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Revision as of 01:45, 29 October 2020 editHebeckwith (talk | contribs)62 edits 1. Intro: correcting "licensed" Congregational "preacher" to "ordained" Congregational "minister." 2. African-American Roots: clarifying that Corinth is in VT, not NH. 3. Career: adding "ordained" to sentence about 1829 move. 4. House of Representatives: "not to divide school funding between..." All corrections are in cited reference "oldst."← Previous edit Latest revision as of 22:19, 3 January 2025 edit undoHobbitina (talk | contribs)406 edits add see also with other pioneersTag: Visual edit 
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{{Short description|American politician (1795–1857)}}
{{Infobox state representative
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
⚫ | name = Alexander Twilight
{{Infobox officeholder
⚫ | image = Alexander Lucius Twilight (daguerrotype).jpg
⚫ |name = Alexander Twilight
| state_legislature = Vermont
⚫ |image = Alexander Lucius Twilight (daguerrotype).jpg
| district =
|office = Member of the ] from ]
| term_start = 1836
| term_end = 1857 |term_start = 1836
| preceded = |term_end = 1837
|preceded = Gilbert Gross
| succeeded = |succeeded = Jeremiah Huntoon
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1795|09|23}} |birth_date = {{Birth date|1795|09|23}}
| birth_place = ], U.S. |birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date|1857|06|19}} (aged 61) |death_date = {{Death date|1857|06|19}} (aged 61)
| death_place = ], U.S. |death_place = ], U.S.
| nationality = American
| spouse = Mercy Ladd Merrill |spouse = Mercy Ladd Merrill
|party = ]
| party =
| profession = ]}} |profession = ]<br/>]
{{Infobox person
⚫ '''Alexander Lucius Twilight''' (September 23, 1795 &ndash; June 19, 1857) was an American educator, minister and politician. He is the first African-American man known to have earned a bachelor's degree from an American college or university, graduating from ] in 1823. He was ordained as a ] minister and worked in education and ministry all his career. In 1829 Twilight became principal of the ] Grammar School. There he designed and built ], the first granite public building in the state of ]. In 1836 he was the first African American elected as a state legislator, serving in the ]; he was also the only African American ever elected to a state legislature before the Civil War.
|embed = yes
|alma mater = ]
}}
}}
⚫ '''Alexander Lucius Twilight''' (September 23, 1795 &ndash; June 19, 1857) was an American educator, minister and politician. He was recognized as the first African American to have earned a bachelor's degree from an American college or university, graduating from ] in 1823. He was ordained as a ] minister and worked in education and ministry all his career. In 1829, Twilight became principal of the ] Grammar School. There he designed and built ], the first granite public building in the state of ]. In 1836, he was the first African American elected as a state legislator, serving in the ]; he was also the only African American ever elected to a state legislature before the Civil War.


His house and Athenian Hall are included in the ], listed on the ] (NRHP). His house and Athenian Hall are included in the ], listed on the ] (NRHP).
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Alexander's father, Ichabod, was born in Boston, July 1765. Ichabod's father was black, his mother, white, possibly an indentured servant. Eventually, Ichabod married Mary, described as 'white' or 'light-skinned,' implying she was of partial African descent.<ref name=osh>{{Cite journal |first=Robert |last=Hunt |title=Misconceptions about the Twilights |journal=Old Stone House Museum & Village Newsletter |issue=Spring/Summer 2019 |pages=6 |url=http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-Spring-Summer-Newsletter001.pdf |date=April 2, 2019 }}</ref> Alexander's father, Ichabod, was born in Boston, July 1765. Ichabod's father was black, his mother, white, possibly an indentured servant. Eventually, Ichabod married Mary, described as 'white' or 'light-skinned,' implying she was of partial African descent.<ref name=osh>{{Cite journal |first=Robert |last=Hunt |title=Misconceptions about the Twilights |journal=Old Stone House Museum & Village Newsletter |issue=Spring/Summer 2019 |pages=6 |url=http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-Spring-Summer-Newsletter001.pdf |date=April 2, 2019 }}</ref>


