  to  a  successful  con 
clusion  such  undertakings,  when  confronted  with 
the  same  difficulties. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  President  of 
the  Mississippi  Beneficial  Life  Insurance  Com 
pany,  a  company  that  is  chartered  under  the  laws 
of  Mississippi,  and  is  now  operating  in  all  sections 
of  the  state.  The  insurance  company  in  question 
is  the  result  of  the  brain,  finance  and  confidence 
of  Dr.  W.  A.  Attaway,  who  was  willing  to  blaze 
out  the  path  to  success  in  this  novel  business  ven 
ture  and,  if  necessary,  sacrifice  his  career  as  an  ex 
ceptionally  successful  physician  trying  to  promote 
the  business  welfare  of  the  race. 

It  is  one  of  the  few  insurance  companies  operat 
ed  by  Negroes  that  is  now  writing  all  kinds  of  old 
line  insurance  policies. 

It  is  the  history  of  business  institutions  that 
they  are  monuments  to  the  brain  and  brawn  of 
some  one  man,  who  not  only  has  every  requisite 
for  intelligent  and  successful  leadership,  in  the 
business  ventures  with  which  he  is  connected  but 
is  endowed  with  a  sixth  sense  that  enables  them  to 
select  assistants  of  a  type  that  can  be  welded  into 
an  organization  that  is  the  acme  of  efficiency. 

Dr.  Attaway  is  a  big  man  in  every  department 
of  human  excellence.  He  is  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  of  the  Southland ;  he  is  a  successful  bus 
iness  promoter  and  business  man ;  he  is  among  the 
foremost  insurance  magnates  of  the  country;  he  is 
broad  in  his  conceptions  for  the  welfare  of  the  Ne 
gro.  He  has  made  good  as  have  few  men  in  the 
ranks  of  the  state's  leading  men. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  not  only  a  splendid 
physician,  but  a  business  man  of  first  magnitude, 
and  his  mere  word  stands  for  as  much  as  that  of 
any  other  in  the  State  of  Mississippi.  He  is  the 
central  figure  in  one  of  the  largest  combinations 
of  capital  that  has  ever  been  gotten  together  in 
the  state,  and  this  combination  of  capital  is  but  a 
faint  testimonial  of  the  appreciation  in  which  his 
remarkable  business  talents  are  held  by  his  ad 
mirers  and  friends. 

He  stands  high  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  both 
races  in  his  home  town  of  Greenville,  Miss. 


507 


A.  F.  Henderson  and  A.  D.  Price 


R.  Herndon  is  one  of  the  wealthiest 
Negroes  in  Atlanta,  Georgia.  He 
is  said  to  be  worth  well  up  in  six 
figures.  His  rise  in  the  scale  of 
prosperity  was  marked  by  many 
hardships  which  required  an  in 
domitable  will  and  true  courage 
to  overcome.  He  was  born  a 
slave  in  Walton  County,  Georgia,  June  26,  1858. 

After  emancipation  his  mother  went  out  into  the 
world  with  two  children,  a  corded  bed,  and  a  few 
quilts.  Hiring  out  by  the  day,  she  received  in  pay 
potatoes,  molasses  and  peas,  to  maintain  the  fam 
ily.  She  found  shelter  in  a  one  room  log  cabin 
also  occupied  by  four  other  families. 

The  space  allotted  to  his  mother  was  only  suffi 
cient  for  her  bedstead,  under  which  she  stored  her 
daily  earnings. 

Alonzo  Franklin  (the  boy's  name),  began  to 
work  at  the  early  age  of  about  seven  years  and 
worked  for  his  grandfather  until  he  was  thirteen 
years  old  for  his  board  and  keep,  at  which  time  he 
was  pulling  a  cross-cut  saw  with  full-grown  men. 

His  old  master  then  hired  him  for  three  years, 
paying  his  mother  $25  for  the  first  year,  $30  for  the 
second  and  $40  for  the  third. 

At  the  age  of  twenty,  with  his  meager  savings 
of  $11.00  he  stole  away  in  the  darkness  of  night, 
with  his  little  hand-trunk  on  his  shoulder,  and 
walked  fourteen  miles  to  Covington,  Georgia. 

He  had  received  twelve  months  schooling  in  the 
common  school  before  he  was  twenty,  receiving 
five  weeks  a  year. 

When  he  reached  Atlanta  he  hired  himself  to  a 
barber  for  $6  per  month.  He  soon  learned  the 
trade  and  passed  from  one  stage  to  another  in  it, 
finally  establishing  a  shop  of  his  own  which  has 
grown  until  now  he  owns  three  shops,  all  modern, 
and  one  noted  as  the  largest  sanitary  barber  shop 
in  the  world.  The  pictures  in  this  shop  cost  twelve 
thousand  dollars  and  it  is  one  of  the  show  places  of 
Atlanta.  It  has  twenty-five  chairs  and  requires 
the  services  of  forty  men. 

Mr.  Herndon  founded  the  Atlanta  Mutual  Insur 
ance  Association,  which  absorbed  eight  other  com 
panies.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  insurance  com 
panies  in  America  owned  by  Negroes  and  doing 
purely  industrial  insurance  business  with  colored 
people. 

He  is  President  of  Atlanta  Loan  &  Trust  Com 
pany,  Secretary  Southview  Cemetery  Association  ; 
Director  Atlanta  State  Savings  Bank,  Gate  City 
Drug  Store,  Inc.,  Trustee  Leonard  Street  Orphan 
Home. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
Member  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  politics  a  Republican. 

His  first  wife  was  Adriene  McNeal,  who  died 
leaving  him  one  child. 

May  30,  1912,  he  married  Jessie  Gilespie,  of  Chi 
cago,  111. 

Mr.  Herndon  is  a  great  believer  in  real  estate 
as  an  investment  and  is  showing  his  faith  by  his 
works.  He  owns  about  one  hundred  rental  houses. 

His  magnificent  home  situated  on  a  high  hill, 
overlooks  Atlanta  near  Atlanta  University. 


One  of  the  remarkable  signs  of  development  of 
the  colored  race  is  the  large  number  of  men  who 
are  engaged  in  large  business  enterprises.  There 
was  a  time  when  the  activities  of  the  colored  man 
were  cast  in  a  small  mold,  but  that  time  is  past  and 
a  new  day  has  dawned  for  them. 

He  has  rightly  reasoned  that  if  others  could  ac 
complish  great  things  so  could  he-  if  he  would  pre 
pare  himself  for  his  work  and  apply  himself  dili 
gently  to  his  task.  Realizing  that  a  man  must  be 
informed  who  desires  to  do  big  things  he  has  set 
himself  earnestly  to  secure  an  education,  for  he 
knows  that  the  educated  man  has  an  advantage 
over  the  ignorant  one. 

Such  a  man  is  A.  D.  Price  of  Richmond,  Vir 
ginia.  He  was  born  in  Hanover  County,  Virginia, 
August  9,  1860,  and  has  risen  to  his  high  standing 
as  a  business  man  in  his  native  state. 

Commencing  in  a  small  way,  step  by  step,  he  has 
advanced  to  a  position  which  commands  the  respect 
of  both  the  white  and  black  citizens  of  Richmond. 

He  attended  the  first  public  school  established 
for  colored  children  after  the  Civil  War. 

After  leaving  school  he  began  his  business  career 
as  a  clerk,  which  he  followed  for  several  years. 
Standing  behind  the  counter  was  not  to  his  taste 
so  he  gave  it  up  and  learned  a  trade.  He  took  up 
blacksmithing  and  after  working  with  others  un 
til  he  had  mastered  the  science,  in  1881,  he  opened 
a  shop  of  his  own.  Here  he  began  to  recognize  his 
powers  of  business  management.  His  blacksmith 
and  wheelwright  establishment  grew  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  required  the  services  of  twelve  men 
and  boys.  In  his  employment  were  both  white  and 
colored  laborers.  In  1886  he  began  to  branch  out. 
He  established  an  undertaking  and  livery  business, 
but  it  failed  to  meet  with  the  success  anticipated 
so  he  gave  it  up.  However,  he  never  gave  up  his 
purpose  to  establish  such  a  business,  and  in  1893 
he  again  entered  it.  His  next  effort  was  crowned 
with  great  success  and  he  now  has  the  satisfac 
tion  of  being  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  best 
arranged  and  conducted  undertaking  establish 
ments  in  the  South. 

It  requires  twenty-five  persons  to  carry  on  the 
business. 

Mr.  Price  is  the  President  of  the  Southern  Aid 
Society  of  Virginia.  This  institution  is  doing  a 
world  of  good  in  the  State  of  Virginia  .where  it 
reaches  hundreds  of  homes  with  its  benefits. 

He  has  learned  that  real  estate  is  the  true  foun 
dation  of  wealth  and  when  wisely  purchased  is 
sure  to  prove  a  fine  investment.  The  value  of  his 
real  estate  holdings  is  estimated  at  six  figures. 

He  owns  a  business  block  in  which  are  located 
halls  used  for  lodge  rooms  and  for  other  public 
purposes.  He  owns  some  of  the  most  modern  ten 
ement  buildings  in  the  City  of  Richmond  for  col 
ored  tenants.  His  residence  is  one  of  the  finest 
owned  by  one  of  his  race  in  the  South. 

Mr.  Price  is  interested  in  other  business  institu 
tions.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Mechanic's  Savings 
Bank,  the  Capital  Shoe  and  Supply  Co.,  and  the 
American  Beneficiary  Insurance  Company. 


508 


Nathan  K.  McGill  and  Robert  R.  Church,  Jr. 


NATHAN 


McGILL 


ORN  of  a  slave  mother  Nathan  K. 
McGill  of  Jacksonville,  Fla., 
knows  the  clay,  month  and  place 
of  his  birth  but  not  the  year.  But 
£  yV^yy  All  ne  als°  knows  that  as  a  pick- 
•j  ClS^^gjlJ  aniny  he  was  hungry  for  an 
education.  Student  in  Cookman  Institute,  Jack 
sonville,  Fla.,  whose  principal  secured  for  him  a 
chance  to  run  a  barber  shop  at  Monument  Beach, 
Mass.,  during'  the  summer  vacation. 

!t  was  at  this  seaside  resort  that  he  met  the 
noted  Boston  Philanthropist,  Rufus  B.  Tobey,  who 
agreed  to  assume  all  expense  of  completing  his 
education  on  condition  that  when  properly  train 
ed,  he  would  return  to  Jacksonville  and  devote  his 
life  to  assisting  his  people,  a  promise  he  has  faith 
fully  kept. 

Graduate  Boston  University  Law  School  in  June. 
1912.  Qualified  to  practice  before  the  Court  of 
every  state  in  the  Union  as  well  as  before  the  U. 
S.  Supreme  Court.  Mr.  McGill  is  a  member  of 
Ebenezer  M.  E.  Church. 

He  married  Idalee  P.  Thornton,  August  1st,  1917. 
They  have  one  boy,  Nathan  K.  Jr. 


Robert  Reid  Church,  Jr.,  is  among  the  compat> 
atively  few  American  Negroes  to  have  a  big  name 
to  defend  and  uphold. 

Mr.  Church  was  born  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Octo 
ber  26.  1885.  He  is  the  son  of  Robert  R.  Church 
and  Annie  Wright  Church,  and  a  brother  of  Mrs. 
Mary  Church  Terrell  of  Washington,  D.  C,  the 
noted  writer  and  wife  of  Judge  R.  R.  Terrell. 
Robert  R.  Church  was  a  well  known  man.  He 
was  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  biggest  and  wealth 
iest  citizens  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  regardless  of  color. 
Indeed  some  of  his  acts  led  the  Memphis  citizens 
to  regard  him  not  only  as  a  leader,  but  as  a  bene 
factor.  When  Memphis  was  in  a  bankrupt  condi 
tion  the  elder  Church  was  the  first  citizen  to  come 
forward  and  aid. 

He  purchased  No.  1  of  the  city  bonds  at 
$2000.  This  act  was  looked  upon  by  the  leading 
citizens  of  Memphis  as  one  of  great  importance. 
When  in  1894  the  big  daily  Memphis  Schimitar, 
issued  its  50th  anniversary  edition,  Robert  Church 
was  the  only  Negro  recognized  in  its  pages.  The 
paper  gave  him  a  full  page  article  with  a  portrait 
of  family  and  engraving  of  his  home. 

Robert  Church,  Jr.,  was  educated  in  the  Protest 
ant  Episcopal  Parochial  School  at  Memphis,  Tenn., 
and  completed  his  course  at  Oberlin  College,  Ohio. 
From  the  first  the  younger  Church  looked  forward 
to  assuming  the  responsibility  of  carrying  forward 
his  father's  business.  On  finishing  at  Oberlin,  he 
plunged  immediately  into  business.  He  began  his 
career  as  cashier  of  the  Solvent  Savings  Bank  and 
Trust  Company  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  1905.  Three 
years  later,  that  is  in  1908,  he  became  its  President. 

Conducting  the  business  of  the  Solvent  Savings 
Bank  and  Trust  Co.  with  success  brought  Mr. 
Church  unlimited  prestige  in  the  Negro  business 
world. 

Also  Mr.  Church  like  his  father,  took  active  in 
terest  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  city  and  in  the 
affairs  of  the  nation.  In  both  of  these  arenas,  he 
soon  became  an  effective  worker.  When  the 
Standard  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Atlanta,  Ga., 
was  established  Mr.  Church  was  chosen  one  of  the 
directors. 

He  is  a  staunch  Republican  and  was  the  only  col 
ored  delegate  from  Tennessee  to  the  National  Re 
publican  Convention  in  1912. 

Mr.  Church  is  a  Mason  and  is  a  member  of  tlu- 
famous  "Frogs"  in  New  York  City.  He  was  mar 
ried  July  26th,  1911,  to  Miss  Johnson  of  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Church  have  one  daugh 
ter,  Sarah  Roberta,  who  lives  with  them  at  their 
beautiful  home  on  South  Lauderdale  Street  in 
Memphis. 


509 


Enos  L.  Scruggs  and  Mrs.  Anna  R.  Fisher 


EXOS  L.  SCRUGGS,  B.  D.,  A.  M.,  D.  D. 

R.  Enos  L.  Scruggs  was  born  in 
Cole  County,  near  Jefferson  City, 
Mo.,  Feb.  23rd,  1858.  He  was 
left  an  orphan  when  a  boy.  He 
graduated  from  Lincoln  Institute, 
Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  in  1885.  Un 
ion  Theological  Seminary,  (now  the  Divinity 
School  of  the  University  of  Chicago),  with  the 
degree  of  B.  D.  in  1890.  Dr.  Scruggs'  first  pas 
torate  was  the  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Ann  Ar 
bor  and  while  there  he  attended  a  course  of 
lectures  at  the  University  of  Michigan.  Ac 
cepted  the  presidency  of  Western  College,  Macon, 
Mo.,  in  1892.  Became  pastor  of  Calvary  Baptist 
Church,  Monmouth.  111.,  in  1906;  took  charge  of 
Mt.  Emory  Church,  Jacksonville,  111.,  in  1915.  From 
Jacksonville,  he  went  to  his  present  pastorate  in 
Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  Oct.  1st,  1918. 

In  recognition  of  his  services  as  an  educator, 
Western  College  and  Lincoln  Institute  conferred 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  upon  him.  and  the 
Arkansas  Baptist  College,  Little  Rock,  honored 
him  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 


When  visiting  in  Missouri,  in  almost  any  part, 
if  yon  talk  about  men  and  women  who  have  <rone 
out  with  nothing  for  a  start  Vid  mad"  p-ood,  very 
soon  some  one  will  mention  tlvj  name  of  i.lrs. 
Anna  R.  Fisher. 

Mrs.  Fisher  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  children 
and  since  her  parents  were  poor,  she  had  little 
opportunity  to  attend  school.  She  did  attend  the 
district  school  nearest  her  when  she  could  be  spar 
ed  from  the  work  at  the  house  and  in  the  fields,  but 
this  was  not  for  a  long  time. 

But  the  little  foundation  gained  by  Mrs.  Fish 
er  at  this  time  has  proved  sufficient  for  her 
to  amass  quite  a  fortune  for  a  'colored  woman. 
She  is  a  caterer.  She  is  just  naturally  one.  She 
started  out  with  little  and  added  to  her  stock  and 
undertook  larger  affairs  till  now  she  owns  silver, 
china  and  linen  enough  to  set  a  table  for  one 
thousand.  Aside  from  using  this  silver  for  her 
own  banquets  and  dinners,  she  rents  it  out,  at  her 
own  figure,  to  others  who  want  to  serve  large 
numbers. 

Mrs.  Fisher  owns  a  beautiful  home.  She  bought 
the  stone,  the  brick,  the  lumber,  herself;  lived  in  a 
tent  on  the  place,  hired  all  the  workmen  and  bossed 
the  job.  Asked  what  her  home  cost  her  she  said : 
"Well,  I've  never  told  anybody  yet."  Asked  again. 
"Do  you  know  what  it  cost  you,?"  she  replied, 
"Yes  Madam,  to  the  fraction  of  a  cent."  Mrs. 
Fisher  makes  beaten  biscuit  which  she  ships  to  all 
points  in  and  out  of  the  State.  Catering  is  her 
trade,  but  on  the  side  she  runs  a  farm.  Here  she 
raises  all  the  hams  that  she  uses  in  her  dinners  and 
banquets  as  well  as  a  great  many  other  things. 

Besides  her  catering  business  she  sells  about  five 
hundred  dollars  worth  of  meat  a  year  from  her 
farm  ;  her  rental  propertv  brings  her  twelve  hun 
dred  a  year  more. 


RESIDENCE  OF   MRS.  ANNA   R.   FISHER 


510 


Isaiah  J.  Whitley 


HE  life  of  Isaiah  J.  Whitley  dif 
fered  much  in  his  youth  from  the 
majority  of  the  Negro  boys  who 
came  up  out  of  poverty  and  great 
tribulation  to  occupy  their  sta 
tions  in  life. 
He  was  born  in  Franklin,  Washington  County, 
Alubama,  of  honest,  industrious  and  respected 
parents.  His  father  was  a  prominent  farmer  of 
the  county  in  which  they  lived  and  was  the  lead 
ing  Baptist  of  his  day.  Isaiah  was  reared  on  the 
farm  and  because  his  father  was  in  good  financial 
condition  he  never  experienced  the  life  of  a  ser 
vant. 

After  receiving  an  elementary  education  he  en 
tered  the  Selma  University  and  graduated  with 
honor,  being  valedictorian  of  his  class.  While  ;it 
Selma  University  he  was  President  of  the  College 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  served  as  assistant  bookkeeper  to 
the  institution. 

He  also  took  courses  at  both  the  Tuskegee  In 
stitute  and  the  Hampton  Institute,  studying  the 
trade  at  both  institutions. 

He  chose  teaching  as  his  profession  and  has  serv 
ed  a  number  of  schools.  He  taught  school  at  Fair- 
ford,  Alabama,  and  five  years  in  the  common 
schools  of  Alabama ;  three  years  in  the  State  of 
Mississippi ;  served  one  year  as  principal  of  the 
Aldrich  Grammar  Schools,  Aldrich,  Alabama ;  and 
for  the  past  eight  years  has  been  principal  of  Mo 
bile  County  Training  School.  Under  his  manage 
ment  the  school  has  grown  from  80  pupils  and  two 
teachers  to  441  pupils  and  nine  teachers 

Mr.  Whitley  is  broad  minded  and  progressive. 
He  is  a  prime  mover  in  every  educational  and  up 
lift  work  in  the  community.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  National  Association  of  Teachers  in  Colored 
Schools,  is  secretary  of  the  Alabama  State  Teach 
ers'  Association,  and  president  of  the  National 
Rural  Teachers'  Association.  He  is  the  founder  of 
the  Plateau  Farmers  and  Truckers'  Conference, 
and  his  work  in  this  connection  cannot  lie  too  high 
ly  praised.  He  not  only  stands  high  in  the  esteem 
of  the  Negroes,  but  is  so  well  thought  of  by  the 
white  citizens  of  his  home  county,  that  he  was 
made  a  member  of  the  Draft  Board,  and  Colored 
County  Food  Administrator  during  the  World 
War  and  was  highly  commended  for  his  work  in 
both  places. 

He  married  Miss  Cornelia  Leon  Carrington, 
Sept.  8,  1910.  They  have  two  boys  and  one  girl. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  a  Mason, 
and  K.  of  P.,  and  the  owner  of  a  comfortable  homo. 


Unlike  a  great  many  members  of  the  Negro  race 
the  career  of  Dr.  Leath  has  been  smooth  and  pleas 
ant.  The  secret  of  his  tranquil  life  is  no  doubt  due 
to  his  loving  and  sympathetic  disposition  and  his 
intense  spirit  of  loyalty.  He  was  an  affectionate 
and  loyal  son  and  brother,  and  always  rendered  to 
his  parents  that  honor  and  consideration  due  from 
a  child  to  its  father  and  mother.  His  father  died 
in  1900  and  his  mother  in  1912  and  it  is  a  source  of 
great  satisfaction  to  him  that  he  can  let  his  mind 
dwell  upon  them  with  only  thoughts  of  sweet  and 
pleasant  memories. 

He  was  one  of  thirteen  children,  and  frequently 
did  his  part  in  helping  his  mother  clean  house  and 
cook.  In  the  course  of  his  life  he  has  worked  on 
the  farm,  stood  behind  the  barber's  chair,  solicited 
insurance,  filled  the  office  of  teacher  and  now  stands 
in  the  pulpit  and  on  the  rostrum.  In  securing  an 
education  he  attended  the  public  schools  of  Colum 
bia,  Alabama,  afterwards  teaching  in  these  same 
schools,  then  went  to  the  Tuskegee  Normal  and  In 
dustrial  Institute,  graduating  in  1897;  then  to 
Payne  University;  graduating  from  the  scientific 
course  in  1901 ;  he  took  a  correspondence  course 
in  Howard  University,  studying  Greek  under  Ger 
man  scholars.  Having  received  the  necessary  pre 
paration  for  his  work  he  entered  the  ministry  of 
the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in 
the  course  of  his  ministry,  has  served  some  of  the 
best  colored  churches  in  the  South.  He  is  now 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Mobile,  Alabama,  district. 

He  is  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Payne  University.  His  ministerial  career  has  been 
one  of  continued  success  and  he  has  made  friends  in 
every  field  where  he  has  labored.  He  was  espec 
ially  fond  of  children  and  because  of  his  intense 
love  and  sympathy  for  them  he  won  many  of  them 
to  himself  and  to  the  cause  of^his  Savior.  Dr.  Leath 
is  an  able  man  from  every  standpoint.  He  is  an 
able  orator,  a  great  educator  and  a  splendid  preach 
er  and  pastor.  He  is  an  untiring  worker  and  gave 
his  services  unstintingly  in  behalf  of  his  country 
during  the  Worlds  War.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masons  and  has  held  high  office  in  that  body. 
/  Dr.  Leath  has  prospered  from  the  material 
standpoint  and  owns  a  100  acre  farm,  and  a  house 
and  lot  at  Greensboro,  Ala. 

The  position  he  has  obtained  in  the  district  he 
presides  over  has  made  it  possible  for  him  to  be  of 
great  service  to  other  members  of  his  race. 

He  married  Miss  Pinkie  C.  Reece  of  Autauga- 
ville  in  1901,  who  has  been  a  great  help  to  him 
in  his  work. 


511 


C.  W.  Allen 


T  is  said  a  prophet  is  without  hon-  bile   postoffice.     He    served    as   a   carrier   for   ten 

or  in  his  own    country,    hut    this  years,  and  made  a  record  for  high  efficiency.  While 

declaration    is    far    from    being    a  serving  in   postoffice   he   had   the   honor   of   repre- 

fact  in  the  case  of  the  serviceable  senting   the    Mobile    Letter    Carriers'    Association 

and  popular  subject  of  this  sketch,  three  different   times  at  the  National  Conventions 

whose    life    story    forms   the   bur-  of  Letter  Carriers  at  its  sessions   in  Denver,  Col., 

den  of  this  narrative,  for  no  other  man  of  the  race  Chicago,  Ills.,  and  New  York  City, 

in   the  city  of   Mobile,  Ala.,  be  he  native   born  01  Mr.  Allen  is  a  veteran  dealer  in  real  estate,  and 

otherwise,  has  been  more  highly  honored  or  shown  in  co-partnership  with   Mr.  James  T.  Peterson,  he 

himself  to  be  more  deserving    of  trust,  confidence  successfully    engaged    in    the    realty    business     for 

and  honor.  several  years.     The  firm  operated  under  the  name 

Mr.  Allen  is  a  native  of  the  city  of  Mobile,  and  of  Peterson  &  Allen,  and  it  was  one  of  the  leading 

was   born   October   17,   1872.     Unlike   the   majority  real  estate  firms  in  the  State  of  Alabama, 

of  men  that  have  risen  to  place  and  prominence  in  On   the   10th   of  November,    1904,   Mr.    Allen,    in 

the  domain   of  church   or  state,  he   can   not   claim  partnership   with    Mr.   Harney.   purchased    the   un- 

the  pride  of  birth  on  a  farm  ;  nor  can  he  claim  an  dertaking   firm    of   A.   N.   Johnson,    which    at   that 

experience  with  any  of  the  hardships  that  are  in-  time  was  one  of  the  most  complete  and  one  of  the 

cident  to  farming  life.     In  his  case,  at  least,  it  has  costliest  funeral  establishments  in  the  South.  Since 

been  demonstrated  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  be  purchasing  this  well  established  business  they  have 

born  on  a  farm  and  inured  to  its  hardships  in  order  added   to   their   equipment,   modernized   it   and   de- 

to  attain  to  the  highest  degree  of  service  and  use-  veloped  it  along  progressive  and  up-to-date   lines, 

fulness  to  one's  fellow  citizens  and  country.  until  now  it  is  second  to  few.  if  any.  in  this  whole 

The    fact   that   he    is   one   of   the    worthy   native  country. 

sons  of  Mobile,  possibly  accounts  for  the  high  es-  The  Company  has  modern  and  up-to-date  equip- 

teem  in  which  he  is  held  by  the  citizens  of  Mobile.  ment   and   facilities   and   it   can   satisfy   the   wishes 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Allen  were  in   most  humble  of    the    greatest     dignitary     in     the     State.      "A 

circumstances,  and  thus  could  not  give  to  their  son  maximum   of  service   for  a   minimum   cost"  is   the 

the  educational  advantages   that   they   would  have  business  maxim  of  this  premier  funeral  establish- 

been  glad  to  do  if  they  had  been  able.     His  educa-  ment  of  the  race,  and  it  is  the  concensus  of  opinion 

tion  was  gained  largely  by  his  own  earnest  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  Mobile  that  the  com- 

and   hard   work.     He   was   educated   in    the   public  pany  carries  out  its  business  maxim  to  the  letter, 

schools  of  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  at  Emerson  Institute  On   the  6th  of  June,    1893,    Mr.    Allen    married 

of  the  same  city.     Emerson  Institute  is  one  of  the  Miss    Josephine    Blackledge,    of    Mobile,    Alabama, 

pioneer  educational  institutions  of  the  race  in  the  She   is   a   graduate   of   the    Mobile    Colored    High 

city  of  Mobile,  and  has  done  much  to  improve  the  School,  and  was  also  a  student  of  Emerson  Insti- 

intellectual  and  moral  life  of  that  community.    This  title  of  the  same  city.     A  woman  of  great  intelli- 

school  was  long  ago  established  by   the   American  gence  and  influence  in  her  community,   she  is  one 

Missionary   Association,   and    has    been    the    only  of  the  useful  and  serviceable  women  of  the   race. 

Alma   Mater  of   many   of  the   worthiest   and   mosi  and  has  done  much  for  their  welfare  and  uplift, 

successful  men  and  women  of  the  city  of   Mobile.  Mrs.  Allen  was  an  honored  teacher  in  the  Mobile 

Mr.  Allen  has  not  the  honor  of  a  diploma  from  this  Colored  High  Schools  for  three  vears.     In  the  year 

worthy   institution,  but   he  gained   in   its   hallowed  of  1898  she  organized  the  widely  known  Josephine 

halls  an  inspiration  to  accomplish   something  wor-  Allen  Private  School.     The  growth  of  this   school 


thy  in  life. 

lie  started  out  in  life  early  to  make  an  honest 
living.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  took  up  the 
responsibilities  of  a  wage-earner.  Beginning  at 


has    been    phenomenal    in    every    respect    from    its 
very  beginning. 

Mr.  Allen  is  an  organizer  and  a  man  of  splendid 
executive  ability.     As  a  financier  he  has  few  supe- 


the  humblest  stage  of  menial  service,  he  gradually  riors,  if  any,  and  his  administration  of  affairs,  both 
worked  his  way  up  to  employment  in  the  govern-  fraternal  and  personal  has  demonstrated  the  fact 
ment  service  in  the  position  of  carrier  in  the  Mo-  that  he  is  an  extraordinary  business  man. 

512 


Ralph  W.  Tyler 


NE  of  the  later  fields  for  the  -Ne-  During  the  interim  between  1913  and  1916.  Mr. 
gro  to  enter  was  that  of  journal-  Tyler  was  contributor  to  both  the  white  and  col- 
ism.  While  the  Negro  journalist 
soon  learned  to  do  well  on  papers 
of  his  own  he  found  it  difficult  to 
enter  the  arena  with  the  re- 


ored  newspapers.  When  Emmett  J.  Scott  became 
special  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Ty 
ler  took  work  in  Mr.  Scott's  office  as  publicity 

porters  of  the  big  daily  and  metropolitan  papers.  a"ent  In  this  capacity  he  had  one  of  the  most 
Here  as  elsewhere  he  found  an  almost  impassable  trying  positions  in  public  life  to  fill.  He  was  coin- 
barrier.  First  of  all  he  had  no  background,  his  pelled  to  see  that  the  magnificent  part  being  play- 
oiily  hope  of  commendation  would  have  to  be  bas-  ed  by  the  Negro  in  the  world  was  brought  before 
ed  upon  experience  and  excellence  in  the  calling.  the  puh]ic  am,  kept  there  Jt  waR  hjs  ^^  ^  ^ 

The  only  way  of  getting  these  was  upon  these  very      that   comliti()ns   needinR   correction,]  were   brought 

before  the  public  in  a  way  that  would  bring  tin- 
desired  result  without  gaining  the  antagonism  of 


dailies  for  which  he  aspired  to  work,  thus  the  thing 
ran   in  a  circle,  shutting  door  after  door  to  him. 
In  the  South,  it  is  customary  to  have  at  least  one 


that   class   of  the  press   that   is   always   ready   and 
Negro  reporter  on  all  the  dailies,  but  as  yet  few  of       wining    Qn  the  slightest  provocation   to  flaunt  the 


the  northern  papers  have  adopted  this  policy. 


red  flag.    That  he  met  the  issue  with  honor  to  him 


Among  the  few  upon  whom  the  goddess  of  Tol-  sdf  and  tf)  hjs  peop]e  js  shown  ,)y  ^  ^  ^  ^ 
erance  smiled  in  the  Editorium  Sanctum,  was  was  the  Qne  NegrQ  waf  correspondent  sent  abroad 
Ra'ph  W.  Tyler  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Fortunately  1)y  the  L-nited  States  Government  to  tell  the  story 

of  our  troops  in  France. 

Mr.  Tyler  is  a  descriptive  writer  of  rare  ability. 
He  not  only  ranks  as  the  foremost  Negro  Journal 
ist  and  special  correspondent,  but  ranks  high 
among  that  galaxy  of  stars  irrespective  of  race, 
that  were  selected  by  their  countries  to  send  tin- 
news  back  home  of  the  every  movement  of  tin- 
armies  that  contained  the  flower  of  their  young 
manhood.  His  writings  are  of  such  character  that 


Mr.  Tyler  gained  an  entrance  in  his  native  town. 
Horn  and  reared  here  at  Columbus,  he  did  not  have 
the  awful  task  of  getting  used  to  the  Editors  of 
liis  town,  or  having  them  to  get  used  to  him. 

On  finishing-  High  School  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Tyler  began  his  journalistic  apprenticeship,  lie 
gained  his  experience  on  the  staff  of  the  Columbus 
livening  Despatch,  where  he  began  work  in  1884. 
The  satisfaction  which  he  gave  the  editors  of  this 


naner  both  as  an   apprentice    and    as    a    seasoned      ,         .,,  . 

he  will  be  remembered  not  as  a  great  Negro  Jour- 


,vorker  must  have  been   the  best   for  he   remained 

on   the    livening   Despatch   for   17  years.     Working      correspulldent 

for  the  Despatch  he  rose  from  reporter  to  assistant 

to   the   Manager   and   confidential   secretary   to   the 

publisher. 

Leaving  the  Evening  Despatch.  Mr.  Tyler  ac 
cepted  work  with  the  Ohio  State  Journal.  Here 
he  remained  for  three  years.  Throughout  this 
score  of  years  on  the  livening  Despatch  and  tin- 
Ohio  Journal  Mr.  Tyler  was  the  only  Negro  reg 
ularly  employed  on  a  white  daily  paper  in  tin- 
State  of  Ohio. 

In  1905  because  of  his  effective  work  as  a  jour 
nalist.  Mr.  Tvler  was  called  to  a  position  of  prom 
inence  in  the  United  States  Government.  In  this 


nalist,  but  as  a  great  American  Journalist  and  war 


Who  has  not  read  the  wonderful  word  pictures 
drawn  by  this  brilliant  young  journalist? 

Who  has  not  been  thrilled  by  his  stories  of  (he 
exploits  of  the  Famous  92nd  Division  ? 

There  is  something  inspiring  in  the  human  in 
terest  stories  that  he  sent  back  from  the  battle 
scarred  fields  of  Europe,  and  it  is  certain  that  many 
of  his  articles  will  be  handed  down  to  future  gen 
erations  as  classics. 

For  more  than  thirty  years  Mr.  Tvler  has  been 
engaged  in  newspaper  and  publicity  work.  He  has 
served  on  the  start  of  some  of  the  most  famous 


year 


he  was  appointed  by  President  Theodore  dailies  in  the  United  States,  and  has  made  a  repu- 
Roosevelt  as  auditor  to  the  Navy.  He  was  re-  tation  that  is  nation  wide  for  his  fearlessness  in 
appointed  by  President  Taft,  thus  he  served  in  this  defending  the  interests  of  the  Negroes.  His  efforts 


post  for  eight  years. 


in  behalf  of  the  race  cannot  ever  be  approximated. 


513 


VIRGINIA    HALL— SUNG   UP    BY  THE  HAMPTON  SINGERS,  1872-73. 


AMPTON  Institute,  the  pioneer 
industrial  school  for  the  training 
of  colored  and  Indian  youth, 
which  is  situated  on  the  Lower 
Peninsula  of  Virginia,  is  now  pre 
paring  for  intelligent  public  ser- 
vice  and  at  the  expense  of  gener 
ous  citizens  who  represent  many 
sections  and  classes,  some  900  earnest  Negroes  and 
a  small  group  of  Indians  in  its  Boarding  Depart 
ment. 

Between  four  and  five  hundred  colored  boys  and 
girls  attend  the  Community  graded  school,  known 
as  "The  Whittier  School,"  which  "offers  excellent 
opportunities  for  the  training  of  teachers  under 
natural  conditions." 

The  Hampton  boys  and  girls  are  making  a  brave 
struggle  to  become  leaders  in  community  improve 
ment  work  and  efficient  homemakers. 

Over  one  hundred  ,and  fifty  Hampton  men  are  al 
ready  in  the  United  States  Army  and  Navy  doing 
their  bit — intelligently  and  cheerfully  to  make  the 
world  safe  for  democracy. 

Founded  in  1868  by  Gen.  Samuel  C.  Armstrong, 
for  over  fifty  years,  through  the  co-operation 
and  support  of  many  of  the  best  people  of  America, 
Hampton  Institute  has  been  training  young  peo 
ple  for  unselfish  and  reliable  service  to  their  re 
spective  races  and  to  their  white  neghbors. 

The  training  of  an  army  of  over  2000  graduates 
and  nearly  8000  former  students — "soldiers  of  the 
common  good" — represents  a  vast  sum  of  money 
and  effort  which  the  American  public  has  invested 
in  carefully  selected,  ambitious  colored  and  Indian 
youth. 

Increased  returns  from  farm  lands,  the  multipli 
cation  and  improvement  of  public  schools,  the 
building  of  good  churches,  the  establishment  of 


clean,  pure  homes — these  are  some  of  the  fruits  of 
the  "Hampton  Spirit." 

The  late  Dr.  Hollis  B.  Frissell,  principal  of  Hamp 
ton  from  1893  to  1917,  said  in  his  last  report  to  the 
trustee : 

"We  hear  much,  in  these  days  of  preparedness 
for  service,  of  how  young  people  can  be  trained  so 
as  to  be  of  the  greatest  possible  use  to  their  com 
munity  and  their  country.  This  is  the  keynote  of 
Hampton.  He  said  shortly  before  his  death :  "Tell 
the  American  people  that  Hampton  is  a  war  meas 
ure." 

The  Robert  C.  Ogden  Auditorium,  designed  by 
Ludlow  &  Peabody,  of  New  York,  is  now  complet 
ed.  It  accommodates  some  2500  persons  and  has 
cost  over  $200,000.  The  money  was  raised  by  pop 
ular  subscription.  Gifts  have  come  from  white. 
colored,  and  Indian  friends. 

The  General  Education  Board  of  New  York  has 
donated  $25,000.  The  interest  from  this  fund  will 
be  used  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Ogden  Audito 
rium. 

Students  of  the  Hampton  Institute  Trade  School 
recently  completed  their  work  on  the  new  Admin 
istration  Building. 

They  have  also  placed  a  new  water  tank  on  the 
tower  of  "Stone  Building,"  which  is  one  of  the  lar 
ger  dormitories  for  boys.  This  tank  will  be  used 
in  connection  with  the  sprinkler  system  for  fire 
protection  which  is  to  be  installed  in  the  audito 
rium. 

James  Hall,  the  building  of  which  was  made  pos 
sible  through  the  gift  of  the  late  Mrs.  Willis  D. 
James,  of  New  York,  is  a  modern,  fireproof  dormi 
tory  which  accommodates  about  175  boys.  It  was 
built  by  Hampton  Institute  students. 

Mrs.  John  S.  Kennedy,  of  New  York,  through  a 


514 


• 


OGDEN  HALL— IN  MEMORY  OF  ROBERT  C.  OGDEN 


similar  gift,  will  make  possible  the  building  of  new 
dormitories  for  the  Hampton  girls. 

Clarke  Hall,  a  two-story  brick  building,  which 
is  another  Hampton  Trade  School  product,  was  the 
first  Negro  student  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  in  this 
country. 

Some  250  acres  adjacent  to  "Shellbanks,"  the 
Hampton  Institute  farm,  which  is  some  six  miles 
out  from  Hampton,  have  been  acquired  to  give 
more  Hampton  students  practical  training  in  farm 
ing. 

Hampton  Institute  also  has  a  modern  cold-stor 
age  equipment,  as  well  as  facilities  for  making 
steam,  ice,  and  electricity. 

Hampton  Institute  is,  in  short,  an  industrial  vil 
lage,  and  "an  educational  demonstration  center 
where  three  races  work  out  daily,  with  a  minimum 
of  friction,  the  problems  of  everyday  life." 

General  Armstrong  described  the  aim  of  Hamp 
ton  in  these  striking  words :  "To  train  selected 
youth  who  shall  go  out  and  teach  and  lead  their 
people,  first  by  example  by  getting  lands  and  homes 
— to  teach  respect  for  labor ;  to  replace  stupid  drud 
gery  with  skilled  hands  ;  and  to  these  ends  to  build 
up  an  industrial  system,  for  the  sake  not  only  of 
self-support  and  intelligent  labor,  but  also  for  the 
sake  of  character." 

This  aim  was  not  changed  by  Dr.  Frissell.  It 
was  developed,  however,  with  rare  skill  and  wis 
dom  through  his  remarkable  principalship  of  nearly 
twenty-five  years. 

Hampton  has  always  emphasized  the  importance 
of  'self-sacrifice  and  service.  Dr.  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington,  who  founded  Tuskegee  Institute,  and  Dr. 
Robert  R.  Moton,  who  has  succeeded  Dr.  Washing 
ton  as  principal  of  Tuskegee,  were  both  trained  at 
Hampton  under  General  Armstrong  and  Dodtor 
Frissell. 


Hampton  students  have  been  fitted  for  life.  They 
have  also  been  trained  to  live  fpr  others.  Through 
out  the  South  and  West  especially,  there  are  many 
communities  which  have  been  literally  reconstruc 
ted  through  the  patient,  thoughtful,  and  persistent 
work  of  Hampton  graduates  and  former  students. 

Since  Hampton  Institute  aims  to  train  young 
people  to  earn  an  honest  living  and  help  improve 
the  economic  and  social  conditions  of  their  races, 
the  courses  of  study  combine  industrial  training 
with  academic  work. 

The  regular  courses  are  four  years  in  length,  and 
include  Academic-Normal,  Agricultural,  Business, 
and  Trade  courses  in  any  one  of  the  following  thir 
teen  trades  :  Blacksmithing,  Bricklaying  and  Plas 
tering;  Cabinet  making;  Carpentry;  Machine 
Work;  Painting;  Printing;  Shoemaking ;  Steam- 
fitting  and  Plumbing;  Tailoring;  Tinsmithing;  Up 
holstery  ;  and  Wheelwrighting.  A  two-year,  ad 
vanced  course  in  Teacher-training  is  also  offered. 
Through  the  Hampton  courses  young  men  and 
women  are  trained  to  earn  an  honest  living  by 
practicing  a  useful  vocation. 

Colored  and  Indian  girls  at  Hampton  receive 
thorough  training  in  cooking,  sewing,  laundering 
gardening,  and  methods  of  teaching. 

In  the  Domestic  Science  Work  Class,  for  ex 
ample-,  "the  girls  work  daily  for  twelve  months  in 
the  laundry  and  in  the  boarding  departments  under 
the  supervision  of  experienced  teachers,  and  carry 
on  their  academic  studies  in  the  evening  the  same 
as  the  boys  in  the  Work  Class. 

"The  mental  and  moral  training  that  the  year 
of  combined  work  and  study  gives  makes  it  one  of 
the  most  valuable  years  of  the  course.  The  work 
ing  day  for  the  girl  is  shorter  than  for  the  boy : 
but  a  girl  can  earn  from  $15  to  $18  a  month.  This 


SIS 


CLASS   IN   DOMESTIC   SCIENCE 
HOME  ECONOMIC   DEPARTMENT 

enables  her  to  be  entirely  self-supporting  during 
her  first  year  in  school,  and  to  accumulate  a  bal 
ance  toward  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  second 
year. 

"In  the  Academic-Normal  course  girls  receive 
training  in  Agriculture,  Art,  Bible,  Business  Trans 
actions,  English,  Ge'orgraphy,  History,  Home  Eco 
nomics,  Physical  Training,  Sociology,  and  training 
in  Teaching."  The  object  of  all  Hampton's  work 
is  to  fit  leaders  for  service  to  their  communities. 

Some  interestinng  tributes  have  been  paid  to 
Hampton  and  its  constructive  work. 

President  Wilson  has  said:  "The  people  who  are 
aiding  Hampton  Institute  are  doing  a  really  great 
work  for  their  country." 

Former  President  Taft,  who  is  the  President  of 


the  Hampton  board  of  trustees,  says :  "Hampton 
is  small  compared  with  many  great  universities, 
but  it  is  not  the  size,  it  is  the  type,  it  is  the  method, 
it  is  the  result  in  the  individual,  that  gives  it  today 
the  right  to  be  considered  the  most  important  sin 
gle  institution  of  learning  in  the  country." 

Through  General  Armstrong  and  Doctor  Fris- 
sell,  as  well  as  a  large  company  of  devoted  workers 
and  friends  Hampton  Institute  has  rendered  a 
significant  service  to  the  nation  (1)  by  training 
thousands  of  colored  and  Indian  youth  to  believe  in 
themselves  and  in  their  races ;  (2)  by  teaching  hun 
dreds  of  thousands  of  white  people  to  believe  in 
members  of  the  red  and  black  races  ;  and  (3)  by 
helping  to  reshape  public  opinion,  not  only  in  mat 
ters  of  racial  goodwill,  but  also  jn  matters  of  sound 
educational  policy. 

Dr.  Frissell's  stirring  words  will  live -on  and  on: 
"Out  from  Hampton  there  are  going  every  years 
young  people  who  carry  the  thought  of  service  to 
others — the  thought  which  Christ  brought  into  the 
world  when  He  said,  'Whosoever  will  save  his  life 


RUG   WEAVING 
HOME  ECONOMIC   DEPARTMENT 


PRESS    ROOM    OF    PRINTING   DEPARTMENT 
HAMPTON  TRADE  SCHOOL 

shall  lose  it ;  and  whosoever  will  lose  his  life  for 
My  sake  shall  find  it." 

Dr.  James  E.  Gregg,  formerly  a  Congregational 
minister  of  Pittsfield.  Mass.,  is  the  present  princi 
pal  of  Hampton  Institute.  William  Howard  Taft, 
former  President  of  the  United  States,  who  is  the 
chairman  of  Hampton's  board  of  trustees,  refers  to 
Dr.  George  as  "straight-forward,  effective,  earnest, 
religious,  broad,  and  feeling  the  joy  of  service  and 
full  of  the  greatness  of  the  task  he  has  assumed." 

George  Foster  Peabody,  Hampton's  senior  trus 
tee,  introduced  Dr.  Gregg  to  the  great  Hampton 
family  of  friends,  alumni,  workers,  and  students  in 
these  words : 

"The  new  principal.  Doctor  Gregg,  brings  to  his 
task  the  moral  courage  which  made  General  Arm 
strong  daring  and  the  spiritual  serenity  which 
made  Doctor  Frissell  wise.  The  friends  of  the 
school  look  with  renewed  confidence  and  hope  to 
the  beginning  of  Hampton's  half-century  of  nat 
ional  service  under  the  leadership  of  a  man  so  well 
equipped  as  Doctor  Gregg." 


516 


Sidney  Dillon  Redmond,  A.  iVL,  M.  D. 


OST  striking  and  one  of  the 
most  sensational  examples  of  pro 
fessional  and  financial  success 
in  the  great  State  of  Mississippi, 
or  in  the  whole  of  the  United 
States,  for  that  matter,  is  in  the 
case  of  Dr.  Sidney  Dillon  Redmond,  of  the  capital 
city  of  the  State  of  Mississippi.  It  is  true  that  in 
fortunate  mining  investments  and  in  lucky  specula 
tive  ventures  fabulous  fortunes  have  been  the  re 
ward  of  the  efforts  of  a  few  years  or  a  few  months ; 
but  in  the  ordinary  channels  of  legitimate  business 
and  professional  skill  there  are  indeed  few  men  in 
the  State  or  Nation,  regardless  of  race,  that  have 
as  much  in  a  material  way  to  show  for  their  labors 
as  has  the  successful  physician  and  sterling  busi 
ness  man  whose  name  not  only  graces  this  sketch, 
but  is  a  source  of  inspiration  to  thousands  of  the 
race,  who  are  ambitious  to  give  a  better  account 
of  themselves  in  the  material  walks  of  life. 

Dr.  Redmond  was  born  at  Ebenezer,  in  Holmes 
County,  Miss.,  Oct.  12,  1872.  His  father  having 
died  when  he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  his  mother 
moved  to  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  for  the  purpose  of 
providing  for  her  children  the  advantage  of  a  good 
education.  After  completing  the  graded  school 
courses,  Dr.  Redmond  entered  Rust  University, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1894.  As  an  evidence 
of  the  esteem  in  which  his  scholarship  was  held,  by 
the  powers  of  Rust  University,  he  was  called  to  fill 
the  chair  of  mathematics  in  that  institution,  which 
position  he  held  one  year.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
t.me,  he  was  promoted  to  the  prncipalship  of  Me 
ridian  Academy,  Meridian,  Miss.,  which  school  is 
one  of  the  preparatory  centers  for  Rust  University. 
He  left  here  to  enter  the  Illinois  Medical  College, 
in  1894,  and  graduated  with  honors  in  1897. 

Many  times  during  his  course  at  Illinois  he  was 
hard  pressed  for  funds,  but  he  knew  that  his  peo 
ple  were  suffering  in  many  cases  from  poorly  train 
ed  physicians  and  surgeons  and  he  determined  that 
ho  would  obtain  a  training  that  would  enable  him 
to  give  his  patients  the  benefit  of  every  amount  of 
skill  and  knowledge  it  was  possible  for  him  to  ob 
tain. 

After  his  graduation  in  1897,  he  decided  to  return 
to  his  native  State  to  practice  his  profession.  Car 
rying  this  resolution  into  effect,  he  arrived  in  the 
city  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  November  15.  1897. 


The  only  asset  of  the  doctor  at  this  time  was  a 
splendid  education.  He  passed  with  flying  colors 
the  rigid  examination  of  the  medical  board  of  ex 
aminers  of  the  State  of  Mississippi,  and  it  is  said 
that  the  Board  of  Examiners  gave  him  the  honor 
of  having  passed  the  best  examination  of  the  two 
hundred  and  fifty  (250)  applicants  that  were  pres 
ent  at  that  time,  and  one  of  the  best  in  the  history 
of  the  State,  irrespective  of  race.  After  practi 
cing  his  profession  in  the  city  of  his  choice  for  a 
season,  he  went  to  Boston,  Mass.,  and  pursued  a 
post-graduate  course  in  medicine  at  Harvard  Med 
ical  College.  He  is  one  of  the  best  prepared  phy 
sicians  in  the  medical  profession,  and  his  opinions 
have  the  weght  of  authority  among  his  fellow 
practitioners.  He  is  a  specialist  in  surgery,  with  a 
State- wide  reputation. 

That  the  doctor  is  a  capital  business  man  is  evi 
dent  from  the  various  business  enterprises  with 
which  he  is  connected.  He  owns  stock  in  the  Cap 
ital  Light  and  Power  Company  and  in  a  number  of 
the  banks  of  Jackson,  Miss. 

It  is  believed  by  many  people  who  are  in  position 
to  know,  that  Dr.  Sidney  Dillion  Redmond  is  the 
owner  of  more  city  property  than  any  other  col 
ored  man  in  the  State  of  Mississippi.  However, 
doubtful  this  statement  may  be,  the  writer  is  cer 
tain  of  the  fact  that  the  doctor  is  the  owner  of  more 
than  one  hundred  houses  in  the  city  of  Jackson, 
among  which  are  some  of  the  most  substantial  and 
most  pretentious  buildings  in  the  city.  He  owns 
business  blocks  in  the  center  of  the  city's  business 
section.  In  addition  to  his  residence  property,  he 
owns  a  number  of  stores,  several  three  and  four 
story  offce  buildings  and  a  theater  and  roof  garden 
in  the  heart  of  the  city.  The  doctor  is  the  owner 
of  two  of  the  largest  drug  stores  in  the  city  of 
Jackson,  one  of  them  being  located  on  the  main 
part  of  the  principal  street  in  the  city. 

In  1894,  the  doctor  married  Miss  Ida  Alcorn  Re 
vels,  of  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  the  talented  daugh 
ter  of  ex-United  States  Senator  H.  S.  Revels  of  the 
State  of  Mississippi.  Mrs.  Redmond  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Academic  Department  of  Rus't  University; 
and  taught  for  a  year  as  assistant  to  her  husband 
when  he  was  at  the  head  of  Meridian  Academy. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  the  doctor  and  his 
estimable  wife — Esther  and  Sidney  Dillion.  |  r. 


517 


Hon.  Perry  W.  Howard,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  LL.  B. 


OR  some  reason  thousands  of  the  himself   to   the   study   of   law.     Three    months    of 

foremost  men  of  the  nation  have  each  year  were  spent  at  the  Illinois  College  of  Law, 

taken  great  pride  in  calling  to  the  Chicago,   111.     He  graduated  from   this   law   school 

attention    of    the    world    the    fact  in  the  year  of  1905,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.     He 


aM^SHH    that    they    have    rejoiced    because  resjRned  the  chair  of  mathematics  in  Alcorn  Col- 

ESEgSagl    their    infant    mouths    missed    the  ,egc<  ,)egan  the  practice  of  )aw  in  jackson,   Miss. 

proverbial  golden  spoon  that,  figuratively  speaking,  He  demonstrated  his  fitness  for  the  practice  of  his 

plays  such  a  prominent  part  in  the  lives  of  those  profession  by  runnillR  the  gauntlet  of  examination 

who  are  born  to  the  purple;  but  there  is  one  dis-  ))y  the  members  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Mississ. 
tinguished    man    in    the    State    of    Mississippi    that 
brings  to  his   rescue  no  plea  of  poverty  by  birth, 

but  who,  on  the  contrary,  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  ^ 
the  circumstances  of  his  parents  were  such  as  en- 


abanduning  the  pr(^ession  of  teaching  for  that 
carrying  out  the  plan  of  life> 
adopted  by  hjm  when  he  first  entered  coiiege,  and 


abled   them   to   look   well   to   the   interest   of   their  adhered  to  throughout 

children  from  every  standpoint  involving  their  wel-  He  wag  &  teacher  of  the  highest  quaiincatjon  and 

fare.     This  exceptional  man    is    none    other    than  that  breadth  and  depth  of  mind  that  enabled  him  to 

Honorable  Perry  W.  Howard,  the  able  and  eminent  take  such 

barrister  of  Jackson,  Miss. 

Like  his  fellow  citizens,  that  eminent  physician,  magnitude  in  the  legal  prufessjon.  He  is  one  of  the 

surgeon  and  financier,  S.  D.  Redmond,  Mr.  Howard  leading  poHticai  OI-ators  of  the  State,  and  an  effect- 

s  born  at  Ebenezer,  Holmes  County,  Miss.     He  iye  man  Qn  the  hustlings  in  any  capacity.     He  did 


rank  m  the  teachelV  profession 
]lave  enabled  him  to  take  a  rank  of  even  greater 


was 


first  saw  the  light  of  day  June  14,  1878.     His  father  yeoman's   service    for   his   country   in   this    respect 

was  a  successful  blacksmith  in  comfortable  circum-  during  the  world>s  war 

stances,  who  believed   in  using  his   means  for   the          Mf    Howard  is  as   successful   in   busjness   as   he 

education    of    his    children.     After    completing    his  ig  jn  the  practice  of  law      He  ig  a  large  stock  hold. 

preliminary  studies  in  the  public  schools  of  Holmes  er  jn   m&ny  u{  the  conimercial   enterprises   of   the 


County,   Mr.  Howard  entered  Alcorn  A.   &  M.,   in  cjty  of  jackson 

1891.  In  1893,  he  transferred  his  allegiance  to  Rust  He  married   Miss   Wjiheimina   Lucas,  of  Macon, 

University,   of    Holly    Springs,    Miss.,    from    which  Miss.;  m  19Q~     Her  nl()ther;  who  wag  a  Miss  Ro])_ 

place  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  -^^^  wag  the  first   female  graduate  of  Fisk   Uni_ 

Arts,  in  1899.  versity,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  a  member  of  the 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  from  Rust  Urn-  original  Fisk  jubjiet,  singers  for  five  years.     Mrs. 

versity  he  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  Camp-  Howard  is  a  graduate  of  Fisk  University,  and  had 

bell  College,  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  one  of  the  leading  much   experience  in   the   teachers'  profession.     She 

colleges   of   Central   Mississippi,   and   he   served   at  was  once  a  teacher  jn   thc  iiteral-y  department   of 

the  head  of  this  institution  until  the  conclusion  of  Tuskegee   Nonnai    lnstjtute,    and   at    another    time 

the  school  session  in  the  year  of  1900.     In  the  same  she  wag  a  teacner  ;n  tne  miisic  department  of  Al- 

year,  while  serving  as  President  of  Campbell  Col-  corn  A   &  M    College. 

lege,   it   was  the  pleasure   of   the   trustees   of   that  Lawyer  Howard  is  peculiarly  adapted  by  temper- 

well-known  Institution  of  learning  to  confer  upon  ament  for  success  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

the  distinguished  subject  of  this  sketch  the  honor-  He  has  had  the  literary  training;   he  has  had  the 

ary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  as  an  humble  testi-  legal  training,  and  he  has  undying  confidence  in  his 

monial    to   his    ability.     From     the     Presidency     of  ability  to  look  well  after  the  interests  of  his  client, 

Campbell  College  he  was  elected  to  fill  the  chair  of  and  confidence  under  such  conditions  is  nine  points 

mathematics   in   Alcorn   A.    &    M.   College,   and   he  in  his  favor.      His  gentlemanly  bearing  and  unfail- 

served  in  that  capacity  for  five  years,  or  until  the  ing  courtesy  have  won  for  him  the  friendship  and 

year  of  1905.     While  occupying  the  chair  of  math-  respect  of  both  the  white  and  colored  members  of 

atics  in  Alcorn   University  he  diligently  applied  the  State  bar  of  Mississippi. 

518 


em 


Louis  K.  Atwood,  A.  B. 


OME  score  of  years  ago,  some 
body  asked  if  it  was  Booker  T. 
Washington  who  discovered  Mis 
sissippi.  Since  the  wizard  of  Tus- 
kegee  is  blamed  and  credited  with 
so  many  feats  it  would  not  be 
altogether  inappropriate  to  credit  him  with  the 
Right  discovery  of  Mississippi.  To  be  sure  every- 


D 


eficent  organizations  soliciting  the  patronage  of 
the  public.  It  has  come  before  the  people  of  Mis 
sissippi  for  recognition  and  support  solely  on  its 
merits.  It  is  founded  on  Gibraltar  like  business 
principles.  While  its  ritualistic  work  is  sublime, 
the  fact  must  not  be  overlooked  that  this  fraternity 
is  first  of  all,  a  high  class  business  organization. 


was  not  known  until   recent  years.     Then  it   was 
found  on  the  farms,  in  the  delta  lands,  in  the  vil- 


of  the  State  of  Mississippi.  Finding  a  success  in 
the  order  and  in  politics,  Mr.  Atwood  turned  his 
attention  to  banking.  In  the  year  1904  he  organ 
ized  at  Jackson,  the  American  Trust  and  Savings 
Bank.  Its  first  dividend  paid  27  per  cent.  Two 
years  later  he  resigned  his  place  with  the  Ameri 
can  Trust  and  Savings  Bank  and  organized  the 


body  knew  that  the  land  of  Private  John  Allen  and  While  the  primary  object  of  any  fraternal  organ- 
Jefferson  Davis  was  there,  but  the  real  resource-  ization  is  the  promoting  of  the  moral,  physical,  in- 
ful  Mississippi  and  especially  Negro  Mississippi  tellectual  and  material  welfare  of  its  members, 

Mr.  Atwood  knows  this  can  be  done  only  by  com 
bining  correct  business  principals  with  proper 
lages,  in  the  small  towns  and  in  a  few  large  towns  mental  and  moral  training  and  this  accounts  for 
there  were  Negroes  of  considerable  wealth.  his  success  with  the  Jacobs. 

To  be  a  peer  with  a  financier  of  Mississippi  is  Mr.  Atwood  is  Editor  of  the  Jacobs  Watchman  as 
no  mean  post.  Such  is  the  good  fortune  of  L.  K.  well  as  master  of  the  order.  Through  this  paper  he 
Atwood  of  Jackson,  Mississippi.  Mr.  Atwood  was  reaches  and  knows  many  people  both  in  and  out 
born  in  Alabama.  He  completed  the  work  in  ele 
mentary  education  in  his  native  state.  He  then 
went  to  Lincoln  University  in  Pennsylvania, 
whence  he  was  graduated  in  1874  with  the  honors 
of  his  class.  For  some  years  after  graduation  he 
taught  school  in  Hinds  County,  Mississippi. 

Showing  greater  freedom  and  aspiring  to  man 
age  larger  finances,  Mr.  Atwood  engaged  in  the  Southern  Bank,  of  which  he  is  president, 
mercantile  business.  In  the  mean  time  he  also 
read  law  and  in  1879  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
Mississippi.  In  this  year  and  in  1883  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Mississippi  Legislature.  In  both 
years  Mr.  Atwood  goes  down  in  history  as  the  can 
didate  who  won  the  best  vote  ever  polled  for  a 
representative  in  Hinds  County.  His  most  dis 
tinctive  work  in  the  Mississippi  Legislature  was 
that  of  securing  liberal  appropriation  for  Alcorn 
College.  In  1899  Mr.  Atwood  was  made  Deputy 
United  States  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for 
the  States  of  Mississippi  and  Louisiana.  In  busi 
ness  and  in  a  number  of  the  secret  organizations 
Mr.  Atwood  is  a  man  of  great  power  and  far- 
reaching  influence. 

Probably  no  one  Negro  in  the  State  of  Missis 
sippi  can  state  with  greater  pride  his  regard  for 
benevolent  society  work  than  Mr.  Atwood.  In  the 
year  1884  he  joined  the  Order  of  Jacobs.  Under  his 
leadership,  for  he  was  master  of  the  order,  this 
body  has  paid  out  more  than  $410,000  in  benefits 
to  the  Negroes  in  the  State  of  Mississippi. 

This  powerful  fraternity  is  one  of  the  most  ben- 


There  is  not  a  man  in  the  State  of  Mississippi 
that  is  more  widely  and  more  favorably  known 
than  Mr.  Atwood.  He  conducts  all  of  his  business 
on  a  safe  and  sane  basis  and  his  pronounced  suc 
cess  in  this  particular  should  be  an  inspiration  to 
others.  In  his  relation  to  his  many  employes  he 
accords  them  every  courtesy.  He  has  not  resorted 
to  domineering  methods  to  get  the  required 
work  out  of  the  men  in  his  employment,  but 
has  ever  been  just  and  considerate  and  gets  the 
maximum  of  service  and  loyalty  from  his  em 
ployees.  As  measured  by  his  achievements,  he  is  a 
highly  successful  man.  He  is  an  organizer  and  a 
worker  and  has  the  power  of  initiative  so  essen 
tial  for  the  success  of  any  leader.  He  has  the 
ability  to  carry  on  to  a  successful  conclusion,  a 
great  many  different  enterprises  at  one  time.  He 
is  a  convincing  conversationalist  and  a  forceful 
orator.  He  is  well  poised  and  never  loses  his  dig'- 
nity. 

He  is  widely  known  both  in  Mississippi  and  in 
Negro  business  circles  as  a  successful  banker, 
astute  lawyer,  and  able  financier. 


519 


IRVINE   GARLAND    PKNN,   A.    M.,   LITT.    D. 


RVINK  Garland  Penn  was  born  at 
New  Glasgow,  Virginia,  October 
7,  1867,  and  is  52  years  of  age. 
His  present  place  of  residence  is 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  His  parents. 
Isham  and  Maria  Penn,  moved  to 
Lynchburg,  Virginia,  when  he 
was  five  years  of  age  to  give  their 
children  the  advantage  of  city  educational  facili 
ties.  He  graduated  from  the  elementary  and  High 
School  of  Lynchburg  and  received  his  college  train 
ing  under  private  tutorage  and  was  given  the  de 
gree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  Rust  College.  Later 
the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Literature  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  Wiley  College. 

He  is  the  oldest  of  five  children.  He  had  there 
fore  to  get  an  early  training  in  life  that  he  might 
help  his  parents  educate  his  brothers  and  sisters. 
His  father  never  earned  more  than  $30.00  per 
month  and  for  years  received  only  $25.00  as  his 
wage. 

He  began  therefore  to  teach  in  the  public  schools 
cif  Virginia  at  18,  was  editor  of  a  newspaper  at  19 
and  principal  of  the  public  schools  in  Lynchburg, 
Virginia,  at  20.  continuing  until  he  resigned  in 
1895  to  accept  the  National  Commissionership  of 
Negro  Exhibits  at  the  Cotton  States  and  Interna 
tional  Exposition. 

He  has  been  a  general  officer  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  23  years.  He  has  also  been 


a  member  of  the  General  Conference  of  the  Meth 
odist  Episcopal  Church  which  is  the  highest  law 
making  body  of  the  church,  for  28  years  in  contin 
uous  service.  He  has  held  four  important  salaried 
positions  in  34  years  of  public  life,  always  resign 
ing  the  one  to  accept  another,  namely,  principal  in 
the  public  schools  in  Virginia,  for  10  years.  Nat 
ional  Commissioner  Negro  Exhibits  Cotton  States 
and  International  Exposition,  Atlanta,  Georgia, 
one  year  1895,  General  Secretary  for  colored  peo 
ple  of  the  Epworth  League  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church  residing  in  Atlanta,  Georgia,  16  years 
and  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Freedmen's 
Aid  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  re 
siding  in  Cincinnati  7  years. 

He  has  traveled  extensively  for  23  years 
throughout  the  United  States  as  a  general  officer 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

He  married  December  26,  1889,  in  Lynchburg, 
Virginia,  Miss  Anna  Belle  Rhodes,  a  teacher  in  the 
city  schools  of  Lynchburg  and  a  classical  graduate 
of  Shaw  University,  Raleigh,  N.  C.  He  has  been 
married  30  years  and  has  seven  children  and  three 
grandchildren.  The  names  of  these  children  are 
Mrs.  Wilhelmina  Franklin,  Cincinnati  ;Rev.  I.  Gar 
land  Penn,  Jr.,  Maysville,  Kentucky;  Mrs.  Georgia 
S.  Williams,  Little  Rock,  and  Misses  Elizabeth. 
Louise,  Marie  and  Anna  B.  Penn. 

When  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  as  National  Commis 
sioner  of  the  Cotton  States  and  International  Ex 
position  in  1895,  he  received  a  gold  medal  of  first 
award  for  the  excellence  of  the  Negro  Exhibit.  He 
is  credited  with  having  given  Dr.  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington  and  Tuskegee  its  new  impetus  because  he 
selected  Dr.  Washington  to  make  the  famous  ad 
dress  which  was  conceded  to  be  the  turning  point 
in  the  life  of  that  great  man. 

His  career  in  literary  life  has  been  that  of  the 
author  of  the  Afro-American  Press,  a  book  of  600 
pages  and  the  only  authoritative  history  of  Negro 
journalism  and  its  relationship  to  the  abolition  of 
slavery.  He  is  also  co-author  with  Dr.  Northrup 
in  the  preparation  and  publication  of  The  College 
of  Life  or  Self  Educator  and  with  Dr.  J.  W.  E. 
Bowen  in  the  publication  of  the  United  Negro.  He 
was  the  originator  of  the  Congress  of  Christian 
Workers  and  Educators  known  as  the  Young  Peo 
ples'  Christian  and  Educational  Congress  which 
met  in  Atlanta  in  1902  and  in  Washington  in  1906. 
These  meetings  have  been  since  duplicated  in  vari 
ous  churches  throughout  the  United  States  and 
furnished  greater  stimulus  to  religious  and  educa 
tional  work  among  Negro  people  than  any  other 
meetings  ever  held.  The  meeting  at  Atlanta  was 
attended  by  10,000  of  the  most  representative  peo 
ple  of  the  Negro  race  and  has  the  record  of  being 
the  largest  attended  meeting  ever  held  before  the 
since  of  the  Negro  race. 

Secretary  Penn  participated  in  the  Centenary  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  the  Freedmen's 
Aid  representative  by  appointment  of  his  Board. 
He  helped  in  the  raising  of  the  112  millions  for 
education  and  missions.  This  Centenary  is  to  ben 
efit  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  in  contributing  to 
the  endowment  and  building  program  of  the 
schools. 


520 


SAMUEL   N.   VASS,   D.   D. 

R.  Vass,  son  of  Major  W.  W.  and 
Annie  Victoria  (Mitchell)  Vass, 
was  born  in  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  May 
22,  1866,  and  educated  in  St.  Aug- 
ustine  School  and  Shaw  Univer 
sity,  located  in  his  native  city.  At 
fourteen  years  of  age.  being  poor,  he  began  teach 
ing  school  in  the  country  during  vacation  and  also 
for  two  months  during  the  school  session,  but  he 
kept  up  with  his  studies.  Graduating  from  St. 
Augustine  School  at  seventeen,  he  was  elected 
Vice-Principal  of  one  of  the  public  schools  in  Ral 
eigh,  was  called  to  teach  at  Shaw  University.  He 
began  at  the  bottom,  but  was  promoted  gradually 
until  he  was  the  Dean  of  the  college  department. 
He  resigned  at  Shaw  in  1893,  to  become  Sunday 
School  Missionary  of  the  American  Baptist  Publi 
cation  Society  for  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  the  1)  : 
trict  of  Columbia.  After  serving  as  Missionary  for 
about  three  years,  he  was  made  the  District  Sec 
retary  for  the  Southern  States,  with  headquarters 
at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

About  this  time  many  leaders  of  the  colored 
race  inclined  to  a  policy  of  entire  separation  from 
their  white  friends  in  all  denominational  work,  and 


the  Teat  National  Baptist  Convention  itself  lent 
its  influence  for  a  while  in  this  direction,  and  great 
race  bitterness  was  developed,  and  bitter  dissen 
sions  among  the  Negro  Baptist  leaders.  Dr.  Vass 
was  the  central  figure  in  this  controversy,  which 
lasted  a  decade,  his  position  being  that  the  time  had 
not  arrived  for  Negroes  to  part  with  their  white 
friends  in  denominational  work,  and  he  advocated 
cooperation  as  the  proper  policy  of  the  race  and 
denomination. 

Today,  co-operation  is  the  watchword  of  the  en 
tire  Negro  Baptist  family.  Negro  Baptist  consti 
tute  so  large  a  percentage  of  the  Negro  race  thai 
the  policy  of  the  Baptists  largely  dominated  the 
policy  of  the  race,  with  the  result  that  Dr.  Vass  be 
gan  to  assume  national  importance  and  is  today 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the  race. 

During  the  sixteen  years  he  has  been  continuous 
ly  in  the  service  of  the  Publication  Society,  he  has 
been  twice  offered  the  presidency  of  one  institution 
of  learning,  and  was  recently  elected  to  take  charge 
of  another  school,  at  Augusta,  Ga.  He  has  also 
been  urged  to  assume  the  pastorate,  but  he  has 
preferred  the  field  work  on  account  of  the  great 
possibilities  of  reaching  the  largest  number  for 
good. 

The  Publication  Society  has  promoted  Dr.  Vass 
to  become  its  Superintendent  for  Colored  Work  for 
the  entire  United  States.  He  supervises  the  field 
work  of  colored  missionaries  and  suggests  to  them 
the  best  methods  of  doing  the  field  work,  and  from 
time  to  time  calls  them  all  together  into  a  school  of 
methods. 

Dr.  Vass  has  made  a  specialty  of  normal  work, 
and  he  restricts  his  normal  work  to  its  applica 
tion  to  Bible  study  and  teaching.  He  illustrates 
his  method  of  actually  imparting  Bible  knowledge 
at  the  same  time  he  teaches  method.  In  fact,  he 
pays  as  much  attention  to  teaching  the  Bible  as  he 
does  to  imparting  method,  and  he  often  gathers 
ministers  and  other  workers  in  conference  at  strat 
egic  points  for  the  special  study  of  the  Bible.  A 
recent  conference  at  Shreveport,  La.,  had  an  at 
tendance  of  more  than  a  hundred  preachers. 

He  is  often  invited  to  do  this  normal  Bible  work- 
before  state  conventions.  There  is  very  close  co 
operation  between  the  work  of  Dr.  Vass  and  that 
of  the  National  Baptist  Convention,  and  he  holds 
joint  meetings  with  National  Convention  workers 
on  the  field  and  occupies  an  important  and  influen 
tial  place  among  the  leaders  of  that  body  today. 
Dr.  Vass  enjoys  the  highest  confidence  of  the  great 
society  under  which  he  works. 

