Darrin P. Gayles, First Gay African-American to serve on Federal Judiciary
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/diverse-public-service/diverse-public-service">Return to Diversity in Public Service</a></h4>
From Ballotpedia: Darrin P. Gayles is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He is the first openly gay black man to serve on the federal judiciary. On February 6, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Gayles to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The United States Senate confirmed Gayles to the court on June 17, 2014, on a unanimous vote of 98-2. Prior to joining the federal judiciary, Gayles was a judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, Civil Division, in Florida. He was appointed by former Governor Charlie Crist on December 23, 2010 to replace former Judge Ronald M. Friedman. He was officially sworn in on April 8. He was elected in 2012 and his term would have expired in January of 2019
South Florida Business Journal
https://media.bizj.us/view/img/10954601/bizofpride07*1024xx2670-1502-0-0.jpg
South Florida Business Journal
2018
South Florida Business Journal
<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/c/2018-business-of-pride/5627/darrin-p-gayles.html">South Florida Business Journal</a>
<a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Darrin_P._Gayles">Ballotpedia</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.stu.edu/law/faculty-staff/faculty/darrin-gayles/">St. Thomas University School of Law</a>
Photograph
English
Figures
LGBT. Florida. Darrin Gayles. Judicial Branch. Judge. African-American
Florida
1868- Congressman Joseph Hayne Rainey, First African American U.S. Representative
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/diverse-public-service/diverse-public-service">Return to Diversity in Public Service</a></h4>
<p>Joseph Hayne Rainey (June 21, 1832 – August 1, 1887) was the first African American to serve in the United States House of Representatives, the second black person to serve in the United States Congress (U.S. Senator Hiram Revels was the first), the first African American to be directly elected to Congress (Revels was appointed), and the first black presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. Born into slavery, he was freed in the 1840s by his father's purchasing his freedom and that of all his family...Rainey supported legislation to protect the civil rights of Southern blacks, as well as to promote the southern economy.</p>
<p> </p>
U.S. Congress
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Joseph_Rainey_-_Brady-Handy.jpg
House of Representatives
Unknown
House of Representatives
Source: Joseph Rainey. <a href="http://history.house.gov/People/Listing/R/RAINEY,-Joseph-Hayne-(R000016)/"><strong>United States House of Representatives</strong></a>. Retrieved April 21, 2014
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Rainey">Wikipedia</a>
Source: Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives. Medium: Painting
English
Figures
Joseph Rainey, African-American, House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, Civil Rights
Historic
Benjmain W. Arnett
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/public-education-gallery/public-education-gallery">Return to Public Education</a></h4>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">A photograph of Benjamin W. Arnett, an African-American minister, elected official, and educator.<br /> <br />Though Benjamin W. Arnett was born a free man, he still did not receive the equal education that white children did. He resolved to change this when he was elected to the Ohio General Assembly in 1885. It made him the first African-American to represent a majorly white constituency. He introduced legislation to repeal laws that limited the resources and opportunities for African-Americans. He succeeded in his goals in 1887, when Ohio’s statues regarding education were changed. Ohio was then required to offer equal education for all children, regardless of race. </span></p>
<p></p>
Ohio House of Representatives
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Benjaminwarnett.jpg
Ohio House of Representatives
Circa 1886
Ohio House of Representatives
Link: <a href="http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/page.cfm?ID=4446">http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/page.cfm?ID=4446</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_W._Arnett">Wikipedia</a>
Medium: Photograph.
English
Figures
Benjamin W. Arnett, African-American, Minister, Education, Ohio, Civil Rights
Historic
1924- Vivian Gordon Harsh, became the Chicago Public Library System's First Black Librarian
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/diverse-public-service/diverse-public-service">Diversity in Public Service (D-1)</a></h4>
<br /><br /><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/women-in-public-service-galler"></a> <br /><br /><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/library-gallery"></a>
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/women-in-public-service-galler/women-in-public-service-galler">Women in the Public Service (D-5)</a></h4>
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/library-gallery/library-gallery">Libraries (E-3)</a></h4>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">"Vivian Gordon Harsh was the first African American librarian in the Chicago Public Library system and a significant contributor to Chicago's Black Renaissance. In 1932 she was appointed head librarian of the George Cleveland Hall Branch, the city’s first library built in an African American community. During her career, Harsh developed a black history collection that would become a world-renowned resource for residents and scholars. Harsh and Charlemae Rollins, a children’s librarian, developed the branch’s substantial African American resources along with programming specifically for the black community. The collection began with over 100 books on African-Americana donated by George Bentley, founder of the Chicago branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Operating in the 1920s without funding from the Chicago Public Library, Harsh expanded the collection through private donations and her personal contributions."</span></p>
<p></p>
Chicago Public Library
https://www.chicagotribune.com/resizer/QC0yURhCZ1mg6JQELUVTg_88YdE=/415x663/top/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/IENVG7K5UFGVTP4HVXMJNU7JIA.jpg
Chicago Public Library
No date given
Chicago Public Library
Source: Harsh, Vivian Gordon. (n.d.). The Black Past. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from <a href="http://bit.ly/RTKUsf">http://bit.ly/RTKUsf</a>
Link: <a href="http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/harsh-vivian-gordon-1890-1960">Vivian Gordon Harsh(via Blackpast.org)</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-flashback-vivian-harsh-librarian-black-history-20200131-q5ikqwpzo5albdtz5smbyx3dga-story.html">Chicago Tribune</a>
Medium: Photograph
English
Figures
Vivian Gordon Harsh, African-American, Women, Librarian, Black History
Historic
Justice Jane Bolin, First African-American Judge
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/criminal-justice-and-investiga/criminal-justice-and-investiga">Return to Criminal Justice & Investigative Services</a></h4>
In college, Jane Bolin was surrounded by white male students who would ignore her, and her career advisor told her to stop pursing her judicial dreams. She promptly ignored all the obstacles in her way, and became the first African-American woman to graduate from Yale Law School, the first to join the New York City Bar Association, and the first to join the New York City Law Department. She was officially appointed as a judge the New York World’s Fair on July 22, 1939 and would serve on the bench until she was forced to retire at age 70. As a member of the NAACP, she strived to create racial equality in all of her causes. She encouraged such equality in child services, ensured that probation officers were hired without regard to religion or race, and funded childcare agencies that would help children regardless of race.
