| 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-two 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
convince other strong, capable
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
convince other strong, capable
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| John R. Hawkins 3rd President of ASALH President, Kittrell College |
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 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.
| * Mary McLeod 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. |
| 1916-1917 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 2007-2009 John Fleming 2010-2012 James Stewart |
Founders of Black History Month
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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 him, took the presidency after
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 him, took the presidency after
| Ninety-Two Years of Prominent, Dedicated Leadership |
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
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 been 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
24th 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.
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.
Of ASALH's twenty-two presidents, nine have been 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
24th 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.
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.
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, Daryl M. Scott, at dms@asalh.net.
| The ASALH Website is a project of the ASALH Publication Committee Daryl Michael Scott, Chair © 2008, ASALH Direct comments to info@asalh.net The Association for the Study of African American Life and History C.B. Powell Building, Suite C-142 | 525 Bryant Street, NW | Washington, DC 20059 Phone: 202-865-0053 | Fax: 202-265-7920 Page revised 11/3/2009 |
