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All ANALYTICAL STUDY OP MEGROES LISTED 1936-1937 EDITION OF WHO'S WHO II AMERICA A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ATLANTA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULF1LLMEHT OF TE^ REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF FASTER OF ARTS BY KATHRYN ELYZAB15TH RICHARDS OH DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY ATLANTA, GEORGIA MAY, 19S8 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer wishes to acknowledge her debt to her adviser, Ira De A. Reid, professor of Sociology at Atlanta University, for the suggestions and criticisms offered in connection with this thesis. To Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, Chairman of the Department of Sociology, Atlanta University, the writer gives sincere thanks for the very helpful sug gestions and materials offered. The writer wishes to further express her deep appreciation to Mr. Monroe I. Work, Editor of the Negro Year Book, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, for the pertinent material which he sent in eonnection with this study. To all who assisted her in any way with this study the writer is indeed grateful. Kathryn E. Richardson Atlanta University Atlanta, Georgia May, 1938 TABLE OF COHTEHTS CliAPTER . PAGE I IITRODUCTIOI 1 II THE SOCIAL BACKGROUND 8 The Meaning of Social Background .......... 8 Place of Birth and Place of Residence 8 Place of Residence ........................ 10 A Comparison: The Birthplace and Place of Residence 12 Uarital Status IS Age 20 Children 21 Education .., 22 Church Affiliation SI III OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY 54 Residential Mobility 36 IV INTELLECTUAL AID SOCIAL ACEIIWE^fEHTS 44 Scholastic Distinction 44 Honorary Society - Phi "eta Kappa ...»*...• 44 Other Honorary Societies 45 Social Features 45 Travel 46 Writings 46 Membership on Various Committees 47 Y ■SUMMEY AMD CONCLUSIONS 48 General Conclusions ..« 51 i!APPENDIX 56 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION No truer statement has ever been made than "Nothing succeeds like success," and in all of the controversy as to the ability of Negro men and women in the business, professional, and industrial worlds, there is no better argument to be presented than that of the Negro men and wom en who have actually succeeded. Now that legro men and women have been accepted as a permanent factor in our national life, questions are not being asked as to whether they ean succeed, but, "What is the background from which these Hegroes emerge in order to reach these positions they have attained?" Or rather, "How do they succeed in attaining these po sitions? Perhaps the most important question of all is, "What are some basic factors which have aided the Negro to gain fame according to Ameri can standards?" It is an attempt to answer these questions that this ana lytical study is made of Negroes listed in the 1936-193? Edition of Who's Who i^Jmerica. It also seems that an objective study of a special phase of the problem of Negroes listed as leaders might be of value to leaders and the folk whom they lead. An inquiry into background factors of prominent Negroes, those considered most outstanding in .America today, seems much needed. An in vestigation of this kind may prove of value, in that light may be thrown on the nature, character, and possibilities of leadership, thus providing a basis for appraisal, a stimulus for more technical research, and at least a modicum of encouragement for those observers who believe that all is -well, or all is ill, with the underprivileged American citizens whom men label "Negroes". The purpose of this study then is to discovers (l) significant facts in the social background of legroes listed in Who'sWho in America, as indicated by the places of their birth—including the towns or oitiess states and sections in which they were born, and the tovms or cities, states and sections in which they reside; also the family background- including marital status, age, and number of children; (2) the extent and general quality of their education, as shown by formal training, the character of the institution that furnished the training, location of in stitution, and kind of degrees renewed* (3) occupational history—includ ing professions and vocations, honors—academic and professional, informal educational contacts and intellectual stimulations gained through varied experiences, as might be manifest in their affiliation with learned so cieties and associations; (4) by their public life, including local or national connection, membership on committees, publications, religious denomination or services, and their service to humanity. The source of the writer's data was the volume, Uho's flho While Who's Who in America cannot claim to be a criterion of eminence, at least it is _a criterion, and perhaps the most accessible one the writer had. Working on this assumption, and understanding that the editors of this biographieal