Robert Lee Vann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Lee Vann
|
|
|---|---|
Poster from Office of War Information. Domestic Operations Branch. News Bureau, 1943
|
|
| Born | August 27, 1879 Ahoskie, North Carolina, U.S.
|
| Died | October 24, 1940 (aged 61) |
| Alma mater | Virginia Union University University of Pittsburgh law school |
| Occupation | Publisher, editor |
| Known for | Pittsburgh Courier |
| Spouse(s) |
Jessie Matthews Vann
(m. 1919) |
Robert Lee Vann (born August 27, 1879 – died October 24, 1940) was an African-American newspaper publisher and editor. He was in charge of the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper from 1910 until he passed away.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Lee Vann was born in Ahoskie, North Carolina. His mother was Lucy Peoples. He was a very bright student. In 1901, he graduated as the top student from Waters Training School.
He then went to Wayland Academy and Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, from 1901 to 1903. Later, he studied law at the University of Pittsburgh. He finished law school in 1909. That same year, he passed the exam to become a lawyer. In 1919, he married Jessie Matthews.
Leading the Pittsburgh Courier
In 1910, Robert Lee Vann was one of only five black lawyers in Pittsburgh. At that time, over 25,000 African Americans lived in the city.
Starting the Newspaper
In March 1910, Vann helped create the official papers to start the Pittsburgh Courier. He also began writing for the newspaper. Because of Vann's connections, the paper found rich people to invest money in it. One of these investors was Cumberland Willis Posey Sr..
On May 10, 1910, the Pittsburgh Courier officially became a company. Vann handled all the legal work. The paper grew from four pages to eight pages that summer. However, it was hard to get enough readers and advertisers. This made it difficult for the paper to make enough money.
In the fall of 1910, the original founder, Edwin Nathaniel Harleston, left the paper. Robert Lee Vann then became the editor.
Growing the Courier
Under Vann's leadership, the Courier often featured his work as a lawyer and a public figure. As editor, Vann wrote articles that encouraged readers to buy from businesses that advertised in the Courier. He also held contests to get more people to read the paper.
In 1914, Vann wrote that the paper wanted to "abolish every bit of Jim Crowism in Pittsburgh." Jim Crow laws were unfair rules that treated black people badly and kept them separate from white people.
In the 1920s, Vann worked to make the news in the Courier even better. The "Local News" section covered the social lives of well-known black families in Pittsburgh. This included stories about their vacations, weddings, and parties. It also reported on local groups like the Pittsburgh Frogs.
Vann made the Courier a very respected newspaper. He hired professional staff and got ads from national companies. The paper also had its own printing press and reached many readers.
Fighting for Social Progress
In 1925, Vann hired George Schuyler, a writer whose strong opinions made him famous. This brought 10,000 new readers to the Courier.
The Courier also worked to make society better. For example, the paper wrote a lot about the unfair treatment of African Americans by the Pullman Company. This company ran sleeping cars on trains. The Courier supported the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, a union that fought for black workers' rights.
Vann used his articles to gain support for many causes. These included better homes in the Hill District, better education for black students, and equal job chances.
Political Influence
In 1932, Vann officially encouraged African Americans to change their political support. He told readers to vote for Democrats. He famously said, "My friends, go home and turn Lincoln's picture to the wall." This meant they should stop supporting the Republican Party, which Abraham Lincoln had led.
Later, in 1940, Robert Lee Vann supported Republican Wendell Willkie for president. This was against President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was a Democrat.
After becoming well-known for leading the Courier, Vann worked for the U.S. Attorney General from 1933 to 1935. He resigned in 1935 to return to the Pittsburgh Courier. By 1938, the paper was the biggest black weekly newspaper in America. It had 250,000 readers.
In 1939, Vann started a company called Interstate United Newspapers, Inc.. This company helped sell ads to black newspapers. After Vann's death, his wife became the president of this company.
Death and Legacy
Robert Lee Vann is buried at Homewood Cemetery in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
A ship named the SS Robert L. Vann was launched on October 10, 1943. His wife, Jessie Matthews Vann, was there for the launch. The ship was hit by an underwater mine on March 1, 1945, and sank. All the people on board survived.
A special historical marker in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, honors Vann's achievements. The former Robert L. Vann Elementary School in Pittsburgh was named after him. There is also a Robert L. Vann School in Ahoskie, North Carolina, named in his honor.
The Belgian Tower from the 1939 New York World's Fair was moved to Virginia Union University. It was renamed the Robert L. Vann Memorial Tower.
See also
