Booker T. Washington to Charles W. Chesnutt, 4 June 1908
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June 4, 1908
Mr. Chas. W. Chesnutt,
1105 Williamson Bldg., Cleveland, O.
My dear Mr. Chesnutt:—
I am greatly obliged to you for so promptly looking after the matter referred to in my favor of some days ago.1 The arrangement you have made with the Hollenden Hotel is altogether satisfactory.2 I shall see that there is no loss in the matter of the room.
Yours very truly Booker T. Washington H3Correspondent: Booker T. Washington (1856–1913), one of the most well-known Black activists of the early 20th century, was born into slavery in Virginia. In 1881, he became the president of what would become the Tuskegee Institute, advocating widely as a speaker and writer for technical education for Blacks, whose entry into American industry and business leadership he believed to be the road to equality. His political power was significant, but because he frequently argued for compromise with White Southerners, including on voting rights, he was also criticized by other Black activists, especially by W. E. B. Du Bois.
1. Booker T. Washington spoke at the annual meeting of the National Education Association, held in Cleveland, Ohio from Jun 29–July 3, 1908, and Chesnutt arranged for his hotel accommodations. [back]
2. The Hollenden Hotel was a luxury hotel in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. From 1888 to 1923, it had a large barbershop run by a prominent Black Clevelander, George A. Myers (1859–1930), who was active in local politics and a sometime correspondent of Chesnutt's. While Booker T. Washington stayed at the Hollenden on several occasions, Black guests were generally not welcome. [back]
3. Nathan Hunt (18??–1932) became Booker T. Washington's stenographer and private secretary in 1895 and remained on his staff until Washington's death, often traveling with him while Emmett J. Scott (1873–1957), Washington's main secretary after 1898, stayed in Tuskegee. Hunt also served as secretary to Robert R. Moton (1867–1940), Washington's successor at Tuskegee Institute. [back]
