Charles Clinton Spaulding
Encyclopedia
Charles Clinton Spaulding (August 1, 1874 – August 1, 1952) was a prominent business leader who founded North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, which became America's largest black-owned business, with assets of over US$
40 million at his death.
.
He started out as a dishwasher and later, general manager of a grocery company when John Merrick, a progressive barber, and A. M. Moore, a practicing physician, thought of an idea of an insurance company in 1899 (then named North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association) and enlisted Spaulding as general manager.
Spaulding provided leadership in the National Negro Insurance Association
and the National Negro Bankers Association by 1920. In 1942 the New York Chamber of Commerce, mainly a white body, elected him to membership. He served as a trustee for Howard University, Shaw University, and North Carolina College.
He was also active in politics. As national chairman of the Urban League's Emergency Advisory Council from 1930 to 1939, he campaigned to secure New Deal
jobs for African-Americans.
Spaulding died on his 78th birthday in Durham, North Carolina
.
for distinguished achievement in business. Shaw University
, Tuskegee Institute and Atlanta University conferred honorary Doctorates of Law on him.
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
40 million at his death.
Biography
Spaulding was born in Columbus County, North CarolinaColumbus County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 54,749 people, 21,308 households, and 15,043 families residing in the county. The population density was 58/sq mi . As of 2004, there were 24,668 housing units at an average density of 26/sq mi...
.
He started out as a dishwasher and later, general manager of a grocery company when John Merrick, a progressive barber, and A. M. Moore, a practicing physician, thought of an idea of an insurance company in 1899 (then named North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association) and enlisted Spaulding as general manager.
Spaulding provided leadership in the National Negro Insurance Association
National Insurance Association
The National Insurance Association is the largest organization representing African American owned and operated insurance companies.-History:...
and the National Negro Bankers Association by 1920. In 1942 the New York Chamber of Commerce, mainly a white body, elected him to membership. He served as a trustee for Howard University, Shaw University, and North Carolina College.
He was also active in politics. As national chairman of the Urban League's Emergency Advisory Council from 1930 to 1939, he campaigned to secure New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
jobs for African-Americans.
Spaulding died on his 78th birthday in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
.
Awards and honors
In 1926 Spaulding was awarded the Harmon Foundation Gold MedalWilliam E. Harmon Foundation award for distinguished achievement among Negroes
The William E. Harmon Foundation award for Distinguished Achievement among Negroes commonly referred to as the "Harmon award" or "Harmon foundation award", was a philanthropic and cultural award created in 1926 by William E. Harmon and administered by the Harmon Foundation...
for distinguished achievement in business. Shaw University
Shaw University
Shaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....
, Tuskegee Institute and Atlanta University conferred honorary Doctorates of Law on him.