Charles W. Cansler
Encyclopedia
Charles Warner Cansler was an American educator, civil rights advocate, and author, active primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee
, USA. A grandson of William Scott, a pioneering African-American publisher, and the son of Knoxville's first African-American teacher, Cansler was instrumental in establishing educational opportunities for the Knoxville's African-American children in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His 1940 biography, Three Generations: The Story of a Colored Family in Eastern Tennessee, remains an important account of black life in 19th century East Tennessee
.
, in 1871, a son of Hugh Lawson Cansler (originally spelled "Kantzler") and Laura Scott. Cansler's father was the son of a plantation slave and the plantation owner's daughter. Cansler's maternal grandfather, William Scott (1821–1885), had moved to Friendsville
in 1847 at the request of the town's Quaker leaders. At the outbreak of the Civil War
, the Scotts moved to Knoxville, which offered better protection from pro-Confederate guerrillas, who often targeted free blacks.
While in Knoxville, Cansler's mother attended a school for black children established by St. John's Episcopal Church rector, Thomas William Humes
. In 1864, she became Knoxville's first African-American teacher when she received permission to open a school from Ambrose Burnside
, commander of the occupying Union forces. In August 1865, William Scott moved to Nashville, where he founded The Colored Tennessean, the state's first newspaper published and edited by an African American. Two years later, he returned to Maryville, where he published the pro-Radical Republican
Maryville Republican, and in 1869 served as the city's only black mayor.
Charles Cansler studied at the Quaker-sponsored Freedmen's Normal Institute. He later attended Maryville College
, one of the few integrated colleges in the South, but he quit before graduating. In the early 1890s, Cansler worked at different jobs for the railroad and the federal government, but disheartened by discrimination, he began studying law under Knox County judge William Kain. He passed the bar in 1892.
in 1896, and was present at President William McKinley
's inaugural festivities in Washington, D.C., in 1897. By the end of the decade, tired of his law practice and focused his efforts on educating Knoxville's African-American children.
In 1900, Cansler joined the teaching staff at Austin High School
, one of Knoxville's colored schools, and in 1911 became its principal. His students included future artist Beauford Delaney
(1901–1979), who while a student is said to have drawn a portrait of Cansler that "looked just like him." Cansler organized the East Tennessee Association of Colored Teachers in 1912, and established a night school in Knoxville in 1914.
A mathematical genius, Cansler gave demonstrations in which he would calculate large columns of numbers faster than adding machine
s. He used the funds raised to finance school projects. He published two booklets in which he explained how he added numbers so quickly.
In 1917, Cansler was instrumental in obtaining Carnegie library
funds for the establishment of the Knoxville Free Colored Library for the city's black residents. He retired from teaching in 1939, and wrote his book, Three Generations: The Story of a Colored Family in Eastern Tennessee, the following year. After Cansler died in 1953, a large memorial service was held in his honor at Knoxville College
's McMillan Chapel.
neighborhood, is named for Cansler, as is the Charles W. Cansler Family YMCA in East Knoxville
. Cansler Elementary School, which operated in Knoxville through much of the 20th century, was named for Cansler's mother, Laura Scott Cansler.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, USA. A grandson of William Scott, a pioneering African-American publisher, and the son of Knoxville's first African-American teacher, Cansler was instrumental in establishing educational opportunities for the Knoxville's African-American children in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His 1940 biography, Three Generations: The Story of a Colored Family in Eastern Tennessee, remains an important account of black life in 19th century East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
.
Background and early life
Cansler was born in Maryville, TennesseeMaryville, Tennessee
Maryville is the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. The city is located south of Knoxville. Maryville's population was 27,258 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Maryville has received a number of accolades for its...
, in 1871, a son of Hugh Lawson Cansler (originally spelled "Kantzler") and Laura Scott. Cansler's father was the son of a plantation slave and the plantation owner's daughter. Cansler's maternal grandfather, William Scott (1821–1885), had moved to Friendsville
Friendsville, Tennessee
Friendsville is a city in Blount County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 890 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in 1847 at the request of the town's Quaker leaders. At the outbreak of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Scotts moved to Knoxville, which offered better protection from pro-Confederate guerrillas, who often targeted free blacks.
While in Knoxville, Cansler's mother attended a school for black children established by St. John's Episcopal Church rector, Thomas William Humes
Thomas William Humes
Thomas William Humes was an American clergyman and educator, active in Knoxville, Tennessee, during the latter half of the 19th century. Elected rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in 1846, Humes led the church until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he was forced to resign due to his Union...
. In 1864, she became Knoxville's first African-American teacher when she received permission to open a school from Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...
