Turner, Thomas Wyatt

Dates:
Active 1918
Active 1978

Biographical notes:

African American biologist, educator, and Catholic activist; professor, Howard University (1913-1924) and Hampton Institute (1924-1945).

From the description of Papers, 1918-1978. (Moorland-Spingarn Resource Center). WorldCat record id: 70939798

1877 March 16 Born in Hughesville, Maryland to Eli Turner and Linnie Gross. 1894 Graduated from St. Mary's Parochial and Industrial School, Maryland. 1901 Received A.B. degree, Howard University. 1901 Enrolled (briefly) at the Catholic University of America. 1901 02 Taught science and mathematics at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. 1902 10; 1911 Served as biology teacher at Colored High and Training School, Baltimore, Maryland. 1905 Received A.M. degree, Howard University. 1907 Married Laura Miller (Dec. 1934). No children. 1909 Became N.A.A.C.P. Secretary, and Charter Member, First Branch organized in Baltimore. 1910 11 Taught high school in St. Louis, Missouri. 1913 20; 1921 Professor of Applied Biology and Nature Study,Teachers' College, Howard University. 1917 Founded the Committee Against the Extension of Race Prejudice in the Church. 1918 August Served in Maine as Field Assistant in Cytology for U.S.D.A. 1920 21 Took sabbatical leave to work on doctorate. 1921 Received Ph.D in Plant Physiology, Plant Pathology, and Pomology from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. 1918 20 Served as Acting Dean of Teachers' College, Howard University. 1924 1945 Professor, Head of Unit of Natural Sciences, Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia. 1925 Founded and served as first president of the Federated Colored Catholics of the United States (FCC). 1933 Resigned as President of, the National Catholic Federation for the Promotion of Better Race Relations (successor to FCC). 1936 Married Louise Wright. No children. 1943 Conducted study of science teaching and science education in Negro Colleges. 1948 Ran unsuccessfully for Hampton (Virginia) City Council. 1949 50 Visiting Professor at Texas State University for Negroes, Houston, Texas. 1976 Received honorary doctor of science degree from the Catholic University of America. 1978 Died in Washington, DC.

From the guide to the Thomas Wyatt Turner Papers, Bulk, 1918-1978, 1894-1980, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)

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Subjects:

  • African American Catholics

Occupations:

  • African American college teachers
  • African American college teachers
  • African American scientists
  • African American scientists
  • Biologists
  • Biologists

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • Virginia--Hampton (as recorded)
  • Washington (D.C.) (as recorded)

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