He  has  a  national  reputation  as  an  author  and  his 
works  are  widely  read. 

Dr.  Vass  married  Mary  Eliza  Haywood.  of  Ral 
eigh,  N.  C.,  June  1885.  They  have  two  children, 
Maud  Lillian,  (Mrs.  N.  F.  Bass),  and  Dr.  K.  S.  Vass. 

521 


Richard  Robert  Wright,  Jr.,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  B.  D.,  Ph.  D. 


ICHARD  Robert  Wright,  Jr.,  is 
the  son  of  Major  R.  R.  and 
Mrs.  Lydia  Elizabeth  Howard; 
Wright.  His  father  has  been  for 
twenty-five  years  the  president 
of  the  Georgia  State  Industrial 
College,  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  was  major  and  pay 
master  of  the  United  States  Volunteers  in  the 
Spanish-American  war.  He  was  born  April  16, 
1878,  at  Cuthbert,  Ga.  He  is  a  member  of  a  fam 
ily  of  nine  children.  Entered  school  at  the  age  of 
six  years,  and  attended  school  about  eighteen  years 
in  all,  attending  the  graded  schools  of  Augusta, 
Ga. ;  Haines  Institute,  Augusta,  Ga. ;  Georgia  State 
College,  University  of  Chicago  and  University  of 
Pennsylvania.  Graduated  from  the  normal  depart 
ment  of  the  Georgia  State  College  in  1895,  receiv 
ing  gold  medal  for  scholarship.  He  received  A.  B. 
degree  from  Georgia  State  College,  1898;  A.  M., 
Georgia  State  College,  1901  ;  B.  D.,  from  the  Uni 
versity  of  Chicago,  1901 ;  A.  M.,  from  the  Universi 
ty  of  Chicago,  1904;  Ph.  D.,  from  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  1911.  He  was  Research  Fellow  in  So 
ciology,  1905-6.  and  Special  University  Fellow  in 
Sociology  at  University  of  Pennsylvania,  1906-8. 
During  1903-1904  he  studied  in  the  University  of 
Berlin,  Germany ;  in  1904  he  was  a  student  at  the 
University  of  Liepzig,  Germany.  He  refused  to  ac 
cept  the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Wilber- 
force  University,  in  1914,  because  of  the  convic 
tion  that  no  man  under  forty  years  of  age  should 
receive  an  honorary  degree.  He  was  converted 
February,  1891,  and  joined  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  Church, 
Augusta,  Ga.  He  has  been  an  exhorter,  local 
preacher,  Sunday  school  teacher,  secretary  and  as 
sistant  superintendent  of  Sunday  schools,  and  pres 
ident  of  Allen  Christian  Endeavor.  Licensed  to  ex 
hort  by  Rev.  S.  D.  Roseborough,  in  1898,  and  li 
censed  to  preach  in  1899  at  St.  Phillip's,  Savannah. 
Ga.,  by  Rev.  T.  N.  M  Smith  ;  joined  the  Iowa  An 
nual  Conference  under  Bishop  Arnett,  September, 
1899,  at  Bethel  Church,  Chicago,  Rev.  R.  C.  Ran 
som,  pastor ;  ordained  deacon,  September,  1900,  at 
Minneapolis,  Minn.,  by  Bishop  Grant ;  ordained  el 
der  September,  1901,  at  St.  Stephen's,  Chicago,  by 
Bishop  Grant.  Dr.  Wright  has  held  the  following 
appointments:  Assistant  pastor  of  the  Institu 
tional  Church,  Chicago,  1900-01  ;  instructor  of 
Hebrew  and  New  Testament  Greek  in  Payne  The 
ological  Seminary,  1901-1903  ;  on  leave  of  absence 
to  study  in  Germany,  1903-1904;  Elgin,  111.,  1904; 
Trinity,  Chicago,  1904-1905 ;  in  University  of  Penn 
sylvania,  1905-1908;  Conshohockon,  Penn.,  1908; 
editor  Christian  Recorder  since  1909.  He  was  a 


member  of  the  general  conference  of  1912,  and 
business  manager  of  the  Book  Concern,  as  well  a: 
editor  from  February,  1909  to  1912,  succeeding  L 
H.  T.  Johnson  editor  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Collett,  man 
ager,  both  deceased.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Ecumenical  Conference,  Toronto,  Canada,  1911 ; 
was  elected  editor  of  Christian  Recorder  in  1912 
and  re-elected  without  opposition  in  1916.  Mar 
ried  Miss  Charlotte  Crogman,  daughter  of  Dr.  W. 
H.  Crogman,  then  president  of  Clark  University,  at 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  1909.  They  have  three  children — 
Ruth,  5  years;  Richard  R.,  Ill,  3  years;  Alberta, 
1  year.  In  July,  1911,  when  the  Book  Concern  was 
to  be  sold  by  the  sheriff  for  a  $5000  judgment,  Dr. 
Wright  prevented  the  sale  by  purchasing  the  judg 
ment  for  $1900  of  his  own  funds.  In  1916  he  pur 
chased  a  permanent  church  home  for  St.  John's 
Mission,  Philadelphia,  for  more  than  $2000  cash. 

Dr.  Wright  was  elected  instructor  of  sociology 
in  Howard  University,  at  $1500  per  year,  but  de 
clined.  He  is  the  founder  and  president  of  Eighth 
Ward  Settlement  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
member  of  board  of  managers  of  Association  for 
Protection  of  Colored  Women,  Spring  Street  So 
cial  Settlement,  member  board  of  direction  of 
Work  for  Colored  Churches,  of  Federal  Council  of 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America,  Abolition  Society, 
Mercy  Hospital,  member  American  Academy  of 
Political  and  Social  Science,  Sigma  Pi  Phi,  Alpha 
Boule,  American  Negro  Academy.  Author  of 
"Negro  in  Pennsylvania,  "Teaching  of  Jesus," 
"The  Negro  Problem,"  and  numerous  pamph 
lets,  magazine  articles.  His  sociological  studies 
have  been  published  by  United  States  Bureau  of 
Labor,  Pennsylvania  Bureau  of  Industrial  Statis 
tics,  Pittsburgh  Survey,  Annals  of  American  Acad 
emy  of  Political  and  Social  Science,  Southern 
Workman,  Star  Center,  Inter-Municipal  Review, 
publications  of  the  Southern  Sociological  So 
ciety.  He  has  lectured  at  Howard  University, 
Wilberforce,  Georgia  State  College,  Morris  Brown 
University,  Allen  University,  Campbell  College,  A. 
and  M.  College  (Mississippi),  Lincoln  Institute 
(Missouri),  A.  and  T.  College  (Greensboro,  N.  C.), 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  Institute  for  Col 
ored  youths,  and  numerous  educational  institutions. 

The  above  sketch  reproduced  from  the  "Ency 
clopedia  of  African  Methodism"  gives  some  idea  ot 
the  preparation  of  the  guiding  spirit  in  that  tre 
mendous  undertaking  and  accounts  for  the  high 
character  of  the  contents.  The  Encyclopedia  of 
African  Methodism  was  compiled  by  Dr.  Wright  in 
1916,  assisted  by  John  R.  Hawkins. 


522 


Toussaint  L'Overture 


OUSSAINT  L'Overture  is  regard 
ed  by  historians  and  the  thinking 
world  as  one  of  the  best  instances 


In  1796  he  was  made  Commander-in-chief  of  the 
French  forces  on  the  Island.  The  next  year  he 
caused  the  surrender  of  the  English  who  were  at 


reasonable   and   modest.     In   public   he   assumed   a 
good  bit  of  pomp  in  order  to  inspire  his  followers. 


of  what  a  pure  blooded  Negro  can  that  time  invading   Hayti.     In  a  quarrel   with  the 

make  of  himself  even  under  try-  French    Commissioner    Hedoville,    Toussaint    sent 

mo    conditions.      He    was    born    a  him  home.     By  1801,  he  had  put  down  all  foes  and 

slave  near  Cape  Francais  in  the  Island  of  Hayti,  in  had  the  island  under  complete  subjection. 
1743.  His  father  and  mother  were  African  slaves.  From  now  on  he  was  the  dictator  on  the  island, 
His  particular  work  on  the  farm  was  that  of  coach-  however  he  ruled  with  moderation  and  justice  to 
man,  and  afterwards  assistant  to  the  overseer  on  wards  all  classes.  Under  his  dictatorship,  both 
his  master's  sugar  plantation.  In  contact  with  the  Hayti  and  Santo  Domingo  reached  great  heights 
overseer  and  his  master  in  these  two  capacities,  he  of  prosperjty.  jt  ;s  probable  also  that  in  no  pe- 
gained  some  education  which  as  all  the  world  riodg  of  these  hag  there  been  guch  uniform  £ 
knows  he  used  to  great  advantage  for  his  fellow  Jn  hjs 
countrymen.  As  is  well  known,  the  French  Revo 
lution  broke  out  in  1789.  The  islands  of  Hayti  and 
Santo  Domingo  being  among  the  chief  if  not  the 

chief  possessions  of  the  French  Government  quick-  H,s  t,  le  was     Life  President, 

ly  imbibed  the  spirit  of  Revolution.     Negroes  had  A*    M,    however,    the    French    Commander    Le- 

been  imported  upon  these  islands  from  every  sec-  clerc  promised  the  whole  island  absolute  freedom, 

tion  of  the  world.     So  numerous  had  they  become  He  thus  won  to  him  the  Negro  chieftain.  Toussaint 

that  they  out-numbered  the  whites  about  17  to  1.  was    treacherously   seized    and    sent    to    France    to 

The  population  of  Hayti  in   1700  numbered  about  die  in  a  dungeon. 

500,000.  Of  these  38,300  were  Europeans,  23,370  The  climax  of  Wendell  Phillips'  speech  in  corn- 
were  free  mulattoes.  Caught  in  the  whirl  of  the  paring  Toussaint  L'Overture  with  other  great  gen- 
Kevolutionary  spirit,  the  Negroes  started  a  revolu-  erals  of  the  world  should  be  known  by  every  Ne- 
tion.  gro.  Phillips  says:  "Hayti  from  the  ruins  of  her 
']  he  European  Governments  saw  to  it  that  even  colonial  dependence,  is  become  a  civilized  State, 
the  mulattoes  had  little  freedom,  though  the  latter  the  seventh  Nation  in  the  catalogue  of  commerce 
were  wealthy  and  intelligent  as  a  class.  In  May,  with  this  country,  inferior  in  morals  and  education 
1791,  the  French  General  Assembly  gave  to  the  free  to  none  of  the  West  indjan  lsles.  Foreign  mer- 
Negro  rights  of  citizenship.  These  rights,  however,  chants  trust  her  goods  as  willingly  as  they  do  our 
the  Colonial  planters  were  inclined  to  suppress.  In  Qwn  Thug  far  ghe  has  fojled  the  a,nbition  of 
August  of  the  same  year  the  slaves  began  their  in-  Spain>  thg  greed  Q{  England  and  the  malicious 
surrection.  Ihe  mulattoes  and  whites  dropped  their  statesmanship  of  Leclerc.  Toussaint  made  her 
quarrels  and  turned  their  attention  to  the  Revolu-  what  ghe  jg  Jn  ^  wQrk  ^^  ^^  ^^  g  e(, 
tion.  '1  he  mulattoes  joined  forces  with  the  slaves.  around  hjm  &  scQre  Q{  mgn  ^  (>{ 


It   was  in  this  uprising  that  Toussamt  L'Ovei  b,ood   who  ably   secon(Jed   hjs   efforts_     They 


won  distinction. 


able  in  war  and  skilful  in  civil  affairs,  but  not  like 


In  the  second  battle  in  1792,  Toussaint  joined  hjm  remarkable  for  that  rare  mingling  of  high 
with  the  Spaniards  and  succeeded  in  routing  the  quaities  whch  alone  makes  true  greatness  and  en- 
French,  'ihe  next  year  the  French  Commissioners  sues  a  man  ieadersri{p  among  those  otherwise  al- 
proclaimed  universal  freedom.  Ihis  won  the  Ne-  most  hjs  equals.  Toussaint  was  indisputably  their 
gro  to  the  colours  of  the  French  Republic.  At  this  cnief.  Courage,  purpose,  endurance— these  are  the 
time  the  English  were  beseiging  Port  Au  Prince.  tests  He  did  plant  a  state  so  deep  that  all  the 
Toussaint  rushed  to  the  aid  of  the  French  and  sue-  world  has  not  been  able  to  root  it  up. 
ceeded  in  repelling  the  English.  The  French  Gen-  i  would  call  him  Napoleon,  but  Napoleon  made 
eral  who  was  defending  Port  Au  Prince  was  named  m's  wav  to  empjre  over  broken  oaths  and  through 


Laveaux.     It  is  from  Laveaux,  so  history  records, 
that   Toussaint  gained   his   surname    L'Overture. 

Laveaux  is  said  to  have  exclaimed:  "Mais  set 
homme  fait  ouverture  patout."  After  this  L'Over 
ture  was  made  a  general  of  the  division  and  fought 
bravely  against  the  Spaniards. 


a  sea  of  blood.  This  man  never  broke  his  word : 
"No  retaliation,"  was  his  great  motto  and  the  rule 
of  his  life;  and  the  last  words  uttered  to  his  son  in 
France  were  these:  "My  boy,  you  will  some  day  go 
back  to  Santo  Domingo;  forget  that  France  mur 
dered  your  father." 


523 


Hon.  Edward  Wilmont  Blyden,  LL.  D. 


ITHOUT  doubt,  the  Hon.  E.  W. 
Blyden  was  the  most  learned  man 
of  the  race,  especially  in  the  lan 
guages,  and  as  such,  was  acknow 
ledged  a  man  of  a  most  gigantic 

intellect    and    acquisitive    powers. 

He  was  born  in  St.  Thomas,  one  of  the  Danish 
West  Indies,  August  3,  1832,  hut  lived  in  the  Un 
ited  States  for  some  time  during  his  youth.  From 
this  country,  accompanied  by  his  brother,  he  went 
to  Liberia,  landing  January  26,  1851.  At  this  time 
he  was  about  nineteen  years  old.  He  was  educated 
at  Alexander  High  School,  of  which  he  became 
principal.  This  school  was  situated  up  the  river 
St.  Paul,  about  twenty  miles  from  Monrovia.  He 
has  held  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust  under 
the  Liberian  Government.  He  has  been  tv/ice  the 
Secretary  of  State  of  Liberia,  and  secretary  of  the 
interior  once.  For  eight  years  he  was  minister 
plenipotentiary  and  envoy  extraordinary  to  the 
Court  of  St.  James.  He  was  candidate  and  nom 
inee  of  the  Liberia  Republican  Party,  for  the  Pres 
idency,  in  1884,  but  was  defeated  by  H.  R.  W.  John 
son,  who  was  for  years  President  of  Liberia. 

Dr.  Blyden  was  a  distinguished  linguist  and  or 
iental  scholar  ,and  a  prolific  magazine  writer,  and 
had  a  wonderful  knowledge  of  the  Arabic  language, 
having  been  professor  of  this  language  at  one 
time.  The  following  notice  appeared  in  the  Lon 
don  Official  Gazette  and  is  here  quoted  by  way  of 
information: 

"The    Liberian    Minister   To   The    Court    of    St. 

James." 

"Osborne,  August  3.— This  day  had  audience  of 
Her  Majesty,  Edward  Wilmont  Blyden,  esq.,  Min 
ister  Plenipotentiary  from  the  Republic  of  Liberia, 
to  deliver  new  credentials,  to  which  audience  he 
was  introduced  by  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury,  K. 
G.,  Her  Majesty's  principal  Secretary  of  State  for 
Foreign  affairs. 

Dr.  Blyden  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first  Ne 
gro  Plenipotentiary  of  the  First  Christian  Negro 
State  in  Africa  ever  received  at  a  court  in  Europe. 

In  1866,  he  visited  Palestine  and  Egypt,  and  af 
terwards  published  an  account  of  his  travels  in  a 
volume,  entitled  "From  West  Africa  to  Palestine." 
In  1871,  he  resigned  his  professorship  in  the  col 
lege  and  traveled  in  England.  On  his  return  to 
Africa  he  accepted  the  appointment  from  Governor 


Kennedy  of  Sierra  Leone,  of  envoy  to  the  pagan 
King  of  the  Soolima  Country.  His  report  on  that 
expedition  was  printed  by  the  government  and  pub 
lished  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Royal  Geographical 
Society. 

In  1873,  he  was  sent  by  Governor  J.  Pope  Hen- 
nessy  on  another  mission  to  a  Mohammedan  chief, 
three  hundred  miles  northeast  of  Sierra  Leone.  In 
1874.  he  was  authorized  to  re-open  the  Alexander 
High  School,  on  the  St.  Paul  River,  which  is  now 
in  charge  of  an  assistant.  In  1877,  he  was  appoint 
ed  by  President  Payne,  minister  to  England,  and 
President  Gardner  has  continued  the  appointment. 

Dr.  Blyden  has  contributed  several  articles  to  the 
Methodist  Quarterly  Review  in  New  York,  and 
Eraser's  Magazine  in  England.  His  local  paper 
on  "Africa  and  the  Africans"  has  appeared  in  Fras- 
er  for  August,  1878. 

Dr.  Blyden  has  been  chosen  an  honorary  member 
of  the  Atheneutn  Club,  one  of  the  most  aristocratic 
and  exclusive  clubs  of  London.  On  the  committee 
who  elected  him  are  such  men  as  Sir  John  Lubbock, 
Lord  Carnarvon,  Herbert  Spencer,  Viscount  Cald- 
well  and  Dean  Church.  The  Marquis  of  Salisbury, 
the  foreign  secretary,  is  a  member  of  the  club.  Dr 
Blyden  is  probably  the  first  Nergo  who  has  been 
so  honored." 

It  is  said  that  he  was  acquainted  with  more  than 
forty  languages  and  speaks  all  of  them  fluently. 
He  has  been  a  believer  in  the  Christian  religion, 
but  it  is  now  currently  reported  and  pretty  satis 
factorily  understood  that  he  became  an  advocate  of 
the  Mohammedan  faith.  He  wrote  a  series  of  ar 
ticles  upon  that  topic  to  the  A.  M.  E.  Review,  in 
which  it  is  apparent  he  seeks  to  commend  the  fine 
points  concerning  the  doctrines  of  that  faith.  Be 
ing  brought  in  contact  with  many  of  the  Arabic 
professors,  he  had  an  abundant  opportunity  of  in 
quiring  into  the  faith  more  practically  than  any  one 
else  of  his  color,  because  he  gathered  his  informa 
tion  from  the  actual  professors  of  that  faith. 

Mr.  Blyden  returned  to  Africa  and  spent  the  bal 
ance  of  his  days  there.  He  was  formerly  a  Pres 
byterian  minister,  but  abandoned  the  pulpit.  This 
man's  ability,  scholarship  and  talent  was  a  wonder 
ful  example  of  the  native  ability  of  the  Negro.  His 
intellect  towers  above  that  of  ordinary  men  as  the 
church  steeple  above  the  brick  chimney  of  the  or- 
dinarv  house. 


524 


Thomas  Green  Bethune,   "Blind  Torn' 


HOMAS  Green  Bethune.  better 
known  as  "Blind  Tom,"  was  born 
May  25.  18-49.  in  Columbus,  Geor- 
Thomas  was  born  blind  and 


as  the  beauties  of  nature  could 
only  be  revealed  to  him  through 
the  sense  of  hearing,  and  retained  by  the  power  of 
memory  and  imitation,  these  faculties  were  culti 
vated  to  a  remarkable  degree,  making  him  a  mar 
vel  to  the  age  in  which  he  lived. 

He  was  the  embodiment  of  music,  and  in  this 
art  his  powers  were  unlimited. 

Me  first  had  access  to  a  piano  when  he  was  four 
years  of  age,  and  his  joy  could  not  be  imagined 
when  he  could  perform  on  the  instrument  the 
thoughts  of  his  youthful  brain. 

After  exhausting  his  store  of  lessons  he  began 
to  improvise  for  himself,  playing  what  he  said  "the 
wind  .said,"  or  the  trees  or  birds. 

His  "Rain  Storm,"  composed  during  a  thunder 
storm  when  Tom  was  but  five  years  old,  is  so  per 
fect  that  the  hearer  instinctively  looked  for  the 
lightning  flash.  His  soul  was  the  master  of  music, 
and  so  great  a  master  that  musicians  declined  to 
instruct  him.  Said  one  musician:  "1  can't  teach 
him  anything ;  he  knows  more  of  music  than  we 

J  O    ' 

know  or  can  know.  We  can  learn  all  that  great 
genius  can  reduce  to  rule  and  put  in  tangible  form ; 
he  knows  more  than  that.  I  do  not  even  know 
what  it  is;  but  1  feel  it  is  something  beyond  my 
comprehension.  All  that  can  be  done  for  him  will 
be  to  let  him  hear  fine  playing;  he  will  work  it  all 
out  by  himself  after  awhile." 

When  a  babe  Thomas  seemed  totally  blind  and 
it  was  because  of  this  that  he  received  the  cog 
nomen,  "Blind  Tom."  As  he  grew  he  was  enabled 
in  time  to  enjoy  to  a  limited  extent  the  blessing  of 
sight. 

When  a  young  child,  often  he  might  be  seen  with 
head  upturned,  gazing  intently  upon  the  sun,  and 
he  would  thrust  his  fingers  into  his  eyes  with  such 
force  that  they  would  bleed. 

This  he  continued  until  he  became  able  to  dis 
tinguish  any  very  bright  object. 

Mr.  Trotter  says  of  him:  "Considering  that  in 
early  life  he  learned  nothing,  and  later  but  little 
from  sight,  that  he  is  possessed  by  an  overmas 


tering  passion  which  so  pervades  his  whole  nature 
as  to  leave  little  room  for  interest  in  anything  else, 
and  the  gratification  of  which  has  been  indulged 
to  the  largest  extent,  it  is  not  surprising  that  to 
the  outside  world  he  should  exhibit  but  few  mani 
festations  of  intellect  as  applicable  to  any  of  the 
ordinary  affairs  of  life,  or  that  those  who  see  him 
under  its  influence  should  conclude  that  he  is 
idiotic." 

He  had  a  most  extraordinary  memory  of  names, 
dates  and  events,  a  wonderful  power  of  imitation 
and  an  elegance  of  taste  and  power  in  his  perform 
ances. 

He  adhered  strictly  to  what  he  believed  was 
right,  was  uniformly  polite  and  exhibited  a  nice 
sense  of  propriety. 

Eminent  musicians  both  in  America  and  Europe 
bear  testimony  to  his  musical  genius. 

Among  his  classical  selections  was  Andante  by 
Mendelssohn  and  Sonata  "Pathetique"  by  Beetho 
ven.  His  marches  include  "Delta  Kappa  Epsilon," 
Pease;  "Grand  March  de  Concert,"  Wallace;  "Gen 
eral  Ripley's  March,"  Amazon  March,  Masonic 
Grand  March. 

His  powers  of  imitation  were  so  perfect  as  often 
to  deceive  the  hearer.  They  were  imitations  of 
the  Music  Box,  Dutch  Woman  and  Hand  Organ, 
Harp,  Scotch  Bagpipes,  Scotch  Fidler.  Church  Or 
gan,  Guitar,  Banjo,  Douglass'  Speech,  Uncle 
Charlie,  The  Cascade,  Rain  Storm  and  Battle  of 
Manassas.  The  two  latter  were  his  own  compo 
sition,  representing  his  descriptive  music. 

His  fame  is  world  wide.  He  has  visited  all  tin- 
large  cities  of  America  and  Europe  and  has  enter 
tained  thousands,  who  have  listened  to  his  perfor 
mances  with  wonder  and  accorded  him  enthusiastic 
applause. 

Doubtless  more  persons  have  flocked  to  see  and 
hear  him  than  any  other  living  wonder. 

After  playing,  he  generally  sprang  up  and  ap 
plauded  himself  vociferously. 

For  a  while  he  disappeared  from  the  stage,  but 
reappeared  in  New  York  in  1904-05  and  finally 
ended  his  career  in  lloboken.  N.  J.,  in  1908,  where 
he  died. 

An  article  of  this  length  can  merely  touch  upon 
his  most  wonderful  career. 


525 


Samuel  Coleridge  Taylor 


OMMON  are  the  names  of  the  Ne-      as   a   composer   and   as   a   musical   director.     From 
gro  poet,  the  orator,  the  business      that  time  on  the  world  knew  him  for  his  weird  and 


man.  indeed  the  names  of  black 
folk  in  nearly  every  achievement. 
But  somehow  when  you  call  for 
the  Negro  composer  the  names 
are  not  so  familiar.  It  appears  that  only  in  very 


me'ancholy  music.  From  this  time  for  a  score  of 
years  later  he  held  sway  first  in  the  British  music 
halls  and  then  in  American. 

Phileas,  it  is  said  got  all  of  his    images    of    the 


recent  years  has  the  Negro  himself  begun  to  appr--      ('reek   Gods    from   the  poet    Homer.      The   sculptor 


ciate  either  music  or  the  musician  in  our  midst, 
and  especially  the  genuine  composer. 

Coleridge  Taylor,  or  to  give  him  his  full  name. 
Samuel  Coleridge  Taylor,  is  worthy  of  the  name  he 
carries.  The  poet,  after  whom  no  doubt  his  name 
has  been  chosen,  though  differently  placed,  was  in 
everything  a  mystic.  The  critics  say  that  ever  in 
his  composition  the  musician  is  true  in  this  mysti 
cism  to  the  spirit  of  the  past.  Coleridge  Taylor 
comes  almost  fresh  from  the  land  of  mystery  and 
weird  songs  and  lurid  lights.  His  father  was  a  na 
tive  of  Sierra  Leone;  his  mother  a  British  woman. 
For  a  while  after  their  marriage  the  parents  lived 
happily  together  in  England.  Then  the  father  re 
turned  to  Africa.  The  lad  remained  in  England 
with  his  mother.  Young  Taylor  was  a  prodigy 
from  the  first.  His  aptness  inspired  his  mother  to 
direct  even  at  a  very  early  age,  his  attention  speci 
fically  to  music,  thus  saving  time  and  energy  and 
perhaps  saving  to  the  world  a  splendid  musician ; 
for  had  she  tried  to  send  him  through  regular  cur 
riculum  who  knows  what  might  have  happened  to 
the  musical  prodigy. 

Born  in  London,  in  1875,  young  Taylor  entered 
the  Royal  Academy  of  Music  at  the  age  of  fifteen. 
Before  entering  he  had  had  some  training  with 
the  violin  and  the  piano.  At  the  Royal  Academy 
the  young  man  soon  took  his  place  as  the  most  bril 
liant  in  the  school,  for  he  distinguished  himself  by 
winning  the  prize  for  musical  composition  in  1893, 
during  his  third  year  there.  He  continued  his  stu 
dies  here,  putting  himself  under  the  famous  Vil- 
livers-Stanford  until  1896. 

In  1903,  he  landed  his  first  endeavor  in  organiza 
tion.  Fortunately  he  hit  upon  the  task  in  which  he 
.was  to  excel  at  the  very  first.  At  Craydon,  in  the 
year  mentioned  he  organized  and  brought  to  a  very 
successful  conclusion  a  series  of  orchestral  con 
certs. 

This  marked  the  beginning  of  musical  fame,  both 


took  the  blind  poets  words  and  made  them  live  in 
stone.  Such  was  the  genius  of  Coleridge  Tavkir. 
He  took  the  words  of  the  poet  and  gave  them  a 
new  meaning  with  note  and  bar.  \Yho  does  not 
know  his  Hiawatha,  which  he  rendered  himself 
with  a  chorus,  more  than  once  in  this  country.  His 
music  but  puts  new  meaning  into  the  words  of 
Longfellow.  So  with  the  poems  of  Dunbar  and 
with  the  works  of  others,  he  gave  to  them  the 
touch  which  only  music  can  offer  as  the  finish  to 
verse. 

No  real  music  shelf  is  now  complete  without  one 
or  two  pieces  of  his  work.  Indeed,  few  entertain 
ments,  and  none  among  Negroes  are  given  without 
at  least  one  selection  from  his  hand.  In  addition 
to  Hiawatha  and  the  poems  of  Dunbar  already 
mentioned,  Coleridge  Taylor  has  the  following  fa 
mous  pieces:  "The  Blind  Girl  of  Castle;"  "Guille." 
"The  Atonement,"  "Dream  Towers,"  which  is  an 
operetta.  He  has  also  piano  music,  and  anthems 
as  well. 

Whatever  may  be  his  fate  abroad  and  in  his  nat 
ive  land,  Coleridge  Taylor  is  pretty  sure  of  immor 
tality  among  the  American  Negroes.  He  will  pro 
bably  never  be  popular  but  among  those  who  strive 
for  perfection  and  for  the  highest  in  musical  com 
position  he  will  always  be  famous.  During  his  life 
time  and  immediately  after  his  death,  the  devotees 
of  the  art  sought  to  make  his  election  to  popular 
fancy  sure  by  naming  many  choral  clubs  after  him. 
No  doubt  this  will  hold  his  name  before  the  public 
a  little  longer,  but  before  it  binds  itself  around  the 
public  heart,  the  worshippers  at  his  shrine  must 
raise  the  standard  so  high  that  the  rag-time  and 
the  jog  will  not  so  easily  drown  out  the  voice  of 
the  master.  Until  they  can  accomplish  this  let  the 
few  continue  to  worship  at  his  shrine  and  the  whole 
race  rejoice  that  at  least  one  Negro  commands  the 
best  artists,  wherever  good  music  is  loved  and 
played. 


526 


LT.  COLONEL  CHARLES  YOUNG 


MIDST  the  sharp,  even  harsh, 
competition  for  rank,  it  is  a  rare 
and  glorious  honor  to  be  distin 
guished  in  any  one  of  the  wars  of 
America.  How  happy  must  the 
soldier  be  therefore  who  receives 
laurels  from  any  battle  fields  and  from  periods  of 
history,  and  who  amidst  it  all  is  a  candidate  for 
new  fields  and  battles  and  a  rival  for  the  highest 
military  honors  his  nation  has  to  give. 

Such  is  the  good  fortune  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Charles  Young,  who  received  the  rank  of  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  in  1916  during  the  world  war.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  had  by  his  skill,  intelligence, 
courage  and  hard  work  been  in  the  ascendency  for 
the  last  score  of  years.  Indeed  Colonel  Young  is 
one  of  the  picked  men.  The  rank  he  now  holds  is 
the  highest  ever  attained  by  a  Negro  in  the  regular 
army.  He  is  one  of  the  three  Negroes  to  be  grad 
uated  from  West  Point,  having  completed  tin- 
course  there  in  1889. 

Colonel  Young  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Ken 
tucky.  On  completing  his  course  at  West  Point 
he  was  commissioned  to  the  Tenth  Cavalry.  It 
was  not  long  before  his  distinguished  services  won 


for  him  the  rank  of  Major.  It  was  during  the 
Spanish-American  War  that  Colonel  Young  and  his 
horse  began  to  win  fame.  It  was  the  famous  Tenth 
who,  following  their  tactics  which  they  had  learn 
ed  in  fighting  the  Indians,  succeeded  in  rescuing 
the  Rough  Riders  and  their  Colonel,  Roosevelt, 
from  sure  defeat.  From  now  on  Colonel  Young 
and  his  men  are  famous  whether  they  are  camp 
ing,  doing  a  practice  drill  or  actual  service. 

Following  the  Spanish-American  War  Colonel 
Young  was  assigned  to  the  Island  of  Philippines. 
Once  more  thorough  workmanship,  coolness  under 
fire,  geniality  and  diplomacy  characterized  his  life 
here.  At  another  period  of  his  life  he  was  Com 
mandant  of  cadets  at  Wilberforce  University  in  tin- 
State  of  Ohio.  Another  time  he  was  sent  to  tin- 
Republic  of  Liberia  to  give  instruction  in  Military 
science,  a  post  which  he  filled  with  credit  to  him 
self,  his  race  and  his  country  as  well. 

When  Mexico  under  Villa,  began  to  attack- 
America  on  the  southern  border  Colonel  Young 
was  sent  to  Texas  with  his  men  to  protect  his  coun 
try.  As  in  all  other  battles  he  and  his  famous 
Tenth  came  off  with  the  glory.  During  the  war 
in  Europe  some  question  arose  as  to  the  health  of 
Colonel  Young.  It  was  alleged  that  his  heart  was 
too  weak  to  stand  the  strain  of  European  service. 
Specialists  examined  him,  but  found  his  heart 
sound.  However,  he  was  for  a  time  retired  and 
sent  back  to  Wilberforce.  To  demonstrate  flic- 
soundness  of  the  whole  man,  Colonel  Young  rod  - 
horse  back  all  the  way  from  the  West  to  the  Na 
tion's  Capitol.  He  was  re-instated  during  the  lat 
ter  part  of  the  war. 

Not  only  is  Colonel  Young  a  soldier,  he  is  a 
military  scholar  and  a  man  of  exceptional  diplo 
macy,  and  while  in  the  army  so  conducted  himself 
as  to  gain  the  respect  and  esteem  of  every  officer 
he  came  in  contact  with.  Colonel  Young  is  an  au 
thority  on  cavalry.  He  has  written  a  most  learned 
treatise  on  cavalry  service.  Much  of  his  time  since 
the  war  Colonel  Young  has  spent  in  appearing  in 
public,  inspiring  the  Negro  to  patience  and  hope 
under  the  new  conditions  brought  by  the  war  in 
Europe. 

Personally.  Colonel  Young  is  modest  and  unas 
suming,  and  no  one  would  ever  judge  by  his  con 
versation  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  noted  cav 
alry  leaders  this  country  has  produced. 

He  set  an  example  of  military  discipline  and  re 
spect  for  superior  officers  that  would  make  a 
splendid  standard  for  any  country  to  adopt. 

lie  is  absolutely  fearless  and  inspired  his  men 
in  a  manner  that  made  them  absolutely  fearless. 

Colonel  Young  deserves  to  be  classed   with   tu 
really  Great  Negroes,  and  it  is  regrettable  that  he 
did  not  see  active  service  in  Europe. 

527 


Hon.  Pinckney  Eenton  Stewart  Pinchback 


HE  subject  'of  this  sketch  was  born 
May  10.  1837,  while  his  mother 
was  in  transit  from  Virginia  to 
Mississippi.  His  father  was  a 
prominent  planter  in  Holmes 
County,  Mississippi.  His  mother, 
Kliza  Stewart,  was  of  mixed  blood  and  known  as  a 
mulatto,  though  she  claimed  to  have  Indian  blood 
in  her  veins. 

Though  freed,  she  returned  with  the  father  of 
her  children  to  Virginia.  Pinckney  was  born  free. 

In  1846,  in  company  with  his  brother  Napoleon, 
who  was  seven  years  his  senior,  Pinckney  was  sent 
by  his  father  to  Cincinnati  to  attend  Gilmores  Higli 
School. 

In  1848  they  returned  home.  The  same  year  his 
father  died,  and  his  mother  with  five  children,  were 
sent  to  Cincinnati  by  the  administrator  of  his  fa 
ther's  estate.  His  brother  Napoleon,  the  mainstay 
of  the  family,  lost  his  mind  in  Cincinnati,  which 
compelled  Pinckney  at  the  tender  age  of  twelve  to 
start  out  into  the  world  on  his  own  responsibility. 

He  secured  work  as  a  cabin  boy  at  eight  dol 
lars  a  month  on  a  canal  boat  on  the  Miami  canal, 
running  from  Cincinnati  to  Toledo,  Ohio. 

Several  years  were  spent  in  canal  boating  on 
the  Miami,  and  also  the  Ft.  Wayne  and  Toledo 
canals. 

From  1854  to  1861  he  followed  steamboating  on 
the  Red,  Missouri  and  the  Mississippi  rivers  and 
had  reached  the  position  of  steward,  when  the  war 
interrupted  that  business. 

May  10,  1862,  in  Yax.oo  City,  Mississippi,  he- 
abandoned  the  steamer  Alonzo  Childs.  of  which  he 
was  steward,  ran  the  Confederate  blockade  and  ar 
rived  in  New  Orleans  two  days  after. 

May  16,  1882,  he  had  a  serious  difficulty  with  his 
brother-in-law.  John  Keppard.  who  was  wounded 
in  the  encounter.  The  civil  authorities  arrested 
him.  but  he  gave  bail.  While  awaiting  trial,  the 
military  authorities  re-arrested,  speedily  tried  and 
convicted  him  for  assault  with  attempt  to  murder 
and  sentenced' him  to  two  years  in  the  work  house. 

May  25,  1862,  he  was  committed  and  August  18, 
1862,  released  to  enlist  in  the  First  Louisiana  Vol 
unteer  infantry.  A  few  days  after  enlistment  he- 
was  detailed  to  assist  in  recruiting  the  Second  Lou- 
isiana  infantry. 

October  12.  1862,  the  second  regiment.  Louisiana 
Native  Guards,  with  Captain  Pinchback  in  com 
mand  of  Company  A.  was  mustered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States. 

The  Federal  soldiery,  rank  and  file,  in  the  main 
were  as  hostile  as  the  bitterest  Confederates. 


In  his  efiorts  to  maintain  the  manhood  and 
equality  of  rights  of  the  colored  soldiery.  Captain 
Pinchback  was  often  placed  in  great  peril. 

Mis  boldness  always  excited  admiration,  and 
many  have  wondered  that  he  did  not  lose  his  life. 

Passing  over  further  notice  of  his  military  ca 
reer  we  come  now  to  cons-ider  his  advent  into  pol 
itics. 

April  9,  1867,  he  made  his  first  move  in  the  po 
litical  field,  upon  which  he  afterward  won  such 
distinction,  by  organizing  the  Fourth  Ward  Re 
publican  Club  of  New  Orleans,  Louisiana. 

From  that  time  on  he  filled  a  large  place  and 
many  important  positions.  Almost  continuously  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Louisiana  Republican  State 
Committee. 

The  first  civil  appointment  for  which  he  held  a 
warrant  was  Inspector  of  Customs,  made  by  the 
Hon.  William  P.  Kellogg  .May  22.  1867.  who  at 
that  time  was  collector  of  the  port  of  New  Orleans. 
However,  the  position  was  declined. 

He  was  an  influential  member  of  the  Convention 
called  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  constitu 
tion  and  civil  government  for  the  State  of  Lou 
isiana. 

At  the  election  to  ratify  the  Constitution,  April 
17  and  18,  1868,  he  was  elected  a  State  Senator. 
The  same  year  he  was  elected  a  delegate  at  large 
to  the  Republican  National  Convention  held  at 
Chicago,  May  20,  1868. 

In  1869  he  was  appointed  registrar  of  the  land 
office  at  New  Orleans,  but  declined  the  office. 

December  25,  1870,  he  started  the  publication  of 
the  New  Orleans  Louisianian,  which  he  ran  for 
eleven  years  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  ad 
vantage  to  his  race.  From  March  18,  1871.  to 
March,  1877,  he  served  as  Educational  School  Di 
rector  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans. 

He  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  State  Con 
vention  for  Governor  of  Louisiana,  but  in  order  to 
bring  together  two  factions  of  the  party,  a  com 
promise  was  made  and  he  was  elected  to  the  LTnited 
States  Congress.  In  1873  he  was  elected  United 
States  Senator. 

To  recount  all  the  honors  heaped  upon  Mr. 
Pinchback  and  the  incidents  of  his  active  career. 
would  require  more  space  than  that  given  to  this 
article,  lie  has  made  his  place  in  history  and  his 
name  will  live,  although  he  has  passed  into  the 
other  world. 

He  was  a  prudent,  economical  financier,  and  ac 
cumulated  a  very  handsome  fortune.  His  income 
from  stocks  and  bonds  amounted  annually  to  about 
$10,000. 


528 


Hon.  John  Mercer  Langston,  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  LL.  D. 


HE  subject  of  this  sketch  is  not 
only  one  of  the  greatest  Negroes 
of  America,  but  is  on  the  list  of 
America's  great  men  irrespective 
of  color.  He  was  born  in  Louisa 
County,  Virginia,  December  14, 
1829,  and  the  blood  of  three  races  ran  through  his 
viens :  Indian,  Negro  and  Anglo-Saxon.  He ,  has 
the  fortitude  of  the  first,  the  pride  of  the  second 
and  the  progressiveness  of  the  third. 

He  was  born  in  slavery,  his  father  being  his  own 
er,  so  he  took  the  name  of  his  mother's  family, 
which  was  Indian  and  Negro  mainly,  and  was  clos 
ely  related  to  the  family  of  Pocahontas. 

By  will  his  father  emancipated  him  when  a  mere 
child,  and  he  was  sent  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood,  and  was  educated  and  pur 
sued  a  professional  and  official  life  to  the  year 
1867. 

In  1884  he  entered  Oberlin  College,  located  at 
Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  graduated  after  five  years  reg 
ular  collegiate  study  in  18-49.  lie  then  sought  ad 
mission  to  a  law  school,  conducted  by  Mr.  ].  W. 
Fowler,  at  Ballston  Spa,  New  York,  but  was  re 
fused  admission  on  account  of  his  color. 

He  was  also  refused  admission  to  a  law  school  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  for  the  same  reason. 

His  next  step  to  secure  a  legal  education  was  to 
seek  a  situation  as  a  student  in  some  lawyer's  of 
fice.  He  made  but  poor  success  in  this  direction. 
Only  the  Hon.  Sherlock  J.  Andrews,  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  would  consent  to  furnish  him  books,  with  an 
occasional  opportunity  for  explanation  of  law  doc 
trines  and  principles,  so  that  no  interference  was 
made  in  ordinary  office  business.  He  accomplished 
but  little  in  this  way  and  the  attendant  embarrass 
ment  so  discouraged  him,  that  he  abandoned  the 
study  for  a  while,  and  entered  the  Theological  De 
partment  of  Oberlin  College,  from  which  he  grad 
uated  in  1853. 

He  finally  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  under 
the  tuition  of  Hon.  Philemon  Bliss,  of  Elyria.  Ohio, 
at  the  time  one  of  the  first  lawyers  of  the  Ohio  Bar. 
About  one  year  later,  Mr.  Langston  appeared  by 
order  of  the  court  for  examination,  with  reference 
to  his  admission  to  the  bar,  before  a  special  com 
mittee  appointed  by  the  court,  composed  of  two 
Democrats  and  one  Whig. 

The  matter  of  admitting  colored  men  to  the  bar 
was  novel.  No  one  of  this  class  up  to  that  time 
had  the  temerity  to  offer  himself  as  a  candidate  for 
such  an  honor. 

The  question  of  legality  of  admitting  a  colored 
man  to  the  Ohio  Bar  arose  and  was  decided  against 


such  admission.  The  question  of  Langston's  co!or 
was  inquired  into  and  it  was  decided  that  he  had 
more  white  than  Negro  blood,  so  he  was  ordered 
to  be  sworn  by  the  court  as  a  lawyer,  October  24, 
1854. 

Owing  to  ill  health,  and  upon  the  advice  of  his 
physician,  immediately  after  being  admitted  to  the 
bar,  he  went  upon  a  farm  in  Brownhelm,  Lorain 
County,  Ohio.  He  was  the  only  colored  person 
residing  in  that  section  of  Ohio,  but  he  received  a 
cordial  welcome  and  given  opportunity  for  the  .em 
ployment  of  all  the  ability,  legal  and  otherwise, 
which  he  possessed. 

In  the  fall  of  1854,  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  as 
sociated  with  him  in  an  important  case  involv 
ing  landed  interest.  The  court,  the  witnesses,  the 
lawyers,  except  Langston,  were  all  white.  Such 
was  the  success  of  the  colored  lawyer  in  connection 
with  the  case  that  he  found  himself  at  once  sur 
rounded  by  numerous  clients  with  fat  retainers. 
From  that  time  he  grew  in  business  and  influence 
rapidly. 

In  1855,  he  was  elected  to  the  clerkship  of  one  of 
the  most  advanced  townships  of  the  state  by  a 
white  vote. 

He  moved  to  Oberlin  in  1856  and  was  at  once  el 
ected  clerk  of  the  township  of  Russia;  next  year  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  City  Council  of  Ober 
lin,  a  position  he  held  for  two  years,  and  for  eleven 
years  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

In  the  fall  of  1860,  he  was  engaged  in  looking 
after  the  school  interests  of  the  colored  youth  of 
Ohio,  organizing  schools  among  them  and  supply 
ing  teachers  thereof. 

In  1867  he  was  appointed  to  act  as  general  in 
spector  of  the  schools  of  the  freed  people  of  the 
country,  and  in  July  of  that  year  he  made  his  first 
trip  Southward  on  the  errand  indicated. 

In  1867.  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

In  1869  he  was  called  to  a  professorship  in  the 
Law  Department  of  Howard  University.  He  at 
once  became  Dean  of  that  department,  organizing 
it,  and  for  seven  years  he  was  at  the  head  of  wh- 
was  recognized  as  one  of  the  finest  law  schools  in 
the  country. 

In  1877  he  was  appointed  by  President  Hayes, 
United  States  minister  resident  and  consul-general 
to  Hayti.  As  a  diplomat  he  was  an  entire  success, 
and  won  the  respect  and  approval  of  all  with  whom 
he  had  to  deal. 

In  1885  he  was  elected  by  the  Board  of  Education 
of  Virginia,  President  of  the  Virginia  Normal  and 
Collegiate  Institute. 


529 


Richard  Theodore  Greener,  A.  B.,  LL.  B.,  LI,.  D. 


HERE  are  some  men  whose  lives 
or  opportunities  in  life,  you  envy. 
It  is  not  that  they  have  necessar 
ily  done  anything  startling  or 
lasting.  Indeed  this  question  is 
not  considered.  But  somehow 
certain  men  manage  to  be  on  hand  at  the  right  mo 
ment  and  this,  too,  through  no  ingenuity  or  fore 
thought  of  their  own. 

Such  was  the  good  fortune  in  many  ways  of 
Richard  T.  Greener,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Tn  the 
first  place,  Mr.  Greener  escaped  many  of  the  hard 
ships  of  slavery  and  the  vexations  of  the  days  of  re 
construction.  Shortly  after  the  Civil  War  the  Bos 
ton  daily  papers  carried  two  news  stories.  In  the 
one  they  told  of  a  young  Southerner,  a  former  Re 
bel  soldier,  who  was  entering  Harvard  College.  In 
the  other  they  related  that  a  Negro  was  also  ma 
triculating  here.  Thus  came  together  under  the 
shade  of  the  old  Elms  the  three  forces  of  the  great 
struggle  of  '63.  the  Yankee,  the  Southerner  and  the 
Negro. 

Mr.  Richard  T.  Greener  was  this  Negro.  Happy 
the  m?.n  to  be  at  Harvard  at  any  time.  Thrice 
happy  to  be  there  is  those  days !  There  was  Charles 
Sunnier,  and  Wendell  Phillips  and  William  Loyd 
Garrison  and  Holmes  and  Longfellow  and  Emerson 
ami  Lowell — Alas !  one  almost  chokes  with  both 
envy  and  despair  at  the  luxury  of  being  even  in  or 
around  Cambridge  in  those  days.  Why  there  was 
Mr.  Greener  right  in  the  wake  of  the  making  of 
those  essays,  poems  and  orations,  not  to  mention 
Hawthorn's  and  Poe's  influence,  that  have  made 
American  literature.  One  could  no  doubt  almost 
feel  on  the  breeze  from  Back  Bay  the  impulses 
from  "Self-Reliance,"  from  the  "American  schol 
ar,"  from  the  "Chambered  Nautilus,"  and  the  "Vil 
lage  Blacksmith,"  so  pregnant  was  the  air  with  the 
inspiration  from  the  rich  harvest  of  geniuses. 

Mr.  Greener  lived  in  this  atmosphere,  caught 
much  of  the  inspiration  and  turned  it  to  account. 
Mr.  Greener  prosecuted  his  studies,  won  scholar 
ships,  and  came  forth  the  first  Negro  to  receive  a 
degree  from  Harvard  University  and  he  lives  to 
day,  the  oldest  Negro  graduate  from  the  halls  of 
the  crimson. 

Leaving  his  Alma  Mater,  Mr.  Greener  like  most 
educated  Negroes  of  that  time  felt  called  to  the 


school  room.  For  many  years  he  taught  and  man 
aged  in  the  schools  of  South  Carolina.  Having 
completed  his  law  studies  he  became  after  a  time 
Dean  of  the  Law  Department  of  Howard  Univer 
sity.  Here,  as  afterward,  all  that  culture  which  he 
gained  from  living  in  that  refined  and  intellectual 
atmosphere  at  Cambridge  stood  him  in  good  stead. 
He  was  able  to  give  by  his  very  life  a  culture  that 
few  Negroes  at  that  time  could  impart. 

Mr.  Greener  also  took  part  in  the  affairs  of  state. 
Under  the  McKinley  and  Roosevelt  administra 
tions  he  was  both  a  national  and  an  international 
figure.  His  most  signal  service  was  that  rendered 
as  Consul  in  Russia,  especially  at  Vladivostok.  He 
spent  seven  and  a  half  vears  in  Russia,  seeing  few 
Americans  and  fewer  Negroes.  Both  his  diplom 
acy  and  his  general  conduct  were  during  this  time 
above  reproach. 

On  returning  to  America,  Mr.  Greener  took  to 
the  lecture  platform  and  to  his  pen.  He  is  opti 
mistic  in  his  messages  to  the  black  American.  His 
experience  and  long  life  give  him  a  perspective  de 
nied  to  many.  Nothing  better  illustrates  this  than 
a  paragraph  from  one  of  his  addresses : 

"I  am  old  enough  to  remember  when  John  Brown 
fired  the  shot  at  Harper's  Ferry  heard  'round  the 
world — the  shot  which  made  a  rebellion  possible 
and  precipitated  a  conflict  which,  had  it  not  come 
then  would,  perhaps,  have  left  us  in  a  condition  of 
slavery  today.  I  remember,  too,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war  when  Negro  slaves  were  not  allowed 
to  help  preserve  the  Union — when  the  Negro  was 
simply  known  as  a  "contraband  of  war."  When  I 
recall  the  condition  of  the  colored  people  at  that 
time  throughout  the  United  States  I  venture  to 
think  that  those  who  are  unduly  alarmed  at  the 
sporadic  instances  of  race  persecution,  of  which 
we  hear  so  much  at  times — do  not  value  the  ex 
tent  of  the  opportunities  we  have  for  substantial 
progress,  nor  do  they  measure  adequately  the  force 
and  effect  of  the  real  American  civilization  of  to 
day." 

Mr.  Greener  represented  officially  Japanese  an;! 
British  interest  during  the  Russian-Japanese  War. 
For  service  to  Chinese  Boxer  War  in  1900  and  for 
aid  to  Shansi  famine  sufferers,  he  was  decorated 
with  the  order  of  Double  Dragon  by  Chinese  Gov 
ernment,  1902 ;  the  only  colored  man  so  honored. 


530 


Major  John  R.  Lynch 


K.  Lynch,  was  born  in  Concordia 
Parish,  Louisiana,  September  10, 
1847.  The  bonds  of  slavery  fast 
ened  themselves  upon  his  young 
life  and  held  him  from  the  bene 
fits  of  freedom,  culture,  and  from 
developing  into  a  full  grown  man,  such  as  the  pe 
culiarity  of  our  institutions  can  bring  forth.  Des 
titute  of  the  means  by  which  a  youth  is  inspired 
to  greatness,  he  came  forth  after  the  war  naturally 
lacking  those  qualities  which  would  make  a  com 
petent  statesman  and  a  capable  leader.  It  is  as 
tonishing,  indeed,  how  great  have  been  the  achieve 
ments  of  most  of  the  despised  race  when  we  re 
member  that  without  any  previous  training  they 
were  called  to  the  most  important  stations  in  Am 
erican  affairs  ;  and  the  wonder  is  that  they  made  no 
more  mistakes  than  they  did. 

Few  have  succeeded  in  coming  out  of  the  turmoil, 
strife,  and  political  contest  of  the  past  with  a  rep 
utation  so  untarnished  as  that  of  Mr.  Lynch,  lie 
remained  in  slaver}'  until  Abraham  Lincoln,  with 
a  stroke  of  his  pen.  cut  the  Gordian  knot  and  gave 
liberty  to  the  bondmen. 

lie  had  no  early  education,  but  began  to  apply 
himself  as  soon  as  he  was  permitted  to  do  so.  A 
purchaser  of  his  mother  had  carried  her  with  her 
children  to  Natchez,  where,  when  the  Union  troops 
took  possession  he  attended  evening  school  for  a 
few  months.  He  has  given  diligent  attention  to 
private  instructors  to  the  acquirement  of  a  first 
class  F.nglish  education,  and  has  read  with  consid 
erable  attention  the  best  works  published  of  an 
cient  and  modern  literature. 

lie  engaged  in  the  business  of  photography  at 
Natchez,  until  1869,  when  Governor  Ames  appoint 
ed  him  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Adams  County. 
Natchez,  Mississippi.  He  held  that  position  until 
the  fall  of  the  same  year,  when  he  was  elected  to 
the  State  Legislature  from  that  county  for  the 
term  of  two  years.  He  was  re-elected  in  1871,  and 
served  during  the  latter  term  as  speaker  of  the 
Mouse  of  Representatives.  He  was  elected  a  repre 
sentative  from  Mississippi  in  the  Forty-third  Con 
gress  as  a  member  of  the  lower  house,  receiving 
fifteen  thousand  three  hundred  and  ninety-one 
votes  against  eight  thousand  for  hundred  and 
thirty  for  II.  Cassidy.  Sr.,  (Democrat),  and  was 
re-elected  to  the  Forty-fourth  Congress  as  a  Re 
publican,  defeating  Roderick  Seals  (Democrat). 
He  was  also  re-elected  to  the  Forty-seventh  Con 
gress,  but  was  not  allowed  to  take  his  seat.  It 


will  be  remembered  that  the  contest  was  between 
Lynch  and  Chalmers,  in  what  was  known  as  the 
"Shoestring"  district  of  Mississippi. 

In  the  National  Republican  Convention  at  Chi 
cago,  in  1884,  he  was  elected  temporary  chairman 
over  Bowell  Clayton,  by  a  majority  of  thirty  votes. 
Clayton  was  the  nominee  of  the  representatives  of 
the  Blaine  interests;  Mr.  Lynch  was  nominated 
and  supported  by  the  different  elements  that  were 
opposed  to  Mr.  Blaine,  but  he  also  received  the 
vote  of  the  minority  of  the  Blaine  men.  He  is 
the  first  and  only  colored  man  who  has  ever  presid 
ed  over  any  National  Convention  of  the  Republican 
Party,  and  in  this  respect  it  shows  very  plainly  that 
he  is  a  man  of  large  influence  and  of  high  standing 
in  party  councils — one  who  has  so  conducted  him 
self  as  to  be  chosen  from  all  the  vast  number  of 
colored  men  who  have  from  time  to  time  attended 
these  conventions,  to  preside  over  the  deliberations 
of  a  convention  which  was  fraught  with  so  much 
interest  and  pregnant  with  such  vast  results. 

Mr.  Lynch,  like  Langston  and  Bruce,  worked  his 
way  into  the  political  world  against  the  keenest 
competition  possible.  He  was  a  representative 
from  Mississippi  in  the  Forty-third.  Forty-fourth, 
and  Forty-seventh  Congress.  Thus  he  spent  six 
years  in  Washington  and  conducted  himself  coolly 
and  courteously  under  trying  circumstances.  He 
has  been  an  inspiration  and  a  source  of  pride  to  the 
Negro  both  young  and  old.  since  his  day. 

Major  Lynch  served  his  country  faithfully  dur 
ing  the  Civil  War.  Following  the  War  as  has  been 
pointed  out,  he  served  both  his  country  and  race. 
When  he  could  no  longer  be  a  soldier  or  represent 
ative  statesman,  Major  Lynch  was  appointed  au 
ditor  in  the  treasury  for  the  Navy  Department. 
Washington,  D.  C.,  from  1889  to  1893.  He  then 
began  the  practice  of  law  in  Washington,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Lynch  and  Terrell,  and  followed  this 
profession  until  1898.  He  was  paymaster  in  the 
United  States  Army  from  1898  to  1911  when  he  was 
retired  with  the  rank  of  Major.  This  last  named 
position  was  made  famous  by  the  way  in  which  it- 
was  handled  by  him. 

Major  Lynch  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  A  Mason  and  honorary  member  of  the 
Appomatox  Club.  He  is  author  of:  "The  Facts  of 
Reconstruction,"  which  is  considered  a  master  es 
say  on  that  turbulent  period.  Major  Lynch  mar 
ried  Mrs.  Cora  E.  Williamson,  of  Chicago,  111.,  Aug 
ust  12.  1911. 


531 


Henry  Ossawa  Tanner 


VER  since  Colonial  days  the  Ame 
rican  Negro  has  steadily  progress 
ed  in  the  field  of  Art.  The  acme  of 
progress  has  been  made  in  this  di 
rection  by  Henry  O.  Tanner,  of 
Philadelphia,  Penn.,  who  makes 
his  home  in  France.  Mr.  Tanner  is  the  son  of  Bish 
op  Benjamin  T.  Tanner,  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church. 

The  artist,  Henry  O.,  was  born  at  Pittsburg, 
Penn.,  in  1859.  He  prosecuted  his  studies  in  the 
Academy  of  fine  arts  under  Thomas  Eakins.  Later 
he  opened  a  photographic  gallery  in  Atlanta.  Ga.. 
where  he  also  undertook  to  teach  art.  This  ven 
ture  failing  he  taught  for  a  time  the  subject  of 
Freehand  drawing  in  Clark  University  in  the  same 
town. 

However  his  general  ambition  was  to  study  in 
Paris.  With  the  assistance  of  friends,  Mr.  Tanner 
being  poor,  he  finally  made  his  way  to  France.  Here 
he  studied  under  Jean  Paul  I.aurens.  and  Benjamin 
Constad. 

His  first  real  success  was  in  1900.  In  this  year 
he  won  the  Lippincott  prize  at  Philadelphia,  and 
the  Medal  at  the  Paris  Exposition. 

Growing  up  in  religious  environments  the  artist 
chose  almost  invariably  his  themes  from  the  Bi 
ble.  These  he  has  been  able  to  surround  with  a  my 
sticism  that  reflects  Bible  times  and  Bible  spirits 
upon  canvas  without  parallel. 

His  "Raising  of  Lazarus"  hangs  in  the  Luxem 
bourg  gallery,  his  "Christ  and  Nicodemus,"  and 
"The  Denunciation"  are  both  in  Philadelphia.  The 
former  is  in  the  academy  of  fine  arts,  the  latter  in 
Memorial  Hall  at  Fairmont  Park. 

Nothing  gives  better  appreciation  of  Mr.  Tanner 
and  his  art  than  the  article  published  some  years 
ago  in  the  New  York  Herald.  The  art  critic  in  the 
Herald  says  of  Mr.  Tanner  and  his  work  : 

"Works  of  Mr.  Henry  Tanner,  a  distinguished 
American  Artist,  long  resident  in  Paris,  who  has 
been  honored  abroad,  are  shown  in  a  comprehen 
sive  exhibition  for  the  first  time  at  the  American 
Art  Galleries.  All  are  religious  paintings,  and 
veal,  as  in  flights  of  poetic  fancy,  the  story  of  "The 
Prince  of  Peace."  The  thirty-three  canvasses  form 
a  veritable  epic,  and  unfold  the  life  of  Christ  from 
the  Nativity  to  Golgotha,  and  then  picture  events 
that  followed  the  Resurrection." 


Mr.  Tanner  is  the  son  of  a  bishop  and  from  his 
earliest  years  the  inspiring  traditions  of  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  New  have  been  to  him  realities. 
With  the  development  of  his  genius  came  the  wish 
to  show  his  conception  of  the  ideals  which  to  him 
had  been  realities  from  a  child.  Yet  his  point  of 
view  is  not  that  of  a  religionist,  but  that  of  a  true 
artist.  He  has  sensed  events,  removed  by  the  lapse 
of  nineteen  centuries,  and  has  depicted  them  with 
such  sincerity  and  feeling  that  the  personages  seem 
to  live  and  breathe.  Such  qualities  as  these  en 
abled  him  to  make  a  deep  impression  in  Paris,  and 
two  of  his  canvasses  were  purchased  by  the  French 
Government  for  the  Luxembourg. 

The  largest  painting  in  the  present  exhibition 
was  received  with  the  warmest  praise  and  occupied 
a  prominent -place  in  the  last  Paris  Salon.  It  i: 
entitled  "Behold  the  Bridegroom  Cometh,"  and  its 
theme  is  the  familiar  parable  of  the  wise  and  fool 
ish  virgins.  This  with  its  numerous  figures  of  life 
size,  occupies  an  entire  panel  of  one  of  the  galler 
ies.  The  Master  of  Ceremonies  is  in  the  act  of 
giving  his  summons  and  the  maidens  are  forming 
themselves  into  the  procession  which  is  to  go  forth 
and  meet  the  Lord.  The  masterly  composition,  the 
oriental  richness  yet  softness  of  the  colouring,  the 
instinctive  command  of  detail  have  drawn  the  va 
rious  elements  together  into  a  convincing  picture. 

Among  notable  canvasses  are  several  which,  on 
account  of  the  ideality  of  their  conception  and 
beauty  of  their  tone,  will  at  once  draw  to  them  the 
notice  of  the  observer.  They  are:  "Christ  at  the 
home  of  Mary  and  Martha,"  Christ  and  Nicode 
mus,"  "The  Return  of  the  Holy  Women,"  "On  the 
Road  to  Emmanaus,"  and  "He  vanished  out  of  their 
sight." 

To  Henry  O.  Tanner  all  true  lovers  of  art  point 
with  pride.  He  is  an  American  recognized  every 
where  as  one  of  the  best.  To  Henry  O.  Tanner 
the  Negro  points  not  only  in  pride,  but  in  hope. 

lie  is  a  man  that  commands  the  respect  of  the 
white  race  to  the  same  extent  that  he  does  the  peo- 
p'e  of  his  own  race.  He  is  a  man  among  men 
irrespective  of  race,  and  his  friends  who  are  legion, 
treasure  his  friendship  as  one  of  their  most  price 
less  possessions.  His  place  is  made  with  the  "Im 
mortals." 


532 


Crispus  Attucks 


ROM  the  Boston  Ga/ettc,  of  Oct 
ober  2,  1750,  the  only  copy  in  ex 
istence,  now  carefully  preserved 
in  the  great  antiquarian  library  of 
Worcester,  Mass.  Advertisement 
of  that  slave  is  as  follows :  "Ran 
away  from  his  master  William  Brown,  of  Fram- 
ington,  on  the  30th  of  September  last,  a  mulatto 
fellow  about  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  named 
Crispus.  six  feet  two  inches  high."  etc.,  describing 
his  dress  and  warning  ship  captains  not  to  hire  him. 
"Ten  pounds  reward,  old  tenor,  will  be  paid  for  his 
return."  Crispus  Attucks  was  not  returned  but 
served  as  a  sailor  up  and  down  the  coast  and 
worked  on  the  wharves  of  Boston.  He  became 
known  as  a  powerful  turbulent  fellow,  leader  of  the 
street  gang  and  Deacon  Wm.  Brown  didn't  try  fur 
ther  to  get  him  back. 

When  British  troops  occupied  Boston,  and  that 
port  was  under  embargo,  there  were  no  vessels 
loading  or  unloading  and  hence  no  work  for  wharf 
men.  This  made  the  street  mob  angry  at  their 
jobs  and  Attucks,  now  forty-seven  years  old  was 
their  fearless  leader. 

On  that  famous  evening  of  March  8,  177G.  :i: 
Boston,  about  eleven  o'clock,  the  young  fellows  on 
the  street  near  the  Old  State  House  were  making 
noise  when  out  came  -the  British  Captain  Preston 
with  a  file  of  soldiers  and  ordered  them  to  disperse. 
Attucks  encouraged  them  to  refuse,  shouted : 
"These  soldiers  don't  dare  fire,"  stepped  up  to  the 
line,  seized  one  of  the  men,  threw  him  down  and 
took  his  musket  away  from  him.  Then  to  show 
his  contempt  he  tossed  the  man's  musket  away 
from  him  and  turned  away  with  a  laugh.  The 
angry  soldier  springing  up  seized  his  gun  and  with 
out  orders  shot  Attucks  dead.  Captain  Preston 
then  ordered  his  men  to  fire  and  as  the  dead  pa 
triot's  companions  rushed  forward  over  his  body 
four  more  of  them  were  killed.  The  whole  five 
fell  within  a  circle  of  about  ten  feet  diameter, 
which  is  now  marked  by  the  paving  bricks  being 
there  laid  in  concentric  circles  to  distinguish  that 
sacred  spot  from  the  rest  of  the  street  pavement. 
It  was  near  midnight.  There  was  newly  fallen 
snow  on  the  ground  and,  in  the  starlight,  the  red 
blood  of  these  martyrs  poured  out  on  it  made  a 
vivid  contrast. 


On  Boston  Common  near  the  Tremont  Hall 
stands  a  granite  monument,  twenty  feet  high,  bear 
ing  on  it's  base  a  bronze  tablet  picturing  that  Bos 
ton  Massacre.  In  the  upper  shaft  are  carved  the 
names  of  these  five  martyrs  of  the  Revolution  with 
Crispus  Attucks  at  the  top.  The  old  Granary  bury 
ing  ground  is  on  Tremont  Street,  just  off  the  Com 
mon.  At  the  extreme  right  hand  corner  near  the 
front  iron  fence  is  the  granite  boulder  which  marks 
the  grave  of  that  Revolutionary  champion  of  Ame 
rican  liberty,  Governor  Sam  Adams.  And  next  to 
that  is  a  long  mound  which  then  bore  five  little  flag 
staffs  and  flags.  At  the  head  of  this  stood  and  still 
stands,  a  polished  slab  of  dark  stone  bearing  this 
inscription,  "here  are  buried  the  remains  of  five 
victims  of  the  Boston  Massacre  of  March  8,  1770." 
Then  follows  the  names,  the  third  of  w'.ich  is  Cris 
pus  Attucks.  Immediately  after  his  death  the  fol 
lowing  lines  appeared : 

"Long  as  in  freedom's  cause  the  wise  contend, 
Dear  to  your  country  shall  your  fame  extend; 
While  to  the  world  the  lettered  stone  shall  tell. 
Where  Caldwell,  Attucks,  Gray  and  Maverick  fell.' 

Daniel  Webster  said,  speaking  of  the  assault, 
"From  that  Moment  we  may  date  the  severance  of 
the  British  Empire." 

For  all  his  heroism,  Attucks,  like  Toussaint  L'- 
Overture,  like  Phyllis  Wheatley,  like  Booker  T. 
Washington,  was  born  a  slave.  History  places  his 
birth  about  1720.  He  was  a  half  breed  Indian  or 
mulatto.  His  birth  place  is  Framingham,  Massa 
chusetts.  Little  is  known  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  it  is  evident  however  that  he  was  a  restless 
temperament,  and  that  he  did  not  take  peacefully 
the  change  of  freedom  even  in  New  England.  Some 
say  he  was  a  mere  loafer  and  lounger,  others  say 
he  was  a  seaman  and  that  on  the  action  of  the  mas 
sacre  he  had  just  returned  from  a  voyage. 

Be  he  slave  or  vagabond,  be  he  full  Negro  or  In 
dian  or  half-breed,  he  still  holds  the  title  of  being 
the  first  to  give  his  life  for  the  cause  of  American 
freedom.  From  him  date  the  American  Negro 
Soldier,  and  the  American  Negro  patriot.  Both 
the  white  people  and  the  Negroes  in  America  are 
coming  more  and  more  to  do  him  honour  as  the 
years  go  by.  Thus  can  the  Negro  point  to  an  un 
broken  line  of  service,  from  the  revolution  to  the 
world's  war. 


Senator  Blanch  K.  Bruce 

LANCH  K.  Bruce,  the  famous  However,  Bruce  was  no  slacker  cither  with  his 
Mississippian  of  Reconstruction  purse.  his  brain  or  his  endeavors.  He  continued 
days,  falls  into  that  class  of  the  tr.  .1,.  ,  ,  ,  c  ... 

to  do  yoeman  labor  for  the   Republican   1'artv    so 
enviable   hrst   and   only.     He   was      .,  .         ,,,.,,. 

the  first  Negro  to  put  his  signa-      that    whe"   Wllham    McK'nley   came   to   office    he 

ture  to  the  money  of  the  United      °DCe  more  ^pointed  Bruce  in  1897.     However,  he 

States  Government.     In   1881,  on  the  twenty-third      lla(1  (lone  nis  work.     With  the  armor  of  the  good 
of  May  he  was  made  Registrar  of  the  treasury  by      soldier  <»".  h<-'  died  in  1898. 

James  A.  Garfield.  He  had  won  this  honor  by  his  ^-  K-  Bruce  exerted  a  wonderful  influence  over 
distinguished  services  in  the  State  of  Misissippi.  the  Negro  youth  of  America.  His  had  been  a  dif- 
Like  his  contemporary  John  M.  Langston,  Blanch  fere»t  experience  in  his  early  childhood  from  that 
K.  Bruce  was  born  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  Like  of  most  of  the  othcr  celebrated  Negroes.  These 
Langston  also  Bruce  was  born  a  slave.  He  was  had  been  tard>'  in  thcir  educational  advantages. 
a  native  of  Prince  Edward  County,  where  he  was  The>'  had  not  known  culture  and  contact,  without 
born  in  1841.  In  his  early  training  Bruce  was  ex-  which  true  education  is  incomplete,  as  had  Bruce, 
ceptionally  fortunate.  In  other  cases,  even  where  1  hus  the  Senator  from  Mississippi  fell  heir  natur- 

the  Negro  child  was  akin  to  the  master,  the  line  all>'  to  niany  things  those  giants  like  Douglass  and 
between    the    two    was    closely    and    persistantly      Washington   had   to   struggle   for.     This   the   black 

drawn.     In    Bruce's    case,    however,    this    was    not  >'outh  of  the  country  saw  and  still  sees,  and  by  it 

done.     Thus  the  Negro  lad  gained  his  early  train  was>  and  is>  Aspired  to  seek  refinement  from  every 

ing  with  his  master's  son.  possible  source. 

Receiving  his  freedom,  Bruce  went  into  the  State          Again  Bruce  became  a  man  of  wealth.     He  made 

of   Missouri,   where   for   several   years    he    taught  no  n°ise  about  it,  because  once  more   wealth  was 

school.     For  a  time  he  studied  at  Oberlin  College,  to   nml   a   natural  heritage.     Even   though    he    had 

in  Ohio.     Wearying  of  school  teaching,  Mr.  Bruce  not  been  used   to  owning  it  he  had  been  accustomed 

went  south,  and  in   1869  became  a  planter   in  the  to   contact   with   it.     Handling   bales   of   cotton   by 

rich    bottoms    of    Boliver     County     in     Mississippi.  tne  hundred,  handling  plantation  hands,  mules,  im- 

Here  in  the  home  of  his  adoption  he  became  a  big  plements,  were  all  education  that  had  come  to  him 

man  and  he  continued  to  be  a  man  of  affairs  and  '>>'  contact.     This  served  him  greatly  when  he  was 

a  large  cotton  planter.     Even   in   recent  years  his  ln   tlle  presence  of  those   who  thought   and   spoke 

widow  still  handled  many  hundreds  of  bales  of  cot-  and  dealt  with  things  on  a  big  scale.     He  married 

ton    from    their   plantation.     As    a    man    of    affairs,  Mlss  Josephine  B.  Wilson,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  June 

Bruce  was  at  one  time  sheriff  of  the  county  and  at  24,   1878,  and  made  a   bridal   tour  of  the  principal 

another    superintendent    of    public    schools.     As    is  countries  of  Europe,  where  marked  attention  was 

well  known  he  was  Senator  from  Mississippi  from  shown   the  young  couple   by   European   statesmen. 

