Cleo W. Blackburn

Last updated
Cleo Walter Blackburn
BornSeptember 27, 1909
DiedJune 1, 1978
Alma mater Butler University
Fisk University
Indiana University
Wharton School
Occupation Educator

Cleo Walter Blackburn (September 27, 1909 - June 1, 1978) was an American educator. He was the founder and CEO for The Fundamental Board of Education and a member of the fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Indianapolis Urban League. [1] He received a fellowship from the Rosenwald Foundation. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Blackburn was the grandson of a former slave, born September 27, 1909, in Port Gibson, Mississippi. He went to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1928 from the family farm with $7.19 in his pocket. [3] [4]

Blackburn earned a bachelor's degree from the Butler University School of Religion in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a master's degree from Fisk University of Nashville, Tennessee. Blackburn also studied for a year at the Pendle Hill Quaker Center for Study and Contemplation in Philadelphia, and was a Rosenwald Fellow at Indiana University. [5] [6] He served as the head of the Department of Sociology and Economics at Knoxville College in Tennessee, and as the head of the Department of Records and Research at Tuskegee Institute, now known as Tuskegee University. [7] Then in 1935, while still working for the institute, Blackburn was offered the position of Superintendent of the Indianapolis social service agency, Flanner House. [8] Blackburn was the Director of Flanner House from 1936 until his retirement in 1975. During his time there, he was also the President of Jarvis Christian College [9] for a span of eleven years.

Career

Blackburn was involved in many clubs and organizations. He was the founder and CEO for The Fundamental Board of Education. Blackburn was an ordained minister with The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and also served as pastor of the Lea Avenue Christian Church for nine months. [7] He was a member of the predominantly African American fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, [1] the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Indianapolis Urban League, and was a 33rd Degree Mason. Blackburn held Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Northwest Christian College (now Northwest Christian University), Drake University, Indiana Central College (now University of Indianapolis), and Butler University.

Blackburn died June 1, 1978, in Indianapolis, IN. He suffered a heart attack while backing out of the driveway of a friend's residence. [10] By the time of his death, Blackburn was credited with practically single-handedly molding Flanner House into a nationally recognized inner-city help project.

Contributions to Flanner House

Flanner Guild was formed in 1898 by the contributions of philanthropist Frank Flanner. Flanner donated two frame buildings to the Charity Organization Society with instructions to create a "Negro" community service center. In 1903 the organization was incorporated. This organization's goal were the promotion of the social and physical welfare of Negroes, more particularly the young, and the establishment and maintenance of industry and other means of education. In 1912 the Flanner Guild changed its name to Flanner House. [11] A new phase of Flanner House development began in 1936 with the arrival of Cleo W. Blackburn to Flanner House as superintendent. On March 11, 1936 Blackburn reorganized Flanner House to include programs in five divisions: vocational aids, social services, health, housing, and self-help. Blackburn brought the skills, energy and vision necessary to build soundly on the achievements of his predecessors. By 1944, Blackburn had gained enough resources to build a new headquarters. Flanner House trained more than 1,500 African Americans for jobs in defense plants and other industries during World War II. They placed 12,000 people annually in jobs for the first decade after the war. In 1949 a shop building and cannery were added to Flanner House. [12]

Under Blackburn's leadership, Flanner House began offering health examinations. Flanner House built the Herman G. Morgan Health Center in conjunction with the Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation. From 1947 to 1952, nearly 5,000 people received free examinations and health service there. Almost 44,000 people received medical care at the center in 1968. That same year, Flanner House opened up the Martindale Health center for low-income families. [3]

The Board for Fundamental Education

In 1948, Blackburn founded the Board for Fundamental Education (BFE). The primary goal of the organization was to teach individuals the necessary skills to perform a job and to match them with job openings. The Board for Fundamental Education focused on applying the power of the education process to community needs and resources to help people live more useful, productive, and satisfying lives. The BFE had six main objectives.

