Simon Green Atkins | |
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Born | June 11, 1863 |
Died | June 28, 1934 |
Nationality | African American |
Education | St. Augustine's Normal Collegiate Institute (now St. Augustine's College) (attended 1880-1884) |
Occupation(s) | Grammar school department head. Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC (1884–1890); President of Slater Industrial Academy, 1892–1904 and 1913–1934 |
Known for | Founded of the North Carolina Negro Teachers' Association, 1881; founded Winston Salem State University (previously Slater Industrial Academy), 1892 |
Spouse | Oleona Pegram Atkins (married 1889-death) |
Children | Jasper, Francis, Olie, Clarence, Russell, Miriam, Harvey, Eliza, Leland |
Simon Green Atkins (1863–1934) was a North Carolina educator who was the founder and first president of Winston-Salem State University (previously the Slater Industrial Academy) and founded the North Carolina Negro Teachers' Association in 1881.[1] He dedicated his life to improving education for African Americans and his prowess in teaching allowed him to make great strides in providing better and equal education. In addition to teaching, Atkins worked to better his community by improving the health, housing, and economic status of the African American community.[2]