My Contribution: I taught young and adult students so that they might live productive lives as educated citizens. I was dedicated to expanding voting for all African Americans and participated in civic organizations to that end. I advocated that a moving picture showing the execution by hanging of a local African American man at Dauphin County prison not be shown at local movie theaters.
My Legacy: Thoughtful, intelligent, and community-driven, my brief life made lasting change for all those I taught. As an active participant in advocacy for improved lives for African Americans through voting and education, my mission from a century ago is still valid and relevant.
About Me:
“Newman has borne himself among us with a courtesy and quiet demeanor that have won the sincere respect of his class- mates. He may well be proud of his scholarship, his ability, in fact, of his entire record at Dickinson [College].” — Microcosm Yearbook 1911-12.
“The Colored Voters’ Energetic League of Dauphin County adopt- ed resolutions decrying the display of any moving pictures of the hanging of Pascal Hall. Here are the resolutions…. Resolved, That we, the members of the Colored Voters’ Energetic League of the County of Dauphin, do vehemently protests against the exhibition of these views, and invoke the aid of all fair and right minded citizens… (Signed) L.D. Kane, C.E. Diggs, L.L. Newman.” — Harrisburg Tele- graph, June 27, 1914.
Full Name: Luther Leon Newman
Birth Date: April 15, 1888
Death Date: October 19, 1918
Place of Birth: Harrisburg
Sex: Male
Race: Black (1900 and 1910 Federal Censuses), “Colored” (Death Certificate)
Places of Residence: Harrisburg: 615 Forster Street, 147 Linden Street, 26 S. 16th Street
Connection to the Old Eighth Ward: Resident. Teacher and civil rights activist
Family Members: Father: Luther W. Newman. Mother: Martha Adelaide (Johnson) Newman. Wife: Kathryn Newman. Grandmother: Anna Johnson
Education: Harrisburg High School, 1910. Dickinson College, 1912. Courses at Dickinson Law.
Occupations: Charman. Teacher at Allison building. Principal, Springdale Night School
Church Membership: Capital Street Presbyterian Church. Performed at Bethel A.M.E. Church
Activism: Iroquois Club, E. E. Beidleman Republican Club (Secretary), Harrisburg Club of Dickinson College, Colored Voters’ Energetic League of Dauphin County
Connections: Teachers of Morris Layton, Sr. and John P. Scott. Received the Dr. William H. Jones Memorial award in 1908. Attended Dickinson College with James Steward Davis. Esther Popel Shaw, James H. W. Howard.
Digital Harrisburg 