Kivie Kaplan (April 1, 1904 – May 5, 1975) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He served as president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1966 until his death.
Kivie Kaplan | |
|---|---|
| President of the NAACP | |
| In office 1966–1975 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur B. Spingarn |
| Succeeded by | W. Montague Cobb |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1, 1904 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | May 5, 1975 (aged 71) New York City, New York, U.S. |
Early life and education
editKivie Kaplan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of three sons of Benjamin and Celia Kaplan, Lithuanian Jewish immigrants.[1] In 1924, he and his brothers, Joseph and Archie, took over their father's leather business; he helped run the tanneries until 1962 when he retired to devote his time to philanthropic work.[2] In 1925, Kivie Kaplan married Emily Rogers, whom he was married to until his death.[3] They had three children, Sylvia, Jean, and Edward.
NAACP
edit
Kaplan joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1932 and was elected to the National Board in 1954. In 1966, he was elected its President and held that post until his death. As president, Kaplan spoke throughout the United States on the organization's behalf and sought financial contributions. Kaplan was a trustee of two black colleges, Lincoln University and Tougaloo College, and treasurer of The Crisis magazine.
Philanthropic activities
editKaplan was also involved in Jewish affairs and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. He contributed substantial sums of money to the Jewish Memorial Hospital in Boston and Brandeis University. He received numerous awards and honorary degrees, including the Amistad Award of the American Missionary Association and honorary degrees from Wilberforce University, Hebrew Union College, and Lincoln University.
Personal life
editHe and his wife, Emily, fought for civil rights for all. He was one in a long line of American Jews who held a leadership role in African American civil rights groups.
References
edit- ^ The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Vol. 2: Rediscovering Precious Values July 1951-November 1955 (University of California Press, 1992: ISBN 0-520-07951-5), p. 362.
- ^ Kivie Kaplan Papers.
- ^ "Kivie Kaplan,N.A.A.C.P.Head And Jewish Leader, 71, Dies". The New York Times. 1975-05-06. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
Bibliography
edit- S. Norman Feingold and William B. Silverman, Kivie Kaplan: A Legend in His Own Time, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, 1976, ISBN 0-8074-0006-8.
External links
edit- Kivie Kaplan Papers (includes brief biography)
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