Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: William Henry Johnson
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, this site provides biographical information on William Henry Johnson in addition to an extensive listing of his works as displayed at the museum.
C-SPAN
C Span American Writers: Narrative of Frederick Douglass
A brief summary of The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Also includes an on-line text of the work as well as links to other informational websites.
Other
Anna Julia Cooper Project: Anna Julia Cooper's Biography
Biographical sketch of Anna Julia Cooper, who had a long career as an educator and an activist who spoke out about the need for society to raise the position of black women, and to educate all people, regardless of their race or gender.
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Shirley Chisholm
Read about the life of Shirley Chisholm who in 1968 became the first African American woman to serve in Congress.
National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame: Maya Angelou
Read a biography of African-American writer Maya Angelou, a woman whose career has inspired and affected millions of people.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Black Beauty: Millionaire c.j. Walker
Provides biographical information about Madame C.J. Walker, the first African-American millionaire.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: 300 Women Who Changed History: Zora Neale Hurston
Encyclopaedia Britannica provides a biography of Zora Neale Hurston, a famous novelist and first African American graduate of Barnard College.
ESPN Internet Ventures
Espn: Jackie Changed Face of Sports
An ESPN article that showcases the career and life of legendary baseball player, Jackie Robinson. Selected the first African-American to play in the majors in the 20th century, ESPN named him number fifteen on its list of greatest athletes.
University at Buffalo
Univ. At Buffalo: Circle Association's Rita Dove Page
Site from the University at Buffalo is still under construction for a mini biography and bibliography. However, site does have an interview of Rita Dove from 1997 and thirteen writings or poems by Dove. Links to other African American...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet [Pdf]
"An African American Poet" is a one page, biographical passage about Gwendolyn Brooks, a famous African American poet. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes...
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Toni Morrison
A detailed biography on the works of African American writer and 1993 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Toni Morrison. Contains information on the themes and subject matters of her most famous books while also giving some information on...
Curated OER
National Park Service: International Civil Rights Walk of Fame: Bernard Parks
A short biography on former Los Angeles Police Chief, Bernard Parks, a founding member of the Oscar Joel Bryant Foundation formed to better communication between African American police officers and the communities around Los Angeles.
Duke University
Duke University: Ida B. Wells Barnett(1862 1931) and Her Passion for Justice
Read this brief biography of Ida B. Wells, who used her pen and the force of her personality to fight against lynching and other injustices against African Americans.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 522: Jan Matzeliger
A brief biography of Jan Matzeliger, an African-American inventor who revolutionized the shoe manufacturing industry. Read about his early troubles and how he graciously lived his life. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio...
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 158: Lewis Latimer
A brief biography of African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. Read about his association with both Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison in developing the incandescent light bulb. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio broadcast.
University at Buffalo
University of New York: David Harold Blackwell
Called by many the greatest African American mathematician, David Blackwell has won many awards in his field. This site from the University of New York at Buffalo provides a thorough biography of his life and work.
PBS
Pbs: The West Benjamin "Pap" Singleton
From the critically acclaimed PBS series, "The West," this site provides a brief biography of Benjamin "Pap" Singleton, a leader of the "Great Exodus" which brought thousands of African Americans west from the post-Reconstruction South.
Other
Black Inventor Online Museum: Lewis Latimer
The biography of the fascinating African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. In addition to finding out about his development of the carbon filament for the incandescent lamp, you can read about his expertise in patent law, his association...
Other
Black Inventor Online Museum: Jan Matzeliger
A very complete biography of African-American inventor, Jan Matzeliger, who developed the shoe-lasting machine. Read about the development of his invention, and see pictures of the machine and the patent drawing.
Other
New Bedford Historical Society: Lewis Temple
Biography of African-American Lewis Temple, whose toggle iron radically improved the harpoon used by whalers in the 19th century.
Other
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Charley Pride
Provides the life story of African American country music superstar, Charley Pride, a 2000 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Click on the arrows to listen to him singing three songs.
BBC
Bbc: Profile: Condoleezza Rice
A short biography of the first African-American to serve as Secretary of State. (30 March 2006)
Other
Maryland Department: Maryland in the Civil War
An all-inclusive site with links to African-American participation in the Maryland military, Maryland regiments, biographical information, and selected references.
Other
History's Women: Sojourner Truth, Abolitionist Suffragist
This site provides a biography of African American Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in upstate New York.