Chapter IV: The Royal Adventurers and the Plantations (13)

Dr. H. B. Learned, a member of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia, was then introduced to the Association. He confined his remarks to a discussion of the thoughts of the preceding speakers impressing him most and especially to that of illiteracy. He gave some valuable information as to the intellectual development of soldiers drafted during the recent war and said much to throw light on the conditions of those sections from which they came. He made an appeal for an increasing interest in the illiterates of both races and emphasized how difficult it is for men to live for the greatest good of themselves and their fellows without adequate enlightenment in things fundamental. His address was scholarly and timely and deeply impressed his hearers.

The meeting of the Executive Council of the Association was held at two o'clock of the same day. Matters of much importance were considered. Among these may be mentioned the decision to employ a field agent for the extension of the work, the change of the meeting from biennial to annual, and the plans for increasing the income of the Association. It was decided to recommend Mr. William G. Willcox and Mr. Emmett J. Scott for membership in the Executive Council.

The evening session of the first day was held at the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church. A large and respectable audience was present. The speakers of the occasion were Mr. Archibald H. Grimke and Emmett J. Scott. Mr. Grimke delivered an address on "The Negro and Social Justice," Beginning with the Declaration of Independence, Mr. Grimke founded the rights of the Negro in the doctrines advanced by the statesmen and philosophers of that time and then supported these claims by the liberal provisions in the Constitution and its amendments. How the United States Government has failed to live up to the standard of the real democracy, although professing to promote the cause of the same, was the main feature of this address. It was on the whole an interesting discourse and it was well received.

Mr. Emmett J. Scott, the second speaker of the evening, undertook to answer the question: "Did the Negro get a Square Deal?" In this discussion he briefly reviewed the working of the War Department and other branches of the government having to do with the war, bringing out in each case exactly what the attitude of the respective branch of the government was toward the Negro as evidenced by the disposition of complaints of discrimination set before the heads of those departments. The address brought out the two important points: that Mr. Scott, as Special Assistant to the Secretary of War, had been untiring in his efforts to secure for the Negro the proper recognition of his rights, but because of rampant race prejudice these rights were generally disregarded by the public functionaries with exception of the War Department, where the Secretary did do so much to eliminate such discrimination that they were decidedly reduced in that department. It showed also that after all and in spite of the various explanations made for delay and grievances which were not redressed that the Negro soldiers did not get a square deal.

Dr. C. V. Roman, Field Secretary attached to the surgeon general's office to lecture in the cantonments on social hygiene, discussed full American citizenship as an ultimate goal of the Negro. To explain his attitude he made his remarks strictly historical, contrasting the discouraging aspect of things in 1857 with the much more encouraging situation eight years later in 1865 when the Negro emerged as a free man. He too brought forth facts to show that while the attitude of the majority of the people of this country toward the Negro has been unfavorable, it has on the whole been hopeful in that the condition of the Negro has grown better rather than worse.

The morning session of Wednesday, the second day of the meeting, was to be opened by an address by Mr. Charles H. Wesley, but owing to the unavoidable absence of Dr. Thomas Jesse Jones, it was decided to have Mr. Wesley address the evening session at the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church. Dr. J. E. Moorland then spoke of "What the Negro Got out of the War." He did not take the attitude of those desiring to criticize the government because of its shortcomings nor did he express disappointment over the fact that the Negro's participation in the war was not considered sufficient to remove all discrimination on their return home. He referred rather to the lessons of thrift, economy, coöperation, and social uplift, which given renewed impetus by our experiences during this war, will set to work among the Negro people forces which augur for success.

The Association was then addressed by Mr. Ezra Roberts, head of the academic department of Tuskegee Institute, Dr. James H. Dillard and Dr. J. Stanley Durkee. Mr. Roberts spoke briefly of his systematic effort to teach Negro history at Tuskegee, discussing the plans, purposes and means to the end. He referred to the dearth of text-book material adequately to cover the field and gave the books which he used for source material. His address was very illuminating and tended to open to the seeker of truth a neglected field. He was followed by Mr. James H. Dillard, who discussed the same subject, emphasizing the necessity to study Africa also as a background. Mr. Dillard spoke of his interest in the work of the Association and pledged his support of the effort to extend the work. Dr. J. Stanley Durkee, President of Harvard University, mentioned also the need for a study of the Negro in antiquity to bring to light the beautiful romances of African history which does so much credit to the Negro race. He believed also that more attention should be given to the study of social problems and an equipment of the youth for social service and spoke briefly of his plans to take up such work in the reconstruction of Howard University.

At the close of the morning session the business meeting set for two o'clock was immediately held to avoid the intensive heat which the members would have to endure to return at that hour of the day. The new business coming before the Association was presented. After hearing the reports the following new officers were reëlected:

Dr. R. E. Park, _President_,
Dr. J. E. Moorland, _Secretary-Treasurer_,
Dr. C. G. Woodson, Director.

