Kara Sears
Richard Theodore Greener, born in 1844, was a pioneering African-American scholar. He excelled in elocution, philosophy, law, and classics in the Reconstruction era. In 1870, he became the first Black undergraduate at Harvard University to receive a bachelor's degree. Greener went on to become a philosophy professor, law school dean, and foreign diplomat. He also served as the associate editor of the New National Era, a newspaper owned and edited by Frederick Douglass. In 1873, Greener became the University of South Carolina's first Black professor. In 1875, he became the first Black member of the American Philological Association, the primary academic society for classical studies in North America. Harvard Law School has seen several notable firsts for African Americans, with George Lewis Ruffin, Archibald Grimke, Clement Morgan, and William Henry Lewis becoming the first Black graduates of the law school in the years following the Emancipation Proclamation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Richard Theodore Greener |
| Birth and Death | 1844-1922 |
| Occupation | Scholar, Teacher, Principal, Professor, Dean, Diplomat |
| Education | Harvard University, University of South Carolina School of Law |
| Degrees | Bachelor's Degree, Law Degree |
| Awards and Honours | Harvard diploma, American Philological Association member, Chinese government honour |
| Notable Contributions | First black undergraduate at Harvard University, first black professor at a southern university, first black elected to the American Philological Association |
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What You'll Learn
- Richard Theodore Greener was the first Black Harvard undergraduate to receive a bachelor's degree
- George Lewis Ruffin, Archibald Grimke, Clement Morgan and William Henry Lewis were the first Black graduates of Harvard Law School
- Greener became a philosophy professor, law school dean, and diplomat
- In 1971, Derrick Bell became the first tenured Black professor at Harvard Law School
- Harvard established the Greener Scott Scholars Mentorship Program in honour of Richard T. Greener
Richard Theodore Greener was the first Black Harvard undergraduate to receive a bachelor's degree
In 1870, Richard Theodore Greener became the first Black Harvard undergraduate to receive a bachelor's degree. Greener was a pioneering African-American scholar, excelling in elocution, philosophy, law, and classics during the Reconstruction era. After graduating with honors, he worked as a high school teacher and principal at the Institute for Colored Youth (now Cheyney University) in Philadelphia. In 1873, he was recruited by the University of South Carolina (USC) to become its first Black professor. While on the USC faculty, he enrolled in and graduated from USC's Law School. He also served as an associate editor for the New National Era, a newspaper owned and edited by Frederick Douglass.
Throughout his career, Greener broke racial barriers and paved the way for future African-American scholars. In 1875, he became the first Black member of the American Philological Association, the primary academic society for classical studies in North America. In 1876, he was admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of South Carolina and, the following year, he was admitted to the Bar of the District of Columbia. He went on to serve as dean of the Howard University School of Law, further solidifying his impact in the field of law.
In addition to his academic achievements, Greener also had a notable diplomatic career. In 1898, he became America's first Black diplomat to a white country, serving in Vladivostok, Russia. His diplomatic service was recognized by the Chinese government in 1902 for his assistance during the Boxer War and the Shansi famine. He also served as an American representative during the Russo-Japanese War before leaving the diplomatic service in 1905.
Richard Theodore Greener's legacy at Harvard was honored in recent years with the rediscovery of his diploma and personal papers in 2009. In 2016, Harvard unveiled a portrait of Greener in Annenberg Hall, and in 2018, the university established the Greener Scott Scholars Mentorship Program in his honor, recognizing his trailblazing achievements as the first Black Harvard undergraduate to receive a bachelor's degree.
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George Lewis Ruffin, Archibald Grimke, Clement Morgan and William Henry Lewis were the first Black graduates of Harvard Law School
In the years following the Emancipation Proclamation, George Lewis Ruffin (1869), Archibald Grimke (1874), Clement Morgan (1893), and William Henry Lewis (1895) became the first Black graduates of Harvard Law School. All four men went on to have accomplished careers as lawyers, activists, and agents of social change.
