Theodore M. Berry
A Timeline
of
His Life and Works
Click on photos of the related archival materials to see a larger view.
1905: November 8th , Theodore M. Berry was born in Maysville, Kentucky. Pictured below: A young Berry dressed in costume and posing for a class photo at the Jennie D. Porter School in 1915. |
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1924: Berry became the first African-American Valedictorian at Woodward High School. Here he is pictured with his teammates on the Woodward High School football team in his senior year. |
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1924-1931: Berry graduated with both a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Sciences (1928) and a Law Degree (1931) from the University of Cincinnati. Below: Left: Berry is pictured (left) with the Steel brothers, fellow cooks at Fort Scott Camp, where he worked in the summer of 1925. Middle: While earning his BA, Berry won first place in a national examination of Black History given by Omega Psi Phi. Right: Berry is pictured with the University of Cincinnati graduating class of 1928. Left: Berry, the only African-American contestant, won the Jones Oratorical Contest of 1928 by unanimous decision after speaking about “The Significance of the Minority.” Middle: Berry is pictured with the University of Cincinnati School of Law graduating class of 1931 (number “23”). Right: Berry’s 1934 membership card for the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha. Berry became a member in 1926 and continued activity in the organization throughout his career. See the archivist’s blog post The UC Connection for more information on Berry’s time at the University of Cincinnati and his lasting legacy at the school. |
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January 1932: Berry was admitted to the Ohio Supreme Court Bar. |
1932-1938: Berry was appointed as President of the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP, the youngest in the chapter’s history. |
March 1937: Admitted to practice law in the United States Supreme Court. |
June 23, 1938: Ted married Houston, Texas beauty, Johnnie Mae Newton. The wedding and Johnnie Mae’s Chantilly lace gown made the Society Pages of many Houston Newspapers. |
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1939: Berry was appointed Assistant Prosecutor of Hamilton County - the first African-American to hold the post. |
1940-1941: President Roosevelt created the Fair Employment Practices Commission in the signing of Executive Order 8802 which states “there shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin. A group of black World War I veterans and The Pittsburgh Courier formed the National Committee for Participation of Negroes in National Defense, for which Berry served as coordinator. |
February—August 1942: Berry served as Morale Officer in the Office of War Information helping to raise support for the war among the African-American populace. He resigned shortly after beginning his service when it became clear that de-segregation of the US Armed Forces was not a priority to the government. In his October 1942 article, A Challenge to Citizens Second Class, Berry makes clear his thoughts on the federal government’s exclusionist policies and its delusive attempts at racial integration. “In recognition of their second class status, during the past ten years, the Federal Government has employed special agents know variously as racial relations advisors and specialists. These positions are in substitute for positions of merit and responsibility in the general affairs of government heretofore occupied by Negroes prior to World War I and the Wilson Administration. They are compromise sinecures and in the nature of the case are second class—they compromise the Negro in his efforts and desire to share and serve his government and they compromise the incumbents of the position.” See the archivist’s blog post A Few Words for Sarge and Berry’s WWII Service for more information. |
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1943-1946: Berry served his second term as President of the Cincinnati Chapter of the NAACP. |
1945: Berry acted as lead defense attorney for three members of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of black pilots from the 332nd Fighter Group and the 447th Bombardment Group, who had been court-martialed during the Freeman Field Mutiny where they were accused of having shoved a white Lieutenant. Two of the men were acquitted in 1945 and the third was pardoned in 1995. |
1947: Berry debuted on the local political scene under the slogan “A People’s Candidate,” when he ran for Cincinnati City Council in 1947. His campaign was unsuccessful, but Berry was not discouraged and ran again in 1949. |
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1956-1957: Berry was appointed and served as Vice Mayor for the city of Cincinnati.
