Date of Award

1994

Document Type

Thesis: Open Access

Degree Name

MA History

Department

History

Committee Chair

Raymond Brandes, PhD, Chair

Committee Member

Iris H. W. Engstrand, PhD

Abstract

History often times reflects the significance of persons only if they have had an impact on the many. These persons include states persons, presidents, Nobel Laureates, writers, artists and others who have left their mark on society. Yet, many persons of note are often times disregarded for reasons unknown. Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett is one of the discarded people whose significance proved to be a first for people of African-American ancestry. Bassett was the first of his race to be appointed to a diplomatic post by the United States Government. He served as Minister Resident and Consul General to Haiti at Port-au-Prince from 1869 to 1877. Bassett would later serve under Frederick Douglass as his secretary during Douglass's tenure as Minister Resident to Haiti. The purpose of this thesis is to enlighten the reader about Bassett's life and contributions to the United States and the African-American community. Some limitations are necessary in recording Bassett's early and late life, some documentation is unavailable.

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