Dunnigan, alice allison, a black womans experience. In 1942 alice allison dunnigan, a sharecroppers daughter from k. Alice allison dunnigan, who died in 1983, was a journalistic trailblazer. Alice dunnigan, first black woman to cover white house. Ryan when she became the first black woman named in that role in 1948. Call or write congress react to this resolution with an emoji. Alice allison dunnigan, trailblazing africanamerican. Alice allison dunnigan did what was essentially impossible for a woman of her time. Carol mccabe booker discussed and signed her book alone atop the hill. Alice allison dunnigan pioneering journalist connections. Dawson, alice allison dunnigan, the crisis, julyaugust, 2007, pp. Alice allison dunnigan 1 19061983 journalist, author at a glance 2 selected writings 3 sources 4 pioneering journalist alice allison dunnigan 5 was covering national politics when racism and segregation were still a part of american society. Alice allison dunnigan, 1st black woman journalist to cover.
Sep 22, 2018 alice allison dunnigan was the first african american female correspondent at the white house and the first black female member of the senate and house of representatives press galleries. Commending alice allison dunnigan for her barrierbreaking career in journalism. Alice allison dunnigan statue to be permanently installed. Dunnigan was born april 27, 1906, in russellville, kentucky, to willie and lena pitman allison. Alice allison dunnigan papers, 19581981 emoryfindingaids. Alice allison dunnigan was head of the washington bureau of the associated negro press in the. Alice allison dunnigan, 1st black woman journalist to. Alone atop the hill is a poignant and revealing account of alice dunnigans life from her childhood in rural poverty to her adulthood in education and journalism. With alone atop the hill, carol mccabe booker has condensed dunnigan s 1974 selfpublished autobiography to appeal to a general audience and has added. A 6foot bronze statue of alice allison dunnigan, modeled on this 1947 photograph of her outside the capitol, will honor her at the newseum, a museum in washington dedicated to the press. Jul 20, 2017 alice allison dunnigan blazed trials for future white house correspondents like april d. Alice allison dunnigan, a retired government official who had been chief of the washington bureau of the old associated negro press from 1947 to 1961, died friday of abdominal. A statue to honor a great journalist will soon stand at the newseum in washington, d.
A 6foot bronze statue of alice allison dunnigan, modeled on this 1947 photograph of her outside the capitol, will honor her at the newseum, a museum in washington dedicated to the press and the. Alice allison dunnigan statue to be permanently installed in. The first activity will be the alice allison dunnigan scholarship, farm to table dinner on august 1, 2019. Dunnigan, alice allison, 19061983 lc linked data service.
At age 14 she began writing for the owensboro enterprise newspaper. Alice allison dunnigan alice allison was born on april 27, 1906 near russellville, kentucky, died on may 6, 1983 aged 77 washington, d. She also published five books, chronicling her experiences as a black, female kentuckian, her adventures in reporting and also the stories of africanamericans neglected from history books. The autobiography of alice dunnigan, pioneer of the national black press were she has condensed. Alice allison was a teacher in kentucky public schools from 1924 to 1942, but because she wasnt exactly getting paid the big bucks, she still worked small jobs in the summer, like a housekeeper and washing tombstones in the white cemetery. Commending alice allison dunnigan for her barrierbreaking. Russellville native alice allison dunnigan might not have the national name recognition of civil rights activists such as martin luther king jr. First africanamerican female white house reporter to be. Dunnigan was born alice allison on april 27, 1906 near russellville, kentucky to willie allison, a sharecropper and lena allison who worked by taking in laundry. Renee shaw and her guests remember the life of journalist, civil rights activist, and author alice allison dunnigan, the first accredited africanamerican female. Newseum to feature alice dunnigan kentucky journalist. Smith alice allison dunnigan was born in 1906 to willie and lena allison, who made their home in russellville, kentucky. Dunnigan was the first black female correspondent for congress and the white house dunnigan reported on congressional hearings where blacks were referred to as niggers, was barred from covering a speech by.
