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
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
"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
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
"Why an Atlanta School Suit?", September 1950 1950-10 An article written by Mays about school integration in an issue of New South. African Americans--Education, African American men, School integration Benjamin E. Mays Papers