In 1954 BFE was the only African American organization founded by an African American to be granted a national charter by U.S. Congress. The charter allowed BFE to operate in every state, and from 1954 to 1967 it had 29 affiliates in as many states. [13] The Board for Fundamental Education made agreements with many colleges and universities to set up BFE, and thus partnered with colleges such as Northland College, Jarvis Christian College, Purdue University, and Indiana University to strengthen programs in fundamental education. Blackburn served as the executive director of BFE from 1948 to 1969, then he became the President and CEO. [14]

The Board for Fundamental Education and Flanner House worked together on programs throughout the African American community. They developed projects that helped with education, housing, community development, health, social services and better jobs. BFE and Flanner House had a housing program called the "sweat equity plan" that taught building skills to prospective homeowners who would help to construct their own homes. [3]

Personal life

Cleo Walter Blackburn married Fannie Elizabeth Scott Blackburn. Blackburn and his wife had three children together: a son Walter Scott Blackburn; and two daughters, one by the name of Sara Blackburn Kimbrough and one named Harriet Virginia Blackburn Reynolds. He and his family lived on the second floor of Flanner House, when it was located at St. Clair and West Streets. Their son, Walter Scott Blackburn became an architect in Indianapolis, where he and his wife Alpha were both owners and CEOs of Blackburn Associates Architects, Inc.

Blackburn later married Dora Oma Atkins Blackburn, who was the owner of Atkins Flower Shop. [15] Blackburn had no children with his second wife. Mrs. Blackburn was a graduate from Butler University and was a member of the predominantly African American sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Related Research Articles

The University of Southern Indiana (USI) is a public university just outside of Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1965, USI enrolls 9,750 dual credit, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in more than 130 areas of study. USI offers programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. USI is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. It is also a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University which offers continuing education and special programs to more than 15,000 participants annually through outreach and engagement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Paige</span> American politician

Roderick Raynor Paige served as the 7th United States Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2005. Paige, who grew up in Mississippi, moved from college football coach and classroom teacher to college dean and school superintendent to be the first African American to serve as the U.S. education chief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmont University</span> Christian liberal arts university in Nashville, Tennessee

Belmont University is a private Christian university in Nashville, Tennessee. Descended from Belmont Women's College, founded in 1890 by schoolteachers Ida Hood and Susan Heron, the institution was incorporated in 1951 as Belmont College. It became Belmont University in 1991. Belmont's current enrollment consists of approximately 8,900 students representing every state and 28 nations. The university served as the host site for the final presidential debate in the 2020 election cycle. Although the university cut its ties with the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2007, it continues to emphasize a Christian identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpha Kappa Psi</span> Professional fraternity for business

Alpha Kappa Psi is the oldest and largest business fraternity to current date. Also known as "AKPsi", the fraternity was founded on October 5, 1904, at New York University and was incorporated on May 20, 1905. It is currently headquartered in Noblesville, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis</span> Public university in Indianapolis, Indiana, US

Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, commonly referred to as IUPUI, is a public research university in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is a collaboration between Indiana University and Purdue University that offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees from both universities. Administered primarily through Indiana University as a core campus and secondarily through Purdue University as a regional campus, it is Indiana's primary urban research and academic health sciences institution. IUPUI is located in downtown Indianapolis along the White River and Fall Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kappa Alpha Theta</span> North American collegiate sorority

Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚΑΘ), commonly referred to simply as Theta, is an international women’s fraternity founded on January 27, 1870, at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. It was the first Greek-letter fraternity established for women. The fraternity was founded by four female students, Bettie Locke Hamilton, Alice Allen Brant, Bettie Tipton Lindsey, and Hannah Fitch Shaw. The organization has 147 chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The organization was the first women's fraternity to establish a chapter in Canada. Theta's total living initiated membership, as of 2020, was more than 250,000. There are more than 200 alumnae chapters and circles worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lambda Chi Alpha</span> North American collegiate fraternity

Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ), commonly known as Lambda, is a college fraternity in North America. It was founded at Boston University in 1909. Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest social fraternities in North America with over 300,000 lifetime members and active chapters and colonies at 195 universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana Institute of Technology</span> Private university in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States

Indiana Institute of Technology is a private university in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was founded in 1930 as Indiana Technical College by John A. Kalbfleisch, who was also the school's first president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpha Kappa Alpha</span> First historically African American sorority

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (ΑΚΑ) is the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at the historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of sixteen students led by Ethel Hedgemon Lyle. Forming a sorority broke barriers for African American women in areas where they had little power or authority due to a lack of opportunities for minorities and women in the early 20th century. Alpha Kappa Alpha was incorporated on January 29, 1913.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sigma Gamma Rho</span> Historically African American sorority

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (ΣΓΡ) is a historically African American sorority, international collegiate, and non-profit community service organization that was founded on November 12, 1922. The organization was formed as a club in 1920, by seven African American women in Indianapolis, Indiana. At its inception, the sorority was created to support Black women pursuing degrees in education. It was incorporated within Indiana in November 1922 as a sorority for school teachers and held their first national conference in 1925. The sorority became a national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929, when a charter was granted to the Alpha chapter then established at Butler University that year. The sorority was incorporated as a national collegiate sorority in 1930. Sigma Gamma Rho is the only sorority of the four historically African American National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities established at a predominantly White institution instead of at Howard University. It was the second African- American sorority established at Butler University. The sorority's slogan is "Greater Service, Greater Progress".

