William Tecumseh Vernon
Encyclopedia
Bishop William Tecumseh Vernon (July 11, 1871 – July 25, 1944) was an American minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
, president of Western University
beginning in 1896, and Register of the Treasury
from 1906 to 1911.
In 1896 at the age of 25, he became minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
and also was appointed president of Western University
, a historically black university and an A.M.E. owned school. He was a lifelong proponent of education.
Being a prominent black Republican
, Theodore Roosevelt
appointed him to Register of the Treasury
in 1906. All US currency printed during his appointment as Register carries the signature of William T. Vernon. He was briefly reappointed by William Howard Taft
in 1910 for a few months, but was soon reassigned to be the Supervisor of Indian and Negro Schools on a reservation in Oklahoma.
After his removal as Register in 1910, he became president of another A.M.E. school, Campbell College in Mississippi (1912–1915). He was subsequently pastor of Avery Chapel in Memphis, 1916-1920.
William T. Vernon was consecrated as Bishop in 1920. He immediately departed for South Africa to perform duties as a missionary.
At the 1932 AME General Conference, charges were brought against three bishops: William Tecumseh Vernon,
Joshua Jones, and William Decker Johnson. Ultimately, Vernon and Jones were suspended from their duties
for misuse of conference funds.
In 1933, after the A.M.E. Church withdrew its support from the Western University, Vernon returned to that school to lead it again. He appointed a strong faculty and succeeded in getting its accreditation restored before stepping down in 1936.
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the...
, president of Western University
Western University (Kansas)
Western University was a historically black college established as Quindaro Freedman's School at Quindaro, Kansas after the Civil War. It was the earliest school for African Americans west of the Mississippi River and the only one ever to operate in the state of Kansas...
beginning in 1896, and Register of the Treasury
Register of the Treasury
The Register of the Treasury was an office of the United States Treasury Department. In 1919, the Register became the Public Debt Service which, in 1940, became the Bureau of the Public Debt....
from 1906 to 1911.
Biography
William T. Vernon was the son of a slave. His father was owned by the Vernon family. William attended college at Lincoln Institute (now Lincoln University of Missouri) in Jefferson City, Missouri. After he graduated, he taught there for a number of years.In 1896 at the age of 25, he became minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the...
and also was appointed president of Western University
Western University (Kansas)
Western University was a historically black college established as Quindaro Freedman's School at Quindaro, Kansas after the Civil War. It was the earliest school for African Americans west of the Mississippi River and the only one ever to operate in the state of Kansas...
, a historically black university and an A.M.E. owned school. He was a lifelong proponent of education.
Being a prominent black Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed him to Register of the Treasury
Register of the Treasury
The Register of the Treasury was an office of the United States Treasury Department. In 1919, the Register became the Public Debt Service which, in 1940, became the Bureau of the Public Debt....
in 1906. All US currency printed during his appointment as Register carries the signature of William T. Vernon. He was briefly reappointed by William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
in 1910 for a few months, but was soon reassigned to be the Supervisor of Indian and Negro Schools on a reservation in Oklahoma.
After his removal as Register in 1910, he became president of another A.M.E. school, Campbell College in Mississippi (1912–1915). He was subsequently pastor of Avery Chapel in Memphis, 1916-1920.
William T. Vernon was consecrated as Bishop in 1920. He immediately departed for South Africa to perform duties as a missionary.
At the 1932 AME General Conference, charges were brought against three bishops: William Tecumseh Vernon,
Joshua Jones, and William Decker Johnson. Ultimately, Vernon and Jones were suspended from their duties
for misuse of conference funds.
In 1933, after the A.M.E. Church withdrew its support from the Western University, Vernon returned to that school to lead it again. He appointed a strong faculty and succeeded in getting its accreditation restored before stepping down in 1936.
Author
William T. Vernon was the author of two books.- The upbuilding of a race: or The rise of a great people, a compilation of sermons, addresses and writings on education, the race question and public affairs (1904)
- What the American Negro expects of world-wide democracy: a statement of the Negro's case and cause (1919)