Ichabod and Mary were free and mixed race, of African and English descent. It is unknown if they were born free; they were likely descendants of African slaves and English ancestors. Ichabod was a ] veteran from ].<ref name="oldst"/><ref name="Alexander Twilight">, Black Past, accessed 15 Dec 2008</ref> His parents were both listed in the Corinth, Vermont town history as "the first negroes to settle in Corinth where they bought property, moving from Bradford on November 28, 1798.<ref name="oldst"/> Ichabod and Mary were free and mixed race, of African and English descent. It is unknown if they were born free; they were likely descendants of enslaved Africans and English settlers. Ichabod was a ] veteran from ].<ref name="oldst"/><ref name="Alexander Twilight">, Black Past, accessed 15 Dec 2008</ref> His parents were both listed in the ] town history as "the first negroes to settle in Corinth where they bought property, moving from Bradford on November 28, 1798.<ref name="oldst"/>


==Early life and education== ==Early life and education==
Alexander Lucius Twilight was born September 23, 1795, in ].<ref name=osh/><ref>, Middlebury College</ref> Alexander Lucius Twilight was born September 23, 1795, in ].<ref name=osh/><ref>, Middlebury College</ref> Starting around 1802 when he was eight years old, Twilight worked for a neighboring farmer in ].<ref name="oldst"/> Working from an early age was typical of working-class children of his era.<ref name="oldst"/> For the next 12 years he read, studied, and learned mathematics while working in various farm labor positions.<ref name="oldst">{{cite web|url=http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/twilight-bio/|title=Twilight Bio - Old Stone House Museum|website=oldstonehousemuseum.org}}</ref>


⚫ Twilight enrolled in ]'s ] Grammar School in 1815 at the age of 20.<ref name="oldst"/> From 1815 to 1821, he completed all the institution's secondary school courses as well as the first two years of a college-level curriculum.<ref name="oldst"/> He enrolled in ] in 1821, where he graduated in 1823 with a ] degree.<ref name="oldst"/> He was the first known African American to receive a degree from an American institution of higher learning.<ref name="oldst"/> This did not become widely known until 1826, when ] awarded a bachelor's degree to ] and claimed that he was the first African-American college graduate, which prompted Middlebury College to publicize Twilight's earlier graduation.<ref>, Amherst College website</ref>
Starting around 1802 when he was eight years old, Twilight worked for a neighboring farmer in ].<ref name="oldst"/> Working from an early age was typical of working-class children of his era.<ref name="oldst"/> For the next 12 years he read, studied, and learned mathematics while working in various farm labor positions.<ref name="oldst">{{cite web|url=http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/twilight-bio/|title=Twilight Bio - Old Stone House Museum|website=oldstonehousemuseum.org}}</ref>

⚫ Twilight enrolled in ]'s ] Grammar School in 1815 at the age of 20.<ref name="oldst"/> From 1815 to 1821, he completed all the institution's secondary school courses as well as the first two years of a college-level curriculum.<ref name="oldst"/> He enrolled in ] in 1821, where he graduated in 1823 with a ] degree.<ref name="oldst"/> He was the first known African American to receive a degree from an American institution of higher learning.<ref name="oldst"/> This did not become widely known until 1826, when ] awarded a bachelor's degree to ] and claimed that he was the first African-American college graduate, which prompted Middlebury College to publicize Twilight's earlier graduation.<ref>, Amherst College website</ref>


