Howard Washington Thurman

168110043_137498988375733_7997016157974494614_n — Timeline A chronological list of events in the life of Howard Thurman

howard-thurman — Audio Archives Archived recordings of Howard Thurman and people close to him

howard_thurman_marquee Medium — Suggested Reading A collection of books and articles to read on the life and work of Howard Thurman

Timeline

1899

Howard Washington Thurman was born

Born near Palm Beach, FL on November 18, and grew up in Daytona Beach, FL. Raised by his mother and grandmother (who was a slave) after his father dies when Thurman is 7 years old.

1915

Begins High School

Begins high school at the Florida Baptist Academy in Jacksonville, FL because “coloreds” were allowed to complete only to 7th grade.

1919

Graduates High School

Graduates as valedictorian of his class and receives a tuition scholarship to Morehouse College.

1923

Graduates from College

Graduates as valedictorian from Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA.

1926

Ordained as a Minister

Becomes ordained minister after earning seminary degree from Colgate-Rochester Theological Seminary. Graduates as valedictorian of seminary class.

1926

Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Begins ministerial duties as pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Oberlin, Ohio.

1929

Studied at Haverford College

Studies philosophy and mysticism at Haverford College with Rufus Jones, Quaker philosopher, mystic, and pacifist.

1930

Joint Professorship

Secures joint professorship in religion at Morehouse and Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.

1930

Kate Kelly Thurman Passes

First wife, Kate Kelley Thurman, mother of their first child, Olive dies from tuberculosis, acquired from her work as a social worker in the black branch of the Anti-Tuberculosis of Atlanta.

1932

Marries Sue Bailey

In June, marries activist and educator, Sue Bailey, who later (1934) becomes mother of second daughter, Anne Spencer Thurman.

1932

Dean of Rankin Chapel

Assumes post of Professor and Dean of Rankin Chapel at Howard University in Washington, DC.

1935

"Pilgramage of Friendship"

Led “Pilgrimage of Friendship” to India, Burma, and Ceylon where he meets Mahatma Gandhi. Vows to live by teachings of Indian spiritual and political leader.

1944

Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples

Co-founds and becomes pastor at the first intentional multi-racial congregation—Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco, CA.

1949

Congregation Grows

“Fellowship Church” grows to 250 members (at least half of whom are White, the remainder Black, Chinese, Japanese and Filipino) with international support from Great Britain, Japan, South Africa, India, Iran, and Taiwan.

1949

Jesus and the Disinherited

Publishes his most famous book, Jesus and the Disinherited using New Testament gospels to describe how a non-violent civil rights movement could be successful. This book would influence a number of civil rights leaders among them James Farmer founder of the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and Martin Luther King, Jr. who carried the book with him whenever he marched.

1953

Media Recognition

Life Magazine names Howard Thurman as the twelve “Greatest Preachers of the 20th Century.” Ebony Magazine designates Thurman as one of the 50 most important figures in African American History.

1953

Marsh Chapel

Leaves Fellowship Church to become first African American Professor and Dean of Marsh Chapel at Boston University, a position he held until he retired in 1965.

1965

Howard Thurman Educational Trust

Becomes Director of the Howard Thurman Educational Trust and Minister Emeritus at Fellowship Church.

1981

Died

Passes away in San Francisco on April 10, 1981.

Howard Washington Thurman

Documentary

Timeline

Source: BlackPast.org, Primary Contributor: Johnetta Richards, San Francisco State University and revised by Lerita Coleman Brown.

Suggested Reading