John W. Blassingame facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John W. Blassingame
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| Born |
John Wesley Blassingame
March 23, 1940 |
| Died | February 13, 2000 (aged 59) New Haven, Connecticut, US
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| Alma mater |
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Notable work
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The Slave Community (1972) |
| Spouse(s) | Teasie Jackson Blassingame |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Yale University |
| Thesis | A Social and Economic Study of the Negro in New Orleans, 1860–1880 (1971) |
| Doctoral advisor | C. Vann Woodward |
| Other academic advisors | Rayford Logan |
| Notable students | Jeffrey C. Stewart |
| Influenced | Albert J. Raboteau |
John Wesley Blassingame (1940–2000) was an important American historian. He was a leader in studying American slavery. Blassingame also served as the head of the African-American studies program at Yale University.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Wesley Blassingame was born on March 23, 1940. His hometown was Covington, in the state of Georgia. His parents were Grady and Odessa Blassingame.
He earned his first college degree in 1960 from Fort Valley State College. He then received a master's degree from Howard University in 1961. Later, he continued his studies at Yale University. There, he earned another master's degree in 1968 and a doctorate in 1971. His PhD paper was about the lives of Black people in New Orleans from 1860 to 1880.
Career at Yale University
Blassingame joined the teaching staff at Yale University in 1970. By 1974, he became a full professor of history. He taught at Yale for 29 years. During this time, he taught history, African-American studies, and American studies.
Important Books and Projects
John Blassingame wrote and edited many books. These books helped people learn more about American history.
Studying Slavery
One of his most famous books was The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South (1972). This book explored what life was like for enslaved people on plantations. He also collected many real stories from enslaved people. These stories were published in his book Slave Testimony (1977). It included letters, speeches, interviews, and life stories from people who had been enslaved.
Editing Frederick Douglass's Papers
From 1979 to 1999, Blassingame worked on a huge project. He edited the writings of Frederick Douglass. Douglass was a famous writer, speaker, and leader who fought against slavery. Blassingame published six volumes of Douglass's papers and manuscripts.
Collaborations
Blassingame also worked with other writers on books. He co-authored Long Memory: The Black Experience in America (1982) with Mary F. Berry. He also co-edited The Autobiographical Writings of Booker T. Washington (1972) with Louis Harlan.
Involvement in Organizations
Blassingame was a member of many groups. These organizations worked to preserve history and educate people. Some of these included the American Historical Association and the Southern History Association. He was also a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and the Phi Alpha Theta honor society.
Later Life
John Blassingame passed away on February 13, 2000.