Alice allison dunnigan was a national pioneer journalist. She was the first african american woman to receive press credentials to cover the white house and congress. She has published several books and worked under four different presidents fighting for civil rights. The narrative casts valuable light on the politics. Dunnigan was the first africanamerican female correspondent to receive white house credentials, and the first black female member of the senate and house of representatives press galleries. Season 15 episode 9 26m 37s renee shaw and her guests remember the life of journalist, civil rights activist, and author alice. The autobiography of alice dunnigan, pioneer of the national black press were she has condensed dunnigans 1974 self. Alice allison dunnigan 19061983 1 was an africanamerican journalist, civil rights activist and author.
Alice allison dunnigan pioneering journalist season 15. The bronze monument of alice allison dunnigan, african american female journalist and member of sigma gamma rho sorority, was created by artist amanda matthews, a kentucky native. Russellvilles school system offered ten years of schooling for black children, but most of. Stewart, mary ann shadd cary, gertrude bustill mossell, ida b. As its title indicates, the book is an exploration of. The autobiography of alice dunningan, pioneer of the national black press, by alice dunningan, editor. African american national biography, accessed december 12 2014, via oxford african american studies center database. Alone atop the hill is a poignant and revealing account of alice. Dunnigan, alice allison skip to main search results. Aug 23, 2018 a 6foot bronze statue of alice allison dunnigan, modeled on this 1947 photograph of her outside the capitol, will honor her at the newseum, a museum in washington dedicated to the press and the. Renee shaw and her guests remember the life of journalist, civil rights activist, and author alice allison dunnigan, the first accredited africanamerican female correspondent to cover the white house, and the first black female member of the senate and house of representatives press galleries. African american journalist alice allison dunnigan.
This snapshot of alice dunnigans life was captured by the 1940 u. Alice allison dunnigan, rosa parks and the selma march. Alice dunnigan, first black woman to cover white house, will get. Alice allison dunnigan kentucky women in the civil. Alice allison dunnigan booker proposes the republication of alice allison dunnigans. Dunnigan is also the first black woman reporter to gain credentials to the press galleries of the u. Alice allison dunnigan blazed trials for future white house correspondents like april d. The skanner news international african american sorority on. Russellvilles school system offered ten years of schooling for black children, but most of these children were expected to work in the fields so the schools were open for only 67 months each year. Dunnigan, a kentucky native who died in 1983, was the first black female journalist to cover. A 6foot bronze statue of alice allison dunnigan, modeled on this 1947. Alice allison dunnigan was a trailblazer born in 1906 to a kentucky sharecropper. Alice allison dunnigan april 27, 1906 may 6, 1983, better known as alice dunnigan, was the first africanamerican female correspondent to receive white house credentials.
Dunnigan was born 1906 in logan county the granddaughter of slaves and daughter of a sharecropper. All this month, weve been shining a spotlight on prominent black history makers. From schoolhouse to white house by alice dunningan feb. Her father worked as a tobacco sharecropper, and her mother took in laundry for a living. Today that book is available as alone atop the hill by alice dunnigan as edited by carol mccabe booker. In 1982, she was inducted into the kentucky hall of fame, and in 1985, she was admitted into the black journalist hall of fame. Alice allison dunnigan booker proposes the republication of alice allison dunnigans original, unedited autobiography a black womans experience. She was also the first black female member of the u. Johnson, weve learned a few things about americans who helped make this. Each chapter is a biographical sketch of an influential black woman who has written for american newspapers or television news, including maria w. Renee shaw and her guests remember the life of journalist, civil rights activist, and author alice allison dunnigan, the first accredited africanamerican female correspondent to cover the white house, and. Journalist alice allison dunnigan to be honored at newseum.
In 1942 alice allison dunnigan, a sharecroppers daughter from kentucky, made her way to the nations capital and a career in journalism that eventually led her to the white house. Dunnigan, alice allison black white house correspondent. At an early age she began writing articles for the local newspaper and was a teacher for twenty years. Congress, and also the first black woman to be elected to the womens national press club. At age she began writing for the owensboro enterprise, a first job that fueled her passion for journalism and reporting. May 09, 1983 alice allison dunnigan, a retired government official who had been chief of the washington bureau of the old associated negro press from 1947 to 1961, died friday of abdominal anemia in providence. Born to workingclass parents in rural kentucky in 1906, she went on to become the first africanamerican woman. Alice allison dunnigan was head of the washington bureau of the associated negro press in the 1940s and 50s. In 1942 alice allison dunnigan, a sharecroppers daughter from kentucky, made her way to the nations capitol and a career in journalism that eventually led her to the white house. The narrative casts valuable light on the politics of race prior to the emergence of the civil rights movement. Starting in september, a lifesized statue at washington d. Jul 30, 2018 the name alice allison dunnigan might not have the fame of martin luther king jr. Newseum honors alice allison dunnigan, who was the first. From schoolhouse to white house, was published in 1974.
