February 29, 1940 Robert Sengstacke Abbott, lawyer and newspaper publisher, died. Abbott was born November 24, 1870 in Frederica, St. Simons Island, Georgia. From 1892 to 1896, Abbott studied the printing trade at Hampton Institute. In 1898, he earned his law degree from Kent College of Law. However, due to racial prejudice, he was unable […]
Archive | February 29, 2012
February 29th in African American History – Willi Donnell Smith
February 29, 1948 Willi Donnell Smith, one of the most successful young fashion designers in fashion history, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Smith attended Philadelphia College of Art for fashion illustration and then moved to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design. He quit Parsons in 1967 to pursue a design career on […]
February 29th in African American History – Cullen Jones
February 29, 1984 Cullen Jones, Olympic Gold medal winning freestyle sprint swimmer, was born in New York City, but grew up in Irvington, New Jersey. Jones learned to swim after he nearly drowned when he was five years old. He turned professional in 2006 and swam a leg in the world record breaking 4 by […]