1875  to  1881.     Here  again,  Bruce  blazed  the  way,  an«J    members    of    the   American    embassies.     They 

as  he  had  done   in   Mississippi.     He   had  been   the  were  highly  entertained  by  Minister  Welch  in  Lon- 

first  Negro  sheriff  of  his  section,  he  had  also  been  don,  and  Minister  Noyes  at  Paris. 
the  first  Negro  county  Superintendent  of  schools  in          All  this  has  gone  into  the  life  of  the  Negro  youth 

Mississippi.     He   was   the   second    Negro    to    hold  of  America   who   honor   and   appreciate   him    more 

a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate.     It  was  at  the  than  even  the  youths  themselves  know  or  proclaim, 
conclusion    of   his   career    as     Republican     Senator          Senator    Bruce    was    a    splendid   orator,   and    de- 

from   Mississippi   that   Bruce   was   made   Registrar  voted  much  of  his   time  in   his   later  years   to   the 

of  the  Treasury,  in  1881.  Just  prior  to  this  appoint-  lecture  platform.      He   never  became   so   enorossfd 

ment   he  had   refused  offers  as    Minister   to   Bra/.;'  in  his  work  that  he  would  not,  on  short  notice    de- 

and  3rd  Assistant   Postmaster  General.     This   post  liver  one  of  his   forceful  speeches  if  he  thought  it 

he  held  for  four  years,  going  out  of  office  in   1885.  was  for  the  good  of  his  people. 


534 


^ixtovp  of  tfte  jgegro  Bate 


THE  NEGRO  IN  HISTORY 

Only  a  brief  sketch  of  the  part  that  the  Negro 
has  played  in  the  world  and  in  civilization  can  be 
given  here.  Wherever  races  have  played  a  part 
the  Negro  from  the  dawn  of  history  has  come  in 
for  his  share  of  responsibility  and  for  his  share  of 
the  glory. 

First  let  us  decide  what  a  Negro  is.  As  a  general 
rule  the  term  Negro  is  applied  to  black  people  of 
unimixed  blood  and  also  to  persons  of  any  race 
whatsoever  who  have  some  Negro  blood  in  their 
veins. 

The  states  where  the  Negro  question  is  most  ac 
ute  have  undertaken  to  define  definitely  the  term 
Negro.  Kentucky,  Maryland,  North  Carolina, 
Tennessee  and  Texas  state  that  "a  person  of  color 
is  one  who  is  decended  from  a  Negro  to  the  third 
generation  inclusive,  though  one  ancestor  in  each 
generation  may  have  been  white.  In  Alabama  one 
is  a  Negro  who  has  had  any  Negro  blood  in  his  an 
cestry  in  five  generations.  In  Michigan,  Nebraska, 
and  Oregon  one  is  not  legally  a  person  of  color  who 
has  less  than  one  fourth  Negro  blood,  while  in  Flor 
ida,  Georgia,  Indiana  and  Missouri  and  South  Car 
olina  one  eighth  Negro  blood  makes  a  Negro  of  a 
man.  But  in  general  practice  the  term  Negro  is 
applied  to  any  person  having  any  Negro  blood 
whatever. 

Because  of  this  definition  of  the  race,  the  colored 
race  includes  persons  of  all  colors,  many  of  whom 
are  fairer  than  some  members  of  the  white  race. 
It  is  of  this  race  with  its  many  mixtures  that  we 
are  trying  to  give  a  brief  history.  The  black  people 
are  natives  of  Africa,  Asia  and  the  Pacific  Islands. 
From  his  native  home  he  has  been  brought  by  trad 
ers  to  this  country  and  to  other  countries.  The 
first  Negroes  brought  to  America  were  with  the 
the  explorers.  As  early  as  1501  Negroes  were 
brought  to  Hispaniola  and  as  early  as  1516  Negroes 
were  helping-  in  the  affairs  of  America.  It  was  in 
that  year  that  Balboa  with  the  assistance  of  thirty 
Negroes  built  the  first  ship  that  was  ever  con 
structed  on  the  Pacific  Coast  of  America.  After 
that  the  Negro  was  in  most  of  the  expeditions. 

They  were  with  Cortez  in  his  conquest  of  Mex 
ico;  they  were  with  Vasques  de  Ayllon  in  his  at 
tempt  to  establish  a  settlement  in  what  is  now 


North  and  South  Carolina ;  they  were  with  the  ex 
peditions  of  Panfilo  de  Narvaez  to  conquer  Flor 
ida;  and  in  many  of  the  other  expeditions.  The 
second  settler  in  the  State  of  Alabama  (1540)  was 
a  Negro  who  was  a  member  of  the  De  Soto  expedi 
tion. 

In   this   manner   the   Negroes   first   came   to   this 
country.     Afterward    they    were    brought    over    as 
servants  and  as  slaves  later.     The  history  of  slav 
ery  in  the  United  States  is  outlined  more  fully  else 
where.     But  in  bringing  over  the  Negro  men  and 
women  for  slave  purposes  there  were  brought  over 
more  than  one  class  of  Africans.     The  Negro  who 
was  a  slave  in   his  own  country  and   was   sold  to 
traders  for  a  small  sum  represented  by  bright  bits 
of   colored   beads    and    bright     colored    cloth     was 
brought  over.  With  him  came  Negroes  from  other 
tribes    that    had   been    taken    in    war   between    the 
tribes.     This   second   class   were   of  a   higher   type. 
But   the    highest   type   of   Negroes    brought    direct 
from  Africa  was  taken  from  the  ruling  class.  Some 
of  these  were  gotten  by  being  fooled  aboard  ships 
and   other   underhand    methods    used    by    the    un 
scrupulous  traders  who  first  got    the  interest    and 
the  confidence  of  the  Negro  and  then  took  advan 
tage  of  it.     Among  those  who  are  represented  in 
this  class  we  have  an  ancestor  of  Robert  R.  Moton, 
Principal  of  Tuskegee  Institute.     The  story  of  the 
coming  to  this  country  of  this  Negro  of  royal  blood 
is  interesting  and  is  told  as   follows:     The  young 
prince  with  a  drove  of  slaves  to  sell  to  the  trader 
went   down   to   the   ship.     The   commander   of   tin- 
vessel  after   settling  for   the   slaves    he    had    pur 
chased  asked  the  young  prince  if  he  would  not  like 
to  look  over  the  vessel.     Replying  in  the  affirma 
tive  he  went  aboard  and  was  shown  around  with  a 
great  deal  of  ceremony.     When  he  came  back  from 
his  tour  of  inspection  the  ship  was  miles  out  at  sea. 
While  speaking  of  this  case  it  might  be  added  that 
R.   R.  Moton,  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  race  is  of  pure   blooded  African   descent.  This 
goes  to  prove  that  the  theory,  that  all  the  achieve 
ment  of  the  Negro  in  this   country  is   due  to  the 
white  blood  that  is  now  mixed  in  the  race,  is  false. 
Another  case  will  show  that  the  Negroes  of  ro 
yal  blood  from  Africa  were  held  in  respect  by  the 
others.     There    was    brought    to    Massachusetts    a 


535 


young  girl  of  the  ruling  class.  Two  men  from 
her  tribe  were  in  the  same  place.  The  owner  of 
the  men  tried  to  make  one  of  them  marry  the  girl 
or  at  least  mate  with  her,  but  remembering  that 
she  had  royal  blood  in  her  veins,  even  in  this  coun 
try  where  they  were  held  in  bondage  he  refused 
to  so  insult  the  daughter  of  his  king. 

Not  only  were  the  Negroes  brought  over  of  dif 
ferent  classes,  but  there  were  brought  over  persons 
who  were  sold  as  Negroes  who  were  not  in  the 
strictest  sense  of  the  word  Negroes,  but  were  of 
the  other  darker  nations  that  occupy  the  conti 
nent.  This  in  a  measure  accounts  for  the  differ 
ent  types  we  have  at  present  whore  mixed  blood 
cannot  be  offered  as  the  solution. 

Thus  from  the  beginning  of  the  history  of  the 
Negro  in  this  country  there  was  more  then  one 
class,  and  with  the  education  and  development  and 
the  mixing  of  the  races  there  has  been  developed 
a  race  of  men  far  superior  to  the  general  concep 
tion  when  the  term  Negro  is  used.  Since  coming 
to  the  United  States  the  Negro  has  played  an  im 
portant  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  country,  directly 
and  indirectly,  for  indirectly  the  Negro  is  respon 
sible  for  the  great  wealth  that  has  come  to  this 
country  through  the  cotton  industry. 

HISTORY  OF  SLAVERY  IN  AMERICA 

African  Slave  trade  was  begun  by  Portugal  in 
1442.  Spain,  took  a  part  in  it  in  1517.  England. 
France,  Holland,  Denmark  and  the  American  col 
onies  one  by  one  took  part  in  this  trade.  The  Am 
erican  Colonies  afforded  a  good  place  for  the  trad 
ing  of  these  slaves.  Thus  to  our  country  came  the 
institution  of  slavery. 

In  the  year  1619  the  first  African  immigrants 
were  landed  in  Virginia.  According  to  Monroe  N. 
Work,  in  the  "Year  Book"  these  twenty  Negroes 
were  not  necessarily  sold  into  slavery,  but  into  ser 
vice.  He  says,  "It  was  not  uncommon  practice  in 
this  period  for  ship  masters  to  sell  white  servants 
to  planters  ;  hence  an  inference  that  these  twenty 
Negroes  were  slaves,  drawn  from  the  fact  that  they 
were  sold  to  the  colony  or  planters  would  be  un 
justified."  The  first  record  of  a  "Negro  servant  for 
life"  or  a  slave  in  the  state  of  Virginia  was  in  the 
year  1640.  In  that  year  also  the  first  record  of 
discriminating  against  Negroes  in  the  state  of  Vir 
ginia  is  recorded.  Both  came  out  in  the  same  ac 
count.  Three  servants  ran  away,  one  a  Dutch 
man,  one  a  Scotchman  and  one  a  Negro.  They 
were  caught.  Each  was  given  thirty  lashes.  The 
Dutchman  and  the  Scotchman  were  condemned  to 
serve  four  years  beyond  their  indenture.  The  Ne 
gro,  John  Punch,  was  condemned  to  servitude  for 
life.  In  the  year  1662  slavery  was  declared  here 
ditary  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  This  was  done  by 

536 


decreeing  that  the  issue  of  slave  mothers  should 
follow  in  the  condition  of  servitude.  Thus  by  the 
end  of  the  year  1662  slavery  was  fully  established 
in  Virginia,  the  oldest  of  the  colonies. 

New  York  (1628),  New  Jersey  (1628)  Massachu 
setts  (1630),  Connecticut  (1631-1636),  Delaware. 
(1636),  Rhode  Island  (1647),  South  Carolina  (1665) 
North  Carolina  (1669)  one  by  one  saw  the  traffic 
in  slaves  fully  established  within  their  borders. 
New  Hampshire  was  founded  in  1679  with  .slavery 
in  all  probability  -already  established.  Pennsylvania 
was  ceded  to  William  Perm  in  1681  with  slavery 
probably  already  established.  Georgia  was  found 
ed  in  1733,  but  slavery  was  forbidden  within  tin- 
borders  till  1749.  The  reason  for  the  change  of  at 
titude  toward  the  institution  was  the  lack  of  prog 
ress  being  made  by  the  State.  The  surrounding 
states  were  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  due  to 
the  labor  of  the  slaves.  Seeing  this  Georgia 
changed  her  laws  in  order  that  some  of  the  wealth 
derived  from  Negro  labor  might  come  her  way. 

Slavery  in  the  Colonies  did  not  develop  without 
opposition.  As  early  as  1688  the  first  step  was  tak 
en  to  check  the  sale  of  Negroes.  Virginia,  the 
state  that  led  in  the  establishing  of  slavery,  also 
triid  to  lead  in  the  prohibition  of  the  importation 
of  slaves  ,but  the  mother  country,  England,  did  not 
allow  any  of  these  acts  to  become  law. 

In  the  far  South  the  Negroes  soon  outnumbered 
the  whites  and  this  caused  the  whites  to  live  in  con 
stant  fear  of  an  uprising.  Eor  this  reason  they 
placed  very  heavy  duties  on  the  importation  of 
slaves.  None  of  these  measures,  however,  were 
able  to  check  the  rapid  growth  of  the  institution 
(.nee  it  had  a  good  start. 

There  are  those  among  colored  people  today 
who  claim  that  their  people  were  never  slaves.  This 
is  especially  true  of  people  comim;  iron:  Virginia 
and  the  Carolinas.  There  is  some  ground  for  llv 
claim.  Hack  in  the  days  of  the  colonies  there  were 
many  free  Negroes.  The  Negro  gained  his  free 
dom  in  several  ways.  Some  were  allowed  to  bin1 
their  time  to  other  people.  All  that  was  earned 
above  the  $100  the  master  required  for  their  time 
became  the  possession  of  that  particular  slave.  Ar- 
ter  years  of  toil  some  had  money  enough  to  pur 
chase  their  own  freedom.  Sometimes  a  master  at 
death  gave  a  number  of  his  slaves  their  freedom. 
Slaves  were  sometimes  given  their  freedom  be 
cause  of  some  act  for  the  good  of  the  community. 
But  by  far  the  larger  number  of  free  Negroes  dur 
ing  the  days  of  the  colonists,  "inherited"  their  free 
dom.  There  was  a  law  making  free  the  children  of 
indentured  white  mothers  and  Negro  fathers  after 
a  period  of  thirty  or  thirty-one  years  of  service. 
From  these  various  ways  the  number  of  free  Ne 
groes  increased.  But  the  lives  of  these  free  Ne 
groes  were  hedged  about  with  difficulties  and  hard- 


ships.  He  could  not  associate  with  the  Negro 
slaves  without  being'  held  under  suspicion.  His 
one  great  advantage  came  in  his  being  able  to  pur 
chase  land  and  purchase  the  liberty  of  his  family 
if  they  were  enslaved. 

SLAVERY  IN  THE  STATES. 

The  Negro  played  a  part  in  the  war  which  gave 
to  the  States  their  freedom  from  the  English  yoke. 
Sentiment  had  been  aroused  against  slave  trade  in 
England.  When  the  war  broke  out,  the  governor 
of  Virginia  promised  freedom  to  all  Negroes  who 
would  join  the  English  army  and  fight  against  their 
masters.  Thousands  did  this.  Alarmed,  the  col 
onists  changed  their  attitude  and  began  to  enlist 
the  Negroes  in  the  American  Army.  It  is  estimat 
ed  that  three  thousand  Negroes  served  in  the  Ame 
rican  army,  many  of  whom  were  given  their  free 
dom  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

From  the  first  the  question  of  the  slave  and  the 
rights  of  the  free  Negro  became  an  issue  in  the 
newly  formed  republic.  Vermont  was  the  first 
state  to  prohibit  and  abolish  slavery. 

This  measure  was  adopted  by  Vermont  in 
1777,  but  she  was  not  admitted  to  the  Union  till 
1791.  Several  of  the  states  passed  laws  for  the 
gradual  abolition  of  slavery.  By  this  method  the 
children  of  slave  parents  remained  in  service  till 
the  boys  and  girls  were  twenty-eight  and  twenty- 
five  respectively.  While  this  method  took  some 
time  it  gave  freedom  to  the  slaves  at  a  much  ear 
lier  date  than  other  states.  New  York,  New  Jer 
sey,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  and  Pennsylvania 
were  states  with  the  gradual  abolition  system. 
Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  and 
Ohio  took  very  definite  stand  against  the  institu 
tion  and  prohibited  the  barter  of  human  beings. 

Georgia  ceded  to  the  Union  the  land  which  after 
ward  became  Alabama  and  Mississippi.  This  was 
done  on  the  condition  that  slavery  should  not  be 
prohibited  within  this  territory.  An  effort  ',was 
made  to  keep  the  number  of  free  and  slave  states 
about  the  same.  In  this  manner  there  was  hope 
that  no  harm  would  result  to  the  central  govern 
ment.  But  there  were  forces  at  work  for  the  free 
ing  of  this  slave  people.  For  years  there  was  sen 
timent  against  the  enslaving  of  the  colored  people 
in  most  of  the  northern  states.  And  in  some  of  the 
southern  states  there  were  persons  who  took  the 
stand  that  slavery  was  wrong. 

Of  all  the  forces  that  were  at  work  for  the  free 
dom  of  the  slaves  the  book.  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,  by 
Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  did  most  to  bring  it  about. 
Based  on  facts,  it  pictured  the  life  of  the  slave  in 
its  best  and  in  its  worst  forms.  This  book  was 
published  in  1852.  Next  to  the  influence  of  this 
book.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  pastor  of  Plymouth 
Church,  Brooklyn,  Charles  Sunnier  of  the  United 


States  Senate  along  with  many  others  talked  open 
ly  against  the  institution  of  slavery.  John  Brown, 
with  his  enthusiastic  attack  on  the  arsenal  at  Har 
pers'  Ferry,  Virginia,  in  1859  really  supplied  the 
spark  that  set  the  whole  country  in  flames  on  the 
subject  of  Negro  Slavery  in  the  States. 

The  question  of  slaves  was  discussed  in  all  por 
tions  of  the  country.  In  some  places  the  slaves 
were  declared  free,  as  for  instance,  in  Georgia,  only 
to  have  the  proclamation  rescinded  by  President 
Lincoln.  But  the  question  could  not  go  on  unset 
tled.  On  September  22nd,  1862,  President  Lincoln 
issued  the  preliminary  proclamation  of  emancipa 
tion.  January  first,  1863,  the  Emancipation  Pro 
clamation  was  issued.  This  proclamation  was  sup 
ported  by  the  Civil  War  and  by  the  amendments 
to  the  constitution  which  followed.  One  by  one 
the  States  in  which  slavery  had  been  abolished  by 
voluntary  acts,  took  up  the  matter  and  declared  the 
non-existence  of  slaves  within  their  borders. 

THE  UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD 

The  Underground  Railway  had  none  of  the  fea 
tures  of  the  modern  railway,  except  the  carrying  of 
passengers,  and  these  were  limited  in  kind  and  in 
the  direction  of  the  travel.  No  one  could  obtain 
passage  on  this  road,  unless  he  or  she  were  a  slave, 
and  wanted  to  be  free.  The  trains  ran  in  but  one 
direction,  and  that  was  Northward.  There  were 
no  "Jim  Crow"  cars,  no  sleepers,  and  no  smokers, 
and  all  passengers  were  carried  free  of  charge.  It 
was  a  railroad  without  stockholders,  but  it  had 
innumerable  directors.  No  dividends  were  paid  ex 
cept  to  passengers,  and  such  dividends  were  in  the 
form  of  certificates  of  freedom  from  bondage. 

To  be  more  explicit,  the  Underground  Railway 
was  a  system  of  clandestine  travel,  extending  from 
the  borders  of  "Mason  and  Dixon's  Line"  through 
the  North  and  West  to  Canada. 

It  required  large  sums  of  money  to  keep  this 
Underground  Railway  system  in  motion.  The  run 
aways  must  be  fed,  clothed,  and  their  passage  paid 
across  the  lake  to  Canada.  Mr.  Douglass  was  in 
the  lecture-field  most  of  the  time  to  raise  money 
to  do  his  part.  The  Female  Anti-Slavery  Society, 
with  its  branches  throughout  the  North,  solicited 
funds  and  clothing,  and  as  these  unfortunate  fugi 
tives  were  invaribly  destitute,  means  had  to  be 
supplied  them  until  they  could  secure  employment 
under  the  British  flag. 

The  majority  of  the  escapes  were  made  in  Win 
ter,  when  the  oversight  on  the  plantation  was  less 
rigid  than  in^the  working  season,  and  many  who 
were  given  passes  during  the  Christmas  holidays 
to  visit  neighboring  towns  or  plantations,  seized 
that  opportunity  for  a  longer  journey. 

The  western  and  southwestern  branch  of  the 
Underground  Railway  was  operated  from  Cincin- 


537 


nati,  Ohio,  and  through  Michigan  to  Canada.  Fu 
gitive  slaves  from  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Missis 
sippi,  Arkansas  and  Louisiana  took  this  route.  The 
whole  number  of  slaves  who  successfully  made 
their  escape  through  the  system  has  never  been  as 
certained. 

•The  manner  of  Douglass's  flight— riding  out  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  daylight  and  in  sight 
of  those  who  knew  that  he  was  a  slave — is  a 
good  illustration  of  the  boldness  and  ingenuity  of 
some  of  the  escapes.  Among  the  hundreds  of  in 
teresting  cases  cited  by  Mr.  Still,  is  that  of  William 
Crafts,  who  gained  his  liberty  by  acting  the  part  of 
a  valet  or  body-servant  of  his  wife.  She  was  of 
light  brown  complexion,  and  for  this  adventure 
wore  men's  clothing.  Another  case  is  that  of  a 
slave-woman  who  hitched  up  her  master's  horse 
and  carriage,  and  taking  her  family  of  five  children 
and  several  others,  drove  off  to  liberty.  Box  Brown 
was  the  name  of  a  slave,  who  permitted  himself  to 
be  nailed  up  in  a  box  and  sent  by  express  to  Balti 
more.  Two  colored  women  dressed  in  deep  mourn 
ing  and  rode  Northward  to  freedom  in  the  same 
coach-  as  their  masters,  who  did  not  know  them. 
In  some  cases  slaves  secreted  themselves  for  sev 
eral  months  and,  when  search  for  them  had  ceased, 
crept  off  unsuspected.  In  hundreds  of  instances, 
the  parts  were  as  cleverly  played  as  if  the  fugitives 
had  had  special  training  in  the  drama  of  running 
away  from  their  masters.  In  nearly  all  cases  these 
black  men  and  women  took  desperate  chances.  The 
conductors  of  the  Underground  Railway  were  ev 
erywhere,  and  at  all  times  on  the  alert.  They 
knew  every  path,  the  byways  and  highways  in 
which  slaves  might  hide  or  on  which  they  might 
travel  to  reach  freedom.  The  stations  were  al 
ways  open  and  ready  to  receive  them.  It  was  nev 
er  too  late,  or  too  early,  or  too  difficult,  or  too  per 
ilous  to  be  on  the  lookout  to  welcome,  to  protect, 
and  pass  on  fugitives  to  the  next  place  of  safety. 
Clothing,  food,  shoes,  carriages,  wagons,  horses, 
and  mules  were  always  at  hand.  No  secret  so 
ciety  has  ever  veiled  its  proceedings  in  deeper  mys 
tery  than  this  widely  separated  army  of  determin 
ed  conspirators  and  emancipators.  The  secret-ser 
vice  men  of  the  government  tried  to  locate  the  sta 
tions  and  the  station  agents,  but  the  more  they 
searched,  the  less  they  found.  It  is  a  curious  fact 
that  the  Uited  States  secret  service  men  seem  to 
have  had  just  as  little  success  in  uncovering  the 
systematic  plans  for  aiding  slaves  to  escape  to  the 
Northern  states  as  in  preventing  the  smuggling  of 
slaves  from  Africa  into  the  Southern  states.  The 
traffic  of  the  Underground  Railroad  continued  to 
increase  in  volume  and  the  slave  once  off  United 
States  soil  was  beyond  reach  of  recall. 


EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION 

Whereas,  on  the  22nd  day  of  September,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-two,  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  Pres 
ident  of  the  United  States,  containing,  among 
other  things,  the  following,  to-wit : 

That  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  State 
or  designated  part  of  a  State,  the  people  whereof 
shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States 
shall  be  then,  thenceforward,  and  forever  free  ;  and 
the  Executive  Government  of  the  United  States,  in 
cluding  the  military  and  naval  authority  thereof, 
will  recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  such 
persons,  and  will  do  no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such 
persons,  or  any  of  them,  in  any  efforts  they  may 
make  for  their  actual  freedom. 

That  the  Executive  will,  on  the  first  day  of  Jan 
uary,  aforesaid,  by  proclamation,  designate  the 
States  and  parts  of  States,  if  any,  in  which  the 
people  therof  respectively  shall  then  be  in  rebel 
lion  against  the  United  States ;  and  the  fact  that 
any  State,  or  the  people  thereof,  shall  on  that  day 
be  in  good  faith  represented  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  by  members  chosen  thereto  at  elec 
tions  wherein  a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of 
such  State  shall  have  participated,  shall,  in  the  ab 
sence  of  strong  countervailing  testimony,  be  deem 
ed  conclusive  evidence  that  such  State,  and  the 
people  thereof,  are  not  then  in  rebellion  against 
the  United  States. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  Pres 
ident  of  the  United  States,  by  virtue  of  the  power 
in  me  vested  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army 
and  Navy  of  the  United  States  in  time  of  actual 
armed  rebellion  against  the  authority  and  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States,  and  as  a  fit  and  neces 
sary  war  measure  for  suppressing  said  rebellion, 
do,  on  this  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three 
and  in  accordance  with  my  purpose  so  to  do,  pub 
licly  proclaimed  for  the  full  period  of  one  hundred 
days  from  the  day  first  above  mentioned,  order 
and  designate  as  the  States  and  parts  of  States, 
wherein  the  people  thereof  respectfully  are  this 
day  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  the  fol 
lowing,  to-wit : 

"Arkansas,  Texas,  Louisiana,  (except  the  parish 
es  of  St.  Bernard,  Plaquemine,  Jefferson,  St.  John, 
St.  Charles,  St.  James,  Ascension,  Assumption, 
Terre  Bonne,  LaFourche,  St.  Mary,  St.  Martin, 
and  Orleans,  including  the  city  of  New  Orleans), 
Mississippi,  Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia,  South  Car 
oline,  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  (except  the  for 
ty-eight  counties  designated  as  West  Virginia,  and 
also  the  counties  of  Berkley,  Accomac,  Northamp- 


538 


ton,  Elizabeth  City,  York,  Princess  Anne,  and  Nor 
folk,  including  the  cities  of  Norfolk  and  Ports 
mouth),  and  which  excepted  parts  are  for  the  pres 
ent,  left  precisely  as  if  this  proclamation  was  not 
issued. 

"And,  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  I  do  order  and  declare  that  all  persons 
held  as  slaves  within  said  designated  States  and 
parts  of  States,  are  and  henceforward  shall  be  free ; 
and  that  the  Executive  Government  of  the  United 
States,  including  the  military  and  naval  authori 
ties  thereof,  will  recognize  and  maintain  the  free 
dom  of  said  persons. 

"And  I  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  people  so  declared 
to  be  free,  to  abstain  from  all  violence,  unless  in 
necessary  self-defense ;  and  I  recommend  to  them 
that,  in  all  cases  when  allowed,  they  labor  faith 
fully  for  reasonable  wages. 

"And  I  further  declare  and  make  known  that 
such  persons,  of  suitable  conditions,  will  be  re 
ceived  into  the  armed  service  of  the  United  States 
to  garrison  forts,  positions,  stations,  and  other 
places,  and  to  man  vessels  of  all  sorts  in  said  ser 
vice. 

"And  upon  this  act,  sincerely  believed  to  be  an 
act  of  justice,  warranted  by  the  Constitution  upon 
military  necessity,  I  invoke  the  considerate  judg 
ment  of  mankind,  and  the  gracious  favor  of  Al 
mighty  God. 

"In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
name  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to 
be  affixed. 

"Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  1st  day 
of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1863,  and  of 
the  independence  of  the  United  States  the  eighty- 
seventh. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

By  the  President : 
William  H.  Seward, 
Secretary  of  State. 

NEGRO  IN  BUSINESS. 

Perhaps  the  two  greatest  agents  to  foster  and 
promote  Negro  business  in  this  country  have  been 
the  Negro  banks  and  the  Negro  secret  organiza 
tions.  The  secret  orders  have  undoubtedly  been 
the  prime  movers  because  they  have  not  only  been 
built  by  Negro  capital  in  large  sums,  but  the  build 
ings  themselves  are  of  such  a  sort  that  any  one 
would  be  proud  to  conduct  a  business  within  them 
Such  buildings  as  the  Mosiac  Temple  in  Little 
Rock,  Arkansas;  Odd  Fellows  Building,  in  Atlanta, 
Georgia;  Pythian  Temple,  in  New  Orleans;  Pyth 
ian  Building,  in  Louisville,  Kentucky;  Mosiac  Tem 
ple,  in  Jacksonville,  Fla. ;  Pvthian  Building  in  Dal 


las,  Texas,  furnish  inspiring  centers  for  the  colored 
people  to  have  their  businesses  in. 

The  factory  that  was  established  by  Madam 
Walker  and  in  which  she  gave  employment  to  hun 
dreds  of  Negro  women  and  girls  is  another  type 
of  building  that  has  been  erected  by  the  colored 
race,  and  that  has  done  so  much  good  for  the  up 
lift  of  the  race.  This  work  of  Madam  Walker  is 
described  in  full  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Similar 
to  the  establishment  of  Madam  Walker  in  the 
point  of  the  articles  manufactured  is  the  Poro 
Building. 

Under  the  name  of  Poro  College,  there  is  ope 
rated  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  the  largest  manufac 
turing  plant  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  It  is  owned, 
controlled  and  operated  wholly  by  colored  people. 
Through  this  plant  40,000  girls  and  women  are  en 
abled  to  earn  a  livlihood;  150  of  this  number  work 
in  the  plant.  It  was  founded  in  1900  by  Mrs.  An 
nie  M.  Pope-Turnbo  Malone,  who  had  made  a  spe 
cialty  of  the  study  of  chemistry  and  put  her  know 
ledge  into  these  compounds,  which  together  with 
the  Poro  System  have  revolutionized  Hair  Culture. 

The  new  Poro  Building  which  was  completed  in 
1918,  cost  upward  of  $250,000.00.  The  building  is 
three  stories,  has  basement,  mezzanine  floor  and 
roof  garden.  It  is  indeed  an  inspiration  to  any  one 
to  visit  this  wonderful  plant.  It  is  so  planned  that 
all  the  needs  of  the  visitor  can  be  satisfied  within 
the  plant.  There  are  95  dormitories,  there  is  a 
public  dining  room,  is  an  auditorium  with 
a  seating  capacity  of  800,  is  a  refrigerating 
plant  that  furnishes  ice  water  for  the  entire  build 
ing,  and  Lamson  pneumatic  tube  carriers.  In  the 
section  that  is  reserved  for  beautv,  hair  and  scalp 
treatment  there  are  thirty-one  booths.  The  kit 
chen  is  most  modern  and  is  thoroughly  equipped  , 
the  halls  reserved  for  receptions  are  very  beauti 
ful  and  spacious  ;  there  is  in  the  rear  a  room  set 
apart  for  the  care  of  small  children  where  they 
may  receive  kindergarten  training.  Everything 
about  this  plant  is  wonderful.  The  order,  the  spirit 
of  cheer,  the  most  wonderful  art  of  all  working  to 
ward  one  end — all  are  to  be  felt  when  paying  a 
visit  to  this  establishment. 

The  two  people  who  are  responsible  for  this 
wonderful  piece  of  business  among  the  Negroes  are 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  E.  Malone.  Mrs.  Malone  spent 
her  early  life  in  Metropolis  and  Peoria,  Illinois. 
Mr.  Malone  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  teacher 
in  Illinois,  serving  as  principal  of  some  of  the  large 
schools.  Both  of  these  people,  who  are  still  young, 
are  genii  in  the  business  world  and  it  is  through 
their  wise  administration  of  their  affairs  that  the 
phenomenal  success  of  Poro  has  come.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Malone  are  philanthropists.  To  the  St.  Louis 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  they  gave  $75,000.  the  largest  sum  giv 
en  by  colored  people  to  any  one  institution.  A 


5.59 


1  jp**- 


.  or  M^-  ^BARNES 
SAVANNAH,     OA, 


RB5.  OF     J.H.  BLODGETT,  -»  JACKSOKVILt,!:.  ,  FLA. 


RKPRKSHNTATIVE  HOMES  OF  NEGROES  jN  DIFFERENT  SECTIONS  OF  THE  COUNTRY 


540 


RE8.  OF  L.H. STEWART-   EYANSVlUJE,  1ND. 


.  EVANS,  —    SHREVEPOR.T,  LA . 


RES.  OF 

PRESTON  TAYLOR- 
GREENWOOD  PARK,       S  •«_, 
NASHVILLE,  TEND,  -j  i 


RES. 07  J05.1. JONES.  emCWHATI. 


RES. OF  Dn,3.H. GEORGE,-   PADUCAH,  KV 


RES.  OF  D*.W.T. PULLER,, 
.  3UFFOUK,  VA. 


•RE5.  OP  J.N.CUKITON,-    TAMPA.  TLA. 


Res.  of  W.  Curtis  Reich,  Muskogee,  Okla. 


RT,S.Or  KR. S.W.  HARBISON. - 

FT.  SMITH,  ARK. 


REPRESENTATIVE  HOMES  OF  NEGROES  IX  DIFFERENT    SECTIONS   OF   THE   COUNTRY 


541 


few  months  ago  to  Tuskegee  Institute  they  gave 
$1200,  and  to  Wilberforce  they  gave  $1000m  They 
support  the  St.  Louis  Orphans  Home  and  contri- 
hute  largely  to  many  institutions  without  letting 
the  public  know  anything  about  it. 

With  Poro  College  as  a  manufacturing  plant,  and 
hotel  for  our  people,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Malone  deserve 
great  credit  for  producing  a  business  of  this  size 
that  is  perfectly  planned,  perfectly  executed  and 
wholly  an  asset  to  the  race. 

Another  business  of  great  importance  to  the 
Race  is  that  in  Durham,  North  Carolina,  known 
as  the  North  Carolina  Mutual  and  Provident  Asso 
ciation.  This  was  founded  by  John  Merrick.  This 
work  is  described  in  full  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  Standard  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Atlanta 
Ga.,  the  only  Old  Line  Insurance  Company  owned 
and  controlled  by  Negroes. 

E.  C.  Brown's  Theatrical  Syndicate,  details  of 
which  are  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  Baptist  Publishing  House  at  Nashville,  Tenn 
essee  is  another  example  of  a  large  business  owned 
and  operated  by  members  of  the  colored  race.  This 
work  is  told  in  full  elsewhere.  A.  M.  E.  Sunday 
School  Union  Publishing  House.  In  nearly  every 
town  and  city  where  Negroes  are  at  all  in  prevail 
ing  numbers  are  found  various  Negro  stores,  some 
of  them  run  in  as  orderly  a  fashion  as  those  run 
by  members  of  the  other  race.  There  are  in  all 
about  43.000  places  of  business  being  run  by  col 
ored  people.  This  does  not  include  barber  shops, 
shoe  shops  and  blacksmith  shops.  The  National 
Negro  Business  League  is  responsible  for  stimu 
lating  and  increasing  Negro  Business  enterprises. 
It  was  for  this  purpose  that  Dr.  Washington  in  his 
wisdom  organized  this  League  and  through  it  and 
its  branches  in  the  various  cities  of  the  country 
the  colored  man  has  been  shown  just  what  can 
be  done  through  organized  effort. 

NEGRO  HOMES 

Nothing  has  been  a  greater  seurce  of  pride  to 
the  colored  man  in  America  than  the  progress  he 
has  made  in  the  improvement  of  his  home  and 
home  life.  Beginning  at  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
running  the  whole  length  of  the  coast  to  the  Gulf 
and  going  across  the  continent  to  San  Francisco, 
to  Denver,  to  Portland,  one  finds  dotted  here  and 
there  Negro  residences  comparing  favorably  with 
any.  Many  of  these  homes  cost  from  $10,000  to 
$20,000  and  there  are  a  few  that  cost  a  great  deal 
more  than  that,  notably  among  these  last  is  the 
home  of  Madam  C.  J.  Walker,  on  the  Hudson, 
which  cost  $300.000.00.  These  homes  are  kept  with 
the  same  skill  and  neatness  as  those  of  any  people 
in  similar  corcumstances.  There  are  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  homes  that  are  not  so  pretentious, 
but  are  models  in  the  manner  in  which  they  are 


kept.  It  is  for  the  purpose  of  training  the  young 
girls  and  women  of  the  race  in  matters  pertaining 
to  home  making  that  the  courses  in  Home  Econ 
omics  and  Domestic  Science  are  maintained  in  all 
of  the  schools  that  are  provided  by  the  church  and 
the  state.  This  training  is  now  even  being  offered 
in  the  courses  of  the  rural  schools  of  the  South 
land.  There  is  still  a  large  class  of  people  who 
remain  unreached,  but  the  beginning  is  made  and  it 
is  a  great  and  good  beginning. 

Some  of  the  cities  are  more  noted  for  the  beau 
tiful  residences  owned  by  the  colored  people  than 
are  others.  In  Washington,  New  York,  Baltimore, 
Richmond,  Raleigh.  Durham,  Atlanta.  Birmingham, 
Jacksonville,  St.  Louis,  and  Chicago  there  are 
homes  that  are  second  to  none  owned  bv  the  av 
erage  well-to-do  citizen.  In  these  various  centers 
are  sometimes  whole  streets  owned  by  Negroes. 
One  instance  of  this  is  the  Beautiful  West  Belle, 
in  St.  Louis.  This  was  once  an  exclusive  residen 
tial  district  for  white  people.  Gradually  it  has 
changed  hands  and  is  now  the  best  residential  sec 
tion  for  Negroes.  These  property  holders  have 
made  an  effort  to  keep  up  the  standard  of  the 
street  and  it  is  beautiful  to  visit. 

Home  life  among  Negroes  has  developed  during 
the  past  fifty  years,  as  has  everything  else  that  be 
longs  to  them.  But  even  in  the  days  of  slavery 
when  many  lived  under  the  worst  circumstances 
there  were  examples  of  beautiful  home  life,  beaut 
iful  from  the  standpoint  of  the  regard  in  which  the 
members  of  the  family  held  each  other  and  tin- 
character  that  the  mothers  tried  to  build  up  in  their 
children.  From  these  families  have  sprung  some 
of  the  best  and  most  noted  of  the  colored  people 
who  are  prominent  today.  Take  for  an  example, 
Booker  T.  Washington.  He  lived  in  a  hut  with  his 
mother  and  brother  and  sister,  yet  this  mother 
managed  to  surround  them  with  the  spirit  of  home, 
the  spirit  that  made  her  provide  food  for  them  at 
regular  intervals,  the  spirit  that  made  her  gather 
them  to  gether  and  teach  them  to  pray  and  to  fear 
God  and  live  right.  It  was  the  spirit  that  made  the 
home.  Many  are  the  humble  examples  of  this 
type  of  home  today  in  which  are  trained  some  of 
the  best  people. 

But  the  same  spirit  may  be  had  in  the  great  and 
rich  homes  as  well  as  in  the  humble  ones.  Take 
the  home  life  of  Booker  T.  Washington  after  he 
was  able  to  have  the  comforts  and  some  of  the  lux 
uries  of  life.  The  same  spirit  of  keeping  the  chil 
dren  together  that  his  mother  had  shown  in  her 
humble  home  was  apparent  in  his  home.  If  he  came 
home  and  missed  one  of  the  boys,  immediately 
that  child  was  asked  for  and  if  necessary  sent  for. 
Although  he  was  much  away  from  home  he  always 
tried  to  get  back  to  his  family  for  the  holidays  in 
order  that  he  might  be  with  his  wife  and  children. 


542 


The  spirit  of  love,  of  tenderness,  of  protection  in 
which  he  held  his  children  was  beautiful  to  see. 
This  side  of  this  wonderful  man  is  one  that  is  not 
often  referred  to,  but  is  one  of  the  things  that 
helped  make  him  the  great  man  that  he  was. 

There  are  many  other  examples  that  might  be 
cited  of  the  beautiful  home  life  within  the  beauti 
ful  home ;  of  beautiful  home  life  within  the  well 
kept  modest  home.  In  fact  it  has  been  in  a  large 
measure  the  home  life  that  has  made  for  the  won 
derful  advancement  of  the  Negro  during  the  past 
fifty  odd  years. 

NEGRO  IN  PUBLIC  LIFE 

Kvcr  since  Crispus  Attucks  fell  in  Boston,  the 
Negro  of  America  has  had  some  claim  to  public  of 
fice.  Regardless  of  politics  he  has  managed,  some 
how,  to  hold  office  under  nearly  every  administra 
tion.  Among  these  a  few  of  the  noteworthy  ex 
amples  may  be  mentioned — Blanche  K.  Bruce,  born 
in  the  State  of  Virginia,  a  slave,  was  sent  to  the 
United  States  Senate  in  1895,  from  the  State  of 
Mississippi. 

Another  Senator  from  the  State  of  Mississippi 
was  a  colored  man.  This  was  Hiram  R.  Revels,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  and  a  free  man.  He  was 
educated  during  the  days  of  slavery  at  Knox  Col 
lege,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1847.  He 
became  the  first  of  all  the  colored  United  States 
Senators:  Judge  Robert  H.  Terrell,  of  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  Congressman  John  M.  Langston.  of  Vir 
ginia  ;  John  R.  Lynch,  of  Mississippi ;  George  W. 
Murray,  of  South  Carolina;  Charles  W.  Anderson, 
of  New  York  City;  Hon.  John  W.  Green,  of  Cleve 
land  ;  William  H.  Lewis,  of  Boston  ;  J.  C.  Napier, 
and  Henry  W.  Furniss,  most  of  whom  are  told 
about  in  full  elsewhere  are  examples  of  colored  of 
fice  holders  who  during  the  terms  of  office  received 
from  two  to  ten  thousand  dollars  per  year  for  their 
services. 

Of  another  type  of  public  man  was  Frederick 
Douglass  who  became  such  a  help  in  the  cause  of 
freedom  through  his  lectures. 

A  bright  example  of  the  man  in  public  life  as  a 
public  speaker  of  this  day  we  have  Roscoe  C.  Sim 
mons,  who  is  a  native  of  Mississippi  and  still  a  man 
in  his  early  thirties.  This  young  man  is  gifted  as 
a  speaker  and  is  employed  in  a  number  of  public 
issues  as  a  speaker.  He  has  the  ability  to  thrill 
his  audience  and  paint  pictures  as  very  few  men 
can  do.  Regardless  of  color  Simmons  is  a  great 
orator  and  uses  his  gift  in  the  interest  of  his  peo 
ple. 

NEGRO  FARMER 


has  won  his  spurs  and  the  encouraging  feature  of 
the  whole  matter  is,  that  though  manv  young  peo 
ple  leave  the  farms,  yet  when  the  total  is  taken 
the  number  of  Negro  farmers  as  well  as  the  num 
ber  of  Negro  farms  has  increased  year  by  year. 
Today  the  Negro  owns  farm  property  to  the  extent 
of  five  hundred  million  dollars  in  value.  Nor  has 
he  restricted  his  work  to  any  one  branch,  dairy 
men,  stock-breeders,  poultry-men,  cotton  growers, 
grain  growers,  potato  growers,  indeed,  there  is  not 
a  branch  of  agriculture  in  which  the  Negro  is  not 
classed.  One  might  name  such  men  as  the  po 
tato  king,  Junius  G.  Groves,  of  Kansas  ;  the  fam 
ous  horsebreeder,  Bass,  of  Mexico,  Missouri ;  the 
cotton  grower,  Deal  Jackson,  of  Georgia;  as  in 
stances  of  Negroes  who  excel  in  the  various 
branches  of  agriculture. 

In  the  South  Negro  farming  has  been  greatly 
improved  during  the  last  decade  by  the  construct 
ive  work  of  the  State  government  and  of  the  Fed 
eral  government.  Both  of  these  have  co-operated 
in  employing  agents  to  teach  practical  agriculture. 
Women  trained  in  housekeeping,  in  cooking,  gar 
dening,  and  poultry  raising  have  gone  into  the 
homes  of  the  Negro  farmer  and  taught  the  wives 
the  details  of  scientific  methods  of  good  house 
keeping.  Men  trained  in  agriculture  have  taught 
the  Negro  farmer  more  scientific  methods  of 
plowing,  harvesting,  selecting  seed,  and  given  most 
valuable  instruction  on  the  selection  and  treatment 
of  stock.  These  teachers  going  from  farm  to  farm 
have  increased  farming  values  in  the  South. 

Coming  under  this  head  something  of  the  life  of 
Groves  mentioned  above  will  without  doubt  prove 
an  inspiration  to  boys  who  may  read  this.  Junius 
Groves  was  born  a  slave  in  Kentucky.  In  1879  he 
moved  to  Kansas  where  he  hired  out  as  a  farm  la 
borer  at  forty  cents  a  day.  From  the  first  his  am 
bition  was  to  have  a  farm  of  his  own ;  the  second 
year  he  rented  a  small  plot  of  ground  and  afte- 
taking  out  all  expenses  he  found  that  he  had 
cleared  $125.  He  continued  to  add  to  the  number 
of  acres  that  he  tilled  and  to  add  to  his  savings 
till  in  1884  he  had  $2,200  in  the  bank  to  his  credit. 
Then  Mr.  Groves  began  to  purchase  land  for  him 
self  and  on  this  land  he  specialized  in  raising  tV"- 
white  potato.  Today  as  a  result  of  this  careful 
hoarding  of  his  means  and  a  careful  planning  of  his 
crops,  Mr.  Groves  is  worth  $80,000.  He  has  earned 
the  title  of  "Potato  King,"  by  producing  in  a  single 
year  100,000  bushels  of  potatoes.  Mr.  Groves  is 
not  only  classed  as  a  farmer,  but  as  a  business 
man.  He  has  made  a  business  of  his  farming. 

NEGRO'S  CONTRIBUTION  TO  EDUCATION. 


Of  all  the  operations  in  which  the  Negro  won  For  a  long  time  it  appears  that  the  Negro  did 
distinction  perhaps  farming  is  the  most  marked.  not  feel  that  education  of  his  children  depended  at 
In  every  section  of  the  country  the  Negro  farmer  all  upon  contributions  from  the  black  man's  cof- 

543 


fers.  Reared  as  a  dependent  and  sent  forth  as  such 
he  for  a  long  time,  looked  to  those  who  had  been 
his  master  to  educate  the  black  children.  How 
ever,  as  he  gained  self-confidence  and  refinement 
he  began  to  invest  his  money  in  the  education  of 
•  his  own,  and  today  in  almost  every  section  of  the 
South,  the  Negro,  in  addition  to  paying  his  regular 
tax  as  assessed  by  the  county  and  State  is  taxing 
himself  to  build  better  schools  for  his  children,  to 
buy  better  equipment,  extend  the  school  term  and 
to  secure  better  school  teachers. 

Also  with  his  religion  the  Negro  carried  the  con 
viction  that  his  children  should  be  educated ;  thus 
through  the  church,  the  denominational  schools  of 
the  South  and  of  the  West  receive  staunch  support 
from  the  colored  people.  The  Year-book  estimates 
that  the  Negro  through  the  churches  and  other 
means  raised  about  a  million  five  hundred  'thous 
and  dollars.  The  school  property  being-  valued  at 
two  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  In 
some  instances  the  schools  are  run  by  Negroes 
alone  ;  that  is,  the  Negro  has  purchased  the  ground, 
selected  the  field,  elected  their  own  trustees  and 
own  teachers.  Such  schools  as  Morris  Brown, 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  Selma  University,  in  Selma,  Ala.,  and 
Western  College,  in  Macon,  Missouri,  gain  their 
sustenance  almost  wholly  from  Negro  effort. 

Perhaps  in  no  one  field  of  labor  has  the  Negro 
achieved  so  much  as  he  has  in  that  of  the  school. 
The  Negro  as  a  school  founder,  organizer  and 
school  teacher  is  probably,  taken  for  all  and  all, 
the  best  product  that  the  black  man  of  America 
can  show  for  his  sixty  years  of  freedom.  The  Ne 
gro  school  man  sacrificing  his  insight,  his  almost 
super-human  struggles  and  his  willingness  to  turn 
his  efforts  back  into  the  education  of  his  own  peo 
ple  for  a  mere  pittance  brings  him  forward  as  the 
most  sublime  of  his  race.  One  needs  only  to  think 
of  the  labors  of  Booker  T.  Washington  and  the 
men  and  women  who  surrounded  him  and  of  the 
efforts  of  Negro  school  teachers  in  every  school  of 
the  country  today.  To  justify  this  claim  made  for 
the  Negro  school  man;  add  to  this  the  fact  tha< 
he  in  part  can  never  be  an  out  and  out  teacher  and 
you  have  even  a  sublimer  situation.  For  every 
Negro  man,  even  to  this  day,  who  interprets  his 
task  in  the  light  of  modern  education,  must  be 
father,  mother;  in  a  word  he  must  be  "Black  Mark- 
Hopkins  on  the  other  end  of  the  log." 

NEGRO'  ARTIST 

Under  the  Negro  artists  let  us  include  the  painter 
and  the  sculptor.  They,  like  the  literatee  named 
above  have  been  in  some  instances  thought  to  in 
terpret  their  own  people,  but  not  so  strictly.  More 
often  their  subjects  have  been  universal  in  selec 
tion  and  treatment  rather  than  specific.  Among 
the  Negro  painters  perhaps  Henry  O.  Tanner,  a 


modern  artist,  is  the  most  celebrated  and  famous. 
An  American  by  birth  and  rearing  he  pursued  hi: 
studies  abroad.  The  greater  part  of  his  work  has 
been  clone  in  France  where  his  pictures  hang 
among  those  of  many  of  the  French  and  Italian 
immortals  in  the  great  art  gallaries  in  Paris  and 
'n  the  Louvre. 

Among  his  most  famous  paintings  are  the  Holy 
Family,  Moses  and  Elisha,  and  Christ  Walking  on 
the  Sea;  "Hiding  of  Moses;"  "Christ  at  the  Home 
of  Lazarus."  A  full  sketch  of  his  life  appears  else 
where  in  this  volume. 

The  first  in  point  of  time  to  achieve  distinction 
as  a  Negro  painter  was  E.  M.  Bannister.  His 
paintings  seem  to  live,  though  perhaps  he  is  best 
remembered  by  his  organization  of  art  clubs  and  b> 
his  promotion  of  the  study  of  art  than  by  any  par- 
cular  work. 

A  young  artist  of  great  promise  is  William  Ed 
ward  Scott,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  He,  like 
Henry  O.  Tanner,  has  studied  abroad,  but  he  has 
done  most  of  his  actual  work  in  America. 

The  leading  Negro  sculptor  is  a  woman,  Ed- 
monia  Lewis,  who  resides  in  Italv.  Her  most  cel 
ebrated  productions  are  the  "Freed  Woman." 
"Marriage  of  Hiawatha,"  "  Death  of  Cleopatria." 

Mrs.  Meta  Vaux  Warrick  Fuller,  of  Pennsyl 
vania  rearing,  but  now  residing  in  Massachusetts, 
is  accepted  as  the  leading  sculptor  of  today.  She 
too  spent  much  time  abroad  studying  art  in  Paris. 
"The  Dancing  Girl."  "The  Wrestler,"  and  "Carry 
ing  the  Dead  Body"  are  among  her  best  known 
subjects. 

NEGRO  SCHOLAR 

Perhaps  one  of  the  earliest  ambitions  to  throb  in 
the  Negroe's  breast  was  that  to  achieve  distinction 
in  scholarship.  Perhaps  one  of  the  first  and  most 
facinating  points  in  the  White  man's  civilization  to 
attract  him  was  that  of  the  Caucasian's  mastering 
and  using  things  found  in  books.  Thus  we  find 
ex-slaves,  men  who,  in  some  cases  would  have  been 
regarded  as  having  passed  the  plastic  stage  of 
learning,  achieving  quite  wonderful  things  in 
scholarship  attainment.  However,  they  got  no  par 
ticular  credit  in  the  annals  of  scholarship.  The 
Negro  scholar,  as  understood  in  popular  circles,  is 
he  who  has  had  the  persistence  and  intellect  to  go 
forth  and  win  the  highest  college  degrees  attain 
able  in  some  of  the  best  universties  of  the  country. 
At  present,  there  are  at  least  four  thousand  Negro 
college  graduates  and  about  twenty  Negroes  to 
gain  the  degree  of  Dr.  of  Philosophy  from  the 
leading  Universities  of  the  country,  such  as  Har 
vard,  Yale,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  Columbia 
University,  and  the  like.  Further,  the  Negro  has 
won  his  spurs  in  every  phase  of  scholarship.  Some 
of  these  degrees  have  been  given  in  History,  some 


544 


in  Sociology,  some  in  Mathematics,  and  some  in 
Science.  The  Negro  has  proved  himself  a  ready 
scholar,  and  has  numbers  of  students  to  become 
members  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  in  these  leading 
Universities  of  the  North  competing  with  the  sons 
of  those  who  were  scholars  generations  ago.  There 
are  some  fifty  of  these  in  this  country. 

NEGRO  AUTHORS 

The  Negro  in  the  field  of  letters  began  to  arrive 
in  some  respects  somewhat  late.  This  was  inevit 
able  for  several  reasons :  First  of  all,  there  had,  of 
course  to  be  education  and  the  ability  to  interpret ; 
in  the  second  place,  the  Negro  had  to  learn  that 
there  was  material  for  literature  in  the  emotions  of 
his  people ;  in  the  third  place  he  had  to  learn  to  love 
his  people  in  order  to  grasp  their  feelings  and  in 
terpret  them  to  a  somewhat  indifferent  public, 
This,  of  course,  is  a  general  statement  and  refers 
to  the  conspicuous  authors  of  later  date. 

As  a  matter  of  history,  the  Negro  author  was 
among  the  first,  foremost  and  most  lasting  authors 
in  America.  As  has  been  pointed  out  elsewhere, 
Phillis  Wheatley  was  one  of  the  first  and  foremost 
women  poets  of  America  and  still  remains  the  lead 
ing  colored  poet  of  America. 

She  was  not  only  the  first  Negro  woman  poet, 
but  was  one  of  the  first  and  foremost  of  American 
poets. 

Benjamin  Bannaker  as  a  later  writer  and  advo 
cate  of  justice  for  his  people  was  another  conspi 
cuous  literary  light  of  the  early  Colonial  days.  His 
rare  scholarship  was  equalled  by  few  Americans 
of  any  race  in  that  day. 

The  authors  whose  works  will  undoubtedly  defy 
the  ravages  of  time,  as  Shakespeare  would  put  it 
are :  Paul  Lawrence  Dunbar,  W.  E.  B.  DuBois, 
Booker  T.  Washington,  Charles  W.  Chestnut,  Kel 
ly  Miller,  James  W.  Johnson,  Benjamin  G.  Braw- 
ley,  Dr.  C.  V.  Roman,  these  have  already  establish 
ed  their  claim  to  immortality  and  others  by  the 
score  are  clamoring  for  a  place,  but  the  test  of 
time  has  not  been  fully  applied. 

Abroad,  Alexander  Dumas,  of  France,  and  Alex 
ander  Puskin,  known  as  "Father  of  Russian  poe 
try,"  transcend  all  boundaries  of  time,  or  place,  of 
race  or  nation.  They  belong  to  the  world.  Each 
of  these  authors,  both  American  and  foreign,  have 
received  attention  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

NEGRO  MUSIC 

That  the  Negro  is  naturally  musical  is  admitted 
by  all,  even  his  enemies.  Back  in  the  days  of  slav 
ery  there  were  among  the  free,  educated  Negroes 
many  who  wrote  music.  Among  these  may  be 
mentioned  Dede,  Snaer.  and  Bares  Basil.  Where 
the  Negro  could  not  write  music,  he  made  up  the 
words  and  sang  them  to  tunes  that  fitted  perfect 


ly.  These  songs  are  now  classed  as  the  Real  Amer 
ican  Music.  Some  of  our  best  Musicians  of  this 
day  have  made  exhaustive  study  of  these  Negro 
Melodies. 

Samuel  Coleridge  Taylor,  of  London,  England. 
1875-1912,  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of 
colored  writers  as  well  as  one  of  the  best  known 
modern  composers  regardless  of  race.  The  work 
that  is  best  known  from  this  famous  musician  is 
Hiawatha.  This  composition  won  for  its  writer 
fame  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

Other  musicians  of  note  are  Will  Marion  Cook, 
James  Reese  Europe,  J.  Rosemond  Johnson.  Scott 
Joplin.  N.  Clark  Smith  and  Harry  T.  Burleigb — 
these  men  and  a  number  of  others  have  endeavored 
to  produce  music,  that  represents  the  feeling  of  the 
race,  in  such  a  manner  that  the  compositions  will 
live  forever. 

Will  Henry  Bennett  Vodery  is  the  leading  com 
poser  of  popular  music.  Mr.  Vodery's  ability  as  a 
composer  and  arranger  is  recognized  by  the  big 
Broadway  producers.  His  services  are  constantly 
in  demand  by  Klaw  and  Erlanger,  Schubert,  Zeig- 
fiield  and  others. 

The  race  has  also  produced  a  number  of  noted 
singers.  Among  these  Madame  Sisseretta  Jones 
of  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  is  very  popular.  She 
has  sung  in  all  the  principal  cities  of  Europe  with 
marked  success.  For  the  past  twenty  years  she 
has  been  at  the  head  of  her  own  company.  With 
this  company  she  has  appeared  in  all  the  leading 
cities  of  the  United  States,  the  West  Indies  and 
Central  America. 

Other  singers  of  note  are  Mrs.  Azalia  Hackley, 
Mrs.  Martha  Broadus  Anderson,  Madam  Anita 
Patti  Brown,  Harry  T.  Burleigh,  the  most  fam  n:s 
baritone  singer  of  the  race,  and  Roland  W.  Hayes, 
who  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
tenors  in  America. 

Joseph  Douglass,  of  Washington,  and  Clarence 
C.  White,  of  Boston,  and  Kemper  Harold,  of  At 
lanta,  are  violinists  of  distinction,  Maud  Cuney 
Hare,  Carl  Diton  and  L.  H.  Caldwell,  are  pianists 
of  great  note. 

The  Negro  race  has  also  produced  Thomas 
Greene  Bethune,  better  known  as  Blind  Tom,  1849- 
1908,  who  for  years  traveled  in  concert  all  over 
America  and  Europe.  John  William  Boone,  "Blind 
Boone"  is  another  musical  prodigy  of  the  Negro 
race.  A  native  of  Missouri,  he  has  traveled  regu 
larly  over  the  Western  States  and  Canada  in  con 
cert  since  1880. 

There  are  a  number  of  organizations  that  have 
acquired  national  fame ;  Wrilliams  Famous  Singers, 
a  concert  company  that  is  fully  described  elsewhere 
in  the  Cyclopedia,  are  known  wherever  there  is  a 
lover  of  fine  music.  Who  has  not  heard  of  Fisk 


545 


Jubilee  Singrs,  with  a  record  dating  back  for  gen 
erations. 

A  splendid  work  is  being  done  by  the  Clef  Club 
of  New  York  City  and  the  Thomas  L.  Shoop  Mus:- 
cal  Organization  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  organiza 
tions  that  train  and  furnish  singers,  quartettes,  in 
strumentalists,  and  dancers  for  private  entertain 
ments,  cabarets,  etc.  The  wealthiest  class  of  so- 
cietv  people  are  their  chief  patrons. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  A  SOLDIER. 

Very  early,  however,  though  he  was  confined  to 
the  work  of  the  fields,  the  Negro  began  to  develop 
the  qualities  of  a  soldier.  The  Negroes  were  with 
Lewis  and  Clark.  In  Colonial  warfare,  Negroes 
wherever  called  upon  showed  themselves  equal  to 
any  race  in  endurance,  in  discipline  and  in  marks 
manship. 

During  the  Revolution  Negroes  in  the  South 
were  drafted  into  service  and  served  in  many  ca 
pacities  ;  sometimes  fighting  for  their  masters  and 
sometimes  by  the  side  of  their  masters.  In  Mass 
achusetts  during  the  Revolutionary  War  Negroes 
wrote  their  names  on  the  pages  of  history  there  to 
remain.  Crispus  Attucks,  Peter  Salem,  Salem 
Poors,  with  many  others  won  distinction  against 
the  British.  The  famous  Negro  regiment  that  al 
lowed  itself  to  be  cut  down  almost  to  a  man  to  save 
its  commander.  Colonel  Nathaniel  Green,  at  the 
battle  of  Redbank,  New  Jersey,  will  always  be  re 
membered  in  the  pages  of  American  history.  A 
large  number  of  Negroes,  as  is  well  known,  won 
their  freedom  by  fighting  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  In  the  war  of  1812  the  black  soldiers  came 
even  further  to  the  front,  so  well  did  they  fight  at 
the  battle  of  New  Orleans  that  they  won  from  so 
stern  a  commander  as  "Old  Hickory,"  one  of  the 
finest  compliments  paid  to  American  soldiers  any 
where.  In  an  address  to  them.  Andrew  Jackson 
said,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  battle,  "To  men  of 
color,  soldiers  from  the  shores  of  Mobile,  I  called 
you  to  arms ;  I  invited  you  to  defend  the  glory  of 
your  white  countrymen ;  I  expected  much  from 
you.  for  I. was  not  uninformed  of  those  qualities 
which  must  render  you  so  formidable  a  foe.  I 
knew  you  could  endure  hunger  and  thirst  and  all 
the  hardships  of  war.  I  knew  that  you  loved  the 
land  of  your  nativity  and  that  like  ourselves  you 
had  to  defend  all  that  is  most  clear  to  man  ;  but  you 
surpassed  my  hopes.  I  have  found  in  you  united 
to  these  qualities  that  noble  enthusiasm  which  im 
pels  great  deeds."  "Just  as  he  behaved  on  land,  so 
he  behaved  on  sea,"  Commander  Perry  said  of  the 
black  soldier.  In  this  war  they  seemed  to  be  ab 
solutely  insensible  to  danger. 

In  the  Civil  War  they  were  almost  200,000  strong. 
There  were  160  regiments,  of  which  140  were  in 
fantry  ;  7  cavalry ;  12  heavy  artillery  and  1  light. 


The  first  Negro  regiment  is  said  to  have  come  from 
South  Carolina.  Probably  the  most  famous  in  the 
Civil  War  was  the  54th  Massachusetts,  which  or 
ganized  on  February  9th.  1863.  The  Negroes  were 
in  practically  every  battle  of  any  importance  in  the 
Civil  War.  They  were  conspicuous  for  their  brav 
ery  and  endurance  at  Milliken's  Bend ;  at  Port 
Hudson ;  at  Fort  Wagner ;  at  Charleston  and  Pet- 
ersburgh.  From  the  time  of  the  Civil  War  nobody 
has  questioned  the  Negroe's  ability  as  a  soldier. 
There  has  been  some  doubt  as  to  the  rank  he  could 
hold,  but  nobody  has  questioned  his  ability  to  fight 
and  to  endure. 

In  the  Spanish-American  War,  in  1898,  one  needs 
only  to  mention  Theodore  Roosevelt,  the  Rough 
Riders  and  San  Jaun  Hill,  to  bring  to  mind  the 
valiant  deeds  of  the  9th  and  10th  Cavalry  and  the 
25th  Infantry.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  great  world 
war  when  American  forces  joined  with  those  of 
the  Allies  the  Negroes  once  more  came  to  the  front 
as  soldiers.  Once  more  also  the  famous  9th  and 
10th  won  distinction  on  the  field  of  honor.  At  Car- 
ranzal,  in  Mexico.  Negro  soldiers  walked  to  their 
death  singing.  Their  deeds  here  marked  the  one 
conspicuous  fight  and  noble  sacrifice  in  that  rather 
desperate  skirmish  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico.  In  France,  as  far  is  known,  the  Negro 
fought  in  the  front  with  other  nations. 

NEGRO  CHURCH 

Of  all  the  agencies  to  foster  Negro  education 
and  advancement  the  church  has  played  the  most 
conspicuous  part.  The  Negro  was  early  taught  in 
his  church ;  he  has  for  half  a  century  featured  the 
talent  of  his  people  in  his  church.  With  the  ex 
ception  of  the  schools  that  have  sprung  up  and  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  places  and  a  few  people  Ne 
gro  talent  can  find  vent  only  in  the  Negro  church. 

The  early  Negro  churches  were  not  buildings, 
but  simply  places  to  assemble  to  sing  and  pray. 
Among  the  early  church  buildings  is  the  Baptist 
church  at  Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  which  is  said 
to  have  been  erected  in  1785.  The  M.  E.  Church  of 
Pennsylvania,  founded  by  Richard  Allen  in  1757. 
The  St.  Thomas  Episcopal  Church,  in  Philadelphia, 
in  1791.  The  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  founded  in 
New  York,  in  1796.  The  Abyssinian  Baptist  Church 
in  1800.  The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia, 
in  1857.  The  Negro  church  spread  rapidly  over 
the  whole  country  and  was  often  the  one  good 
place  where  colored  people  were  allowed.  Today 
they  extend  from  Boston  to  Key  West.  In  every 
large  city  where  Negroes  are  in  considerable  num 
bers  the  Negro  Church  stands  out  as  one  conspicu 
ous  building  for  them.  Negro  churches  in  Boston, 
New  York,  Philadelphia.  Baltimore,  Richmond, 
Birmingham,  Jacksonville,  Lexington,  Louisville, 
St.  Louis,  and  Kansas  Citv,  and  other  cities  stand 


546 


out  as  conspicuously  for  architecture  and  grandeur 
as  do  churches  of  any  people  in  these  cities  ;  and  in 
many  instances  they  have  added  educational  and  so 
cial  features,  such  as  night  schools,  industrial 
schools,  playgrounds,  rest-rooms,  etc,  indeed,  all 
means  of  improvement  for  their  memhers  and  for 
tin-  Colored  people  generally.  Several  Negro  de 
nominations  own  their  own  publishing  houses,  no 
tably  among  these  are  the  Boyd  Publishing  House 
and  the  A.  ^\ .  E.  Publishing  House,  of  Nashville, 
Tennessee.  In  fifty  odd  years  church  property 
alone  is  worth  some  seventy-five  millions  of  dol 
lars,  a  fact  which  indicates  not  only  spiritual  prog 
ress  but  great  material  wealth. 

Tl  1 K  NEGRO  INVENTOR. 

For  a  long  time,  owing  to  the  rulings  of  the 
Government,  the  Negro  inventor  got  no  recogni 
tion  for  his  patents,  but  the  Negro  inventor,  like 
the  Negro  soldier,  early  took  his  place  in  American 
history. 

BENJAMIN  BANNEKER,  as  is  pretty  well 
known,  was  not  only  an  early  Negro  writer  of  the 
United  States,  but  was  among  the  foremost  Ame 
rican  inventors.  Be  it  said  by  the  way,  also  that 
his  efforts  were  not  confined  to  inventions  alone, 
but  he  was  a  leading  thinker,  writer  and  worker 
of  the  period  as  well  as  an  inventor.  He  was  a 
noted  astronomer.  Born  free,  November  9th,  17ol, 
in  Baltimore  County,  Maryland.  Received  some 
education  in  a  pay  school.  Early  showed  an  in 
clination  for  mechanics.  He  constructed  the  first 
clock  made  in  America. 
JAMES  FORTEN. 

Of   Philadelphia,  who  died  in    1842.   invented   an 
apparatus  for  managing  sails. 
ROBERT  BENJAMIN  LEWIS. 

Born  in  Gardiner,  Maine,  in  1802,  invented  a  ma 
chine  for  picking  oakum.     This  machine,  in  all  its 
essential  particulars,  is  said  to  still  be  used  by  the 
ship-building  interests  of  Maine. 
WILLIAM  B.  PURVIS. 

Of  Philadelphia,  began  in  1912,  to  invent  ma 
chines  for  making  paper  bags  and  his  improve 
ments  in  this  line  of  machinery  are  covered  by  a 
dozen  patents.  He  was  also  granted  patents  on 
electric  railways,  a  fountain  pen,  a  magnetic  car- 
balancing  device,  and  for  a  cutter  for  roll  holders. 
His  inventions  covered  a  variety  of  subjects. 
JOSEPH  HUNTER  DICKINSON. 

O'f  New  Jersey,  has  invented  devices  for  auto 
matically  playing  the  piano.  His  various  inven 
tions  in  piano-player  mechanism  are  adopted  in  the 
construction  of  some  of  the  finest  player  pianos  on 
the  market.  He  has  more  than  a  dozen  patents  to 
his  credit  already,  and  is  still  devoting  his  energies 
to  that  line  of  invention.  He  is  at  present  in  the 
employ  of  a  large  piano  factory. 


GEORGE  W.  MURRAY. 

Of  South  Carolina,  former  member  of  Congress, 
from  that  State,  has  received  eight  patents  for  his 
inventions  in  agircultural  implements,  including 
mostly  such  different  attachments  as  readily  adapt 
a  single  implement  to  a  variety  of  uses. 
HENRY  CREAMER. 

Of  New  York,  has  patents  covering  seven  differ 
ent  inventions  in  steam  traps. 
ANDREW  J.  BEARD. 

Of  Alabama  has  a  number  of  inventions   to  his 
credit  in  car-coupling  devices. 
WILLIAM  DOUGLASS. 

Of  Arkansas,  has  received  patents  for  various  in 
ventions  for  harvesting  machines. 
JAMES  DOYLE. 

Of  Pittsburgh,  has  patented  an  automatic  serv 
ing  system.     This  device  is  a  scheme  for  dispens 
ing  with  the  use  of  waiters  in  dining  rooms,  res 
taurants  and  at  railroad  lunch  counters. 
SHELBY  J.  DAVIDSON. 

Of  Kentucky,  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Auditor 
for  the  Post  Office  Department,  operated  a  ma 
chine  for  tabulating  and  totalizing  the  quarterly 
accounts  which  were  regularly  submitted  by  the 
postmasters  of  the  country.  Mr.  Davidson's  at 
tention  was  first  directed  to  the  loss  in  time 
through  the  necessary  periodically  stopping  to  man 
ually  dispose  of  the  paper  coming  from  the  ma 
chine.  He  invented  a  rewind  device  which  served 
as  an  attachment  for  automatically  taking  up  the 
paper  as  it  issued  from  the  machines,  and  adapted 
it  for  use  again  on  the  reverse  side,  thus  effecting 
a  very  considerable  economy  of  time  and  material. 
He  also  invented  an  attachment  for  adding  ma 
chines  which  was  designed  to  automatically  include 
the  government  fee,  as  well  as  the  amount  sent, 
when  totalizing  the  money  orders  in  the  reports 
submitted  bv  postmasters. 
ROBERT  PELHAM. 

Of  Detroit,  employed  in  the  Census  Office  Bu 
reau,  devised  a  machine  used  as  an  adjunct  in  tab 
ulating  the  statistics  from  the  manufacturer's  sche 
dules  in  a  way  that  displaced  a  dozen  men  in  a 
given  quantity  of  work,  doing  the  work  economic 
ally,  speedily  and  with  faultless  precision.  The 
United  States  Government  has  leased  his  patents, 
paying  him  a  royalty  for  their  use,  in  addition  to 
his  salary  for  operating  them. 
GRANVILLE  T.  WOODS. 

Of  New  York,  assisted  by  his  brother,  Lyates, 
bears  the  distinction  of  having  taken  out  more 
patents  than  any  other  Negro.  His  patents  num 
ber  more  than  fifty.  His  principal  inventions  re 
late  to  electrical  subjects,  such  as  telegraph  and 
telephone  instruments,  electric  railways  and  gen 
eral  systems  of  electrical  control  , 


547 


ELIJAH  McCOY. 

Of  Detroit,  stands  next  to  Woods  as  an  inventor, 
in  point  of  number  of  inventions.  His  first  patent 
was  secured  July,  1872,  and  since  that  period  he 
has  about  forty  patents  to  his  credit.  His  patents 
cover  a  wide  range  of  subjects,  but  relate  particu 
larly  to  the  lubricating  machinery.  He  was  pioneer 
in  the  art  of  steadily  supplying  oil  to  machinery  in 
intermittent  drops  from  a  cup  so  as  to  avoid  the 
necessity  for  stopping  the  machine  to  oil  it. 
JOHN  ERNEST  MATZELIGER. 

