Henry A. Hunt
Encyclopedia
Henry Alexander Hunt was an African-American educator who led efforts to reach blacks in rural areas of Georgia. He was awarded the Spingarn Medal
by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP), as well as the Harmon Prize. In addition, he was recruited in the 1930s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
for his Black Cabinet
, more than 40 prominent African Americans whom he appointed to positions in the executive agencies.
, part of the Black Belt
. One of eight children, he attended school at Sparta. At 16, he started at Atlanta University, one of the historically black colleges created after the American Civil War
. After graduation, he went on to become an educator.
In 1930, Hunt received the recognition of major awards for his twenty-five years of service in the education of black students. He was then principal of the Fort Valley High and Industrial School, Fort Valley, Georgia
.
Over the years, he raised funds to build the plant of the school, beginning with one ramshackle room; turned it into a community center of teaching about health and farming, as well as academic subjects, and built relations with the regional community of 300,000 blacks and whites. Established in 1895, the school was affiliated with the American Church Institute of the Protestant Episcopal Church
.
In the 1930s Hunt was invited to participate in President Franklin D. Roosevelt
's Black Cabinet
. He was one of a total of 45 African Americans who created federal policy on education, jobs and housing at major cabinet-level agencies in the executive branch. They also acted as Roosevelt's informal advisers on national issues related to African Americans and the New Deal
.
Hunt died on October 1, 1938
In 1939 Fort Valley High and Industrial School was consolidated with the Teacher College and became Fort Valley College. With expansion and addition of programs, in 1996, it became chartered as Fort Valley University.
Spingarn Medal
The Spingarn Medal is awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for outstanding achievement by an African American....
by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NAACP), as well as the Harmon Prize. In addition, he was recruited in the 1930s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
for his Black Cabinet
Black Cabinet
The Black Cabinet was first known as the Federal Council of Negro Affairs, an informal group of African-American public policy advisors to United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was supported by the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt...
, more than 40 prominent African Americans whom he appointed to positions in the executive agencies.
Early life and education
Henry A. Hunt was born in 1866 on "Hunt Hill", in Hancock County, GeorgiaHancock County, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,076 people, 3,237 households, and 2,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 4,287 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
, part of the Black Belt
Black Belt (U.S. region)
The Black Belt is a region of the Southern United States. Although the term originally described the prairies and dark soil of central Alabama and northeast Mississippi, it has long been used to describe a broad agricultural region in the American South characterized by a history of plantation...
. One of eight children, he attended school at Sparta. At 16, he started at Atlanta University, one of the historically black colleges created after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After graduation, he went on to become an educator.
Career
Hunt worked for the education of black students for his entire career.In 1930, Hunt received the recognition of major awards for his twenty-five years of service in the education of black students. He was then principal of the Fort Valley High and Industrial School, Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat of Peach County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses...
.
Over the years, he raised funds to build the plant of the school, beginning with one ramshackle room; turned it into a community center of teaching about health and farming, as well as academic subjects, and built relations with the regional community of 300,000 blacks and whites. Established in 1895, the school was affiliated with the American Church Institute of the Protestant Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
.
In the 1930s Hunt was invited to participate in President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's Black Cabinet
Black Cabinet
The Black Cabinet was first known as the Federal Council of Negro Affairs, an informal group of African-American public policy advisors to United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was supported by the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt...
. He was one of a total of 45 African Americans who created federal policy on education, jobs and housing at major cabinet-level agencies in the executive branch. They also acted as Roosevelt's informal advisers on national issues related to African Americans and the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
.
Hunt died on October 1, 1938
In 1939 Fort Valley High and Industrial School was consolidated with the Teacher College and became Fort Valley College. With expansion and addition of programs, in 1996, it became chartered as Fort Valley University.
Legacy and honors
- 1930 - Spingarn MedalSpingarn MedalThe Spingarn Medal is awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for outstanding achievement by an African American....
- 1930 - Harmon Award - William E. Harmon Foundation award for distinguished achievement among NegroesWilliam E. Harmon Foundation award for distinguished achievement among NegroesThe William E. Harmon Foundation award for Distinguished Achievement among Negroes commonly referred to as the "Harmon award" or "Harmon foundation award", was a philanthropic and cultural award created in 1926 by William E. Harmon and administered by the Harmon Foundation...
, for education