Charles Oscar Harris

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Charles Oscar Harris (August 5, 1852 - October 8, 1913) was an American public official and state legislator in Alabama. [1] [2]

He was born August 5, 1852, in Tuskegee, Alabama (or Georgia [1] ) and studied at Oberlin College in Ohio and Howard University in Washington D.C. [3] He returned to Alabama and served in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1876 and 1877. [4] He served as a Republican, and attended the Republican National Conventions as a delegate eights times. [3]

In March 1875 Harris along with other prominent African Americans form Montgomery purchased tickets to white-only seats in the local theatre in an attempt to test the 1875 Civil Rights Act. [3] Being duly denied the seats they took the issue to the courts. [3] [5]

After his service to the legislature he had a long career as a mailing clerk serving under the terms of seven presidents and four postmasters. [6]

He died October 8, 1913, and had still been working as a clerk in the Montgomery postoffice. [6]

A historical marker is at his home site at 813 Adams Avenue in Montgomery, [3] it was dedicated April 27, 2019. [7] His descendants with the surname Hilyer passed as white. [8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Foner, Eric; Foner, Professor of History Eric; Culture, Schomburg Center for Research in Black (February 24, 1993). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780195074062 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ HU Journal, Volume 11 Issue 4, Howard University
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Charles Oscar Harris Family Home Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  4. ↑ "House of Representatives - Alabama 1876". The Montgomery Advertiser. 1876-08-30. p. 1. Retrieved 24 May 2021. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. ↑ "Civil Rights Again on Trial". The Weekly Advertiser. 1875-03-17. p. 3. Retrieved 24 May 2021. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. 1 2 "Old Negro Mailing Clerk Dead; Served Under Seven Presidents". The Montgomery Advertiser. 1913-10-09. p. 3. Retrieved 24 May 2021. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ "Charles Oscar Harris commemorative plaque". The Montgomery Advertiser. 2020-11-27. pp. A2. Retrieved 24 May 2021. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. ↑ "Charles Oscar Harris plaque commemoration". www.montgomeryadvertiser.com.
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