Born  in  Dutch  Guiana,  1852,  died  in  Lynn,  Mass., 
1889.  He  is  the  inventor  of  the  first  machine  that 
performed  automatically  all  operations  involved  in 
attaching  soles  to  shoes.  This  was  the  only  ma 
chine  invented  up  to  that  time  that  would  dis 
charge  the  completely  soled  shoe  from  the  ma 
chine,  everything  being  done  automatically,  and  re 
quiring  less  than  a  minute  to  complete  a  single 
shoe. 

Matzeliger  attempted  to  capitalize  his  patents 
by  organizing  a  company  but  failing  health  frus 
trated  his  plans.  After  his  death  the  patent  and 
much  of  the  stock  of  the  company  organized  by 
Matzeliger  was  bought  up.  The  purchase  laid  the 
foundation  for  the  organization  of  the  United 
Shoe  Machinery  Company,  the  largest  and  richest 
corporation  of  the  kind  in  the  world. 

The  list  of  inventors  among  the  Negroes  is  al 
most  endless  from  inventing  farm  implements  and 
manufacturing  implements  to  the  designing  and 
running  of  airplanes  and  machinery  devices  for 
submarines. 

NEGRO  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

The  first  colored  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso 
ciation  was  organized  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  in 
December,  1853.  Anthony  Brown,  colored,  was  the 
first  president.  He  worked  in  the  Patent  Office. 
The  second  to  be  organized  was  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina  in  April,  1866,  and  the  third  in  New 
York  City,  February,  1867,  E.  B.  C.  Cato,  President. 
The  first  colored  student  association  was  organ 
ized  at  Howard  University  in  1869.  E.  B.  Cato, 
who  attended  the  Montreal  Convention  in  1867. 
was  the  first  colored  delegate  to  attend  an  inter 
national  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Convention.  William  A.  Hun- 
ton  was  the  first  colored  man  to  enter  the  secre 
taryship  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
work.  In  January,  1888,  he  was  appointed  the 
General  Secretary  of  the  Colored  Association  in 
Norfolk,  Virginia.  In  1890  he  succeeded  Mr.  Brown 
as  an  International  Secretary. 

The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  has  been  established  in  a 
number  of  places  in  connection  with  large  corpo 
rate  industries  in  which  numbers  of  Negroes  are 
employed.  The  company  usually  puts  up  the  build 
ing  and  pays  the  secretary.  The  running  expenses 


are  paid  out  of  annual  and  monthly  dues.  The  first 
rural  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  for  Ne 
groes  was  organized  in  1913  in  Brunswick  County, 
Virginia.  It  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  St. 
Paul  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute  which  is  lo 
cated  in  this  county. 

However,  until  the  famous  philanthropist,  Jul 
ius  Rosenwald,  of  Chicago,  offered  to  give  $25,000 
to  any  city  whose  Negroes  would  raise  $75,000, 
the  Negro  Y.  M.  C.  A.  stood  for  little.  It  was  an 
out-of-the-way  house  whose  rooms  were  dingy, 
whose  equipment  was  dilapidated  and  whose  se 
cretaries,  existing  on  small  pay,  worked  but  a  short 
time.  True,  the  organization  began  as  early  as 
1853,  but  the  Rosenwald  fund  enabled  the  colored 
people  to  put  up  such  brick  buildings  as  those  for 
example,  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana  ;  Chicago,  Illinois  ; 
Kansas  City,  Missouri ;  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Atlan 
ta,  Ga. ;  and  to  establish  the  Negro  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  as  a 
lasting  organization  in  America. 

In  the  recent  War  the  "Y"  work,  as  it  was  called 
rendered  valuable  service  to  the  Negro  boys  on  the 
front.  Be  this  also  added  that  the  Negro  men 
who  volunteered  to  serve  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  were 
among  the  best  that  the  race  could  produce,  and 
thus  far,  the  war  having  terminated  at  this  writing, 
no  Negro  "Y"  worker  has  been  convicted  of  any 
adroit  dealings  in  office.  Today  there  is  scarcely 
a  state  or  a  city  where  Negro  population  abounds 
but  has  a  respectable  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

NEGRO  Y.  W.  C.  A. 

In  1893,  students  associations  had  been  organized 
in  a  number  of  Negro  schools.  Associations  at 
Claflin,  Straight,  and  Tougaloo  Universities,  Spel- 
man  Seminary  and  the  Alabama  A.  and  M.  College 
became  affilited,  in  the  early  90's  with  what  was 
then  the  National  Association  of  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association.  In  1906,  the  National  Board 
of  Young  Women's  Christian  Associations  of  the 
United  States  of  America  was  formed.  Its  pro 
gram  included  plans  for  the  supervision  and  ex 
tension  of  the  association  movement  among  col 
ored  women. 

The  Y.  W.  C.  A.  is  an  organization  much  like  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  The  Y.  W.  .C  A.  is  now  doing  effect 
ive  work,  both  in  the  schools  and  among  the  gen 
eral  public  for  colored  young  women.  The  Y.  W. 
C.  A.  is  scarcely  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
old.  Certainly  its  active  work  does  not  date  back 
much  further  than  this.  Such  colored  women  as 
Mrs.  Wm.  A.  Hunton.  wife  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Worker, 
W.  A.  Hunton  ;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ross  Haines ;  Mrs. 
Kva  D.  Bowles;  Mrs.  Josephine  Penyon,  are  among 
the  early  sponsors  for  the  work  of  the  Y.  W.  asso 
ciation.  Mrs.  William  A.  Hunton  was  the  first  col 
ored  secretary.  She  spent  the  winter  of  1907- 
08  investigating  the  colored  field  and  interesting 


548 


YM.C.A.BUII.DIN&, 

NASH  vl 


A.  , 

LOUISVILLE,  K.Y. 


TYPES   OF    MODERN   NEGRO    Y.   M.C.   A.   BUILDINGS 


the  colored  women  in  the  work.  She  founded  four 
teen  student  Associations  and  four  City  Associa 
tions  :  New  York,  Brooklyn,  Baltimore,  and  Wash 
ington.  In  1908,  Miss  Elizabeth  Ross  was  appoint 
ed  to  be  the  special  worker  for  the  National  Board 
among  colored  students.  Miss  Ross  was  succeed 
ed  in  1910  by  Miss  Cecelia  Holloway,  and  Miss  Hol- 
loway,  by  Miss  Josephine  Pinyon. 

In  1910,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ross  Haynes  and  Mrs 
Hunton  undertook  a  systematic  and  intensive  de 
velopment  of  city  association  work  among  colored 
women  and  the  placing  of  trained  secretaries  in  lo 
cal  associations.  In  1913,  Miss  Eva  D.  Bowles  was 
appointed  by  the  National  Board  to  have  special 
supervision  of  the  city  work.  In  order  that  pros 
pective  secretaries  may  gain  a  definite  knowledge 
of  association  methods  and  principles  and  their 
practical  application,  training  centers  are  provided 
in  addition  to  the  regular  training  school  courses. 
Special  summer  courses  have  also  been  provided 
for  those  desiring  to  prepare  for  the  secretaryship. 

In  recent  years  the  association  has  broaden 
ed  the  equipment  of  its  corps  of  workers,  going 
far  and  wide  throughout  the  nation.  Not  only  have 
many  buildings  been  put  up  in  the  cities,  but  some 
very  careful  and  effective  work  has  been  done  ir 
saving  and  educating  girls  of  various  large  cities. 
In  the  recent  war  the  Y.  W.,  like  the  "Y."  ren 
dered  most  helpful  service.  Perhaps  one  of  the 
greatest  services  was  the  establishment  of  lodg 
ings  for  young  women  who  travel.  In  this  way 
the  Y.  W.  saves  many  a  girl  who  travels  from  pos 
sible  ruin. 

COLORED  EXPLORERS 

Two  men  must  be  mentioned  among  the  colored 
explorers.  The  first  is  Estenvanillo  or  Estevanico, 
sometimes  referred  to  as  "Steve."  He  was  with 


the  ill  fated  expedition  of  DeNarvaez.  This  expe 
dition  set  out  from  Spain  in  1627.  Only  four  men 
survived.  Of  this  number  Estevanico  was  one. 
He,  with  a  companion  set  out  to  investigate 
for  himself.  He  was  one  of  the  first  persons  to 
cross  the  continent  of  America.  For  eight  years 
he  wandered  over  the  plains  of  Texas,  and  discov 
ered  Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  To  him  also  be 
longs  the  credit  of  the  discovery  of  the  Zuni  In 
dians. 

The  other  explorer  of  prominence  in  the  Negro 
race  is  Matthew  A.  Henson.  Henson  was  born  in 
1866,  in  Maryland.  He  had  the  honor  of  accom 
panying  Commander  Robert  1'-.  Peary  on  all  his  ex 
peditions  in  search  for  the  North  Pole,  with  the 
exception  of  the  first  one.  He  was  with  Command 
er  Peary  when  the  final  dash  was  made  in  1909.  In 
fact  he  was  the  only  civilized  person  with  the  com 
mander  at  that  time.  Of  Henson's  part  in  the  dis 
covery  of  the  North  Pole  Commander  Peary  said : 

"On  that  bitter  brilliant  day  in  April  ,1909,  when 
the  stars  and  stripes  floated  at  the  North  Pole, 
Caucasian,  Ethiopian,  and  Mongolian  stood  side  by 
side  at  the  Apex  of  the  earth,  in  the  harmoniovv 
companionship  resulting  from  hard  work,  expos 
ure,  danger,  and  a  common  object. 

"Mathew  A.  Henson,  my  Negro  assistant,  has 
been  with  me  in  one  capacity  or  another  since  my 
second  trip  to  Nicaragua  in  1887.  I  have  taken 
him  on  each  and  all  of  my  expeditions,  except  the 
first,  and  also  without  exception  on  each  of  my 
fartherest  sledge  trips.  This  position  I  have  given 
him  primarily  because  of  his  adaptability  and  fit 
ness  for  the  work  and  secondly,  on  account  of  his 
loyalty.  He  is  a  better  dog  driver  than  any  man 
living,  except  some  of  the  best  Esquimo  hunter 
themselves." 


550 


Negro  Education 


ANY  forces  have  been  working  to 
gether  for  the  education  of  the 
Negro  in  the  South.  The  North 
ern  born  Negro  is  no  problem. 
While  he  has  not  always  availed 
himself  of  fine  chances  for  good 
education,  still  the  choice  is  left  largely  with  the 
individual. 

This  is  not  so  in  the  South.  The  Public  school 
system  all  over  the  Southland  is  inadequate.  The 
terms  in  the  rural  districts  are  too  short,  the  build 
ings  and  the  equipment  too  poor.  The  city  schools 
are  too  few  in  number  to  afford  training  for  the 
vast  number  of  children  of  color  who  have  to  at 
tend  them  .As  I  said,  at  the  first,  many  forces 
have  been  at  work  for  the  education  of  the  Negro. 
In  the  Rural  District  the  Jeans'  Fund  Workers  are 
making  a  marked  change  in  the  class-room  work. 
The  Rosenwald  Fund  is  making  a  vast  change  in 
the  physical  surroundings  of  the  schools.  Through 
these  two  funds  as  they  are  used  in  the  rural  dis 
tricts  in  the  South,  much  good  has  been  derived 
for  the  betterment  of  the  educational  facilities  of 
the  rural  Negro. 

The  larger  cities  have  come,  some  of  them  lately 
and  some  of  them  a  long  time  ago  to  realize  the 
need  for  High  Schools.  In  Washington,  D.  C.,  there 
is  the  Dunbar  High  School,  and  the  Manual  Train 
ing  School,  which  is  of  High  School  grade.  There 
is  an  excellent  High  School  in  both  St.  Louis  and 
ii'  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  A  newly  established 
High  School  in  Sedalia  is  also  clamoring  for  recog 
nition  as  a  first  class  High  School.  Savannah, 
Georgia.  Birmingham,  Alabama,  Little  Rock,  Ark 
ansas  ;  Muscogee,  Oklahoma,  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
and  all  the  larger  cities  of  Texas  are  able  to  boast 
of  their  High  School  for  Colored  Children.  There 
are  some  other  cities  that  are  doing  part  High 
school  work,  but  the  number  is  far  too  small  for 
the  number  of  children  that  need  the  training. 

COUNTY  TRAINING  SCHOOLS 
Arising  to  fill  a  long  felt  need  in  the  training  of 
colored  you'.h  the  County  Training  Schools  in  the 
South  hav  ;  come  forward  to  a  plac.-  i  ;  prominence. 
In  most  of  the  rural  communities  of  the  Scuth  the 
time  spent,  equipment  and  the  ability  of  the  teach 
er  of  the  -ural  school  have  held  the  children  back. 
To  quote  from  Dr.  James  H.  Dillard,  ;.f  the  Slater 
Fund : 

"The  ir:ovement  for  the  establishment  c.f  County 
Training  Schools  for  Negroes  came  from  the  coun 
ty  superintendents.  In  an  address  delivered  in  1913 
at  the  Southern  Sociological  Congress  Mr.  B.  C. 
Caldwell  said :  "Three  years  ago  a  parish  superin 


tendent  in  Louisiana  applied  to  the  Slater  Fund  for 
assistance  in  establishing  a  county  high  school  for 
Negro  children.  Almost  at  the  same  time  a  county 
superintendent  in  Arkansas,  one  in  Virginia,  and 
one  in  Mississippi  proposed  substantially  the  same 
thing.  It  was  the  purpose  in  each  case  to  train 
teachers  for  the  schools  of  the  county. 

Every  county  in  the  South  has  felt  the  need  of 
fairly  well  trained  teachers  in  its  rural  schools.  But 
so  far  as  we  know  this  is  the  first  time  that  supe 
rintendents  have  deliberately  planned  to  get  them 
by  training  them  at  home."  This  correspondence 
Jed  to  discussion  of  plans  and  investigation  of  con 
ditions,  to  which  Messrs.  Caldwell,  Davis,  and  W. 
T.  B.  Williams  devoted  careful  attention.  The  re 
sult  was  that  for  the  session  1911-12  the  Slater 
Fund  contributed  $500  in  each  of  four  counties  with 
the  understanding  that  the  schools  should  be  pub 
lic  schools  supported  by  the  public  funds. 

"Our  purpose  in  these  four  instances  is  to  aid  in 
establishing  a  county  industrial  training  school  for 
Negroes  as  a  part  of  the  public  school  system. 

"One  great  need,  as  I  have  previously  stated  to 
che  Board,  is  to  provide  means  for  some  sort  of 
preparation  for  the  rural  teachers,  hardly  any  of 
whom  have  been  able  to  attend  any  institution  out 
side  of  their  own  county  or  some  adjoining  county." 

Many  of  these  County  Training  Schools  were 
crude  in  their  beginnings,  but  the  superintendents 
and  supervisors  and  all  concerned  have  struggled 
to  develop  them  to  a  point  where  they  will  serve 
the  purpose  for  which  they  were  established.  To 
get  a  good  teacher  in  the  rural  districts  was  al 
most  impossible.  The  well  trained  teachers  pre 
ferred  to  work  in  the  town,  cities  and  private 
schools.  The  County  Training  schools  were  es 
tablished  to  prepare  teachers  in  the  county  for  the 
•uork  of  the  county.  That  the  plan  has  succeeded 
is  shown  by  the  steady  increase  in  the  number  of 
County  Training  Schools. 

The  minimum  requirement  of  the  Slater  Board 
which  has  furnished  assistance  for  these  schools 
follows : 

M  INIMUM  REQUIREMENTS  OF  THE  SLATER 
BOARD 

"To  aid  in  the  establishment  of  these  schools,  the 
'trustees  of  the  John  F.  Slater  Fund  have  voted 
an  appropriation  of  $500  to  each  for  maintenance 
subject  to  the  following  conditions : 

I.  The  school  property  shall  belong  to  the  state, 
county,  or  district,  and  the  school  shall  be  a  part 
of  the  public  school  system. 

II.  There   shall   be   an   appropriation    for   main- 


SSI 


TIFT  COUNTY  TRAINING  SCHOOL, 
GEORGIA, 


FAYETTE  COUNTY 


SCHOOL^OMERVIULE,  TEWN 


PlCKENS   CoUAITY 
TfiAlNlNOt  SCHOOL, 

ALABAMA. 


COMMUNITY    MEETING, 
PICK-ENS  COUNTY  TRAINING  SCHOOL 


RMITORY,  tJoHNSTON  CoUlVTY.  No.  CAROLINA 


ILLUSTRATIONS   OF    MODERN  TRAINING   SCHOOLS. 


tenance  of  not  less  than  $750  from  public  funds 
-aised  by  the  state,  county,  or  district  taxation. 

III.  The  teaching  shall  extend  through  the 
eighth  year,  with  the  intention  of  adding  at  least 
two  years  as  soon  as  it  shall  be  possible  to  make 
such  extension." 

These  County  Training  Schools  become  the  cen 
tres  of  learning  for  the  county  in  which  they  are 
located  and  for  the  neighboring  counties.  Better 
teachers  may  be  had  for  them  because  of  the  better 
pay  and  because  of  the  emphasis  that  is  being- 
placed  upon  them. 

The  good  that  is  being  accomplished  in  this  new 
development  in  the  Public  School  system  of  the 
South  is  great.  The  larger  institutions  of  learn 
ing  in  the  South  can  furnish  teachers  enough  for 
these  educational  centers.  The  pay  and  the  life  of 
fered  are  sufficiently  enticing  to  make  the  new 
teachers  happy.  These  teachers  carry  to  the  rural 
districts  all  the  ideas  that  they  have  gained  through 
years  of  association  with  real  educators.  The  pup 
ils  in  the  County  Training  schools  will  in  turn  go 
out  into  the  remote  places  of  the  country  and  es 
tablish  better  and  bigger  schools  and  in  this  way 
the  people  on  the  farms  will  learn  to  live  a  broader. 


more  wholesome  life.     Too  much  cannot  be  said  in 
praise  for  these  New  County  Training  Schools. 

In  addition  to  the  work  that  is  done  through  the 
public  school  system  and  through  the  .various 
funds  helping  out  the  public  school  system  there 
have  been  a  number  of  organizations  that  will  have 
to  be  studied  separately  in  order  to  get  some  idea 
of  the  scope  of  the  work  that  has  been  done  by 
them. 

AMERICAN    BAPTIST   HOME   MISSION 
SOCIETY. 

The  work  of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mis 
sion  Society  in  the  South  was  begun  in  1862.  The 
following  resolution  marked  the  beginning  of  their 
endeavor  for  the  colored  people,  "Resolved,  That 
we  recommend  the  society  to  take  immediate 
steps  to  supply  with  Christian  instruction  by  means 
of  missionaries  and  teachers,  the  emancipated 
slaves.  From  that  clay  the  organization  has  worked 
steadily  for  the  education  of  the  Negro  youth. 
While  at  the  start  the  teachers  nd  officers  em 
ployed  by  this  Society  to  manage  the  schools  it 
was  founding  were  of  necessity  white,  the  schools 
have  gradually  added  to  the  list  of  teachers  per- 


552 


PARTIAL  BIRD-EVE  VIEW    OF   BENEDICT   COLLEGE 


sons  of  color  till  today  there  are  a  greater  number 
of  colored  than  white  teachers  working  in  these 
schools.  Several  of  the  larger  schools  have  been 
given  over  entirely  into  the  hands  of  the  colored 
people.  So  well  have  these  institutions  been  man 
aged  that  they  have  gone  forward  and  have  stead 
ily  increased  in  efficiency. 

Among  the  schools  established  by  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  may  be  mentioned 
Morehouse  College,  established  in  1867,  Spelman 
Seminary,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  established  in  1881.  These 
two  schools  are  told  of  in  full  elsewhere  in  this  vol 
ume  and  represent  the  type  of  work  being  done  by 
all  the  schools  owned  and  controlled  by  this  body. 
Benedict  .College,  in  South  Carolina,  was  estab 
lished  in  1871.  Bishop  College,  in  Texas,  was  es 
tablished  in  1881,  Hartshorn  Memorial  College,  in 
Virginia,  was  established  in  1883,  Shaw  University 
in  North  Carolina  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  schools 
established  by  this  Society.  This  institution  dates 


from  1865.  Another  of  the  earliest  institutions  is 
the  Virginia  Union  University,  established  in  1865. 
The  number  of  Baptists  among  colored  people 
of  the  Souih  outnumbers  any  other  denomination. 
For  this  reason  the  Baptist  boards  working  for  the 
colored  people  have  had  a  large  field.  Many  have 
been  the  problems  that  have  arisen  because  of  the 
division  of  the  work  in  this  denomination.  In  sev 
eral  of  the  states  the  colored  Baptists  have  divided. 
One  branch  of  colored  Baptists  supports  the 
schools  organized  and  owned  by  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society.  The  other  branch 
supports  the  schools  that  they  have  organized  and 
run  in  opposition  to  American  Baptist  Home  Mis 
sion  Schools.  This  has  been  but  an  outcome  of 
the  Negroes'  ambition  to  apply  the  lessons  of  self 
help  that  have  been  implanted  in  his  breast  while 
attending  these  institutions  of  learning.  The  col 
ored  man  is  yet  too  poor  to  finance  properly  his 
own  schools  for  higher  education.  Where  the  at- 


SHAW   UNIVERSITY,   RALEIGH,   N.   C. 

553 


ansi 
its  Residence) 
he  Pool 


Bishop 
CGirl.s' Dormitory 


pus  Enirran 


iff  I 


Rocketeller 


iXU^'v*--'*  .,  -v 

(Girls' Dormitory^ 


GROUP  OF  VIEWS  OF  BISHOP  COLLEGE,   MARSHALL,  TEXAS. 


-  • 


HARTSHORN  MEMORIAL  COLLEGE,    RICHMOND,   VA. 


tempt  has  been  made  they  have  suffered  from  in 
sufficient  funds. 

Another  division  of  the  Baptists  in  the  work  for 
the  colored  people  is  the  Northern  and  the  South 
ern  whites.  The  Northern  whites  have  done  most 
for  the  Negro,  but  Southern  Baptists  have  also  felt 
the  responsibility  for  the  training  of  the  Colored 
youth.  In  1916  the  Southern  Baptists  pledged  fifty 
thousand  dollars  for  a  Theological  School  for  Ne 
groes. 

The  work  that  is  done  by  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Board  is  strongly  supported  by  the 
Woman's  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Board. 
In  fact  the  schools  that  are  helped  by  the  Woman's 
branch  are  also  helped  by  the  regular  board.  To 
gether  these  two  boards  own  and  control  twenty- 
four  institutions  that  are  classed  as  "larger  and 
more  important"  in  the  U.  S.  Bulletin  Number  38. 
'Hie  total  valuation  of  these  twenty-four  schools 
is  $3,870,744.  This  represents  a  great  investment 
for  the  development  of  the  Colored  Baptists  of  the 
South.  Not  only  has  the  Northern  White  man  giv 
en  of  his  money,  to  the  development  of  this  cause, 
but  he  has  sent  his  sons  and  daughters  into  the  field 
to  labor  as  well.  Then  when  there  were  colored 
men  sufficiently  trained  to  share  the  responsibility 
the  work  was  divided  with  him.  John  Hope,  Pres 
ident  of  Morehouse  College,  Atlanta.  Ga..  is  tin 
type  of  colored  man  that  this  Society  has  placed 
at  the  head  of  its  institutions,  Z.  T.  Hubert,  Pres 
ident  of  Jackson  College,  Jackson.  Mississippi,  is 
another  young  colored  man  who.  having  been  given 
the  responsibility  of  the  management  of  one  of  the 
larger  schools  supported  by  Northern  Baptists,  has 
made  good. 

The  good  of  these  two  organizations  cannot  be 


estimated.  Never  in  the  history  of  any  race  has 
the  progress  upward  been  so  rapid  as  that  of  the 
Negro  race.  When  we  consider  the  untiring  ef 
forts  of  these  unselfish  people  and  others  equally 
zealous  for  our  uplift,  we  can  in  a  small  way  be 
gin  to  realize  the  great  force  that  was  back  of  this 
rapid  rise.  Never  will  the  Negro  of  the  South  for 
get  the  efforts  of  the  Northern  white  man  in  be 
half  of  his  educational  uplift. 

AMERICAN  MISSIONARY  ASSOCIATION 

The  American  Missionary  Association  was  or 
ganized  September  3,  1846.  From  the  first  the  or 
ganization  held  high  ideals  and  it  was  run  by  men 
of  broad  educational  training.  These  men  were 
strong  men,  men  of  power  and  vision.  The  organ 
ization  was  not  formed  to  furnish  relief  for  the 
black  men,  but  at  the  outbreak  of  the  War,  it  was 
in  a  very  good  position  to  do  so.  For  fifteen  years  it 
had  carried  on  work  in  the  South  hoping  to  arouse 
the  Southern  Whites  to  a  realization  of  the  evils  of 
slavery.  The  Association  in  1858  founded  Berea 
College,  Kentucky.  This  school  was  not  founded 
for  Negroes  alone,  but  for  all  who  needed  training. 
In  1868  this  College  had  an  attendance  of  200  pu 
pils,  and  two-thirds  of  these  were  Negroes. 

From  the  first  efforts  of  this  Association  were 
strong  for  the  education  of  the  Negro.  In  1866 
Fisk  University  was  established.  The  story  of  the 
progress  of  this  institution  and  of  its  becoming  in 
dependent  is  told  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  In 
1867  Talladega  College  was  established.  This 
school  is  one  of  the  strongest  supported  by  the  As 
sociation.  It  is  situated  at  Talladega,  Alabama,  and 
stands  for  the  thorough  preparation  of  colored  men 
and  women  in  all  lines  of  endeavor.  The  work  of 


555 


CHORUS  IN  THE  CHAPEL,  TOUGALOO,    UNIVERSITY,  TOUGALOO,   MISS. 


the  college  department  is  of  such  grade  that  two 
years  in  Harvard  or  Yale  wins  for  Talladega  men 
their  degree. 

In  1868,  Hampton  Institute  was  founded.  It  was 
of  course  not  then  what  it  is  today,  but  out  of  the 
school  planted  in  that  year  has  grown  our  great 
Hampton  of  today.  Hampton,  like  Fisk,  is  now  an 
independent  school.  Hampton  stands  for  the  train 
ing  of  both  the  head  and  the  hand.  There  are 
900  boarding  pupils.  400  day  pupils  in  the  elemen 
tary  school,  and  about  400  teachers  attending  sum 
mer  school.  The  work  took  its  shape  under  Gen 
eral  Armstrong,  the  first  principal  and  Dr.  Frissell 
carried  out  the  ideas  that  were  started  by  him. 
The  work  is  now  under  Dr.  Gregg. 

In  1869,  both  Atlanta  University  at  Atlanta,  Ga., 
and  Straight  University,  at  New  Orleans,  were  es 
tablished.  Both  these  schools  now  have  the  repu 
tation  of  doing  very  thorough  classical  work.  At 
lanta  University  is  one  of  the  best  known  institu 
tions  for  the  training  of  the  Negro  youth  of  the 
South.  It  is  also  one  of  the  schools  in  which  the 
most  thorough  work  is  being  done.  They  carry 


an  enrollment  of  about  500  pupils,  a  great  number 
of  these  come  from  the  city  of  Atlanta.  It  is  one 
of  the  best  equipped  of  the  schools  doing  work  for 
the  colored  people. 

Straight,  like  Talladega  College,  is  still  under  the 
control  of  the  American  Missionary  Association. 
It  has  a  strong  faculty  and  is  religious  in  its  train 
ing.  Straight  is  one  of  the  first  class  institutions 
for  the  higher  education  of  the  Negroes  of  the 
South.  Although  chartered  as  Straight  University 
in  1915,  the  name  was  changed  to  Straight  College 
as  that  more  nearly  represented  the  scope  of  the 
work  that  could  be  done  by  this  school. 

In  the  same  year  as  the  two  above  mentioned 
schools  were  established,  Tougaloo  College  was 
founded  in  the  State  of  Mississippi.  This  school 
is  still  under  the  control  of  the  A.  M.  A.  It  is  one 
of  the  oldest  and  strongest  of  the  schools  still  sup 
ported  by  this  organization.  Tougaloo  is  especial 
ly  strong  in  its  musical  course.  If  the  good  of  an 
institution  is  to  be  counted  by  the  work  done  by 
the  graduates  that  go  from  its  doors,  then  Touga 
loo  is  one  of  the  best  of  our  Southern  schools. 


STRAIGHT   COLLEGE,   NEW   ORLEANS,   LA. 
556 


GROUP  OF  BUILDINGS  OF  TALLADEGA    COLLEGE,   TALLADEGA.   ALA. 


The  work  of  the  American  Missionary  Associa 
tion  can  be  estimated  by  the  work  of  the  Universi 
ties  and  colleges  established  and  maintained  by  it. 

The  good  that  has  been  done  through  establish 
ment  of  smaller  schools  in  all  parts  of  the  South  has 
also  to  be  taken  into  account.  These  schools  were 
invariably  put  in  the  care  of  good  earnest  Christian 
workers.  At  first  most  of  these  workers  were 
white  men  and  women,  but  as  soon  as  there  were 
colored  workers  sufficiently  trained  for  the  posi 
tions  they  were  added  to  the  list  of  workers  in 
these  secondary  schools.  Among  these  schools 
might  be  mentioned  Lincoln  School,  at  Meridian, 
Mississippi,  for  a  number  of  years  under  the  lead 
ership  of  Mrs.  H.  I.  Miller,  of  Topeka.  Kansas.  The 
Emerson  School  in  Mobile,  Le  Moyne  Institute,  in 
Memphis,  Cotton  Valley,  which  is  out  in  a  country 
district  of  Alabama.  In  fact  the  number  of  these 
schools  is  too  great  for  them  all  to  be  mentioned. 
But  the  good  training  they  have  given  to  the  Ne 


gro  girls  and  boys,  and  the  inspiration  that  has 
come  through  them-  for  better  living  has  made 
them  a  great  factor  in  the  development  of  the  Ne 
gro  in  the  South. 

The  schools  of  the  American  Missionary  Associa 
tion,  both  the  small  schools  and  the  colleges  have 
been  a  great  factor  in  making  the  progress  of  the 
Colored  man  so  rapid. 

FEDERAL  SCHOOLS,  LAND  GRANT  SCHOOLS. 
AND  STATES  SCHOOLS  FOR  THE  NEGRO 

That  the  educated  Negro  is  far  more  of  an  asset 
in  the  state  than  an  uneducated  one  has  gradually 
become  an  established  and  known  fact  among  the 
white  people  of  the  South.  At  first  the  white  man 
was  not  over  sympathetic  with  the  education  of 
the  Negro.  But  the  Religious  bodies  of  the  North 
continued  to  work  for  his  education  and  uplift,  till 
even  the  Southern  white  man  saw  that  an  educated 
Negro  was  an  improvement  on  the  uneducated  one. 


CARNEGIE  LIBRARY,  STATE  A.  &  M.  COLLEGE.  TALLAHASSEE,  FLA.,   MECHANICTS   .ART     BUILDING 

557 


GIRLS,  DORMITORY,  PRAIRIE  VIEW.  N.  &  S.  INSTITUTE,  ADMINISTRATION  RLDG.  AND  FOSTER  HALL. 


When  this  fact  dawned  upon  the  Southern  law 
maker,  they  began  to  establish  state  schools  for 
the  training  of  the  colored  boys  and  girls. 

The  Land-Grant  schools  are  the  greatest  in  num 
ber.  The  Morrill  Fund  under  which  these  schools 
receive  Government  money  was  established  in  1862. 
The  Negroes  at  first  came  into  only  a  small  share 
of  this  money.  In  Virginia,  Hampton  Institute  re 
ceived  $12,000  from  this  fund  as  early  as  1870.  In 
South  Carolina,  Claflin  University  received  a  por 
tion  of  the.  fund  for  the  development  of  an  indus 
trial  course.  In  Mississippi,  however,  Alcorn  Col 
lege  was  opened  to  both  white  and  colored  for 
training.  In  1876  Alcorn  was  practically  wholly 
colored.  But  the  school  did  not  take  a  definite 
place  in  the  education  of  the  colored  youth  til) 
much  later.  It  was  still  much  later  that  the 
State  school  and  Land  Grant  School  for  the  Negro 
became  a  real  factor  in  the  development  of  the  col 
ored  boy  and  girl  in  Southern  States. 

Of  the  Land  Grant  Schools  there  are  now  six 
teen.  All  of  the  Southern  States  have  taken  ad 
vantage  of  the  liberal  appropriation  of  the  Govern 
ment  for  the  school  training  of  the  young.  The 
amount  of  money  invested  in  the  plants  of  these 
sixteen  schools  is  more  than  two  million,  five  hun 
dred  thousand  dollars.  Some  of  these  schools  are 
taken  up  in  full  in  other  parts  of  this  book — The 
Alabama  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  for 
Negroes  at  Normal ;  Princess  Anne  Academy  of 
Maryland;  and  the  Lincoln  Institute  of  Missouri 
But  there  are  others  that  are  doing  equally  as  good 
work  and  some  of  the  others  are  larger.  For  ex 
ample  the  Florida  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 
College  for  Negroes,  at  Tallahassee,  has  played  a 
great  part  in  the  training  of  the  youth  of  that  state. 
Mr.  N.  B.  Young,  who  has  been  at  the  head  of  this 
institution  for  years  has  developed  the  work  along 
all  the  lines  that  make  for  the  full  development  of 
strong  character.  This  is  probably  the  best  organ 
ized  of  all  the  Land  Grant  Schools. 

This  is  the  complete  list  of  the  Land  Grant 
Schools — Alabama  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 


College,  Normal,  Alabama,,  Walter  Buchanan, 
Pres. ;  Branch  Normal,  Pine  Bluff.  Arkansas,  J.  (!. 
Ish,  President;  Delaware  State  College  for  Colored 
Youth,  Dover,  Del.,  W.  C.  Jason,  President.  ;Flor- 
ida  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College,  Tallassee, 
N.  B.  Young,  President;  Georgia  State  Industrial 
College,  Savannah,  R.  R.  Wright,  President ;  Ken 
tucky  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute  for  Colored, 
Frankfort,  G.  P.  Rusell,  President ;  Southern  Uni 
versity,  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  J.  S.  Clark,  Pres 
ident  ;  Princess  Anne  Academy,  Princess  Anne. 
Thomas  H.  Kiah,  President ;  Alcorn  Agricultural 
and  Mechanical  College,  Alcorn,  Mississippi,  L.  J. 
Rowan,  President;  Lincoln  Institute,  Jefferson 
City,  Missouri ;  Clement  Richardson.  President ; 
Colored  Agricultural  and  Technical  College,  Greens 
boro,  N.  C.,  James  B.  Dudley,  President;  Colored 
Agricultural  and  Normal  University,  Langston. 
Oklahoma,  J.  M.  Marquess,  President ;  Colored 
Normal,  Industrial  and  Mechanical  College,  Or- 
angeburg,  S.  C.,  R.  S.  Wilkinson,  President ;  Agri 
cultural  and  Industrial  State  School,  Nashville, 
Tenn. ;  W.  J.  Hoyle,  President;  Prairie  View  State 
Normal  and  Industrial  College,  Prairie  View,  Tex 
as,  I.  M.  Terrell,  President ;  West  Virginia  Collegi 
ate  Institute,  Institute,  W.  Va.,  Byrd  Prillerinan, 
President. 

Hampton  Institute  might  be  mentioned  as  a  Land 
Grant  School,  for  it  received  part  of  its  support 
fund  from  this  source.  These  schools  represent  an 
anual  investment  of  more  than  one  million,  one 
hundred  eighty-five  thousand  dollars  in  tin-  train 
ing  of  the  colored  youth  of  the  South. 

The  State  schools  of  the  South  are  supported  en 
tirely  by  the  state  receiving  no  funds  from  the  Fed 
eral  Government.  There  are  eleven  of  these 
schools.  Alabama  has  one,  Kansas  two,  Mary 
land  one.  New  Jersey  one.  North  Carolina  three, 
Ohio  one,  and  Virginia  and  West  Virginia  one  each. 

The  Federal  school  is  Howard  University  locat 
ed  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Howard  represents  an  in 
vestment  of  one  million  seven  hundred  fifty  odd 
thousand  dollars. 


558 


FREEDMEN'S  AID  SOCIETY.  THE  NEGRO  FIFTY  YEARS  AGO. 

The   Freedmen's  Aid   Society  of    the    Methodist  Population      census      1860;      Slaves 

Episcopal    Church    was    organized    in    Cincinnati,          3.953,750;  Free,  487,970;  total..  441,730 

Ohio,  in  1866.  and  at  once  sent  school  teachers  into  Illiteracy  90% 

the  South  to  gather  the  scattered  and  ignorant  peo-  Value  of  property,  estimated  at_.  $1,200,000 

pie   together  in   any  sort  of  shack  or  building,  or  Number  of  colleges  and  universities..  1 

even  in  open  air.  to  teach  them  desponsibilities  of  Number    of    college    graduates,    esti- 
manhood  and  womanhood  and  citizenship.  Gradual-          mated    at   . 

ly  the  Church  responded  to  calls  of  the  Society  for  Number   of  practicing  physicians   and 

money  necessary  to  put  up  buildings  and  pay  teach-          pharmacists    .  0 

ers,  until,  after  fifty  years  of  earnest  and  faithful  Number  of  lawyers  _.  0 

service  on  the  part  of  teachers,  and  liberal  giving  Number  of  banks  operated  by  Negroes  0 

by  the  Church,  there  are  at  the  present  time  un-  Number  of  Negro  towns  _.  0 

der   the   control    of   the    Freedmen's    Aid    Society  Number  of  newspapers..  1 

eighteen  institutions  of  learning,  located  in  strate-  Number  of  churches  owned,  estimated 

gic  centers  throughout  the  Southern   States,   with          at  400 

334  teachers  and  5,702  students,  sending  out  their  Value  of  church  property $500,000 

streams  of  intellectual,  industrial,  and  moral  influ-  Membership  of  Negro  churches,  esti- 

ence  into  the  masses  of  the  Negro  race,  now  grown          mated    at   .  40,000 

to  be  twelve  million.     During  the  half  century  of  Number  of  children  in    schools,    esti- 

their  work,   over  200,000  boys   and   girls   have   at-          mated    at  25,000 

tended  the  schools.     Large  numbers  of  them  have  HALF  A  CENTURY  OF  NEGRO  PROGRESS. 

graduated  and  are  now  the  leading  factors  in  the  Total     Negro    population      (U  n  j  t  e  d 

ministry  and  membership  not  only  of  the   Metho-          States)     1910  9828294 

dist     Episcopal    Church,    but    of    all    the    colored  Romes  ,owned  by"^"™""  'sOOOOO 

churches  in  the  South.    From  nothing  the  property  churches  owned  by  Negroes__  3^393 

of  the  Society  has  grown  until  today  it  is  valued  church   Membershi      _  3  207'305 

at  $2,008.750.  and  the  annual   income   from  collec-  Sunday    schools  24380 

tions  in  the  churches,  bequests,  gifts,  and  legacies,  Sunday-school   scholars   ~  1,448^570 

with  payments  from  students  themselves,  amounts  Illiteracy    census    1910  _  3o'sc/ 

to  a  round  half  million  of  dollars,  and  the  perma-  Va]ue  of  property;  estimated"atV.      .7$  1,000,000  000 

nent  endowment  is  now  one    million    dollars    and  Number  of  farms  owner 250;000 

daily  growing.  Value  of  church  property $65,000000 

The   350,000  colored   members  of  the   Methodist  Number  of  college  and  university  gra. 

Episcopal  Church,  with  their  3,375  churches,  215,-          duates  8000 

206  Sunday-school  scholars  (and  a  church  property  Professiona7men7  75000 

valued  at  $8,091,929),  would  have  been  impossible  Number    of  practicing  physicianSj   es_ 

were  it  not  for  the  trained  and  converted  leaders          timated   at  ?  SOO 

who  have  gone  out  from  the  schools.     The   work  Number  of  prVctic7ng"7awyers7  \',500 

could  not  have  been  carried  on  in  these  churches  Number  of  business  men,  estimated  at  50,000 

and  Sunday  schools  were  it  not  for  the  young  life  Number  Q{  chi,dren  -n  schoo,s__  2,000,000 

constantly   pouring   out   of   the   schools   into   their  Number   Q{  NegrQ  towng  5Q 

ministry  and  membership.     Ten  millions  of  dollars  Number  Q{  NegrQ  teachers__  3Q^ 

make  up  the  total  cost  for  fifty  years.     Just  about  ^  Qwned  by  NegrQes__  20.000.000 
the  price  of  one  battleship,  or  less  than  the  money                           -.  „„.-.                    .. 

wasted  in  the  European  war  in  half  a  day.  Drue-    stores'  300 

WHAT  GOD  HATH  WROUGHT  FOR  THE  NE-  General    stores"and~  o7h7r~~ industrial 

GRO  RACE  IN  AMERICA  IN  FIFTY                     enterprises  20,000 

YEARS.  Newspapers  and  periodicals 398 

Half   a   century   ago  the   Negro  was    a    chattel.  Hospital  and  Nurse  training  schools. _  61 

without  education,  property,  or  opportunity  of  any  Banks  owned  by  Negroes 72 

sort.     Four  millions  of  him   then,   twelve   millions  Insurance    companies    100 

now,  but  what  a  wonderful  contrast  between   the  66.2  per  cent  of  all  Negroes  in  the  Uni- 

condition  of  the  twelve  millions  of  today  and  the          ted  States,  ten  years  of  age  or  over, 

four  millions  of  fifty  years  ago.     Read  both  sides          are  engaged  in  gainful  occupations. 

of  this  parallel  and  see  what  has  been  accomplish-  Property  owned  by  Negro    secret    so- 

ed  through  fifty  years  of  Christian  training.                      cieties    $8,000,000 

559 


Capital  stock  Negro  banks $2,000,000 

Annual  business  done  by  Negro  banks  $20,000.000 

The  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  has  contributed  a 
large  share  of  this  magnificent  result  through  its 
eighteen  schools.  During  that  time  it  has  sent  out 
more  than  200,000  young  people,  who  received  the 
broader  and  higher  outlook  from  its  Christian 
teachers. 

The  work  of  these  young  people  is  the  largest 
factor  among  the  Negro  people  in  making  the 
world  safe  for  democracy. 

SOCIETY'S  NEW  OUTLOOK. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  just  com 
pleted  a  drive  in  which  ONE  HUNDRED  AND 
TWELVE  MILLION  DOLLARS  was  raised  for 
missions  and  education,  home  and  foreign.  THE 
THREE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  THOUSAND 
NEGRO  membership  of  that  church  subscribed 
FOUR  MILLION  DOLLARS.  The  entire  one  hun 
dred  and  twelve  millions  covers  a  period  of  five 
years,  so  the  Negroes  will  have  eight  hundred 
thousand  dollars  per  year  to  raise.  While  but  two 
months  of  the  first  year  have  passed  since  the  close 
of  the  drive  the  Negro  membership  has  paid  in 
approximately  two  hundred  thousand  in  cash. 

The  colored  people  gave  but  four  million  on  the 
basis  of  the  five  year  period  but  eight  million  will 
be  expendd  in  building  churches  and  employing 
church  workers  in  the  North  and  the  South  and  in 
education. 

The  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  which  directs  the 
educational  institutions  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  the  education  of  Negroes  is  the  agency 
to  push  the  new  program  of  education. 

That  Society  will  have  available  in  the  five  year 
period  two  million  dollars  over  its  regular  income 
to  be  applied  to  endowment,  new  buildings  and 
equipment.  At  a  recent  meeting,  the  Board  of 
Managers  advanced  the  current  appropriations  to 
the  schools  for  the  year  1919-1920  from  $95,985.61 
to  $118,000.  The  appropriation  for  Morgan 
College  and  branches  which  are  operated  by  a  self- 
perpetuating  Board  of  Trustees  amounts  to  $15,- 
410,  making  a  total  appropriation  $133,410.00.  Nor 
is  this  all  of  direct  appropriations,  because  each  in 
stitution  gets  the  amount  raised  in  the  patronizing 
colored  conferences.  All  of  the  above  is  extra  from 
the  regular  income  of  the  school  in  fees,  board  and 
tuition. 

ANNUITIES  AND  SPECIAL  GIFTS. 

In  addition  to  the  offerings  from  the  churches, 
the  Society  receives  many  gifts  of  large  amounts 
during  each  year.  For  those  who  wish  to  contrib 
ute  to  the  work  of  these  schools,  and  who  need 


of  the  donor.  This  makes  sure  that  such  gifts 
shall  go  on  fulfilling  a  great  commission,  in  the 
name  of  these  donors  for  all  time  to  come. 

The  schools  operated  by  the  Freedmen's  Aid  So 
ciety  are  Gammon  Theological  Seminary,  Atlanta. 
Ga.,  Meharry  Medical  College,  Nashville.  Tenn., 
Flint-Goodridge  Hospital,  New  Orleans,  La.,  Clark 
University,  So.  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Morristown  Normal 
College,  Morristown,  Tenn.,  Morgan  College  and 
Princess  An/ie  Academy,  Baltimore,  Md.,  New  Or 
leans  College,  and  Gilbert  Academy.  New  Orleans, 
La.,  Rust  College,  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  Philander 
Smith  College,  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  Sam  Huston  Col 
lege,  Austin,  Texas,  Bennett  College,  Greensboro. 
N.  Carolina,  George  R.  Smith  College,  Sedalia, 
Mo.,  Haven  Institute,  Meridian,  Miss.,  Central  Ala 
bama  Institute,  Birmingham.  Ala.,  Cookman  Insti 
tute,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Claflin  College.  Orange- 
burg.  So.  Carolina,  Wiley  College,  Marshall,  Texas. 

The  officers  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  are 
as  follows : 

BOARD  OF  MANAGERS— Bishops :  W.  F.  An 
derson,  F.  J.  McConnell,  F.  D.  Leete,  W.  P.  Thirk- 
field,  W.  A.  Quayle,  and  F.  M  Bristol  Ministers: 
J.  C.  Hartzell,  H.  C.  Jennings,  A.  J.  Nast,  D.  L.  Ault- 
man,  Herbert  Scott,  John  H.  Race,  C.  E.  Schenk. 
V.  F.  Brown,  W.  B.  Slutz,  E.  R.  Overley.  Wr.  H. 
Wohrly,  and  E.  C.  Wareing.  Laymen  :  R.  H.  Mc- 
Rary,  E.  R.  Graham,  L.  N.  Gatch,  E.  C'.  Harley,  C. 
F.  Coffin,  C.  L.  Swain,  H.  H.  Garrison,  Harlan  C'. 
West,  George  D.  Webb,  and  Charles  Hommeyer. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  BOARD— Bishop  W.  F. 
Anderson,  President;  Bishop  F.  D.  Leete,  First 
Vice-President ;  Bishop  W.  P.  Thirkield,  Second 
Vice-President ;  Rev.  C.  E.  Schenk,  Third  Vice- 
President  ;  Rev.  W.  H.  Wehrly,  Fourth  Vice-Presi 
dent  ;  C.  L.  Swain,  Fifth  Vice-President ;  Rev.  John 
H.  Race,  Treasurer;  Rev.  D.  Lee  Aultman,  Record 
ing  Secretary ;  Rev.  P.  J.  Maveety  and  I.  Garland 
Penn.  Corresponding  Secretaries.  Assistant  Re 
cording  Secretary;  Miss  May  Getzendanner,  As 
sistant  Treasurer,  E.  R.  Graham. 

PROMINENT  MEN  WHO  ARE  FREEDMEN'S 
AID  GRADUATES. 

Half  of  all  the  colored  physicians  in  the  United 
States  are  graduates  of  Meharry  Medical  College, 
one  of  the  Freedmen's  Schools.  Such  outstanding 
and  prominent  men  as  Dr.  Emmett  J.  Scott,  Sec 
retary-Treasurer  of  Howard  University,  Washing 
ton,  D.  C. ;  Dr.  R.  E.  Jones,  Editor  South  Western 
Christian  Advocate,  New  Orleans,  La. ;  Dr.  War- 
field,  Surgeon-in-Chief  Freedmen's  Hospital, 
Washington,  D.  C. ;  Lawyer  W.  Ashbie  Hawkins, 
Baltimore,  Md. ;  Dr.  J.  W.  E.  Bowen,  Professor 
Historical  Theology,  Atlanta.  Ga. ;  Dr.  Ernest  Ly- 
on,  former  Minister  to  Liberia,  and  a  host  of  others 


the  income  from  their  money  while  they  live,  the 

Society  pays  a  liberal  annuity  during  the  lifetime      are  graduates  of  these  schools. 

560 


GRLS'   DORMITORY,   PAUL  QUINN  COLLEGE,  WACO,  TEXAS. 


OTHER     PROMINENT     INSTITUTIONS     SUP 
PORTED  BY  THE  METHODIST  CHURCH 

The  Methodist  Church  has  the  honor  of  taking 
the  first  definite  steps  for  the  education  of  the  col 
ored  youth.  This  step  was  taken  in  Ohio  in  the 
year  1844.  At  that  time  the  Ohio  Conference  of 
the  A.  M.  E.  Church  appointed  a  committee  to  se 
lect  a  site  for  the  Seminary  of  learning'.  It  was 
three  years  later  when  the  school  was  opened.  The 
same  state  took  the  next  step  for  the  education  of 
the  colored  man.  This  was  when  they  established 
Wilberforce  University.  The  object  of  Wilberforce 
was  the  higher  order  of  education  of  colored  peo 
ple  generally  and  the  site  for  it  was  purchased  in 
1856. 

From  the  first  the  broad  principle  that  there 
should  be  no  race  discrimination  was  established 
Wilberforce  changed  hands  in  1863,  when  Bish 
op  Payne  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  purchased  the  in 
stitution  from  the  M.  E.  Church.  The  school  has 
been  in  the  hands  of  strong  race  leaders.  They 
have  builded  well  for  the  distinctive  University 
that  is  now  Wilberforce.  The  present  President  is 
Dr.  W.  S.  Scarborough,  who  was  for  a  number  of 
years  prior  to  this  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek 
in  this  University. 

While  Wilberforce  is  by  far  the  best  known  and 
the  largest  of  these  schools,  Kittrell  College,  Kit- 
trell.  North  Carolina,  with  President  G.  A.  Edwards 
at  its  head  is  well  known  and  is  doing  a  good  work. 
Ranking  along  with  Kittrell  we  have  Paul  Quinn  in 
Texas  and  Morris  Brown  in  Atlanta,  Georgia. 
These  schools  all  receive  their  support  from  the 
church,  and  in  turn  send  out  trained  young  people 
to  work  in  the  interest  of  the  denomination. 


LINCOLN  UNIVERSITY 

The  first  step  for  Negro  education  was  taken  in 
Ohio,  in  1844.  Ten  years  later,  1854,  Pennsylvania 
took  the  next  step  when  Lincoln  University  was 
first  founded.  The  first  charter  was  granted  un 
der  the  name  of  Ashmun  Institute.  When  the 
name  was  changed  in  1866,  the  plan  was  to  have 
training  in  the  various  professions ;  theology,  med 
icine,  law — in  adition  to  the  regular  preparatory 
department  and  college  course.  The  courses  were 
one  by  one  discontinued,  however,  till  in  1893,  there 
remained  the  College  and  the  Theological  Sem 
inary  as  departments  of  the  University. 

OTHER  CHURCH   SCHOOLS 

Besides  the  schools  that  fall  into  the  groups  that 
have  already  been  considered  there  are  the  Presby 
terian  Schools,  the  Catholic  Schools,  Christian 
Schools,  The  Schools  owned  by  the  Societies  of 
Friends,  the  schools  of  the  Lutheran  Board,  the 
Episcopal  Boards,  the  United  Presbyterion  Board 
and  then  there  are  Negro  Church  Boards  maintain 
ing  schools. 

The  work  done  for  the  Negro  through  these  var 
ious  boards  shows  the  genuine  interest  of  the 
churches  in  the  social  uplift  of  the  colored  man. 
The  Baptist  Board  with  its  large  investment  in 
Negro  education  has  a  large  Negro  membership 
in  its  denomination.  While  they  do  not  limit  the 
students  in  anyway  to  persons  of  their  own  faith, 
they  have  a  very  large  number  of  young  men  and 
women  of  their  own  faith  to  draw  on.  The  same 
is  true  of  the  Methodists.  While  not  so  numerous 
as  the  Baptists  they  are  present  in  vast  number. 
This  is  not  true  of  the  other  boards  that  are  strug 
gling  to  help  the  Negro  in  his  upward  strides.  They 


561 


are  working  for  the  Negro  through  their  love  of 
humanity.  This  fact  will  be  more  and  more  recog 
nized. 

Less  than  4  percent  of  the  Negro  population  of 
the  United  States  are  connected  with  churches  oth 
er  than  Baptist  and  Methodist.  The  other  relig 
ious  bodies  however,  including  the  Congregational- 
ists,  have  invested  more  than  seven  million  dollars 
in  the  education  of  the  Colored  people.  This. is  a 
sum  that  equals  the  combined  investment  of  the 
two  leading  denominations.  This  shows  the  in 
terest  of  these  broad,  people  in  education  in  its 
broadest  sense.  The  good  thus  done  for  the  Negro 
*ias  meant  much  in  his  rapid  progress  during  the 
past  fifty  years.  The  schools  established  and  con 
trolled  by  these  organizations  are  for  the  most  part 
well  supervised  and  amply  supported. 

CONGREGATIONALISM  AND  THE  NEGRO. 

Congregationalism  is  apostolic  in  origin.  In  its 
modern  meaning,  it  dates  as  far  back  as  the 
close  of  the  Sixteenth  Century,  when  Puritan 
ism  arose  in  the  days  of  "Good  Queen  Bess."  Un 
der  James  I,  one  group  began  to  meet  by  them 
selves,  and  to  worship  in  an  unorthodox  way. 
These  were  days  when  religious  toleration  was  not 
known  ;  hence,  they  were  "harried  out  of  the  land," 
and  found  refuge  first  in  Holland,  and  after  twelve 
years,  found  a  home  in  the  wilds  of  the  new  world, 
at  Plymouth,  in  1620. 

Their  splendid  heroism  is  a  matter  of  history. 
How  they  toiled  and  suffered  and  died  in  laying  the 
foundations  of  a  church  without  a  Bishop,  and  of 
a  State  without  a  King,  is  known  by  every  school 
boy. 

Their  ministers,  from  Robinson  down,  were  men 
of  letters.  Education  was  fostered  along  with  re 
ligion,  as  a  matter  of  course.  Harvard,  Yale,  An- 
dover,  Dartsmouth,  Princeton,  and  scores  of  other 
colleges  and  schools  of  high  rank  bear  eloquent 
witness  to  their  intellectual  zeal. 

They  were,  however,  pre-eminently  a  spiritual- 
minded  folk  and  felt  themselves  divinely  led  in  all 
matters  of  both  church  and  state. 

The  church  in  the  wilderness  grew  and  flour 
ished,  sometimes  "with  toil  and  persecution."  Their 
ears  caught  the  macedonian  cry  from  lands  afar, 
and  in  1810  they  organized  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions ;  the  first  or 
ganization  of  the  kind  in  the  new  world,  and  moth 
er  of  an  illustrious  progeny  in  all  the  churches.  In 
1846  the  American  Missionary  Association  was  or 
ganized.  Five  other  Societies  followed  these  in 
rapid  succession,  but  we  shall  dwell  mainly  on  the 
work  of  the  American  Missionary  Association  be 
cause  of  its  relation  to  the  Negro.  For  quite  three 
quarters  of  a  century  this  organization  has  stood 
in  the  very  van  of  the  agencies  that  have  been  at 


work  for  the  uplift  and  enlargement  of  the  Negro 
in  America  and  in  Africa. 

It  was  at  Hampton,  shortly  after  Gen.  Butler  had 
declared  the  Negroes  within  the  federal  lines  "con 
traband  of  war,"  that  the  work  of  education  began. 
That  beginning  has  through  the  passing  years  cul 
minated  in  the  organization  of  more  than  250  Negro 
churches  and  in  the  establishing  of  half  dozen  col 
leges  and  universities  such  as :  Fisk,  Atlanta.  Tal- 
ladega,  Tougaloo ;  besides  more  than  fifty  primary 
and  Secondary  schools  in  strategic  centers  extend 
ing  from  Virginia  to  Texas. 

These  schools  have  administered  to  the  threefold 
need  of  the  Negro  in  his  struggle  for  a  place  in  the 
ranks  of  the  nineteenth  and  twentieth  century  pro 
gress.  First  of  all  was  seen  the  need  of  educated, 
trained  leadership.  No  race  can  advance  to  its 
promised  land  without  its  Moses  and  Aaron,  and 
Joshua  and  Samson,  and  Samuel  ,and  the  rest. 

The  dawn  of  freedom  discovered  the  Negro  lead- 
erless,  save  for  a  group  of  Negro  preachers  whom 
nature  in  a  mysterious  way,  had  provided.  They 
did  their  best  under  the  handicap  of  illiteracy  and 
the  inwrought  traditions  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
years  of  servitude.  In  many,  if  not  in  most  in 
stances,  this  leadership  was  in  blind  obedience  to 
the  instinct  of  worship  and  reverence ;  and  on  the 
other  hand  reverence  and  obedience  to  priestly  and 
prophetic  authority.  It  was  a  concrete  case  of  the 
"blind  leading  the  blind." 

And  yet  in  this  very  thing  was  contained  the  seed 
of  promise  and  of  hope.  The  soul  of  the  race  was 
crying  aloud  for  light  and  for  enlightenment ;  and 
through  the  A.  M.  A.  the  Congregational  Church 
answered  that  cry  by  founding  and  sustaining  the 
schools  and  churches  already  mentioned.  Thous 
ands  of  graduates  and  undergraduates  have  gone 
out  to  service  from  these  schools.  There  is  now  in 
attendance  eight  or  ten  thousand  Negro  youths  in 
these  schools.  Here,  leaders  have  been  trained  for 
the  task  of  guiding  the  race  along  the  safe  and  sure 
way  of  racial  respectability  and  racial  eminence 
and  freedom.  For  the  past  half  century,  yeoman 
service  has  been  done  in  church  and  school  and 
community.  Remarkable  wisdom,  and  tact,  and  pa 
tience  have  revealed  themselves  in  the  delicate  task 
of  raising  a  backward  people  up  to  the  standards 
and  ideals  of  a  progressive  people  among  and  with 
whom  they  lived  and  by  whom  they  were  meas 
ured.  Honesty,  efficiency,  thrift,  industry  and 
Christian  good  will  have  been  the  burthen  of  their 
teaching.  This  has  added  tremendously  to  the  eco 
nomic  progress  of  the  entire  South  and  has  kept 
down  clashes  of  a  racial  nature. 

The  leadership  of  the  Negro  is  still  in  the  hands 
of  the  minister,  and  it  is  here  that  emphasis  has 
been  stressed.  Intellectual  and  industrial  leaders 


562 


have  not  been  undervalued.  But  the  descendants 
of  the  Pilgrims  are  true  to  their  traditions,  and 
are  still  insisting  on  the  supreme  place  of  the  spir 
itual.  The  educated  minister  has  always  been  put 
to  the  front.  At  Talladega  College,  alone,  the  ven 
erable  and  beloved  Dr.  G.  W.  Andrews  has  taught 
and  sent  out  more  than  two  hundred  Negro  preach 
ers  to  the  various  branches  of  the  Negro  church. 
The  Baptists  and  the  various  branches  of  the  Me 
thodist  Churches,  with  rare  exceptions,  gladly  ac 
knowledge  their  debt  to  Congregationalism  for 
some  of  their  foremost  leaders. 

The  Congregational  Churches  among  Negroes, 
serve  mainly  as  models  and  stimulants  to  the  other 
churches.  They  are  not  a  separate  body  from  the 
general  Congregational  brotherhood.  Just  as  there 
are  Italian  groups.  Slav  groups  and  other  racial 
groups,  so  is  there  this  Negro  group  having  the 
fullest  fellowship,  and  amplest  privilege  in  all  the 
general  affairs  of  the  great  Congregational  Church. 
For  the  past  several  years  Negroes  have  held  the 
office  of  vice-president  of  the  National  Council  of 
Congregational  Churches  and  have  presided  with 
dignity  and  acceptably  over  that  august  body. 
There  are  five  Negro  Superintendents  of  church 
work  now  in  the  field;  there  are  a  number  of  Ne 
groes  on  various  boards  of  trustees  of  our  Colleges, 
and  numbers  of  Negro  deans,  professors  and 
teachers,  laboring  side  by  side  in  utmost  harmony 
with  the  white  co-laborers  in  the  work  of  church 
and  school.  All  the  benevolences  go  through  the 
common  channel  of  our  national  administrative 
boards. 

Our  churches  are  necessarily  small  for  they 
came  South  late,  due  to  their  attitude  toward  slav 
ery.  They  have  a  definite  purpose  and  a  definite 
mission  ;  that  is,  to  train  the  abundant  emotional 
ism  of  the  race  into  submission  to  reason  and  res 
traint,  and  to  present  to  the  great  church  catholic 
an  element  of  worship  that  must  greatly  enrich  and 
enhance  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth. 
Thus,  shall  Ethiopia  stretch  forth  her  hands  unto 
God,  offering  her  princely  gift  to  bless  all  mankind. 

E.  E.  SCOTT, 
Montgomery,  Ala. 
July  3,  1919. 

NATIONAL  WOMAN'S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPER 
ANCE  UNION  WORK   AMONG  COLORED 
PEOPLE 

National  Superintendent,  Mrs.  Eliza  E.  Peterson, 
Texarkana,  Texas. 

Associates,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Sexton,  Mobile,  Ala  ;  Mrs. 
Phoebe  Allen,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Advisory  Committee  on  College  Work :  Pres 
ident,  Miss  Mary  A.  Lynch,  Livingston  College, 
Salisbury,  N.  C. ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ross 
Haynes,  Fisk  University,  Nashville,  Tenn. 


Work  among  colored  people  became  a  separate 
Department  in  1881.  with  Mrs.  Jane  M.  Kenney 
of  Michigan,  as  Superintendent.  Mrs.  Frances  E. 
Harper,  of  Pennsylvania,  became  superintendent  in 
1883.  and  continued  to  fill  the  position  until  1890. 
In  1891,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Ray,  of  North  Carolina,  was 
a  committee  on  "Home  and  Foreign  Missionary 
Work  for  Colored  People.  In  1895.  Mrs.  Lucy 
Thurman,  of  Michigan,  became  superintendent  of 
the  colored  work.  She  continued  in  this  position 
until  1908,  when  she  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
superintendent,  Mrs.  Eliza  E.  Peterson. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  work  among  colored  people  is 
carried  on  in  Alabama,  Arkansas,  California,  Col 
orado,  Delaware,  District  of  Columbia,  Georgia, 
Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa,  New  York,  Kansas,  Ken 
tucky,  Louisiana,  Maryland.  Michigan.  Minnesota, 
Mississippi,  New  Jersey,  North  Carolina,  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Texas, 
and  West  Virginia.  The  colored  women  are  or 
ganized  into  local  unions,  and  in  the  District  of  Co 
lumbia,  Louisiana,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Tennessee,  Texas,  and  West  Virginia,  they  have 
separate  State  organizations  with  their  own  State 
officers.  Many  colored  women  belong  to  mixed 
unions.  Altogether,  the  colored  membership  in 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  is  about  6.000. 

Texas  has  the  largest  paid  W.  C.  T.  U.  member 
ship  among  colored  women  of  the  United  States. 
The  city  with  the  largest  paid  membership  is  Nash 
ville,  Tenn.  Prairie  View  State  Normal  and  In 
dustrial  College,  Prairie  View,  Texas,  has  the  larg 
est  young  people's  branch  among  colored  women  in 
the  United  States.  The  branch  has  150  young 
women  who  are  paid-up  members. 

WORK   OF  THE   AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUB 
LICATION  SOCIETY  AMONG  NEGROES 

This  society  has  carried  on  such  work  since 
emancipation. 

During  the  past  year  the  Society  maintained  six 
Sunday  School  workers  among  colored  people  in 
Alabama,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Texas, 
and  Virginia.  These  workers  held  Sunday  School 
Conventions,  Bible  Institutes  and  delivered  ad 
dresses  to  Sunday  Schools  and  Churches.  They 
visited  the  past  year  over  800  Sunday  Schools  and 
Churches.  The  names  of  these  workers  and  their 
fields  are  as  follows : 

S.  N.  Vass,  D.  D.,  Box.  430,  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Gen 
eral  Superintendent  of  Negro  Work  of  the  Society 
throughout  the  United  States. 

D.  A-  Scott,  D.  D.,  Austin,  Texas,  State  Sunday 
School  Missionary  for  Texas. 

L.  W.  Galloway,  D.  D.,  Selma,  Ala.,  State  Sunday- 
School  Missionary  for  Alabama. 

E.  R.  Roberts,  D.  D.,  Florence,  S.  C..  State  Sun 
day  School  Missionary  for  South  Carolina. 


563 


Rev.  T.  C.  Walker,  Gloucester,  Va.,  State  Sunday 
School  Missionary  for  Virginia. 

Rev.  M.  A.  Talley,  Raleigh,  N.  C,  State  Sunday 
School  Missionary  for  North  Carolina. 

THE  SALVATION  ARMY  AND  THE  NEGRO 

The  Salvation  Army  is  making  an  attempt  i 
reach  the  Negro  mainly  through  Negroes  who  arc 
being  trained  in  the  Salvation  Army  Workers' 
School,  in  New  York  City.  Only  a  few  Negroes 
thus  far  have  gone  through  this  school.  As  they 
finish,  they  are  sent  in  to  the  South.  At  present 
work  is  being  conducted  exclusively  among  Ne 
groes  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  Richmond,  Va.,  and 
Charleston,  S.  C. 

WORK  AMONG  NEGROES    BY    THE    INTER 
NATIONAL   SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ASSOCIATION 

Believing  that  the  colleges  and  the  normal 
schools  should  be  the  source  of  supply  for  efficient 
Sunday  School  teachers  in  the  local  churches,  the 
committee  on  Work  Among  Negroes  of  the  Inter 
national  Sunday  School  Association,  appointed  by 
Dr.  H.  C.  Lyman,  78  East  Mitchell  Street,  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  to  introduce  in  these  schools  a  special 
course  for  the  training  of  Sunday  School  teachers. 
"Beginning  in  1911  with  the  five  colleges  in  Atlanta 
the  interest  has  gradually  grown  until  Sunday 
School  teacher  training  has  been  presented  in  prac 
tically  all  of  the  263  Boarding  Schools  that  carry 
six  or  more  teachers.  Recognition  of  the  need  for 
better  teachers  in  the  local  Sunday  Schools  was  in 
stant.  The  fine  body  of  students  in  the  colleges  is 
the  logical  source  of  supply.  They  are  the  natural 
leaders.  Enlistment  in  a  specific  work  for  the  prac 
tical  betterment  of  the  home  church  appeals  to 
them.  Community  betterment  may  be  realized  by 
working  for  the  younger  generation  through  the 
Sunday  School.  There  is  no  better  guarantee  that 
these  college  students  will  become  permanent  fac 
tors  in  the  local  churches.  The  results  have  more 


than  justified  the  efforts.  Two  hundred  teachers 
training  classes  have  been  organized.  The  enroll 
ment  in  these  classes  for  1915-1916  was  3060.  In 
forty-seven  schools  this  work  is  required  and  reg 
ular  credit  given  for  it. 

In  addition  to  the  work  done  in  the  colleges  a 
Training  School  for  the  leaders  of  these  teacher 
training  classes  was  held  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee, 
with  an  enrollment  of  forty-seven,  representing 
nineteen  institutions.  Co-operation  between  the 
white  Sunday  School  workers  and  the  colored  has 
been  established  at  Birmingham,  Ala.,  Louisville, 
Ky.,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  Greensboro,  N.  C.  Six  other 
cities  have  given  encouragement  that  it  will  be 
done.  Whenever  the  white  people  have  a  special 
School  of  Methods  they  give  the  same  work  by  the 
same  speakers  to  the  colored  Sunday  School  work 
ers  of  the  community.  Rev.  R.  A.  Scott,  Rev.  E. 
C.  Page,  and  Prof.  K.  D.  Reddick,  have  been  ap 
pointed  Associate  State  Secretaries  in  Mississippi, 
West  Virginia  and  Georgia  respectively.  These 
are  efficient  and  trained  men.  Their  work  is  closely 
supervised  by  the  General  Secretaries  of  the  State 
Sunday  School  Associations  and  their  reports  are 
passed  upon  by  the  State  executive  committees. 
Their  salaries  are  largely  paid  by  the  white  state 
associations.  Kentucky,  North  Carolina  and  Vir 
ginia  State  associations  have  signified  a  purpose  to 
inaugurate  a  similar  cooperative  work  as  soon  as 
efficient  men  are  found  for  the  positions.  Summer 
schools  at  State  institutions  have  been  visited  in 
North  Carolina,  Virginia  and  West  Virginia.  In 
this  way  about  four  hundred  rural  school  teachers 
have  been  reached  each  year  and  enlisted  in  more 
aggressive  and  efficient  Sunday  School  methods. 
Because  of  the  work  done  in  the  colleges  four  of 
the  denominations  have  stressed  the  Sunday  School 
teacher  training  work.  The  Baptists,  the  African 
Methodists  and  the  African  Methodist  Zions  have 
regularly  appointed  Superintendents  for  this  work. 
The  Colored  Methodists  and  the  African  Methodist 


VIEW  OF   CAMPUS,   KNOXVILLE  COLLEGE,   KNOXVILLE,   TENN. 

564 


Zions  have  formally  approved  of  the  teacher  train 
ing  as  a  regular  part  of  their  Sunday  School  pro 
gram. 

THE   WORK   OF   THE    AMERICAN    SUNDAY 
SCHOOL  UNION  AMONG  NEGROES 

This  society  has  had  some  general  work  among 
the  Negroes  of  Virginia  for  several  years.  Recent 
ly  it  inaugurated  the  policy  of  placing  a  missionary 
in  connection  with  an  industrial  school  in  which 
he  teaches  the  Bible  and  Sunday  School  normal 
class  work  on  two  days  of  each  week,  and  spends 
the  remaining  part  of  the  week  in  pastoral  visita 
tion  and  in  organizing  the  work  in  the  adjacent 
territory. 

These  new  schools  organized  by  the  missionary 
are  placed  under  the  care  of  officers  and  teachers, 
for  the  most  part  taken  from  the  ranks  of  the  stu 
dent  body  who  have  been  under  his  instruction. 
Work  of  this  kind  is  carried  on  at  Fort  Valley  High 
and  Industrial  School,  Fort  Valley,  Georgia ;  Pren- 
tiss  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute  at  Prentiss, 
Mississippi;  Bettis  Academy,  Trenton,  S.  C. ;  Voor- 
hees  Industrial  School,  Denmark,  S.  C.,  and  Utica 
Normal  and  Industrial  Institute,  Utica,  Mississippi. 
The  American  Sunday  School  Union  is  deeply  in 
terested  in  the  religious  welfare  of  the  Negroes  of 
the  South  and  is  seeking  to  cooperate  with  every 
agency  looking  toward  their  moral  and  religious 
betterment.  The  headquarters  of  the  American 
Sunday  School  Union  are  1816  Chestnut  Street, 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  The  officers  are :  Mar 
tin  L.  Finckel,  President;  William  H.  Hirst,  Re 
cording  Secretary;  John  E.  Stevenson,  Treasurer; 
George  P.  Williams,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  Missions 
and  in  charge  of  the  work  among  Negroes ;  Edwin 
W.  Rice.  D.  D.,  Editor  of  Publications ;  James  Mc- 
Conaughty,  Managing  Editor. 

THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  AND  COLORED 
WORK. 

By  Rev.  J.  D.  Bustin,  Asst.  Director  General  and 
Field  Secretary  of  The  Catholic  Board  for  Mission 
Work  Among  the  Colored  People. 

The  Catholic  Church  has  been  interested  in 
Christianizing  and  educating  the  colored  people 
from  the  earliest  days  of  their  appearance  in  this 
country.  Her  sphere  of  influence  has  been  until 
recent  years,  confined  to  those  territories  where 
the  population  was  largely  Catholic,  the  Western 
shore  of  the  Chesapeake  bay  in  Maryland  and  that 
strip,  fifty  miles  in  width  lying  along  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  from  Pensacola,  Florida,  to  Corpus  Christi, 
Texas,  including  also  most  of  State  of  Louisiana.  In 
these  territories  the  Church  dealt  with  the  Negro 
as  with  any  other  unit  of  the  population  through 
the  Parish  system.  The  Church  did  not  nor  does 
not  look  upon  the  Negro  as  a  distinct  race  to  be 


segregated  but  rather  a  part  of  the  whole  popula 
tion  and,  as  such,  to  be  handled  by  the  group  lead 
er,  the  Parish  Priest,  in  the  system  devised  for  all 
the  people  living  in  the  fixed  territory  lying  within 
easy  reach  of  the  Parish  Church  and  school.  This 
system  of  necessity  varied  greatly.  In  the  large 
and  wealthy  centres  the  churches  were  equipped 
with  a  large  number  of  priests  and  teachers, 
schools  of  importance,  hospitals  and  all  those  in 
fluences  that  make  for  the  betterment  of  old  and 
young;  in  new  and  sparsely  settled  districts,  how 
ever,  the  parish  working  machinery  often  consist 
ed  of  a  log  church,  a  single  priest,  and  a  pair  of 
saddle  bags.  The  results  of  the  system  differed  as 
widely  as  the  equipment.  Some  places  education 
flourished,  in  others  illiteracy;  one  priest,  with  in 
stincts  of  a  great  leader  fired  his  parish  with  am 
bition  and  religion  of  lofty  type,  another  let  them 
drift  along  at  any  gait. 

Under  this  varied  influence  was  the  Negro  as  a 
part  of  the  parish,  the  weakest  part  also, — the 
slave  for  the  most  part.  Although  there  was  a 
considerable  number  of  free  Negroes  in  the  Gulf 
district,  some  of  whom  possessed  wealth  and  edu 
cation.  These  like  the  rest  of  the  population  shared 
in  the  parish  life. 

When  anti-slavery  agitation  came  under  the 
leadership  of  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  about  1824, 
a  new  phase  of  the  agitated  question  began  to 
show.  Heretofore  there  had  been,  as  inherent  to 
slavery,  injustice,  brutal  treatment  and  exploita 
tion,  but  no  general  race  antipathy  showed  itself 
against  the  Negro  as  such.  Now  the  color  and 
African  origin  began  to  be  the  test,  and  sufficient 
reason  for  love  or  hate,,  for  reward  of  punishment. 
Unjust  as  this  may  be  it  has  continued  to  be  the 
underlying  principle  of  law  and  literature  from 
Garrison's  day  to  ours. 

It  was  to  overcome  this  new  difficulty  to  Negro 
education  and  betterment,  that  the  Oblates  of 
Providence  were  founded  in  1829  at  Baltimore. 
Four  young  colored  women,  Elizabeth  Lange,  Rosa 
Boegus,  Magdalen  Balas,  and  Teresa  Duchemin  un 
der  the  guidance  of  Father  Joubert,  organized  this 
society  to  conduct  schools  for  colored  girls,  to  pro 
vide  for  orphans  and  to  seek  the  erring.  The 
Oblates  have  been  pursuing  their  lofty  purpose  for 
nearly  a  century  and  today  have  about  200  women 
in  the  society  and  are  conducting  houses  of  study 
in  Baltimore,  Washington,  St.  Louis,  Leavenworth, 
Charleston,  Havanna  and  other  places  on  the  West 
India  Islands. 

The  Congregation  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy 
Family,  was  founded  at  New  Orleans  in  1842,  by 
Harriet  Delisle,  Juliette  Gaudin,  Josephine  Charles, 
and  Miss  Alcot,  "free  women  of  color"  who  de 
voted  their  wealth  and  lives  to  instruct  and  care 
for  those  of  the  colored  people  whom  they  could 


565 


reach.    These  Sisters  now  conduct  Houses  for  aged      who   attend   parochial    schools,    making   the    entire 


Colored    men    and   women.      The    community   now 
numbers  nearly  200  women. 

After  the  Emancipation  when  race  prejudice  first 


enrollment  over  20,000  children.  The  Board  pays 
the  salary  of  140  teachers,  besides  paying  the 
whole,  or  greater  part  of  the  salary  of  21  priests 


showed   itself   in   absolute   segregation   of   the   col-      engaged    excluisevly    in    the    Colored    Missionary 
ored     people,     the     Catholic     Church     was     forced      Work. 

Priests   having   charge   of   Missions    for   Colored 


against  her  will   to  take  up  with  the  new  system. 
Many  foreigners  were  coming  into  the  country  in 


People  —  Josephites     Fathers,     71  ;     Diocesan,    33  ; 


the  seventies  and  eighties  of  the  last  century  who  Fathers  of  the  Divine  Word,  10;  Lyons  Mission 
demanded  churches  and  schools  of  their  own  Ian-  Fathers,  10;  Holy  Ghost  Fathers,  24;  Congrega 
tion  of  the  Missions,  5;  Jesuit  Fathers,  4;  Francis 
cans,  1. 

There  are  554  teachers  in  Catholic  Schools  fo- 
Colored  Children,  mostly  Sisters,  and  there  are  15 
Brothers  in  Industrial  School  Work. 

The  Catholic  Mission  Work  among  the  Colored 
People  during  1918  cost  approximately  $350,000. 

PRESBYTERIAN  WORK  AMONG  THE 
NEGROES 

There  are  seven  different  branches  of  the  Pres- 


guage  respectively.  Slowly  the  authorities  yielded 
to  the  demand  and  from  that  date  began  to  be 
seen  German  Churches,  Polish  Churches,  French 
Churches,  and  Italian  Churches  and  so  on. 

When  it  became  evident  that  this  insane  race 
prejudice  was  here  to  last  for  many  years  the  Cath 
olic  authorities  had  to  modify  the  parish  system 
or  lose  their  influence  on  both  races. 

So  when  Monsignor  Bourne  afterward  Cardi 
nal  Bourne  the  founder  of  the  Missionary  Society 
whose  members  are  commonly  known  as  Jose- 


phites,  visited  this  country  in  1871  and  was  after-      Merian   denomination   in   the   United   States,   viz: 


wards    allowed    to    send    four   priests    of   his    com 
munity  to  devote   their   entire   attention  to  Negro 


ihe  Presbyterian  Church  in   the   United   States  of 
America,  The   Presbyterian   Church   in   the   United 


religious  work,  the  interest  of  the  Catholics  began  States,  The  United  Presbyterian  Church,  The  Re- 

to  be  directed  to  the  work  as  never  before.  Iorm    Presbyterian   Church   of   the    United   States  ; 

At  the  council  of  Baltimore  in  1884,  the  prelates  ''"he  Reform  Prsebyterian  Church  of  America,  The 

in  attendance  took  especial  care  to  awaken  enthu-  Associate   Presbyterian  Church,   and  The  Cumber- 

siasm  by  decreeing  that  a  regular  collection  should  lancl    Presbyterian   Church.     The   two    first    named 

be  taken  up  in  all  the  Catholic    Churches    of    the  are  more  commonly  known  as  the  Northern  Pres- 

United  States  on  the  first  Sunday  of  Lent,  part  of  byterian   and   Southern    Presbyterian,   respectively, 

which    should    be    devoted    to    Negro    Missionary  All   of   these   branches   maintain   organizations    for 

work.  mission   and   school   work   among  the   Negroes.     A 

In  1907  a  Board  was  established  to  which  were  £ood  illustration  of  the  type  of  schools  being  ope- 
appointed  seven  Arch-bishops  and  Bishops  who  rated  h.v  the  Presbyterian  Boards,  is  Biddle  Uni- 
should  have  general  charge  of  this  branch  of  Cath-  versity,  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Scotia 
olic  Missionary  activity.  Incorporated  under  the  Seminary  at  Concord,  N.  C.,  is  one  of  the  leading 
laws  of  Tennessee  it  is  known  as  "The  Catholic  female  colleges  of  the  Presbyterians. 
Board  of  Mission  Work  among  the  Colored  Peo-  The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States: 
pie."  The  Arch-bishops  selected  as  their  personal  the  chief  work  of  this  church  for  colored  people 
representative  Rev.  John  E.  Burke,  who  for  twen-  is  embraced  in  the  Snedecor  Memorial  Synod,  con- 
ty-four  years  had  been  pastor  of  the  Colored  sisting  of  4  Presbyteries,  with  35  ministers. 
Church  of  St.  Benedict  the  Moor,  in  New  York  '  serving  62  churches  and  missions  and  2700  coin- 
City,  and  since  then  this  clergyman  has  been  Direc-  municants ;  with  mission  schools  at  Louisville,  Ky. ; 
tor-General  of  the  Board.  Beyond  the  supervision  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  Richmond.  Va. ;  Abbeville,  S.  C.,  and 
of  Missions  in  the  South,  the  Director-General  so-  other  places.  There  were  added  to  our  colored 
licits  funds  in  Northern  churches  in  which  labor  he  churches  last  year  155  persons  upon  profession  of 
is  assisted  by  other  priests  assigned  to  the  work. 
At  the  present  time  Rev.  D  J.  Bustin,  Rev.  Jas.  J. 
Mulholland,  both  of  Scranton,  and  Rev.  Chas.  A. 
Edwards  of  Providence,  Rhole  Island,  are  the  col 
leagues  of  Father  Burke.  In  recognition  of  his  zeal  with  the  commencement  at  Stillman  Institute.  The 


faith.  Stilhnan  Institute,  with  three  white  teach 
ers,  is  maintained  for  the  education  of  the  colored 
ministry.  The  annual  meeting  of  the  Colored 
Synod  is  held  at  Tuscaloosa  in  May,  in  connection 


in  this  field.  Father  Burke  was  elevated  to  pre- 
latial  dignity  by  the  Pope  and  as  a  member  of  the 
Papal  household  he  has  the  title  of  Monsignor. 

Since  the  establishment  of  this  Board  sixty  new 
mission  centers  have  been  started.  Over  10,000 
new  pupils  have  been  added  to  the  list  of  children 


Executive  Committee  conducts  a  helpful  Institute 
and  Bible  Conference  for  the  colored  ministers  in 
connection  with  the  Synod,  and  also  aids  the  com 
missioners  in  the  matter  of  expenses.  Our  colored 
churches  are  greatly  encouraged  in  their  work  by 
this  Conference,  and  are  being  stimulated  to  self 


566 


help  in  having  their  own  organization.  Rev.  W.  A. 
Young,  our  colored  evangelist,  is  doing  a  splendid 
work  among  the  churches  of  the  Synod. 

WORK  AMONG  NEGROES  OF  THE  PRESBY 
TERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION  AND 
SABBATH  SCHOOL  WORK 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America  began  its  mission  Sunday  School  work 
among  Negroes  in  the  South  in  1890.  Since  that 
time  more  than  3000  schools  have  been  organized. 
Out  of  them  several  hundred  churches  have  grown. 

The  aim  is  two-fold:  Missionary  and  Education 
al.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  missionary  to  visit  the 
homes  in  which  the  children  are  not  attending 
church  or  Sunday  School  and  distribute  religious 
literature,  while  at  the  same  time  he  ministers  to 
the  religious  life  of  that  home.  If  it  is  possible,  he 
organizes  a  Sunday  School,  provides  it  with  neces 
sary  literature,  and  subsequently  fosters  the 
growth  and  development  of  this  school. 

At  the  same  time,  this  missionary  is  ministering 
to  the  educational  life  and  development,  not  only  of 
the  mission  Sabbath  School  under  his  care,  but  of 
all  the  Negro  Presbyterian  Sabbath  Schools  within 
the  territory  assigned  to  him. 

DISCIPLES  OF  CHRIST 

By  J.  B.  Lehman,  Supt.  Educational  and  Evan 
gelistic  Work  for  Negroes  under  the  Christian 
Woman's  Board  of  Missions. 

The  Disciples  of  Christ  expended  last  year 
$90000.00  for  the  work  among  the  Negroes.  The 
money  was  expended  for  Educational  Institutions, 
organizing  in  the  Sunday  Schools  and  Missionary 
Societies,  Evangelistic  and  Church  help  at  strate 
gic  points  and  General  Supervision. 

It  will  perhaps  be  necessary  to  give  a  few  words 
on  the  origin  of  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  order  to 
be  able  to  make  clear  the  nature  of  the  work.  In 
1809  Thomas  Campbell,  a  Seceder  Presbyterian 
Minister  recently  come  from  Scotland,  protested 
against  sectarian  divisions  in  the  church.  This 
protest  drew  upon  him  much  antagonism  which  re 
sulted  in  forcing  him  and  his  followers  into  a  se 
parate  people  which  now  numbers  over  one  and  a 
quarter  million  communicants,  with  about  six  hun 
dred  churches  among  the  Negroes.  This  people 
was  not  a  great  missionary  people  from  the  be 
ginning  because  taking  upon  themselves  the  task 
of  righting  a  serious  defect  in  the  church  life  it 
self  they  were  naturally  a  little  slow  in  finding  the 
Missionary  task.  Their  membership  was  nearly 
as  strong  in  the  South  as  in  the  North  and  there 
was  never  any  organic  division  between  Negro  and 
White  Churches.  Consequently,  when  they  under 
took  to  do  missionary  work  among  the  Negroes 
they  could  move  no  faster  than  they  could  carry 


with  them  the  three  somewhat  discordant  ele 
ments.  But  while  this  way  was  slow  in  the  be 
ginning  it  was  building  on  a  sure  basis,  and  the  de 
lay  is  amply  compensated  for  in  the  results.  Now 
our  Southern  and  Northern  and  Negro  Churches 
are  cooperating  in  perfect  harmony  and  the  enthu 
siasm  for  the  work  in  the  Southern  Churches  is  not 
one  whit  behind  that  in  the  Northern  Churches. 
The  schools  consist  of  the  following: 

1.  The  Southern  Christian  Institute  at  Edwards, 
Mississippi,   with   1265  acres  of  land  and    a    plant 
worth  $175,000.00.     Its  President  is  J.  B.  Lehman, 
and  the  entire   faculty  is   white.     The  average  at 
tendance  is  about  225.     During  the  last  few  years 
students  matriculated  from  every  Southern  State, 
from  the  West  Indies  and  from  Africa.     A  faculty 
of  twenty-four  teachers  and  workers  is  maintained 
The  courses  of  instruction  consist  of  College,  Aca 
demic,   Ministerial   and  the   Primary   and   Prepara 
tory  Grades.  The  Industrial  work  consists  in  large 
part  in  building  up  and  maintaining  the  school. 

2.  Jarvis    Christian    Institute,    Hawkins,   Texas, 
with  800  acres  and  a  plant  worth  about  $50,000.  The 
average   attendance   has  been   about   100.     It   is    a 
new  plant,  which  was  started  in  1912  and  has  had 
a   remarkable   growth  in   this   time.     It  draws    its 
students   largely   from  Texas,   Oklahoma,   and  Ar 
kansas.     Its  President  is  J.  N.  Ervin  and  its  faculty 
numbering  about   eighteen,   is   colored.     The   same 
courses  of  instruction  are  maintained  as  described 
above. 

3.  Piedmont    Christian    Institute,    Martinsville, 
Virginia.     This  school,  up  to  the  present,  has  been 
a  town  high  school,  since   Martinsville  maintained 
no  high  school  for  the  colored  people.  But  we  have 
now  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  very  soon  build 
ings   will  be   erected  and   the   school  will   take   its 
place   as   an   academy   or   college.     This    school    is 
presided  over  by  James  H.  Thomas,  and  has  a  fa- 
.culty  of  seven  members. 

4.  The  Alabama  Christian  Institute,  Lum,  Ala 
bama.     This  school  has  sixty  acres  and  is  attempt 
ing  to  do  a  rural  work  in  a  plantation  section  where 
conditions   are   very   primitive.     The   work   is   pre 
sided  over  by  I.  C.  Franklin  and  has  a  force  of  sev 
en  workers. 

5.  Plans  are  now  on  foot  to  build  a  new  school 
of  college  grade  to  be  known  as  Central  Christian 
Institute  and  to  be  located  somewhere  in  Kentucky 
or  Tennessee.     In  a   very   short  time   the   location 
and  plans  will  be  determined  upon. 

The  Sunday  school  work  is  under  the  direction 
of  I'.  H.  Moss,  who  has  made  himself  an  expert  of 
note.  Since  1916  he  has  been  at  work  to  bring  out 
the  efficiency  of  the  Sunday  schools  of  our  six- 
hundred  churches  and  the  work  has  developed  to 
the  extent  that  plans  are  now  on  foot  to  divide  it 


567 


into  districts  and  send  some  four  others  into  the 
field  to  help  in  it. 

Miss  Rosa  V.  Brown  is  in  charge  of  the  work 
of  organizing  the  women  into  Missionary  Socie 
ties.  About  one-hundred  and  twenty-five  socie 
ties  have  been  organized  and  are  in  a  very  fair 
working  order. 

State  Evangelists  are  maintained  in  Texas,  Ok 
lahoma,  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Tennessee,  Mississip 
pi,  Louisiana,  Georgia,  Florida  and  South  Carolina. 
Churches  are  aided  in  Oklahoma,  Texas,  Ohio, 
Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Virginia. 

Plans  are  now  under  way  for  greatly  enlarged 
enterprises  along  all  lines.  The  Negroes  them 
selves  raised  a  Jubilee  Fund  of  $20,000,  to  com 
memorate  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  freedom  and 
will  now  take  their  full  and  equitable  share  of  all 
the  new  work. 

SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS 

The  object  of  this  article  is  not  to  go  into  the 
history  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  nor  to  exploit 
their  faith,  but  merely  draw  attention  to  some  of 
the  schools  established  by  them  for  the  education 
of  the  Negro  race.  The  Friends  have  been  consis 
tent  in  their  opposition  to  slavery  and  have  shown 
great  sympathy  and  made  every  effort  to  free  the 
Negroes,  and  now  that  they  are  free  they  are  doing 
their  part  to  free  them  of  the  shackels  of  ignor 
ance.  They  have  established  a  number  of  schools 
for  Negroes,  but  space  allotted  to  this  article  will 
not  permit  the  mentioning  of  more  than  a  few. 

The  High  Point  Normal  and  Industrial  School 
is  located  at  High  Point,  North  Carolina. 

It  was  founded  in  1893  by  the  annual  yearly 
meeting  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

The  institution  is  equipped  with  model  buildings 
and  grounds.  It  has  one  of  the  largest  school 
libraries  in  North  Carolina. 

In  addition  to  the  usual  courses,  it  offers  several 
industrial  courses  without  extra  charge.  Its  effort 
is  to  give  superior  instruction  in  all  courses.  It  is 
the  purpose  of  the  institution  to  give  young  men 
and  women  a  practical  academic  education,  a  thor 
ough  industrial  training,  and  to  prepare  teachers 
for  the  public  schools. 

The  school  is  thoroughly  Christian  and  every  re 
ligious  influence  is  thrown  around  the  students. 

The  value  of  the  property  is  $40,000  and  its  an 
nual  expense  is  $8,500. 

Southland  College  and  Normal  Institute,  South 
land,  Arkansas,  was  founded  in  1864  by  the  Indiana 
Society  of  Friends. 


The  college  is  located  on  a  farm  of  over  300 
acres,  which  lies  to  the  northwest  of  Helena  about 
nine  miles.  Besides  four  large  buildings,  there  is, 
on  the  campus  a  dwelling  for  laborers,  a  large 
laundry,  kitchen,  commissary,  store,  power  house 
and  necessary  out  houses. 

It  has  a  fine  library  with  valuable  works  of  an 
tiquity,  ancient  and  modern  history,  biography, 
science,  and  general  literature,  to  which  the  stu 
dents  have  access.  This  institution,  too,  is  sur 
rounded  with  a  religious  atmosphere,  and  the  stu 
dents  are  encouraged  to  live  the  higher  life. 

The  property  is  valued  at  $50,000  and  the  annual 
expense  is  $10,000. 

The  aim  of  the  work  done  is  to  make  the  stu 
dents  useful  and  law-abiding  citizens  of  the  com 
monwealth,  a  blessing  to  their  race,  and  a  benefit 
to  the  state. 

Institute  for  Colored  Youth,  located  at  Cheney, 
Pennsylvania.  This  school  was  founded  by  the 
Friends  in  1837.  It  gives  a  course  of  instruction, 
both  academic  and  industrial,  and  prepares  its  stu 
dents  to  go  forth  as  agents  to  uplift  the  colored 
race  and  to  live  useful  and  upright  lives.  It  is  well 
serving  the  race  in  the  accomplishment  of  these 
ends.  There  is  a  complete  description  of  Schofield 
Normal  and  Industrial  Institute  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

Many  of  the  schools  mentioned  in  the  education 
al  section  are  fully  described  elsewhere  in  this 
work. 

NEW  ASSOCIATIONS 

The  most  recently  organized  associations  that 
are  taking  up  work  in  connection  with  the  Negro, 
are :  Inter-Racial  Co-operation  Commission  of  the 
South,  composed  of  representative  white  men  from 
each  of  the  Southern  States.  The  organization 
was  formed  in  May,  1919,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Eagan,  a  noted  capitalist  of  Atlanta, 
was  elected  first  president  and  R.  H.  King  of  At 
lanta,  secretary.  The  object  of  the  commission  is 
to  study  ways  and  means  of  bringing  about  a  bet 
ter  understanding  and  a  closer  co-operation  among 
the  white  and  colored  people  of  the  South. 

The  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ 
in  America,  Dr.  George  S.  McFarland  of  Philadel 
phia,  secretary.  The  council  is  composed  of  all 
churches  in  the  United  States  and  its  object  is  the 
study  of  all  religions.  There  is  a  special  depart 
ment  for  the  study  of  colored  religions. 


568 


Co-OperatiVe  School   Building 

BY  CLINTON  J.  GALLOWAY 

Director  of  the  Extension  Department  of  Tuskegee 
Institute. 


AGENTS  ROSENWALD  RURAL  SCHOOLS. 


N  June,  1914,  Mr.  Julius  Rosen- 
wakl  of  Chicago,  authorized  Tus 
kegee  Institute,  of  which  he  is  a 
trustee,  to  launch  a  campaign  in 
the  South  for  better  rural  school- 
houses  for  colored  people.  Eight 
months  previous  to  this  time,  Mr.  Rosenwald  had 
permitted  the  Extension  Department  of  Tuskegee 
Institute  to  try  out  six  near-by  communities  in 
Alabama,  to  see  if  they  would  give  a  worth-while 
response.  Two  communities  in  Macon  County,  one 
in  Lee  County,  and  three  in  Montgomery  County 
were  selected.  Plans  for  a  one-teacher  school- 
house,  to  cost  about  $600,  were  drawn  in  the  Arch 
itectural  Division  of  Tuskegee  Institute.  When 
these  were  presented  to  the  communities  they  were 
readily  accepted.  Mr.  Rosenwald  offered  one  dol 
lar  for  every  dollar  furnished  by  each  of  the  com 
munities,  up  to  the  amount  of  $300. 

The  county  superintendent  of  education  of  each 
of  the  counties,  the  Jeanes  Fund  supervisors,  pas 
tors  of  churches  located  in  the  communities  and 
the  county  agricultural  agents  were  asked  to  give 
their  co-operation  in  helping  to  rally  the  people  to 
raise  their  share  of  the  funds  necessary  to  com 


plete  the  buildings.  After  many  visits  by  repre 
sentatives  of  Tuskegee's  Extension  Department, 
the  six  schools  were  finished  at  a  cost  of  about 
$700  each.  They  were  furnished  with  home-made 
desks  and  the  necessary  chairs  and  tables.  The 
people  were  so  happy  and  grateful  that  they  wrote 
many  letters  to  their  good  friend,  Mr.  Rosenwald, 
about  their  beautiful  buildings. 

The  coming  of  the  Rosenwald  schools  marked 
the  period  of  educational  awakening;  the  time 
when  the  people  ceased  to  think  of  the  city  as  the 
only  place  for  decent  schoolhouses ;  the  time  when 
patrons  began  to  realize  the  possibility  of  organiz 
ed  effort.  There  were  other  evidences  of  com 
munity  improvement.  The  white  people  seemed 
to  recognize  the  aspirations  of  their  Negro  neigh 
bors  to  higher  and  better  things  and  contributed 
towards  the  new  schoolhouses.  The  school  terms 
were  lengthened  from  four  to  seven  months.  The 
attendance  of  the  children  improved.  The  teachers 
were  able  to  do  better  work  by  reason  of  the  con 
veniences  in  the  classrooms,  the  increased  com 
fort  of  the  buildings,  and  the  general  awakening 
in  the  community. 

Mr.  Rosenwald  continued  to  encourage  commu- 


£69 


TEACHERS    ROSENWALD    RURAL    SCHOOLS 


nities  by  offering  his  aid  in  blocks  of  100  schools 
at  a  time  until  the  number  reached  300  in  Novem 
ber,  1917,  at  which  time  he  offered  to  aid  in  the 
building  of  300  more  schoolhouses ;  and  on  account 
of  the  increased  cost  of  building  material,  he  rais 
ed,  in  1918,  the  maximum  amount  of  each  school- 
house  to  $400  for  a  one-teacher  school  and  $500 
for  a  school  built  for  two  or  more  teachers. 

Possibly  the  most  interesting  part  of  the  cam 
paign  work  is  the  manner  in  which  the  Negro  re 
sponds  to  the  call  to  raise  money  in  his  little  com 
munity,  composed  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  families, 
to  meet  the  conditions  of  Mr.  Rosenwald's  offer. 
This  is  usually  made  in  a  meeting  where  nearly 


every  family  is  present.  Pledges  are  made  in  cash, 
labor,  or  material.  In  many  cases  farmers  can  do 
hauling.  In  some  instances  the  material  is  donated 
by  the  patron  from  saw-milling  timber  on  his  land. 
In  such  cases  the  patrons  meet  in  the  woods,  cut 
the  saw  stock,  carry  it  to  the  mill,  and  have  the 
lumber  sawed  on  shares. 

In  one  of  these  meetings  where  pledges  were 
made,  a  widow  of  ninety  years  subscribed  one  dol 
lar  toward  the  building.  The  next  day  she  was 
seen  about  the  community  selling  ginger  cakes 
which  she  had  baked.  In  this  way  she  succeeded 
in  raising  the  amount  of  her  pledge.  In  many  com 
munities  the  children  are  organized  into  little  clubs 


STATES 

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AMOUNTS  CONTRIBUTED  BY 

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Alabama 

184 
31 
31 
20 
61 
6 
33 
111 
10 
76 
46 
609 

$  45,576.00 
15,839.00 
5,625.00 
17,895.00 
14,600.00 
7.700.00 
3,613.50 
44,706.00 
3,900.00 
80,755.00 
32,405.00 
$272.614.50 

$  8.465.00 
1,735.00 
10,552.00 
2,500.00 
3,750.00 
600.00 
14,249.95 
4.129,25 
8.428.001 
4,275.00 
750.00 
$59,434.20 

$  93,514.93 
18,034.00 
26,507.77 
7,741.50 
41,410.57 
2.575.00 
21,623.27 
50,633.75 
6,644.00 
48.796.00 
25,444.80 
$    342,925.59 

$  57,350.00 
13,800.00 
11,300.00 
7,700.00 
13,000.00 
2,250.00 
14,275.00 
35.565.00 
4,400.00 
46,775.00 
22,000.00 
$228,415.00 

$204,905.93 
49.408.00 
53,984.77 
35,836.50 
72,760.50 
12,125.00 
55,761.72 
135,034.00 
23,372.00 
180,601.00 
80.599.80 
$    904,389.22 

Arkansas 

Georgia 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

M  arvltind 

Mississippi 

North  Carolina 

South  Carolina 

Tennessee 

Virginia 

570 


PUPILS  AND  PATRONS  OF  A  ROSENWALD  SCHOOL 

for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  to  meet  Mr.  Ros- 
enwald's  offer. 

Many  communities  must  get  rid  of  petty  preju 
dices  and  old  ideals  if  they  are  to  succeed  in  ob 
taining-  a  modern  schoolhouse.  Now  and  then 
friendly  progressive  leaders  must  wait  until  some 
old  influential  opposer  dies  and  is  respectfully  put 
out  of  the  way.  A  common  viewpoint  for  Baptist 
and  Methodist  must  be  found.  It  sometimes  be 
comes  necessary  to  convince  the  white  landowner 
that  no  harm,  but  rather  substantial  returns,  will 
come  by  encouraging  the  building  of  a  comforta 
ble  Negro  schoolhouse  near  his  land.  Perhaps  the 
greatest  difficulty  is  the  absence 
of  strong  community  leadership. 

It  is  Mr.  Rosenwald's  desire  to 
help  only  in  those  states  where 
state  officers  of  public  school 
funds,  and  others  who,  in  any 
way,  control  the  public  schools, 
wish  this  help.  No  community 
will  be  granted  aid  by  Mr.  Ros- 
enwakl  toward  the  erection  of 
schoolhouses  whose  school  term 
does  not  run  at  least  five  months. 
Neither  will  Mr.  Rosenwalcl  aid 
in  the  building  of  schoolhouses 
unless  the  money  raised  by  the 
community,  county,  and  state, 
added  to  what  he  gives,  is  suffi 
cient  to  complete  and  furnish  the 
schoolhouse.  Tn  the  eleven  states 
where  Mr.  Rosenwald  is  extend 
ing  his  aid  state  officers  and 


other  agencies  are  actively  at 
work  trying  to  get  communities 
to  qualify  for  his  help. 

The  writer,  in  company  with 
Mr.  George  D.  Godard,  state 
agent  for  rural  schools  in  Geor 
gia,  visited  a  school  community 
in  that  state  and  on  the  day  of 
the  visit  found  the  county  super 
intendent  of  education  leading  a 
volunteer  group  of  colored  farm 
ers  in  the  construction  of  the 
new  schoolhouse.  The  superin 
tendent  was  enthusiastic  over 
the  work.  He  was  not  a  carpen 
ter,  but,  with  his  bruised  and 
bleeding  hands,  he  was  a  real  in 
spiration  to  the  others  at  work. 
The  significance  of  this  work 
in  co-operative  school  building  is 
shown  in  the  table  on  the  previ 
ous  page,  which  covers  the  "Ros 
enwald  School  Improvement  Campaign"  up  to 
March  1,  1919. 

It  was  found  at  the  very  beginning  that  school 
patrons,  as  well  as  others,  need  information  first 
hand  from  agents  who  might  attend  the  meetings 
to  explain  the  necessity  of  better  school  buildings 
and  the  importance  of  sticking  to  certain  modern 
lines  of  procedure  in  the  erection.  For  the  pur 
pose  of  helping  in  this  way  Mr.  Rosenwald  has 
contributed  each  year  additional  funds  to  pay  one- 
half  the  salary  and  traveling  expenses  of  agents 
to  assist  the  state  agents  for  rural  schools.  In 
North  Carilina,  Arkansas,  Kentucky,  Mississippi, 


A  HOMK-MAKKRS'  CI.LT,. 


571 


Louisiana,  and  Alabama,  agents 
have  been  employed  by  the  state 
especially  to  look  after  this  kind 
of  work.  In  all  these  states  ex 
cept  one,  one-half  the  expenses 
of  agents'  assistants  have  been 
paid  by  local  funds.  Some  of 
these  assistants  have  raised  as 
much  as  $5000  in  one  month  to 
ward  the  erection  of  school- 
houses.  The  General  Education 
Board  and  the  Jeanes  Fund  have 
heartily  co-operated  in  the  work. 

Although  much  better  teach 
ing  is  being  done  in  these  new 
buildings,  though  the  terms  have 
been  lengthened,  and  the  attend 
ance  has  been  much  better,  there 
is  still  room  for  improvement  in 


ROSENWALD   SCHOOL   REPLACING   THE  OLD   ONE   BESIDE    IT 


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VI 


O. 


MAP 

SHOWING  LOGVTION  OF 
RURAL  SQ100LS  AIDED  BY 
MR.  JULIUS  ROSLNVVALU 


.    -      I,  ISIS 
THf  ]te«f«f  NORIKL- iimujRui  INSTITUTE 


many  cases.  To  encourage  the 
movement  and  make  these 
schools  meet  the  needs  of  the 
community  Mr.  Rosenwald  has 
recently  offered  to  help  in  ex 
tending  school  terms  where  the 
community,  county,  and  state 
are  willing  to  furnish  a  like 
amount.  The  hope  is  that  all  who 
can  possibly  do  so  will  join  the 
forces  already  at  work  and  im 
prove  the  chances  for  country 
boys  and  girls  by  helping  to 
place  one  of  these  modern 
schoolhouses  in  needy  communi 
ties. 


572 


Gfiurch  Among  Negroes 


HE  following  information  is  pub 
lished  through  the  courtesy  of 
the  Negro  Year  Book,  edition 
1916-17,  published  annually  at 
Tuskegee  Institute,  and  edited  by 
Monroe  N.  Work  in  charge  of  Di 


vision  of  Records  and  Research. 

DATE  OF  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE 
COLORED  DENOMINATIONS 


1865. 
1813. 
1816. 
1821. 
1836. 
1838. 
1853. 
1864. 

1867. 
1850. 
1850. 

1860. 
1865. 
1866. 

1869. 
1870. 
1880. 
1882. 
1896. 

1896. 
1899. 

1899. 
1899. 
1900. 

1901. 
1905. 

Note :  There  are  approximately  five  hundred 
thousand  Negroes  in  the  United  States  who  are 
members  of  white  churches. 

DATE  OF  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE 
COLORED  CHURCHES 

1785.    Colored  Baptist  Church,  Williamsburg,  Va. 

1787.  Independent     Methodist     Church,      Philadel 
phia,  Pa. 

1788.  First  African  Baptist  Church,  of  Savannah. 

1790.  African  Baptist  Church,  Lexington,  Ky. 

1791.  St.  Thomas  Episcopal  Church,  Philadelphia. 
1793.  Springfield  Baptist  Church,  Augusta,  Ga. 
1796.  African  Methodist    Episcopal    Zion    Church, 

New  York  City. 

1800.    Abyssinia  Baptist  Church,  New  York  City. 

1802.    Second  Baptist  Church,  Savannah,  Ga. 

1805.    African  Meeting  House,  Boston,  Mass. 

1809.    First  African  Church,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

1807.    First  African  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadel 
phia,  Pa. 


Colored  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Union  Church  of  Africans. 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church. 
Providence  Baptist  Association  of  Ohio. 
Wood  River  Baptist  Association  of  Illinois. 
Western  Colored  Baptist  Convention-. 
Northwestern  and  Southern  Baptist  Conven 
tion. 

Consolidated  American  Baptist  Convention. 
African  Union  Church. 

Union     American     Methodist    Episcopal 
Church. 

First  Colored  Methodist  Protestant    Church. 
Colored  Primitive  Baptist  Church. 
African  Union  First  Colored  Methodist  Pro 
testant   Church. 

Colored  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church) 
Colored  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
National   Baptist  Convention. 
Reformed  Zion  Apostolic  Church. 
Reformed      Methodist      U  n  i  o  n      Episcopal 
Church. 

Church   of   God   and   Saints   of   Christ. 
Church  of  the  Living  God   (Christian  work 
ers  for  friendship.) 

Church  of  the  Living  God  (Apostolic.) 
Church  of  Christ  in  God. 

Voluntary   Missionary    Society    in    America 
(Colored.) 

United  American   Free-Will   Baptist. 
Free  Christian  Zion  Church  in  Christ. 


1812.    Colored  Peoples  Church,  Clinton,  N.  J. 

1805.  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Wil 
mington,  Del. 

1818.  St.  Phillips  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
New  York  City. 

1824.    St.  James   First  African  Church,   Baltimore. 

1838.    First  Bethel  Baptist  Church,  Jacksonville. 

1867.  Plymouth  Congregational  Church,  Charles 
ton,  S.  C. 

1878.    First  Lutheran  Colored  Church,  Little  Rock. 

NOTED  NEGRO  PREACHERS. 

George  Leile,  born  1750.  Freed  by  master  and  be 
came  famous  preaching  to  the  slaves  of  Sa 
vannah,  Ga.,  during  Revolutionary  War. 

Andrew  Bryan,  born  1788.  Founded  the  first  Afri 
can  Baptist  Church  of  Savannah,  Ga. 

Lemuel  Haynes,  born  1753,  at  West  Hartford,  Conn. 
Revolutionary  Soldier  and  first  Congrega 
tional  Minister. 

Richard  Allen,  born  at  Philadelphia,  in  1760.     Was 

first  A.  M.  E.  Bishop. 

Joseph  Willis,  born  in  1762,  organized  the  fiirst 
Baptist  Church  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

Daniel  A.  Payne,  born  1811.  Bishop  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  Wilber- 
force  University. 

John  Jasper,  born  in  1812.  Famous  Richmond,  Va., 
preacher.  He  became  a  national  character  by 
trying  to  prove  by  the  Bible  that  "The  Sun 
Do  Move." 

Alexander  Crummell,  eminent  Episcopal  minister, 
born  at  New  York  City  in  1818.  Died  1898. 

Caeser  Blackwell,  born  in  Lowndes  County,  Ala.,  in 
1828.  Bought  by  the  Baptist  Association  of 
that  state  and  set  free  to  preach  to  slaves. 

Dock  Phillips,  born  at  Cotton  Valley,  Macon  Coun 
ty,  Ala.,  in  1828.  The  Alabama  Baptist  As 
sociation  tried  to  buy  him  of  his  master? 
John  Phillips,  but  he  refused  to  be  sold.  Was 
universally  respected  by  whites  and  blacks. 

Harry  Hosier,  born  in  1810.  First  American  Ne 
gro  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Church. 

John  Chavis  commissioned  by  the  Presbyterian 
General  Assembly  as  a  missionary  to  the 
Negroes.  He  was  the  first  Negro  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  to  be  prepared  for 
Christian  leadership.  Chavis  is  said  to  have 
been  born  in  Granville  County,  North  Caro 
lina  in  1801. 

It  was  not  as  a  preacher,  but  as  a 
teacher  of  white  boys  and  apparently  white 
girls  also,  that  Chavis  is  best  remembered  in 
North  Carolina.  The  greater  part  of  the 
time  after  he  was  silenced  as  a  preacher  and 
probably  for  a  large  part  of  the  time  from 
his  return  to  North  Carolina  until  his  death 
in  1838,  he  conducted  a  private  school  in 
Wake  County,  and  also  probably  in  Chatham. 
Orange  and  Granville  counties.  Some  of  his 
pupils  later  became  distinguished.  Among 
these  were  Charles  Manly,  Governor  of  North 
Carolina  and  Priestly  H.  Mangum,  brother  of 
Senator  Mangum  and  himself  a  lawyer  of 
distinction. 


573 


BETHEL  BAPTIST 
INSTITUTIONAL  CHURCH. 


Mr. ZJON  A.  M.E. CHURCH  AND  PARSONA&E  ,  JACKSONVILLI;:,  FLA. 

^WHT 

» 


A  GROUP  OF  REPRESENTATIVE   NEGRO   CHURCHES. 


THE  NATIONAL   BAPTIST   CONVENTION 
By  E.  C.  Morris,  D.  D. 

The  National  Baptist  Convention,  the  largest  or 
ganization  among  Negro  Christians  in  the  world, 
now  has  a  membership  of  3,018,341.  according  to 
the  latest  religious  census. 

The  first  National  Organization  among  Negro 
Baptist  was  the  Foreign  Mission  Convention  of  the 
United  States,  which  organization  was  effected  at 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  in  1880.  The  first  president  of 
the  Convention  was  the  Rev.  W.  H.  McAlpine,  of 
Alabama. 

The  preliminary  work  of  getting  the  Baptists  to 
gether  was  done  by  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Colley,  of 
Richmond,  Va.,  who  had  spent  three  years  in  Af 
rica  as  a  Missionary  under  appointment  from  the 
Foreign  Mission  Board  of  the  Southern  Baptist 
Convention. 

Nothing  was  done  the  first  three  years  of  the 
organization,  except  to  gather  means  and  arouse 
an  interest  in  the  denomination  for  the  establish 
ment  of  a  Mission  station  on  the  West  Coast  of 
Africa.  The  first  Missionaries  were  sent  out  to 
Africa  in  1883. 

Up  to  1883  there  had  not  been  a  religious  census 
taken  of  the  Negro  organizations,  and  but  little 
was  known  of  their  numerical  strength,  hence  in 
1886  the  Rev.  Wm.  J.  Simmons,  D.  D.,  of  Louisville. 
Ky.,  organized  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.  The  American 
National  Baptist  Convention  and  was  elected  its 
first  president.  The  object  given  was,  "To  gather 
statistics,  and  study  the  moral  conditions  of  vhc 
race." 

In  1893,  the  Negro  Baptists  organized  the  Nation 
al  Educational  Convention,  the  object  being  to 
study  and  promote  the  educational  interests  of  the 
denomination.  The  Rev.  W.  Bishop  Johnson,  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  was  the  founder,  and  Rev.  M. 
Vann,  of  Tennessee  was  the  first  president.  The 
Convention  began  at  once  the  publication  of  the 
National  Baptist  Magazine,  which  was  suspend 
ed  in  1895. 

The  three  above  named  organizations  met  an 
nually  in  the  same  city  each  occupying  two  days, 
but  under  different  management  until  1895.  When 
the  three  were  merged  into,  one,  under  the  name, 
"The  National  Baptist  Convention,"  the  consolidat 
ing  of  the  three  Conventions  took  place  at  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  in  1895,  and  Rev.  E.  C.  Morris,  was  elect 
ed  President,  which  position  he  has  held  continuous 
ly  for  twenty-three  years. 

Immediately  upon  the  consolidation  of  the  three 
conventions,  three  Boards  were  chosen  by  the  Con 
vention,  to  represent  the  interest  of  the  three  for 
mer  Conventions,  and  the  work  has  been  prosecut 
ed  by  these  Boards  under  the  direction  of  the  Con 
vention  since  that  time.  In  1896  a  Home  Mission 


Board  was  created  by  the  Convention,  and  was 
charged  with  the  duty  of  publishing  Sunday  School 
literature  for  the  denomination,  and  conducting  the 
mission  work  on  the  Home  field.  In  1888  the  Home 
Mission  Board,  by  authority  of  the  National  Baptist 
Convention,  organized  the  National  Baptist  Pub 
lishing  Board,  and  the  work  of  Home  Missions  and 
publications  were  practically  under  the  same  man 
agement  until  1914,  though  an  order  had  been  giv 
en  as  far  back  as  1904  for  the  separation  of  the 
Home  Mission  and  Publishing  Boards. 

In  1899  the  National  B.  Y.  P.  TJ.  Board  was  or 
ganized  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  its  headquar 
ters  located  at  that  place.  Rev.  E.  W.  D.  Isaac,  D. 
D.,  was  chosen  as  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
Board.  This  Board  has  organized  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  Baptist  Young  People  into  local  So 
cieties,  for  training  in  religious  work. 

In  1900,  the  Woman's  Auxiliary  Convention  was 
organized  at  Richmond,  Va.,  and  Mrs.  S.  W.  Lay- 
ton  was  chosen  President  and  Miss  N.  H.  Bur 
roughs  was  chosen  Corresponding  Secretary.  This 
organization  meets  at  the  same  time  and  place  of 
the  National  Baptist  Convention,  and  reports  an 
nually  to  the  parent  body.  The  Woman's  Auxil 
iary  Convention  supports  a  Woman's  and  Girl's 
Training  School  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

THE  MINISTERS'  RELIEF  BOARD 

The  Ministers  Relief  Board  was  organized  in 
1903,  the  first  chairman  was  Rev.  C.  B.  Brown,  of 
Marianna,  Ark.,  and  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Holmes  was 
the  first  Corresponding  Secretary.  This  Board 
seeks  to  gather  means  with  which  to  give  relief  to 
old  worn  out  ministers,  who  are  not  able  to  earn  a 
support  in  their  declining  years. 

The  youngest  of  the  Board  of  the  National  Bap 
tist  Convention,  is  the  Church  Extension  Board,  lo 
cated  at  Memphis,  Tenn.  The  Chairman  of  this 
Board  is  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Roberts,  the  Correspond 
ing  Secretary  is  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Perkins.  Already 
this  Board  which  is  less  than  two  years  old,  has 
afforded  relief  to  several  struggling  churches,  and 
has  built  some  churches  where  the  people  were  not 
able  to  build  for  themselves. 

The  principal  object  before  the  National  Educa 
tional  Board  at  this  time  is  the  building  of  a  Theo 
logical  Seminary  for  the  training  of  ministers.  The 
Southern  Baptist  Convention,  (White)  has  voted 
to  put  150,000  into  the  project,  and  the  hope  is 
held  out  that  the  Northern  (White)  Baptists  will 
give  a  like  amount. 

The  Home  Mission  Board  of  the  National  Bap 
tist  Convention  co-operates  with  the  Home  Board 
of  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention  in  Missionary 
work  in  the  Southern  Field.  The  Home  Mission 
Board  of  the  National  Baptist  Convention  is  at 
present  being  directed  by  Dr.  Jos.  A.  Booker,  of 


575 


Little  Rock,  Ark.  About  twenty  Missionaries  are 
being  regularly  employed  by  this  Board. 

The  Foreign  Mission  work  is  under  the  superin- 
tendency  of  Rev.  L.  G.  Jordan,  and  is  at  present 
confining  its  labors  to  Africa,  which  has  been 
greatly  disturbed  by  the  war,  but  the  Missionaries 
have  not  left  the  field,  and  are  being  supported  by 
the  Foreign  Mission  Board. 

The  Headquarters  of  the  Foreign  Mission  Board 
is  701  S.  18th  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

The  Sunday  School  Board  is  located  at  418  N. 
4th.  Ave.,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  the  present  Corres 
ponding  Secretary  is  the  Rev.  Wm.  Haynes.  This 
Board  publishes  the  Sunday  School  literature  used 
in  a  majority  of  the  Negro  Baptist  Sunday  Schools 
in  this  country. 

There  are  three  strong  District  organizations, 
viz  ;  The  New  England  Convention ;  the  Lot  Carey 
Convention  and  the  General  Convention  of  the 
Western  States  and  Territories,  all  of  which  are  in 
cooperation  with  the  National  Baptist  Convention. 

The  officers  of  the  National  Baptist  Convention 
for  1918,  are:  E.  C.  Morris,  D.  D.,  President;  Rev. 
W.  G.  Parks,  D.  D.,  Vice  President  at  large ;  Prof. 
R.  B.  Hudson,  A.  M.,  Secretary;  Rev.  T.  O.  Fuller, 
D.  D.,  E.  A.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  E.  H.  McDonald,  D.  D., 
and  J.  H.  Nesbrit,  A.  B.,  Assistant  Secretaries. 
Rev.  A.  J.  Stokes,  D.  D.  Treasurer,  Prof.  M. 
M.  Rogers,  Auditor.  There  is  elected  from  each 
State  one  Vice-President,  at  every  annual  meet 
ing,  who,  together  with  the  officers  of  the  Conven 
tion  constitute  an  Executive  Committee. 

AFRICAN  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

By   Bishop   C.   H.   Phillips. 

Resenting  what  they  considered  bad  treatment 
upon  the  part  of  their  white  brethren  and  imbued 
with  the  spirit  of  independence  then  in  the  Amer 
ican  atmosphere,  being  led  by  Richard  Allen,  a  col 
ored  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  Philadelphia,  a  number  of  persons  of  Af 
rican  descent,  withdrew  from  St.  George's  Metho 
dist  Episcopal  Church  in  Philadelphia  and  estab 
lished  a  society  of  their  own.  This  was  in  1787, 
from  which  date  the  history  of  this  church  began. 

After  withdrawing  from  the  white  church  they 
took  immediate  steps  to  secure  a  building  of  their 
own,  which  was  not  accomplished  until  they  had 
overcome  many  trials  and  difficulties.  Their  build 
ing  was  finally  completed  and  at  their  request, 
Frances  Asbury,  then  Bishop  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  opened  the  house  for  divine  wor 
ship.  It  was  named  "Bethel  Church." 

Soon  Negroes  of  other  Pennsylvania  localities, 
and  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Delaware  and 
Maryland  followed  the  example  of  the  Philaclel- 
phians,  and  formed  distinctively  African  congrega 
tions—often  with  the  encouragement  of  the  whites. 


In  1816  representatives,  sixteen  in  all,  from  Be 
thel  African  Church  in  Philadelphia  and  African 
churches  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  Wilmington,  Del.,  At- 
tleboro,  Perm.,  and  Salem,  New  Jersey,  met  in  Phil 
adelphia  and  formed  a  church  organization  or  con 
nection  under  the  title  of  "The  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church." 

They  adopted  the  policy  and  doctrine  of  the  Me 
thodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  some  slight  changes 
and  elected  one  of  their  number,  Richard  Allen,  as 
their  Bishop.  Bishop  Allen  died  in  1831.  He  was 
their  first  Bishop  but  the  denomination  has  had  a 
succession  of  able  superintendents,  some  of  whom 
have  been  remarkable  for  administrative  talent  and 
pulpit  eloquence. 

During  the  first  fifty  years,  the  church  was  con 
fined  almost  entirely  to  the  Northern  States,  and 
its  growth  was  comparatively  slow  but  after  eman 
cipation  its  development  became  rapid.  In  1816  it 
had  only  7  churches  and  400  members  ;  in  1836  it 
had  86  churches  and  7,594  members  ;  in  1866  it  had 
286  churches  and  73,000  members;  in  1896  it  had 
4,850  churches  and  518.000  members,  and  in  1916  it 
had  7,500  churches  and  650,000  members.  It  start 
ed  with  one  Bishop  in  1816,  and  had  16  Bishops  in 
1916.  The  number  of  conferences  in  1816  was  2, 
and  in  1916  they  had  grown  to  81.  It  had  no  schools 
until  1866,  and  then  only  one  but  in  1916  it  had  24 
schools.  The  value  of  its  property  in  1816  was 
$25,000,  and  in  1918  it  was  -12,500,000. 

Plans  for  the  first  school  were  laid  in  1844 — a 
manual  labor  school — near  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  in 
1863  it  secured  Wilberforce  University,  now  one  of 
the  largest  Negro  institutions  of  higher  learning 
in  America.  Since  then  an  institution  of  learning 
has  been  established  in  most  Southern  States. 

In  1848  the  Missionary  Department  was  origin 
ated  and  in  1864  put  into  actual  operation,  although 
a  misionary  had  been  sent  to  Haiti  in  1824. 

In  1916  more  than  a  hundred  missionaries  and 
native  workers  are  in  foreign  lands. 

In  1852,  "The  Christian  Recorder,"  a  weekly 
newspaper  was  established  as  the  official  organ  and 
has  been  maintained  ever  since. 

In  1882,  the  Sunday  School  Department  was  or 
ganized.  By  it,  all  of  the  literature  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Sunday  Schools  is  edited  and  published. 

The  A.  M.  E.  Church  has  successfully  solved  the 
problems  of  Negro  organization  from  the  religious 
side. 

AFRICAN  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  ZION 
CHURCH 

The  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church 
was  organized  June  21,  1821,  in  New  York  City.  It 
grew  out  of  the  decision  of  the  Colored  Methodists 
to  declare  for  independence.  It  differed  in  organi 
zation  somewhat  from  the  other  Methodist  church- 


576 


es.  It  was  governed  by  Bishops  quadrennially 
elected  but  not  set  apart  by  the  usual  forms  of  or 
dination. 

They  got  their  name  of  Zionists  from  the  name 
of  the  local  church,  called  Zion  church,  which  start 
ed  the  movement  that  eventuated  in  the  establish 
ment  of  the  denomination. 

James  Varick  became  the  first  Bishop  of  the 
church.  The  denomination  has  had  a  marvelous 
growth  and  has  churches  throughout  the  land. 

It  now  has  twelve  Bishops,  three  thousand  one 
hundred  and  eighty  churches,  with  five  hundred 
and  sixty  eight  thousand,  six  hundred  and  eight 
communicants.  It  has  three  thousand  and  one  hun 
dred  Sunday  Schools  and  one  hundred  and  seven 
thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety  two  scholars.  Its 
church  property  is  valued  at  $4,833.207.  It  has  a 
publishing  house  located  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.  Its 
foreign  mission  work  was  organized  in  1892.  It  has 
in  its  foreign  mission  fields  three  stations,  five  out- 
stations,  and  eleven  organized  churches.  There  are 
five  ordained  ministers  and  thirteen  native  workers 
and  other  helpers.  In  1878  the  church  did  not  own 
a  single  school  building  nor  any  school  property 
worth  mentioning.  There  were  no  pupils  in  schools 
controlled  by  the  church.  Thirty  years  later,  at 
the  General  Conference,  Philadelphia,  June,  1908, 
Rev.  S.  G.  Atkins.  A.  M.  Ph.  D.,  of  Wiston-Salem, 
N.  C.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Ed 
ucation,  reported  10  colleges,  institutes,  and  acad 
emies,  with  an  enrollment  of  1,842  pupils,  and  con 
trolling  property  valued  at  $276,500. 

Two  of  the  schools  of  the  denomination  are  lo 
cated  in  Alabama,  three  in  North  Carolina,  two  in 
South  Carolina,  and  one  each  in  Kentucky,  Tennes 
see  and  Virginia.  One  of  its  schools,  Livingstone 
College,  located  at  Salisbury,  is  an  institution  of 
real  college  rank. 

The  aim  of  the  denomination  is  to  develop  two 
more  of  its  schools  to  such  a  rank  and  to  advance 
the  Livingstone  College  into  the  field  of  University 
work. 

Secretary  Atkins,  writing  under  date  of  April  6, 
1909.  said: 

"We  think  we  have  the  foundation  for  a  signifi 
cant  and  comprehensive  work  in  connection  with 
the  uplift  of  the  Negro  people  of  the  country.  With 
our  schools  graded  and  co-ordinated,  and  all 
brought  into  harmony  with  the  latest  requirements 
of  the  science  of  education,  we  shall  hope  to  have 
a  system  that  will  take  rank  with  the  best  educa 
tional  forces  of  the  world,  especially  as  the  enlight 
enment  and  Christianizing  of  nearly  a  million  peo 
ple  will  soon  be  on  our  hands." 


THE  COLORED  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH 

By  Bishop  C.  H.  Phillips.  D.D. 

Before  the  Civil  War,  colored  people  were,  very 
largely,  Methodists,  Baptists,  Presbyterians,  Epis 
copalians,  and  what  not,  according  to  the  religious 
beliefs  of  their  owners. 

But  they  had  no  church  organization  separate 
from  the  white  people,  for,  the  laws  of  the  South, 
did  not  allow  them  to  hold  meetings  among  them 
selves. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war  in  1861,  the  Metho 
dist  Episcopal  Church.  South,  had.  in  the  slave- 
holding  States  a  colored  membership  of  207.766. 
But  after  emancipation,  the  African  Methodist,  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal,  and  the  African  Me 
thodist  Episcopal  Zion  Churches,  which  already 
had  organizations  across  Mason  and  Dixon's  Line, 
began  to  establish  their  churches  in  the  South  with 
great  rapidity  and  marvelous  success. 

The  fortunes  of  war  had  wrought  such  changes 
between  the  master-class  and  the  slave  and  the 
declaration  of  freedom  had  made  such  an  impres 
sion  on  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  colored  people, 
that  any  association  with  white  people  in  religious 
affairs,  was,  not  only  looked  upon  with  disfavor 
and  suspicion,  but  was  regarded  an  act  of  disloyal 
ty  to  the  race  on  the  one  hand,  and  base  ingrati 
tude  for  the  new  birth  of  freedom  on  the  other. 

Under  these  conditions  propagandists  for  church 
es,  which  had  existence  at  the  North  entirely  dis 
tinct  from  white  people,  found  a  most  responsive 
and  fruitful  field  for  operations  in  the  South. 

For,  when  the  war  closed,  out  of  207,766  only 
78.000  remained  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  There 
had  been  an  exodus  of  the  colored  members  of  this 
Church  into  the  A.  M.  E..  A.  M.  E.  Zion,  and  M. 
E.  Churches.  To  save  this  remnant  was  the  su 
preme  thought  of  the  leaders  of  the  Church.  South. 
This  remnant  desired  to  be  organized  into  a 
Church  organization  of  their  own.  and  the  M.  E. 
Church.  South,  acceded  to  that  request  by  ap 
pointing  at  its  General  Conference  in  May,  1870, 
Bishop  Paine,  and  Doctors  A.  L.  P.  Green,  Samuel 
Watson,  Thomas  Taylor,  and  James  A.  Heard,  to 
assist  in  the  organization. 

In  December  of  this  year  in  Jackson,  Tennessee, 
the  Church  was  formally  organized  and  named  the 
"Colored  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  America." 
William  H.  Miles  of  Kentucky,  and  Richard  If. 
Vanderhorst  of  South  Carolina,  were  elected  and 
consecrated  the  first  bishops  of  the  new  organiza 
tion. 

With    two    Bishops,     eight    annual     conferences, 
about  seventy  eight  thousand  members,  legal  and 
constitutional  in  organization,  legitimately  descen 
ded  from  the  very  Father  of  Methodist,  firm  in  its 
577 


doctrines  and  principles,  the  Colored  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  started  upon  its  career,  "clear  as 
the  sun,  bright  as  the  moon,  and  terrible  as  an 
army  with  banners." 

At  its  beginning  it  had  no  schools,  colleges,  pub 
lishing  house,  or  churches  at  the  North.  Today  it 
has  church  organizations  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific;  a  Publishing  House  located  at  Jackson, 
Tennessee,  which,  in  the  near  future  will  be  remov 
ed  to  Nashville ;  10  schools  and  colleges ;  7  living 
Bishops ;  34  Annual  Conferences  ;  3285  churches  ; 
3402  preachers  ;  and  267,361  members.  This  church 
publishes  three  papers,  which  voice  its  sentiments, 
advocates  its  enterprises  and  performs  such  oth 
er  functions  as  are  peculiar  to  denominational  or 
gans. 

Tie  Missionary  Church  Extension,  Epworth 
League,  Educational,  and  Superannuated  Preach 
ers,  Widows  and  Orphans  Departments  are  helpful 
adjuncts  to  our  Church  Machinery  and  are  power 
ful  exponents  of  everything  that  is  necessary  to 
push  the  Kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ  among  men. 
Some  of  her  leaders  have  had  a  measure  of  success 
in  the  field  of  literature.  "Auto-Biography  and 
Addresses"  by  Bishop  L.  H.  Holsey ;  "Auto-Bio 
graphy,"  by  Bishop  Isaac  Lane;  "Sermons  and 
Addresses"  by  Bishop  R.  S.  Williams ;  "History  of 
the  C.  M.  E.  Church"  by  Bishop  C.  H.  Phillips; 
"Morning  Meditations"  by  Bishop  R.  A.  Carter; 
"Auto-Biography"  by  Bishop  M.  F.  Jamison;  and 
"Doctrines  of  Christ  and  His  Church,  by  Dr.  R.  T. 
Brown,  deserve  special  mention. 

The  Church  is  making  preparations  to  celebrate 
the  centenary  of  the  establishment  of  the  first  Mis 
sionary  Society  in  this  country  and  the  Semi-Cen- 
tennial  of  our  Church  organizations  in  1920.  It 
proposes  to  raise  $1,000,000  for  Church-extension, 
missionary,  educational,  and  other  purposes. 

The  Colored  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has 
had  a  phenominal  growth  and  development.  It  is 
fortunate  in  its  inheritance ;  rich  in  its  possibili 
ties ;  and  Evangelical  and  fruitful  in  all  its  opera 
tions. 

It  preserves  all  the  traditions  and  spiritual  fer 
vor  of  Methodism,  and.  as  a  part  of  the  invisible 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ,  it  essays  to  do  its  portion 
in  bringing  on  the  era  of  peace  and  good  \vil! 
among  men. 

COLORED   CUMBERLAND    PRESBYTERIAN 

CHURCH 

Prior  to  the  Civil  War  the  colored  members  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  belonged  to 
the  same  congregations  as  the  white  people,  and 
sat  under  the  same  pastor,  though  they  had  preach 
ers  of  their  own  race  and  often  held  separate  meet 
ings.  They  were  estimated  to  number  at  that 
time  about  20,000. 


After  the  close  of  the  War  conditions  changed. 
and  the  Colored  members  thought  it  best  to  form 
themselves  into  a  separate  organization,  and  made 
application  to  the  white  congregations  to  be  set 
apart  to  themselves.  Their  request  was  granted, 
and  they  were  legally  set  apart  by  the  General  As 
sembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  in  May,  1869. 

The  first  synod  organized  was  the  Tennessee  Sy 
nod,  in  1871,  at  Fayetteville  ;  and  the  first  General 
Assembly  was  organized  in  1874,  at  Nashville. 

The  Educational  work  of  the  church  includes 
three  schools,  one  each  in  Tennessee,  Alabama,  and 
Kentucky,  with  eleven  teachers.  350  pupils  and 
property  valued  at  $6750. 

The  church  has  also  a  publishing  plant,  valued 
at  $1500.  In  1906  the  church  had  196  church  edi 
fices,  18,066  communicants,  92  Sunday  Schools  with 
6952  scholars  and  property  valued  at  $203,778. 

COLORED  PRIMITIVE  BAPTISTS 

During  the  years  of  slavery  the  Colored  Prim 
itive  Baptists  worshipped  with  the  white  churches. 
They  were  provided  seats  in  the  gallery,  but  had  no 
voice  in  the  management  of  the  churches.  After 
emancipation  they  withdrew  from  the  white 
churches. 

In  1865,  Elder  Thomas  Williamson,  at  Columbia, 
Tennessee,  organized  the  White  Springs  Primitive 
Baptist  Church. 

The  first  association,  the  Big  Harpeth  Primitive 
Baptist  Association,  was  organized  in  1866,  in  the 
State  of  Tennessee,  and  soon  thereafter  other 
churches  began  to  spring  up  in  the  Southern 
States. 

In  1867,  the  first  church  was  formed  in  West 
Florida. 

The  churches  of  America  number  797,  with  a 
membership  of  35,076,  they  have  166  Sunday 
Schools  and  6,224  scholars.  The  value  of  the  church 
property  is  $296,539.00. 

UNITED    AMERICAN    FREEWILL    BAPTISTS 

The  lines  between  the  white  and  colored  Free 
will  Baptist  churches  in  the  Southern  States  for 
some  years  after  the  Civil  War  seem  not  to  have 
been  drawn  very  sharply. 

The  increase  of  the  colored  churches  and  the  en 
largement  of  their  activities  finally  led  to  their  se 
paration  from  the  white  churches.  In  1901  they 
were  organized  as  separate  denomination. 

The  church  has  two  large  schools — one,  Kinston 
College,  North  Carolina,  the  other  at  Dawson.  Ga. 
There  is  also  a  printing  establishment  at  Kinston, 
N.  C.,  which  issues  a  weekly  paper. 

There  are  251  churches,  14,489  communicants, 
100  Sunday  Schools,  3,307  scholars,  and  church  pro 
perty  valued  at  $79,278.00. 

578 


National  and  Fraternal  Organizations 


THE  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION  FOR  THE 
ADVANCEMENT  OF  COLORED  PEOPLE. 

HE  National  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Colored  People 
is  an  indirect  result  of  race  riots, 


in  1919  of  the  booklet  entitled  "Thirty  Years  of 
Lynching  in  the  United  States,"  containing  all 
available  statistics. 

In  the  closing  years  of  the  world  war  the  Asso 
ciation  made  its  greatest  membership  gains.  From 


in  Springfield,  Ohio,  the  home  of      a  membership  of  9,282  comprising  80  branches  in 


Abraham  Lincoln,  in  the  summer 
_    of  1908. 

It  was  decided  to  inaugurate  a  campaign  on  Lin 
coln's  birthday,  February  12.  1909.  On  that  day  a 
call  was  published  signed  by  Jane  Addams,  of  Chi 
cago;  Harriet  Stanton  Blatch ;  Prof.  John  Dewey ; 
Hamilton  Holt;  Charles  Edward  Russell;  Oswald 
Garrison  Villard;  Rabbi  Stephen  S.  Wise,  and  Hor 
ace  White,  of  New  York;  Judge  Wendell  Stafford, 
of  Washington;  Lincoln  Steffens,  of  Boston,  and 
many  other  public  spirited  people. 

On  May  30,  1909,  a  Conference  was  held  in  New 
York  City,  at  which  a  Committee  of  forty  was 
formed  and  a  Secretary  employed.  Four  mass 
meetings  were  held  and  thousands  of  pamphlets 
distributed.  It  was  followed  by  a  second  Confer 
ence  in  1910,  at  which  the  National  Association  for 
the  Advancement  of  Colored  People  was  or 
ganized.  The  officers  were :  National  President, 
Moorfield  Storey,  Boston;  Chairman  of  the  Execu 
tive  Committee,  William  English  Walling;  Treas 
urer,  John  E.  Milholland;  Disbursing  Treasurer, 
Oswald  Garrison  Villard;  Executive  Secretary, 
Frances  Blascoer;  Director  of  Publicity  and  Re 
search,  Dr.  W.  E.  B.  DuBois.  Through  Dr.  Du- 
Bois  the  Association  was  brought  closely  in  touch 
with  a  group  of  Colored  people  known  as  the  Nia 
gara  Movement,  which  had  attempted  a  work  of 
legal  redress  similar  to  that  of  the  Association. 

In  the  same  year,  1910,  was  published  the  first 
number  of  "The  Crisis,"  a  monthly  magazine,  ed 
ited  by  Dr.  Dubois,  which  early  in  1919  had  at 
tained  a  circulation  of  105,000. 

Concurrent  with  a  constant  effort  to  organize 
Negroes  for  the  maintenance  and  defense  of  their 
rights  as  United  States  citizens  throughout  the 
country,  the  Association  devoted  itself  to  a  number 
of  activities  which  may  be  classified  as:  The  fight 
against  lynching;  Fighting  the  color  line;  Educa 
tional  and  publicity  work ;  Legislative  work  and  in 
vestigations  ;  and  during  the  world  war  Welfare 
and  defense  of  the  colored  soldier. 

In  the  fight  against  lynching  trained  investigat 
ors  were  employed  to  ascertain  the  facts  underly 
ing  outbreaks  of  mob  brutality  against  Negroes, 


December,  1917,  the  Association  grew  to  165  bran 
ches  and  43,994  members  in  December  1918.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  tenth  anniversary  meeting  of 
the  Association,  held  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  June, 
1919,  the  Association  had  increased  to  237  branches 
and  68,031  members.  The  information  from  which 
this  article  was  prepared  was  furnished  by  James 
W.  Johnson,  Field  Secretary  of  the  National  Asso 
ciation  for  the  Advancement  of  Colored  People. 

NATIONAL  URBAN  LEAGUE. 

George  Edmund  Haynes  founded  the  league 
about  1912  in  the  city  of  New  York.  It  first  was 
local  in  its  work  and  scope  but  like  many  institu 
tions  looking  to  the  betterment  of  the  race  it  soon 
overleaped  the  bounds  of  locality  and  developed 
into  a  National  movement. 

When  the  National  League  on  Urban  Conditions 
was  formed  it  began  to  study  the  problems  of  the 
Negro  i-,i  cities  upon  the  basis  that  it  was  a  ques 
tion  which  called  for  the  co-operation  of  the  best 
men  and  women,  white  and  colored.  The  program 
of  work  which  was  adopted  was  elastic  and  well 
adapted  to  the  new  situation  created  in  many  cities 
by  recent  events. 

During  the  Fall  of  1916,  concentrated  efforts 
were  made  to  organize  movements  in  local  commu 
nities  where  the  problems  were  in  danger  of  be 
coming  acute.  The  result  of  this  effort  has  brought 
about  the  organization  of  branches  in  more  than 
thirty  cities. 

The  first  year  of  the  organization  its  annual 
budget  amounted  to  $2.500.00  and  now  it  is  over 
$100,000.00.  Until  several  years  ago  the  work  of 
the  National  League  and  the  New  York  branch 
were  conducted  in  the  same  office,  but  the  growth 
of  the  work  has  made  it  necessary  to  separate  the 
two  organizations. 

The  League  advocates  the  forming  of  organiza 
tions  for  the  purpose  of  fostering  good  feeling  be 
tween  the  two  races ;  to  study  the  health,  school 
and  work  needs  of  the  Negro  population  :  to  de 
velop  agencies  and  stimulate  activities  to  meet 
those  needs ;  by  training  and  health  protection  to 
increase  the  industrial  efficiency  of  Negroes  and  to 


and  the  facts  were  then  published  in  periodicals  encourage  a  fairer  attitude  toward  Negro  labor  es- 
and  made  available  for  publication  in  the  press.  pecially  in  regard  to  hours,  conditions  and  regular- 
One  consequence  of  this  work  was  the  publication  ity  of  work  and  standard  of  wages ;  and  to  increase 

579 


the  respect  for  law  and  the  orderly  administration 
of  justice. 

The  rapid  development  of  the  League  and  the 
valuable  work  it  has  already  accomplished  is  clear 
evidence  that  it  has  a  mission  in  the  world  and  the 
carrying  out  of  that  mission  is  sure  to  work  well 
in  the  uplift  of  the  Negro  race. 

Its  labors  should  continue  until  every  city  in  the 
Union  has  a  branch  established  in  it. 

This  effort  of  the  Negro  race  to  ameliorate  the 
condition  of  its  members  is  meeting  with  a  hearty 
response  by  their  white  friends,  who  not  only  sym 
pathize  with  it  but  give  its  substantial  support. 

This  was  illustrated  when  the  great  conflagra 
tion  s\vept  Atlanta  and  destroyed  many  Negro 
homes.  There  the  white  and  colored  co-operated  in 
good  spirit  to  care  for  the  unfortunate. 

The  work  relief  for  the  colored  families  was  un 
der  the  general  supervision  of  the  Urban  League. 

THE  NATIONAL  NEGRO  BUSINESS  MENS' 
LEAGUE. 

The  trend  of  the  modern  Negro  as  he  grasps  the 
scheme  of  things,  is  towards  organization.  Once 
he  rushed  into  this,  but  disappointed,  yes  shocked 
by  trickery  of  his  brothers  of  both  races  he  for  a 
long  time  stood  aloof  with  distrust.  Education 
has  re-adjusted  his  faith,  as  it  has  reformed  the 
plans  of  those  who  lead.  The  Negro  therefore  or 
ganizes  now  for  protection,  for  ideas,  for  strength, 
and  for  inspiration. 