==Career== ==Career==
His first job was teaching in ], ].<ref name="oldst"/> Twilight also studied for the ministry with the ] and served several Congregational churches.<ref name="Alexander Twilight"/> He occasionally led worship services and delivered sermons.<ref name="oldst"/> The Champlain Presbytery of ] licensed him to preach.<ref name="oldst"/> Twilight taught for four years in Peru, then moved to ], in 1828 to teach during the week and hold weekend church services in ] and ].<ref name="oldst"/> Twilight's first job was teaching in ], ].<ref name="oldst"/> He also studied for the ministry with the ] and served several Congregational churches.<ref name="Alexander Twilight"/> He occasionally led worship services and delivered sermons.<ref name="oldst"/> The Champlain Presbytery of ] licensed him to preach.<ref name="oldst"/> Twilight taught for four years in Peru, then moved to ], in 1828 to teach during the week and hold weekend church services in ] and ].<ref name="oldst"/>


In 1829 Twilight was hired as principal of the ], Grammar School in ], the only secondary school in a two-county area,<ref name="oldst"/> where he was also ordained as minister of the Congregational Church.<ref name="oldst"/> He built a house for his family shortly after arrival, which still stands and is the headquarters of the Orleans County Historical Society.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515074104/http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/alexandertwilight.html |date=2008-05-15}}, ''Old Stone Museum'', accessed 15 Dec 2008</ref> In 1829, Twilight was hired as principal of the ], Grammar School in ], the only secondary school in a two-county area,<ref name="oldst"/> where he was also ordained as minister of the Congregational Church.<ref name="oldst"/> He built a house for his family shortly after arrival, which still stands and is the headquarters of the Orleans County Historical Society.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515074104/http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/alexandertwilight.html |date=2008-05-15}}, ''Old Stone Museum'', accessed 15 Dec 2008</ref>


]]] ]]]
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Wanting to create a residence dormitory to accommodate out of town students, from 1834 to 1836, Twilight designed, raised funds for, and had built a massive four-story granite building which he called ].<ref name="oldst"/> The first granite public building in Vermont,<ref name="Alexander Twilight" /> it served as a dormitory for the co-educational school, also known as the Brownington Academy.<ref name="oldst"/> Both his home and Athenian Hall are today part of a ] listed on the ].<ref name="Alexander Twilight" /><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515073815/http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/athenianhall.html |date=2008-05-15 }}, ''Old Stone House Museum'', accessed 15 Dec 2008.</ref> Wanting to create a residence dormitory to accommodate out of town students, from 1834 to 1836, Twilight designed, raised funds for, and had built a massive four-story granite building which he called ].<ref name="oldst"/> The first granite public building in Vermont,<ref name="Alexander Twilight" /> it served as a dormitory for the co-educational school, also known as the Brownington Academy.<ref name="oldst"/> Both his home and Athenian Hall are today part of a ] listed on the ].<ref name="Alexander Twilight" /><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515073815/http://oldstonehousemuseum.org/athenianhall.html |date=2008-05-15 }}, ''Old Stone House Museum'', accessed 15 Dec 2008.</ref>


In 1836, Twilight was elected to the ], becoming the first African American to be elected to a state legislature.<ref name="oldst"/> As a member of the House, he worked unsuccessfully to persuade the ] not to divide school funding between Brownington and nearby ], which had decided to open its own school.<ref name="oldst"/> In 1836, Twilight was elected to the newly established ] (Vermont's legislature was unicameral, consisting only of the House until 1836), becoming the first African American to be elected to a state legislature.<ref name="oldst"/> As a member of the House, he worked unsuccessfully to persuade the ] not to divide school funding between Brownington and nearby ], which had decided to open its own school.<ref name="oldst"/>


