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Dr.Benjamin Elijah Mays
1894-1984
"It must be borne in the mind."
--
Benjamin Elijah Mays |
In
1934, Dr Benjamin E. Mays became the
second African-American Dean of the School
of Religion at
Howard
University. When Dr. Mays assumed the
deanship of the School in 1934, he
identified six areas of immediate and
urgent need:
(1) to
increase the enrollment, (2) to improve
the faculty, (3) to rehabilitate the
physical plant, (4) to enlarge and improve
the library, (5) to establish an
endowment, and (6) to seek accreditation
by the American Association of Theological
Schools.
During
his tenure, new facilities in the Carnegie
Library Building on the Main Campus were
acquired for the School; a portion of the
Auburn Theological Seminary in New York
was procured; full
accreditation was awarded to the school by
the American Association of Theological
Schools (1939); and the faculty was
enlarged and improved.
Consequently, Dr. Mays was successful in
addressing the most urgent needs of the
School of Religion.
Dr Mays
left the School of Religion in 1940 to
assume the Presidency of
Morehouse College and continued to
work for the betterment for the human race
and especially for the African-American.
The theme of this Convocation, "Rebellion
and Responsibility...", embodies the
essence of the life of Dr. Mays. In
Geneva, Rome, Addis-Ababa, Ontario,
Atlanta, Savannah -- throughout the world
and nation, Dr Mays distinguished himself
as a world citizen. He was in the
forefront of the fight for social justice
and human rights; and was concerned with
and committed to the education of African-
Americans, the advancement of
understanding and improvement in race
relations, and to the moral and religious
uplifting of the human race.
In
recognition of Dr. Mays untiring efforts,
he was awarded more than 65 honors and
awards from state, national and
international organizations; and served as
a member, representative, and official of
more 18 national and international
organizations. He also delivered addresses
to more than 250 universities, colleges,
and schools in the United States; and to
more than twice that number of churches.
BIOGRAPHICAL CHRONOLOGY
Born:
August 1, 1894 in Epworth, South Carolina
Died: March 28, 1984 in
Atlanta, Georgia
Parents: S. Hezekiah and
Louvenia (Carter) Mays
Married: Sadie Gray, 1926
Education
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1916
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Graduated (Valedictorian), High School
Department, South |
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Carolina State College, Orangeburg,
South Carolina |
|
1920 |
Graduated with Honors, Bates College,
Lewiston, Maine |
|
1925 |
Masters of Arts Degree, University of
Chicago, Illinois |
|
1935 |
Doctor of Philosophy, University of
Chicago, Illinois (Religion) |
|
1935 |
Elected Member, Phi Beta Kappa and
Delta Sigma Rho, Bates College |
Honorary Degrees
Dr. Mays was
the recipient of more than 55 honorary
Degrees which were conferred by
universities in 23 states and two
countries, 1945-1983
Professional Highlights
|
1921-1924
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Instructor of Higher Mathematics,
Morehouse College |
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Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church,
Atlanta, Georgia |
|
1925-1926 |
Instructor of English, South Carolina
State College |
|
1926-1928 |
Executive Secretary, Tampa Urban
League, Tampa, Florida |
|
1928-1930 |
National Secretary, Young Men's
Christian Association |
|
1930-1932 |
Director, Study of Negro Churches,
U.S.A., Institute of Social and
Religious |
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Research |
|
1934-1940 |
Dean, School of Religion, Howard
University |
|
1940-1967 |
President, Morehouse College |
|
1967 |
Elected President Emeritus, Morehouse
College |
|
1968-1969 |
Visiting Professor and Advisor to the
President, Michigan State University |
|
1969 |
Consultant, Office of Education, U.S.
Department of Health, Education and
|
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Welfare |
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Elected to the Atlanta Board of
Education |
|
1970 |
Consultant, The Ford Foundation |
|
1970-1973 |
Elected President, Atlanta Board of
Education |
|
1974-1978 |
(Served on the Board when not
President) |
|
1981 |
Elected President Emeritus, Atlanta
Board of Education |
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