George Lewis Ruffin, who graduated from Harvard Law School in 1869, was the first Black municipal court judge in the United States. He was also an activist and a prominent member of the American Anti-Imperialist League, which opposed the American colonization of the Philippines. Ruffin was a trailblazer not only in the field of law but also in politics, becoming the first African American elected to the Boston City Council and serving as a Massachusetts state legislator.
Archibald Grimke, who earned his law degree from Harvard in 1874, was a prominent civil rights activist and the president of the American Negro Academy. He was also a noted journalist and diplomat, serving as the American representative to the Haitian government. Grimke's written works include "The Status of the Negro in the South," which was published in 1915.
Clement Morgan, a graduate of the Harvard Law School class of 1893, was an influential lawyer and civil rights activist. He was a co-founder of the Boston Literary and Historical Association, which played a crucial role in the cultural and intellectual life of African Americans in Boston. Morgan was also a prominent member of the Niagara Movement, a civil rights organization that paved the way for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
William Henry Lewis, who graduated from Harvard Law School in 1895, broke barriers as the first African American assistant U.S. attorney. He was also a prominent civil rights activist, serving as the assistant attorney general for the state of Massachusetts. Lewis was a talented athlete, playing football at Harvard and later becoming the first African American coach at Harvard and an assistant coach for the Harvard Crimson football team.
These four men, George Lewis Ruffin, Archibald Grimke, Clement Morgan, and William Henry Lewis, paved the way for future African American students at Harvard Law School and beyond. They exemplified courage, determination, and a commitment to social justice, leaving a lasting legacy in the legal profession and the broader struggle for civil rights.
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Greener became a philosophy professor, law school dean, and diplomat
Richard Theodore Greener was the first Black undergraduate at Harvard University to receive a bachelor's degree in 1870. Greener went on to become a philosophy professor, law school dean, and diplomat.
After graduating from Harvard, Greener worked as a high school teacher and principal. In 1873, he joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina (USC) as their first Black professor. At USC, Greener taught Greek, Latin, law, and philosophy courses. He also served as a university librarian, reorganizing and cataloging the library's holdings, which had been in disarray since the Civil War. In addition to his academic pursuits, Greener worked part-time in the U.S. Attorney's office, where he began his legal studies.
In 1875, Greener became the first Black member of the American Philological Association (APA), the primary academic society for classical studies in North America. He continued to break barriers in the legal field, becoming admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of South Carolina in 1876 and the Bar of the District of Columbia the following year.
Greener's accomplishments as a diplomat are also noteworthy. In 1898, he became America's first Black diplomat to a white country, serving in Vladivostok, Russia. He was honored by the Chinese government in 1902 for his service during the Boxer War and his assistance to Shansi famine sufferers. Greener also served as an American representative during the Russo-Japanese War but left the diplomatic service in 1905.
Richard Theodore Greener's journey from being the first Black undergraduate at Harvard University to his roles as a philosophy professor, law school dean, and diplomat is a testament to his pioneering spirit and dedication to breaking down racial barriers in academia and beyond.
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In 1971, Derrick Bell became the first tenured Black professor at Harvard Law School
In 1971, Derrick Bell made history by becoming the first tenured Black professor at Harvard Law School, breaking down racial barriers and paving the way for future generations of Black academics and legal scholars. This milestone was a significant step forward in diversifying the faculty at one of the most prestigious law schools in the country and reflected a broader push for racial equality and representation in legal education.
Bell's journey to this groundbreaking achievement began years earlier. He graduated from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh in 1957 and soon after, became the first Black person to teach full-time at a predominantly white law school, the University of Southern California School of Law, in 1969. Two years later, he joined the faculty at Harvard Law School, where he taught civil procedure and where his scholarship focused on civil rights and racial justice.
