Wilkerson, Doxey Alphonso, 1905-1993

An African-American educator, Doxey A. Wilkerson, made significant contributions to early childhood education and teacher education for secondary school, especially with regard to minority and disadvantaged students.

Wilkerson was a professor of education at Howard University from 1935-1943 and served as a research associate for the Carnegie Corporation study of the Negro in America, 1939-1940. He served as national vice president of the American Federation of Teachers (1937-1941), using his office as a vehicle to garner support for federal aid for education of black Americans. Wilkerson joined the Communist Party in 1943 and served on its national committee. He resigned in 1957. After leaving Howard University in 1943, Wilkerson became executive editor of the progressive Harlem newspaper, The People's Voice, leaving there in 1948 to serve as the Director of Curriculum with teaching responsibilities at Manhattan's Jefferson School of Social Science, known for its Marxist perspective.

From 1963-1973 Wilkerson was a professor of education and chairman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction with Yeshiva University in New York. And from 1973 until his retirement in 1984 he was a technical coordinator and vice president for Mediax Associates, an educational consulting firm in Westport, Connecticut. This company sought to further the educational growth of children through professional staff development and worked with schools throughout the United States.

Wilkerson published numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles about equality of education for African Americans and the general populace. His earlier articles also focused on Communism. In 1962 he and his wife moved to South Norwalk, Connecticut where he served on the boards of numerous local civic organizations, some educational and black oriented. Throughout his retirement he devoted his energy to the improvement of this state. Wilkerson died at age 88 in 1993.

From the description of Doxey A. Wilkerson papers, 1927-1993 (bulk 1950's-1980's) (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 288789869

An African-American educator, Doxey A. Wilkerson, made significant contributions to early childhood education and teacher education for secondary school, especially with regard to minority and disadvantaged students.

Wilkerson was a professor of education at Howard University from 1935-1943 and served as a research associate for the Carnegie Corporation study of the Negro in America, 1939-1940. He served as national vice president of the American Federation of Teachers (1937-1941), using his office as a vehicle to garner support for federal aid for education of black Americans. Wilkerson joined the Communist Party in 1943 and served on its national committee. He resigned in 1957. After leaving Howard University in 1943, Wilkerson became executive editor of the progressive Harlem newspaper, The People's Voice, leaving there in 1948 to serve as the Director of Curriculum with teaching responsibilities at Manhattan's Jefferson School of Social Science, known for its Marxist perspective.

From 1963-1973 Wilkerson was a professor of education and chairman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction with Yeshiva University in New York. And from 1973 until his retirement in 1984 he was a technical coordinator and vice president for Mediax Associates, an educational consulting firm in Westport, Connecticut. This company sought to further the educational growth of children through professional staff development and worked with schools throughout the United States.

Wilkerson published numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles about equality of education for African Americans and the general populace. His earlier articles also focused on Communism. In 1962 he and his wife moved to South Norwalk, Connecticut where he served on the boards of numerous local civic organizations, some educational and black oriented. Throughout his retirement he devoted his energy to the improvement of this state. Wilkerson died at age 88 in 1993.

From the guide to the Doxey A. Wilkerson papers, 1927-1993, 1950's-1980's, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)