, commander of the occupying Union forces. In August 1865, William Scott moved to Nashville, where he founded The Colored Tennessean, the state's first newspaper published and edited by an African American. Two years later, he returned to Maryville, where he published the pro-Radical Republican
Radical Republican
The Radical Republicans were a loose faction of American politicians within the Republican Party from about 1854 until the end of Reconstruction in 1877...
Maryville Republican, and in 1869 served as the city's only black mayor.
Charles Cansler studied at the Quaker-sponsored Freedmen's Normal Institute. He later attended Maryville College
Maryville College
Maryville College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville. It was founded in 1819 by Presbyterian minister Isaac L. Anderson for the purpose of furthering education and enlightenment into the West. The College is one of the fifty oldest colleges in the...
, one of the few integrated colleges in the South, but he quit before graduating. In the early 1890s, Cansler worked at different jobs for the railroad and the federal government, but disheartened by discrimination, he began studying law under Knox County judge William Kain. He passed the bar in 1892.
Political and education career
In 1894, Cansler ran unsuccessfully for the Tennessee state legislature. He attended the Republican National ConventionRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in 1896, and was present at President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
's inaugural festivities in Washington, D.C., in 1897. By the end of the decade, tired of his law practice and focused his efforts on educating Knoxville's African-American children.
In 1900, Cansler joined the teaching staff at Austin High School
Austin-East High School
Austin-East High School, also known as Austin-East Performing Arts and Sciences Magnet High School, is a public high school in Knoxville, Tennessee, operated by Knox County Schools.The school includes a magnet school program in performing arts...
, one of Knoxville's colored schools, and in 1911 became its principal. His students included future artist Beauford Delaney
Beauford Delaney
Beauford Delaney was an American modernist painter.-Early life:Beauford Delaney was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, in 1901. Delaney’s parents were prominent and respected members of Knoxville's black community. His father Samuel was both a barber and a Methodist minister...
(1901–1979), who while a student is said to have drawn a portrait of Cansler that "looked just like him." Cansler organized the East Tennessee Association of Colored Teachers in 1912, and established a night school in Knoxville in 1914.
A mathematical genius, Cansler gave demonstrations in which he would calculate large columns of numbers faster than adding machine
Adding machine
An adding machine was a class of mechanical calculator, usually specialized for bookkeeping calculations.In the United States, the earliest adding machines were usually built to read in dollars and cents. Adding machines were ubiquitous office equipment until they were phased out in favor of...
s. He used the funds raised to finance school projects. He published two booklets in which he explained how he added numbers so quickly.
In 1917, Cansler was instrumental in obtaining Carnegie library
Carnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
funds for the establishment of the Knoxville Free Colored Library for the city's black residents. He retired from teaching in 1939, and wrote his book, Three Generations: The Story of a Colored Family in Eastern Tennessee, the following year. After Cansler died in 1953, a large memorial service was held in his honor at Knoxville College
Knoxville College
Knoxville College is a historically black liberal arts college in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Founded in 1875 by the United Presbyterian Church of North America, the school has an enrollment of approximately 100 students, and offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies and an Associate...
's McMillan Chapel.
Legacy
Cansler Street, in Knoxville's MechanicsvilleMechanicsville, Knoxville
Mechanicsville is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, located northwest of the city's downtown area. One of the city's oldest neighborhoods, Mechanicsville was established in the late 1860s for skilled laborers working in the many factories that sprang up along Knoxville's periphery...
neighborhood, is named for Cansler, as is the Charles W. Cansler Family YMCA in East Knoxville
East Knoxville
East Knoxville is the section of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, that lies east of the city's downtown area. It is concentrated along Magnolia Avenue , Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard, Dandridge Avenue, and adjacent streets, and includes the neighborhoods of Parkridge, Chilhowee Park, Morningside,...
. Cansler Elementary School, which operated in Knoxville through much of the 20th century, was named for Cansler's mother, Laura Scott Cansler.
See also
- Isaac L. Anderson
- Cal JohnsonCal Johnson (businessman)Caldonia Fackler Johnson was an American businessman and philanthropist, active primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
- William F. YardleyWilliam F. YardleyWilliam Francis Yardley was an American attorney, politician and civil rights advocate, operating primarily out of Knoxville, Tennessee, in the late 19th century. He was Tennessee's first African American gubernatorial candidate, and is believed to have been the first African American attorney to...
Further reading
- Cansler, Charles W. Three Generations: The Story of a Colored Family of Eastern Tennessee. Kingsport Press, 1939.
External links
- A Library Milestone — address delivered by Cansler upon the opening of Knoxville's Carnegie Library, May 6, 1918