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1957: Berry ran for a fifth term City Council but lost under the new 9X voting system. |
1959: After deciding against running again, Berry was convinced to accept a nomination to the Charter ticket after the “Berry Backers,” a citizens’ group led by Rev. L. V. Booth, presented him with a petition signed by over 5,000 Cincinnatians urging him to run for a fifth term. Though it was ultimately unsuccessful, the campaign was an exciting one. Berry’s campaign scrapbook includes numerous newspaper clippings, flyers, programs and photographs from various events held to promote his election. The Berry Backers also arranged a “Register to Vote Campaign” using pamphlets and highly publicized events to encourage people to “do their civic duty.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the guest speaker at one such event where, after begin introduced by Theodore Berry, he stated that “One of the most significant steps that a Negro can make today is that short walk to the voting booth.” See the archivist’s blog posts, Hmmm... and Mystery Solved! for information on these items and Berry’s connection with Martin Luther King Jr. |
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1960: Berry served as representative for then Presidential hopeful, John F. Kennedy when he attended Nigerian Independence celebrations on behalf of the Senator. Below are pages from Berry’s passport used on his trip to Africa and articles detailing his findings upon his return to the United States. |
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1961-1963: As a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors and a leader in the civil rights movement, Berry was invited to the White House at least three times during John F. Kennedy’s presidency. Top to bottom: President Kennedy greets a delegation of the NAACP; Berry’s invitation to the White House for a luncheon in honor of Leopold Senghor, the President of Senegal; President Kennedy’s diary entries for the dates of Berry’s visits: July 12, 1961, November 3, 1961 and June 21, 1963. See the archivist’s blog posts, Hmm… and “Stumble upon” Sleuthing for more information on these items and Berry’s meetings with JFK. . |
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1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Berry Director of Community Action Programs and Assistant Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity under Director Sargent Shriver. |
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June 13,1968: Berry was Granted the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa by the University of Cincinnati. |
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1971: Berry was selected by the Charter-Democrat Coalition Council to replace Myron Bush as Councilman after Bush’s death on July 27, 1971. |
1972: December 1st- Berry was sworn in as Mayor, making Cincinnati history as the first African-American to hold the post. “Today marks the symbolic recognition of the Afro-American Community as a full and responsible partner in the Governance of our city... Thus the city has grown in maturity and civic spirit.” - Theodore M. Berry during his Mayoral acceptance speech (Cincinnati Post, October 19, 2000) |
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1975: Berry stepped down as Mayor of Cincinnati, retiring from political life.
Below, Berry is pictured with Guy Stern, Stan Troup and Ron Temple at a retirement party thrown for him by University of Cincinnati President, Warren Bennis on December 7, 1975
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1979: Received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the Hebrew Union College |
October 15, 2000: Theodore Moody Berry died three weeks shy of his 95th birthday. Over 700 mourners paid their respects and flags at City Hall and on Fountain Square were flown at half-mast in honor of his passing. See the archivist’s blog post Remembrances for more information on services and memorials in Theodore M. Berry’s honor.
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2003: May 17, Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park officially opened. The park was designed by Human Nature Inc. and is a total of twenty-two acres stretching along the Ohio river in the downtown area. It features internationally themed gardens, sculpture from around the world, biking and walking paths and a “story telling circle.” See the Enquirer article Ted Berry’s message lives in new city park and Human Nature’s page Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park and 365Cincinnati for more information on the park and its opening. Image from 365Cincinnati.com |
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To learn more about Theodore M. Berry, please consult these additional resources: The African American Registry, Biography of Theodore M. Berry:
The Cincinnati Historical Society: http://library.cincymuseum.org/aag/bio/berry.html
Jet Magazine articles: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vieilles_annonces/3656956373/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/vieilles_annonces/3786629214/
National Archives, record group 306, 15 minute recorded interview with Berry for Voice of America, June 2, 1959: http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/306.html
The University of Cincinnati Theodore M. Berry Archive Project blog: http://www.libraries.uc.edu/liblog/topics/berry-project/
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