31:
691:
278:), a post he held until 1856. During his time there, Reason increased enrollment from six students to 118. Here he favored math and the sciences, but gradually included other areas of study, particularly languages. Seniors expected their grades to appear in the most widely circulated paper in the U.S. black communities: the
375:
Not much documentation has been found on Reason's personal life, but he was said to have been married and widowed three times. His third and final wife was
Clorice (Duplessis) Esteve (1819–1884), whom he married in New York City on July 17, 1855. They had no children, although she had a daughter from
262:
of mathematics. Central
College was the first college to be integrated from its opening day; it hired Reason as the most qualified applicant. Reason was thus both the first Black professor, and the first Black teacher with white students, in the United States. He was described in a newspaper as "an
310:, in 1870. He successfully lobbied for passage of an 1873 statute to integrate New York's public schools; however, in 1876 he was the head of New York City's colored public schools. He was politically active in many community groups. In the presidential election of 1884 he was a candidate for the
228:
In addition to teaching, Reason lobbied New York to repeal the state's "sojourner law," which allowed slaveholders from other states to bring their slaves to New York, allowing "free and unfettered" movement for them with the accompanying slaves. Reason's work helped to secure the right of blacks
348:
After the public schools in New York City were desegregated, he became principal of
Grammar School No. 80 at 252 West 42nd Street. Although his two strokes (one in 1885 and one in 1890) left him physically incapacitated, Reason continued at his post until he retired, some five months before his
379:
Reason had two strokes, which, after a recovery period, required him to go to work in a carriage, as he could not walk. He retired five months before his death. He died in his 53rd St. home in New York City in 1893. The cause of his death was specified as
293:
as a teacher, administrator, and reformer. He was principal of
Colored Grammar School No. 3, at 78 West 40th Street. Later he was principal of Colored School No. 6 on 36th Street. During this time, he was instrumental in efforts to abolish
344:
at 242 East 53rd St. It was filled with books. He was described as "a remarkably well-read man and speaks several languages. ...He is said to be worth $ 60,000" (equivalent to $ 1,894,345 in 2023).
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213:
He was described as of "fair education and superior intelligence, 'complexion very light, beautiful black curly hair and a magnificent moustache'. He would very easily pass for an
953:
943:
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286:. Half of the students normally failed to graduate. Though instruction was strict, and exams were rigorous, parents scrambled to register their children.
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978:
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accomplished and attractive man, and...a fine and ripe scholar, ...highly popular with the students, and with the citizens of McGrawville."
514:
236:, founded the New York-based Society for the Promotion of Education among Colored Children. Two years later, he was appointed professor of
356:
in the 1830s and was a leader of New York City's
Phoenix Society in the 1840s. He wrote the poem "Freedom", which celebrated the British
1018:
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her previous marriage to John Lucien Esteve (1809–1852), a French West Indian confectioner, restaurateur, and caterer in New York City.
896:
877:
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275:
267:
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459:
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495:
Simmons, William J., and Henry McNeal Turner. Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. GM Rewell & Company, 1887. p657
311:
203:
303:
717:
395:
The
Lengthening Shadow of Slavery: A Historical Justification for Affirmative Action for Blacks in Higher Education
307:
217:." Another description says he is "one of the most courtly gentlemen of the colored race in this city" (New York).
140:
Reason was born July 21, 1818, in New York City as one of three sons to Michel and
Elizabeth (Melville) Reason,
199:
768:""Undoubtedly A Bad State Of Affairs": The Oblate Sisters of Providence and the Josephite Fathers, 1877–1903"
711:
624:
The
History of the Hudson River Valley by Vernon Benjamin, The Overlook Press, New York, NY, 2014, p. 429
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818:
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John E. Fleming (with the assistance of Julius Hobson Jr., John McClendon and
Herschelle Reed),
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873:
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663:
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455:
334:
259:
176:
161:
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198:, in 1835. He next appears in 1849 as a faculty member, giving an inaugural address, at the
902:
696:
605:
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251:
449:
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Reason's first teaching job, in the 1830s, was at "the Quaker school in
Laurens Street."
