William Henderson Franklin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rev. William Henderson Franklin (1852–1935) was an American educator, minister, journalist, and school founder.[1][2][3] Franklin dedicated his life to the education of Black children in rural Tennessee during the time of racial segregation.[4] He founded Swift Memorial College in 1883, and served as the principal until 1926.[5] He was the first minister the congregation at St. Marks Presbyterian Church in Rogersville, Tennessee.[6] He was also known as W.H. Franklin.[3]
Rev. William Henderson Franklin | |
|---|---|
| |
| 1st Principal of Swift Memorial College | |
| In office 1883 – May 1926 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1852 Knoxville, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | October 19, 1935 (aged 83) United States |
| Spouse | Laura Crofton (m. 1894–1935; his death) |
| Education | Maryville College (AM), Lane Theological Seminary (DD) |
| Occupation | Educator, minister, journalist, school founder, academic administrator |
Early life and education
William Henderson Franklin was born on April 14, 1852, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to free Black parents Elizabeth (née Bates) and Henderson Franklin.[1][2] He attended schools in Knoxville, before heading to Hudsonville, Mississippi to earn money teaching.[2]
Franklin attended Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee, and was the first African American to graduate with a A.M. degree in 1880.[7][8] He continued his studies at Lane Theological Seminary in Walnut Hills, Ohio, and graduated with a D.D. degree in 1883.[2][7]
Career
Franklin was the minister of the congregation of St. Marks Presbyterian Church in Rogersville, Tennessee, where he served from 1883 until his retirement in 1926.[1][6]
Franklin was ordained by the Union Presbytery Synod of Tennessee shortly after graduating from Lane.[2] In 1883, Franklin founded the Swift Memorial Institute (later known as Swift Memorial College) in Rogersville, Tennessee, with financial help from Maryville College.[9] He acted as the principal from the time of the school's opening until 1926.[5]
He was also a journalist, and regularly wrote for The Tennessee Star, The Herald Presbytery, and The Critic.[2] Additionally he acted as a correspondent for The New York Age, and the Negro World.[3]
Death and legacy
Franklin died on October 19, 1935. He is buried at Saint Mark's Presbyterian Cemetery in Rogersville.
A profile of him is included in the books The Afro-American Press and Its Editors (1891), and An Encyclopedia: Experiences of Black People in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1844–1974 (2017) by Robert J. Booker.[10] The Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) placed Franklin in the Hall of Fame in 2020.[4] The town of Rogersville has a historical marker in his honor on West Kyle Street.[11]