| John Fleming 25th President of ASALH |
| Mary McLeod Bethune 5th President of ASALH |
| Walking with Giants: The ASALH Presidents |
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Over the last ninety years, ASALH
has been led by a distinguished
list of presidents who have left a
legacy for not only ASALH but also
the society at large. Our Founder,
Carter G. Woodson, was a strong
personality who succeeded
because he had the ability to
has been led by a distinguished
list of presidents who have left a
legacy for not only ASALH but also
the society at large. Our Founder,
Carter G. Woodson, was a strong
personality who succeeded
because he had the ability to
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| John R. Hawkins 3rd President of ASALH President, Kittrell College |
Two of our presidents have served in important positions in
the federal government. Following the path established by
Ms. Bethune, Andrew Brimmer, whose doctorate is in
economics, served in the administrations of both John F.
Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. During his presidency at
ASALH, he also served as a governor of the Federal
Reserve of the United States, stewarding the economy of the
United States.
Befitting an organization devoted to historical inquiry and
educating youth, Charles Harris Wesley, Lorenzo Greene,
Edgar Toppin, Earl Thorpe, and William Harris were
renowned historians. President Greene learned his
| * Mary McCloud Bethune served as president of Bethune-Cookman College. Samuel DuBois Cook served as president of Dillard University. William Harris has served as president of Paine College, Texas Southern University, and Alabama State University. John R. Hawkins served as president of Kittrell College in 1886. John Hope served as president of Morehouse College. Charles Wesley served as president of Wilberforce University. |
| 1916 George Cleveland Hall 1917-1920 Robert E. Park 1921-1930 John R. Hawkins 1931-1936 John Hope 1936-1951 Mary McLeod Bethune 1952-1964 Charles Harris Wesley 1965-1966 Lorenzo J. Greene 1966-1967 J. Reuben Sheeler 1968-1970 J. Rupert Picott 1971-1973 Andrew Brimmer 1974-1976 Edgar Toppin 1977-1980 Charles Walker Thomas 1981-1982 Earl E. Thorpe 1983-1984 Samuel L. Banks 1984-1985 Jeanette Cascone (acting) 1986-1988 William Harris 1989-1990 Andrew Brimmer 1991-1993 Robert Harris, Jr. 1993-1995 Janette Hoston Harris 1995-1997 Bettye J. Gardner 1997-1999 Edward Beasley 1999-2001 Samuel DuBois Cook,Sr. 2001-2004 Gloria Harper Dickinson 2004 2006 Sheila Y. Flemming-Hunter Current John Fleming |
Founders of Black History Month
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convince other strong, capable people to trod the path
with him. The ASALH tradition is to walk with giants.
The first president, George Cleveland Hall , was a physician and civic leader in
Chicago. For decades his was a moving force at Provident Hospital, which served the
city's burgeoning black population in the age of black migrations. A Vice-President of
the National Urban League, and an early member of the NAACP, Hall was a tireless
leader for black rights. Robert E. Park, who followed
with him. The ASALH tradition is to walk with giants.
The first president, George Cleveland Hall , was a physician and civic leader in
Chicago. For decades his was a moving force at Provident Hospital, which served the
city's burgeoning black population in the age of black migrations. A Vice-President of
the National Urban League, and an early member of the NAACP, Hall was a tireless
leader for black rights. Robert E. Park, who followed
| Ninety Years of Prominent, Dedicated Leadership |
him, took the presidency
after working as the
secretary and ghost writer
for Booker T. Washington
and joining the faculty at the
University of Chicago and
establishing what became
known as the Chicago
School of Sociology. The
only white president of the
Association, Park trained
black sociologists such as
Charles S. Johnson and E.
Franklin Frazier, two
legends of black sociology.
John Hope was the first
African American president
of what became
Morehouse College.
Following him came the
giant, Mary McLeod
Bethune, founder of
Bethune-Cookman
College, and a member of
President Franklin D.
Roosevelt's New Deal.
after working as the
secretary and ghost writer
for Booker T. Washington
and joining the faculty at the
University of Chicago and
establishing what became
known as the Chicago
School of Sociology. The
only white president of the
Association, Park trained
black sociologists such as
Charles S. Johnson and E.
Franklin Frazier, two
legends of black sociology.
John Hope was the first
African American president
of what became
Morehouse College.
Following him came the
giant, Mary McLeod
Bethune, founder of
Bethune-Cookman
College, and a member of
President Franklin D.
Roosevelt's New Deal.
Serving as president for fifteen years, Ms. Bethune provided continuity, laboring alongside of Woodson through
the Great Depression and into the new era ushered in by World War II.
Of ASALH's twenty-two presidents nine have administrators in higher education. Like Ms. Bethune and John
Hope, Charles Wesley, William Harris, and Samuel DuBois Cook each served as university presidents.* John
R. Hawkins, our third president, served as head of Kittrell College in North Carolina in 1886. Bettye J. Gardner
and our current president, Sheila Y. Flemming, have served as deans at Coppin State University and
Bethune-Cookman College, respectively. Past President Robert Harris, Jr. is Assistant Provost at Cornell
University.
the Great Depression and into the new era ushered in by World War II.
Of ASALH's twenty-two presidents nine have administrators in higher education. Like Ms. Bethune and John
Hope, Charles Wesley, William Harris, and Samuel DuBois Cook each served as university presidents.* John
R. Hawkins, our third president, served as head of Kittrell College in North Carolina in 1886. Bettye J. Gardner
and our current president, Sheila Y. Flemming, have served as deans at Coppin State University and
Bethune-Cookman College, respectively. Past President Robert Harris, Jr. is Assistant Provost at Cornell
University.
craft from Woodson. Others such as Samuel Banks, J. Rupert Picott, and Janette Hoston Harris dedicated a
significant part of their labor to improving education at the primary and secondary levels. For much of his
career, Charles Walker Thomas trained teachers in Washington, D.C.
Finally, with the advent of Black Studies, Robert Harris, Jr., Gloria Dickinson, and Earl Thorpe have been crucial
in establishing the field on historically white college campuses.
Feel free to share with us any information and images you have about ASALH's leadership. Write me at
dms@asalh.net.
significant part of their labor to improving education at the primary and secondary levels. For much of his
career, Charles Walker Thomas trained teachers in Washington, D.C.
Finally, with the advent of Black Studies, Robert Harris, Jr., Gloria Dickinson, and Earl Thorpe have been crucial
in establishing the field on historically white college campuses.
Feel free to share with us any information and images you have about ASALH's leadership. Write me at
dms@asalh.net.
| The ASALH Website and The ASALH Store are projects of the ASALH Publication Committee, Daryl Michael Scott, Chair. Direct comments to info@asalh.net (C) ASALH, June 25, 2007 |
