IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 302 

Honoring and recognizing the life and achievements of John Hope Franklin, 

one of the Nation’s most distinguished scholars. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 31, 2009 

Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. SULLIVAN, 

Ms. FUDGE, Mr. WATT, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. PAYNE, Mrs. 

CHRISTENSEN, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. MEEKS of New 

York, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Ms. WATSON, Ms. 

WATERS, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, 

Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, Mr. FATTAH, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, 

Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. CARSON of 

Indiana, Ms. NORTON, Mr. RUSH, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Mr. 

LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. CLAY, Ms. 

RICHARDSON, and Mr. SCOTT of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 

Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring and recognizing the life and achievements of John 

Hope Franklin, one of the Nation’s most distinguished 

scholars. 

Whereas John Hope Franklin, a noted historian made significant academic and civic contributions that helped integrate the African-American narrative into American history; 


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Whereas John Hope Franklin was the James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of History, and for 7 years was Professor of Legal History in the Law School at Duke University; 

Whereas John Hope Franklin was a native of Oklahoma and 

a graduate of Fisk University and a recipient of a Ph.D. 

degree in history from Harvard University; 

Whereas John Hope Franklin taught at a number of institutions, including Fisk University, St. Augustine’s College, 

North Carolina Central University, and Howard University; 

Whereas, in 1956, John Hope Franklin became the Chairman 

of the Department of History at Brooklyn College, the 

first African-American to lead a department at a predominately white institution; 

Whereas, in 1964, John Hope Franklin joined the faculty of 

the University of Chicago, serving as Chairman of the 

Department of History from 1967 to 1970, and the John 

Matthews Manly Distinguished Service Professor from 

1969 to 1982, when he became Professor Emeritus; 

Whereas John Hope Franklin’s numerous publications include The Emancipation Proclamation, The Militant 

South, The Free Negro in North Carolina, Reconstruction After the Civil War, and A Southern Odyssey: Travelers in the Ante-bellum North, and perhaps his best 

known book, From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African-Americans, now in its 7th edition; 

Whereas John Hope Franklin was active in numerous professional and education organizations including serving as 

President of the following organizations: The American 

Studies Association, the Southern Historical Association, 


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the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa and the American Historical Association; 

Whereas one of John Hope Franklin’s earliest and most influential contributions was as a member of the team of 

scholars who worked with Thurgood Marshall to win the 

landmark school desegregation case Brown v. Board of 

Education; 

Whereas John Hope Franklin served on many national commissions and delegations, including the National Council 

on the Humanities, Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy and as chair of President Clinton’s Race Initiative Advisory Board; 

Whereas, in 1995, John Hope Franklin, received the first 

W.E.B. DuBois Award from the Fisk University Alumni 

Association, the Organization of American Historians’ 

Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Alpha Phi 

Alpha Award of Merit, the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal, 

and the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and 

Whereas John Hope Franklin was a mighty scholar and solider for justice whose chronicling of American history affirmed the dignity of black people while giving us all richer understanding of who we are as Americans and our 

journey as a people: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commends John Hope Franklin for helping 

3 to integrate the African-American experience into 

4 the telling of American history; and 


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1 (2) encourages the Nation to honor his achieve2 ments and contributions and recognize his scholar3 ship and service. 

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