Albert Comstock Hamlin (February 10, 1881 – August 29, 1912) was the first African American elected to the Oklahoma Legislature. He lost his re-election bid as a direct result of a constitutional amendment that prevented many black Oklahomans from voting.[1]
Born in Topeka, Kansas, to former slaves Andrew Jackson and Fanny Hamlin, A. C. Hamlin arrived in Oklahoma Territory in 1890 with the family.[1] He married Katie Weaver in 1899 and had five children.[1]
Before his election to the Oklahoma Legislature, Hamlin served on a school board and a town trustee.[1]
Oklahoma Democratic politicians were determined to keep African Americans from rising in society, as evidenced by the leader of the constitutional convention who exclaimed that blacks would always remain bootblacks, barbers and farmers.[2]
Despite his dual minority status as an African-American and a Republican, Hamlin was able to receive support for bills to provide funding for a black school in his district, address unequal facilities for black and white railroad passengers, and prohibit certain activities on Sunday.[1]
Hamlin lost a bid for reelection in 1910 after a constitutional amendment limited black voters by creating voter registration requirements including literacy and registration of individuals or their ancestors prior to January 1, 1866.[1] Known as the "grandfather clause," the amendment was declared unconstitutional by the 1915 Guinn v. United States case.[2] The "grandfather clause" was responsible for an exodus of African-Americans from Oklahoma to Canada.[3]
Death and legacyedit
Hamlin died August 29, 1912, of unknown causes on his farm, and was buried in Robinson Cemetery in Logan County, Oklahoma.[1] The Hamlin family cemetery plot includes his headstone and the headstone of a G. H. Hamlin.[4]
On February 21, 2009, the Logan County state representative introduced an amendment to name a part of Interstate 35 from Waterloo to Charter Road in southern Logan County as the "A.C. Hamlin Parkway". The amendment won approval as part of House Bill 2691 as was signed by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry. In May 2015, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation placed signage denoting the designation.[5]
As of 2023, the 24th biennial awards banquet named for A. C. Hamlin was held by Oklahoma's Legislative Black Caucus, composed of Oklahoma House and State Senate black elected officials.[6][7][8] Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed a bill designating "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" as the official gospel song of Oklahoma during the 2011 banquet.[9]
Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating authored a July 2020 editorial in The Oklahoman advocating that Oklahoma State University rename the then-named Murray Hall after A.C. Hamlin.[10] The university ultimately decided on a different name for the campus buildings.[11]
^Finkelman, Paul. "Oklahoma," Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present, Volume 1. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN0195167791, ISBN9780195167795
^Albert Comstock (A.C.) Hamlin - Robinson A.M.E. Cemetery - Logan County, OK, Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com. (accessed July 7, 2013)
^"A. C. Hamlin Awards Banquet," Oklahoma Gazette. (accessed April 17, 2013)
^Caucus, Oklahoma Legislative Black. "Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus". Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
^Report, City Sentinel Staff. "Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus Set to Host 2023 A.C. Hamlin Gala". Oklahoma City Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
^"Fallin signs bill at A. C. Hamlin Banquet," Edmond Sun, April 26, 2011. (accessed April 17, 2013)
^Keating, Frank. "Frank Keating: Honoring A.C. Hamlin would right an embarrassing wrong". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
^"OSU/A&M Board of Regents Approves Removal of Murray's Name from Campus - Oklahoma State University". news.okstate.edu. Oklahoma State University. 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
