On December 2, 1891, Charles Harris Wesley was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He became a distinguished historian, educator, minister, and author, contributing significantly to African American scholarship and education. ?

Key Highlights of Wesley’s Life and Career:

• Academic Achievements: Wesley graduated from Fisk University in 1911, earned a master’s degree from Yale University in 1913, and in 1925 became the third African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University. ?

• Professional Roles:

  • Served as a professor and later as Dean of the Liberal Arts and Graduate School at Howard University. ?

  • Held the presidency at Wilberforce University from 1942 to 1947. ?

  • Founded and served as the first president of Central State University from 1947 to 1965. ?

• Publications: Authored over 15 books focusing on African American history, including “Negro Labor in the United States, 1850-1925” (1927) and “Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom” (1935). ?

• Fraternal Involvement: Actively participated in African American fraternities, serving as the 14th General President and long-time National Historian of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. ?

• Religious Service: Ordained as a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, he pastored several congregations in Washington, D.C. ?AHA

Wesley’s dedication to education and African American history has left a lasting legacy. He passed away on August 16, 1987, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 95. ?