While the traditional social fraternity is a well-established mainstay across the United States at institutions of higher learning, alternatives – in the form of social fraternities that require doctrinal and behavioral conformity to the Christian faith – developed in the early 20th century. They continue to grow in size and popularity.

Marvin Bailey Scott is an American politician and university professor in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a nationally known figure for his involvement in school desegregation cases. Scott ran for political office several times and continues to be politically active.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarvis Christian University</span>

Jarvis Christian University (JCU) is a private historically black Christian college in Wood County, Texas. It was founded in 1912. It had a total undergraduate enrollment of 867 in the fall of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Celeste Boulding Ferebee</span> American obstetrician and activist (1898–1980)

Dorothy Celeste Boulding Ferebee was an American obstetrician and civil rights activist.

Joseph Thomas Taylor was named dean of Indiana University at the downtown Indianapolis Campus on February 24, 1967. In 1972, he became the first dean of the newly created School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He was married to Hertha Ward-Taylor and they had three children: deceased actor Meshach Taylor, Judith F. Taylor and Hussain Taylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flanner House</span>

Flanner House is a social services organization, with a 2-acre farm, bodega, cafe, and orchard serving the Indianapolis community. It started in 1903 as an African-American community service center and was named for Frank Flanner. When Flanner died in 1912 and the organization fell on financial hardships, they changed the name from Flanner Guild to Flanner House and added many services with the financial assistance from the Christian Woman's Board of Missions. The organization continues to assist senior citizens, those in financial straits, families, children and much more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Flanner</span>

Frank W. Flanner was an American mortician, woodcarver, philanthropist and humanitarian.

The Mississippi Health Project was a health initiative sponsored by the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority during the Great Depression. The purpose of the Mississippi Health Project was to bring health awareness to Mississippi Delta residents who did not have access to health care. The initiative lasted for six years, until World War II. Mobile clinics were set up underneath trees. Surgeon General Thomas Parran called the project "one of the greatest efforts of volunteer public health" he had ever seen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lionel Artis</span> American civil servant and administrator

Lionel F. Artis was a civil servant and administrator in the United States. Artis became the first Black person to be appointed to a policy-making municipal agency in Indianapolis when he was a named a member of the Indianapolis Board of Health and Hospitals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ida Louise Jackson</span> American educator and philanthropist

Ida Louise Jackson was an American educator and philanthropist. She attended and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley following her family’s move to California. As one of 17 Black students that attended the university at the time, Jackson prioritized creating safe spaces for African American community members. Throughout her undergraduate career, Jackson was invested in a teaching career, specifically in Oakland, California. Despite push back from school administration, her dreams were finally realized in 1926 when she became the first African American woman to teach high school in the state of California. At the same time, her ambitions were rooted in giving back to her community back in Mississippi. Through the networks that she formed in California, Jackson returned back to her home state in 1935 to develop programs around education and health care for poor, rural Black folks. Ida Louise Jackson’s contributions were celebrated by her alma mater and the University of California, Berkeley named their first graduate apartment housing unit in her honor.

References

  1. 1 2 Indianapolis Star, May 11, 1976.
  2. Fund, Julius Rosenwald (1940). "Review for the Two-year Period".
  3. 1 2 3 Indianapolis Star, April 27, 1969.
  4. Sewell, George Alexander; Dwight, Margaret L. (2012-01-20). Mississippi Black History Makers. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN   9781617034282.
  5. Sewell, George Alexander; Dwight, Margaret L. (2012-01-20). Mississippi Black History Makers. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN   9781617034282.
  6. Indianapolis Star, June 21, 1974.
  7. 1 2 Indianapolis Star, January 11, 1936.
  8. Flanner House.
  9. Jarvis Christian College.
  10. Indianapolis Recorder, June 10, 1978'
  11. "Flanner House". Archived from the original on 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  12. 1 2 Flanner House Records, Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
  13. Indianapolis Star, July 23, 1967.
  14. Indianapolis Star, April 4, 1976.
  15. Indian Historical Society.