Obituary for Frederick A. Parker (Aged 91) - Newspapers.com™
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Frederick Allen Parker graduated from Amherst College in 1920. He died on April 9, 1991. The May 2, 1991, edition of The Indianapolis News on page 37, reads
FREDERICK A. PARKER DEAD IN WISCONSIN
MEQUON, Wis. Frederick A. Parker, 91, a former Indianapolis teacher who helped racially integrate the state's schools, died April Services were last month in O'Bee Funeral Home, Milwaukee. Mr.
Parker taught mathematics and was the department chairman for Attucks High School from its beginning as a school for blacks in 1927 until 1946. He was then a teacher at Indianapolis Public Schools 17 47, later teaching at Harry E. Wood High School until 1966 before resuming a college teaching career. An advocate of integrated schools, he helped lobby the 1949 Indiana General Assembly to pass an anti-segregation school law. "Mr. Parker was well known as an effective teacher who helped build support and credibility" for the integration movement, said Indianapolis attorney Willard "Mike" Ransom, former state chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. After retiring from IPS, Mr. Parker was a math teacher at Yale University. From 1967 to 1969, he taught at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He later taught at several colleges, including Butler and Purdue universities.
In 1960, he co-founded a Studies Skills Program, co-sponsored by the Presbyterian Church and the e Rockefeller Foundation. moved to Knoxville (Tenn.) College and was designed to build self-confidence and discipline and supplement college preparation for economically and academically deprived students. Most of the students were black, and 92 percent went on to obtain college degrees. In the 1970s, Mr. Parker received teaching awards from Harvard University and Amherst College, from which he graduated in 1920.
He received a master's degree from Indiana University in 1935. He was the widower of Frieda Alice Campbell Parker. Survivors - daughters Frieda P. Jefferson, Winifred P. White, Carolyn Cliver; 10 grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren.
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Fred Parker, Amherst Class of 1920, received an honorary degree from Amherst College in 1973.
Fred Parker's Amherst Legacy includes Grandchildren Walter White (Class of 1976), Adrienne White (Class of 1982), and Fritz Cliver (Class of 1986) and Great Grandson (by way of Walter White) Alexandre White (Class of 2010).
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888AAs I continue with my Amherst College Biographies Blog, I come now to Frederick Allen Parker, Class of 1920. Like so many of the pre-1960 African American students at Amherst College, Fred Parker was also a graduate of Dunbar High School. The following indicates what Mr. Parker did for much of the rest of his illustrious life.
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Frederick Allen Parker graduated from Amherst College in 1920. He died on April 9, 1991. The May 2, 1991, edition of The Indianapolis News on page 37, reads
FREDERICK A. PARKER DEAD IN WISCONSIN
MEQUON, Wis. Frederick A. Parker, 91, a former Indianapolis teacher who helped racially integrate the state's schools, died April Services were last month in O'Bee Funeral Home, Milwaukee. Mr.
Parker taught mathematics and was the department chairman for Attucks High School from its beginning as a school for blacks in 1927 until 1946. He was then a teacher at Indianapolis Public Schools 17 47, later teaching at Harry E. Wood High School until 1966 before resuming a college teaching career. An advocate of integrated schools, he helped lobby the 1949 Indiana General Assembly to pass an anti-segregation school law. "Mr. Parker was well known as an effective teacher who helped build support and credibility" for the integration movement, said Indianapolis attorney Willard "Mike" Ransom, former state chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. After retiring from IPS, Mr. Parker was a math teacher at Yale University. From 1967 to 1969, he taught at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He later taught at several colleges, including Butler and Purdue universities.
In 1960, he co-founded a Studies Skills Program, co-sponsored by the Presbyterian Church and the e Rockefeller Foundation. moved to Knoxville (Tenn.) College and was designed to build self-confidence and discipline and supplement college preparation for economically and academically deprived students. Most of the students were black, and 92 percent went on to obtain college degrees. In the 1970s, Mr. Parker received teaching awards from Harvard University and Amherst College, from which he graduated in 1920.
He received a master's degree from Indiana University in 1935. He was the widower of Frieda Alice Campbell Parker. Survivors - daughters Frieda P. Jefferson, Winifred P. White, Carolyn Cliver; 10 grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren.
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Fred Parker, Amherst Class of 1920, received an honorary degree from Amherst College in 1973. However, in the tradition of Dunbar High School, Mr. Parker also gave to Amherst College by sending other African American students to his alma mater. Perhaps, some of them may offer thoughts about Mr. Parker of their own.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
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Amina, Tony, and Russell,
Thank you for your comments. One of the intriguing items that appears in Fred Parker's obituary is that he had three daughters, Frieda P. Jefferson, Winifred P. White, and Carolyn Cliver. Because Amherst was not co-ed until 1975, Fred Parker's daughters never attended Amherst College. However, if my memory is correct, his daughter Winifred P. White had at least two children and had at least two children attend Amherst College. If memory serves me correctly, Winifred's children are Walter White, Class of 1976, and I believe his sister is Adrienne White, Class of 1982. If there is someone who can confirm my recollections, please do chime in. I would like for my post on Fred to be accurate and complete.