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558:
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Crouch, Henry G. (March 12, 1850). "Promiscuous—Central College, at McGrawville".
164:, who also became leaders. Their older sister Policarpe died in 1818 at age four.
540:
Scott W. Williams, "Charles L. Reason, an African American Mathematician in 1850"
660:
Tasting Freedom: Octavius Catto and the Battle for Equality in Civil War America
214:
113:
30:
546:
Website, State University of New York, Buffalo, 2006, accessed 26 February 2011
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187:
in mathematics, he began teaching the subject there, at the age of fourteen.
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791:
677:
906:
469:
210:(then called McGrawville, not to be confused with the current McGrawville).
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153:
454:. Providence, R.I.: American Mathematical Society. pp. 450–451.
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In 1852, Reason left that post to become the principal of the Quaker
247:
121:
507:"Charles L. Reason, an African American Mathematician in 1850"
289:
Reason returned to New York, where he served for decades in
662:. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. pp. 157–158.
843:
Invisible Poets: Afro-Americans of the Nineteenth Century,
854:
1850 Federal Census, Fifth Ward, City of New York, p. 458
486:, edited by Rayford W. Logan and Michael R. Winston, 1982
314:, at the moment a politically important position, on the
202:, an integrated institution founded by members of the
329:
in Manhattan and corresponding in 1872 with Cardinal
124:
college professor in the United States, teaching at
738:"Tuesday, November 4, election of Grover Cleveland"
556:"Biography of the Rich Colored Folks of New York".
87:
79:
61:
40:
21:
108:(July 21, 1818 – August 16, 1893) was an American
397:(Washington, D.C.: Howard University Press, 1974)
229:accused of being runaway slaves to a jury trial.
1014:African-American college graduates before 1865
352:Reason was also a poet. He contributed to the
409:Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive, and Rising
167:Charles and two of his brothers attended the
156:in 1793 shortly after the early years of the
8:
751:. November 2, 1884. p. 22 – via
427:
425:
144:(their surname was originally Rison) from
29:
18:
722:. August 11, 1876. p. 3 – via
581:"Charles L. Reason estimated net worth".
432:John H. McLendon III, "Charles L. Reason"
400:Anthony R. Mayo, "Charles Lewis Reason,"
171:in New York; among their classmates were
658:Biddle, Daniel R.; Murray Dubin (2010).
482:Dorothy B. Porter, "Patrick H. Reason",
384:. His estate was estimated at $ 30,000.
954:American people of Guadeloupean descent
944:19th-century African-American academics
772:The Journal of African American History
576:
574:
421:
152:, respectively. They had immigrated as
813:
811:
809:
645:
612:
590:
565:
544:Mathematicians of the African Diaspora
535:
533:
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511:Mathematicians of the African Diaspora
484:Dictionary of American Negro Biography
438:, 2007-2011, accessed 26 February 2011
819:"OBITUARY. Prof. Charles A. [
256:New York Central College, McGrawville
204:American Baptist Free Mission Society
126:New York Central College, McGrawville
7:
994:Mathematicians from New York (state)
939:19th-century American mathematicians
889:New York Central College, 1849–1860
870:New York Central College, 1849–1860
766:Morrow, Diane Batts (Summer 2016).
716:Saratoga Springs Daily Saratogian (
451:A Century of Mathematics in America
959:American people of Haitian descent
276:Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
14:
160:. His brothers were Elwer W. and
999:New York Central College faculty
979:Linguists from the United States
784:10.5323/jafriamerhist.101.3.0261
1024:Catholics from New York (state)
1009:New York Central College alumni
969:American civil rights activists
949:19th-century American academics
517:from the original on 2021-04-23
367:'s 1849 biography of Clarkson.
989:African-American abolitionists
984:Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery
974:American anti-racism activists
700:. August 24, 1870. p. 10.
692:"The Colored Labor Convention"
505:Williams, Scott (2001-07-01).
448:Donaldson, James (1988–1989).
