On January 25, 1946, noted educator Orishatukeh Faduma died.
Born in the South American country of Guyana to freed slaves from West Africa, Faduma settled in Sierra Leone while he was still in elementary school. Educated there by missionaries, Faduma was baptized with the name William James Davies.
Title page of the journal of the 1868 convention.
On January 14, 1868, a North Carolina constitutional convention, now known as the “Convention of 1868,” opened in Raleigh.
St. Augustine’s College in 1900. Image from the Prezell R. Robinson Library.
On January 13, 1868, classes began at Raleigh’s Saint Augustine’s University.
A circa 1946-1948 portrait of Smith from
the Library of Congress.
On January 11, 1909, alto saxophonist Talmage “Tab” Smith was born in Kinston.
Charlotte Hawkins Brown on her wedding day in 1911.
On January 10, 1924, popular jazz drummer Max Roach was born in Pasquotank County. Shortly after moving to New York City with his family in 1928, Roach began to study piano with his aunt. He showed an early aptitude for music and played in jazz bands throughout high school.
On January 1, 1864, Parker Robbins of Bertie County, a free person of color of mixed African and Native American descent, enlisted in the 2nd United States Colored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Monroe, Va. Federal military authorities in eastern North Carolina began actively recruiting and enlisting African Americans for the United States Colored Troops in 1863, eventually establishing one artillery and three infantry regiments. Those wishing to join a mounted unit had to travel to Virginia to join. Robbins and his younger brother both did just that.