"Henry Beard Delany"{February 5,1858-April 14,1928}

Born in saint Mary's Georgia,both of his parents were slaves.His

daddy,Thomas Delany was a ship and house carpenter,and his mama Sarah,a house servant.Henry grew up in Fernandina,Florida where he received his earliest formal education.In 1881 Henry entered Saint Augustine's School in Raleigh,where he studied theology.After graduating in 1885,he joined the college faculty,remaining there until 1908.He also married Nannie James Logan Danville,Virginia,another St.Augustine's faculty member,who taught homeconomics and domestic science.They couple had ten children including Sarah Louise & Annie Elizabeth who became famous with their 1993 joint autobiography Having Our Way:The Delany sisters'first 100 years.Henry joined Raleigh's Ambrose Episcopal Church,and in June 1889 was ordained a deacon of the church.Three years later he was ordained as a priest.He steadily rose in the Episcopal Church hierarchy,becoming archdeacon in 1908 and Bishop in 1918.He also became active in the promotion of education among North Carolina's African American population.He visited Episcopal,Baptist,Methodist,and African Methodist Episcopal (AME) congregations throughout the state,helping them organize schools for African Americans.He was also one of the few education advocates who worked to bring educational opportunities to African American prisioners in local jails.Because of his education work Shaw,University in Raleigh awarded him an honory doctor of divine degree in 1911.Henry designed Saint Augustine's Chapel in 1895.This chapel is the only surving nineteenth century building on the campus.Henry also helped in the design of Saint Agnes Hospital on St.Augustine's campus in 1909.This hospital was through,the 1940s,the only African Americans owned hospital in North Carolina and the only one available to African Americans in Eastern North Carolina.Although not the main designer,Henry was the on-site architect and construction supervisor.He was alo an amateur astronomer.He is known for his contributions in architecture and for being the first African American bishop elected in North Carolina and the second in the U.S.Bishop Henry died at his home on the Saint Augustine's campus.His funeral took place in the chapel he designed.These are the names of his children:   1.Lemuel Thackara Delany  (1887-1956) 2.Sarah Louise Delany (1889-1999),Annie Elizabeth Delany (1891-1995),Henry Delany,Jr.Lucius Delany (1897-1969),William Manross Delany (1899-1955),Hubert Thomas Delany (1901-1990),Laura Edith Delany (1903-1993),Samuel Ray Delany (1906-1960).