Unlike many people, I can’t name a favorite movie or a favorite song. I can, however name my favorite historian, now and forever: John Hope Franklin. Let perpetual light shine upon him.

It is with deep sorrow that Fisk University announces the loss of one of the nation’s preeminent historians and humanitarians, Dr. John Hope Franklin, Class of 1935 and Chairman Emeritus of the Fisk University Board of Trustees.  Dr. Franklin died this morning in North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his wife and professional associate, Aurelia W. Franklin, Fisk Class of 1935.  Dr. Franklin earned international honors for his humanitarian contributions, as well as, his distinguished career as a professor, historical researcher, author and editor.

After graduating from Fisk, Dr. Franklin matriculated to Harvard University, the first African-American graduate student to be admitted unconditionally to a graduate program.  In 1941, he earned his doctorate in history from Harvard.

The time and place of a memorial service at the Fisk Memorial Chapel will be announced next week.

On June 11, 2009 at 11:00am the family will celebrate the lives and achievements of Aurelia W. and John Hope Franklin in the Duke Chapel on the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers and other expressions of sympathy, the family has requested that contributions be made to Fisk University and directed to the Aurelia W. and John Hope Franklin Endowed Scholarship Fund at the following address:

Fisk University
Office of Institutional Advancement
Aurelia W. and John Hope Franklin Endowed Scholarship Fund
1000 Seventeenth Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37208

“You can’t have a high standard of scholarship without having a high standard of integrity, because the essence of scholarship is truth.”
Dr. John Hope Franklin
Winston-Salem Journal
Aug. 6, 1989

Sincerely,

Hazel R. O’Leary
President