Robert Stanton (Indiana politician) facts for kids

Robert L. Stanton (born 1902) was a dentist and a politician in Indiana. He served two terms in the Indiana House of Representatives, which is part of the state's government. He was elected in 1932 and 1934 from Lake County, Indiana. Robert Stanton grew up in Arkansas. He studied at Meharry Medical College to become a dentist. After graduating, he started his dental practice in East Chicago.

Stanton helped many African Americans join the Democratic Party in Lake County. In 1932, he was one of the first two African Americans elected to the Indiana state legislature as a Democrat. The other person was Henry J. Richardson Jr., a lawyer from Indianapolis.

Early Life and Education

Robert L. Stanton was born on April 15, 1902, in Newport, Arkansas. He went to Newport High School. After high school, he attended Shorter College from 1917 to 1919. He also studied at Wilberforce University, which is a historically black college, from 1920 to 1922.

In 1925, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. This college is also a historically black college. He continued his studies there and earned his dental degree (D.D.S.) in 1929.

Family Life

Robert Stanton got married and had a family. His daughter, Beverly Stanton, later married Dr. Dwight McKenna. They met in Washington, D.C., where he was finishing his medical degree at Howard University. The couple settled in Dr. McKenna's hometown of New Orleans.

In 1985, Beverly and Dwight McKenna started The New Orleans Tribune newspaper. They named it after an important newspaper from 1864. In 2005, they also founded Le Musee de f.p.c.. This museum tells the story of the free people of color in New Orleans through the eyes of their descendants.

Political Career and Community Work

After becoming a dentist, Robert Stanton moved to East Chicago, Indiana. This was part of the Great Migration, when many African Americans moved from the South to the North. In East Chicago, he started his dental practice. He also joined the Better Government Democratic Political Club.

Stanton played a big part in encouraging African Americans to join the Democratic Party in Lake County. In 1932, his efforts helped change state politics. Many African Americans voted for Democratic candidates, helping them win elections.

His election in 1932 was a major event. For many years, African Americans had mostly supported the Republican Party. This was because the Republican Party had helped end slavery and gain voting rights after the Civil War. However, by the 1930s, many African Americans were disappointed with the Republican Party. They felt it wasn't helping them enough, especially during the Great Depression.

The 1932 election was a breakthrough. Both major parties had an African-American candidate for the Lake County seat. Stanton, as a Democrat, won the election. He served two terms in the Indiana House of Representatives, winning again in 1934.

After leaving the legislature in 1937, he moved to Indianapolis. Besides his dental work, he worked for the Resettlement Administration office from 1937 to 1938. This was a government program during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's time. In 1941, Stanton moved to Fort Wayne.

Robert Stanton retired as a dentist in 1983, after more than 50 years. He and his family were members of the African Methodist Episcopal church. This was the first independent black church started in the United States. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, which was the first college fraternity for black students, and the National Dental Association.

See also

• List of African-American officeholders (1900–1959)