The educator and Head of Tuskegee College, Dr Booker T. Washington, died on 14 November 1915, aged only 59.
Born into slavery in Virginia in 1856, Washington was the leading figure in the campaign (from 1890 to 1915) to gain civil rights for the African-American community. In particular, he represented those blacks in the former Confederacy who had been disenfranchised by legislature in the southern states, and whose lives had also been affected by the ‘Jim Crow Laws’.
To commemorate his life and achievements, we’ve posted two stories from the Archive which offer an excellent summary and overview of his life as a black leader and educator.
Lichfield Mercury – Friday 19 November 1915
Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000379/19151119/010/0002
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Tuesday 16 November 1915
Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/19151116/058/0005
Newcastle Journal – Wednesday 17 November 1915
Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000569/19151117/066/0006
