Moorland, Jesse Edward, 1863-1940

African American executive of the YMCA, trustee of Howard University, and collector of books relating to African Americans.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1790-ca. 1939. (Moorland-Spingarn Resource Center). WorldCat record id: 70938964

• 1863 Sept. 10: Born in Coldwater, Ohio; son of William and Nancy Jane Moorland. Completed preliminary education at Northwestern Normal University in Ada, Ohio. After teaching a few years, he entered Howard University.
• 1886 July 23: Married Lucy Corbin Woodson. They had no children.
• 1891: Graduated salutatorian from Howard University's Theological Department.
• 1891 - 1893 : Worked as the General Secretary of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the YMCA.
• 1893 - 1896 : Pastor of Howard Chanel in Nashville, Tennessee.
• 1896 - 1898 : Pastor of Mount Zion Congregational Church, Cleveland, Ohio.
• 1891 Nov. 1: Appointed Secretary of the International Committee of the YMCA; worked closely with William A. Hunton, the first paid "colored" Secretary of the YMCA.
• 1906: Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree conferred by Howard University.
• 1907 - 1940 : Served as member of the Howard University Board of Trustees.
• 1914: Donated over 3,000 books on Afro-Americans to Howard University. Dr. Moorland's collection became the nucleus for the Moorland Foundation, now known as the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center.
• 1916: Became the Senior Secretary of the Colored Men's Department of the YMCA at the death of William A. Hunton.
• 1923: Retired as an International Secretary after 25 years of service to the YMCA, but continued to work in an advisory capacity.
• 1924: Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree conferred by Oberlin, College, Oberlin, Ohio.
• 1939 March 20: Lucy Woodson Moorland died; buried in Washington, D.C.
• 1940: Dr. Moorland donated his personal papers to the then Moorland Foundation.
• 1940 Apr. 30: Dr. Moorland died; buried in Washington, D.C.

Source: The Jesse E. Moorland Papers, folders #123 and #124

• 1853: First YMCA for "colored" was organized in Washington, D.C. First President was Anthony Bowen.
• 1869: First "colored" college YMCA was organized at Howard University
• 1888: William A. Hunton appointed Secretary of colored" association at Norfolk, Va. HE! was the first salaried officer of any race for a "colored" association.
• 1890: International Committee appointed Mr. Hunton as an International Secretary for "colored" work. Served as Secretary to both student and city divisions in the Colored Men's Dept.
• 1891 - 1893 : Jesse Moorland worked as the General Secretary of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of YMCA. Left: YMCA work to return to ministry full time.
• 1898: Jesse Moorland left the ministry to accept YMCA appointment as Secretary of International Committee.
• 1898 - 1914 : Hunton and Moorland worked in a coordinated effort until the work load dictated specialization: Hunton responsible for student work; Moorland responsible for city work.
• 1914: Hunton became ill. Moorland takes charge of all YMCA "colored" work as Senior Secretary. A young Channing Tobias, a student Secretary appointed in 1911, later assigned Hunton'S student work.
• 1916: Hunton died.
• Secretary Max Yergan started YMCA work in India. see #1230
• After several months. Yergan accompanied a detachment of Indian troops to Dar-Es-Salaam, East Africa
• 1918: Yergan returned to U.S. after two years in East Africa.
• 1920 - 1936 : Yergan, his wife and young child went to South Africa. Yergan was responsible for starting over 36 associations.
• 1921 - 1923 : Dr. Moorland and Channing Tobias work together for several years.
• 1923: Dr. Moorland retired and Channing, Tobias became Senior Secretary for all "colored" work. Dr. Moorland continued to work with the YMCA in advisory capacity.

Source: The Jesse E. Moorland Papers, YMCA series.

From the guide to the Jesse Edward Moorland Papers, ca. 1790-ca. 1940, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)