In the early days of the civil rights movement, William Miller Barbour stood out for addressing the racial and ethnic discrimination in housing and employment. "Although Barbour's name is not well known, his ideas shaped the vision of the civil rights leaders who emerged in the 1950s and 1960s," said Jean-Paul Benowitz, director of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships and Public Heritage Studies at Elizabethtown College.

Working with two graduates, Benowitz hopes to bring Barbour's name into the spotlight it deserves.

Benowitz is joined by history program graduates Eric Schubert and Abigail Sholes in writing an article about Barbour for publication in academic journals. The group is also hoping to present information about Barbour during Elizabethtown College's 125th anniversary in the 2024-25 academic year.

Benowitz describes Barbour, who lived from 1908 to 1957, as a man who made a lasting impact. Barbour was one of the first Black college graduates in the area; the first Black student-athlete to play college football in Lancaster County; the first executive secretary for the National Urban League in Denver, Colo.; and the first director of the National Urban League Western Field Office in Los Angeles.

Benowitz first considered a piece on Barbour in 2018, when now-retired college librarian Peter DePuydt shared his findings about the civil rights leader as part of a Black History Month project. The pandemic put the article on hold, but in 2022, Benowitz invited Schubert and Sholes to join the project and move forward with the article.

The then-students conducted research on Barbour in 2022 and 2023 and started work on the article during the current school year. The article will be ready to submit to journal editors this summer.

"It has been extremely rewarding to sort through the dozens of public addresses, letters and documents related to Barbour ... to start to put his life story together in a greater perspective and narrative," said Schubert, a member of the Class of 2023.

Sholes, also a member of the Class of 2023, said their research has revealed the man behind the accomplishments.

"We've had the privilege of getting to know Barbour through these documents," she stated. "In our research, Eric and I have uncovered many fascinating records and papers which have allowed us to weave together Barbour's story in a way that hasn't been recognized in several decades."

Schubert said their research also highlights a man full of passion. "Something that stands out to me most is Barbour's enthusiasm toward many of his projects, no matter the subject," he explained. "Whether it was on the debate team, in a play, on the football field or in his chosen vocation, he was known for it and was someone people respected. Abigail and I have seen many flattering notes and write-ups, and I love that!"

Sholes agreed, adding that she noted a common theme among Barbour's accolades.

"One thing that remains true about Barbour throughout his life - from his college years to his position as a field director of the National Urban League - was his commitment to community," she said, adding that prior to his work with the National Urban League, Barbour was a social worker in Philadelphia, aiming to prevent gang violence and promote the arts. "Everywhere he went, even prior to his involvement with the National Urban League, Barbour proved to be a charismatic leader committed to creating change. ... Barbour never lost sight of his passion for helping others."