Helen Grey Edmonds (December 3, 1911 – May 9, 1995) was an American historian, scholar, and civic leader. She was the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate from

Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...

, to become a graduate school dean and the first to second the nomination of a United States presidential candidate.

Early life and education

Edmonds was born on December 3, 1911, in

Lawrenceville, Virginia Lawrenceville is a town in Brunswick County, Virginia, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 1,014. Located by the Meherrin River, it is the county seat of Brunswick County. In colonial times, Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotsw ...

, to John Edward and Ann Williams Edmonds. She had a sister, Lucille, and a brother, Harry. Edmonds attended Saint Paul's High School and Junior College in Lawrenceville. Edmonds attended

Morgan State College Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1890, the university, then known a ...

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

, graduating in 1933 with a B.A. in History. She went on to receive an M.A. in History at Ohio State University in 1938, followed by a Ph.D. in 1946. She was the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. at that institution. Her dissertation, '' The Negro and Fusion Politics in North Carolina, 1894-1901'', was published as her first book in 1951. From 1954 to 1955, Edmonds conducted

postdoctoral A postdoctoral fellow, postdoctoral researcher, or simply postdoc, is a person professionally conducting research after the completion of their doctoral studies (typically a PhD). Postdocs most commonly, but not always, have a temporary acade ...

research at the

University of Heidelberg Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg (; ), is a public university, public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386 on instruction of Pope Urban VI, Heidelberg is List ...

West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...

Career

From 1934 to 1935, Edmonds taught history, Latin, and Greek at the

Virginia Theological Seminary and College Virginia University of Lynchburg (VUL) is a private historically black Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia. VUL offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs primarily focused on religious studies, business, and the liberal art ...

Lynchburg, Virginia Lynchburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner and Abolitionism, abolitionist John Lynch (1740–1820), J ...

. Edmonds joined the faculty of North Carolina College (now

North Carolina Central University North Carolina Central University (NCCU or NC Central) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliati ...

) in 1941, teaching there until her retirement in 1977. She served in many positions at that institution, including professor of history (1941–77), chair of the Department of History (1963–64), and Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (1964–71). In 1989, a classroom building on the campus was named in her honor. During her career, Edmonds lectured at over 100 colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. She served on the Board of Trustees for several institutions, including North Carolina Central University (after her retirement), Saint Paul's College, and

Voorhees College Voorhees University (formerly Voorhees College) is a private historically black university in Denmark, South Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School ...

. She received eight

honorary degrees An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

during her lifetime. From 1970 to 1974, Edmonds served as president of

The Links, Inc The Links is an American social and service organization of prominent black women. It was founded in 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of 2025, it has 299 chapters and more than 17,000 members in the United States and other countries.. Its ...

., an organization primarily for African American women. She served on the board of directors of numerous organizations, including the

United Negro College Fund UNCF, the United Negro College Fund, also known as the United Fund, is an American philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for black students and general scholarship funds for 37 private historically black colleges and universities. ...

and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Civic service and political activities

Edmonds was active in the Republican Party. At the

1956 Republican National Convention The 1956 Republican National Convention was held by the Republican Party of the United States at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, from August 20 to August 23, 1956. U.S. Senator William F. Knowland was temporary chairman and form ...

, she seconded the nomination of

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...

, becoming the first black woman to second the nomination of a U.S. presidential candidate. In 1970, Edmonds served as an alternate delegate to the

General Assembly of the United Nations The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; , AGNU or AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Currently in its 79th session, its powers, ...

. She chaired the United States delegation to the Third Committee of the United Nations, and was appointed to the National Advisory Council of the

Peace Corps The Peace Corps is an Independent agency of the U.S. government, independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to communities in partner countries around the world. It was established in Marc ...

President Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 36th vice president under P ...

. Nixon cited Edmonds for her service.

Death

Edmonds died at

Duke University Hospital Duke University Hospital is a 1062 -bed acute care facility and an academic tertiary care facility located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Established in 1930, it is the flagship teaching hospital for the Duke University Health Sys ...

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...

, on May 9, 1995, at the age of 83.

Selected publications

* *

Selected awards and recognition

*University Distinguished Professor, North Carolina Central University *Eight honorary degrees *Award of Scholarly Distinction,

American Historical Association The American Historical Association (AHA) is the oldest professional association of historians in the United States and the largest such organization in the world, claiming over 10,000 members. Founded in 1884, AHA works to protect academic free ...

*Distinguished Woman of North Carolina *1975 –

O. Max Gardner Oliver Max Gardner (March 22, 1882February 6, 1947) was an American politician who served as the 57th governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1929 to 1933. A member of the Democratic Party, Gardner worked in the administrations of Pr ...

Award for the "greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race" *1977 – Helen G. Edmonds Graduate Colloquium of History – annual conference established by her former students *1982 –

Candace Award The Candace Award is an award that was given from 1982 to 1992 by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW) to "Black role models of uncommon distinction who have set a standard of excellence for young people of all races". Candace (prono ...

, History

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Edmonds, Helen 1911 births 1995 deaths 20th-century American historians American women historians African-American historians African-American non-fiction writers American women academics Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences alumni North Carolina Central University faculty People from Lawrenceville, Virginia 20th-century American women writers Historians from Virginia 20th-century African-American women writers 20th-century African-American writers Morgan State University alumni Saint Paul's College (Virginia) alumni Members of The Links