38 Facts About Francis Sumner

Francis Cecil Sumner was an American leader in education reform.

Francis Cecil Sumner was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on December 7,1895.

Francis Sumner was the second son of David Alexander and Ellen Lillian Sumner and younger brother to Eugene Sumner.

Francis Sumner's parents were concerned about the poor quality of educational opportunities for African Americans, so they worked particularly hard to provide Francis with books and other materials and they encouraged him to educate himself as they had done.

Francis Sumner passed the test and, in 1911, at the age of 15, was admitted.

Francis Sumner then went to Clark University in 1916 and in the fall he received his second Bachelor's Degree in English.

Hall and Francis Sumner's relationship became one of mutual respect as Hall continued to provide encouragement to Francis Sumner and many other African-American students.

Francis Sumner returned to Lincoln University as a graduate student and as a teacher of religious study, psychology, philosophy, and German.

Francis Sumner kept in contact with Hall, asking for assistance and consideration for a fellowship award to study "race psychology" at Clark University.

In 1917, Francis Sumner returned to Clark University, where he was awarded a senior scholarship.

Francis Sumner's education was postponed in 1918 when he was drafted by the United States Military He was sent to Camp Meade Maryland for basic training with the 48th Company, 154 Depot Brigade.

Francis Sumner asked to be reconsidered as a candidate upon his return.

Francis Sumner remained in France until he was discharged in the middle of 1919.

Francis Sumner's work is thought to be a response to the Eurocentric methods of psychology.

Francis Sumner accepted a professor position at Wilberforce University in 1920.

Francis Sumner claimed that race prejudice was the cause of his inability to attain his and other African American scientists' funding.

From 1928 until his death in 1954, Francis Sumner served as the chair of the psychology department at Howard University.

Francis Sumner is known for teaching social psychologist Kenneth B Clark, an influential figure in the civil rights movement.

Francis Sumner encouraged that psychology should move away from philosophy and the school of education.

Francis Sumner resigned from West Virginia Collegiate Institute on August 31,1928.

Francis Sumner then moved on to Howard University in fall 1928, and became the acting chairman and professor, until 1930 upon which time he became the fully appointed chair of Psychology and succeeded in making the department independent from Philosophy.

Francis Sumner held the position until he died on January 12,1954.

Francis Sumner gave a paper to the International Congress of Religious Psychology.

Francis Sumner began writing the abstracts in 1946, and between 1948 and 1949 he wrote 505 abstracts.

Francis Sumner wrote over 2,000 abstracts during his time with these two journals.

Francis Sumner was a member of many associations, including the American Psychological Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Educational Research Association, Eastern Psychological Association, Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, and the District of Columbia Psychological Association.

Francis Sumner was a member of fraternal organizations, including Psi Chi, Pi Gamma Mu, and Kappa Alpha Psi, writing several journal articles for the latter fraternity.

Francis Sumner was a pioneer in the field of race psychology.

Francis Sumner's study included a wide range of themes, including the variations in mental health between white and black people, and African-American perspectives of the judicial system.

In 1939, Francis Sumner applied for a membership in the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, having the requisite endorsement of two current members as well as an active membership in the American Psychological Association.

Records showed that there was concern that additional African-American applicants would follow if Francis Sumner were to be admitted.

Francis Sumner advocated for more funding for African-American schools and teachers, and he taught at Howard University for over thirty years.

In 1926, Francis Sumner viewed the African American culture as younger as it was only a few hundred years removed from savagery and less than a century from slavery, while those of Whites was more a pinnacle of Western Civilization.

Francis Sumner's goal was to culturally elevate the African Americans and stressed the importance of learning trades such as carpentry and plumbing.

Francis Sumner mentioned that the Negro race cannot be denied that it has produced individuals whose cultural status plainly warrants a higher education.

Francis Sumner concluded that for those very few Black youths ready for a liberalized education, it'd be best to work out in institutions preferably for Negroes in the so-called Negro colleges or universities.

Francis Sumner died of a heart attack while shoveling snow outside his home in Washington DC on January 11,1954.

Francis Sumner received a military honor guard in memory for his service during World War I Sumner was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.