He left his job as headmaster in 1847, apparently after a falling out with the Brownington school's trustees.<ref name="oldst"/> He taught school in ] and ], ].<ref name="oldst"/> Without Twilight's leadership, the school in Brownington experienced declining enrollment, and it was closed in 1852.<ref name="oldst"/> Persuaded to return to Brownington, Twilight resumed his duties as principal and pastor.<ref name="oldst"/> He resigned as pastor in 1853, and continued as principal until 1855.<ref name="oldst"/> He left his job as headmaster in 1847, apparently after a falling out with the Brownington school's trustees.<ref name="oldst"/> He taught school in ] and ], ].<ref name="oldst"/> Without Twilight's leadership, the school in Brownington experienced declining enrollment, and it was closed in 1852.<ref name="oldst"/> Persuaded to return to Brownington, Twilight resumed his duties as principal and pastor.<ref name="oldst"/> He resigned as pastor in 1853, and continued as principal until 1855.<ref name="oldst"/>


==Death and burial== ==Death and burial==
In October, 1855 Twilight suffered a stroke which left him partially paralyzed and caused him to retire as principal of the Brownington school.<ref name="oldst"/> He died on June 19, 1857, and was buried at the Congregational church in Brownington.<ref name="Alexander Twilight" /> In October 1855, Twilight suffered a stroke which left him partially paralyzed and caused him to retire as principal of the Brownington school.<ref name="oldst"/> He died on June 19, 1857, and was buried at the Congregational church in Brownington.<ref name="Alexander Twilight" />


==Marriage and family== ==Marriage and family==
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*Alexander Twilight Hall at his alma mater ] was named in his honor. *Alexander Twilight Hall at his alma mater ] was named in his honor.
*The Alexander Twilight Auditorium at ] is named for Twilight. *The Alexander Twilight Auditorium at ] is named for Twilight.
*The Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy in ], was named for Twilight. It opened in the fall of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aspirepublicschools.org/?q=atcpa|title=Home - Aspire Public Schools|website=Aspire Public Schools}}</ref> *The Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy in ], was named for Twilight. It opened in the fall of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aspirepublicschools.org/?q=atcpa|title=Home - Aspire Public Schools|website=Aspire Public Schools|date=17 May 2023 }}</ref>
*The Twilight Awards, a special awards show to celebrate teachers, schools and education nonprofits were named for Twilight.<ref>https://www.socialworkschi.org/news/box-tops-for-education-partners-with-chance-the-rapper-for-live-teacher-awards/</ref> *The Twilight Awards, a special awards show to celebrate teachers, schools and education nonprofits were named for Twilight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.socialworkschi.org/news/box-tops-for-education-partners-with-chance-the-rapper-for-live-teacher-awards/|title=Box Tops for Education Partners with Chance the Rapper for Live Teacher Awards|website=Social Works}}</ref>
*Howard Frank Mosher wrote about the Stone House in ''Vermont Life Magazine'', Autumn 1996: *] wrote about the Stone House in ], Autumn 1996:
<blockquote>I like the way the Stone House still looms up on that hilltop, where the wind blows all the time. There it sits, unshaken and monolithic, as I write this sentence and as you read it, every bit as astonishing today as the day it was completed. What a tribute to the faith of its creator, the Reverend Alexander Twilight: scholar, husband, teacher, preacher, legislator, father-away-from-home to nearly 3,000 boys and girls, an African American and a Vermonter of great vision, whose remains today lie buried in the church-yard just up the maple-lined dirt road from his granite school, in what surely was, and still is, one of the last best places anywhere.</blockquote> <blockquote>I like the way the Stone House still looms up on that hilltop, where the wind blows all the time. There it sits, unshaken and monolithic, as I write this sentence and as you read it, every bit as astonishing today as the day it was completed. What a tribute to the faith of its creator, the Reverend Alexander Twilight: scholar, husband, teacher, preacher, legislator, father-away-from-home to nearly 3,000 boys and girls, an African American and a Vermonter of great vision, whose remains today lie buried in the church-yard just up the maple-lined dirt road from his granite school, in what surely was, and still is, one of the last best places anywhere.</blockquote>
*An official portrait of Alexander Twilight hangs in the ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duffort |first1=Lola |last2=Mearhoff |first2=Sarah |last3= Robinson |first3=Riley |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Final Reading: A First in a Frame |url=https://vtdigger.org/2022/05/05/final-reading-a-first-in-a-frame/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT}}</ref>