hamlin, albert, comstock, hamlin, february, 1881, august, 1912, first, african, american, elected, oklahoma, legislature, lost, election, direct, result, constitutional, amendment, that, prevented, many, black, oklahomans, from, voting, oklahoma, state, repres. Albert Comstock Hamlin February 10 1881 August 29 1912 was the first African American elected to the Oklahoma Legislature He lost his re election bid as a direct result of a constitutional amendment that prevented many black Oklahomans from voting 1 A C HamlinOklahoma State RepresentativeIn office 1908 1910Personal detailsBornFebruary 10 1881Topeka Kansas U S DiedAugust 29 1912 1912 08 29 aged 31 Logan County Oklahoma U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseKatie Weaver Hamlin was buried in Logan County Oklahoma Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Death and legacy 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editBorn in Topeka Kansas to former slaves Andrew Jackson and Fanny Hamlin A C Hamlin arrived in Oklahoma Territory in 1890 with the family 1 He married Katie Weaver in 1899 and had five children 1 Before his election to the Oklahoma Legislature Hamlin served on a school board and a town trustee 1 Political career editHamlin won a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1908 due to the large predominance of African Americans in the Logan County Oklahoma district 1 Oklahoma Democratic politicians were determined to keep African Americans from rising in society as evidenced by the leader of the constitutional convention who exclaimed that blacks would always remain bootblacks barbers and farmers 2 Despite his dual minority status as an African American and a Republican Hamlin was able to receive support for bills to provide funding for a black school in his district address unequal facilities for black and white railroad passengers and prohibit certain activities on Sunday 1 Hamlin lost a bid for reelection in 1910 after a constitutional amendment limited black voters by creating voter registration requirements including literacy and registration of individuals or their ancestors prior to January 1 1866 1 Known as the grandfather clause the amendment was declared unconstitutional by the 1915 Guinn v United States case 2 The grandfather clause was responsible for an exodus of African Americans from Oklahoma to Canada 3 Death and legacy editHamlin died August 29 1912 of unknown causes on his farm and was buried in Robinson Cemetery in Logan County Oklahoma 1 The Hamlin family cemetery plot includes his headstone and the headstone of a G H Hamlin 4 On February 21 2009 the Logan County state representative introduced an amendment to name a part of Interstate 35 from Waterloo to Charter Road in southern Logan County as the A C Hamlin Parkway The amendment won approval as part of House Bill 2691 as was signed by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry In May 2015 the Oklahoma Department of Transportation placed signage denoting the designation 5 As of 2023 the 24th biennial awards banquet named for A C Hamlin was held by Oklahoma s Legislative Black Caucus composed of Oklahoma House and State Senate black elected officials 6 7 8 Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed a bill designating Swing Low Sweet Chariot as the official gospel song of Oklahoma during the 2011 banquet 9 Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating authored a July 2020 editorial in The Oklahoman advocating that Oklahoma State University rename the then named Murray Hall after A C Hamlin 10 The university ultimately decided on a different name for the campus buildings 11 See also edit2nd Oklahoma Legislature Green CurrinReferences edit a b c d e f g h Bruce Michael L Hamlin Albert Comstock 1881 1912 http digital library okstate edu encyclopedia entries H HA015 html Archived 2012 11 19 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Oklahoma Historical Society accessed April 17 2013 a b Franklin Jimmie Lewis African Americans http digital library okstate edu encyclopedia entries A AF003 html Archived 2012 11 03 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Oklahoma Historical Society accessed April 17 2013 Finkelman Paul Oklahoma Encyclopedia of African American History 1896 to the Present Volume 1 Oxford University Press 2009 ISBN 0195167791 ISBN 9780195167795 Albert Comstock A C Hamlin Robinson A M E Cemetery Logan County OK Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking com accessed July 7 2013 Enrolled Version of House Bill 2691 Oklahoma House of Representatives A C Hamlin Awards Banquet Oklahoma Gazette accessed April 17 2013 Caucus Oklahoma Legislative Black Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus Retrieved 2023 04 24 Report City Sentinel Staff Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus Set to Host 2023 A C Hamlin Gala Oklahoma City Sentinel Retrieved 2023 04 24 Fallin signs bill at A C Hamlin Banquet Edmond Sun April 26 2011 accessed April 17 2013 Keating Frank Frank Keating Honoring A C Hamlin would right an embarrassing wrong The Oklahoman Retrieved 2023 04 24 OSU A amp M Board of Regents Approves Removal of Murray s Name from Campus Oklahoma State University news okstate edu Oklahoma State University 2020 06 26 Retrieved 2023 04 24 External links editEncyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Hamlin Albert Comstock 1881 1912 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A C Hamlin amp oldid 1189637719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
