Are You suprised ?

<TITLE>CHARLES HARRIS WESLEY, 1891-1987. MILESTONES</title>

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<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align="right" width=240><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><IMG SRC="/images/chw.gif" alt="chw" WIDTH="146" HEIGHT="183"> </td><td rowspan=2 width=10> </td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="bottom"> Charles Harris Wesley, Historian, c. 1984 </td></tr></table>

<dd> Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Charles H. Wesley was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha on March 29, 1913 through Zeta Chapter at Yale University. The Fraternity's history from its origins through the next seven decades was written by Wesley, even as his own numerous contributions to the organization were being made. He penned the first edition of The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development in Negro College Life in 1929. The text underwent several revisions over the years in an effort to preserve its factual integrity and to document new occurrences as they were warranted. The Fraternity Historian was elected to General President in 1931. Clearly a popular choice for General President, he served

five-consecutive terms, spanning from 1932 to 1940. In 1923, Wesley would become one of the 22 chartering members of Washington, D.C.'s Mu Lambda Chapter and served as chapter president from 1925 to 1928. Joining Wesley in chartering the chapter were Jewels Ogle, as well as noted NAACP counsel, Charles H. Houston. Wesley also is noted for his accomplishments outside of Alpha Phi Alpha. An ordained minister, his distinguished

career included 40 years of leadership with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He served the A.M.E. Church as assistant to the bishop and was President of Central Ohio State College. He also is credited with writing the histories of the Prince Hall Masons, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the Elks and the A.M.E. Church.

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<LI TYPE="disc">1891 - Born December 2 in Louisville, Ky.; he attended public schools in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky

<LI TYPE="disc">1911 - Received B.A. at Fisk University in 1911

<LI TYPE="disc">1913 - Received M.A. in economics at Yale University

<LI TYPE="disc">1914 - In addition to his work as an educator, Wesley was an AME Church minister and elder until 1937

<LI TYPE="disc">1918 - Sept 12, CHW became paster at Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church on O Street between 26th and 27th Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C., in the heart of Georgetown (from 1918-1923) Rev. John Porter (1856-1929), father of James Amos Porter (1905-1970) was in the pulpit

<LI TYPE="disc"> 1916 - Wesley began a long association with Carter G. Woodson's Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, serving as president from 1950 to 1965, and as executive director until 1972. 1919-20 appointed Associate Professor of History.

<LI TYPE="disc">1923 -He was elected President, Graduate Chapter, Mu Lambda and organized the Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation which purchased John M. Langston's house on 3rd St N.W., Washington, D.C.

<LI TYPE="disc">1925 - Ph.D from Harvard University. Wesley's doctorate in history was the third awarded by Harvard to an African American. Wesley served on the Howard University faculty from 1913 to 1942.

<LI TYPE="disc">1928 - Received honorary Doctor of Divinity, Wilberforce U.

<LI TYPE="disc">1930 - Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, Wesley went to England to study emancipation in the British Empire, he travelled on Ile De France (ship) for Liverpool

<LI TYPE="disc">1930 - Established a chapter in London; established Alpha Phi Alpha Foundation

<LI TYPE="disc">1931 - He was president of Alpha Phi Alpha until 1946, a black fraternity about which he wrote The History of Alpha Phi Alpha (1953). Wesley also wrote many other articles and books on African American history, leaders and organizations, including Negro Labor in the United States, 1850-1925 (1927), Collapse of the Confederacy (1937) and his last book, The History of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs: A Legacy of Service (1984).

<LI TYPE="disc">1936 - APA Foundation Publishers organized

<LI TYPE="disc">1945 - Received honorary 33rd Degree from the United Supreme Council A.A.S.R.

<LI TYPE="disc">1942 - Wesley became president of Wilberforce University in Ohio until 1947, a school supported by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME). As president, Wesley improved the faculty, founded new programs (such as African Studies), and integrated the student body.

<LI TYPE="disc">1947 - Became President, College of Education and Industrial Arts of Central State College, Wilberforce, Ohio (1947-1965)

<LI TYPE="disc">1953 -Received Phi Beta Kappa key

<LI TYPE="disc">1957 - Scottish Rite Gold Medal Award, United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation

<LI TYPE="disc">1965 - June 30 retires from Central State College; becomes director of research and publication ASNLH;

<LI TYPE="disc">1965 - Executive Director, Association for the Study of Negro Life and History until 1972; then became Executive Director Emeritus

<LI TYPE="disc"> 1968 - Inaugurated & editor-in-chief of International Library of Negro Life and History 10 vols.

<LI TYPE="disc">1972 -Received Armistad Award

<LI TYPE="disc">1974 - Wesley served as director of the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia from its opening in 1974 to 1976.

<LI TYPE="disc">1987 - Entered Omega Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha on August 16, in Washington, DC., and was buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Suitland, Md. Other notable African Americans buried at Lincoln Memorial include Carter Godwin Woodson, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Rayford W. Logan, Mordecai Johnson, Charles Richard Drew, Edward Mazique, Nannie Helen Burroughs, William H. Hastie, Kelly Miller, Mary Church Terrell, and James Amos Porter's family. </UL>

SHORT LIST OF HIS PUBLICATIONS

<LI TYPE="disc">1927 Negro Labor in the United States: a Study in American Economic History, 1850-1925. New York, 1927 343p. (New York, Russell & Russell, 1967)

<LI TYPE="disc">1929 History of Alpha Phi Alpha; A Development in Negro College Life. DC, Howard U Press - 1st printed bk of black college fraternity (twelve editions, rev and enl. 1929-1961) 695p

<LI TYPE="disc">1935 Richard Allen, Apostle of Freedom. Washington, D.C. 285p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1938 The Collapse of The Confederacy. Washington, D.C. 225p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1954 The history of Sigma Pi Phi, First of the Greek letter fraternities for Negro-Americans, 1904-1954. Washington, D.C. 1954. 393p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1955 A history of the improved benevolent protective order of Elks of the world, 1898-1954. Washington, D.C., 1955. 503p

<LI TYPE="disc">1958 co-author with Carter G. Woodson, Negro makers of history. Washington, D.C. 1958. 406p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1959 The story of the Negro retold. Washington, D.C. 472p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1961 History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Ohio, 1849-1960. Wilberforce, 1961. 457p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1962 The Negro In Our History. By CHW and Carter G. Woodson. Washington, D.C., Associated Publishers, 1962, 1972. 893p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1968 International Library of Negro Life and History. Rev. Ed. Washington, D.C., Associated Publishers, 1968. 10 vols

<LI TYPE="disc">2 volumes: In Freedom's Footsteps: From the African Background to the Civil War. 307p. and Quest For Equality: From Civil War to Civil Rights. 307p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1968 In freedom's footsteps; From the African Background to the Civil War

<LI TYPE="disc">1977 Henry Arthur Callis; Life and Legacy. Chicago, Foundation Publishers, 1977. 295p.

<LI TYPE="disc">1983 Prince Hall: Life and Legacy. Washington, D.C., United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation, 1983

<LI TYPE="disc">1984 The History of the National Association of Colored Womens Clubs; A Legacy of Service. Washington, D.C., National Association, 1984.

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