Joseph Edward Wallace

Bio: Joseph Edward Wallace

Details: Joseph Edward Wallace

J. E. Wallace

From The Christian Educator

***Joseph Edward Wallace***

(b. October 21, 1858, June 31, 1928)

Toronto, Canada. Born free. Mulatto.

Occupation: clerk, insurance agent, professor.

Father's occupation: brick-layer.

J. E. Wallace was born in Toronto, Canada to Martha Catherine and Andrew Madison Wallace. The parents were free persons of color from South Carolina. As such, they were banned from returning to South Carolina by state law, but the law evidently was not strictly enforced as Wallace and his mother had moved to Columbia by 1860. They were later joined by Wallace's father. Wallace's parents lived in Columbia for most of their lives, and the father worked as a brick-layer. 

Wallace was educated in the public schools of Toronto. At some point between February 1875 and January 1876, he enrolled as a student at the University of South Carolina. He was a college student on the classical studies track, but the 1877 university closure prevented him from completing his degree. A biographical sketch of Wallace states that he completed his college education at Claflin University, although the present author has been unable to confirm this in Claflin records.

From 1881 to 1885, Wallace lived in Columbia and worked as chief clerk for prominent South Carolina lawyer Samuel W. Melton, who had taught at the U of SC law school while Wallace was a student. Melton had also been state attorney general during Reconstruction but resigned from the position in 1878. From 1879 to 1884, while Wallace was working for him, Melton ran a law partnership with W. A. Clark. Around this time (specifically from 1881 to 1885), Melton held an appointment from President Garfield as United States district attorney of South Carolina.

Most of Wallace's career was spent in education. He taught school and was principal of the Howard Graded School from 1886 to 1900. The Howard School was a highly regarded public school in Columbia and the only high school open to African Americans in the state until the 1910s. He also served as the president of the Colored State Teachers Association from 1900-07. The positions of both principal of the Howard School and president of the Teachers Association were positions previously held by Wallace's former classmate William M. Dart.

Wallace moved to Orangeburg to teach at the Colored State College (now South Carolina State University) in 1899. The university had opened 3 years earlier, and he replaced a professor who had been dismissed after getting into a dispute with the College President. At State College, he held the title of Professor of English and Pedagogy and taught ancient and English classics and literature.

In 1903, Wallace resigned from Colored State College to take a position at the college's neighbor Claflin University. There Wallace held the title of Professor of English Language and Literature. He was also the manager of Claflin University Quartet and superintendent of University Sunday school.

Wallace left Claflin to become the President of Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. He served as College President from 1913-1915. He remained in Greensboro after retiring. Summarizing Wallace's achievements in an article on former U of SC students, U of SC alumnus C. C. Scott wrote that Wallace was "deservedly the most conspicuous colored educator in the state."

In addition to his teaching, Wallace worked in insurance during summers. He was a general field agent for North Carolina Mutual Provident Association (a black-owned insurance company). He continued working in insurance after his retirement from Bennett College.

Wallace died on June 31, 1928 in Greensboro. His is buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Sources

1). 1860; Census Place: Columbia, Richland, South Carolina; Page: 50.

2). Orangeburg, South Carolina, City Directory, 1907.

2). Columbia, South Carolina, City Directory, 1891.

3). "When Negroes Attended the State University", May 8, 1911. State (published as The State). Page 9.

4). 1910; Census Place: Orangeburg Ward 5, Orangeburg, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1469; Page: 18B.

5). 1920; Census Place: Greensboro Ward 3, Guilford, North Carolina; Roll: T625_1302; Page: 11A.

6). North Carolina State Archives; Raleigh, North Carolina; North Carolina Death Certificates.

7). Hine, William C. South Carolina State University: A Black Land-Grant College in Jim Crow America. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press, 2018.

8). "Change of Administration at Bennett College." The Christian Educator. August, 1913. pp. 6-7.

Posted 11/21/20