Library of Congress
https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8e04000/8e04200/8e04218r.jpg
Library of Congress
1942
Library of Congress
A black and white photograph of Jane Matilda Bolin, the first African-American woman to serve as a judge. <br /><br />Source: Jane Bolin. (2012, July 24). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15:31, October 5, 2012, from <a href="http://bit.ly/SOVH3Z">http://bit.ly/SOVH3Z</a>
Link: <a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/fsa1998020837/PP/">Library of Congress</a>
Medium: Photograph.
English
Figures
Criminal Justice
Historic
Houston Mayor Lee Brown
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/public-safety-law-enforcement-/public-safety-law-enforcement-">Return to Safety and Law Enforcement</a></h4>
Lee Patrick Brown started off as a police officer in California, but he would continue climbing up the ranks as he improved life around him. Serving from 1982 to 1990, he became the first African-American Police Chief to the City of Houston. It was there he would first implement the method of Community Policing, which he would continue to put forward in further ranks. In New York City, he became the Police Commissioner and implemented Community Policing citywide. As a result, he started the most drastic reduction of crime in the history of New York City. He would later become the first African-American mayor of Houston, Texas.
Rice University
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Lee_Brown.png
Rice University
1996
United States House of Representatives
Lee Brown standing with Congressman Green and City Councilman Gordon Quan. <br /><br />For Further Exploration Please Visit <a href="http://bit.ly/SCau5H">http://bit.ly/SCau5H</a>
Link: <a href="https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/honorable-lee-p-brown">http://www.house.gov/list/speech/tx29_green/morenews/mayorbrown.html</a>
Medium: Photograph.
English
Figures
African-American, Congressman, Houston, Law Enforcement, Lee Brown, Mayor, Police
Houston
Smithsonian 3-D Portrait of President Barack Obama, First African-American U.S. President
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/public-servant-elected/public-servant-elected">Return to Elected Office</a></h4>
People have always sought to document their leaders with the best technology available in their time, and the Smithsonian collects the results of these efforts as bust, paintings and photographs in the National Portrait Gallery. This 3D Portrait added a new genre to the ever-evolving modalities for presidential portraiture.
The portraits of President Barack Obama were created based on data collected by a Smithsonian-led team of 3-D digital imaging specialists and include a digital and 3-D printed bust and life mask. It took the team a little over 7 minutes from the time President Obama entered the room to finish the data capture for the first presidential 3D Portrait using 21st century technology.
Smithsonian-led Team of 3-D Digital Imaging Specialists
Sources: <a href="http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/smithsonian-display-3-d-portrait-president-obama">Newsdesk.</a> <br /><br />Author: Günter Waibel, Director, Digitization Program Office, Office of the Chief Information Officer
Smithsonian Institution
12/02/2014
Smithsonian-led Team of 3-D Digital Imaging Specialists
Smithsonian Institution
Newsroom of the Smithsonian. <a href="http://dpo.si.edu/blog/smithsonian-creates-first-ever-3d-presidential-portrait">Digitization Program Office.</a>
Sculpture
English
Artwork
Elected Office
Historic
Joseph Rainey, First African American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1869-1879
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/public-servant-elected/public-servant-elected">Return to Elected Office</a></h4>
Joseph Hayne Rainey, 1832-1887. Born in Georgetown, South Carolina. He was the first African American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, the first African American to preside over the House, and the longest–serving African American during the tumultuous Reconstruction period.
Mathew Brady or Levin Handy
Joseph Rainey <br /><br />Source: <a href="http://history.house.gov/People/Detail/20095?ret=True">United States House of Representatives</a>
Library of Congress
Between 1865 and 1880
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Rainey">Wikipedia</a>
Painting
English
Figures
Elected Office
Historic
1869-1871 Hiram Rhodes Revels - First African American appointed to serve in the U.S. Senate
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/public-servant-elected/public-servant-elected">Return to Elected Office</a></h4>
Hiram Rhodes Revels: 1827-1901. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina . Revels is the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress (41st, 1869-1871). He was a member of the Republican Party. Revels was ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. His first pastorate was likely to have been in Richmond, Indiana, where he was elected an elder to the AME Indiana Conference in 1849. Revels traveled throughout the country, carrying out religious work and educating fellow African Americans in Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He arrived in Washington to serve in elected office as a Senator for Mississippi at the end of January 1870, but could not present his credentials until Mississippi was readmitted to the United States on February 23.
Library of Congress Photoduplication Service
Photoprint made by Library of Congress Photoduplication Service, from original glass negative: Brady-Handy Collection <br /><br />Source: <a href="https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/20291?ret=True">United States House of Representatives</a>. Kenneth H. Williams, “Revels, Hiram Rhoades,” American National Biography 18 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999)
Library of Congress
1870
Mathew Brady & Levin Corbin Handy
Library of Congress
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_Rhodes_Revels">Wikipedia</a>
Medium: Photomechanical Print
English
Figures
Elected
Historic