Thank you all.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
----- Forwarded Message -----
I met Frederick Allen Parker in the early 70s when he attended an Amherst reunion (I think it was 1971, but it could have been 1970, his 50th). Very engaging personality. Several other Black alums from his era were also there,
Russell '72
On Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 8:46 PM Antonio Jackson wrote:
Thanks Everett! Never heard of him. While reading his obit, I thought of a living Amherst alum who this May also received an Amherst College honorary degree, namely Junius Williams, Esq. I am very excited that Junius will be joining a group of eleven fellow travelers to Ghana in September. Junius and I are also Operation Crossroads Africa alumni, he to East Africa in the mid-60s and I went in 1975. Speaking of Junius, I recommend his book Unfinished Agenda. (I was not paid for the plug😊).
From: Amina Merritt
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2024 at 5:44 PM
Thank you for a wonderful tribute to Mr. Parker
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Thank You Amina.
Harold’s book is a bit outdated now. Much has occurred since it was published in 1976. There are quite a few names that Harold did not know and quite a few remarkable profiles that did not then exist.
For years, there has been talk of updating Harold’s book but I have not heard of much progress being made.
I am 70 now and time is getting short, so I have decided to update the Black Alumni Biographies on my own.
I have already done those from 1826 through 1920. God willing, I will be able to complete my list in time for the Reunion in 2025.
Stay tuned everyone.
Peace,
Everett “Skip” Jenkins
P. S. For those interested in my progress, please feel free to visit my Amherst College Biographies Blog. Nothing fancy. Just a personal compilation of information on those individuals on my Memorial List.
Also, although Harold Wade begins his chapter on the great Dunbar/Amherst men from the 20s, he omits Parker in discussing all the other greats--Drew, Cobb, Cook (2 grandchildren graduates. Janice Cook 82?); Davis, Hastie ,(grandson William 81?), et al.
Amina
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July 14, 2024 at 04:39 AMSun, Jul 14 at 4:39 AM
Tony, Wayne, and Renee,
Thank you for providing this information. I will be sure to note in my Fred Parker's post. By the way, Walter followed me to UC Berkeley (as did Sheila Maddox, Class of 1980). His legal career is far more illustrious. His Russian language skills came in quite handy during the demise of the Soviet Union and the opening up of Russia to commercial activity. His London based law firm is quite prominent. Indeed, as I recall, one of his partners happens to be the twin sister of Elin Nordegren, the former wife of Tiger Woods. It is my understanding that Walter's law firm represented Ms. Nordegren in her divorce negotiations.
As I also recall Walter has served on the Board of Trustees for Hampshire College and one of the coolest things he has done was to host an international conference in London a few years ago that brought together some of the most accomplished people from Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States to discuss various issues pertaining to Black folks throughout the world. He has come a long way from his frisbee throwing days on the Amherst Quad.
His sister Adrienne is also quite accomplished so much so that a few years back she was a candidate for the Amherst College Board of Trustees.
I am particularly pleased to learn about Alexandre White (Class of 2010) and Fritz Cliver (Class of 1986). The legacy of Fred Parker is truly remarkable. But folks it is not the legacy of Fred Parker alone.
If you read Fred's obituary, you may note a quite remarkable achievement. Fred Parker taught high school math for almost forty years before he transitioned to teaching mathematics at the college level. That tells me that Fred Parker had some serious math skills. In my mind, when I think of Fred Parker and his legacy, I also think that Robert Mattingly, Class of 1906, a brilliant mathematician who graduated from Amherst, Phi Beta Kappa, in only three years. Mattingly would go on to head the math department for black schools in Washington. D. C. schools. In reading about Fred Parker, I see Robert Mattingly standing with him.
Along with Fred Parker and Robert Mattingly, I also see William Tecumseh Sherman Jackson (Class of 1892) standing with them. William, after all, began the Dunbar to Amherst pipeline that brought Fred and Robert to Amherst. Whenever I read of Walter or Adrienne or Fritz or Alexandre, I cannot see them without also seeing Fred and Robert and William and any praise for their accomplishments should also be a reminder of the efforts of the ancestors.
For those who are Star Wars fans, at the end of the first trilogy, after the Rebel forces have triumphed, there is a celebration. And at the celebration, the deceased Yoda, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker (formerly known as Darth Vader) are shown in spirit smiling down on the participants. For me, that occurs every time we have our memorial service get togethers. We are not there on our own, the spirits of all those who came before us are there as well. They are smiling down on us, marveling at all the amazing things that we have seen and done.
Wherever we may walk in life, we never walk alone.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
----- Forwarded Message -----
I was originally in the class of ‘76. Walter was highly respected while he was at Amherst. He went on to become a star in international law and with the American Bar Association. He has lived abroad for a good part of his professional life, particularly in Russia and London. I know he worked with one of the ost highly regarded law firms that is based in Richmond, Virginia where I practiced for almost 25 years. He became fluent in Russian and occasionally will post something on the African American listserv or Linkedin. I remember him studying Russian when he was at Amherst. I was unaware of his legacy connection with Amherst. Wayne, of course was instrumental in Walter and probably all of the brothers in that class who matriculated to Amherst. One interesting note, a high percentage of the brothers in that class died too young from AIDS, at least one from an auto accident, and lupus, to name a few causes of death. Everett, of course, is the authority on that note.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, 10:18 PM, Wayne Wormley wrote:
Hi Skip,
You are correct that Walter White '76 and Adrienne White '82 are the grandchildren of Fred Parker and both attended Amherst. Walter's son, Alexandre '10, Fred Parker's great grandson, also attended Amherst and was featured in an article in the Spring 2020 Alumni Magazine, entitled: His Biggest Fear Is We'll All Go Back To Normal.
This is one of the longest family traditions at Amherst. And should be remembered.
Regards,
WMW
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
Hi all, his grandson Fritz Cliver was in the class of 1986.
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