People, Locations, Episodes

‘Bull’ Connor, Segregationist born

*’Bull’ Connor was born on this date in 1897. He was a white-American politician who served as the Commissioner of Public Safety for Birmingham, Alabama, for over two decades.   Theophilus Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor was born in Selma, Alabama, the son of Molly (Godwin) and Hugh King Connor, a train dispatcher and telegraph operator.  He […]

Richard Russell Jr., Politician born.

*Richard Russell Jr. was born on this date in 1897. He was a white-American politician and segregationist. Richard Brevard Russell Jr. was born in Winder, Georgia, the first son of Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard B. Russell Sr. and Ina Dillard Russell. Throughout his childhood, his father made multiple attempts to run for higher […]

Raymond P. Alexander, Lawyer, and Judge born

This date marks the birth of Raymond Pace Alexander in 1898. He was a lawyer, politician, and judge and the first African American to hold a position on the Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia.

Edith Sampson, Lawyer, Judge born

On this date in 1898, Edith Sampson was born in Pittsburgh, the first black woman elected judge to a municipal court.

She was born Edith Spurlock, one of seven children. Her father, Louis Spurlock, earned $75 per month as a shipping clerk in a cleaning, pressing, and dyeing business. Her mother, Elizabeth Spurlock, worked at home making buckram hat frames and twisting switches of false hair.

Edith graduated from Peabody High School, and three years later married Rufus Sampson, a field agent for the Tuskegee Institute.

Duke Slater, Athlete, and Judge born

*”Duke” Slater was born on this date in 1898. He was a Black football player and judge.   Frederick Wayman “Duke” Slater was born in Normal, Illinois, the son of George Slater, a Methodist minister. As a boy, he picked up the name of the family dog, Duke, as a personal nickname and would carry it all his life. […]

Eunice Carter, Prosecutor born.

Eunice Hunton Carter was born on this date in 1899. She was an African American lawyer and the first Black woman to be a district attorney in the state of New York.

Oliver Law, Military Officer born

*Oliver Law was born on this date in 1900. He was an African American soldier and military leader. He was the first Black man to lead an integrated military force in the history of the United States.

Albert J. Luthuli, South African Leader born

This date celebrates the birth of Albert John Luthuli in 1899. He was a Bblack South African leader and Nobel recipient.

James Nabrit Jr., Attorney born

*On this date in 1900, James Nabrit Jr. was born. He was a Black civil rights attorney and university administrator.   James Madison Nabrit Jr. was born in Georgia, the son of James Nabrit, a Baptist minister and baker, and Gertrude Augusta West. His father became President of the American Baptist Institute in Nashville and Secretary of the […]

Learie Constantine, Cricket Player, and Politician born

*Learie Constantine was born on this date in 1901. He was a Black cricket player, broadcast journalist, administrator, lawyer, and politician.

The Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School Opens

*This date in 1901 celebrates the establishment of Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School, a military base and training facility on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa. There have been three forts called Fort Des Moines. Fort Des Moines No. 1 (1834–1837), a U.S. Army post that grew into Montrose, Iowa, and […]

Louis L. Redding, Lawyer born

Louis L. Redding, prominent African American lawyer and civil rights pioneer, was born on this date in 1901.

Strom Thurmond, Segregationist born

*Strom Thurmond Sr. was born on this date in 1902. He was a white-American racial segregationist, lawyer, teacher, judge, and politician.   James Strom Thurmond was born in Edgefield, South Carolina, the son of Eleanor Gertrude and John William Thurmond, a lawyer. His ancestry included English and German.  When Thurmond was five, his family moved into a larger home with about […]

Mercer Cook, Educator, and Ambassador born

*On this date in 1903, Mercer Cook was born. He was an African American educator and ambassador.

Alfred E. Smith, Administrator born

Alfred E. Smith was born on this date in 1903. He was an African American administrative activist.

From Hot Springs, Arkansas, he left his hometown at the age of seventeen to attend Howard University in Washington, D. C. In 1932, Smith received his master’s degree in history, and for the following year he worked as a substitute teacher in the Washington public schools. He then joined the Federal Works Progress Administration, beginning a life-long career in public service. Smith began as Assistant to the Director of the Negro Works, Federal Emergency Relief Administration.