Becoming the first tenured Black professor at Harvard Law School was a pivotal moment not just for Bell but for the broader movement for diversity and inclusion in legal academia. It sent a message that Harvard Law School was committed to fostering a more inclusive and representative faculty, recognizing and valuing the contributions of Black scholars and practitioners. Bell's presence on the faculty also provided role models and mentors for Black law students, offering them a sense of representation and support within the institution.
Beyond his academic achievements, Bell was a prominent and influential critic of the law. He developed critical race theory, a field of legal scholarship that examines the intersection of race and law and the ways in which racial inequality is perpetuated and maintained through legal and social structures. Bell's scholarship and activism challenged traditional legal doctrines and theories, offering a critical perspective that has had a lasting impact on legal education and the understanding of race and the law.
Bell's tenure at Harvard Law School was not without controversy. In 1990, he resigned from his position to protest the school's lack of diversity in its faculty hiring practices. This act of protest demonstrated his unwavering commitment to racial justice and his willingness to stand up for his beliefs, even at a personal cost. Bell's bold stance sparked important conversations about diversity and inclusion in legal education and inspired a generation of activists and scholars dedicated to advancing racial equality.
Derrick Bell's achievement as the first tenured Black professor at Harvard Law School is a testament to his scholarship, activism, and dedication to racial justice. His groundbreaking work continues to inspire and guide efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable legal academia and society. His legacy reminds us of the power of breaking down barriers and the ongoing need to strive for representation and equality in all spheres of influence.
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Harvard established the Greener Scott Scholars Mentorship Program in honour of Richard T. Greener
Richard Theodore Greener (1844–1922) was a pioneering African-American scholar who excelled in elocution, philosophy, law, and classics in the Reconstruction era. In 1870, he became the first Black undergraduate at Harvard University to receive a bachelor's degree. Greener's academic career was marked by determination and perseverance, as he initially struggled academically and faced feelings of isolation as the only Black student at Harvard. However, he went on to graduate with honours and receive numerous accolades, including the Bowdoin Prize for meritorious thesis research and writing.
Following his graduation, Greener held various academic and leadership positions. He worked as a high school teacher and principal, and in 1873, he became the first Black professor at the University of South Carolina (USC). While at USC, he enrolled in and graduated from its Law School. Greener also served as an associate editor for the New National Era, a newspaper owned and edited by Frederick Douglass, and he was the first Black elected member of the American Philological Association, the primary academic society for classical studies in North America.
In 1898, Greener became America's first Black diplomat to a white country, serving in Vladivostok, Russia, and he received honours from the Chinese government for his service. Throughout his life, Greener broke racial barriers and contributed to activism and public service, yet his legacy was relatively unknown to historians for many years.
In recognition of Richard T. Greener's groundbreaking achievements and contributions, Harvard established the Greener Scott Scholars Mentorship Program in 2018. This program honours not only Greener but also Alberta Virginia Scott, the first Black graduate of Radcliffe College. The mentorship program is a testament to Harvard's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the advancement of racial equality in higher education.
Harvard has also taken other steps to honour Greener's legacy, including unveiling a portrait of him in Annenberg Hall in 2016 and renaming a campus quad the Richard T. Greener Quadrangle in 2018. These tributes acknowledge Greener's resilience, academic excellence, and role in shaping Harvard's history as an inclusive and progressive institution.
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Frequently asked questions
Richard Theodore Greener was the first Black undergraduate at Harvard University. He received a bachelor's degree in 1870.
Greener went on to become a high school teacher and principal at the Institute for Colored Youth. He was also a professor and law school dean. In 1898, he became America's first Black diplomat to a White country, serving in Vladivostok, Russia.
George Lewis Ruffin, Archibald Grimke, Clement Morgan, and William Henry Lewis were the first Black graduates of Harvard Law School. They graduated in 1869, 1874, 1893, and 1895, respectively.
Lila Fenwick was the first Black woman to graduate from Harvard Law School in 1956.
