Benjamin Elijah Mays was born August 1, 1894 in Ninety Six, South Carolina. After graduating high school, he spent one year at Virginia Union University before moving to Maine to attend Bates College, where he received his BA. He then went to the University of Chicago for his M.A. and his Ph.D. While at the University of Chicago, Mays worked as a Pullman Porter and a student assistant to Dr. Lacey Kirk Williams, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church. While finishing his doctorate, Mays published The Negro's Church, the first sociological study on the Black church, with Joseph Nicholson. He became dean of the School of Religion at Howard University in 1934. In 1940, Mays moved to Atlanta to become the president of Morehouse College. Martin Luther King Jr. was Mays' most famous student at Morehouse. The two remained close until King's death in 1968 and Mays delivered the eulogy at his funeral. Mays left Morehouse College in 1967. In 1969, Mays ran for the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education. While on the board, Mays oversaw the peaceful desegregation of the Atlanta Public Schools. He served on the board until 1981, and served as the president of the board between 1970 and 1981. At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.
Aug 24, 2022

Benjamin E. Mays Papers

Benjamin Elijah Mays was born August 1, 1894 in Ninety Six, South Carolina. After graduating high school, he spent one year at Virginia Union University before moving to Maine to attend Bates College, where he received his BA. He then went to the University of Chicago for his M.A. and his Ph.D. While at the University of Chicago, Mays worked as a Pullman Porter and a student assistant to Dr. Lacey Kirk Williams, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church. While finishing his doctorate, Mays published The Negro's Church, the first sociological study on the Black church, with Joseph Nicholson. He became dean of the School of Religion at Howard University in 1934. In 1940, Mays moved to Atlanta to become the president of Morehouse College. Martin Luther King Jr. was Mays' most famous student at Morehouse. The two remained close until King's death in 1968 and Mays delivered the eulogy at his funeral. Mays left Morehouse College in 1967. In 1969, Mays ran for the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education. While on the board, Mays oversaw the peaceful desegregation of the Atlanta Public Schools. He served on the board until 1981, and served as the president of the board between 1970 and 1981.

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.
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Title Date Created Description Subject Collection
Greetings and Salutations Book, 1979 1979 A greetings and salutations book presented to Mays on the occasion of the establishment of a scholarship fund at the Interdenominational Theological Center. African Americans--Education, Theology--Study and teaching Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Recipients of the College Board Medal for Distinguished Service to Education, 1976 1976 Benjamin E. Mays and other recipients of the College Board Medal for Distinguished Service to Education. Written on recto: Recipients of the College Board Medal for Distinguished Service to Education: (seated from left to right) John W. Gardner, Chairman, Common Cause, Washington, D.C.; Mary I. Bunting, President Emerita, Radcliffe College; James S. Coleman, Professor pf Sociology, University of Chicago; Elizabeth D. Koontz, Assistant State Superintendent for Teacher Education, North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction; (standing from left to right) Clark Kerr, Chairman and Staff Director, Carnegie Council on Policy Studies in Higher Education; Henry Chauncey, former President, Educational Testing Service; Benjamin E. Mays, President Emeritus, Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia; John M. Stalnaker, President Emeritus and Honorary Director, National Merit Scholarship Corporation; John U. Monro, Dean of General Education, Miles College, Birmingham, Alabama. The Medals were presented on October 26 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, during the Board's 1976 National Frum, the concluding event of its 75th Anniversary Year. African Americans--Education, African American men, Portraits and people Benjamin E. Mays Papers
APCUG Higher Education Awards Banquet, March 26, 1973 1973-06-26 Benjamin E. Mays and others at an APCUG Higher Education Awards Banquet. Written on verso: APCUG Higher Education Awards Banquet, Stouffer's Atlanta [?], 7 p.m. March 26, 1973, L to R: President Waights Henry, Lagrange College, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, Mayor Sam Massell. Benjamin E. Mays attends APUCG High Education Banquet. African Americans--Education, African American men, Special events Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Black History Cover, February, 1973 1973-02 The cover of a Black History calendar featuring Benjamin E. Mays. African Americans--Education, African American men Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Telegram Sent to Dr. Mays, January 7, 1970 1970-01-07 A telegram sent to Dr. Mays from E. L. Abercrombie about Mays' election to the Board of Education in Atlanta. African Americans--Education, African American men, Education--Curricula Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Benjamin E. Mays Board of Education, October 7, 1969 1969-10-17 An election brochure for Benjamin E. Mays running for the Board of Education for Atlanta Schools. African Americans--Education, African American men, Education--Curricula Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Statement of Benjamin E. Mays, August 15, 1969 1969-08-15 A statement written by Benjamin E. Mays. African Americans--Education, African American men, African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta Benjamin E. Mays Papers
"They Go Back to School," September 23, 1967 1967-11-23 An article written by Benjamin E. Mays for the Pittsburgh Courier. African Americans--Education, African American men, African American newspapers Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Armeriak Boyavion and Benjamin E. Mays, October 3, 1966 1966-10-13 Armeriak Boyavion and Benjamin E. Mays stand outside of a building on the Morehouse campus. African Americans--Education, African American men, Portraits and people Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Benjamin E. Mays, circa 1970 1965/1975 Portrait of Benjamin E. Mays. African Americans--Education, African American men, Portraits and people Benjamin E. Mays Papers
"24 Outstanding Black Educators", circa 1970 1965/1975 A poster featuring 24 black educators. African Americans--Education, African American men, African American women Benjamin E. Mays Papers
"Desegregation: An Opportunity and a Challenge", 1965 1965 An address given by Benjamin E. Mays to Shaw University's 101st Founder's Day Convocation. African Americans--Education, African American men, School integration, Speeches Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Founder's Day Address, February 11, 1964 1964-02-11 A founder's day address by Benjamin E. Mays. African Americans--Education, African American men, School integration Benjamin E. Mays Papers
"Global Demand for Freedom from Want," July 13, 1961 1961-07-13 A piece of writing discussing the topic of freedom from want. African Americans--Education, African American men, Speeches Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Benjamin E. Mays in His Office, circa 1965 1960/1970 Benjamin E. Mays sits behind his desk in his office. African Americans--Education, African American men, Portraits and people Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Benjamin E. Mays in His Office, circa 1965 1960/1970 Benjamin E. Mays sits behind his desk in his office. African Americans--Education, African American men, Portraits and people Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Commencement, circa 1965 1960/1970 Benjamin E. Mays and others at a commencement ceremony. African Americans--Education, African American men, Commencement ceremonies Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Drawing of Benjamin E. Mays, circa 1960 1955/1965 A drawing of Benjamin E. Mays. Written on recto: Presented to Dr. Benjamin E. Mays By Class Historian: Ernest W. Wright for Dr. May's first Morehouse graduating class- 1941. African Americans--Education, African American men, Portraits and people Benjamin E. Mays Papers
The Black Law Journal, circa 1955 1950/1959 An annotated piece of writing by Benjamin Mays concerning integration. School integration, African Americans--Education, Race relations Benjamin E. Mays Papers
Untitled Speech to Students, circa 1955 1950/1959 An untitled speech to students at Emory University. Speeches, African Americans--Education Benjamin E. Mays Papers