Dr. John Hope Franklin, an esteemed American historian and educator, was born on January 2, 1915, in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, and passed away on March 25, 2009. Over the course of his distinguished career, he became a towering figure in the study of Southern and African American history, leaving an indelible mark on the field of American history.

Dr. Franklin held leadership roles in many prominent organizations, serving as president of Phi Beta Kappa, the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, and the Southern Historical Association. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 1995.

Franklin's most celebrated work is his book From Slavery to Freedom, first published in 1947, which remains a seminal text on African American history, with over three million copies sold. His scholarship reshaped the understanding of the American Civil War era and underscored the crucial role of African Americans in shaping modern American identity.

Notably, Dr. Franklin played a pivotal role in crafting the legal brief that led to the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which outlawed segregation in public schools.

Franklin's academic journey began at Fisk University, followed by Harvard University, where he earned his doctorate in 1941. He held professorships at several institutions, including Fisk University, Saint Augustine's College, North Carolina Central University, and Howard University. He later chaired the history department at Brooklyn College and became the John Matthews Manly Distinguished Service Professor of History at the University of Chicago and the James B. Duke Professor of History at Duke University. Additionally, he served as a Fulbright Professor in Australia and the Pitt Professor of American History and Institutions at Cambridge University in England.

Reflecting on his life's work, Franklin once stated, "My challenge was to weave into the fabric of American history enough of the presence of blacks so that the story of the United States could be told adequately and fairly."

In his autobiography, Franklin recounts the racism he faced while attempting to volunteer for clerical work at the onset of World War II. Despite his impressive qualifications, he was told by a Navy recruiter that he was "the wrong color" for the position. Similarly, he was turned away from a War Department historical project and even faced discrimination when trying to fulfill a routine blood test requirement for the draft. These experiences led him to avoid the draft, feeling that his country did not respect him because of his race.

Throughout his life, Dr. Franklin received numerous honors, including the Jefferson Medal from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (1984), the Clarence Holte Literary Prize (1985), the Jefferson Medal from the American Philosophical Society, and the National Endowment for the Humanities Charles Frankel Award (1993). He was also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Franklin’s father, an attorney, played a significant role in documenting and representing victims of the Tulsa “Black Wall Street” Race Riots. John Hope Franklin’s life was one of defying stereotypes and overcoming racial barriers, making him one of the most prolific African American historians in U.S. history.