T. Gillis Nutter facts for kids
Thomas Gillis Nutter (1876 – 1959) was a lawyer, businessman, and politician. He lived in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Nutter is best known as one of the first African-American members of the West Virginia Legislature. He was elected in 1918 and again in 1920. This was a time when many Black people in the South could not vote or hold office. Yet, Nutter won in a district that was mostly white.
Nutter was very active in the NAACP. He led the West Virginia chapter in 1929. He also joined Black fraternal organizations. In 1929, Nutter helped win a lawsuit that stopped racial segregation in West Virginia's public libraries. This meant Black people could use them. In the same year, he joined the American Bar Association, even though it usually did not allow African Americans. Later, in 1948, he won a federal court case. This case said that the city of Montgomery, West Virginia could not keep its public pool separate for Black and white people. The city closed the pool for 14 years instead of letting everyone use it. This victory helped the NAACP fight similar cases across the country.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
T. Gillis Nutter was born on June 15, 1876. He grew up in Princess Anne, Maryland, a rural area. His parents were William and Emma Nutter. He had a younger brother, Isaac Henry, and two younger sisters, Julia and Hattie.
Gillis and his brother attended public schools in Maryland that were separated by race. From a young age, Gillis was interested in law. He went to Howard University in Washington, D.C.. This was a special university for Black students. He earned his law degree in 1899. His brother Ike also studied law at Howard.
After Gillis graduated, his father passed away. Gillis returned to Maryland to help his mother. He worked as a school principal in Fairmount, Maryland for two years.
Starting His Law Career
In 1901, Nutter decided to become a lawyer. Because of segregation in Maryland, he moved to another state to get his law license. He was approved to practice law in Marion County, Indiana, on November 13, 1901.
Nutter then moved to Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital. He opened his own law office there, and his mother moved with him. He became a successful lawyer, working for several big companies. As he became more known, Nutter helped create the Mutual Savings and Loan Company of Charleston. This was the only bank in the state owned by African Americans at that time.
Later, Nutter worked for the West Virginia State Auditor's office for six years. In 1915, he wrote a bill that changed the state's tax laws. This bill was passed by the West Virginia legislature.
Political Career
Becoming a Politician
Nutter joined the Republican Party. Many Black people supported this party because President Abraham Lincoln had ended slavery. In 1918, Nutter ran for the West Virginia state legislature as a Republican. Former Governor George W. Atkinson and other important Republican leaders supported him. Nutter won the election in November by a large number of votes. His district had less than 10 percent Black residents.
Nutter was elected again for a second two-year term in November 1920. During this term, he served on the House Judiciary Committee. He worked to build state institutions for African Americans. These included a mental hospital and special schools for Black boys and girls. At this time, Nutter was one of the very few Black people elected to state office in the Southern United States. This situation did not change much until the 1960s.
Fighting for Equality
In 1929, Nutter was the head of the West Virginia branch of the NAACP. He played a key role in ending segregation in the state's public libraries. He heard that Black citizens were not allowed in public libraries. So, Nutter and another Black lawyer, C. E. Kimbrough, took the case to the West Virginia Supreme Court. The court agreed with them. It said that public libraries were not schools. Therefore, they were not subject to the "separate but equal" Jim Crow rules.
Also in 1929, Nutter was allowed to join the American Bar Association. This was special because the association usually did not accept Black members. He continued to have a successful law practice. In the late 1930s, he even represented white businesses in a very large land deal.
In 1947, Nutter filed a lawsuit in federal court. He wanted to end segregation at a public swimming pool in Montgomery, West Virginia. He chose a federal court hoping for a fair decision that could help Black people in other places too. In 1948, the federal court ruled that the city had to provide equal access to the pool. If they had a pool for white people, they also had to have one for Black people. The city of Montgomery could not afford a second pool. They also did not want to let Black people use the existing one. So, they closed the pool until 1961. This was a major victory for Black Americans fighting against swimming pool segregation in courts. This case helped the NAACP with similar lawsuits across the country.
Personal Life and Community Work
On December 18, 1920, Nutter married Sarah Meriwether Nutter. She was also a Howard University graduate and a teacher. In college, she helped start Alpha Kappa Alpha. This was the first sorority for African-American women.
The Nutters attended First Baptist Church in Charleston, a Black church founded in 1868. In 1924, Nutter taught a Men's Sunday School class at the church.
Nutter was also active in several fraternal groups. In 1913, he became the national leader of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World. He was known for helping to create and restart many local groups during his time as leader.
Nutter strongly believed in helping African Americans succeed in West Virginia. In 1924, he wrote an article for The Messenger magazine. It was part of a series called "These 'Colored' United States." His article highlighted the lives of 28 successful Black men and women. They included business owners, professionals, and educators, including his wife. He also shared facts about property owned and businesses.
In 1928, Nutter led the West Virginia section of the Knights of Pythias, another Black fraternal group.
Death and Legacy
Nutter passed away in Charleston on June 23, 1959. He was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Washington, D.C. on June 26, 1959.
Nutter is remembered for being elected to office when very few Black officials were in the South. He also helped end segregation in public libraries as president of the state NAACP.
Since 1959, the West Virginia Conference of NAACP Branches has given out the TG Nutter Award. It is one of their highest honors.
