List of African-American officeholders (1900–1959) facts for kids

African Americans faced many challenges in the early 1900s, especially when it came to holding public office. After the Reconstruction era (the time after the Civil War), new laws and practices in the Southern states made it very hard for Black citizens to vote or be elected to government jobs. Despite these difficulties, some brave and determined African Americans still managed to serve their communities in important roles.

This article looks at some of these pioneering Black leaders who held public office between 1900 and 1959. Their efforts paved the way for many more African Americans to enter politics after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed.

Two women made history during this time:

• Minnie Buckingham Harper became the first African-American woman to serve in a state legislature. She was appointed in 1928 to finish her husband's term in the West Virginia House of Delegates.
• Crystal Bird Fauset was the first Black woman to be elected to a state legislature. She won her election to the Pennsylvania House in 1938.

African Americans in Federal Government

Federal office means serving the entire country, usually in Washington, D.C. During this period, African Americans mostly served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives Members

These individuals represented their states in the U.S. Congress:

• Oscar Stanton De Priest (1929-1953)
• Arthur Wergs Mitchell (1935-1943)
• William L. Dawson (1943-1970)
• Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (1945-1971)
• Charles Diggs (1955-1980)
• Robert N. C. Nix Sr. (1958-1979)

African Americans in State Government

State office means serving in the government of a specific state, like a state senator or representative. Even though it was very difficult, some African Americans were elected or appointed to state legislatures across the country.

Notable State Representatives and Senators

Here are some of the African Americans who served in state governments during this time:

Alaska

• Blanche McSmith (1959) served in the Alaska House.

California

• Frederick Madison Roberts (1918) served in the California Assembly.
• Augustus Hawkins (1934-1960) also served in the California Assembly.

Colorado

• George L. Brown served in both the Colorado House (1955) and Senate (1957).

Connecticut

• Wilfred X. Johnson (1958) served in the Connecticut House. His home, the Wilfred X. Johnson House, is a historic landmark.

Delaware

• William J. Winchester (1948) served in the Delaware House.

Georgia

Even with many challenges, some African Americans served in the Georgia House in the early 1900s, including:

• H. F. McKay (1900-1901)
• Lectured Crawford (1900-1901)
• W. H. Rogers (1902-1908)

Illinois

Illinois had several African American lawmakers in both the Senate and House:

• Senate: Adelbert H. Roberts (1924), William E. King (1934), and Fred J. Smith (1954) were among those who served.
• House: Many African Americans served in the Illinois House, including John G. Jones (1900), Robert R. Jackson (1912), Corneal A. Davis (1943), and Floy Clements (1958).

Indiana

• Senate: Robert Brokenburr (1940) served in the Indiana Senate.
• House: Harry H. Richardson (1932) and Jesse L. Dickinson (1942, 1944) were among those in the Indiana House.

Kansas

• W. M. Blount (1929-1930, 1933–1936) served in the Kansas House.

Kentucky

• Charles W. Anderson (1936) served in the Kentucky House.

Maryland

• Senate: Harry A. Cole (1955-1966) served in the Maryland Senate.
• House: Emory Cole (1955) and Verda Welcome (1958) were among those in the Maryland House.

Massachusetts

• William H. Lewis (1902) served in the Massachusetts House.

Michigan

• Senate: Charles A. Roxborough (1930) and Cora Brown (1952) served in the Michigan Senate.
• House: James W. Ames (1901) and Charline White (1950) served in the Michigan House.

Missouri

• Walthall M. Moore (1921) and James Troupe Sr. (1954) were among those who served in the Missouri House.

Nebraska

• John Adams Jr. (1935) served in the Nebraska House and later in the Unicameral Legislature (1937).

New Jersey

• Many African Americans served in the New Jersey General Assembly, including Walter G. Alexander (1920), James L. Baxter (1927), and Madaline A. Williams (1957).

New York

• Senate: Julius A. Archibald (1953) served in the New York Senate.
• State Assembly: Edward A. Johnson (1917), Hulan E. Jack (1940), and Bessie A. Buchanan (1955) were among those in the New York State Assembly.

Ohio

• Many African Americans served in the Ohio House, including George W. Hayes (1901), Harry E. Davis (1921), and Chester K. Gillespie (1933-1935, 1943–1945).

Oklahoma

• A. C. Hamlin (1908) served in the Oklahoma House.

Pennsylvania

• Many African Americans served in the Pennsylvania House, including Harry W. Bass (1911), Homer S. Brown (1934), and Susie Monroe (1949-1968).

Vermont

• William J. Anderson (1944) served in the Vermont House.

Washington

• John H. Ryan (1933) and Charles Stokes served in the Washington House.

West Virginia

• James M. Ellis (1902), Ebenezer Howard Harper (1917), and Minnie Buckingham Harper (1928) served in the West Virginia House.

Wisconsin

• Lucian H. Palmer (1906) and Leroy J. Simmons (1944) served in the Wisconsin Assembly.

African Americans in Local Government

Local office means serving in the government of a city or county. These roles were often closer to the everyday lives of people.

Notable City Council Members and Commissioners

• Illinois: Oscar Stanton De Priest served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners (1904–1908) and the Chicago City Council (1915–1917, 1943–1947). Other Chicago City Council members included William L. Dawson (1933-1939) and Claude Holman (1955-1973).
• Michigan: William T. Patrick (1957-1963) served on the Detroit City Council.
• New York: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (1942-1945) and Benjamin J. Davis Jr. (1945-1949) served on the New York City Council.
• Ohio: Thomas W. Fleming served on the Cleveland City Council.