Charles Henry Thompson
Encyclopedia
Charles Henry Thompson was the first African American
to obtain a doctoral degree in educational psychology
.
to Patrick Henry and Sara Estelle Thompson. His parents were both teachers at the Jackson College. Thompson went to school in Virginia at Wayland Academy where he graduated from high school in 1914.
. He graduated in 1917 with a Bachelor’s Degree by doubling his course load. After graduation, he trained as an army cadet in Des Moines, Iowa. He then attended the University of Chicago
and fulfilled a second undergraduate degree in 1918. Thompson was drafted into the army in Camp Grant
and then France. He remained in the Army for nineteen months, where he was an Infantry Personnel Regimental Sergeant Major
. When he got discharged, he returned to the University of Chicago, double majoring in education and psychology. He received a Masters degree in 1920 and a Ph.D.
in 1925.
, but settled for educational psychology because there were not any known African Americans with a degree in psychiatry. He became an instructor at Virginia Union University between 1920 and 1921. In 1922 he became the director of instruction at Alabama State Normal School until 1924. He was a social science and psychology
professor between 1925 and 1926 at Sumner High school
and Junior College located in Kansas City. Thompson finally settled at Howard University
, where he held various posts, including professor of education, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and the Dean of the Graduate school.
for over thirty years.
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to obtain a doctoral degree in educational psychology
Educational psychology
Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations. Educational psychology is concerned with how students learn and develop, often focusing...
.
Early life
Thompson was born in 1896 in Jackson, MississippiJackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
to Patrick Henry and Sara Estelle Thompson. His parents were both teachers at the Jackson College. Thompson went to school in Virginia at Wayland Academy where he graduated from high school in 1914.
Undergraduate/Graduate College
Straight after high school Thompson enrolled in Virginia Union UniversityVirginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
. He graduated in 1917 with a Bachelor’s Degree by doubling his course load. After graduation, he trained as an army cadet in Des Moines, Iowa. He then attended the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and fulfilled a second undergraduate degree in 1918. Thompson was drafted into the army in Camp Grant
Camp Grant
Camp Grant may refer to:* Camp Grant, California* Camp Grant * Camp Grant , site of the Camp Grant massacre...
and then France. He remained in the Army for nineteen months, where he was an Infantry Personnel Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
. When he got discharged, he returned to the University of Chicago, double majoring in education and psychology. He received a Masters degree in 1920 and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1925.
Career
Thompson had a strong desire to become a psychiatristPsychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
, but settled for educational psychology because there were not any known African Americans with a degree in psychiatry. He became an instructor at Virginia Union University between 1920 and 1921. In 1922 he became the director of instruction at Alabama State Normal School until 1924. He was a social science and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
professor between 1925 and 1926 at Sumner High school
Sumner High School
Sumner High School may refer to these high schools in the United States:* Sumner High School , in Sumner, Georgia, listed on the NRHP in Georgia* Sumner High School , in Sumner, Iowa, listed on the NRHP in Iowa...
and Junior College located in Kansas City. Thompson finally settled at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, where he held various posts, including professor of education, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and the Dean of the Graduate school.
Publications
Thompson was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Negro EducationJournal of Negro Education
The Journal of Negro Education is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by Howard University established in 1932...
for over thirty years.
Memberships
Thompson was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.