Moorland, Jesse Edward, 1863-1940 - Social Networks and Archival Context (original) (raw)

African American executive of the YMCA, trustee of Howard University, and collector of books relating to African Americans.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1790-ca. 1939. (Moorland-Spingarn Resource Center). WorldCat record id: 70938964

• 1863 Sept. 10: Born in Coldwater, Ohio; son of William and Nancy Jane Moorland. Completed preliminary education at Northwestern Normal University in Ada, Ohio. After teaching a few years, he entered Howard University.
• 1886 July 23: Married Lucy Corbin Woodson. They had no children.
• 1891: Graduated salutatorian from Howard University's Theological Department.
• 1891 -1893 : Worked as the General Secretary of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the YMCA.
• 1893 -1896 : Pastor of Howard Chanel in Nashville, Tennessee.
• 1896 -1898 : Pastor of Mount Zion Congregational Church, Cleveland, Ohio.
• 1891 Nov. 1: Appointed Secretary of the International Committee of the YMCA; worked closely with William A. Hunton, the first paid "colored" Secretary of the YMCA.
• 1906: Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree conferred by Howard University.
• 1907 -1940 : Served as member of the Howard University Board of Trustees.
• 1914: Donated over 3,000 books on Afro-Americans to Howard University. Dr. Moorland's collection became the nucleus for the Moorland Foundation, now known as the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center.
• 1916: Became the Senior Secretary of the Colored Men's Department of the YMCA at the death of William A. Hunton.
• 1923: Retired as an International Secretary after 25 years of service to the YMCA, but continued to work in an advisory capacity.
• 1924: Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree conferred by Oberlin, College, Oberlin, Ohio.
• 1939 March 20: Lucy Woodson Moorland died; buried in Washington, D.C.
• 1940: Dr. Moorland donated his personal papers to the then Moorland Foundation.
• 1940 Apr. 30: Dr. Moorland died; buried in Washington, D.C.

Source: The Jesse E. Moorland Papers, folders #123 and #124

• 1853: First YMCA for "colored" was organized in Washington, D.C. First President was Anthony Bowen.
• 1869: First "colored" college YMCA was organized at Howard University
• 1888: William A. Hunton appointed Secretary of colored" association at Norfolk, Va. HE! was the first salaried officer of any race for a "colored" association.
• 1890: International Committee appointed Mr. Hunton as an International Secretary for "colored" work. Served as Secretary to both student and city divisions in the Colored Men's Dept.
• 1891 -1893 : Jesse Moorland worked as the General Secretary of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of YMCA. Left: YMCA work to return to ministry full time.
• 1898: Jesse Moorland left the ministry to accept YMCA appointment as Secretary of International Committee.
• 1898 -1914 : Hunton and Moorland worked in a coordinated effort until the work load dictated specialization: Hunton responsible for student work; Moorland responsible for city work.
• 1914: Hunton became ill. Moorland takes charge of all YMCA "colored" work as Senior Secretary. A young Channing Tobias, a student Secretary appointed in 1911, later assigned Hunton'S student work.
• 1916: Hunton died.
• Secretary Max Yergan started YMCA work in India. see #1230
• After several months. Yergan accompanied a detachment of Indian troops to Dar-Es-Salaam, East Africa
• 1918: Yergan returned to U.S. after two years in East Africa.
• 1920 -1936 : Yergan, his wife and young child went to South Africa. Yergan was responsible for starting over 36 associations.
• 1921 -1923 : Dr. Moorland and Channing Tobias work together for several years.
• 1923: Dr. Moorland retired and Channing, Tobias became Senior Secretary for all "colored" work. Dr. Moorland continued to work with the YMCA in advisory capacity.

Source: The Jesse E. Moorland Papers, YMCA series.

From the guide to the Jesse Edward Moorland Papers, ca. 1790-ca. 1940, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)

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