Dr. Mordecai Johnson, president of Howard University, serving portions of Thanksgiving turkey to members of his family in 1942.

No. 63

Mordecai W. Johnson

Mordecai W. Johnson began his tenure as 11th President of Howard University on June 30, 1926. He was the first African-American to preside over Howard University and its longest serving president with a tenure of 34 years. His presidency was marked by the building of the modern Howard University. Much of today’s physical plant and the full accreditation of Howard’s schools and colleges took place during his presidency. The Mordecai Wyatt Johnson Administration Building was dedicated to Dr. Johnson on September 6, 1973.