Joseph Carter Corbin 19th Century Educator Memorial Headstone Dedication May 27, 2013

Forest Park, Illinois---- The dedication of a new headstone for Professor
Joseph Carter Corbin, erected at Forest Home Cemetery, 863 Des Plaines Avenue,
will begin at 12:00 Noon Memorial Day, May 27, 2013, at the gravesite,
West Front, Section F, Lot 44. The public is invited.

The grave was unmarked until now. The inscription honors Professor Corbin as
the founder of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the father of higher
education for African Americans in Arkansas, and his "gift of education to
countless generations."

The headstone was erected by the Joseph Carter Corbin Headstone Project;
co-sponsored by the Black History Commission of Arkansas,
and Alumni and Friends of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

The speaker will be U.S. Congressman, the Honorable Danny Davis, who
represents Illnois 7th District, including Forest Park, and is a 1961 graduate
of AM&N College, (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff).

Joseph Carter Corbin  

Born March 26, 1833 in Chillicothe, Ohio, Joseph Carter Corbin was an
American Educator, scholar, linguist, mathematician, and musician.
At the age of seventeen, he enrolled at Ohio University, and three years
later received the B.A. degree in Art. Later, he would earn two master's
degrees from Ohio University (1856 and 1889). He is one of Ohio
University most scholarly graduates of the mid 19th Century. "In later
years the Ph.D. degree was conferred upon him by a Baptist College
in the South."

Corbin migrated to Arkansas in 1872. Later that year, he ran and was
elected State Superintendent of Public Education on the Republican
ticket. In this position, he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees
of the newly-formed Arkansas Industrial University (now the University of
Arkansas at Fayetteville). It was during this time that he recommended
a college "for education of the poorer classes." In 1875, Corbin became
founder and principal of Branch Normal College (predecessor of A.M.&N.
College and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) where he served
until 1902. He then became principal of Merrill High School. He was a leader
in the public education movement and Prince Hall Masons in Arkansas.
Dr. Corbin died January 9, 1911 in Pine Bluff and was interred January 14, 1911
at Waldheim German Cemetery, now Forest Home.

Directions to Forest Home Cemetery

From East take Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway (290) to Harlem St. (left lane
Exit); Right on to Harrison; Left on Des Plaines Ave. (cemetery on right).

From West take Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway (290); Exist Des Plaines Ave.

           Sponsored in part by the Black History Commission of Arkansas

Gateway European Tour (W-703) July 3-17, 1967

The year 1967 was a very good year. It was the year, I decided to embark upon a
European travel tour. It was my first trip beyond the contintental USA. I was a
32 year old, single professional woman.

I was eager to spread my wings and go beyond my comfort zone. I always had
the travel bug. My father's employee pass with the St. Louis Southwestern
Railway had allowed me as a dependent to travel throughout the United States
while growing up.

This trip was a catalyst to a lot of self-learning-self-knowledge. I would be
travelling solo and would meet my tour group in London.

I chose Gateway Tours by the Richard Lewis Travel Agency. I would be
visiting places of interest in England, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy,
Switzerland, and France.

When my two closet girlfriends learned of my intent to travel solo, I had to
withstand their criticism.

This was a time when few African-Americans went on such tours. Of the 38
Gateway tour members, there were three African-Americans, a couple and
solo me.

Raised in the Jim Crow South, I had never shared a room with a white person.
My assigned roommate was Irene George, a married, devout catholic from
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A fantastic woman. We developed a friendship
that transcended race. Irene and I remained friends until her death in 1999
from a brain tumor.

When a colleague learned I would be visiting Rome, she arranged for a
nun-friend in Rome to arrange a personal audience with the Pope. It
turned out that my travel tour was to depart Rome for Florence the day
prior to my scheduled audience with the Pope. Not wanting to forego
this opportunity of a lifetime, I decided to stay over in Rome and fly to
Florence the next day to rejoin the tour group.

Because I dared to be flexible, rearrange my schedule in a foreign
country I did not speak the language, I kept my appointment with
destiny, an audience with Pope Paul VI.

Pope Paul VI served as Pope of the Catholic Church from 1963 until
his death in 1978. Being blessed by Pope Paul VI was a spiritual gift
I will always treasure.

