William Sanders Scarborough
Encyclopedia
William Sanders Scarborough (February 16, 1852 - September 9, 1926) is generally thought to be the first African American
classical scholar. Scarborough served as president of Wilberforce University
between 1908 and 1920 after having been born into slavery. He wrote a popular university textbook in Classical Greek
which was widely used in the 19th century.
, in 1852 to a free railway employee and a slave mother. He inherited his mother's status. Despite prohibitions against educating slaves, he was educated surreptitiously and had mastered the three R's, geography and grammar by the age of 10. He became an apprentice shoemaker and served as the secretary of a prominent black association at an early age due to his level of education.
After the end of the American Civil War
, he was able to complete his education at Lewis High School in Macon before attending Atlanta University for a couple of years. Scarborough completed his degree at Oberlin College
graduating in 1875. He then returned to Lewis High School as a teacher in classical languages where he met his future wife Sarah Bierce who was the Principal. Arsonists torched the Lewis High School in 1876 and the local fire brigade let it burn to the ground. Scarborough briefly became the Principal of the Payne Institute in Cokesburg, South Carolina but found the racial environment in South Carolina even less hospitable than Georgia. He then returned to Oberlin to complete a Masters Degree.
in 1877. He married Bierce who had previously been a white divorcee and missionary in 1881 and she also became a teacher at Wilberforce. Professor Scarborough also published a popular Classical Greek textbook First Lessons in Greek in 1881 and became the first Postmaster in Wilberforce the same year. A second book, Birds of Aristophanes
followed in 1886.
Scarborough was one of the first African American members to join prestigious academic associations being the first member of the Modern Language Association
and the third member of the American Philological Association
. The Modern Language Association
has named a first-book prize in his honor.
Despite his prominence as a scholar, Scarborough suffered the effects of discrimination throughout his career. In 1909 when he had just become the President of Wilberforce, he was barred from attending an American Philological Association
meeting in Baltimore, Maryland because the hotel refused to serve dinner if he was present and was threatening to sue for breach of contract if the Association cancelled the Conference. The paper that he was due to read at the conference was read by someone else. However, in 1892, Scarborough gave a lecture on Plato at the University of Virginia
with pictures of Jefferson Davis
and other confederate leaders on the walls and no other African Americans allowed into the room except as servants.
In 1908, Scarborough was appointed as President of Wilberforce University serving in that position until 1920. Wilberforce University was the African American college and Scarborough was considered one of the leading African American scholars. As such, he published a number of papers on Negro education as well as his works on classical languages.
which he occupied until his death. He was working on an autobiography which wasn't published during his lifetime. However, Michele Ronnick, full Professor in the Classics Department of Wayne State University
found a copy of the manuscript in the archives of the Ohio Historical Society
. Ronnick edited The Autobiography of William Sanders Scarborough: An American Journey From Slavery to Scholarship which was published in 2005 by Wayne State University Press with a foreword by Henry Louis Gates.
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...
classical scholar. Scarborough served as president of Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
between 1908 and 1920 after having been born into slavery. He wrote a popular university textbook in Classical Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
which was widely used in the 19th century.
Early life and career
Scarborough was born in Macon, GeorgiaMacon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, in 1852 to a free railway employee and a slave mother. He inherited his mother's status. Despite prohibitions against educating slaves, he was educated surreptitiously and had mastered the three R's, geography and grammar by the age of 10. He became an apprentice shoemaker and served as the secretary of a prominent black association at an early age due to his level of education.
After the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he was able to complete his education at Lewis High School in Macon before attending Atlanta University for a couple of years. Scarborough completed his degree at Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
graduating in 1875. He then returned to Lewis High School as a teacher in classical languages where he met his future wife Sarah Bierce who was the Principal. Arsonists torched the Lewis High School in 1876 and the local fire brigade let it burn to the ground. Scarborough briefly became the Principal of the Payne Institute in Cokesburg, South Carolina but found the racial environment in South Carolina even less hospitable than Georgia. He then returned to Oberlin to complete a Masters Degree.
Wilberforce University
Scarborough became a professor in the classical department at Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, OhioWilberforce, Ohio
Wilberforce is a census-designated place in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,579 at the 2000 census. The community was named for the English statesman William Wilberforce, who worked for abolition of slavery and achieved the end of the slave trade in the United Kingdom and...
in 1877. He married Bierce who had previously been a white divorcee and missionary in 1881 and she also became a teacher at Wilberforce. Professor Scarborough also published a popular Classical Greek textbook First Lessons in Greek in 1881 and became the first Postmaster in Wilberforce the same year. A second book, Birds of Aristophanes
Aristophanes
Aristophanes , son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus, was a comic playwright of ancient Athens. Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete...
followed in 1886.
Scarborough was one of the first African American members to join prestigious academic associations being the first member of the Modern Language Association
Modern Language Association
The Modern Language Association of America is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and literature...
and the third member of the American Philological Association
American Philological Association
The American Philological Association , founded in 1869, is a non-profit North American scholarly organization devoted to all aspects of Greek and Roman civilization...
. The Modern Language Association
Modern Language Association
The Modern Language Association of America is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and literature...
has named a first-book prize in his honor.
Despite his prominence as a scholar, Scarborough suffered the effects of discrimination throughout his career. In 1909 when he had just become the President of Wilberforce, he was barred from attending an American Philological Association
American Philological Association
The American Philological Association , founded in 1869, is a non-profit North American scholarly organization devoted to all aspects of Greek and Roman civilization...
meeting in Baltimore, Maryland because the hotel refused to serve dinner if he was present and was threatening to sue for breach of contract if the Association cancelled the Conference. The paper that he was due to read at the conference was read by someone else. However, in 1892, Scarborough gave a lecture on Plato at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
with pictures of Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
and other confederate leaders on the walls and no other African Americans allowed into the room except as servants.
In 1908, Scarborough was appointed as President of Wilberforce University serving in that position until 1920. Wilberforce University was the African American college and Scarborough was considered one of the leading African American scholars. As such, he published a number of papers on Negro education as well as his works on classical languages.
Final Years
In 1921, President Harding appointed Scarborough to a position in the United States Department of AgricultureUnited States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
which he occupied until his death. He was working on an autobiography which wasn't published during his lifetime. However, Michele Ronnick, full Professor in the Classics Department of Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
found a copy of the manuscript in the archives of the Ohio Historical Society
Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
. Ronnick edited The Autobiography of William Sanders Scarborough: An American Journey From Slavery to Scholarship which was published in 2005 by Wayne State University Press with a foreword by Henry Louis Gates.
Further reading
- Ronnick, M.V. (ed.) (2005) The Autobiography of William Sanders Scarborough: An American Journey From Slavery to Scholarship, Wayne State University Press, ISBN 0-8143-3224-2
- Ronnick, M.V. (ed.) (2006) "The Works of William Sanders Scarborough: Black Classicist and Race Leader", Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-530962-1