Papers of the American Negro Academy. (The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers, No. 18-19.)

Archibald Henry Grimké

1849–1930

A pioneering Black lawyer, diplomat, and civil rights leader, he turned personal history into public action. His life moved from post–Civil War classrooms to courtrooms, newsrooms, and the early fight for equal rights in America.

Lafayette M. Hershaw

1863–1945

A journalist, lawyer, and civil-rights advocate, he moved through many of the key Black intellectual and political circles of his time. He is especially remembered for his role in the Niagara Movement and for helping build institutions for African American legal education in Washington, D.C.

William Pickens

1881–1954

A powerful speaker and writer, he used his voice to challenge racism and open doors for Black Americans in education, public life, and civil rights. His life and work connected the worlds of teaching, journalism, and activism.

Arthur Alfonso Schomburg

1874–1938

A pioneering collector and historian of the African diaspora, he built one of the most important archives of Black history in the United States. His work helped challenge racist myths by preserving books, manuscripts, and art that others had ignored.

A minister, educator, soldier, and writer, he spent his life arguing for Black citizenship and equal rights in the United States. His work moved between the pulpit, the classroom, and public debate, making him a powerful voice in the years after the Civil War.