People, Locations, Episodes

A Black Man Patents an Automatic Air Brake

On this date in 1902, Granville T. Woods of Cincinnati, a Black inventor, patented the automatic air brake.  The patent is #701981.  For a while he manufactured and sold his inventions through the Woods Electric Company, but he later sold his patent rights to the General Electric Company.

Taft, Oklahoma is founded

*Taft, Oklahoma is affirmed on this date in 1902. Taft began as an all-Black town on land allotted to Creek Freedmen.  This community was initially named Twine, for William H. Twine, and had a post office by 1902. When Twine moved to Muskogee, the citizens voted to rename the town as Taft for President William […]

William Alexander Scott II, News Publisher born

*William Alexander Scott II was born on this date in 1902.  He was a Black businessman and newspaper publisher.  Born in Edwards, Mississippi, Scott was the fourth child of nine. His father, the Rev. Dr. William A. Scott Sr., was a Christian Church minister and a printer. His mother, Emmeline Southall Scott, was active in […]

Black Man Patents Friction Heating Device

*On this date in 1903, a Black businessman invented a friction heating device. Charles Lewis Baker was an inventor. His patent number was #718071. It had two metal cylinders, one inside the other, with a spinning core in the center made of wood that produced friction.

Max Gordon, Jazz Advocate born

*Max Gordon on this date in 1903. He was a white Jewish-American jazz promoter and founder of the Village Vanguard jazz club in New York City.   Gordon, born in Svir, Lithuania (now in Belarus), emigrated to the United States in 1908 at age five. The family settled in Portland, Oregon, where he later attended Reed College. As a young man, he was […]

The True Reformer Building is Erected

On this date in 1903, The True Reformer Building in Washington D.C. was dedicated. Built by the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers, it was the first building in America to be designed, financed, built, and owned by the African American community after Reconstruction. It was designed by John A. Lankford, the city’s first registered African American architect, who went on to national prominence as the architect for African Methodist Episcopal churches across the country.

Cecil Newman, Journalist, and Publisher born

Cecil Newman was born on this date in 1903. He was an African American newspaper publisher and businessman.

Sam Lacy, Sports Journalist born

Sam Lacy’s birth in 1903 is celebrated on this date. He was an African American journalist.

Lacy grew up in Washington, D.C., played semi-pro baseball, coached municipal basketball, attended Howard University, and performed assorted odd jobs before becoming a professional sportswriter. Lacy’s career in print journalism began in the 1920s, working as a sports writer at the Washington Tribune under the guidance of Editor Lewis Lautier. He was managing editor and sports editor there from 1934-39, before moving to Chicago as assistant national editor for the Chicago Defender from 1940-43.

Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank Opens

On this date in 1903, the Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank opened it doors.
Started by Maggie Walker in Richmond, Virginia, this was one of the first Black owned banks in America.

The Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank, as its name suggests, was established as an institution whose interest was the small investors, literally the pennies of the African American washerwomen–ultimately proving that even with pennies, the African American community had economic power.

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.

The Voice of the Negro Newspaper Begins

*The Voice of the Negro is celebrated on this date in 1904. This was a literary periodical aimed at a national audience of African Americans.    The Voice of the Negro was the first African American periodical based in the South. It was initially published in Atlanta in 1904 and created by Austin N. Jenkins, […]

L. C. Bates, News Publisher born

*L.C. Bates was born on this date in 1904. He was a Black newspaper publisher and civil rights activist.   Lucious Christopher Bates was born in Liberty, Mississippi, to Laura and Rev. Morris Bates, a farmer, carpenter, and minister. The Bates family was one of the few Black families in the area. Due to the […]

The Attucks Music Publishing Company is Founded

*On this date in 1904, the Attucks Music Publishing Company opened for business. This was one of the first African American music publishing businesses. Housed at 1255 Broadway in New York City, The Company was named after Crispus Attucks, the first Black to die in the Revolutionary War. Attucks Music in-house writers included Tom Lemonier, Alex Rogers, William Tyers, Jesse Shipp and Bert Williams. Some of their material had illustrations of Bert Williams and his partner George Walker. A few also featured Walker’s wife, Ada Overton Walker.

Boley, Oklahoma is Established

*On this date in 1904 the Black Town of Boley, Oklahoma was formally established. Boley is located in Okfuskee County in Central Oklahoma.

Albert W. Dent, University Administrator born.

*Albert W. Dent was born on September 25, 1904. He was a Black academic business administrator and community leader. Albert Walter Dent was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His father was a day laborer who died shortly before Albert’s birth. His mother worked as a domestic servant to support Albert and his two sisters. The Dents […]