Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr. Historical Photographs, 1950-1957
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Authors
Asa H. Gordon Library Special Collections
Issue Date
2016-04-15
Type
Image
Language
en_US
Keywords
African American universities and colleges--Georgia—Savannah , Chatham County (Ga.) , Savannah (Ga.) , Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youths , University and Colleges -- Georgia -- Savannah , Savannah State University (Ga.)
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
A selection of photographs (1950-1957) from the Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr. collection.
Major Richard R. Wright, Sr. served as the first president of Georgia State Industrial College. During his thirty year tenure, enrollment increased from 8 to 585 students and the expanded curriculum included a normal division, courses in agriculture and mechanical arts, and four years of high school. The college awarded its first baccalaureate degree in 1898. He was an American military officer, educator, politician, civil rights advocate, and banking entrepreneur, who served as president from 1891 to 1921. Wright resigned as President in June 1921 and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There he opened the only African-American owned bank in the north, Citizens & Southern Bank & Trust. He was the first African American to serve as an Army paymaster and was the highest ranking African-American officer during the Spanish-American war.