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Charles Harris Wesley,

Historian, Educator and Minister who was an early proponent of African American studies.

 

  • 1891 - Born December 2nd in Louisville, Ky.; he attended public schools in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

  • 1911 - Received a B.A. at Fisk University (Tennessee) in 1911.

  • 1913 - Received M.A. in economics at Yale University.

  • 1914 - In addition to his work as an educator, Wesley was an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church minister and elder until 1937.

  • 1918 - Sept 12nd, CHW became paster at Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church on O Street between 26th and 27th Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C., in the heart of Georgetown (from 1918-1923) Rev. John Porter (1856-1929), Father of James Amos Porter (1905-1970) was in the pulpit.

  • 1916 - Wesley began a long association with Carter G. Woodson's Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, serving as President from 1950 to 1965, and as executive director until 1972. 1919-20 appointed Associate Professor of History.


  • 1923 -He was elected President, Graduate Chapter, Mu Lambda and organized the Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation which purchased John M. Langston's house on 3rd St N.W., Washington, D.C.

  • 1925 - Received Ph.D from Harvard University. Wesley's doctorate in history was the third awarded by Harvard to an African American. Wesley served on the Howard University faculty from 1913 to 1942.

  • 1928 - Received honorary Doctor of Divinity, Wilberforce University (Ohio).

  • 1930 - Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, Wesley went to England to study emancipation in the British Empire, he travelled on Ile De France (ship) for Liverpool.

  • 1930 - Established a chapter in London; established Alpha Phi Alpha Foundation.

  • 1931 - He was President of Alpha Phi Alpha until 1946, a black fraternity about which he wrote The History of Alpha Phi Alpha (1953). Wesley also wrote many other articles and books on African American history, leaders and organizations, including Negro Labor in the United States, 1850-1925 (1927), Collapse of the Confederacy (1937) and his last book, The History of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs: A Legacy of Service (1984).

  • 1936 - APA Foundation Publishers organized.

  • 1945 - Received Honorary 33rd Degree from the United Supreme Council A.A.S.R. (SJ).

  • 1942 - Wesley became president of Wilberforce University in Ohio until 1947, a school supported by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME). As president, Wesley improved the faculty, founded new programs (such as African Studies), and integrated the student body.

  • 1947 - Became President, College of Education and Industrial Arts of Central State College, Wilberforce, Ohio (1947-1965)

  • 1953 - Received Phi Beta Kappa key.

  • 1957 - Scottish Rite Gold Medal Award, United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation.

  • 1965 - June 30th retires from Central State College; becomes director of research and publication ASNLH.

  • 1965 - Executive Director, Association for the Study of Negro Life and History until 1972; then became Executive Director Emeritus.

  • 1968 - Inaugurated & Editor-in-Chief of International Library of Negro Life and History 10 vols.

  • 1972 - Received Armistad Award.

  • 1974 - Wesley served as director of the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia from its opening in 1974 to 1976.

  • 1987 - Passed away on August 16th, in Washington, DC.

SHORT LIST OF HIS PUBLICATIONS

  • 1927 "Negro Labor in the United States: a Study in American Economic History", 1850-1925. New York, 1927 343p. (New York, Russell & Russell, 1967)

  • 1929 "History of Alpha Phi Alpha; A Development in Negro College Life". DC, Howard U Press - 1st printed bk of black college fraternity (twelve editions, rev and enl. 1929-1961) 695p

  • 1935 "Richard Allen, Apostle of Freedom". Washington, D.C. 285p.

  • 1938 "The Collapse of The Confederacy". Washington, D.C. 225p.

  • 1954 "The history of Sigma Pi Phi, First of the Greek letter fraternities for Negro-Americans, 1904-1954". Washington, D.C. 1954. 393p.

  • 1955 "A history of the improved benevolent protective order of Elks of the world, 1898-1954". Washington, D.C., 1955. 503p

  • 1958 "Co-author with Carter G. Woodson, Negro makers of history". Washington, D.C. 1958. 406p.

  • 1959 "The story of the Negro retold". Washington, D.C. 472p.

  • 1961 "History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Ohio, 1849-1960". Wilberforce, OH

  • "1962 The Negro In Our History". by CHW and Carter G. Woodson. Washington, D.C., Associated Publishers, 1962, 1972. 893p.

  • "1968 International Library of Negro Life and History". Rev. Ed. Washington, D.C., Associated Publishers, 1968. 10 vols

  • "2 volumes: In Freedom's Footsteps: From the African Background to the Civil War". 307p. and Quest For Equality: From Civil War to Civil Rights. 307p.

  • 1968 "In freedom's footsteps; From the African Background to the Civil War"

  • 1972 "History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Ohio, 1849-1971". Wilberforce, OH

  • 1977 "Henry Arthur Callis; Life and Legacy". Chicago, Foundation Publishers. 295p.

  • 1977 "Prince Hall: Life and Legacy". Washington, D.C., United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation

  • 1984 "The History of the National Association of Colored Womens Clubs; A Legacy of Service". Washington, D.C., National Association