31:
395:
786:
378:
from 1933 until 1935. Largely neglected and even ill-treated (staff stenographers often refused to take dictation from him because he was black), Vann could not get an appointment to see the
Attorney General and in fact may never have met the man while in Washington. Vann resigned in 1935 to return
431:
A Pennsylvania State historical marker is placed at the corner of Center Avenue and
Frances Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, noting Vann's accomplishments. The former Robert L. Vann Elementary School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was named in his honor. The Robert L. Vann School in Ahoskie, North
367:'s picture to the wall." This was at a time, 1932, when the Democrats were running on a platform of lower taxes and Franklin Roosevelt was denouncing Herbert Hoover a "socialist". Robert Lee Vann supported Republican Wendall Willkie against President Roosevelt in 1940.
248:
covered the social lives of the upper- and middle-class members of
Pittsburgh's Hill District. This included accounts of vacations, marriages, and parties of prominent families and the goings on of local groups, such as the Pittsburgh
225:
and financial solvency due to a small market and lack of interested advertisers. In the fall of 1910, original founder Edwin
Nathaniel Harleston left the paper for financial and creative reasons, and Vann became editor.
284:. Vann wrote to gain support for causes such as improved housing conditions in the Hill District, better education for black students, and equal employment and union opportunities. However, Vann often used his
328:. Vann saw this as an achievable step on the path to integration of the military, but the NAACP leadership, primarily Walter White, publicly disagreed with this half-measure, despite the protests of
233:
under Vann prominently featured Vann's work as a lawyer and public figure. As editor, Vann wrote editorials encouraging readers to only patronize business that paid for advertisements in the
289:
386:
In 1939, Vann founded
Interstate United Newspapers, Inc., an agency formed to sell advertising to the black press. Vann's widow succeeded him as president of Interstate United Newspapers.
207:
Vann was one of only five black attorneys in
Pittsburgh in 1910, a city with more than 25,000 African Americans. In early March 1910, Vann drew up incorporation papers for the
196:(then known as the Western University of Pennsylvania), and graduated from its law school in 1909. He passed the bar examination in 1909 and married Jessie Matthews from
474:
428:, with his widow Jessie Matthews Vann attending the launch. The ship was hit by an underwater mine on March 1, 1945 and sunk. Records show the entire crew survived.
964:
802:
237:
and ran contests to attempt to increase circulation. In his
Christmas editorial at the end of 1914, Vann wrote of the paper's intent to "abolish every vestige of
989:
954:
345:
949:
276:
also worked as a tool for social progress. Most significantly, the paper extensively covered the injustices on
African Americans perpetrated by the
959:
221:
was formally incorporated, with Vann handling the legal details. During the summer, the paper grew from four to eight pages, but struggled with
979:
244:
In the 1920s, Vann made efforts to improve the quality of the news included in the growing paper. Under Vann, the "Local News" section of the
984:
974:
312:. This disharmony was resolved in 1929 by published apologies by Vann, Du Bois, and Johnson, and within the decade, Du Bois became a regular
969:
281:
846:
30:
452:
158:(August 27, 1879 â October 24, 1940) was an African American newspaper publisher and editor. He was the publisher and editor of the
906:
900:
707:
601:
414:
36:
436:
213:
and began writing contributions. Through Vann's connections, the paper was able to attract wealthy investors, including
325:
440:
185:
96:
817:
197:
193:
100:
222:
214:
180:, the son of Lucy Peoples and an unknown father. He graduated as valedictorian of Waters Training School in
173:
58:
181:
356:
341:
321:
320:
ended up at odds with the NAACP once again. Vann, through national campaigns and contact with
President
394:
257:
with a professional staff, national advertisements, a dedicated printing plant, and wide circulation.
944:
939:
600:
Glasco, Laurence. "Double Burden: The Black
Experience in Pittsburgh." (1989). Samuel P. Hays (ed.).
305:
923:
301:
209:
189:
160:
120:
796:
410:
337:
329:
748:
293:
250:
425:
383:; by 1938 the paper was the largest American black weekly, with a circulation of 250,000.
364:
360:
297:
277:
261:
761:
399:
375:
177:
62:
933:
524:
418:
309:
265:
201:
85:
743:
873:
834:
606:(Digital ed.). Pittsburgh, Pa: University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 82
81:
712:. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library. p. 34.
238:
902:
Robert L. Vann of the Pittsburgh Courier: Politics and Black Journalism
772:
264:
in 1925, whose editorials and opinions made him famous as the "black
393:
919:
709:
The New Deal and the last hurrah: Pittsburgh machine politics
603:
City at the point: essays on the social history of Pittsburgh
260:
Vann stirred up controversy and 10,000 new readers by hiring
374:, Vann served as Special Assistant to U.S. Attorney General
290:
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
308:
embezzled money for personal use from the NAACP and the
300:'s grants of clemency to black soldiers involved in the
530:, edited by William S. Powell. Accessed Jan. 5, 2018.
469:
467:
359:of African Americans. He urged readers to vote for
324:pursued inclusion of African-American units in the
127:
115:
107:
92:
70:
44:
21:
336:âēs influence and Vann's political clout, New York
344:in selection and training of men drafted to the
785:NYPL Digital Gallery, Image ID 1260243 (1943),
443:and renamed the Robert L. Vann Memorial Tower.
