Benjamin F. Bowles facts for kids
Benjamin Franklin Bowles (1869–1928) was an important African American leader. He worked as a teacher and a high school principal. He also started a college called Douglass University in St. Louis, Missouri. This college was special because it helped African American students get an education during a time when many schools kept Black and white students separate.
About Benjamin F. Bowles
Benjamin Franklin Bowles was born in 1869 on a farm in Pike County, Ohio. His parents were Delia Nash and John H. Bowles. He went to Wilberforce University and earned a special degree in 1905.
Bowles was married twice and had five children. His first wife was Annie R. Anderson. Later, he married Caroline "Carrie" King Johnson.
His Early Career
Early in his career, Bowles taught at grammar schools in Du Quoin and Metropolis, Illinois. From 1896 to 1914, he was the principal of Lincoln High School in East St. Louis. He also taught at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. Lincoln University was a public college for African American students.
In 1921, Bowles signed a petition for the NAACP. This group works for the rights of African Americans. He supported the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill. This bill was a law that aimed to stop violence against Black people.
Founding Douglass University
In 1926, Bowles started Douglass University in St. Louis. He ran the school until the late 1920s when his health declined. The university continued to open and close for many years after that.
When Douglass University first opened, no other college in St. Louis County accepted Black students. Lincoln University, founded in 1866, was the first college in Missouri to allow Black students. Douglass University was the second. It was also one of only two schools in the entire United States that offered full law degrees to Black students.
His Legacy
Benjamin Franklin Bowles passed away in September 1928. W. E. B. Du Bois, another famous African American leader, wrote to Bowles' wife, Carrie. He asked her to write about Bowles for The Crisis magazine. Bowles is remembered for his important work in education and civil rights.
