Mordecai Wyatt Johnson
Encyclopedia
Mordecai Wyatt Johnson was an American
educator. He served as the first black president of Howard University
, from 1926 until 1960.
Johnson was born in Paris, Tennessee
, the son of former slaves Reverend Wyatt J. Johnson and Carolyn Freeman.
Johnson received his B.A.
from Morehouse College
in 1911, and second bachelor of arts degree from the University of Chicago
two years later. He studied at several other institutions of higher education, including the Rochester Theological Seminary, Harvard University
, Howard University
, and the Gammon Theological Seminary.
), in 1917 he became pastor of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia. He later founded a chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP).
On June 26, 1926, at the age of 36, Johnson was unanimously elected the eleventh President of Howard University
, becoming the first permanent African American
to head that institution. He served until 1960. Prior to his appointment Johnson had served as Professor of Economics and History at Morehouse. He had also served as Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia
.
The NAACP awarded Johnson the Spingarn Medal (its highest honor at that time), for Johnson's ability to secure annual federal funds
to support the university's financial future. During his tenure, Johnson appointed Charles Hamilton Houston
as dean of the law school. Johnson raised millions of dollars for new buildings and for upgrading all of the schools. National honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, were established on the campus of Howard. During his administration, it was said that Howard had the greatest collection of African American scholars to be found anywhere. Notable scholars at Howard included: Alain Locke, a philosopher and a Rhodes Scholar from Harvard University
, Ralph Bunche
, professor of political science and later a Nobel Laureate; Charles Drew, who perfected the use of blood plasma; Percy Julian
, a noted chemist; and Sterling Brown, professor of English and noted Harlem Renaissance
poet.
Enrollment at Howard University
increased from 2,000 in 1926 to more than 10,000 in 1960.
After 34 years of service and bringing the university into national prominence, Johnson retired from the presidency of Howard University in 1960.
Mordecai Wyatt Johnson died on September 10, 1976, at the age of 86, in Washington, D.C.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator. He served as the first black president of 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...
, from 1926 until 1960.
Johnson was born in Paris, Tennessee
Paris, Tennessee
Paris is a city in Henry County, Tennessee, United States, west of Nashville, on a fork of the West Sandy River. In 1900, 2,018 people lived in Paris, Tennessee; in 1910, 3,881; and in 1940, 6,395. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,763. It is the county seat of Henry...
, the son of former slaves Reverend Wyatt J. Johnson and Carolyn Freeman.
Johnson received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
in 1911, and second bachelor of arts degree from 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...
two years later. He studied at several other institutions of higher education, including the Rochester Theological Seminary, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, 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...
, and the Gammon Theological Seminary.
Early Life
Johnson was born on January 12, 1890, in Paris, Tennessee. His father, Wyatt Johnson, was a preacher and mill worker. His mother was a domestic worker for one of the prominent families in town. He married Anna Ethelyn Gardner on December 25, 1916. They had five children: Carolyn, Mordecai Jr., Archer, William, and Faith.Career
Following a brief stint as secretary of the western region of the Student Young Men's Christian Association (YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
), in 1917 he became pastor of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia. He later founded a chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NAACP).
On June 26, 1926, at the age of 36, Johnson was unanimously elected the eleventh President of 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...
, becoming the first permanent African American
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 head that institution. He served until 1960. Prior to his appointment Johnson had served as Professor of Economics and History at Morehouse. He had also served as Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
.
The NAACP awarded Johnson the Spingarn Medal (its highest honor at that time), for Johnson's ability to secure annual federal funds
Federal funds
In the United States, federal funds are overnight borrowings by banks to maintain their bank reserves at the Federal Reserve. Banks keep reserves at Federal Reserve Banks to meet their reserve requirements and to clear financial transactions...
to support the university's financial future. During his tenure, Johnson appointed Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston was an African American lawyer, Dean of Howard University Law School and NAACP Litigation Director who played a significant role in dismantling the Jim Crow laws and trained future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.Houston was born in Washington, D.C. His father...
as dean of the law school. Johnson raised millions of dollars for new buildings and for upgrading all of the schools. National honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, were established on the campus of Howard. During his administration, it was said that Howard had the greatest collection of African American scholars to be found anywhere. Notable scholars at Howard included: Alain Locke, a philosopher and a Rhodes Scholar from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Ralph Bunche
Ralph Bunche
Ralph Johnson Bunche or 1904December 9, 1971) was an American political scientist and diplomat who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his late 1940s mediation in Palestine. He was the first person of color to be so honored in the history of the Prize...
, professor of political science and later a Nobel Laureate; Charles Drew, who perfected the use of blood plasma; Percy Julian
Percy Julian
Percy Lavon Julian was an African American research chemist and a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants...
, a noted chemist; and Sterling Brown, professor of English and noted Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
poet.
Enrollment 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...
increased from 2,000 in 1926 to more than 10,000 in 1960.
After 34 years of service and bringing the university into national prominence, Johnson retired from the presidency of Howard University in 1960.
Johnson the Orator
Johnson was an annual speaker for the Education Night at the National Baptist Convention, and a speaker at during the Ford Hall Forum in Boston. He traveled 25,000 miles a year throughout the country speaking principally on topics such as racism, segregation, and discrimination. In 1951 he was a member of the American delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that met in London.Mordecai Wyatt Johnson died on September 10, 1976, at the age of 86, in Washington, D.C.