16:African-American newspaper publisher and editor
818:"A German Mine Hit and the Ship Split in Half"
370:After achieving prominence as the head of the
556:
554:
8:
340:successfully added an amendment prohibiting
184:, in 1901, and attended Wayland Academy and
801:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
346:Selective Training and Service Act of 1940
192:, from 1901 to 1903. He then attended the
29:
18:
595:
593:
519:
517:
507:
505:
363:, writing, "My friends, go home and turn
739:
737:
475:"Percival L. Prattis Papers Finding Aid"
775:Armed-Guard.com. Accessed Jan. 5, 2018.
463:
965:American newspaper publishers (people)
794:
528:Dictionary of North Carolina Biography
288:editorials to publicly fight with the
7:
990:20th-century African-American people
926:, with 2 library catalog records
479:Archives Service Center Finding Aids
402:cartoon commemorating the launch of
955:People from Ahoskie, North Carolina
424:was launched on 10 October 1943 in
282:Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
905:. University of Pittsburgh Press.
816:Nevins, Jake (February 27, 2020).
14:
788:At Launching of SS Robert L. Vann
453:African-American business history
351:In 1932, Vann officially put the
316:contributor. But in 1938, Vann's
872:Eagles, Charles W., ed. (1994).
432:Carolina is named in his honor.
950:University of Pittsburgh alumni
143:
960:Businesspeople from Pittsburgh
835:The Historical Marker Database
415:Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
296:over issues such as President
37:U.S. Office of War Information
1:
980:Journalists from Pennsylvania
272:subscriber). Under Vann, the
985:African-American journalists
975:Burials at Homewood Cemetery
773:"Liberty Ship Nomenclature,"
304:and Vann's allegations that
215:Cumberland Willis Posey Sr.
164:from 1910 until his death.
1006:
970:American newspaper editors
752:(February 6, 1954), p. 20.
481:. University of Pittsburgh
437:1939 New York World's Fair
326:United States Armed Forces
441:Virginia Union University
439:was later transported to
435:The Belgian Tower at the
186:Virginia Union University
97:Virginia Union University
28:
847:"Goal for Vann Memorial"
706:Stave, Bruce M. (1970).
204:, on February 17, 1919.
194:University of Pittsburgh
101:University of Pittsburgh
851:Pittsburgh Post Gazette
253:. Vann legitimized the
762:PoliticalGraveyard.com
406:
182:Winton, North Carolina
899:Buni, Andrew (1974).
744:"Harlem Confidential"
397:
342:racial discrimination
332:. As a result of the
322:Franklin D. Roosevelt
217:On May 10, 1910, the
409:Vann is entombed at
306:James Weldon Johnson
133:Jessie Matthews Vann
924:Library of Congress
525:"Vann, Robert Lee,"
523:Eagles, Charles W.
822:The New York Times
731:Buni 1974, p. 206.
722:Buni 1974, p. 205.
696:Buni, pp. 305-312.
678:Buni, pp. 152-153.
669:Buni, pp. 147-148.
633:Buni, pp. 136-140.
624:Buni, pp. 133-134.
407:
381:Pittsburgh Courier
280:and supported the
219:Pittsburgh Courier
210:Pittsburgh Courier
190:Richmond, Virginia
161:Pittsburgh Courier
121:Pittsburgh Courier
511:Buni 1974, p. 40.
422:SS Robert L. Vann
411:Homewood Cemetery
404:SS Robert L. Vann
357:party realignment
330:Thurgood Marshall
153:
152:
111:Publisher, editor
997:
888:
887:
885:
883:
875:Vann, Robert Lee
869:
863:
862:
860:
858:
853:. March 20, 1941
843:
837:
832:
826:
825:
813:
807:
806:
800:
792:
782:
776:
770:
764:
759:
753:
749:The New York Age
741:
732:
729:
723:
720:
714:
713:
703:
697:
694:
688:
685:
679:
676:
670:
667:
661:
660:Buni, pp. 61-70.
658:
652:
649:
643:
640:
634:
631:
625:
622:
616:
615:
613:
611:
597:
588:
585:
579:
576:
570:
567:
561:
558:
549:
546:
540:
537:
531:
521:
512:
509:
500:
499:Buni 1974, p. 4.
497:
491:
490:
488:
486:
471:
390:Death and legacy
338:Congressman Fish
294:W. E. B. Du Bois
241:in Pittsburgh."
