Thomas W. Harvey
From Freepedia
Thomas Watson Harvey was President-General of the UNIA-ACL from 1956 to 1978. He was born on November 27, 1893, the oldest of twelve children of Walker and Billie Harvey, in Douglas, Burke County, Georgia. His father was a farmer and both his grandparents were slaves.
He left Douglas as a youngster seeking employment. His travels led him to Waynesboro, Augusta, Atlanta and other towns in the rural area. His growing awareness of his plight as a Black American became very agitating to him and he ventured to the Northern section of the country seeking a life. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1917 at the age of 22. In 1919 he was discharged from the U.S. Army. Soon after he became involved with the Universal Negro Improvement Association and Mr. Marcus Garvey. He first heard about Mr. Garvey from a young man who later turned out to be very influential in his joining the organization.
He joined the organization in 1919 and became very active, rising from member, to lieutenant of the African Legions, to commissioner of the State of New York, Commissioner of the State of Ohio, to High Chancellor of the Parent Body when the Parent Body was located in London, England, to Confidante of Mr. Garvey, to division president, to President-General of the organization. He started the 'Garvey's Voice' newspaper after being elected to his first term as President-General in 1950. He gave many years of service on both the local and national level. No matter what that service whether it be brush and paint a room at Liberty Hall, or pitch some tar on the roof of the building, or pick up a broom and use it, or fix a meal for visitors if need be. He was peacemaker, spokesman for the organization together with little more than determination and a staunch unfailing belief in the philosophy and opinions of Marcus Garvey.
The rest of his association with the organization can be documented by members of the organization who knew him well. In his travels from the red hills of Georgia to the various cities around the country, to the Senate Chamber, to the University Campuses, offices of foreign and domestic government officials, he was still a father, husband, friend, neighbor to all those he came in contact with. He touched the lives of many people. He never lost his humility, and was patient and committed to & with his fellow Black brothers, realizing all the while that only we can save ourselves from ourselves. UNITY was what he preached. Realizing the great legacy he to us all, we can only strive to be as steadfast to the Philosophy and Opinions of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the Hon. Marcus M. Garvey. When the true history of the organization is written, the Hon. Thomas W. Harvey will be recorded as one of its most gallant heroes. It is safe to say, that the world will be changed because of the work and dedication of Hon. Thomas W. Harvey. He walked among us, without fanfare, just doing what he knew in his heart was the only action that would emancipate a race of people and redeem the continent of Africa.
Thomas Watson Harvey was elected President-General in Detroit, 1950. He was elected to the post again in 1956 and was re-elected to this post every four years until his death. Mr. Harvey was one of the thirteen students taught in the School of African philosophy by Marcus Garvey.
One of the highpoints of Mr. Harvey's career was the creation and founding of the African project in 1966 under the leadership of the late Rev. Clarence Harding, Jr. The project was located in Monrovia, Liberia and included a fully accredited school under the Garvey Memorial Foundation headed up by the minister of education.
President-General Thomas W. Harvey departed this life on June 27, 1978 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jean Slappy of Philadelphia. He was 84 years of age at the time. Antioch Second Baptist Church was the site of his funeral and he was interred at Mount Lawn Cemetery, Sharonhill, Pennsylvania.