Michaelangelo's David (masterpiece Renaissance sculpture) at
Florence and Lido de Paris topless, glamorous cabaret show were
culture shocks but the beginning of a new attitude about the nude
human body.

This trip reinforced that I was allright, vibrantly alive in a circle of
fellow travellers, no longer strangers. I was clothed by my faith and
belief in the goodness of others and I was not disappointed, but
rewarded. A childhood dream was fulfilled, and an opportunity to
experience new relations with different people.

NASW Symposium Mexican Holiday November 20-27-1979

The latter part of November, 1979, I joined seventeen other social workers on an educational
tour to focus on Social Work in Mexico.

This eight day, seven night, professional advancement tour was sponsored by NASW and
led by Professor Alejandro Garcia ACSW, Associate Professor, School of Social Work,
Scyracuse University, Scyracuse, New York.

Member of the Tour: Rebecca Bejar, Edward Schwartz, Jessie Schwartz, Fergus Monahan,
Kathy Kemp, Cecelia Esparza, Bernard Long, Diane Long, Edwin Cooke, Linda Cooke,
James Stanley, Bennie Fleming, Bernadette Ambrose, Elvira Brigg, John Coleman,
John Fuller, Jerry Smith.

Departing San Antonio, Texas, following NASW Delegate Assembly where I
had been a delegate, I looked forward to a new learning experience with interest
and enthusiasm.

I was shocked and surprised when the airline cabin was fumigated shortly after
take off.  (American Airlines, flight 2602, 9:45 AM.) My gut reaction was this was
an act of cultural insensitivity-disregard. I have never had a similiar experience.

Hotel accommodations in Mexico City (Plaza Florencia), Guanajuato (Real de Minas),
and Guadalajara Sheraton were first class.

Mexico is rich in history, culture, languages, peoples. Mexico City (the capitol) was
impressive. I visited the Anthropology Museum twice. I could not get enough of it.

The second night, a once in a lifetime experience, was the Ballet Folklorico, a two
hour presentation of regional dances and indigenous rhythms. I had only one word
to describe it. "Fantastic!"

The third day, we met with leaders of the Mexican National Association of  Social
Workers in Mexico City. It was insightful to see the similiarities and differences
in our social work practices. In the afternoon, we had an opportunity to visit
social agencies. I chose an agency serving children. Later, we hosted a wine and
cheese reception in our hotel for our Mexican Social Work associates.

Smog in Mexico City is apparent as an environmental health factor. In fact,
I was awakened one night in the hotel with a heavy smell of smoke, thinking
the hotel was on fire. There is also a lot of poverty in Mexico.

At the sacred shrine of the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe, I was impressed
with the faith of the people and their testimonies of miracles.

The ancient pyramids of San Juan Teotihuacan evoked thoughts about the
beginning of mankind, and what it was like in this place. It never ceases to
amaze me how humankind everywhere created its own unique culture, language,
and foods. You can certainly see it here in Mexico.

The fourth day, Friday, November 23rd, we began a motor coach drive over
the Central Highway from Mexico City to Querataro, making stops in San
Miguel Allende and Dolores Hidalgo. Then on to Guanjuato to see the mummies.

The Independence Route traces Mexico's long struggle for independence from
Spain. During the colonization period, Spain built elaborate churches, colonial
cities, and palaces.

Among the great cathedrals visited were the Cathedral of Quertaro, Santuary of
the Virgin in San Juan de los, Lagos, the Cathedral of Tlaquepaque. We
also visited the Chapel of the Hospicio Cabanas.

Mexicio is a great place to shop. There are a lot of street vendors. Along with
Rebecca Bejar and Jerry Smith, I visited Casa de las artesanias de Jalisco,
a government handicraft store. I purchased beautiful onyx elephants and hand
blown glass.

The final social work activity on November 26th was a visit to the School of
Medicine of Guadaljara. There were lectures and we spoke with medical
students from the United States.

November 27, 1979, I departed Guadalajara on Texas International Flight 942
to Houston. Cleared U.S. Customs. Luggage put back on Flight 942. Driven
to Gate 11 and reboarded for Dallas. Arrived Dallas at 11:45 A.M. to connect
to flight to Dayton.

There was a lot of cross cultural learning on this trip along with tours of
historical sites.