Charles Oscar Harris

Charles Oscar Harris (August 5, 1852 - October 8, 1913) was an American public official and state legislator in Alabama.[1][2]

He was born August 5, 1852, in Tuskegee, Alabama (or Georgia[1]) and studied at Oberlin College in Ohio and Howard University in Washington D.C.[3] He returned to Alabama and served in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1876 and 1877.[4] He served as a Republican, and attended the Republican National Conventions as a delegate eights times.[3]

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.[3] Being duly denied the seats they took the issue to the courts.[3][5]

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.[6]

He died October 8, 1913, and had still been working as a clerk in the Montgomery postoffice.[6]

A historical marker is at his home site at 813 Adams Avenue in Montgomery,[3] it was dedicated April 27, 2019.[7] His descendants with the surname Hilyer passed as white.[8]

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.open access
  5. "Civil Rights Again on Trial". The Weekly Advertiser. 1875-03-17. p. 3. Retrieved 24 May 2021.open access
  6. "Old Negro Mailing Clerk Dead; Served Under Seven Presidents". The Montgomery Advertiser. 1913-10-09. p. 3. Retrieved 24 May 2021.open access
  7. "Charles Oscar Harris commemorative plaque". The Montgomery Advertiser. 2020-11-27. pp. A2. Retrieved 24 May 2021.open access
  8. "Charles Oscar Harris plaque commemoration". www.montgomeryadvertiser.com.
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