Adolphus Humbles

Adolphus Humbles (1845 – 1926) was an American merchant and toll road operator in Richmond, Virginia.[1] He was an early supporter of the Virginia Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia (a precursor to Virginia University of Lynchburg) and Humbles Hall is named for him.[2] He built a commercial and events building and was an influential tennis coach. He was African American.[3]

Humbles Hall at Virginia University of Lynchburg

Biography
Humbles Building in 2011 at 901 5th Street in Lynchburg, part of the Fifth Street Historic District

Humbles built what is known as the Humbles Building (118-5318-0039) at 901 Fifth Street in what is now known as the Fifth Street Historic District. Like the True Reformers Hall, the Humbles Building is a large, three-story, mixed use facility that contained two storefronts on the first floor and an auditorium on the second floor. Humbles was a successful merchant in Campbell County and operated the toll road between Lynchburg and Rustburg (the seat of Campbell County). He served as the Treasurer of both the Virginia State Baptist Convention and the Virginia Theological Seminary and College (now known as Virginia University of Lynchburg), where the school’s main building bears his name. Also active in politics, he served as Chairman of the Campbell County Executive Committee for the Republican Party for thirteen years.

Humbles granddaughter was denied a part of his inheritance because "interracial marriage" was not recognized in Virginia. Her parents were married in Canada.[4]

Humbles was on the board of the True Reformers.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Pierce Street Historic District" (PDF). Historic District National Register of Historic Places. p. 19.
  2. Potter, Clifton W.; Potter, Dorothy Bundy Turner (25 June 2018). Lynchburg: A City Set on Seven Hills. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738524610 – via Google Books.
  3. "Adolphus Humbles, Sr. - Legacy Museum". Legacymuseum.org.
  4. Rogers, J. A. (15 September 2014). Nature Knows No Color-Line: Research into the Negro Ancestry in the White Race. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 9780819575517 – via Google Books.
  5. "Indianapolis Recorder 11 March 1911 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program". Newspapers.library.in.gov.
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