Dr. Alfred O. Coffin (May 14, 1961 – September 6, 1933) was a botanist and anthropologist and the first African American to earn a PhD in the Biological Sciences. Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, little is known of his upbringing. He received his BA (1885) from Fisk University, and MA (1888) and PhD in Biology (1889) from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1889. He taught at Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Alcorn State University, (1887-1889).
Additionally, he was a Professor of Mathematics and Romance Languages at Wiley University (1889-1895) and he studied the native plants. He also worked as a principal in public schools in San Antonio, Texas and Kansas City, Missouri. His last role was Professor of Romance Languages at Langston University. He also served as a booking agent for a ragtime musician. Due to the racism of the era, he faced significant barriers in his career.
Dr. Coffin’s most notable work involved studying the Indian mound builders of Mississippi and their origin in southeastern Mexico. He spent his remaining years traveling through Texas and Mexico working various jobs. His second book ‘Land Without Chimneys, Or The Byways of Mexico’, is a travelogue and covers the history of the people of Mexico. This was the first noted text by an African American concerning Latin peoples.
References:
- https://mbb.yale.edu/news/celebrating-black-history-month-alfred-oscar-coffin
- https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/coffin-alfred-o-1861/
- https://afrotexan.com/colleges/wiley/notables/coffin.htm
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