1:
964:School desegregation pioneers
934:Scientists from New York City
831:. August 18, 1893. p. 2.
891:. Vol. 2. CreateSpace.
872:. Vol. 1. CreateSpace.
232:In 1847, Reason, along with
190:He attended the short-lived
887:Parks, Marlene K. (2017b).
868:Parks, Marlene K. (2017a).
327:St. Peter's Catholic Church
302:. He was a delegate to the
268:Institute for Colored Youth
258:, while also serving as an
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1019:African-American Catholics
1004:African Free School alumni
718:Saratoga Springs, New York
603:"Charles L. Reason dead".
335:African-American Catholics
308:Saratoga Springs, New York
128:. He was born and died in
411:(1887), pp. 1105–13.
333:concerning the plight of
28:
845:2d ed. (1989), pp. 27-32
304:Colored Labor Convention
200:New York Central College
136:Early life and education
642:Cortland County Express
402:Negro History Bulletin
363:; it was published in
196:Canaan, New Hampshire
173:Henry Highland Garnet
753:newspaperarchive.com
743:Brooklyn Daily Eagle
724:newspaperarchive.com
587:. December 10, 1878.
404:5 (June 1942):212-15
340:In 1878, he owned a
321:Reason was a devout
142:free people of color
106:Charles Lewis Reason
23:Charles Lewis Reason
371:Marriage and family
234:Charles Bennett Ray
183:. As Charles was a
169:African Free School
120:. He was the first
828:The New York Times
747:Brooklyn, New York
712:"Personal mention"
609:. August 19, 1883.
365:Alexander Crummell
284:Christian Recorder
158:Haitian Revolution
841:Joan R. Sherman,
640:Reprinted in the
636:Cortland Democrat
562:. August 8, 1865.
312:Electoral College
260:adjunct professor
177:George T. Downing
162:Patrick H. Reason
103:
102:
16:American linguist
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291:public education
208:McGraw, New York
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361:Thomas Clarkson
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65:August 16, 1893
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778:(3): 261–287.
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644:. Included in
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584:New York World
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69:(aged 75)
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185:child prodigy
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130:New York City
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110:mathematician
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96:
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73:New York City
64:
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56:
55:New York City
51:July 21, 1818
43:
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32:
27:
20:
888:
869:
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761:
741:
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715:
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659:
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635:
629:
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611:Included in
604:
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589:Included in
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564:Included in
557:
551:
543:
519:. Retrieved
510:
500:
491:
483:
478:
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443:
435:
408:
401:
394:
378:
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358:abolitionist
353:
351:
347:
339:
325:, attending
320:
288:
283:
272:Philadelphia
265:
237:
231:
227:
224:
212:
189:
181:Ira Aldridge
166:
139:
105:
104:
67:(1893-08-16)
929:1893 deaths
924:1818 births
862:Works cited
646:Parks 2017a
613:Parks 2017a
591:Parks 2017b
566:Parks 2017b
300:segregation
215:Anglo-Saxon
80:Nationality
918:Categories
521:2021-06-21
436:Black Past
416:References
342:brownstone
316:Republican
146:Guadeloupe
88:Occupation
47:1818-07-21
907:20942100W
800:151327915
792:1548-1867
678:473123281
615:, part 2.
593:, part 2.
568:, part 2.
95:Professor
515:Archived
470:18191729
323:Catholic
318:ticket.
306:held in
154:refugees
118:educator
114:linguist
83:American
349:death.
296:slavery
274:(later
905:
895:
876:
798:
790:
676:
666:
468:
458:
280:A.M.E.
252:French
250:, and
221:Career
179:, and
116:, and
796:S2CID
248:Latin
244:Greek
122:black
893:ISBN
874:ISBN
788:ISSN
674:OCLC
664:ISBN
466:OCLC
456:ISBN
298:and
148:and
62:Died
41:Born
821:sic
780:doi
776:101
282:'s
270:in
254:at
206:in
194:in
920::
903:OL
901:.
825:.
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794:.
786:.
774:.
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740:.
714:.
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882:.
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49:)
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
