William Ashbie Hawkins
Encyclopedia
William Ashbie Hawkins was one of Baltimore's first African American lawyers. He was born in Lynchburg, Virginia
on August 2, 1862. He graduated in 1885 from Centenary Biblical Institute (later to become Morgan College), Maryland University
(1891), and Howard University
(1892). He was admitted to the Maryland bar in 1897. About 1905 Hawkins joined forces with George W.F. McMechen in the firm of Hawkins and McMechen. His biggest professional mark came in 1917 before the U.S. Supreme Court in Buchanan v. Warley
. He served as counsel to the Baltimore chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
and the Afro-American newspapers. Hawkins died from heart disease on April 3, 1941 at Provident Hospital and was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery
.
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
on August 2, 1862. He graduated in 1885 from Centenary Biblical Institute (later to become Morgan College), Maryland University
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
(1891), and Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
(1892). He was admitted to the Maryland bar in 1897. About 1905 Hawkins joined forces with George W.F. McMechen in the firm of Hawkins and McMechen. His biggest professional mark came in 1917 before the U.S. Supreme Court in Buchanan v. Warley
Buchanan v. Warley
Buchanan v. Warley, 245 U.S. 60 was a unanimous United States Supreme Court decision addressing civil government instituted racial segregation in residential areas. The Court held that a Louisville, Kentucky, city ordinance prohibiting the sale of real property to African Americans violated the...
. He served as counsel to the Baltimore chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
and the Afro-American newspapers. Hawkins died from heart disease on April 3, 1941 at Provident Hospital and was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery (Baltimore, Maryland)
Mount Auburn Cemetery is a historic African American cemetery and national historic district in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Overlooking the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River to the east, Baltimore's Downtown to the north and railroad tracks to the south, Mt. Auburn Cemetery is surrounded...
.