March 17, 1898 Blanche Kelso Bruce, the first elected African American United States senator to serve a full term, died. Bruce was born enslaved on March 1, 1841 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. Because his father was white, he was able to legally free Bruce and arrange for a trade apprenticeship.
Tag Archives | March 17
Ida Rebecca Cummings – March 17th in African American History
March 17, 1867 Ida Rebecca Cummings, educator and civic leader, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Cummings earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Morgan State College in 1922. Cummings began teaching in 1900 and taught for 37 years. In 1904, she and other members of the Colored YMCA established the Colored Empty Stocking and Fresh […]
Elizabeth Louise “Betty” Allen – June 22nd in African American History
June 22, 2009 Elizabeth Louise “Betty” Allen, operatic mezzo-soprano, died. Allen was born March 17, 1927 in Campbell, Ohio. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Hartford School of Music in vocal performance and her first major performance came in 1951 as the soprano soloist in “Jeremiah Symphony” with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.