Ragland, John Marshall, 1917-1976
Person
John Marshall Ragland was born October 5, 1884 on a farm in Jackson, Liberty Township, Ohio. He was educated at Emmanuel Missionary College, Simmons University and Central Law College. He became a Seventh-day Adventist in 1907 and did various ministries in the church, but he left due to segregation. He married Elizabeth McElroy in 1926. They had two boys.
Ragland is best known as a civic and welfare worker in Detroit, Louisville, Cincinnati, Warren, Ohio, Washington, D.C., and primarily in Chicago. Among his roles are the following:
1917-1923 Industrial Secretary, Detroit Urban League 1923-1928 Executive Secretary, Louisville Urban League 1929-1933 Executive Director, Negro Welfare Association, Cincinnati, Ohio 1934-1941 Executive Secretary, Warren Ohio Urban League 1941-1945 National Racial Consultant, Social Protection Division of the Office of Community War Services, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D.C. 1945-1976 Executive Director, South Central Association, Chicago, Ill.
In addition to the South Central Association, he held a wide range of other positions concurrently in Chicago from 1945 until he retired. In his roles he strongly opposed racism and discrimination doing various activities for blacks and the disadvantaged.
For 52 years he remained away from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but he returned to the church and was re-baptized in 1971. He resigned as racial consultant from the Illinois Department fo Public Aid on July 31, 1976. He probably died in 1979.
Ragland is best known as a civic and welfare worker in Detroit, Louisville, Cincinnati, Warren, Ohio, Washington, D.C., and primarily in Chicago. Among his roles are the following:
1917-1923 Industrial Secretary, Detroit Urban League 1923-1928 Executive Secretary, Louisville Urban League 1929-1933 Executive Director, Negro Welfare Association, Cincinnati, Ohio 1934-1941 Executive Secretary, Warren Ohio Urban League 1941-1945 National Racial Consultant, Social Protection Division of the Office of Community War Services, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D.C. 1945-1976 Executive Director, South Central Association, Chicago, Ill.
In addition to the South Central Association, he held a wide range of other positions concurrently in Chicago from 1945 until he retired. In his roles he strongly opposed racism and discrimination doing various activities for blacks and the disadvantaged.
For 52 years he remained away from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but he returned to the church and was re-baptized in 1971. He resigned as racial consultant from the Illinois Department fo Public Aid on July 31, 1976. He probably died in 1979.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
John Marshall Ragland Collection
Collection
Identifier: Collection 074
Dates:
1917-01-01 - 1976-01-01
John Marshall Ragland Collection
Accession
Identifier: Collection 074