Dennis Henry Anderson

Dennis Henry Anderson (1866 – 1952) was an American Methodist minister, educator, academic administrator, and author in Kentucky. He led efforts to establish schools for African Americans in Kentucky during the era of racial segregation.

History

Dennis Henry Anderson was born in either 1866, or February 14, 1868, in Madison County, Tennessee. He married Artelia Harris of Virginia, on July 14, 1897.

Anderson graduated from Lane College (BA 1893) in Jackson, Tennessee; and from Princeton Normal and Industrial University (DD, MS 1914) in Princeton, Indiana.

He and his wife helped found and build West Kentucky Industrial College (now West Kentucky Community and Technical College) starting in 1909. He worked to get the Kentucky legislature to provide state support for his industrial college. The college struggled for accreditation. As a leader of the college, he tried to frame a political opponent.[how?] Management issues were also raised about his leadership.

In 1934, Anderson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his alma mater Lane College.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mather, Frank Lincoln (November 16, 1915). "Who's Who of the Colored Race: A General Biographical Dictionary of Men and Women of African Descent; Vol. 1". p. 8 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Flairty, Steve (August 4, 2020). "Kentucky by Heart: Kentuckians throughout history faced similar challenges to those we face today". NKyTribune. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
  3. 1 2 3 "Dennis Henry Anderson, Founder of West Kentucky Technical College". Jackson Purchase Historical Society. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ Smith, Gerald L.; McDaniel, Karen Cotton; Hardin, John A. (August 28, 2015). The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813160672 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "Anderson, Dennis H." Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (NKAA). Reinette Jones & University of Kentucky Libraries. September 14, 2017.
  6. ↑ "West Kentucky Industrial College". lost-colleges. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
  7. 1 2 A History of Blacks in Kentucky: In pursuit of equality, 1890-1980. University Press of Kentucky. January 1, 1992. ISBN 0916968219 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ Hardin, John A. (May 11, 2021). Fifty Years of Segregation: Black Higher Education in Kentucky, 1904-1954. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813183183 – via Google Books.