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Charles Oscar Harris

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(Redirected from Charles O. Harris) American politician from Alabama

Charles Oscar Harris (August 5, 1852 - October 8, 1913) was an American public official and state legislator in Alabama.

He was born August 5, 1852, in Tuskegee, Alabama (or Georgia) and studied at Oberlin College in Ohio and Howard University in Washington D.C. He returned to Alabama and served in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1876 and 1877. He served as a Republican, and attended the Republican National Conventions as a delegate eights times.

In March 1875 Harris along with other prominent African Americans form Montgomery purchased tickets to white-only seats in the local theatre in an attempt to test the 1875 Civil Rights Act. Being duly denied the seats they took the issue to the courts.

After his service to the legislature he had a long career as a mailing clerk serving under the terms of seven presidents and four postmasters.

He died October 8, 1913, and had still been working as a clerk in the Montgomery postoffice.

A historical marker is at his home site at 813 Adams Avenue in Montgomery, it was dedicated April 27, 2019. His descendants with the surname Hilyer passed as white.

See also

References

  1. ^ Foner, Eric; Foner, Professor of History Eric; Culture, Schomburg Center for Research in Black (February 24, 1993). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195074062 – via Google Books.
  2. HU Journal, Volume 11 Issue 4, Howard University
  3. ^ "Charles Oscar Harris Family Home Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  4. "House of Representatives - Alabama 1876". The Montgomery Advertiser. 1876-08-30. p. 1. Retrieved 24 May 2021.[REDACTED]
  5. "Civil Rights Again on Trial". The Weekly Advertiser. 1875-03-17. p. 3. Retrieved 24 May 2021.[REDACTED]
  6. ^ "Old Negro Mailing Clerk Dead; Served Under Seven Presidents". The Montgomery Advertiser. 1913-10-09. p. 3. Retrieved 24 May 2021.[REDACTED]
  7. "Charles Oscar Harris commemorative plaque". The Montgomery Advertiser. 2020-11-27. pp. A2. Retrieved 24 May 2021.[REDACTED]
  8. "Charles Oscar Harris plaque commemoration". www.montgomeryadvertiser.com.
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