== See also ==

* ]
* ]


==Footnotes== ==Footnotes==
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] ]
⚫ ]
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Latest revision as of 22:19, 3 January 2025

American politician (1795–1857)

Alexander Twilight
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Brownington
In office
1836–1837
Preceded byGilbert Gross
Succeeded byJeremiah Huntoon
Personal details
Born(1795-09-23)September 23, 1795
Corinth, Vermont, U.S.
Died(1857-06-19)June 19, 1857 (aged 61)
Brownington, Vermont, U.S.
Political partyWhig
SpouseMercy Ladd Merrill
ProfessionMinister (Christianity)
Schoolmaster
Alma materMiddlebury College

Alexander Lucius Twilight (September 23, 1795 – June 19, 1857) was an American educator, minister and politician. He was recognized as the first African American to have earned a bachelor's degree from an American college or university, graduating from Middlebury College in 1823. He was ordained as a Congregational minister and worked in education and ministry all his career. In 1829, Twilight became principal of the Orleans County Grammar School. There he designed and built Athenian Hall, the first granite public building in the state of Vermont. In 1836, he was the first African American elected as a state legislator, serving in the Vermont House of Representatives; he was also the only African American ever elected to a state legislature before the Civil War.

His house and Athenian Hall are included in the Brownington Village Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

African-American roots

Alexander's father, Ichabod, was born in Boston, July 1765. Ichabod's father was black, his mother, white, possibly an indentured servant. Eventually, Ichabod married Mary, described as 'white' or 'light-skinned,' implying she was of partial African descent.

Ichabod and Mary were free and mixed race, of African and English descent. It is unknown if they were born free; they were likely descendants of enslaved Africans and English settlers. Ichabod was a Revolutionary War veteran from New Hampshire. His parents were both listed in the Corinth, Vermont town history as "the first negroes to settle in Corinth where they bought property, moving from Bradford on November 28, 1798.

Early life and education

Alexander Lucius Twilight was born September 23, 1795, in Bradford, Vermont. Starting around 1802 when he was eight years old, Twilight worked for a neighboring farmer in Corinth. Working from an early age was typical of working-class children of his era. For the next 12 years he read, studied, and learned mathematics while working in various farm labor positions.

Twilight enrolled in Randolph's Orange County Grammar School in 1815 at the age of 20. From 1815 to 1821, he completed all the institution's secondary school courses as well as the first two years of a college-level curriculum. He enrolled in Middlebury College in 1821, where he graduated in 1823 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was the first known African American to receive a degree from an American institution of higher learning. This did not become widely known until 1826, when Amherst College awarded a bachelor's degree to Edward Jones and claimed that he was the first African-American college graduate, which prompted Middlebury College to publicize Twilight's earlier graduation.

Career

Twilight's first job was teaching in Peru, New York. He also studied for the ministry with the Congregational Church and served several Congregational churches. He occasionally led worship services and delivered sermons. The Champlain Presbytery of Plattsburgh licensed him to preach. Twilight taught for four years in Peru, then moved to Vergennes, Vermont, in 1828 to teach during the week and hold weekend church services in Waltham and Ferrisburg.

In 1829, Twilight was hired as principal of the Orleans County, Vermont, Grammar School in Brownington, the only secondary school in a two-county area, where he was also ordained as minister of the Congregational Church. He built a house for his family shortly after arrival, which still stands and is the headquarters of the Orleans County Historical Society.

