Anderson, Charles W., Jr.
(born: May 26, 1907 - died: June 14, 1960)Charles W. Anderson, Jr. was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1933, and in 1936, as a Republican, was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, making him the first African American Kentucky legislator. Anderson was born in Louisville, KY, the son of Dr. Charles W. and Tabetha Murphy Anderson. He was a graduate of Wilberforce University and received his law degree from Howard University School of Law. In running for a seat in the House, he had competed against five other candidates: Charles E. Tucker, Rev. Ernest Grundy, Dr. Richard P. Beckman, James D. Bailey, all Democrats, and Lee L. Brown, a Republican. Anderson is credited with a number of early Civil Rights measures, including the Anderson-Mayer State Aid Act, which provided funding for African Americans to seek higher education out of state because Kentucky enforced higher education segregation laws. Anderson was also appointed alternate delegate to the United Nations.
For more see Not Without Struggle by J. B. Horton; Kentucky Encyclopedia; Charles W. Anderson, Jr. Correspondence in the University of Louisville Archives.
*Charles W. Anderson, Jr. was the brother to Florence G. Anderson, one of the daughters of Charles W. Anderson, Sr. and his first wife Mildred Saunders Anderson.
