W. H. Lanier

William Henry Lanier (1855–1929) was a prominent educator in Mississippi during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

William Henry Lanier
BornSeptember 1855
Autauga County, Alabama, U.S.[1]
DiedNovember 1929 (aged 74)
Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Alma materRoger Williams University, B.A.
OccupationEducator
Known forLanier High School named after him
President of Alcorn State University (1899-1905)
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Ernie Dabney (m. 1900)
Children2

Background

William Henry Lanier was born into slavery in Autauga County, Alabama in September 1855 (some sources indicate 1851).[1][2][3] In the 1870 U.S. Census, which was enumerated on July 6, 1870, his age was listed as 14.[2] In the 1900 U.S. Census his month and year of birth are shown as September 1859.[3] He was educated at Tougaloo College, Oberlin College, and Fisk University before obtaining his B.A. from Roger Williams University in Nashville, Tennessee.[1]

Career

He taught school in several small towns in Mississippi, before becoming president of Alcorn State University from 1899 to 1905.[1][3][4] He would subsequently serve as head of the black schools in Yazoo City until 1911, when he was elected head of the black public schools in Jackson.[5] As principal of Robertson High School, Lanier would serve as head of the black Jackson schools until his death in 1929.[1]

Personal life

In 1900, he married Elizabeth Ernie Dabney.[3] This union produced two children.[6]

While Lanier was generally well-liked by whites, many blacks despised him. Local media attributed this to "jealousy."[5]

On Wednesday, August 16, 1911, while still serving as the head of the black schools in Yazoo City, Lanier was physically attacked by J. D. Suttlar, a black mail carrier in a highly publicized incident.[5]

Death

Lanier died in November 1929 in Jackson. Presidents of six black colleges spoke at his funeral. All black public schools in Jackson were closed on that day out of respect for the deceased.[7]

Legacy

Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi is named after him.[1][8]

References
  1. "School History". Lanier High School. Jackson (MS) Public Schools. Retrieved 20 Oct 2017. Lanier was first organized as a junior-senior high school in 1925 providing instruction for pupils from the seventh through the twelfth grades.
  2. "Ninth Census of the United States (1870) [database on-line], Beat 6, Autauga County, Alabama, Page: 4, Line: 36, household of Isaac D. Lanier". United States: The Generations Network. 1870-07-06. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  3. "Twelfth Census of the United States (1900) [database on-line], Alcorn A. and M. College, Claiborne County, Mississippi, Enumeration District: 154, Page: 10A, Line: 1, household of William H. Lanier". United States: The Generations Network. 1900-06-15. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  4. "Past Presidents". Alcorn State University. Retrieved 20 Oct 2017.
  5. "Prof. Lanier murderously assaulted". The Yazoo Herald. Yazoo City, Mississippi. 18 August 1911. Retrieved 11 September 2017. Prof. W. H. Lanier, principal of the Yazoo City colored school, was murderously assaulted near his home in Lintonia, Wednesday night by J. D. Suttlar, one of the colored mail carriers.
  6. "Thirteenth Census of the United States (1910) [database on-line], Yazoo City (Second Ward), Yazoo County, Mississippi, Enumeration District: 81, Page: 10A, Line: 20, household of W. H. Lanier". United States: The Generations Network. 1910-04-21. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  7. "Negro educator buried". Biloxi Daily Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. 13 November 1929. Retrieved 20 October 2017. Presidents of six negro colleges delivered funeral orations at last rites held here today for W. H. Lanier, negro, former president of Alcorn A. and M. College and for the past 18 years supervisor of the negro schools in Jackson.
  8. "Eureka to play Jackson eleven friday afternoon". Hattiesburg American. Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 7 November 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 20 October 2017. A memorial program has been arranged in honor of W. H. Lanier, for whom the school was named.
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