Among  the  many  bodies  that  leaped  to  the  fore 
for  the  welfare  of  the  black  man,  the  National  Ne 
gro  Business  Men's  League  stands  foremost.  It  is 
comprehensive  in  its  membership  and  most  benevo 
lent  in  its  platform.  Beginning  with  a  few  mem 
bers  in  Boston  twenty  years  ago,  it  has  grown  in 
importance  and  in  its  composite  scope  until  it  has 
absorbed  at  least  a  goodly  part  of  every  Negro  or 
ganization  of  importance  in  the  land.  Under  its 
general  head  come  the  National  Negro  Insurance 


Association,  National  Negro  Retail  Merchants  As 
sociation,  National  Negro  Farmers'  Association. 
National  Negro  Undertakers  Association.  National 
Negro  Bar  Association,  National  Negro  Medical 
Association. 

The  League  was  founded  by  Booker  T.  Wash 
ington,  and  had  its  first  meeting  in  Bos 
ton.  Booker  T.  Washington  was  there  chosen 
president  and  Emmett  J.  Scott  secretary.  Officials 
in  other  capacities  went  and  came,  but  Dr.  Wash 
ington  and  Emmett  J.  Scott  continued  to  serve; 
the  former  to  his  death  and  the  latter  to  this  day. 

Immediately  upon  its  incorporation,  the  Negro 
Business  men  of  all  sections  rallied  to  its  colors. 
Drawing  no  very  distinct  lines.  Dr.  Washington 
enlisted  the  educated  and  the  uneducated  so  long- 
as  the  candidate  stood  for  some  progress  in  his 
community.  Thus  he  had  meet  in  one  body  and 
appear  on  the  same  platform  an  illiterate,  but  suc 
cessful  farmer,  a  leading  teacher,  a  bishop  of  the 
church,  a  banker,  a  merchant,  a  hair  dresser,  a  boot 
black,  a  dentist,  an  undertaker. 

The  League  members  all  had  a  story  to  tell,  a 
tale  of  success,  brief,  succinct,  full  of  hardship,  pre 
judice,  and  frequently,  humor.  The  press  was  en 
listed  at  the  League's  annual  gatherings,  and  year 
by  year  the  public  was.  and  still  is,  told  those  tales 
America  loves  so  well,  of  the  steady  plod  from  pov 
erty  to  wealth.  Some  men  at  these  meetings  grew 
discontented  with  themselves  because  they  had 
done  so  little.  Others  took  courage  and  ventured 
to  walk  where  once  they  had  scarcely  dared  to 
crawl. 

Beginning  thus  with  encouragement  in  simple 
business  undertakings,  the  League  soon  became  the 
center  from  which  radiated  many  plans  of  organ 
ized  effort  for  the  welfare  of  the  Negro  throughout 
the  country.  When  it  seemed  best  for  the  Negro 
to  celebrate  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  freedom, 
the  League  took  up  the  matter  and  through  its 
press  association  and  through  the  assistance  of  the 


GROUP  NATIONAL  NEGRO   BUSINESS   MENS1   LEAGUE   DURING   DR.   WASHINGTON'S   LIFE  TIME. 

580 


Associated  Press  let  the  world  know  that  there 
were  in  America  persons  of  color  known  as  the 
American  Negro,  that  this  same  American  Negro 
had  once  been  enslaved,  but  now  he  was  free,  and 
that  the  same  freeman,  so  far  from  lack  of  appre 
ciation,  so  thoroughly  rejoiced  over  his  freedom 
that  he  had  built  churches,  bought  farms,  erected 
schools,  cut  down  illiteracy  against  all  sorts  of  en 
croaching  odds,  accumulated  millions  of  dollars  and 
gathered  from  his  contact  with  his  white  neigh 
bors,  taste,  culture,  refinement,  business  acumen, 
tact  and  diplomacy.  All  this  he  wished  the  world 
to  know  about  and  the  National  Negro  Business 
Men's  League  saw  to  it  that  the  public  was  in 
formed. 

Thus  it  was  with  every  notion  of  uplift  or  enter 
prise.  It  aids  and  encourages  the  banker,  the  un 
dertaker,  the  journalist.  When  the  idea  of  a  clean 
up  time  became  current,  the  League  seized  upon 
it  and  gave  it  impetus,  until  it  reached  the  black 
man  in  every  section  of  the  country.  When  pig 
clubs  and  canning  clubs  attracted  the  economists 
of-  the  Nation,  the  League  saw  to  it  that  the  Negro 
in  the  school,  in  the  church,  on  the  farm,  played 
their  part  in  aiding  the  government  to  conserve 
food  and  to  perpetuate  the  idea  of  economy  and 
thrift.  It  sent  out  appeals  for  better  homes,  bet 
ter  schools,  cleaner  living  and  a  more  cordial  re 
lationship  between  the  two  races  everywhere. 

Though  the  members  of  the  League  are  all  col 
ored  men  it  has  managed  to  enlist  the  good  will  and 


co-operation  of  Governors  of  States,  ministers, 
jurists,  philanthropists  and  public  men  in  all  walks 
of  life.  Theodore  Roosevelt  kept  in  the  closest 
touch  with  its  activities,  as  did  many  of  his  cabinet 
members.  Andrew  Carnegie  was  one  of  its  personal 
friends,  aiding  it  financially  for  a  number  of  years. 
George  Foster  Peabody,  of  New  York,  John  E. 
White,  of  Atlanta,  Georgia ;  Colonel  Henry  Water- 
son,  of  Louisville,  Colonel  Parker,  of  Louisiana, 
have  all  been  in  close  touch  with  it  at  one  time  or 
another. 

For  years  it  supported,  largely  through  the  help 
of  Andrew  Carnegie,  an  organizer,  who  went  from 
State  to  State  and  from  city  to  city,  to  organize  or 
to  rejuvenate  smaller  leagues.  This  was  kept  up 
until  every  state  and  every  city  where  there  is  a 
large  number  of  Negroes  could  boast  of  a  local  lea 
gue.  Delegates  from  these  make  up  the  great  cos 
mopolitan,  the  National  League.  First,  foremost, 
and  always,  whether  the  business  League  survives 
or  perishes,  it  will  always  be  one  of  the  monuments 
to  Booker  T.  Washington,  to  his  foresight,  to  his 
genius  for  service  and  organization. 

The  officers  of  the  League  at  this  writing  are : 
Mr.  John  C.  Napier,  banker,  of  Nashville,  Tennes 
see,  is  the  President;  Chas.  Banks,  First  Vice-Pres- 
ident,  Mound  Bayou,  Mississippi ;  C.  H.  Brooks, 
Second  Vice-President,  Philadelphia,  Penn. ;  John 
M.  Wright,  Third  Vice-President,  Topeka,  Kansas ; 
Fred  R.  Moore,  Fourth  Vice-President,  New  York ; 
Robert  R.  Church,  Fifth  Vice-President.  Memphis, 


WAGE   EARNERS   SAVINGS    BANK.   SAVANNAH.   GA. 

581 


Tennessee;  Emmett  J.  Scott,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Secretary;  Albert  L.  Hosley,  Assistant  Secretary, 
Tuskegee  Institutee,  Alabama ;  Charles  H.  Ander 
son,  Treasurer,  Jacksonville,  Florida ;  F.  H.  Gil 
bert,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Registrar;  R.  E.  Clay,  Asst. 
Registrar,  Briston,  Tennnessee  ;  William  H.  Davis, 
Official  Stenographer,  Rosecraft.  Maryland;  Ern 
est  T.  Attwell,  Transportation  Agent,  Tuskegee  In 
stitute,  Alabama. 

MEDICAL,  DENTAL  AND  PHARMACEUTICAL 
ASSOCIATION. 

From  the  hoodooism  of  African  jungles  and  the 
"root  docterin"  of  the  benighted  Southern  slave 
plantations  to  the  modern  treatment  of  typhoid 
fever,  the  administration  of  salvarsan  and  the  ab 
dominal  section,  has  been  a  long  stride  for  the 
Negro  physician.  But  this  stride  he  has  taken — 
sometimes  by  plodding,  sometimes  by  leaps  and 
bounds  till  he  now  occupies  a  position  in  the  med 
ical  world  that  is  recognized  and  respected. 

While  a  few  educated  physicians  and  apotheca 
ries,  some  of  them  slave-born,  were  practising 
among  their  people  as  early  as  the  end  of  the  eigh 
teenth  century,  yet  the  majority  of  the  Negro  "doc 
tors"  consisted  till  far  into  the  nineteenth  century 
of  "herb  doctors"  who  healed  by  spells  and  by  prac 
tising  superstition.  After  the  Civil  War,  how 
ever,  a  number  of  Negroes  took  up  the  scientific 
study  of  medicine  and  medical  colleges  in  the 
United  States  alone  have  graduated  many  thous 
and  such  students. 

In  general  these  colored  physicians,  surgeons 
and  pharmacists  have  the  esteem  of  their  white 
colleagues,  and  contribute  notably  to  the  improve 
ment  of  the  hygiene  of  their  race  which  still  leaves 
much  to  be  desired.  It  is  indubitable  that  these 
colored  physicians  have  made  the  greatest  pro 
gress  of  any  members  of  their  race,  and  together 
with  the  teachers,  have  been  of  the  greatest  ser 
vice  to  it,  as  is  clearly  shown  by  the  slowly  de 
creasing  mortality  of  the  Negroes.  The  colored 
physician,  like  his  white  colleague  in  North  Amer 
ica,  is  often  the  proprietor  of  a  pharmacy.  Patent 
medicines  are  as  much  beloved  by  the  Negroes  as 
by  the  people  of  North  America  in  general. 

Another  element  in  the  work  of  improving  the 
health  of  the  Negroes,  is  the  rise  of  the  Negro  hos 
pitals.  These  hospitals  and  sanitariums  are  well 
patronized  and  have  not  only  done  much  to  pre 
vent  the  sufferings  of  the  colored  people,  but  have 
proven  financially  successful. 

Along  with  the  establishment  of  Negro  hospitals 
have  arisen  the  nurses'  training  schools.  Most  of 
the  hospitals  mentioned  above  have  connected 
with  them  such  schools,  which  are  sending  out 
from  year  to  year  a  large  number  of  colored 
women,  who  are  not  only  getting  ready  employ 


ment  among  the  white  people,  but  are  taking  their 
share  of  the  burden  of  spreading  the  gospel  of 
good  health  and  right  living  among  Negroes. 

The  National  Medical  Association  is  composed 
of  Negro  physicians,  dentists  and  pharmacists;  and 
was  organized  in  Atlanta,  Georgia,  in  1895,  dur 
ing  the  Cotton  States  and  International  Exposi 
tion.  The  object  of  the  Association  is  to  organize 
for  mutual  benefit  and  helpfulness  the  Negro  phy 
sicians,  dentists  and  pharmacists ;  and  to  insure 
progressiveness  in  the  profession.  It  is  also  the 
object  of  the  Association  to  help  improve  living 
conditions  among  the  Negro  people  by  teaching 
them  the  simple  rule  of  health. 

NATIONAL  NEGRO  PRESS  ASSOCIATION 
By  Henry  Allen  Boyd,  Corresponding  Secretary. 

The  National  Negro  Press  Association  is  an  or 
ganization  of  newspaper  men,  publishers  and  cor 
respondents  organized  for  the  highest  development 
of  Negro  journalism.  The  Association  came  into 
existence  more  than  thirty-five  years  ago.  The 
plan  is  the  result  of  matured  thought  on  the  part 
of  some  of  the  race's  foremost  journalists.  It  had 
its  existence  back  in  times  and  days  during  the  re 
construction  period  following  close  on  the  heels 
of  the  civil  war.  For  a  number  of  years  it  simply 
marked  time,  but  within  the  past  ten  years  it  has 
been  very  active,  having  succeeded  in  blending  to 
gether  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  publications 
and  their  representatives  with  a  combined  weekly 
circulation  of  2,300,000  journals ;  or  in  other  words, 
more  than  20%  of  the  population  are  furnished 
publications  each  week  through  the  efforts  of  the 
National  Negro  Press  Association  and  its  mem 
bers. 

Among  the  things  accomplished  in  the  recent 
years  by  the  Association  was  the  standardization 
of  advertising;  the  inaugurating  of  reciprocal  news 
service ;  the  promotion  of  inter-telegraph  circles 
among  the  larger  publications ;  the  dividing  of 
membership  into  zones ;  the  formation  of  a  code 
service  committee  that  is  preparing  a  special  code 
to  be  used  by  the  members  belonging  to  the  As 
sociation  ;  the  placing  of  a  permanent  exhibit  of 
bound  volumes  of  the  publications  to  be  sent  to 
various  fairs  and  expositions  ;  to  work  for  the  mu 
tual  uplift  of  the  smaller  journals  to  see  that  only 
wholesome  literature  is  sent  in  the  rural  districts : 
the  co-operating  of  all  agencies  in  helping  the  gov 
ernment  in  solving  perplexing  problems,  the  assist 
ing  in  stamping  out  crime  in  the  race  and  the  re 
ducing  of  illiteracy  by  the  dissemination  of  purer 
literature  and  the  working  for  an  untrammeled 
Democracy  among  the  people  of  the  United  States  ; 
the  making  of  America  safe  for  Americans.  The 
officers  for  1919  aer  as  follows : 


582 


Copyright — A.  N.  Scurlock. 

MEETING  OF  PROMINENT  COLORED  EDITORS    IN  WASHINGTON.  D.  C,  DURING  WORLD  WAR. 


C.  J.  Perry,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  President;  W.  E. 
King-,  Dallas.  Texas,  Vice-President ;  J.  H.  Ander 
son,  Charlotte,  N.  C,  Second  Vice- President ;  Henry 
Allen  Boyd,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Corresponding  Sec 
retary;  J.  A.  Hamlett,  Jackson,  Tenn.,  Recording- 
Secretary;  Miss  Blanche  Johnson,  Newport  News, 
Va.,  Assistant  Recording  Secretary;  B.  J.  Davis, 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  Treasurer ;  E.  A.  Williams.  Cincinnati, 
•Ohio,  Auditor;  Jos.  L.  Jones,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Chairman,  Executive  Committee. 

NATIONAL  ASSOCIATIONS,  WHEN  OR 
GANIZED. 

American  Negro  Academy,  1897. 

American  Negro  Historical  Society,  1897. 

National  Association  of  Teachers  in  Colored 
Schools,  1904. 

Negro  National  Educational  Congress,   1910. 

Negro  Society  for  Historical  Research,  1911. 

The  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  Fraternity,  at  Cornell  Uni 
versity,  1906. 

Kappa  Alpha  Psi  Fraternity,  at  Indiana  Univer 
sity,  1911. 

National  Negro  Business  League,  1900. 

National  Negro  Insurance  Association. 

National  Negro  Bankers'  Association,  1906. 

National  Railway  Employees'  Protective  Ass'n. 

National  Association  of  Funeral  Directors. 

National  Marine  Cooks',  Stewards',  Head  and 
Side  Waiters'  Association. 

National  Negro  Retail  Merchants  Association. 

National  Alliance  of  Postal  Employees,  1913. 


National   Medical  Association,   1895. 

National  Association  of  Colored  Graduate  Nurses. 
1908. 

National  Negro  Bar  Association,  1909. 

National  Negro   Press  Association,   1909. 

Western  Negro  Press  Association. 

National  Association  of  Colored  Musical  and  Art 
Clubs,  1908. 

National  Equal  Rights  League,  1910. 

National  Colored  Democratic  League. 

National  Association  of  Colored  Women,  1895. 

Southern  Negro  Anti-Saloon   Federation. 

The  National  Association  for  the  Advancement 
of  the  Colored  People,  1909. 

NEGRO  MASONRY. 

Extracts  from  "Prince  Hall  and  His  Followers"  by 
Geo.  W.  Crawford. 

"The  test  of  the  legitimacy  of  a  Masonic  body  is 
this :  Is  the  authority  by  which  it  assumes  to 
practice  and  exemplify  Masonic  principles  derived 
from  the  proper  source  and  did  the  manner  of  the 
derivation  of  such  authority  conform  to  the  ac 
cepted  Masonic  usage  for  the  time  being?  Tried  bv 
this  test,  the  Negro  Masonry  of  the  United  States, 
which  is  in  direct  line  of  succession  from  Prince 
Hall  Grand  Lodge,  can  make  out  as  good  a  case  for 
the  legitimacy  of  its  existence  as  any  Masonry  in 
the  Western  hemisphere." 

The  clean  cut  and  orderly  work  of  Prince  Hall, 
Provincial  Grand  Master  and  the  father  of  Negro 
Masonry  in  America,  is  well  established. 


583 


.  Concerning  the  constitution  of  African  Lodge 
No.  459,  F.  and  A.  M.  (subsequently  No.  370)  and 
the  establishment  of  all  that  is  in  Masonic  se 
quence  thereto,  there  is  not  the  slightest  difficulty 
in  determining  what  was  done  and  upon  what  au 
thority. 

In  1775.  in  an  Army  Lodge  holding  a  warrant 
under  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England,  and  attached 
to  one  of  the  Regiments  at  Bunker  Hill,  Prince 
Hall  and  fourteen  other  men  of  African  descent 
were  duly  initiated,  passed  and  raised.  Nine  years 
later  almost  to  a  day  these  fifteen  Negro  Masons 
applied  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England  to  be  set 
apart  as  a  regular  lodge.  Their  application  was 
granted  and  a  warrant  issued  to  them  September 
29.  1784,  authorizing  them  to  be  constituted  into 
a  regular  lodge  under  the  designation  as  African 
Lodge  No.  459. 

This  warrant,  which  follows,  was  delivered  to 
them  three  years  later,  i.  e.  May  2,  1787,  and  the 
lodge  was  duly  organized  four  days  after  that  date, 
with  Prince  Hall  as  its  Master. 

WARRANT  OF  AFRICAN   LODGE,   NO.  459. 

WARRANT    OF    CONSTITUTION:    A.    G.    M. 

To  All  And  Every : 

"Our  Right  Worshipful  and  Loving  Brethren : — 
We,  Thomas  Howard,  Earl  of  Effingham,  Lord 
Howard,  etc.,  Acting  Grand  Master,  under  the  au 
thority  of  his  Royal  Highness,  Henry  Frederick, 
Uuke  of  Cumberland,  etc..  Grand  Master  of  th-j 
Most  Ancient  and  Honorable  Society  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  send  greeting: 

"Know  ye  that  we,  at  the  humble  petition  of  on: 
Right  Trust  and  well  beloved  brethren,  Prince 
Hall,  Boston  Smith,  Thomas  Sanderson,  and  sev 
eral  other  brethren  residing  in  Boston,  New  Eng 
land,  in  North  America,  do  hereby  constitute  the 
said  brethren  into  a  regular  Lodge  of  Free  and  Ac 
cepted  Masons,  under  the  title  or  denomination  of 
the  African  Lodge,  to  be  opened  in  Boston,  afore 
said,  and  do  further,  at  their  said  petition  and  of 
the  great  trust  and  confidence  reposed  in  every  one 
of  the  said  above-named  brethren,  hereby  appoint 
the  said  Prince  Hall  to  be  Master ;  Boston  Smith, 
Senior  Warden ;  and  Thomas  Sanderson,  Junior 
Warden,  for  opening  the  said  Lodge,  and  for  such 
further  time  only  as  shall  be  thought  by  the  breth 
ren  thereof,  it  being  our  will  that  this,  our  appoint 
ment  of  the  above  officers,  shall  in  no  wise  affect 
any  future  election  of  officers  of  said  Lodge,  but 
that  such  election  shall  be  regulated,  agreeable  to 
such  By-Laws  of  the  said  Lodge  as  shall  be  con 
sistent  with  the  Grand  Laws  of  the  society,  con 
tained  in  the  Book  of  Constitutions ;  and  we  here 
by  will,  and  require  of  you,  the  said  Prince  Hall, 
to  take  special  care  that  all  and  every,  the  said 
brethren  are  to  have  been  regularly  made  Masons, 

584 


and  that  they  do  observe,  perform  and  keep  all  the 
rules  and  orders  contained  in  the  Book  of  Consti 
tutions  ;  and,  further,  that  you  do  from  time  to  time 
cause  to  be  entered,  in  a  book  kept  for  that  pur 
pose,  an  account  of  your  proceedings  in  the  Lodge, 
together  with  all  such  Rules,  Orders,  and  Regu 
lations  as  shall  be  made  for  the  good  government 
of  the  same,  that  in  no  wise  you  omit  once  in  every 
year  to  send  to  us,  or  our  successors,  Grand  Mas 
ters,  or  Rowland  Holt,  Esq.  our  Deputy  Grand 
Master,  for  the  time  being,  an  account  of  your 
said  proceedings,  and  copies  of  all  such  Rules,  Or 
ders  and  Regulations  as  shall  be  made  as  aforesaid, 
together  with  the  list  of  the  members  of  the  Lodge. 
and  such  sum  of  money  as  may  suit  the  circum 
stances  of  the  Lodge,  and  reasonably  be  expected 
toward  the  Grand  Charity.  "Moreover,  we  will, 
and  require  of  you,  the  said  Prince  Hall,  as  soon  as 
conveniently  may  be,  to  send  an  account  in  writing 
of  what  may  be  done  by  virtue  of  these  presents. 

"Given  at  London,  under  our  hand  ;uid  seal  of 
Masonry,  this  29th  day  of  September,  A.  L.  5784. 
A.  D.  1784,  by  the  Grand  Master's  command.. 

R.  Holt,  Deputy  Grand  Master. 
Attest :  William  White,  Grand  Secretary." 

In  the  same  year  African  Lodge  was  formerly 
entered  upon  the  English  Registry  along  with  oth 
er  colonial  Masonic  bodies. 

This  lodge  continued  as  a  subordinate  lodge,  ex 
ercising  all  the  prerogatives  of  a  regular  Masonic 
body,  until  June  24,  1791,  when  it  was  superceded 
by  African  Grand  Lodge  which  was  organized  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  on  that  date. 

At  no  time  during  the  18th  century  was  there 
any  accepted  form  of  constituting  a  Grand  Lodge. 
Especially  was  this  true  of  early  American  Grand 
bodies.  Scarcely  any  two  of  these  were  formed  in 
the  same  way.  Some  were  organized  by  Provin 
cial  Grand  Masters,  acting  under  deputations  from 
England ;  others  by  self  assumption  of  Grand 
Lodge  powers  ;  still  others  by  union  of  lodges  in 
her  localities. 

It  was  some  years  after  the  achievement  of  Ame 
rican  independence  before  these  provincial  bodies 
were  totally  emancipated  by  the  English  Grand 
Lodge ;  they  were  all  carried  upon  the  English  reg 
istry  until  1813  when  the  "Ancients"  and  "Mod 
erns"  agreed  upon  terms  of  peace  aud  became  uni 
ted. 

The  African  Grand  Lodge  was  formed  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  on  St.  John's  (The  Baptist)  Day, 
1791.  The  meeting  was  presided  over  by  Provin 
cial  Grand  Master  Prince  Hall,  and  participated  in 
by  many  of  the  members  of  the  craft  who  had  been 
made  in  African  Lodge  No.  459. 

The  badge  of  recognition  alone  would  be  a  com 
plete  answer  to  the  critics  of  African  Grand  Lodge 


for  in  countless  ways  the  treatment  accorded 
African  Grand  Lodge  and  Prince  Hall  Grand  Lodge 
in  England,  shows  conclusively  that  they  were  con 
sidered  by  the  Mother  Grand  Lodge  to  be  higher 
than  subordinate  bodies  in  dignity. 

African  Grand  Lodge  does  not  have  to  rely  upon 
Fnglish  recognition,  however,  for  no  matter  which 
of  the  three  procedures  outlined  above  was  follow 
ed,  there  are  numerous  and  weighty  precedents  in 
favor  of  its  regularity.  To  impeach  the  regularity 
of  African  Grand  Lodge,  it  is  manifest  that  there 
must  be  shown  a  violation  of  some  vital  principle 
of  Freemansonry  universally  recognized. 

Masonry  is  entirely  different  from  all  other  fra 
ternal  organizations.  In  other  fraternal  bodies,  if 
one  element  of  its  membership  is  offended  because 
of  the  presence  of  another  elemnt,  the  disgruntled 
ones  usually  settle  the  difficulty  by  withdrawing 
and  setting  up  for  themselves  an  "Independent"  or 
"Improved"  branch  of  the  same  order.  In  Ma 
sonry  such  things  cannot  be  done.  Masonry  knows 
no  caste.  The  badge  of  a  Mason  to  its  worthy  pos 
sessor  is  an  honor  which  is  equal  to  any  which  he 
could  ever  receive  from  Kings  or  Potentates.  To 
a  true  Mason  an  admission  of  his  inferiority  to  any 
man  is  a  disavowal  of  his  Masonry. 

THK     KNIGHTS     OF     PYTHIAS     OF     NORTH 
AMERICA,  SOUTH   AMERICA,    EUROPE. 

ASIA,  AFRICA  AND  AUSTRALIA 
By  John  L.  Jones,  Supreme  Vice-Chancellor. 

This  well  known  and  aggressive  Order  is  one  of 
the  strongest  and  best  governed  institutions 
among  colored  fraternities.  It  is  non-sectarian  and 
non  political.  Its  mottoes  are:  Friendship,  Charity 
and  Benevolence. 

It  was  patterned  after  the  Order  instituted  by 
J.  H.  Rathbone  and  others  just  after  the  Civil  War. 
Several  attempts  were  made  by  colored  men  to  join 
the  Order  instituted  by  Mr.  Rathbone,  but  in  each 
case  the  applicants  were  met  by  refusal. 

Finally  the  degrees  were  unwittingly  conferred 
upon  several  colored  men,  led  by  Dr.  Geo.  A.  Place, 
of  Macon,  Miss.,  Dr.  Thos.  W.  Stringer,  of  Vicks- 
burg,  Miss.,  and  Mr.  A.  E.  Lightfoot,  of  Lauder- 
dale,  Miss. 

Dr.  Stringer,  regarded  as  the  founder  of  the  Or 
der,  lost  no  time  in  launching  the  work  among  his 
race.  The  first  lodge  organized  was  Lightfoot 
Lodge  No.  1,  at  Vicksburg,  Miss,  March  26th,  1880. 

The  female  department  of  the  order,  known  as 
the  Order  of  Calanthe,  was  authorized  at.  a  Su 
preme  Lodge  meeting  at  Vicksburg,  May  14th, 
1883,  and  the  first  Subordinate  Court  of  Calanthe 
was  instituted  at  Whitehall,  La,  during  the  same 
year. 

The  Military  Department  of  the  Order,  known 
as  the  Uniform  Rank,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  re 


cognized  as  the  best  governed  military  organiza 
tion  of  the  race,  was  also  authorized  in  May,  1883. 

There  is  also  a  Military  Cadet  Department  at 
tached  to  the  U.  R.  K.  P.  for  boys  and  a  Juvenile 
Department  for  girls  and  boys  attached  to  the  Cal 
anthe  Department. 

The  growth  of  this  order  has  been  phenomenal 
and  lack  of  space  here  forbids  the  mention  this  Or 
der  deserves.  For  the  benefit  of  those  desiring 
further  information,  we  refer  them  to  that  very 
complete  History  of  the  Colored  Knights  of  Py 
thias,  sold  by  the  Central  Regalia  Co,  of  Cincin- 
na'tti,  Ohio. 

GROWTH  AND  RESOURCES  OF  THE  ORDER 

RECAPITUATION 

The  following  statement  from  the  official  re 
ports  show  the  growth  and  financial  resources  of 
the  Order. 

Number  of  Lodges  July  1,  1915 3,185 

Number  of  Lodges  July   1,   1917 3,113 

Decrease    for    the    term    72 

Number  of  Members  July  1,  1915 105,140 

Number  of  Members  July   1,   1917 118,210 

Increase  for  the  term 13,070 

Total  amount  of  Endowment  paid  out  for  term 
ending  July  1,  1915— $1,182,574.39.  Total  amount 
of  Endowment  paid  out  for  term  ending  July  1, 
1917 — $935,153.  4.  Amount  of  Endowment  in  treas 
uries  July  1,  1915— $338,838.  6.  Amount  of  En 
dowment  in  treasuries  July  1,  1917 — $463.688.08. 
Increase  over  last  term — $124,850.02.  Amount  of 
Grand  Lodge  Fund  on  hand  July  1,  1917— $42,356.62. 
Amount  of  Supreme  Lodge  Fund  on  hand  July  1st, 
1917 — $16,936.32.  Value  of  property  owned  by 
Grand  Lodges— $702,848.90.  Value  of  property 
owned  by  Supreme  Lodge— $70,000.00.  Value  of 
Property  owned  by  Subordinate  Lodges  — 
$474,619.83. 

FINANCIAL   RESOURCES   OF   THE   ORDER 

Endowment    in    treasuries    $463,688.08 

Grand    Lodge    Funds    on    hand    42,356.62 

Supreme  Lodge  Funds  on  hand 16,936.32 

Property  owned  by  Grand  Lodges 702,848.90 

Property  owned  by  Supreme  Lodge  _-_  70,000.00 
Property  owned  by  Subordinate  Lodges,  474,619.83 


Total   Resources   $1,770,449.75 

There  are  about  eighty  thousand  women,  mem 
bers  of  the  Order  of  Calanthe,  and  about  twenty- 
five  thousand  members  of  the  Military  Depart 
ment.  The  very  efficient  executive  officers  of 
the  several  Departments  of  the  Order  are :  Smith 
W.  Green,  of  New  Orleans.  La,  Supreme  Chan 
cellor  of  Lodge  Dept,  Jos.  L.  Jones,  of  Cincinnatti, 
Ohio,  Supreme  Worthy  Counsellor  of  the  Order 
of  Calanthe  ;  R.  R.  Jackson,  of  Chicago,  111,  Maj. 
General  of  the  Uniform  Rank  ;  J.  L  .V.  Washing- 


585 


COLORED  PYTHIAN  TEMPLE,  NEW  ORLEANS,  LA. 


ton,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  Royal  Potentate  of  the 
Dramatic  Order  of  Knights  of  Omar. 

There  are  twenty-eight  Grand  Lodge  or  State 
Organizations  of  men,  and  twenty-five  Grand 
Courts  or  State  Organizations  of  women.  The 
Military  Department  of  this  Order  holds  en 
campments  biennially  at  the  place  where  the  Su 
preme  Lodge  and  Supreme  Court  meets.  The  af 
fairs  of  this  Department  are  modeled  after  the  Un 
ited  States  Army,  and  their  encampments  of  five 
thousand  Sir  Knights  or  more  every  two  years  re 
ceive  high  commendation  .from  the  daily  press. 

This  Order  owns  Pythian  Temples  in  many 
States.  The  Supreme  Lodge  owns  and  operates 
at  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  the  Pythian  Sanitarium  and 
Bath  House — and  in  Chicago  it  owns  two  valuable 
pieces  of  property. 

INDEPENDENT  ORDER  OF  OFF  FELLOWS 

An  international  secret  fraternal  beneficiary  so 
ciety.  The  history  of  its  English  Odd  Fellows  So 
ciety  projenitors  runs  back  to  about  1745.  The 
early  English  order  appeared  about  twenty-five 
years  after  the  modern  revival  of  Free  Masonry  in 
1717  at  London.  Fragmentary  historic  records  and 
conjectures  intimate  that  the  first  English  Odd  Fel 
lows  were  an  outgrowth  of  rivalry  to  the  Masons, 
who  had  acquired  prominence  in  the  early  half  of 
the  18th  century,  particularly  among  the  so-called 
upper  classes,  in  the  army,  navy,  diplomatic  serv 
ice  and  among  the  nobility.  The  distinctive  feature 
of  the  order,  not  only  the  early  English  branches 
but  also  those  resulting  from  consolidations  and 
from  schism,  as  well  as  the  now  Independent  Amer 
ican  child  of  English  Odd  Fellowship,  is  found  in 
their  being  based  on  definitely  expressed  obligations 
to  care  systematically,  financially  and  otherwise, 
for  sick,  distressed,  and  dependent  members  of 
their  family. 

That  Odd  Fellowship  in  England  was  the  fount 
from  which  flowed  the  stream  of  non-secret  friend 
ly  societies  there  is  no  doubt,  and  it  was  the  activ 
ities  of  the  latter  that  suggested  the  flood  of 
American  secret  assessment,  life  insurance  and 
beneficiary  societies  of  the  last  fifty  years. 

The  earliest  recorded  English  Odd  Fellows  Lodge 
is  that  of  Aristarchus  No.  9  which  in  1748  met  at 
the  Globe  Tavern,  London. 

Almost  all  secret  society  meetings,  in  the  Uni 
ted  Kingdom,  except  those  of  the  Masons,  were 
proscribed  by  the  British  Government  late  in  the 
18th  century,  and  the  Odd  Fellows,  Orangemen, 
and  fric-iidly  societies  of  that  time  suffered  ac 
cordingly.  There  was  a  revival  of  activity  early  in 
the  19th  century,  and  a  Grand  Lodge  of  Odd  Fel 
lows  for  England  was  formed  at  London  in  1803. 
In  1809  one  of  the  subordinate  lodges  at  Manches- 

587 


ter   declared   itself   independent   and   started    as    a 
grand  lodge  to  form  a  new  order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

By  1813  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
Manchester  Unity,  had  become  fully  established 
and  constitutes  the  largest  English  branch  of  the 
order  today.  The  Manchester  Unity  was  respon 
sible  for  the  introduction  of  the  order  into  the 
United  States  in  1819. 

In  1843  the  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
of  England  established  a  lodge  in  the  United  States, 
petitioners  for  the  same  being  Negroes. 

The  American  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel 
lows  had  previously  refused  such  a  petition,  on  the 
ground  of  racial  incompatibility.  The  English 
Grand  United  Order  found  fertile  soil  among  Ne 
groes  in  the  United  States  and  has  continued  to  es 
tablish  lodges  upon  application  from  them  since. 

It  thus  has  a  white  membership  in  England  and 
black  in  the  United  States.  This  explains  the  ap 
parent  anomally  of  the  existence  of  Colored  Odd 
Fellows  in  the  United  States,  side  by  side,  but  not 
connected,  with  an  order  having  a  similar,  but  not 
the  same  name. 

Peter  Ogden  was  the  founder  of  the  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  among  Negroes  in  the  United  States. 
He  had  joined  the  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd  Fel 
lows  of  England  and  secured  a  charter  for  the  first 
Negro  lodge,  Philomethean,  No.  646,  of  New  York, 
which  was  set  up  March  1,  1843.  Negro  Odd  Fel 
lows  in  America  are  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Eng 
land  and  are  regularly  represented  in  the  general 
meetings  of  the  Order. 

KNIGHTS  AND  DAUGHTERS  OF  TABOR 

The  Order  of  Twelve,  of  Knights  and  Daughters 
of  Tabor,  was  not  organized  under  a  sudden  im 
pulse,  but  rather  the  growth  of  an  inspiration  born 
of  a  desire  to  break  the  shackles  of  slavery,  which 
came  to  Rev.  Mose  Dickson,  of  Ohio,  who  interest 
ed  with  him  eleven  companies  who  in  August,  1846, 
formulated  a  plan  which  they  put  into  immediate 
execution.  The  plan  was  one  fraught  with  great 
clanger  both  to  originators  and  those  who  should 
follow  their  lead.  For  this  reason  the  organizers 
were  careful  to  pick  the  men  that  were  courageous, 
patient,  temperate  and  possessed  of  sound  common 
sense.  The  oath  that  bound  them  together  was  so 
binding  that  it  could  not  be  broken.  One  feature 
of  it  was :  "I  can  die,  but  I  cannot  reveal  the  name 
of  any  member  until  the  slaves  are  free."  This 
oath  never  was  broken. 

The  first  organization  that  was  created,  under 
the  distinct  name  of  the  Order  of  Twelve,  was  or 
ganized  in  the  city  of  Galena.  111.,  by  Mr.  Dickson, 
at  the  residence  of  Alfred  H.  Richardson,  in  August 
1856.  The  secret  work  of  the  Knights  of  Liberty 
was  not  imparted  to  this  Society.  At  the  close  of 


the  war,  so  far  as  is  known,  seven  men  of  that 
great  number,  returned  from  the  battlefield. 

In  1871,  Mr.  Dickson  organized  an  order  to  per 
petuate  the  the  memory  of  the  TWELVE  that  or 
ganized  the  Knights  of  Liberty.  He  organized  a 
Temple  and  Tabernacle  in  Independence,  Mo. ;  a 
Tabernacle  in  Kansas  City,  Mo. ;  a  Temple  and 
Tabernacle  in  Lexington,  Mo.  With  these  five  or 
ganizations  a  Convention  was  called  to  meet  in  In 
dependence,  Mo.,  the  second  Tuesday  in  August, 
1872. 

This  Convention  organized  the  National  Grand 
Temple  and  Tabernacle  of  the  Order  of  Twelve,  of 
Knights  and  Daughters  of  Tabor.  The  Child  of 
Destiny  was  born,  and  named.  The  Order  was  of 
rapid  growth  and  spread  from  State  to  State,  gath 
ering  strength  in  its  onward  march.  Within  for 
ty-seven  years  this  Order  has  taken  its  place  and 
rank  with  the  greatest  organizations  of  the  world. 
It  is  united  by  the  strongest  ties  of  ''riendship,  and 
bound  together  by  solemn  obligations,  and  estab 
lished  on  a  firm  basis,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
united  and  effective  effort  in  aiding  each  member 
in  sickness  or  distress,  to  protect  and  defend  each 
other,  to  aid  and  help  the  widows  and  orphans  of 
members  that  died  in  good  standing,  to  inculcate 
true  morality,  to  build  up  and  spread  the  Christian 
religion. 

The  Order  is  non-sectarian — all  members  being 
free  to  make  a  choice  of  any  Evangelical  Church. 

The  members  are  encouraged  to  use  every  hon 
orable  method  to  advance  the  cause  of  education; 
to  avoid  intemperance ;  to  cultivate  true  manhood, 
and  to  eschew  immoral  and  degraded  people.  They 
are  encouraged  to  acquire  real  estate.  It  seeks  to 
help  and  elevate  the  colored  race. 

THE  ROYAL  KNGHTS  OF  KING  DAVID 
By  W.  G.  Pearson,  Supreme  Grand  Scribe. 

The  Royal  Knights  of  King  David,  an  organiza 
tion  carrying  endowment,  was  organized  in  the 
city  of  Durham,  N.  C,  the  24th  of  Sept,  1883. 

This  organization  is  composed  of  departments  of 
men  and  women  and  children. 

It  has  a  governing  department  known  as  The 
Supreme  Grand  Lodge,  with  headquarters  in  the 
city  of  Durham.  It  is  a  purely  Negro  organiza 
tion  ;  organized  for  the  protection  and  advance 
ment  of  the  Negro  race.  The  Initiation  fee  is  small, 
which  with  monthly  dues  of  only  twenty-five  cents 
each  entitles  a  member  in  case  of  death  to  ONE 
HUNDRED  dollars.  The  local  Lodge,  in  addition 
to  this,  pays  twenty-five  dollars  burial  expenses. 
It  also  gives  weekly  indemnity  when  sick ;  and 
further,  it  furnishes  physicians  and  free  medicine 
to  its  sick  members.  This  organization  has  had  a 


phenominal  growth  and  has  a  membership  of 
100,000.  It  has  paid  to  widows  and  orphans  and 
male  beneficiaries  since  its  organization  $750,000 
in  sick  and  death  benefits. 

It  has  bought  and  paid  for  $25,000  worth  of  State 
bonds,  and  $11,000  worth  of  government  bonds, 
and  has  much  holdings  in  other  securities. 

In  the  Actuary's  report  of  1918,  among  other 
things  he  said  that  "The  Royal  Knights  of  King 
David  is  a  substantial  institution,  and  is  one  of  few 
among  the  many,  regardless  of  color,  who  has  a 
reserve  in  compliance  with  the  Laws  of  the  State 
in  which  they  operate."  He  said,  further,  "If  The 
Royal  Knights  of  King  David  initiated  NO  MORE, 
and  every  one  who  is  now  a  member  remain  in  the 
Lodge  till  his  death,  that  the  Order  would  be  able 
to  pay  off  each  and  every  assessment  and  then 
have  a  BALANCE  of  $70,586.82." 

The  Supreme  Grand  Lodge — with  headquarters 
in  Durham,  employs  NINE  regular,  commercially 
educated  clerks.  Its  system  of  book-keeping  is 
very  far  in  advance  of  anything  seen  of  its  kind  in 
this  country.  Too  much  cannot  be  said  of  the 
work  this  organization  is  doing  throughout  this 
country. 

It  is  operated  and  managed  by  the  Supreme 
Grand  Scribe — Prof.  W.  G.  Pearson,  of  Durham 
N.  C. 

FRATERNAL  ORGANIZATIONS 

Secret  societies  among  the  Negroes  may  be 
roughly  divided  into  two  classes :  the  old  line  so 
cieties,  such  as  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias ;  and  the  benevolent  secret  so 
cieties,  such  as  the  Mosaic  Templars,  Royal  Knights 
of  King  David,  United  Order  of  Good  Shepherds, 
.Independent  Order  of  St.  Luke,  Royal  Circle  of 
Friends  of  the  World,  the  Knights  and  Daughters 
of  Tabor,  all  of  which  have  been  t"  ;ated  in  full 
.elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Other  societies  of  note 
are : 

Improved  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  organized  1899.  National  Ideal  Benefit  Soci 
ety,  United  Order  of  True  Reformers,  Grand  Unit 
ed  Order  of  Gallilean  Fishermen,  organized  in  1856, 
United  Brothers  of  Friendship  and  Sisters  of  the 
Mysterious  Ten,  organized  in  1854,  Grand  United 
Order  of  Wise  Men,  organized  in  1901,  The  United 
Brothers  of  Friendship,  Grand  United  Order  of 
Tents  of  the  J.  R.  Giddings  and  Jollifee  Union  or 
ganized  in  1866,  Independent  Benevolent  Order, 
Independent  Order  of  Brothers  and  Sisters,  Sons 
and  Daughters  of  Moses,  organized  in  1868,  Grand 
United  Order  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Peace,  organ 
izer  in  1900.  Grand  United  Order  of  Brothers  and 
Sisters  of  Love  and  Charity. 


588 


Socample  of  Successful  Negro  Towns 


RESTDEXCE   OF    CHARLES    BANKS,    BOOKER   T. 
WASHINGTON    DAY. 

MOUXD  BAYOU— THE  BLACK  MAN'S  PRIDE 
bank,  a  post  office,  an  ice  factory, 
a  school,  a  Carnegie  Library,  a 
cotton  seed  oil  mill,  shops,  stores, 
farms,  laws,  all  in  the  hands  of 
colored  people,  administered  by  a 
Negro  town  council,  a  Negro  Ma 
yor  and  a  Negro  marshall — who 
does  not  feel  pride  and  hope  surg 
ing  in  the  breast?  Here  all  the  "Jim  Crow"  laws 
and  customs  are  reversed ;  the  black  man's  waiting 
room  is  in  the  front;  the  black  man  is  in  the  ticket 
office  ,the  black  man  maintains  law  and  order. 

Prior  to  1887,  this  fair  little  town  of  black  folk 
was  a  wilderness,  dense  with  trees  and  foliage,  be 
ing  in  Bolivar  County,  a  very  rich  delta  section.  In 
the  fall  of  1887,  Isaiah  T.  Montgomery,  a  former 
slave,  landed  here  with  a  few  followers  to  clear 
this  forest  and  to  establish  a  colony  of  colored  peo 
ple.  For  nearly  a  year  they  worked  away  with  ax 
and  saw,  living  in  shanties  and  eating  what  food 
they  could  find.  In  1888  the  settlers  returned  home 
and  brought  their  families  and  the  town  began. 

At  the  time  there  was  no  land  sufficiently  cleared 
to  cultivate.  But  the  railroads  needed  cross  ties, 
hence  the  men  sawed  and  hewed,  and  thus  earned 
their  bread  while  they  were  clearing  land  for  til 
lage.  Three  years  then  passed  rapidly  by.  When 
they  looked  around  they  had  cleared  4078  acres  of 
land  and  had  made  ready  some  1250  acres  for  cul 
tivation.  The  sum  of  $8,780  had  been  earned  from 
timber.  370  bales  of  cotton  had  been  raised  and 
3045  bushels  of  corn.  The  squatter  settlement  now 
became  the  mecca  for  black  folk,  not  only  in  Miss 
issippi,  but  in  nearly  every  state  in  the  South.  The 
town  soon  grew  from  three  or  four  families  to 
scores,  then  to  hundreds.  Todav  it  numbers  a 


STREET  SCENE— MOUND   BAYOU. 

thousand  families,  making  a  population  of  5000. 
The  people  own  40,000  acres  of  land,  and  produce 
cotton  in  abundance,  cultivating  about  65%  of  the 
40,000  acres.  It  produces  one-twentieth  of  the  cot 
ton  crop  of  Bolivar  County,  and  Bolivar  is  one  of 
the  leading  cotton  producing  counties  of  the  world. 

So  much  for  the  historical  side  of  the  town.  He 
who  has  not  seen  Mound  Bayou  has  missed  one  of 
the  blessings  of  the  age.  Whether  one  approves 
of  racial  isolation  or  not,  he  is  inspired  by  the  stur 
dy  independence,  the  genial  atmosphere,  the  stride 
of  progress  and  the  spirit  of  cooperation  of  its  in 
habitants.  There  is  about  the  town  the  old  time 
communal  spirit.  Everyone  knows  his  neighbor, 
speaks  of  him  as  he  does  of  his  own  family.  The 
formality  of  knocking  at  the  door,  or  of  ringing 
door  bells  appears  never  to  have  entered  the  town : 
you  walk  right  in.  put  down  your  grip  and  say 
whether  or  not  you  are  hungry,  how  long  you  are 
staying  and  the  like.  Stores,  banks,  offices,  are 
all  open,  no  sign  or  secrecy,  no  jealous  guarding  for 
fear  of  stealing  goods,  money  or  ideas. 

The  people  in  the  town  and  about  the  country  do 
most  of  their  buying  in  a  cooperate  store,  which  is 
in  charge  of**********Booze,  son-in-law  of  the 
founder.  They  bottle  their  own  soft  drinks,  having 
voted  liquor  out  of  the  town  long  before  the  state 
joined  the  ranks  of  prohibition.  They  manufac 
ture  their  own  ice ;  they  ship  lumber,  they  have  all 
the  agencies  for  modern  improvement. 

The  bank  of  Mound  Bayou,  over  which  Charles 
Banks,  the  financial  genius  of  the  place  presides, 
has  taught  the  proper  use  of  checks,  how  to  deposit 
and  draw  out  money ;  indeed,  given  them  instruct 
ion  in  business. 

Thus  does  Mound  Bayou  flourish,  demonstrating 
that  the  Negro  can  organize,  obey  and  live  together 
in  peace  and  good  will. 


MOUND  BAYOU  OIL  MILL 
589 


Negro  Progress  in  if\e  Soutf\  and  in  tf\e 


COLORED  ATLANTA 

By  J.  W.  Davidson,  Managing-  Editor  of  the 
Atlanta   Independent,  Atlanta.  Ga. 

F  -Atlanta's  two  hundred  twenty- 
five  thousand  people,  its  colored 
citizens  number  seventy-five  thou 
sand.  The  city  itself  radiates 
from  a  common  center  like  the 
spokes  radiating  from  the  hub  of 


a  wheel,  and  the  colored  people  live  in  all  parts  of 
the  city  except  in  places  where  the  extraordinary 
price  of  land  preclude  people  of  ordinary  means. 

The  relationship  of  the  races  is  most  cordial. 
However  different  the  past  may  have  been,  the  pre 
sent  is  certainly  harmonious. 

Colored  Atlanta  is  as  progressive  as  white  At 
lanta,  and  the  progressiveness  characteristic  of 
both  combined,  constitutes  what  the  world  knows 
as  "the  Atlanta  spirit." 

For  this  brief  review,  we  shall  group  colored 
Atlanta  as  follows : 

1.     RELIGIOUS,  denominational : 

A.  BAPTIST.  Comprise  four-tenths ;  its  prin 
cipal  churches  are  Friendship,  Rev.  E.  R.  Carter, 
pastor ;  Wheat  Street,  Rev.  P.  James  Bryant,  pas 
tor  ;  Liberty,  Rev.  Ernest  Hall,  pastor ;  Mt.  Olive, 
Rev.  T.  L.  Ballou,  pastor;  these  being  chiefest 
among  a  hundred  others. 


B.  METHODIST.  All  branches  constitute  about 
three-tenths  sub-divided  as  follows : 

(a)  A.    M.    E. — composing    fully    two-thirds    of 
Methodism ;  Main  churches,  Big  Bethel,  Rev.  R.  H. 
Singleton,  pastor;  Allen  Temple,  Rev.  J.  A.  Lincl- 
sey,  pastor ;  St.  Paul,  Rev.  Wm.  McLendon,  pastor ; 
Cosmopolitan,    Rev.    W.    J.    Williams,    pastor ;    and 
a  score  of  others.     Big  Bethel  is  a  general  refuge 
for   all   colored   Atlanta.     Its   distinguished   expon 
ents,  resident,  the  late  Bishops  Turner  and  Gaines, 
and  J.  S.  Flipper,  presiding  Bishop  of  the  diocese. 

(b)  M.   F.. — composing  about  one-sixth   of  col 
ored   Methodism;  chief  churches.   Central  Avenue. 
Rev.  L.  H.  King,  pastor;  Warren  Chapel,  Rev.  E. 
H.  Oliver,  pastor;  South  Atlanta,  Rev.  James  De- 
mory,  pastor ;  and  a  few  others. 

(c)  C.  M.  E. — about  one-twelfth  of  colored  Me 
thodism  ;   largest   churches   Butler   Street.   Rev.   H. 
W.    Evans,   pastor;   Holsey    Temple,    Rev.     Willie 
Williams,  pastor;   West   Mitchell   Street  C.   M.   E. 
Church ;  and  a  few  others.     The  distinguished  ex 
ponents  of  the  church,  resident,  being  Bishops   L. 
H.  Holsey  and  R.  A.  Carter. 

(d).  All  other  branches  of  Methodism  about 
one-twelfth  of  colored  Atlanta,  the  leading  of  the 
remaining  branches  being  the  A.  M.  E.  Z.  Church, 
represented  by  the  A.  M.  E.  Z.  Boulevard  Church, 
Rev.  W.  Q.  Welch,  pastor. 


ODD  FELLOWS   BLOCK— SHOWING  AUDITORIUM   AND   OFFICE  BUILDING 

590 


All  other  denominations  combined  make  up 
about  three-tenths  of  colored  Atlanta,  the  more 
important  being: 

C.  Congregational,  Rev.  H.  H.  Proctor,  pastor ; 
Rush  Memorial,  Rev.  Geo.  F.  Thomas,  pastor. 

D.  Presbyterian,  principal  church (  Radcliffe  Me 
morial,  Rev.  E.  C.  Hames,  pastor. 

E.  Episcopal,  principal  church,  St.  Paul,  Father 
L.  Q.  Rogers,  rector. 

F.  Catholic,  Boulevard  Mission;  and  a  large  va 
riety  of  minor  churches. 

2.     EDUCATION : 

City  and  state  provision  includes  common 
schools  thru  the  seventh  grade,  there  being  no 
higher  educational  provisions.  All  high  school  and 
collegiate  training  is  provided  for  by  colored  At 
lanta  itself  and  by  Northern  philanthropy  as  fol 
lows  : 

A.  ATLANTA  UNIVERSITY,  Edward  T.  Ware, 
President;    strictly    collegiate,    founded    under    the 
auspices   of   the  American    Missionary   Association 
in  1867.     It  has  graduated  more  prominent  colored 
leaders  and  educators  than  any  institution  for  col 
ored  people  in  America.  Its  presidents  and  officers 
include   such   distinguished   men   as    Edmund    Asa 
Ware,    founder ;   Dr.   Horance    Bumstead,    Prof.   T. 
N.   Chase,   Rev.   Cyrus   W.   Francis,   Mrs.   Lucy    E. 
Case,  and  Dr.  W.  E.  B.  Dubois  ;  all  very  dear  to  the 
hearts  of  colored  Atlanta 

B.  CLARK     UNIVERSITY,     Harry     Andrews 
King,   president ;    founded    in    1870   by    the    Freed- 
men's  Aid  Society  under  the  patronage  of  the  M. 
E.  Church ;  provides  normal,  academic  and  classical 
training. 

C.  SPELMAN   SEMINARY,   Miss    Lucy    Hale 
Tapley,  principal ;  the  largest  female  institution  in 
America   for  colored  girls  ;   founded  under   Baptist 
auspices,    under    its     distinguished     first    principal, 
Miss   Packard,   and  her  associate,   Miss   Hattie   E. 
Giles ;  provides  for  training  in  normal,  nurse  train 
ing   and   domestic    science   courses ;   patronized   by 
the  Rockefellers. 

C.  MORRIS  BROWN  UNIVERSITY;  founded, 
officered  and  maintained  by  the  A.  M.  E.  Church 
in    Georgia,    exclusively;    Wm.    Alfred    Fountain, 
president;    Bishop   J.    S.    Flipper,    Chancellor;   pro 
vides    preparatory,    normal,    commercial,    classical 
and  theological  training. 

D.  MOREHOUSE  COLLEGE,  founded    in    the 
sixties  by  the  Baptist  Home  Mission  Board,  at  Au 
gusta,   Georgia,   under   the    lamented   Dr.    Roberts, 
president ;  later  removed  to  Atlanta  under  the  late 
Dr.   Graves,   as    president ;    rehabilitated    and    re 
named  under  its  present  president,  John  Hope  ;  pro 
vides    normal,    academic,    classical    and    theological 
courses. 


E.  GAMMON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY, 
organized  under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church ; 
largely  endowed ;  located  on  the  campus  of  Clark 
University ;  provides  higher  theological  training ; 
Dr.  J.  M.  Waters,  president;  Dr.  J.  W.  E.  Bowen, 
vice  president. 

These  colleges  dot  the  hills  surrounding  Atlanta 
and  are  generally  erected  upon,  the  breastworks 
thrown  up  for  the  defense  of  the  city  in  the  war 
between  the  states.  They  constitute  an  educational 
center  for  that  section  of  the  United  States  where 
colored  people  live  in  largest  numbers,  and  make 
Atlanta  an  educational  center,  greatly  accounting 
for  the  marvelous  progress  of  the  colored  people  of 
the  Gate  City  of  the  South. 

3.  FRATERNITIES— Colored  Atlanta  easily 
leads  all  other  cities  in  America  from  a  fraternal 
standpoint,  and  the  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  leads  all  others  here. 

A.  ODD  FELLOWS— District  Grand  Lodge  No. 
18,  G.  U.  O.  O.  F.  of  America,  Jurisdiction  of  Geor 
gia,  has  assets  in  money,  stocks,  bonds  and  real  es 
tate  aggregating  a  million  dollars,  with  no  mort 
gage  encumbrance  upon  it  whatsoever.     It  has  dis 
bursed   among  its   members   thru   the   local   lodges 
and  its  Atlanta  headquarters  over  three  million  dol 
lars  under  the  capable  direction  of  B.  J.  Davis,  its 
guilding   spirit.     Its   headquarters   in   Atlanta,   cov 
ering  a  city  block  and  valued  at  over  a  half  million 
dollars,   is   easily  the   largest  property   of  its   kind 
owned  by  colored  people  in  the  United  States  and 
has  been  the  principal  factor  in  inspiring  the  race 
with  the  spirit  of  cooperation,  race  pride,  and  race 
consciousness.     Out  of  its  successful  operation  has 
grown  the  remarkable  strides  that  colored  Atlanta 
has  taken  in  economic  and  businesss  lines.     In  its 
office  building  there  is  housed  Negro  corporations 
of  upwards  of  over  a  half  million  dollars  in  autho 
rized  capital  stock,  and  its  membership  in  the  state 
approximates  forty  thousand. 

B.  MASONS : 

(a).  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  gen 
erally  spoken  of  as  state  rite  Masons,  easily  pre 
dominate  in  the  state  among  Masons  with  their 
headquarters  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Building,  where 
their  Grand  Master,  Dr.  H.  R.  Butler,  and  the  sec 
retary  of  their  endowment  bureau,  Mr.  W.  C. 
Thomas,  have  their  offices.  Their  growth  has 
been  steady  and  conservative,  as  characteristic  of 
the  fraternity,  with  a  large  membership  embracing 
some  of  the  brightest  and  best  citizens  of  the  race. 

(b.)  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  York  rite  Mas 
ons,  having  a  considerable  membership  in  the  state, 
have  their  principal  office  in  Atlanta,  this  being  the 
home  of  their  Grand  Secretary,  Mr.  J.  H.  Dent, 
capable  and  efficient. 

C.  I.  B.  O. — A  large  and  flourishing  fraternity ; 


591 


has  its  headquarters  in  Atlanta,  owning  and  oc 
cupying  a  three-story  brick  building  on  Bell  Street 
near  the  Odd  Fellows  Building.  The  officer  in 
charge  of  its  Headquarters  is  W.  S.  Cannon,  active 
energetic  and  progressive. 

D.  KNIGHTS  OF  PYTHIAS— has  a  large  mem 
bership  both  in  its  straight  fraternity  and  its  uni 
form  ranks  here,  but  none  of  its  general  officers 
are  domiciled  here. 

E.  GOOD   SAMARITANS— has   a   considerable 
following  in  the  state  and  Atlanta  is  the  home  of 
its  Grand  Secretary,  W.  H.  Whittaker. 

F.  KNIGHTS  AND  DAUGHTERS  OF  TABOR 
— has  a  considerable  following  in  the  State  and  one 
of  its  principal  officers,  T.  W.  Holmes,  the  Grand 
Secretary,  is  domiciled  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Build- 
in.     There  are  scores  of  minor  secret  societies  in 
the  city. 

4.     BUSINESS: 

A.  STANDARD    LIFE    INSURANCE    COM 
PANY — straight,  old  line    life    insurance ;    capital 
stock  paid  up  $125,000;    assets    $295.000;    income, 
$382,000;  total  insurance    outstanding,    $8,200,000; 
total  paid  beneficiaries    since    its    organization    in 
1913,  $145,350.     Heman  E.  Perry,  president;  Harry 
H.  Pace,  secretary.    Its  officers  and  directors  com 
prise  some  of  the  most  prominent  and   successful 
business  men  in  the  race  throughout  the  country. 
It  occupies  fully  an  entire  floor  and  one-half  in  the 
Odd  Fellows  Building  to  transact  its  business. 

B.  GATE  CITY  DRUG  STORE— capitalized  at 
$20,000.00 ;  the  pioneer  colored  drug  store  of  Geor 
gia   and  the   South.       Moses   Amos,   manager   and 
founder.     Its   store,  in   the   Odd   Fellows   Building, 
is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  entire  south  irrespective 
of   race.     There   are    also   in    the    city   the   Walton 
Drug  Store,  Auburn  Avenue  ;  South  Atlanta  Drug 
Store,  and  some  two  or  three  others. 

C.  ATLANTA  STATE  SAVINGS  BANK— cap 
ital  stock  authorized  $100,000;  has  grown  steadily 
since  its  organization,  having  the  entire  confidence 
of  the  people.     J.  O.  Ross,  president,  C.  C.  Cater, 
cashier,   are    retired    merchants    bringing    to    the 
banking  business  the  experience  gained  from  suc 
cessfully   conducted   commercial    enterprises    for   a 
number  of  years,  occupies  one-fourth  of  the  ground 
floor  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Building. 

D.  THE  SERVICE  COMPANY— capital  stock, 
$100,000;  business  headquarters  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
Building ;  H.  E.  Perry,  president ;  conducts  an  up- 
to-date   laundry  in   a   four-story  brick  building  on 
Auburn  Avenue,  and  an  equally  large  establishment 
in  Augusta,  Ga. 

E  ATLANTA  MUTUAL  I NSURANCE  COM 
PANY — the  largest  industrial  insurance  company 
in  the  State  with  headquarters  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
Building;  A.  F.  Herndon,  president. 

F.      FIRESIDE   INSURANCE   COMPANY— T. 


K.  Gibson,  Manager,  is  officered  and  promoted  hv 
the  wealthiest  colored  men  in  Atlanta. 

Other  insurance  companies,  with  headquarters 
elsewhere,  conduct  large  businesses  here,  viz:  The 
Pilgrim  Health  and  Life  Insurance  Company,  S. 
W.  Walker,  Manager ;  Guaranty  Mutual  Life  In 
surance  Company,  Thomas  Taylor,  Manager,  Geor 
gia  Mutual  Insurance  Company.  J.  D.  Whitlow, 
Manager,  and  the  North  Carolina  Mutual,  1.  L. 
Wheeler,  Manager,  a  North  Carolina  Company  do 
ing  business  here  both  industrial  and  straight  life 
insurance,  with  capital  stock  and  other  resources 
of  over  fully  $500,000. 

G.  GROCERY  BUSINESS— Men  engaged  in 
the  retail  grocery  business  are  many,  there  being 
upwards  of  fifty-three  well  stocked  and  prosperous 
grocery  concerns  in  the  different  parts  of  the  city. 

H.  PRINTING  HOUSES— There  are  three 
printing  establishments  owned  and  operated  by 
colored  men,  the  principal  of  which  is  the  Union 
Publishing  Company,  under  the  capable  manage 
ment  of  C.  A.  Bullard.  There  is  one  large  printing 
establishment  owned  by  the  Odd  Fellows. 

I.  REAL  ESTATE.— The  real  estate  business 
is  well  represented  in  agents  and  corporations  that 
are  prosperous.  There  are  the  Standard  Loan  and 
Realty  Company,  W.  J.  Shaw,  secretary;  the  Au 
burn  Loan  and  Savings  Corporation,  B.  H.  Towns- 
ley,  manager ;  both  located  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
Building.  There  are  S.  Cunningham,  Broad  Street, 
H.  D.  McGhee,  Broad  Street,  A.  Graves.  Wall 
Street,  and  scores  of  others. 

J.  AMUSEMENTS.— There  is  but  one  place  for 
theatrical  amusement,  the  Auditorium  Theatre,  a 
moving  picture  concern  located  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
Building  under  the  capable  management  of  R. 
Black. 

K.  UNDERTAKERS.— David  T.  Howard  and 
Son.  under  the  management  of  David  T.  Howard, 
one  of  the  wealthiest  of  Atlanta's  Colored  men  and 
most  charitable  and  public  spirited  of  its  citizens; 
Cox  Brothers,  C.  S.  Cox,  manager ;  Atlanta  Under 
taking  Company,  Sam  Ware,  manager ;  A.  B  Cum- 
mings,  Dunn  Brothers,  Ivery  Brothrs.  H.  H.  and  P. 
E  .Williams,  and  J.  M.  Robinson  complete  the  list 
of  prosperous  undertakers  the  latter.  J.  M.  Robin 
son,  in  addition,  conducting  on  a  large  scale  one  of 
the  largest  sale,  feed  and  livery  stables. 

L.  CAFES. — We  have  upwards  of  115  well  reg 
ulated  cafes,  the  most  up-to-date  of  which  are 
Robt.  J.  Harper's  cafe  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Build 
ing,  Elijah  Best,  Cafe  de  Luxe,  and  Mrs.  Scott  Sut- 
ton's. 

M.  NEWSPAPERS.— The  Atlanta  Independent 
leads.  Its  circulation  is  the  largest ;  its  mechanical 
make-up  perfect,  and  its  editorial  page  the  most 
straightforward,  comprehensive  and  courageous  of 
an}'  weekly  publication  in  America ;  B.  J.  Davis, 


592 


editor,   J.   W.   Davidson,   managing   editor ;   its   of 
fices  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Building. 
5.     PROFESSIONS : 

A.  PHYSICIANS.— There  are    forty-four    reg 
ular  licensed  and  practicing  physicians  in  the  city, 
graduates   of  all   the   leading  medical    colleges    in 
the  country. 

B.  DENTISTS. — There  are  eight  dentists  in  the 
city,  alumni  of  the  most  representatives  of  Amer 
ican  colleges. 

C.  LAWYERS.— There   are   four    colored    law 
yers   in   the  city,  some  of  whom   rank  among  the 
best.     Henry  Lincoln  Johnson  is  the  Dean. 

D.  MISCELLANEOUS.— There  are  four  chiro 
podists,  on  occulist,  six  pharmacists,  seventeen  au 
tomobile,  mechanics,    one    surveyor    and    engineer, 
and  one  architect. 

E.  BARBERS.— Atlanta    boasts    of    the    finest, 
most  elaborate  and  comprehensive  barber  shops  in 


THE  WEALTHIEST  NEGRO  COLONY  IN  THE 
WORLD— HARLEM— NEW  YORK  CITY 

In  uptown  New  York  flourishes  the  wealthiest 
Negro  Colony  in  the  world.  There  are  those 
among  them  who  count  their  possessions  in  six 
figures.  This  Colony  is  usually  spoken  of  as  Har 
lem.  It  extends  roughly  from  131st  street  to  144th 
Street  and  from  Seventh  Avenue  to  the  Harlem 
River.  But  this  boundary  is  constantly  changing 
for  the  Colony  is  constantly  growing. 

Within  this  area  is  to  be  found  every  thing  that 
is  needed  for  the  comfort,  convenience  and  pleas 
ure  of  an  intelligent  people.  There  are  apartment 
houses,  churches,  institutions,  shops,  restaurants, 
clubs,  theatres  and  dance  halls.  The  homes  are 
varied.  Some  are  modest  and  well  appointed, 
some  apartments  rent  from  $20  to  $60  a  month 
and  some  of  the  people  live  in  their  own  handsome 
residences.  Several  of  the  apartment  houses  are 


the  country  and  of  these,  A.  F.  Herndon  s  shop  on 

r>       i  i          c±  i    r  i  •  luxurious.      1  here   are   rich    rusrs    marble   statuarv 

Peachtree    Street,    operated    for    white    customers, 


and  J.  F.  Griffin's  shop  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Build 
ing,  operated  for  colored  customers,  are  each  the 
last  word  in  art,  sanitation,  arrangement  and 
equipment. 


valuable  paintings  in  the  corridors.     Liveried  ser 
vants,   sometimes    foreign   born    whites,   are   to   be 
seen  in  some  of  the  more  pretentious  homes. 
In  some  of  the  restaurants  the  food  served  com- 


F.     CONTRACTORS.— A.  D.  Hamilton   &  Sons,      pares  with  the  best  served  ""  Broadway.     In  fact. 
L.  G.   Harris.  Geo.-L.  Goosly,  R.   F,   Pharrow,  and      a"  the  necessary  things  for  comfortable  living  arc 


a  few  others  are  contractors  on  a  large  scale. 


to  be  had  right  in  the  community.     There  are  all 


G.  CHARITIES.— Carrie  State  Orphans'  Home,  sorts  °f  husiness  enterprises  that  are  flourishing. 
Leonard  Street  Orphans'  Home,  Carter's  Old  Folks  Many  "f  these  are  incorporated  and  well  capita- 
Home,  and  Meadow  Brook  Old  Folks  Home,  sup-  Uz.ed;  The  Professions  are  also  well  represented 

there,  being  many  physicians,  dentists,  lawyers 
and  publishers.  Three  newspapers  are  supported 
also  in  this  Colony. 

Social  life  in  the  Colony  finds  expression  in 
Church  festivals  and  clubs.  Among  the  principal 
clubs  are  the  New  York  Colored  Men's  Association, 
the  United  Civic  League  and  the  Pullman  Porter's 


ported  by  public  charity. 

II.  CEMETERIES.— South  View  Cemetery. 

I.  HOSPITALS.— St.  Luke's  Hospital,  made 
from  enlargement  of  the  home  of  the  late  Bishop 
Turner. 

J .  MISCELLANEOUS-INDUSTRIAL— Brick- 
masons,  organized  under  American  Federation  of 


Labor,  are  fully  a  half  of  this  branch  of  skilled  la-  Clulx  Here  in  this  section  the  Colored  people  of 
bor,  as  are  also  the  lathers  and  plasterers,  tailors  New  York  llave  I)llilt  for  themselves  a  little  world 
and  pressers  ;  carpenters  and  joiners,  numerous  ;  where  they  can  develop  along  all  lines.  They  have 
painters,  harness  and  shoe-makers  and  repairers,  their  own  moving-  picture  shows,  theatres,  places 

of  amusements  of  all  kinds.  Their  churches  are 
up-to-date  and  form  social  centers,  giving  to  their 
members  all  kinds  of  recreations.  They  run  their 
own  businesses.  They  own  automobiles  and  all 
sorts  of  luxuries. 

The  famous  fifteenth  regiment  was  the  first  in 
the  State  of  New  York  to  receive  its  full  quota. 
They  are  all  justly  proud  of  this  fact.  Indeed 
they  are  very  proud  of  the  record  of  the  regiment 


stone-masons,  tinners  in  fair  numbers  ;  blacksmiths 
and  dressmakers ;  chauffeurs,  coachmen,  railroad 
and  electric  wire  laborers  abound ;  few  plumbers ; 
bakers,  confection  makers  numerous ;  wagoners 
exclusively;  porters,  janitors,  char-women,  maids, 
cooks,  butlers  in  abundance. 

6.  Colored  Atlanta  as  regards  it  home  manifests 
the  high  ideals  inculcated  by  its  educational  envi 
ronment;  they  stand  easily  at  the  head  of  the  list 


in  architecture  and  design.     They  are  Southern  in      and  of  its  leader — Major  Tandy.     With  this  justly 


taste,  but  Yankee  in  keeping.  Very  nearly  each 
home  is  well  filled  with  choice  literature,  the  Bible 
generally  taking  the  chief  place  in  the  library ; 
music  of  all  kinds — classic  and  modern.  Not  one 
graduate  of  all  the  colleges  has  ever  been  convicted 
of  crime  or  even  charged  with  heinous  offense. 


famous  regiment  is  the  European  Band.  This  band 
is  winning  distinction  for  its  music  in  France.  It 
was  two  men  from  this  regiment — Robinson  and 
Johnson — who  were  decorated  for  bringing  in  a 
number  of  German  prisoners.  Harlem  should, 
with  all  colored  America,  be  proud  of  her  soldiers. 


593 


The  Republic  of  Liberia 


LIBERIA  COURT  OF  ARMS 


IBERIA  is  situated  on  the  west 
coast  of  Africa  between  Sierra 
Leone  and  the  Ivory  Coast.  The 
Republic  has  a  coast  line  stretch 
ing  along  the  Atlantic  for  about 
350  miles  Northwest  to  Southeast. 
Three  promonitories,  Cape  Mount,  Cape  Mesura- 
do  and  Bafu  Point  are  the  only  actual  interruptions 
of  a  monotonous  coast  line.  There  are  no  good  har 
bors.  Ships  regularly  anchor  at  a  considerable  dis 
tance  from  the  shore  and  load  and  unload  by  means 
of  small  boats  sent  from  the  towns. 

Its  area  is  approximately  43,000  square  miles — a 
little  larger  than  the  State  of  Idaho.  Only  the 
coast  strip  with  an  average  width  of  seven  miles  is 
under  development  and  a  strip  of  not  over  40  miles 
is  under  administration  and  this  line  is  constantly 
being  contended  by  hostile  natives.  Be  it  said  to 
the  credit  of  the  D.  E.  Howard  administration's 
positive  dealings  with  these  hostile  .tribes 
in  1917,  persons  might  walk  from  Monrovia 
to  Cape  Palmas  without  being  attacked  for  the 
first  time  since  the  foundation  of  the  Republic. 
Five  sixths  of  the  total  area  of  the  Republic  is  cov 
ered  with  dense  tropical  forests.  The  highest  lands 
are  found  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  country.  With 
the  exception  of  the  coast  lands  all  the  interior  is 


elevated  and  rolling,  in  some  places  there  are  large 
plateau  regions  covered  with  tall  grass  and  few 
trees. 

