African Americana

Spanning 1916-1923, the group of documents includes autograph letters and typed letters signed ("L.B. Moore" and "L.B.M"), as well as a telegram. Correspondence predominantly relates to Moore's efforts to assist one of his former students, Miss Jean Snowden, in securing a teaching position at the Tuskegee Institute. In a letter of 12 October 1917 Moore indicates that he has recommended Miss Snowden for the "Position of English Teacher" at Tuskegee, and continues, "I shall try my best to land you here as you preferred this job. It will give you the experience and prestige you want...You will like the place I am sure." Two letters from 1918 illustrate Moore's dedication and sympathies for the ongoing war effort. Writing to Jean Snowden in February 1918 he describes how the male students he teaches are "gradually taken away for service in War," and noting that "This awful conflict is stunning!!" Ten months later, he apologizes for the delay in wrting to Miss Snowden, indicating that he has "been on the road since May doing war work." 

[With:] An undated 8pp letter addressed to "Sister" and signed "Sister," identified as having been written to Jean Snowden from her sister Lillian Snowden, discussing familial, social, and work matters. The letter does include references to "Mrs. Walker," which may be a reference to Maggie L. Walker, a woman associated with the Independent Order of St. Luke, a fraternal organization that provided services to Black people and for which Lillian Snowden was an employee later in her life.

[Also with:] A letter sent by "G.W. Goode, Pres." to Lewis B. Moore. 1p, Warrenton, Virginia, 1 September 1917. Goode, who served at one time as President of the Colored Baptist Association of Virginia, writes to Moore asking to be put in touch with "a young lady, graduating from your teachers College who would like a position in a boarding school...."

Lewis Baxter Moore was a prominent Black educator, minister, scholar, and school administrator. Born in Huntsvile, Alabama, he earned his BA and MA from Fisk University in Nashville before earning his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1896 from the University of Pennsylvania - the first person of African descent to do so. At that time, only four other African Americans had earned a PhD at any university. Moore taught multiple subjects at Howard University following his graduate work, and in 1899 he founded the Howard University Teachers' College. He served as the dean of the Teachers' College from 1899-1920. During World War I, Moore was deeply supportive of the war effort, authoring "How the Colored Race Can Help in the Problems Issuing from the War" (1918 and 1919) and "Report Concerning the Needs and Problems of Negroes in War Camp Communities" (1918). Near the end of his career he was ordained a minister becoming the Reverend Dr. Moore. He spent the last three years of his life in Philadelphia as the pastor of the Faith Presbyterian Church.

Anna Jean Snowden (ca1895 - 1996) was a Black woman and educator who graduated with a B.S. and Teacher's diploma in Education from Howard University in 1916. Thanks to her former professor's efforts, she did receive the offer to teach at Tuskegee Institute and accepted the position, working there from at least 1917-1918.