February is Black History Month and while you may not immediately see a currency tie-in, this week’s Better Know Your Notes discusses African American signers of United States federal currency.
Before Martin Luther King made his "I Have A Dream" speech and before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier, African Americans were breaking color barriers in the federal government, notably (pun intended) in the Treasury Department. To date five African Americans have appeared as Treasury signers on federally issued paper money, beginning with Blanche Kelso Bruce.
Bruce was born in Virginia in 1841 to a white plantation owner and an African American house slave. His father, who by standards of the day treated his son relatively well, paid for Bruce’s education. Also, although Bruce was born into slavery, his father granted him freedom. Bruce became a wealthy landowner during the Reconstruction period and he served in many local and state positions before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1874 as a Republican. He was only the second African American to serve in the Senate and the first to complete a full term.
In 1881, Bruce was appointed Register of the Treasury by President James Garfield. At the time and into the early 20th century, the position was the highest governmental position available to African Americans. Bruce initially served in the role from 1881 to 1885. His signature appears on Series 1875 Nationals, Series 1880 Legal Tender Notes and Silver Certificates, and Series 1882 Gold Certificates.
Bruce was again appointed to the position by President William McKinley in 1897 and served in the role until his death on March 17, 1898. During that time he appeared on the popular notes from the "Educational" series as well as Series 1891 Treasury Notes.
The next three Registers of the Treasury were African American as well. J.W. Lyons served from 1898 to 1906. Lyons’ signature appears on many notes during that period including the first $10 "Bison" notes and each of the first Series 1899 Silver Certificates.
Lyons was succeeded by William Tecumseh Vernon, the son of former slaves and a lifelong educator and religious leader. He was appointed Register by President Theodore Roosevelt. His signature appears on many Legal Tender Notes, Silver Certificates, Gold Certificates, and Nationals.
James Napier was the final African American Register to appear on notes, serving from 1911 to 1913. He was already a prominent lawyer and Republican politician in both Washington D.C. and his native Nashville, Tennessee when he was appointed to the position by President William Howard Taft. Napier’s signature appears on many notes including series 1907 $1000 Gold Certificates. He resigned his position in protest to segregation practices among federal employees instituted by President Woodrow Wilson. Later he succeeded Booker T. Washington as president of the National Negro Business League.
More recently, Azie Taylor Morton served as Treasurer of the United States from 1977 to 1981. Appointed by President Jimmy Carter, she is the only African American to hold the office and the only female African American signor of our currency. Her signature appears on Series 1977 and 1977A Federal Reserve Notes.
