Joseph T. Taylor - Biographical Information

Biographical Information

Joseph Thomas Taylor was born on February 11, 1913 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi to Joseph and Willie Ann Taylor. He spent his youth in Memphis, Tennessee and East St. Louis, Illinois. Segregation was in effect in that region and he went to an all black school until he attended college at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. After transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana, Taylor graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1936 and a Master of Arts degree in 1937. Between the years of 1939 and 1941, he was an instructor at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. His career continued with his appointment as Area Director for the National Youth Administration from 1941 to 1942.

Taylor was not only a scholar, but also a soldier who fought for his country in World War II. His battalion was committed to combat in the European Theater of Operations and he fought at the Battle of the Bulge. During his deployment he documented many of his observations about the horrors of war and detailed his experiences with institutionalized bigotry, racism, and segregation. Soon after he was discharged from the military he married Hertha Mae Ward on February 16, 1944. Their union provided them 3 children: Meshach, Judith, and Hussain Taylor.

From 1946 to 1950, Taylor worked as assistant to the president at Florida A & M College, a teacher, and an administrator at Indiana University. His career flourished and he received a professorship of Sociology and becoming the Director of the Arts and Sciences at Albany State University in Georgia from 1950 to 1951. After leaving this position he became the chairman for the division of Social Sciences Department as a professor of Sociology at Dillard University until 1955. Throughout his career and appointments to various committees, Mr. Taylor was studying to receive his PhD from Indiana University and did so in 1952. After receipt of his PhD, he became the acting dean and professor of Sociology at Dillard.

On September 23, 2000, Dr. Joseph T Taylor died. His services were held at the Broadway United Methodist Church of which he was a longtime member. Joseph Taylor was appointed as a director or served on many boards during his fruitful life. When asked how he managed to serve so many groups in Indianapolis. He said, "I don't know how I manage all that, but I know that if the freedom to assemble is ever taken away, I won't know what to do with myself."