147:
145:
77:
74:October 24, 1940
54:
52:
35:Poster from the
33:
19:
1005:
1004:
1000:
999:
998:
996:
995:
994:
930:
929:
916:
907:Digital edition
891:
881:
879:
871:
870:
866:
856:
854:
845:
844:
840:
833:
829:
815:
814:
810:
793:
791:, p. 32053
784:
783:
779:
771:
767:
760:
756:
742:
735:
730:
726:
721:
717:
705:
704:
700:
695:
691:
686:
682:
677:
673:
668:
664:
659:
655:
650:
646:
641:
637:
632:
628:
623:
619:
609:
607:
599:
598:
591:
586:
582:
577:
573:
568:
564:
559:
552:
547:
543:
538:
534:
522:
515:
510:
503:
498:
494:
484:
482:
473:
472:
465:
461:
449:
426:Portland, Maine
392:
298:Calvin Coolidge
278:Pullman Company
262:George Schuyler
172:He was born in
170:
156:Robert Lee Vann
149:
146: 1919)
141:
137:
134:
99:
93:Alma mater
88:
79:
75:
66:
56:
55:August 27, 1879
50:
48:
40:
24:
23:Robert Lee Vann
17:
12:
11:
5:
1003:
1001:
993:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
932:
931:
928:
927:
920:Robert L. Vann
915:
914:External links
912:
911:
910:
890:
889:
864:
838:
827:
808:
777:
765:
754:
733:
724:
715:
698:
689:
680:
671:
662:
653:
644:
635:
626:
617:
589:
580:
571:
562:
550:
541:
532:
513:
501:
492:
462:
460:
457:
456:
455:
448:
445:
400:Charles Alston
391:
388:
376:Homer Cummings
178:North Carolina
169:
166:
151:
150:
139:
135:
132:
131:
129:
125:
124:
117:
116:Known for
113:
112:
109:
105:
104:
94:
90:
89:
80:
78:(aged 61)
72:
68:
67:
63:North Carolina
57:
46:
42:
41:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1002:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
937:
935:
925:
921:
918:
917:
913:
908:
904:
903:
898:
897:
896:
895:
877:
876:
868:
865:
852:
848:
842:
839:
836:
831:
828:
823:
819:
812:
809:
804:
798:
790:
789:
781:
778:
774:
769:
766:
763:
758:
755:
751:
750:
745:
740:
738:
734:
728:
725:
719:
716:
711:
710:
702:
699:
693:
690:
687:Buni, p. 160.
684:
681:
675:
672:
666:
663:
657:
654:
651:Buni, p. 163.
648:
645:
642:Buni, p. 141.
639:
636:
630:
627:
621:
618:
605:
604:
596:
594:
590:
584:
581:
575:
572:
566:
563:
557:
555:
551:
545:
542:
536:
533:
529:
526:
520:
518:
514:
508:
506:
502:
496:
493:
480:
476:
470:
468:
464:
458:
454:
451:
450:
446:
444:
442:
438:
433:
429:
427:
423:
420:
416:
412:
405:
401:
396:
389:
387:
384:
382:
377:
373:
368:
366:
362:
358:
354:
349:
347:
343:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
268:" (who was a
267:
263:
258:
256:
252:
247:
242:
240:
236:
232:
227:
224:
220:
216:
212:
211:
205:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
167:
165:
163:
162:
157:
130:
126:
123:
122:
118:
114:
110:
108:Occupation(s)
106:
102:
98:
95:
91:
87:
83:
73:
69:
64:
60:
47:
43:
38:
32:
27:
20:
901:
893:
892:
880:. Retrieved
874:
867:
855:. Retrieved
850:
841:
830:
821:
811:
787:
780:
768:
757:
747:
727:
718:
708:
701:
692:
683:
674:
665:
656:
647:
638:
629:
620:
608:. Retrieved
602:
587:Buni, p. 54.
583:
578:Buni, p. 51.
574:
569:Buni, p. 46.
565:
560:Buni, p. 44.
548:Buni, p. 43.
544:
539:Buni, p. 42.
535:
527:
495:
483:. Retrieved
478:
434:
430:
421:
419:Liberty Ship
408:
403:
385:
380:
371:
369:
352:
350:
333:
317:
313:
310:Garland Fund
302:Houston Riot
292:(NAACP) and
285:
273:
269:
266:H.L. Mencken
259:
254:
245:
243:
234:
230:
228:
218:
208:
206:
202:Pennsylvania
171:
159:
155:
154:
119:
86:Pennsylvania
76:(1940-10-24)
945:1940 deaths
940:1879 births
610:October 10,
355:behind the
239:Jim Crowism
223:circulation
934:Categories
857:15 October
485:October 7,
459:References
198:Gettysburg
103:law school
82:Pittsburgh
51:1879-08-27
894:Citations
878:. NCpedia
361:Democrats
168:Biography
797:citation
447:See also
417:. The
379:to the
372:Courier
365:Lincoln
353:Courier
334:Courier
318:Courier
314:Courier
286:Courier
274:Courier
270:Courier
255:Courier
246:Courier
235:Courier
231:Courier
174:Ahoskie
148:
140:
136:
59:Ahoskie
882:16 Oct
128:Spouse
65:, U.S.
39:, 1943
251:Frogs
142:(
138:
884:2014
859:2014
803:link
612:2013
487:2013
229:The
71:Died
45:Born
922:at
188:in
936::
849:.
820:.
799:}}
795:{{
746:,
736:^
592:^
553:^
516:^
504:^
477:.
466:^
413:,
398:A
348:.
200:,
176:,
144:m.
84:,
61:,
909:.
886:.
861:.
824:.
805:)
614:.
489:.
53:)
49:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