Reprinted with editorial commentary by editor carol booker in feb. Like all african american children, alice allison dunnigan 19061983 had limited opportunities for education. Alice allison dunnigan was born and raised in russellville kentucky. Smith alice allisondunnigan was born in 1906 to willie and lena allison, who made their home in russellville, kentucky. Born at the turn of the 20th century, in an era in which women could not vote and african americans were regarded. Dunnigan was the first black american female correspondent to receive. Jul 22, 2019 in order to commemorate dunnigan, author, teacher, civil rights pioneer, united states presidential appointee and trailblazing journalist, the russellville community will host a series of activities in dunnigans honor. Dunnigan was the author of the fascinating story of black kentuckians and four other books. Senate and house of representatives press galleries. Home alice allison dunnigan logan county, 19061983 the daughter of a tenant farmer and laundress, the yearold alice allison dunnigan began writing a weekly column on russellville happenings for the owensboro enterprise. Aug 24, 2018 starting in september, a lifesized statue at washington d. Aug 25, 2018 a statue to honor a great journalist will soon stand at the newseum in washington, d. The statue is set to be unveiled at a washington museum, dedicated to. Alone atop the hill is a poignant and revealing account of alice dunnigan s life from her childhood in rural poverty to her adulthood in education and journalism.
Feb 15, 2018 carol mccabe booker discussed and signed her book alone atop the hill. In 1942 alice allison dunnigan, a sharecroppers daughter from kentucky, made her way to the nations capital and a career in journalism that. The skanner news international african american sorority. Alice allison dunnigan was the first african american female correspondent at the white house and the first black female member of the. Allison was reared in a time where african americans were flourishing in all enclaves of american society. Alice allison dunnigan todd county schools hall of fame. Pioneering journalist alice allison dunnigan 19061983 was covering national politics when racism and segregation were still a part of american society. Alice allison dunnigan april 27, 1906 may 6, 1983 was an africanamerican journalist, civil rights activist and author. Alice allison dunnigan was the first african american female correspondent at the white house and the first black female member of the senate and house of representatives press galleries.
Dunnigan was a pioneer, worthy of statue our opinion. Alice dunnigan, first black woman to cover white house, will. During her time in washington, dunnigan also reported on the sitins at the citys restaurants to promote desegregation. Allison was reared in a time where african americans were. From school house to white house unavailable except as a collectors. Victor ochieng the first black woman, alice allison dunnigan, to cover the white house will be honored with a bronze statue. This talk on alice allison dunnigan, the first african american female. Feb 02, 2019 alice allison dunnigan april 27, 1906 may 6, 1983 was a black american journalist, civil rights activist and author. With alone atop the hill, carol mccabe booker has condensed dunnigans 1974 selfpublished autobiography to appeal to a general audience and has added. Alice allison dunnigan was born to a farmer in russelville, kentucky in 1906 and grew up unwanted by her grandmother for not being black enough and eventually turning into one of the most accomplished african american female journalists. Alice allison dunnigan april 27, 1906 may 6, 1983 was a black american journalist, civil rights activist and author.
In 1940, she was 33 years old and lived in russellville, kentucky, with her husband. Over the course of her career, alice allison dunnigan won over 50 journalism awards. In order to commemorate dunnigan, author, teacher, civil rights pioneer, united states presidential appointee and trailblazing journalist, the russellville community will host a series of. Alice allison dunnigan kentucky women in the civil rights era. Alice allison dunnigan was the first african american woman granted press credentials to the white house. Alice determined not to be a sharecropper, or a domestic. She and her brother russell were raised in a strict household that placed a strong emphasis on work ethic and moral training.
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