The following were chosen members of the Executive Council:

Robert E. Park, William G. Willcox,
Jesse E. Moorland, L. Hollingsworth Wood,
Carter G. Woodson, Irving Metcalf,
Julius Rosenwald, Thomas J. Jones,
George Foster Peabody, A. L. Jackson,
James H. Dillard, Moorfield Storey,
John R. Hawkins, R. E. Jones.
Emmett J. Scott,

Dr. R. E. Park, Dr. J. E. Moorland and Dr. C. G. Woodson were chosen as trustees of the Association. Dr. John R. Hawkins, Dr. J. E. Moorland and Mr. L. Hollingsworth Wood were appointed members of the Business Committee.

The reports of the Director and Secretary-Treasurer follow.

THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR

The period covered by the last two years has been the most
successful in the history of the Association. It has not yet
solved all of its difficult problems and is far from being above
want, but the progress it has made during the last two years
indicates that the ultimate accomplishment of its purposes is
assured. The edition of the JOURNAL OF NEGRO HISTORY has reached
4,000. The current circulation, however, is a little less, but
the numbers remaining on hand are gradually absorbed by the book
trade. Our subscription list shows 1648 subscribers. About 600
copies are sold at news stands and 500 are brought out at the end
of the year in bound form. Because of the value of the JOURNAL OF
NEGRO HISTORY in this form as a source book, the demand has
recently been so great that it is necessary to reprint all
numbers hitherto published.

The achievements of the Association have been various. There has
been among the people an increasing interest in the study of
Negro life and history as a result of the extension of the
circulation of the JOURNAL OF NEGRO HISTORY and the Negro reading
public has been considerably enlarged. This publication is now
read by serious thinkers throughout the world and research
students find it a valuable aid. The people as a whole are now
ready to hear the facts in the case of the Negro. They desire to
know exactly what the race has done to be entitled to the
consideration given other elements of our population.

To supply this need the Director has supplemented the work of the
JOURNAL OF NEGRO HISTORY by reprinting and circulating a number
of valuable dissertations and by publishing several books among
which are _Slavery in Kentucky_, _The Royal Adventurers into
Africa_, and _A Century of Negro Migration_. In the near future
the Association will publish for Mr. Justice Riddell, of the
Ontario Supreme Court, a monograph on _The Slave in Upper
Canada_. The Director has written an illustrated text-book on
Negro History which will be published within a few months. These
efforts indicate that the Association will soon develop into a
nucleus of workers known throughout the world as publishers of
authoritative and scientific books bearing on Negro life and
history.

It is highly gratifying that it is becoming less difficult to
find funds to support the work of the Association. A number of
persons who made contributions from the very beginning have
recently increased their donations. Among these are Mr. Moorfield
Storey and the Phelps Stokes Fund. From other sources there have
been obtained several substantial contributions such as $100 from
Mr. Frank Trumbull, $100 from Mr. William G. Willcox, $200 from
Mr. Morton D. Hull, $250 from Mr. Jams J. Storrow, and $400 from
Mr. Cleveland H. Dodge, the amount which Mr. Julius Rosenwald has
from the beginning annually contributed.

The Director has endeavored so to increase these contributions as
to secure an endowment making the Association a foundation for a
serious scientific study of Negro life and history.
Unfortunately, however, philanthropists have not seemed disposed
to invest large sums in such an enterprise. The reply to such an
appeal is, that while this work is of great value, they have no
assurance that should the present promoters find it necessary to
retire therefrom, that the work would go on in the way it has
been established and maintained. These philanthropists have in
mind the dearth of scholarship in this field. When our colleges
and universities, therefore, will have developed a serious
student body primarily interested in applying science to the
solution of the race problem, these gentlemen will consider this
appeal more sympathetically.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 16, 1919.

_The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History,
Incorporated._

_Gentlemen:_ I hereby submit to you a report of the amount of
money received and expended by the Association for the Study of
Negro Life and History, Incorporated, from June 30, 1917, to June
16, 1919, inclusive:

RECEIPTS EXPENDITURES

Subscriptions $1,532.14 Printing and stationery $5,283.65
Memberships 483.17 Petty cash expenses 955.18
Contributions 4,989.29 Rent and light 314.03
News agents 357.94 Stenographic services 844.49
Advertisement 202.66 Refunds 12.20
Books 22.40 Advertising 128.00
--------- Bond 10.00
Total receipts June, 1917, to ---------
June, 1919 $7,587.60 Total expenditures $7,547.55
Balance, June 30, 1917 58.40 Balance, June 16, 1919 98.45
--------- ---------
$7,646.00 $7,646.00
--------- ---------

Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) J. E. MOORLAND,
_Secretary-Treasurer_.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 16, 1919.

DR. C. G. WOODSON, Director, Association for the study of Negro
Life and History, 1216 You Street, N.W., City.

_Dear Sir_:

In accordance with your request, I have audited the books of the
Secretary-Treasurer of the Association for the Study of Negro
Life and History and find them correct for the period from July
6, 1917, to June 16, 1919.

