*On this date in 1849, we celebrate the opening of New York Central College. This college was the first in the United States founded on the principle that all qualified students were welcome. It was an abolitionist institution called New York Central College, McGrawville, and Central College. It was founded by Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor and […]
learn moreThis date marks the birth of Charlotte E. Ray in 1850. She was a Black teacher and the first Black female lawyer in the United States.
learn more*The Tullahassee Mission was founded on this date in 1850. This was a school in the Creek Nation, Indian Territory serving formerly enslaved Black Africans. While in the Southeast and soon after the Indian Removal Act, most Muscogee Creek opposed all white-American missionaries and their schools. They did not want their traditional culture disrupted by Christianity. […]
learn moreThis date marks the birth of Hallie Quinn Brown in 1850. She was a Black educator and elocutionist who pioneered in the movement for Black women’s clubs in the United States.
learn more*Zelia Ball Page was born on this date in 1850. She was a Black teacher. Zelia R. Ball was born in Alexandria, Virginia, to a freedman Black woman who raised her in Washington, D. C. Her mother worked with the Underground Railroad, and fearing for her daughter’s safety, she arranged with Dr. Peter Parker […]
learn more*Felix Adler was born on this date in 1851. He was a white Jewish-American professor, rationalist, lecturer, and social reformer. Felix Adler was born in Alzey, Rhenish Hesse, Grand Duchy of Hesse, Germany, the son of a rabbi, Samuel Adler, a leading figure in European Reform Judaism. The family immigrated to the United States from Germany when Felix was six so his father could accept the appointment as head rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in New […]
learn more*The birth of Mary Sanderson-Grases is celebrated on this date in 1851. She was a Black school teacher. Mary Jane Sanderson was born in Wareham, Massachusetts, to Jeremiah Burke (“J.B.”) Sanderson and Catherine Molyneaux (Sanderson). She was the second oldest of 8 children and came to California with her mother and siblings about 1861 to join […]
learn more*This date in 1852 marks the birth of William Sander Scarborough. He was an African American scholar and University President.
William Scarborough was born in Macon, Georgia. As a child he studied with a free Black family and white neighbors learning carpentry and shoe making. He was emancipated during the Civil War, entered Atlanta University in 1869, and then went on to Oberlin College for his Masters degree. He taught for a time amidst the Jim Crow Laws in the south.
learn more*On this date the birth of Daniel Alexander Payne Murray in 1852 is celebrated. He was a Black author, politician, and historian.
learn moreThe birth of Julia A. B. Hooks in 1852 is celebrated on this date. She was an African American musician, educator and social worker.
learn more*Edward Bouchet was born on this date in 1852. He was an African American educator, physicist and administrator.
learn more*Louisa Bustill Robeson was born on this date in 1853. She was an African and Native American schoolteacher. Maria Louisa Bustill (sometimes called Louisa as a child) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Igbo of Nigeria, Lenni-Lenape Native American, and Anglo-American descent. Her parents were Charles Hicks Bustill and Emily Robinson, prominent black Quakers. Bustill’s ancestors […]
learn moreOn this date in 1853, Inman Edward Page was born. He was a Black educator and academic administrator.
learn moreOn this date in 1854, Lucy Laney was born. She was a Black educator and pioneer in secondary education.
learn moreOn this date, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, one of the over 100 Historically Black Colleges & Universities, was founded.
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