The New Archons: John Hope Franklin

On February 15th, 1964, Dr. John Hope Franklin was initiated by Zeta Boulé and became a full-fledged Archon of Sigma Pi Phi. The welcome accorded him may be judged by the extraordinary large attendance, and the occasion will be long re-membered.

Archon Franklin is indeed, and in verity, one of America's great historians. In recognition of his great erudition, he has served twice as Professor at the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies in Austria and as visiting lecturer at the Seminar in American Studies at Cambridge University in England. In 1962-1963 he was Pitt Professor of American History and Institutions and a Fellow of St. John's College, Cam-bridge, England.

In 1960, he was Fulbright Professor at several Australian Universities. Later, he was sent to Nigeria by the Department of State to study higher education in that country.

The honors and achievements of Archon Franklin are too numerous to set forth here. This must and will remain for a special article in the near future.

He is a native of Oklahoma, a graduate (Magna Cum Laude) of Fisk and received his M.A. and Ph.D. Degrees from Harvard. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Alpha Theta, an honor society in history.

His numerous books include The Free Negro in North Carolina, 1790-1860; The Civil War Diary o f James T. Ayers; Reconstruction after the Civil War; his well-known From Slavery to Freedom, a history of the American Negro; and many other outstanding volumes.

He has received honorary degrees from Morgan State College, Virginia State College, and Lincoln University.

Archon Franklin is married to the former Aurelia E. Whittington and they are the parents of one son, John Whittington, who even at a very early age has shown a great love for scholarship and intellectual skill, reminiscent of his father as a boy.

Excerpted from The Boulé Journal, Volume 26, April, 1964, Number 3