Benjamin Quarles: The African American Registry - Negro History Bulletin, Rosalyn Terborg-Peen

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�PAGE � �PAGE �1� Cassandra Rush

Benjamin Quarles

Benjamin Quarles served as a model to a whole generation of scholars in African-American history. According to "A Journal for Literary and Artistic African American Themes", Quarles was one of the finest, most original historians of his generation. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts January 23, 1904. Quarles was the son of a subway porter. Quarles went to school at age 23 and received his Bachelors at Shaw University, Masters and PHD at the University of Wisconsin (The African American Registry).

Quarles received many honors. He worked at Dillard University from 1939-1953 and became a professor and the Dean of Instruction while he was there. While working at Dillard University, Professor Quarles published books and articles for more than 50yrs. There were 26 encyclopedia entries, 11 chapters in books, 5 documentary sources, 23 articles, 10 books, and 170 book reviews.

Professor Quarles most seminal work was "Black Abolitionists". White historians openly questioned whether blacks could write objective history and they also believed that African-American history lacked sufficient primary sources for serious research writing. With careful writing and research, Quarles confirmed the existence of a rich documentary of African-American life (The African American Registry/Bulletin, Rosalyn-Peen).

The Book that students used for history courses may have consisted of "The Negro in the Making of America". This book was published in 1964, which enabled faculty to easily integrate the African American experience into U.S. History (Negro History Bulletin, Rosalyn-Penn). Professor Quarles was also active in the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH) from 1948-1984. He also help found the Association of Black Women Historians. Benjamin Quarles received many awards for his good works. Just a few more of Quarles books include: "Blacks on John Brown, Federick Douglass, Allies for Freedom: Blacks and John Brown, Black Mosaic: Blocks and John Brown"

I conclude by saying, Benjamin Quarles served as a model to a whole generation of scholars in African-American history. According to "A Journal for Literary and Artistic African American Themes", Quarles was one of the finest, most original historians of his generation. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts January 23, 1904. Quarles was the son of a subway porter. Quarles went to school at age 23 and received his Bachelors at Shaw University, Masters and PHD at the University of Wisconsin (The African American Registry).

References:

The African American Registry

Negro History Bulletin, Rosalyn Terborg-Peen