Quintard Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Quintard Taylor
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| Born |
Quintard Taylor Jr.
December 11, 1948 Brownsville, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Education | St. Augustine's College; University of Minnesota |
| Occupation | Historian |
| Known for | Founder of BlackPast.org |
| Parent(s) | Grace Taylor (1909–1991), Quintard Taylor Sr. (1898–1969) |
Quintard Taylor (born December 11, 1948) is a famous historian. He is known for creating BlackPast.org. This is an online encyclopedia that shares information about African-American history. He also used to be a professor at the University of Washington.
Contents
About Quintard Taylor
Quintard Taylor Jr. was born on December 11, 1948. His parents were Quintard Taylor Sr. and Grace Taylor. He grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee, and finished high school there.
He married Carolyn and they have three children. Their names are Quintard III, William, and Jamila.
His Education Journey
High School Years
Taylor went to Carver High School in Brownsville, Tennessee. He was a very good student. He finished 10th in his class of 210 students. His parents encouraged him to go to college, even though they didn't go themselves.
College Life
In the 1960s, the civil rights movement brought many changes to West Tennessee. This made him interested in studying history. He started college at age 16 at St. Augustine's College in North Carolina. He studied American history and graduated in 1969.
Graduate Studies
After college, he went to the University of Minnesota for his master's degree. This experience helped him explore new ways to study African American history. One of his professors, Allan Spear, started an African American history program there. Taylor earned his master's degree in 1971.
Later, in 1975, he went back to the University of Minnesota for his Ph.D. He finished his history degree in 1977.
His Career as a Professor
Starting His Teaching Career
After getting his master's degree in 1971, Taylor became an assistant professor. He started teaching at Washington State University (WSU). He was part of a new Black Studies program. He taught there for four years before starting his Ph.D.
Teaching History at Universities
After earning his doctorate in 1977, he looked for a job to settle down with his family. He became a history professor at California Polytechnic State University. He taught there for over 12 years, until 1990.
From 1987 to 1988, he also taught history at the University of Lagos in Nigeria.
Next, in 1990, he became a history professor at the University of Oregon. He taught there for nine years, until 1999.
Professor at the University of Washington
In 1999, he became a professor of American History at the University of Washington. He taught there for more than 18 years. He retired in June 2018.
Books and Projects
Quintard Taylor has written many books and articles. He has also worked on other projects.
Books He Wrote
- The Forging of a Black Community: A History of Seattle's Central District (2022)
- In Search of the Racial Frontier: African Americans in the American West, 1528–1990 (1998) – This book was even nominated for a Pulitzer Prize!
- Seeking El Dorado: African Americans in California, 1769-1997 (2001) – He co-edited this book.
- African American Women Confront the West, 1600–2000 (2003) – He also co-edited this one.
- From Timbuktu to Katrina: Readings in African American History, Vol. 1 (2008)
- From Timbuktu to Katrina: Readings in African American History, Vol. 2 (2007)
Online Work
- He is the founder and director of BlackPast.org. This website is a huge online resource for African American history.
TV Series
- He was part of a TV series called African Americans in the West in 2006.
Awards and Honors
Awards He Received
- Washington State Jefferson Award in 2015.
- Robert Gray Medal from the Washington State Historical Society in 2017.
- He received a lifetime achievement award for his work.
Other Recognitions
- He has been featured in articles by KPLU and Pacific NW Magazine.
- His important contributions to Black History were recognized in 2021.