Liberia  is  exceptionally  well  watered.  Some 
thirty-five  rivers  furrow  its  bosom  supplying  mois 
ture  for  plant  life,  and  furnishing  fish  and  means 
of  travel.  Few  of  them  are  navigable  to  any  dis 
tance.  The  St.  Paul  can  be  ascended  only  to  a  dis 
tance  of  25  miles  ;  the  Dukvia  only  30  miles  and 
the  Cavalla  only  80  miles. 

Brilliantly  plumed  birds  flit  through  the  tropical 
forests  and  flowers  in  rich  profusion  bloom  every 
where. 

Mahogany,  ebony  and  other  valuable  trees  are 
found  in  large  quantities  and  rubber  producing 
trees  and  plants  abound.  Fruit  trees  which  bear 
almost  perennially  bend  beneath  the  weight  of  lus 
cious  tropical  fruit. 

CLIMATE 

Throughout  Liberia  the  climate  is  salubrious. 
There  are  two  rainy  seasons — one  in  June  and  July, 
the  other  in  October  and  November.  There  is  a 
marked  difference  between  the  climate  of  the  forest 
region  and  that  of  the  Mandingo  Plateau.  In  the 
forest  region,  the  dry  season  is  short,  it  is  the  hot 
test  period  of  the  year  and  includes  the  months  of 
December  and  January.  The  temperature  ranges 
from  55  degrees  at  night  to  100  degrees  in  the 
shade  at  mid-day.  During  the  wet  season  the  con 
stant  temperature  stands  at  about  75  degrees.  The 
coolest  month  of  the  year  is  August  with  a  day 
temperature  of  69  degrees  and  a  night  temperature 
of  65  degrees.  On  the  Mandingo  Plateau  the  dry 
season  extends  from  November  to  May.  The  hot 
test  time  of  the  year  is  at  the  beginning  and  end 
of  the  rainy  season  when  the  thermometer  may 
mark  more  than  one  hundred  degrees  at  mid-day. 
HISTORICAL 

The  Republic  of  Liberia  owes  its  origin  to  the 
efforts  of  the  National  Colonization  Society  of 
America,  organized  in  1816  for  the  purpose  of  col 
onizing  in  Africa  the  free  colored  people  of  the 
United  States.  Several  attempts  were  made  at 
colonization  but  nothing  was  permanent  until  1821 
when  a  treaty  was  concluded  by  Lieut.  Stockton 
with  certain  native  princes  by  which  a  tract  of  land 
suitable  for  the  purpose  was  acquired  about  Cape 
Montserrado.  Liberia  existed  as  a  colony  till  July 
26,  1847,  when  the  Declaration,  of  Independence  was 
signed. 

THE  FLAG,  ETC. 

The  flag  consists  of  eleven  stripes  alternately 
red  and  white:  the  field,  blue  bears  a  single  star 


594 


POLITICAL 

The  Constitution  of  Liberia  is  framed  after  that 
of  the  United  States.  Executive  authority  is  vest 
ed  in  a  President  and  Vice-President,  elected  for 
four  years  and  a  council  of  six  members.  Legisla 
tive  power  rests  with  a  Congress  of  two  houses, 
known  as  the  Senate  consisting  of  eight  members 
and  the  House  of  Representatives  with  fourteen 
members.  Voters  must  be  of  Negro  blood  and  own 
Real  Estate.  Natives  have  not  yet  availed  them 
selves  generally  of  the  suffrage.  No  foreigner  can 
own  real  estate  without  the  consent  of  the  govern 
ment. 

The  President,  Vice-President  and  Congressmen 
are  elected:  all  other  officers  of  state  are  appoint 
ed  by  the  President,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
Senate. 

There  are  also  Quarterly,  Probate  and  Justice 
courts,  for  each  of  the  countries  and  territories. 
Monrovia  recently  abolished  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace  and  established  a  Municipal  Court  with  a 
special  judge,  whose  tenure  of  office  is,  during 
good  behavior. 

The  actual  Military  forces  consist  of  militia,  vol 
unteers  and  police.  All  able-bodied  men  between 
the  ages  of  16  and  50  are  liable  for  military  service. 
POPULATION  AND  SETTLEMENT 

Liberia  has  a  population  of  two  and  one-half 
millions  and  more  than  two  millions  are  aborigin- 
ies.  The  rest  are  Americo-Liberians.  The  truly 
native  population  consists  of  many  different  tribes, 
each  with  its  own  language,  territory,  government 
and  life.  Most  of  the  native  tribes  are  pagan.  In 
the  western  half  of  Liberia,  however,  Mohamme 
danism  has  taken  hold  of  the  great  tribes  of  Man- 
dingo  and  Vai.  Among  all  these  natives  tri 
bal  organization  and  government  remain  in  full 
force,  although  most  of  them  recognize  the  sov 
ereignty  of  the  Republic,  native  dress,  art  and  in 
dustries  remain  ;  among  the  pagan  tribes  poligamy 
is  common :  domestic  slavery  still  exists :  witch 
craft  is  recognized  and  the  ancient  ordeals  are 
practiced.  Most  of  the  Americo-Liberian  settle 
ments  are  on  the  coast  although  there  are  a  num 
ber  along  the  St.  Paul  River  and  a  few  along  other 
rivers.  The  Republic  is  divided  into  four  counties, 
viz:  Montserrado,  Grand  Bassa,  Sinoe  and  Mary 
land.  There  are  four  cities  in  the  Republic,  with 
Mayor  and  common  council,  viz:  Monrovia,  Grand 
Bassa,  Edina,  and  Harper.  These  cities,  with 
Manna,  Nifu,  Sarstown  and  Fishtown  are  the  only 
ports  open  to  foreign  trade. 

Monrovia  the  capital  city  is  the  best  representa 
tive  of  the  development.  It  is  a  city  consisting  of 
about  7000  inhabitants.  It  is  sharply  divided  into 
two  divisions,  a  civilized  quarter  upon  the  summit 
of  a  ridge  some  290  feet  in  height :  here  live  the 
Americo-Liberians  and  the  European  residents. 


While  nearly  all  around  the  city  are  the  village  and 
native  towns  composed  of  members  of  various 
tribes  from  all  parts  of  the  republic.  To  illustrate 
this :  I  have  found  the  name  of  Jesus  given  in  14 
dialects  in  a  group  of  about  200  persons. 

The  Liberians  are  a  sociable  people.  They  love 
to  gather  on  almost  any  occasion.  There  are  prac 
tically  no  places  of  public  amusement.  In  1831  there 
was  a  public  library  with  1200  volumes  in  the  city 
of  Monrovia ;  today  there  is  no  public  library  or 
reading  room  in  the  capital  city.  The  number  of 
secret  organizations  is  very  large.  Literary  socie 
ties  and  lyceums  are  from  time  to  time  organized. 
There  is  one  at  Cape  Palmas  which  has  had  a  con 
tinued  existence  for  many  years.  A  respectable 
Bar  Association  has  been  in  existence  for  several 
years,  has  annual  meetings,  and  prints  its  proceed 
ings. 

A  considerable  number  of  men  write  remarkably 
well.  The  public  documents  of  the  Republic  have 
always  been  well  worded  and  forceful. 

The  message  of  successive  presidents  to  the  leg 
islature  have  shown  extraordinary  ability.     In  de 
liberation  they  show  judgment,  and  in    diplomatic 
procedure   extraordinary   skill. 
RESOURCES 

Liberia  is  rich  in  material  resources.  Perhaps  in 
all  the  world  there  can  not  be  found  a  more  fertile 
soil  and  a  more  productive  country.  Cotton  grows 
plentifully  and  sugar  cane  flourishes  also:  rice,  cof- 
tee.  edible  roots,  and  oil  palms  may  be  found  in  the 
clearings.  Bananas  and  plantains  grow  in  rich 
profusion.  Salt  is  common  in  some  places  and 
"salt  sticks"  form  a  desirable  article  of  trade.  For 
the  present  and  for  sometime  to  come  the  country 
must  necessairly  depend  upon  its  trade  in  raw  pro 
ducts.  Wealth  must  come  from  palm  nuts  and  oil, 
passava,  rubber  and  the  like.  In  such  products  the 
Republic  has  enormous  wealth  none  of  which  has 
been  developed  save  to  a  very  limited  extent. 
RELIGION 

The  Liberians  are  stid  to  be  very  religious.  The 
Bible  is  read  in  many  homes  with  a  devotion  which 
people  in  better  favored  lands  might  emulate.  Sun 
day  is  a  day  of  rest  and  religious  duty  and  woe 
to  him  who  desecrates  it.  Most  of  the  leading  de 
nominations  are  found  there  either  as  an  independ 
ent  church  or  as  Missions. 

EDUCATION 

Education  is  not  neglected  in  Liberia  although  it 
has  always  been  difficult  to  raise  money  to  conduct 
Schools.  The  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 
is  a  Cabinet  Officer.  In  1912  there  were  ninety-one 
Schools  under  his  direction. 

Liberia  College  is  fifty  years  old  and  many  men 
prominent  in  Liberian  affairs  received  their  educa 
tion  here.  There  are  many  Mission  schools  also 
which  are  doing  high  grade,  useful  work. 


595 


Colored  Theatricals 


By  Lester  A.  Walton,  of  the  New  York  Age, 
New  York  City. 


OLORED  theatricals  are  on  the 
boom.  When  announcement  was 
made  by  the  daily  and  colored 
press  in  June  of  this  year  (1919) 
that  a  circuit  of  first  class  colored 
theatres  had  been  formed  and  the 
merger  was  generally  regarded 
as  the  most  far  reaching  step 
ever  taken  in  the  history  of  the  stage  in  which  Ne 
groes  prominently  figured,  both  colored  and  white 
people  evinced  more  than  ordinary  concern  in  this 
piece  of  information. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  first  statement  about 
the  colored  circuit  white  publications  have  vied 
with  colored  papers  and  magazines  in  telling  of 
the  big  project  in  which  thousands  of  dollars  are 
involved — of  the  systematic  movement  launched  by 
colored  promoters  to  create  a  more  agreeable  con 
dition  throughout  the  United  States  for  the  colored 
theatregoer  and  also  open  up  opportunities  for  the 
colored  performer. 

The  first  significant  move  to  establish  a  chain  of 
colored  houses  taking  in  the  principal  cities  of  the 
North  and  South,  was  made  in  the  early  part  of 
June,  when  a  syndicate  headed  by  E.  C.  Brown,  the 
colored  banker,  of  Philadelphia  and  Norfolk,  took 
over  the  lease  of  the  Lafayette  Theater,  at  131st 
Street  and  Seventh  Avenue,  New  York,  and  as 
sumed  all  outstanding  contracts  which  the  Quality 
Amusement  Company  had  with  the  Lafayette 
Players.  The  Lafayette  Theatre  is  the  best  known 
colored  theatre  in  America,  and  the  Lafayette 
Players  is  the  best  known  dramatic  organization 
among  colored  people  in  the  country. 

The  next  important  house  is  the  Dunbar  Thea 
tre  of  Philadelphia,  just  completed,  which  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  1600  and  is  situated  at  Broad 
and  Lombard  Streets,  only  two  blocks  from  the 
Shubert  Theatre.  This  large  and  modern  struct 
ure  was  built  by  a  company  headed  by  E.  C.  Brown, 
president ;  Lester  A.  Walton,  vice  president ;  An 
drew  F.  Stevens,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
ground,  building  and  equipment  cost  $375,000. 

The  Howard  Theatre,  Washington,  D.  C.,  the 
Avenue  Theatre,  Chicago,  and  the  Lyceum  Thea 
tre,  Cincinnati,  were  the  other  houses  originally  in 
cluded  in  the  chain,  but  the  numerical  strength  of 
the  circuit  has  been  greatly  increased  since  June. 
The  Pershing  Theatre,  controlled  and  managed  by 
Negroes,  has  been  taken  in,  as  well  as  theatres  in 
Richmond,  Norfolk,  Savannah  and  New  Orleans. 
Before  the  year  it  is  expected  that  St.  Louis,  Louis 
ville,  Detroit,  Cleveland,  Baltimore,  Memphis,  Bir 
mingham  and  Nashville,  will  be  represented. 

In  organizing  a  chain  of  frst  class  theatres  the 
promoters  had  in  mind  the  bettering  of  conditions 
for  colored  amusement-lovers,  especially  in  the 
South.  The  existence  of  what  are  known  as  "col 
ored"  theatres  in  such  cities  as  New  York,  Phila 
delphia,  Chicago  and  Detroit  are  due  to  the  pres 


ence  of  thousands  of  Negroes  residing  in  a  district 
and  such  houses  are  the  natural  product  of  a  com 
munity  as  a  Jewish  thetre  in  a  Jewish  community 
or  a  German  theatre  in  a  German  community.  Col 
ored  people  in  these  cities  also  attend  houses  under 
white  management. 

The  reason  for  opening  colored  theatres  in  the 
Southland  is  vastly  different.  In  this  section  of  the 
country  there  are  many  cities  where  the  Negro  is 
not  wanted  at  all  as  a  patron,  and  when  he  is  ad 
mitted  it  usually  is  in  the  gallery  and  then  he  is  set 
off  to  himself.  There  are  thousands  of  self-respect- 
ting  colored  people  who  do  not  take  kindly  to  this 
policy  and,  therefore,  religiously  remain  away  from 
the  white  theatres.  They  also  refuse  to  patronize 
colored  theatres  where  the  performer  is  permitted 
to  say  and  do  what  he  pleases  and  the  management 
is  lax  and  general  conditions  extremely  objection 
able. 

With  theatres  built  in  the  South  for  colored  peo 
ple  where  an  effort  will  be  made  to  afford  clean, 
wholesome  entertainment,  and  race  standards  will 
be  put  on  a  higher  plane,  the  colored  person  with 
high  ideals  will  be  given  an  opportunity  to  secure 
up-to-date  amusements  and  at  the  same  time  sup 
port  meritorious  race  enterprises. 

The  theatres  on  the  circuit  will  be  provided  with 
attractions  by  the  Quality  Amusement  Corporation 
of  New  York,  of  which  E.  C.  Brown  and  Andrew 
F.  Stevens  are  controlling  factors,  and  Lester  A. 
Walton  is  general  manager.  A  school  of  dramatic 
art  has  been  opened  for  young  colored  men  and 
women  who  give  indication  of  possessing  histrionic 
ability,  and  they  will  be  brought  to  New  York  from 
all  sections. 

Various  companies — dramatic  and  musical — are 
being  organized  by  Quality  Amusement  Company 
and  the  dramatic  directors  employed  are  the  best 
that  can  be  secured  in  New  York. 

With  the  enforced  withdrawal  from  the  scene 
of  action  of  the  William  &  Walker,  Cole  &  John 
son  and  Ernest  Hogan  companies  some  ten  years 
ago,  colored  theatricals  have  been  at  a  low  ebb. 
These  companies  played  in  cities  throughout  the 
North  and  West,  appearing  in  theatres  owned  and 
controlled  by  white  managers.  The  advent  of  the 
movies,  which  turned  many  of  such  theatres  into 
moving  picture  houses,  was  largely  responsible  for 
the  disappearance  of  the  big  colored  musical  show 
on  the  road. 

Colored  theatricals  are  now  being  revived  along 
practical  and  sane  lines.  Instead  of  depending  on 
others,  the  Negro  is  taking  the  initiative  and  ex 
ploiting  among  his  own  people  a  field  hitherto  un 
touched,  one  pregnant  with  wonderful  possibilities. 
He  is,  therefore,  making  opportunities  for  himself 
and  race — which  is  one  of  the  most  constructive 
pieces  of  work  the  colored  American  has  undertak 
en  during  this  great  era  of  rehabilitation. 


596 


Reminiscences  of  Slavery  Days 

By  J.  W.  Beverly,  Principal  State  Normal  School, 
Montgomery,  Ala. 


Slavery  was  introduced  into  English  colonies  by 
way  of  the  colony  of  Virginia  in  1619.  However, 
the  first  landing  of  slaves  in  what  is  now  the  Unit 
ed  States  was  in  Florida  in  1565. 

As  early  as  1637  some  Pequod  Indians  were  ex 
changed  for  Negroes  from  the  Bermudas.  It  is 
worth  while  to  note  that  the  Indians  were  ex 
changed  because  they  would  not  obey  their  mas 
ters. 

Note — the  Negro,  as  a  class,  had  always  been 
obedient  to  authority.  Of  course  there  have  been 
and  will  always  be  cases  of  disloyalty ;  but  the  Ne 
gro  as  a  class  is  loyal  even  when  he  is  mistreated. 
A  mere  declaration  of  this  sort  would  amount  to 
but  little  ;  but  all  history  will  bear  out  this  state 
ment. 

In  some  cases  in  the  New  England  colonies,  there 
is  record  of  the  fact  that  when  slaves  were  no 
longer  serviceable  to  their  masters  by  reason  of 
having  spent  their  energies,  they  manumitted  them 
to  live  on  charity  or  do  otherwise.  But  in  1702,  in 
Connecticut,  a  law  was  soon  passed  compelling 
the  former  owners  to  care  for  these  manumitted 
and  worn  out  slaves. 

Washington  and  Jefferson  were  both  opposed  to 
buying  or  selling  Negroes  off  the  plantations  to 
which  they  belonged.  Washington  manumitted 
his  slaves  in  his  last  will.  Thomas  Jefferson  never 
favored  slavery ;  and  Benjamin  Franklin  was  op 
posed  to  the  trafflce  in  human  beings. 

Patrick  Henry  said  of  the  overseer  of  his  time, 
"They  are  the  most  abject,  and  unprincipled  race." 
The  above  statement  is  quoted  to  show,  that  most 
of  the  oppression  and  cruelty  practiced  against  Ne 
groes  came  not  from  the  hand  of  the  master ;  but 
from  that  of  the  overseer. 

Sometimes,  yes  often  times,  cruel  and  oppressive 
Negroes  were  used  as  slave  drivers.  These  Negro 
drivers  were  most  crude  in  many  instances. 

History  fails  to  produce  a  parallel  case  to  that 
of  the  fidelity  of  the  Negro  towards  his  master  in 
the  time  of  the  Civil  War. 

While  the  best  blood  of  the  South  was  at  the 
front,  fighting  to  retain  slavery,  the  Negro,  the 
bone  of  contention,  was  at  home  and  was  tilling  the 
fields,  and  caring  for  the  family  left  behind. 

The  leading  white  men  and  the  public  press  have 
ever  since  that  day  declared  that  this  act  of  fidelity 
on  the  part  of  the  Negro  is  deserving  to  be  cele 
brated  in  song,  and  to  be  recorded  on  the  pages  of 
history.  They  have  declared  that  the  Negro  fidel 
ity  in  these  trying  times  has  endeared  the  race  to 
the  entire  white  South, 

Almost  any  other  race  on  the  face  of  the  globe, 
with  conditions  so  favorable  for  revolt  and  destruc 
tion,  would  have  used  the  opportunity. 

Many  colored  men  went  to  the  war  to  act  as 
body  guards  to  their  masters  and  when  the  master 
was  cut  down  the  Negro  body  guard  with  loving 
hands  would  remove  the  body  and  accompany  it 
home  to  be  laid  away  in  the  home  cemtery.  And 
well  does  the  writer  know  of  instances,  where  the 


faithful  Negro  slave  would  turn  over  the  body  of 
his  dead  master  and  search  it  for  valuable  belong 
ings  such  as  a  gold  watch,  a  fine  ring,  and  would 
report  these  things  to  the  white  folks  at  home.  And 
many  a  time,  the  family  would  say  to  the  faithful 
slave,  "you  may  have  the  watch  or  what  not." 

In  this  world,  and  as  we  colored  people  are  wont 
to  stay,  "in  this  cold  and  unfriendly  world"  there 
is  no  abiding  place,  no  continuing  city  unless  it  be 
in  the  loving  remembrance,  of  good  deeds  done 
whch  will  enshrine  us  in  the  heart  and  affection  of 
mankind. 

The  late  Booker  T  .Washington  used  to  say  that, 
every  Negro  had  his  white  man  that  he  could  go  to 
in  times  of  need,  and  that  every  white  man  had  his 
Negro  friend  that  he  could  trust  in  the  dark  house 
of  this  unfriendly  world. 

And  there  is  much  in  this — inter-dependence  the 
white  needing  the  Negroes,  and  the  Negroes  need 
ing  the  whites.  What  do  the  Scriptures  say  about 
this?  The  members  of  the  body  can  not  say  the 
one  to  the  other  "I  have  no  need  of  thee.  Can  the 
eye  say  to  the  hand.  I  have  no  need  of  thee?" 

That  many  masters  were  cruel  to  their  slaves  no 
one  will  deny  but  the  main  source  of  cruelty  was 
not  the  master ;  but  usually  the  overseer,  or  Negro 
driver.  He  had  no  interest  in  the  slave,  and  so  had 
no  care  for  him. 

There  were  many  free  Negroes  even  in  the  slave 
states.  The  free  Negro  in  a  slave  state  had  to  be 
under  the  protection  of  some  white  man,  who  repre 
sented  him  in  some  legal  phases.  Some  masters 
manumitted  their  slave. s  George  Washington,  the 
father  of  his  country  it  is  said,  manumitted  his 
slaves.  Many  masters  allowed  certain  skilled  me 
chanics  of  their  slaves  to  hire  themselves  out  for 
a  certain  wage  by  the  year,  a  portion  of  the  wage 
to  go  to  the  slave  and  a  portion  to  the  master  in 
the  way  of  purchase  of  the  slave  by  his  own  labor. 

The  writer's  own  great  grandfather,  a  good  doc 
tor  purchased  himself  from  his  master. 

Thousands  of  the  best  blood  of  the  South  will 
forever  bless  the  memory  of  the  Negro  race  for 
the  many  kind  and  nice  attentions  given  by  the 
"Black  Mammy"  and  the  attachment  between  the 
white  children  and  the  "Black  Mammy"  have  come 
down  from  the  days  of  slavery  with  endearing  sen 
timent  to  many  distinguished  white  men  of  the 
South. 

Many  a  "Black  Mammy"  has  been  cared  for 
while  living;  and  peacefully  laid  away  after  death 
by  the  loving  hands  of  white  men,  whose  parents 
used  to  own  them. 

And  these  "Mammies"  in  the  days  of  slavery 
were  the  real  rulers  of  the  household.  What  they 
demanded  for  the  children  of  the  family  usually 
was  granted  even  in  opposition  to  the  mistress' 
wishes.  The  "Mammy"  had  her  way  in  most  mat 
ters  that  concerned  the  whims  or  welfare  of  the 
children ;  and  to  her  would  the  children  look  for 
refuge  even  to  the  restraining  of  the  rod  correc 
tions  in  conduct. 


597 


TOP   VIEW— Raw   recruits    arriving   at   cantonment,  Copyright  Underwood  and  Underwood. 

CENTER  VIEW-  325th  Field  Signal  Battalion  colored  troops,  boarding  boat  for  Camp  Merritt.  Copyright 
Western  Newspaper  Union. 

BOTTOM  VIEW— Temporary  resting  place  between  Pont  a  Maisson  and  Metz,  of  Heroes  of  the  92nd  divi 
sion  who  made  the  "Supreme  Sacrifice."  U.  S.  Official. 


The  Negro  in  the  World  War 

By    EMMETT  J.   SC'OTT,   Secretary-Treasurer  of  Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Prepared  for  this  publication  in  October,  1918 — thirty  days  before  signing  of  Armistice. 


EMMETT  J.  SCOTT,  Special  Assistant  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  who  prepared  the  article  which 
follows,  is  by  virtue  of  his  commanding  position 
and  closeness  of  view  to  the  incidents  and  circum 
stances  which  are  shown  herein,  most  happily  sit 
uated  to  give  authentic  testimony  concerning 
"THE  NEGROE'S  PART  IN  WINNING  THE 
WAR." 

The  office  of  Special  Assistant  to  the  Secretary 
of  War  was  created  because  of  the  recognized  im 
portance  and  weight  of  the  Negro  in  the  National 
equation,  and  because  of  the  broad-minded  opinion 
of  the  Hon.  Newton  1).  Baker.  Secretary  of  War, 
that  the  problems  growing  out  of  the  relations  of 
the  12,COO,OCO  colored  people  of  the  country  in  a  pe 
riod  of  war,  with  new  conditions  and  new  demands 
to  be  met  and  adjusted,  were  of  sufficient  impor 
tance  to  justify  the  establishment  of  a  special  bu 
reau  to  deal  exclusively  with  their  affairs.  Seek 
ing  the  best  fitted  man  of  the  race  in  America  to 
handle  the  delicate  and  far-reaching  questions  that 
must  necessarily  arise  in  a  crisis  that  touches  the 
fundamental  principles  of  Government,  Secretary 
Baker  placed  at  his  right  hand  to  advise  him  with 
reference  to  the  Negro  millions,  a  man,  who  need 
ed  no  introduction  to  the  American  people  of  any 
race,  and  whose  selection  was  at  once  acclaimed  by 
all  as  the  very  best  that  could  have  been  made. 

I'or  eighteen  years  Mr.  Scott  was  the  Secretary 
and  confidential  advisor  of  the  late  Booker  T. 
Washington,  and  he  has  had  intimate  contact  with 
the-  most  influential  forces  of  the  nation,  white  and 
black.  The  wide  experience  thus  gained  and  val 
uable  acquaintanceships  formed,  coupled  with  na 
tive  zeal,  wisdom  and  industry,  render  him  an  ideal 
man  for  this  post  of  exacting  responsibility. 

That  the  office,  with  its  increasing  volume  of  in 
tricate  questions  and  broadening  scope  of  activities 
is  giving  excellent  service,  is  convincingly  attest 
ed  by  the  laudatory  comments  at  the  hands  of  the 
United  press  of  the  country,  and  the  warm  perso 
nal  congratulations  received  by  Mr.  Scott  by  tel 
egram,  letter  and  "word  of  mouth"  every  day  in 
the  year,  as  well  as  by  the  grateful  acknowledg 
ments  of  hundreds  of  persons  in  all  sections  of  the 
land,  who  have  been  faithfully  and  efficiently  serv 
ed  through  the  official  channels  covered  by  this 
Bureau.  Ft  is  a  veritable  "clearing  house"  for  Ne 
gro  problems,  military  and  civil,  emphasized  by 
reason  of  the  war,  and  it  is  universally  admitted 
that  the  condition  of  the  race  has  been  improved 
bevond  measure  since  the  establishment  of  this  di 


rect  point  of  contact  between  the  Negro  and  the 
high  officials  of  the  War  Department.  Mr.  Scott 
has  justly  earned  the  commendation  of  the  entire 
nation  by  his  comprehensive  grasp  of  the  vital  is 
sues  of  the  day  and  wrought  out  concrete  results 
through  his  courageous  mastery  of  them  in  con 
ference,  on  the  platform,  and  through  the  public 
prints. 

Secretary  Baker  is  a  true  friend  of  the  Negro 
people— not  as  Negroes  per  se,  but  as  human  be 
ings  and  citizens  of  the  Republic.  He  is  a  genuine 
100  per  cent  American  and  a  democrat — in  the 
strictest  interpretation  of  those  lofty  terms— and 
has  indicated  in  a  thousand  forceful  ways  that  race 
prejudice  has  no  place  in  his  personal  make-up ; 
and  he  has  made  it  plain  that  he  would  brook  no 
color  discrimination  or  the  practice  of  narrow- 
gauged  methods  in  the  administration  of  his  offi 
cial  duties.  His  high  regard  for  the  welfare  of  the 
12,000.000  colored  Americans  has  been  demonstra 
ted  in  a  most  practical  fashion  by  his  organization 
of  the  Bureau  for  the  consideration  of  affairs  di 
rectly  affecting  this  loyal  and  productive  group  of 
citizens  which,  under  the  sympathetic  and  pain 
staking  supervision  of  Mr.  Scott,  has  proven  its 
worth  to  the  nation  and  to  all  concerned. —  (Editor.) 


The  NEGRO  in  the  present  war  for  LIBERTY 
AND  WORLD-WIDE  DEMOCRACY  is  proving 
to  be  a  notable  and  inspiring  figure.  The  Colored 
American,  in  common  with  his  brother  in  White, 
realizes  more  and  more  that  this  is  THE  PEO 
PLE'S  WAR,  and  it  is  his  determination  to  remain 
in  the  fight  to  the  finish.  He  is  cheerfully  laying 
upon  the  altar  of  his  country's  honor  every  ounce 
of  his  manhood  strength,  his  individual  influence 
and  the  limit  of  his  means  to  bring  VICTORY  to 
the  only  flag  he  claims  as  his  own.  The  Negro  is 
100  per  cent  American  and  rightly  regards  it  as  his 
FIRST  DUTY  to  utilize  every  resource  at  his  conu 
mand  to  aid  the  nation  to  win  its  batle  for  civiliza 
tion  and  justice  in  this  hour  of  humanity's  peril. 

THE   NEGROE'S   "MAN-POWER"   IN   THE    PRESENT 
CONFLICT. 

The  Negro  now  (October,  1918)  has  in  the  mil 
itary  establishment  of  the  nation  nearly  400,000 
men.  He  entered  the  war  with  four  regiments  to 
his  credit — the  9th  and  10th  Cavalry  and  the  24th 

and  25th  Infantry  of  the     Regular     U.  S.  Army 

these  regiments  embracing  about   10,000  men.      In 
the  National  Guard — as  it  was  formerly  known 


599 


TOP  VIEW — Negro   soldiers   arriving  at   a   typical    French    village. 

UPPER  CENTER  VIEW— Colored  Soldiers  advancing  along  a   camouflaged   road   in   France. 

LOWER   CENTER   VIEW— Gas   mask   drill   in   France. 

BOTTOM    VIEW— Narrow   gauged   railroad   used   in   trench   warfare  on   French   battlefields. 

U.  S.  Official. 


600 


made  up  of  units  from  several  states,  such  as  the 
8th  Illinois,  the  15th  New  York,  the  First  Separate 
Battalion  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  the  First 
Separate  Company  of  Maryland,  a  company  from 
Massachusetts  and  one  from  Connecticut,  the  9th 
Ohio,  etc.,  the  race  also  had  about  10,000  men.  A 
large  number  of  these  forces  came  through  volun 
tary  enlistments  and  their  work  on  the  field  and  in 
camp  has  been  of  the  highest  possible  order. 

To  this  call  to  the  colors,  the  Negro  responded 
with  a  cheerfulness  that  made  the  world  stare  in 
wonderment.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  in  the  first 
draft  in  June,  1917,  there  were  737,628  colored  reg 
istrants,  or  nearly  8  per  cent  of  the  total  registra 
tion  of  the  country,  which  was  9,586.508.  Of  the 
first  group  of  208,953  colored  registrants  examined 
under  call  of  November  12,  1917,  36.23  per  cent  of 
them  were  accepted  for  service.  Out  of  2.873.996 
white  men  examined  at  approximately  the  same 
time,  24.75  per  cent  of  them  were  accepted.  In 
groups  representing  nearly  an  identical  proportion, 
it  will  be  noted  that  in  relative  military  fitness  the 
Negro  race  outranked  other  races  by  about  12 
per  cent.  It  is  also  a  matter  of  pride  with  the  Ne 
gro  to  note  that  the  per  centage  of  colored  men 
claiming  exemption  from  military  service  is  much 
lower  than  that  of  other  groups.  Many  thousands 
of  colored  men  are  on  duty  overseas. 

NEGRO  REPRESENTED  IN  NEARLY  EVERY 
BRANCH  OF  SERVICE 

The  Negro  is  represented  in  practically  every 
branch  of  the  military  service — including  Infantry, 
Cavalry,  Engineers,  Field  and  Coast  Artillery,  Sig 
nal  Corps  (radio,  or  wireless,  telegraphers,  etc.), 
Medical  Corps,  Sospital  and  Ambulance  Corps, 
Aviation  Corps,  (ground  section),  Veterinary 
Corps  and  in  the  noncombatant  forces,  which  em 
brace,  among  other  organizations,  the  Stevedore 
Regiments,  Service  of  Labor  Battalions,  Depot 
Brigades.  These  latter  render  valuable  service  be 
hind  the  lines  and  are  indispensable  to  the  well-be 
ing  of  the  troops  on  the  firing  lines.  Many  Ne 
groes  are  employed  as  chemists,  draftsmen,  sur 
veyors,  etc.  A  premium  is  placed  on  men  who  are 
skilled  in  the  technical  and  mechanical  pursuits, 
such  as  electricians,  auto-repairers,  wheelwrights, 
blacksmiths,  carpenters,  etc. 

The  colored  combat  troops  overseas  are  now 
comprised  in  the  92nd  and  93rd  divisions,  com 
manded  respectively,  at  the  time  of  their  assign 
ment,  by  Major-General  C.  C.  Ballon  and  Briga 
dier-General  Roy  C.  Hoffman. 

MORE  THAN  1,000  NEGRO  OFFICERS    NOW   UNDER 
COMMISSION 

The  Negro  now  has  passed  far  beyond  the  1,000 
mark  in  the  matter  of  commissioned  officers,  the 
number  being  now  fully  1,200.  There  were  few 


in  the  original  Regular  Army.  The  highest  in 
rank  was  Charles  Young,  of  Ohio,  who,  prior  to  his 
retirement  from  active  service,  had  risen  to  the 
rank  of  Colonel  in  the  10th  Cavalry,  and  had  served 
.with  distinction  in  the  Indian  fights  on  the  Ameri 
can  border,  in  the  Spanish-American  War,  in  the 
Philippines  and  Mexico,  and  had  won  honors  as 
the  formative  genius  in  the  Government  Constabu 
lary  and  as  United  States  Military  Attache  in 
Haiti.  He  is  a  graduate  of  West  Point  Military 
Academy.  The  highest  active  officer  of  the  race 
now  in  the  Army  is  Lieut-Col.  Benjamin  Oliver 
Davis,  of  the  9th  Cavalry,  a  native  of  Washington, 
a  product  of  her  public  school  system,  who  entered 
the  service  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-Ameri 
can  War  as  a  private  in  a  volunteer  regiment.  He 
rose  to  his  present  station  by  merit.  He  has  been 
military  instructor  at  Wilberforce  University,  Un 
ited  States 'Military  Attache  and  head  of  the  Con 
stabulary  in  Liberia  and  is  now  stationed  with  his 
regiment  in  the  Philippines.  Walter  H.  Loving, 
also  a  Washingtonian,  developed  the  famous  Phil 
ippine  Constabulary  Band,  and  is  now  a  Major  on 
the  retired  list,  but  engaged  in  a  special  work  for 
the  Government  in  the  present  conflict. 

In  the  National  Guard,  several  colored  men,  well 
versed  in  military  tactics  and  with  fine  capacity  for 
organization,  have  held  ranks  as  Colonels,  Majors, 
and  officers  of  subordinate  grade  and  have  given  an 
excellent  account  of  themselves  in  preserving  order 
in  their  respective  States  and  have  assisted  the 
Federal  Government  in  instances  of  national  em 
ergency. 

CAPABLE   YOUNG   OFFICERS   FROM    THE   NEW 
TRAINING  CAMPS 

The  present  war  has  brought  to  the  front  a 
splendid  array  of  talented  and  capable  young  men 
who  have  won  commissions  as  officers  in  the  new 
training  camps  that  have  been  formed  for  the  pur 
pose  of  supplying'  leaders  for  the  new  United 
States  Army.  Out  of  the  Reserve  Officers'  Train 
ing  Camp  at  Fort  Des  Moines,  came  639  colored  of 
ficers,  commissioned  as  captains  and  first  and  se 
cond  Lieutenants,  after  a  course  of  intensive  train 
ing,  covering  four  months,  concluding  in  October, 
1917.  Many  of  these  •  commanders  were  college 
men,  hailing  from  such  standard  institutions  of 
learning  as  Harvard,  Yale,  Columbia,  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  Amhurst,  University  of  Chicago, 
Howard,  Fisk,  Wilberforce  and  Lincoln  University. 
In  the  field  service  these  officers,  for  the  most  part, 
have  "made  good,"  and  are  in  command  of  troops 
of  the  race  at  a  number  of  camps  on  this  side  and 
across  the  sea.  They  have  stood  up  bravely 
through  their  "baptism  of  fire,"  and  in  cases,  now 
almost  numerous,  they  have  won  the  French  Croix 
De  Guerre  and  were  conspicious  in  the  terrific  en- 


601 


TOP   VIEW — The    men    and   officers    of   the    369th   Infantry  were   decorated  at   the   Stadium  of  City  College 
by  General  Collerdet  of  the   French   Army  and  Colonel  Hayward  of  the  369th  Infantry  who  is  in  command  of  the 
unit.     The   view   shows   the   officers   at   attention   during  the  playing  of  the  Marsellaise.     Copyright  Underwood  & 
Underwood.  N.  Y. 

BOTTOM  VIEW — Decks  of  the  "France"  loaded  with  New  York's  Colored  Troops.  The  "France"  brought 
back  New  York's  famous  colored  regiment  the  389th  Infantry,  better  known  as  the  old  15th.  These  men  cov 
ered  themselves  with  glory,  were  the  first  American  soldiers  to  reach  the  Rhine,  never  had  one  of  their  men 
captured  by  the  Hun  and  received  the  Croix  De  Guerre  for  their  bravery  in  action.  Copyright  Western  News 
paper  Union. 


gagement  which  led  to  a  whole  regiment  of  Ne 
groes  being  cited  for  valorous  conduct,  and  the  re 
port  of  the  same  to  the  War  Department  at  home 
by  General  Pershing,  the  intrepid  and  square-deal 
ing  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American  Expe 
ditionary  Forces  in  France. 

Speaking  of  the  Colored  troops  in  general,  a  mil 
itary  expert  has  said :  "They  are  notably  steady 
under  fire,  patient  to  endure-  hardships,  and  cheer 
ful  and  good-natured  at  all  times — and  'THEY 
CAN  FIGHT!"  In  addition  to  the  officers  already 
mentioned,  shortly  after  the  Fort  Des  Moines 
group,  there  were  graduated  at  training  camps  114 
officers  in  Infantry.  11  in  Cavalry  and  35  in  Field 
Artillery.  At  the  close  of  the  series  ended  August 
31,  33  colored  men  were  commissioned  as  Lieuten 
ants  of  Field  Artillery  at  Camp  Taylor,  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  107  were  graduated  and  commissioned  as 
Lieutenants  of  Infantry  at  Camp  Pike,  Little  Rock, 
Ark.  They  will  be  given  desirable  assignments 
with  troops  of  the  race.  With  the  output  of  Fort 
Des  Moines,  this  brings  the  total  of  officers  from 
the  training  camps  alone  up  to  941.  Those  com 
missioned  in  the  Medical  Reserve  Corps  number 
about  250;  about  100  of  these  are  still  on  the  inac 
tive  list.  The  hope  is  expressed  that  as  the  num 
bers  of  colored  men  brought  into  the  army  through 
the  selective  draft  are  increased,  many  colored  of 
ficers  of  the  Medical  and  Dental  Reserve  Corps 
\vi!I  lie  needed  and  will  therefore  be  given  their 
place1  in  active  service. 

Three  regiments  of  Field  Artillery  were  formed, 
made  up  of  colored  troops  and  the  doors  were 
thrown  open  for  colored  officers.  A  goodly  num 
ber  of  colored  officers  qualified  for  the  work  and 
at  Camp  Meade  and  other  points  where  instruct 
ions  was  given,  it  is  said  by  competent  judges  that 
the  young  men  detailed  for  this  training  showed 
marked  adaptability  for  the  intricate  problems  in 
volved  and  their  college  equipment  stood  them  in 
time'y  stead.  The  Field  Artillery  Regiments  re 
ferred  to  are  the  349th,  350th,  and  351st,  and  they 
were  stationed  in  the  East,  prior  to  their  departure 
for  France.  The  reports  from  the  Officers'  Train 
ing  Schools  at  Cam])  Taylor  and  Camp  Pike  are  of 
a  flattering  character  and  the  personal  conduct  of 
the  young  men  was  highly  praised  by  the  com 
mandant  in  charge,  and  the  people  of  the  adjacent 
cities  welcomed  their  visits  when  they  were  on 
furlough. 

At  the  Field  Artillery  School  at  Camp  Taylor, 
Louisville,  Ky.,  which  closed  August  31,  1918,  there 
was  a  total  enrollment  of  2,500  candidates.  In  the 
list  of  graduates,  thirty-three  were  colored.  The 
official  report  shows  that  out  of  the  first  fifteen 
graduates,  five  (or  one-third),  were  colored,  whose 
respective  ratings  ran  from  fourth,  with  a  percen 
tage  of  82.44,  to  fifteenth,  with  a  rating  of  81.11— 


merely  a  difference  of  one  and  one-third  per  cent 
between  the  standing  of  the  candidate  who  stood 
fourth  and  the  one  who  stood  fifteenth. 

FORTY-SEVEN  COLORED  CHAPLAINS  IN  THE 
ARMY 

There  are  now  forty-seven  colored  Chaplains  in 
the  several  branches  of  the  Army.  They  are.  with 
out  exception  a  fine  body  of  men— "sturdy,  up 
standing,  red-blooded  men"— such  as  the  regula 
tions  call  for,  and  they  have  been  specially  selected 
because  of  their  knowledge  of  the  weakness  and 
the  strength  of  mankind,  and  are  thus  particularly 
well-fitted  for  the  work  of  giving  wise  counsel  un 
der  trying  circumstances  and  getting  the  best  out 
of  the  thousand-and-one  types  that  are  necessarily 
thrown  together  in  army  life.  Before  they  are  de 
signated  for  the  training  school  for  Chaplains  for 
the  five-weeks'  course  prescribed,  candidates  are 
passed  upon  by  the  General  War-Time  Commission 
on  Churches,  the  Federal  Council  of  Churches  and 
by  the  chief  officials  of  their  own  denomination, 
and  they  are  compelled,  as  has  been  intimated,  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  a  most  rigid  educational, 
physical  and  moral  standard.  An  effort  is  made  to 
select  Chaplains,  as  far  as  possible,  who  represent 
the  faiths  to  which  the  soldiers  belong  in  the  larg 
est  numbers,  with  a  fair  division  among  the  several 
denominations. 

Chaplains  are  appointed  after  the  five-weeks' 
training  for  war  work  and  are  commissioned  as 
First  Lieutenants,  receiving  $2,000  per  annum  in 
this  country  and  $2,200  abroad,  and  they  are  pro 
moted  by  seniority  to  the  highest  grade  attainable 
before  retirement  for  age. 

SPECIAL  TRAINING  IN  TECHNICAL  AND  MECHAN 
ICAL  BRANCHES 

A  very  recent  achievement,  and  one  to  which  the 
race  points  with  pardonable  satisfaction,  is  the  pro 
vision  by  the  Government  for  special  training  of 
the  young  colored  men  in  technical  and  mechanical 
work,  which  will  add  to  their  efficiency  as  a  factor 
in  the  Army,  enlarging  their  opportunities  for  use 
fulness  and  for  preferment,  and  rendering  them 
more  capable  of  earning  a  livihood  for  themselves 
at  the  close  of  the  war.  Since  May,  1918,  fifteen 
of  the  leading  educational  institutions  of  the  land 
have  been  carrying  on  this  training  and  not  less 
than  3,000  Colored  men  have  finished  courses  in 
such  essential  subjects  as  electricity,  radio  (or 
wireless  telegraphy),  bench  wood-working,  chauf 
feur,  auto-mechanics,  concrete  working,  black- 
smithing,  wheelvvrighting,  army  truck  driving, 
carpentry,  cobbling  horse-shoeing,  pipe-fitting  and 
general  mechanics. 

Of  the  total  graduating  up  to  September  15. 
1,140  came  out  of  Tuskegee  Institute,  600  from 
Howard  University,  250  from  Hampton,  270  from 


603 


TOP  VIEW  (Left  to  Right)— Capt.  Stewart  Alexander,  Lieut.  Frank  Robinson  of  Xew  York's  colored  regi 
ment  who  won  the  Croix  De  Guerre  for  conspicuous  bravery.  This  regiment  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
American  Unit  to  reach  the  Rhine.  Copyright  Western  Newspaper  Union. 

CENTER  VIEW — Heroes  of  old  15th  Infantry,  New  York  City  all  received  the  Croix  De  Guerre  from  the 
French  Government.  Front  (left  to  right)  Privates  "Eagle  Eye"  Ed.  Williams,  "Lamplight,"  Herbert  Taylor,  Leon 
Traitor,  "Kid  Hawk,"  Ralph  Hawkins  (back  row)  Private  H.  D.  Prunes,  Sgt.  D.  Stormes,  Private  "Kid"  Woney, 
Joe  Williams,  Arthur  Menly,  Corporal  Taylor.  Copyrigh  t  western  Newspaper  Union. 

BOTTOM  VIEW — The  men  of  a  colored  unit  receiving  the  D.  S.  C.  at  Finistere,  France.  Major  General 
Eli  Helmick  is  decorating  the  men.  Admiral  Moreau  of  the  French  Navy  just  behind  the  general.  Copyright 
Underwood  &  Underwood,  N.  Y. 


the  Greensboro,  (N.  C.)  Agricultural  and  Technical 
College  and  varying  numbers  from  all  the  rest  of 
the  fifteen.  So  successful  was  the  experiment, 
that  the  War  Department  Committee  on  Educa 
tion  and  Special  Training,  which  is  in  control  of 
this  phase  of  the  work,  has  decided  to  continue  the 
work,  and  training  in  technical  and  mechanical 
branches  will  be  given  in  fourteen  of  the  principle 
colored  schools,  where  Vocational  Training  De 
tachments  are  being  formed,  under  the  instruct 
ion  and  command  of  carefully  selected  army  offi 
cers. 

During  the  month  of  August  and  into  Septem, 
her,  at  Howard  University,  a  special  school  for 
student-instructors  was  carried  on,  under  the  di 
rection  of  Lieut.  Russell  Smith,  formerly  of  the 
10th  Cavalry,  a  graduate  of  the  Fort  Des  Moines 
Officers'  Reserve  Training  Camp,  and  a  disciplina 
rian  and  military  tactician  of  the  First  rank.  This 
school  comprised  450  students  and  members  of  fa 
culties,  sent  from  the  various  schools  and  colleges 
of  the  race,  who,  after  receiving  the  prescribed 
forty-seven  days  of  intensive  training  in  military 
science  and  tactics  at  Howard,  have  returned  to 
their  respective  institutions  to  instruct  others  in 
the  courses  which  they  have  just  finished.  From 
this  school  320  went  out  September  15th,  1918,  ful 
ly  equipped  for  the  work  of  instructing  the  units  of 
the  Student's  Army  Training  Corps  established  in 
their  several  institutions. 

Provision  has  been  made  by  the  Special  Com 
mittee  on  Education  and  Special  Training  for  the 
instruction  of  this  year  and  the  next,  of  fully  20,000 
colored  men  in  technical  and  mechanical  branches, 
in  conjunction  with  their  military  training.  The 
effect  of  this  training  and  discipline  undoubtedly 
holds  untold  benefits  for  the  race  for  all  the  future. 

The  executive  Secretary  of  the  Committee  on  Ed 
ucation  and  Special  Training  is  Dr.  R.  B.  Perry,  of 
Harvard  University,  one  of  the  ablest,  broadest- 
visioned  and  most  resourceful  educators  in  this 
country.  He  is  not  only  concerned  about  doing 
that  which  will  enable  the  American  Negro  to  lend 
himself  most  effectively  toward  winning  the  war, 
but  he  is  desirous  at  the  same  time  to  do  for  this 
struggling  race,  a  service  that  will  best  aid  the  Ne 
gro  to  win  a  better  position  in  life  for  himself. 
THE  STUDENT'S  ARMY  TRAINING  CORPS 

Following  closely  upon  the  heels  of  the  Special 
Vocational  Training  Detachments  for  the  fourteen 
technical  and  mechanical  schools,  comes  a  provis 
ion  by  which  young  colored  men  of  eighteen  and 
over,  who  desire  to  secure  a  college  education,  may 
carry  on  a  thorough  course  in  military  science  and 
tactics,  while  engaged  in  their  academic  studies 
at  any  college  on  the  list  of  institutions  with  which 
the  Government  has  entered  into  a  contract.  The 


young  men  of  college  standard,  who  have  register 
ed  with  their  local  boards  and  who  wish  to  be  in 
ducted  into  the  military  service  after  matriculating, 
subject  to  the  regulations  of  the  college  chosen, 
constitute  a  new  division  of  the  constructive  work, 
planned  by  the  Committee  on  Education  and  Spec 
ial  Training,  and  this  is  styled  "The  Students'  Ar 
my  Training  Corps,"  designed  to  fit  young  men  for 
the  Army  while  permitting  them  to  continue  their 
higher  education.  And  all  this  is  at  the  expense  of 
the  Government,  which  obligates  itself  to  pay  for 
the  subsistence,  housing,  uniform,  tuition  and 
equipment  and  allow  the  student-soldier  $30.00  per 
month  besides.  Graded  by  proficiency  indicated, 
the  student  may  later  be  assigned  to  military  duty, 
either  by  transfer  to  an  officers'  training  camp,  or 
to  a  non-commissioned  officers'  training  school,  or 
to  a  vocational  training  school,  or  he  may  be  trans 
ferred  to  a  cantonment  for  duty  as  a  private.  Or, 
if  it  is  deemed  best,  he  may  be  directed  to  continue 
his  scientific  studies  in  the  school  where  he  is  en 
rolled.  Under  this  admirable  Student  Army  Train 
ing  Corps  system  these  young  men  will  have  the 
advantage  of  a  skillful  preparation  in  war  work  be 
fore  entering  upon  their  duties  in  the  field,  and 
will  not  be  losing  precious  moments  from  their 
mental  advancement. 

Eleven  schools,  forming  nine  units,  have  been  se 
lected  for  the  Collegiate  Section  of  the  Student 
Army  Training  Corps,  as  follows : 

Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Lincoln  University,  Chester  County,   Penn. 

Fisk  University,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Meharry  Medical  School,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Atlanta  University  and  Morehouse  College, 
(combined),  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Wiley  University  and  Bishop  College,  (com 
bined),  Marshall,  Texas. 

Talladega  College,  Talladega,  Alabama. 

Virginia   Union   University,    Richmond,   Virginia. 

Wilberforce  University,  Wilberforce,  Ohio. 

SCHOOLS  IN  WHICH  VOCATIONAL  DETACHMENTS 
HAVE   BEEN    ESTABLISHED 

The  institutions  in  which  the  Vocational  Train 
ing  Detachments  of  the  S.  A.  T.  C.  have  been  es 
tablished  are : 

Tuskege«  Institute,  Tuskegee  Institute,  Ala 
bama. 

Hampton   Institute,   Hampton,   Va. 

Howard  University,  Washington,   D.   C. 

Atlanta  University,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Georgia  State  A.  and  M.  College,  Savannah,  Ga., 

North   Carolina   A.   and   F.   College,   Greensboro, 

South  Carolina  A.  and  M.  College,  Orangeburg. 

Prairie  View  N.  and  I.  College,  Prairie  View, 
Texas. 

Lincoln  University,  Chester  County,   Penn. 


605 


TOP  VIEW  (Left)— Lieut.  Thos.  A.  Painter,  of  the  370th  (Chicago)  Infantry,  decorated  for  conspicuous 
bravery  in  action,  who  arrived  with  his  regiment  on  the  transport  "France,"  Februar}'  10th,  1919.  Copyright  Un 
derwood  &  Underwood.  N.  Y. 

TOP  VIEW  (Right)— Lieut.  Robert  Campbell,  of  Company  I,  368th  U.  S.  Infantry,  hero  of  the  battle  of  Ar- 
gonne  Forest.  The  first  man  in  the  92nd  Division  to  receive  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross  for  bravery.  Copy 
right  Western  Newspaper  Union. 

BOTTOM  VIEW — Famous  Jazz  Band  Leader  back  with  colored  15th.  Lieut.  Europe,  (deceased)  who  for 
years  has  been  N.  Y.  society's  favorite  orchestra  (dance)  leader,  and  who  was  formerly  with  Mr.  Vernon  Cas 
tle,  returned  Feb.  12th  with  his  regiment,  the  369th,  (Colored  15th).  He  is  above  shown  with  his  band.  Copy 
right  Underwood  and  Underwood,  N.  Y. 


West  Virginia  Collegiate  Institute,  Institute,  W. 
Va. 

Wilberforce  University,  Wilberforce,  Ohio. 

Alabama  A.  and  M.  College,  Normal,  Ala. 

Tennessee  A.  and  M.  College,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Louisiana  A.  and  M.  College,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 
WAR  WORK  OF  THE  COLORED  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Vigorously  supplementing  the  religious  labors  of 
the  forty-one  Chaplains  in  the  United  States  Army 


WORK  OF  COMMISSION  ON  TRAINING  CAMP 
ACTIVITIES 

To  make  a  soldier  "fit  to  fight,"  is  is  the  belief 
of  the  War  Department  that  his  mind  should  be 
freed  from  "dull  care"  and  during  the  time  he  is 
released  from  the  routine  duties  of  the  day.  Men 
and  women,  consecrated  to  the  upbuilding  of  the 
morale  of  the  nation's  valiant  defenders,  are  en 
gaged  in  the  service  of  providing  amusement  and 


contact,  but  the}-  are  working  out  systems  of  in 
struction  whereby  the  deplorable  illiteracy  so  prev 
alent  in  certain  quarters  may  be  reduced  to  a  mini 
mum  and  the  mental  attitude  of  indifferent  soldiers 
changed  to  one  of  enthusiasm  and  aspiration.  The 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  "huts"  are  serving  as  the  social  centers 


fully  200  earnest  colored  men  are  engaged  in  Y.  M.  recreation  for  the  men  in  the  various  camps.  This 
C.  A.  work  in  the  various  camps  and  cantonments  branch  of  work  is  under  the  control  of  the  War  De- 
where  colored  men  are  stationed.  Some  of  them  partment  Commission  on  Training  Camp  Activi- 
are  also  in  France  with  the  troops  under  General  ties,  of  which  Dr.  Raymond  B.  Fosdick  is  Director. 
1'ershing,  carrying  the  cheering  message  of  the  It  co-ordinates  the  work  for  the  soldier  planned  by 
"Red  Triangle."  These  helpful  agents  of  the  Mas-  all  of  the  welfare  institutions  like  the  Y.  M.  C.  A 
ter  not  only  assist  in  lifting  up  the  moral  nature  of  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the 
the  Mien  with  whom  they  are  brought  into  daily  Jewish  Welfare  League,  etc.,  organizes  the  singing 

units  of  the  camps,  directs  the  operations  of  the 
theaters  and  furnishes  the  talent  for  the  vaude 
ville,  athletic,  dramatic  and  other  amusements  and 
recreations.  At  many  of  the  camps  there  has  been 
established  a  "Liberty  Theater"  as  a  center  of  re 
creational  diversions,  and  where  the  men  assemble 
of  the  camps,  where  conveniences  for  writing  and  to  enjoy  the  various  dramatic,  musical  and  athletic 
reading  and  conversation  are  made  available  and  a  programs  and  view  educational  moving  pictures, 
home  atmosphere  is  generated.  "Hostess  Houses"  Lester  A.  Walton,  of  the  New  York  Age,  New 
in  a  constantly  increasing  number  are  being  estab-  York  City,  is  the  colored  representative  on  the 
lished  at  the  camps,  with  high-purposed  women  in  Commission  having  in  charge  these  theatrical  at- 
charge,  and  additions  to  the  present  list  will  be  tractions.  Camp  songs,  plantation  melodies,  folk- 
made  as  rapidly  as  funds  and  competent  workers  songs  and  "spirituals"  have  proven  popular  and  the 
can  be  provided  for  the  same.  These  "Hostess  men  are  receiving  instruction  in  this  type  of  sing- 
Houses"  throw  around  female  visitors  a  chaperon-  ing  by  skilled  directors,  of  whom  Mr.  J.  E.  Blanton 
age  that  is  essential  to  the  well-being  of  the  camp  is  one  of  the  best-known.  Some  keen-witted  ob- 
and  remedy  many  evils  long  complained  of.  There  server  has  said:  "You  cannot  defeat  a  singing  na- 
is  an  insistent  and  very  proper  call  from  every  tion,"  and  he  had  made  the  War  Department  be- 
Camp  for  Hostess  or  Community  Houses  to  im-  lieve  it — and  the  colored  boys  are  "some  singers." 
prove  sodial  conditions.  Back  of  the  movement  An  important  and  far-reaching  phase  of  the 
will  be  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Secretary,  who  is  not  infre-  work  of  the  Commission  on  Training  Camp  Acti- 


quently  the  real  "drive-wheel"  of  the  camp  when 
any  ingredients  for  comfort  are  to  be  secured  for 
the  "boys."  On  the  staff  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Moorland, 


vities  is  the  educational  propaganda  to  combat  tin- 
spread  of  venereal  diseases  among  the  colored  men. 
handling  this  campaign  in  conjunction  with  the  of 


International     Secretary     of     the     Y.  M.  C.  A.,  in  fice   of   the   Surgeon-General   of   the   Army,   under 

charge  of  war  work  of  the     "Y"  among     colored  the     immediate     supervision     of  Capt.     Arthur  B. 

people,  are   forty-seven   executive   secretaries,   em-  Springarn,   who   is   manifesting   in   many   practical 

bracing  some  of  the  race's  foremost  men,  and  they  ways  his  deep  interest  in  the  moral  and  physical 


are  getting  results.  They,  with  their  army  of  as 
sistants,  cover  a  wide  range  of  territory,  serving 
not  only  in  the  army  camps,  but  have  extensions 
ramifying  into  the  government  training  schools, 
into  centers  where  colored  men  are  employed  in 
large  numbers  on  industrial  work,  shipyards,  mu 


well-being  of  the  colored  wing  of  the  service.  Mov 
ing  pictures  of  the  type  of  "Fit  to  Fight"  are  be 
ing  shown  to  emphasize  the  dangers  that  come 
through  the  "social  evil,"  and  a  course  of  instruc 
tive  lectures  has  been  arranged,  with  that  eminent 
specialist.  Dr.  C.  V.  Roman,  of  Nashville,  Tenn., 


nitions  plants,  nitrate  works,  lumber  sections,  and      as  a  major  campaigner,  assisted  by  a  group  of  ex- 


the  like.  The  scope  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.'s  labors  is 
growing  day  by  day,  and  its  sweetening  influence 
is  manifesting  itself  perceptibly  in  every  direction. 
If  some  service  is  wanted  by  a  visitor  at  a  camp, 
the  first  man  to  whom  he  should  turn  is  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Secretary. 


perienced  physicians  who  understand  the  psycho 
logy  and  the  pathology  of  this  menace  to  our  men 
in  the  camps  and  cities. 

The  War  Camp  Community  Service  is  another 
wing  of  army  auxiliaries  that  is  doing  much  to 
make  the  soldiers'  lot  a  happy  one.  Clubs  for  the 


607 


accommodation  and  entertainment  of  soldiers  and 
sailors  have  been  established  under  War  Camp 
Community  Service  auspices  at  many  points,  and 
comfortable  and  well-appointed  recreation  centers 
may  be  found  in  New  York  City,  Washington  (2), 
Louisville,  Ky.,  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  Des  Moines, 
Iowa.  Rockford,  111.,  Petersburg,  Va.,  Chillicothe, 
Ohio,  Newport  News,  Va.,  and  Baltimore,  Md. 
Plans  are  under  way  for  additional  clubs  at  Green- 
vine,  S.  C.,  Atlanta  and  Macon,  Ga.  In  fact,  it  is 
the  intention  to  have  clubs  in  every  community 
near  the  camps  where  colored  troops  are  stationed, 
as, the  good  resulting  from  such  centers  fully  jus 
tifies  the  expense  incurred  through  their  mainten 
ance.  A  very  pleasing  circumstance  is  the  appoint 
ment  of  Prof.  John  M.  Gandy,  President  of  the 
Virginia  Normal  and  Collegiate  Institute,  Peters 
burg,  Va.,  as  special  assistant  to  the  War  Camp 
Community  Service  in  the  South  on  colored  work. 
Capable  assistants  are  being  named  to  aid  the  work 
at  all  points  and  the  organization  is  approaching 
a  most  satisfactory  stage.  Hostess  houses  are  also 
being  established  at  many  camps  and  others  are  in 
contemplation. 

WAR  WORK  OF  COLORED  WOMEN 

The  colored  women  of  the  country  are  nobly  do 
ing  their  share  of  the  work  that  must  win  the  war. 
In  the  Red  Cross  Society  they  are  particularly  ac 
tive  and  enthusiastic.  They  are  represented  in 
nearly  every  community  through  either  the  Red 
Cross  or  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Associa 
tion,  or  in  some  form  of  voluntary  service  organi 
zation  to  assure  the  casting  of  the  soldiers'  lines  in 
pleasant  places,  over  here  and  over  there.  They 
are  vieing  with  their  brothers,  fathers  and  sons 
in  the  high  quality  of  their  patriotism  and  in  the 
practical  methods  of  manifesting  the  same. 

Mrs.  Alice  Dunbar  Nelson  of  the  faculty  of 
the  Wilmington  (Del.)  High  School,  an  edu- 
actor,  author,  social  worker  and  organizer  of 
tried  capacity,  has  been  appointed  as  a  field  agent 
by  the  War  Department  and  the  Woman's  Com 
mittee  of  Council  of  National  Defense,  to  mobilize 
the  colored  women  of  the  country  and  to  indicate 
to  them  how  they  may  best  aid  the  nation  to  win 
the  war.  She  has  just  concluded  a  broad  survey  of 
the  Southern  States  and  has  formed  many  new  pa 
triotic  organizations  in  support  of  the  War  aims 
of  the  government  and  revived  and  stimulated 
many  others  that  have  been  allowed  to  elapse  in 
their  activities.  Mrs.  Dunbar's  report  is  highly 
encouraging  and  is  an  earnest  of  the  loyal  labor 
that  may  be  expected  of  the  Negro  womanhood  of 
the  country. 

CONCRETE  EVIDENCES  OF  THE  NEGROE'S 

LOYALTY 

Concrete  evidences  of  the  Negro's  loyalty  to  his 
country's  flag  have  been  abundant  in  all  the  strug 


gles  and  combats  of  the  Republic  from  its  incept 
ion  to  the  present  day.  The  colored  American  has 
never  been  a  laggard  or  "slacker."  He  is  all-Amer- 
ican.  He  knows  no  hyphen  in  his  citizenship  and 
can  have  no  divided  allegiance.  His  only  ensign  is 
the  Stars  and  Stripes.  For  the  defense  and  main 
tenance  of  his  country's  ideals  he  is  ready  to  lay 
down  his  own  life  and  to  offer  his  beloved  sons  up 
on  her  altars.  He  gives  liberally  of  his  means  and 
substance  to  uphold  the  lofty  principles  of  man 
hood  and  civic  opportunity  that  the  flag  so  proudly 
represents!  Be  it  remembered  that  a  Negro,  Cris- 
pus  Attucks,  w.as  the  first  man  killed  in  the  Revo 
lutionary  War.  A  Negro  was  the  first  to  lose  his 
life  in  the  Spanish-American  War— Elijah  McCoy, 
a  sailor,  being  drowned  in  line  of  duty  in  the  har 
bor  of  Havana.  A  Negro  company,  the  First  Se 
parate  Battalion  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  was 
the  first  to  be  called  out  to  defend  the  National 
honor  in  the  present  European  conflict,  having 
been  summoned  at  the  outbreak  of  war,  under 
command  of  the  gallant  Major  James  E.  Walker, 
to  guard  the  public  buildings,  the  bridges,  power 
plants,  reservoirs,  etc.,  or  the  nation's  Capital. 
From  Bunker  Hill  to  Carrizal  in  Mexico,  as  well  as 
with  Pershing  in  the  St.  Mihiel  sector,  the  Negro 
has  given  indisputable  evidence  of  his  loyalty  and 
of  his  quality  as  a  fighting  unit  for  "Old  Glory." 

The  story  of  the  dashing  exploits  of  Needham 
Roberts  and  Harry  Johnson  is  still  fresh  in  the 
memory  of  all,  and  the  huzzahs  from  press  and 
public,  white  and  black,  extended  in  such  gracious 
and  unstinted  measure,  has  unquestionably 
strenghtened  the  morale  of  the  race,  and  stimulat 
ed  to  an  incalculable  degree  the  endeavors  of  the 
Negro  people  in  those  lines  of  endeavor  that  call 
for  patriotic  service  and  self-sacrifice. 

In  one  instance  an  entire  regiment  of  colored 
fighting  troops  was  cited  for  extraordinarily  he 
roic  conduct  and  were  accorded  the  Croix  de 
Guerre.  In  another  case,  a  stevedore  regiment  of 
Negroes  won  honorable  mention  in  the  dispatches 
for  breaking  the  world's  record  by  unloading  and 
coaling  the  monster  steamship  "Leviathan"  at  a 
French  port— 56  hours.  In  the  trenches,  in  the 
officer's  habitat  and  in  the  cities  of  France,  the 
colored  troops  are  welcomed,  highly  respected  and 
treated  with  exceptional  courtesy  by  soldiers  and 
by  the  populace. 

COLORED   NURSES  ACCEPTED   FOR   SERVICE   IN 

THE  ARMY 

There  was  general  rejoicing  when  the  announce 
ment  was  made  in  July,  1918,  that  colored,  nurses 
who  had  registered  with  the  Red  Cross  Society  to 
the  number  of  about  2,000  would  be  accepted  for 
service  in  the  army.  Plans  were  worked  out  for  the 
assignment  of  colored  nurses  at  six  of  the  base 
hospitals  at  camps  where  nearly  40,000  colored 


609 


TOP  VIEW  (Reading  Left  to  Right)— Col.  Frank  Denison  ;  Col.  Thos.  A.  Roberts  ;  Lt.  Col.  Otis  B.  Duncan 
CENTER  VIEW-Another  group  of  officers  of  the  370th  (Old  8th  Illinois)  on  the  deck  of  the  La  France 

before   landing.     Reading  left   to   right  2nd   Lt.   Lawson   Price;  2nd  Lt.  L.  W.  Stearls  ;  2nd  Lt.  Ed  White;  2nd  Lt. 

Eli  F.  E.  Williams;  st  Lt.  Oasola  Browning;  Capt.  Louis  B.  Johnson;  1st  Lt.  Frank  Bates;  1st  Lt.  Binga  Desmond. 
BOTTOM  VIEW — Chicago  homecoming  of  the  370th  Regiment  (Old  8th  Illinois)  passing  in  parade  at  113th 

Street   and   Michigan   Avenue. 


troops  were  stationed.  The  camps  named  for  this 
service  were :  Camps  Funston,  Grant,  Dodge,  Tay 
lor,  Sherman  and  Dix.  Comfortable  buildings  are 
now  being  erected  at  several  camps  for  the  accom 
modation  of  these  nurses.  General  Pershing  is  con 
sidering  the  use  of  Colored  nurses  in  the  base  hos 
pitals  in  France. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  Woman's  Committee  of 
the  Council  of  National  Defense  launched  a  move 
ment  to  secure  25,000  nurses  for  army  service,  and 
organized  a  Student  Nurses'  Training  Corps,  and 
threw  open  its  doors  to  young  colored  women  who 
wished  to  prepare  for  army  work.  As  a  result, 
many  responded  and  at  an  early  date  it  is  expected 
that  they  will  be  assigned  for  instruction  to  var 
ious  colored  hospitals  in  their  respective  localities 
preparatory  to  being  enlisted  ultimately  in  the 
work  of  caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers 
in  this  country  and  among  the  American  Expedi 
tionary  Forces  abroad. 

CAMPAIGN  OF  "GINGER"  BY  THE  Y.  W.  C.  A. 
The  statement     has  been     made  that  the     War 
Council  of  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  is  to  devote  $400,000  of 
its  $5,000,000  war  budget  to  its  work  among  Negro 
women.     The  money  is  being  used,  and  more  will 
be  forthcoming,   for  the   maintenance   of     Hostess 
Houses,  housing  for  the  families  of  colored  troops 
and  recreational  work  among  colored  girls  in  war 
industrial    centers.     Workers    are    being    furnished 
for  places  where  there  is  no  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  and  to  do 
all  that  is  possible  to  protect  colored  girls  for  the 
period  of  the  war,  and  to  help  the  female  relatives 
of  the  men  in  the  service  to  take  advantage  of  the 
present  unprecedented  opportunities  in  the   indus 
trial  world.     Large   recreational  centers  are  plan 
ned  for  Washington,  where  a  $200,000  plant  is  to 
be  established  at  an  early  date,  and  in  New  York. 
Brooklyn,   Philadelphia,   and  other   cities,   some   of 
which  in   a  limited  way  are  already  in  operation. 
Col.    Theodore    Roosevelt    has    just    given    $4,000 
from  the  Nobel  Peace  Fund  for  the  furtherance  of 
this  work.     A  number  of  colored  women  have  been 
sent  abroad  to  develop  this  phase  of  work  among 
our    men    on    the    western    front    in    France,    Mrs. 
Helen  Curtis  and  Mrs.  A.  W.  Hunton  being  among 
this  group.     The  colored  secretary  of  the  National 
Board  of  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  Miss  Eva  D.  Bowles,  600 
Lexington  Avenue,  New  York  City,  is  in  charge  of 
this  excellent  movement.  Although  much  has  been 
done  to  speed  up  and  put  "pep"  into  the  labor  of 
increasing   the   technical    skill    of   Negro   men   and 
women  and  reducing  the  illiteracy  found  in  many 
quarters,  much  remains  to  be  done.     It  is  asserted 
by  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  authorities  that  the  demand  for 
qualified    workers    and    college-trained    individuals 
has     far    exceeded     the     supply.     When    a    specific^ 
thing  is  to  be  done,  they  say  they  find  it 


ly  hard  to  find  the  person  who  can  render  the  ser 
vice  at  a  100  per  cent  mark  of  efficiency. 

The  women  of  the  race  have  displayed  their  spi 
rit  of  self-sacrifice  and  patriotism  by  their  readi 
ness  to  enter  the  arena  of  industry,  as  well  as  in  the 
more  refined  branches  of  war  service,  many  are 
found  in  the  mills,  factories,  in  stores  and  offices, 
on  wagons  and  auto  trucks,  running  elevators, 
caring  for  live  stock,  and  even  in  the  field,  doing 
farm  work  of  the  most  exhausting  character—  and 
all  this,  too,  without  complaint. 

It   is   not   doubted   that    there    are    in    the    army 
thousands    of   Roberts'   and   Johnsons'    in    embryo, 
eager  to  repeat  their  courageous  deed. 
SALE  OF  LIBERTY  BONDS,  WAR  SAVINGS  STAMPS 

AND  KINDRED  AIDS 

In  the  purchase  of  Liberty  Bonds,  War  Savings 
Stamps  and  kindred  aids  the  Negro  has  done,  and 
is  still  doing  his  full  duty.  Few  Negroes  are  weal 
thy,  but  the  masses  are  thrifty,  and  out  of  their 
moderate  incomes  they  have  bought  generously 
of  all  three  issues  of  the  Liberty  Loan  Bonds,  and 
of  the  War  Savings  and  Thrift  Stamps,  besides 
contributing  heavily  to  the  Red  Cross,  the  War 
Chest,  and  many  other  war  relief  institutions,  and 
lending  themselves  without  limit  to  the  support  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  ministrations. 
They  show  no  signs  of  weariness  in  well-doing. 

