Clement Richardson (1878 – December 1949) was an American professor, college president, and author. An

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, he served as president of Lincoln Institute in

Jefferson City, Missouri Jefferson City, informally Jeff City, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital of the U.S. state of Missouri. It had a population of 43,228 at the 2020 United States census, ranking as the List of cities in Missouri, 16th most popu ...

from 1918 until 1922. He edited '' The National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race'' which includes a profile on him.

Early life and education

Clement Richardson was born in 1878 in

Halifax County, Virginia Halifax County is a county (United States), county located in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 34,022. Its county seat is Halifax, Virginia, Halifax. ...

. He attended White Oak Grove Country School and tilled tobacco. He moved to Massachusetts for access to more education, initially working in tanning and farming, before attending the boys' school at Mount Hermon School (now Northfield Mount Hermon School). For three years he attended

Brown University Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...

, before transferring. Richardson graduated from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

in 1907, one six African Americans graduating that year.

Career

Richardson worked as a correspondent for many newspapers and magazines including The Boston Daily Globe; work that continued throughout his entire life. He was the director of the department of English literature and rhetoric of

Morehouse College Morehouse College is a Private college, private, Historically black colleges and universities, historically black, Men's colleges in the United States, men's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia, ...

in Atlanta in 1908. In 1908, Richardson joined the faculty of

Tuskegee Institute Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU; formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute) is a Private university, private, Historically black colleges and universities, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It was f ...

(now Tuskegee University) as the head of the English department. He wrote a pamphlet titled "Extension Work" while at Tuskegee Institute. From 1918 to 1922, Richardson served as the president of Lincoln Institute. Lincoln Institute became Lincoln University during his tenure as its president. In 1919, he was participant at a convention of African American educators in Jefferson City, many of the presentations were affiliated to the Negro Educational Congress. In 1919, he missed a Negro State Teachers event due to coal shortages at the school and in Missouri. In 1922 he was to visit Richmond, Virginia.

Clement Richardson Fine Arts Center and Auditorium

The Clement Richardson Fine Arts Center was building was constructed at Lincoln University in 1956. The auditorium / theater wing was under construction in 1958. The Arts Center has hosted events.

Writings

*; about Tuskegee Institute's 34th year of existence * *; about commencement as Tuskegee Institute various related events * *'' The National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race'', editor

Personal life

Richardson was married in 1908 to Ida J. Rivers, and had four daughters. He died in December 1949.

References