William H. Ashby

William H. Ashby (1889-1991) was a social worker, activist, and writer. Ashby was born in York County, Virginia and spent much of his childhood time in Newport News, VA. During the early years of The Great Migration, he moved to Roselle, New Jersey. He graduated from Pennsylvania's Lincoln University in 1911 and went on Yale University, where he graduated in 1916. With his degree from the Divinity School, he became the first black social worker in New Jersey. His only novel, Redder Blood, was published by Cosmopolitan Press two years later.

Ashby was a community leader who, among other roles, helped form the Newark Welfare Federation and Community Chest, founded the Urban League of Essex County-Newark, and was a charter member of the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee. His 1980 memoir/autobiography Tales Without Hate details his life and describes his interactions with prominent figures like W.E.B. DuBois.

Citations:

“Another Four Who Stood for Something.” Charles Cummings, 9 Mar. 1997, knowingnewark.npl.org/another-four-who-stood-for-something/.

Ashby, William M. Tales without Hate. Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee, 1996, Newark Public Library, cdm17229.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17229coll33/id/36.

Cummings, Charles S. “Another Four Who Stood for Something.” Knowing Newark, knowingnewark.npl.org/another-four-who-stood-for-something/.

“Manuscript Group 1464, William M. Ashby (1889 – 1991) COLLECTION 1952-1981.” The New Jersey Historical Society, jerseyhistory.org/manuscript-group-1464-william-m-ashby-1889-1991collection1952-1981/.

"United Way of Essex and West Hudson (UWEWH) Celebrates 20th Anniversary of the William M. Ashby Award by Honoring Governor Thomas H. Kean and Sister June Favata." PR Newswire (USA), 2 June 2010. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1301B1A5C6956CC0. Accessed 10 Sept. 2019.