Kester, Howard, 1904-1977

Howard Anderson Kester was a theologian, educator, and administrator active in Christian movements relating to race relations, pacifism, and economic reform in the South from the 1920s until his retirement in 1970.

From the description of Howard Kester papers, 1923-1972. WorldCat record id: 38224023

Howard Anderson Buck Kester was a theologian, educator, and administrator active in Christian movements relating to race relations, pacifism, and economic reform in the South from the 1920s until his retirement in 1970.

• 21 July 1904: Born, Martinsville, Va., son of William and Nannie Holt Kester
• 1916: Kester family moved to Beckley, W.Va.
• 1921 - 1925 : Attended Lynchburg College
• Summer 1923: Traveled with other students on an American Pilgrimage of Friendship to European Students
• 1925 - 1926 : Attended Princeton Theological Seminary
• 1926 - 1927 : Attended Vanderbilt University School of Religion
• 18 February 1927: Married Alice Harris
• 1927 - 1934 : Worked for Fellowship of Reconciliation
• 1929 - 1931 : Attended Vanderbilt University
• 1931: Awarded B.D. degree by Vanderbilt University
• Fall 1931: Joined Socialist Party
• 1932: Ran for Congress on Socialist Party ticket
• 1932 - 1933 : Involved with striking coal miners, Wilder, Tenn.
• January 1934: Left Fellowship of Reconciliation
• 1934 - 1941 : Worked for Committee on Economic and Racial Justice, Reinhold Niebuhr, chair
• 27 April 1934: Nancy Kester born
• May 1934: First meeting of Conference of Younger Churchmen of the South (later Fellowship of Southern Churchmen), Monteagle, Tenn.
• 1935 - 1941 : Worked with Southern Tenant Farmers' Union
• 1936: Revolt Among the Sharecroppers published
• 1937: Elected to National Executive Committee, Socialist Party
• 1939: Built house in High Top Colony, Black Mountain, N.C.
• 1941 - 1943 : Worked as executive secretary for the Fellowship of Southern Churchmen
• 1944 - 1948 : Worked as principal, Penn School, Saint Helena Island, S.C.
• May 1949 - May 1950 : Worked as director of the Congregational Christian Church Displaced Persons Program in New York City, N.Y.
• July 1950 - January 1952 : Worked as headmaster, John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, N.C.
• February 1952 - August 1957 : Served as executive secretary, Fellowship of Southern Churchmen
• 1957 - 1960 : Served as director of student life, professor of history, dean of students, Eureka College, Eureka, Ill.
• 1960 - 1965 : Served as executive director of Christmount Assembly, Black Mountain, N.C.
• 1963 - 1965 : Part-time instructor at Montreat-Anderson College, Montreat, N.C.
• 1965 - 1971 : Full-time instructor at Montreat-Anderson College, Montreat, N.C.
• 1968 - 1970 : Dean of students at Montreat-Anderson College, Montreat, N.C.
• April 1970: Alice Harris Kester died
• 1972: Howard Kester died

Full biographical note on Howard Kester (PDF)

From the guide to the Howard Kester Papers, 1923-1972, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)