Photo of the Old Stone House, Brownington, Vermont.
Athenian Hall, now better known as The Old Stone House

Wanting to create a residence dormitory to accommodate out of town students, from 1834 to 1836, Twilight designed, raised funds for, and had built a massive four-story granite building which he called Athenian Hall. The first granite public building in Vermont, it served as a dormitory for the co-educational school, also known as the Brownington Academy. Both his home and Athenian Hall are today part of a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1836, Twilight was elected to the newly established Vermont House of Representatives (Vermont's legislature was unicameral, consisting only of the House until 1836), becoming the first African American to be elected to a state legislature. As a member of the House, he worked unsuccessfully to persuade the Vermont General Assembly not to divide school funding between Brownington and nearby Craftsbury, which had decided to open its own school.

He left his job as headmaster in 1847, apparently after a falling out with the Brownington school's trustees. He taught school in Shipton and Hatley, Quebec. Without Twilight's leadership, the school in Brownington experienced declining enrollment, and it was closed in 1852. Persuaded to return to Brownington, Twilight resumed his duties as principal and pastor. He resigned as pastor in 1853, and continued as principal until 1855.

Death and burial

In October 1855, Twilight suffered a stroke which left him partially paralyzed and caused him to retire as principal of the Brownington school. He died on June 19, 1857, and was buried at the Congregational church in Brownington.

Marriage and family

In 1826, Twilight married Mercy Ladd Merrill of Unity, New Hampshire. They remained married until his death, and had no children. Mercy Twilight died in 1878.

Legacy and honors

Alexander Twilight Hall at Middlebury College
  • Alexander Twilight House (1830), still stands across the street from Athenian Hall. Today it serves as headquarters for the Orleans County Historical Society. It is within the Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
  • Athenian Hall (1834–36) is now operated by the Orleans County Historical Society as the Old Stone House Museum, and anchors the Historic District of Brownington. It was the first granite public building in Vermont.
  • Alexander Twilight Hall at his alma mater Middlebury College was named in his honor.
  • The Alexander Twilight Auditorium at Lyndon State College is named for Twilight.
  • The Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy in Sacramento, California, was named for Twilight. It opened in the fall of 2009.
  • The Twilight Awards, a special awards show to celebrate teachers, schools and education nonprofits were named for Twilight.
  • Howard Frank Mosher wrote about the Stone House in Vermont Life Magazine, Autumn 1996:

I like the way the Stone House still looms up on that hilltop, where the wind blows all the time. There it sits, unshaken and monolithic, as I write this sentence and as you read it, every bit as astonishing today as the day it was completed. What a tribute to the faith of its creator, the Reverend Alexander Twilight: scholar, husband, teacher, preacher, legislator, father-away-from-home to nearly 3,000 boys and girls, an African American and a Vermonter of great vision, whose remains today lie buried in the church-yard just up the maple-lined dirt road from his granite school, in what surely was, and still is, one of the last best places anywhere.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Hunt, Robert (2 April 2019). "Misconceptions about the Twilights" (PDF). Old Stone House Museum & Village Newsletter (Spring/Summer 2019): 6.
  2. ^ "Twilight Bio - Old Stone House Museum". oldstonehousemuseum.org.
  3. ^ "Alexander Twilight", Black Past, accessed 15 Dec 2008
  4. "Catalogue of Officers and Students of Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont", Middlebury College
  5. "A History of Amherst College", Amherst College website
  6. "Alexander Twilight House" Archived 2008-05-15 at the Wayback Machine, Old Stone Museum, accessed 15 Dec 2008
  7. "Athenian Hall" Archived 2008-05-15 at the Wayback Machine, Old Stone House Museum, accessed 15 Dec 2008.
  8. "Home - Aspire Public Schools". Aspire Public Schools. 17 May 2023.
  9. "Box Tops for Education Partners with Chance the Rapper for Live Teacher Awards". Social Works.
  10. Duffort, Lola; Mearhoff, Sarah; Robinson, Riley (6 May 2022). "Final Reading: A First in a Frame". VT Digger. Montpelier, VT.

Further reading

  • Hahan, Michael T. Alexander Twilight, Vermont's African American Pioneer. The New England Press, Inc.: 1998. ISBN 1-881535-31-2.

External links

Categories: