Mahoney, Charles H., 1886-1966

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Charles H. Mahoney, Detroit attorney and businessman, was the first African-American to serve as U.S. delegate to the United Nations, having been appointed in 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower. Born in Decatur, Michigan in 1886 to Barney and Viora Simpson Mahoney, Charles finished his early education at Decatur. He attended Olivet College, distinguishing himself as an orator and an athlete. He later attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn, before entering the University of Michigan Law School, where he received his law degree in 1911. Charles Mahoney entered the practice of law in Detroit in 1912, and during the Sweet Trial, he was associate council to Clarence Darrow. In 1928, he was a founder of the Great Lakes Insurance Company in Detroit, serving as President and Board member from 1928-1959. In 1918 he ran unsuccessfully for Detroit's first nine man council. His later bids for Congress on the Republican ticket were also unsuccessful. Often an appointive public servant, he was the first African-American to serve on the Detroit City Plan Commission, the Wayne County Board of Supervisors, the Michigan Labor Commission, and during WW I, Governor Groesbeck's Michigan Interracial Commission. (from Margaret Ward, April, 1984) (blue index cards)

From the description of Charles H. Mahoney papers, 1907-1965 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 436446627

African American lawyer and executive, of Detroit, Mich.

From the description of Papers, 1909-1965. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 28410580

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Mahoney, Charles H., 1886-1966. Charles H. Mahoney papers, 1907-1965 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Baskin, Alex. Alex Baskin interviews, 1959-1960. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Mahoney, Charles H., 1886-1966. Papers, 1909-1965. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. corporateBody
associatedWith Baskin, Alex. person
associatedWith Great Lakes Insurance Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Olivet College. corporateBody
correspondedWith Provine, William B. person
associatedWith University of Michigan corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Detroit (Mich.)
Michigan
United States
Detroit (Mich.)
Michigan--Detroit
Subject
African Americans
Ambassadors
Insurance companies
Lawyers
Practice of law
Occupation
African American executives
African American lawyers
Executives
Lawyers
Activity

Person

Birth 1886

Death 1966-01-29

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