Lorenzo Greene

Lorenzo Greene (1899-1988) was an African American historian and scholar who specialized in studying Black history and life in the American Midwest, particularly Missouri. He was a protégé of Carter G. Woodson and became one of the most influential historians documenting African American experiences during the early-to-mid 20th century. As a professor at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, Greene helped establish the school's history department and taught there for over 40 years. His seminal work, "The Negro in Colonial New England" (1942), was groundbreaking in its examination of slavery and Black life in the northern colonies. Greene conducted extensive research on the slave trade and African American community development, producing important works like "Missouri's Black Heritage" and "Selling Black History for Carter G. Woodson." He was also instrumental in gathering oral histories from former slaves and their descendants through his work with the Federal Writers' Project. Working closely with the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now ASALH), Greene helped expand the scholarly understanding of African American history and challenged prevailing racist narratives in academic discourse. His meticulous research methods and dedication to preserving Black history influenced subsequent generations of historians.

Reviews for Lorenzo Greene's academic works are limited online, but scholarly assessments highlight his research contributions. What readers appreciated: - Detailed primary source documentation in "The Negro in Colonial New England" - Thorough examination of original records and statistics - Clear writing style that makes historical research accessible - Oral history collection methods that preserved firsthand accounts Main criticisms: - Some found his academic tone dry and technical - Limited availability of his works in modern formats - Dated language reflective of the era Online presence: Goodreads: "The Negro in Colonial New England" - No rating (insufficient reviews) Amazon: Out of print, no current reviews WorldCat: Referenced in 847 libraries worldwide Note: Most reviews come from academic citations and journal articles rather than general readers. The lack of broad public reviews reflects his work's scholarly nature and focus on academic audiences.

Working with Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History (1981) A firsthand account of Greene's experiences working alongside Carter G. Woodson at the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History during the early development of Black history as an academic field.

The Negro in Colonial New England (1942) A comprehensive examination of slavery and Black life in the northern colonies, covering economic, social, and legal aspects of African American experiences in New England from 1620 to 1776.

Missouri's Black Heritage (1980) A detailed historical study documenting African American life, culture, and contributions in Missouri from the colonial period through the mid-twentieth century.

Selling Black History for Carter G. Woodson (1996) A posthumously published memoir chronicling Greene's work as a book agent selling publications for the Associated Publishers and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

Carter G. Woodson - As Greene's mentor, Woodson pioneered African American historical research and founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. His work "The Mis-Education of the Negro" examines how educational systems perpetuated racial inequalities.

John Hope Franklin - Franklin documented African American experiences from slavery through the Civil Rights era in works like "From Slavery to Freedom." His research methodology and focus on Black community development parallel Greene's approach.

Benjamin Quarles - Quarles wrote extensively about Black participation in the American Revolution and Civil War. His work "The Negro in the American Revolution" shares Greene's focus on examining African American contributions in early American history.

Herbert Aptheker - Aptheker produced comprehensive studies of slave revolts and African American resistance movements. His documentation methods and use of primary sources to challenge existing historical narratives align with Greene's research practices.

Dorothy Porter Wesley - Wesley developed major research collections of Black historical materials and documented African American intellectual history. Her work preserving Black historical documents complemented Greene's efforts to record oral histories and gather primary source materials.