William DeHart Hubbard was born in Cincinnati on November 25, 1903.
Before entering Walnut Hills High School, he attended both Douglass
School and Stowe
School. After graduation from Walnut Hills, Hubbard attended the
University of Michigan where he competed in track and field events.
In 1924, Hubbard participated in the Olympic games in Paris. He won
the gold medal for the running long jump, becoming the first African
American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event.
After graduating from U of M in 1927, Hubbard took a job as supervisor
of the Department of Colored Work for Cincinnati’s Public Recreation
Commission. He worked for the Recreation Commission until 1941 when
he became manager of Valley Homes. In 1942 Hubbard moved to Cleveland
to work for the Federal Public Housing Authority. He retired in 1969
and died in Cleveland in 1976.
To learn more about William DeHart Hubbard, consult the
following resources:
DeHart Hubbard Collection
Mss 1067
This manuscript collection contains the Olympic letter from DeHart Hubbard to his mother in 1924 (shown above) and copies of
biographical material related to Hubbard. Request slip
Urban
League of Greater Cincinnati, 1921-1975
Mss 580
This manuscript collection of 60 boxes contains a wealth of information
relating not only to the African American community of Cincinnati,
but also to a wide variety of social agencies. Information pertaining
specifically to Hubbard can be found in:
Box 39, Folder 11 – Annual reports for the Public Recreation
Commission for 1935 and 1936. Each report has a section written
by Hubbard on the activities of the Department of Colored Work.
Box 39, Folder 7 – several items relating to his work with
the Recreation Commission and one item about his membership on the
1940 Racial Amity Committee.
Request slip
Souvenir
Program: Tenth Anniversary of the New Douglass School
Pamphlets q372.9 D737
This anniversary booklet contains information on Hubbard's athletic
accomplishments and a photograph. View catalog record
Request slip
Cincinnati's
Colored Citizens
By Wendell P. Dabney
General 301.451 D114, 1988 Cincinnati's Colored Citizens
contains information
on Hubbard's athletic accomplishments and a photograph (pages 136-137). View catalog recordRequest slip
William
DeHart Hubbard Collection
History Objects
This collection of historical objects includes athletic medals from
Hubbard's high school and college years. Request slip
In the Shadows: Cincinnati's Black
Baseball Players
By Lonnie Wheeler and John Baskin in Queen City Heritage,
Vol. 46, No. 2, Summer 1988, pages 13-19.
General f906 H673B
This article by Lonnie Wheeler and John Baskin covers the history
of African American baseball clubs and players in Cincinnati. DeHart
Hubbard is mentioned for his role with the Excelsiors and the Cincinnati
Tigers. View article (PDF)
Sources Used for Biographical Sketch:
Dabney, Wendell P., Cincinnati's Colored
Citizens, General 301.451 D114,
Cincinnati History Library and Archives, Cincinnati Museum
Center.
Souvenir Program: Tenth Anniversary of the
New Douglass School, Pamphlets 372.9 qD737, Cincinnati History Library and Archives, Cincinnati Museum Center.