A  few  notable  instances  of  the  financial  aspect  of 
the  Negro's  patriotism  may  be  cited  by  way  of  il 
lustration:     The  North  Carolina  Mutual  and  Pro 
vident   Association,    a   Negro   corporation   of   Dur 
ham,  N.  C,  has  taken  a  total  of  $125,000  worth  of 
Liberty  Bonds.       The  Mosiac  Templars  of  Amer 
ica,   with  headquarters  at   Little   Rock,  Ark.,   sub 
scribed  for  $110,000  worth  of  Liberty  Bonds,  with 
provision    for    an    additional   $40,000   in    February, 
next,  and  purchased  outright  $1,000  worth  of  War 
Savings    Stamps.     The    Atlanta    Mutual    Insurance 
Company  and   the   Standard   Life   Insurance   Com 
pany,  both  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  bought  $50,000  each  of 
Liberty  Bonds.     The  Grand  United  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  took  $50,000  worth,  and  the  Improved  Be 
nevolent    and    Protective    Order    of    Elks    of    the 
World  followed  with  the  purchase  of  $30,000  worth.   _t 
The  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Florida  bought  $25,OQ9ch- 
worth.     Various  churches  in  many  states  ^pU'iar  as- 
a   policy   of    investing   the    surplus    fun^lorale   of  the 
treasury   in   Liberty   Bonds,   as   did  dl])it  are  sounding- 
fraternities  and  social  clubs.     T^)r  an<1  inteiligence. 
tist  Church,  of    Pittsburgh,    is 
$10.000  purchase.     One    Tuske  °FC°L°RED  EDIT°RS 


. 

ham  V.  Chambliss,   individua       ,    ,  ,     •      ,,,     ,  • 

,  /as   held    in    Washington, 

T,,  .  J.   Scott,   representing    the 

The  colored  citizens  of     ,J' 

ri      i       tr     A.-J     ---••  anc'  tne  Committee  on  Public  In- 
nf    •    .  ^nation,  an  important  conference  of  colored  ed- 

613 


TOP   VIEW    (Round  broken  for  Base  Unit  to  Assist   in   care   of  colored   soldiers.     Different   organizations 

CENTER   VIEW-."  breaking  of  the  ground  for  the   McDonough   Memorial   Hospital  at  West   133rd   Street, 

before   landing.     Reading   IiThe  plant  can  be   completed  and    equipped    and    furnished    for   $100,000.      It    will    be    a 

Eli  F.  E.  Williams;  st  Lt.  Oasolir  JJospital   Building.     The   Institution   is   named   in   honor   of   Dr.   David   Kearney 

BOTTOM   VIEW— Chicago   homeccrrrroJLNew  York  City.     Copyright  Underwood  &  Underwood,  N.  Y. 
Street   and   Michigan   Avenue.  '~ —*ne  who  have  been  wounded  or  gassed  back  on  the  "Giuseape 

~  ivright  Western  Newspaper  Union 


Liberty  Bonds  of  the  third  issue.     At  the  close  of 
the  campaign  they  had  subscribed  for  bonds  to  the 
amount   of  $250,000,   and   won   an  honor   flag.     At 
Suffolk,  Va.,  the  colored  committee,  led  by  Robert 
Williams,  won  honors  in  each  of  the  Liberty  Bond 
"drives"   and   subscribed   over   $15,000  in   the   Red 
Cross  rally  of  last  May.     Many  Negroes  purchased 
their  bonds  at  banks  where  they  do  business,  in 
dependent  of  other  purchases   as   members   of   or 
ganizations,  and  no  record  was  kept  as  to  the  color 
of  the  investor.     Robert  L.  Smith,  a  colored  bank 
er  of  Waco,  Texas,  contributed  a  full-page  adver 
tisement  to  a  daily  paper  of  his  town  in  promotion 
of  a  Liberty  Bond  campaign,  and  a  similar  gift  was 
made   by    the    colored    citizens    of    Louisville,    Ky., 
through  the  Louisville  News,  a,  colored  paper.  J.  E. 
Taylor,  a  public  spirited  colored  man  of  Wilming 
ton,  N.  C,  disposed  of  over  $2,000  worth  of  Bonds 
in  a  single  day,  and  in  a  "drive"  in   Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  Amos  Scott  sold  $80,000  worth  among  his  peo 
ple.     The  colored  people  of  Washington,  D.  C,  in 
a   War    Savings    Stamp   "drive,"   captained   by   Dr. 
William  A.  Warfield,  and  Rev.  D.  E.  Wiseman,  sold 
$52,000  worth  to  colored  people  from  February  to 
May,  and  the  colored  school  children  in  the  same 
period  averaged  $200  per  week,  and  this  total  does 
not    include    the    purchase    by '  individuals    in    the 
Federal    departments    or    independent  of  the  cam 
paign   'committee.     These    are    tangible    evidences 
that   the   fires   of  patriotism  are   burning  brightly 
in   the  breast  of  the  American  Negro,   North  and 
South,  East  and  West,  alike.     Totals  for  the  coun 
try  at  large  are  not  available  by  races,  but  with 
these  scattering  notations  as  a  basis  for  calucula- 
tion,  it  can  be  seen  that  the  Negro  is  "doing     his 
bit"  in  the  matter  of  putting  forward  his  MONEY 
POWER,  just  as  it  has  herein  been  shown  that  he 
is  not  a  derelict  in  responding  to  the  call  for  MAN 
POWER     Secretary  of  the  Treasury  McAdoo  has 
made    a    public    acknowledgment    of    his    gratitude 
over  the  ready,  prompt  and  generous  response  of 
the  Colored  Americans  everywhere  to  the  nation's 
appeal  for  financial  aid.     It  is  certain  that  in  the 
Fourth  Liberty  Loan  campaign,  just  concluded,  the 
Negro  will  maintain  the  high  average  he  has  made 
in  the  past. 
THE   NEGRO    LENDS   A    HAND    IN    INDUSTRIES 

AND  PRODUCTION 

To  the  demand  of  the  Food  Administration  for 
increased  production  in  the  food  essentials  and  in 
the  conservation  of  Food  already  in  hand  the  col 
ored  man  has  responded  with  equal  cheerfulness 
and  fidelity. 

In  the  field  of  agriculture,  in  the  mines,  in  the 
munitions  and  nitrate  plants,  building  trades,  on 
the  railroads  and  in  the  general  industrial  arena, 
as  well  as  in  the  business  and  professional  world, 


the  Negro  is  laboring  with  all  his  might,  and  play 
ing  his  part  with  no  less  fervor  than  is  true  of  his 
brother  of  lighter  hue.  Wherever  and  whenever 
a  patriotic  duty  is  to  be  done,  the  Colored  Ameri 
can  is  quick  to  step  forward  and  exclaim :  "Here 
I  am,  Uncle  Sam ;  take  me !"  If  the  Negro  has 
any  one  complaint  above  another,  it  is  that  Uncle 
Sam  has  not  found  tasks  enough  for  his  willing 
hands  to  perform. 

THE  SPEAKERS'  "COMMITTEE  OF  ONE 
HUNDRED 

Through  the  office  of  the  Special  Assistant  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Committee  on  Public  Information,  a  Speakers'  Bu 
reau  has  been  placed  in  operation  and  one  hundred 
specially-equipped  men  of  the  race  are  in  the  field 
taking  part  in  an  intensive  campaign  of  educa 
tion,  presenting  the  war  aims  of  the  Government 
in  a  plain  and  straight  fashion,  and  their  logical 
statement  of  the  issues  involved  in  the  present 
world-wide  conflict  in  going  far  toward  inspiring 
a  livelier  patriotism  among  all  classes  of  colored 
people  and  encouraging  them  to  engage  more 
heartily  in  the  activities  designed  to  help  America 
to  win  the  war.  These  speakers  are  all  known 
quantities,  accepted  leaders  in  their  respective 
spheres  of  influence  and  represent  every  group  and 
section  with  which  the  colored  people  are  identi 
fied.  Their  services  are  made  more  effective  by 
their  close  co-operation  with  the  State  Councils  of 
Defense  in  the  North,  East,  South  and  West. 

PRESS  AND  PULPIT  SOUNDING  THE  "TOCSIN" 
In  connection  with  this  campaign  of  education 
due  credit  must  be  given  to  the  press  and  the  pul 
pit,  which'  are  doing  their  full  duty  in  the  circula 
tion  of  information  that  tends  to  enlighten  the 
masses  and  therefore  strengthen  them  in  the  cause 
that  lies  nearest  to  all  American  hearts.  The  col 
ored  editors,  with  a  unanimity  that  cannot  be  other 
than  gratifying,  are  giving  columns  of  their  valua 
ble  space  weekly,  to  propaganda  matter,  without 
charge  to  the  Government,  and  at  a  positive  sacri 
fice  of  time  and  money,  while  the  ministers  are 
delivering  powerful  sermons  on  the  divinity  of  ser 
vice  and  the  bounden  duty  of  a  Christian  people  to 
fight  for  the  establishment  of  justice  throughout 
the  world,  and  are  allowing  the  use  of  their  church 
es  rent-free  for  patriotic  meetings  and  popular  as 
semblies  devoted  to  improving  the  morale  of  the 
race.  Both  the  press  and  the  pulpit  are  sounding 
the  tocsin  of  liberty  with  vigor  and  intelligence. 

A  FRUITFUL  CONFERENCE  OF  COLORED  EDITORS 
AND   LEADERS 

In  June,  1918,  there  was  held  in  Washington, 
under  call  of  Emmett  J.  Scott,  representing  the 
War  Department  and  the  Committee  on  Public  In 
formation,  an  important  conference  of  colored  ecl- 


613 


itors  and  a  selected  group  of  leaders  of  thought 
and  action.  To  the  number  of  about  fifty  they 
gathered  at  the  nation's  capital,  and  after  three 
days  of  free,  frank  and  full  discussion  of  all  the  is 
sues  relating  to  the  Negro  in  the  War  and  in  civil 
life,  the  conference  agreed  unanimously  upon  an 
address  for  submission  to  the  President  of  the  Un 
ited  States,  the  Secretary  of  War  and  the  Commit 
tee  on  Public  Information,  which  set  forth  in  a 
most  illuminating  fashion  the  grievances  and  de 
sires  of  the  colored  people,  together  with  sugges 
tions  looking  to  a  correction  of  inequalities  com 
plained  of,  and  making  specific  requests  for  certain 
benefits,  under  the  head  of  "A  Bill  of  Particulars." 
The  well-tempered  and  wholly  patriotic  attitude  of 
this  editorial  conference  so  impressed  the  Federal 
authorities,  who  thus  sought  the  confidence  of  the 
Negro  people,  through  their  accredited  spokesmen, 
that  in  the  few  weeks  that  have  followed  this  sig 
nificant  exchange  of  views,  the  response  to  the 
conference's  "Bill  of  Particulars"  has  come  in  the 
form  of : 

(a)  A   message   from   the    President   in   denun 
ciation  of  the  practice  of  mob  violence. 

(b)  The  enrollment  of  colored  Red  Cross  nurs 
es  for  service  in  the  camps  and  cantonments  of  the 
army. 

(c)  The  continuance  of  the  training  camps  for 
colored  officers  and  the  increase   in  their  number 
and  enlargement  of  their  scope  of  training. 

(d)  Betterment  of  the  general  conditions  in  the 
camps  where  Negroes  are  stationed  in  large  num 
bers,  and  positive  steps  taken  to  reduce  race  fric 
tion     to     a     minimum     everywhere     soldiers     are 
brought  into  contact. 

(e)  The  extension  to  young  colored  men  of  op 
portunity  for  special  training  in  technical,  mechan 
ical  and  military  science  in  the  various  schools  and 
colleges  of  the  country. 

(f)  An  increase  of  the  number  of  colored  Chap 
lains  for  army  service. 

(g)  The    establishment    of    a    woman's    branch 
under  the  Council  of  National  Defense,  with  a  col 


ored  field  agent,  to  organize  the  colored  women  of 
the  country  for  systematic  war  work. 

(h)  Steps  taken  to  recall  Colonel  Charles 
Young  to  active  service  in  the  United  States  Army. 

(i)  The  appointment  of  the  first  colored,  reg 
ularly-commissioned  war  correspondent,  to  report 
military  operations  on  the  western  front  in  France. 

(j)  The  granting  of  a  loan  of  $5,000,000  for  the 
relief  of  the  Republic  of  Liberia. 

TRADITIONAL  LOYALTY  OF  OTHER  DAYS  AD 
HERED  TO  BY  NEGRO 

From  this  somewhat  rambling  recital  of  the  ac 
tivities,  aspirations  and  achievements  of  the  Negro 
American  of  these  times,  it  will  be  seen  that  he 
is  more  than  living  up  to  his  traditional  loyalty  of 
other  days.  As  has  been  stated,  the  Negro  has 
tken  part  in  all  the  wars  of  the  Republic,  and 
from  Boston  Common  to  France's  bleeding  west 
ern  front  he  has  never  failed  to  give  a  creditable 
account  of  himself.  He  is  an  inseparable  factor  in 
the  history  that  this  nation  has  made. 

In  war  he  has  been  brave ;  in  peace,  he  has  been 
faithful  and  true.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
"sacred  jewel  of  liberty"  is  safe  in  his  hands. 
Whenever  called  upon  to  choose  an  alliance,  he  in 
variably  stands  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the  sub 
stantial  forces  of  social  and  political  fabric,  and  is 
never  identified  with  the  reactionary  or  revolu 
tionary  elements  that  menace  the  tranquility  and 
civic  order  of  our  land.  In  the  present  conflict  the 
Negro  is  participating  in  more  and  larger  ways 
than  ever  before,  and  from  the  superb  showing  he 
has  thus  far  made,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
in  the  future  he  will  be,  in  a  still  larger  and  more 
effective  way,  a  DISTINCT  AND  VALUABLE 
ASSET  TO  THE  NATION. 

The  Negro  is  not  forgetful  of  his  RIGHTS  in  all 
this  strife  and  turmoil ;  but  he  chooses,  in  this  cris 
is,  to  place  the  deeper  emphasis  on  his  DUTIES. 
He  is  expecting  that  when  the  FRUITS  OF  VIC 
TORY  shall  come  to  be  distributed  that  he  shall  be 
awarded  the  share  he  has  justly  won  by  his  patrio 
tism,  and  through  his  efficient  service  in  battle  and 
in  the  not  less  essential  work  behind  the  lines. 


61-1 


Other  Prominent  Individuals  and  Institutions 


ALLEN,  DAVID  B.,  merchant,  born  at  Danville, 
Va.,  Jan.  2,  1855,  moved  to  Newport,  Va.,  1880, 
where  he  still  resides.  Started  as  cook  and  event 
ually  established  largest  restaurant  in  Virginia, 
sold  out  in  1916  and  started  bakery  and  delicates 
sen  in  his  own  building.  Married  Charlotte  Allen 
in  1892.  Member  A.  M.  E.  Church,  Mason,  Odd 
Fellow,  Independent  Order  of  St.  Luke's,  National 
Negro  Business  League ;  and  a  charter  member 
Newport  Board  of  Trade. 

ALLISON,  CHARLES  WILLIAM,  preacher, 
born  on  his  father's  farm  near  Nashville,  Term. 
Graduate  Meigs  High  School,  Nashville  and  Cen 
tral  City  College.  Member  A.  M.  E.  Church  and 
began  preaching  in  1911.  Held  many  important 
charges  in  church  and  its  organizations.  Member 
of  U.  B.  F.'s.  Married  Miss  Elizabeth  Cecil  Har- 
lan  of  Mitchellsburg,  Ky.  Now  pastoring  at  Stan 
ford,  Ky. 

ANDERSON,  JOSEPH  CLINTON,  minister, 
born  March  1,  1862,  in  Fluvanna  County,  Va.  Grad 
uate  Taylor  University ;  McCormick  Theological 
Seminary.  Converted  at  age  of  23 ;  ordained  a 
minister  in  the  A.  M.  E.  Church;  trustees  of  Wil- 
berforce  University;  fraternal  delegate  to  the  M. 
E.  General  Conference  which  met  at  Saratoga 
Springs,  New  York  in  1916;  member  Odd  Fellows, 
Mason,  International  Order  of  Twelve.  Knights 
of  Tabor.  Married  Miss  Musadora  Donley  oi 
Rockford,  111.  Now  pastor  prominent  Chicago 
church. 

ANDERSON,  MAJOR  JACKSON,  born  at  Jef 
ferson  County,  Florida,  Oct.  23,  1863.  Graduate 
Florida  Baptist  Institute  (now  Florida  Memorial 
College),  at  Live  Oak.  Florida  State  College,  at 
Tallahassee.  Graduated  Meharry  Medical  College, 
February,  1897.  He  is  now  a  prominent  physician 
of  Tampa,  Florida.  The  Doctor  has  been  twice 
married,  and  has  two  daughters,  Mirian  J.  and 
Rebar. 

THE  ARLINGTON  LITERARY  &  INDUS 
TRIAL  SCHOOL.  One  of  five  schools  for  Negroes 
in  Wilcox  County,  Ala.,  founded  and  fostered  by 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  with  headquarters 
in  Pittsburg,  Penn.  The  plant  is  situated  on  the 
highlands  near  Arlington  station  on  the  Southern 
Railway  and  consists  of  510  acres  of  land,  school 
buildings,  dormitories,  saw  mill,  brick  yard,  car 
penter  shop,  blacksmith  shop,  dairy  and  piggery. 
The  principal  of  the  school,  Prof.  John  T.  Arter, 
has  made  a  splendid  record  for  his  school. 

BALDWIN,  MISS  MARIA,  noted  educator.  Has 
made  a  national  reputation  as  principal  of  the 
Agassey  School,  Cambridge,  Mass.  This  school  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  in  New  England  and  a 
majority  of  the  pupils  are  white.  It  is  under  the 
shadow  of  that  noted  seat  of  learning,  Harvard 
University,  where  thorough  intellectual  training  is 
taken  as  a  matter  of  course,  which  makes  Miss 
Baldwin's  record  all  the  more  noteworthy. 


BARNES,  ROBERT  C,  attorney,  born  Sept.  22, 
1856,  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio.  Educated,  public 
schools,  Liber  College,  Ada  Normal  Institution, 
Wilberforce  University.  Admitted  to  the  Ohio  and 
to  the  Michigan  Bar  in  1889.  Began  practice  in 
Detroit  the  same  year.  For  the  past  twenty-three 
years  he  has  associated  in  practice  with  Walter  H. 
Stowers.  Married  Miss  Mabel  Brown,  Dec.  25, 
1877,  in  Putnam  County,  Ohio. 

CONWAY,  HIRAM,  minister,  born  in  Northum- 
ber  County,  Va.,  1851.  Graduate  Richmond  Insti 
tute,  now  Virginia  University,  1886.  Mason,  a 
Gallilean  Fisherman  and  President  Buy  State  Mis 
sionary  Society  of  Massachusetts.  Married  in 
1892  Miss  Josephine  Montgomery  of  Columbia.  S. 
C.  Now  pastoring  prominent  church  of  Worcester, 
Mass. 

DEBERRY,  PERFECT  R.,  minister  First  Con 
gregational  Church,  Raleigh,  N.  C.  Like  most  of 
the  Congregational  ministers,  Rev.  DeBerry  is 
highly  educated.  Is  a  man  of  fine  principles  and  is 
doing  splendid  work.  He  is  well  thought  of  by  the 
citizens  of  Raleigh,  irrespective  of  race. 

DINKENS,  EDWARD  J.,  merchant,  New  Port, 
R.  I.  A  splendid  example  of  what  the  Negro  can 
accomplish  even  in  the  face  of  keen  New  England 
competition.  Mr.  Dinkens  chose  to  match  wits 
with  the  sharpest  merchants  of  the  country  and 
his  success  speaks  volumes  for  the  native  ability 
of  the  colored  man. 

DUMAS,  A.  W.,  physician  and  surgeon,  Natchez, 
Miss.,  was  born  at  Houma,  Louisiana,  Sept.  9,  1876. 
Educated  at  Houma  Academy,  and  at  the  age  of 
19  years  completed  the  scientific  course.  Took  up 
the  study  of  medicine  at  the  Illinois  Medical  Col 
lege,  Department  of  Medicine  of  Loyola  Univer 
sity,  Chicago,  TIL,  graduated  1899.  Came  to  Miss 
issippi,  in  1899,  began  practice  at  Natchez.  He  has 
been  eminently  successful  as  a  physician,  and  finan 
cially,  having  accumulated  considerable  valuable 
real  estate.  In  connection  with  the  practice  of 
medicine,  he  operates  a  first-class  drug  store,  and 
a  modern  private  infirmary  for  the  care  of  the 
sick,  where  many  difficult  medical  and  surgical 
cases  have  been  treated.  He  is  held  in  high  esteem 
by  both  white  and  black  citizens. 

FAUCETT,  T.  J.  Leading  colored  physician  of 
Lynchburg,  Va.  He  is  well  recognized  by  the  white 
physicians  as  well  as  other  citizens.  He  believes 
heartily  in  everything  that  tends  to  develop  and  up 
lift  the  Negro  race.  Has  done  many  deeds  of  cha 
rity  and  always  contributes  liberally  of  time  and 
money  to  whatever  he  believes  is  beneficial  to  hu 
manity.  Has  a  splendid  practice  and  is  financially 
successful. 

FORTE,  ORMAND  ADOLPHUS,  scholar,  pub 
lisher,  born  in  Bridgetown,  Barbados,  W.  I.,  Dec. 
17,  1887.  Educated  St.  Mary's  Public  School,  Com- 
bermere  Collegiate  School,  Harrison  College,  Bar- 


615 


hados,  W.  I.  Matriculated  Student  University  of 
Cambridge,  Eng.,  1907.  Asst.  Master  St.  Mary's 
School ;  French  Correspondent  Mackay  &  Co.,  and 
Special  Asst.  Office  of  Official  Assignee  at  Barbados 
W.  I.  (British  Civil  Service).  In  1914  founded  the 
Cleveland  Advocate,  now  editor  and  proprietor. 
Director,  National  Colored  Soldiers  Comfort  Com 
mittee.  Member  of  St.  Andrew's  Episcopal  Church. 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  Married  Ida  Grant,  at  Cleveland 
Ohio,  July  27.  1910. 

HAMILTON,  RICHARD  THEODORE,  M.  1)., 
born  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  March  31,  1869.  Ed.  Ala 
bama  State  Normal  School.  Graduated  Howard 
University,  1901.  Interne  in  Freedmen's  Hospital. 
Took  special  course  in  Organic  Chemistry,  Bacte 
riology  and  Pathology.  Opened  office  in  Dallas, 
Tex.,  in  1901.  In  1906  appointed  medical  inspec 
tor  of  the  Dallas  Colored  Schools.  Medical  exam 
iner  Endowment  Department  G.  U.  O.  of  O.  F.,  and 
Household  of  Ruth. 

HARRIS,  J.  SILAS.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  native  of 
the  State  of  Missouri.  He  has  for  years  been  a 
leading  worker  in  State  and  Educational  matters. 

HARRISON,  COLUMBUS  WILLIAM,  physi 
cian,  born  at  Tarboro,  N.  C,  educated  in  New  Eng 
land,  and  graduated  from  Tuft's  College  in  1906. 
Practicing  physician,  official  examiner  for  the  Odd 
Fellows  of  Boston,  Pocahontas  Lodge  of  Elks, 
Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  auxiliary 
women's  lodges  of  these  organizations.  Treasurer 
Columbus  Day  Activities  for  the  colored  citizens  of 
Boston.  Owns  beautiful  summer  home  at  Ply 
mouth,  Mass.,  and  residence  in  Boston. 

HARTFIELD,  ISHAM,  a  product  of  Tuskegee 
Institute  and  a  business  man  of  Vicksburg,  Miss., 
was  born  in  Issequannah  County,  Miss.,  Jan.  4th, 
1884.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  good  home,  trustee  and 
class  leader  in  the  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  Church  and  a 
Mason.  Mr.  Hartfield  married  in  1904  Miss  Bon 
nie  Lou  Collins  of  Vicksburg. 

HICKS,  LUCIUS  SUMNER,  born  at  Plymouth, 
N.  C.  His  father  died  when  he  was  very  young 
and  his  mother  moved  with  her  two  sons  to  Bos 
ton,  Mass.,  in  1894.  Graduated  Boston  Law  School 
1908.  Admitted  to  the  Suffolk  Bar  in  1909,  and 
immediately  began  to  practice  in  Boston.  Repub 
lican,  Episcopalian,  Mason.  Served  as  Assistant 
Registrar  of  Voters,  Assistant  Corporation  Counsel 
of  Boston. 

.  HILL,  LESLIE,  P.  Mr.  Leslie  P.  Hill  is  a  grad 
uate  of  Harvard  University.  He  was  for  a  good 
many  years,  in  charge  of  the  Department  of  Edu 
cation  at  Tuskegee  Institute.  From  Tuskegee  he 
went  to  Manassas  where  he  was  principal  for  s?v- 
eral  years.  Manassas  owes  its  development  very 
largely  to  Mr.  Hill.  Mr.  Hill  is  at  present  princi 
pal  of  Cheney  Institute,  Cheney,  Pa. 

HOLMES,  D.  A.,  physician,  residing  at  711  New 
Jersey  Ave.,  Kansas  City,  Mo.  One  of  the  leading 
physicians  of  Missouri,  and  has  many  admirers, 
both  of  his  professional  skill  and  personal  affabil 
ity.  Has  an  extensive  and  growing  practice  and  is 
ranked  as  an  eminently  successful  practitioner. 


JACKSON,  GEORGE  W.,  born  at  Smith  Sta 
tion,  Lee  County,  Ala.  Graduated  from  Fisk  Uni 
versity,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  1887.  Has  taught  in 
schools  of  Texas  34  years.  At  present  principal, 
Douglass  High  School,  Corsicana,  Tex.  Supervis 
ing  Principal  Negro  Public  Schools  and  church 
worker  in  many  capacities.  Author.  Married  Miss 
Jessie  A.  Ely  the  (deceased),  in  1887.  Miss  M  L 
Morris,  Helena,  Ark.,  in  1903. 

JONES,  WILLIAM  B.,  dentist;  born  in  War 
ren  County,  N.  C,  March  16,  1881.  Graduate  Shaw 
University,  Raleigh,  N.  C,  and  Dental  Department 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia.  Opened 
dental  office  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  1908.  Gets 
splendid  practice  from  both  races.  Member  Bap 
tist  Church,  President  Men's  Community  Club. 
Married  Miss  Cathrine  Hill  of  Windsor,  Conn,  in 
1910. 

KNOX,  L.  AMASA,  lawyer,  born  in  Greenville 
County,  Va.,  Jan.  6,  1869.  Educated  at  Virginia 
N.  &  I.  Institute,  Petersburg,  and  LL.  D.  from 
Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C.  Member 
firm  of  Knox  and  Henderson,  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
Baptist,  Past  Master  Mason,  Odd  Fellow,  K.  of  P. 
For  the  two  last  named  he  is  Grand  Attorney. 
Member  Board  Federated  Charities,  Board  of  Man 
agement  of  the  Pasco  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Treasurer 
Wheatley-Provident  Hospital,  member  Draft 
Board  Division  11.  Married  at  Washington,  D.  C., 
June  26,  1901,  Miss  Clara  Tarquinia  Chase. 

LLOYD,  AARON  W.,  born  at  Little  Springs, 
1885.  In  April,  1863,  he  came  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He 
became  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  in 
June,  1885,  was  elected  Grand  Chancellor  of  Mis 
souri  in  1900,  which  office  he  has  successfully  filled 
for  19  years.  When  Mr.  Lloyd  was  complimented 
on  the  manner  in  which  the  affairs  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  of  Missouri  were  found,  he  replied. 
"That's  my  specialty.  I  know  that  work  and  don't 
try  to  do  any  other."  This  one  fact  alone  shows 
the  reason  why  the  work  has  developed  so  under 
his  leadership. 

LUSHINGTON,  AUGUSTINE  NATHANIEL, 
doctor;  born  and  received  his  early  education  in 
the  British  West  Indies.  Came  to  America  and 
graduated  Cornell  University.  Principal  Trinidad 
Public  Schools.  Returned  to  America  and  grad 
uated  from  Department  of  Veterinary  Science, 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  opened  office  in 
Philadelphia ;  taught  in  St.  Emma  Agricultural 
College  in  Rock-castle,  Va.  Moved  to  Lynchburg, 
Va.,  where  he  built  large  practice.  Member  I.  O. 
St.  Lukes ;  Reporter  to  the  United  States  Depart 
ment  of  Agriculture ;  probation  office  of  the  Ju 
venile  Court  of  Lynchburg.  Married  Miss  Eliza 
beth  N.  Govino  of  Antigua,  B.  W.  L,  in  1890;  three 
daughters. 

THE     MODEL     TRAINING     SCHOOL— T  h  e 

work  of  Mrs.  Julia  C.  Jackson  Harris,  an 
earnest  Christian  worker  who  has  gone  into  the 
rural  district  near  Athens,  is  one  that  deserves  men 
tion.  The  work  done  in  this  school  is  exceptional. 
Mrs.  Harris'  plan  is  to  uplift  the  entire  community. 
This  is  done  through  the  class  room,  the  church, 


616 


the  home  and  various  clubs.  Four  weeks  of  the 
ten  months  school  year  are  devoted  to  the  training 
of  the  teachers  in  the  county  schools.  In  such  high 
esteem  is  the  work  of  this  school  held  that  the 
board  of  education  has  made  it  compulsory  upon 
the  county  teachers  to  attend  the  Model  Training 
School  during  the  session  for  the  teachers. 

One  of  the  unique  features  of  the  work  of  Mrs. 
Harris  is  her  method  of  getting  the  people  into 
better  homes.  They  were  formed  into  clubs  and 
•  the  club  purchased  property.  When  it  was  paid 
for,  it  was  divided  and  each  member  had  a  site  for 
a  home. 

MONEY,  THOMAS  JEFFERSON,  born  at  Clay 
ton,  Arkansas.  Educated  Tuskegee  Institute  as  a 
bookkeeper,  overseer  on  plantation,  solicitor 
Union  Grocery  Company,  opened  grocery  store 
there  for  himself,  in  Vicksburg,  where  he  is  still 
doing  a  successful  business.  He  financed  himself 
playing  baseball.  Episcopalian,  a  member  of  his 
church's  financial  board.  Married  in  1916  Miss 
Rosia  E.  Koeber  of  Vicksburg. 

MUTUAL  BENEFIT  SOCIETY  of  Baltimore, 
incorporated  1903  in  the  State  of  Maryland.  Ope 
rates. only  in  Maryland.  Number  of  financial  policy 
holders,  December  31st.  1917,  28,369.  Amount  of 
insurance  in  force  $1,799,080.00.  Legal  Reserve 
Life  Insurance  Company,  providing  reserves  for 
life  on  the  basis  of  American  Experience  and  three 
and  one-half  per  cent  a  sick  benefit  reserve,  and  an 
emergency  reserve,  Harry  O.  Wilson,  Gen.  Mgr. 

McCURDY,  THEODORE  E.  A.,  physician,  born 
in  British  Guiana,  South  America,  April  27,  1877. 
Graduate  Leonard  Medical  College,  Raleigh,  N.  C., 
inl  1904.  While  in  college  he  won  prizes  in  obste 
trics  and  in  surgery.  After  graduating  he  opened 
an  office  in  Boston,  Mass.  Member  National  Med 
ical  Association,  Bay  State  Medical  and  Dental 
Association,  and  the  Massachusetts  Medical  So 
ciety.  Member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mason, 
Odd  Fellow  and  K.  of  P. 

NICHOLS,  HENRY  WASHINGTON,  physician, 
born  in  Carroll  County,  Miss.,  in  1875.  Educated 
Tugaloo  College.  Graduated  from  Meharry  Med 
ical  College  in  1901,  immediately  thereafter  open 
ed  an  office  in  Clarendon,  Ark.,  where  he  remain 
ed  one  year  and  then  moved  to  Clarksdale,  Miss., 
where  he  is  now  practicing.  Member  A.  M.  E. 
Church  and  K.  of  P.'s.  Married  Miss  Georgia  Rob 
erts,  of  Pickens,  Miss.,  in  1902. 

PHILLIPS,  HENRY  C.,  preacher;  born  at  Ja 
maica,  British  West  Indies,  March  11,  1847.  Grad 
uate  Philadelphia  Divinity  School  of  the  Protest 
ant  Episcopal  Church,  1875,  ordained  the  same 
year;  served  a  year  as  Rector  of  St.  Thomas'  Pro 
testant  Episcopal  Church  in  Philadelphia;  from 
1876  to  1912  served  the  church  of  the  Crucifixion. 
In  1912  appointed  Archdeacon  of  colored  work  in 
the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  which  position  he 
now  holds.  President  and  trustee  of  several  char 
itable  institutions.  K.  of  P.  and  Odd  Fellow.  Mar 
ried  Miss  Sarah  Elizabeth  Cole  of  Philadelphia, 
Dec.  2,  1875. 


POTTER,  M.  D.,  clergyman,  editor;  born  at 
Dawson,  Ga.,  educated,  public  schools  of  Dawson; 
Howard  Normal  School  Cuthbert,  Ga.  Taught  in 
Georgia  public  schools  three  years  and  thirteen 
years  in  Florida.  Entered  ministry  in  1903.  Built 
fine  church  and  parsonage  in  Florida.  Editor,  man 
ager  and  owner  of  the  Tampa  Bulletin,  and  Pub 
lishing  Co.  Member  A.  M.  E.  Church,  Sons  and 
Daughters  of  Jacob,  Odd  Fellows,  trustee  Edward 
Waters  College,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  president  Min 
isterial  Alliance  of  Tampa,  Fla. 

ROBINSON,  WILLIAM  PATRICK,  born  in 
Cheraw,  S.  C,  July  23,  1878.  Benedict  College. 
Started  undertaking  business  in  1909  and  is  one  of 
the  most  successful  in  the  state.  Mason,  K.  of  P. 
and  Odd  Fellow.  Secretary  local  lodge  Odd  Fel 
lows  and  of  Clinton  Chapel  A.  M.  E.  Z.  Church, 
of  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  his  home  town.  Married  Miss 
Sarah  L.  Wilson  in  1905. 

SHAFFER,  CORNELIUS  THADDEUS,  Bishop 
A.  M.  E.  Church.  Born  Troy,  O.,  Jan.  3,  1847.  Ed. 
Berea  College,  Ky.  Private  tutors,  M.  D.  Jeffer 
son  Medical  College,  Phila.  Honorary  D.  D.  Allen 
U.  Columbia,  S.  C.  Honorary  D.  D.  and  LL.  D.  from 
Wilberforce.  Veteran  Civil  War,  Author.  Takes 
prominent  part  in  upbuilding  of  Wilberforce  U. 
Married  Miss  Annie  Maria  Taylor  of  Lexington, 
Ky.,  in  1870.  Resides  in  Chicago. 

STEWART,  R.  T.,  New  Port  News,  Va.,  has  been 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  the  past  20 
years.  His  business  has  increased  to  such  an  ex 
tent  that  he  employs  three  or  four  clerks  in  his 
store  and  a  number  of  trucks  on  the  outside  for  the 
purpose  of  delivery.  Ex-Cashier  Crown  Savings 
Bank.  Member  Baptist  Church,  Mason,  Odd  Fel 
low,  a  Pythian  and  aGood  Samaritan. 

STOWERS,  WALTER  HASLIP,  attorney,  born 
on  February  7th,  1859,  at  Owensboro,  Ky.,  educa 
ted  High  Schools  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  Mayhew's 
Business  University,  Detroit  College  of  Law.  Ad 
mitted  to  the  bar  in  1895,  and  for  the  past  twenty- 
three  years  has  associated  in  the  practice  of  law 
with  Robert  C.  Barnes  at  Detroit.  They  are  one 
of  the  leading  firms  of  attorneys  of  the  country. 
Married  Miss  Susie  F.  Wallace,  February  23rd, 
1886,  Oberlin,  Ohio. 

WILLIAMS,  JAMES  STEVE,  born  in  Franklin 
Parish,  La.,  April  21,  1871.  Educated  there  and  in 
New  Orleans  University.  In  1900  he  entered  the 
undertaking  business.  In  this  and  in  the  business 
of  real  estate  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  city  of 
Shreveport,  La.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christ 
Temple  Church,  president  of  the  Louisiana  Negro 
Business  League  and  vice-president  of  the  Under 
taker's  Association  of  the  U.  S.  Married  Miss  Car 
rie  Bell  Thomas,  of  Shreveport,  in  1900. 

INGE,  HUTCH  INS.  Mr.  Inge  is  a  prominent 
lawyer  and  leading  citizen  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
He  is  a  graduate  of  Hampton  and  an  old  school 
mate  of  Booker  T.  Washington. 


617 


Statistical  Review 


PART   OF   BUSINESS   SECTION   COLORED   JACKSONVILLE. 


Within  fifty-six  years  American  Negroes  have 
acquired  over  $700,000.000  worth  of  property. 

There  are  about  fifty  thousand  Negro  business 
enterprises  covering  practically  every  line  of  en 
deavor  and  doing  an  approximate  business  of  one 
and  a  quarter  billion  dollars  annually. 

They  have  shown  a  correspondingly  keen  inter 
est  in  education  and  have  reduced  their  illiteracy 
from  nearly  100  per  cent  to  less  than  30  per  cent. 

Annual  expenditures  for  public  schools  by  South 
ern  States  are  eleven  million  dollars. 

Total  number  of  schools  for  Negroes  of  certain 
religious  boards  300.  Number  of  teachers  2,028. 
Annual  expenditures  (1914-15)  of  boards,  perma 
nent  funds  and  contributions  $3,856,996. 

It  is  estimated  there  were  about  35  Negroes  in 
each  regiment  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  There 
was  altogether  about  3,000  Negro  soldiers  employ 
ed  by  the  Americans. 

In  the  War  of  1812,  there  were  two  regi 
ments  of  Negroes,  a  total  of  2,000.  In  the  Civil 
War  there  were  141  infantry,  7  cavalry,  12  heavy 
artillery  and  1  light  artillery  regiments  of  Negroes 
with  a  total  strength  of  178,975. 

There  were  several  regiments  of  free  Negroes  in 
the  Confederate  Army,  notably  one  of  1.400  men 


reviewed  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  February  9,  1862. 

July  28,  1866,  Congress  passed  a  law  that  Ne 
gro  regiments  should  be  a  part  of  the  regular  army. 
Under  this  act  the  Ninth  and  Tenth  Cavalry  and 
the  Thirty-eighth,  Thirty-ninth,  Fortieth  and  For 
ty-first  Regiments  of  Infantry  were  organized. 

In  the  Spanish-American  War  there  were  in  ad 
dition  to  the  regulars,  ten  regiments  of  volunteers. 

In  the  World  War  there  were  nearly  400,000  Ne 
gro  soldiers  in  the  U.  S.  Army  and  Navy,  of  these, 
10,000  regulars  and  10,000  trained  volunteers  were 
ready  when  war  was  declared. 

There  were  106  captains,  329  first  lieutenants 
and  204  second  lieutenants,  commissioned  from  the 
training  school  at  Ft.  DesMoines,  Iwoa. 

COLORED  OFFICERS  IN  THE  REGULARS 
WHEN  WAR  WAS  DECLARED. 

Lt.  Col.  Allen  Allensworth  (retired)  Chaplain, 
Twenty-fourth  Infantry. 

Major  William  T.  Anderson  (retired)  Chaplain, 
Ninth  Cavalry. 

Major  John  R  .Lynch  (retired)   Paymaster. 

Major  Richard  R.  Wright,  Paymaster,  1898. 
Spanish-American  War. 

Major  Charles  Young,  Tenth  Cavalry. 


618 


Captain  George  W.  Prioleau,  Chaplin,  Twenty- 
fifth  Infantry. 

Captain  Theophilus  G.  Steward  (retired)  Chap 
lain,  Twenty-fifth  Infantry. 

First  Lieutenant  Benjamin  O.  Davis,  Tenth  Cav 
alry. 

First  Lieutenant  John  E.  Green,  Twenty-fifth  In 
fantry. 

First  Lieutenant  W.  W.  E.  Gladden,  Chaplain, 
Twenty-fourth  Infantry. 

First  Lieutenant  Oscar  J.  W.  Scott,  Chaplain, 
Tenth  Cavalry. 

First  Lieutenant  Louis  A.  Carter,  Chaplain,  Ninth 
Cavalry. 

NEGROES  AT  WEST  POINT. 

Three  Negroes  have  graduated  from  the  United 
States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  New  York. 
Henry  O.  Flipper,  1877;  John  Alexander,  1887; 
Charles  Young,  1889. 

NEGROES  TO  WHOM  THE  CARNEGIE  HERO 
FUND  HAS  MADE  AWARDS. 

John  B.  Hill,  1905;  George  A.  Grant,  1906;  Theo 
dore  H.  Homer,  1908;  Albert  K.  Sweet,  1909;  Geo. 
E.  McCune,  1908;  Martha  Generals,  1906;  Harley 
Tomlinson,  1909;  Frank  Forest,  James  L.  Smith. 
1909;  Boyce  Lindsay,  1910;  John  G.  Walker,  1909; 


Charles  A.  Smith,  1910;  Mack  Stallworth,  1910; 
James  Pruitt,  1911;  James  Hunter,  1911;  Nathan 
Duncan,  1907;  Nathan  Record,  1908;  Lucy  G.  Ed 
wards,  1912;  Elbert  Gray,  Nolden  Townsell,  1912; 
Arthur  Lockett,  1912;  Beecher  Roberts,  1912;  Rob 
ert  Kenney,  1913 ;  Henry  West,  1913 ;  Lumis  Little, 
1913;  James  Williams,  1912;  William  R.  Dyke, 
1913;  Woodson  Graham,  1913;  James  W.  Brice,  Sr., 
1914;  Abner  Sullivan,  1914;  Walter  Roberson,  1914; 
John  E.  Rufus,  1913;  Henry  H.  Rogers,  1914;  Wil 
liam  Pratt,  1914. 

There  are  twenty-eight  white  persons  to  whom 
the  Carnegie  Hero  Fund  has  made  awards  for  sav 
ing  Negroes. 

HAITI. 

The  area  of  the  Republic,  which  embraces  the 
western  portion  of  the  Island  of  Haiti  is  estimated 
at  10,204  square  miles.  The  population  estimated 
to  be  2,029,700  is  mainly  Negroes.  There  are  also, 
large  numbers  of  mulatto  Haitians,  the  descend 
ants  of  the  former  French  settlers.  There  are  some 
5,000  foreigners,  of  whom  about  10  per  cent  are 
white.  The  population  of  the  principal  cities  are 
Port-au-  Prince,  the  capital,  100,000;  Cape  Haiti, 
30,0000;  Les  Cayes,  12,000;  Gonaives,  13,000;  Port 
de  Paix,  10,000.  The  language  of  the  country  is 
French.  Most  of  the  common  people  speak  a. dia 
lect  known  as  Creole  French. 


FIFTY  YEARS  ECONOMIC  PROGRESS. 


1866 

Homes  Owned  12,000 

Farms    Operated  20,000 

Businesses    Conducted    2,100 

Wealth  Accumulated   $20,000,000 


Educational  Progress — 

Per  Cent  Literate 

Colleges  and  Normal  Schools- 
Students  in  Public  Schools 

Teachers  in  all  Schools 

Property  for  Higher  Education. 


10 

15 

100,000 

600 

$60,000 

Expenditures    for    Education 700,000 


Raised  by  Negroes- 


Religious   Progress — 

Number  of  Churches 

Number  of  Communicants   

Number  of  Sunday  Schools 

Sunday   School    Pupils 

Value  of  Church  Property 

Reference  Negro  Year  Book. 

1860  1910 

Number  of  college   graduates 30  8,000 

Number  of  professional  men 450  75,000 

Number    of    practicing    physicians 

and  pharmacists 0  3,500 

Number  of  Lawyers 0  1,500 

Number  of  Banks   0  72 

Number  of  Negro  Towns 0  50 

Number    of    Newspapers    and    Pe 

riodicals 1  398 

Number     of    business    men,     esti 
mated            600  50,000 


80,000 


700 

600,000 

1,000 

50,000 

$1.500,000 


1916 

600,000 

981,000 

45,000 

$1,000,000,000 


75 
500 

1,736,000 

36,900 

$21,500,000 

14,600,000 

1,600,000 


42,000 
4,570,000 

43,000 

2,400,000 

$76,000,000 


Gain  in 

Fifty  Years 

588,000 

961,000 

42,900 

$980,000,000 


65 

485 

1,636,000 

36,300 

$21,440,000 

13,900,000 

1,520,000 


41,300 
3,970,000 

42,000 

2,350,000 

$74,500,000 


1860  1910 

Drug  Stores    0  300 

General  stores  and  other  industrial 

enterprises   20,000 

Hospitals     and     nurse      training 

schools 0  61 

Insurance    companies    0  100 

Property  owned  by  secret  societies  __  $8,000.000 

Capital  "stock  Negro  banks 0  $2,000.000 

Number  of  Negroes  in  U.    S.    Gov 
ernment  employment,  civil 0  22,087 

Census  1910. 


619 


ALABAMA. 

Adams,   Oscar    

Allen,    C.   W.   

Alstork,  J   W.  

Barnes,   B.   H.   

Barnes,   Jeremiah     

Belsaw,   E.   T.    

Beverly,  J.  W. 


17 
512 
18 
19 
20 
476 
33 
Big"zion"  A.  M.  E.  Z.  Church         498 

Blount,    R.    A. 

Bowen,  Miss  Cornelia 

Broughton,   N.  J.   

Brown,   A.   M.   ™ 

Brown,  E.  A.  

Buchanan,  W.   S.   

Burwell,  L.  L. 34-35 

Calhoun   Colored   School   ?c 

Galloway,  C.  J.  ^ 

Campbell,  O.   L.   

Campbell,  T.  M   2° 

Central   Alabama   Institute—          375 

Chambliss,   W.   V.   328-329 

Chandler,  G.  W.  - ™ 

Coleman,    W.    H.    

Council,  Wm.  H.  460 

Davis,  A.  W.   ^— I" 

Day     Street     Baptist     Church, 

Montgomery    

Dickerson,  S.  N. •** 

Diffay,  J.  O.  

Eason,  J.  H.  

Edwards,   W.   J.   ---- 

First  Baptist  Church,  Colored, 

Montgomery   

Goodgame,   J.   W.    *• 

Hale   Infirmary,    Montgomery. 
Hamblin,  W.  L.   - 

Henry,  D.  H.  

Hudson,  R.  B.  .. 

Hutchins,  P.  S.  L.  ^ 

Johnson,  C.  First  ™ 

Johnson,   G.   W.   

Kenney,  J.  A. _„ 

Kowaliga  A.  &  1,  Institute-  /* 

Lewis,  G.  W.  ._ 

Loveless,   H.   A.    ™ 

Mabry,  R.  L. 

Madison,  Wm. 22 

Mason,  U.  G.  -  " 

Moton,  R.  R.  

Mt.   Meigs  Institute 

McDuffie,  J.  B.  

Newstell.    G.    E.    

Owens,  A.  F.  

Payne   University    . 

People's   Village   School   » 

Peterson,  J.  T. 47J 

Pollard,   R.  T.   °| 

Powell,  L.  L. _,  _, 

Scott,  Emmet  J. "78 

Scott,  D.  H.  C.  -  '° 

Selma  University  

Simpson,  H.  T. -- 

Sixteenth    St.   Baptist   Church, 

Birmingham   — 

Smith,  E.  S.  

Snowhill  N.  &  I.  Inst 

State     Normal     School, 

mal    

Stokes,  A.  J.  

St.  Joseph   College 

Sykes,   S.   S.   — 
Taylor,  R.  R.  - 
Thomas,  J.   L-   — 

Tulane,  V.   H.   

Tuskegee    Institute    —     -70-/1-//-/-5 
United   Order   of   Good 

Shepherds   ;?' 

Washington,    Miss    Georgia    —          3 
Washington,    Mrs.    Margaret—     M-6J 

Weaver,  G.  A. °j 

Whitley,    Isaiah    J.    5" 

Williams,  A.  C.  °/ 

Williams  H.  Roger  4/« 


80 

51 

52 

320 


INDEX 

Williams,   J.   W.   64 

Work!  Monroe  N.  86 

Wood,  C.  W.  61 

Woods,  W.  T.  477 

Wright,  J.  G.  

ARKANSAS. 

Arkansas  Baptist  College 89 

Barabin,   J.    H.    90 

Blount,  J.  H.  

Bond,    Scott    92-93 

Booker,   J.   A.   

Branch    Normal    School 353 

Bush,  J.   E.   102-103 

Conner,   J.   M.   

Harrison,   S.  W.   

Havis,    Ferdinand    

Houser,   N.   B.   

Ish,   J.    G.,   Jr.    353 

Jones,   S.   A.   458-459 

Jordan,  S.  A.  100 

Josenberger,   Mrs.    M.   S 

Morris,  E.  C.  

Mosaic    Templars    104-105 

Philander   Smith   College 506 

Purifoy,  W.   L.   

Royal   Circle     of     Friends     of 

the   World   

Trent,  E.  O.  108 

.Venegar,  F.  T.   353 

Warren,   J.   T.   T 

Williams,   R.   A.    1()6 

CONNECTICUT. 

Crawford,    Geo.   W.    

Porter,    I.   N.    301 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 
Burroughs,    Miss   Nannie    H.— 

Carson,  S.  L.  

Curtis,  A.  M.  

Howard    University   —  444-445 

Miller,   Kelly    - 

Nelson.  Mrs.  Alice  Dunbar— 

Terrell,  Mary  Church   

Terrell,  Robt.  H.  

Tyler,  Ralph  W.  —  513 

Warfield,  W.  A.  427 

FLORIDA. 
Afro.  Amer.  Ins.   Co.— 

Anderson,  C.  H.  — 

Andrews,  W.  W.   

Bethune,  Miss   M.  M.   yi 

Blodgett,  J.   H.   435 

Clinton,   J.    N.   381 

Collier,  N.  W. *°* 

Daytona   N.   and  I.   Inst-      .- 378-379 
Fla.  Bapt.  Academy  - 

Ford,    J.    E.    -Rf) 

Hills,  J.  Seth   

Knights   of   Pythias   *«* 

Lewis,  A.  L.  — ,, 

Masonic  Temple 

McCleary,   M.   F.   ->'° 


84 
496 

56 
495 

57 

60 


Sumter,   Mrs.   H.   E.— 

Sumter,  W.  S.  ... 

Union    Grand    Lodge,    Masons 

Union  Mutual  Ins.  Co 

Walker    Bus.    College    ... 

White,  J.  A.  

Young,  N.  B.  

GEORGIA. 

Atlanta   University 

Barnes,  Mrs.  R.   L 

Bowen,  J.  W.   E.  

Brawley,  Benjamin   _ 

Brooks,   R.   H.   

Bryant,   P.   J.   

Butler,  H.   R.   

Carter,  E.  R. 

Carter,   R.   A.   

Clark    University    

Crogman,  W.  H. 

Davis,   B.   J.    


Douglass,   C.   H.   118-119 

Flipper,    J.    S.    120-121 

Floyd,  Silas  X.  113 

Fountain,  W.  A. 122 

Gammon   Theological   Sem 492-493 

Glibert,  J.   W.   123 

Haines,   N.   &   I.   Institute 503 

Hamilton,  A.  D.   128 

Harris,  W.  H.  457 

Harreld,   Kemper   124 

Herndon,   A.    F.    508 

Hill,  G.  W.  - 140 

Holsey,   L.   H.   130 

Hope,    John    125 

Howard,   Clara   A.   131 

Howard,  David  T.  132 

Hutto,  G.  R.  133 

Johnson,   E.   P.   —  134 

Laney,  Miss  Lucy 502 

Morehouse  College  126-127 

Odd   Fellows,   Atlanta   116-117 

Perry,  H.  E.  430 

Pharrow,  R.  E. 135 

Pollard,  L.  M.  372 

Proctor,   H.   H.   136 

Royal    Undertaking    Co 372 

Scott,  W.   S 372 

Sherman,   E.  W.  373 

Singfield,    A.    B.    302 

Slater,   T.   H.   137 

Spelman    Seminary    138-139 

Standard  Life  Ins.  Co. 430-431 

Turner,    Edwin    J.    242 

Wage   Earners   Saving  Bank 438 

Walker   Baptist   Inst.   Augusta  140 

Walker,   C.   T.   141 

Webb,  J.   R.   142 

Williams,  L.   E.  438 

ILLINOIS. 

Anderson,    Madame    M.    B 143 

Carey  A.  J.  303 

Ellis,   G.   W.   144-145 

Hall,   George   C.   - —  413 

High  Degree   Masonry  in  111—  147 

Jackson,   R.   R.   426 

Moore,   R.   E.  146 

Olivet  Baptist  Church 455 

Williams,  A.  W.  150 

Williams,    Daniel    H.    451 

Williams    Famous     Singers 148-149 

Williams,    L.    K.    454 

INDIANA. 

Anderson,  W.   H 151 

Bridgeforth    G.    R.    405 

Carter   William    R. 405 

Davis,   Moses    A.   152 

Hodge,   J.   W.    153 

Knox,  George  L. 507 

Ransom,  F.   B.  

Shelton,  J.   N.   

„,„       Stewart,   L.   H.   

509      Ward,  G.  W.   "8 

-467  KANSAS. 

471       Bridgeforth,   G.    R.    405 

471       Carter,   Wm.    R.    .... 405 

465       Ind.  and  Ed.  Inst.,  Topeka 405 

471       Thompson,    S.    H.    300 

KENTUCKY. 

Ballard,  W.   H.   159 

420       Brooks,  T.  L.  160 

Carter,  D.  C 155 

109  Cooper,  J.  B.  161 

110  Doram,   T.    M.   162 

491       Drane,  J.  F.   395 

406       George,   S.   H.   163 

393       Hathaway,   J.   H.   164 

456      Hogan,  R.  H.  165 

111  Ky.  Pythian  Temple -194-195 

434       Lanier,  M.  B. 166 

112  Lattimore,  J.  A.  C.  167 

354-355       Meyzeek,   A.   E.   168 

318       Mitchell,    Robert    169 

114-115       McCutchen,  J.  J.  170 


468 


171 

397 

172 

173 

SOS 

Steward,  W.   H.   174-175 


Offutt,  E.  T.  .. 
Parks,    T.    F.    . 
Parrish,  C.  H. 
Porter,  O.  D.  . 
Silvey,  W.  T. 


Underwood,    E.    E. 

White,  R.  F.  

Wood,  J.   E.   

Wright,    W.    H.    

LIBERIA. 


176 
177 
299 
178 


238 


Camphor,   A.   P.   

LOUISIANA. 

Carr,  T.  A.  374 

Charles,   H.   M.   179 

Clark,  J.  S.  297 

Cohen.  W.  L.  180 

Dejoie.   P.   H.   V   181 

Green,   S.   W 182 

Hudson,  H.  C.  183 

Jones.   Robert   E.   486 

Leland  University  472 

MARYLAND. 

Hawkins,   Mason  A.   184 

Pickens,    William    185 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Braithwaite,  W.   Stanley 186 

Crawford,  D.   E.  188 

DeBerry,  W.   N.   187 

Hays     Roland   W.   189 

Hughes,  Alexander  190 

Lewis,  W.  H.  191 

McKerrow,  H.  G.  192 

MICHIGAN. 

Ames,  J.  W.  474 

Bundy,   George    193 

Davis,    Gabriel    

Johnson,    A.    H.    196 

Kemp,  W.   P.  198 

Watson,   Edward   197 

MISSISSIPPI. 

Attaway,  W.  A.   507 

Atwood,  L.  K.  519 

Banks,   Charles^. 401 

Cosey.  A.  A.  ™ 199 

Cottrell,    Elias   341-342 

Holtzclaw,   W.   H.   450 

Howard.    P.   W.   518 

Tones,   C.   P.   200 

Miss.  Ind.  College  343 

Montgomery,    Isaiah    304 

McKissack,   E.   H.   201 

Redmond,   S.   D.   517 

MISSOURI. 

Bacote,   S.  W.   433 

Fisher,   Mrs.  Anna   R.   510 

Gordon,  W.  C. 202 

Lee,  J.   R.   E 484 

Lincoln    Institute    357 

Old  City  Hospital,   Kans.   City  305 

Perry,   J.    E.   . 

Richardson,    Clement    208 

Russell,  Anderson   204 

Scruggs,  Enos  L.  510 

Second   Baptist    Church,    Kan- 

.     sas   City   433 

T6mpkins,   W.   J.   305 

Turpin,    C.    H.    205 

Weaver,   Fortune  J.   206 

Williams,   Lee   S.  207 

NEW  JERSEY 

Alexander,  W.   G.   209 

Cannon,  G.  E.  210 

Cotton.  N.  T.  211 

Dale    Hotel    442 

Ford,   J.   W.   212 

Ghee,  P.  F.  214 

Hood,   S.    P.   490 

Kyle,  G.  A.   213 

Lawrence,   I.  A   234 

Manual   Training    and     Indus 
trial  School,  Bordentown 219 

Nutter,   I.   H.   . 216 

Randolph,   Florence — 215 

Richardson,   Harry  __ 21 

Sutherland,  M.  H.  . . ..  217 


447 
488 
223 
424 
424 
232 

260-261 
291 
229 
257 
226 
224 
2S9 
231 
259 
258 
227 
225 
266 
222 
313 
228 
352 


Valentine,  W.  R.  218 

Washington,  W.  H.  220 

NEW  YORK. 

Anderson.  Chas.  W. 

Bowles,  Miss  Eva  D. 

Brooks,   W.   H.   

Brown,   J.    W.    

Burleigh,   H.   T.    

Clef  Club 

Dubois,  W.  E.  B 

Emanuel,  Jonah   

Hayes,  W.   P.  Jr 

Tohnson,   James   W.   

Moore,   Fred   R.   

Mother  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Ch 

Nail,  J.   E.  

Neareon,   L.   Fitz   

Parker,    Henry    

Payton,    Philip   A.   

Powell,  A.  Clayton 

Roberts,  E.  P.  

Sims.    G.   H.   

St.   Phillips'  Church   . 

Vodery,  W.  H.  B.  

Walton,   L.  A.  

Williams,    Bert    

Walker.  Madam  C.  J.— 262-263-264-265 
NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Bennett    College    370 

Bidclle    University   . 271 

Brown,   C.   S.   !___        404 

Clinton,   George  W.   412 

Clinton      Metropolitan      A.    M. 

E.   Zion   Church,  Charlotte        305 

Cotton,  J.   A.   272 

Dudley,  J.   B.  274 

Edwards,  G.  A.  332 

Hamlin,   J.    E.    290 

Hargrave,  F.  S. 267 

Henderson   N.   and   I.   Inst 272-273 

Kittrell    College    333 

Livingstone   College   495 

Mary  Potter  Memorial  School        398 

Merrick,  John   345 

Moore,   A.   M.   345 

Moore,  Peter  W.  289 

Morris,  J.    P.   293 

McCrorey,   H.   L.   270 

National       Training       School. 

Durham    268-269 

N.  C.  Mutual   and  Prov.  Ass'n        344 

O'Kelly,    Berry    233 

Pearson,   W.   G.   236 

Pegues,  A.  W.  237 

Shaw,   G.   C.   398 

Shepard,  J.   E.  269 

Spaulding,  C.  C.  346 

State  A.  &  T.  College,  Greens 
boro   275 

State   N.    &    L    Inst,   Elizabeth 

City   289 

St.  Augustine  School  501 

Trigg,    Frank    370 

Vick,   S.  H.   235 

Vass,   S.   N.  521 

Walker,  J.  W.  276 

Young,  James   H.  350-351 

OHIO. 

Chestnut,  Charles   W.   347 

Fleming,  T.  W.  356 

Green,  John   P.  244 

Green,   W.    R.    280 

Jones,   Jos.   L.   277 

Myers,   Geo.  A.  278-279 


Penn,   I.   Garland   

Reed,  J.   E.   

Smith,  H.  C.  

Vaughn,  N.   C.  

Wilberforce    University 

Young,    Charles    

OKLAHOMA. 

Bruner,  F.  W.   

Col.  A.   &   N.  University... 

Harrison,  Wm.   

Hughes,  J.  W.  

Johns'on,   J.    R. 

Key,    J.    B.    _. 


520 
245 
400 
243 
487 
527 

247 
285 
248 
246 
286 
396 


Marquess,  J.  M.  284 

Reid,  W.  Curtis   295 

Taft  Inst.  For  Deaf,  Blind  and 

Orphan   Col.   Children— Taft  287 

Williams,   Mrs.   J.   W.   317 

Williams,   J.   W.   316 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Asbury,  John   C.  309 

Blackwell,  G.  L.  283 

Brown,   E.   C.   453 

Creditt,    W.    A.    III  402 

Downington   N.    &   A.   Inst 403 

Gibson,  John  T.  322-323 

Gibson's   New    'Standard  The 
atre,    Philadelphia    ...      ..324-325 

Heard,   W.  H.   240 

Jordan,  L.  G.  239 

Lincoln    University  241 

Minton,  H.  M. 282 

Wright,   R.   R.   522 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

Allen    University   3)4 

Carroll,  Richard  449 

Chapelle,  W.  D.  I__ II.        314 

Claflin   University   407 

Durham,   J.   J.   2SO 

Grand    Lodge    Officers,    S.    C. 

Pythians     440 

Henry,   T.  H.  I  441 

Jenkins,   D.  J.   371 

Jenkins.    Orphanage,    Charles 
ton    371 

Manse,   R.   W.  31  s 

Mayesville  Ed.  &  Ind.  Inst 312 

Morris     College    330 

Pinckney,  T.   H.  326 

S.    C.    Pythians    440-441 

Schofield  N.  &  I.  School 385 

Starks,  J.   J.  330 

State    A.    &    M.    College,     Or- 

angeburg  339 

Westberry,   R.   W.  249 

Wilson,  Miss  Emma  J. 312 

TENNESSEE. 
A.    &    I.    State    Normal,   Nash 
ville    400 

Bell,  C.  A.  . 
Boyd,  H.   A. 
Boyd,   R.  H.  .. 
Church.    R.    R. 

Cooper,  M.  T. '..". 

Fisher.    Isaac 

Fisk    University    .__. .1359-360- 361 

Franklin,   G.   W 

Hale.   W.   J. 

Hayes.  T.   H.   

Haynes,    Wm.    HI 

Henderson,  J.  H. 

Isaac,   E.  W.   D. 

James,   O.   W. 
Johnson,   A.   N. 
Johnson,    J    .W. 

Lane   College  H 

Meharry   Medical  College       __418 

Morrell,  B.  H. 

Napier,   J.   C. 

Nat.   Bapt.   Pub.   House.!.. 

Page,   Inman    E.   ... 

Phillips.  C.  H.  '__'__ 

Roger    Williams    University. __ 

Roman,    C.    V.    

Seymour,   E.    M. 

Sunday    School      Union    of    A 

M.   E.   Church    

Taylor,    Preston    334 

Townsend,  A.  M. 

Turner,  T.  P.  I.I 

Tyree,  Evans   

Wilson,  J.   T.   

TEXAS. 

Bell,  J.   B.   

Davis,   W.   L.   . 

Dogan,    M.   W.   

Frierson,   J.  -  M.    

Holland,   R.   E.  L.   

Lights,   F.   L. . .. 

Pollard,   T.   T.  . 


423 
253 
416 
414 
509 
399 
358 
362 
408 
423 
479 
364 
296 
481 
255 
230 
365 
485 
419 
337 
410 
415 
366 
254 
365 
363 
331 

550 
•335 
366 
336 
256 
294 

321 
339 
367 
252 
251 
432 
504 


Pythian   Temple   Dallas   348-349 

Rodgers,   M.   M.  348 

Ryan,   J.    D.    338 

Smith,  R.  L  383 

Supreme  Home  Ancient  Order 

of   Pilgrims   338 

Trinity  Church.   Marshall 388 

Wiley    University    368-369 

Williams,  J.  O.  388 

VIRGINIA. 

Bowling,   R.  H.  429 

Brown,   S.  A.   340 

Brown   Savings   Bank   453 

Dinwiddie  N.  &  I.  Inst 307 

First   Baptist   Ch.,  Norfolk 429 

Fuller,  W.  T.  298 

Galvin,  A.   A.  327 

Gandy,  J.   M.  311 

Gillfield  Bap.  Ch.,  Petersburg.  340 

Goode,   G.   W.   292 

Hampton    Institute    514-515-516 

Ind.  Order   of  St.  Luke   387 

Jefferson,  W.  W.  392 

lohnson,    W.    I.    394 

Mitchell,  John  Jr.  421 

Moone,    S.    I.    288 

Price,  A.  D.   508 

St.  Luke  Bank,  Richmond 386-387 

Va.  N.   &  I.  Inst 310-311 

Va.  Theological  Seminary 436-437 

Va.    Union    University 390-39! 

Walker,    Maggie   L.    386 

Williams.  W.  T.  B.  417 

Woods.    R.   C.    436 

WEST  VIRGININA. 

Gamble,  H.  F.  308 

Tames,   C.   H.   428 

Nutter,    T.    G.    319 

Prillerman,   Byrd   409 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Attucks,  Crispus 533 

Banneker,    Benjamin    14 

Bethune,  T.  G.  "Blind  Tom"  —  525 

Blyden.  E.  W. 524 

Bruce,    Blanch    K.   534 

Copyright    

Douglass,  Frederick   

Dumas,    Alexander   10 

Dunbar,  Paul  Lawrence 12 

"Foreword"  by  R.  R.  Moton 4 

Greener,  Richard  T.  530 

Langston,  John   M.  529 

Lynch,   John    R.    531 

Overture,  Toussant  L. 523 

Pinchback,   P.   B.   S 528 

Preface    5-6 

Pushkin.   Alexander    11 

Tanner,  Henry  O.  — 532 

Taylor.   Samuel   Coleridge 526 

Title  Page  1 

Truth,   Soiourner   

Tubman,   Harriet   16 

Washington,  Booker  T.,  Photo  3 
Washington-,  Booker  T.,  Biog 
raphy   7-8 

Wheatley,    Phillis    IS 

BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 
NEGRO. 

The  Negro  in  History  535 

History   of   Slavery   in 

America   536 

Slavery   in   the   States 537 

Emancipation   Proclamation  — 537-538 

Negro 'in  Business  539 

Negro   Homes — Illustra 
tions    540-541 

Negro   Homes    

Negro  in   Public  Life 

Negro  Farmer  543 

Negro's      Contribution      to 

Education    

Negro   Artist    544 

Negro  Scholar  544 

Negro  Author   545 

Negro   Music   545 

The  Negro   as   a   Soldier 546 

Negro  Church  , 546 


The  Negro  Inventor 547 

Negro  Y.  M.  C.  A. 548 

Negro  Y.  W.  C.  A. 548 

Illustrations    Negro    Y.    M. 

C.   A.    Buildings    549 

Colored    Explorers    .  550 

NEGRO  EDUCATION 

County  Training  Schools  —       551 
Minimum   Requirements   of 

the  Slater  Board 551 

Amer.  Baptist  Home  Mis 
sion  Society  552-553 

Group   View   of   Bishop 

College   554 

Amer.   Missionary  Assn.  —555-556 
Federal   Schools,  Land  Grant 
Schools   and   State 

Schools   557-558 

Freedmen's     Aid    Society.. 559-560 
Other   Prominent     Institu 
tions   Supported     by   the 

Methodist    Church    561 

Congregationalism  and  the 

Negro   562 

National  Woman's  Chris 
tian  Temperance  Un 
ion  Work  Among  Col 
ored  People  563 

Work    of     the      American 
Baptist     Publication   So 
ciety    Among   Negroes..        563 
The   Salvation     Army   and 

the   Negro   564 

Work   Among  Negroes    by 
the      International     Sun 
day  School  Association   „        564 
The   Work   of   the   Ameri 
can    Sunday   School   Un 
ion  Among  Negroes 565 

The    Catholic    Church    and 

Colored  Work 565 

Work  Among  Negroes  by 
the  Presbyterian  Board 
of  Publication  and  Sab 
bath  School  Work 566 

Presbyterian   Work  Among 

the   Negroes   566 

Disciples  of  Christ  567 

Society  of  Friends  568 

New  Associations 568 

CO-OPERATIVE  SCHOOL 
BUILDING 

Rosenwald  Rural  Schools 

569-570-571-572 

THE  CHURCH  AMONG 

NEGROES   573 

Date  of  the  Organization 
of  the  Colored  Denom 
inations  573 

Date    of    the    Organization 

of  the  Colored  Churches 

Noted  Negro  Preachers  __ 

Group     of     Representative 

Negro     Churches    574 

The  National  Baptist  Con 
vention  575 

African  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church  576 

African  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Zion  Church  576 

C.   M.   E.   Church   577 

Col.  Cumberland   Pres.  Ch.         578 

Col.  Primitive  Baptists 578 

United    American    Freewill 

Baptists    578 

NATIONAL  AND   FRATER 
NAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 
Nat.    Ass'n     for     Advance 
ment   of   Colored   People        579 

Nat'!.   Urban   League   579 

Nat'l     Negro     Bus.     Men's 

League    580-581 

Medical,  Dental  and  Phar 
maceutical  Ass'n  582 

Nat'l  Negro   Press  Ass'n—        582 
Nat'l  Assns.  When  Organ 
ized   583 

Negro    Masonry   583-584 

Knights   of   Pythias   585 


Colored  Pythian  Temple 
New  Orleans,  La.  (Illus 
tration)  586 

Independent  Order  of  Odd 

Fellows   587 

Knights   and   Daughters 

of   Tabor    587 

Royal     Knights      of      King 

David    588 

Fraternal    Organizations 588 

EXAMPLE  OF  SUCCESS 
FUL  NEGRO  TOWNS 

Mound   Bayou,  Miss. 589 

NEGRO  PROGRESS  IN  THE 
SOUTH  AND  IN  THE 
NORTH. 

Colored   Atlanta    —590-591-592-593 
The  Wealthiest  Negro  Col 
ony  in   the  World — Har 
lem— N.  Y.   City  593 

HISTORY    OF    LIBERIA 594-595 

COLORED    THEATRICALS-     '  5% 
REMINISCENCES    OF     SLA 
VERY    DAYS    597 

NERGO  IN  THE  WORLD 
WAR 

The  Negro's  Part  in  Win 
ning  the  War  599 

The  Negro's  "Man-Power" 

in    the    Present    Conflict-         599 

'Illustrations    598 

Illustrations    600 

Negro  Represented  in 
Nearly  Every  Branch  of 

Service    601 

More  than  1,000  Negro 
Officers  Now  Under 

Commission    601 

Capable  Young  Officers 
from  the  New  Training 

Camps    601 

Illustrations    602 

Forty-seven     Colored 

Chaplains    in    the     Army        603 
Special   Training   in    Tech 
nical      and      Mechanical 

Branches    603 

Illustrations    604 

The  Student  Army  Train 
ing  Corps  605 

Schools,  in  which  Voca 
tional  Detachments  have 

been    established    605 

Illustrations    606 

War   Work   in    Colored   Y. 

M.  C.  A.  607 

Work  of  Commission  on 
Training  Camp  Activi 
ties  607 

Illustrations   608 

War      Work      of      Colored 

Women    609 

Concrete   Evidences  of  the 

Negroes'    Loyalty    609 

Colored    Nurses     Accepted 

for  Service  in   the  Army        609 

Illustrations 610 

"Campaign    of    Ginger"    by 

The  Y.  W.   C.  A 611 

Sale  of  Liberty  Bonds, 
War  Savings  Stamps 

and  Kindred  Arts   611 

Illustrations    612 

The  Negro  Lends  A  Hand 
in  Industries  and  Pro 
duction  .._ --  613 

The     Speaker     "Committee 

of  One  Hundred"  613 

A  Fruitful  Conference  of 
Colored  Editors  and 

Leaders    613 

Traditional       Loyalty       of 
Other   Days    Adhered   to 
by  Negro  614 

OTHER"    PROMINENT    INDIVID 
UALS.  AND  INSTITU 
TIONS    615-616-617 

STATISTICAL  REVIEW  ..-618-619 


CJ 


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