directory, either by word or by impli cation, claim that they have chosen legroes prominent or outstanding in 2SSSlL^}Sj£JS^I^ 1936-1937 Edition, Chicago* A. I. Marquis Company. the affairs of the nation and \uho are decidedly of such public interest as to justify the inclusion of their life-sketches in the volume. However, Who *js Who inAmgrica seems to have the highest admission requirements of 1 all national biographical directories. An analysis has been -ma.de of the legroes whose names appear in th© 1956-37 volume. One hundred Negroes are listed. It should be pointed out that a list of the names of Negroes listed in ]j^o|.g^^ho jj^Jl|gig£iog, %TOS sent by Monroe IT. Work, editor of the Negro Year' Book, as they will appear in the 1936-37 edition of the Negro 2 Year Book. The scope of this study includes the information received from the national 1936-37 edition of Tgh^s^lho^JLnjteierioa for one hundred Negroes• The 1936-37 edition of gho_^s_Who in America was chosen because in this par ticular volume a complete list of all Negroes listed from the beginning of the first edition of Who's Who_ in America up to the present time appears. "The first edition of Who "%g...jj^jg^Sy-!^. "wh-s published in June, 1899, or slightly more than thirty-seven years ago. During the event ful period which has since elapsed, the volume has established for itself a world-wide authority. It has grown steadily in public favor from th© first and today is everywhere recognized as the premier reference book pertaining to notable Americans—both men and women—In all parts of the world. Hence it has become a necessity—for all who would keep abreast 1 —————— Harry W, Greene, "legro Leadership" — a Study of th© Educational and Social Background Factors of Prominent legroes Whose Life Sketches are Carried in National Directories, 1937, West Virginia State College, West Virginia, page 20. 2 Monroe N. Work, Editor ££^^j£a*LBoob---An annual encyclopedia of the Negro, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, page 157 1936-37 edition. of the times, all %vho value immediately accessible biographical facts concerning the people who are foremost in worthwhile American activities and achievement." The names in Whq^sjwhq in America are selected by a chosen committee, not as the best but as an attempt to choose the best knoim men and women of the country in all lines of useful and reputable achieve ments—names much in the public eye, not locally, but nationally. WhoMs Iho in America aims to include, as nearly as possible, brief life sketches of the men and women whose positions or achievements make them, subjects 2 of wide inquiry if not of general interest. it tells just the things that are most frequently sought concerning the outstanding men and women in every line of life, including places and date of birth, occupation, education, degree, marital status, children, age, occupational history, principal achievements, volumes published, societies, clubs, membership on committees, residenees church affiliation, in fact, the chief features of each career. The items just stated are the items used in making the analytical study of Eegroes listed in the 1936-57 edition of gho^s jyho in America. 11In the pages of the volume is mirrored the national life in all its various phases; the development of science and industry; the marshaling of financial forces on a scale never before attempted* the building up of intelligence by the increasing magnificent* and widening Mi _# 1936-1937 edition, page 7, Chicago i A.N.Marquis 'Company.1" 2 Ibid, page 8. scope of educational facilities} the growing power of the nationj the development of literature and art; the ministry of the gospel at home and abroad through the American agencies* the progress and evolution of new social theories and potentialities, all these and other phases of American activity and progress are pictured through the life sketches of the men and women who best represent them."' The standards of admission to Wh^s_ jfho in America divide the eligibles into two classes? (1) "Those who are selected on account of special promineij.ee in creditable lines of effort, making them the subjects of extensive interest, inquiry, or discussion in this country! and (g) those who are arbitrarily included on account of official pe- 2 sition—civil, military, naval, religious* educational, et cetera." The first of these two classes comprises persons who have accomplished some oonspicious achievement—something out of the ordina ry, so to speak—something which distinguishes them from the vast ma jority of their contemporaries. This class is confined to Americans or those who are so prominently identified with American affairs as to be subjects of wide inquiry or discussion in the United States. Thus, a few foreign actors, singers, lecturers, and others are included, who, by frequent visits to America, or in some other way have become the sub jects of common American interest.

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