Respectfully,
(Signed) C. E. LUCAS,
_Auditor._

The constitution as amended at the business session follows.

CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF NEGRO LIFE AND
HISTORY

I. The name of this body shall be the Association for the Study
of Negro Life and History.

II. Its object shall be the collection of sociological and
historical documents and the promotion of studies bearing on the
Negro.

III. Any person approved by the Executive Council may become a
member by paying $1.00 and after the first year may continue a
member by paying an annual fee of one dollar. Persons paying
$2.00 annually become both members of the Association and
subscribers to the JOURNAL OF NEGRO HISTORY. On the payment of
$30.00 any person may become a life member, exempt from
assessments. Persons not resident in the United States may be
elected honorary members and shall be exempt from any payment of
assessments. Members organized as clubs for the study of the
Negro shall gratuitously receive from the Director such
instruction in this field as may be given by mail.

IV. The Officers of this Association shall be a President, a
Secretary-Treasurer, a Director of Research and Editor, and an
Executive Council, consisting of the free foregoing officers and
twelve other members elected by the Association. The Association
shall elect three members of the Executive Council as trustees.
It shall also appoint a business committee to certify bills and
to advise the Director in matters of administrative nature. These
officers shall be elected by ballot through the mail or at each
annual meeting of the Association.

V. The President and Secretary-Treasurer shall perform the duties
usually devolving on such officers. The Director of Research and
Editor shall devise plans for the collection of documents, direct
the studies of members and determine what matter shall be
published in the JOURNAL OF NEGRO HISTORY. The Executive Council
shall have charge of the general interests of the Association;
including the election of members, the calling of meetings, the
collection, and disposition of funds.

VI. This Constitution may be amended at any biennial meeting,
notice of such amendment having been given at the previous
biennial meeting or the proposed amendment having received the
approval of the Executive Council.

The last session of the Association was held Wednesday evening at the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church. In the absence of Dr. J. E. Moorland, Professor John R. Hawkins presided. The first address was delivered by Mr. Charles H. Wesley on "The Negro Soldier in the Confederate Army." Mr. Wesley's address was scholarly and illuminating. He showed that he had made extensive research in this field in that he was well acquainted with his subject and he had it well outlined. It was presented in topical form and made so clear that it was almost impossible not to understand the extent to which the Negro figured as a soldier in the Confederate Army. He took occasion to show the difference between the Negro's loyalty to his country and that to the master class and explained how an attachment to the soil on which one lives is inevitable. The whole address tended to bring forth the thought that the Negro is so closely connected with all the great movements of this country that it is impossible to treat him as an alien.

Dr. George E. Haynes, the next speaker, discussed "Some Economic Problems of the Negro." As the Director of the Bureau of Negro Economics in the Department of Labor, Dr. Haynes has done considerable investigation which enables him to speak with authority in this field. His discussion was largely statistical, treating the Negro laborer as compared with the white laborer with respect to absenteeism, turn-over and general efficiency. On some points his investigation had not gone sufficiently far to reach definite conclusions. In most cases, however, he had facts to warrant conclusions as to the main deficiency from which the Negro laborer suffers and the respects in which he excels the white laborer.

Mr. John W. Davis, Executive Secretary of the local Young Men's Christian Association, undertook to explain "How to Promote the Study of Negro Life and History." In the first place, he answered the questions whether or not the Negro had any history, whether this history is worth saving, and how the movement should be promoted. Basing his remarks on the achievements of Africa to show that the Negro has a history worth while, Mr. Davis supported the contention that the race has a tradition which should be passed on to generations unborn. He then endeavored to show briefly exactly how there can be constructed the machinery adequate to interesting every individual having pride in the achievements of this large fraction of the population of the country.

* * * * *

[Transcriber's Notes:

Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and other inconsistencies. The transcriber made the following changes to the text to correct obvious errors:

1. p. 15, No footnote marker for footnote #18 in original text.
2. p. 15, No footnote marker for footnote #19 in original text.
3. p. 15, Footnote #19, "Attiude" --> "Attitude"
4. p. 18, "thereupon he suffered" --> "thereupon be suffered"
5. p. 30, Footnote #12, "skteches" --> "sketches"
6. p. 61, "intellignce" --> "intelligence"
7. p. 69, "about what time" --> "About what time"
8. p. 103, "depneded" --> "depended"
9. p. 109, "Ilinois" --> "Illinois"
10. p. 115, "expeience" --> "experience"
11. p. 273, No footnote text for footnote #58.
12. p. 288, "daugther" --> "daughter"
13. p. 291, "Apirl" --> "April"
14. p. 306, "Apri" --> "April"
15. p. 380, Footnote #16, "salvery" --> "slavery"
16. p. 410, "uusal" --> "usual"
17. p. 421, "supoprt" --> "support"
18. p. 429, "Apirl" --> "April"

Also, many occurrences of mismatched single and double quotes remain as published.

End of Transcriber's Notes]