Nationally known Black journalist. In 1891, he published a volume of biographies of African American newspaper editors and journalists, "The Afro American Press and its Editors." In 1893, he co-wrote a pamphlet about lack of Black representation at the Columbian Exposition. His co-authors were Frederick Douglass, Ferdinand Lee Barnett, and Ida B. Wells.
Penn was born in Virginia in 1867. He became a journalist and then editor of his own small newspaper, The Laborer. He fought for equal rights for all. His 1891 book "The Afro American Press and its Editors" included a chapter on Black female journalists. In 1912, Penn moved to Cincinnati and became an officer of the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In this capacity, he raised money for Methodist colleges in the South. One of his closest benefactors was James M. Gamble, son of the founder of Procter & Gamble. Irvine Garland Penn died in 1930.
– bio by Chris Hanlin
Nationally known Black journalist. In 1891, he published a volume of biographies of African American newspaper editors and journalists, "The Afro American Press and its Editors." In 1893, he co-wrote a pamphlet about lack of Black representation at the Columbian Exposition. His co-authors were Frederick Douglass, Ferdinand Lee Barnett, and Ida B. Wells.
Penn was born in Virginia in 1867. He became a journalist and then editor of his own small newspaper, The Laborer. He fought for equal rights for all. His 1891 book "The Afro American Press and its Editors" included a chapter on Black female journalists. In 1912, Penn moved to Cincinnati and became an officer of the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In this capacity, he raised money for Methodist colleges in the South. One of his closest benefactors was James M. Gamble, son of the founder of Procter & Gamble. Irvine Garland Penn died in 1930.
– bio by Chris Hanlin
