A Moment in Alpha History: Brother Dr. James T. Taylor
Today we honor “Pioneer”:
Bro. James T. Taylor, a noted educator and community leader, holds the distinction of serving as the first President of the Beta Theta Lambda Chapter. He was initiated in the Phi Lambda Chapter in 1927. He received his baccalaureate degree in 1921 when NCC served both high school and college-level students. Brother Taylor had previously served as a first lieutenant in the Army in World War I. He was a former principal of the Pine Street School in Hamlet. Brother Taylor received his M.A. degree from Ohio State University and LL.D. degree from NCC. In 1926 James Taylor took a position as Professor of Psychology at North Carolina College and was the first chair of the Psychology Department. Later he became Dean of Men, Athletic Director, and then Director of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. It was noted that “he was a moving spirit in the early CIAA and as Dean of Men for many years a central force in the life of Eagle athletics.” He received an honorary Doctor of Law degree at the NCCU 40th Commencement. Brother Taylor was the Executive Secretary of the Shepard Foundation and presented the statue of Dr. James Shepard in front of the administration building in 1957 (Brother Dr. Alfonso Elder was President at the time).
In his civic engagement, in 1938, he was elected the Democratic Chairman (Delegates from Orange, Alamance, Person, Granville, Caswell, and Durham). On May 28th, 1938, Durham hosted the largest political gathering of Blacks since reconstruction at the Durham Courthouse. This was held under the auspices of the Negro Democratic Convention. Brother Taylor was a keynote speaker. At that time, 4500 Blacks were registered to vote. In November 1968, North Carolina Governor Dan Moore named Brother Taylor as chairman of the state’s Good Neighbor Council, “the official state agency for moderating racial troubles.” He was also a Past President of N.C. Teachers Association (where he led a fight for equal pay for Black teachers) and an organizer/co-founder of the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, which is known today as the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People. He was the Past President of the Negro Teacher Association, a member of the National Council of the YMCA, served 25 years as treasurer of the American Tennis Association, and eight years on the Executive Committee of the NC Democratic Party. James T. Taylor Education Building was constructed in 1955 (see attached picture) and named in his honor. He retired from NCCU in 1959.
He entered Omega Chapter on March 29, 1970. This is your moment in Alpha History.