HALEY, James T. Afro-American Encyclopaedia. Nashville, Tenn: Haley & Florida, 1896.

Afro-American Encyclopaedia; Or, the Thoughts, Doings, and Sayings of the Race, Embracing Lectures, Biographical Sketches, Sermons, Poems, Names of Universities, Colleges, Seminaries, Newspapers, Books, and a History of the Denominations, Giving the
Numerical Strength of Each. In Fact, it Teaches Every Subject of Interest to the Colored People, as Discussed by More Than One Hundred of Their Wisest and Best Men and Women. "Illustrated with Beautiful Half-tone Engravings." Nashville, Tenn: Haley & Florida, 1896. xiv, 639pp. Approx. 10 x 7 1/2 in. Illustrations. "Sold by Subscription Exclusively."

James T. Haley was an American writer, editor, and publisher. His Afro-American Encyclopaedia is an encyclopedia for and about African Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was among the first works documenting African American history in encyclopedic form. Haley's encyclopedia is not arranged in the usual alphabetical order; it includes an alphabetical list of topics covered -- addresses, biographies, sermons, poems, lectures, educational and religious information, and a list of Black newspapers. Afro-American Encyclopaedia is heavily illustrated, primarily showing buildings and people which are featured within the book. Reliable biographical information on Haley, including birth and death dates, is scarce. According to one source ("The Encyclopedia Africana Project of W. E. B. Du Bois," Clarence G. Contee, African Historical Studies, Vol. 4, No. 1 (1971), pp. 77-91), Haley was likely white, not African American. Regardless of race, his landmark encyclopedia was a precursor to, and possibly inspiration for, the Encyclopedia Africana that W.E.B. Du Bois envisioned (but never realized).

RARE. Only two auction records for this title located since 1908.

HALEY, James T. Afro-American Encyclopaedia. Nashville, Tenn: Haley & Florida, 1896.