Historian John Hope Franklin Dies

marxchivist — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:12:26 -0800

American historian John Hope Franklin died today at the age of 94. Among his many achievements: authoring From Slavery to Freedom: a History of African Americans. Originally published in 1947, it remains the standard work on African American history. Franklin also did research for the appellants in the historic Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court Case. Dr. Franklin's other accomplishments include a doctorate from Harvard, chairman of the history departments at Brooklyn College and the University of Chicago, professor of legal history at Duke and most recently the James B. Duke Professor of History Emeritus at Duke. Even with all his achievements, Franklin battled discrimination all of his life, in 1995 "the night before receiving his [Presidential] Medal of Freedom, after giving a dinner for a few friends at the Cosmos Club (of which he is a member), "a white woman called me out, presented me with her coat check, and ordered me to bring her coat." Never one afraid to speak his mind on current events, in his 2005 memoir Mirror to America, Franklin lamented "that the 'Negro seat' on the Supreme Court once held by his idol, Thurgood Marshall, has been 'bleached white' by the appointment of Clarence Thomas." 2007 interview with John Hope Franklin.

The African American Experience in Photographs

winna — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:38:16 -0800

Missouri's digital archives of African American portraits. African American portraits from Florida's archives. The Black Archives of Mid-America. Missouri's archives, with a specific section for the African American community in northeast Missouri. Cased photos from California. Civil War soldiers from Michigan. Just for fun.

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Historian John Hope Franklin Dies

The African American Experience in Photographs